Weapon System in Zombie Apocalypse-Chapter 211: Let’s Load This MF

The second night brought heavier equipment—solar-tuned fuel pods, autonomous drone crates, and emergency rations sealed in long-term storage barrels.

The loaders worked in silence.

One by one, the containers were moved up the ramp and slotted into the cargo hold.

Ortega stood beside the cargo netting, checking the ballast figures. "We're within weight tolerance," she said into her headset. "Stabilizers don't need adjustment."

From the side of the bay, Sergeant Li emerged, his hands behind his back. A veteran of the Stratotanker crew, Li had now been reassigned as the mission loadmaster for the Japan flight.

"Balance feels good," he said, giving the loaded sidewalls a once-over. "Tail section's clean. Emergency gear's next, then we begin the sensor crates."

Marcus arrived ten minutes later with Thomas in tow.

The moment Thomas entered, all work stopped for a second.

He raised a hand. "Carry on."

Then he moved up the ramp and inside the C-17. He paced slowly along the hold, observing the tied-down equipment, noting the precision of every lock, strap, and secured hook. Nothing rattled. Nothing loose.

He looked at Ortega. "Good work."

She gave a curt nod. "By the end of night three, we'll be ready to fly."

Thomas turned to Li. "You have flight experience with the C-17 profile?"

Li nodded once. "Simulator-trained. Transitioned from C-130 two years before the outbreak. I've flown heavy-lift operations in flood zones and contested airfields. This aircraft is a dream compared to what we used to get."

Thomas smiled faintly. "You'll be in the seat behind me when we lift off. Make sure the crew knows you're calling the loading orders until we hit Japanese airspace."

"Understood."

He walked back toward Marcus.

"Anyone asking questions yet?"

"Not yet. The ops team thinks we're staging a mock deployment for internal drills. The night cycle helps. No one's seeing the crates roll in."

Thomas nodded. "Keep it that way."

November 21, 2025 — 11:43 PMMOA Complex – Logistics Control, Upper Level

The third night was the heaviest lift yet. Three modular command tents, fuel reserves, and two auxiliary comms towers—all fitted and secured before sunrise.

Inside the adjacent logistics control room, Thomas and Marcus stood beside the viewing window, watching the final sled roll into the hangar.

Below them, the full silhouette of the Globemaster was now covered in strategic markings and placeholder mission flags—just generic Overwatch emblems. No insignia. No identifiers.

Clean and neutral.

Marcus turned. "Do you want to go public with this bird before the mission?"

Thomas shook his head. "No point. This isn't about appearances. The people don't need to know what we're flying over the sea. They just need to know the mission succeeded."

He took a deep breath.

"One more week of prep. Then the crew boards. Then we go."

Marcus watched him for a moment.

"You really believe Japan will link up with us long-term?"

Thomas didn't answer immediately. Then:

"They're soldiers. Like us. They've lost everything. But they haven't lost their will to hold ground. That's enough for now."

Marcus looked back at the massive cargo hold below them, where Ortega and her crew locked down the last pallet for the night.

"It's gonna be one hell of a flight."

Thomas turned and walked toward the door.

"That's why we're flying it. After all...it is calling me like I am destined to fly it. You know the moment I flew aircrafts that I summoned the more I want to fo fly."

"Is that so sir?"

"Yes it is. And I can't wait to fly it."