RTS System in the Apocalypse-Chapter 56: Dmitri’s Report

Hans returned within the confines of the Commander’s Room.

The incident washed away the sleepiness on his mind. He was in no mood to sleep especially during such a huge incident.

"I once thought that these Medics would be unusable," Hans blew a smoke. "It seems I have lacked foresight of this matter."

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Pair: Daniel Kreutz, Owen Fletcher

Unit: Medic (Male)

Tier: 0

Star Promotion: 0 - 250 / 1500

Primary Weapon: M9 Pistol (9mm, 15 rounds per mag, 2 mags

Melee: Surgical combat knife (10 cm alloy, indestructible, always sterile)

Medical Equipment: Field Suture Kit, Portable Defibrillator patch, Bio-scanner tablet for vital signs and virus detection, Stretcher (both pairs must be alive for this to work)

Personal Kit: 1-day ration pack, 1 L canteen

Uniform: Sterile tactical uniform with limited armor; lightweight for mobility

Helmet: Visor-type med-HUD showing target’s vitals

Trait: None

Remarks: Deployable medics that can retrieve downed soldiers or personnel using stretchers. Cannot operate nanite injectors. Immune to infection by default.

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Name: Clara Weiss

Unit: Medic (Female)

Tier: 0

Star Promotion: 0 - 150 / 1500

Primary Weapon: M9 Pistol (9mm, 15 rounds per mag, 2 mags

Melee: Surgical combat knife (10 cm alloy, indestructible, always sterile)

Medical Equipment: Bio-scanner tablet for vital signs and virus detection, Nanite infusion injector (requires to be used within a hospital structure, does not exhaust, infection must not be over 30% threshold)

Personal Kit: 1-day ration pack, 1 L canteen

Uniform: Sterile tactical uniform with limited armor; lightweight for mobility

Helmet: Visor-type med-HUD showing target’s vitals

Trait: None

Remarks: Medic troops that are restricted to function within Medical Huts, Hospitals, or captured civilian facilities equipped with System interface tablets. Can operate nanite injectors. Cannot operate stretches, nor undeployable to the field. Immune to infection by default.

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"Male and female medics," Hans reviewed the information. "That’s a first."

All of the other troops either spawned a male or a female unit on chance. However, the Medic was the only troop that granted Hans the choice of spawn type.

"I should have male Medics patrolling these areas the next few days," he scratched his head. "They should be able to respond in most cases and bring patients back on time."

Then, he glanced toward Clara’s panel.

"Nanite injectors, huh?"

Though it was less potent than his, it was more powerful logistically wise.

An unlimited supply of injections that could cure the infection was more than enough to allure many survivors into his territory.

As for those with ulterior motives, they will soon find that such meticulous planning to steal the injections would be in vain.

"Only the female Medics can access these injections," Hans chuckled. "The system sure is wise at some point."

He grabbed his cigar and puffed another smoke.

"The engineers and the soldiers can construct field hospitals on the way," he planned. "With this, the army can go into battle without having to worry about infection. Well, if they aren’t torn apart by the infected first."

The large candle brought a gentle warm light as it burned down on the side. Hans, still biting on the cigar, stared on it for a while.

"Overlord, this is Gurdian One. Do you copy?" A scout reported through his comms.

He picked it up and lodged into his ear, "Overlord copy. Guardian One, what is it?"

"The girls, they have reached the prison den," the scout replied. "They looked shocked."

"It’s better if they’re shocked," Hans chuckled. "Where are they now?"

"Still sullen, Overlord. Shall my squad escort them back?"

"Do it gently," Hans reminded. "What about the prisoners?"

"A squad has been sent to the mall. No trace will be left behind."

"Good," Hans lounged on his chair after hearing the message. "You’ve worked hard."

"All for the Commander. Guardian One, out."

"Kimmy, Yunera," he muttered. "I don’t have a choice. If I will not do this, then all of us will be harmed."

Hans concerned the inevitable clash between the residents’ desire to become superhumans and his choice in hiding relevant information.

The stage he set had been successfully established. Now, it was time for the actors and actresses to play their part.

"Yunera will testify on my behalf," he said. "A witness’s words are more credible than mine. Superhumans turning zombies despite their enhanced strength... that should deter a few of them. If not, Yunera herself will find a way."

The superhuman phenomena has always dangled over Hans’s head.

The pills and their source remained a mystery.

The warlord wrote nothing about them. Even Yunera had no other clue to give.

The only link Hans had was the apartment complex manager’s diary, and that mysterious survivor. Both of them shared a similarity—becoming abominations.

It was starkly different to the warlord’s results.

"Those pills may not necessarily be the same thing," he muttered. "It could have been a matter of physique too."

Whatever the reason was, Hans couldn’t fathom to find a clear answer to such questions.

Finding George was out of the question. It was a waste of time and resources.

"I don’t want to think about this," he shook his head. "For now..."

Buzz!

"Hmm?" He glanced at the buzzing intercom on the table.

"This is Overlord—"

"Overlord, Echo One has returned," Dmitri hastily spoke. "We have gathered critical intel from the fish port. Requesting a meeting, over."

"Granted," Hans frowned. "You sound hasty, did something happen?"

"Echo One will explain it in person," Dmitri replied. "Did something happen to the territory?"

"Yes. Some of the residents turned into zombies," Hans answered. "Why? Does your report concern this?"

The line on the other end hushed for a while.

"Yes, Overlord," Dmitri’s voice weakened. "It seems we have arrived too late."

...

Adrian and Dmitri stood in front of Hans, their countenance no better than him.

"How big is the hive?" He asked.

"We have only seen one near the fish port, Commander," Dmitri said. "It is still small, but it is growing as we speak."

"And the shards?"

"They could be driving the changes—the mutation, Commander," Dmitri looked at the note he left on his wrist. "We didn’t experience the slightest of psychic aura during. All of that energy may have been directed to the hive."

"How about the spores?"

"The spores may have been a product of the process," Dmitri placed his hands on the nigh-vision goggles. "They appear bright through here and can also block signals."

"How troublesome," Hans frowned. "Have you tried bringing a sample in?"

"That, we did not do, Commander," Dmitri sighed. "The spores were prevalent on the hive near the fish processing center. Zombies blocked the path. Their coordination has improved."

"Has improved?" Hans widened his eyes. "How did that even happen?"

"It may have something to do with the shards, Commander," Dmitri recalled in his memories. "A link could have been established between it and the zombies. Kill a thread, and the shard will response where the thread disappeared." 𝕗𝐫𝐞𝕖𝕨𝐞𝗯𝚗𝕠𝘃𝐞𝚕.𝐜𝗼𝚖

"Are we about to face a real army of zombies now?" Hans clicked his tongue.

Special zombies were already troublesome enough.

A hive influenced by the meteorite shards—bested with intelligence, reproduction, and strategic output.

Hans felt that the road ahead suddenly became bumpier than before.

It must be taken down, no doubt. Hans furrowed his brows. But we must also know more about this new enemy.

"What else have you investigated?"

"We may need to secure the canned goods in the warehouses," Dmitri gravely advised. "There were rotting fish meat near the port. The hive used them as nutrients."

"And the river water too." Hans added. "No wonder the residents turned."

"We apologize for our tardiness," the two scouts bowed. "If we have reported sooner, then this tragedy would not have happened."

"It’s not your fault, nor mine," Hans raised his palm, stopping their antics. "The hive has opposed us, and we should convey its aggression towards the residents."

"Mr. Arthur should be able to do that, Commander." Dmitri nodded.

"I’m afraid he has left this world," Hans shook his head. "He was one of the few who turned."

Dmitri fell silent.

Hans had become fond of Arthur’s presence. He was competent in the role of an adviser and an assistant to the Commander.

In the eyes of the soldiers, Arthur was the first person their Commander had shown closeness to. They had paid special attention to him, hoping to fully earn their trust as well.

Yet to see him fall this day... or tonight...

"We have no time to mourn the dead," Hans took a deep breath and organized his thoughts. "This incident must be curbed first before we proceed to the hive."

"What does the Commander need us to do?"

"Help the Guardian Team write a detailed report of this incident," Hans picked up his pen and wrote on a paper. "The residents will need an answer, and we shall give it to them."

"Understood."

"And one more thing," Hans paused. "Set a briefing once everything has passed. That hive must be destroyed as soon as possible."

Adrian and Dmitri left after.

Watching the door close, Hans closed his eyes as he leaned on the chair.

"A hive," he muttered. "What has become of this world? And what will it turn out to?"

Zombies.

Superhumans.

Meteorites.

Psychic Aura.

The system.

His thoughts drifted into the void as his consciousness slowly receded into the dreamworld.