Back in the command center.
"Sir, all shadows are inbound back to base," one of the operators said.
"Yeah I saw that, thank you very much for the update. Now I need another update on Forbes—wait, what the heck is that? Moving through the crowds of zombies…"
The operators looked at the screen and a flicker of recognition flash before their eyes.
"Sir, that's a Hunter…"
The room went quiet for a second.
Not because they didn't know what it was.
But because of how many.
The thermal feed sharpened as the drone adjusted focus.
At first, it looked like fast movers cutting through the scattered infected. But then the shapes became clearer.
Moving in bursts instead of a steady pace.
"Count them," Adrian said, stepping closer to the screen.
"Stand by…"
The operator zoomed further, tagging each moving heat signature.
"One… three… five…"
He paused.
"…twelve…"
More entered the frame.
"…twenty… and still counting."
Another operator leaned forward.
