Author's Note: I do not own High School of the Dead, any of the characters or other copyrighted material. As always, any similarities between my characters and any persons living, dead...or otherwise...is purely coincidental
Her Royal Majesty's Legation, Tokyo Japan, Z-Day 0800hrs.
"Gentlemen, have a seat."
The man speaking wore the temperate DPM of Her Royal Majesty's armed forces. The green 'Commando' tab and corresponding up-thrust dagger on his shoulder marked him as one of HRM Royal Marines.
"As I hope you are aware," he continued, "we are seriously buggered."
"It can't be bad as all that, Staff Sergeant," a similarly garbed and tabbed man spoke up from the audience. "One or two tossers running about biting others can't be cause for lock-down."
The Staff Sergeant ceased pacing and stared for a moment at the Marine who had just spoken.
"I assume, Lance Corporal Johnson that you have not bothered to take a look about since you woke up?"
"Er, no Staff Sergeant." Johnson looked to the deck.
"Right, because if you had, you would have seen that the situation is worse than 'one or two tossers'…much, much worse."
"How much worse," another Marine spoke up.
"Gents, I am not going to lie to you," The SSgt replied at length. "We have about a snowball's chance in Hell unless we think fast, stay calm and act as a unit."
At this moment, the embassy's PA crackled to life.
"Leftenant Symons and SSgt Blake are to report to the Consul's main office. Consul's Main Office, Lt. Symons and SSgt Blake.
"Right, mates, behave yourselves." Blake said at the conclusion of the announcement. "Johnson, you should pop round to the front gates and see for yourself what the bloody fuck is going on."
Blake entered the Consul's office and snapped to attention.
"Staff Sergeant RJF Blake, HM Royal Marines, reporting as ordered, sah!"
His crisp salute was immediately returned by the two officers standing to the left of the Consul's desk.
Major, Sir Raymond C. Giles, MBE, DSM had served The Crown honorably and nobly for the better part of forty years. His long and distinguished service earned him accolades, a Knighthood and the title "Member of the Order of the British Empire". He served in the Falklands campaign, both Gulf Wars and recently in Afghanistan teaching newly minted Royal Marines and Commandos the ropes. As reward for his outstanding contributions to Queen and Country, he had been awarded the Legation in Tokyo as a final posting before retirement. Sir Raymond had hoped this final posting would be a calm and quiet one. When he woke that morning and looked out his window, he realized he was in a fight for his very life.
First Lieutenant James Symons was in every way the spitting image of Sir Raymond's early career. Young, highly intelligent and ambitious, the lieutenant had eagerly looked forward to this posting after serving as Sir Raymond's personal adjutant and XO in Afghanistan. It was by Sir Raymond's express wish that Lt. Symons was able to come to Tokyo and begin, in Symons's mind, a plum assignment. When the Major pointed out the situation earlier that morning, Symons' hopes for a plush job went out the window.
"Blake," the Major addressed the SSgt before him. "I want you and Leftenant Symons to work out three evac plans for the Legation staff. The HMS Ark Royal is on station two days steam out and is willing to take the embassy staff aboard, but they are a day and a half out of helo range."
Blake nodded in understanding, before asking, "We not staying here then, sir?"
"I doubt the compound could hold out six hours in a continuous onslaught," the Major replied. "We have supplies enough, but the fortifications are not sufficient to withstand a continued barrage from 'them'."
"May I inquire, 'Them', sir?"
"A petty contrivance to ease the mind of the civilian staff here," The Consul spoke. "The last thing we need is panic within the compound."
"Understood, sir."
"I need those evac plans in my hands within three hours, Staff Sergeant," the Major resumed. "You have my complete backing in anything you may require."
"Anything else, sir?"
"Make your men understand the gravity of the situation, Blake," the Major spoke gravely. "I want to make absolutely certain they labor under no illusions whatsoever. This is not Afghanistan, or Iraq and those are not humans out there. That is Hell on earth and 'they' will not hesitate, will not stop and will never surrender."
"If or when the compound is overrun, sir?"
"That is what you need to plan for, Staff Sergeant," Lt Symons spoke finally. "Your plans should include contingencies should we have to abandon the embassy. We must do everything we can to prevent an overrun, but we need to have a plan B, C and D"
"What other resources do we have in the area, if I may ask, sir?"
"The ballistic missile submarine HMS Inscrutable is lurking off the coast of North Korea, last I heard," the Major replied. "Beyond that, I could not say. We are in constant satellite communication with our American cousins on Okinawa, but they are obviously having their own difficulties. No, I am afraid we are pretty much on our own until the Ark Royal is within assistance range."
"Understood sir," Blake replied. "Will there be anything else, sir?"
"You have your orders, Blake."
Blake snapped to attention and saluted once more before being dismissed.
A/N: I am trying to be as accurate as possible, but as an American civilian, I obviously have no access to the inner workings of British Royal Marines. Still, I hope this turns out for the best. M Zh
