The four-vehicle convoy rumbled steadily down the main avenue toward Muntinlupa, less than one kilometer from New Bilibid Prison.
"Rumble..."
The heavy yellow DPWH excavator trailed closely behind the Toyota HiAce van, its steel treads clanking against the pavement.
Up ahead, near a shuttered commercial gas station, several figures waved frantically from the second-floor windows!
"Help! Over here! Please help us!" a man's desperate voice echoed over the street.
"Screech...!"
Elias brought the Kia KM-450 tactical truck to a stop along the curb, signaling the escort vehicles to hold position.
Inside the commercial building, a group of fifteen civilian survivors rushed down the stairwell, bursting out through the glass doors.
Their clothes were torn and dirty, their faces pale from days of hiding without food or clean water.
As they saw the olive-drab KM-450 military truck, the armed soldiers in full tactical gear, and the heavy DPWH excavator, tears of joy spilled down their faces!
"It's the military! The Armed Forces are here!" an elderly woman cried out, weeping with relief.
"Thank God! The government hasn't abandoned us!" a young father exclaimed, holding his small daughter tightly.
Company Commander Mateo Cruz and six soldiers from 1st Squad dismounted, forming a tight security perimeter around the civilian group.
Inside the front passenger cab of the KM-450, Elias remained seated in quiet, mysterious silence, observing the scene with calm, watchful eyes.
Company Commander Cruz stepped forward, his military uniform immaculate and his posture commanding respect.
"I am Company Commander Mateo Cruz of the Armed Forces of the Philippines," Cruz announced in a stern, professional voice.
"You are under the protection of our Supreme Commander, who is securing this sector and establishing a permanent military fortress at New Bilibid Prison."
The survivors looked past Cruz toward the KM-450 truck, staring in awe and wonder at the mysterious young commander sitting calmly inside the military cab.
"Commander! Is the main highway clear? Is central command sending more troops?" an anxious survivor asked.
"Military communications with main headquarters are temporarily cut due to atmospheric interference from the meteor," Cruz explained firmly.
"Our Supreme Commander has commandeered heavy engineering assets to fortify New Bilibid Prison."
"Bilibid has twenty-foot concrete walls and complete perimeter security."
Elias signaled Cruz over the comms: "Cruz, check those abandoned vehicles in the gas station lot. We're bringing these civilians with us to Bilibid right now."
"Understood, Supreme Commander!" Cruz replied over his headset.
Cruz turned back to the survivors. "Pack your belongings! We are commandeering the abandoned civilian vehicles in this lot and escorting you directly to the Bilibid fortress now!"
The survivors gasped in overwhelming gratitude, tears streaming down their faces!
Two soldiers from 5th Squad ran to an abandoned silver commuter van in the parking lot, checking the ignition and hotwiring the battery.
"Vroom!"
The engine of the abandoned civilian van roared to life!
"Board the vehicle in an orderly line! Move!" Cruz commanded.
The fifteen civilian survivors boarded the commandeered van, escorted by two armed riflemen who sat near the doors for protection.
Cruz motioned to his men, who loaded two cases of MRE rations and bottled water into the survivor van.
"Bless the military! Bless your Supreme Commander!" the survivors wept, clutching their children and food rations tightly.
Cruz snapped a crisp salute toward Elias inside the truck cab, reporting over the comms.
"Civilians secured in the transport van, Supreme Commander. The convoy is ready."
Elias gave a quiet, subtle nod from behind the steering wheel, remaining an enigmatic figure to the watching survivors.
"Convoy, resume movement to Bilibid," Elias commanded softly into the radio.
"Vroom!"
The expanded five-vehicle convoy rolled smoothly down the final stretch toward the outer perimeter of New Bilibid Prison.
Suddenly, deafening gunfire echoed ahead, shattering the quiet afternoon!
"Rat-tat-tat-tat!"
"Bang! Bang! Bang!"
Heavy bursts of automatic rifle fire rattled continuously from the top of Bilibid's outer guard towers!
As the convoy crested the final hill, Elias's eyes narrowed as a terrifying sight appeared before them.
Outside the massive main iron gates of New Bilibid Prison, a massive horde of thousands of turned residents had swarmed the entrance!
"Grrr... Raaagh!"
Thousands of infected pressed violently against the reinforced iron gates, trying to tear down the perimeter barriers!
Static crackled violently over Elias's tactical radio comms.
"Bzzzt—!"
"Supreme Commander! This is Sergeant Santos!" the frantic voice of Acting 1st Platoon Leader Santos shouted over the radio.
"A massive horde of thousands of infected swarmed our main gates from the eastern district!"
"2nd Squad and 3rd Squad are holding the guard towers, but we are running out of ammunition!"
"Click! Click!"
"Our ammo reserves are almost completely dry! We can't hold them off much longer!" Santos reported desperately.
Elias grabbed his radio headset, his face setting in a cold, fierce mask of command as he looked at the thousands of zombies surrounding the gate.
"Santos, hold your ground!" Elias ordered into the radio comms.
"We are right outside the main gate with reinforcements!"
"Convoy units, form up! Prepare to strike the horde from behind!"