The Strike Team breaches the entrance

A/N: As promised, here is a quicker update. Looking forward to developing this section of the arc after all the planning and setup. With that in mind, I think I will be aiming to make them a bit shorter when I can find good spots to end them so that I can update a bit quicker but regardless, I hope you enjoy the ride. And if so, please remember to leave a comment down below if you can.

Lieutenant Mills's POV

Since the team had determined during the planning phase that the apartment building’s front entrance was too dangerous because shattered glass all over the floor and an unknown concentration of zombies could turn the lobby into a deadly funnel, you lead the strike team through an outer fire escape made of hardy steel that leads to a second-floor service vestibule that connects into the social area floor of Vista Nova Tower, where the pool and other public amenities for the original residents were located.

You lead from the front as you cross the service vestibule, your boots finding the silent, dusty floor with practiced care. The air tastes stale, and your rifle sits warm and familiar in your grip as you signal the all-clear with a sharp, quick gesture. Behind you, Garcia and Zhang move like shadows, their weapons tracking the corners with the kind of ingrained discipline that makes your chest swell with pride. Emily and Jane follow close, their respective hatchets held low but ready, and you can feel the nervous energy radiating off Allen and Jonathan in the rear, their heavier breathing barely muffled by their masks.

You key your radio, your voice barely above a whisper. "Mr. Stafford, status on the corridor and what you see of the Social Area floor from the outside."

Zachary's voice crackles back through the earpiece after about a minute of waiting. "Three biters at the far end, ma'am. They're still pounding on the door of the social area where Vista Nova's pool is located. The ones upstairs are still working on the stairwell door to try to break it down and walk down the internal stairs towards your floor. There is no movement elsewhere on your own floor as far as I can see."

You acknowledge with a double click and turn your attention forward. The corridor stretches ahead of you, long and lined with doors towards different areas of this floor that used to focus on amenities for the residents. Based on the signs, there was one that led to a gym, one that led to an enclosure that could be used for parties, one that led to a laundry room, and one that led to the building's power generator. You frowned as you noted that each one had to be treated as a potential ambush until they knew more. But the real problem was the rhythmic thumping at the far end, a wet, repetitive sound of decaying flesh against the wooden door that led to the pool area, and the noise was echoing through the hall like a slow but chaotic heartbeat. This made you realize that if there were any additional zombies in the gym or the other public area of the floor, they clearly hadn't noticed you yet because they weren't loudly trying to force their respective doors open.

So, with that in mind, you made your decision and raised your fist, making the column halt behind you. Turning, you meet each of their eyes in turn, letting them see your calm confidence. "Time to stick to formation, people. Garcia, Zhang, stay tight on my flanks. Emily, Jane, you're our second line. Allen, Jonathan, watch our rear and keep an eye on those doors we've passed." You pause, letting the weight of your words settle. "We take care of those three fast and quiet. No hesitation. No heroics. They're shamblers, not soldiers. We put them down, and we move to the remaining doors."

Garcia gives you a sharp nod, her jaw set. Zhang flashes you a thin, humorless smile. Emily's grip tightened on her hatchet, and Jane's blue eyes were steady as the firefighter raised her own axe in concentration while Allen and Johnatan nodded in acknowledgment.

You turn back to the task ahead and begin your advance.

The column moves as one, boots silent on the carpeted floor, weapons tracking the shadows between doorways. The thumping grows louder with each step, a wet, rhythmic percussion that sets your teeth on edge. You can barely smell them now too, and that sweet-sick rot that clings to the back of your throat.

You stop ten paces from the door and raise your fist again. Jane slides forward, her hatchet now hanging to the side of her belt, replacing it in her hands with the pry bar you'd given her during the planning phase. She catches your eye, and you nod once in response.

The door bursts open with a shriek of tortured hinges. The first zombie, a thing that might have been a man in a janitor's uniform, pitches forward, its legs tangling in the sudden absence of resistance. It hits the floor with a wet slap, clawing at the linoleum as it tries to rise. Your rifle comes up, and the suppressed crack remains a sharp clap in the narrow space. The head snaps back as it gets bloodied.

And then goes still.

Garcia and Zhang don't wait. They move in tandem, covering each other's angles as two more shamblers lurch through the doorway. Garcia's bayonet blade takes the first one in the temple, a clean, economical strike. Zhang ducks under the second one's reaching arms and drives her combat knife up through the soft tissue beside the ear. Both bodies crumple soon after.

The silence that follows is almost worse than the noise. The suppressors had done their job, but in a hallway this tight, the echoes chased each other around the walls before fading into nothing.

"Clear," you finally say, your voice flat. "Pool area next. Move!"

Garcia and Zhang step over the bodies without looking down. You follow, clearing the entryway with your rifle up, scanning the vast open space beyond. The pool is a dark mirror under the high ceiling, its surface a bit dirty due to the lack of cleaning efforts. Overturned loungers litter the deck as you scanned the area with your gaze. A bar stood against the far wall, bottles still gleaming on the shelves.

"Jane, you are on rear guard duty," you say over your shoulder. "Allen, Jonathan, get those bodies further in. Corner by the maintenance closet. I don't want anyone tripping over them in the dark."

You hear the scrape of boots and the drag of dead weight as they move past you. Emily falls in beside you, her rifle now up as she hung her hatchet to the side, her breathing steady.

"Garcia, check the far end around the pool itself. Zhang, same for the bar." You gesture with two fingers. "Emily and I'll take the locker room. The rest of you, stay alert and on guard near the entrance where we came from. If a group of zombies starts coming from there, call out, close the doors, and slow them down as you await reinforcements. Now move!"

As they followed to obey your orders, you couldn't help but notice that they were doing so without even an ounce of hesitation, even the civilian new recruits who were not used to drilling and obeying in the face of danger, and even Garcia and Zhang were quicker than usual when following your commands. That was when your eyes widened when you remembered that their rightful owner had been quite specific in the briefing that, as long as this operation lasted, an order from you was an order from their Master. You tilted your head in wonder as your cheeks flushed a bit at the possible implications when it suddenly hit you that you could, in theory, order them to service you sexually later on if they needed to take a break before advancing further once they were in a more secure position...

Then you shook your head and remembered you had a very important job to do. Still, as you walked further towards the Social Area floor's restroom and the locker room inside, you found yourself wondering how exactly it is that your Master could focus on all he has so far with all the abundance of temptations at his disposal due to all the women he owns. You sighed dreamily for a moment as your respect for the Master of your body and mind grew before nodding to Emily to open the door as you took aim, just in case there was trouble beyond, even if the door wasn't being pounded at that very moment. She did just that, and you saw no wandering zombie ahead, so you turned to the former Swedish reservist.

"Entrance clear," You grunted. "Watch my back as we advance."

"Ja," Karlsson agreed with a nod as she let you pass.

Then you entered and listened to her follow close behind as you stayed alert.