Ana stood as the only high-ranked Militia in the auditorium.
But she has caught everyone's attention with her new aura.
Everyone listened attentively with mixed feelings of the situation.
The peace that we've known for 100 years is being threatened.
A man stepped up the platform, he stood tall, full of confidence and brimming with pride.
"My fellow humans," he begins to get their attention back to him.
Ana steps aside to give the podium to him fully.
"We humbly apologize for the long wait. On behalf of the Militia department, Captain Zhivenkhova and I offer our sincerest apologies."
Killian tries to shift his attention to the new arrival.
He looked familiar but he could not pinpoint as to where he saw the new man.
"Each leader is distributed to apologize to units under our command. And to share our knowledge what is going on above you; we have been dealing with a mass murder in our department."
The units gasped in shock. A mix of emotions filled the room.
Killian however remained poker-faced as he stared into the man's eyes.
Until finally at the back of his head something clicked.
'It's him! Lt. Giles Vosler!' he exclaimed in his inner thoughts.
He cannot forget a face. This is him. The guy that Kurt had tracked down to be present minutes before an assault.
"A mass murder?"
"Zombies are attacking us?"
"Are we under siege?"
Murmurs began to fill the room. Chaos is bound to ensue but Giles is confident he had it all under control.
He let them talk it out for a few moments, giving time to process the news.
"Zombies have attacked our devoted leaders of above. The long wait is because the Inner Ring had been voting on who steps up to fill their office." Giles adds.
The news came on them like a heavy rain.
They are aware that humans and zombies have been living separately to keep the peace.
They know that there are hidden zombies among their region as well.
But it has never been an issue before.
The zombies does not initiate any form of attack.
In fact they showed to be more afraid of the humans.
"What we know before is all just an act. The zombies have been plotting against us and now they've come to enact their plans." Giles continued to fan the flame.
While the rest of his comrades were definitely shaken by the news, Killian wasn't.
Ana's statement is standing on neutral ground.
A hint of war. A subtle declaration to be more vigilant.
But Giles Vosler's statement is a direct speech to ask them to join him for war.
War.
There hasn't been a world war for 100 years.
Now they are about to start one.
The atmosphere in the auditorium turned grim.
The units riled up to get ready for battle.
"They killed our fearless leaders. Men and women who protected our region and uplifted our peace. For that they must pay."
The photos flashing behind Giles showed the identities of the murdered leaders.
Killian was surprised to see that among them is General Shaw.
The very general that had recruited Reese, Hilde and Killian.
The same general who is tasked to investigate the Lapsing Zombie Evolution.
Among the victims of the mass murder.
'That can't be....'
Killian studied the faces of the other victims. They were all familiar.
He tries to replay recent memories at the back of his mind.
The short moment where he saw his fellow Militia units working with General Shaw.
All of them working in tents. From the Cyber department to the field agents.
Now they were all dead.
If that were true then Reese getting taken and Hilde going missing...
It wasn't a coincidence.
Whoever is behind the attack is getting rid of the task force handling the operation.
Killian doesn't know why he was even still alive.
But the thought of that just raised the chances that Hilde and Reese are not coming back.
"That's why today, we will no longer work separately on this case. Today we will work as one Militia. As one region. For the future of our home."
Giles now successfully stirred Killian's fellow units.
No longer are their emotions shaken with fear, worry, regret or guilt.
Now they all have one emotion and one resolve.
"As our devoted Guisarmes would say; We are forged by the fire so we will rise..."
Giles trailed off on purpose.
"...as blades for OUR future!" he emphasized.
"...as blades for our future!" everyone declared with fists in the air.
Humans are dangerous beings.
They can be kind when they want to.
Too kind that their kindness can be abused.
They can be cruel when they want to.
Too cruel that they can be worse than zombies.
Humans are a double-edged sword.
Such dangerous beings to be wielded by tyranny.
_______________________
When the meeting had ended, everyone is sent back to their rooms to wash up and get ready for a counterattack.
Killian however part from the majority who sucked their thumbs as they listened to Giles.
He searched for Ana among the crowd.
Unlike the rest of the leaders, he knows Ana isn't a yes-sir kind of person.
Something is up and he wants to know it.
"Ana- Captain, I'm sorry. Captain, what's going on?" Killian asked as soon as he saw her.
"We're preparing for war."
"I know, I mean... are we going to break down the walls now?"
A part of him is thrilled at the sound of war.
An event for him to wreak havoc and express his pent up anger for his father's death.
But he held back his thrill.
All for the sake of his team leader.
Reese would always want to settle in himself first what he's fighting for.
"No. The committee agreed to first punish the zombies within our walls."
Killian's brows furrowed.
He isn't close with zombies and he doesn't care what happens to them.
But... a part of him felt soft for someone.
"What about those zombies who had nothing to do with this?"
"Like Felix and Roxy?" Ana brought up, knowing who he is talking about.
"Well yes!"
"I gave Felix a heads-up. It's up to him to protect himself. Roxy is missing already."
"Wait what's it? We just let them run with a headstart?"
"I can't compromise what I stand for, Rivers." Ana says sharply.
Killian almost forgot she has a rank.
Ranked Militia are always strictly under Militia laws.
Their penalty and punishment is higher than those below them.
"I'm sorry, but there's nothing I can do. And while you are a lonely aid, I suggest you find a new team as well."
Her last words ached in his heart.
Almost as if she is saying Reese and Hilde are confirmed to be dead.