The Ash Squad

The command center door closed behind Lynn, shutting out the firelight and voices outside. Inside, only an emergency light buzzed.

Lynn did not rest. Standing before the large map, he checked the reinforced walls, resource points, and weak spots again.

Old Joey's report, thirty-one mouths to feed, dwindling medicine, tire tracks beside the southwestern state highway, and the denser chorus of walker growls in the northern woods-all those pressures remained.

But he knew he had 3,200 survival points and one [Team Creation Authorization (6-8 Members)] in the system.

Time to use it.

The new and old members needed to learn to work together, threats lurked outside, and their defenses were understaffed.

A loyal team that could fight immediately was exactly what they needed now.

He sank his consciousness into the system.

[Detected in host's possession: Team Creation Authorization (6-8 Members) x 1]

[Use now?]

[Yes/No]

Lynn selected [Yes].

[Authorization confirmed!

Generating a suitable mercenary team template based on the host's current world setting, base requirements, and potential threats...]

[Identity integration: the international security contractor hired by host Lynn before the full outbreak of the Atlanta crisis-the Ash squad.

Members are experienced former special operations personnel/mercenaries.]

[Background event: when the crisis erupted, the Ash squad was carrying out a high-risk interstate supply collection mission commissioned by Lynn (medicine, precision instruments, rare metals).

Due to communications failure and dangerous travel conditions, contact with the squad was lost for nearly a month.]

[Current status: after fighting and suffering losses, the squad acquired some of the supplies and reached the rendezvous point outside the Atlanta Zoo base.]

[Generating...]

[Team members locked: 7]

[Generating call signs... loading service records...]

[Deployment coordinates: southwest of the base perimeter, at the edge of the abandoned employee parking lot (approximately 300 meters from the gate)]

[Estimated arrival time: immediate]

[Generation complete!]

Seven call signs and their details flowed into Lynn's consciousness:

Anvil-team leader. Command of defensive operations.

Stitch-medic. Battlefield emergency surgery.

Wraith-scout. Stealth, traps.

Det-demolitions specialist. Explosives, fortifications.

Bulwark-heavy weapons specialist. Heavy weapons operation.

Peregrine-designated marksman. Sniping.

Wrench-driver/mechanic. Vehicle operation and repair.

Lynn transferred the "Simple Traps and Early Warning Devices Design Compendium" to Wraith.

He left the system, walked to the window, and pushed it open a crack. Cold air carrying the stink of rot drifted in.

Southwest...

Southwest of the base perimeter, in the abandoned parking lot.

The roar of modified engines suddenly came from that direction. At least two vehicles.

The sentry at the southwestern corner of the wall immediately dove behind cover and shouted into his radio, "Alarm! Southwest parking lot! Vehicles! More than two modified vehicles! Coming toward the gate!"

The alarm spread.

"Fuck! Those guys from earlier today?"

Davis's voice came over the radio. "Everyone onto the walls! Prepare to fight! Noncombatants, take cover!"

Footsteps and clanging metal sounded along the wall.

Glenn, T-Dog, and the others, who had only just lain down, jumped up and grabbed their guns.

Inside the medical station, Min-seon directed Lori and Beth as they moved the wounded.

Maggie and Dale helped Hershel retreat.

Shane snatched up a machete and roared, "They're here! Grab your weapons!"

Merle came to the door with a crowbar, while Daryl darted to the window and cocked his crossbow.

The base instantly went on combat alert.

Lynn stood motionless behind the command center window.

Two modified off-road vehicles, covered in scratches and dents and smeared with mud and blood, barreled through the parking lot's wreckage and bushes, then pulled up before the base gate under the makeshift searchlights.

Brakes screeched. Dust billowed.

The moment the vehicles stopped, the front passenger door of the first one swung open.

A man wearing a battered tactical vest and face paint-Anvil-stepped out.

He glanced at the gun barrels and lights on the wall, then immediately raised his hands to show he held no weapon.

The other doors opened:

A woman wearing glasses and carrying a large medical pack-Stitch-stepped out and surveyed her surroundings warily.

A lean, expressionless man-Wraith-slipped out and scanned the firing positions on the wall.

A burly man carrying a squad machine gun-Bulwark-landed heavily on the ground.

A man whose backpack was hung with tools and small explosive devices-Det-jumped out.

A man carrying a long gun case-Peregrine-got out and looked for a position.

At the second vehicle, a man in oil-stained work pants carrying a toolbox-Wrench-stepped out to inspect the smoking engine.

All seven carried the smell of gun smoke, blood, and dust. Their vests bore bullet holes, scuff marks, and dried blood, and blood seeped through the bandage around Stitch's arm.

Bulwark had a bandaged wound beneath his trouser leg, and the vehicles were badly damaged too: dented bodies, shattered windows held together with tape, tires caked with blackish-red mud, and a warped rear door on one vehicle.

On the wall, Davis, Glenn, T-Dog, Andrea, Shane, Merle, and Daryl aimed their guns down at them.

"You down there! Drop your weapons! Hands on your heads and get on your knees! Or we shoot!" Davis shouted through a megaphone.

Facing the gun barrels and lights, Anvil showed no fear.

He shouted, "Don't shoot! We're friendly! We're the Ash security squad! The mercenary team hired by Mr. Lynn. Mission completed, requesting permission to rejoin!"

He pulled a metal identification tag sealed in a waterproof pouch from his vest and held it up. The tag bore a flaming phoenix emblem and the words "Aegis Under Ash."

"Ash? Mr. Lynn?" The people on the wall froze.

Shane's eyes flashed viciously as he roared, "Bullshit! They could've stolen that tag! Davis, don't believe them! They're covered in blood. They must be that bunch from earlier! Kill them!"

He aimed his shotgun at Bulwark.

The tension spiked!

Wraith's hand went to his dagger, Bulwark raised his muzzle with a low growl, and Stitch stepped in front of Det.

"Stop!"

Lynn's icy voice rang out. He appeared at the observation port inside the gate, pushed aside the shutter, and looked at Anvil and the tag he held up.

"Anvil?" Lynn asked.

At the sight of Lynn, excitement filled Anvil's eyes. He straightened and shouted hoarsely, "Boss! Ash squad reporting back! Mission... partially completed!

"We're one man short, but we brought supplies! Requesting entry!"

Lynn swept his gaze over the seven tired, injured faces and the battered vehicles, then nodded. "Identity confirmed. Open the gate."

"Yes, sir!" Davis gave the order.

The winch rattled, and the gate opened.

The seven walked into the base.

Shane watched the squad members file in, then looked at Lynn's calm face. Veins bulged on his hand as he gripped his blade, his gaze dark.

As the squad entered, a system notification sounded in Lynn's mind:

[Ding!]

[Special team unit: Ash squad (7 members) has been successfully deployed and identity verification completed.]

[Team loyalty locked: absolute (toward host Lynn)]

[The team's starting equipment (including vehicles) has been plausibly integrated into the current world setting]

[Supplies carried by the team (some medicine, rare metals, tools) have been generated and placed in the squad's vehicles]

[Notice: this team constitutes the host's core armed force. Its presence will significantly improve the base's defense rating and external deterrence]

Lynn watched Anvil walk up and stop before him.

"Thanks for your hard work," Lynn said. "Now let's see what you brought back."