Weapon System in Zombie Apocalypse

Thomas turned toward Shadow 4. "Radio Shadow 1 and 2. Tell them to regroup. We're heading down."

The maintenance shaft leading into Sector 4 was coated in thick, oily residue, its once-functional lighting now reduced to dim, flickering bulbs that cast eerie shadows across the metallic walls. The smell of stale fuel and rotting organic matter grew stronger as they descended the ladder.

Phillip adjusted his gas mask, his voice slightly muffled. "Smell that? That's bio-contamination mixed with hydrocarbons. Not a great mix."

Shadow 1 raised an eyebrow. "How bad?"

Phillip exhaled. "If it's bacterial growth, we might be able to flush it out. If it's something else…"

Shadow 2 gripped his rifle tighter. "You mean if it's alive."

Thomas took point, rifle raised. "Stay sharp."

They moved single file, the only sound their boots clanking against the metal grating beneath them. At the bottom, a set of double maintenance doors led to the refinery's lower pipeline control station.

Phillip scanned the terminal beside the door. "Power's flickering, but I can get it open."

He input a manual override. The doors hissed as their locks released—and immediately, the stench intensified.

The room beyond was flooded with dark, thick sludge—a mix of oil, water, and decomposed organic material. Pipes along the walls were ruptured, spilling black, viscous liquid onto the floor.

And at the center of it all—

A mass of writhing biomass pulsated, spanning across the chamber, its roots digging into the metal like a living organism feeding off the refinery itself. Embedded within it were half-digested human corpses, their eyes lifeless, their skin half-melted into the grotesque growth.

"Jesus Christ…" Shadow 1 muttered.

Phillip grimaced. "That's not just rot. That's an infection hive."

Thomas's grip on his rifle tightened. "How do we get rid of it?"

Phillip wiped sweat from his brow. "There's only one way—we burn it. Completely."

Shadow 2 kicked the nearest drum, watching it spill a flammable mixture of oil and hydrocarbons into the sludge.

"Very well, let's do it," Thomas replied.

Phillip nodded and immediately started looking around for anything that could accelerate the burn. The sludge coating the floor was already a volatile mix of hydrocarbons and decomposing biomass, but they needed something to ensure it burned completely—not just light up and smolder.

Shadow 1 and 2 moved quickly, searching for intact fuel drums. Shadow 4 cracked open a maintenance cabinet, pulling out an old industrial torch with a nearly empty fuel canister.

Phillip examined it. "Might be enough to get things going, but we need more accelerant if we want to make sure that thing doesn't regenerate."

Shadow 2 popped the lid off a rusted barrel of refinery-grade ethanol. "How about this?"

Phillip grinned. "That'll do. Splash it around."

The team worked fast, drenching the hive and the surrounding area in highly combustible fuel. The stench became unbearable, the combination of rotting flesh, oil, and alcohol creating a nauseating miasma.

Thomas stepped back, rifle still trained on the biomass. The pulsating mass seemed agitated, tendrils retracting as if sensing imminent destruction.

Shadow 1 held up a frag grenade. "Could use this to set it off."

Phillip shook his head. "No good. We need sustained fire, not an explosion that'll just scatter burning chunks everywhere."

Thomas gestured toward the industrial pipelines overhead. "What about refinery gas? We vent it in, light it up."

Phillip hesitated, then nodded. "Yeah, that could work—if we don't incinerate ourselves in the process."

Shadow 4 scanned the room. "There should be manual release valves nearby."

Shadow 2 pointed toward a rusted control panel. "Got something here."

Phillip rushed over, brushing away grime and flipping through the old analog controls. "Alright, if these still work, I can open up the propane and natural gas feed from the storage silos above. Should give us a controlled burn—hot enough to wipe this thing out."

Thomas nodded. "Do it."

Phillip took a deep breath, then pulled the emergency bypass lever.

With a loud hiss, compressed refinery gas vented from the overhead pipes, flooding the chamber with a highly flammable mix. The biomass twitched violently, tendrils curling inwards as the atmosphere turned toxic.

Phillip adjusted his gas mask. "That's our cue. Time to light it."

Thomas turned to Shadow 1. "Do it."

Shadow 1 nodded, pulling out a road flare from his belt. He snapped it to life, the bright red flame flickering as he took one last look at the grotesque mass.

"Burn in hell."

He tossed the flare into the sludge.

The effect was instantaneous.

WHOOSH!

A fireball erupted, racing across the fuel-soaked floor. The gas-infused air ignited, creating a chain reaction that roared through the chamber. The biomass screamed—a horrific, gurgling shriek—before being completely engulfed in searing flames.

The heat became unbearable, the walls glowing orange as the fire fed on the volatile mixture.

"MOVE!" Thomas shouted.

The team scrambled for the ladder, heat waves distorting their vision as flames licked at their heels.

Phillip was the last one up, barely making it as fire erupted from the maintenance shaft below. The refinery rumbled, metal groaning under the intense heat.

The moment Phillip cleared the ladder, Thomas slammed the hatch shut, sealing off the inferno below.

For several tense moments, they just listened—the muffled roar of flames, the crackling of burning flesh, the sound of metal warping under the extreme temperature.

Then—silence.

Phillip exhaled, slumping against the wall. "Jesus… tell me that worked."

Thomas keyed his mic. "Shadow 1, check the terminals. I want confirmation that whatever that was is gone."

Shadow 1 hurried to a security console in the adjacent room, wiping soot from the screen. He accessed structural diagnostics, scanning for heat signatures.

A tense moment passed.

Then—his voice came through the radio.

"No movement. No anomalies. Sector 4 is clear."

"Good."

Thomas exhaled, then keyed his mic again. "Overlord, be advised. Infection hive is neutralized. Refinery is secure."

Phillip let out a breath of relief. "That was way too close."

Thomas turned to his team. "We're done here. Time to check fuel levels, finalize system controls, and get ready to establish a permanent outpost."

Shadow 2 clapped his hands together. "Finally. A proper win."

Thomas exhaled, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "For now."