Containment, Control

"Phew—ha—"

Hearing the supervisor's report, William could not help taking several deep breaths.

After the UBCS company landed in Athabasca, the atmosphere throughout the Command Center was extremely oppressive.

After all, no one knew what they would be facing next. This was also the first Containment Operation involving so many deaths since Umbrella was founded.

The company had begun expanding around private forces from the very start, and Andre had continuously trained both the UBCS and USS.

Everything they had prepared was for the sake of facing an event like this.

If they failed, the consequences would be unimaginable.

But if they succeeded...

Umbrella would completely seize the initiative in the future.

All the technicians turned around as well, looking at their boss with expectant eyes.

Andre, meanwhile, wore a smile and patted William on the shoulder.

Seeing this, William likewise suppressed his excitement, waved his hand, and said with a smile:

"Everyone, thank you for your efforts!

"With everyone working together, our first Containment Operation has ended perfectly!

"With this combat data, our bargaining power in negotiations with the United Nations has greatly increased, and Umbrella will stand at the pinnacle of the world.

"Just as our company's declaration says, our business is life itself!

"And just like our company emblem, we will raise a protective umbrella for humanity!"

"Yes!"

"Haha!"

"Wahaha~!"

After hearing William's speech, everyone released the emotions they had been suppressing.

Even the second lieutenant supervisor, who had been extremely serious moments ago, let out a strange cheer.

After letting everyone relax somewhat, William waved his hand again, signaling for them to quiet down.

"Ahem!"

He cleared his throat and continued, "The operation is not completely over. The frontline soldiers are still waiting for their next orders.

"Colonel, you take command."

After saying this, William suddenly felt exhausted. He sat back down in his chair to rest.

Andre took over command and issued an order:

"Lieutenant, notify Company A to collect the bodies. Also, have Captain Victor keep a close eye on that 'person' and wait for the technicians to arrive."

"Yes, Colonel."

The supervisor returned to his serious demeanor and turned around to relay the specific steps to the various technicians.

The technicians then assigned the orders to the UBCS squad units.

Half an hour later, in the town of Athabasca;

Large lighting equipment had been set up along the streets, sweeping away the terrifying darkness and silence that had filled the town before the operation began.

More than half of Company A were handling the zombie corpses, while others stood guard around the town's perimeter.

And in the plaza at the very center of the town.

Three Tyrants stood there, along with the soldiers of three squads led by Captain Victor, watching the "person" they had surrounded in the center.

The person stood 1.9 meters tall and wore a heavy black robe. He "wore" a mask with a long, slender beak, resembling a doctor from the medieval era.

That man—or thing—was none other than SCP-049, the Plague Doctor.

The Plague Doctor remained silent. With his black medical bag on his back, he held a notebook and observed the Tyrants, occasionally making a few notes.

One UBCS soldier watched the Plague Doctor's strange behavior, walked over to Victor, and asked quietly:

"Captain, is this guy even human?

"When we were dealing with that group of zombies earlier, someone saw him standing on the roof of a building and watching the battle. It feels like those zombies were created by him.

"He also didn't resist at all when we captured him. It's just too strange."

Victor also looked at the Plague Doctor and shook his head.

"I don't know. Besides, these matters aren't something our armed forces need to worry about. Let the scientific lunatics in the technical department handle them."

"Captain!"

At that moment, several more UBCS soldiers escorted dozens of townspeople into the central park.

A sergeant said to Victor, "These are all the survivors left in the entire town."

Looking at the survivors of varying ages—the oldest in their fifties or sixties, and the youngest around seven or eight—

The townspeople wore smiles, with the feeling of having survived a catastrophe. Their expressions seemed to say: We're finally saved!

However, the masked UBCS soldiers present had cold eyes and not a trace of pity.

Victor looked toward the townspeople and said coldly, "Sergeant, send some men to 'protect' them. Hand them over once the technicians arrive."

"Yes, Captain."

After receiving his orders, the sergeant led his men and escorted the completely unsuspecting townspeople to wait nearby.

"Rumble—rumble—!" The faint sound of helicopter engines came from the sky.

Before long, a large number of transport helicopters arrived over the town and slowly landed in a suitable open area.

The cabins opened, and groups of technicians wearing white Hazmat Suits emerged.

The technicians carried large equipment cases and began setting up isolation tents or handling the zombie corpses.

The leading technician came before Victor and said calmly:

"Captain, the company plans to purchase this land and begin constructing the western base. The boss wants your company to garrison this town.

(He then turned around and pointed at the CH-53E transport helicopter in the distance.)

"The colonel wants you to personally lead one squad, together with three T-103s, to guard the target and transport it to Containment Center One.

"We will completely disinfect and reorganize this town, and your company will also need to cooperate with our operation.

"As for the Canadian military, leave them to the company's public relations department."

"All right, I understand." Victor had no questions.

He then turned around and extended his left hand, sweeping it around in front of him as he ordered, "First Platoon, First Squad, contain the target."

"Yes, Captain."

The UBCS soldiers who received the order came before the Plague Doctor. The one in front said to him:

"Sir, please come with us. Do not make any attempt to resist, or we will be forced to take action."

The Plague Doctor, who had been taking notes, closed the notebook after hearing the UBCS soldier's words and put it into his bag.

He looked at the UBCS soldiers surrounding him and remained silent, but he still gave a slight nod to indicate that he agreed to cooperate.

Seeing this, the UBCS soldiers gripping their guns relaxed somewhat. They then led the Plague Doctor aboard the CH-53E that had landed in the central plaza.

Victor walked before the three Tyrants and ordered, "The three of you are coming with us as well."

The Tyrants turned mechanically upon receiving the order and followed Victor onto the transport helicopter.

"Command Center, this is Ego Seven. The cargo is ready. Requesting permission to proceed to Containment Site One."

"This is the Command Center. Request approved."

"Understood."

After the CH-53 pilot reported the progress to Troy Base, he rapidly ascended and flew north, disappearing from sight.

The dozens of townspeople were taken into the tents by the UBCS soldiers for disinfection before being transported away by another CH-53, which likewise flew toward the northern Containment Center.

With that, Umbrella completed its first Containment Operation.

But from then on, nights like this would become part of the Umbrella soldiers' daily routine.

They could not afford to relax.