499 A Temporary Military Base, A Disturbance Caused by a Single Man (1/2)
Day 126 - 7:25 AM - Great Island, Atlantic City Parks Department, N Albany Ave., Atlantic City, New Jersey, United States of America
The Great Island. It was a large, irregularly-shaped island southwest of Atlantic City. Rivers, grass, and trees filled the landscape. A single highway connected the island to both the main island of Atlantic City and the mainland of New Jersey. Inside the island, only four establishments were present, an abandoned roadside hotel, a gas station, the Atlantic City Parks Department, and the largest school in Atlantic City, the Atlantic City Highschool.
Currently, while the survivors remaining in Atlantic City thought that the state had abandoned the city, a large group of the US military was stationed here, occupying the Great Island.
Unfortunately, their orders did not include the welfare of the survivors.
Inside the Atlantic City Parks Department, the military had installed a surveillance system. Powered by solar panels and batteries, the whole facility had no problems running.
Here, they monitor the current state of Atlantic City and fulfill two of the orders given to them.
The first order was to study the ecology of the infected, and the second was to monitor the state of the survivor groups left in the area.
Each day at a fixed schedule, they launch and retrieve drones that they scattered across the city. There were more than a hundred of these drones equipped with the military's latest technology. There were more than two hundred drones across the city. The location did not matter whether it was land, air, or water.
These drones were not only equipped with silent motors but also had long-distance cameras allowing them to observe the targets without closing into a noticeable distance.
Furthermore, these drones were perfect for the job as the infected were not attracted to them except for a few odd ones.
They needed to gather as much data about the infected as they could together with the scientists studying them that currently stationed at the high school.
At this moment, a military officer with a stern appearance entered the surveillance room early in the morning.
”Sir McGuire!”
The personnel inside the surveillance area immediately stood up and saluted.
He was Major Samuel McGuire, the head military officer of this military facility. Known for his strict appearance and conduct, no one who knew him would try to get on his worst side. Nevertheless, he was a very approachable superior to his men and everyone here respected him.
”Report.”
Major McGuire signaled his hand to put everyone at ease and asked for the current status report. He was alerted by one of the soldiers in charge of monitoring one of the targets of interest.
”Sir, specimen NH-528, Codename: Magma Hill, is on the move again.”
A soldier with quite a bored expression reported.
”So, it moved again.” Major McGuire voiced. ”Did it change direction?”
”No, Sir. It continued in the same direction after another week of dormancy.”
”If it continued like this, it could be heading in a specific direction. We need to know where it is going.”
”I know, Sir. But how long will it take?”
The bored soldier asked. It was no wonder he had that expression if the was assigned to monitor this creature. Even the Major could not blame the soldier since he understood his troubles.
According to their records, NH-528 surfaced from the sea two days after the start of the outbreak. It first appeared at the coast near Oscar E. McClinton Waterfront Park with the signs of hot water vapor from the ocean. Since then, it continued to move straight towards the highway at a snail's pace. Not only its movements were slow, but it had long dormancy intervals too. For the four months that it appeared, it had not even reached half of the highway it was traversing. Also, because of this, they had to rotate the personnel monitoring the target.
”Continue monitoring the target. Who knows if it suddenly exhibits changes in its behavior.”
The Major commanded.
”Yes, Sir.” The soldier replied with a deadpan expression.
Major McGuire then looked around.
”Where is Andrews?”
He asked.
Private First Class James B. Andrews. He was one of the promising new soldiers among the last batch of graduates that they recruited before the outbreak. Meticulous, observant, and honest. Those three traits were something Major McGuire liked about the young man.
Because Andrews was good at observing, the Major designated him to one of the specimens that were hard to catch.
When the Major entered this time, however, he did not see Andrews among the people that stood up to salute.
”Andrews, Sir? He's right there.”
The nearby soldier pointed at the seemingly empty station that was facing the Major.
As it looked empty, the soldier stood up from his station and approached the one he pointed.
The Major immediately followed behind. And there, the Major saw a soldier, who was fully concentrated at the monitor on his station. His face was just about three inches from the monitor as if he was trying to search for something.
”Andrews! Hey! Andrews!”
The soldier called out.
”What is it?! I'm busy!”
That reply made the soldier shrug as he pointed at the man behind him.
”Ah, Major!”
Andrews immediately stood up and saluted.
BAM!
His chair fell with a loud bang, though.
”What is happening? You're not always like this.”
The Major asked.
”Sir, it's about the specimen you told me to watch.”
Andrews replied with a bitter expression.
”What happened?”
Moved towards Andrews' station to see. Even the other soldiers nearby went to see.
”Sir, look.”
Andrews pointed at the barely recognizable corpse shown on his monitor.
And of course, everyone frowned. What was shown was not only bad for the eyes and stomach, but that was not the issue. The corpse that was on the monitor should be HS-005, Codename: Jumpshooter. The fifth among the infected that they were monitoring since the start of the outbreak. It might not be the strongest, but it was among the fastest. It could also use its jagged hands with hooked bones to climb and jump across faces of buildings and walls. But that was not its ultimate weapon. It was able to generate projectiles from its fast-growing bones and use it to attack its enemies and prey.