I do not own Highschool of the DEAD or its characters.
Update: 10/17/13
Kohta reached out and grabbed Tomasa by the front of his vest, "Paddy! Takashi! Help me get him to Sensei!"
He hefted Tomasa around where Paddy and Takashi could grab him and haul him to the floor in the back. Shizuka was already removing his vest as they lay him down. Saeko, Rei and Dean quickly climbed up on the seats to give the nurse as much room as they could.
Kohta dove across the APC to where Tomasa had been. Saya moved through the space he left and got on the floor with the two children.
Toda-san looked back from his driver's seat and called out, "Hirano! We're pinned! I can't move forward or back!"
Kohta started to stick his head up, but heard a whinng! as a bullet ricocheted off the open commander's hatch.
"Hirano! Report, where's the fire coming from?" the boy heard Rika say on the radio.
Taking a deep breath he keyed his mic, "Shooter is to our left…ah…up high I think…he's firing down on us trying to get one in the hatch! I can't get to the gun because of that!"
As he paused, he heard rifle fire popping. "Hirano, I think he's in a building to your 10 o'clock. Do you understand what I say?" Rika said calmly.
Kohta mind raced, clocks…clocks, what was it about clocks…yes! He squeezed his mic, "Yes! Ah…Roger, Sergeant; left side forward…10 o'clock!"
"Good!" She replied. "We're putting rifle fire on his position to suppress. Can you use Ma .50?"
"YES! Just give me a chance to get my hands on it!"
"There is a broken window on the third floor. I'm betting that is where…" she stopped as Tatsumi broke in. "Left flank! We got ground pounders advancing while firing!"
Kohta looked to the rear of the APC where Shizuka was working on Tomasa. Dean-san was helping, and Saeko and Rei were curled up on the seats trying to stay out of the way. Paddy was sitting on the lieutenant's legs while Takashi was holding his head. Looking forward, he saw Saya on the floor, her arms wrapped around the scared children, watching him with fear in her eyes.
That did it. Red flashed before his eyes as he said, "Fuck this!"
He reached up through the hatch and toggled the gun ring rotate switch. He brought the gun around to where he thought the shooter was. Sucking in a deep breath, he stood up, hands going to the grips before he had even cleared the hatch. As he got eye level with the gun, he reached out and racked the charging handle while still standing up.
He quickly focused on the building Rika had called out, seeing the broken third story window, he pressed the butterfly triggers and the gun began to fire.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! It roared as he swung the muzzle in line with the target.
Low he thought as he adjusted upward. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! He flexed his thumbs and let the .50 cycle. Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Adjust, fire, adjust, fire, over and over.
Suddenly there was an orange flash in the window he was shooting into. As if in slow motion he saw a lazy gray trail come down toward him as a rocket raced his way.
"RPG!" He screamed as he tried to drop into the cover of the Stryker.
He didn't make it.
He saw the rocket impact the armored side, and ricochet upwards over the top. It still seemed to be in slow motion as it passed over his head and disappeared behind him. He hit the deck and rolled as a blast went off, raining glass and brick down on top of the Stryker.
He was up in a flash and back on the gun. This time he held the trigger down, raking back and forth around the window trying to hit anything and stop them from firing another rocket.
He saw another orange flash, but it was different this time. Suddenly the room he was firing into exploded with flame and two men flew out, arms flailing, as they fell to their deaths.
"Hirano! Suppressing fire 7 to 9 o'clock!" He heard Rika call on the radio as he saw her and the rest of the troops firing that direction with everything they had. In the background, he could hear the .50 on the second Stryker roaring.
He fired a couple of bursts, but then something clicked in his mind. Ducking down he called out. "Takashi! Open that hatch over you and check our right flank! Someone might be sneaking up on us! Be careful!"
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Cycle, Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom! Cycle, over and over until he was sure he was about to run out of ammo. Somewhere in the back of his mind he heard Takashi call out they were clear on the right.
As he was about to call out to Paddy for ammo, Rika came on the radio, "Cease Fire! Cease Fire! I say again, Cease Fire!"
Kohta let up on the triggers as the popping of gun fire slowed to a stop. He glanced back along the top of the vehicle to see Takashi looking at him, wild eyed, from one of the rear hatches.
Looking down his eyes met Saya's, "Stay down 'til Rika says it's safe!" he said quickly since it looked like she was starting towards him. She nodded and stayed low.
Over the radio he heard Rika giving orders, "Tatsumi, Yanagiba, take two teams to sweep and clear the hostiles. Paddy, open up. Takashi, Saeko, Rei, stand guard around Stryker One. Kohta, stay on that gun. Shizuka, I've got two more wounded."
Suddenly there was a flurry of movement as everyone went into action. The rear door dropped and Paddy stepped to one side to let Takashi, Saeko and Rei out, weapons ready. The red-head reached back in and brought out a package that unfolded into a stretcher. Laying that in the street, he and Takashi brought Tomasa out and placed him on it.
Everyone ducked as a flurry of gunshots rang out as someone screamed "BANZAI!" One of the soldiers called out, "CLEAR!" Tense seconds passed before Tatsumi keyed his mic, "Just a diehard, Sarge. Pulled a pistol on us and opened fire."
One of the soldiers from the Humvee brought over two more stretchers as the other two wounded arrived. One, with a leg wound, was being carried by two men, while the third followed under his own power while holding a bandage to his wounded arm.
Shizuka went to the leg wound while Dean-san helped the one with the arm wound off with his shirt.
Finding a simple flesh wound, the Marine's wife cleaned and wrapped it quickly. She came over to where the nurse was putting packing in the bullet hole in the soldier's leg. She automatically held out what Shizuka needed before the nurse asked for it. Looking up at her Shizuka asked, "You've had training?"
Dean nodded as she cut the bandage for Shizuka to tie, "When we were in the States, I took some EMT courses. We transferred here before I finished. That's why Masahiko and I were living in the city instead of on base. I wanted to train more and it was the best way. I was waiting for classes to start when the outbreak hit."
"If it's going to be like this I'm glad to have you," Shizuka told her.
Kohta looked down at Saya again, "I think you can move around, but don't leave the cabin yet."
"Do you need anything?" she asked, visibly shaken.
"I could use some water," he replied. She grabbed a bottle and opened it then handed it to him.
"Who were they, Kohta? Why were living people shooting at us?" she asked with tears in her eyes.
He shook his head, "I don't know. Some gang? Marauders maybe? Rika will tell us when they're sure."
The radio clicked, "Sergeant to Hirano; status, over."
"Hirano to Sergeant; I'm fine, but I'm low on ammo, over."
"Roger, I'm sending you relief and they will show you how to reload, out."
"Roger, out," He replied.
Kohta watched as a soldier broke away from Rika and headed to the Stryker. He climbed in and walked up to throw open the left hatch Kohta had been using. "Konnichiwa Hirano-san! I'm Wakanae Shion; I'll be relieving you today!"
Kohta's mouth fell open as a cute young woman popped her head up beaming at him.
She laughed as Kohta stared in shock, "Oh what a face!" Looking down she asked an equally shocked Saya, "Does he always do this when he meets a girl?"
"I'm sorry!" Kohta cried out. "I just didn't know there were any other women in the unit besides Rika…ah…I mean the Sergeant!"
Wakanae laughed again, "Oh! Yeah there are three of us! I drive Stryker 2 and the others are troopers."
Reaching down, she pulled an ammo box out from under the seat Saya had been sitting on earlier. Climbing out onto the top of the vehicle she said, "Wow! You really did almost give'em the whole nine yards didn't you?"
Looking at where she was pointing, Kohta finally noticed there were only five rounds of ammo sticking out of the side of the gun. Wakanae knelt down and opened the new box. "Watch this," She told Kohta.
Taking the end of the new belt, she pulled off the cloth tab that was sticking out. Unclipping the first link in the new chain, she then clipped it to what was left in the gun. Standing up she pulled the belt of bullets out of the box and held them. "Now, Hirano; take the end of the belt and put it in the holder on the gun mount. Fold it back and forth in layers 'til it's all in." When he finished Wakanae took the now empty box and started picking up the expended belt chain links and brass casings from the bullets.
"Can those be reused?" asked Kohta.
She nodded, "The links can and maybe the brass if we can get a reloading machine they will fit in. Go take a break. I'm betting Sarge will want to get rolling soon before we have to get involved with a bunch of Zeds that got attracted by this mess."
"Speaking of that…" said Toda who was standing in the drivers hatch.
Wakanae looked around, "Where away Gramps?"
"Other side of the roadblock young'un. I'll call it in. Toda to Sarge; Got about dozen Zeds on our front. They are blocked by the wrecks, but they need to go before we push through, over."
Another voice spoke up, "Kurogane to Sergeant; Got a bunch shuffling around back here too. Estimate 18 to 20 walkers, over."
"Go ahead and take them out. Let me know when you're through, out," Rika replied.
Kohta ducked down and crossed over to the left hatch, unhooked Rika's rifle, checked the magazine and climbed out on the top deck, as Wakanae dropped into the commanders side. He was surprised when Toda held his hand out.
"Give that to me, Hirano; you're supposed to be taking a break," Toda said.
Glancing at Wakanae, who nodded, Kohta handed the rifle over to the old soldier.
Toda wrapped the sling around his arm and quickly started popping off shots at the rate of about one a second. He keyed his mic and said, "Toda's done." as the last Zed hit the ground.
Kohta stared as Wakanae slapped him on the shoulder. "Don't let that old man fool you, Hirano. He's our shooting instructor!"
After handing Kohta the rifle back, Toda climbed down and joined Paddy in adjusting the front blade to push the wrecked cars out of the way.
Climbing back inside and stowing the rifle, Kohta felt Saya tug on his sleeve. "Kohta? The kids and Zeke need to go to the restroom," she said.
Nodding, he went out the back of the Stryker and found Rika talking to Tomasa, who was sitting up on the stretcher.
"Excuse me Sergeant, but the kids and Zeke need the restroom," he said.
She nodded and keyed her mic, "Makeshift restroom for girls to the right of Stryker 1. See Hirano, out."
Paddy walked up and tapped him on the arm, "Come on, I'll show you how we handle this." Stepping into the APC, Paddy came out with two blankets. He unfolded one and put it behind his back while holding his arms above his head. "Stand like this at the back end of the Stryker, I'll stand at the front until they are all done. And Kohta? No peeking, they all got guns!"
Kohta snickered as Saya and the children came out of the back. The pink-haired girl stood for a second, her face red, before clearing her throat, "Ah…um…I don't know how to do this. We were always able to find a restroom before."
Rika walked over and patted her on the shoulder, "It's okay, Saya; I'll show you. Rei, Saeko, you should come also. Oh, Takashi? Take little Dean-chan between the trucks please."
Takashi nodded and held out his hand. The little boy looked at his mother and seeing her nod took Takashi's hand and went with him.
Kohta stood holding the blanket up behind himself with his back to them, red faced, as he could hear the girls and women of the convoy giggling and whispering behind him.
Yanagiba jogged up as Rika came back around the blanket. "Report," was all she said.
"We have collected all the weapons and ammo we could that were not damaged. There are three survivors, but none are going to last very long. Weapons are a bunch of AK-47's and cheap pistols. Attackers seem to be a yakuza or a biker gang. Most of them have the tattoos and several are missing fingers from their left hands."
Rika nodded, "Take the AK's, pistols and ammo leaving the wounded where they lie. Let's load up and get rolling." Yanagiba nodded and headed back down the line of trucks.
"Toda, you and Paddy take Stryker 1 and clear that mess before we reload. I don't want people knocked around too much," Rika said over the radio.
"Roger," was Toda's only reply.
After the women finished their business, Paddy collected the blankets and closed the rear door.
Rumbling forward, Toda worked the Stryker back and forth pushing cars aside until the street was clear enough for everything to get through, then backed up and dropped the ramp again.
Kohta was surprised when Tomasa walked over to him, bare-chested but wrapped in bandages, his left arm in a sling, "I want you back on the gun, Hirano. You did well and I think I can trust you there."
Nodding, Kohta went back inside and took over for Wakanae, who bumped fists with him and told Saya, "See ya later," as she headed back to her Stryker.
Once everyone was loaded and the ramp shut, Toda started down the street slowly.
Tomasa, sitting up under the left hatch with Shizuka beside him said, "Hirano, there is a map set in the pocket to your right. Get it out and look it over."
Doing as he was told, Kohta looked at the maps and then said, "I'm sorry, don't know how to read this, Lieutenant."
Saya reached over and took the maps from Kohta's hands. Looking at them for a minute, she turned to Tomasa, "I can do it, Lieutenant-san."
Tomasa smiled and nodded, "Good Takagi-san! You take the left hatch and direct Toda-san when we need to turn. Ask me anything you need too."
After the occupants of the cabin shifted around some, Kohta ducked down and showed Saya how to open the hatch. Standing up with a pair of binoculars around her neck, she checked their location before leaning down, "Toda-san! Left turn coming up in three blocks!"
"Hai!" The driver called back.
A click came over the radio and Rika said with a laugh, "Got a new navigator, Tomasa? I told you she was smart!"
The lieutenant and others laughed as Saya blushed.
000
After the roadblock and gunfight, the convoy was able to keep a steady pace of around 35 kilometers per hour. Two hours later, they rolled into an industrial park and up to a warehouse with a 3 meter high chain-link fence around it. A guard house was on the inside, but as they sat and watched, no one saw movement.
"All right, Paddy, open the gate, but take two people to guard you," Rika ordered.
Picking up a pair of bolt cutters, Paddy dropped the rear door and nodded to Takashi. Saeko started to move until Rei suddenly got up. "My turn," she said as she unclipped her rifle from its holder.
Advancing to the gate, Paddy cut the locks and looked around. Looking back at the other two, he pointed to his eyes and then the guard house. Looking closer, Takashi and Rei could see two shadows moving around inside.
Nodding, Takashi waved for him to open the gate as he and Rei maneuvered to get past quickly. As they stepped in, Rei jogged pass the small building, and took position about 5 meters away. Takashi stepped up and placed his hand on the door knob. Slowly turning it, he shoved it in with a rush and then fell back to get clear before the undead could move.
Rei raked the pavement with the end of her bayonet. The undead came to the door and seemed to pause as if searching. "Over here, you two!" Rei called out, making them turn towards her. They moaned and advanced with a rush.
She sliced the first across the neck, then stabbed into the eye socket. Taking a couple of steps back, she repeated her attack before backing away again.
"So beautiful and deadly too…" Takashi heard Paddy murmur to himself as Rei turned back to them and nodded.
Opening the gates fully now, Paddy and the other two watched as the Humvee, followed by the other vehicles, rolled in with Stryker 1 coming last. After it passed, Paddy and Takashi closed the gate and made it secure, before heading to where everyone had parked.
Rika quickly set a four man team to scouting the inside of the perimeter fence, while a six man team went inside to clear the building.
Thirty minutes later Tatsumi called over the radio, "Sarge, we have six confirmed walkers in here. I want to take a page from Busujima-san's book and lure them out before we end them. I'll open the cargo doors and get them to follow us out."
"Roger, go ahead and give it a try. Just be careful, and if something goes wrong, don't hesitate to shoot. Everyone else, either get undercover or get high for protection," Rika said.
After a small scramble, the roll-up cargo door raced up in an earsplitting rattle. Tatsumi and another soldier spun the chain drive as fast as they could and then ran out the door. Behind them six walkers stumbled along moaning as they searched for their prey.
Holding a silenced pistol in his hand, Tatsumi made whistling noises as he backed across the concrete parking lot. Once he was close to the fence, he maneuvered around them and then ended the game with six quick shots from the pistol.
Takashi was looking in the warehouse doorway when he noticed Zeke standing with his hackles up, growling quietly. "Rika…I mean Sergeant, I think there is still something else in there."
She walked over to him and looked as he pointed to the little dog. "What do you think?" she asked the teen.
He shrugged his shoulders, "Let me and him go in and let him sniff around. If something else is there we will draw it out like Tatsumi-san did and finish it out here."
Nodding, she motioned for one of the other soldiers to give Takashi a big black flashlight. "Go ahead, be careful and don't hesitate to shoot. I would rather clean up a mess than lose you."
Takashi snapped his fingers at Zeke, and said, "Go find'em, boy!" Starting in, he paused as he heard footsteps behind him. Looking around he found Saeko following him. Raising one eyebrow he asked, "What are you doing?"
She smiled sweetly, "You don't really think I'm going to let you go in there alone, do you?"
Rika and several other soldiers chuckled as Takashi turned red. He began to walk again, shining the flashlight back and forth watching while Zeke, nose to the ground, worked his way across the building to a glass enclosed room on the far wall.
Standing inside were two of Them pushing on the glass trying to get out. Their heads spun to look in the dog's direction as he barked.
Takashi keyed his mic, "Takashi to Sergeant; there are two in a glass office. I'm going to open the door and draw them out."
"Roger," Rika replied.
Seeing the door opened outward, Saeko reached out and pulled it, holding it open with one hand, her sword in the other.
The undead turned toward the door and shuffled forward as Zeke barked at them again. Takashi started to the cargo door clapping his hands while Zeke barked and dashed around. The undead moved along after them, and Saeko followed behind, close enough to attack if needed.
Once again out across the lot to where Tatsumi waited. Pop! Pop! From the pistol and it was over.
The three walked back to the door where Takashi whistled to Zeke, and pointed in the building again. Zeke took one look and rolled on his back wanting a belly rub.
Takashi shrugged his shoulders and said, "Well, I guess that's it!"
The group laughed as Tomasa patted him on the shoulder. Then turning to Tatsumi, he said, "Take two other people and Paddy. There should be a generator room in the basement. Let's see if we can get it to work."
Pointing to two others, Tatsumi started inside as Paddy ran to grab a tool kit. Less than fifteen minutes later there was a rumble and the bright overhead lights flashed on.
A/N: Because someone has already asked; Stryker 1 is a M1132 Engineer Squad Vehicle and Stryker 2 is a M1126 Infantry Carrier.
Please Review and/or Favorite! Chapter 12 is in the works!