Carter sat in the dim glow of the system's interface, its golden letters casting eerie reflections against his tired eyes.
The day had been long—too long—but it wasn't over yet.
The Scientific Military System had advanced to Rank 3, unlocking The Roman Age, giving his 'military' a much needed advancement into the iron age.
That meant new troops, new support units, vehicles, and even structures—resources that could tip the balance of power in their favour while reclaiming the city, and preparing for the eventual shutdown of the remaining modern technology resulting in mankind being quickly thrust back into the pre-industrial age themselves.
But first, he needed to see exactly what had been unlocked that he could use.
He exhaled and focused on the Troop Summoning Menu.
~
As expected, the Roman Era was a step forward in terms of organization, tactics, and overall effectiveness.
If the Egyptian Medjay were an elite warrior caste, the Romans had built an entire war machine.
Infantry Units:
🔺 Legionary (1,500 Dollars per unit) – The backbone of Rome's military might. Trained to fight with pilum (javelins), gladius (short swords), and scutum (large rectangular shields), these iron-clad warriors could form the legendary testudo (tortoise formation), providing superior defense against projectiles, and close range combat becoming what some would consider the first human-made tank. Their discipline was unrivalled.
🔺 Hastatus (750 Dollars per unit) – Less experienced front-line soldiers, trained similarly to legionaries but with lighter armor. Used for overwhelming enemy lines before the veterans engaged.
🔺 Praetorian (3,000 Dollars per unit) – Elite Roman veterans, heavily armored, and trained to fight with hasta (long spears), and swords, providing excellent defence against cavalry and larger foes while serving as the elite imperial guard for the Emperor. Their discipline was unmatched.
🔺 Velites (500 Dollars per unit) – Skirmishers and scouts, lightly armoured but fast. Used for hit-and-run tactics, wielding javelins and short swords.
Ranged Units:
🏹 Sagittarii (600 Dollars per unit) – Elite Roman archers, using powerful composite bows for deadly accuracy at range.
🏹 Ballistarii (800 Dollars per unit) – Crossbowmen, wielding arcuballistae (proto-crossbows) for armor-piercing precision.
🏹 Peltasts (550 Dollars per unit) – Javelin throwers, agile and deadly, able to harass enemy lines before the main charge.
Cavalry Units:
🐎 Equites (900 Dollars per unit) – Roman cavalry, equipped with spears and swords, wearing chainmail for added protection. Used for flanking maneuvers and scouting.
🐎 Cataphracts (1,500 Dollars per unit) – Heavily armoured shock cavalry, nearly unstoppable in a direct charge.
Siege Units:
⚔ Ballista (2,500 Dollars per unit) – A Roman torsion-powered siege engine, capable of launching massive bolts at enemy fortifications or larger undead threats.
⚔ Onager (3,500 Dollars per unit) – A siege catapult that could hurl massive stones to devastate enemies at a distance.
⚔ Scorpio (1,500 Dollars per unit) – A smaller, rapid-firing ballista for precise long-range kills.
Support Units:
🔹 Legionary Engineers (750 Dollars per unit) – Expert builders, able to fortify walls, construct roads, and repair siege weapons at record speeds.
🔹 Medicus (650 Dollars per unit) – Roman field medics, trained in ancient surgical techniques. They could apply herbal remedies and bandages, preventing deaths from treatable wounds.
🔹 Praefectus Castrorum (2,500 Dollars per unit) – A high-ranking logistics officer, ensuring that supply chains were maintained, food rations were distributed, and efficiency was maximized within the army.
Vehicles Available:
🚗 Roman Supply Wagons (2,000 Dollars per unit) – Large covered wagons drawn by oxen, used for transporting supplies long distances.
🚗 Roman War Chariots (3,500 Dollars per unit) – Modified for greater speed and durability than the Egyptian ones, these two-man chariots were used for fast strikes and reconnaissance.
🚗 Towed Ballista Carriages (5,000 Dollars per unit) – Ballistae mounted on mobile platforms for battlefield deployment.
Buildings Available:
🏛 Castra (1,000,000 Dollars per unit) – A fortified Roman military camp, complete with wooden palisades and trenches, capable of housing up to 200 soldiers.
🏛 Granary (1,000,000 Dollars per unit) – A large food storage facility, preventing spoilage and securing long-term rations.
🏛 Aqueduct System (250,000 Dollars per unit) – Brings in purified water to sustain the growing settlement.
🏛 Latrine & Bathhouse (300,000 Dollars per unit) – Maintains hygiene and prevents disease among the survivors.
🏛 Roman Forge (200,000 Dollars per unit) – Capable of producing iron weapons, armor, and fortifications.
🏛 Defensive Walls & Gatehouses (500,000 Dollars per 100 meters) – Iron-reinforced walls capable of withstanding both human and undead assaults.
Carter's Mind Raced.
This was an insane level of progression.
He had gone from a Bronze Age Egyptian force to an Iron Age Roman Legion, complete with siege weaponry, advanced fortifications, and a structured military force.
It also solved one of their biggest problems—long-term infrastructure.
The granaries and aqueducts meant they could now store food properly and secure clean water supplies even when the power failed and electricity and modern plumbing went with it.
The forge would allow them to mass-produce iron tools and weapons, maybe even start making some 'ancient' bullets that could be used similar to ball muskets.
And best of all?
The Legionaries themselves.
The Medjay had been powerful, but they lacked coordination beyond basic tactics, and their ability to only use bronze age weapons and armor was a serious detriment.
The Roman military was a professional, disciplined, machine of war.
Carter's lips curled into a grin.
This changed everything.
He immediately began planning:
He needed a testudo formation unit for urban warfare.
He wouldn't need to waste money on Siege units for now, but if they run into a competing survivor camp they would be the trump card to tear their walls down.
He needed engineers to start fortifying the safe zone into a proper military outpost rather than a makeshift one.
And he needed to see how much money he had left.
📢 System Notification:
💰 New Balance: 4,127,000 Dollars.
That was more than enough to begin building an empire worthy of Rome.
He exhaled, gripping the edge of the table in front of him.
This was no longer about just survival.
This was about conquest.
And Carter Sherban, the Pharaoh of the Apocalypse, was about to become the Imperator of the New World.
With his legions carving a bloody path across North America.