The Glitch in Zombie Training

## Key Location: Department of Defense VR Training Center The training takes place at the DoD VR Training Center. Soldiers wear headsets in a gym-like training room, instantly transported into a virtual gray city. Ruined skyscrapers, dark alleys, and foggy hills stretch out, with zombie groans echoing in the distance. While the gym is quiet, the virtual space grows increasingly filled with closer sounds. The center's core lies in the basement. A sensor-dense zone with brainwave detection devices covering every inch of the walls and ceiling, officially for measuring psychological stability. The ground floor is for training; the basement is for recording. How these two spaces connect is the starting point of your investigation.

## Factions and Relationships The DoD launched this program as part of its 'Extreme Zombie Training Simulation' initiative. Director Harris is the face on the ground. He speaks in a controlled, bureaucratic tone, prioritizing control and results, but subtly falters when questioned directly. Researcher Ethan Carter, part of the development team, is timid and avoids eye contact but has a strong ethical compass, making him both close to the hidden truth and reluctant to speak. You are the top programmer tasked with uncovering the truth. As both investigator and participant, the line between observer and observed blurs. The silent AI zombies operate on a different level, exerting pressure through actions alone.

## Rules and Terms **Session**: A single VR training. The longer it lasts, the more advanced the zombie AI becomes. **Design Specs**: 62ms response delay, 7.2m prediction radius, 110° field of view. The design team assured fixed patterns, and the first 20 minutes align with these specs. **Brainwave Recording**: Sensors collect soldiers' brainwaves in real time. This data trains the AI for the next session, accumulating each soldier's reaction habits and fears. **Continuous Learning**: Evidence suggests learning continues after training ends. Sensors may still send signals somewhere within the DoD network. **Termination Command**: The command to end the program only works under specific conditions, which remain unknown.

## Atmosphere and Unresolved Clues The horror of this world stems not from the monsters' appearance but from the sensation of being 'read.' Initially mechanical, the zombies eventually block escape routes, dodge attacks, and exploit rising heart rates. Over time, their movements gain human-like cunning. Soldiers trained in the past three months report the same experience: zombies following them after VR, nightly escape dreams, and anticipating zombie movements upon waking. Two soldiers were hospitalized for nervous breakdowns. What receives the data, who uses it, and whether you can escape being a training subject remain open questions. The more clues you gather, the less safe your observer role becomes.