<h4>Chapter 169 Contemting a Future Operation</h4>


    A few momentster.


    Themand center coordinated efficiently, acting like an air tower that dispatched helicopters and vehicles in a methodical sequence to avoid congestion and ensure safety. Themunication between the ground team at the camp and the pilots was continuous, focusing on maintaining a smooth flow of departures.


    "Yes, ma''am. The first batch is on its way to New rk City. Estimated time of arrival is thirty minutes," Richard said over the radio. The person he was talking to was Maria Santos. "Oh no need for a reception, it is better we focus on the integration process directly," Richard added.


    "What about the zombies at the rk International Airport? We have done our part, aren''t you going to hold the end of your bargain?" Maria asked, concern evident in her voice. The area around rk International Airport had been a point of concern due to increased zombie activity.


    "Don''t worry, we''ve dispatched our gunship to secure the airport. Speaking of which," Richard put the radio on hold and turned to the monitors. "Sara, did Spooky-1 already arrive at the target location?"


    "Affirmative, they are orbiting the airport as we speak," Sara confirmed.


    "Good, uhm ma''am, I''m going to need you to activate the sound so we can lure all the zombies inside the terminal."


    Upon saying that, Richard flickered his gaze to another screen, which was footage taken from the MQ-1 Predator. In the footage, they saw zombies rushing inside the terminal, attracted by the loud noises emitted from the speakers set up around the perimeter.


    "Operation is underway. Once all the zombies outside the airport are inside the terminal, we will blow it up," Richard exined to Maria.


    The operation was a simple remation. The ckwatch wanted the airport for themselves to serve as the main base of the ckwatch Air Force. It has all the infrastructure needed to act as such, except for the terminals and the zombies.


    "What''s the status, Sara?" Richard asked, his eyes hovering over Sara who was in her station.


    "About eight percent," Sara responded, focusing intently on her monitor. "The zombies are still funneling into the terminal. We estimate it''ll be fully contained in another two minutes."


    "Copy that, two minutes," Richard acknowledged.


    Once the time was up, Sara confirmed that the terminal was fully contained with zombies. "All zombies are now inside the terminal, sir," she reported.


    "Spooky-1, this is Eagle. You are cleared hot to fire on the terminal. I repeat, you are cleared hot to fire on the terminal," Richard ryed the final order through the radio.


    "Roger that, Eagle. Engaging now," came the response from Spooky-1, the gunship in position.


    The gunship fired the 105mm and 40mm salvo almost simultaneously. The deafening sts echoed as the terminal was bombarded. Within moments, the building that once teemed with zombies was reduced to rubble.


    "Good effect on target," Sara said and added. "Terminal is cleared," Sara confirmed, checking the aftermath through the cameras.


    Richard looked at the disy of the monitor and saw the aftermath of the salvo from Spooky-1. The terminal was now a pile of ruins, effectively eliminating any threat that had been inside.


    Of course, that may look the way it is from the above perspective, there may still be zombies that survived that onught. They are not humans anymore that would go into aa when severely injured. They would just wail and groan incessantly until they were exterminated.


    But that is a problem for another day because Richard doesn''t have the ground troops to sweep the entire rk International Airport for any remaining zombies.


    "We''ll need to organize a ground sweep as soon as possible. We can''t take any chances with leftover threats," Richard stated, already strategizing the next steps.


    "I will handle it," Graves said enthusiastically, patting his pocket where he was hiding the cube for his suit.


    "No problem. In the meantime, let''s get our first batch to New rk City. Speaking of which, what is their estimated time of arrival?"


    "Twenty-four minutes," Sara responded, checking thetest updates on her monitor.


    "Alright, keep me posted on their progress," Richard instructed before turning his attention back to the situation at the airport.


    While looking at it, an idea began to form in his head. "Graves, what do you think are the chances if we were to send a scout team to Korea and find the bastard that started this mess?"


    Graves was slightly surprised at the question. He knew what his boss was thinking when he was looking at the airport. Since it was an international airport, it had the infrastructure to support an airliner. Based on what he is getting from the system right now, he may be able to summon long-range transport aircraft like a?Lockheed C-5 Gxy or a Boeing A400M As.


    "Well getting there would be easy, finding the bastard is not. I mean, we don''t even know what he looked like in the first ce. Our camera only showed him wearing a hoodie, his facepletely obscured. Andrea could be our best choice but she''s not with us anymore."


    "Yeah…" Richard clicked his tongue. "If only we had Andrea with us. It would have been easy to identify him. Well, the reason why I''m taking the airport is to expand our operations. Our priority is to exterminate the progenitor. I think that if we neutralized him, all of the zombies, mutated or non-mutated, would cease to exist. You will be the one lead to the operation to find the progenitor."


    "I am at your service, sir," Graves said respectfully. "Just tell me when we are going to fly out to Korea."


    "Considering his strength and his minions, I think you will have to bring a super soldier and a Delta force equipped with a suit."


    "That''s all I could ask for when we are facing such a threat, sir," Graves acknowledged. "And sir…can I ask for a request?"


    "Anything you need rted to the future operation…I can provide," Richard said.


    "Well…it''s simple sir, I want my original team with me. By that, I meant the soldiers that you have summoned along with me. I must say, sir, I have formed a bond with them, they are brothers to me."


    "I see no problem with that, Graves. You''ll have your original team," Richard agreed.


    ***


    Thirty minutester. The first batch of civilians arrived at New rk City. Richard watched the footage of them disembarking from the MQ-1 Predator orbiting the camp.


    "Okay, let''s keep theming."