RTS System in the Apocalypse: New World

The following morning, the refinery complexes added their daily output to Hans’s reserves.

------

[ Industrial Refinery Complexes daily output received: +400 Gold ]

[ Gold: 18,594 (+400) => 18,994 ]

------

Several completion notices remained beneath it.

------

[ Apache Heavy Attack Helicopter production complete. ]

[ Falcon Utility Helicopter production complete. ]

[ Standard Infantry Squad x2 training complete. ]

[ Guardian APC x2 production complete. ]

------

Hans dismissed the notifications.

The command building door opened.

Tyrus entered with his equipment packed inside two bags. The DASF squad assigned to him waited outside.

Hans looked at the bags, then toward the soldiers.

”You’re finally leaving?”

”I was never against leaving, Commander. I simply wanted to prepare properly.”

”You spent several days inside the Field Hospital.”

”Indeed. It was a necessary preparation.”

Hans stared at him.

Tyrus cleared his throat.

”The Hive site. Yes. We are leaving now.”

Hans looked toward the DASF leader.

”Keep him behind you until the site is cleared.”

”Understood, Commander.”

”That instruction sounds unnecessary,” Tyrus remarked.

”It isn’t.”

Tyrus sighed before turning toward the door.

The vehicle carrying him and his escort left Site Three several minutes later.

Hans returned his attention to the southern reports.

South One and South Two had departed Site Three earlier that morning.

The newly trained squads arrived before sunrise with the two Guardian APCs. One set joined each platoon before the formations separated along the eastern and northeastern routes.

Matilda remained inside the command building, listening to the first radio reports.

”South One has reached the northern road to our east,” she said. ”South Two is moving northeast. Both formations remain clear of the southwestern concentration.”

”Any contact?”

”Scouts detected several scattered groups ahead. Nothing beyond the platoons’ current strength.”

Hans nodded.

”Have Flight Operations send Striker One to South One once the crew is ready.”

”Understood.”

Hans left for the Airfield several minutes later. Specter Squad and Callum accompanied him.

Their Guardian APC took the secured road northwest.

Specter Squad occupied the troop compartment with Callum, while Hans sat near the forward section. The secured roads remained quiet as the vehicle headed northwest.

Recovery teams were already moving through the cleared commercial blocks. Engineers worked around several intersections, while patrols watched the buildings overlooking the route.

The Airfield appeared beyond the western road.

Falcon One waited near the apron where Hans had last seen it. Another helicopter stood several landing positions away, almost identical from a distance.

Falcon Two.

A darker aircraft occupied the space beside it.

Its narrow body sat low above the landing gear. Weapon mounts extended from both sides, while a cannon rested beneath the forward section.

Striker One waited beside them.

Two crew members waited beside the aircraft.

Both wore dark flight suits reinforced around the chest and shoulders. Their helmets carried wider visors connected to the aircraft’s targeting systems.

The first stepped forward.

”Striker One reporting, Commander.”

Hans looked past them and opened the information panel.

------

[ Vehicle Name: Striker One ]

[ Vehicle Type: Apache Heavy Attack Helicopter ]

[ Crew: 2 ]

[ Pilot ]

[ Co-Pilot / Gunner ]

[ Flight Characteristics ]

Moderate-speed rotary-wing aircraft designed for sustained close air support and armored target elimination.

Capable of stable hovering, low-altitude maneuvering, and prolonged operation alongside ground formations.

[ Primary Armament ]

[ 30mm Chin-Mounted Chain Gun ]

[ Ammunition: 1,200 rounds ]

[ Effective Range: 1.5 kilometers ]

Weapon tracking is connected to the crew’s helmet-mounted sights.

Designed for dense ground formations, armored targets, and precision attacks against larger infected.

[ Missile and Rocket Systems ]

[ AGM-114 Hellfire Missiles: 8 ]

Fire-and-forget missiles designed for armored targets, vehicles, and heavily protected threats.

[ Rocket Pods: 2 ]

[ Rockets per Pod: 32 ]

Designed for area saturation and crowd control across roads and urban corridors.

[ Sensor Systems ]

Longbow fire-control Radar.

Thermal imaging and night vision.

Automated target identification and prioritization.

[ Local Radar ]

[ Detection Radius: 1 kilometer ]

Operates independently of fixed Radar Facility coverage.

[ Defensive Systems ]

Infrared countermeasures.

Reinforced rotor and transmission housing.

Eight chaff-and-flare deployments every twelve hours.

[ Aircraft Systems ]

Stabilized weapon platform.

Redundant flight controls.

Crash-resistant cockpit.

[ Remarks ]

Designed for sustained close air support rather than air superiority. Aircraft ammunition and defensive countermeasures are replenished every twelve hours. High threat profile. Continued operation may attract nearby infected.

------

Raptor One carried fewer weapons because it relied on speed and precision.

Striker One carried enough ammunition to remain above a battlefield and continue firing long after the fighter would have been forced to return.

The one-kilometer Radar was smaller than the Raptor’s, but twice the range of either Falcon.

Its speed was another matter.

Striker One would not cross Grefort within minutes or escape every threat through altitude. It was meant to remain close to the soldiers below and destroy whatever blocked their path.

Hans closed the panel and looked toward the waiting crew.

”How do you support a ground formation in practice?”

”We remain above or beside its route, Commander,” the pilot answered. ”The gunner monitors the surrounding area through Radar and thermal imaging, then reports anything the ground units cannot see.”

The second crew member continued.

”The chain gun handles scattered contacts and larger infected near friendly forces. Rockets are reserved for concentrations. Hellfire missiles are used against hard targets that require immediate extermination.”

”South One is already operating east of Site Three,” Hans said. ”Join the platoon and coordinate with Anton. Observation and limited support. Fairy will supervise the wider operation.”

”Yes, Commander.”

A voice came from the nearby hangar.

”So the slow one finally gets to leave the Airfield.”

Raptor One’s pilot stood beside his aircraft with his helmet beneath one arm. His attention moved from Striker One toward the two Falcons.

”Two flying trucks and one helicopter carrying enough weapons to flatten a street. Quite the collection.”

Falcon One’s pilot ignored him.

Striker One’s pilot did not.

”We remain over the battlefield long enough to finish our work.”

”That must be what slower aircraft tell themselves.”

”You turned away from the city core because your Radar stopped working.”

The Raptor pilot smiled.

”And returned five minutes early.”

Hans looked between them.

”Are you finished?”

”Yes, Commander,” both pilots answered.

The Flight Operations controller called Striker One’s crew toward the aircraft.

Both pilots put on their helmets and returned to the helicopter.

Hans remained near the apron with Callum and Specter Squad.

Anton and Striker One’s crew would handle the test.