I Have a Modern Weapon Gacha System in the Zombie Apocalypse-Chapter 27: Prelude to the Military Installation

"Now that you mention the military, who are you really?" Marco finally asked. "Your friends and that helicopter. Are you from the military?"

Adrian shook his head. "We are not affiliated with any armed forces. I told it to the survivors. And I know this is causing confusion as to why we have those. But how we got it is not important. The most important thing is that we survive this new world. So I’ll really appreciate it if any of you stop asking about it."

"I apologize," Marco said in a low voice, regretting that he had pressed the question.

Adrian waved it off.

"It’s fine," he said. "You’re not the only one wondering."

Marco nodded once and leaned back slightly against the dining table.

The room grew quiet for a moment.

Chandrika and her friends were sitting on the couch again. Liza had returned to the kitchen area, pouring water into several cups and handing them around. The tension that had filled the room earlier had eased a little now that Chandrika was back.

He kept the curtain slightly parted with two fingers while scanning the road outside.

"So," Marco said after a moment, looking back at Adrian. "This air base... how far is it exactly?"

Adrian crossed his arms.

"About two hundred kilometers north," he said. "Pampanga province. Near Floridablanca."

"That’s not a short drive."

"No," Adrian agreed. "But we’re not driving."

Marco understood immediately.

"The helicopters."

Adrian nodded.

"We’ll use them for reconnaissance first."

Chandrika tilted her head slightly.

"Reconnaissance?"

"We send a small team ahead," he explained. "Check if the base is still standing. Look for infected, survivors, damage to the runways, fuel depots, hangars," Adrian explained.

"If it’s still usable," he added, "then we start moving people."

One of Chandrika’s friends spoke up quietly.

"But what if there are a lot of zombies there too?"

Adrian shrugged.

"Then we clear them."

The girl blinked but didn’t argue.

"So in that team, I’ll be included. I plan on getting there tomorrow morning. Don’t worry, as for security, I’ll leave three of my friends here for security. That way you’d still be at ease. I’m going to inform them now so I’ll call them through the radio and get them here. We will use the bedroom again."

"Oh please, you can use it anytime you like," Liza said quickly.

Adrian nodded once in thanks.

"I’ll contact them now." Adrian said as he pressed the transmit button of the radio.

"Team, this is Adrian. Status check."

Static crackled briefly.

Then Mason’s voice came through.

"I’m at the lobby. Barricades are up. Entrances sealed. Cole’s still on the rooftop."

"Good," Adrian replied. "I need everyone upstairs."

"Copy that."

A few minutes passed, the six soldiers arrived.

Mason came first, rifle slung across his chest.

Jake and Ryan followed behind him, scanning the corridor out of habit even though the building had already been cleared.

Noah stepped in next, and then Cole.

Behind them was Ethan.

They all stepped into the bedroom one by one.

The room suddenly felt smaller.

Mason looked around once before speaking.

"You called?"

Adrian nodded.

"Close the door."

Ryan shut it behind them.

The soldiers gathered loosely inside the room, leaning against walls or standing near the desk.

Adrian didn’t waste time.

"I found a possible relocation site."

Jake raised an eyebrow.

"That fast?"

"A military installation," Adrian said.

Mason straightened slightly.

"Where?"

"Pampanga."

"Where is that relative to our location?" Ryan asked.

"It’s north of here, about 200 kilometers. It’s a potential base of operations since it is a military installation. I spun the gacha and received so much that I don’t think it can be utilized in this building."

"I see where this is going. We are going to go there and see for ourselves if it’s still operational. Tell me more about that base, I want to know if it’s heavily armed as we might run into military personnel," Ryan said.

"Well it’s the fifth Tactical Fighter Wing of the Philippine Air Force," Adrian said.

The men in the room exchanged quick looks.

Ryan nodded slightly.

"That means fighter operations," he said. "Runways, hardened shelters, maintenance hangars."

"Exactly," Adrian replied.

He folded his arms as he continued.

"It’s not a small installation. Air bases are built with wide security perimeters, controlled entry gates, storage facilities, and fuel depots."

Mason leaned slightly against the desk.

"So if it’s still standing, it’s a fortress compared to this condo." 𝐟𝚛𝕖𝚎𝕨𝗲𝐛𝚗𝐨𝐯𝐞𝕝.𝐜𝗼𝗺

"Yes," Adrian said. "And most importantly, it’s far from the population centers."

Jake let out a quiet whistle.

"That’s already better than being surrounded by millions of infected."

Noah nodded.

"And open terrain means we can see threats coming."

Ryan looked thoughtful.

"What about personnel?" he asked. "If the base still has soldiers, we might run into them."

"That’s possible," Adrian admitted.

The room grew quiet for a moment.

"If there are soldiers there, they might not welcome strangers flying in."

Ryan nodded.

"Especially strangers with helicopters."

Adrian shrugged slightly.

"We’ll deal with that if it happens."

He stepped closer to the small desk and rested one hand on it.

"That’s why we’re doing reconnaissance first."

Jake crossed his arms.

"How many of us are going?"

Adrian looked around the room.

"Four."

Ryan already understood.

"You’re coming."

"Yes."

Ryan nodded once.

"Then I’m in."

Jake spoke immediately.

"I’ll take the third seat."

Noah shrugged.

"Fourth."

Mason looked between them.

"So the rest of us stay here."

Adrian nodded.

"Mason, Cole, and Ethan. You guys stay here to protect the people here."

"That’s no problem to us boss. Leave it to us."

"Very well, we will leave tomorrow morning."

"First light?" he asked.

Adrian nodded. "First light."

Jake stretched his shoulders once and leaned back against the wall. "Well we are going to need to know anything about that base before we go in."

"There’s still the internet so we can use that for our reconnaissance. I’ll have Marco’s phone later."

"Goods, that’ll make it easier for us then."