This story is a project my friends and I have been working on together. It's a story that has taken a year and a half in the making. Don't give me all the credit. My friends deserve as much credit as I do. We all helped each other to craft this story and make it as best we could. I want to make this better than all my other fics combined. I…no…WE (referring to my friends and I)…hope you all enjoy this. I don't want to see a year and a half of hard work go to waste.


October 2016, three weeks after the first infection

Washington D.C., the Pentagon

The Green Flu had completely become a global catastrophe. Throughout the world, the Infected had overrun several major cities. And several countries were completely destroyed as well. What began in the East Coast of the United States of America had turned into something far worse. The world suffered total annihilation. And humanity was on the brink of extinction.

All of this happened in just one week since the infection began.

Washington D.C. had become one of the final standing major strongholds in the world. The entire United States military had been fighting off the Infected for days just to defend the country's capital.

Ever since the plague was spotted, CEDA became the frontline of defense against it. However, due to their failures to contain the virus, the military, mostly units under the command of Lieutenant General Hershel von Shepherd III, had decided to take initiative and take over CEDA's responsibilities.

"It has been only one week since the infection and the Green Flu has already spread across the Eastern Seaboard. Widespread panic is caused by the rabies-like influenza as authorities struggle to gain control of the epidemic." said a newscaster on the television.

"Someone turn off that damn TV." remarked General Shepherd as he assessed the critical situation America was currently in.

"We believe Pennsylvania to be ground zero. The perimeter around the city has been breached. We will lose the East Coast in a matter of weeks." said SecDef as he discussed the outbreak with Shepherd, the President, and other high-ranking officials.

"The 2nd Marines are stationed in New York to help the National Guard seal off the Northern Coast. SEAL teams are still trapped in Russia and Delta teams are here to buy us some time to get out of D.C." said Overlord as he went through the short list of assets they had left.

Suddenly, a soldier came running into the room. Everyone immediately turned towards him.

"Soldier, speak up!" ordered General Shepherd.

The soldier managed to compose himself and informed Shepherd of a very urgent situation.

"Sir, we have a distress call from Fire Base Bravo! The hordes have made it past the perimeter of Washington!" said the soldier.

"My God…" muttered the President.

Shepherd turned towards Overlord.

"Has the 1st Ranger Battalion returned to Fort Benning?" he asked.

"Affirmative, they were able to extract Raptor in Virginia." replied Overlord.

"Good. I need them to set up shop and meet us when we get there."


Fort Benning, Georgia

"My Task Force is out of the country. I am commandeering your unit, Sergeant Foley." said Shepherd as he talked with Sergeant Foley, the acting commander of Hunter 2-1, over a long range satellite radio.

"Yes, sir. All yours, sir." answered Foley.

"Your unit is to assist the National Guard in sealing off Georgia and the rest of the Southern Coast. Can't let them take this corner." said Shepherd once more.

"Just mention the locations on the map, sir. They won't take it." Foley told his commanding officer.


Day 19

Most of the East Coast had fallen to the Infected hordes. Pockets of military strongholds, such as Millhaven and Fort Benning, were all that remained. The National Guard was mostly overrun and its remaining survivors were now dug in with the Rangers in Fort Benning. With no word from Shepherd since Day 11, Colonel Marshall decided to lead a Task Force for a high-risk rescue operation around Millhaven, which he believed had been overrun. A strike team consisting of members of the 75th Ranger Regiment was formed along with a QRF of National Guard soldiers. The strike team consisted of Sgt. Foley, Cpl. Dunn, Pvt. Ramirez, Sgt. Macey, Cpl. Keating, Pvt. McCord, Pvt. Sandler, Pvt. Wells, Pvt. Morgan, Pvt. Slayback, Pvt. Golden, Pvt. Fahey, and Pvt. Wade.

"Get the MOPP gear on and checked. Make sure there will be no breaches on the suit." said Sergeant Foley as he and his team put on MOPP gear instead of ACUs.

Two Sea Knights, and two Pave Lows, the latter two of whom were under the designation of Warhorse 5-1 and Warhorse 5-2, respectively, were dispatched. Foley's team were among those in the choppers. The team prepared to perform a tactical drop, only to see, to their horror, Millhaven completely destroyed.

"No survivors in sight! Millhaven has been overrun by Whiskey Deltas!" shouted Sergeant Foley.

"Reading flare signatures a few thousand meters by the train station!" said Warhorse 5-2's pilot.

"Roger that! Prepare for search and rescue!" said Foley. "We have a distress signal near this location. We're going to save their lives. Hooah?!"

The team knew just how to respond.

"HOOAH!"


The Train Station

The flare signal seen by the rescue force appeared to have been from a train station. Two soldiers, one male and one female, appeared to have been left behind by whoever left with the train.

Their names were Jeff and Annie.

"DOES ANYONE COPY?!" Annie yelled frantically.

She was lucky, as Warhorse 5-1's pilot was able to respond to her.

"This is Warhorse 5-1. Hold tight. We have a Ranger team ready to extract you. ETA 2 minutes!"

"Copy that!" replied Annie.

As Jeff was beaten up by Infected, Annie rushed to his side, mowing down the Infected all over him with nothing but her handgun.

"My leg! AAGH! I can't walk!" Jeff shouted in pain.

"I'll drag you to the station! Take this and shoot!" said Annie as she lent Jeff her gun and began dragging him back to the station.

Not too long later, the rescue team arrived. The Rangers rappelled down to extract the two abandoned soldiers.

"Go! Go! Go!" ordered Warhorse 5-1.

"Open fire! Ramirez, provide covering fire for the survivors with the M240!" Foley ordered his younger squadmate, who immediately complied.

Suddenly, McCord's eyes widened.

"60 plus tangos approaching at 12 o'clock! 20 meters!" he shouted.

Sure enough, he was right. A massive group of Infected were approaching the team at a fast pace.

"Keep firing!' ordered Foley.

Hunter 2-1 fired at the horde of Infected. However, the problem was, there were too many of them. And within minutes, several soldiers ran out of ammunition.

"Shit! I'm out!" said Corporal Keating, having run out of ammo.

"Doesn't matter! We're leaving anyway!" replied Private Sandler.

Annie carried Jeff into the helicopter as the team lay covering fire.

"Hurry! C'mon! Let's go! We have to get the hell outta here!" yelled Corporal Dunn.

The Rangers continued firing at the massive horde, but to little to no avail. With Jeff and Annie on board the chopper, the rest of the team boarded, finally receiving confirmation to leave. The chopper took off and flew away from the area, though the Infected continued to chase after it.

"All eagles on board?" asked Sergeant Foley.

"Yeah." replied Sergeant Macey, out of breath. "Goddamn…that was a lot of 'em!"

Foley checked on the two rescued soldiers.

"Is there anyone else out there?" he asked them.

Annie immediately answered him.

"Four civilians. Immune. Headed for the harbor at Rayford."

Foley nodded.

"Sarge!"

Foley turned to the source of the voice. It came from Dunn.

"Dunn, what's the problem?" Foley asked.

"We gotta get back to base! This guy's gonna be a goner!" yelled Dunn as he informed Foley of Jeff's critical condition.


Fort Benning

About thirty minutes later, the choppers arrived back at base.

"We got wounded!" yelled Dunn as Jeff was carried out by team members.

Jeff was placed on a stretcher by medics and was rushed to medical bay. Annie was taken to a separate room for questioning.


Fort Benning, Colonel Marshall's Quarters

"Four immune civilians?" Colonel Marshall asked Sergeant Foley.

"Yes, sir. We were informed that they were heading towards Rayford. Specifically, the harbor." said Sergeant Foley.

"Alright, sergeant. Prepare a strike team. I need them alive at all costs. Capture if needed." ordered Marshall.

"Affirmative." replied Sergeant Foley.

"The choppers will expand too much of our reserves. Get the engineers to prep up the Humvees and MRAPs. Those four are responsible for the lives lost at Millhaven, and I will dissect them alive myself if I have to!"


Welp, that ends chapter one. We hope y'all enjoyed it. Currently working on chapter two, which is expected to be published soon.