Weapon System in Zombie Apocalypse-Chapter 40: Military Complex

Samantha stepped out of her assigned room in Conrad Hotel, rubbing her eyes as the early morning sun streamed through the wide glass windows. It had been a week since she was rescued—dragged out of her hellish confinement at the university where she thought she would die.

But even now, walking through the halls of this supposed "safe zone," she couldn't shake the eerie feeling that something was off.

She wasn't ungrateful—far from it. She owed her life to Thomas Estaris, her former classmate, who had somehow risen to a level of authority that no one seemed to question. But there were things that didn't make sense, things she had been too exhausted to process before.

Today, as she finally stepped out of the Conrad and into the streets of what used to be the SM Mall of Asia, she finally saw it—the impossible transformation.

Samantha had expected to see survivors trying to rebuild their lives, forming makeshift markets, scavenging for supplies, or finding ways to live normally. That was not the case.

Instead, she was met with a fully militarized city.

She stopped in her tracks, staring at the rows upon rows of armored vehicles parked along the wide boulevard. There were M1A2 Abrams tanks, M2 Bradleys, and massive military transport trucks. Some were lined up, others were actively moving supplies.

Further down, she spotted construction teams welding steel reinforcements, erecting watchtowers, and installing automated sentry turrets along the perimeter walls. The former commercial district had been turned into a war zone.

"What the hell…?"

Samantha barely recognized the MOA Complex anymore. It wasn't just a safe zone—it was a fortress.

Ten-meter-high concrete walls now surrounded the entire area, topped with what looked like electric fencing and mounted machine guns. At the intersection leading to Diosdado Macapagal Boulevard, massive Patriot missile batteries stood guard, their sleek forms aimed at the sky.

Soldiers—hundreds of them—patrolled the streets, fully equipped with modern combat gear, moving in tight formations as if preparing for a battle that hadn't even started yet.

"Where did they come from?"

No one knew.

Even the survivors she spoke to were just as clueless. Some whispered that Thomas had connections to the government, others believed the military had hidden itself here before the outbreak.

But Samantha knew better.

None of this was here a week ago.

Her feet carried her to where most of the survivors were gathered—a processing center set up near the former SMX Convention Center. The survivors from Conrad and the MOA Complex operation were all lined up, waiting to receive their new identification cards and living assignments.

Samantha sighed and joined the queue.

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She could hear muffled conversations around her.

"Have you seen the military presence here?" one man whispered behind her. "They weren't here before, right?"

"No way," another muttered. "I was at Conrad the whole time. There weren't this many soldiers before the purge. Now they're everywhere."

A woman in front of them shushed them. "Does it matter? We're alive, aren't we?"

Samantha didn't say anything. But she felt the same unease.

She moved forward, reaching the registration desk where a military officer in digital camo uniform sat behind a terminal.

"Name?"

"Samantha Garcia," she answered.

The officer typed something into his tablet before nodding. "Former occupation?"

"Student."

"Any medical conditions?"

She shook her head.

The officer handed her a plastic identification card. Samantha took it hesitantly and read the details.

ID: 0223-SG

Name: Samantha Garcia

Civilian Status: Tier 1 Resident

Work Assignment: Pending

Housing Unit: Shore Residence Tower D, Level 3, Room 318

"Shore Residence Tower D?"

She glanced up at the officer, but he was already calling the next survivor forward.

Stepping aside, she turned her gaze toward the massive high-rise buildings just beyond MOA Arena. It was a newly-constructed residential building. So it made sense that's where they'll put the survivors.

When she visited her room, it was like in the Conrad, it was a studio type room with one bed, and everything was tidy as if it was just your premium hotel. It has water and electricity and every necessities required for survival such as clothes.

"They turned a corporate office into an apartment complex."

It was strange—efficient, but strange.

Her stomach growled, reminding her of her next priority—food.

Samantha followed the signs leading to the food distribution center, located near MOA Arena.

She wasn't alone. Hundreds of survivors stood in line, clutching their ration vouchers as they shuffled forward. Armed guards were stationed at key points, watching over the crowd.

When she finally reached the serving station, she was handed a steel tray with a scoop of steamed rice and a single canned sardine.

She stared at it.

"That's it?"

But she didn't complain. Food was food.

Samantha took her tray and walked toward the seating area—a long row of plastic chairs and folding tables under a military-grade tent.

She sat down, staring at her meal. The rice was dry, the sardine smelled metallic, and the water was lukewarm.

It was barely enough to sustain someone.

Across from her, a man let out a heavy sigh, stirring his rice with a spoon.

"You'd think with all the military gear they have, they'd have better food," he muttered.

Samantha looked up. "What do you mean?"

The man shook his head. "The soldiers, the tanks, the aircraft. Where did all of it come from?" He leaned in slightly. "They didn't have all this before. Now they're everywhere."

Samantha frowned. "I was thinking the same thing. But we should be grateful that we are alive thanks to them,"

Another survivor—an older woman—spoke softly. "I agree. I don't care where it came from. As long as we're safe."

Samantha picked at her sardine with her fork. It was a far cry from the sumptuous meal that she had during her stay in Conrad. Is Thomas becoming practical?

After finishing her meal, she returned to Shore Residence Tower D, where she walked toward the window and watched the scene outside. Military presence but didn't belong to the armed forces of the Philippines.

"Thomas Estaris…just who are you?"