Zombie Fallout: Rule Britannia
Derek Baker, U.S MARINE AND S.F Operator, Gunny Baker to his squad mates and military associates, to a select few who were closer than most Master Guns; sat staring out the window of the British Airways long haul flight as it soared over the Atlantic toward the British isles.
He rested his Chin on his hand as he sat and stared out the porthole sized window, he hadn't slept the entire flight as he watched the Irish coast disappear under the planes wing.
Handing in his notice to his commanding officer at Pendelton had been a heart wrenching ordeal, but something he knew he had to do, in his life he had let to much slip away because of his Career, as he sat there staring he smiled the thoughts of her running through his head, overriding everything else.
Landing at Gatwick he made his way through security, to the luggage claim and found himself standing on the forecourt waiting to be picked up, before he really registered fully what he was doing.
Flipping open his outdated mobile he tried to call her but all he got was a monotone beep and nothing more, cursing himself he he walked to the payphones outside of the terminal building and dropped in three of his remaining nine hundred pounds he had changed up inside the terminal, and punched I her number from memory, he listened as the phone rang and rang a deep foreboding welled up inside him, only to be viciously stomped and crushed back down to where it belonged.
Finally after what seemed like a lifetime he heard her pick up.
"Hello, this is Janet Williams whose this', he sat there silent for a few seconds his mind whirling, "Uh, hi Janet it's uh me, Derek"
His Smile grew into a grin as he imagined her lying in bed the phone pressed to her ear.
Janet' eyes widened in surprise, "Derek hi, how are you, what made you decide to call and beside what time is it, its got to be at least three A.M there"
Derek glanced at his watch, "No its a little after nine am babe, I'm good, tired but good"
Janet's eyes Narrowed in suspicion, "where are you Derek"
"Gatwick" he said simply, suppressing the smile as he spoke, he dragged the phone away from his head as a wave of Girlish squeals and exclamations assaulted his ear.
"give me two hours and I'll be there, don't move,no wait go to the Irish Pub on the far side of the passenger waiting area and wait for me there"
in another burst of squealing and giggles of happiness she hung up leaving a confused but Grinning Derek stood there with the now dead phone receiver in his hand.
Latching the receiver back on the cradle he picked up his old Drum bag and walked back into the terminal building towards the pub.
Janet pulled up outside the terminal, hopped out of her Ford KA and practically floated through the terminal to where Derek waited, she walked into the bar area and as quietly as she could made her way up behind him.
Just as her arms came level to his neck he spun on the stool and dragged her into his arms, as he pulled her into a overtly passionate kiss, Janet all but forced her way out of his grasp a shy grin on her face, "what happened Marine miss me, I thought big tough Marines like you didn't miss any one, Except the target any way"
Derek grinned at her clasping her round the hips and pulling her close to him again, "Your a cheeky bitch ya know that Janet, one of the things I like about you, any ways I ain't a Marine no more" a glimmer of sadness echoed behind his eyes as he said that, "only way they would let me over here, it was you or the Corps guess which I chose"
Janet shook her head, "Idiot, all you had to do was ask and I would have transferred to you, why did you give up all that for me"
Derek's face split into a childish grin as he stared down at the woman resting against his chest, "why else, I am a hopeless romantic, and well I..."
he trailed off, not knowing whether or not to go through with what he was about to say.
Janet looked up at him curiously, "what" she questioned as she ran her hand down his cheek and across his chin, latching hold of it bringing his face to the same level as hers, "what is it"
"I well, I guess I"
he never got a chance to finish his sentence as the whole airport erupted into terror filled screams of pain.
As Derek stared down at her Janet was Ripped from his grasp and he was barrelled over sideways, a slathering blood drenched maw snapping at his face, driving his fist up into its wind pipe Derek was awarded a satisfying crunch as the cartilage collapsed under the impact, but this did little to stop the thing above him as it tried to chew off his face.
Snapping both hands up, Derek grasped either side of its head and with a vicious twist snapped its neck and threw the body aside, as he clambered to his feet he looked down at the corpse on the floor, piece's of flesh were torn away hanging in limp flapping lumps from its body, moving up he attempted to ascertain an id of the person only to snatch his hand away as the mouth opened with a gnashing of blood stained teeth, as it tried to bite through his outstretched hand.
"What the fuck", all thoughts of curiosity were driven from his mind as he heard her wailing screams of anguish, leaping to his feet Derek threw himself bodily through the air slamming into the thing pinning Janet to the floor.
Landing in a tangle of limbs, grabbing the thing by the head he twisted and yanked almost ripping the things head off in his haste to get back to the woman he loved.
Derek stumbled towards Janet unmoving form, fear and terror coursed through him in equal measure as he dropped to his knees and lifted her into his arms, "Janet, baby your ok, your going to be ok, dammit girl what the fucks going on; please be ok you got to" he smoothed out her tangled hair and brushed the stray locks from her face as he cradled her against him.
He sat there for several minuets rocking back and forth holding her in his arms, when she finally stirred, joy coursed through his body as she moved, her head lifted as she raised her hand and grasped the back of his neck, "God am I glad your ok" was all he managed to choke out before her lips made contact with his neck and her teeth clamped down, tearing her head away Derek watched in numb shock as he saw her chew and swallow, his blood running down her chin, "Why Janet, why" was all he had time to think before he finally faded to nothing.
Derek jerked awake gasping for air, the sheets around him soaked in sweat, dragging his hands over his face he tried to force the images in his head away, as tears of terror rolled down his face, Janet sat up disturbed by the sudden movement of her husband, "Derek, darling what's wrong, was it the nightmares again", he mutely nodded to her as he felt her soft warming arms slide round his waist as she leant against him shushing him softly.
"Baby it's only a dream, nothing is going to happen to us, you and your boy's make sure of that, you know better than any one its not going to happen"
Derek leant back against her gently "I know, I know but I cant help thinking something is going to happen and soon, look what happened to the states after I left, It's a freaking war zone over there, I just hope and pray Mike and the rest of those crazy bastard Talbots are ok, I have tried to get in touch with them, get them to come here where its safe but nothing, Crazy bastard is probably off fighting the whole thing single handed"
Derek glanced back at her and smiled.
"Did I ever tell you how I met him", Janet nodded in affirmation of his question, "yes baby you did" she looked at him warmly, in the way only a wife can, lovingly telling him to shut up and go back to sleep.
she rolled away from his sliding the sheets back over her as Derek lay back down, "Ok" sighing he tried to drift back off to sleep once more, "Night darling" he said as waves of tiredness crashed down on him once more, snaking his hand across the bed he intertwined his fingers through Janet's, as he finally sank into a deep dreamless sleep.
They woke at roughly the same time, Janet walked through to the kitchen her Silk robe tied at her waist, leaving very little to the imagination, She watched the coffee brew as Derek busied himself in the shower.
Derek strolled into the kitchen drying his head as she began to pour the coffee, taking the cup she held out he sat down, and unfolded the Daily Telegraph that she put infront of him, "you on shift tonight"he asked as she sat down opposite him, Janet nodded in reply as she buttered a slice of toast, "yeah don't know when I finish, could be a long one, what about you"
He looked up at her, and grinned, "got a bus load of new meat coming in, so should be fun ill be gone for a while training the poor fuckers"
she sighed at that, he enjoyed his job and that was good but some time's she thought that he loved the work more than her, she munched on the toast as they slipped into a comfortable silence, Breaking the silence she asked "Babe how did you get into the unit any ways"
Derek folded the paper with a sigh, "well honestly I don't know the option just came up one day and the C.O Put me through it simple as really, I mean its not like he's going to have many former U.S Marines in there is he, its only me and I think one or two others"
She shrugged in reply "I guess not" Janet stood and walked past him kissing his forehead as she went, "Love you to huni" was all he said as she moved off into their bedroom, with a deep drawn out sigh he stood and made his way into the only room in their house that was solely his to get prepared.
Standing infront of the Eighteen perspective recruits, they stood there, plain clothed and relaxed none showed a trace of trepidation, he laughed, "OK you sorry mother fuckers, who of you thinks you have what it takes to join this unit"
He was answered by a collective call from all Eighteen men "WE DO STAFF SERGEANT"
"WELL I JUST DONT SEE IT, ALL I SEE IF A BUNCH OF PISS ASS NANCY BOYS WHO THINK THEY CAN PLAY SOLDIER, MY JOB IS TO DECIDE WHICH OF YOU LITTLE SHITS GET TO GO THROUGH AND PLAY WITH THE BIG BOYS"
Derek glanced down at the clip board he had in his hand, "right ok" he mumbled to himself as he glanced back up at the men who stood to attention in their ranks of nine, "I want, Clarkson, Sheperd, Woodwrow, Williams, Brooks and Kerr, You six here now"
As the men filed out he screamed at them "FUCKING MOVE IT, I HAVE NOT GOT ALL DAY TO FUCK ABOUT WITH TWATS LIKE YOU"
"Right you six go with Corporal Belinson and get fitted out for the drop test, I want to see how well,you Para boys think you can fly"
The six men were lead away to the hanger's on the far side of the square, as Derek Turned back to face the remaining Sixteen, he grinned viciously at them, causing more than one to gulp slightly, "you lot are mine, I want two teams of six, we are going to run a simple test, the first six are with me, the second six are to go with Sergeant Tufo here, then once you are all ready we shall reconvene back here and then the fun begins" the two ranks filled off in opposite directions as they moved off following their respective commanders.
Baker lead the men to a Q.M stores who issued out the kit they needed for what was to come, one of the recruits Sharp recognised it immediately and groaned, "What's the matter Sharp I thought you SAS boys were supposed to be tough bastards"
"Not that staff, I just know what this kit does to ya, your a mean fuck ya know that", the Scotsman replied, Baker laughed, "well I suppose that whys I am on this side and your not, now shut ya yap and get prepared" the SAS trooper walked off to get himself ready,Leaving a grinning Baker in his wake.
"Ok LADIES ON THE DOUBLE MOVE IT" the six men followed Baker as he sprinted away towards the drill square, Sharps eyes widened in surprise "FUCK HE'S FAST"
Sharp and the other five men Sprinted flat out to catch up with him as they neared the drill square they heard Baker begin to laugh, standing there fully kitted out was the remaining six recruits and Sergeant Tufo, he grinned at Baker as the others formed up, "Ok boys and girls, we are going to enter what is known as the Dead box, during the initial formation of the BZTF ,the brass deemed it necessary to take in and study several Zed's, now the two buildings behind you house them.
Remember although they have had their teeth removed and fingers bound up in kevlar coated webbing remember they are very real and the threat is also, your kit is decked out with a series of sensors that register a certain type of contact, if the Zed touches you the suite registers it and shocks you accordingly, you will be issued with a pepper balls gun that contains a highly concentrated cerebral paralyser, and knocks a zombie out cold.
Now I will not tell you the where about's or number of the enemy; they are left to roam the buildings freely, so all that remains for me to say is GET IN THERE AND KICK SOME ASS."
The men filed into the building one at a time, moving to where another soldier distributed the weapons and ammunition, as they moved on another Instructor rattled off a set of instructions, "Form into teams of two and move through you designated zone, remember, limb and body shots are ineffective; only head shots will put down the infected.
Move quickly and quietly towards you objective markers, fail to reach your markers by the time allotted and your team will be considered eliminated and washed from the programme, are we clear?"
Outside Baker and Tufo stood side by side, Tufo turned and looked at Baker eyebrow raised "so with this lot what do you reckon" Baker shrugged "I think fools money would be placed on the S.A.S and S.B.S boy's washing out, the PARAS" he simply shrugged "Hedge the field with them, only odd birds in the mix are the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment and the Irish Guards guys who could go either way, I think the Commandos though, I would put them in the same boat as the SAS and SBS fellas" turning to Tufo he grinned "what about you, what do you think", Tufo shrugged non committally "I think I need a beer, you coming", Baker looked at his Watch, "Fuck it come on then"
they walked off towards the Sergeants mess, Amicably chatting between themselves.
Hamilton and Jones, both corporals in the Princess of Wales Royal Regiment, quickly coasted through the corridor ahead oh them, dust and grime lay thick everywhere, the floor was slick with stagnant water and slime from the dilapidated state of the building, although none of the recruits knew the building was left this way intentionally, the building itself was as solid as the day it was built; both men moved as quietly as they could ears pricked for the slightest sound, A shambling walker shuffled into view, both men slid to a stop their trainer covered feet slid almost tripping them up, aquaplaning across the slime covered concrete.
Both guns spat out a rapid bursts of the small pellets near simultaneously, the shuffling corpse jerked wit the impact, their shots thrown off by the slick, frictionless floor.
The pellets impacted into its shoulders and throat, and succeeded in doing no more than pissing the creature off; both me scrambled to their feet as the creature with a wailing screech charged at the pair.
Hamilton was first to his feet, shaking his head side to side trying to clear the fuzz from where his head had hit the floor as he fell.
Looking up all he saw was the torn bloodied shirt of the Walker as it bodily slammed into him, hitting the floor he began to convulse as the suite delivered shock after to shock into his prostrate form, the bound fists of the Walker slamming into his torso as it tried in vain to rip him limb from limb.
Leaping to his feet Jones fired off three rapid bursts into the Zeds head from point blank range watching the pellets punch through its weakened necrotic skull, the exit wound blossomed like a macabre rose bathing Hamilton in a putrid paste of brain matter and skull fragments.
Wiping his hand over the ballistics mask he wore he stared up at the grinning face of his squad mate.
Holding his hand out Jones helped Hamilton to his feet and glanced at his watch, "Fuck, we better move, three minuets till rendezvous"
Hamilton nodded and with Jones at his side they both sprinted in the direction of their RV point.
Mariani and Fisher Ghosted through their zone with Surgical precision, the two Irish Guards men didn't bat an eyelid as three Walkers came shambling out of a door way ahead of them, Guns pressed tightly into their shoulders they spat six times and they watched as all three Zombies fell to the floor immobilised.
"Is it just me or is this a little boring, these things are far to easy to take down"
Glancing to his left he saw Fisher grin as they made their way round the corner.
In the control centre two of the other training officers stood and watched the men progress on the hidden cameras that covered the entire training arena the men were currently running through like lab Rats.
"They're getting bored huh, well release subjects twenty three, eighteen, ninety two and one hundred six into their Zone see how they do with them"
A technician nodded as he programmed the parameters into the computer terminal infront of him.
Corporals Riley and Baxter moved silent as wraiths Dropping anything that came into their path, turning to their right, a small beep was heard and two impact proof Plexi-glass doors slid into place blocking their entrance and Exit, panic suddenly began to rise in both commandos, guns pressed tighter to their shoulders they spun in all directions covering all possible firing angles their minds could conjure up.
"Congratulations Gentlemen, rest easy you are in no danger here, you both successfully reached your Rendezvous point well ahead of schedule, very well done"
Both men Visibly relaxed as the voice issued from hidden speakers in the walls, "set your weapons down in the box that is appearing to your left and exit through the door on your right, again well done men, welcome to stage two" dropping their weapons into the box that appeared the two commandos made their way out into the evening sun.
Sharp and Hooper, wandered down the corridor weapons held lazily in their arms as they chatted to one another, "So Splinter hows the missus" Sharps eye brow wrose as he looked at his friend "Dude how many times have I asked you don't call me that, I used it once a chat up line and you hound me with it ever since, Fuck my life your annoying" Hooper laughed as he watched his Friend bristle at the name, "oh you know, its a quirk of mine, annoying people, and I think if I heard that right there should be three Zeds round the corner here, you want em", Richard 'Splinter' Sharp Shrugged "Orite then, I was getting a little restless" Sharp jogged ahead Gun pressed loosely to his shoulder, sixty seconds later Hooper walked round the corner to see Sharp stood amongst three Unconscious Zombies, "come on then ya lazy git took ya long enough to get here, I reckon we got another three hundred meters then we hit the RV, Fancy a run?"
Hooper Shrugged "guess so, not much else to do could use a bit of Exercise", both SAS troopers took off at a dead sprint towards their RV point under the watch full eye of the two Instructors.
A Technician, a Lance corporal by the name of Hendrix looked up from his console, "sir shall I Release any more into Sharp and Hoopers Target area ?"
"negative Lance Corporal, No point they would just drop them as easily as the rest, we have hit gold so far, with these men, except for the slip up with the two PWRR Boys all have passed with flying colours, let them pass unhindered they have earned it and Lance corporal"
The young military technician looked up expectantly.
"Don't call me sir I work for a living"
The remaining two teams of Special forces troopers cleaned their Zones with the Accuracy of a master Surgeon, making their Rendezvous points a full three minuets ahead of Schedule, Roberts and Clarkenwell, strolled out of the Building with Clarkenwell grinning from ear to ear, stopping next to Hooper and Sharp the two soldiers glanced at the new comers "what the hell got you so happy" Hooper Quizzed the still grinning Clarkenwell.
Throwing a thumb over his shoulder he pointed at Davies, "Daft Git fell through the wall at the end of Corridor D, straight into the arms of a Zed, dumb shit screamed like a girl, Arms going all directions bawling like a newborn, ahhhh get it off me get it off" Clarkenwell chuckled as he re-enacted Davies panicked thrashings.
Davies shoved his mate between the shoulders sending him sprawling on to his face, "yeah yeah, conveniently forgot to tell them, your the one who shoved me through it, ya Prick", Clarkenwell picked himself up and laughed, rejoining the group, Hooper turned to see Collins and Roberts exit the building two minuets later, "oi oi here come the puddle Pirates, how did our two Soggy Bollocks Squad brothers do then"
Collins flipped them off Gaining Raucous laughter in response, "Not bad, bit bored towards the end though, how did you lot do" Roberts quizzed the four SAS men, "bout the same really, although Davies here took a side trip" Roberts cocked an eyebrow at the statement, "Through a wall" both SBS men Cracked a grin ambling over to stand with the rest of group.
Hamilton and Jones wandered over to the others as they milled around outside on the drill square, sniffing Fisher suddenly cried out, as he drew closer to Hamilton drawing curious glances from the rest, "fuck me what is that smell" Hamilton blushed a slightly pinkish hue as he looked down at himself, "ugh that would be me, Zombie kinda went pop when Jones slotted it, must have been a bit over ripe, Sorry"
"Don't apologise Hamilton, sign of weakness, at least that what I was told by my Drill instructor back at Pendelton"
The twelve men looked up to see Staff Sergeant Baker and Sergeant Tufo walking towards them, Pint glasses held in Their hands, "I think and Correct me if I am Wrong Mister Tufo that all these men have done Extremely well, if not a bit too relaxed in some cases" Baker looked pointedly in the direction of The Special Ops soldiers, then grinned.
"well" he smiled as he clapped his hands together "on to Phase Two, You will all be Dropped by Chopper into a small Village not far from here with nothing more that a set of Fatigues, boots a Knife of your choice, 100 Rounds of Ammunition, in 13 round magazines and a Browning Automatic.
Your task is to Survive three full days in the Town, there are a total of 150 Walkers spread throughout the town, again they are tooth less but unlike the previous exercise their hands are not bound hence the live ammunition, how you play this is up to you; you will be inoculated when you receive your kit for any and all diseases, but remember we cannot Vaccinate against the infection from the Zeds themselves, so please be careful wont you I can do without the paper work"
the men all laughed as Baker stopped for effect, he watched as Sharp raised a hand to catch his attention, "Staff what about water, food and all that I know ye wont starve to death in three days but we need at least the basic Ration allotment to stay battle worthy, that's S.O.P for rapid drop ops" Baker nodded, "I fully agree don't get me wrong, but this is designed to test you in a full fight or flight Survival situation using only what you Theoretically could scrounge up from say police stations abandoned Barracks etcetera, all food and water is to be secured on site, this is not a fully fledged military deployment simulation" Sharp shrugged, in response "ok then, just thought id ask".
"so whose in" He glanced around at the men gathered together, no one said a word as he looked over the faces of the men infront of him, then as one they stepped forward, "whoa Hamilton not to close mate, Jeez that stinks" again they all laughed, "Right, go and get the gear from the Q.M, Hamilton showers are that way, head there first and incinerate the clothes when your done, we'll furnish new Civies for you" they all headed off in the direction's Baker indicated.
As the group walked away Baker turned to Tufo again, "whose going in on watcher with this lot?" Tufo pulled a fifty pence piece from his pocket, "Heads or Tails" he asked as he flipped the coin into the air then caught it slapping it down on the back of his left hand. "Heads" Baker said as he watched Tufo pull his hand away.
"Sorry Mate, your turn" Baker cursed as he stared at the coin tails side up."see you in three days" Baker grumbled at Tufos Grinning face as he walked off after the slowly disappearing trainees.
Woodrow and the other Five Paras stood in the bay of the C130J "Super" Hercules as it sailed over the rolling English Country side on its way to their drop site.
The load master stood in the bay watching the twin lights above his head intently waiting for them to go from red to green as the soldiers slowly walked to their designated spots, their jump suites putting pressure on their bodies as they moved.
Standing there they checked their helmets were securely fitted, before helping the man infront of them Check their kit over.
Woodrow looked up as the Load master rotated his hand through the air in a circular motion, nodding they all made ready as he opened the rear cargo bay.
The air was rapidly sucked out the bay as the pressures equalized, sucking on the compressed oxygen spilling into their masks, they all spilled out of the back of the aircraft into the wide blue yonder that awaited them.
The Automatic Activation Device on their parachutes slowly ticked down as they made their way rapidly towards the up rushing ground.