David groggily bean to awake to the smell of frying bacon and eggs. What a deal this condo had been, not only did it rent, cheaply, by the week, but he missed the free breakfasts on the contract. He rolled over and felt the soft, satin sheets rub against his body. This triggered his memory. He was not at his condo, he was cut off from the world due to an explosion, and he had committed fraternization after asking for a soda. He sighed and laid back, trying to block the bad parts of last night, like seemingly mindless injured people attacking innocents, from his mind. He the good parts, like how he had gotten here.

"Hey slug, it's time to get up!" Heather yelled from the other room.

"Alright, I am coming." He said as he grabbed his boxers and slid them on. Then he walked out of the small bedroom into the light of the living area and attached kitchen. David shielded his eyes momentarily and walked toward the kitchen. Heather was wearing his uniform shirt and looking damn cute he thought. He took the plate and looked over at the clock. It was seven forty-five AM, 2 hours to the admiral. "Hey", he said, "try not to get anything on that. I gotta see the Admiral in two hours."

Suddenly, she pulled the shirt over her head, throwing it on the dining room table. His eggs forgotten, David followed into the bedroom.

Two hours later David was waiting outside Admiral Simms office. The admirals reception area prominently displayed both the command's and the Admiral's various achievements. David was particularly fascinated with the generic-looking certificate of completion of the Navy's nuclear power program. Dated two years ago, the Admiral must have wanted to command an aircraft carrier. David paced the room looking for a flight history, the second prerequisite to command. On the opposite wall he found commendations for the then commander in the first gulf war. He had walked over to look closer at a meritorious unit citation when the phone on the yeoman's desk rang. The yeoman picked up the receiver, said a quick "yes sir" and then replaced the receiver. "The admiral will see you now, ensign." The yeoman said to David.

A quick "Thank you." and David turned the knob and walked into the office.

It was exactly what he had imagined. Mahogany wood paneling covered the walls. The floors were the same nylon tile as throughout the entire base, but buffed to an unthinkable shine. The walls were covered with scale replicas of various aircraft and ships. Getting up from behind a large wooden desk was the admiral. "Anderson" he said reaching out his hand. David grasped it and shook firmly.

"Good Morning Adm--"

"Save the pleasantries. I want to tell you that you did a damn fine job last night. I sent some structural engineers out to the bridge and they confirm what you reported. You had no advance notice, and the team you used worked with you seamlessly with you as officer in charge. As far as what you saw with the infected, I am impressed with both you and your team. This infection or whatever it is, should never have to be seen by anyone."

The admiral sat down and motioned David to do the same. "Did you watch any news before it went to the Emergency Broadcast? People tearing people apart. Biting, scratching, clawing for no good reason. Civilian authorities were clueless how to stop or even contain it!" The admiral grabbed a cigar out of a humidor behind him and popped it into the corner of his mouth. "Listen," he chewed,"we are one of the last safe areas in the United States. There is an airbase in South Dakota that has fortified and kept safe, as well as a submarine base in Washington. That's it officially besides the president's and congresses bunkers. Hell, half of them got infected in the beginning. So, as you can see we are in a precarious situation."

This comes to you and your team. As you probably surmised by my asking you if you were stationed here last night, I have some security questions with my own people. I have no proof, but what I can have is outside verification. That is where your team comes into play. As of right now you are the commanding officer of the Rapid Intelligence Program. Your team from last night will be reassigned to your command. Your office will be next to this office, and you report directly to me. Is that understood?"

"Yes Sir" David said rather excitedly.

"Do get too excited, I am a prick to work for just ask my yeoman." He smirked "Your official duty will to be my eyes, ears and hands if needed. You are on call twenty four seven as is your team. Oh, I almost forgot," the admiral opened his drawer, pulled out a small plastic packet with metal jingling inside. He then tossed the bag to David," you will need a bit more clout if you are representing me. Consider this a battlefield promotion, Lieutenant. David looked at the bars with disbelief.

"Thank you sir" David stammered.

"You're welcome. Now I expect you in your office tomorrow seven to four like the rest of us. Uniforms will be BDU's, you may have to interact with these infected at times, you need the best uniform you can. Now, my yeoman has all the paperwork and will get you up to speed on your office, Do you have any questions?"

"How do I contact you in the field, my cell doesn't work and this is the colonels" He showed the phone from last night.

"Keep it, I am sure the Colonel already has a new one."

"Yes Sir, I have no other questions."

"Good, then you are dismissed."

"Aye Aye Sir," and David left the room.

As David walked back into the waiting area the yeoman grabbed his arm. He had to sign for his promotion, he had to sign for his orders to his new command, in the Navy it seemed you were always signing your life away. The yeoman then led him out of his office to the adjacent one one the left. He opened the door to what appeared to be a classroom. But one that hadn't been used in a good five years. "Looks like a field day is in order."

"Yes Sir," the yeoman replied,"the cleaning closet is right across the hall. Here are the keys to your, "with a tv announcers diction, "brand new car!" He tossed the keys to David.

"Cute" David said, "is there anything else I need?"

"Not much, just be here seven to four unless you are out in the field. Oh, and look busy, the Admiral hates it when people sit on their asses and do nothing."

"Thanks for the head's up, I guess I'll see you tomorrow." With that David turned and walked down the hallway. He stopped in the men's room to put his bars on. Luckily, no one came in so that he didn't have to explain why lieutenant bars were replacing his butter bars. David looked in the mirror, noting the bags under his eyes and the worried look on his face. Yesterday he was drinking beer on the beach in the keys, now he is commanding officer of the dark acronym RIP squad. Oh, and don't forget he is sleeping with his second in command. Let's also not forget why this all happened. The world has been taken over by human monsters and he lives in the last bastion of humanity. He splashed a little water on his face, rubbed it in with his hands, and walked out of the restroom.

Leaving the administration building, David made his way across base to the Nex. His head was swimming, the Rapid Intelligence Program, wow. Hey ma! Look at me now.

A single tear rolled down his cheek as he thought about his parents. Shaking it off, he kept moving toward his goal.

David reached the Nex, grabbed the few sets remaining in his size, some subdued collar insignia, and a new pair of boots. Thinking of his new vocation, he also grabbed a 4 D cell Maglight with belt holster and a sd card video camera. The camera was cheap but it had TV out and had to be better than the cell camera. Besides, I am paying for the damn thing, he thought to himself. Happy with his score, he made his way to his Jeep. As he approached, He decided that with all that had happened, the rented Jeep was now his, and had a rare chuckle. Tossing his score in the back, mind back on business, he jumped in the driver's side, started the Jeep and drove toward the condo.

The condo was just as he left it. He walked in the living area, thew down his uniforms, then flipped on the tv. There was nothing on but information from the base, curfew times, explanation of martial law. David sat down in an easy chair opposite the tv. How did this all happen? What about those people on the bridge, what caused them to become monsters. How could they not feel their injuries? He was tor away from his thoughts by the ring of the cell phone.

"Lieutenant Anderson speaking." He said after fishing the phone out of his pocket and flipping it open.

"Anderson, this is Admiral Simms. I have an assignment for your team. II want four of your team members of a Sea King at 10 hundred hours. Additionally, I need the other four for a special assignment."

"Yes sir," David said, actively listening.

"There is an Ohio-Class nuclear submarine that radioed a mayday earlier today. They were on maneuvers in the Gulf of Mexico when the crew started acting crazy. I want you there and armed to assist."

The irony was not lost on David, who in two weeks was scheduled to report to an Ohio-Class boat. "Sir, what time is the boat supposed at moorings?"

"Eleven hundred hours"

"