Just as Nathan Cole was letting his imagination run wild, the cold electronic synthesized voice rang out beside his ear again.
[System loading complete. Commander, please review the System functions yourself!]
[This System is based on the Commander’s favorite RTS game, World in Conflict, and its expansion, World in Conflict: Soviet Assault. It will assist the Commander in accomplishing great things in the apocalypse!]
After the System’s emotionless voice fell silent, a holographic panel glowing with a faint, ghostly light abruptly appeared before Nathan.
The panel looked exactly like the interface of World in Conflict, which he had played before. Its familiar layout and icons brought back memories of his gaming days.
He instinctively reached out to touch the control panel, but before his fingers could reach it, the System spoke again.
[A timeline mismatch has been detected. Following a global scan, the System has been modified as follows.]
[1. The System has added the Eastern Alliance faction, including currently mass-issued active-service equipment.]
[2. In consideration of practical circumstances, the original Tactical Aid menu has been disabled. Once the Commander possesses artillery and air forces, tactical support may be provided independently.]
[3. The minimap and skill control menu at the bottom have been removed. A naval unit option has been added to the Reinforcements menu.]
[4. Due to the gap in era and technological standards, the prices of the original American, Soviet, and European equipment have been reduced by one-third.]
[5. Given the Commander’s currently dangerous situation, one Newbie Gift Pack has been issued. Please claim and use it yourself.]
As the System finished speaking, the panel before Nathan flickered. Immediately afterward, the interface underwent a dramatic change.
The Tactical Aid menu that had been on the left, along with the minimap and skill control menu at the bottom, vanished without a trace as though they had never existed. All that remained was a solitary Reinforcements menu in the upper-right corner.
At the same time, an icon resembling an email inbox quietly appeared beside the Reinforcements menu, marked with a small red dot indicating an unread message.
Looking at the altered panel, Nathan felt a little overwhelmed.
He really wanted to say to the System, "System, how the hell did you change this much?"
Where had his huge Tactical Aid menu gone?
How was he supposed to play carpet bombing now? How was he supposed to smash enemies in the face with thermobaric bombs?
Without a minimap, how was a rookie like him supposed to grasp the battlefield situation?
And with the skill control menu gone, he could not even become a master of battlefield micromanagement?
Though he kept grumbling inwardly, Nathan understood that the System was the boss now. Whatever it gave him, he had to make do with it!
After sighing softly, he reached out and tapped the Reinforcements menu.
Just as in the game, a drop-down menu appeared before him. From top to bottom, it contained options for [Infantry], [Support], [Armor], [Air Force], and [Navy].
However, apart from the Infantry menu, which was available to select normally, the other four menus were all grayed out and completely inaccessible.
Nathan frowned and asked silently, "System, are you there? Why can’t I use anything except the Infantry menu?"
[I am here, Commander. Because your current rank is too low, only the Infantry menu is available. Once your rank is promoted, the other menus will unlock in sequence. Please work hard to raise your rank!]
Hearing the System’s explanation, Nathan helplessly rubbed his nose and grumbled inwardly again. This damn System had not even told him what rank he currently held.
Then his gaze returned to the open Infantry menu, where the available forces were divided in detail into four columns: Eastern Alliance, American, Soviet, and European.
Following his old gaming habits, Nathan first selected the Soviet column.
Sure enough, the six familiar units appeared before his eyes: [Anti-Tank Infantry], [Infantry], [Sniper], [Engineer], [UAZ-469 Jeep], and [Ural-4320 Transport Truck].
Looking at the Soviet personnel and equipment from the seventies and eighties, Nathan subconsciously rubbed his eyes. After confirming repeatedly that he was not seeing things, he asked again, "System, according to your modification notice, does that mean that apart from the Eastern Alliance, which has currently mass-issued active-service equipment, the other three factions all use Cold War-era equipment from the game?"
[Yes, Commander. Your understanding is correct. Because the System needed to add the Eastern Alliance faction, it scanned the equipment currently mass-issued by the Eastern Alliance. The equipment of the other factions will not be updated!]
Nathan did not have any particular thoughts after hearing that explanation.
After all, he was a complete gear fanatic. The Eastern Alliance’s active-service equipment was so futuristic and good-looking—how could he possibly care about those Cold War antiques from the other three factions?
Was he supposed to pass up stylish digital camouflage just to wear the old Russians’ inherited naval-striped shirts?
Or was he supposed to leave a T-90M unused and have his soldiers operate T-80Us instead?
Obviously impossible!
Besides, as a public official, deep down he had always held fast to his loyalty and love for his country.
Naturally, the Eastern Alliance faction was his first choice. As for whether the equipment of the other factions was updated, it was truly irrelevant to him.
He did not want his subordinates to be a bunch of blond, blue-eyed foreigners, nor did he want his force to use foreign military equipment on a large scale.
Of course, there were still a few special pieces of equipment he could use—for example, the Soviets’ massive beast: the 2S7 Pion 203mm self-propelled gun.
By modern standards, its rate of fire was a little slow and its mobility somewhat poor, but caliber was justice. Just imagine a 203mm shell landing in the middle of a zombie horde—the sight would be far too beautiful. He did not dare imagine it. He truly did not dare.
Then, with a trace of curiosity and anticipation, Nathan opened the newly added Eastern Alliance Infantry menu.
Unlike the Soviet menu, Eastern Alliance infantry was divided into three organizational structures.
Nathan carefully reviewed each one. The Eastern Alliance infantry options consisted of a six-man infantry squad, a nine-man infantry squad, and a twelve-man reinforced infantry squad.
The corresponding reinforcement costs also differed: 500 points, 650 points, and 800 points respectively.
Nathan subconsciously looked at the zero reinforcement points displayed on his menu. Helplessly shaking his head, he switched back to the Soviet menu.
When he saw that Soviet anti-tank infantry cost 560 points, his heart stirred slightly. It really was consistent with what the System had said—one-third cheaper than the original price.
Still, Nathan had many questions in his mind, so he asked directly, "System, what is the logic behind the Eastern Alliance infantry squad structures? How do I earn reinforcement points? And are the reinforcement-point costs for personnel and equipment fixed according to the game?"
In response to Nathan’s string of questions, the System promptly supplied the answers.
[Commander, the System has selected common Eastern Alliance infantry squad structures. Six-man infantry squads primarily use BMP-3M tracked infantry fighting vehicles and BTR-82A wheeled armored personnel carriers, forming a combat unit together with the vehicle crew.]
[Nine-man infantry squads can form combat units with Tigr-M long-wheelbase armored assault vehicles and Stryker infantry carrier vehicles.]
[As for twelve-man infantry squads, they are the Eastern Alliance’s reinforced infantry squads. The twelve men carry eight different types of weapons and possess formidable firepower. Anyone who uses them will know just how good they are. You deserve them.]
[Of course, the System has selected only these three most common organizational methods. Depending on the mission requirements and differences among service branches, there are many other organizational structures, large and small. The Commander may adjust them himself according to his needs in the future.]
[As for reinforcement points, the Commander and forces under his command can earn two reinforcement points for killing a zombie, three reinforcement points for killing a zombie beast, and a certain reinforcement-point reward for occupying the corresponding territory!]
[The calculation method for all reinforcement points in this System is entirely derived from the game. As it involves the underlying code, it cannot be changed. We ask for the Commander’s understanding!]
At the words "the underlying code cannot be changed," Nathan’s mouth twitched slightly, his heart full of helplessness.
But he also knew that simply having a System was already more fortune than his ancestors could have dreamed of. What room did he have to choose?
He then continued looking down through the menu.
Besides infantry, the Eastern Alliance menu also contained [Tigr-M Standard-Wheelbase Armored Assault Vehicle], [Tigr-M Long-Wheelbase Armored Assault Vehicle], [Ural-4320 High-Mobility Cargo Truck], and [KamAZ-6350 High-Mobility Cargo Truck].
Their corresponding reinforcement costs were 550 points, 650 points, 300 points, and 400 points respectively.
After looking through the Reinforcements menu, Nathan’s gaze fell upon the newly added inbox icon.
After clicking it open, he found an email titled Newbie Gift Pack.
At the sight of it, Nathan could not help letting out a foolish heh heh heh laugh.
Just then, the sound of the door being smashed, which had stopped at some point, rang out again.
The dull, urgent pounding was like a heavy hammer viciously striking Nathan’s heart.
His face instantly went pale, and his body trembled involuntarily. He hurriedly clamped a hand over his mouth.
Only after a long while, once he had confirmed that the zombies outside could not break through the door for the moment, did he slowly breathe a sigh of relief. His tense body relaxed along with it.
Nathan composed himself and turned his attention back to the message on the panel.
Opening the email, he found that it stated plainly that he had been given one bodyguard, one supply crate, one weapons crate, and 1,000 initial reinforcement points.
Staring at the generous Newbie Gift Pack, Nathan frantically tapped the claim option below the email.
A flash of light passed before him. The email displayed a successful claim notice, yet there was nothing in front of Nathan. Nothing had appeared at all.
Just as he was filled with confusion and about to ask why, the System’s electronic synthesized voice sounded again.
[The Commander has claimed the Newbie Gift Pack. Please select a delivery location for the military supplies.]
The moment the System finished speaking, two three-dimensional phantom crates abruptly appeared in front of Nathan, just like selecting an airdrop location in a game.
Nathan’s heart stirred, and he tried controlling the phantom crates with his thoughts.
Following his intentions, the phantom crates slowly began changing position.
Once he understood how to control them, Nathan carefully moved the phantom crates to the center of the outer room of the linen room. Then he said silently, "Deploy!"
In an instant, two large olive-drab crates appeared before him without warning.
Nathan rose to his feet and stepped forward to inspect them. One crate was clearly labeled Supply Crate, while the other was labeled Weapons Crate.
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