Chapter 10: The Armament Department
In the command room on the sixth floor of the Armament Department, stood before the map of Huining District, his fingertip moving slowly along the streets.
Twenty-seven men divided into three squads—frontal breach, flank sealing, fire support—were more than enough to deal with over a thousand unorganized zombies.
He glanced at the system panel. 127.6 points. Still a shortfall from the 140 points needed to unlock the platoon level.
After retaking the Armament Department, he could gain another hundred points, enough for another round of expansion.
"After finishing the Armament Department, I'll be able to unlock the combat platoon."
Unlocking the platoon level would not only add eight direct platoon personnel but also provide three Mengshi assault vehicles and one armored command vehicle, raising communication coverage to five kilometers. Both mobility and command efficiency would jump a level.
Just then, 's voice came through the individual intercom:
"Reporting to the , a moving heat source cluster detected five hundred meters west, about several dozen regular zombies moving along toward the base. Estimated arrival at the outer warning zone in eight minutes."
"Alert posts get into position. Wait until they're close, open fire at thirty meters. Make it quick, don't attract more hordes from farther away."
"Yes, sir!"
Several short bursts of gunfire sounded outside.
The first wave took down over a dozen. The remaining scattered, one veering three meters off to crawl under the outer wall. A side sentry fired two more shots to finish it.
In less than a minute, the intercom reported back:
"Twenty-three total, all clear. No casualties."
[System notification: Killed 23 regular zombies. +2.3. Current : 129.9. Shortfall for platoon-level unlock: 10.1 points.]
walked to the window and looked at the main gate under the lights.
The alert sentries had resumed silence, gun muzzles behind the cover still aimed at the street without relaxing.
In the latter half of the night, the building gradually quieted down.
Defense fortifications were completed. Sentries rotated on schedule. Supplies were accounted for. They only needed to wait until dawn to strike.
rested with his eyes closed on the camp cot in the command room, still going over the details of the Armament Department: gate breaching, floor-clearing sequence, the explosion-proof door of the armory, potential zombie clusters in dead corners.
Twenty years of military career had trained him to recover most of his strength in a few hours of short rest.
At six-thirty in the morning, the sky was just turning light. The morning mist had a pale, fish-belly color.
The assembly whistle sounded briefly, and three squads of soldiers quickly assembled in the square.
Twenty-seven men stood straight, rifles slung over their shoulders, gear impeccable.
walked down the steps, slowly passing in front of the formation, his gaze sweeping over the rifle bodies, helmets, bayonets at their waists—even the laces were tied exactly the same.
The morning wind stirred the camouflage uniforms. The whole unit stood like silent steel statues.
"Each squad report equipment status."
"First squad all present, equipment intact, ammunition basic load sufficient." stepped forward.
"Second squad all present."
"Third squad all present."
stood in front of the formation:
"Mission objective: Huining District People's Armament Department. Mission requirements: zero casualties, fast pace, full clearance. Take the armory, confiscate all usable equipment and supplies."
"Guarantee mission completion!" the twenty-seven answered in unison, the sound shaking the morning mist.
"Depart at seven sharp. Final equipment check for each squad. Medics prepare first-aid kits. Scouts advance fifteen minutes ahead to recon the route."
"Yes, sir!"
The soldiers skillfully disassembled rifles, wiped the chambers, checked firing pins and magazines. The metallic clatter was crisp and orderly.
At seven o'clock, the morning light fully dispelled the mist.
"Move out!"
The unit set out.
Two-man scout teams had departed fifteen minutes earlier, advancing alternately covering each other.
At the second intersection, a zombie was lying under the wall at the corner, half its body buried in broken bricks.
The point man slowed his pace and fired a shot. That one didn't even lift its head.
The suppressed gunshot was very quiet, like someone tapping a finger on a sandbag.
A few scattered zombies along the way were picked off one by one by the scout team without alarming those farther away.
The one-kilometer walk took nearly twenty minutes.
When they were still a hundred meters from the Armament Department compound, raised his hand to signal a full stop. The unit concealed itself behind abandoned vehicles and walls.
He set up his binoculars.
The compound sat on the north side of the street. The iron gate was closed tight. The characters 'Huining District People's Armament Department' on the lintel were still clearly visible.
The wall was brick-and-concrete structure, with broken glass embedded on top. Regular zombies would have difficulty breaching it.
The compound was silent. No growling could be heard, but the system map showed over a hundred zombies scattered aimlessly in three buildings.
"Scouts move in close. Confirm the gate lock, wall weak points, and zombie distribution inside the compound," ordered quietly.
Two scouts responded and crept along the wall, their figures disappearing around the corner.
Soon the intercom returned:
"Gate has a chain padlock, purely mechanical, can be breached. West wall has a drainage gap, single person can pass through. No unusual movement from zombies inside. A few zombies wander in the first-floor hall of the office building. The armory door is closed tight; internal situation unknown."
lowered the binoculars and turned to the three squad leaders:
" , , First and Second squads carry breaching tools. Frontal assault. After breaking the lock, advance straight along the main road to the armory. Secure the ammunition depot first."
" , Third squad sets up a support position a hundred meters south of the gate. Any zombies from outside that approach, engage and eliminate on the spot. Do not let a single one break through."
The three squad leaders snapped to attention simultaneously:
"Understood!"
The soldiers pulled back their bolts, the crisp sound of rounds being chambered filling the air.
Morning light fell on the gleaming gun barrels, reflecting a cold gleam.
crouched behind cover, his eyes fixed on the tightly closed gate of the Armament Department.
He raised his left hand and slowly lowered it.
swung his arm down sharply. The soldiers of First and Second squads hunched and rushed out from cover, sprinting toward the gate.
Tip: If you can't find the book by title, you can try searching by author. Maybe the name has changed.