Code Zulu Alpha: Nerd in the Apocalypse!

Almost everyone who heard what Harold said turned their heads and gave weird looks before continuing with their meals. The rest of his team caught the weird glances but all they could do was just sigh and keep quiet. More and more questions started popping in my head while I was maintaining eye contact with the man himself.

Harold took a big sip from his cup of coffee, "Hmm? Problem?"

I replied, "Yeah, I'm just trying to figure out the reason for that."

"Why? Is everyone here armed like you are?"

"Except for kids and other special circumstances, yes."

"Ah, so you're giving away your weapons? I heard you're generous but not this generous."

"We're not just giving them away. We have programs so to speak. You pass it, you get one. You pass more, you get more. Think of it as being drafted or something similar."

Harold continued eating as he took a huge spoonful of rice, "I see. Let's just say that in her case, she failed every single one."

"What do you mean?"

"I don't know if you noticed it but she… she's a little special. I don't feel comfortable discussing it over breakfast so I suggest we talk about somewhere a little more private than this place. It's nothing to worry about really, but our current arrangement is something I want to stick to."

"Okay, now I'm just trying to figure out why you brought her here if she's special. It's dangerous, right?"

A small smirk appeared on Harold's lips, "I told you, we're enough. Can we agree on that, for now?"

I just stared at him for a short moment before I replied, "Sure."

After a while, it seemed like Kaley took the time with grabbing some hot chocolate just to bump with Marisha. They were now seated on Marisha's table, talking casually with Ilana actually participating in the conversation albeit roughly. Harold saw that as well but he didn't try and intervene with what was happening.

Harold changed the subject, "Hey, kid. I believe Ferdinand is the CO in the DDR Camp here while Morales is- I mean Morales and Jose in the others, right? What about your other outposts? Who's in charge with them?"

"Dela Rosa's handling the one in Meycauayan while the other is headed by Lawrence. The one closer to us is kinda small so it doesn't need much supervision."

Harold nodded a few times, "How about the other one then?"

'He's fishing, eh? Hmm, well… it's only fair, can't wait to see the footage Jared took inside their place.'

"They're somewhere in the Bulacan Area doing the same exact thing as us. From their last report, they're clearing out the vehicles from the expressway."

"Clearing out?"

"You know, looting everything inside, relocating viable vehicles, and crushing the ones that are totaled to be used as a barricade or something similar. They've acquired a scrapyard before so they do some of their operations over there."

"They aren't gonna do anything about the main roads?"

"They cleared a few blocks around their area but clearing the expressway is more linear. You'd see everything around clearly and the way to each exit is easy to block off. It's a safer bet compared to just clearing the main roads where everything is mixed together. Besides, successfully doing that gives direct access to every area with fewer threats on the way inside compared to stopping every block or so to take care of the dead as you go deeper."

"That's smart, I think we'll do that on our side. You know, to help with the workload."

"That will be a great help in securing a proper route between our bases but I wanted to ask about a group of people that's been visiting your place to trade with you."

"A group? Which one?"

'There's more then?'

"The group that trades various supplies in exchange for water that's been processed by your plants."

"Ah, those people. Don't worry about them."

"I'm not, I just want to know more information. Their total number, their military capacity, their main headquarters, possible outposts, and etc."

"Hmm, your cousin and your Russian squad probably know more than me. Why don't you ask them?"

"I will after this but I wanted to know what you know. I'm also open to listening to what the three of you might say about them," I said as I turned to Mylene, Richard, and Peter.

From Jared and Vera's reports, they seemed to be coming from the province of Rizal, right in the middle of Novaliches City, Quezon City, and Marikina City. Their main address and their total number of people weren't confirmed because the same people would come every time and just trade straightforwardly.

I just wanted to know what this team would relay to me and if there would be any discrepancies or additional information my team doesn't know about.

Harold was about to open his mouth after a long sigh but Oscar made his way towards us. He scanned over them for a brief second before turning to me and placing his cup right next to mine.

"Hey, you guys not done yet? We've still got a lot to do. Monumento or Manila, take your pick. Jose's leading a group to Manila while I'm leading a group between the two cities. I could drop by in Monumento after getting my fill but I'd want you there with your chopper, kid. You have other malls to clear, right? What are you planning to do?"

"Ah..."

Harold interjected, "We could lend a hand with Jose and we'll probably stay for a while to have a talk with Morales. Just the three of us though, Mylene needs to watch Ilana while she's here. She's safer here than on the road filled with those specials you mentioned. You call them ferals, right? We encounter them on our side as well but we just call them the pack."

I replied, "Don't worry, they'll come here before sunset."

"Hmm?"

Oscar chuckled, "Heh, you'll see."

I finished my coffee in one gulp before I proposed the plan, "We have an event of sorts. Okay, here's what we'll do..."

Before we set off, I finally handed Jared my FN SCAR 17 and I let him run around my armory to do some finishing touches.

The one I gave him was the one chambered in .308 that had an all-black frame aside from the aftermarket grip that had a grayish hue. It had all the bells and whistles that we would always put on them but this rifle was actually more suited for him. An example was the 4-15x50mm scope he readjusted himself that should be zeroed in 300 yards.

I would always zero my rifles to 100 yards but it would all boil down to who would be using it. It could be zeroed to 150, 200, 250, and etc. but as I said, it would depend on the shooter, not the tradition or what was recommended in the manual it came with.

Truth be told, Jared had more time with it than I did because he would always take it with us when we used to frequent the range, and a few of the modifications it had was actually suggested by him. The only reason I didn't hand it to him before it started or as early as I could was because I was still bleeding about how much it costs and it was one of the rifles I bought on impulse.

'Damn you, FPS games...'

The FN SCAR 17 was a great battle rifle, even now, but I had a few issues with it when I first bought it which were the trigger, the stock, and the reciprocating handle. It was mostly fixed due to the aftermarket parts I bought for it that he suggested from his own research and preference. However, there was this issue of compatibility and of course, to who would be using it.

The trigger was replaced with something with a little less weight with each pull and a crisp reset compared to what came from the box. The buttstock was interchanged with something that wouldn't wobble compared to the original one and had a different shape which was actually wider on the bottom part where he would rest it against his bag. And the reciprocating handle was changed with something that was angled to avoid his thumb getting murdered each time the handle reciprocated or move with each shot.

Aside from those, he added an extended rail that would go over the gas block, backup sights for his scope, a leather cheek rest, an angled red dot for short-range acquisition, a modified ambidextrous selector, and the other attachments that he was already used to using. He was smiling like an idiot as he easily breezed through modifying it while I helped with reloading the SCAR mags he would be using instead of his current ones.

We could've changed the lower to use mags from Magpul and etc. but now wasn't the time to do it. Aside from that, he was already used to using the old ones, and the only other reason we have for replacing it was to be able to use a 50-round drum mag. However, we would need to file a portion of that magazine off to be able to fit it in his FN SCAR 17. Doing that would take more time and practice just to be able to operate it normally.

Compared to Jared, I started leaning toward the AR platform more because of more access to modification options compared to others. Proof of that was converting Kaley to the AR cause by making her start with an AR from PSA, then heading straight towards the ARs from LWRC.

Also, I was more inclined to use something lighter and not limited to 25 rounds per mag even with the extensions available on hand. As mentioned earlier, the price was also the issue because I could do different setups with an AR without bleeding too much. Granted I have a few high-end ARs but they were still wasn't expensive compared to buying an FN SCAR.

In all honesty, Oscar actually had a few in reserve, even the DMR and the PDW variations, but I would leave that as a surprise for now. Besides, Oscar was more stingy than I am so I'll find a way to let Jared or even Kaley take them out for a few thousand rounds.

'I'll wait till Jared gets used to it more then I'll drop the bomb on him when it counts...'

"Are you crying, dude?"

"SHUT UP, BRO!!! I'M JUST HAVING A MOMENT!!!"

"Did your voice just crack?"

"DIDN'T YOU HEAR ME?! I SAID-"

"Are you yelling at me?"

"AH- N-No… sorry… thanks, bro."

"$3,500, No- $5,000, with the attachments. That's already cheap as dirt so don't screw me over."

"WHAT?!"

"$4,999?"