Outside Los Angeles, an Air Force pilot was on an expedition mission a month after soldiers had established secure bases to exterminate walkers and anyone not in secure bases.
Operation Cobalt could take a different direction depending on how this operation unfolded.
"Zz... Tower, this is Coyote One, requesting communication with Coyote Two several kilometers away. Do you copy?"
"Zz... Copy, Coyote One. This is Coyote Two. What is your position and altitude?"
"Zz... Coyote One is flying at 1,500 feet above ground, heading southwest. Are there any signs of activity in the area?"
"Zz... I've noticed strange movement to the south, indicating a base evacuation."
Evacuating?
The pilot of the Coyote One helicopter fell silent and said, "Zz... changing course to gather new information."
"Zz... negative, all aid missions have been canceled given the infection circumstances."
"Donald, are we deviating again?"
"Just to be safe," murmured Donald Okafor, the main pilot of the bomber helicopter.
This mission was to report to the base about the current situation in Los Angeles and take immediate action to solve future problems.
But now Coyote Two had detected a convoy of helicopters not communicating and apparently evacuating. Then, it detected even more helicopters heading in Donald Okafor's direction, so he immediately changed course to be safe.
"We're close, Alex. Prepare the weaponry."
Alex, responsible for weapons and Donald's copilot, sighed in frustration, as they shouldn't be deviating based on the recent instructions.
They had reached the outskirts of the city, and the radars showed nothing, but then a beep indicated a helicopter nearby.
"Where?" Donald looked down, wanting to locate the helicopter.
"They're below us; night vision shows a helicopter being pursued by what seems like thousands of infected." Alex couldn't understand the tactics in this operation.
"Is that helicopter a decoy?"
"It can't be; all the infected are following it from every direction." Alex couldn't believe what he was seeing.
Donald, seeing this, immediately informed the base: "Pilot to tower, Coyote One. We're seeing a military helicopter flying at low altitude being pursued by a horde of walkers on the ground. Requesting instructions on how to proceed."
"Towering to Coyote One, given the infection circumstances, intensifying Operation Cobalt is the only option. You have new orders; use any means necessary to neutralize the threat and ensure total elimination of the infected."
Donald looked at the helicopter, now followed by more walkers, and said, "Understood, Coyote, navigating one now has a combat mission."
...
Dominic could see the hell that was the young undead; they were faster since their bodies were not yet decayed, giving them even more strength.
A horde like the one just unleashed was so massive that it was truly terrifying, and Dominic only now felt the terror of facing such a large horde of walkers.
"Zz... Try to fly farther away; the bombers are about to arrive." Dominic communicated by radio with Rafael, who had impressive control over the helicopter.
Rafael nodded, taking control of the flight.
But at that moment, his radar showed a helicopter on its way, so he asked, "Didn't you mention that three helicopters were coming our way?"
"Yes, what's the problem?" Dominic didn't know why this question was asked since Stuart led three bombers.
"Zz... A helicopter is heading toward our position." Rafael grew nervous, preparing to activate flares in case they were targeted.
Dominic fell silent. Who could be heading their way? Most likely, it was a helicopter from another base, thinking they were in trouble, but knowing that things couldn't always go as planned, he prepared himself.
"Zz... Helicopter Bravo to Unidentified Helicopter, do you copy? Requesting information on your current situation and position in airspace."
Rafael remained silent and didn't respond to the call.
"Zz... We've been ordered to bomb all those infected and wipe them off the map. We need you to retreat after informing us of your status."
Dominic closed his eyes for a few seconds and opened his radio. "Soldier, you have your orders, but we have ours, and I ask that you not interfere in our operation, as bombers are approaching from a distance to complete this operation."
"Zz... negative, proceeding to descend for attack."
Dominic furrowed his brows, looked at Rafael, and said, "Move now; prepare for any kind of confrontation."
"Zz... Understood."
As they moved away, something descended from the sky, and a few seconds later, a loud explosion reverberated throughout the area where the walker numbers were concentrated.
Boom!
The massive explosion shook the cockpit of the helicopter, where Dominic was, but the turbulence was controlled as they moved farther away.
"Let's head to the base; we'll regroup with the rest of the soldiers for evacuation."
Rafael nodded, maneuvered his helicopter, and headed to the base.
"Zz... Helicopter Bravo to Unidentified Helicopter, I need you to change your direction to the following coordinates."
Dominic heard the coordinates but wasn't going to comply with them. "Zz... We're in the process of evacuation; this base is not safe, so we're leaving now. If you interfere with our evacuation operation, you'll be seen as an enemy, and my approaching ships will take you down."
At that moment, a convoy of Apache helicopters and numerous cargo helicopters approached rapidly in formation.
"Zz... What's the situation, sir?"
"We received unexpected help from the helicopter to our right, considering it a non-allied helicopter, and escorted it to the nearby base." Dominic wouldn't take any risks, knowing he could be attacked.