Dawn broke over Muntinlupa, casting a pale, cold light across the fortified perimeter of New Bilibid Prison.
Outside the main gates, civilian work details and SAF officers completed the extraction of two thousand Red Cores from Sector 1's surface battlefield.
Sergeant Mateo Cruz marched into the logistics courtyard, bringing green metal supply crates filled with glowing crimson crystals directly to Elias.
"Clack! Clack!"
"Reporting to the Supreme Commander! Two thousand Red Cores harvested from Sector 1 yard have been clean-washed and delivered!" Cruz reported, saluting smartly.
Elias stepped forward in full tactical gear, placing his gloved hand over the open metal crates.
"System, absorb all Red Cores," Elias commanded mentally.
"Ding!"
[ System Notice: 2,000 Red Cores Absorbed into System Vault! ]
[ Previous Vault Balance: 1,359 Red Cores ]
[ Updated System Vault Balance: 3,359 Red Cores ]
Elias felt a surging wave of thermal energy circulate through his muscles as his vault balance reached 3,359 Red Cores!
Before launching Phase 2 into Maximum Security, Elias accessed his System menu to address 3rd Platoon's casualties from yesterday's corridor ambush.
"System, replace the two casualties in 3rd Platoon," Elias ordered.
"Ding!"
[ System Notice: 2 Casualties Replenished in 3rd Platoon! ]
[ 20 Red Cores Deducted! ]
[ Remaining System Vault Balance: 3,339 Red Cores ]
"Whoosh!"
Two golden pillars materialized in the administrative courtyard, restoring 3rd Platoon to full combat strength of thirty-six soldiers!
Elias looked at Sergeant Mateo Cruz, adjusting the tactical sling of his R4A3 assault rifle over his shoulder.
"Cruz, our forces are expanding rapidly beyond single platoons," Elias declared.
"I am giving you a verbal field promotion to Acting Battalion Commander to oversee all our companies!"
Sergeant Cruz's eyes burned with disciplined pride as he snapped a thunderous salute.
"Thank you, Supreme Commander! I accept the field command!" Cruz declared.
"Appoint Santos as 1st Company Commander and Navarro as 2nd Company Commander."
"Understood, Supreme Commander!" Battalion Commander Cruz saluted.
Elias focused his mind on his First Lieutenant System interface, selecting the troop and vehicle deployment options.
"System, deploy 5th and 6th Mechanized Platoons, 7th, 8th, and 9th Infantry Platoons, and 3x Kia KM-450 Tactical Utility Trucks!" Elias commanded mentally!
"Ding!"
[ System Notice: 2,750 Red Cores Deducted! ]
[ - 2,000 Red Cores for 5th & 6th Mechanized Platoons (6x SIMBA APCs + 72 Soldiers) ]
[ - 450 Red Cores for 7th, 8th, and 9th Infantry Platoons (108 Soldiers) ]
[ - 300 Red Cores for 3x Kia KM-450 4x4 Tactical Utility Trucks ]
[ Remaining System Vault Balance: 589 Red Cores ]
[ Deploying Reinforcement Units! ]
Three hundred meters outside Bilibid's main outer perimeter, hidden behind the concrete overpass, nine massive pillars of golden light erupted into the sky!
"Rumble... BOOM!"
Six heavy, olive-drab SIMBA 4x4 Armored Personnel Carriers and three Kia KM-450 Tactical Utility Trucks materialized out of thin air!
Alongside the armored vehicles and tactical trucks, one hundred eighty fresh soldiers in digital camouflage fatigues stood in pristine military formation!
"Vroom! Vroom!"
The thunderous roar of nine heavy diesel engines vibrated through the asphalt as the expanded task force rolled out toward Bilibid Fortress!
***
Outside Bilibid's main iron gates...
Senior Officer Gabriel Torres, his SAF officers, and hundreds of working civilians were gathering food rations when the ground shook violently!
"Rumble... Rumble!"
A heavy, mechanical vibration echoed down the outer avenue!
"What is that...?! Is it a massive zombie horde?!" a civilian worker shrieked, dropping his ration box!
Torres and his SAF officers drew their sidearms, peering down the street in high tension!
"Screech... Vroom!"
Emerging from around the concrete overpass, six massive SIMBA Armored Personnel Carriers and three Kia KM-450 tactical trucks rolled into view in tight column formation!
The heavy armored steel hulls gleamed under the morning sun, flanked by dismounted mechanized soldiers and tactical truck squads advancing with flawless precision!
Torres's eyes widened to the size of saucers, his jaw dropping in absolute shock!
"Six more APCs and military tactical trucks...?! Nine SIMBA APCs and a full truck fleet now?!" an SAF officer gasped, trembling in utter disbelief!
"It's a full combined-arms battalion!" another officer screamed in joy!
The civilian crowd froze before erupting into deafening, ecstatic cheers and crying tears of joy!
"We have a full battalion! Commander Elias commands a full military battalion!" a structural engineer wept, cheering wildly!
"God bless the Supreme Commander!" an elderly woman cried, kneeling in prayer!
To Torres, the SAF, and the civilians, this was concrete proof that Supreme Commander Elias commanded a massive, unstoppable military army!
The heavy convoy pulled into the courtyard, and the Platoon Leaders dismounted, snapping thunderous salutes!
"1st Battalion fully staged and ready, Supreme Commander!" Battalion Commander Cruz reported.
Elias walked down the courtyard steps in full combat gear, inspecting the nine SIMBA APCs and three hundred twenty-four active soldiers.
Elias climbed up the side ladder of the lead SIMBA APC, mounting the commander's hatch high above the armored hull.
"1st Battalion, mount up!" Elias commanded over the radio, racking his R4A3 assault rifle!
"Click-clack!"
"Today we breach Maximum Security Compound! Move out!" Elias ordered!
"Vroom! Vroom!"
Nine SIMBA APCs and tactical trucks revved their heavy diesel engines, surging toward the reinforced iron doors of Maximum Gate 1!