Captain Eric Melrose "Winkle" Brown CBE, DSC, AFC, RN (21 January 1919 – 21 February 2016)
"It is a huge thrill. You're up there on your own, and you really feel like this is life. I'm the king of the castle up here. That's really what it's like."
Highschool of the dead: The British Outbreak
Chapter 13: This is my rifle
Target Hotel
Approx 10 miles outside Chester Safezone
Z-day + 42
08:40
Ka-pow!
"This is my rifle, there are many like it, but this one is mine."
Ka-pow!
"My rifle is my best friend. It is my life. I must master it as I must master my..."
Ka-pow!
"As I must master my life."
"You watched way too many war films as a kid. Didn't you?"
"Actually…" began Jason, but then he thought about it for a moment. "No, I did watch too many war films as a kid. But I do it because it was drilled into me during my time in the states."
"You've been to the states?" queried Johnny, who was lying down on the roof relaxing while Jason sat cross-legged next to him, picking off infected with his L85.
"Aye, I spent 2 months out there," replied Jason. "1 month travelling. 1 month spent with Blackwater PMC on various shooting courses they run."
"So you spent half your time, in one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world, learning to shoot?"
"No. I could already shoot. I just wanted to get better at it," Jason shrugged. "... and shoot some American guns."
"I see... Yeah, I can peg you as a gun nut," replied Johnny. He then sighed. "So what did you shoot?" Jason smiled, there were few things he liked talking about more than guns he'd shot.
"My first week was on a basic gun safety course. I used a Springfield Armoury tactical response pistol as my handgun/ sidearm throughout the month. My initial rifle was a Colt AR-15 sporter carbine; I also trained with a Remington 870 shotgun at that point. My second week was spent on Blackwater's sniper course. For that, I switched up my colt for a few different rifles. Initially, I used an HK MR308, before switching to a MacMillan Tac-300. I actually came second on the sniper course after a Japanese kid named Kohta Hirano. The final bit of the course was urban and mountain warfare. For that, I used an FN FAL with a SUSAT sight and a SCAR PDW for close quarters. Those were my main ones, but I had a go with loads of other guns. Man that M82 kicked like a…"
"You love guns way too much," said Johnny, cutting him off. "You know that right?"
"Oh yeah," replied Jason. "Ah. They're here."
Johnny sat up and looked over the roof ledge. He could hear the sounds of multiple engines, but it wasn't until the convoy pulled up at the gate that he saw the convoy in total. Jason counted off the convoy's component vehicles.
"2 Snatch land rovers, both pulling trailers. A box lorry. 2 Army 6 tonne lorries, a tanker towing a trailer tank and... An armoured bus?"
"A what?"
"No clue mate. Let's get down there and let them in." The 2 started down from the roof and within minutes, Jason was moving the car and Johnny was opening the gate. The convoy passed through the gate and the vehicle moved into the car park. Almost immediately, soldiers started demounting from the snatches and army Lorries and started moving to the perimeter to watch for threats. After Jason and Johnny closed the gate and backed up the car again, they approached towards one of the Snatches, where Marsden was standing in full body armour, with an L85 close to hand.
"Sir," said Jason as stopped short of him, with Johnny not far behind.
"Sergeant," greeted Marsden. "Glad to see you made it." He looked at Johnny and offered him a hand. "Major Marsden, CO of the first Chester militia company. I'm guessing you're the swordsman I was told about?"
"That I am sir, Johnny Hall," said Johnny, shaking Marsden's hand.
"Glad to see the cavalry came over the hill," said Jason. "Is this everything we need to turn this into a functioning base?"
"Pretty much," replied Marsden, "With the exception of the 2 trucks, you're getting all these vehicles. We've got all the stuff we need to fortify and supply this place for now. We'll bring in more permanent provisions and supplies in the days to come."
"Very good sir," said Jason. "I noticed one of the snatches towing a field kitchen trailer. I reckon we should set up a mess tent, there isn't much room inside for a full kitchen."
"Sounds good. Let the builders know. We've also got a mobile medical facility, a fuel and water tanker, supplies, new kit, some soldiers to run the base for now and some civvie volunteers."
"Mobile Medical facility, sir?"
Marsden pointed to the armoured bus and explained.
"Basically, we took a regular old bus, stripped it out, replaced all the innards with what we could scavenge from 2 buggered ambulances. It's armoured against infected and small arms and manned by 2 volunteers from the hospital medical staff. I believe you know one of them."
Jason was confused and looked towards the bus. The door opened and Alex stepped out, dressed in a lab coat over her civvies. She'd grown her hair out and it was now held up in a high ponytail.
"Alex!" Jason rushed forward and enveloped her in a hug.
"Good to see you too boss," she said hugging Jason back. "Though I'm not sure what Akio would say if she saw you hugging me before her?"
"I do," said a voice. Jason looked up to see Akio standing in the bus's door, with a big smirk on her face. Jason released Alex and tried to act like there was nothing between himself and Akio, seeing as there were officers present. Marsden and Johnny came over to join the group.
"Sergeant," said Marsden. "We've brought a load out for you, I'm afraid we had to reissue your old gear to convince the council we'd actually dismissed you. But we have some new kit for you. Perhaps Corporal Long could give you a hand moving your gear to your bunk room, which I'm sure the Sergeant has already set aside."
"I'd love to boss," said Akio. She got off the bus and grabbed Jason by the wrist and dragged him off towards one of the trucks where the kit was being unloaded.
"Carry on," said Marsden to Johnny and Alex.
"So you're the medic Jason was talking about then?" asked Johnny.
"I am," replied Alex. "You that swordsman he picked up?"
"I am," replied Johnny. "That his girlfriend?"
"She is."
"I see."
"hmm... How long before he jumps her?"
Alex laughed, "It'll be her jumping him. And I reckon as soon as the door is locked."
...
"A 90 litre Bergen packed to overflowing. An overweight fully kitted black deployment bag. Plus weapons cases and bags," surmised Jason as he listed off the kit he'd been given. "Remind me why I need so much kit?"
"Things of changed," replied Akio, "Besides, if we're going to be living here, I thought our room should, at least, be slightly more than a normal hotel room." Jason was confused for a moment, before realizing what she was saying.
"We? Living here? Akio you weren't exiled! You don't need to live here…"
"Do you really think this is an argument you can win?" Akio shot back with a mischievous smile. "Where you go, I go. Now, which is your room?"
"First on the left," Jason relented. Akio smiled with the smile that Jason knew she only wore when she had won an argument, which was annoyingly often. They stopped at the door and Jason managed to wriggle the key out of his pocket while not dropping any of the heavy bags of gear he was carrying. She took the key and opened the door, holding it open so Jason could get in with all his kit. He didn't notice her locking the door as he set the bags down.
"Right then. Shall we…" Jason had barely spun around when Akio dove on him, pinning him down to the bed.
"Someone might come in," said Jason, wanting it as much as she did.
"I locked the door, they won't," replied Akio, right before she kissed him. It wasn't just a peck on the cheek; it was wild, unrestricted total pleasure.
"I want you," she murmured. She took control of his mouth and kissed him even deeper. As their kiss deepened, first hands began to explore, then buttons came unbuttoned before clothes started coming off.
"Akio, I don't have any…" Akio put a finger to his mouth and pulled something from her pocket. She held up the metal packet so he could see.
"It helps when you have a friend who has access to medical stores," she grinned, before jumping him again.
...
Jason looked down at the vast array of kit laid out on the bed in front of him. Aside from his rifle and pistol, he'd received Osprey body armour, webbing, pouches, helmet, camping and survival gear and several changes of MTP combats. He changed from his civvies and donned his combats, feeling oddly more comfortable in combats than civvies. He shrugged it off as he put on his new airborne webbing set, stuffing loaded magazines into its pouches.
As he did he looked at his new helmet and body armour. The helmet was a pre-fall army standard issue MK 7 helmet and the body armour was a Osprey MK 4 vest with full front and back Kevlar plates. Strapped to its MOLLE covered front was a row of 4 Velcro single mag pouches with a double mag pouch at either end (allowing him to be comfortable while prone) and a row of 3 pistol mag pouches. As well as the mag pouches and 2 utility pouches and a first aid pouch, there was an admin pouch a full cover union jack, his blood type and a moral patch with 'KEEP CALM AND DRINK TEA' Velcro'd to the front of it.
Jason had made his views on wearing body armour while fighting infected clear on numerous occasions; 'Don't bother. Weighs you down and infected don't use guns.' Marsden knew it, so if they were issuing him full body armour, that meant that there was a serious threat in the area with access to firearms... oh joy.
Jason finished kitting up and left his room, going back into the car park, which was best described as organised chaos.
"Ah, Sergeant Rees, good to see you back in combats," said Marsden. "The builders want to discuss with you about fortifications."
"Yes, sir," said Jason. "Sir, why have we been issued full body armour? I'm guessing that there's an increased threat other than the infected?" Marsden sighed.
"You are correct Sergeant. There is another cell of thugs from the group from the Broughton safe zone still outstanding. Last night a sniper fired on a section on wall duty. 3 soldiers dead, 2 chest, one headshot. Until we apprehend him, orders are full Osprey and helmets, no exceptions... including you, Sergeant."
"Yes, sir," replied Jason. "We going sniper hunting?"
"You're not. You've got cadets to train," said Marsden.
"Come again sir?" queried Jason, slightly confused. Marsden explained.
"In 4 days time, you're going to be receiving 24 new recruits. They've just finished their basic training with Sergeant Owens at Chester, so were sending them to you to get their 'deployment' or on the job' training. As one of our best, we're entrusting you with this crucial task. Aside from the 2 medical staff, you'll get a builder, mechanic, cook and logistics officer who can double as your armourer. As to their training, I'll leave that to your digression. We'll talk more in depth later, for now, go get your body armour and go see what the builders want."
"Yes, sir," replied Jason. He double-timed it back to his room to retrieve his body armour, unsure of how the hell he was going to go about teaching.
Patrol base Cornwell
Z-day +46
08:40
Jason and Akio waited patiently in the car park for the new trainees to arrive. They were due to arrive soon, but Jason had something else on his mind.
"You're going to wear me out at this rate," he said to Akio.
"You weren't complaining at the time," replied Akio smugly.
"And I call you enjoying yourself as well," Jason whispered back. "But we can't do it while our trainees are here."
"Or," whispered Akio, "we just don't get caught." Jason laughed and started whispering.
"I still can't believe you let me…"
"So you two have stopped shagging then?" called a voice that was, to Jason and Akio at least, all too loud.
"I don't know what you're talking about…" said Jason.
"Yeah, these walls aren't as soundproof as you think Jason," said Alex. The girls laughed as Jason blushed heavily.
"Is the medical bus set up and good?" asked Jason, swiftly changing the subject.
"Yeah, it was ready yesterday," replied Alex, still smirking knowingly at Jason. "Thanks for the combat shotgun by the way."
"Yeah, well if they get in you're going to need it."
Thanks to the builders and the soldiers, the base was secure and everything was ready. The walls had been reinforced with wooden and metal pallets, with Sanger watch tower at the corners of the perimeter. It was set up so the perimeter could be manned by a minimum of 4 soldiers, but Jason had devised a rota so that at least one of the 8 man sections that he was getting would be on stag at any one time.
The other base facilities were also fully set up. The kitchen trailer had been deployed in the back of the mess tent, which also had table and chairs to sit and eat at. The Snatches and the box truck were parked in a line with a tent set up for the mechanic to work under while it was raining (something that comes the autumn, it would do near constantly). The fuel truck had been parked in the farthest corner of the base and behind the strongest part of the wall, the theory being that if it were to be attacked and explode, it should be as far away as possible from everything else. The builders had also built a shower block that could either use filtered rain water or pumped water from the trailer and also set up some latrine cubicles (shit burning duties would be assigned as a rota and as punishments.)
They had enough supplies to last them for a while, but Marsden had told Jason that the base was to hang on to whatever supplies they needed from what they procured and the rest would be sent back to Chester. Jason preferred a practical approach to training and had plans for his new troops. A short while later, 2 army Lorries drove through the front gate and into the car park.
"If you 2 are done discussing Akio and my sex life, our fresh meat is here," said Jason, watching the new recruits de-bus and soft kit. He made a few internal observations;
"Boots, recently polished. Uniforms recently pressed. Rifles... un-fucking-loaded. Sweet Jesus this is going to be harder than I thought."
The 24 'soldiers' de-bussed and fell into their sections, each forming 2 rank of 4 with an NCO on the end of each rank. Jason and Akio each scanned the sections, they were mainly teenage boys and girls bar a few elders, all of whom stood silently until the Corporal from number 1 section stepped forward.
"Sergeant Rees," he said. "1st Chester Militia Company Banshee Platoon reporting as ordered."
'Banshee platoon?' thought Jason, 'Who the fuck came up with that?"
"Right," said Jason, addressing the platoon. "Go into the briefing room, drop your kit and grab a seat in your sections. We'll go through some housekeeping and then we'll get to it. Off you go."
The new soldiers fell out and hustled their way inside with all their kit. Alex split off to round up the support staff who would help run the base and train the soldiers. While she did that, Jason went to his room and retrieved a permanent marker pen, a pair of scissors and a roll of green tape.
Within a few minutes, Jason entered the briefing room with Akio, Alex and the other civilian volunteers. The new arrivals were chatting among themselves until one of them noticed their incoming instructors.
"Sit up!"
They stood up at attention, only for Jason to wave them down.
"At ease," he said and they returned to their seats.
"Alright then. Welcome to Patrol base Cornwell. I am Sergeant Rees, you're new combat instructor and NCO-IC of this base. This is Corporal Long, my second in command. As of right now, you are deployed, not on parade at Chester. As such, I do not expect you to polish your boots, or iron your uniform every night. I do, however; expect you to keep yourselves and your weapons clean, your bunks relatively tidy, and yourselves ready for action at a moment's notice, shit rarely hits the fan at an hour of our choosing." There were a few chuckles from the crowd. Jason continued.
"Alright then. I'll try to keep this short. A few ground rules; 1. The civvie volunteers here are here to help you. They could be back in Chester safe and sound sipping wine but they're risking their necks to be here. Treat them with respect. 2. What I or the Corporal say goes. We say jump, you ask how high. 3. Knives and sidearms are to be carried at all times. 4. You are ours, but we are yours. We're here to train you, you're here to learn. If you have a question, ask. An unasked question is an unanswered question. There are 3 sections of 8 here. At least one section will be here at any one time. You will stand guard on the perimeter in 8-hour shifts. We will organize training sessions and operations in the remaining time. I will produce a duty roster that will be adhered to. The troops on stag at the moment are out of here in…" Jason checked his watch.
"15 minutes. I want one section on duty in 10, get settled then relieve them. Everyone else, get your kit stowed away, have a look around the base. First training session starts at 10:00. Once they've got their kit stowed away I want to see all the section commanders and 2ic's. Oh, one more thing..." he tossed the scissors, tape and marker pen to the soldier in the first row.
"Write your surname and blood type on some tape and put it on your uniform's left chest pocket, same again on your trousers right back pocket. Dismissed."
...
In the base's operations room, Jason and Akio sized up the 6 NCO's before them; Corporals Maester, Note and Johnson, and Lance Corporals Dawn, Duster and Sully.
Corporal Maester and Lance Corporal Dawn were 1 section's NCO's. Maester was a teenager about Jason's age if slightly older, he was built like a rugby player and sported a ginger buzz cut and slight stubble. Dawn was substantially shorter and sported Jet black and had a slightly underhand look about him.
Note and Duster were from 2 Section. Note had short blond hair and an athletic build, he looked like he'd been punched at some point in the relatively near past as he still had the remnants of some swelling on his face. Duster almost looked like she could be Note's twin sister, with the same rough build, blue eyes and a similar head of blond hair tied up in a ponytail.
Lastly were Johnson and Sully, 3 section's NCO's. Of the 6, these were the 2 Jason and Akio were least impressed with. They'd shown up last to the briefing, a full 5 minutes after everyone else. Upon being asked, they'd tried to explain that they'd been packing their kit away, and Akio had given them a slight dressing down as they wanted to get this meeting started quickly.
"Right then," said Jason, "This is the ops room. As the name suggests this is where we will plan ops. We also have medium range radio sets for communications in the field and with Chester. Now then, with regards to training, I believe in a practical approach. I want each section to fully plan a supply operation. It can be for anything we need; Food, water, guns, ammo, medicine, clothes... anything. I want you to: think of a place we can get it from, plan a route there and back on the maps, Plan what you'll need in the way of kit; food, ammo weapons etc, work out what extra personnel and vehicles you'll need, and consider the risk of running into survivors. Sound good?"
"Yes, Sergeant," they replied.
"Good. Any questions, problems or queries, come find either of us and we'll do our best to answer them. I want your plans by 18:00 tomorrow at the latest. Dismissed."
Patrol base Cornwell
Rooftop
Z-day +46
19:00
Akio finally shut the door to her bunkroom and relaxed. She had just finished training some of 2 section in the art of practical hand to hand combat with infected. While she had taken it in her stride, some of the section had struggled. After giving pointers and correction forms for the last few hours, coupled with what had been an exhausting day, she finally decided that she needed to relax for herself. She removed her Osprey Body armour and started peeling off layers of webbing and protection, enjoying that feeling of when a sweat-soaked area is allowed to breathe for the first time in hours.
Before she headed for the roof, she replaced the knife she had in her ankle sheath with a practice one that she'd picked up. Then with the sun going down, she headed up, eager practice some of her own high-level katas. Finding the rooftop deserted, she quickly stretched off, before bowing and stepping into her ready stance. She closed her eyes and cleared her mind, she pictured the roof, with 3 infected coming for her.
The first one lumbered forward toward her at an impressive pace (for a zombie) with arms outstretched. Her hand reached down for her knife. Once the first was close enough, she pulled the dagger free and plunged it into its chest, pulling it skyward. The blade continued upward, cutting through its neck and face until it sliced through the top of its skull. It fell to the ground and was still.
The second one rushed Akio with hands swaying clumsily about. Akio simply dropped her stance and delivered a quick and boot armoured front kick to the infected's head, which exploded in a cloud of decomposing skin, bone and brain matter. She, too, fell and was no more.
The final infected was unusually tall, and although long dead, it still possessed a great deal of strength. Akio hadn't yet recovered from her front kick when the infected got far too close for comfort. Rather than bring her leg back in and fall into another fighting stance like she normally would, she dove forward and rolled, recovering some distance and spun around to face her opponent. Before it could react and attack again, Akio reversed her dagger in her hand and threw it at the infected's head.
"Nice moves," said a voice. Instantly the infected vanished like a day dream. Akio looked over to find Johnny, still fully tooled up with trench coat and sword. He held Akio's practice knife in his hand.
"Of course, throwing your only knife at an opponent is a very stupid and amateurish move."
"I'm sorry?" glared Akio. It was a brave man who dared questioned her fighting abilities.
"Well," said Johnny, speaking as if he were a professor lecturing a student. "You throw a knife at Zack and kill it, well done, good kill, retrieve your knife. You miss, you're fucked."
"Zack?" questioned Akio. "Zack? You call them Zack?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"Brits called Germans in World War 2 Jerry, and the Taliban Terry in Afghanistan. Americans in Vietnam called the NVA Charlie. Why can't we call them Zack?"
"Because it humanizes them," snarled Akio. She waved around her, motioning to the base. "This might be just a joke to you, but to us, it's deadly serious. See those recruits? It's our job to turn them not just into soldiers, but killers. One day they could be asked to shoot their own mother, sister, brother or whatever in the face and they need to do it without hesitation. Calling them Zack humanizes them. That could cause them to hesitate. They hesitate, they get bit, they die. Or worse, their mate next to them is bitten, they die, then the poor sod breaks and goes on hating themselves for the rest of their lives. If you can't get that, maybe it'd be better if you left."
She picked up her knife and left Johnny alone on the roof.
"See you at morning briefing," she said as she passed.
2 miles outside Patrol Base Cornwell
Z-day +47
10:00
"Remind me again why we have to patrol in the rain?" asked Private Case. Akio, Jason and almost all of 2 section sighed in unison. They'd been out on patrol for nearly 2 hours, and in the last 1/2 hour, the weather closed in. And while Private Case was a good teenage soldier and a well-meaning person, he could get annoying. Fast.
"Because Private..." began Akio, but she was cut off by Private Aber.
"Because Ryan the noise from the rain would drown out the sound any incoming infected herds. We need to foot patrol to get an assessment of the on the ground situation. Also, it's good practice for field work."
"Huh, spot on Private. Nice one," said Jason. He was still getting to know his new charges, but he'd already pegged Private Aber as one of the better of the bunch, not to mention one of the more attractive. She tall for her age with a slim yet athletic build. She had large, bright green eyes and long fiery red hair which came down to her shoulders, but was currently tied in a braid under her helmet. She was the squad's marksman and carried an L129A1 marksman rifle.
Akio slowed her pace and surrendered her role as point to 2 section's dedicated point man as she linked up with Jason who was hanging back to watch the section's rear.
"She's got potential," said Akio. "Why isn't she an NCO?"
"I know, she reminds me of you actually," replied Jason. "And she's not an NCO because she beat the crap out of Lieutenant State's son and landed him in the hospital."
"Isn't he the jackass who hangs around Mickie's picking up women?"
"That's the one. Anyway, it says in the report that he tried to pick her up and got a bit touchy-feely..."
"Let me guess, she kicked the shit out of him?"
"Nope. Private Case stepped in, the douchebag threatened Case, then she kicked the shit out of him."
"Ahh... so there's something between Case and Aber?"
"Lifelong friends apparently,"
"You know we can hear you talking right?" Aber called back. "And the little shit deserved it. No one threatens Ryan but me!" Akio and Jason looked at each other for a moment before chuckling.
"Guess we've been told..."
"CONTACT LEFT!"
The whole section panned their weapons left, safety's clicked off and made ready to fire... at nothing. There were no visibly infected, or anything that constituted a threat, nothing but hedge.
"Ok. Who called contact?" called Jason after a good few seconds of silence.
"I did Sergeant," said called the point man. Jason broke formation and walked up to him, his name tag read Private Popplewell.
"Alright Popplewell," asked Jason. "Why did you call contact?"
"I thought..." started Popplewell, he was young and nervous. He pushed the brim of his glasses further up his nose. "I thought I saw movement through the hedge, and I heard something. So I called contact."
"Infected?" asked Jason. Popplewell shook his head, shifting his combat shotgun in his arms.
"Don't think so Sarge," he said. "It sounded more like a growl."
"Poppy's hearing things," said Lance Corporal Duster. "It wouldn't be the first time."
"I know what I saw," replied Popplewell.
"First-time nerves getting to you Poppy?" sneered someone from the section.
"I know what I saw!" Popplewell snapped back.
"Alright lock it down," ordered Jason. He turned to Popplewell. "Keep your eyes and ears open. If you think you see or hear anything, call it. Got it?"
"Yes Sergeant," he replied, slightly ashamed at having cocked up. Jason gave him a reassuring pat on the shoulder and the patrol moved on.
...
5 minutes later
"CONTACT LEFT!" shouted Popplewell.
Again the entire section trained to target and raised their weapons, only for there to be nothing there again.
"For god sake Poppy!" shouted Duster. "Stop calling out contact when there's nothing there!"
"Lance!" shouted Jason. "Quiet! Private, explanation! Now!"
"I heard it again Sarge," replied Popplewell. He sounded more confident of himself this time. "It sounded like a low growl. Almost like an animal."
"An animal?!" chastised Duster. "An animal?! Private! You've got us all stopping and on edge because you thought you heard an anima..."
Duster did not finish her sentence, instead, she screamed as something large and furry dove on her from a tree above. It was large, fast, and had predatory eyes. It crushed her throat in its jaw as it roared, silencing Duster's scream. As it landed, its identity was clear, its orange and black stripes betraying it.
"TIGER!" someone shouted. Jason acted.
"Open..."
BOOM! BOOM!
The tiger roared a moment before its flank exploded, tearing apart vital internal organs and it collapsed. Popplewell stepped forward, he racked the slide on his combat shotgun, ejecting a perfectly good buckshot round, before firing once more into the tiger's head. It exploded in gore. Everyone stood speechless and in shock from the sudden ambush that the cat had launched, but also at how Popplewell had handled it. They all looked at him.
"How..." began Aber, Popplewell explained as he withdrew a handkerchief from his pocket at whipped brain matter and blood from his glasses.
"Alternate shells," he said. "I've got Buckshot and solid shot loaded alternately. I read that the SAS did the same trick in Malaysia and Borneo to fight off jungle predators."
"Fuckin' ell lad," someone muttered. "where'd this thing even come from?"
"Probably the zoo," said Jason. "Some keeper may have let it out in the shit storm or maybe it escaped somehow. Either way, good work Popplewell."
"Too bad about Duster, though," said Akio. There was little doubt that she was dead, but they came together and rolled the tiger corpse off her just to be sure. No question, she was dead.
"Alright, guys," said Jason. "We've got a man down. So let's get this done and head home, ok?"
"Sure."
"Sounds good."
"Can we bring the tiger back?" asked someone. They all turned toward the voice, it was Aber. They all thought she was mad until she explained herself.
"Tiger skin rug for the lounge?"
Patrol base Cornwell
Ops room
Z-day +47
18:00
They beginning his meeting with all the NCO's from all 3 sections as well as some of the civvie volunteers on base. When they'd first arrived, Jason had asked each of them to come up with an executable scavenger op each section could complete only with what they had on base. Now he was going to hear what they'd come up with.
"Right then, first things first, congratulations to Lance Corporal Aber on her promotion. I wish it could be under better circumstances," Said Jason. There was a brief applause to the new NCO. They continued.
"Right then. 1 section, what have we got?"
"Deer stalking op," replied Maester. "There's a few groups of deer on the Duke's old estate at Eton Hall. If we could bag a few that would feed us for a while and elevate the meat crisis back at Chester."
"Good one," said Jason, "2 Section, What'ya got?"
"Arms and ammo," replied Note. "Private 'tiger slayer' Popplewell said that his father used to work at a TA base in Elsmere port. I checked the list and we haven't hit it yet. Apparently it was a Signal Regiment Barracks, could yield some communications kit as well as arms, ammo, uniform etcetera."
"Pretty far, but not impossible. Good work," said Jason. He then looked over to 3 section. Of the NCO's, he was least impressed with 3 section's. He expected a lazy, easy operation that would produce little reward for the investment of man and material.
"3 section?"
"Warehouse complex outside Queensferry," said Corporal Johnson. "I used to work at it and about a week before this all went down, we received a shipment medical supplies bound for the Countess of Chester Hospital."
Jason actually surprised, that was actually a very juicy target and something Chester needed quite badly.
"Good idea, one problem," said Jason. "Queensferry is a long ass drive or March through infected country. There is no way that we could drive there and bring back enough medical supplies to justify the use of fuel."
"Who said anything about driving or marching?" replied Johnson. Jason cocked an eyebrow as Johnson retrieved a map from the shelf and unrolled it on the table. He pointed to a point on the map.
"Here's the warehouse complex," he said. "As you can see, it fronts right onto the river Dee. We can take a boat from Chester, sail up the Dee, load up what we need and sail back. There're enough supplies there that we won't do it in one hit. We can do it again and again."
Jason considered for a moment.
"Corporal... I take it back. That is a cracking good plan. OK, I want you guys to work on the finer details of the plans. Work together and ask around if anyone knows anything that might help. Akio and I will be happy to help. Good work guys. Dismissed."
Hi guys!
I need your help!
I've got a poll on for the next chapter/ chapter arc. It's going to be primarily around the 3 training ops, and I cannot decide if I want to write it as 3 shorter than standard chapters (around 3000-4000 words) Or as one massive chapter. Personally, I'm leaning more towards the first option but I'd like your feedback guys.
It's also worth saying that I have a plan to finish this story. It will have a maximum of 4 more arcs and probably around 6 or so chapters depending. I am considering a sequel.
During the writing of this story, a man of great significance passed away. Captain Eric 'Winkle' Brown was a royal navy test/ fighter pilot during world war 2 and after, who currently holds 3 world records, including most Aircraft carrier landings(2,407), and for flying more different types of aircraft than anyone else (487, not counting variants of individual aircraft types.) It is unlikely that these records will ever be broken.
RIP
As ever, please Review/ favourite/ follow. PM me if you have any problems/ suggestions/ questions etc.
Jango