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Translated By Arcane Translations
Translator: Zaped
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Leticia continued to yell at the top of her lungs.
The louder and more forceful her shouts, the quicker she seemed to sober up.
Her headache eased considerably, and the queasiness in her stomach subsided as well.
More than anything, shouting like that was the only way she could issue commands.
Inside the shopping mall in District 13, the marble-covered interior amplified every sound.
The cawing of the crows pecking at the glass, the soldiers’ shouts, the gunfire—they all combined into an overwhelming cacophony that could drive anyone mad.
But that wasn’t the only issue.
The top floor of the shopping mall served as an observation deck, offering a clear view of the Hampton cityscape.
Now, however, thousands of beaks and an equal number of round, reflective bird eyes stared down at the humans trapped inside.
Everywhere she looked, there were beaks. Everywhere, there were eyes—huge, round, bulging avian eyes so glossy and large they reflected human figures like mirrors.
The crows were pecking at the windows and frames with a relentless rhythm, a calculated beat, focusing on the weakest points.
The rooftop’s glass walls were built sturdily for their observation purpose, stronger than typical glass.
The crows seemed to know this, and they worked in sync to exploit the most vulnerable spots.
“Turn on the lights! Three, two, one!”
Each time the crows grew more aggressive, soldiers and brave civilian volunteers directed LED lights toward the glass walls.
Blinded by the sudden brightness, the crows retreated momentarily.
In that brief window, gas-masked, gloved soldiers taped steel plates and duct tape over the glass.
“Build barricades against the windows! Bring out every piece of furniture from the offices and stack it! That way, if they break through, we can retreat into the offices! Move quickly!”
The orders were simple and clear. Soldiers and civilians worked together with fervor.
Satisfied that everything was proceeding smoothly, Leticia dashed down to the lower floors.
“Team 1, commence fire!”
“Team 2, reload!”
On the lower floors, entrenched soldiers were holding the line with steady gunfire.
The soldiers maintained relative composure.
The zombie crows were large, numerous, and densely packed as they flew up the narrow stairwells.
Instead of panicking and firing wildly, they alternated turns, firing in short, controlled bursts.
“Team 1, reload! Throw grenades!”
As Team 1 fell back and Team 2 took their position, grenades and flashbangs were hurled into the stairwell.
The maimed crows fell in heaps down the stairs.
But they couldn’t hold out like this forever.
Their ammunition was running low, and the storm of birds showed no signs of abating.
To make matters worse, there was still no contact with the command center.
“Are we completely out of radio contact?”
At Leticia’s question, the radio operator wiped the sweat off his brow and replied.
“No, ma’am! The signal is fine, but there’s no response! It seems the recovery is incomplete.”
Before he even finished speaking, a signal came through from the other end.
The operator quickly adjusted the frequency. After exchanging short, urgent code phrases, he wore a grim expression and pulled out his phone.
“What are you doing?”
The operator showed Leticia the messenger app on his phone.
It was a group chat for the 14th Military Police. Judging by the haphazard mix of ranks and divisions, it seemed like they had invited everyone they could.
Emergency update.
The 14th Military Police command vehicle and communication team have been attacked by an unidentified group.
Zombies are also converging, making it difficult to restore the chain of command.
With both command and communications compromised, anti-air operations are not proceeding smoothly.
To make matters worse, power outages are hindering transmissions.
The number of zombie infections is rising in areas outside the safe zone.
All forces are ordered to prioritize the defense of the Hampton safe zones, specifically Districts 1-9.
All personnel, both inside and outside the safe zones, are to move immediately to defend access points.
It seemed reasonable at first glance, but the reality was different.
The 14th Military Police were scattered throughout Hampton, likely defending positions like Leticia’s group.
In a situation where the number of zombies was increasing by the second, ordering them to hold access points seemed nonsensical.
“Sergeant, isn’t there an alternative communications protocol?”
“There is, ma’am, but there’s no response.”
“Let me see your phone.”
The operator watched blankly as Leticia took a selfie with it.
She wasn’t satisfied with the angle and took a couple more shots until she got the photo she wanted.
It showed her name, rank, and unit affiliation clearly. Leticia uploaded the photo to the group chat.
This is Leticia Tipton, Special Operations Unit, 8th Military Police. I’m currently off-duty, but I’ve taken over the defense of District 13 Shopping Center due to the urgency of the situation. Could the person who issued the recent orders identify themselves? A photo would be appreciated.
The chat went silent for a moment.
Then, a photo was uploaded.
It showed a scruffy man with wide-open eyes, his expression slightly unsettling as if the shot had been taken haphazardly.
This is Oberon, Chief of Public Security, 14th Military Police. But why is an officer from the 8th Special Operations Unit commanding 14th Military Police personnel?
Leticia paused to think.
Public Security.
This branch of the National Military Police leaned more toward policing than soldiering.
They were trained to manage chaos effectively.
That made the current situation even more perplexing.
Leticia sent another message.
Why are you using a group chat instead of functioning communication networks? Is this the 14th Military Police’s standard security protocol?
She quickly added another line.
Furthermore, our side’s communications are functioning properly, but you’re not responding. Are you seriously telling me that not a single radio is working in your command or communications units?
The reply came curtly.
I appreciate your concern, but isn’t this overstepping your authority? Why is the 8th Special Operations Unit directing the 14th Military Police? Who authorized this?
Tensions between the 8th and 14th Military Police were well known.
Their adjacent jurisdictions led to frequent clashes over petty matters.
While Leticia’s questions might have been logical, they would not be well-received emotionally.
At that moment, a photo appeared in the group chat.
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