Chapter 115: Located a Survivor’s Camp
"What did you just say?" Adrian prompting him to repeat his words. "I thought we bombed that area."
"Well yes sir we bombed it but it appears there are survivors. It’s an important development if you plan on bombing it again for your campaign," he replied.
"You have to check it sir," Ryan chimed in. "At least we know there are people in the area. They might need help or anything."
"Ahh..." the personnel were about to interrupt but Adrian already began speaking.
"Okay, let’s go to the command center and see it," Adrian said.
He didn’t wait.
Ryan fell in beside him as they moved out of the observation room, the heavy door sealing shut behind them.
"What sector?" Adrian asked as they walked.
"Metro Manila, sir," the personnel replied, keeping pace. "Southern quadrant. Near the previous strike zone."
Adrian’s expression didn’t change.
"That area was cleared," he said.
"Yes sir," the man answered. "But the drone picked up heat signatures. Multiple."
Ryan glanced at Adrian.
"If that’s real, then they survived the bombardment."
"Or moved in after," Adrian said.
They turned a corner and entered a secured corridor leading deeper into the base. Guards stepped aside as they passed.
Within seconds, they reached the command center.
The doors opened.
Screens filled with maps, telemetry, and live feeds.
At the center, the main display lit up.
"Put it on the main screen," Adrian said.
"Yes sir."
The feed switched.
A high-altitude view of Metro Manila appeared.
An MQ-1 Predator drone camera hovered over the city, its infrared overlay flickering between thermal and standard imaging.
Below, the city looked scarred.
Collapsed structures.
Burn marks across entire blocks.
Craters from previous strikes.
Roads torn apart.
Ryan exhaled slowly.
"We hit this place hard. So where’s the survivors?"
"Yeah, show it to us."
"We do have a record on the Predator, it’s a thirty-minute old footage," the operator said and then began typing on the keyboard.
The screen shifted, zooming to a particular section of Metro Manila, and it was familiar to Adrian.
"Wait...that’s Forbes Park," Adrian recognized.
Ryan looked to Adrian. "What do you mean sir? What is it?"
"It’s a gated subdivision, home for the the ultra-rich of the Philippines," Adrian finished.
Ryan leaned closer to the screen.
"That explains the walls," he said.
The drone feed zoomed further.
Forbes Park came into full view.
High perimeter walls.
Guardhouses at every entrance.
And inside it, there were movements.
A convoy of trucks rolled through the main road of the subdivision. One after another. Large cargo trucks, reinforced with makeshift plating, some with mounted lights and external racks.
"Pause that," Adrian said.
The operator froze the frame.
"Zoom on the convoy."
The image sharpened.
"Those are container trucks, possibly it’s a supply truck. I guess we have an organized system inside of that subdivision."
The trucks moved deeper into the subdivision, passing through an inner gate. Guards stepped forward, signaling them through.
And they were heavily-armed, it’s hard to figure out what their weapons were from the air.
"Those aren’t standard issue," Ryan muttered. "Private security?"
"Most likely," Adrian said. "That place used to have its own security force even before all this."
"Sir," the operator said quietly. "There’s more."
"Play it," Adrian said.
The footage skipped forward.
Same location.
Different moment.
Near one of the inner courtyards.
A group of people were lined up.
Hands bound.
Ryan frowned.
"What is this?"
The guards stood in front of them.
Weapons raised, and a flicker of the muzzle flash. The receiving end collapsed to the ground. And then another, and another, until all ten people were executed on the same spot.
"What the fuck are they doing?"
"Hmm, sir I think it’s worth investigating this place," Ryan suggested. "They are similar to us but we are more capable in terms of firepower."
"They have a perfect base for the apocalypse. When I was passing there prior to the apocalypse, their walls were tall and every entrance was heavily guarded. During one of the protests, believing the people would intrude on the gate because the Mayor of Makati lives there and was known for his lavish lifestyle and corruption, they fortified the gates in less than a day."
"So it’s really worth investigating, like who runs the place, how is the command structure looks like, how many survivors, and what they’re planning," Ryan finished.
Adrian stayed quiet for a moment.
He looked at the screen again.
The trucks.
The guards.
The bodies.
Everything was too organized to ignore.
Then he made the call.
"Alright," Adrian said. "We send a team."
Ryan didn’t hesitate.
"I’ll take it," he said.
Adrian looked at him.
"You’re leading," he confirmed.
Ryan nodded.
"Recon first," he said. "No engagement unless necessary."
"Exactly," Adrian replied. "You go in, you observe, you map everything. Entry points, guard rotations, internal layout if possible."
Ryan stepped closer to the table.
"And survivors?" he asked.
"We have to know if everyone is on board with them. Because from the way I see it. There’s execution, meaning there is a rigid and strict system in place," Adrian continued. "Which means not everyone inside agrees."
Ryan nodded slowly.
"Yeah," he said. "You don’t line people up like that unless someone’s stepping out of line."
Adrian looked back at the screen.
"Or unless they want to make an example," he added.
The room stayed quiet for a second.
Then Adrian turned back to him.
"You confirm that," he said. "I want to know if those people inside are willing participants... or just trapped."
Ryan understood the weight behind that.
"Copy," he said.
Adrian stepped closer to the map again.
"You’re not going in blind," he continued. "You’ll have drone overwatch the entire time. Live feed. We guide you in if needed."
Ryan smirked slightly.
"Good," he said. "I’d rather not walk into another surprise."
Adrian pointed at the route again.
"You insert here," he said. "Abandoned block, two clicks out. From there, you move low profile. No contact unless necessary."
"And if we get compromised?" Ryan asked.
Adrian didn’t hesitate.
"You disengage," he said. "You are not there to fight them."
Ryan gave a short nod.
"Understood."
Adrian’s tone hardened slightly.
"But if they open fire first..."
Ryan met his eyes.
"We finish it."
"Good, you’ll leave tomorrow."