Big Rhino sat in the asphalt alone; its turret slightly pointed at the southern horizon. The gunner’s eyes locked at the small screen, scanning for anything coming from that direction.
"Sir, it’s been five minutes," the gunner said. "Coast is clear and silent."
"Hmm," Big Rhino nodded, then reached to the comms. "Commander, we’ve got no contact, over."
Hans glanced at the Radar map. Big Rhino’s report coincided with the absence of blinking red dots on the interface.
Did nothing hear that? he shrugged to himself. So be it then. I’ll take this result happily.
"Big Rhino, ready to turn around," Hans replied. "We’re going back."
"Roger that, Commander."
"Callum, no time for sightseeing," Hans continued. "Rendezvous with Big Rhino."
The DASF unit moved near Big Rhino and climbed its hull.
The convoy retreated to the apartment complex, just in time for the sun to reach its peak up high.
"Big Rhino, stay on the clear," Hans ordered, watching the training queue of the Guardian APC tick down to zero.
The Vanguard remained on the road. The armored SUV entered the complex and rushed into the parking lot after Hans’s repeated urges.
[ Training Complete: 1x Guardian APC. ]
Hans’s eyes focused on the panel for a moment before shifting his vision to the long personnel carrier stationed neatly inside the lot, as if it had been parked by someone who cared about clean exits.
The Guardian APC didn’t sit low and short like a tank.
It proudly stood tall and purposeful—an armored box built for speed and transport with a wide belly meant to endure the weight of several infantry and spit them out under cover.
Its hull was shorter than the Vanguard’s bulky frame, but it was broader than any regular truck.
Light composite plating wrapped the body in clean angles, aesthetically flawless on its appeal. On top of that were evenly spaced plates bolted in sections.
Hans realized that its defense wasn’t shabby as he expected. The vehicle had long expected any hits and even planned on how to take it.
A compact turret was entrenched above the front half, not oversized like a missile launcher yet still confident of its strikes.
The barrel wasn’t thicker than the Vanguard’s cannon. It was slimmer, longer, and vile in a different way. It was an autocannon meant to sieve through things, not punch against them.
A coaxial gun sat beside it, tucked close and was ready to keep a steady stream of suppressive fire whenever the main gun wasn’t worth wasting rounds on.
Along the sides of the APC, narrow firing ports were cut between armor seams. Though the slits looked small and ugly, they were just enough to allow rifles to speak out while keeping bodies protected inside.
Near the rear, the hull widened slightly.
A ramp line was visible, reinforced hinges integrated into the frame. It wasn’t a simple door—it was the way in and out. The mouth of the vehicle.
Above the rear section, Hans noticed as set of small tubes mounted like pods. They were all angled outward to lay a wall for itself and the infantry.
Are those smoke launchers? he thought.
The Guardian APC was designed for squads that needed to get in and out alive. Practical in a sense, and brutal when it strikes.
Hans stepped closer.
His perception caught additional details—a deja vu feeling that he had with the Vanguard MBT.
Rubber seals on the doors, and tight seams that held everything intact.
A faint hum vibrated under the armor—filtration and pressure systems working while the engine was idle.
"A great ride," he muttered. "And a shelter for the infantry too."
Viktor, Kenji, and the Army Soldier remained seated in the SUV. They all leaned forward, unable to help themselves.
Viktor looked at the firing ports and quietly nodded, already imagining angles of his attacks.
Hans straightened, then let the system panel unfold fully.
------
Vehicle Name: Bastion One
Unit: Guardian Armored Personnel Carrier (APC)
Star Promotion: 0 - 0 / 24000
[ Primary Weapon ]
30mm Autocannon.
Ammunition: 1000 rounds
Effective Range: 1 kilometer
Fire Rate: 200 rounds / min
Penetration: Light to medium armor
Effectiveness: Extremely effective against zombies, infantry, and unarmored structures
[ Secondary Weapons ]
Coaxial 7.62mm Machine Gun, 1500 rounds
Side-mounted Smoke Grenade Pods, 4 charges, 15-meter smoke wall for squad deployment
[ Transport Capacity ]
20 Infantry Units
Passengers can fire from firing ports with reduced accuracy (auto-transforms based on Infantry type)
Passengers and crew are protected from external exposure such as virus infection and psychic effects, loses effectiveness when ramp is deployed
[ Special Features ]
Rear hydraulic ramp for rapid disembarkation / embarkation
Internal overpressure system for anti-infection sealing
External coating that prevents external intrusion
Basic point-defense IR system for projectile redirection
[ Vehicle Systems ]
Fire Control System
Infrared/Thermal cameras
Stabilized turret (can fire on the move)
Light composite armor with spaced plates
[ Crew ]
4 Personnel: Commander, Co-Axial Gunner, Driver, Systems Assistant
[ Crew Equipment ]
Standard Infantry Kit (no SMGs; Pistols only)
Crew Intercom link
1-day ration + 1.5L canteen
Helmet HUD linked to vehicle targeting systems
[ Traits ]
Hit and Run (adapted based on Unit Type) — increases attack power, movement speed, vehicle attributes, ramp deployment / closure, and passenger / gun fire rate
[ Remarks ]
Armored personnel carrier designed for safe infantry transport, rapid urban maneuvering, and providing light to medium fire support.
Significantly less armored than MBTs but compensates with speed and suppressive fire.
The Guardian APC will serve as the army’s first protected mobility platform, enabling squads to traverse high-action streets with reduced casualties.
------
Hans took his time scrolling through the information under the intensifying heat.
His skin glowed brightly and fair, unblemished by the dangerous light and UV rays.
The muscles inside relaxed as if they were on vacation during summer, enjoying the internal cooling system of Hans’s improved body.
But the person ignored such details.
The Guardian APC’s attributes truly surprised Hans.
This is almost similar to the Battle Fortress, just less armored than that.
His eyes drifted from the panel into the Guardian APC’s body once more.
As if the vehicle noticed the shift, the vehicle’s commander turned to the comms.
"Bastion One, at your service, Commander."