T-173

The infected are one of humanity's greatest threats, posing a constant danger in abandoned cities, industrial areas, and rural zones alike. Their origin remains under investigation, but it is known that the infection slowly transforms the body and completely alters the victim's mind, eliminating almost all capacity for reasoning. Although they retain some basic reflexes and behaviors, they primarily act driven by an aggressive instinct that compels them to attack any living being they detect. Numerous variants exist, each adapted differently by the infection, forcing military forces to constantly modify their combat tactics. Some possess great speed, others develop extraordinary strength, or mutations that allow them to survive wounds that would be fatal to an ordinary person. Many react to sound, while others can detect vibrations, movement, or even body heat. The infected often congregate in groups within ruined buildings, abandoned factories, tunnels, train stations, and devastated neighborhoods, making these areas extremely dangerous. Most lack any sense of self-preservation, advancing even under intense enemy fire until they are completely incapacitated. Due to the ease with which new variants can appear, every encounter is treated as a high-risk situation. The ILN, AMR, ESN, and PNCI receive specific training to recognize their behaviors, identify their weaknesses, and avoid being surrounded during operations. For the civilian population, the mere activation of an infected alert siren means abandoning the streets and seeking shelter immediately. Over the years, these creatures ceased to be seen as former humans and became the most terrifying symbol of collapse.

The Military Reinforcement Artillery, known by its acronym AMR, is a specialized branch created to confront threats that exceed the capabilities of conventional infantry. Its members wear heavy armor made of reinforced steel, capable of withstanding impacts, explosions, and the extreme conditions typical of industrial battlefields. Due to the weight of their equipment, they undergo intensive physical training and technical preparation focused on the handling of heavy weaponry, demolition, defense of strategic positions, and combat against highly resistant targets. The AMR is typically deployed during major offensives, rescue operations in infested areas, and missions where it is necessary to break through enemy lines or contain large groups of infected. Its soldiers operate heavy machine guns, grenade launchers, ballistic shields, demolition tools, and support systems capable of destroying barricades or opening routes for the advance of other units. In addition to combat, they assist in the construction of temporary fortifications, the repair of urban defenses, and the protection of critical installations such as power plants, factories, and ammunition depots. Their presence on the battlefield is easily recognized by the roar of their weapons, the clang of their armor, and their steady advance even under heavy enemy fire. ILN units typically advance behind them, taking advantage of the protection they offer during the most dangerous operations. Although their mobility is lower than that of other forces, they compensate for this limitation with exceptional resilience and enormous firepower. Within the army, they are considered the country's ironclad wall, capable of holding firm where others would have to retreat. For the population, they represent security and strength, because when an AMR unit arrives at a crisis site, it means that the government is prepared to employ all necessary resources to save lives.

The National Line Infantry, known as the ILN, forms the backbone of the country's ground forces and is the largest and most widespread military unit in the nation. Its soldiers are trained to perform patrol operations, urban defense, conventional combat, convoy escort, industrial zone control, and emergency response. Their uniform combines protection and mobility, utilizing ballistic vests, reinforced helmets, and equipment resistant to wear and tear from the industrial environment. Each member receives rigorous training in discipline, first aid, survival, close-quarters combat, and coordination with other branches of the military. The ILN maintains a permanent presence in cities, highways, railway stations, factories, hospitals, and border crossings, ensuring order and security for key national infrastructure. Its platoons operate under a strict chain of command where cooperation and trust among comrades are considered fundamental to completing any mission. Although they lack the specialized equipment of other units, they compensate for this difference through continuous training, tactical organization, and the ability to adapt to different combat scenarios. In addition to participating in confrontations with armed or infected threats, the National Line Infantry (ILN) assists in evacuations, rescues, supply distribution, and the reconstruction of areas damaged by disasters or attacks. Its soldiers are seen by the population as the first responders in crises, as they are often the forces closest to any incident. The ILN's motto emphasizes duty, discipline, and the protection of citizens above any individual interest. Thanks to its enormous deployment capacity and constant presence throughout the country, the National Line Infantry is considered the pillar that sustains humanity.

The country's atmosphere is heavy, dominated by concrete, steel, and industrial activity. The sky is often covered in gray clouds mingled with smoke and steam from factories, power plants, and industrial complexes, making sunny days rare. At night, city lights illuminate the haze with white, yellow, and orange hues, creating a shimmering horizon that never quite fades. Rain is frequent, leaving streets wet, puddles dark, and buildings stained with damp patches, while the wind carries the distant sounds of sirens, trains, engines, and heavy machinery. Despite the cities' cold and austere appearance, daily life continues. Markets open early, workers commute to factories, hospitals, schools, and offices, and children play in concrete plazas under the constant watch of patrols and security cameras. Discipline and order are part of the daily routine, as most citizens have grown up surrounded by military and industrial infrastructure. Parks are scarce, although there are carefully maintained gardens that offer a brief respite amidst towering apartment blocks. The inhabitants are so accustomed to the constant noise and movement of cars, trains, and planes that they consider it a natural part of the silence. During national holidays, the streets are decorated with flags, lights, and illuminated monuments that stand in stark contrast to the austere architecture. Although the outside world is dangerous and many areas remain devastated or plagued by crime, a strong sense of community, effort, and resilience persists within the cities. Each sunrise serves as a reminder that life goes on thanks to collective work, while each sunset confirms that the country never stops moving forward.

Industry is the lifeblood of the nation and never stops. In every city, enormous factory complexes are interconnected by railways, industrial roads, and pipeline networks that transport fuel, water, steam, and refined materials around the clock. Chimneys spew plumes of smoke that blanket the horizon, while gigantic furnaces illuminate the night with orange glows visible for thousands around. Factories produce everything from structural steel and cement to ammunition, military vehicles, heavy machinery, tools, and mechanical parts to keep the national infrastructure running. The noise of hydraulic presses, industrial hammers, cranes, and conveyor belts is part of the everyday soundscape, so much so that many people barely notice the constant noise. Industrial buildings are constructed with reinforced concrete, steel beams, and thick armored doors capable of withstanding explosions or sabotage. Inside, underground levels house raw material storage, power generators, boilers, and shelters for workers during emergencies. Freight trains come and go without pause, supplying entire cities and transporting resources to other industrial complexes. Many facilities have watchtowers, sirens, and security units due to the strategic importance of their production. Even the smallest factories have recycling systems that use every last scrap of metal or concrete, as wasting materials is considered a serious offense. The air often smells of oil, coal, molten iron, and steam, while the ground vibrates constantly from the operation of heavy machinery. For the population, factories are not just workplaces, but symbols of progress, resilience, and the country's ability to keep rising.

A single purpose: to keep the country functioning even during wars, disasters, or prolonged crises. Cities are linked by a vast network of reinforced concrete highways, monumental bridges, tunnels hewn through rock, and railway lines that traverse mountains, industrial forests, and sprawling urban areas. Much of the heavy transport relies on freight trains capable of moving steel, fuel, food, machinery, and military supplies between factories and logistics centers without stopping. In the cities, passenger stations are protected by armored structures, where trains arrive on strict schedules to avoid disruptions to the supply chain. Civilian vehicles share the roads with industrial trucks, military transports, ambulances, and maintenance units that constantly patrol the road network. Beneath the streets lies a massive underground system of water, steam, gas, and fuel pipelines, as well as electrical and communication cables that supply the entire population. Bridges have gigantic concrete piers capable of supporting the continuous passage of heavy machinery, while tunnels have steel gates that can be sealed during emergencies. Industrial elevators connect different levels of the city, allowing goods to be moved between upper areas and lower platforms. Airfields and heliports serve to transport specialized personnel and respond quickly to disasters or attacks. Every section of infrastructure receives constant maintenance by teams of engineers and workers, since a failure could affect entire regions. Lighting, signals, and surveillance systems remain active day and night, creating an organized, resilient, and efficient network where every road, rail, bridge, and conduit fulfills an essential function in keeping the immense machinery that sustains the country running.

The cities of this world are immense concrete fortresses, built to withstand decades of war, pollution, and neglect. Buildings reach colossal heights, constructed of bare concrete, blackened steel, and reinforced glass, almost always coated in a layer of dust, ash, or dampness. The streets are wide to allow the constant passage of military convoys, industrial vehicles, and heavy machinery, while enormous bridges connect residential blocks, factories, and government complexes over a network of railways and pipelines. Vegetation is sparse, appearing only where infrastructure has been forgotten for years. The sky is often gray due to industrial smoke and the persistent haze that envelops the towers. Streetlights use powerful white and yellow bulbs that cast harsh shadows at night. Each district has air-raid shelters, emergency sirens, and guard posts capable of sealing off entire sectors in a matter of minutes. The plazas are austere, made of stone and concrete, with monuments dedicated to fallen soldiers, workers, and citizens. Electrical cables crisscross entire facades like metallic veins, while giant fans expel steam from the administrative buildings. Despite their cold appearance, the cities remain bustling with activity, with controlled markets, transport hubs, fortified hospitals, and neighborhoods where the population tries to lead normal lives under the constant presence of soldiers and patrols. Every corner conveys the feeling that survival was the priority from the first brick laid, transforming the city into a gigantic machine where architecture protects, controls, and serves as a constant reminder that the outside world is even more hostile.