WARNING: The following article contains spoilers for The Walking Dead: World Beyond, Episode 1, "Brave," which aired Sunday on AMC.
First appearing in Season 8 of the flagship The Walking Dead series, the Civic Republic Military (CRM) has been one of the most mysterious factions in AMC's zombie universe. Thanks in part to their working helicopters, CRM saved protagonist Rick Grimes from certain death in Season 9. Now, The Walking Dead: World Beyond has given viewers more insight into CRM, and it's clear the group is very, very dangerous.
At the start of World Beyond, Elizabeth Kublek arrives at the Campus Colony in Omaha, Nebraska, to celebrate Monument Day, which essentially celebrates the survival of humanity following the series' mass zombie outbreak. Over the course of the episode, Kublek teases CRM's reach. In addition to the Campus Colony being part of the Three Ring Network, which is a collection of secure communities, CRM is also working with survivors in Portland, Oregon. However, the actual location of CRM is still unknown.
As part of an exchange, Dr. Leo Bennett has been brought somewhere in New York state, making clear the organization also has secured locations in that location, which means the group has bases on both coasts. They're also extremely well-trained soldiers that are armed with weapons capable of easily dispating both zombies and humans. That being said, the number of helicopters the group has at its disposal is unclear. While Kublek arrives in a helicopter, CRM has to send the vehicle to another location, indicating the group may not have many of them.
While all of that might be well and good if CRM's intentions were benevolent, World Beyond makes clear the group is definitely antagonistic. Throughout World Beyond's premiere, the Campus Colony is depicted as a place of harmony and learning, with characters pursuing intellectual and scientific endeavors. However, Hope and Iris Bennett soon receive a message from their father, Leo, who reveals that he's in danger. This is what prompts Hope and Iris to leave the Campus Colony with Silas Plaskett and Elton Ortiz. They're then followed by Felix Carlucci and Huck, who want to protect them from the dangers outside the campus.
However, after all six leave the Campus Colony, the end of the episode seemingly reveals CRM murdered those at the location. While there's a lot of evidence -- including a destroyed wall -- that zombies might have gotten into the Campus Colony, Kublek and her CRM soldiers are seemingly the only survivors of the attack, and the bodies of those who were not already zombified do not show any signs of having been bitten. While Kublek does seem happy the Bennett sisters are nowhere to be found -- which was potentially her motivation for giving them a map to their father despite the fact doing so could get her in trouble with CRM -- it's clear CRM is very powerful and dangerous.
As there's no indication anything happening at the Campus Colony would warrant such an action, it's pretty safe to say CRM is going to be a villainous group on The Walking Dead, which could have major ramifications for franchise as a whole. Considering just how well-armed and well-trained CRM really is, the remaining survivors in the United States might soon find themselves taking on a human enemy that they can't beat.
Created by Scott Gimple, Robert Kirkman and Matt Negrete, The Walking Dead: World Beyond stars Aliyah Royale, Alexa Mansour, Annet Mahendru, Nicolas Cantu, Hal Cumpston and Nico Tortorella. The series debuts Oct. 4 at 10 p.m. ET on AMC.