RTS System in the Apocalypse: New World

Falcon One remained near South Two for several more minutes.

The ground formation finished off the infected already approaching from the south, while the rear squad watched the eastern blocks for anything that had followed the group eliminated by the right gunner.

More red markers appeared near the edge of the aircraft’s Radar.

They moved in smaller groups this time.

Some approached the main road. Others gathered inside the buildings without coming outside yet.

Specter watched them while the Falcon maintained its position west of the platoon.

"Continued presence will draw more from the surrounding blocks," he said.

Hans looked away from the window.

"You recommend ending the observation?"

"Yes, Commander. We’ve confirmed the aircraft’s effect on nearby infected. South One and South Two can clear the remaining movement from their current positions."

Hans nodded.

"Do it."

Specter opened the command channel.

"Specter to South One and South Two. Falcon One is ending aerial observation. Hold your current sectors until all movement drawn toward your positions has been cleared."

"South One acknowledged," Anton replied.

"South Two acknowledged."

Specter turned toward the cockpit.

"Pilot, return to the Airfield. Select a route that avoids another pass over the southern platoons."

"Understood. Returning through Site Three and the western corridor."

Falcon One began turning north.

Hans felt the shift through his harness again, though the movement no longer caught him completely by surprise.

South Two moved behind them.

Its friendly markers remained visible until the buildings concealed most of the formation. The red markers around it continued closing on the secured streets, where the infantry squads were already waiting.

Specter remained on the command channel.

"Site Three, Falcon One returning through your western approach. Expect additional infected movement along our flight path."

Matilda answered a moment later.

"Fairy receiving. Patrols will be notified."

The helicopter continued north.

Scattered infected emerged beneath them along the return route. Some came from buildings the earlier flight had already disturbed. Others entered the streets only after Falcon One passed overhead for the second time.

None reached the recovery vehicles.

The patrols had been warned before the helicopter arrived. Each group met soldiers already positioned between them and the secured road.

The reports followed one after another.

"Western block clear."

"Eleven infected eliminated."

"Movement contained. No losses."

Falcon One did not fire again.

Specter continued relaying the locations while the ground units handled them.

By the time the Airfield appeared ahead, the last report from Site Three had already arrived.

"All movement along the western approach has been cleared," Matilda said. "South One and South Two are still holding their sectors. No casualties reported."

Hans leaned back against his seat.

The flight had delayed the southern operation only briefly. It had also drawn infected out of buildings the patrols and recovery teams might have approached later.

The disruption remained manageable because every position along the return route had been warned before Falcon One arrived.

Future flights would need the same warning.

...

Falcon One approached the Airfield from the south.

The pilot reduced speed before turning toward the eastern landing pads. Hans felt the aircraft tilt again, though the movement no longer forced him to tighten his grip around the harness.

The runway passed beneath them.

Several members of the Ground Guidance Crew were already waiting beside Falcon One’s assigned pad. One stood near the forward boundary and raised both arms as the helicopter descended.

The landing gear touched the concrete.

The engines remained active while the main rotor continued turning above them.

"Falcon One has landed," the pilot reported.

"Landing confirmed," Flight Operations answered. "Welcome back."

The crew chief opened the side doors once the rotors began slowing.

Specter Squad disconnected themselves from the mounted weapons and returned them to their secured positions. They left the helicopter first, followed by Callum and Hans.

The Ground Guidance Crew approached as soon as the area was safe. Two inspected the landing gear and fuselage, while another checked the ammunition remaining in both door-mounted machine guns.

Specter stopped beside Hans.

"Both platoons have cleared the movement caused by our return route. No casualties."

"Damage?"

"None reported."

Hans looked back at Falcon One.

The aircraft had carried them across several positions within minutes and exposed approaches the platoons could not see from the streets. Its noise remained the only immediate problem.

"Prepare a notification procedure," Hans said. "Every position beneath an intended flight route should be warned before the aircraft passes over them."

"Yes, Commander."

Hans opened the Airfield interface.

Falcon One had shown him what an aircraft could contribute to an active ground operation. He now needed something that could inspect the parts of Grefort beyond his secured roads and fixed Radar coverage.

He selected the Raptor.

------

[ Produce Raptor Air Superiority Fighter? ]

[ Cost: 20,000 Gold ]

[ Production Time: 3 hours and 20 minutes ]

------

"Confirm."

------

[ Raptor Air Superiority Fighter queued. ]

[ Gold: 36,543 (-20,000) => 16,543 ]

[ ETA: 3 hours and 20 minutes ]

------

One of the fixed-wing hangars activated.

Guidance lights appeared across the connected apron, while machinery came alive behind the sealed doors.

Hans dismissed the panel.

Raptor One would be ready in three hours and twenty minutes.

...

The next three hours passed without another flight.

Specter and the Falcon crew completed their report while Flight Operations prepared the notification procedure Hans had ordered.

Hans approved it before sending it to Matilda.

The southern platoons resumed their advance afterward.

Neither had suffered casualties from the infected drawn out by Falcon One. Several additional buildings were marked for later searches, while the recovery teams continued working behind them.

Hans remained at the Airfield.

He checked the perimeter with the Engineers, reviewed the latest reports from Site Three, and watched Falcon One undergo inspection on its landing pad.

Three hours and twenty minutes after the Raptor entered production, the active hangar changed.

The mechanical noise behind its doors stopped.

Green light appeared along the edges of the segmented panels.

Then the hangar opened.

The doors lifted in several heavy sections and exposed the aircraft inside.

Its pointed nose faced the apron.

A dark canopy rested above the forward fuselage, followed by a broad angular frame that widened toward the wings. The surfaces were flat and sharply joined, with few exposed components breaking the aircraft’s outline.

Swept wings extended from both sides.

Two tail fins rose behind them at outward angles, framing the rear section and the paired engines beneath them. The aircraft carried no missiles beneath its wings. Even the weapon openings remained concealed behind fitted panels.

Its entire surface carried a dark gray finish that barely reflected the hangar lights.

Green light faded from beneath the landing gear.

------

[ Raptor Air Superiority Fighter production complete. ]

[ Ground Guidance Crew assigned. ]

------

Personnel emerged from the adjoining service area and moved toward the aircraft.

Hans remained outside the hangar.

Raptor One carried no visible missiles beneath its wings. Its cannon and weapon bays remained concealed behind fitted panels, leaving little exposed across the dark frame.

The aircraft waited on the apron with its pilot still inside.

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