Chapter 50: Asking the Pilot

At the medbay of the base. Ryan and Adrian met just outside of the room where the pilot was being treated with a doctor. There was a small window on the door where they could see through.

Adrian was looking over and spoke. "So that’s the pilot that attacked us huh? Which means the Philippine Armed Forces haven’t completely fallen yet."

"Well it is still a problem as to why they shot us."

"The answer was pretty clear Ryan, they thought of us as a foreign invader. But we are not. Now, we have to know if there are other units in the armed forces and where they are. Because I’m pretty sure that the pilot didn’t accidentally go to the airbase for a stroll."

"Yeah, it means it took off from another airbase. Though they are not a problem, the infected are."

"The pilot inside may hold valuable information as to the state of the government. We haven’t heard from them since day two of the apocalypse. I want to know if there is still a president, a chain-of-command, and semblance of order...anything."

Ryan nodded, arms folded across his chest as he watched through the glass. Inside, the doctor worked fast, cleaning the wound and wrapping it tight while another medic held the pilot steady.

"Or if they’re just holding on by threads," Ryan said. "That missile didn’t feel like a coordinated response. More like trigger-first, ask-later."

Adrian didn’t answer right away. He kept his eyes on the pilot as the man winced, jaw tight but still conscious.

"That’s what we’re about to find out," he said.

Inside, the doctor stepped back.

"Stabilized," he said to one of the medics. "He’s good for questioning. Don’t move the leg too much."

The medic nodded.

Adrian pushed off the wall and reached for the door.

"Let’s not waste time," he said.

Ryan shifted beside him. "You want soft or direct?"

Adrian glanced at him once.

"Direct," he said. "He already made his move in the air."

Ryan gave a short nod.

"Figures."

Adrian opened the door.

The pilot turned his head the moment they stepped in, eyes locking onto them again.

Adrian walked up to the foot of the bed and stopped. He looked to the pilot.

"How was he, doctor?"

The doctor didn’t look up right away. He finished securing the bandage, pressed it once to check for bleeding, then stepped back.

"Stable," he said. "Round passed clean through. No major artery hit. He’ll be able to talk."

Adrian nodded once.

"Good."

The doctor wiped his hands and moved aside, giving them space. One of the medics adjusted the stretcher slightly, then stepped back as well.

Silence settled in the room.

Adrian took a step closer.

The pilot watched him, eyes sharp despite the pain. Sweat had started to form along his forehead.

"Now, I’d like to introduce myself. I’m Adrian and this man who extracted you goes by the name of Ryan. We are part of the Shadow Private Military Company. Why don’t you introduce yourself? A real name and rank."

The pilot held his stare for a second, weighing it.

Then he answered.

"Captain Luis Herrera," he said. "Philippine Air Force."

His voice was steady, even with the pain sitting under it.

Ryan shifted slightly at the side, taking note of it.

Adrian gave a small nod.

"Good. Now we’re getting somewhere."

He took another step closer, stopping just beside the bed.

"Captain Herrera," he continued, "you engaged this base without visual confirmation of hostile activity. That tells me something’s off on your end."

Herrera’s eyes narrowed slightly.

"You’re running a Patriot battery inside a Philippine installation," he replied. "That alone is hostile."

Adrian didn’t argue the point.

Instead, he asked again.

"Where did you take off from?"

"I’m not obligated to answer that," he said and added. "Under the rules of engagement and standard military protocol, I am not required to disclose operational details, including point of origin, active units, or base of operations—especially to an unidentified armed group occupying a military installation."

Ryan let out a small breath through his nose, shifting his weight.

"Still holding the line," he muttered.

Adrian didn’t react.

He just watched Herrera.

"You fired on us," Adrian said. "That changes things."

Herrera didn’t blink.

"No," he replied. "It doesn’t. From my perspective, you’re still an unidentified hostile force. My obligation doesn’t change just because I’m injured or captured."

Ryan stepped a little closer, voice low.

"You’re in our base now."

Herrera’s gaze flicked to him.

"And you’re in ours," he shot back.

That landed.

"No," Adrian said. "We’re in a base that would’ve been overrun if we weren’t here. Actually, it was overrun when we took over this base. So what exactly is your mission here sir?"

Herrera didn’t answer.

Not even a glance away. He just held the stare, letting the question hang in the air without acknowledging it.

Ryan shifted slightly beside Adrian.

"Selective," he muttered under his breath.

Adrian didn’t push it.

He studied Herrera for a second longer, then changed direction without warning.

"Alright," he said. "Let’s talk about something else."

A beat.

Herrera’s eyes narrowed slightly, but he stayed silent.

Adrian continued.

"State of the country," he said. "What’s happening out there?"

This time, Herrera answered.

"Compromised," he said.

Adrian didn’t interrupt.

Herrera went on.

"Luzon—compromised. Major population centers lost control within the first days."

Ryan’s expression shifted slightly.

"Visayas?" he asked.

Herrera glanced at him.

"Same," he said. "Fragmented resistance. Islands make it harder to spread fast, but once it hits, it’s the same outcome. Units cut off. Limited coordination."

Adrian kept his focus on him.

"And Mindanao?"

Herrera exhaled once.

"Compromised," he repeated. "Some units are still operational. But no unified command structure. Everyone’s fighting their own battle."

Adrian absorbed it, then asked the next question.

"The president."

Herrera’s jaw tightened slightly.

"Last confirmed status?" Adrian added.

Herrera looked at him directly.

"Evacuated," he said. "Early stage of the outbreak. Extraction was prioritized."

"So they abandoned the country huh? And the president has lost control of the military as you have said earlier, the main islands are compromised. Now, this is something."