Free Web NovelChapter 21: Clearing the Fog of War
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[ Structure: Radar Facility (Physical) ]
[ Type: Large-Scale Detection / Primary Support Structure ]
[ Energy Consumed: 100 energy units. ]
[ Structural Systems ]
[ Rotating Radar Dish ]
The radar tower houses a large rotating dish capable of emitting high-powered electromagnetic scanning waves. Functions include: wide-area terrain scanning, moving target detection, and signal triangulation (requires at least three Radar Facilities).
[ Sensor Processing Core ]
Raw data collected by the Radar dish is processed by an advanced sensor computation system. It performs signal filtering, movement tracking, threat classification, and terrain mapping. This allows the Radar to distinguish between friendly forces, hostile entities, and environmental features.
[ Tactical Synchronization Node ]
At the heart of the Radar Facility lies the Tactical Synchronization Node. It serves as the primary interface between the physical radar infrastructure and the System’s battlefield network.
Once information is processed, the node distributes data across all connected units, ensuring that every System-based soldier, vehicle, aircraft, and structure receives identical battlefield information.
Can only relay information based on locally connected Radar Facilities.
[ Communications Relay Network ]
Integrated throughout the facility are powerful communications systems responsible for maintaining stable links between distant units and command structures.
The relay network can receive, filter, and relay electromagnetic communication signals within the Radar Facility’s coverage, including conventional radio transmissions, encrypted military channels, emergency broadcasts, and other compatible EM-based communication activity.
Detected signals may be marked on the Commander’s Radar map based on source direction, signal strength, and transmission pattern. However, unknown or encrypted signals cannot be decoded, translated, or used for direct communication without compatible protocol access, specialized equipment, or further technological upgrades.
The relay network ensures that battlefield intelligence remains available even when units are operating dozens of kilometers away from the Commander.
[ System Sensor Integration Framework ]
Unlike conventional radar installations, the Radar Facility is designed to support future sensor expansion through direct System integration.
The framework allows additional detection technologies to be incorporated without rebuilding the structure.
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[ Operational Effects ]
[ Battlefield Detection ]
The radar scans a large area surrounding the structure and detects enemy movement. Detection radius of 25 kilometers, regardless of air, surface sea, or surface land. Has limited deep-sea and subterranean detection capabilities. Can be upgraded.
[ Tactical Synchronization ]
Once a hostile unit is detected, its position is synchronized across all connected RTS units. It also includes shared markers, synchronized targeting data, and coordinated engagement capability.
[ Remarks ]
Essential for battlefield awareness and coordination. Allows early detection of large zombie movements or enemy forces. Provides targeting data for artillery, missile units, airstrikes, and naval strikes. Often placed near the center of the base for protection.
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[ New construction options (Secondary Buildings) ]
[ SAM Site - 5000 Gold, 80 EU ]
[ Sensor Tower - 3000 Gold, 50 EU ]
[ Command Link Outpost - 5000 Gold, 70 EU ]
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[ Construction Area expanded by 400 meters with the Radar Facility at the center. ]
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[ Energy: 546 (+100) -> 646 / 800 ]
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Hans took his time reading through all the new information.
Only one word could describe the Radar Facility—awesome. Ridiculously awesome!
Not only did it expand his Virtual Radar’s scope, but it also even included several new functionalities as well.
There was even a hope to upgrade the Radar Facility in the future. However, the current upgrade option was locked. Hans guessed that he needed the Tech Lab to unlock it all.
He glossed over the newly unlocked secondary structures.
"I will take a look at them later. For now, let’s see how the map clears out."
He shifted his attention back to the previously obscured Radar map.
The fog to the east of his base—the western districts of Grefort began to peel away.
For the first few seconds, Hans only saw the familiar colors.
A black background and a line that swept around consistently.
Blue dots marked his soldiers, vehicles, and structures.
Dark green outlined the expanded construction area, currently faded to prevent obstructing his view of the map.
Bright green dots denoted friendly units not part of the System.
Red marks appeared farther out across streets, buildings, alleys, and rooftops.
And a few inconspicuous gray markers denoted either neutral structures... or neutral people.
Then the map changed again.
The simple flat view gained depth. The 2D map became lifelike, transitioning toward 3D.
Roads widened into proper lanes. Collapsed sections appeared as jagged black breaks.
Buildings no longer looked like plain and boring gray blocks. Some carried structural damage warnings, blocked entrances, rooftop access points, basement indicators, and estimated interior density.
Elevation lines spread across the district, marking the high and low ground.
It included drainage slopes, bridge supports, possible vehicle chokepoints, and even firing lanes.
Hans’s eyes slowly brightened. His mouth almost forming an egg shape.
This wasn’t just an upgrade toward a bigger Radar map. It completely transformed into a battlefield!
Then, dotted gray lines flickered beneath several streets.
Hans paused at the sight of it.
"System, can the map now separate elevation layers?"
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[ Affirmative. Limited subterranean data acquired. ]
[ The Commander may adjust elevation-layer focus instinctively for improved visibility across mapped layers. ]
[ Please utilize the legend at the top-left of your screen. ]
[ Warning: Deep subterranean mapping is unavailable. Please construct the Tech Lab for further inquiry. ]
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"Shallow underground levels are fine. Deeper than that and it becomes blurry?"
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[ Correct. ]
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"That’s disgusting," Hans remarked. At this point, what object can hide from him?
They might as well dig deep into the crust and enter the mantle just to hide from his Radar’s ridiculous scanning capabilities.
And it was just the basic version.
Hans couldn’t wait to upgrade his Radar Facilities, possibly extending not only the coverage but the functionalities as well.
At that moment, the Radar dish completed another rotation.
This time, the markers multiplied.
Red clusters bloomed across the western districts.
Some wandered through open streets. Some were packed inside buildings.
Others stayed underground, crawling through the shallow sewer lines and drainage routes no different from worms.
Hans zoomed in on one of the underground red clusters.
The icons were smaller, flickering with unstable outlines.
Sewer monsters?
Hans clicked his tongue. Not wanting to think too deeply about that, he turned to the gray markers.
The gray markers became clearer. Several appeared inside locked building blocks, or in high-rise buildings commonly found in the western commercial districts.
A few stayed near basements.
Others paced around warehouses, small commercial buildings, and abandoned vehicles.
If it still works as intended, I should be able to something interesting on the Radar map.
Hans tapped on one of the nearest gray groups. It was south of his base, isolated from the busy death-work happening deeper inside Grefort City.
The group did not move like infected.
They were clustered inside several structures, with a few smaller markers shifting between nearby buildings. Their movement was slow, cautious, and irregular.
Possible survivors. Should I attempt to reach these people?
The thought wasn’t from kindness alone.
He still needed people that can do regular and professional jobs around.
The System gave him soldiers, not a self-functioning nation.
At the beginning, Hans had needed civilians to make everything look normal.
Food had to be cooked. Water had to be fetched. Repairs had to be discussed. People needed jobs, rules, arguments, complaints, and someone to blame when something stopped working.
He could not simply wave his hand and pretend that a city could survive on system-generated lunch boxes and summoned soldiers.
Back then, it was partly an act.
Now, the act had grown teeth.
If Hans wanted to hold Grefort City, he needed more than just his system. Soldiers seized the land and defended its walls.
He also needed people who could live there—a functioning society with legitimacy, social continuity, skilled labor outside militaristic roles, future administrators, colonial expansion, and moral purpose beyond kill zombies, loot gold, and build more units.
And this wasn’t limited to Grefort City.
In the future, his hands might possibly reach even the entirety of Ashington itself.
Though more colonies meant more mouths to feed, it also meant more hands, more eyes, more local knowledge, and more places for survivors to run toward instead of dying quietly behind whatever door they had locked themselves with.
Why am I suddenly on the path of becoming an overlord?
Hans shook his head. He felt that something went wrong somewhere but couldn’t tell what it was. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓
He stared at the gray cluster for a few more seconds.
He had never associated neutral with being harmless.
It could be civilians.
It could be armed survivors.
It could be a small militia.
Or a bait.
It could also be another idiot gang that still thought robbery was a viable career path.
"Bastion One, come in."
"Bastion One copies, Commander."
"I’m giving you a small task," Hans zoomed in on the group of gray dots. "Possible POI. West. Marker forwarded." frёewebηovel.cѳm
"Received, Commander. What are your orders?"
"Observe first. Do not make contact unless necessary. Confirm whether they are civilians, armed survivors, or something else. Bring a regular squad, and additional infantry if needed be."
"Understood. Bastion One moving to observation posture."
A blue marker shifted on the map.
Hans watched it for a moment before dragging his attention back to western districts.
The Radar dish continued rotating.
And somewhere among those neutral dots, hiding behind the shallow underground, Hans found the next point of interest.
A wide grin plastered on his face. His eyes flashed with a cold glint before returning to normal.
Heh. Found you, Cell 7.
