RTS System in the Apocalypse-Chapter 51: First Step into the City

Four days passed in the blink of an eye.

A small squad of soldiers stood atop a wooden watchtower. Their eyes surveyed the distant fields ahead, their hands tightly gripping the cold guns.

"What’s happening over there?" one of the guards pointed north.

"The operation has started," their squad leader spoke. "Keep an eye out. Don’t be distracted by their parade."

"Yes!"

The squad leader squinted, watching the long formation of soldiers marching straight into the bridge.

Their loud steps reverberated far, reaching the ears of a few residents who stopped by the river. The children waved their hands in joy while the adults returned to the water, fetching a pail for today’s supply.

"Papa, the water tastes funny!"

"Tony, don’t drink the water on your own!"

A parent seized his son’s hand who was trying to scoop another mouthful.

"It hasn’t been boiled yet, why are you so impatient?!"

"But it does taste funny, papa..." the child’s face fell.

Dmitri stole a glance at the commotion, then shifted back at the road in front. It stretched into an intersection, cars blockading the road as if it was their only reason of existence.

His squad of scouts and Yunera took their first steps inside Grefort City.

"Echo Actual, moving into the first building."

They pivoted to the right, only to encounter an empty room and broken shards of glass. The wind funneled from the open space, blowing the dust off their clothes.

"First building’s empty. Moving to the next."

"Copy, Echo Actual," Adrian responded. "Echo One securing left."

Another squad of scouts followed after Dmitri, their movements focusing on the western side.

The wooden floors creaked as their feet pressed in, breaking the silence. Through the window, one could see a sparser block of buildings, less than what was in the east.

Adrian slowly paced on the bloodied stairwell. His aim swiveled to the right.

Then, he stopped, raising his left hand.

"Contact inside building two," he warned. "Neutralizing threat."

Bullets struck the two zombies wandering around the corridor. As their bodies thumped into the floor, a few more popped their heads into Adrian’s view.

Six bullets lodged into the wall on the far end. Sun light shone through the holes, dimly illuminating the dark corridor.

"Nice shot," Adrian complimented himself. "Building two is cleared of residents."

Adrian and his squad continued. Within half an hour, the first block into the city was cleaned off of zombies.

"Zone 1 has been secured," Dmitri spoke through the comms. "Anchor Actual, you may proceed."

"Roger that, Echo Actual," an army soldier replied. "Anchor Teams on their way."

The two exploration squads gathered under a shaded bus stop shelter, near the intersection. Around them, the soldiers put up makeshift barriers into the road and the small alleys.

"First step achieved," Adrian chuckled. "That was easier than expected."

"Don’t let your guard down," Dmitri snorted. "We’ve reached the first zone. A couple more to work today."

"Let’s race, Dmitri," Adrian invited. "I—"

"Not interested," Dmitri cut him off, unfurling the large map from his bag. "From this point, we’re expanding northeast. The Commander wants these two jewelry shops and this bank within two days. If you want to race against something, you can play with the Commander’s tasks."

"Tsk, you’re no fun." Adrian picked his ears, blowing the dirt away.

"We have no time to hole up here," Dmitri rolled the map and secured it. "Echo teams moving onto Zone 2. Longbow Actual, are you in position?"

"This is Longbow Actual. Sniper teams, waiting for your ass to get going." Zolyah chuckled as she radioed in.

Dmitri turned his head to the rooftop. Zolyah performed a salute before she zoomed in on the scope.

"See anything fun on the field, Sofia?" she asked.

"This distance is too far," Sofia argued. "We should take another point."

"What are you talking about?" Zolyah was confused. "Do you see any other building as tall as this?"

Sofia remained silent. Her binoculars hovered over the Echo Teams as they crossed another intersection.

"Stay frosty," Adrian cautiously strode ahead. "These cars are good at surprising us."

Under the shattered bumper of a green car lay the crushed head of an unfortunate human. Her hand reached out through a hole, lifeless and pale.

Yunera’s stomach churned at the sight, holding her mouth with her shivering hand.

"First time?" Adrian grinned.

"Don’t stimulate her," Dmitri swatted him away. "Keep your eyes in front. Kimmy, can you sense what’s happening ahead?"

"I can," Kimmy took a deep breath as she focused her mind. An invisible wave of aura pulsed from her body.

When it rippled back, a faint layer of the area formed inside her mind.

"There are zombies, hundreds of them."

Despite her words, the streets were empty aside from the broken cars. A chilling sensation welled within Dmitri.

"In the buildings?" He repeated.

"Yes," she added. "They are scattered in clusters. They’re waiting, for something. I don’t know. You should be careful."

"What now?" Adrian halted. "Straight ahead?"

"We have to clear the zombies," Dmitri observed the eerily calm street. "Doesn’t matter where they are. We can’t take any chances."

"What do you propose?"

"Longbow Actual, something’s off in this block," Dmitri glanced at Zolyah’s position. "I need vision up top."

Sofia handed a rectangular sling bag. Zolyah retrieved the drone and put it on the ground.

With the controller on her hand, the blades whirred into motion. In no time, a small drone whistled past the two 12-man squad, heading deep into the block.

"No hiccups here, Echo Actual." Zolyah scanned the drone’s feedback.

"Keep looking," Dmitri insisted. "Check the structures."

"Alright."

The drone drifted in the air, swiveling the camera left to right. Zombies could be seen wandering near the windows, their tattered clothes fluttering from the cold wind.

It flashed by another building. Then, it halted.

"Saw something, Echo Actual," Zolyah focused on the screen. "One-storey building, right side. Its roof collapsed. Tried to peek over but the debris is blocking my vision. Best to investigate it in person."

Dmitri frowned, "How far?"

"Around ten, no, twelve, buildings away," Zolyah adjusted the camera.

"Noted, Longbow Actual," he said, "Echo teams on the move. We’ll investigate that anomaly, over."

"Thanks, Echo Actual. Longbow Actual, out."

Adrian approached as Dmitri ended the call.

"So, what’s the verdict?"

"You take the left," Dmitri ordered. "I’ll take the right. Something’s up ahead, collapsed roof. I don’t think it’s a coincidence."

"Really? Well, we’ll find that out later," Adrian took Kimmy’s hand. "I’ll be dragging her around. See you on the other side."

Dmitri led his squad to the back, stumbling upon a locked door.

"Longbow Actual, any changes?" he knelt, picking the lock.

"All’s good and silent, Echo Actual."

The door clicked. Dmitri slowly pushed it open.

Metal pans and pots scattered in a mess around the small kitchen room.

From the sink came a bad odor. He covered his nose and leaned—spoiled soup with a floating meat greeted his view.

He ignored the stench and resumed forward. At the edge of his vision lay the outline of a few white-clothed zombies.

Four bullets shot their heads, splatting blood upon the burned wall.

Suddenly, a tingling sensation hit his mind. What was that?

Hopkins, his second-in-command, bumped into Dmitri.

"Squad leader," he asked. "Is something the matter?"

Dmitri frowned, flushing that sensation out of his mind. "Nothing. Check those corners."

The team moved in. Yunera almost vomited while the rest cleared the room.

"Kitchen’s good," Dmitri shifted to the next. "Go upstairs—"

Just as he ordered, loud footsteps came from every direction. Dmitri raised his gun; the muzzle aimed at the three rushing zombies.

Their momentum fell as he shot their heads; yet more came from upstairs.

"Squad leader, look out!"

Hopkins fired. Two missed the mark, barely grazing the agitated faces of the zombies.

They lunged toward Dmitri, the rotten claws almost grasping his clothes.

"You won’t!"

Yunera dashed through the formation, her blade swinging in a large arc. When the light flashed, the heads of the two zombies dropped.

Another group darted from the restrooms. Yunera turned around, swinging her blade upon their necks.

Dmitri exhaled, dazed from the sight. Amidst the commotion, his comm buzzed.

"Echo teams, I don’t know if you’re seeing this, but you need to get out of there fast!" Zolyah interrupted. "Zombies are converging into your position. I repeat, zombies are converging into your position!"

Dmitri clicked his tongue in annoyance and with a chop, signaled to his squad. "Move out of the building!"

The front door broke down as zombies barged in. He turned his back to the team, shooting down a few more on their way out.

"Echo One, do you copy? Operation’s been compromised. You have to—"

"Fuck!" Adrian cursed. "Echo Actual, zombies ambushed us. Are you there? We need backup, over!"

"Copy, Echo One," Dmitri reconsidered. "Echo Actual on the move."

He patted Hopkins’s shoulder and announced, "Echo One’s in trouble. We need to help them."

Across the street, Adrian’s team barely held on as the zombies cornered them in a room. Adrian reloaded his gun, muttering curses in the process.

Kimmy hugged herself on the side, inaudible sounds coming out of her dried lips.

Loud thuds slammed on the door as Alexei exerted strength blocking the zombies from the other side.

"Squad leader," he shouted. "I can’t hold against these zombies much longer!"

Ryan approached, "Squad leader. Give us the order to open fire, or we’ll be overrun!"

"You think I have time to argue about that?" Adrian rebutted. "Open fire, damn it!"

Alexei grinned, "I’ve been waiting for this!"

He leapt away, releasing his left arm’s struggle.

The zombies slammed over, bringing down not only the door but also themselves. Their weakened limbs struggled as they recovered, but only for a moment.

Gunshots blasted their heads open. Then a few more rushed from the corridor, gunned to death.

With cleared space, the team took a breather. Alexei and Ryan lined up the doorway—one poking out to the left, the other to the right.

Ryan’s view was clear. Alexei wasn’t. Without hesitation, his hands pulled the trigger.

Nothing moved past his ruthless and accurate salvo. Any zombie that tried didn’t finish trying.

The gun fell silent, and so did the hallway.

"Good job," Adrian patted Alexei’s shoulder. "Now, let’s get the hell out of here before more of them comes over."

Like a cue, the wooden walls were torn open.

"Fuck!" Adrian didn’t bother to argue as he pulled the shivering Kimmy to his arms and ran. "Alexei, cover our rear. Ryan, support him."

"Roger that, squad leader!"

Alexei’s feet shifted with the team. One inch forward to the exit for them, an inch backward closer to him.

The casings dropped in rhythm to his movement. The zombies, as if allured by the bullets, mimicked his pace.

He’s got the talent, alright! Adrian complimented. "Door ahead! Ryan, slam it!"

Ryan took over, busting the door open with a kick. Arms raised, he noticed lights flashing on the corridor ahead.

"Friendlies!" He shouted, signaling with his own light as well.

"Took you long enough," Adrian snorted, huffing as he picked up his pace.

"Glad you’re still alive," Dmitri patted as the other team passed over. "Alexei, round it up. You’re going to get left behind."

Alexei threw away the vanishing magazine while he switched to a fresh one. The zombies chased after him like he owed them money.

"Sorry guys," he laughed, pulling his gun away, "Got no time to play with you."

Alexei sprinted toward the formation, covered by Dmitri on the way out. The two teams dashed toward the second intersection, arriving in an open space.

Adrian panted, putting the shivering Kimmy down.

"Are they gone?"

"Longbow Actual, give us a sit-rep, over." Dmitri turned around.

"Luck’s on your side, Echo Actual," Zolyah monitored the streets. "I don’t know what happened, or what you did but the zombies are retreating from your position! That was a close call, over."

"What?" Dmitri gasped. "They retreated?!"