The command center focused their attention on the movement of the zombies through the thoroughfare of EDSA, and it was visibly alarming every minute when they got near Shadow’s position, or Ryan’s.

What prompted them to congregate like that? Well, they don’t have a definite conjecture to explain it but it’s now inching close to Ryan’s position.

"Shadow One, this is Command. I believe the zombies are headed your way. The reason is unknown. You’ll be in danger in an hour so I’m ordering you to abort your mission and get out of there. You have to go North, we will relay you your extraction point in five minutes."

"Shadow One here, I copy, but what about those people in Forbes Park? If there are many of them, I don’t think they’ll survive."

"We know that Shadow One, which is why we are going to observe first when they hit their location. For now, there’s nothing we can do."

"Sir, we received chatter within their perimeter that there are a lot of civilians inside. Not just a militia."

"Like I said, Shadow One, we are going to observe. Don’t worry, we have air assets here that can get to them fast. For now, you have to secure yourself first."

There was a short pause on the line.

Then.

"Copy, Command," Ryan said.

No hesitation after that.

"Shadow One out."

The line went quiet.

Inside the command center, Adrian kept his eyes on the screen. The horde continued to move, steady and unstoppable, closing the distance with every passing minute.

But down on the ground, Ryan moved.

He lowered his hand from his earpiece and turned to his team.

"We’re pulling out," he said.

"Pack it up," Ryan added.

The team moved immediately.

The setup they had built over the past week was dismantled. The directional microphone was collapsed and secured back into its case. The signal interceptor was powered down, cables disconnected and coiled tight. The tablet feed was transferred to a portable unit, ensuring they wouldn’t lose visual during movement.

When everything was in their bags, they quickly evacuated the residence and exited through the gate.

They ventured North, away from Forbes Park and incoming hordes.

Meanwhile, at the command center, Adrian was already thinking of what help he could do to the camp in Forbes Park. Again, they don’t know for sure if the camp was a rogue one, but they can’t just simply watch them die. Good thing, there is a lot of aerial assets he could spare.

Like the fighter jets or the AC-130.

Wait, AC-130? It has been collecting dust since he summoned it, and there was no chance of it displaying its power. The capabilities of it in close-air support were top tier, it was the favorite gunship of the United States Armed Forces when precision and sustained firepower were needed over a fixed area.

Adrian’s eyes stayed on the screen. The horde kept moving, and it was a solid mass, a perfect target for the AC-130.

"Get me air control," Adrian said.

An operator immediately turned in his chair, fingers already moving across the console.

"Air control on standby, sir."

"Patch them in."

A brief crackle.

Then a voice.

"Air Control, this is Falcon Desk. Go ahead."

Adrian stepped closer to the main display.

"We’re activating the gunship," he said. "Prepare the AC-130 for immediate deployment."

There was a short pause on the other end.

Then.

"Copy... AC-130?" the controller repeated, just to be sure.

"Affirm," Adrian said. "Full loadout. I want it airborne as soon as possible."

"Understood," the voice replied. "Spooling crew now."

Adrian didn’t stop there.

"Set engagement protocol to standby only," he added. "No firing until I give the order. I want overwatch first."

"Copy. Overwatch priority."

The line cut.

"ETA to Forbes?" he asked.

"Forty-five minutes, sir," one of the analysts replied. "Maybe less if they maintain speed."

Adrian nodded.

That didn’t leave much room.

He keyed his earpiece again.

"Shadow One, this is Command."

Ryan’s voice came back almost instantly.

"Go ahead."

"We’re deploying an AC-130 to your sector," Adrian said. "It’ll be on station before the horde reaches the perimeter."

There was a brief silence.

Then.

"...That’s a lot of firepower for a recon mission," Ryan said.

"This isn’t recon anymore," Adrian replied. "This is containment."

Ryan understood that.

"Copy," he said. "We’re moving north, maintaining distance."

"Good," Adrian said. "Stay off open roads. Avoid contact. We’ll guide you to extraction once you’re clear."

"Understood."

The line cut again.

Adrian lowered his hand.

Then looked back at the operator.

"Keep tracking both," he said. "Horde and Shadow Team."

"Copy, sir."

Outside Basa Air Base, the air shifted.

"Gunship crew, move!" a ground controller shouted across the tarmac.

The AC-130 sat on the far side of the runway.

Floodlights hit its hull, casting long shadows under its wings. For a second, it looked like it hadn’t moved in weeks.

Then the crew reached it.

Everything picked up at once.

"Open her up!"

The rear ramp was already down. Crew members ran straight inside while others split off to their positions without being told.

The pilot climbed the ladder and slid into his seat.

"Power."

"On it."

Switches flipped. Systems came alive in sequence. No pause, no delay.

"Battery on."

"APU running."

"Hydraulics green."

The co-pilot scanned the panel quickly.

"Flight controls responsive."

"Good."

Behind them, the loadmaster checked the interior.

"Secure all stations!"

The gun crew moved to their mounts.

Hands ran over the weapons, checking feed lines and locks.

"25?"

"Good."

"40?"

"Loaded."

"105?"

"Ready."

The sensor operator powered up his console.

The screen flickered, then locked into a live feed.

"...That’s the horde?" he said under his breath.

"Eyes on your panel," the pilot said. "We’re not here to stare."

Outside, the engines began to spool.

The sound built fast, low at first, then rising into a steady roar that rolled across the runway.

Ground crew stepped back, clearing the path.

"Spectre One, you are cleared to taxi."

"Copy, taxiing."

The aircraft started moving.

The pilot eased the throttles forward just enough to break inertia. The brakes came off clean. The nose wheel rolled, slow at first, then steady as the mass of the aircraft began to carry itself.

The AC-130 did not lurch.

"Brakes check."

"Brakes good."

"Steering."

"Responsive."

The co-pilot’s eyes moved across the panel, quick and practiced. No wasted movement. Every gauge got a glance.

The aircraft followed the taxi line, nose centered, the pilot feeding small rudder inputs to keep it aligned. No overcorrection. Just pressure and release.

Outside, the runway lights stretched ahead in a straight path.

"Flaps."

"Set."

"Trim."

"Set."

The pilot adjusted slightly, bringing the aircraft onto the centerline. The nose came straight, aligned with the painted stripe cutting across the runway.

They held for a second.

Engines humming low but steady.

Everything ready.

"Spectre One, cleared for takeoff."

"Copy. Cleared."

The pilot wrapped his hand around the throttles.

"Advancing."

He pushed forward.

The engines answered immediately, the sound deepening as power came up. Not a sharp burst, but a building force. The airframe trembled slightly as torque pushed through the wings.

"Power set."

"Engine readings stable."

The aircraft began its roll, slower at first, and then faster.

The runway started to slide beneath them.

The pilot held the centerline, small corrections through the pedals, keeping the nose straight as speed built.

"Sixty knots."

The co-pilot called it clean.

The aircraft felt heavier at this stage, resisting the push, then gradually giving in as lift began to build along the wings.

"Eighty."

"Hundred."

Now it was committed.

The speed kept climbing, the aircraft pressing forward with weight and momentum.

"V1."

"Rotate."

The pilot pulled back on the yoke and the nose lifted.

"Positive rate."

"Gear up."

The co-pilot pulled the lever.

A solid mechanical thud followed as the landing gear retracted, the aircraft settling into its climb profile.

The pilot held the attitude steady, keeping the nose just high enough to gain altitude without bleeding speed.

"Climb power."

"Set."

The engines adjusted, holding a strong, stable thrust, and continued its journey towards Forbes Park.

Meanwhile, in the command center.

"Sir, Spectre One is airborne," the operator said.

"Track it."

"Yes, sir."

A second display shifted, showing the gunship climbing, its path cutting straight toward Metro Manila.

"Shadow One, this is Command."

Ryan answered right away.

"Go."

"Gunship is in the air," Adrian said. "AC-130 is en route to your sector. You’ll have eyes overhead before the horde reaches the perimeter."

A short pause.

Then.

"Copy," Ryan said. "How long?"

"Roughly thirty minutes," Adrian replied. "Maybe less if they push speed." 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

"Understood," Ryan said. "We’re still moving north. No contact so far."

"Good," Adrian said. "Keep it that way. Do not get pulled back toward Forbes."

"Copy."

Another short pause.

Then Ryan added, "If that thing hits the walls... it’s going to get ugly."

Adrian looked back at the screen.

The mass of bodies pushing forward.

"Yeah," he said. "That’s why the gunship’s going there."