Stand by, Stand by, Stand by, Go


Davies watched in morbid fascination as the spider web like fractures in the glass, bloomed outwards, the mass of writhing un-dead bodies sliding against the slick glass.

The glass distended as Davies watched, the with a soft popping crack, that for all the tension in the room as disappointingly anticlimactic, the glass, broke.

Zombies poured into the room like water from a fish tank, sliding over one another as those beneath were pulverised, or sliced to pieces by the razor edged glass.

Calmly Davies quickened his backwards retreat, as he lined up shot after shot on any Zombie who was mobile enough to shuffle its way to its feet.

Grabbing hold of the thick oak door leading to the employ only section of the post office he swung the door shut, turning the key in the lock as he did so.

Leaning against the aged and slightly weather door, Davies struggled to get his breath back to normal, as he rested a false sense of security lulled him into inactivity, resting his head against the cool smooth surface he closed his eyes drinking in the still quietness of the corridor.

His eyes snapped open as the door heaved behind him, guttural moans bleeding through the woodwork as he jumped away.

The door shook as more and more of the cadaverous invaders threw themselves against the unyielding surface before them.

"So this is why he set it up, clever staff"

Davies had to appreciate the simplicity of the plan, putting expert professionals and regular soldiers into a situation where one group is of a better mental preparedness than the other, introduced hunger, thirst and a persistent enemy.

Then into the mix throw sleep deprivation caused by said enemy, you instantly get a fight or flight situation compounded by the innate sense of wrong caused by the 'Enemy' being walking corpses and the regular soldiers inability to process the situation.

All of this accomplished by thirty nine buildings and the soldiers placed in them.

Shaking his head he turned and raised is side arm again aiming dead centre of the door, he began to slowly back down the corridor.

Reaching the rear door of the building he was pleased to see the rest of the team in a defensive formation waiting for his arrival, in any other situation standard operating procedure mandated that any one on rear guard or who fell behind stayed behind for the sake of the rest of the team.

But this was different.

"We have four minuets to reach the helo, otherwise we are stuck in country for an undetermined duration"

The others nodded as Roberts slowly stuck his head round the corner and watched the Zeds clamour through the front of the building, "Right there is a information sign at the top of this street, I can see it from here, Jones your the smallest and fastest here, make it to the sign and find out where Station Road is"

Nodding the five foot nine corporal sprinted away, diving into the shadows of the alley way before making his way to the sign, Jones was wary of being out in the open like he was, although the Zeds had no teeth that was of little comfort to the diminutive soldier, the chance of secondary infection through saliva, blood, or cuts and grazes were all to real.


Staring at the sign he couldn't help but laugh, drawing not only strange glances from his team mates but the attention of a nearby walker.

The creature shambled towards the unaware trooper as he took in the details of the board before him.

Jones drank in the signs route as he plotted the teams course, as he stared at the polished surface a glimmering shape took his attention for a split second, then the smell hit him, the decaying stench of dead flesh and foetid offal, his stomach lurched as it invade his olfactory sense's.

In the seconds it took for the creature to amble another half foot, Jones's hand snapped down the hilt of his combat dagger and in one smooth arcing motion the blade slid through the lower pallet of the beast slicing its tongue in two, the blade surged upwards propelled not only by the strength of Jones's muscular frame but also the almost semi-liquid decomposing tissue that seemed to lubricate the passing slab of tempered steel.

Slicing up through the upper pallet of its mouth and deep into the lower cortex of the creatures brain, Jones watched in morbid satisfaction as any remaining signs of 'life' left the thing before him.

Dragging the blade free he grabbed a hand full of the things shirt and callously wiped the knife clean before releasing the creature and watching it hit the floor with a dull thud.

Jones made it back tot he group without any further incident, dropping to one knee he softly whispered the route and what he thought would be the quickest option.

"Right way I see it our best option is to find a way up on to the roofs of the opposite row and dead sprint along them, the street we need is actually at the far end of the road here, but with all the Zeds between us and it, well I don't think we have enough ammunition to take them all down, thanks to Johnny come lately and the parachute bunch"

Davies smiled at the quip,his grin expanding ever wider when he saw the look of disgruntled annoyance on the paratroopers face's, nodding in agreement with Jones he turned to the others looking at Sharp for confirmation.

"Sounds ok to me, one question though Jones"

The trooper raised an eyebrow at the other man, "What's up boss"

Sharp let a small smile curl his lips as he prepared his answer, "How we getting up there"

Jones simply pointed upwards in reply.

Nodding in appreciation, Sharp stood, "Not bad Jonesy, not bad at all, Right boys, high and tight, up the telegraph pole on the double"

the seventeen men scrambled to the eighteen inch wide post en-mass, Davies leaping upwards, latched his hands round the post as he planted his feet against it, then in a jerking shuffle quickly shimmied upwards.

The rest of the team followed in quick succession and one by one made the tense two minuet over hand run along the high tension cables to the roof.

Davies scuttled to the roof edge, glancing over it he blanched at the sight below; the roadway was awash with the mass collective necrosis that was the un-dead horde, forcing the bile and viscous vomit back down his throat he turned to the others.

"Do yourselves a favour lads don't look down there"

Davies slightly paled face betrayed the reason to the rest who drawn by simple curiosity clambered to the edge of the roof only to as one recoil in sheer disgust at what lay below.

The writhing mass of dead flesh seemed to glisten in the sunlight that bathed the mass of dead below, the twisting arms and snapping jaws made the tableau below all the more disgusting.

Pulling back from the edge the men checked their gear over.

The belt and vest kit they wore was the latest in tactical assault equipment combining, body armour, climbing harness, ammunition and storage pouches into one light weight rig designed specifically for the unit.

"Ok boys, one at a time, hook up and zip across to the opposite roof, double time it gentlemen we are running against the clock here"

Stepping up onto the raised edge of the roof Davies hoisted himself up and snapped the Carabiner over the high tension wire, then slowly hand over hand made the tense and arduous journey into the void.

His legs hung limp below him dragging down, pulling him deeper into the harness making it bite into the backs of his thighs and inner leg as he dragged himself hand over hand along the wire.

The Carabiner clicked over the spun threads of steel sending a steady vibration through him, that sliced a little more off his nerves the further he travelled gritting his teeth he pushed on.

Moving out head first along the cable, Davies dropped his head backwards feeling the blood rush into his sinuses making his head pound as he pulled himself out along the line.

His hands felt slick inside the cotton lined leather tactical gloves he wore, reaching his left hand up he curled his fingers round the cable just as his right gave out and slipped his grip vanishing in an instant.

Every fibre in his being tensed at that one moment where his irrational mind seized control and he waited for the soul crushing impact of his fifteen stone body slamming into the concrete below.

Looking up he saw he was still firmly attached buy his harness, sighing and cursing himself he reached up once more, grasping the cable and pulled himself ever further onward.

The moans and gnashing teeth did nothing to sooth his shattered nerves, he knew one more slip, one minor failure by him or his kit and he was as good as dead.

He had no problem dying, he just wanted it to be fore a reason not some stupid training mistake, to many good lads had lost it that way, he wasn't going to add to the list.

A wave of relief washed over him as he felt his feet graze the raised edge of the roof.

Turning his attention to the men across the way he grinned as he hoisted himself up and unsnapped the Carabiner letting himself drop the two feet back to solid ground.

Waving his hand above his head fingers splayed open in the all's safe gesture Davies waited for the rest to follow him across, turning Davies drew his Browning from its holster and stepped away from the wall, something was nagging him a small sliver of trepidation was worming its way up his spine and he just couldn't for the life of him figure out why.


Sharp saw the movement and immediately stopped the others from moving off, Fisher paused hanging on the wire like a dried salami as he watched Davies cautious advance across the roof, swinging his legs up he locked his ankles over the cable taking the pressure off his harness; despite it being rated for in excess of double his weight he knew it was bad practice to rely solely on that for safety.

Nervously he raised his arm to his face and checked the chrono timer on his watch, three minuets left until the chopper left without them and still sixteen men and over a quarter of a mile to cover, grinding his teeth together he swallowed a frustrated curse and resigned himself to waiting.

Mariani and Roberts exchanged nervous glances as Davies continued his sweep of the roof, they watched as Davies spun and dropped to one knee, his gun barking three well aimed quick shots, two walkers falling face first from a door way exit near him, "MOVE IT NOW, WALKERS COMING UP THE STAIRS EVERY ONE ACROSS NOW"

Davies echoing voice jerked an immediate response from them all, as Fisher sprang back to life hauling himself across the cable so quickly that his harnesses clip mount began to smoke slightly from the friction, the other sixteen men followed in rapid concession not bothering to wait for the rest to unclasp before jumping on and hauling themselves across.

Fisher dropped to a knee beside Davies his Browning up and firing before he had even said a word.

"How long we got Sam"

without breaking rhythm Fisher responded, "Two minuets thirty by my count then we are well and truly Fucked, Mag Change"

Fisher dropped the clip from his pistol, smoothly sliding another home in a well practised precise motion.

"That going to be enough time, we got about seven more boys to get over here, Mag out"

Fisher shrugged as he fired sending the shot off target slightly and watched as it hit the Zed beside the one he aimed at, "Possibly or we are going to be jumping to a moving Chopper"

Davies groaned as he fired off another three rounds dropping two Zeds and incapacitating another, he cringed slightly as he watched the round blast through the creatures throat and severe its spine; the Zed hit the floor, jaws snapping open and closed as its compatriots trod it into the floor.

Glancing over his shoulder he watched the last of the men un-hook himself from the cable and drop to the floor, "Right boys time to move", Davies snapped a shot of catching a walker in the head he watched in morbid fascination as the top of its skull vanished exposing the still semi function grey matter, the zombie stumbled slightly but stayed up right the glazed dead eyes stared balefully forwards as the unfortunate animated corpse was pushed aside by its fellows, as it was now seemingly unable to move, but unfortunately still very much cognizant of its un-dead life.

Turning on his heel Davies began to make a fast track to the three meter jump to the next roof top, but was stopped short when he heard the familiar retort of a nine millimetre Browning.

Turning his head in the direction of the noise he saw Fisher still on one knee desperately holding back the tide of un-dead, slipping his hand through the drag hoop of Fishers harness he pulled the soldier to his feet, "Come on Soldier WE ARE LEAVING", Fisher shook his head, a severe sense of De ja vu taking hold of him as he was pushed to the leading edge of the roof top.

Both men leapt the gap, time seeming to hang still as they sailed through the air, the Zeds behind them reaching out in desperation, Fisher glanced back to see several pitch head first into the void between the buildings.

Davies watched the flat grey expanse of tarmac covered roof top as it rushed up to meet his descending body, he went limp tucking his legs into his chest as he hit the floor. Rolling over his shoulder Davies was up and running before Fisher had even landed, seconds later Fisher was sprinting to his side, the howling faded as both men continued running flat out to catch the rest of team.

The eighteen man Squad stopped as one as they hit the far side of the final house, as thirty six eyes stared out at what lay before them time seemed to stand still in awe of the scene.

"Are they, is that" Kerr seemed lost for words as he stared into the sea of dead flesh, the entire intersection was awash with the un-dead, in the midst of it all sat the CH-178 helicopter, the rotors turning lazily as the pilot watched in detached boredom the milling mass of dead beyond the concrete and chain link barrier that surrounded the heliport.

"No way we are getting through that lot"

Turning to rest Sharp shook his head, "Kerr is right, we aren't getting through this lot, any ideas Lads, we have"

He pulled up his sleeve and stared at his watch, "one minuet twenty until he clears out and we are stranded"

Simultaneously Sheperd and Williams stepped forwards, a set look of utter finality painted on their stern features.

"We will draw them off, run interference among them and get a path open for the rest of you, we can make another three days here easy, its my fault your in this mess any way and Sheperd is our main path finder, so me and him will be fine, just drop us all the ammunition you can spare and we should be good"

The rest of the men opened their mouths to protest the decision as Williams raised his hand silencing them, "No questions, no comments this is a done deal, as I said this is my fault so you lot have no say, Sheperd is staying with me dunno why but he is, so where's the mags lads"

As Williams finished speaking a rising roar was heard as the sixteen team members opened the pouches of their vests the Velcro pulling apart as they dumped out their remaining magazines.


Williams and Sheperd watched the ever increasing pile appear at their feet, then as if a switched was flipped the pair scrambled like mad, stuffing the magazines into the pouches on their stomachs and chests, looking at the others they nodded short curt acknowledgements and turned to leave.

Stepping forwards, Davies stopped the two men, "Here take this" he held out his own pistol to Williams, as he glanced left and saw Woodrow do the same with Sheperd, "Give them hell"

With that Williams grinned cocked both pistols and left the roof top, the sixteen strong fire team didn't have to wait long for the show to start as both men burst from the doors below.

Williams and Sheperd burst through the doors like men possessed their pistols raised, flashes of light bursting before them as they fired emptying the clips in seconds, snapping their hands down they pistols were loaded and brought to bare so quickly that the one left watching couldn't even follow the movement.

They sliced through the mass of dead before them, the body's forming a path way of death as they cut they way through, Sheperd grinned as he fired a quote coming to him as he pushed ever onwards.

"Hey Williams ever heard the saying 'The road to hell is paved by the souls of the Damned'"

Williams glanced at his friend and shrugged, "Yeah don't know where from though, myself I prefer the one from Dante's inferno"

Sheperd nodded, "Abandon all hope all ye who enter?"

Williams shook his head, "Nah mate, Canto three lines fourteen and fifteen,"

Sheperd grinned and nodded as the men spoke in unison, "Here one must leave behind all hesitation; here every cowardice must meet it's death."

Sheperd glanced back at his friend, "Surprised I know that?"

Williams laughed the harsh bark surprising his companion, "A little, which were you"

"Cambridge, was studying medicine and English literature and language before I signed up as a medic, what about you"

Williams barked out a harsh laugh again, "Oxford, wanted to be a language teacher, but didn't quite make the bar, so I opted for a translator in the army, then paras caught my attention and here I am"

All through the conversation neither man had stopped their onslaught, spent magazines littered the path of the dead behind them as they pushed ever onwards.

Sharp, Davies and Woodrow watched the two men cut their path of destruction through the enemy, "Wow", was the only word uttered as they watched the two man fire team cut through the layers of dead like a blowtorch through butter.

They stood silent, ever watchful, patience although waning was held in check as they watched the mass of running and shuffling corpses, disappear off after the two men.

Taking their cue they made their way down the stairs and out into the crossroads below, the chopper pilot was still stood boredom plain in his features the Marlborough cigarette hung from his bottom lip, a wisp of the tar filled smoke curling up into the crystal blue sky.

He silently watched the sixteen remaining trainees sprint across the open ground towards him, reaching up he drew on the cigarette one last time before flicking the glowing paper covered stick of tobacco away, the embers glowing and drifting off it in a rainbow of orange sparks as the cigarette spun end over end, to land with a soft hiss in a small puddle ten feet away.

Turning he climbed into the cockpit of the helicopter and began to fully power up the machine.

The team scrambled up the chain link fence like ants over a cake, flipping over the top of the reinforced wire and landing in a short crouch before sprinting for the doors of their ride to freedom.

Hopping into the co pilots seat, Davies donned the headset and dialled in the radio before glancing over at the pilot who ignored him completely.

"Oi Twat, you going to give us any sign of actually being at home or what, we need to radio through to base plate and let them know we still have men in the field"

The pilots head languidly pivoted in the direction of Davies voice, as Woodrow and Sharp, ushered their men into the helicopter.

In a voice laced with boredom and a slightly Cornish lilt, the pilot replied, "Fine, fine, channel three four three authorisation code, nine ten six three, Alpha, Romeo, Delta, ask for Colinson call sign Vatican he is the section chief, only one higher than Baker despite Ranks, Baker is overall head of the task force.

Now if you gentlemen don't mind I am going to take off and get us out of here, my dinner is getting cold"

As the pilot began to push the helicopter to take off speed a browning nine millimetre appeared beside his head the muzzle pressing painfully into the man's skull just above his eye socket, "We, my son, aren't going anywhere until we are told to, do you get me sunshine?"

The pilot mutely nodded as Hooper pulled the pistol away his left hand gently tapping the man flight suit covered shoulder.

"Good lad, now sit there and be quite while we wait for the call"

Colinson sat at his desk the neatly prearranged piles of paperwork sitting in front of him, inwardly sighing he reached up and took the first sheaf of papers from the stack, "Damned stuff will be the death of me"

he subconsciously run a slim yet masculine hand through his combed onyx black hair, as he stared at the title on the docket he held.

He pulled out a stamp from his bureau draw and pushed it into the red inked pad, sighing he once more flipped open the folder, the picture of Jefferson stared up at him, the square jawed Glaswegian was one of the original members of the BZTF and as much as Colinson hated to admit it one of its first casualties.

The red stamp came down and imprinted the crimson ink across the A five image of Jefferson, DECEASED, snapping the file closed Colinson set it aside with a very heavy heart.

Picking up the next he felt the salt sting of tears beginning.

Flipping it open he stared into the face of yet another former comrade, stamping he snapped it shut and set it aside one after another he stamped and snapped them closed until all eighteen folders were finished he moved over to the second set.

A small smile graced his face as he flipped them open picking up the second stamp from his bureau he set it against the ink pad.

"Feels better don't it"

Colinson jumped slightly as he looked up, standing in the door leant nonchalantly against the frame was Sergeant Tufo, shoving himself off the door frame Tufo strolled into the room.

"These boys are going to be good, can guarantee you that not seen a finer lot since we had Jefferson and his lot, what were they designated Templar weren't it"

Colinson nodded at Tufo as he watched the man pull the chair out from the front of the desk, dropping into it he placed his booted feet on the top of the desk.

Colinson stared at the photo infront of him, inking the stamp he pushed it against the page, the box at bottom blazing with crimson red letters.

APPROVED, nodding in appreciation Colinson snapped the folder closed and dropped it into the filing cabinet next to the desk.

Pinching the bridge of his nose he leant back in his chair, shifting slightly he smiled staring at Tufo, "So Sergeant to what do I owe the pleasure"

"We have a call coming through on the secure line, they're asking for you, its S.A.U Relic and the R.R.T team, they apparently have two men still in the field, so they want to know their next move"

Colinson nodded again, "I see"

shifting in his seat Colinson rose to his six foot height and strode across the room, sliding open a teak panel he pulled out a digital radio receiver.

"Vatican calling Relic, this is Vatican calling Relic, respond Relic"

Davies placed his hand to the button on the panel, "Vatican this Relic, we have men in the field, permission to retrieve missing men and evacuate back to Olympus"

Colinson turned from the radio, looking at Tufo he searched for an answer, the man simply shrugged, "Don't look at me mate, its your call, you are Vatican after all"

Colinson nodded, "Fine" pressing down on the transmit button he spoke into the microphone, "Relic this is Vatican, Permission granted, bring our boys home"

Tufo grinned, "Told you they were good, Jefferson's lot didn't have this level of skill or tenacity, it was what did them in out in Africa, that and fact it was a miss diagnosed level four the walked into, these boys on the other hand, well, you'll see"

Colinson gave him a slightly sceptical look.

Tufo smiled knowingly as he stood up, "See ya later Colinson, the rest of us are heading down the pub later, I'll leave a pint for you at the bar"

Colinson smirked, "See you there"

With that Tufo turned tipping a sarcastic salute as he strode out the room, whistling Widespread Panics song Pilgrim to himself.