Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

"Sure~ Good luck!" I chuckled at Tatiana before she left us with a confused look.

"Hmm? What's the 'good luck' for?" Kaley turned to me.

"I helped once… I'm afraid to come back..." Cynthia started to shudder.

"Me too..." Rin added.

"What are you guys talking about?" Micah asked, tilting her head while looking at the three of us.

"Heh, you'll see once she comes out. Let's see what she'll do… Well, they're almost finishing so it wouldn't be as bad." I replied as I continued to chuckle.

I already knew that she would try to 'help' by sneaking in bites from the meals being prepared or volunteer to be a taste-tester, but I was 100% sure that she hadn't been in a place where a group of cooks prepares food for a huge number of people. Granted there were other people that would prepare food for Woodlands and the DDR Camp but it was still a different kind of warzone once you entered the line.

After a while, almost everyone has gathered for breakfast. However, the moment Tatiana left the cooking area, she looked like she ran a marathon and got attacked by a bear. Her hair was all disheveled and her sweat had started to seep on her clothes.

Tatiana groggily made her way towards me and she exploded, "What the fuck?!"

"I told you, didn't I?" I just shrugged my shoulders while smiling cheekily.

"What happened to you?" Katya commented as she just arrived with Artem and the rest.

"Long story, no subtitles." Tatiana brushed her off, just basking in the smell of the food to recover in her own way.

Tatiana's reaction was almost comical but we soon started breakfast with everyone.

We had breaded tilapia with a side of sliced-up salted eggs, tossed in a bowl together with fresh tomatoes and lime. It was served over fried rice with bits of toasted garlic on top and chopped-up vegetables. For our drinks, coffee and hot chocolate were served in a pot and we were free to add milk and sugar to our taste.

The spread was incredible and everyone couldn't wait to get in line.

"I'm going first… carry me… help~" Tatiana called out.

"Sure~ Sure~" Rin chuckled as she helped her get in front of the line.

After a while, everyone got their meals and we started eating. Everyone enjoyed the food and everyone was stealing side glances at Tatiana who had double the servings she would usually eat. Surprisingly, she finished it all and she was back to normal. A few people were still finishing their meals but the old dudes soon gathered in a circle and called me and Artem over.

Iskoh was present as well and it seemed that he would be coming with Johnny to take a look around Woodlands and the DDR Camp.

"Sir." Artem promptly greeted them by giving a proper salute.

"Haa~ I told you to stop with that salute shit. Anyway, sit down with us. I haven't announced it officially with the kid present but you know why you're here, right? You'll answer to the kid from now on and you and your team would have the same mission as Tatiana from here on out, is that clear?" Rod looked Artem in the eye.

"Clear, Sir." Artem just nodded.

"We've lost contact with Russia as well but that place wouldn't go down easily. A few cities, yes, but I doubt each and every one of your people has turned to those things outside. We'll wait and see but as I promised, after I'm done claiming my country back, you're free to head back to yours with either a ship or a plane with supplies and equipment if you wanted to... or stay here with everyone. I don't want to sound too optimistic with your options and our chances but if everything plays out well, you'd have your shot reclaiming your own." Rod continued.

'As well? Which countries have they lost contact with then? He's planning to go back, eh?' I thought to myself.

"I'll hold onto your word, Sir." Artem replied promptly.

"Anyway, what's your plan today, kid?" Oscar asked.

"The same thing we discussed yesterday. However, I'll think I'll open up the roads that we blocked that could lead us to the City of Navotas faster so we wouldn't drive to the City of Malabon every time to get to the harbor where Morales is." I started.

"Wait, wait, wait. Kid, we blocked that area to have the dead only come from Malabon, right? We also blocked the passage North of that place where we got Gemma and Joseph for nothing to come from that place as well. Why are we opening it up now?" Matthew chimed in.

"Hear me out, it had already been some time, and Lawrence is not the only one guarding that place. Yes, we'll beef up the security of that outpost but the people that are living there have also been fortifying their base after they claimed the church right next to it. The place is ready and we jus-" I answered but Matthew cut me off.

"You don't think wasting a bit of fuel is much safer? It takes some time getting into that area but-" Matthew added then I cut him off as well.

"You didn't let me finish. Yes, it would be safer to only have one place where the dead are coming from but we're actually conditioning them to only watch out from that same spot over and over. What happens if somehow, by some chance, a pack of ferals vaults over from the other side? Or, another group manages to remove the barricades we set up? It would be a tad dangerous to remove them on our own but it would keep them on their toes." I explained.

"Okay, that makes sense to me as well. There's always next to nothing coming from that side of the road from the DDR Camp's side because of the people clearing the barangays next to us. But yeah, I always keep the numbers guarding the gates even." Johnny added.

"Ahh~ I get it, I get it. It's just that they're starting to make the platforms behind it higher... that's why I said something. It's not like they're getting complacent with guarding that area, they're just making solutions on their own." Matthew sighed.

"Making the platforms higher? Like a watchtower then? That would waste a lot of material. Let's just tell them to build a nest just above the existing structures so it would be solid below. They just need to make sure the way up there is stable and secure and if they got trapped, they have supplies and the means to call for help." I explained.

We had a short meeting and we discussed a few more topics while the rest finish up eating and preparing the things they would need for our task at hand. After that, Matthew called Lawrence and the people from the outpost in Pulo to start disassembling the barricade separating us from Navotas.

-

*bzzt*

"Got it? The platforms too, here's what you'll do..."

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

[Uh-huh… Uh-huh… Right, right, we'll get on it. That's easier actually...]

*bzzt*

-

*bzzt*

"Do it fast, we're coming in a few."

*bzzt*

-

Before we left for the harbor, I advised Rin to grab a few people and start sorting out the casings brought to us and tumble everything that could be tumbled in the meantime. I asked specifically to start tumbling the 9mms, 5.56s, .45 ACPs, .22 LRs, and 7.62s because they were the cartridges we use the most. After that, I grabbed Unc Zeidrick and asked him to start to identify, sort, and smelt the scrap brought to us.

"Hey, you guys are going back to the harbor, right?" Unc Zeidrick asked before I left him.

"Yeah, why?"

"What do you mean why? Grab some keels when you get back, they're made with lead, right? You told me that before if I remember correctly."

"Oh! Yeah, yeah, I'll bring what we could back. We still have a lot here but it wouldn't hurt to increase our stocks."

"Also, if we have time, let's use one of the boats to fish some Swordfish or some Ahi. It's been a while since we've eaten those. Tell me when everything settles down."

"Okay Unc, see you later. I bet there's some from the harbor but they now belong to the soldiers."

"Huh? If there's some just trade a couple for me."

"Sure."

"Yeah, go along now. Maybe I'll grab Russel to sort the pile with me."

Instead of using the helicopter to get back, we drove with the president's convoy along with half of Artem's team. It was already decided beforehand so that part of them could start to slowly integrate with the rest of the soldiers at my base and get familiar with our location and its people. They were still surprised at the fact of how different the president and my place was and it would definitely take some time getting used to.

'One more thing to find out...' I thought to myself as I turned to Mikhail.

"Hey, you've been with them for a while before coming here, right? What's the deal with Morales?"