Location: Urban Fringe Zone – Sector 3C, Rooftop FOB "Echo Point"
Time: 01:27 AM | Day 2 of Infection Collapse
The rooftop was quiet, but it wasn't peace.
It was anticipation.
Logan Hale crouched by the barricade, eyes flickering between his rifle sights and the lower spiral ramp. Wraith had gone below to sweep the lower level again, while Reaper One stood like a turret beside a collapsed SUV—Gatling gun already primed, its six barrels glinting under the humming generator lights.
"Commander," Reaper's metallic voice cut through the silence. "Thermal anomalies detected. Southward quadrant. Movement: staggered, erratic. Eight targets. Confirm orders."
Logan tapped his earpiece, though the system did most of the work.
"Hold fire. Let them show themselves."
Petrescu crouched beside Logan, his Type 56 rifle steady. "They're testing us again, like last time."
"They're learning," Logan muttered. "Or something's directing them."
From the side, Hammer grunted as he bolted down another steel plate over a weak spot in the stairwell choke point. Sparks flew briefly, lighting his shadowed face.
"I patched the eastern gap," he called. "If they get through now, it won't be because of my walls."
Logan nodded, then turned his eyes toward Sofia. She was curled in her blanket, pipe beside her. She hadn't spoken in hours. Only listened.
Suddenly—
> [SYSTEM ALERT: INFECTED BREACH – UPPER DECK RAMP]
Gunfire cracked through the night.
"Contact!" Wraith's voice shouted through comms. "They circled up the west flank. Four tangos, runners!"
Logan surged to his feet. "Reaper! Intercept. Petrescu, flank wide and cut off crossflow. Hammer, cover the stairwell."
The Gatling spun up with a mechanical growl.
BRRRRRRTTTTTT!
The sound tore the air apart.
Shell casings flew in a golden arc around Reaper One's boots as he swept the upper deck, shredding two infected before they fully breached cover. The other two ducked behind a broken sedan—one tossed a chunk of concrete.
It missed, but the intention made Logan freeze.
"They're throwing now?" he hissed.
Wraith emerged from the smoke, his suppressed rifle cracking twice—two more infected dropped, brains leaking across the concrete.
> [+40 WAR CREDITS EARNED] [Total: 98.2 WAR CREDITS]
Petrescu returned with a nod. "No more hostiles on the west ramp. They were scouts."
"They're probing our response time," Logan said. "Trying to measure us."
"I say we give 'em a real answer," Wraith muttered, reloading.
Logan opened the system.
> [WAR CREDITS: 98.2]
[New Tier I Units Unlocked]
– [Tier I Infantry Squad – 60 WAR CREDITS]
– [Autonomous Gun Turret – 55 WAR CREDITS]
– [Medical Crate – 25 WAR CREDITS]
– [Upgrade Existing Unit: Reaper One – 70 WAR CREDITS]
Tempting.
His eyes lingered on Reaper One.
> [Upgrade Path Available: Reaper One → Juggernaut Heavy Weapons Specialist]
Enhanced armor, integrated infrared, dual-wield Gatling capability (locked until Tier II)
But not yet.
"We're deploying the auto-turret," Logan said. "Wraith, pick a position covering both the ramp and rear blind spot."
"You got it."
> [Summoning: Autonomous Gun Turret (Type-GX1)]
[WAR CREDITS: 43.2 remaining]
A shimmer, a hum—and a steel tripod unfolded itself between two concrete blocks. The gun mounted atop it whirred, scanning. It had a 180° rotation arc, laser targeting, and a burst-capacity magazine.
"Turret online," the system confirmed. "Passive Mode engaged."
Sofia watched it all from her perch, silent until she whispered, "They're not afraid of noise."
Logan looked at her. "What do you mean?"
"They scream to draw more," she said. "It's like sonar. I heard one shriek earlier and then five came running. They're hunting in packs now."
Logan nodded slowly. "Good ears. That's intel."
Reaper One shifted beside them. "Recommend temporary blackout to reduce attraction radius. Gatling suppression remains active on standby."
"No," Logan said. "We need light for morale. And targeting."
More time passed.
Hammer passed out energy bars. Wraith stretched his arms and settled onto an overturned crate.
> [TIME: 03:41 AM]
[New Contact: Spiral Ramp – Heat Signature x12]
[Hostiles Confirmed: Aggressive Movement]
Then it hit them.
A scream. One infected—taller than the others—rushed the barricade headlong, no hesitation. The turret locked and opened fire
DUDUDUDUDUDUDU
Rounds chewed through its chest, but the creature didn't fall until Petrescu fired into its neck.
More followed.
A flood.
Reaper One deployed his shield stance—dropping to one knee and unleashing hell. His Gatling gun lit the night, chewing through torsos and limbs. The concrete flashed with blood.
Wraith picked targets with surgical precision.
Petrescu reloaded in rhythm.
Hammer flanked and tossed a satchel charge over the wall—boom—three went down in a shower of gore.
Logan's own rifle was red-hot from use. "Hold the line!"
Sofia screamed again—this time not from fear. She swung her pipe and struck one infected that had gotten through the side. Blood splattered her face, but she didn't stop.
Then silence.
The turret swiveled… but found nothing.
> [+120 WAR CREDITS EARNED]
[Total: 163.2 WAR CREDITS]
[Infected Behavior: RETREAT]
[New Trait Detected: Alpha Coordination – Estimated Threat Escalation Imminent]
Logan dropped to one knee, panting.
Blood soaked the barricade.
Hammer cursed, rubbing a burn on his hand.
Wraith just leaned back and lit a cigarette with shaking fingers.
"Everyone alive?" Logan asked, voice hoarse.
"Affirmative," Reaper One said.
"All accounted for," Petrescu added.
Sofia didn't say anything—just sat down and stared into the void.
Logan looked at the sky.
It was still dark.
And dawn was far off.