Chapter 187 Satellite on Seoul

Chapter 187 Satellite on Seoul

October 7th, 2023.

Inside the control center of Manila International Airport, Richard's eyes were fixed on the multiple CCTV feeds displaying the ongoing defense of the perimeter. Blackwatch soldiers, armed to the teeth and supported by military hardware, were efficiently eliminating hordes of zombies. The deployment of tanks and helicopters had given the infantry units a significant advantage, allowing them to thin out the attacking waves more effectively.

Since the satellite launch, the body count of zombies has risen to nearly 20,000. Richard had anticipated such a scenario and had strategically used his experience and gold capsules to fortify their defenses. Despite the successful elimination of numerous zombies and the mounting piles of corpses around the airport's perimeter, the relentless waves continued to surge forward, seemingly endless.

The situation would have been dire if not for the system's capability to continuously replenish their supplies, including ammunition, weapons, and troop reinforcements. The relentless onslaught made holding the airport a daunting task, yet the system's support was instrumental in their stand.

"Sir!" Sara's voice cut through the tense atmosphere, signaling an update.

Richard, breaking away from the monitors, approached her station and leaned over to view her display. "What's the update, Sara?"

"Sir, the satellite has successfully repositioned over Seoul," she informed, pointing to the live feed on the screen which now showed aerial views of the South Korean capital.

Richard's gaze shifted to the satellite imagery, noting the stark contrast between the bustling city life of Seoul and the apocalyptic scenes at Manila International Airport. The high-resolution images provided a clear view of the city's streets and buildings.

"Start scanning the city," Richard instructed, his voice firm. "We need to locate any unusual activity or signs of the progenitor."

Sara nodded, her fingers dancing over the keyboard as she input the commands. "Initiating a high-resolution scan now. We'll cover the major districts first, then expand to the outskirts. The satellite's infrared and optical sensors should give us a good chance of picking up any anomalies."

As the satellite began its detailed surveillance, Richard pondered their next steps. Finding the progenitor in a bustling metropolis like Seoul would be challenging, but the satellite's capabilities provided them with a significant advantage.

"It's going to take a while, sir," Sara informed.

"I know, but I'm willing to wait patiently."

Hours had passed since the initiation of the satellite scan over Seoul. The control center was a hive of quiet activity, with occasional updates being exchanged among the personnel. Richard, still intently focused on the mission, periodically glanced at the screens showing the ongoing struggle against the zombie horde outside.

Finally, Sara looked up from her console, her expression a mix of concentration and disappointment. "Sir, I have an update on the Seoul scan," she called out.

Richard walked over to her station, his expression serious. "What have you found?"

Sara turned her monitor so he could see the display. "We've completed a thorough scan of the major districts in Seoul. There's a significant presence of zombies roaming the streets, but nothing out of the ordinary for the current situation. No signs of the progenitor or any unusual activity."

Richard sighed. "Of course, what did I expect? This is going to be hard to begin with."

"Should we expand the search area or refine our scanning parameters?" Sara asked, ready to adjust their approach.

"Yes, expand the search to the outskirts and rural areas surrounding Seoul. It's possible the progenitor is avoiding populated areas," Richard directed. "Also, enhance the resolution of the scans. Look for any signs of large-scale gatherings or unusual movements that might indicate the progenitor's presence."

"Understood, sir," Sara responded, swiftly implementing the new instructions.

Richard returned to his position, overseeing the ongoing defense at the airport. Despite the high body count, the Blackwatch soldiers maintained their discipline, methodically eliminating the zombie threat. He knew they couldn't keep up this defense indefinitely; finding the progenitor was key to ending their stay here at Manila International Airport and of course the zombie menace.

Finally, late into the night, Sara signaled Richard again. "Sir, we have something. The satellite picked up an anomaly in a secluded area north of Seoul. It's not conclusive, but it's the best lead we have."

Richard quickly approached, examining the satellite imagery. The area in question was remote, with dense foliage and few buildings. There is also a large creature with wings spanning ten or twenty meters—It's like Alpha Gryphon.

"Can you pull up the archives and see if the top appearance of that creature matches that of Alpha Gryphon that we encountered?" Richard asked.

Sara quickly began cross-referencing the current satellite image with their archived data. Her fingers moved efficiently across the keyboard, pulling up various files and images. On one side of the screen, the live satellite feed displayed the remote area north of Seoul. On the other, a series of archived images, videos, and data on the Alpha Gryphon appeared.

"Just a moment, sir," she said, her eyes scanning the information. The screen displayed a side-by-side comparison of the creature in the satellite image and the archived images of the Alpha Gryphon. Overlay identifiers highlighted key features, comparing sizes, shapes, and other distinguishing characteristics.

After a few minutes of analysis, Sara looked up, her expression indicating she had reached a conclusion. "Sir, based on the comparison of physical characteristics and dimensions, there is a high probability that the creature in the satellite image is indeed an Alpha Gryphon. The wing span, body structure, and other markers are consistent with our previous encounters."

"Could it be that the progenitor has summoned another Alpha Gryphon to take Violet and Seo-Jun out of the Philippines? If that's the case. Then—." n.)o/.V-(e/.l-/b--I(-n

"What are you planning sir?" Sara asked curiously.

"Isn't it obvious? We take them down of course. But can you scan the satellite footage more? Identity if how many people are in the area?"

Sara quickly adjusted the satellite's settings, enhancing the resolution and focusing on the area around the Alpha Gryphon. "I'm enhancing the thermal sensors and optical zoom. This should give us a clearer picture of the immediate vicinity."

The screen flickered as the satellite imagery zoomed in closer. The high-resolution thermal imaging began to reveal finer details. Gradually, two distinct heat signatures appeared near the creature, separate from its own massive heat output.

"There are two individuals present in that area," Sara reported, pointing to the two smaller heat signatures on the screen. "The thermal readings are consistent with human body temperatures. It's likely that these are the people we are after. Violet and Seo-Jun."

A smirk spread across his lips. "Good. But only two of them? That's sad. I was hoping there'd be more because the area seemed like a hideout to me. Well. let's observe them for a while. See if they can lead us to the progenitor and when we do..."

Richard paused, turning his head towards Mark.

"Mark!" Richard called.

"What is it, sir?" Mark responded.

"Come with me."

"Yes sir!"