RTS System in the Apocalypse: New World

Echo One hastened their pace and returned to the embankment where the corpses remained stuck.

The smell of rotting flesh welcomed them again.

The Scouts had no choice but to raise their masks as they passed. None of them stopped to inspect the bodies this time.

"Tch," Echo One-One cursed. "No wonder there are dead bodies here. That automated system must have killed these folks."

"They’re infected," Echo One-Two argued. "No need to pity them."

"One-One, switch places and take point," Dmitri ordered, cutting their chatter. "One-Three, watch our rear."

The formation shifted without slowing down.

Dmitri glanced toward the concrete channel behind them.

It did not pursue us? He narrowed his eyes.

No mechanical footsteps echoed between the utility structures. No additional machine appeared along the embankment either. Still, he did not allow himself nor the squad to relax.

"We return through the same route," he said. "No unnecessary stops."

"What about the Commander?" Echo One-Two asked.

"We’ll contact the base once the signal returns."

Echo One continued west along the river until they reached an empty bridge. They crossed toward the southern bank and continued back toward Grefort.

Once enough distance separated them from the power plant, their pace gradually eased.

The rest of the retreat remained uneventful, much to Echo One’s relief.

The familiar industrial structures gradually returned around them.

Warehouses, freight yards, and damaged loading facilities replaced the scattered utility compounds farther north. Several roads had already been cleared by Hans’s soldiers, while temporary barriers redirected movement toward the base.

Echo One slowed as barricades and outer defenses came into view.

Dmitri looked at the Radar map, noticing that the main base was still far ahead.

They’ve set up camp?

Meanwhile, two soldiers stationed behind the barricade noticed them.

"Friendly units approaching the perimeter," one of them called out.

The other soldier looked through his binoculars.

"Four Scouts and two Attack Dogs," he turned to his communicator and spoke. "Friendlies, this is Watcher Six. Identify yourselves."

His communicator suddenly buzzed.

"Watcher Six, this is Echo One approaching."

"Watcher Six copies, Echo One. Opening the barricade."

"Negative, Watcher Six," Dmitri replied. "Echo One is requesting an immediate medical examination. Possible biological contamination from our mission. Keep all friendly units away from us for now."

He still could not understand why the machine had identified all four Scouts as infected.

Perhaps its scanner was malfunctioning. Perhaps it had detected something harmless. But Dmitri was not willing to endanger the entire base under either assumption.

The soldier on the other side frowned.

"Watcher Six copies. Hold your position."

He turned toward the second guard.

"Keep the barricade closed. Nobody approaches them."

The other soldier immediately stepped away from the entrance.

Watcher Six raised his communicator again.

"This is Watcher Six to all APC units. Requesting transport on friendlies at the marked coordinate. Possible contamination involving four returning Scouts. Immediate medical support upon return is highly advised."

Silence ensued for several seconds. And then, his communicator buzzed.

"This is Bastion Three to Watcher Six. Got your last."

The APC commander paused for a moment. "We’re returning from the northern patrol route. Arrival in several minutes."

"Watcher Six copies."

"We’ll transport them directly to the medical facility," Bastion Three continued. "Keep them locked tight for now."

Watcher Six looked toward Echo One.

"Understood. Be advised, four Scouts are possibly contaminated. Two Attack Dogs are accompanying them."

"Bastion Three copies. Our troop compartment is empty."

Dmitri listened to their exchange through his communicator.

"Watcher Six, inform Bastion Three that none of us are injured," he added. "We only require examination."

The guard repeated the information.

"Understood," the APC commander answered. "Echo One, remain at your current position. Do not approach the vehicle until instructed."

"Echo One copies."

The communication ended.

Dmitri lowered his communicator and looked toward the Scouts.

"What do we do now, squad leader?" Echo One-One asked.

"We wait here."

No one argued.

Several minutes later, the sound of an approaching engine echoed between the warehouses.

Watcher Six looked toward one of the adjoining industrial roads.

A Guardian APC emerged from behind a line of damaged freight vehicles and turned toward the barricade.

"Bastion Three approaching," its commander reported through the communicator.

"Watcher Six copies."

The soldiers moved farther away from the road while Bastion Three slowed near Echo One’s position.

Instead, the APC stopped on the same side as the returning Scouts, keeping several meters of distance between them.

It did not cross the barricade.

Its turret remained pointed toward the empty road behind Echo One.

"This is Bastion Three," the commander spoke. "Echo One, approach the rear compartment."

Dmitri acknowledged.

The rear ramp lowered.

No crew member stepped outside.

"Everyone inside," Dmitri ordered.

The Scouts entered first. Both Attack Dogs followed their handlers, and Dmitri boarded last.

The ramp closed behind them.

Watcher Six remained at the checkpoint as Bastion Three turned around and proceeded along the secured industrial route toward the base.

The trip did not take long.

Several minutes later, the APC turned into the base and headed directly toward the medical building.

Soldiers nearby were ordered to clear the road before the vehicle arrived. By the time Bastion Three stopped near the entrance, no one remained within several meters of it.

The rear ramp remained closed.

"Bastion Three to Medical," the APC commander contacted through the communicator. "Possible contaminated units have arrived."

A female voice answered moments later.

"Medical copies. Keep the passengers inside until instructed."

Dmitri looked toward the sealed ramp.

Through the narrow viewing slit, he saw two female Medics moving inside the building. Both wore sterile tactical uniforms and carried their bio-scanner tablets.

One of them approached the entrance but remained inside.

"Echo One," her voice came through the communicator. "Remove your weapons and leave them inside the vehicle. Enter one at a time when the ramp opens."

Dmitri glanced at the others.

"You heard her."

The Scouts removed their MP7s, pistols, knives, and remaining grenades before placing them beneath the seats.

"What about the dogs?" Echo One-Two asked.

"Bring them inside," the Medic replied. "They will also be examined."

Dmitri nodded toward Echo One-One.

"You first."

The rear ramp slowly lowered.

Echo One-One stepped out and walked toward the medical building. The Medic waiting inside gestured for him to enter without coming any closer.

Once he passed through the doorway, the second Medic raised her bio-scanner tablet.

"Stand still."

A thin light moved across his body.

The rest of Echo One waited inside the APC as the examination began.

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