Highschool of the dead: The British Outbreak

Chapter 7: tick, click, boom

Fireteam Viking

Chester City Centre
Chester safezone

Z-day + 28
09:27

Once breakfast and the morning briefings had been completed, Viking headed out into town, heading for the airsoft shop Jason had told them. They left the barracks and crossed town, turning off the main street and onto a back street. They came to a shop, but the windows were blocked by a corrugated steel shutter. The shop sign read 'Yates' Airsoft, Re-Enactment and shooting shack'.

"It looks like their closed," said Fred, slightly disappointed.

"Or they were never open," said Akio emotionlessly. Jason shook his head.

"No," said Jason, "Paul lived in a flat above the shop." Jason walked up to the shop door and knocked loudly on the door.

There was no answer so Jason knocked again.

"Mr. Yates?" he called. "Open up!"

"Go away!" called a voice from inside. Jason chuckled.

"Paul you damn sloth! Open up!" He shouted.

"Who... That you Jason?"

"Who else you barmy trollop? Get down here!"

A moment or two later, the door was unlocked and a middle aged man with blond hair and a grown out and untidy beard appeared at the door.

"Come in dude," said Yates. "Good to see you made it." He offered a fist.

"Likewise mate," said Jason, fist bumping his friend. "This is my fireteam. Akio, Alex and Fred. We need some new gear, and you got the best in town."

"Well then come on in." Said Paul. He moved aside and let them into the shop. Yates flipped a light switch and the lights came on.

"What the..?" said Alex as the lights came on. "I thought power was out for the city except the hospital, the town hall and parts of the castle."

"Solar cells on the roof," said Yates.

"Paul was one of those cupboard doomsday preppers," explained Jason. "He's even got a bomb shelter in the basement." He perused the shelves of military kit. He turned to Yates.

"Anyway mate. We need some woodland DPM combat kit and some MOLLE vests, pouches. We each got our own needs."

"Ok," said Yates. "I see what you mean. Have a look around in front and out back. What do you need?"

"I need a DPM vest or chest rig with room for STANMAG's, kit and some MOLLE pouches for me to put mags for my sniper rifle on it," said Jason. "Got anything like that?"

"I got just the thing," said Yates, "It's not DPM, but it's got everything else."

"Let's see it," said Jason. Yates smiled and retreated back into the store room. He returned a few moments later with a chest rig. It was dark green, with 5 single mag pouches along the front with quick release fasteners and a MOLLE along the front. It also had 2 utility pouches with MOLLE mounts at the side.

"You had the old TT MK2 M2 Rig didn't you?" asked Yates. Jason nodded.

"Well this is the Tasmanian Tiger Chest Rig MK 2 M5. It features: 2 adjustable padded straps with quick release, 2 multipurpose pockets, fold out pockets for armour plating if you have it, 5 STANMAG pouches with toggle quick release, and all the MOLLE mounts you could need."

"Sounds good mate," said Jason, taking the rig. "My old M2 served me well. The only differences are the extra mag pouch and toggle release instead of Velcro right?" Yates nodded.

"I'll take it," said Jason. "The open back means I can wear my webbing as well and carry a patrol bag. Cheers mate."

"Anytime bro," said Yates. "Anything else you guys need?"

"Yeah," said Jason. "You got any woodland DPM gear?" Yates smirked.

"Oh yeah," he said. "Follow me." He led Jason to the back room, which like the front was filled with racks of combat uniforms, airsoft and deactivated guns and boxes of other combat gear. He led him over to a rack of woodland DPM UBACS and fatigues.

"I got these in just before it all went tits up out there. These are the same cut as the army's MTP PCS fatigues and UBACs, making them comfortable, but printed with DPM woodland," said Yates. "Is this what you had in mind?"

"Better," said Jason. "You got my sizes right?"

"Yup."

"Ok. I'll take 2 trousers, UBACS and fatigue tops in my sizes, and I'll send my guys each in to get some in their sizes."

"Got it dude," said Yates.

"And mate," said Jason as he turned to his friend. "Thanks for this."

"I ain't doin' it for free," said Yates, laughing slightly. "You best have something to trade."

"Oh don't worry we do," promised Jason. He returned into the main shop and helped his team pick out gear. After over an hour of perusing, they eventually each settled on some gear. Fred picked out another of the same chest rigs as Jason along with a mag dump pouch that would loop around his belt and some extra pistol mag pouches. He also picked out a water bladder to complete his load our.

Alex had gone for a Woodland DPM Osprey MK 3 vest she found, and rigged it up with as many utility and medic pouches as she could fit onto it. Normally this would have compromised the number of magazines she could carry, but Yates had found some double STANMAG pouches for her to use to make up for it. She also found some Velcro backed medic badges to wear.

Akio's kit however was the most specialised. She picked out a lightweight vest, using double mag pouches to keep the amount of weight she was carrying on her upper body down; she planned to use her webbing to carry the rest. But one thing she did pick out was a Vietnam style machete that she found with a MOLLE compatible scabbard. She attached it to the vest's back so she could grab it easily from her shoulder.

As well as his vest, Jason also picked up some rubber magpuls, some velcro backed badges such as blood type and a subdued Union Jack. After they gathered everything they wanted, they gathered at the counter with Yates.

"Well that is a lot of stuff," said Yates. "Hope you've got stuff to trade."

"We do," said Jason. He swung his patrol bag from its place on his shoulder, as did Akio. They opened them up and brought out 3 white cardboard boxes. Mr. Wilson crocked an eyebrow so Jason opened one. Inside were dozens of plastic vials filled with blue liquid.

"100 vials of shower gel," said Jason as he opened a second box of exactly the same contents. He opened the third; it was the same except the vials contained white liquid. "And 50 of shampoo. All scavenged from a hotel we bunked in a few nights ago."

Yates considered the offer, before shaking his head. "Sorry. But all together this is over a thousand pounds worth of gear. I'm gonna need more than that."

"Ok," said Jason. He pulled another box out of his bag. "Let's make it 100 shampoo vials."

"Still gonna need something more," said Yates.

"Ok then," said Jason, "How about this? We're going to spread the word about your excellent products and more soldiers will come, wanting gear. And they will have stuff to trade."

"Alright," said Yates, "What else you got." Jason sighed. He was starting to get annoyed at his old friend now.

"Guy's wait outside a minute," said Jason. The team all shared a glance before they exited the building, leaving Jason and Yates alone.

"Look mate," said Jason, "I've given you a fair trade offer."

"You and I both know you have access to guns and ammo Jason," said Yates, "Throw some 7.62 in there and we've got a deal."

"You know I can't do it," replied Jason. "But I can do something for you. I can keep your secret from the police and military." Mr. Yate's eyes went wide.

"I don't know what you're talking about..."

"Yes you do," Jason cut him off. "You and I both know some of those de-acs aren't all that deactivated are they? What do you think would happen if the military or the police were to find out about that? Answer. They'd take away everything and if they ever got through the walls. You'd be totally defenceless. So how about this? 100 shower gel and 50 shampoo as payment. Another 50 Shampoo as a sign of good faith. A share in other swag if and when we get some. And I don't blab about your secret stockpile of illegal guns. That sound like a good trade?"

"I'd say so," said Yates with a frown on his face. "But I would have accepted your offer anyway. I've known long enough to know you're a good customer and a man of your word. I'll give you the gear for that. Deal?"

"Deal," said Jason. The 2 men shook on it.

"I also need one more thing," said Jason, "have you still got that old 50's dog tag machine?"

"Old Bessie?" asked Yates. "Yeah still got her. You want some tags made?"

"Please," said Jason, "A set for each of my fireteam. I'll get you what they need stamping with."

"Ok," said Yates. "I can do that. On the house. And I'll throw in these." He picked up something from behind his desk and handed it to Jason. Inside was a set of 4 round velcro backed unit badges. Each bore a red radioactive symbol in the centre of the black circle. Around the edge in white writing were the words 'Zombie Outbreak Response Team.'

Jason laughed and accepted the gift. He called his team back in and told them the deal was done. They collected their gear and bags and departed after giving Yates the info they wanted on their dog tags. They returned to the barracks to finish kitting out their new gear.

Fireteam Viking

Special Operations Detachment operations room
Chester safezone

Z-day + 28
13:00

Fireteam Viking reported as ordered to the special operations detachment's operations room. From the outside it looked like any other briefing room in the castle, except the window was covered over. Jason knocked at the door.

"Come in," said a voice from inside. They opened the door and stepped in. The room featured a large table in the middle with chairs around it. On the table was a collection uniform, weapons and other gear as well as maps, some of which were also pinned up on the wall. Standing in the room was Staff Sergeant Sale.

"Ah, Fireteam Viking," he greeted, as he glanced down at his watch. "Right on time."

"Of course Staff," said Jason. He snapped to attention and his team followed suit. "Congrats on your promotion by the way."

"Likewise," said Sale. "Stand easy." He looked around Viking, noting their new DPM uniforms.

"Well I guess I won't have to issue you new DPM's. Where did you get those?"

"We know a guy," said Jason. "Although we do need smocks."

"Well I've got those. And I've got more kit for you." Said Sale. He picked up 4 pieces of paper "As special operations troops, you may be required to go undercover. So take these into town and get yourselves 2 sets of civvies, plain as you like. Now then, weapons." He moved over to a corner of the table.

"You'll keep you L85's for conventional duty, but for more covert operations, we have these." He picked up an M4 SOPMOD from a rack in the corner. "Each is fitted with a suppressor and a holographic sight. Feel free to put on any other accessories you wish but I'd advise you to keep it light and to a minimum." He put the M4 back on the rack.

"Now then, pistols." Sale continued. He moved to the table and removed a pistol from its holster and held it up to show. "Sig 226 tactical, each comes with a thread on suppressor. You'll be issued these instead of Glock's because of it."

Jason grumbled slightly. Sale smiled at him. "I know you love your Glock Jason, but let it go or keep it as backup. I used a Sig in Afghan and it never failed me."

"Ok..." groaned Jason. Sale had just the thing to pick him up.

"By the way Jason. As the detachment sniper, you get choice of your weapon for each mission, but I got this for you to use as your standard." Jason looked up as Sale picked up a large rifle bag and handed it to Jason. Jason took it and placed it down on the table. He opened it up and all sorrow at losing his Glock evaporated as he lifted his new rifle from its bag.

"An L115A3," Jason said happily.

"What's so special about it?" asked Akio, thinking Jason was over reacting. Jason smirked.

"The L115A3 rifle was developed by Accuracy International for the British Army. It's also known as the Arctic Warfare Magnum due to its .338 Lapua Magnum round which is fed from a 5 round box magazine. While it's stated as being able to provide effective fire up to a range of 1,500 meters. However the current record for the longest range sniper kill, at a range of 2,470 meters was achieved with this rifle by Corporal of Horse..."Sale cut him off.

"Alright, alright, you know your stuff." He said, "Jeez, you're a bigger gun nerd than our unit's Yank sniper in Helmand. Anyway, now I've got a briefing for you. Gather around the maps and grab a seat." The team moved to their chairs while Jason hung back a moment to put his new rifle back in its bag before settling at the table.

"Alright then," said Sale, suddenly a lot more serious than a few seconds ago. "This Special Operations Detachment has been set up to deal with hostile groups of survivors who threaten the safezone, its people, and interests beyond the wall. By means of clandestine observation, interdiction, and if necessary, direct action. You understand?"

Viking nodded. They understood the seriousness of their new assignment. Sale acknowledged their understanding and continued.

"Currently, the detachment consists of 3 fireteams; Yourselves, Fireteam Diamond and Fireteam Wolf. And our priority is the gathering of information on the group that attacked you."

The team sat up a little straighter. They had a burning desire to get back at the bastards who gassed them since that firelight.

"Have we gathered any information from the man we captured?" asked Jason. Sale nodded.

"We offered him a deal, and he squealed like the proverbial pig. The group is based at the Broughton safezone."

"I thought it was overrun," said Akio. Last they heard, the Broughton safezone, based in the Broughton retail park, had been overrun after some infected got in. The military had been meaning to mount a recon mission to the area to find out if it would be feasible to mount a large scale scavenger mission to the massive hypermarket and large department stores in the park, but thus far it hadn't happened.

"It was," said Sale, peaking Viking's curiosity.

"Currently, Fireteam Wolf is providing a close target recon on the safezone. From what they've reported, it seems that the group has barricaded themselves inside the Tesco hypermarket and the immediate surrounding area. As of now, Fireteam Wolf are in position on the roof of another department store across the way, watching and reporting back twice a day. You are due to relive them in 2 days time."

"What else do we know about this group?" asked Jason.

"We know that there are about 70 or so survivors," said Sale, "of those, only about 25 are the armed thugs who attacked you. The rest seem to be survivors, mainly women and children, who barricaded themselves inside the Tesco when the defences were breeched. The armed gang arrived sometime later and, according to our prisoners and the Wilson's, offered 'protection' in exchange for supplies and a place to stay..." Sale seemed to grimace a bit before continuing.

"Although apparently it's common for the men of this gang take certain... 'liberties'... at the expense of their female protectorate."

Jason glanced and saw Akio and Alex tense up slightly at the information, especially Akio.

"Alright," said Jason, storing the new information away. "Any new info on their weapons or other equipment? Or on how they got their hands on teargas?"

"Yes actually," said Sale. "When the safezone was originally being defended, the powers that be stationed both a counter terrorism unit and a riot police unit. Turns out they brought their tear gas with them, thinking it would be effective against infected. It wasn't, so they put it aside. It's these remaining stores that these thugs are using. They've also got some sniper rifles, sub machine guns, assault rifles and side arms from the counter terrorism unit, as well as what we've already seen them using."

"Well bugger," said Jason, "So much for being able to overpower them with superior firepower."

"We've still got the mortars and missiles," said Akio, "Why can't we use those?"

"Too high a risk of civilian casualties," replied Sale. "Anyway, our role for now is to watch, wait and gather Intel. Let the Brass and bureaucrats work out what they want to do. Understand?"

"Yes Staff," replied Jason.

"Any other questions?" asked Sale. There were none.

"Right then. I suggest you study up on the maps of the area around the Broughton retail park just in case. Oh, and Sgt. Rees, who are you going to have as your spotter?"

"Fred," replied Jason. Fred was surprised but Jason had made his mind up about this a while ago.

"You made good use of the 417 in that last firefight," explained Jason, "You're a good shot besides and I need someone who can take over the long gun if I get injured or killed and still lay down effective fire. Hang on to the 417."

"Alright then," said Sale. "Study up on the maps and kit, keep training. Carry on."

"Yes Staff." Jason and Viking stood to attention as Sale left the room.

"Alright then," said Jason. "Fred, run back to the bunk room. Grab the 417, its mags and their pouches, your rig and my rig. Akio, study up on maps and find me at least 4 potential sniper positions no less than 200 metres away from the target but no farther than 800. Alex, for now help Akio but find out when Fireteam Wolf's next report come in, be there when it does and relay to me. Clear?"

"Yes Sergeant!" they chorused

"Good. Crack on." Alex and Fred were out of the room in a flash and Akio looked over the maps.

"What are you going to do?" Akio asked. Jason smirked and moved back to his rifle and removed it from its bag.

"Get my new rifle set up how I like it."

Fireteam Viking

Chester City Centre
Chester safezone

Z-day + 29
07:15

"Fireteam Viking! Get up!"

Jason and the others shot up in their bunks at the hammering on their bunkroom door and the voice of the person on the other side. Jason was about to get up and give the person a piece of his mind when they entered and it turned out to be Staff Sergeant Sale.

"Viking!" He was almost shouting. "Get up and dressed. Briefing in the ops room in 10 mikes! Be ready to deploy within the hour!"

He departed as quickly as he'd arrived, leaving a slightly surprised and dishevelled fireteam in his wake.

"Well you heard the man!" shouted Jason as he leaped up from his camp bed. "Uniforms on and kit up at the double!"

Viking dressed into their combat fatigues quickly, each only taking a moment to strap their sidearms and gas masks to their thighs before almost sprinting to the ops room. They burst into the room to find Staff Sale, Major Marsden and Fireteam Diamond were already there.

"Just on time Viking," said Sale. "Grab a seat." They sat themselves in the empty seats and Marsden took over the briefing.

"As of this time," he said, "I am moving the special operations detachment to full alert. This morning, Fireteam Wolf failed to make their night report, as of now they are 20 minutes late."

"Have they missed a report before sir?" asked one of Diamond's members.

"No," said Marsden, "And that is what has us worried. It could be that they are having hardware or other difficulties. Or, and unpleasantly likely given the nature of their mission, they have been discovered and something has happened. To this end, unless we receive a transmission within the hour, Fireteam Viking will be deployed to Wolf's last known position." Marsden turned to look Jason straight in the eye.

"You're orders are to investigate what happened to Fireteam Wolf and report back, then execute further instructions. Fireteam Diamond will help you prepare and act as a QRF if required. Any questions?"

"Rules of engagement sir?" asked Jason. Marsden sighed,

"Avoid engagement if possible," he said, "but if unavoidable, shoot to kill. No witnesses on route, but on the return run however, standard survivor procedure is in effect. Understood?"

"Yes sir."

"Good. Diamond and Staff Sale will help you prepare. You're in command Sergeant. Carry on."

Marsden departed and left Viking to it. Having Diamond around to help would be a huge help, 2 of them were ex-marine cadets, another was ex-army and their leader was one of the professional soldiers who came in with Sale. Jason started issuing out orders.

"Fred," He began. "Take one of the Diamonds and run to the armoury. We need as many and much mags, ammo and grenades as you can carry. Alex, run back to the barracks room and grab our kit. Body armour, webbing, patrol bags, my rifle, everything. Akio, go to stores and a set of NV goggles, compasses, FUBAR kits, first aid kits, anything that looks good and enough of it for each of us. Staff Sale, I'd like to go with some assault details before I prepare my kit. Get to it."

Each person went off to their tasks and Fireteam Diamond jumped to help. Jason and Sale looked over and discussed how and where they would deploy, eventually deciding that they would be dropped by Land Rover 2.5 miles from the target, from there they would tab to their target, investigate on what happened to Fireteam Wolf and, if necessary, take over their mission.

Soon, everyone returned from their tasks and Viking started gearing up. Jason pocketed 10 magazines for his M4, placing 5 in the 'ready pouches' of his vest and the other 5 in the 'reserve pouches' on his webbing. He also pocketed 2 spare mags for his Sig before moving to his L115A3 sniper rifle. He stacked 4 magazines in 2 double pouches. He threaded them to the MOLLE system on his rig's utility pouches, so that he could easily get at them while prone. He put 6 more mags packed mags into his patrol bag, as well as a spare box of .338 Lapua Magnum rounds. He also stuffed a Med-kit, combat smock, rations and other combat accessories and essential kits into his patrol bag. The last thing he added was a bed roll mat that he attached to the underside of his patrol bag.

Everyone on Viking took similar kit with only small variations. Akio took a pair of bolt cutters, and a particularly menacing looking Kukri that she had pilfered from the museum's store room and spent almost every spare waking moment sharpening. Alex's kit included a large stock of first aid kit and a collapsible stretcher, should they need to carry out any wounded. Fred took their Bowman radio set as well as a stock of 7.62 rounds and a suppressor for his HK.

Just as he stuffed his FUBAR survival kit into his fatigue trouser pocket, Jason muttered a prayer to whatever lord or gods that were ruling over their undead infested world that Fireteam Wolf's communication's silence was due to a communications or technical fault, and not something more sinister.

...

2 hours later

"Contact front. 3 of them."

"Take 'em out."

Pfft! Pfft! Pfft!

3 infected undead collapsed to the ground from a neat headshot.

"Clear. Move up." Fireteam Viking emerged from behind the trees of the forest they were moving through and continued forward. They'd been dropped by Land Rover an hour ago and had headed towards the last known position of Fireteam Wolf; a first floor room of an office building overlooking the site.

They formed into their single line; Akio on point followed by Jason, then Alex and Fred bringing up the rear. Their progress had been slow due to in part the need to maintain stealth but also from the inordinate number of infected in the area that they had either been forced to bypass, or eliminate then hide the bodies enough so that they wouldn't be easily found.

They came to the forest edge. Jason motioned for them to go prone and spread out into line abreast. Akio pulled a pair of binocular from her webbing and surveyed the area. She handed them to Jason.

"It's just as Wolf described." She said. Jason took the binoculars and had a look for himself.

The entire shopping centre was mostly surrounded by a single chain link fence and the vehicle entrances were barricaded with cars and vans. Further inside the fence was the perimeter that the police had set up, surrounding the Tesco extra hyper market. It too originally consisted of a single chain link fence, however it appeared the survivors inside had attached wooden pallets to the wire fence to reinforce them. There were some people on the roof with rifles and binoculars as well as in a scissor lift that was extended to give a watch post just above the top of the wire wall.

There were dozens of infected, maybe hundreds, both against both fences but also milling around in the vast car parks of the retail parks. For the most part however, they were pressed against the perimeter fence, trying to force their way through wherever they ran into it.

"So what's our next move?" asked Akio. "No way can we get through to the OP without going through them."

"Maybe. Maybe not," murmured Jason. He scanned around abit more with the binoculars. He turned to Fred.

"Hey Fred. See that KFC drive through over there? The booth window?" Fred set his HK up, deploying the bipod before looking through the scope for the fast food restaurant Jason had mentioned.

"I got it," he said. "You want me to shoot it?"

"Not yet," replied Jason. "Here's how we're going to play this guys. Fred shoots the window and the sound of the glass breaking will hopefully draw a group of the infected toward it and open a gap in the fence we can cut through. When a gap presents itself, we will move down quickly. Diamond formation; Akio on point, me on the left, Alex on the right and Fred in the rear. We'll cover Akio as she cuts a hole in the fence. Everyone clear?"

"What if the glass shattering isn't enough to get their attention?" asked Fred. Jason had another look through his binoculars.

"See those red gas bottles?" he asked, "Shoot them. Them going off will make way too much noise if anything, and get the attention of the survivors inside the compound. Anything else?"

The team remained silent.

"Ok then. In your own time Fred."

Fred moved his rifle scope's crosshairs over the window. He mumbled statistics to himself as he prepared to fire (a habit he'd picked up from Jason.).

"About 50 metres to target... Almost no wind..."

Pfft!

The window shattered, glass ricocheting and shattering on the ground. The sound echoed in the building and a few of the infected turned away from their instinctual assault on the wire and instead headed towards the sound of shattering glass.

"Prepare to move," ordered Jason. The team watched and waited, willing more of them to move away to investigate the sound. After a moment, an opening appeared.

"Move!"

They sprang up and started forward at a fast walk. They smoothly moved into a diamond formation, with suppressed weapons raised and at the ready to dispatch any infected that got too close. As they got closer, Akio slung her rifle and withdrew her bolt cutters. They got to the fence and Akio went to work. Unfortunately the sound of metal wire being cut was drawing their attention.

"I've got 8 or so on this side." Reported Alex.

"12 more coming from the forest." Added Fred.

"Suppressed weapons free," ordered Jason. There were another 9 or so coming from his side. He clicked off his weapon's safety and they each started firing, their suppressed M4's coughing round after round in a muffled cacophony of fire. Even as they fell however, the infected kept coming, getting uncomfortably close.

'Wish I had my L85 and its bayonet.' thought Jason as he popped another infected. He really didn't like using the M4 in hand to hand because of its plastic parts and inability to mount a bayonet due to the suppressor. He preferred the all metal L85 because it could; A) mount a bayonet, and B) if you clubbed an infected over the head with it, you were pretty much guaranteed to crack its head open and kill it, try the same with the M4, you'd probably break the stock.

"Any time Akio..." cautioned Jason as he popped another one barely 5 meters away.

"Got it," she replied. "It'll be tight, and we'll need to remove our kit to fit, but we'll make it."

"Akio, through and clear the other side. Fred with her, then Alex and I'll go last. MOVE!"

Akio moved through the hole she'd made. It was just big enough for them to crouch through, but there was an unattractive risk of getting stuck on the edges. Akio went through with Fred hot on her heels, pausing only to remove his patrol bag and throw it and Akio's through the hole before diving through himself. He cried in pain as a shard of jagged metal tore through his uniform and into his arm. He managed to pull himself free of the metal entanglement before falling to the ground, cursing to himself as blood bled heavily from the wound.

"Alex! See what you can do for him!" ordered Jason. Their medic waited for a moment before dropping her medical bag, pushing it through and then following it through herself. Jason, now painfully aware that he was the only one left on this side and with infected closing from all angles, threw off his patrol bag, lobbed it through the hole and crawled through after his friends. He made it through; just as an infected collapsed down to bite him where he'd been less than a second ago.

Jason rolled over onto his back and pointed his rifle back through the hole. He fired once into the infected that was on the floor before he trained it on the rest. While they had resumed their assault on the wire fence, encouraged by the presence of Jason and the others, they had either not noticed the hole or were too brain dead to take advantage of it.

Taking advantage of their momentary safety. Jason stood up and moved over to check on Fred.

"Akio, cover." Akio nodded and stepped up to cover their 'followers' while Jason kneeled down beside Fred while Alex was dressing his wound.

"How bad is it?" He asked.

"No more than a decent scratch boss," Replied Fred through gritted teeth. Jason looked over at Alex for a more accurate and less brave faced assessment.

"Pretty deep cut," replied Alex, "but I don't think he'll need stitches. I'll give him some pain killers, sterilise the wound and wrap it up."

"Ok, quick as you can," said Jason. He turned to face Fred. "Can we have one bloody op where you don't get you're arse fragged?"

"Up yours!" laughed Fred as Alex gave him an injection of some pain killers.

"Hey," replied Jason with a serious face but a humorous voice, "that's up yours Sergeant."

"If you guys are done messing about," cautioned Akio, "I think we should ditch our fan club groupies and get on with the job. Don't you, Sergeant?"

"Agreed," said Jason, "Kit up." He turned back to Fred, "You good?"

Fred grunted as he stood up and picked up his kit and rifle. "Feel like shit. But I'll do."

"One sec," replied Alex as she shoved some last items into her medic pack. She the zipped it up and threw it on her back, then picked up her M4. "Ready."

"Right. Let's move," ordered Jason. "Tactical movement and use of cover. These ain't infected we're dealing with."

"Where the hell is Diamond?" asked Fred.

"Probably on top of the Airbus factory, watching the park from long range, ready to come save us if this goes all tits up." replied Jason. "Let's move."

The team started moving towards the last known location of Fireteam Wolf. They used the buildings for cover and skirted behind bins and other tit bits of cover they could get, careful to avoid the look outs. They manoeuvred forward, occasionally dispatching the occasional infected in their path before dragging it behind cover so the look outs wouldn't see a suspiciously dead infected. After roughly a quarter of an hour of evading and stealth, they came to the back off the office block that Wolf had been using as their OP.

They moved into the building through a back door fire exit and moved through the building. As they swept through, they found evidence of a battle; spent 5.56 NATO rounds and 12 gauge shells, the odd bullet holes or shot damage... blood splatter... it had defiantly hit the fan. They swept through the building room by room, following the trail of battle, blood and carnage, until they came to the room where Wolf had been using. The room had been an office once, but now it was an observation post/ sniper nest. One of the filing cabinets had been overturned under the window so a roll mat could be put down on it to make the perch more comfortable for long periods of lying prone while watching the target. Aside from that everything was gone, all of Wolf's kit, Wolf themselves, and all amidst signs of a firefight.

"Let's call it in," said Jason. "Let's unpack and get command on the horn." They started putting their bags down and setting up. As Fred got the radio set tuned in and getting on the horn to command while Jason unzipped his L115A3 from its rifle bag. He loaded a magazine and cycled the bolt. He then unrolled his bed mat, placing it on the side on filling cabinet before climbing on top and placing his rifle on its bipod. He adjusted himself and adjusted his scope for the distance.

"Boss," said Fred as he came along side Jason, handing him the mic for the radio set. "Sale on the horn."

Jason took the handset in his left hand while keeping his right hand near the trigger and eye down the scope.

"Hello Sierra Sierra, this is Romeo Tango Viking one. We are in Fireteam Wolf's OP. It looks like a firefight took place here. Blood on the ground and spent round and shot casings all over the place. No sign of Wolf or any of their kit. Please advise, over."

"Hello Romeo Tango Viking one. This is Sierra Sierra. Good work guys. Set up in another office and keep an eye out for any sign of Wolf. Call it in if anything happens. Out." The radio went dead and Jason handed back the radio to Fred.

"Well let's move into an office upstairs and get comfortable and wait for something to happen. Fred, get your HK set up."

They didn't have to wait long.

Less than 5 minutes later, Fred spotted something.

"I've got movement." He said, "Front entrance. Man with a hostage."

Jason panned his rifle over. Through the scope he saw a man in a black trench coat come out with a person in front of them, with a black bag over their head. They were wearing a torn up civvies and Jason could see bruising on the patches of flesh that were visible.

"What the..?" mumbled Jason. The man walked his hostage out to the car park into the clear.

Jason felt like the man was looking straight at him. The man in the trench coat then removed the bag covering the hostage's head.

It was Corporal Wheatcroft.

"Oh shit." Said Jason. "Fred! Get Sale on the horn! NOW!"

Jason watched as the man levelled a pistol at her head.

"No..."

He fired.

Jason watched as his colleague... his friend, collapsed to the ground, her blood decorating the tarmac as her corpse fell to the ground. Jason tore his sight away from her corpse to look at the man in the black trench coat. He put the cross hairs on the man's chest, ready to blow him to kingdom come.

He was looking straight at him... as if he knew he was there... then it hit him.

"Oh fuck!" said Jason. "They know we're here! Pack up! NOW!"

"Sale on the horn!" reported Fred. Jason grabbed the radio from it. He didn't wait for Sale to ask him what was going on.

"Sierra Sierra! Situation is FUBAR! I say again, FUBAR! We are pulling out! De-briefing upon out RTB. Out!"

Dear reader

I hope you enjoyed this chapter, as you can see things are beginning to hot up somewhat.

I've started on chapter 8 but it maybe sometime until its out.

For those of you who are reading on release, I wish you a happy new year.

From

Jango