Weapon System in Zombie Apocalypse

Chapter 200: KC-135 Stratotanker

November 12, 2025 — 10:20 AM

Forward Agro-Zone One – South Landing Strip

The hum of logistics activity rolled through the airfield like background music to a rising empire. Forklifts transported fuel drums and sensor pods. Engineers checked stress points on the foamcrete landing mesh. In the distance, the recently returned Skyhammer Squadron stood parked in a V-formation, their wings still bearing soot from yesterday's bombing raid.

But Thomas.

His eyes were fixed on his user interface hovering before him.

Purchase Confirmed: KC-135 Stratotanker

Cost: 970,000 Blood Coins

Designation: Valkyrie One

Status: Materializing… Please Stand Clear

Phillip stood beside him, arms crossed, brow furrowed.

"You sure about this?" he asked.

"I've been sure for months," Thomas said quietly.

Phillip glanced back toward the flightline. "That tanker eats fuel. Needs a full crew. Takes up nearly the entire western pad. You planning on midair refueling already?"

"I'm planning on range," Thomas answered, eyes still forward. "Reach. We've turned the tide here—but the rest of the world? We have no idea. Not since the satellites went down. No live feeds. No intelligence. Only rumors. Manila. Cebu. Bataan. But what about Tokyo? Darwin? Anchorage? Mexico City?"

He tapped the console again.

"The only way we find out… is to go see for ourselves."

A pulse of blinding light surged upward from the circle.

Wind blasted across the strip.

The air warped—and then it appeared.

Valkyrie One.

The KC-135 Stratotanker materialized with a low groan of metal and hydraulic systems settling into place. It was massive. Longer than a C-130. Sleek in profile despite its bulk, with four massive jet engines hanging under swept-back wings and a refueling boom mounted like a tail stinger at the rear. The Overwatch crest was already painted along its fuselage—white sword over twin wings.

Phillip let out a breath. "Big bird."

"It's bigger than my bird."

10:34 AM — Aboard Valkyrie One

The metal clanked beneath Thomas's boots as he stepped through the forward hatch, his hand gliding along the interior bulkhead. The inside of the tanker was spartan, utilitarian. Rows of avionics panels, storage for fuel line maintenance gear, a communications rack with encryption nodes still powering up from summoning stabilization.

Three jumpseats lined the forward crew section. A narrow corridor led toward the boom operator's station and cargo systems.

But it wasn't luxury Thomas was here for.

It was capability.

He ducked through a low passage and entered the cockpit.

Four seats. The flight engineer panel still booting. The main avionics screen flickering between test patterns and system checks. The two pilot stations, complete with HUD-linked yokes and navigational overlay glass, slowly lit up.

This thing has a fueling capacity of 200,000 pounds. Operational ceiling: 50,000 feet. Range: 15,000 kilometers.

Thomas exhaled.

"Fifteen thousand…" he whispered. "That's across the Pacific. Twice."

He stepped out of the cockpit and made his way down the aisle, past sealed compartments lined with fuel bladders and emergency drop kits. Everything had been pre-loaded—supply crates, weather monitoring probes, survival rations, and even foldable satellite relay towers. This wasn't just a refueler.

This was a mobile base.

Phillip caught up behind him.

"Okay," he said, whistling. "I get it. This thing can fly to Alaska and back."

Thomas stopped by the rear observation panel, where a large reinforced window offered a rare view—behind them, the field glistened in the morning light, Overwatch personnel moving like clockwork across the Agro complex.

"It's not about Alaska," Thomas said. "It's about the unknown. We've built something strong here. Efficient. But we're still blind. No one knows what's happening in Australia. Or if Taiwan still holds. All we know is that they had collapsed from the news. But it collapsed."

Phillip leaned against the metal frame. "So you want to send the Vipers on recon?"

"Eventually. But not alone," Thomas replied. "The Vipers are fast, but they can't get that far without help. Valkyrie One gives them the legs to go anywhere. And if the pilots get stranded out there, we have a bird big enough to bring them back."

He tapped the rear panel beside the boom operator's seat.

A soft chime opened the aft bay, revealing the internal refueling station. The retractable boom sat retracted above their heads—sleek, multi-jointed, and capable of refueling two aircraft simultaneously in midair. The screen beside it displayed a targeting cone and remote AI-assisted stabilization software for adverse weather operations.

Autonomous AAR.

Status: Operational.

"We can refuel Skyhammers midair," Thomas said. "We can launch recon flights beyond Palawan. Check on Subic's island chain. Even reach Taiwan if we're bold."

Phillip crossed his arms, nodding slowly. "You want to scout the world."

"I want to know if there's still a world," Thomas replied.

A silence settled between them.

Then Thomas turned toward the front of the aircraft and walked back to the exit hatch. Before stepping off, he paused and looked over his shoulder.

"Prep Valkyrie One for long-range endurance test," he ordered. "We'll run a three-hour low-altitude loop over Western Luzon and back. I want the boom system tested. Comms. Fuel burn rate. Every system stress-tested before we think about crossing water."

"Understood," Phillip replied. "Who's your pilot?"

"I'll fly it," Thomas said.

Phillip blinked. "You're serious?"

Thomas simply smirked and walked down the boarding stairs.

"I have the skills, remember?"

"Oh…yeah…almost have forgotten about that sir."

11:28 AM — South Strip, Pre-Flight Preparation

The fuel trucks pulled away from Valkyrie One. Crew in black jumpsuits ran final checks on the engines. The boom arm was unlocked for remote diagnostics. A chase drone hovered nearby, ready to shadow the flight and relay data to Agro Command.

Thomas stood in the cockpit, helmet clipped, fingers sliding over the flight control panel. The engines spooled up with a low rumble.

Outside, Phillip watched with arms crossed as the Stratotanker's wheels began to roll.

Valkyrie One thundered down the runway—slow, deliberate, regal.

And then it lifted into the air.

A shadow cast across Agro as it ascended into the clouds.