RTS System in the Apocalypse: New World

The Nuclear Power Station remained quiet through most of the afternoon.

Kordula had spent the morning moving between the protected personnel section and the accessible control areas with two of the surviving plant operators. Hans’s Engineers followed wherever they were needed, checking what the operators showed them and comparing the surviving systems against the records they could still access.

They did not know the station.

That part became obvious whenever one of the operators mentioned a local designation or an old maintenance route.

The strange part was how little time they needed afterward.

One of the Engineers stood beside an open control cabinet while a senior technician explained the system connected behind it. He asked two questions, followed the explanation across a nearby schematic, then moved on to another part of the panel without needing the same thing explained twice.

Kordula watched from several meters away.

”You’re sure those two are military Engineers?”

The operator beside her glanced toward them.

”They said they were.”

”I think the containment may have skewed our perspectives. Perhaps we need another dose of medicines.”

”I... I don’t know.”

The man gave her a tired look. The operator looked even more confused than Kordula expected.

She let it go.

The first assessment had at least confirmed what mattered most, and it was that the plant remained stable.

The systems responsible for facility safety had continued operating after ASS-116’s termination. Several internal sections remained isolated or inaccessible, and nobody had touched the areas still under quarantine restrictions.

One of the Engineers approached carrying a set of copied diagrams.

”Overseer.”

”What?”

”The northern service section matches what your maintenance personnel described. We can continue the inspection there without reopening the isolated wing.”

”Don’t touch anything connected to the security network unless I’m there.”

”We won’t.”

”And don’t dismantle any of the inactive units.”

”You already said that a lot of times.”

”Important things has to be said a lot of times.”

Kordula looked at him. The Engineer waited.

”Right.”

She took the diagrams.

A vehicle entered the outer service road sometime later.

Kordula noticed it through one of the restored external cameras.

A Guardian APC stopped outside the personnel entrance. Several soldiers dismounted first, followed by Fairy.

Kordula watched the feed for another moment before setting the diagrams aside.

”Of course, she’s here.”

The operator beside her looked over. ”The soldiers? Are they returning?”

”What? Afraid of them?”

”Erm, no.”

She left the control room.

Fairy was waiting outside by the time Kordula reached the entrance. Four soldiers remained around the APC while another two watched the surrounding road.

”Overseer Weissenberg.”

”Fairy.”

Kordula looked behind her.

”Did something happen?”

”No.”

”Then what are you doing here?”

”The Commander wants to speak with you. If it’s not bothering you at all.”

Kordula looked toward the Guardian APC.

”And he couldn’t come here?”

”He has his own reasons, and perhaps, the Overseer should understand a thing or two.”

Kordula did not deny that. She had her suspicions about Fairy’s Commander from the moment she heard his code name—Golden Eagle.

People chose strange callsigns all the time, especially military personnel who thought adding an animal to a color made them sound more intimidating. But there were names that carried history behind them, whether the person using them knew it or not.

Kordula looked toward Fairy again.

”You make it sound like I should know his reasons.”

”If the Overseer is not available, I can arrange another time then.”

That was enough to make Kordula more suspicious.

”Your Commander planned this already, didn’t they?”

”Whenever you’re ready, Overseer.”

Matilda did not answer her question.

”Give me ten minutes.”

Kordula returned inside.

The same operator remained near the control section when she arrived. One of Hans’s Engineers was already farther down the room with another technician, both of them comparing the copied schematic against the active panel.

”I’m leaving for a while.”

The operator looked over.

”With them?”

”Apparently their Commander wants to talk.”

”Do you need anyone with you?”

”You think their Commanders want to see anyone but me?”

”I’ll watch over the plant, Overseer.”

”You sure about that?” Kordula raised a brow. ”The way I see it, these Engineers can probably do a better job than most of you can.”

The operator’s mouth twitched. ”Don’t tease me, Overseer. I worked hard for this job.”

”Just don’t blow things out of proportion. Most of the plant supervisors are dead. Nobody would be here to fix up your mess. At least, not as harsh as them.”

She placed the diagrams on the nearby table.

The operator sighed.

Kordula left before he could complain further.

...

She sat across from Matilda inside the Guardian APC several minutes later.

The vehicle moved away from the station without much ceremony. Four soldiers occupied the remaining seats while another pair stayed near the rear hatch.

Kordula watched Matilda for a while.

Fairy ignored her.

”You’re not going to tell me anything?”

”You will know when you meet the Commander.”

”Where are we going?”

”One of our bases near Ironford.”

”I know that. Your driver mentioned it.”

Matilda glanced toward her. ”Then you alread know where we are going.”

”I was trying to make small talk. Are you special forces really this cold and dull?!”

”So I’ve been told.”

The answer sounded familiar enough that Kordula wondered if everyone in this army attended the same course in irritating other people.

She leaned back against the seat.

”Your Commander. Golden Eagle.”

Matilda looked toward her.

”What about him?”

”Does he always use that name?”

”Usually. Does it matter to you?”

”It’s interesting.”

”Why?”

Kordula’s gaze shifted toward the narrow armored viewing port. ”You will know when I meet your Commander.”

Matilda left it there with no follow-up question, nor an attempt to make her explain what she found interesting about the name.

Kordula looked back but Fairy had already turned her attention somewhere.

The APC continued south.

...

Ironford appeared gradually through the armored port.

Kordula had already seen parts of the district through the station’s external records before communication collapsed, but what existed now was different.

Military checkpoints occupied cleared roads.

Guardian APCs and Vanguards moved between secured intersections while soldiers guarded routes into the surrounding industrial blocks. Recovery vehicles traveled behind them carrying materials toward the northern positions.

The larger FOB became visible several minutes later. Kordula moved closer to the port.

Power Plants stood beyond the perimeter.

A Barracks occupied another industrial lot, while a much larger manufacturing structure farther away could only have been responsible for the armored traffic entering and leaving its grounds.

A Radar Facility rose above the surrounding buildings.

These strange buildings looked new in Kordula’s eyes. Her expression changed slightly as she inspected them from afar.

”Is something wrong, Overseer?” Fairy noticed.

”Have I asked this before? How long have you been here?”

”In Ironford? A few days. Operational? A few months.”

Kordula looked outside again. Fairy’s answer made little sense than anything else she had experienced so far.

The Guardian APC passed another guarded position before entering the FOB.

Soldiers acknowledged the vehicle and continued with their work. Nobody rushed around trying to impress the arriving officer. Nobody appeared surprised by the Overseer sitting inside either.

Everything simply continued.

Kordula leaned back.

”Your Commander has been busy. Your soldiers are strangely disciplined.”

”Our Commander has his own ways.”

That was all Fairy gave to her.

Golden Eagle. Kordula kept the name to herself.