RTS System in the Apocalypse-Chapter 135: MCV Preparation
The northwestern industrial sector hubbub in the last few days.
Hans intended to prepare for the MCV deployment. Aside from training new units, defensive emplacement must also be put in place.
"Dig a trench line along the eastern approach. I want the horde slowed before it reaches our firing line."
And so came his major order directed to his troops.
He wasn't exactly an experienced military commander; he was only a gamer and a civilian with two lives worth of experience.
He gave intent, not instructions—the Engineers and the more experienced infantry would do it for him.
They returned to their squads and gathered tools from the warehouses and then marched into the open space right outside the area.
Engineers observed the plains and grasses, picking suitable spots for a ditch.
"Form a line over here," one Engineer pointed. "Then start digging."
"How deep?" one squad leader asked.
"One meter deep at least," the Engineer replied. "Make it steep enough that they can't climb out quickly."
The first trench line extended across the outer grassy plains like a man-made scar.
Infantry squads worked in shifts, their shovels biting into the hardened soil while Engineers measured the depth and width.
Piles of dirt slowly formed a rough berm behind them.
The digging went slowly at first. The hard soil forced the soldiers to swing pickaxes before their shovels could bite deep.
Frustrated by the slow progress, the Engineers soon called the Guardian APCs.
The armored vehicles rolled along the trench line, their heavy wheels and reinforced hulls pushing loose earth aside.
Soldiers quickly shoveled the displaced soil into the growing berms.
What would have taken hours by hand now progressed twice, or even thrice faster than before.
But a single line could never stop an entire horde, or more of it.
Engineers soon ordered a second trench dug ten meters behind the first.
Wooden planks were laid across several sections so soldiers could cross quickly if they needed to move forward.
Between the two trenches stretches a wide-open ground.
The Engineers deliberately left it bare.
"Leave this area clear," one of them said while pointing across the field. "If they fall into the first ditch, we want them climbing out under fire."
Behind the trenches, the infantry established their firing positions.
Sandbags were stacked upon one another, forming waist-high walls for the Machine Gunners and Guardian GIs.
A few available infantries simulated their positions, adjusting to their personal preference one complaint at a time.
Further back, another defensive line began to take shape.
Wooden walkways connected shallow trenches that were dug specifically for retreat and reinforcement. These passages allowed soldiers to move along the defense without exposing themselves to the deadly open ground.
And further beyond that line was where the armored units stood by.
Vanguard MBTs were parked in staggered positions, their cannons aimed toward the killing zones.
Guardian APCs idled behind them, ready to reposition or transport squads where the pressure might grow stronger than the rest.
The structures inside the district became the final layer of defense—civilian, industrial, or whatnot.
Engineers worked with additional infantry, reinforcing the rooftops, factory balconies, and open windows with sandbags and steel plates.
Sniper teams quickly occupied these elevated positions, gaining clear lines of sight across the entire field.
From above, the layered defense resembled a crude fortress that stretched across the outskirts of the district.
Hans studied the formation from his armored SUV.
He was unsure if it was flawed or perfect.
However, he couldn't care any less about how many ditches his troops were planning to dig, how many structures they wanted to reinforce, and how many defensive emplacements they were forming in the field.
This should do, he thought as he opened the comm channel.
"Don't forget to assemble a small defensive formation in our western and southern flanks."
A few Engineers looked up, quickly nodding to his request.
The meaning was clear—the eastern plain faced the infected Grefort City.
If the hive's dying signal truly reached another nest, the first response would almost certainly come from that direction.
To the north, a wide river cut across the industrial district. The steep banks made a large-scale assault unlikely from this direction.
If even the aquatic organism became infected and attacked him, Hans would truly have no way out.
These hives keep spawning near a source of water, he thought. The water should be their main sustenance.
His vision shifted to the southern and western approaches, remaining open for possible angles of horde attacks.
Though hordes rarely moved perfectly without a hive's intervention, stragglers and smaller waves could still approach from these directions.
Hans did not intend to be caught off guard, not even now.
Even if a forward base had been set south of his position, being a little more secure wouldn't hurt him—being complacent would.
Compared to the eastern front, the western and southern flanks received lighter defenses.
Short trenches and sandbag nests were established near the road entrances while a single APC patrol circled the outer perimeter.
The main kill zone would be the eastern plain.
The other flanks only needed to delay anything that might arrive or slip through.
Once everything seemed to be in place, Hans opened several unit panels in sequence.
Star promotions had quietly accumulated during the previous battles, and he barely had the time to check them all out.
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Ryan Keller — Army Soldier — 3 Star (MAX).
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His very first Army Soldier troop—now with three stars glowing beside his name.
The panel expanded into a dense list of improvements. Hans skimmed through them quickly.
Expanded ammunition reserves that amounted at least 500 rounds at once, improved firing accuracy, faster reload cycles, and explosive yield enhancements for his bullets and grenades.
The System had turned the once-ordinary rifleman into something closer to a frontline shock trooper.
His combat output alone had nearly doubled compared to the day he was first deployed.
And he was only one among many more 3-star Army Soldiers.
Dmitri's profile appeared next—two stars beside his name.
His panel was filled with improvements focused on infiltration—expanded ammunition reserves, reduced weapon and travel noise, improved movement speed, and faster breaching capability.
Even his explosive charges had become more efficient.
Dmitri was no longer just a reconnaissance unit. He had grown into a full-fledged infiltration specialist capable of dismantling obstacles and slipping past enemies unnoticed.
What surprised Hans even more was—
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[ Tier ]
Tier 0 (40% Synchronization Rate)
[ Axis ]
Somatic
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System, Hans tried to stop the wide smile on his face.
He didn't expect his Scouts to become superhumans just at the second star promotion, and he couldn't wait for more about the third!
After basking in happiness for a short while, Hans proceeded.
Mason Briggs's Machine Gunner panel followed soon after.
Two stars as well—one Hans wasn't surprised about. This was the army's infantry reaper. Kills were second-to-nature; promotion was nothing more but a quick inevitability.
Hans noted the significant increase in ammunition belts and suppression efficiency.
Recoil stabilization had improved, allowing the gunner to sustain longer bursts without losing control of the M249 SAW.
Even the overheating limitation had been removed entirely—something that Mason achieved upon becoming a two-star.
In a defensive line like this, a two-star promoted Machine Gunner could lock down an entire approach by himself.
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[ Tier ]
Tier 0 (20% Synchronization Rate)
[ Axis ]
Somatic
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Although the Tier improvement was lesser than Dmitri's, Hans knew that Mason's horde-killing power was unchallenged by any other infantry except the tanks.
Perhaps, even the next Guardian GI unit couldn't compare to him—Jack Rowland.
Jack's panel displayed a single star promotion.
Though in the same league as the Machine Gunners in their horde-killing specialty, Guardian GIs needed a higher star promotion value than the Machine Gunners.
The improvements were modest but meaningful—two additional 40-round grenade belts, faster deployment time, stronger explosive yield, and improved firing cadence for the grenade launcher.
For a defensive unit designed to hold choke points and killing zones, those upgrades were more than enough.
Zolyah's sniper profile appeared last—one star.
Measly, but understandable.
They were hunters of the special infected; rare to be found, but rarity came with increased promotion value.
And even then, Zolyah barely reached one star after several battles.
Between the sniper brothers and sisters—to execute common zombies with their firepower was an insult to their expertise.
They'd rather pride themselves of killing one tough bastard zombie than anything else.
The System had improved Zolyah's rifle's stability, accuracy, and reload efficiency while expanding her perception range.
In practical terms, it meant fewer missed shots and faster follow-up kills.
But the stars were only part of the change.
Hans's Commander Rank bonus amplified every soldier under his command.
Their base loadouts remained the same, yet the System quietly increased their ammunition reserves by fifty percent across the board.
More rounds feeding into rifles.
More grenades flying across the battlefield.
More shells roaring from their armored barrels.
And more missiles screaming high into the sky.
By nightfall, the eastern plain had transformed into a layered battlefield.
Trenches spanned along the grasslands. Sandbag nests watched over the kill zone.
Armored vehicles hummed idly behind them.
And beyond that field lay Grefort City—all quiet for now.
