Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

My group couldn't comprehend whether I was serious or not but I continued, "We're just bringing back reinforcements but we'd be only camping out at our outpost that Lawrence was assigned to. I want to bring those things down as fast as possible but not without the proper or perfect set of circumstances. A lot goes on if we don't plan for it and we'd lose people if we're careless."

Lois wore a serious expression, "So we'd just watch if it would wander in our outpost and take it down but we go looking for it when morning comes?"

"Yeah, it's stacking the deck in our favor. There are a few things we haven't tried too."

Each of them slowly understood my intentions and we continued to drive back. However, we made a quick stop at Lawrence's outpost to remind them that we would stay the night and all hands should be on deck.

A approached Lawrence with several soldiers clad with their rifles, "You heard the call, right?"

Lawrence replied, "Yeah, we've already blocked the other passages with vehicles except for the way to Morales' base so we'd have an early warning device. After you guys are done here, we'd do the same way you came from so we'll be notified once that thing you mentioned passes through it."

"What did you do?"

"We rigged them with a few explosives and once they trip them, kaboom! That would probably take down a few of them and we'd know their exact location. You bringing more people, right? It sounds serious the way you described the thing."

"Yeah, we'll be quick."

"Yeah, I'll call when something happens and you're not here yet."

We eventually drove home but on the halfway mark, a few vehicles from our DDR Camp were approaching us and they were led by Oscar himself. Soldiers and the people we've trained were riding a couple of trucks while a few soldiers were manning the jeeps themselves.

They all zoomed past us but I heard Oscar's voice through the radio.

-

*bzzt*

[Fu- want us to head back? We're kinda losing time.]

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"Go ahead, we'll be quick."

*bzzt*

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[Hmm? Alright then, some of us will be heading to Morales' camp though. They're kinda busy on the other side of the port. I'd be sending some of these guys to pad the guards over there.]

*bzzt*

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"Who's left in charge back home though?"

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[Ferdinand, Johnny, and Matthew. Oh, Mauricio is there too. Ferdinand is in the camp, Johnny is in Woodlands, and Matthew and Mauricio are back home.]

*bzzt*

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"I see. How about you?"

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[Jose is on the nearest port but I'll head there as well.]

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"Stay safe."

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[Yeah, Vera rounded up the rest of our Russian friends for you. I think they'll be waiting for your orders on whether they'll stay put or head to the same place.]

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"Heh, they have names, old man."

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[Bah! I can't even pronounce half of the barangays around us, kid! Give me a break! Anyway, just radio in if you ever need help, you little shit.]

*bzzt*

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"At least you can say barangay fluently now. Stay safe, old man."

*bzzt*

-

It was a short exchange between Oscar and me and they soon disappeared from view. It only took a few minutes to reach my compound and as we arrived, the other, much fewer half of Artem's team were present with Vera.

'Stefan, Petrov, and Marina...'

"Okay. Vera, stay here and direct comms for everybody and try and contact Iskoh over the other city. I don't know the route that thing would take so we better inform them about it as well. Wake up Juan and Earl so they could accompany and assist you and make sure the line is open."

Stefan chimed in, "How about us?"

"Are you all geared up or do you need something I could help with?"

Marina was about to speak and Petrov was about to point at his tattered elbow pads, but Stefan spoke up.

"We're good, thanks."

"No, you're not. Come with me."

"Then why did you-"

"Just checking your standards. Come on, I'm not charging money for this. Don't forget to put in a request for equipment if something needed repairs or replacement. Don't worry about damaging your protective equipment, it just means that it did its job. Well, unless it's an accident or something."

Marina scoffed-chuckled, "I told you, he'd notice."

Stefan was still stunned when the rest followed behind me and Mikhail was just patting his back the moment we reached my entrance to my room. They were waiting by the open door, confused as to why Tatiana was so nonchalant as she walked inside, but it didn't take long before I asked them what was missing from their gear.

Petrov spoke first, "My-"

"Elbow pads, right?"

"Yes, sir."

First and foremost, we decided to tackle our protective equipment.

All of them were wearing some semblance of body armor but they were in various states of depreciation. They had small tears and holes from a few sides and I didn't notice it until now. It was due to the patterns of the vests themselves but I handed them the same model they were using.

It was the same kevlar and helmet Tatiana was using and the only thing different was the size and the color. After that, I handed them new gloves, elbow pads, knee pads, and whatever they were missing. They changed to the equipment I handed them and I kept the ones they've used to try and have them repaired if still able.

'Some could be patched up but a few could be traded for cheap...'

I then turned to Stefan and his Vepr-12, "Stefan, hey."

"Da?"

"That Vepr-12, do you have enough magazines? That drum too, does that run well?"

"Da, it runs- yes. I got seven 10-round magazines and six 5-round magazines in my pack. The drum works well now after reinserting and tilting it back a bunch of times. It just takes more pressure, that's all. Oh, I had a spare drum that's also filled in my pack."

"I see. How about you two? Need more mags for your AKs? It's fine if you have drums but I recommend the 30-round ones."

Marina raised her hand, "Umm, do you have some for my PYa?"

"PYa? Oh, it's the MP-443 Grach, right?"

"Yes, that's it."

"How much do you need?"

"Just a couple..."

"Here, they're already loaded."

"Thank you."

While they were busy, I took out a 'clone' MP5 from one of my safes. It was called an SP5 from HK and it was only available for semi-auto. It uses 9mm bullets and it was the closest thing to the MP5 as far as looks and feels go.

It was installed with a suppressor, a flashlight located on the 3 o'clock position, a side-folding stock, and a 'bungee' sling. I could install a red dot to it right now but we were a little pressed for time, and the ghost ring looked just right. I loaded five 30-round magazines with 9mms and I placed them along with the SP5 inside a case.

"What's that for? Are you giving it to someone?" Kaley asked.

I chuckled and said, "For the asshole Lois and I punched earlier. If we're gonna give him another beating, he better stay alive."

Everyone around was silent but they were wearing faint smiles. I just shook my head and looked at the tattered armor by the side. I just scratched my head and added a few more things in the case I prepared for Cyrill.

'I guess I'll give him some armor too...'

After a while, I also gave them fresh batteries for their NVGs and we brought extra explosives and ammunition just in case. MREs and a large thermos of coffee were also prepared by Lois while Chris brought some mosquito coils and refilled our water canisters. Aside from those, I brought a couple of new drones to replace the ones we've left behind and I made sure they were fully charged.

'It's better to see what's coming than waiting for the traps to get tripped up...'

The whole process took less than half an hour and everyone got equipped and supplied to the standard. We drove back to our outpost that was headed by Lawrence and we discovered that a few soldiers have a few nests away from our outpost. They were equipped with high-powered rifles, communication equipment, and for emergencies, an M709 or an M203 attached on their M16s.

It was to provide more vision and to simply have more options in taking down our targets. However, I always had something special tucked away in my Raptor in case I needed more firepower. I used it a couple of times but I brought another one just for the occasion.

The fear I felt before was replaced by excitement and I couldn't wait for them to swing around and say hi.

'Now we wait...'