The lights dimmed in the Conrad Hotel's tactical operations room as Thomas and Phillip stood before a television. Around the room, soldiers filed into their seats, their eyes sharp and alert. Most were veterans of previous operations, hardened by months of survival in the apocalypse. Others were fresh recruits from recent survivor groups who had shown promise in security roles. Despite their varied backgrounds, every man and woman in the room shared one goal: survival.
Thomas stepped forward, clearing his throat as the chatter died down. The display switched to a 3D holographic map of the area surrounding Landers Supermarket. Key points of interest—entryways, high-risk zones, and fallback routes—highlighted in red, yellow, and green.