RTS System in the Apocalypse: New World

”South One Actual to Site Three Command,” Anton reported. ”First Mobile Company has returned from the Colony. Route transfer complete. Southern operation complete.”

”Site Three Command receives,” an operator answered. ”Proceed to assigned inspection areas. Platoon reports will be collected after unloading.”

”South One copies.”

Bastion One entered the western staging structure.

The rear doors opened only after the Guardian APC stopped inside.

Four soldiers stepped down first and formed a small perimeter, preventing anyone from approaching through the adjoining lanes.

Yunera and Kimmy followed.

Anton arrived several minutes later.

He had already removed his helmet. Dust covered part of his uniform from the road, though nothing else about him suggested that the company had just completed several days of movement and checkpoint transfers.

He looked toward Kimmy.

”The Commander wants you to report too, Oracle.”

”Me too?”

”After me. I will report first.”

Kimmy glanced toward Yunera. ”Should I explain everything to him?”

”Only what you have sensed, Oracle. I’ll be going in first.”

Anton departed. Kimmy glanced in his direction.

”But that’s the part I cannot explain clearly. I—”

Yunera patted her shoulder. ”You’re a little tense today. We’re inside the base now. Breathe. Slowly.”

”Okay. Okay.”

Behind them, the First Mobile Company continued unloading while Engineers moved between its vehicles.

...

Anton entered Site Three’s Command Room.

Hans sat behind the central table with Matilda beside him. The Ironford district map remained open between them, while the latest company status occupied one side of the terminal.

Anton stopped across from the table.

”First Mobile Company has returned, Commander. The southern operation and route transfer are complete.”

”Any trouble before you left?”

”No civilian entered the secured road without authorization. The council continued receiving requests, while the veteran squads took over the northern checkpoint, staging area, and recovery escorts.”

”How many requests?”

”More than the recovery teams can process immediately. Most concern missing relatives, medicine, homes, businesses, and vehicles left inside the city.”

Hans looked toward Matilda.

”They were warned that submitting a request does not guarantee a search?”

”Yes, Commander,” Anton answered. ”The council explained it several times.”

”They’ll still complain.”

”They already did.”

Hans leaned back.

”Anything physical? Theft, interference, someone approaching the vehicles?”

”No. The additional watch remained in place until we departed. Nobody attempted to enter the staging area.”

”That leaves Kimmy’s report.”

Anton nodded.

”She detected the same unclear intent more than once. The thoughts concerned the road, supplies, company vehicles, and the guards around them. One impression suggested following the formation later.”

”Did she identify anyone?”

”No. The crowd kept moving whenever she sensed it. She could not determine whether it came from one person or several.”

”And nothing followed you?”

”Nothing we detected. Scouts inspected every checkpoint before the company crossed. The rear elements reported no unknown vehicles or civilian movement along the route.”

Hans looked at the company status.

”How soon can the formation be ready?”

”The vehicles suffered no combat damage during the return. Engineers are inspecting them now. The platoons still need to unload the Colony records, reorganize their equipment, and rest.”

”Before dawn tomorrow?”

”Yes, Commander.”

Hans looked toward the Ironford map. ”Then we move at first light. I want the morning allocation available before the noon refresh.”

”Understood.”

Matilda changed the operational map.

”The firing lanes will not require the entire company at the front. The newer platoons can secure the routes behind South One and South Two once they arrive.”

Anton studied the marked roads.

”Understood.”

Hans closed the Colony report.

”You handled it properly. The squads left behind will keep watching the road and vehicles, but no one acts against the civilians unless they actually do something.”

”Yes, Commander.”

”Report to your platoon. Matilda will send the northern plan once the inspections are complete.”

Anton saluted and left the room.

Kimmy entered several minutes later.

Yunera remained outside with the soldiers assigned to her. Kimmy stepped inside alone, though her attention briefly passed across Hans, Matilda, the room, and the people moving through the adjoining corridor.

Hans noticed the movement.

”Sit down, Kimmy.”

She took the empty chair Anton had left.

”Hans. It’s been a while.”

”It’s been a while indeed. How was the trip?”

Kimmy gripped her cloth. ”It was okay, but I was worried that something might happen to your soldiers. ”

”You really are worried about them?”

”I can’t help it. I just want to prevent an accident from happening.”

Hans chuckled lightly. Despite the fact that she was surrounded by elite soldiers, her cautious nature had never wavered.

”I already received Anton’s version. I want to hear what you sensed.”

”It started when we entered the Colony. There were many people around the road, so I could not separate everything at first.”

”And what stood out amongst them?”

”Someone was watching the vehicles and the guards. They were thinking about the road, the supplies, and when the soldiers would move again.”

”But you could not locate them, yes?”

”I... I could not. I’m sorry.”

”What are you asking forgiveness for?” Hans raised a brow. ”I did not send you there to pursue civilians with evil intentions. Whatever your breakthrough to Tier One has awakened is more important than that.”

He looked at her, then gave a smile. ”I expected mind reading to be one of them, but it seems even that has to be practiced a lot.”

”You... you’re not angry with me?”

Hans fell silent, then gave a light cough.

”You should put that incident at the back of your mind for a while. Maybe Tyrus can help you with this.”

”Will he not dissect me? I can sense that I am the only Tier One around here...”

”He’s an ex-HELIX scientist. That guy may have seen more Tier One superhumans than both of us combined. He’s the type to mingle with corpses and preserve samples. You won’t be in any danger.”

”That... that doesn’t reassure me one bit, Hans. What if he turns me into a corpse?”

”He’s been with us for a while. If he was interested, he would have done that long ago. And he’s there to help you analyze and control your powers.”

”I... okay.”

”That’s settled then. I’ll have him speak with you after the operation. For now, rest. Stop by the Field Hospital for a short checkup.”

Kimmy nodded and stood.

”Thank you, Hans.”

”Kimmy.”

She stopped. ”Yes?”

”You did good out there. Don’t be too hard on yourself.”

She smiled, leaving the Command Room several moments later.

Matilda returned the northern operation to the terminal.

”Shall Oracle remain with South One?”

”Yes. Keep her inside Bastion One.”

Matilda nodded. The Colony report closed.

...

The First Mobile Company left Site Three at first light the following morning. Engineers had completed the inspections during the night, and every platoon entered the operation with full ammunition and fuel.

South One and South Two moved at the front, their Vanguards occupying the wider sections of the road while the Guardian APCs followed between them. The remaining platoons divided across the adjoining routes, taking the intersections and side streets selected during the earlier planning.

The Hellhammers stopped farther behind.

Their crews moved the six artillery tanks into separate positions where the surrounding buildings would not obstruct their firing angles. Stabilizers lowered against the pavement, followed by the main guns adjusting toward Ironford.

No shells were loaded yet as the operation had not begun.

The Armored Command Truck stopped near the center of the formation.

Several Guardian APCs and Vanguards secured the surrounding roads, keeping the vehicle away from both firing lanes. Hans remained inside with Matilda and her squad, while the operational display combined the company reports, vehicle cameras, and Falcon One’s incoming feed.

The Physical Radar Facility could not reach this section of Grefort.

Hans’s Virtual Radar could.