"Dmitri," Hans turned his head toward the yard. "Come with me. Let’s see what Pandora actually paid us."
"I will order the team to move them now, Commander."
"Hmm..."
Hans moved, somewhat forgetting the presence of the two young ladies.
"Hans," Yunera called out, just loud enough to sting.
Hans didn’t stop.
Yunera’s eyes narrowed. "Wow."
Kimmy tugged her sleeve lightly. "Let it go, Sister Yunera. Hans has something on his mind. We should tend to the civilians first."
"I can see that," Yunera muttered. "Next time he forgets me, I will punch him in the face."
...
Dmitri reached to his comms.
"All Echo Teams, this is Echo Actual. Move and secure precious cargo into the fortress. The Commander is waiting for them."
Static cracked.
"Echo One copies."
"Echo Two copies."
"Echo Three copies."
The vehicles that carried the loot roared past the entrance and hurried themselves into the fortress.
Upon arriving at his personal yard, Hans watched as the soldiers climbed into the vehicles and started pulling cargo out.
Duffels swelled with chains. Cases with watches packed like ammunition. Sealed pouches that clinked softly when handled wrong.
Bars were wrapped and carried with hands, heavy enough to force discipline even on men who liked to joke.
Conscripts and Army Soldiers moved supplies to one side. Two Engineers guided the cars into a tighter line.
Guards kept the path clear so civilians wouldn’t wander too close.
Hans walked ahead without waiting for everything to be unloaded. He already knew the shape of his next problem.
Dmitri followed half a step behind. His eyes flicked between the soldiers and the Commander.
Inside, a long table had been cleared. A few soldiers were already setting down the first wave of loot, arranging it by type as if it were just another supply shipment.
Hans stopped at the table, reviewing his information. The system panel flickered into existence.
------
Commander: Hans Flemmens
Rank: 2 - Platoon Leader
Soldiers: 140 Conscripts, 50 Army Soldiers, 12 Attack Dogs, 30 Scouts, 10 Snipers, 5 Engineers, 10 Medics (4 female, 6 male pairs), 12 Machine Gunners, 9 Guardian GIs
Primary Weapon: M16A4 Assault Rifle (5.56mm, 30 rounds per mag, 4 mags).
Sidearm: M9 Pistol (15 rounds, 4 mags)
Melee: Combat Knife (18 cm steel alloy, indestructible)
Commander’s Kit: Personal storage of 8 cubic meters
Commander Vehicle: Motorcycle Side Car, Armored SUV (fuel refreshes every 36 hours), Light APC (Armored Personnel Carrier)
Boost: +20% reaction speed, +20% stamina, +30% strength, +10% troop movement speed, Basic Vehicle Usage
Weapon Familiarity: +50% CQC Effectiveness, +20% Weapon Accuracy, +15% reload speed
Medical Support Pack: ...
Commander’s Rank Promotion Requirement (Company Leader Rank): At least 6 platoons (~300 personnel), 6 Snipers, 12 Machine Gunners, 12 Guardian GIs
------
Hans stared at the requirement line for his Rank Promotion to Company Leader.
Six platoons. At least three hundred personnel. The gateway to the War Factory—armor, vehicles, and the Mobile Construction Vehicle or the MCV.
He was close enough that the number felt like it was breathing down his neck.
Gold.
That was all it ever was. Not medals, nor speeches, nor talks about loyalty.
Just resources that turned into bodies, guns, and soon, buildings.
Pandora wasn’t just a "district" to him. It was a shortcut out of the harsh reality.
Rank 3 — Company Leader.
The thought made his chest tighten for a second, not because of fear, but because of the urge to move.
To snatch all that Gold and train the required troops.
To click a button and let the system reward him immediately.
Yet, despite it all, a calm wave washed over him. The urge backed down.
Promotions weren’t free; they had consequences in the form of responsibilities.
His mind flashed back to the Hive, a recurring nightmare that he couldn’t fight off.
The stench of flesh that burned through his nose.
The biomass that crawled through the walls like a cancerous vine.
The horrific spores that clogged one’s mind.
And the enormous vitality as if it had clung too tightly to its life.
He could hear it—tiny clicks and wet tearing, as if something was chewing the world from the inside.
A shadow moved behind the membrane, too large to be called a zombie. Too patient to be called an animal.
Hans’s fingers tightened.
Rank 3 is just the beginning, he breathed deeply. The hives will get stronger. The zombies may mutate and adapt.
He clenched his fist and tapped on his temples twice.
I am not the only one who’s improving. They are too, and the superhumans in the shadow.
"Commander," Dmitri’s voice cut through, stepping closer to him.
Hans didn’t look away from the panel.
"Is this all you have gathered from Pandora District?"
Dmitri’s mouth silenced. He wondered if the Commander was testing his competence.
Are we lacking from the Commander’s needs?
A dull thud snapped him back as another wrapped bar landed on the table.
"Commander, these were the loot we prioritized from the mansions," Dmitri’s face sweated a little, explaining his plan. "Closer to our reach and without requiring time. Additional materials remain locked behind sealed doors and underground safes. They—"
Hans raised a finger, stopping Dmitri from explaining.
"I was just asking," he shook his head, followed with a smile. "Why do you sound nervous?"
Dmitri lowered his head.
"You don’t have to explain everything to me," Hans shifted his attention to the pile of bars and loot. "Schedule another run to Pandora in two days. Bring our young electrical engineer over as well."
Eh?
Dmitri was confused. Hans hadn’t done this thing before—letting civilians, aside from the superhumans, join with their military operations.
"Don’t give me that face. Coby wanted more power sources. I presume you have investigated this in Pandora as well?"
"Yes," Dmitri cleared his throat. "Engineer Tomasz has calibrated the equipment, but we couldn’t grab them because we lacked space."
"Then that settles the second trip," Hans patted Dmitri’s shoulder. "If there’s still more, schedule a third trip."
"Commander, will you not be using Pandora District as your base?"
Hans smiled. Pandora was indeed tempting, but it was too far. He would also be locked inland in case everything went awry.
"Very thoughtful of you, but I will decide on that in the future."
He moved across the table, evaluating the value of each material that had been placed.
"If this was the modern age, I would have committed the greatest act of robbery in the history of mankind."
He sighed.
"Alas, nobody rich enough would care about that."
He paused, "Dmitri."
Dmitri straightened.
"Yes, Commander."
"I will be in seclusion for my promotion," Hans gazed at the blazing sun through the open window. "Location will be the bunker in the apartment complex. A squad has already been sent in advance. Send a reinforcement of three more."
He closed the window and faced Dmitri.
"Let Alexei and Selene handle the matters outside. Screen the new civilians. Keep those agents in line, and don’t let that scientist wander aimlessly. Have Clara and her team of medics study Tyrus’s notes. They’re important, and I want our troops to understand what this Project HELIX is truly all about."
Dmitri nodded once.
"Understood."
Hans waved a hand like it was nothing.
"Good. You have done well today and in the past few days. You may go now."
Dmitri hesitated, then saluted and stepped back.
Hans watched him leave, then turned back to the gold. The thud of another bar landing on the table sounded less like loot and more like a countdown.
A countdown to his Rank 3 Promotion.