Advik Bhardwaj nodded and turned toward the stairwell door, gripping his HK 416. The 40-man squad shifted into a tactical formation, rifles raised, ready for engagement.
"Alright, stack up," Sandeep ordered.
The first fireteam moved into position on either side of the stairwell entrance, their weapons trained on the door. One soldier reached out and tested the handle—locked.
Sandeep looked at Advik Bhardwaj. "Your call, sir."
"Breach it," Advik Bhardwaj ordered without hesitation.
Sandeep nodded and signaled one of the operatives to pry the door open. He aimed his M4 Carbine at the handle and with a squeeze of the trigger, the handle fell off, and after that, the operative kicked the door open.
As soon as the door swung open, the three zombies let out guttural snarls, their rotting forms lurching forward in a mad dash.
The operative who performed the breach procedure reacted instantly.
Phfft!
The first zombie's skull snapped backward, a burst of crimson and decayed tissue splattering against the wall as the suppressed rounds struck true.
Phfft!
The second zombie took a shot to the forehead, its momentum carrying it forward for another step before it collapsed in a heap.
The last one lunged—too close for comfort.
Without hesitation, the operative pivoted, drew his combat knife, and thrust it upward into the zombie's jaw, piercing straight into its brain. The creature let out a sickening gurgle before going limp.
Advik Bhardwaj, watching the seamless execution, was impressed.
[You have killed 3 zombies.]
[Blood Coins +450 | Experience Points +180]
He nodded in approval. "That's what I like to see."
The operative merely nodded back, wiping the black ichor from his blade before sheathing it.
Sandeep motioned toward the open stairwell and checked it. "Sir, we are clear. Shall we proceed?"
Advik Bhardwaj simply nodded.
Advik Bhardwaj led the squad up the stairwell with Sandeep by his side, rifles raised.
At the top of the stairs, Advik Bhardwaj paused at the doorway that led to the lobby. He raised a clenched fist, signaling the squad to halt.
Sandeep moved ahead, slowly cracking the door open to assess the situation beyond.
"Eyes on," Sandeep whispered, peeking through the narrow gap. "Large crowd. We're talking at least thirty... no, maybe forty zombies scattered across the lobby."
Advik Bhardwaj tightened his grip on the HK 416. "No visual on any mutations?"
"None spotted, sir," Sandeep confirmed.
"Good. We move in slow and tactical. Controlled bursts. We keep this quiet until it's not." Thomas looked to the team. "Stack up."
The fireteams quickly organized along the walls, ready to breach.
"Breach in three," Phillip whispered. "Two... one..."
Sandeep pushed the door open quietly, but one of the zombies, a former bellhop or bellboy judging by its tattered uniform, immediately snapped its head in their direction. It let out a guttural wail, alerting the entire horde.
"Shit! Contact!" Sandeepbarked.
"Engage! Light 'em up!" Advik Bhardwaj ordered.
Phfft! Phfft! Phfft!
Suppressors hissed as the soldiers opened fire in controlled bursts, the 5.56mm rounds punching through decayed skulls with brutal efficiency.
"Keep the line tight!" Advik Bhardwaj shouted over the gunfire. "Advance slowly! Don't let them flank!"
"Reloading!" Asoldier called, dropping back as another moved up to cover him.
"Multiple contacts, left side!" Sandeep warned, switching to his M4's semi-auto mode. Several zombies crumpled under a hail of bullets.
Despite the squad's firepower, the sheer number of zombies quickly overwhelmed any sense of order. The horde surged forward, their grotesque forms closing the distance fast.
"Falling back position! Defensive line now!" Advik Bhardwaj shouted. "Sandeep, pop smoke!"
"Roger that!" Sandeep pulled a smoke canister from his vest and tossed it into the center of the advancing horde.
POP-HISS!
Thick, white smoke billowed out, disrupting the zombies' line of sight.
"Switch to NV!" Sandeep shouted.
The soldiers toggled their night vision goggles, green-tinted views cutting through the smoke. The zombies stumbled blindly, their snarls growing more desperate as they thrashed about.
"Now's our chance! Take 'em down!" Advik Bhardwaj ordered.
The squad resumed firing with renewed precision. One by one, the zombies fell.
"Frag out!" A soldier called, lobbing a grenade into a dense cluster near the reception desk.
BOOM!
The explosion sent limbs and debris flying across the lobby.
"Push forward! Keep up the pressure!" Advik Bhardwaj commanded.
"On your six!" Sandeep shouted as he fired over Advik Bhardwaj's shoulder, dropping a zombie that had crept too close.
Finally, after several intense minutes, the last zombie's body hit the ground with a sickening thud. Silence fell over the lobby, broken only by the soldiers' heavy breathing and the crackling remnants of the smoke grenade.
Sandeep scanned the area with his rifle raised. "All clear. No more movement."
"Status check!" Advik Bhardwaj called out.
"All good!" all operators reported.
"No casualties, no injuries," Sandeep added with a nod.
Advik Bhardwaj exhaled, lowering his weapon. "Damn good work, everyone. Not a scratch on us. Keep sharp—there's still more of this building to clear."
"Copy that," Phillip acknowledged. "What's the next move?"
Advik Bhardwaj looked around, scanning the interior of the hotel. It seemed that they are inside a two-storey mall and atop it was a hotel, judging from the height based from his previous recollections, about six stories.
Also, the interior seemed luxurious compared to the malls he had been into, is this the mall of the rich?
Advik Bhardwaj knelt next to the zombie corpse, noting the faded Lacoste logo on the torn polo shirt. Definitely high-end. This place wasn't just a mall; it was a shopping complex built for the elite, with the hotel above likely catering to wealthy travelers and executives.
Sandeep approached, rifle at the ready. "What are you thinking, sir?"
"This place might have exactly what we need," Advik Bhardwaj continued, standing and glancing around the marble-covered lobby. "Food, medical supplies, maybe even high-tech gear. And the hotel upstairs—it's perfect for accommodations. We can house survivors there and set up living quarters for our squad."
Sandeep nodded, understanding the importance. "If we secure both the mall and hotel, we'll have a fortified base with supplies nearby."