307 The First Phases, Both the Mission and the Scheme Commencing (1/2)

Day 47 – 10:59 AM – Circumferential Road 5, San Dionisio, Parañaque, Metro Manila

Along the C-5 Road, aside from the sounds of numerous vehicles, the sounds of gunshots could also be heard which even overwhelmed the former. The large convoy from the Bay City Settlement drove in consistent speed following the road.

It was already almost four hours after they left Bay City for the mission and they have even yet to pass the half of the distance they needed to traverse along C-5 Road. Although they were travelling in constant speed, it did not mean that they were going fast. Rather, they were already running late from their expected schedule.

C-5 Road was one of the roads a large number of motorists travel through before the outbreak. Due that fact, they expected to encounter road blocks due to abandoned cars left by the victims of the first wave of infected. In fact, the military had sent a drone to see the state of C-5 Road several days before while planning the route they should take in this mission.

The military knew of the roadblocks and thus prepared a dozen heavy vehicles. Nine were ten-wheeler dump trucks and three were backhoes. The trucks were equipped with three kinds of rams in front and shield like bumpers behind. There were three trucks with each kind of rams. The first type was a V-shaped ram, the second were front slanted rams with the last was flat rams. Each type had different uses but was all aimed on clearing the vehicles that blocked the C-5 Road. Sure, the heavily vehicles were noisy especially the backhoes but each were necessary in this mission not only to clear the path but also transport the materials and equipment necessary for the mission.

Since the roadblocks were within the calculations of the military, it was not the reason they were running late, the reason were the infected.

To clear the path on the normal stretch of the road, it was fine to just let the trucks with V-shaped rams to lead the convoy and push the vehicles to either sides of the road while the vehicles continued to move. At the blocked intersections however where the vehicles were entangled with each other and at worst, crashed in difficult angles, the convoy must stop while road was being cleared.

While that happened, the soldiers needed to clear the perimeter of the infected. That was where the problems popped up. There were more infected that what the scouts had reported before. The number was not overwhelming and could be dealt with proper planning but the situation was still hindering the progress of the clearing.

It happened several times in every places where the vehicles blocking the road were rather troublesome to remove. The situation felt strange but since the infected wander around and their vehicles and guns were noisy enough to alert the infected in the vicinity, no one thought too much about it,

Of course, all the participants in this mission found it troublesome but nothing could be done but deal with the infected and move on. Also there were a lot of mutated infected in the mix that were harder to put down but with the overwhelming number of people in the convoy, they were more than enough to kill the mutated infected and it only took more effort.

Or not…

Currently, the whole convoy was stopped in a defensive formation at the entrance of the flyover in Carlos P. Garcia Avenue Extension. The convoy was supposed to pass through the fly over but the blockage of the vehicles at the entrance was heavier than the previous ones. The heavy vehicles, specially the backhoes already started on removing the blocked vehicles but it would take time.

Going through the lower roads was not a plausible option for them however. Not only that it connected to a nearby intersection that would lead away from their destination but that intersection had far more heavier blockades of both public utility vehicles and private ones.

Still, the clearing crew was in a severe rush. This place was not a residential area but there were two malls in both sides of the flyover. Right now, the convoy was experiencing an attack from the infected from the two malls.

***

”Stalker here. Reporting Sir…”

That raspy voice could be heard as the same hooded man that turned into a hideous looking bird was observing the situation of the convoy atop one of the malls.

”Stalker, what is the situation.”

The gloomy voice replied from the hooded man's radio.

”We are at Point 5. The targets are still out of sight. It seems that Major Lopez is keeping them as reserve along with the elite soldiers. Phase 1 is proceeding smoothly however. From their movements, none of them seemed to suspect what is happening.”

”Good. Shadow 3 and Shadow 4 should be around that area. Tell them to move to Point 6 for the next luring. Continue observing the targets. After they passed Point 6, commence Phase 2.”

”Yes Sir…”

The hooded man put down his radio and watched the struggling soldiers in amusement.

Phase 1, the first plan of the scheme these people had.

On C-5 Road, all of the blockades were natural and was untouched since the start of the outbreak. The number of infected however, was not. Even in these two malls, the number of infected should not be this many after more than a month had passed after the outbreak started. Many of the infected had already wandered off while most chased after the survivors at the first day.

The current number of infected was lured by their group that was lurking in the shadows way before the convoy reached this area. And the purpose of Step 1 was to make the participants of the mission to waste as much resource as possible before the main part of their mission starts.

”It's unfortunate though.” The hooded man took out a picture of the targets. ”Such beautiful people. For sure they will taste good but it's a pity I won't be able to taste them, heh. There's still the others left behind I guess, Sir better give me one.”

The hooded man licked his lips as he stared at the pictures. He was staring at the pictures not with lasciviousness however but like a hungry beast craving for meat and innards.

***

With great difficulty, the entrance was cleared and the convoy proceeded leaving the infected that had not stopped flooding towards them. Since the infected continued to chase while they drove on the rest of the road, the troops at the end of the convoy could only shoot them and kill as many as they could until the infected gave up. Of course the infected would not give up and in ended up with the convoy leaving hundreds of dead bodies along the road.

The convoy still cleared up two more blockades but for some reason, the last one had lesser infected. Everyone noticed it but instead of suspecting, they could only sigh in relief as the previous instances already left them drained.

At several minutes past noon, the convoy finally reached the southwest corner of the airport. Since what separated the vicinity of the airport from the roads around it was only a welded wire fence, everyone could see what was going on inside the airfield.