RTS System in the Apocalypse: New World

The second warehouse produced a similar report.

Empty interior.

Several broken windows.

One loading entrance and a narrow passage between buildings.

The platoon leaders gathered near the map once more.

”This one is easier,” one of them said. ”An entire squad can hold it off by themselves.”

The narrow passage could be closed by another Wall. The broken windows provided firing positions without exposing the soldiers directly to the street.

However, the warehouse walls also limited how much firepower the defenders could bring outside.

Soldiers positioned inside could engage infected approaching from the front, but the Guardian APCs would have difficulty firing past the building if the defenders were attacked from the rear.

”Why use the warehouse itself?” another platoon leader asked. ”We can tell the Commander to place a Garrison Post beside it.”

The Engineer followed the proposed location with his eyes.

The structure could be integrated into the Wall line between the warehouses.

Infantry inside would receive better protection than the warehouse could provide. Their rifles, machine guns, and heavier weapons could fire through the protected openings, while the Garrison Post’s own support weapon covered the road farther ahead.

The warehouse could remain as additional cover, storage, or a secondary fallback position.

”Six soldiers at first,” the platoon leader continued. ”A full squad if the Commander upgrades it later.”

”Place it too close to the road and the APCs will lose their movement space,” the APC commander warned.

He pointed toward the open ground between both warehouses.

”Keep this section clear. If you still want the APCs to join your fight.”

The space was wide enough for one Guardian APC to move behind the buildings and support either position.

If Walls or defensive structures blocked it, the APC would have to return to the main road before changing sides. By then, the attacked squad might already be overwhelmed.

”How much space do you need?” an Engineer asked.

”Enough for the APC to turn without stopping.”

The Engineer examined the distance.

”That means removing these vehicles and part of the collapsed wall.”

He then looked toward the proposed Garrison Post.

”We can place it farther inside. The Wall line will connect from the warehouse corner to the Post, then continue toward the rear passage.”

The APC commander imagined the arrangement.

The Wall would block the infected from crossing directly between both warehouses. The Garrison Post would anchor the center. The Pillbox near the parking ramp would cover the opposite side.

The open lane behind them would remain available for the Guardian APCs. The Radar would tell the defenders where the attack was coming from. The defensive structures would delay and redirect it.

The vehicles would carry enough firepower to crush whichever approach received the greatest pressure.

”That can work,” the APC commander finally said. ”Just don’t close my road.”

The Engineer marked the proposed structure locations on the paper map.

They were not orders for immediate construction. They were recommendations for the Commander. Once Hans reviewed the route, he could decide whether the stronger position was worth the Gold.

After all, these emplacements were semi-permanent. They could not be easily removed, unless Hans was willing to waste additional Gold for no good reason.

The Scout leader looked over the markings.

They already knew how the position could be defended.

Now, they needed to be practical. Can the Guardian APC, or multiple APCs, support the theory into reality?

Assumptions were one thing. Proving it would work was another.

The APC commander raised his communicator.

”You heard him. Move.”

The first Guardian APC rumbled forward.

It passed through the main road without difficulty. The vehicle slowed once it entered the open space between the warehouses.

The driver turned toward the rear lane.

Its front cleared the first abandoned vehicle, but the rear armor passed close to the collapsed wall.

The driver reduced his speed even further.

He corrected the angle once. Then twice.

Only after several seconds did the Guardian APC face the parking structure.

The APC commander frowned.

”Again.”

The driver reversed and returned to the main road.

”What was wrong with that?” one of the platoon leaders asked.

”It completed the turn,” the APC commander answered. ”But it stopped twice. We just need to remove these obstacles and it should be good enough.”

The Radar could warn the defenders before the infected arrived.

However, every second spent correcting the vehicle’s position was another second where its autocannon pointed toward the wrong place.

If the warehouse came under attack from behind, the Guardian APC had to move there and fire almost immediately. A vehicle that needed several attempts to turn would arrive knowing exactly where the enemy was, but too late to prevent the defenders from being overwhelmed.

”That’s not a problem,” the Engineer examined. ”The result is already good.”

”Hmm,” the APC commander nodded.

The Engineer marked the collapsed wall and abandoned vehicles for removal.

He also drew a line across the remaining open lane. No emplacements must be integrated here, or it would conflict with the rest of the defense’s cohesion and structure.

The area had to remain empty even if the surrounding land appeared wasted. The Guardian APCs needed more than enough space to move. If the Commander filled every open section with defensive structures, the vehicles would lose the mobility that made them useful in the first place.

”Bring the second APC forward,” the Scout leader ordered.

The second Guardian APC entered from the other side.

The first vehicle remained behind the warehouses while the second approached from the main road.

Both stopped when they reached the narrow section.

There was not enough room for them to pass each other.

The commanders stepped outside and studied the distance separating both vehicles.

”This becomes a one-way section,” one of them said.

”Can we manage that?” a platoon leader asked.

”During ordinary movement, yes.”

The APC commander pointed toward the vehicles.

”But if one group APCs are withdrawing while another group is moving forward to reinforce the position, one of them must reverse.”

The problem was not impossible to manage.

The Radar feed could track every vehicle moving through the corridor, while a traffic-control team near the intersection assigned priority over the radio. Drivers would know which vehicle had the right of way, and the defenders could avoid sending two armored units against each other along the same narrow lane.

But communication did not make the road wider.

During an emergency, forcing one APC to reverse could delay the entire response.

The Engineer examined the opposite sidewalk.

”We can widen this side.”

A damaged storefront occupied the corner. Its windows had collapsed, and most of the outer wall already leaned toward the road.

”Demolish the outer section and reinforce the pavement underneath,” he continued. ”The drainage line is close, but it does not run directly beneath the building.”

”Will that allow two APCs to pass?”

”We can demolish the entire structure itself for better movement.”

The APC commander crossed his arms. ”That’s better.”