RTS System in the Apocalypse: New World

Hostile markers filled the surrounding five kilometers. Most remained concentrated farther north, while smaller groups occupied the factories, warehouses, and adjoining streets between the company and the Hive. The surface and underground contacts inside the five-kilometer radius approached at least one million.

Bastion One remained behind South One’s armored line. Kimmy sat beside Yunera inside its troop compartment, listening to the reports moving between the platoons while the Guardian APC continued toward the final staging point.

She could sense the infected farther north, but Command already had the wider battlefield through Hans’s Virtual Radar.

Her attention remained on the areas closer to South One, waiting in case Hans detected something his markers could not explain.

Bastion One slowed behind a line of Vanguards. Engines continued running around them, but the formation stopped advancing.

Anton stood through the commander’s hatch of the lead Guardian APC.

The road ahead passed between two warehouse blocks before opening into the selected firing lane. South One occupied the western side while South Two moved into the eastern route, leaving enough distance between the armored lines for Specter Squad to pass through once the infected followed.

The other platoons closed the roads behind them.

"South One Actual to Command. Forward positions established."

"Command receives," Matilda answered. "Hold until Specter Squad begins movement."

"South One copies."

Anton lowered himself into the APC.

Far behind them, Falcon One lifted from the Airfield.

The helicopter climbed high enough to clear the outer structures before turning toward the northern district. Its rotors remained loud across the open sections of Grefort, though the sound became less distinct once the aircraft entered the industrial blocks.

Specter Squad waited inside.

The four DASF operators sat facing one another, rifles secured against their chests while the fast ropes remained folded beside the open doors. None spoke as Falcon One passed over the first abandoned factories.

Flight Operations continued sending the selected route through the cockpit display.

"Falcon One entering the northern approach," the pilot reported.

"Continue," Matilda answered.

Specter Squad entered Ironford through the southern freight road. The helicopter descended between two rows of damaged buildings.

Its pilot followed the wider service roads where the rotor clearance remained sufficient, then crossed a collapsed loading yard before turning toward the selected warehouse.

The Hive remained farther north, hidden behind layers of factories, storage buildings, and infected-filled streets.

Several infected looked toward the sound as Falcon One passed. They stepped from doorways and narrow alleys, but the helicopter was already gone before they gathered under its route.

Inside the Armored Command Truck, Hans watched several hostile markers turn toward Falcon One’s route.

"The outer groups noticed them."

Matilda followed the movement across the operational display.

"Scattered contacts only. Falcon One, continue."

"Falcon One copies."

More markers entered the streets behind the helicopter, though none moved fast enough to remain close to it.

Hans shifted his attention farther north.

One marker remained inside a building north of the selected warehouse.

The infected around it had begun spreading toward Falcon One, but the contact itself had not moved.

Hans enlarged the position.

"Send that building to Oracle."

Matilda transferred the coordinates to Bastion One.

The soldier beside Kimmy read the direction and distance.

Kimmy turned toward it and concentrated.

"I can sense something there."

"Is it moving?" Hans asked through the channel.

"No. The infected around it are moving, but that one is staying where it is."

Hans kept the marker selected.

"Continue watching it. It might be another case of a broodmother."

"Understood."

Falcon One cleared the final factory.

The selected warehouse appeared ahead, its reinforced roof wide enough for the insertion. A ventilation structure occupied the eastern side, while the southern stairwell connected to the planned withdrawal route.

"Thirty seconds," the pilot announced.

Specter Squad rose from their seats.

Specter and Warden took the doors first. Chancel and Harrow secured the remaining ropes behind them as Falcon One crossed the southern edge of the warehouse, slowed, then climbed several meters above the roof.

The ropes dropped.

Specter and Warden descended before the lines stopped swinging. Their boots struck the concrete almost together.

Chancel and Harrow followed.

"Specter Actual. Squad deployed."

Falcon One released the ropes and turned south.

The ten Strikers remained divided across the company’s outer holding lanes.

They had been airborne before Falcon One entered Ironford, positioned far enough from the Hive that the insertion could proceed without revealing the full air package. Flight Operations kept the five Apache sections separated around the company, covering the outer approaches and the route Specter Squad would use during withdrawal.

The helicopter passed over the adjoining service road before dropping between the surrounding factories. Its signal remained on the operational display while it continued toward the extraction position selected by Flight Operations.

Specter raised one hand.

Warden took the northern edge. Harrow crossed toward the southern stairwell, while Chancel remained near the ventilation structure and extended her senses through the upper floors.

"Roof clear," she reported. "Movement inside the building. Mostly lower levels."

"Anything large?"

"Not here."

Specter approached the northern side.

Several infected had already entered the loading yard. More came from the adjoining streets, drawn by Falcon One’s passage, though most still wandered without any clear direction.

The marked building remained farther north.

Its stationary contact had not changed position.

"Begin the probe," Matilda ordered.

"Copy."

Warden fired first.

The .338 round passed through the head of one infected and entered another standing several steps behind it. Two more shots followed, throwing bodies across the loading entrance before the rest of the group turned toward the roof.

Harrow fired a smart grenade into the street.

The detonation tore through the infected gathering between two abandoned delivery trucks. Glass burst from the nearest windows, followed by several figures stumbling out of the surrounding structures.

Hans watched their markers change direction.

"The first groups are coming."

Matilda kept the company channel open.

"South One and South Two, hold. Specter has not started withdrawing."

"South One copies."

"South Two copies."

Specter Squad continued firing.

The HCMARs carried farther than the smaller weapons used by ordinary infantry. Each shot crossed the yard and reached the groups forming along the northern road, forcing more infected to turn toward the warehouse.

Their movement spread through the surrounding blocks.

What had begun as scattered reactions became several groups converging toward the same position.

Hans shifted the Virtual Radar north.

The fixed marker remained inside the building Kimmy had identified.

Three stronger contacts appeared around it.

One entered the upper floor. Another crossed toward the eastern street, while the third moved west through a narrow gap between two factories.

"They’re spreading around the warehouse," Hans warned.

Matilda enlarged the shared map.

"They are not joining the main group."

"No. They’re taking the side roads."

Inside Bastion One, Kimmy felt the connection sharpen.

Her hands tightened against her knees.

"Hans?"

"I’m listening."

"It is reaching them."

"The stationary one?"

"I think so. Something is passing from that building toward the infected around it."

Hans kept the contact selected.

"Does it feel like Highcross?"

Kimmy followed the connection for several seconds.

"Yes. The stationary contact is another Broodmother. The stronger infected are connected to it."

Matilda looked toward Hans.

Highcross had already shown that a rooted controller could organize infected without exposing itself, and this one had begun separating stronger contacts before Specter Squad entered the withdrawal route.

Hans opened the squad channel.

"Specter, three enhanced contacts are approaching from separate sides. One east, one west, one on the upper floor of the marked building."

"Received."

Specter looked toward Chancel.

She turned her head toward the eastern blocks.

"I can feel the first two. The eastern contact is moving faster."

"Warden, maintain pressure. Harrow, southern exit."

Both men adjusted.

Warden continued firing into the loading yard, keeping the growing mass focused on the roof. Harrow crossed back toward the stairwell and checked the service road through the southern windows.

Specter watched the building farther north.

A figure appeared briefly along an exposed walkway.

Its body remained close to human proportions. Torn black clothing covered part of its torso, while several straps hung from what looked like a damaged tactical harness.

The figure stopped near the railing. It faced the warehouse, then it disappeared through the doorway behind it.

"Specter Actual. Fallen Cell contact confirmed. Same equipment pattern as Highcross."

Hans marked the sighting.

"Do not pursue."

"Understood."

Specter kept watching the doorway. The western enhanced contact changed direction.

Instead of continuing toward the warehouse, it entered the road leading toward Specter Squad’s withdrawal route. The eastern contact followed several seconds later.

"They’re trying to cut them off," Hans warned.

Matilda opened the ground channel.

"South One, prepare the forward section. Specter may return with contacts ahead of them."

"South One copies."

Specter stepped away from the roof’s northern edge.

"Squad, withdraw."

Harrow opened the stairwell door.

Chancel entered first, followed by Warden. Specter fired two final rounds into the loading yard before joining them, while Harrow remained at the rear long enough to send another grenade into the northern road.

The explosion drew the main concentration forward.

Specter Squad entered the stairwell.

The infected below had already started gathering around the building, but most remained near the northern entrances. Chancel led them through the southern corridor, tracking the contacts closing from both sides.

"East contact, eighty meters."

"West?" Specter asked.

"One hundred ten. Closing slower."

"Main concentration?"

"Still following."

Harrow reached the ground floor and forced the service door open.

The southern road remained clear.

Specter Squad crossed it at once.

Hans watched the four friendly markers leave the warehouse while hundreds of hostile contacts followed through the surrounding streets. The two enhanced markers continued toward the same route, attempting to reach the firing lane before them.

The stationary contact remained inside the northern building.

Kimmy kept following the faint connection.

"It is still controlling them."

Hans did not look away from the Radar.

The first probe had already confirmed another Broodmother and at least part of another fallen SAS Cell inside the Hive’s territory.

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