RTS System in the Apocalypse-Chapter 61: Climax — Operation: Hive Buster

Hans observed the changes in the Radar map. The red dots vanished, one large chunk at a time until none was left.

The barrage of explosions stopped, marking the end of the barrage from his Guardian GIs.

"The vanguard has defeated the enemy," he muttered, then signaled to the driver. "Move forward. The area ahead should be safe."

The driver pressed on the gas, roaring the stagnant engine back to life. As he went past the Recover squads, Hans’s heart tightened at the sight of his injured soldiers.

WIth a deep breath, he looked away and focused in front.

"Move to the right," a voice shouted. "Path’s blocked over there."

"Aight, thanks."

The armored SUV took a right turn into an alley and exited in a rugged road. Hans held on for his dear life until they returned to the asphalted sections.

By the time they arrived at the edge of the block, the vanguard team has already made their way into the entrance of the fish processing center area.

"The firefight has started," Hans glanced at the Radar map. "Hurry into the front. We—"

At the corner of his eye, on the left of the map, he noticed a lone soldier running towards their position.

Hans turned to that direction and realized that it was a member of the sniper teams.

"Zolyah!"

The poor woman trekked through the rough terrain while carrying a heavy weapon case and her tactical pack.

"Pick her up, then we proceed," he signaled to the driver. The car’s rear wheels spun in place, emitting thick smoke.

Zolyah raised her head, wondering what that loud sound was all about. Her eyes picked up an approaching armored SUV, one that she was too familiar with.

"The Commander?" She wondered. "What is he doing here? Picking me up?"

The car slid through the dry ground, stopping meters in front of her. The side door opened, welcoming her presence. Behind it, Hans extended a hand.

"Don’t act surprised now, Zolyah," he reminded. "Get in, we have to support the rest."

"Yes!"

The door closed and the car raced into its destination. From the distance, loud gunfire could already be seen, yet no trace of worry could be seen in Hans’s face.

In the Radar map, the cluster of red dots has been slowly eroded from the outer areas back to the inner areas.

The ammo refresh has started, Hans thought. And that Light APC is nearing promotion too.

------

Light Armored Personnel Carrier (L-APC)

Star Promotion: 0 - 7780/ 12000

Primary: 12.7mm MG Turret, 1000 rounds, Effective range of 900 m, moderate fire rate

Transport Capacity: 10 infantry units, Passengers cannot fire from the inside

Command & Support Systems: Internal comms relay node, Squad and platoon-level signal booster

Vehicle Systems: Light composite armor, Reinforced suspension for troop weight, Basic fire-control optics

Front Armor: Light-medium

Side Armor: Light

Rear Armor: Light

Fuel: Refreshes every 36 hours.

Description: Full tactical upgrade. Configurable as troop carrier or mobile command. Has internal comms relay for platoon coordination.

------

Hans realized that the machine gunner didn’t gain any star-promotion score as it was all attributed into the Light APC instead.

That makes sense, he scratched his cheek. I should make use of Ryan or a max 3-star Army Soldier for this role.

He didn’t want any assigned machine gunner to ’leak’ star-promotions into the Light APC unintended.

"Commander, we’re nearing to the area," the driver shouted. "Any orders?"

"Keep driving," Hans replied. "Stop when we’re fifty meters away from them."

Up in the air, the spores thickened into an alarming degree. The sky has been blocked, leaving only a yellowish sight above them.

Hans frowned, feeling uneasy about the floating spores.

The explosions and gunfire loudened, attracting his attention.

The Light APC’s machine gunner rotated the turret and aimed at the approaching zombies.

"Can’t hinder me, you sons of bitches," he clicked his tongue. "I’ve refreshed, so what are you gonna do?"

While he enjoyed the slaughter, a distant engine sound distracted his thoughts.

"The Commander is here!" He slapped on the plate. "Deploy the Cinder squads, now!"

Jack and the rest disembarked not long after, making their way through the chaos. The machine gunner supported their tracks, careful of their aim and fire.

The armored SUV stopped once they sighted the Light APC.

Hans grunted at the hard brake, "Careful, or you’ll break my neck!"

The driver cowered, frowning on his own idiotic actions. Hans ignored him and looked at Zolyah.

"Find a point and cover us," he glanced around. "That office over there should be good enough. You four, guard her."

The Army Soldiers nodded, exiting the car together with Zolyah. They sped into the flanks, downing any zombies they encountered on the way.

"What about me?"

"Just like last time."

...

The Guardian GIs started deploying the MK19 Grenade Launcher. Jack’s hand momentarily slipped, tumbling the tripod he had set up.

"Jack, you okay?" Victor held onto the heavy arsenal, glancing at Jack’s throbbing forehead. "Ahh, you’re not very okay now."

He scanned the other teams. The gunners were no different to Jack, losing focus with sweat rolling hard on their face.

"I’m okay..." Jack responded after a while, picking up the pace. "Feed the belt for me."

Victor went around, grabbed the fresh grenade belt, and attached it to the gun. With a few clicks and deep breaths, Jack glanced at the mountain of triangular flesh ahead.

The open ’vents’ breathed out spores, launching them into the air.

Jack shook his head, fluttering his eyes in confusion.

I... can’t think. What is going on?

He pounded his chest and bit his tongue, re-igniting his focus. After adjusting the aim, he fired the first salvo.

Two went wide.

The three hit its mark.

The hive’s messy triangular body, looking like a volcano, shrunk and roared in pain. Its skin hissed, emitting pinkish smoke.

At that moment, a large bulge moved from the fish processing center across the network of flesh, soon devoured by the main body.

Jack watched as the chunked-off parts regenerated, becoming fresh in almost an instant.

"Did you see it?" He turned to his buddy.

"Yeah," Victor frowned. "That thing is feeding off the fishes."

"You think I can win?" Jack doubted.

"Not just you, but can we?" Victor snorted. "Can they?"

Five more explosions hit the hive’s body, much to no avail.

"They ain’t seeing it," Jack gripped his rifle. "We have to tell them."

Another round of explosions hit the hive’s main body, interrupting their discussion.

That won’t do, Jack aimed at the approaching zombies. A single shot from a tank would have injured it. Severely. No need for all of this.

"Cinder One, why are you not firing?"

Hans arrived, giving them a strange look.

"Commander," Jack lowered his rifle and pointed at the dense network of flesh. "The hive is consuming flesh from that building. It will regenerate faster than we can injure it. The connection must be destroyed, or we will lose."

Hans looked at the fish processing center and realized a thick mass of flesh connecting it and the hive’s main body.

One could see enlarged areas popping with blood, producing another fresh zombie on its way. The sight disgusted him, worsened by the pulsating movements of that massive flesh.

"Then let’s destroy it. Give me your gun."

He grabbed hold of Jack’s MK19 and stored it inside his storage bag.

"Victor, order those Cinder squads to stop firing and wait for my ping."

"Yes, Commander!"

"Spear Three, lead us to that area," he pinged into their squad. "Cinder One needs to destroy that network. We have no time!"

"Roger, Commander," Spear Three’s squad leader gestured to his men. "We’ll lead the way. Follow us!"

The once paved concrete was now battered in flesh and blood, both from the hive and the zombies.

The squad made their way near the door entrance to the fish processing center. A horde of zombies surrounded it, protecting something.

Spear Three fired, erasing their presence before it erased them.

"Where should I put it?" Hans shouted.

"Over there, Commander!"

With a flick of his hand, the MK19 reappeared on the spot—its muzzle already aimed at the target.

"Blow it, now!"

Hans retrieved his gun, fighting with his soldiers for the first time. His fingers gently pulled the trigger. His arms accurately led the muzzle towards a zombies’ face.

The headshots surprised everyone, eager to compete with their Commander.

Meanwhile, Jack sat down, almost tripping to the ground.

Something’s bothering me, ergh!

Hans grabbed ahold of Jack’s shoulder. The man’s pale face told him everything he needed to know.

The spores! Hans peered above. Are they interfering with my soldiers’ performance? Does it carry the psychic aura too?

"Squad leader, I..." one of Spear Three’s Army Soldier complained. "My head... its splitting, urgh..."

He knelt to the ground, keeping that rifle pointed to the enemy while clutching his head.

"Commander, the Conscripts and Army Soldiers cannot hold it in," Spear Three’s squad leader shouted. "That hive must be destroyed now!"

"Rargh!"

A zombie clawed its way into Jack, ignoring Spear Three and Hans.

"You dare!"

Hans released his rifle and seized his knife. The edge dug deep into the zombie’s brain.

Hans grunted, pushing the zombie to the ground. The knife twisted to the left, ceasing the zombie’s struggle.

"Raaarrrggghhhh!"

A brute smashed through the entrance doors and glared at Hans. Its hands fidgeted, wanting to smash him to death.

Hans’s ears perked up.

A .50 Cal pierced the air, then the brute’s head.

"Heh, can’t win over a—"

The MK19 fired, startling Hans.

Grenades launched into the air and bombed the network of flesh connected to the fish processing center.

Each target hit right on the mark. 𝒇𝒓𝒆𝒆𝙬𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝒎

Boom!

Boom!

Boom!

The hive’s body squealed.

"It’s in pain," Hans sniggered. "Fire, don’t stop firing. Don’t let it regenerate any longer!"

Driven to a frenzy, he emptied the first belt. And when he did, the hive’s scream heightened to the peak, now emitting shockwaves.

"Ahhhhh!"

The soldiers shouted, hitting the ground. Spear Three held on, covering his incapacitated members to the end.

Hans’s eyes bulged to the extreme, focusing the Radar map.

Ping it, now!

The Cinder Teams in the distant jolted. With gritted teeth, they slammed on the triggers and let loose.

They didn’t care if their grenades hit or not—they all wanted for the sensation to end.

Explosions overwhelmed the hive, plugging its loud mouth with fire, smoke, and fragments.

Pardoned from their suffering, the soldiers heaved deep breaths. Saliva poured out of their dry mouths.

"Wha—what was that?" Asked a Conscript.

"I don’t fucking know," replied an Army Soldier. "I... I feel jelly. I need... water, shit."

"Get up," Spear Three’s squad leader helped. "All of you, get up. We aren’t done here, you idiots!"

The soldiers groaned, but they didn’t dare complain. Watching the drama, Hans felt relieved of their condition.

"Good job, Jack," he patted Jack’s shoulder. "Spear Three, guard Cinder One! Time to end this farce."

He cracked his knuckles, imprinting that hive’s body into his mind. Resolve filled every part of his body, fueling his desire to destroy that hive’s body.

"Watch your aim, the Commander is going in!"

The Cinder teams halted their salvos and switched into their rifles.

Hans ducked to the side, evading a zombie’s lunge. As it plunged to the ground, rifle shots ended its misery.

Deeper, he could feel the smell of burnt meat assaulting his nostrils. The dense black smoke hindered his vision, but not his containment system.

A strange sensation guided him into the heart of the hive.

His boots stepped over a soft, slimy surface, but Hans remained oblivious. Allured by the unknown, his hands touched upon a hard texture. Then, he realized—

Game over, hive!