The soldiers had barely finished clearing the yard when Hans returned to the Command Room.
He opened the Barracks interface first.
More soldiers were needed at Route One. The FOB would require its own garrison too once Trailblazer Two was deployed.
"Train two Standard Infantry Squads."
------
[ Standard Infantry Squad x2 queued. ETA: 3 hours and 10 minutes. ]
[ Gold: 108,465 (-19,000) => 89,465 ]
------
One squad could reinforce Route One.
The second would remain available until the FOB plan was finalized.
Without wasting more time, Hans moved to the Energy panel.
------
[ Energy: 943 / 1,200 units. ]
------
Only two hundred and fifty-seven units remained.
The second Pillbox had pushed the usage higher than he expected. And the new Gate consumed 3 Energy Units due to its three-meter width size.
Route One would need more defenses later, and Westgate would eventually require its own perimeter, receiving area, and whatever structures were needed to keep the position functional.
Hans opened the Primary Structures list.
One more Power Plant should be enough for now.
"Queue another Power Plant."
------
[ Power Plant queued. ]
[ Gold: 89,465 (-8,000) => 81,465 ]
[ Construction Time: 13 hours and 20 minutes. ]
------
As expected, Hans narrowed his eyes.
The construction queues for Primary and Secondary Structures were separate.System, you’re the best.
Once completed and deployed, the total Energy capacity would rise to one thousand six hundred units.
The Power Plant did not need to be anywhere near Westgate either. Trailblazer Two would connect its construction radius to the same virtual grid once it was deployed, just as Trailblazer One had done at Route One.
Hans already had several open areas inside the main base where the Power Plant could go later, but there was no reason to decide on one before the construction finished.
That left the FOB location itself.
Matilda entered before Hans closed the interface. Several folders rested beneath one arm, with a folded city map held in her other hand.
"All platoon reports have been consolidated, Commander. Engineer recommendations are separated from the salvage records."
"Survivor contacts?"
"Included in the individual reports."
She placed everything across his desk.
Hans pushed the salvage records aside for later.
"Show me the proposed sites."
Matilda unfolded the city map.
Each proposed site had a number beside it.
The platoons had left matching numbers at the actual locations using paint and reflective survey stakes. If Hans chose one, the Engineers would know the exact ground covered by the report.
"Start from the nearest site."
Matilda placed one finger over the first mark.
"Site One. It is near the first cleared blocks inside Westgate. The road back to Route One is already secured, and Guardian APCs can reach it without difficulty."
She opened the corresponding folder.
"Two low-rise buildings remain usable. One can serve as storage. The other has enough space for temporary quarters."
Hans looked at the marked construction radius.
Most of its western side reached back toward the route they had already cleared.
"Too close to the edge."
"It would be the easiest site to reinforce."
"And half of Trailblazer Two’s radius would cover ground we already control."
Matilda nodded.
"The available space is also limited. A basic perimeter will fit, but expansion would require clearing several surrounding buildings."
Hans moved the report aside.
"What about the survivor groups?"
"One occupied building remains within the proposed perimeter. They declined evacuation."
That made the site worse.
Hans had no intention of forcing them out, but placing a military position around their building would leave them trapped inside it anyway.
"Next."
Matilda moved to the second mark.
"Site Two is farther inside. The platoons found a large paved lot with three roads connecting to it. Enough space for Trailblazer Two, vehicle staging, and an initial defensive perimeter."
"Buildings?"
"Several around the lot. Mostly commercial. The Engineers marked two as usable, but the eastern row still needs a structural inspection."
Hans checked the notes.
The proposed radius covered more of Westgate this time. It also reached several blocks the sweep teams had only passed through once.
"How secure is it?"
"The western and southern approaches were cleared. The northern road remains partially blocked. The eastern blocks were inspected, but not fully searched."
"So we would have to secure the area again before deployment."
"Yes, Commander."
Hans did not reject it yet.
A position farther inside would save time during future sweeps. It would also place the FOB closer to any survivor groups they recovered deeper in the district.
Still, Trailblazer Two would become the center of everything built around it.
A poor site would stay poor even after Walls were placed around it.
"The third one."
Matilda opened another folder.
"Site Three lies between the first two."
The mark sat farther from Route One than the nearest option, but not as deep as Site Two.
"A distribution yard with two adjoining lots," Matilda continued. "The main road runs along the southern side. A second road continues deeper into Westgate. Both are wide enough for armored vehicles."
She pointed to the surrounding blocks.
"One warehouse remains usable. The office buildings neighboring it can be cleared for survivor processing and temporary accommodation. There is also enough open ground to separate civilians from vehicle staging."
"Several freight containers, delivery trucks, concrete barriers, and sections of industrial fencing also remain around the adjoining blocks," Matilda continued. "The Engineers recommend leaving most of them where they are until the defensive plan is complete."
Hans looked at her.
"For obstacles?"
"Yes, Commander. They can be repositioned to narrow the approaches, slow anything moving toward the yard, and preserve the wider lanes needed by our vehicles."
That would allow the Engineers to shape the surrounding roads without forcing Hans to spend Gold on every defensive layer.
Hans traced the expected radius with one finger.
Most of it covered uncleared Westgate.
There was space for Walls, Pillboxes, another receiving station, and whatever else became necessary later. Route One would remain close enough for reinforcements without wasting most of the PCV’s coverage on the road behind them.
"What about its problems?"
"The northern edge is bordered by several residential buildings. The sweep teams found no neutral markers, but they did not enter every unit. The ground itself appeared stable. Engineers still recommend an inspection before deployment."
That was reasonable.
Hans looked between the three marks again.
Site One was safe but cramped.
Site Two reached farther, though too much around it remained uncertain.
The third sat somewhere between both problems.
"Prepare Trailblazer Two for transport."
Matilda straightened.
"We are selecting Site Three?"
"We are inspecting it first. If the ground matches the report, we will deploy Trailblazer in that location."
"Understood."
Hans closed the folder.
The two new squads would finish training before morning. The Power Plant would take longer, but it should be close to completion by the time the FOB required anything beyond its first defenses.
Matilda gathered the rejected reports, but Hans kept his eyes on the map.
Several hostile concentrations remained deeper inside Westgate. The sweep teams had avoided them and marked their locations instead.
"Are all of these within Hellhammer range?"
"Yes, Commander. Even the farthest concentration remains inside the twenty-five-kilometer limit."
Hans leaned closer.
He could begin pounding them tonight.
The Hellhammers had remained inactive for a while now. He could use them to remove hundreds before Trailblazer Two even entered the district. Perhaps thousands if the infected were packed closely enough.
But the shells would not kill everything.
Anything outside the impact areas could scatter through the surrounding blocks. If one of the hives responded, the entire district might begin moving before Route One or the new FOB was ready to receive it.
Hans tapped Site Three.
"Prepare firing solutions for the roads leading toward this position and the deeper concentrations."
"No bombardment yet?"
"Not until the PCV is deployed and the first defensive line is finished."
Matilda nodded.
"Understood."
"If the artillery wakes up everything inside Westgate, I want somewhere for them to run into. And our infantry well-defended to hold our anchor here."
"Perhaps the Commander is interested on another test run?"
Hans chuckled. "You’ve read my mind."
Matilda gathered the remaining folders.
Trailblazer Two would move at first light.
The Hellhammers would remain silent until Hans was prepared to handle the infected’s reaction, whatever case it may be.
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