Chapter 1

Sua Sponte

"of their own accord"

-Motto of the U. S. Army 75th Ranger Regiment


The United States Army 75th Ranger Regiment is universally known as the American military's premier light infantry force. The Rangers themselves trace their lineage all the way back to the year 1751 during the French and Indian War during the early days of the American colonies.

Commanding the newly formed unit "Rogers Rangers", was Major Robert Rogers, who to this day is still regarded as the "Father of American SpecWar" and is credited with establishing the "28 rules of rangering," which is still given to new Ranger recruits upon graduation from *RASP.

*RASP (Ranger assessment and selection program)

Due to the highly successful exploits of "Roger's Ranger's" almost every American conflict afterwards had "Ranger-type" units among their ranks, although most of these units were "Ranger's" in name only and were not true "commando units" per say.

However, during World War Two US Army Major General Lucian Truscott submitted a paper to General George Marshall that an American unit be made, "along the lines of the British Commandos", and thus, the beginnings of the modern-day Ranger unit was born.

Since June of 1942 when the first Ranger Battalion was formed US Army Rangers have served in every American conflict with distinction from the beaches of Normandy, to the mountains of Korea, to the jungles of Vietnam.

Despite their success, Ranger units were activated and deactivated to the needs of the Army, however after Vietnam war, the US Army decided that it needed an elite, rapidly deployable light infantry force in its arsenal permanently, and to meet this need General Creighton Abrams created the 1st Battalion on January 31st 1974.

Due to the success of the men of the 1st battalion, eight months later the Second Ranger Battalion was formed, with the 3rd Battalion created in 1984 and the 75th Ranger Regiment being formed afterwards in 1986. This now gave the regiment formal lineage and paved the way for the modern Ranger Regiment we know today that has now permanently established its place in the world of Special Operations.

Some of the exploits of the modern day Rangers was made known from the book and movie "Black Hawk Down" where Bravo Company 2nd Battalion was engaged in a joint mission with elements from the U.S. Army's SOFD Detachment, commonly referred to as "Delta Force", along with aircraft and crews from the U.S. Air Force's elite 160th SOAR Detachment, and a team of four SEALs from SEAL TEAM Six to capture a pair of lieutenants working under the authority of local warlord Mohamed Farah Adid.

The mission gained notoriety when the mission itself was compromised by the subsequent firefight in which two U.S. Blackhawk helicopters were downed by enemy fire along with heavy casualties sustained by members of both Ranger and DELTA elements in the ensuing fight to save the crews trapped in the wreckage of the two downed UH-60 Blackhawk from certain death.

The Regiment's missions to this day include, direct action, special reconnaissance, airfield seizures, airborne and air assault operations, combat search and rescue, personnel recovery, hostage rescue, and counter terrorism operations.

Each battalion rotates on a ready status where, if called, the battalion must mobilize and ready to deploy anywhere in the world within 18 hours of notification. This gives the US Army the fast reaction force it needs during any crisis that they may need a whole battalion of elite airborne troops to bring in the pain on some unlucky foe.

Due to this, Rangers are seen as the world's most elite light infantry force. Whether it be by parachute, helicopter, or on foot, "Rangers lead the way!"


Time: Z-Day Morning

Location: Tokonosu International Airport, Hangar #7, "B" Wing

Name: Matthew Collins

Age:22

D.O.B: May 22, 1990

Nationality: United States of America

Eye color: Blue

Ethnicity: Caucasian

Hair: "high and tight" haircut, brown

Facial Hair: None

Blood Type: O+

Current occupation: Laidlaw Security International - Private Contractor (Blue Team)

Former occupation: US Army 2nd Battalion 75th Ranger Regiment, volunteer firefighter


"Crap!" I heard one of the guys on GREEN Team, a former civilian firefighter hired by the company last year named Jim exclaim loudly, as the rest of us chuckled at the man's frustration, all of us knowing exactly what it was that was bothering Jim.

And the reason for Jim's frustration and our laughter was all due to the news given Jim by the leader of GREEN Team of there not being any coffee available, all due to the paranoia of the Japanese Airport Security, who were so freaked out about a bunch of "mercenaries" being present on their soil, that we were pretty much cut off from the rest of the world, as it were.

Not that we had any choice in the matter, but after one of the engines on our plane caught fire and forced us to declare a mayday, there was little choice but for us but to land on this man-made island airport, although with the way Jim was carrying on about not being able to get his coffee fix, I'm pretty sure he would have been happier if we had all just crashed into the sea.

I had to admit, the news of no coffee or food being delivered to our current location made me disappointed too because if there had been any chow delivered, I wouldn't have minded a bite to eat and maybe grab myself a cup of java myself.

But since there was none to be had, I decided to doze off and get as much sleep as I can, as I ignored Jim's grumblings and rolled over on the pallet I was laying on.

Just as I was just about to shut my eyes I heard one of the other guys on my team, a former SAS trooper named Andrew, offer Jim some Nescafé he had stashed away, which made me instinctively wanna puke at the memory of my having drunk that nasty stuff once when the other guys on BLUE Team replaced my coffee with it back in Nevada.

That crap was awful and I spit it out immediately after I took a swallow of it as the guys on BLUE and GREEN Team laughed their asses off at my disgust.

Andy for some reason however, absolutely loved that shit, and so when he offered to give Jim some of his personal stash of Nescafe, I chuckled at the offer, knowing without a doubt that Jim was going to refuse it.

"Uh…no thanks buddy, better save that for later." Jim said as I cracked up.

Of all the guys employed by Laidlaw, Jim was the only guy that wasn't former Military having joined the private security company we both worked for, Laidlaw Security International.


When I first heard the story behind GREEN Team's new medic, I was extremely surprised to find out that a private security company owned by former "DELTA" operators had hired a former civilian firefighter/ paramedic into a private security company, and especially one as old as Jim, who just happened to be in his forties.

And while I didn't mean that in a bad way, my experience had always been that most men Jim's age would have been retired from firefighting or Military service, and so when I found out about Jim's lack of combat experience, I was more than al little apprehensive about his abilities at first.

But after working alongside the man, I had to admit, he was a tough guy to be doing something like this after having served so many years in the fire department, and he earned my respect quickly.

Not that he really looked or acted all that decrepit in the first place, the guy looked more like he was in his late thirties, with no wrinkles to reveal his true age, along with some grey in his hair.

And man, the guy was HUGE, with a build like an NFL linebacker, and the fact that he could handle himself with every training scenario that was thrown at him really helped with his ability to fit in with us.

And after a while, as far as I was concerned, I knew that I could trust him to patch me up as much as I would have any Ranger medic back during my days with the Battalion.


My assistant team leader and former SAS member Andrew made up one of two foreigners on the team, with the rest of us being from the United States. He has always seemed to be a troubled man to me, like there was something he kept hidden from the rest of us. He always kept to himself and always seemed to be cold and direct towards everyone on BLUE and GREEN team.

Until Jim came along that is.

After Jim joined Laidlaw they Andrew didn't like the idea of some firefighting "hero" wanting to be a mercenary. Maybe he thought Jim didn't know what he was getting himself into and was just pissed that some civilian wanted to play mercenary not thinking that we all have to depend on him with our lives. Andrew drove Jim in the dirt and treated him like some new recruit to the marine corps. And what changed Andrews opinion of Jim was that he took it all and never quit.

After that they were close friends. I was glad Andrew has someone he can talk to, it seems to have made him less isolated and pissed off than he was before.

Don't get me wrong though, Andrew is the second-in-command of my team and he had earned my respect as a great warrior and leader, but he could be a real asshole, and I had to agree with Jim, his taste in coffee was shitty and I would have preferred the instant coffee from an MRE any day over his Nescafe.

Being the only former Ranger in BLUE and GREEN team could be lonely though, although in many ways the guys did remind me of the friends I left back in the Regiment.

The guys in my old ranger Regiment were some pretty amazing individuals that I had had the pleasure and honor to both work for, and with. I made some strong bonds with some outstanding guys who I still keep in contact with regularly to see how they are doing.

Every once in a while when I'm with the guys at Laidlaw training or relaxing I can't help but remember both the good and bad times I had as a Ranger.


It always made me miss the days back in the Regiment with *"Three Charlie". Every Ranger platoon is a separate family, they train, eat, sleep and fight together as a team.

In the Ranger Regiment the platoon was the smallest element that could operate independently from the rest of the Regiment. That meant that most of the time we trained as a platoon to get our basics down before we train at the Company, Battalion, or Regimental level.

*Three Charlie (Third Platoon Charlie Company)

I still chuckle when I remember the days I thought RASP was the hardest challenge in the world. The Ranger cadre would always tell us the same thing during any physically challenging test. "If you think this is hard, the PT will get more tough in your battalion! You will be doing this as your warm up! "

And they were right.

We would think that the twelve-mile ruck marches in fifty pounds of gear was hard. In battalion we would do the same amount of miles in three times that weight in gear.

We were sore, hungry, sleep deprived zombies, training day after day, week after week, but despite the agony I endured, I had to admit a part of me will always be grateful for RASP for turning me into who I am today.

RASP showed me that I could push myself farther than I thought I could physically and mentally.

But it's still hell, and I know that I and each and every man in there had to keep asking himself. Why? Why were we going through this? Is this even worth it? Why do I keep going?

Truth was I could just quit anytime I wanted to, and if I hadn't passed RASP my army career wasn't over.

One thing is true about the Army, they will sort you wherever they need people and there was always some infantry unit somewhere I could have been sent to.

Sometimes when all hope leaves you though, you will find an inner strength that will be there in your time of need and your true character will show, and it was during a moment such as that when I wanted to give up the most is when I remembered why I volunteered for the Rangers in the first place.

I wanted to fight those that have wronged us and have killed innocent people, I wanted to fight people that I believed were evil in what they did.

I wanted to show them true fury.


I made my reason long ago to why I wanted to be a Ranger, and nothing was going to stop me, I was ready and willing to do anything and everything I had to do to earn that tan beret and scroll.

I wanted a life of service, I wanted to help others, but more importantly I believed that to do that I needed to become a warrior, to become strong, confident, and independent and I wanted to be with the best that I could possibly be.

And the fact that the Rangers are some of the most bad ass guys in the world didn't hurt either.

RASP never got easier, but toward the final weeks we finally learned the fun stuff and I forgot all about the pain coursing throughout my body.

From shooting techniques with the M4 carbine and the M9 pistol, to different methods of breaching doors, the PT never stopped or slowed down through all of that either.

And through it all the cadre would still remind us as we would run or do more pushups. "The PT is gonna get harder once you're in battalion."

The next four years of my life in the Army were spent either on deployment or training for deployment in the fast paced life of an Army Ranger.

By then I had changed dramatically from when I first came through "Boot", I had even learned to tolerate my fear of heights by jumping from planes constantly in training, which was something that I didn't think even Ranger training was capable of.

Being a Ranger had made me strong and confident, and I felt like I could take on anything, or anyone, in the world.

I was happy. I was the warrior I strived to be, and more.

Once my four years were up I decided to leave my life as a Ranger and return home to do something else. By that time, I felt that I wanted to protect people in a different way, other than using a rifle.

And so once I arrived Stateside I joined my local fire department as a volunteer while working odd jobs with my uncle in roofing or helping a friend in a moving company.

After 6 months of volunteering, I decided that I loved the job of helping others. It is a job I can go home to and feel good knowing I do a good thing. I wanted to work as a firefighter full-time, and so I signed up for EMT school to get my certification, and once I did that I figured I could be a part time firefighter and start getting paid to do what I love until a full-time slot opened.

At least that was the plan anyway.

Unfortunately, after September 11th the lines of people trying to get into the Fire Service had swelled to the point that finding a full-time slot was near impossible and my dreams of being a career firefighter vanished almost as quickly as my funds did.


Fortunately for me however, an old friend from my time as a Ranger had heard about my plight and had then called and asked if I was interested in a sweet gig which would help me out of my current dilemma.

My friend told me that a new private security company was looking for anyone with a special operations background, and he wasn't kidding when he said "anyone" either.

Needless to say it was too good to pass up, so I immediately put in my application. A job where I can still put my skills to work protecting people, wear what I want, use custom equipment I get to choose, not to mention the best part of good money.

I decided to put the firefighting plan on hold.

I still wanted to be a fireman, but at the time I just figured that I could make some money to save up working with Laidlaw doing something that I could still be proud of and using skills I had already attained as a Ranger.

And since most Fire Departments test all the way to age 35, I figured I still had time to test out for the Fire Service later and so off to Nevada I went, not realizing the hell I was to experience later.


And that's how I ended up in this hanger in Japan with a great group of guys I look up to, wanting to prove myself all over again for a third time, feeling like a kid all over again, excited at not knowing what the job would bring.

Looking back, I do feel accomplished in life, yet I felt as if it was all a dream and I was starting all over again.

Compared to their fifteen-plus year careers in the military to my four, I'm sure the rest of the guys on BLUE and GREEN Team looked at me like I probably didn't know what I was doing, being the youngest guy in Laidlaw.

"But I assure you, I can, thank you very much." I thought to myself as I sat down on a pallet in my OD tee shirt and khaki pants and OD ball cap with a matching shemagh wrapped around my neck to keep the sun or cold off my head and neck.

I am a little disappointed that I can't get my equipment out to check it one last time before I would go to sleep. Being this is my first op with the company I wanted to be sure everything was neat and organized. It's a habit from my days back in battalion and it's the fourth stanza in the ranger creed.

"Gallantly I will show the world that I'm a specially selected and well trained soldier. My courtesy to superior officers, neatness of dress, and care of equipment shall set the example for others to follow."

I'll have to settle for a mental checklist instead.


All of my gear was in preparation for a contract in Africa so I planned accordingly, making it as light as I can so I won't tire in the heat quickly. I also packed my breachers kit even though the guys busted my balls for bringing it. They insisted that there was gonna be no doors to knock open in the African wilderness. I stuck to my personal philosophy and brought it along because it's better to have and not need, than to need and not have.

First things first is my primary weapon. A BCM made M-4 carbine with a coat of tan paint. Almost exactly similar to the M-4s from back in my day as a ranger except BCM made their carbines with an extended gas system. That meant it would give the gun less recoil and therefore I can stay on target more easily.

I also had it tweaked a little like how everyone else does in the Private Security Company world. For starters I had the standard barrel switched out for a 16" heavy barrel to give the weapon more balance and to help with sustained full auto fire, which really would help in "break contact" drills. The optic I have on the top rail is a EOTech Holographic hybrid sight. It is a EOTech holographic sight paired with a X3 magnification sight so I can transition from close to medium range targets easily by flipping over the X3 sight.

I then got a vertical for-grip which also stores extra batteries for my flashlight mounted to the front of the fore grip. On the right rail I mounted a military DBAL and IR illumination system, something that will help me "own the night".

With a one-point sling attached to the butt of the weapon so I can drop it to my side and perform any other task with both hands free.


Moving on to my sidearm I brought with me on this mission is a M9 Baretta pistol. Back in Battalion we used and also frequently trained with the M9 sidearm so I wanted something I am used to using.

I know what people say about a pistol chambered in 9mm, and to those I tell them what my cadre back at RASP told us ranger trainees. "Some people may prefer a .40 or .45 caliber round, but if you shoot accurately and in the right spot then they will go down. And you have fifteen rounds to do so." Which I had strapped tightly to my right thigh in a BLACKHAWK Serpa holster. On my left side I carried a double magazine pouch on my belt to hold extra mags for my sidearm.


My combat vest, a TYR Tactical PICO assaulters plate carrier in multicam, carried twelve 30 round magazines across the front bottom of the vest. Along with a small medical pouch on the right side and a dump pouch on the left that I can toss my empty magazines in once I start shooting so I can have them separate from the full mags. The dump pouch also helps me with keeping my limited magazines so I can fill them up with ammo when I can. On the left side of the chest on top of the magazines I had a Leatherneck SF combat knife secured in its sheath secured horizontally. To top it all off I had a Texas state flag patch secured to the front of my vest by velcro.

Hey Texans gotta represent, were very proud of where were from and ain't afraid to show some pride.

Unlike some of the other guys, I chose to go with Protection over speed. I put some SAPPI plates in my vest. If I expect to go in a job getting shot at I at least want some sort of protection.


We all each carried three or four bags depending on our role in the team, my job was the breacher, if anyone needed a door opened without the use of explosives then I was the guy to do it. I was also usually selected as the point man so I would sometimes hand off my tools to one of the guys so he may bust the door open to allow me to move in first.

In my main bag I have 10 MRE's which took up almost half of the space in the pack by themselves. I also have extra batteries for my optic and flashlight, two extra sets of clothes, a camelback hydration system in the right side pocket, six extra Magazines for my carbine, three extra magazines for my pistol, with 2 boxes of 5.56 and 9mm ammo each. I also carried some survival supplies in case things went south and I had to be self-sufficient for a while.

In my Dynamic Entry backpack I had anything we would need for forcible entry short of explosives. I have a Halagan forcible entry tool, something me and Jim know from our firefighting days. It's a tool synonymous with firefighting as it is the ultimate forcible entry tool that can open just about any house or commercial door there is. Also in the pack is a "Thundermaul" tool that was an axe with a hammer paired on opposite ends of the head. Finally, I have bolt cutters for any locks or chains that may be an obstacle.


I looked around the hanger to assess my surroundings once more before I doze off for some much needed sleep. Sweeping my head left to right, I observed all of BLUE and GREEN teams chatting or asleep while the Japanese mechanics did their thing. Either working on the plane, talking around the water cooler and shooting an icy glance our way. I'm sure they are even talking about us when they go on break.

I didn't blame them one bit for being nervous about a whole team of bulked up American warriors sitting in the same hanger as them. They probably don't see that every day. Not to mention that every and any stereotype of Americans in Japan may not be the most positive outlook one can have.

As I turned to my right I almost jumped when I looked into the cops face of contempt for being assigned to guard us. I couldn't blame him though; we must have been an inconvenience to him as much as the plane breaking was an inconvenience to us.

Even though he was there to keep an eye on us I felt safe with him standing over us. If something would happen I'm sure he will take care of it. As far as I was concerned I am here to relax before my first mission in my new job.

Although my first trip to Japan is not the dream trip I have imagined it to be I still want to visit later when I have the time and money.


Assured that we were gonna be fine, I sat down with my back resting on the wall behind me, hung my head, and shut my eyes to sleep.

Only to be suddenly and violently awakened by a piercing scream from outside the hangar.


Location: Northeast quadrant of Tokonosu

Time: Afternoon

Z-Day plus 3


"So now were all in some room full of *OPFOR staring each other down, weapons up and ready to fire. We were so close there was no way anyone was gonna miss a shot. It was a classic Mexican standoff, last man standing sorta thing. Until lo and behold one of the guys in my platoon, Jackson, comes walking around the corner with his pants down around his ankles not noticing our plight and says. 'Hey guys you got any TP, I used all of mine already.' We all laughed our asses off forgetting that we were supposed to be 'killing' each other."

*OPFOR (opposition force)

I cracked up at retelling the story of a training cycle I have done back at the *NTC at Fort Irwin. It made the nine bearded guys sitting around me roar in laughter. As soon as our laughter died we ate what food we had in silence, each man reflecting on the past few days. One story was enough to help forget our current nightmare, even if for a moment.

*(National Training Center)

It was bittersweet to recall memories of the past with friends who, probably like us, are fighting for their very lives. The stories at least made us feel more at home in the abandoned, ransacked grocery store that has burn marks along the front from a fire across the street that completely gutted the home that formerly occupied the lot.

The storytelling helped get our minds off of our current situation.


In the military and emergency services there will be traumatic scenarios that you will experience, and there is no way to prepare yourself for it. Some may look at gruesome pictures or hear stories of some violent stuff to try to get used to it.

But in the end its never the same as actually seeing it, actually being there.

In my experience once a person is exposed to something traumatic for the first time they must find their own way to deal with it themselves. Not saying that they have to be isolated to handle it. But they must find their own unique way to handle it themselves, and it might as well be to just talk about it with someone. Each of us as individuals handle stress differently, and so we must find what gives us our resolve to keep going.

With a bunch of military vets, we all have seen some nasty things in our service, but that is all nothing compared to these last few days. Our training and experience has helped us survive this far. But losing two guys and burning through ammo quickly made the current situation seem bleak at the least. These past few days have really put us to the test. Physically, mentally, and emotionally.


The fact that the whole world looked as if it went to hell didn't help things either. Every time there was a working TV we would be glued to the screen to see if there were any updates of the how the US was doing in this crisis. We all hoped things would get better, maybe the military has things handled, or at least contained.

Instead we would see footage of People fleeing New York City or some other major city. Soldiers fighting from makeshift roadblocks desperately fighting the hordes of infected peoples lurching at them, seemingly endless in numbers. When it would show a map of the continental US it would have almost all the major cities highlighted in red. New York, Washington DC, Boston, Los Angeles, Chicago, Seattle, and many others. It was shocking to see it hit all of those large population centers at once.

But to me personally I would always look at my home state, Texas, to see how my family and friends would be. Every time the map showed Houston, San Antonio, Austin, Dallas and Fort Worth as currently infected. Fort Worth. Right by my home city. A stone's throw away from my family and friends I left behind fighting for their lives while I am half a world away.

I would gladly switch spots to be back home protecting those I love. But this is reality, I'm over here and I can't do a f_ckin thing to change that.


So since I am here in Japan I chose to stay with these guys that I have known as friends and have become family these past few days. We are all resting from the three days of constant movement except for the three guys pulling security to make sure nothing would sneak up on us.

"I'm gonna go check my gear Chris." I turned to my team leader, Chris Adkins as I got up to go to my gear stored across the wall behind us.

Chris nodded in response.

I always check my gear and ensure everything is in working order if I have nothing else to do. It's a habit from the Regiment and fire department. "Always stay busy" I was told while as a rookie firefighter.

"I'll go with ya if you don't mind dude." Ben, BLUE Teams medic, got up and stretched as I started walking to my backpack and weapon.

"Sure thing Ben." I smiled and nodded to him, glad to have a friend nearby.


Ben is the second youngest member in Laidlaw with me beating him by 7 years. He has a stereotypical California surfer attitude to go with the look of golden hair, tanned skin, and a solid build. He was more laid back and calm about things than most, he just seemed to go with the flow no matter what happened. And with Ben and I being the youngest guys they paired us up together.

In the military no matter which branch you will be paired with someone else as "battle buddies", "wingmen", or whatever other phrase used to call it. It's to keep accountability of each other, so that if one goes somewhere the other will go with him to watch his back.

In the firefighting world it is synonymous with the phrase, "two in, two out." Which means you enter the burning structure with your buddy and you leave with your buddy. Even if you forgot a tool outside you can't tell him to stay put and that you'll be back quickly. Because while he is waiting he can get trapped from collapse, get lost, or have any other disaster that can befall an individual on a fire scene.

When I first came to Laidlaw, Ben and I became quick friends and is my best friend in the company. Our youthfulness and love of one-line smart ass remarks made us a great pair. Others did not think of it as so great as we can be a constant pain to some of the other guys who are the targets of many jokes or pranks courtesy of Ben and me.


Ben and I sat down and started going through our packs first, taking inventory of what little we now have left. On the first day of this 'zombie apocalypse' I had 660 rounds of 5.56 in my magazines along with 100 rounds in boxes. I have burned through most of my ammo and now I have a handful of magazines left.

"How much you got left?" Ben asked as he saw me taking my magazines out. I pulled the rounds of one mag that felt to be half full so I can have a count of my rounds.

"I got four full mags with another having twelve rounds." I paused to do the math in my head. "Which comes out to one hundred thirty-two rounds left for my M4."

As for my sidearm I have never had to use it so thankfully I still have all the 145 bullets left for it if I really needed to use it.

"What about you Ben? You need any from me?" I offered him as he shuffled through his mags also. I stuffed my magazines in my plate carrier and grabbed my carbine to check the under barrel light and sights to see if I needed to change the batteries.

"Nah dude, I'm good. Got 3 full mags left. And most of my Glock's ammo." Ben sighed and rubbed his eyes to keep away the sleepiness temporarily.

I changed out the batteries for my EOTech hybrid sight which seemed to be low from constant use. I then grabbed my M9 from the thigh holster still attached to me and made sure it was loaded and ready to go, with the safety on of course.

Satisfied that all of my gear was in check I put everything back where it belonged. I placed all the empty mags in my main bag along with my remaining MRE's, extra batteries, and survival equipment. I grabbed the set of extra clothes I had and moved into the restroom to change into the new set and placed the dirty pair in the pack. I'll worry about it later. Dirty clothes are far down the list of priorities as far as I was concerned.


I got back up and started heading to the back of the store. "Hey Ben, I'm heading up to check on Marcus, wanna come along?" Marcus is the sniper on BLUE team and was set up on the roof scanning the area for any threats as we all laid low in the abandoned store to rest some rest.

"No, guy, I'll catch some shut eye, holler if you need me." Ben shot back as he sat up against his pack and nodded off to sleep almost immediately. I didn't blame him, the last time we really slept well was at the airport on day one of this shit storm.

I walked to the back entrance and opened the door slowly so as to be quiet. Not because I want to be sneaky against the infected, but I did not want to not scare Bobby.

Bobby is BLUE Teams heavy weapons expert which means he can handle a M60 medium machine gun better than most.

Bobby is one of the largest guys I have ever seen, let alone know. He is a pure wall of muscle who is only beat by J.R. by a few inches in height and about 30 pounds. His only weakness is his big heart which almost got him killed once already when he tried to help a kid who was unknowingly Infected until she almost bit Bobby. Being such good friends that we all are we still give him shit for that.

As big as he is it is actually easy to scare the guy. As much as it would be funny this is not the place nor the time to do pranks on anyone.

"Hey, Bobby, you there?" I called out to him quietly as I moved outside to the short alleyway with the rear entrance of businesses lining each side. Seeing Bobby and his large frame to my right I scooted over to him.

"Anything interesting?" I asked him out of boredom.

Bobby turned his head back at me. "Nope, nothin. Some of 'them' shuffled by so I've been catching up on my hand to hand." I nodded at his answer while looking at the three corpses nearby, evidence of his work.

"Sounds good man. I'm heading up to Marcus, you got my six?" I asked him as I crouched and moved to the ladder that led to the roof. The ladder was a metal frame ladder attached to the wall so I was sure that it was sturdy enough to hold me.

I was more concerned about some infected jerk coming around the corner and turning me into lunch. Knowing my luck that is exactly what would happen.

Bobby simply nodded his head affirmative to my request and shouldered his M-60 to cover my movement. I climbed the ladder without any problems and jumped onto the rooftop.


J.R. chose a good building to use for us to rest in today. It had a commanding view of the surrounding area of homes and stores by sitting on top of a hill. This gave Marcus, BLUE Teams sniper, a good line of sight five city blocks out from where we were.

I spotted Marcus to my left on the side of the roof laying prone with his equipment and M24 sniper rifle by his side, scanning the surrounding area with his binoculars. He was so focused on what he was doing it seemed he is the ultimate spotter, as if he is gonna catch everything and anything that will come in his sight and that nothing could escape his gaze.

"Anything to report Marcus?" I inquired as he looked back at me quickly then returned to what he was doing before checking the streets and rooftops surrounding us.

"Some assholes shuffling around, nothing really important. It has been dead quiet today." He placed the binoculars in front of him on the edge and moved to the front side of the building. I followed him to watch what he was doing, slightly interested in the sniper's actions.

I shadowed his movements as he leaned over the edge and then signaled to J.R. who was below guarding the front entrance. Marcus used hand signals to relay that five infected were down the street he was just watching.

J.R. gave a thumbs up to show that he got it and continued to watch the street in front of our building.


As far as leaders go, J.R. is one of the best I have had the honor to see, let alone work for. He is the example of what a leader should be. He is a great problem solver who cares deeply about his guys. The most obvious trait anyone can see with J.R. is his large physique which is intimidating to most, but once you start talking to him it is evident that he lives his life to one motto.

The mission, the men, then me.

Since day one it was evident that I was lucky to stumble into a job with such a great boss. He won't tell us to do anything he isn't willing to do himself. J.R. leads by example and will go to great lengths to make sure his guys are in good shape before he relaxes himself.

Hence why he wanted to take the first shift to guard the store while the rest of us have some R&R inside.


The reason I came up here to talk to Marcus was because he has proven to be someone that I can talk to. Usually when people see a sniper they think of a cold killer personality. They think that a sniper is some sort of lone wolf who does not get along with others.

Marcus is far from that in my mind because, like a true sniper, he has made it clear the he watches over his team mates in BLUE Team both on and off the job. I guess having two kids would do that to a man.

My opinion of him goes back to my first day in Laidlaw when I was meeting my team members in BLUE Team. When I got to Marcus he grasped my hand to shake it and with a big smile said to me. "If you have any questions about anything don't be afraid to ask me, okay?" Ever since then his genuine offer has held true and I talk to him about anything now.

Now on day three of the Outbreak his smile is long gone but his offer has stood so I might as well tell him what has been bothering me since three days ago.

"Hey Marcus, I wanted to tell you something that has been bothering me lat-"


Before I can continue we all immediately perked our heads toward the abrupt sound of intense gunfire erupting in the distance off to the right of the building.


These past few days have had us hear many things. Moans of infected, roaring of flames burning away unopposed, screams of helpless victims and sirens. Many sirens filled the streets of Tokonosu as Japans emergency services responded all over the city to the numerous and mounting emergency calls this Outbreak has caused. I'm sure every single resource was used to mitigate damage and help citizens, but it must have been in vain as cops armed with revolvers and firefighter unable to defend themselves must have been overrun quickly. Only to be replaced with the moan of the Infected surging on in their unsatisfied hunger.

But gunshots that sounded like a full blown battle was happening only a few blocks away? That was different, and hopefully meant help or reinforcements.


J.R., founder of Laidlaw and commander of all teams, immediately raised his M4 with a M203 under barrel grenade launcher toward the source of the fire. JR looked up at us from his position and without missing a beat barked. "Marcus I need you to see where is that coming from and who it is. They are attracting all the infected in the area! When you know, get inside and get ready to move. Matt Get down from there and gear up!"

"On it boss!" I smartly responded as I bounded to the ladder, jumped onto it and slid down it hitting the ground with a dull thud as my boots hit the hard pavement.

"Whats goin on Matt?" Bobby asked as I saw him aiming his M60 down the alley toward the sound of the firefight.

"Don't know guy, you gotta wait for Marcus, he is trying to see what it is while the rest of us are gearing up." I told him as I jogged to the entrance not wanting to run and tire myself out before we even started moving.

I slammed the door open and turned to my right to where my gear was. I heard the familiar clack of weapons loading and being checked as I went over to my gear. I donned my vest, making sure it fit firmly against my body so I can be comfortable wearing it for the next few hours.

I grasped my M4 and dropped the sling around my head and right arm, securing the gun to my right side. I loaded a full magazine and hit the bolt catch to slam a round in the chamber. I was satisfied to hear the "CLACK" of a 5.56 bullet being chambered into the barrel and moved on to check my sidearm.

I equipped my M9, flipped the safety off and slid the slide back halfway to check if a bullet was chambered. Seeing one in the barrel, I let go of the slide and placed the pistol in its thigh holster.

Then I donned my Erbelstock main pack. Not surprised to find it significantly lighter due to the last few days' adventures. I continued to secure the straps as JR, who was already armed and ready because he was pulling guard duty, came inside and started briefing us.

"OK guys it looks like we have someone in contact. We don't know if they are friendly or not. Marcus is determining where and who they are. With that amount of gunfire, I'm sure it's not just a bunch of cops. So that may mean they are JSDF, or if we're lucky some US forces, and if we can establish contact with them so we can get help and get out of this city."

I was done donning all my gear before he finished his quick briefing along with everyone else in the room. We all looked at J.R. with determination in our eyes at the chance of getting out of the city and maybe to somewhere safe. After a couple seconds pass the back door slams open as Marcus, with Danny following, barges his way into the room and walks up to J.R. to report his findings.

"J.R. they are definitely Japanese Defense Force, looks to be about two platoons in contact with multiple infected on their heels." Marcus started with a look of distress written on his face. "They are five blocks to our east moving straight towards us through the streets. They are in trouble if we don't help them boss."


J.R. stood there taking in the information, thinking up a plan to help these guys no doubt. "If they are heading straight at us it looks to be their lucky day." He grinned at the thought of how the JSDF troops will come right to us. Making things a lot simpler than if we had to chase after them.

J.R. then looked at my team leader, and Laidlaw co-founder, Chris Adkins and started giving orders. "Chris, I want you to take BLUE team and occupy the building across the street from us and get on the rooftop. I will take GREEN team and be on top of this building and if those guys keep coming like Marcus reported we will help them if we can. Got it guys?"

His question was followed by a chorus of, "Yes sir!" As the soldiers in all of us came out with a renewed determination to save our brothers in arms. Even though we don't know a single person among them they are still soldiers and as such have earned the right to be called "brother" or "sister."

Chris then started toward the back door while calling out, "BLUE team let's go! Matt, you're on point!" He stopped at the door waiting for the rest of the team to stack up behind him and for me to go in front.

"Rangers lead the way Chris." I said as a little joke as I moved to the door taking my spot. As the breacher I always lead the way into a building.


Stacked behind me is Ben since we are paired together. Since I am the point man I have to worry about getting shot being the first going through a door, I also have to make sure our only medic is good enough to take care of anyone else who may get injured.

Behind him is Bobby, ready to lay some hate with his 60. Every time I see him shoot I still can't fathom how a man can keep a machine gun so steady while firing, even with all his muscle I have never seen someone hold a medium machine gun so still while firing a full 100 round belt. Bobby is truly an expert at what he does delivering accurate and precise fire support at 600 rounds per minute.

After Bobby is Marcus, our team's sniper, with his M4 ready to go because of how tactically unsound it would be to use his sniper in a CQB situation. Unlike many video games and movies, it is foolhardy to go in a close quarters situation with a long barrel weapon meant to be used at long range. With either weapon he is hands down the best shot in the team.

Next is Chris taking his spot in the middle as team leader so he can keep an eye on everyone so he can make split-second decisions or be a shooter with his M4 which is similar to J.R's with an under-barrel grenade launcher which is primarily used to break contact by firing smoke grenades.

Second to last is our pilot Glenn. Like most men from the *160th SOAR, the army's elite helicopter aviation unit, he was not specially trained as a "shooter" like the rest of us but, we have given him a crash course back in Nevada so he can hold his own if the need ever risen. Thankfully it has paid off these past few days and he has kept up. He truly gives the "Night stalkers Don't Quit" motto merit.

Bringing up the rear is Doug with his M249, BLUE Teams explosive specialist and one of the few guys in Laidlaw who has special permission to handle explosives.

The reason being that in a private security company there is little practical use for explosives. If we are to be engaged while moving a VIP we do not need to blow up half a city block just to get our guys out of the danger area. All we have to do is throw a wall of bullets down range to keep the enemies head down while we move out of the kill zone and to extraction. The reason we have Doug and his explosives however, is because it is better to have and not need than need and not have.

If we do get forced into a situation where a little more force is required to save Laidlaw or VIP lives, we are not afraid to do what is necessary. He will bring his AT-4 rocket launcher for any hard-points that need to be taken out and his pack full of C4 explosives can destroy any barricades or roadblocks that can be in the way.

"Ben, don't get shot." I half-jokingly told our only medic.

Since Ben is the only medic we have left so if he were to get shot we would be in a lot of trouble since Jim is missing that increases Bens workload by two since he has to look out for the whole team by himself.


Yes, I said missing, I have been telling the guys every time they would be down about it. "If there ain't no body then he ain't dead!" When everyone ran they didn't see what happened with Jim in the confusion. I did hear Ben yell, "Run Pappy!" Maybe I'm just fooling myself trying to hope against hope that he did not die in that park.

When Chris told everyone to split up it was every man for themselves and we scattered like crazy. I immediately bugged out of there wishing I could have helped the cops somehow. Being as my dad was a policeman and knowing a lot of the police force in my own town I hated the thought of leaving them to their fate with the infected. But being as it was a run-or-die situation I was left with little choice.

I ran and I still regret not taking Jim with me as he has no experience in *SERE and therefore probably got caught by the police and is sitting in some jail, or as much as I don't want to believe, he was killed out there. Hell, maybe he even tried to save some cops from the infected. We may never know what happened, let alone find him in a city of over a million people if he is alive.

I shook my head stopping the thought of possibly losing another team member. I still couldn't stop the feeling of guilt overcome me ever since we all split at the park.


"Hey Matt, waiting on you." Chris jerked me away from my thoughts as I remembered the current mission we were about to undertake. I was now in what I call my "game mode." Now I got noticeably serious and focused.

Let's do this.

I kept the stock of my carbine tucked against my right shoulder, pointed down, while I prepared to open the door with my left hand waiting for the word from Ben before going to be sure everyone else is ready. I felt him pat my side twice indicating that it's time to go.

I pushed open the door and moved immediately to my left skirting the wall and scanning the alley for targets with my M4. I noticed the gunfire has gotten a lot closer now and a lot less heavy in volume. I tensed up at the thought of two whole platoons being wiped out completely before we can help them. "We need to go now if were gonna help them out!" I thought to myself. I heard my team members move behind me covering their sections of the alleyway.

"OK green team, let's go." I heard J.R. call out to his team simultaneously with Chris telling us to cross the other side of the alleyway to the back door of some other commercial building he was pointing at.

I moved across to the side of the door Chris indicated with my carbine pointed down as I saw no targets and did not want to flag anyone on my team with my weapon. We all stacked up in the same order as before against the door. I felt Ben pat my thigh, giving me the signal to go.

I raised my carbine and tucked the stock under my armpit to reduce its reach and decrease the chance of the barrel hitting something and stopping me from taking down any targets. My heart beat like it was gonna burst out of my chest anticipating what I was probably gonna find inside.

No matter how many times you have breached a room, it still feels like the first time in relation to fear. Difference is that once you have done it a million times, you can trust your training and let yourself go do it and keep that fear at bay. It feels automatic and familiar, you let muscle memory do the work while you go in and scan the room for targets and neutralize said targets. Just another day at the office.


Opening the door with my left hand I swiftly moved into what I assumed to be a music store because of the low shelves containing CD's being at waist height along with band posters on every wall of the small store.

I skirted along the wall to my right making sure it was clear of threats before turning to the rest of the store while I was still moving to the corner. I turned on my flashlight under my barrel to see in the darkness and finding it to be clear of any zombies I lowered my weapon.

"Clear!" I shouted to my team who was with me in the room having come in right behind me going to their left or right along the wall as I did. I looked around the store looking for a small room that may look like an office or closet that may contain the ladder that leads to the roof.


"Found it, let's get up there!" Doug called out to the rest of us who was securing the rest of the open store to be sure there was no surprises down an aisle we missed. We all relocated to the ladder and Doug started up it with me following.

"Now I know it's tempting but don't stare at my ass while I'm going up Marcus, if you do I'll file for workplace sexual harassment." I turned my head around to tell the sniper as he flipped me the bird.

"Hurry up before I have to shoot it off, kid." He retorted to my joke, a little tense like the rest of us at the ever closing gunfight reaching our position by the second.

When I reached the rooftop I saw Ben had covered the area in front of the ladder well so I turned around and covered the rear of it to see If there was anyone on the rooftop with us. Quickly seeing there were none I lowered my carbine and took a quick glance to the building across from us and saw GREEN Team already in position and aiming their weapons down ready to help the coming JSDF troops which were now in sight as they were now about two blocks away.

"Okay let's get up to there and wait on J.R.'s word." Chris said as he motioned to the edge of the rooftop just in front of us. We all took up positions on the low wall that covered where the roof ended which was great since it gave us some cover and stability to fire our weapons more accurately.

I took up position on the wall facing the direction the JSDF platoon was coming from instead of directly opposite of GREEN Team because it gave me a better view of the situation.

With me was Chris on my left and Doug to our rear setting up his M249 and deploying the bipod. Past Chris was Marcus, ready to fire his M24 rifle waiting for the sign to open fire. On my right is Ben and Glenn, who is now able to shoot like the rest of us now in his past few days of "on the job training." as I looked to my left, Chris saw me and flashed a reassuring smile to me and held up his thumb in a positive gesture.

"You good to go Matt?" He asked probably concerned as to why I was looking around.

"Good to go Chris!" I called out as I flipped my X3 sight up so I can more easily shoot the infected at the range they were at.

I said that more to keep me calm than to reassure Chris that I was ready. I was ready to explode on the infected as each second passed meant a second lost to possibly save the JSDF guys.

When it gets down to it I can be an impatient guy. I want things done right then and there when I get a task, that's a weakness of mine at times as some of my friends will tell people.

Chris was just trying to see if I was holding up and ready. Since these past three days have been stressful for everyone.


The JSDF was now just at the intersection a couple of buildings away from us as we were all now waiting anxiously at the sight of the seemingly endless infected on their heels chasing them closely and ready to pounce upon any stragglers.

In their heavy armor and equipment, they must be tired in their running gunfight. I can now make out details of some of the Japanese soldiers. One of them was as small as a pixie but yet was carrying a M2 .50 caliber heavy machine gun. That is the weirdest pair I have ever seen.


"They are running out of ammo." Chris said casually after hearing some of the soldier's yell. We now tensed up at the news, it's helpful having him know Japanese.

"Contact rear, we got infected from the other side of the alley way!" Doug anxiously reported to the team. Chris ordered Ben to get to the other side of the rooftop so they can engage them once the shooting started and signaled across the street for GREEN Team to do the same.

"Come on… Come on... Come on." I mumbled to myself as I watched the drama of an entire platoon fighting every step of the way for its very survival. I just wanted the chance for us to save them if only they can get over here quickly.


"KEEP FIRING!" Lieutenant Azuma Shinohara roared as he raised his pistol and fired at an Infected man in grey coveralls who had almost grabbed the shoulder of that increasingly annoying replacement machine gunner in his platoon, Private Noa Izumi.

Shinora watched with grim satisfaction as the top of the large Infected dockyard worker's skull blew away from the impact of the 9mm round and the large man then fell to the ground just as the Infected man was about to grab Private Noa Izumi who was bound and determined not to leave her beloved .50 caliber M2 machine gun behind as the Infected began to overwhelm his patrol.

"IZUMI! CLEAR THAT DAMNED GUN AND GET YOUR SKINNY ASS OVER HERE BEFORE I KILL YOU MYSELF!" Sergeant Major Sakaki roared as he watched Private Noa Izumi trying to carry her beloved "Alphonse" with her as the rest of "Echo" platoon tried to cover her haphazard retreat.

Azuma had been extremely reluctant to accept the tiny woman into his unit who been sent in as a replacement along with another raw recruit, a private Kyoko Otonashi, who had been sent along with Izumi as a replacement medic

While Shinohara had no problem with women serving in the JSDF or his unit either, having a woman whose weapon weighed almost as much as she did and a medic who had only completed half her medical training before being transferred to his platoon had not given Shinohara a lot of confidence in their abilities.

And the stress of having to deal with his two new replacements AND the infected at the same times, which were now dangerously close to overwhelming their current position, was giving him serious heartburn.

And now as he watched the tiny woman carrying the big 37 kilo machine gun in her arms like an infant while a swarm of infected were on her heals, he wished Sergeant Major Sakaki's request for transferring the increasingly annoying little smart-ass trouble-maker into his platoon, who was now intentionally refusing to listen to his orders to drop her beloved "Alphonse" and run for her life.

"Echo" platoon had already come close to having been overrun before by the Infected and had already lost some of their members during the first day of the Outbreak. And as the Contagion continued to spread out of control and the JSDF casualties mounted, Shinohara's platoon was then hastily put back out into the field with orders to take two replacements hastily chosen out of a group of volunteers on their way out.

And to his chagrin, Sergeant Major Sakaki had then showed up later with two volunteers that Sakaki had chosen himself, instead of the ones Shinohara's platoon had been assigned originally.

Shinohara was rendered speechless upon seeing his replacements for the first time, and wondered what it was that the old soldier had against him as he shook hands and welcomed his new "replacements", into the platoon, who both looked like they belonged in high school.


Cursing his luck, Shinohara smiled as he shook the hands of his two "replacements" was a combat medic trainee still in the middle of her training, and the other, a Logistics clerk who was to serve as their new heavy machine gunner for the big .50 caliber machine gun that "Echo" Platoon was manning on this particular stretch of road leading towards one of the few routes left leading towards the dockyards.

The obvious lack of combat experience had been a serious cause of concern for many of the other members of "Echo" Platoon who had served together for two years and were just barley getting over the loss of their comrades whom they had just lost on the very first day of the outbreak.

But there has been little time to grieve for their fallen comrades or to complain about their new squad mates however, when the infected struck seemingly from everywhere, as the members of "Echo" Platoon tried desperately to protect the thousands of refugees fleeing the walking death directly on their heels before they were forced to fall back, the small group of JSDF troopers unable to hold back the hordes of Infected coming directly at the seemingly without end.

Now cut off from any other units, hopelessly outnumbered, low on ammo, and unable to hold back the hundreds of Infected pressing in on them, Azuma had waited until the last possible moment to give the order for his people to fall back, giving precious time for the civilian men, women, and children to flee to safety.

And now as they attempted their own desperate flight to safety fighting fiercely every step of the way, Azuma cursed himself for not having made the call to withdraw earlier, realizing now in their increasingly desperate situation that he had waited far too long.

As the small band of JSDF troopers hastily abandoned their position and duked down a side street to escape the thousands of infected that had overrun their previous position, their hopes that they were almost home free were dashed.

As the JSDF exited the street they had ducked into, followed by Noa Izumi still struggling to keep up while still carrying her heavy burden, the small band of soldiers suddenly found themselves completely surrounded by a smaller, yet no less large horde of Infected that they were unable to fight through, as Shinohara fired his pistol at the closest Infected woman that had tried to grab Noa Izumi, the 9m bullet blowing the woman's face off as she dropped like a stone.


"HIROMMI-CHAN!" Lt. Takeo Kumagami yelled at her platoon's M60 gunner, one of the few personnel left in "Delta Platoon who had survived nearly being decimated earlier that day and had linked up with Shinohara's "Echo" Platoon.

"GRAB THAT IDIOT AND DRAG HER STUPID ASS OVER HERE BEFORE SHE GETS HERSELF KILLED!" Kumagami yelled as she emptied the magazine of her Sig P228 at the horde.

"Yokai!" Private Hiromi shouted as he moved forward firing his M60 from from the shoulder in short controlled bursts as he quickly moved up to where Noa Izumi was still trying desperately to carry "Alphonse" just as a half-dozen Infected surged forward to pounce upon her.

"Noa! Get down!" Hiromi roared as he opened up with his M60-E3 and mowed down the Infected who were nearly on top of Noa as they were knocked backwards by the impact of the bullets.

And as the heavy rounds impacted the Infected, each of them came apart, splashing blood, body parts, and brain matter in all directions as the 7.62 rounds tore through their flesh chopping them up like a meat grinder as Hiromi fired the last half of his 100 round belt ammo into them on full automatic.

His weapon now empty, Hiromi wasted no time as he slung his weapon over his back and grabbed Noa by her harness and threw her over his shoulder kicking and screaming as Noa wailed over the loss of her precious "Alphonse" that she was forced to leave behind.

"ALPHONSE!" Noa screamed in rage as her beloved .50 caliber M2 machine gun disappeared under the feet of the sea of Infected pressing forward.

"YOU MOTHER F_CKERS!" Noa screamed as Hiromi ran back to the rest of the platoon as they fired all around him trying to cover him while Noa kicked and screamed and shouted epithets at the infected behind them, enraged that she had to leave her weapon behind after she had fought so hard to be able to man one again.

"YOU BETTER HOPE WE ALL GET KILLED TODAY IZUMI!" Sakaki roared as Hiromi ran by him still carrying Noa over his shoulder. "BECAUSE IF WE DON'T YOUR ASS IS MINE WHEN THIS IS OVER, YOU HEAR ME?"

Noa however, had not heard the gruff old Sergeant Major's threat, as she watched her beloved "Alphonse" being kicked around by the feet of the Infected.

"WAAAAAAH, ALPHONSE!" Noa wailed as Hiromi tossed her to the ground and then reloaded his weapon, and turned back to join the fight.

"SHE REALLY HAS AN UNHEALTHY ATTACHMENT TO THAT WEAPON OF HERS!" Kumagami yelled as she fired her pistol at the crowd of Infected.

"YOU WOULD TOO IF YOU HAD BEEN ASSIGNED TO A CLIPBOARD SINCE BOOT, MA'AM!" Sergeant Major Sakaki said as he fired his shotgun into the horde, felling three of their number.

"GOOD POINT, SERGEANT MAJOR!" Kumagami shouted as she stopped to reload her pistol.

"IM OUT!" The new medic Kyoko Otonashi shouted as another trooper handed her a spare magazine, as she then quickly reloaded, and continued firing single-shot into the horde as the troopers tried to fall back.

"LAST MAG!" Shinohara heard Private Ota shout as he slapped the bolt catch on his rifle and continued his rate of fire.

"LIEUTENANT!" One of the men in Kumagami's platoon shouted. "THEY'RE CLOSING IN ON US!"

"OH SHIT!" The voice in Shinohara's mind screamed as he realized that the situation was now extremely grim with everyone in his command shouting that they were either running low on ammo or completely out altogether.

"Everyone's almost out of rounds and there's no exit!" Shinohara swore as the rest of the JSDF soldiers began to form up all around him, everyone preparing to make their last stand.

"AZUMA—CHANNNN!" Kumagami shouted to Azuma, still somehow managing to be flirtatious despite the fact that they had moments left to live. "I'M GETTING LOW ON ROUNDS!"

HOW LOW?!" Azuma shouted as he fired at an Infected woman wearing a rather skimpy outfit and blew the top of her head off.

"I always hated her singing." Azuma thought as the once famous J-pop singer fell to the ground.

"LAST MAG!" Kumagami shouted as she fired at a man in a tuxedo, blowing off the left side of his face as he continued to lurch forward.


"ME TOO!" Azuma shouted as he fired at another Infected and missed.


"F_CK ME." Sakaki said under his breath as he pumped the action of his now empty shotgun and then seeing that he was out, reversed the shotgun in his hands and clubbed the nearest Infected man's teeth, facial bones and cartilage into a bloody mess.

Cursing, Shinohara turned and took a quick look around his people trying to get a grasp of their situation and then realized with horror that they were all now as good as dead as some of his people like Sakaki, had also reversed their empty rifles and started using them as clubs, trying desperately to stay alive for even just a few precious seconds more.


Seeing their plight Shinohara turned around and fired at the horde attacking his men swinging their empty weapons, trying to keep the Infected off his people as long as he could until the slide of his pistol locked back.

Empty.

Cursing, Shinohara turned and took a quick look around his people trying to get a grasp of their situation and then realized with horror that they were all now as good as dead as some of his people like Sakaki, had also reversed their empty rifles and started using them as clubs, trying desperately to stay alive for even just a few precious seconds more.


LOCATION: ROOF TOP

"Fire." Chris calmly said to us as we all complied with his orders, finally glad to be doing what we were anticipating.

LOCATION: STREET LEVEL

"OH, SHIT." Shinohara moaned out loud as the world around him exploded in a hail of gunfire rained down from directly ABOVE them.


The sudden loud roar of weapons firing from somewhere above their heads and echoing all around drowned out the sounds of the loud moans of the Infected pressing in on the soldiers of "Echo" and "Delta" platoons as Shinohara and everyone els instinctively ducked as literally dozens of rounds tore into the Infected all around them.

The lethal mix of 5.56 and 7.62 rounds rained down upon the Infected like hail, blowing off chunks of flesh, separating limbs, and causing skulls to burst apart from the high velocity rounds that mangled flesh and sprayed blood everywhere as the infected simply came apart and fell heavily in heaps all around the helpless JSDF soldiers.

The weapons fire had lasted only a few seconds in reality but seemed to Shinohara to have lasted an eternity until finally, the firing stopped and a sudden heavy silence hung over the JSDF soldiers as they began to brush themselves off and breathed a sigh of relief at their narrow escape from death.

And as the JSDF soldiers stared in shock at the piles of bullet-shredded carcasses lying all around them, they all stood up and with ears still ringing from all the weapons fire, looked up towards the rooftops where the firing had come from and gasped at the sight of who their rescuers actually were.


Azuma-chan, we have company." Kumagami said tugging on Shinohara's shirt as Shinohara wiped the blood splashed across his face with his sleeve before opening his eyes and turned towards where Kumagami was gesturing.

"Oh shit, now WHO are THESE guys?" Shinohara said out loud as he looked up into the faces of perhaps a dozen heavily armed men standing on the roofs of the second floor buildings on both sides of the street.

They were a mean looking lot, and the Oakley sunglasses each man wore only made them seem even more intimidating as they stared down upon the helpless JSDF troopers who now no longer had a single round of ammunition between them.

Shinohara's eyes quickly scanned over each man, taking in every detail of the men who had saved them who were obviously NOT JSDF, all but one of them sporting beards, and dressed in a mixture of western style clothing and tactical gear, with no two of them dressed or equipped exactly alike.

Even their weaponry was a mixed variety, with most of the men carrying American-made, highly modified M4 carbines with at least a couple of them equipped with M203 grenade launchers attached underneath.

There were also two other men carrying M249 SAW light machine guns, and one man standing with a German made MP5 cradled in his arms, while Shinohara saw another man reloading an M60-E3 machine gun hanging on a sling.

And those men who were not reloading their weapons were slowly sweeping their weapons back and forth over the heads of Shinohara and his men ready to shoot any other threats that approached the JSDF troopers.

At least that's what Shinohara hoped they were doing as the M60 gunner charged his weapon and brought it back to his shoulder sweeping it back and forth like the others.


I placed my now empty magazine in the dump pouch located on the left side of my carrier resting on my waist.

"Well shit. How are we gonna take care of them if were barely holding on ourselves?" I thought as I slapped in a new magazine into my carbine.

As I was done reloading I scanned the area around them to look for any more threats finding it funny that all of the JSDF troopers who were just face to face with death are looking at us like were the eighth wonder of the world, and I didn't blame them a bit.

Now I bet they are just wondering just who the hell these bunch of gun toting, tough looking bunch of foreigners are doing saving the lives of around thirty JSDF troopers, let alone scaring the shit out of them in the process.

"Clear." I simply reported to Chris just as I heard the other guys say the same thing. As I scanned the area with my weapon I observed some of the JSDF troopers talking amongst each other while staring at us, no doubt trying to figure out who we are. I just gave a friendly smile and waved at them to show them we meant no harm which got no response.

Oh well. Can't say I didn't try.


"Okay." Chris started before the usual banter followed after the excitement of a firefight can wear off. The fact that this firefight was more of a shooting gallery, the normal rush of adrenaline and excitement that comes with getting shot at is left with muscle memory and target selecting. Something that we have done a million times already that it is automatic to the point where almost no thought is required other than which target is going to be next.

"Let's head over to J.R. to see what he wants us to do now." He barked as we all followed his lead down the ladder and to the rooftop where GREEN Team is located.


"My guess?" Kumagami replied in a whisper interrupting Shinohara's thoughts. From the way they're dressed and the variety of weapons they're carrying I'd venture to say that they're American Special Forces."

"I concur with Lieutenant Kumagami, sir." Sakaki said under his breath. Those beards and the weapons and gear those men are carrying are a dead giveaway that they're definitely not regular US Army."

"ARE ALL OF YOU PEOPLE, ALRIGHT?" The biggest man in the group called out in English interrupting them as Shinohara looked up at the sound of his voice.

The man was a giant. Broad-shouldered with a powerful chest and heavily muscled arms, the man had the appearance of a Viking, and just looking at the man Shinohara was glad that this man and the men with him were not hostile.

Hopefully.


"YES, WE ARE!" Shinohara shouted back in English as he glanced over at Kumagami. "THANK YOU FOR HELPING US, SIR! I'M LIEUTENANT AZUMA SHINOHARA AND THIS IS LIEUTENANT TAKEO KUMAGAMI OF THE JAPANESE SELF DEFENSE FORCE."

"OUR PLEASURE!" The big man called back. "NO PROBLEM LIEUTENANT, WE JUST HAPPENED TO HEAR YOUR WEAPONS FOIRE AND SAW YOUR SITUATION AND FIGURED YOU COULD USE A HAND!"

"Well that's an understatement." Kumagami said under her breath as Shinohara shot her a dirty look.

"THANK YOU AGAIN SIR, WE'RE IN YOUR DEBT!" Shinohara called back to the big man.

"BY THE WAY ARE YOU AMERICAN MILITARY BY CHANCE?" Shinohara asked ass he and the rest of the JSDF soldiers looked up at the heavily-armed man staring back at them behind his Oakley's shooting glasses.

"CAPTAIN JOHN ROSS WALLACE, U.S. ARMY SPECIAL FORCES, AT YOUR SERVICE, LIEUTENANT." The big man said after a moment's pause. "AND THESE MEN WITH ME ARE MEMBERS OF MY TEAM."


"You forgot to mention "retired", brother." Captain Chris Adkins, leader of BLUE team who was standing right next to the leader of GREEN team, whispered with a chuckle.

BLUE Team arrived and took up positions on the roof as soon as J.R. gave his false identity to the JSDF. I took a position facing the JSDF soldiers we just saved where most of the guys are, while a few took up flank and rear security. I spotted J.R. and GREEN Team off to our left along the roof talking amongst themselves with my team leader, Chris, joining them.

"Shut up Chris." Captain J.R. Wallace growled as Chris and all of the men standing on the roof around him chuckled as well. "They don't know that."

"Yeah, but what happens when they figure out the truth boss?" Glen, the former "Night-stalker" pilot said as he pulled the empty magazine of his MP5 and replaced it with one of his last few mags. "AND, that we're just about out of ammo ourselves?"

"There you go with them negative waves again, Glenn." Ben, the medic of BLUE Team said rolling his eyes. "Why don't you try to think positive once in a while, dude?"

"I AM thinking positively Benji, m'lad." Glenn said his voice filled with sarcasm. "And I strongly think that when our JSDF friends down there realize that we're not who we say we are and that were practically zip on ammo too, that were positively F_KED."

"Always the optimist, aren't you Glenn?" Chris said with heavy sarcasm as he looked back down on the battered group of JGSDF troopers staring back at them.

"What you wanna do now, brother?" Chris asked directing his question to J.R. as the big man gave a sigh. "We can't just leave them here all alone without any ammo and no way to defend themselves, bro."

"I know." J.R. said as he looked down at the two young officers staring back at them, waiting for some type of response.

"And we both know exactly what we were gonna end up doing the moment we decided to open fire and save that bunch of kids down there." J.R. replied as he pulled out the empty magazine in the magwell of his M4 and replaced it with another.

"You sure?" Chris asked as a thin smile formed on his lips. "Even if it means sitting out the rest of the zombie apocalypse in a Japanese prison after they find out who we really are?"

"I'd rather do that and be able to live with myself afterwards." The big man replied. 'turning my back on a bunch of scared kids without a means to defend themselves in this mess just doesn't sit well with me."

"Me neither." Chris admitted with a nod of his head.

"Just the same, the rest of the boys have a right to make their own choice." The former Delta Force Captain said. "So let's hear it."

"We were with you when you decided to turn around and help these people, boss." Patrick the explosives expert of GREEN team said. "we're with you now, no matter what happens."

"Same here." Ben the medic of BLUE Team said.

"Yup." Glenn growled in agreement.


"Okay guys, here's the deal." Chris, now with us, stated to us all on the roof while we all covered our own sectors while listening.

"We saved these kids so now J.R. wants a head count. He is gonna escort these JSDF guys to wherever they gotta be seeing that they are out of ammo. Now you guys have the right to choose what you all want to do, so I need you to think about this and sound off on what your gonna do and I will tell J.R. your decision."


I didn't even have to think about it. To me it was just how I was raised, if I was given the chance to help someone I took it. Now even in this zombie infested city, these JSDF guys needed our help now more than ever.

If I just said no and decide to take my chances, where could I go? It's not like I can find a way to the US with the world thrown into chaos.

They at least deserve that chance being that they are in their own country, in my mind that meant that they have more to lose than me, they have more at stake. They have a chance to save and even possibly see their loved ones. And so I was gonna protect all of them even if it means dying to save one of them.


"I'm staying, Chris." I answered him simply while bringing the shemagh down off my nose and mouth while keeping it wrapped over my neck. It was starting to get hot sitting on the rooftop.

I lowered my weapon seeing that there was nothing in our immediate area I thought I could relax a little as the guys gave their answers.

Next to give his word was Bobby. "I'm staying with y'all." He said with a wiry grin across his face.

"I know you guys would never forgive me if the one Marine had to leave you guys to get lost. I'm with you." Marcus replied with heavy sarcasm, giving his decision immediately after Bobby's.

Doug was the next to speak. "I'm staying."

"Ya, I'm staying with J.R. I have had no reason not to trust him before, I have no reason to not trust him now." Glenn was last to give his word.


And like that, we all showed our dedication and commitment we had for each other's wellbeing. We all came from different backgrounds, hometowns, military branches and even different units, but we would all protect and even die for each other. That's the way we are, and with the way the world is right now it can use some good of some people helping one another.

Each man would stay with the team.


"These guys are great." I thought with a grin, happy to be doing some good again. That's all I have asked for, just a chance to bring some light into darkness.


AUTHORS NOTES

I hope you guys have enjoyed the first chapter of "Sua Sponte" as much as I enjoyed writing it!

The reason I made this story was because ever since High school I have always wanted to write some story. I just felt compelled to make something that I can be proud of and look back on it and say, "I made this… Wait. I made this? That's sweet!" I wanted to use my imagination to make my own creation that others can enjoy.

Now for what inspired me to write this was "firemanjim" and his story here on named "Last Alarm". If you want a good read, then look it up and enjoy. I HIGHLY recommend it, and being that this is an extension of his story you will get more out of this if you read his story first. While both of these stories are connected, Jim gets separated and meets up with the cast of "Highschool of the Dead" while "Sua Sponte" is about the teams trying to survive this horror.

Now compared to Jim's character where it's a direct reflection of himself. I had to change myself to be able to fit in the story. Im sure a PMC would not hire a 139 pound high school grad who works at Walmart and does volunteer firefighting on his free time. Which I do plan on doing firefighting full time, I just need to get my certifications first.

I do wish to show the US Army rangers as realistically as I can without going overboard with reality, or giving too little credit.

Since this is my first story I would greatly appreciate it if y'all would kindly review or even PM me on how horrible or good I did writing. And if anyone thinks I did horrible I would love if you can also suggest how I can make it better.