RTS System in the Apocalypse: New World

The western Scouts found the stairs two minutes later.

They were hidden behind the corner of the three-story building, where the alley narrowed between the rear wall and an abandoned delivery van. A concrete stairwell descended beneath a rusted metal awning. The door at the bottom remained closed.

One of the Attack Dogs stopped above the first step.

Its ears turned toward the lower landing.

"Echo One to South One. Lower access located. One closed door at the bottom."

"Any movement?" Anton asked.

"None visible. Dog confirms presence beyond it."

Anton switched channels.

"Dobrev Squad, dismount. Secure the western row. Agent Shaw joins the forward element."

"Understood."

Bastion Two’s rear ramp lowered.

Dobrev Squad exited in order and separated across the alley entrances. Two soldiers covered the street while the others moved toward the rear of the building. Evelyn followed behind them with her rifle held low.

The ramp closed once they were clear.

Johannes watched the camera feed from Bastion One. Evelyn stopped before entering the alley and looked toward the recessed stairwell.

She did not move for several seconds.

"Agent Shaw to South One."

"Go ahead."

"There is someone close to the door."

"Oracle already confirmed several presences."

"This one is different."

Anton looked toward the feed.

"How?"

Evelyn continued watching the stairwell.

"They are frightened, but they are preparing to attack anything that enters."

"Armed?"

"I cannot confirm that."

Anton accepted the limit immediately.

"Echo One, do not open the door."

"Understood."

Kimmy lifted her head again.

The APC had moved closer to the western buildings. Whatever she sensed beneath them had become clearer.

"How many now?" Johannes asked.

She listened for several seconds.

"There are seven of them."

Her fingers tightened around the edge of her seat.

"No. Eight, I think."

Anton glanced over.

"How certain are you?"

"One is very faint. I lose them whenever the vehicle moves."

"Direction?"

"Below the western building. They are close together now."

Anton touched the radio.

"Oracle, report that through the channel."

Kimmy found the control.

"Oracle to South One. There may be eight people below the western building. Seven are clear. One is very faint."

"South One receives."

Marcus leaned over the local map.

The three-story structure occupied the center of a connected commercial row. Small shops covered the ground floor, while the upper levels appeared residential. A narrow service lane ran behind all four buildings.

He studied the camera feed from Echo One.

"Move the view toward the wall beside the stairwell."

Anton looked at him.

"What are you looking for?"

"Utility markings."

The side camera turned.

Several pipes entered the rear wall above the stairwell. A faded red sign remained beside them, half-covered by grime.

Marcus narrowed his eyes.

"Shared service basement."

"You can read that?"

"Enough of it."

He pointed toward the adjoining shop on the map.

"These buildings probably share storage and utility access. That door may not be the only entrance."

"Probably?"

"The sign confirms a shared lower level. It does not confirm the interior condition."

Anton raised the radio.

"Echo One, inspect the eastern end of the same building row. Look for another stairwell or service ramp."

"Echo One copies."

Dmitri sent two Scouts toward the adjoining structures. The remaining pair stayed near the first entrance with the Attack Dogs.

Dobrev Squad spread farther along the rear lane.

Evelyn descended two steps before stopping again. She remained above the closed door and listened.

Johannes recognized the posture from their old operations. Evelyn did not stare at the handle or the narrow window beside it. Her attention remained fixed somewhere beyond the metal.

"Has anything changed?" he asked through their assigned channel.

"One person is still near the entrance."

"Same intent?"

"Yes."

"Anyone else?"

"Fear. Exhaustion, perhaps."

"That is not what I asked."

Evelyn glanced toward the Scout beside her.

"No other threat that I can separate from the rest."

Johannes looked toward Anton.

"The person near the door may be protecting the others."

"Or waiting for us to enter," Anton answered.

"Both can be true."

Anton nodded once.

The second Scout pair reported several moments later.

"Echo One to South One. Second access located beneath the eastern shop. Metal shutter covering a downward ramp."

"Open or closed?"

"Closed. No movement outside."

"Dog?"

"Interested. Same scent trail."

Anton opened the platoon channel.

"All elements hold position. Echo One secures both lower entrances. Dobrev Squad maintains the rear lane. Mercer Squad remains mounted."

The acknowledgements returned.

Bastion One moved closer to the western building and stopped where its autocannon could cover the alley mouth without pointing directly at the lower door.

Anton activated the external speaker.

"This is a military rescue unit. We know there are people inside the basement. Do not fire. Answer through the western door."

Nothing followed.

The Attack Dog remained above the stairs.

Anton repeated the announcement.

"This is a military rescue unit. We have secured both exits. If you are armed, place the weapon on the floor before opening the door."

A sound came from below.

Something struck the other side of the metal door.

Evelyn raised one hand.

The Scout beside her remained aimed at the narrow window.

"Someone moved away from the entrance," she reported.

A man’s voice followed.

"How many of you are there?"

Anton answered through the external speaker.

"Enough to close this street."

"Are you from the government?"

"No."

Silence returned.

Johannes looked toward the camera feed. The man had not opened the door, but he had answered. That was already more than some survivor groups had given them.

Anton continued.

"We are evacuating survivors to a fortified position north of here. We have food, medical personnel, and transport. How many people are inside?"

"Eight."

Kimmy relaxed slightly.

Anton looked toward her, then returned to the speaker.

"Is anyone injured?"

"Two cannot walk."

"What happened to them?"

"One fell down the stairs three days ago. The other has been sick."

"Any bites?"

"No."

Anton did not accept that alone.

"Place every weapon on the floor and move away from the door. One person may open it when instructed."

The voice behind the door hesitated.

"How do we know you won’t shoot us?"

"You do not."

Nobody inside answered.

Anton waited several seconds.

"You can remain in the basement. We will leave after the third announcement if you refuse contact. The infected will still be outside once we are gone."

A quieter voice spoke behind the man. Johannes could not make out the words.

The first man answered afterward.

"Give us a moment."

"You have two minutes."

Movement sounded behind the door.

Evelyn watched it without lowering her rifle.

"The pressure near the entrance is gone," she reported. "They moved farther inside."

Anton looked toward Dmitri’s feed.

"Echo One, approach the door. Do not enter until the weapon is visible."

"Understood."

Dmitri descended with another Scout. Rex remained at the top of the stairs with its handler.

The metal door opened several centimeters.

A handgun slid across the floor and stopped near Dmitri’s boot.

"Step back," Dmitri ordered.

The person behind the door moved away.

Dmitri opened it farther.

A man stood inside the dim corridor with both hands raised. He looked somewhere in his forties, though the dirt across his face and the uneven growth along his jaw made him appear older. His clothing hung loosely around him.

"Turn around."

The man obeyed.

The second Scout checked him before moving past.

"First room clear."

"Continue."

Dobrev Squad entered after the Scouts secured the corridor. Evelyn followed several positions behind them, keeping enough distance from the soldiers ahead that their movement did not block her view.

The shared basement extended beneath the entire row.

Storage cages occupied one wall. Several doors stood open along the other, revealing stacks of boxes, discarded furniture, and equipment from the shops above. The survivors had gathered near the far end beside a portable lamp.

Four adults stood together.

Two younger survivors remained seated against the wall.

A woman lay on a folded blanket with one leg bound between two pieces of wood. Beside her, an elderly man barely moved beneath several coats.

Dmitri checked the rooms beyond them.

"Lower level secure."

Dobrev entered with two more soldiers.

"Keep everyone where they are. Medical transport is being requested."

The armed man looked between the soldiers.

"You really have doctors?"

"Medics," Dobrev answered.

"Can they help him?"

"That depends on his condition."

Johannes heard the exchange through the platoon channel.

Anton contacted Site Three.

"South One to Site Three. Hidden survivor group located beyond the confirmed coverage line. Eight survivors. Two require assisted transport. Request one medical team and recovery vehicle to our position."

Matilda answered several seconds later.

"Site Three receives. Medical team departing now. Estimated arrival, eighteen minutes."

"South One copies."

Anton turned toward Kimmy.

"Oracle."

Kimmy straightened.

"Yes?"

"Good detection."

She paused before answering.

"Thank you."

There was no confidence in her voice yet, although the uncertainty from the first report had lessened. Yunera placed one hand over Kimmy’s.

"You found all eight."

"I nearly missed one."

"You did not."

Johannes looked through the firing port again.

The street remained empty. Echo One controlled both basement exits, Dobrev Squad held the rear lane, and the survivors had been located without forcing the platoon to search every room across four connected buildings.

Marcus returned his attention to the map.

"There may be more shared basements along this row."

Anton heard him.

"Confirmed?"

"No."

Marcus pointed toward the surrounding blocks.

"But now we know what the rear utility signs look like."

Anton marked the building.

"Add it to the search procedure."

The recovery vehicle and medical team arrived eighteen minutes later.

The survivors were brought out one at a time. The Medics scanned the woman with the injured leg and the elderly man before loading them onto the recovery vehicle. The remaining six underwent individual scans beside it.

No signs of infection appeared.

Once the final survivor entered the transport, Anton ordered Dobrev Squad back into Bastion Two. Evelyn followed them aboard.

Echo One returned to the front.

The column began moving again.

Kimmy turned her blindfolded face toward the next intersection.

She touched the radio before Anton had to remind her.

"Oracle to South One. I cannot sense anyone else nearby."

"South One receives."

Beyond the intersection, every street remained unconfirmed.

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