"One hour," Sakamoto ordered. "If the truck is not fixed by then, we climb aboard the helos and evac to Green Zone Mike Charlie."
The Marines snapped to attention while Andrea nodded. The group formed into a single line and filed onto the street. The dead still milled about, but the radio set up last night kept their attention well enough to allow the group to sneak by largely unnoticed.
The few stragglers toward the edges of the crowd caught sound of boots crunching across coral paving.
"I'll cover the rear," Andrea volunteered. "My pipe makes less noise."
Edmonds replied with a wink and a nod as Andrea kept her word.
The gas station parking lot was exactly as the group left it. The truck sat at the pump awaiting its passengers. Davis had his men form a perimeter while Andrea strayed into the street to cover the approaches. Clayton popped the hood while Sakamoto powered up the communications array.
"Sakamoto to Operations, come in, Ops."
"Ops, here. Good to hear you're still alive, Marine. Report your status, over."
"Scouting mission completed, found one survivor, vehicle is humped. Over."
"Did that little toy we gave you come useful, over?"
"Oorah, Ops. Mike32 is good to rock," Sakamoto said. "Lots of crispy critters, over."
"How soon you need evac, over?"
Clayton shook his head at Sakamoto. "Alternator is fried. Damn Chevys...shoulda been a Dodge"
"ASAP on evac. Requesting vehicle airlift gas station SE outskirts of Yonashiromiyagi, near the elementary school. How copy, over?"
"Roger on evac ETA. Anything else, over?"
"Request contact to British contingent. Report all Royal Marine personnel intact and in perfect health, over."
"Ops copies all, Sakamoto. General conveys congratulations. V22 inbound your pos 20 mikes maximum. Hold tight Marine, we're coming to get ya. Ops out."
The knock on the door came early. Alex, having troubles sleeping anyway, stumbled into the hallway and unceremoniously threw it open. Shocked by the little display of anger, Sergeant Major Blake regained his composure.
"Would you be so kind as to alert Sergeant Phillips that we need him right now?"
Alex blinked the sleep from her eyes as she tried to focus on the green blob in front of her. "Huh?"
"Would you please inform..." Blake trailed off as he peered into the dark hallway.
Shaun materialized behind Alex, startling her slightly. "Thank you, Alex," he said. "Sar Major, to what do we owe this visit?"
"I'm sorry to bring this news, Sergeant, but you have been tapped for an assignment by Allied command," Blake said.
"What sort of assignment?" Asuka asked as she slipped beside her husband.
"The sort for which the Sergeant has been trained, ma'am." Blake said, nodding his head in deference. "We need him on the Home Islands to prepare a safe haven."
Asuka's face drained of color. Alex let her jaw hit the deck. Seeing this, Blake attempted to soften the blow. "I have the assurances of the Americans that they will send a force sizable enough to speed things along and ensure everyone's safety."
"Who all is going?" Shaun asked.
"Everyone they can spare," Blake explained. "Their Army, Marines and whatever is left of their air forces."
"Quite the operation," Shaun mused. "Time frame?"
"No more than two weeks to secure the fortifications," Blake said. "Then your tour is up and you come home."
Asuka held Shaun closely, seemingly unwilling to let him go. He turned to face her and held her hands.
"My Dearest," he said, fixing her gaze with his. "This is no more risky than Afghanistan, and it is what I was trained for and these are my orders."
"You swear to me that you are going to come home safe," Asuka demanded. "I couldn't bear to lose you."
Shaun smiled and gathered her and Alex into an embrace. "As God is my witness, I will move Heaven and Earth to come home safe."
Blake politely cleared his throat. "I have assigned a personal protection detail, Mrs. Phillips. We're going to get them next."
"Who?" Alex wondered aloud.
"Davis, Edmonds and Sharpe," Blake said, then broke into a chuckle. "I should just permanently assign them to your family."
Shaun broke the hug then turned to face Blake. "I'll be ready in ten minutes, Sar Major."
Blake stepped onto the path as Shaun disappeared into the house. Ten minutes later, he was dressed in his fatigues, rifle over his shoulder and helmet in hand. He slipped his PLCE loadout over the other shoulder and followed Blake at a brisk jog.
Alex slid the door closed and returned to her place beside Misa. Asuka stared at the closed door for some minutes before drifting into the kitchen.
As promised, the V22 in USMC livery hovered into view within 20 minutes.
"Pop smoke, Clayton," Skamoto ordered.
The pilot hovered over the LZ while a door gunner swept the area surrounding the scout party with M134 covering fire. Tow hooks were loaded and Sakamoto and Clayton worked fast to secure the scout truck.
"Corporow," Edmonds shouted above the whine of the Osprey's engines. "I have anuthah contact, bearing NNE."
Davis pulled his binoculars from a pouch and focused on the direction pointed out. The shape resolved itself into a Royal Navy Merlin heading due in to their current location.
Amidst a hail of suppressing gunfire and flying debris, Blake jumped from the Merlin as it hovered a few feet off the deck, the pilot deftly keeping it from being swept into the rotor wash from the Osprey.
"Davis, you, Sharpe and Edmonds are to accompany Sergeant Phillips to Okinawa with the US Marines."
"Aye, Sar Major," Davis shouted. "May I ask why?"
"You are escorting the Sergeant to the Japanese Home Islands to assist in securing a new settlement for survivors."
"What about our report to Captain de Souza?"
"Williamson and Nelson are coming back with me." Blake explained. "Take care of Sgt Phillips, he has a wife and two daughters he would very much like to see again."
Davis smiled. "Aye Sar Major!"
Blake signaled to the Merlin to touch down. Once it did, a figure departed the helo and ran to Davis.
"Corporal Davis," Shaun shook his hand.
"Sgt Phillips. Welcome to the shite."
"Glad to be here," Shaun said with a smile. "Shall we get going? I hate to keep our hosts waiting."
Blake approached Andrea and saluted briskly. "I've no time for introductions, I'm afraid, but would you accompany me back to Ikei?"
Andrea turned to Edmonds who smiled and winked. "Go with him, you'll be okay. I'll find you as soon as we get back."
Andrea smiled and walked to the Merlin. She stopped, ran to the scout truck and gathered the salvaged loot from last night. She then set off at a run to the waiting chopper.
Williamson and Nelson peeled off from Davis and hustled after Blake into the Merlin. The pilot of the Osprey landed forward of the scout truck to allow ingress for the remaining ground troops.
The Osprey lumbered into the air as the slack played out in the tow lines. As they went taught, a slight shudder caused the bird to lurch forward a bit.
"I hate when that happens," Sakamoto said as she strapped herself in. "Gives me the creeps, like we're gonna crash."
Davis turned a shade paler as Edmonds tried to choke back his breakfast. Sharpe, meanwhile, smiled like a child at the carnival. Shaun did his best to hide his discomfort while Clayton chatted up the door gunner.
The flight into Okinawa carried on without any further glitches.
On the tarmac at Kadena Air Base, they were met by two men in US military camouflage.
"General on deck!" Sakamoto shouted. Everyone snapped to attention and saluted.
"General Lester Crighton Commanding Officer Third Marine Expeditionary Forces," The older man said as he approached. "Allow me to introduce my Army counterpart, Lieutenant Colonel John Franco with the First US Cavalry."
The Marines all saluted Franco.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," Franco pointed to a huge map of Japan hung in the briefing room. "In 24 hours we are moving to secure a section of Izu Peninsula and turn it into the biggest relocation camp in Japan. Here is where we shall gather survivors and the supplies needed to feed, clothe and support them."
A loud murmur went up as D-Day, long promised, lay close at hand. Gen Crighton cleared his throat and the room fell silent.
"This little 'thumb' of the peninsula, between the towns of Shimoda in the west and Kakisaki to the east," Crichton said. "The terrain and width of the peninsula here makes an easily maintained chokepoint. All we need do from there is clear this 'thumb' and we can resettle refugees."
Crichton deferred back to Franco. "The initial strike will consist of elements of the Japan Air Self Defense Forces in coordination with units of US Air Force, Army and Marine air units in coordinated close air support strikes. We are sending a Wasp-class amphibious assault ship, the USS Essex, in support of all landing and air operations so we can maintain a continuous presence during the initial secure and clear."
General Crighton continued. "I want all CAGs and group leaders to submit their strike plans to the air boss by 1800hrs. I want no mid air collisions out there."
Franco waited for Crighton to finish before resuming. "Once that is complete, we rendezvous with a lead column of Japan Ground Self Defense Force."
"Who is doing the actual clearing?" a voice sounded from the middle.
"We are sending around a volunteer roster," Crighton said. "Naturally as many as want to go, but we'll make do with what we get. We have an advance unit of MARSOC Marines and British Marines already en route to recon and link up with the advance JGSDF column."
"The air campaign will last only two days as we are trying to minimize structure damage," Franco continued. "To that end, the advance parties will set up a series of noise makers in fields and clearings to coerce Them into clusters for ease of destruction. Once the air strikes are done, the serious task of ground clearing ops begins."
"Any further questions?" Crichton asked.
The Osprey led a flight of several aircraft. To the right, two CH-64 Chinooks packed to the gills; one with a proper earth moving caterpillar and the other an up armored HMMWV, both slung beneath. To the left, one more Osprey and three AH-1 W Cobra gunships. Directly off the stern, three US Army UH-60 Blackhawks.
"Quite a bit of firepower," Shaun remarked to Sakamoto.
"The General wants this done right the first time," Sakamoto said. "We want to get in and work ASAP. The Army does the actual earthwork while we cover."
"I do hope you have more than just the one dozer," Shaun said skeptically. "I don't think it will be enough."
Sakamoto smiled broadly as she pointed to the Chinooks. "They both have enough blasting compound to level two city blocks. All we need to do is block the roads in and out. Once that is done, we clear the peninsula."
"Will there be a checkpoint?" Shaun asked. "For refugees to pass through."
"Yeah," Sakamoto nodded. "We're gonna build that with materials on site."
"Very good," Shaun said, satisfied with the intel.
A voice came over the cabin intercom. "Get ready. We are twenty from LZ."
"On your feet!" Sakamoto shouted. Everyone aboard responded immediately as the Osprey circled above Shimodahigashi Middle School. The Cobras swept the playing field of every walker in sight with cannon fire. Given the all clear, the lead Osprey touched down.
"Go! Go! Go!" the assorted personnel jumped from the ramp as the door gunner swiveled his M134 in every direction he could.
Davis, Edmonds, Sharpe and Philips formed into a tight circle with Sakamoto and Clayton as they approached the main school buildings. The lead Osprey vacated to make room for the second. A full platoon of US Marines leapt from the rear door and formed up a perimeter around the field.
The combined US and British team double-timed it to the main school building and covered the approaches from the school. As they did so, the Army birds touched down and their compliment of soldiers jumped onto the grass.
The Cobras circled overhead, wiping out every visible hostile. Once the Army choppers lifted off, the soldiers guided in the two Chinooks. Their cargo took considerably more time as the heavy equipment had to be moved aside to allow the big lifters to land properly. The big dozer set to work immediately creating a berm to the west blocking pedestrian walkways all the way to a narrow ridge lining the west of the school.
"Contact front!" Sakamoto shouted, the need for noise discipline rendered moot.
The lead party found a vast number of students, faculty and assorted others making their relentless way toward the landing site.
"Whiskey Alpha, I got Zulu Charlie present and in force on school grounds." Sakamoto spoke into her mic. "Come get rid of 'em."
She turned to her squad. "Gentlemen, we best get gone." They turned and hustled after her as one of the Cobras dropped a napalm canister into the middle of the hungry crowd. The sickening smell and sounds of burning flesh did little to settle any stomachs as the fire quickly spread among the dead.
To the side, the Marines and soldiers holding the field held off the zombies moving in from the suburb SW of their position. As the company fired into the horde, the dozer came along and buried the undead into another berm, effectively sealing off that portion of the school.
A loud whistling filled the air as Davis turned to try and find the source of the sound. As he did, a C-130 passing low overhead dropped a massive pallet tethered to a drag chute from its cargo bay door into the larger suburb over the ridge to the southwest.
"Shit!" Sakamoto screamed. "Everyone hit the deck!"
Soldiers and Marines complied in time to feel the earth shake and a deafening blast fill the air.
"What the fuck was that?" Sharpe yelled over the ringing in his ears.
"MOAB," Sakamoto said. "Fucking chair farce dropped the damn thing almost on top of us!"
"Whatever it was, it damn sure got the attention of everything from here to Korea," Davis spat. "We'll be up to our necks in walking dead in no time."
"Clayton, go check if you can see what the MOAB did," Sakamoto called over. Clayton took off at a run to the berm and crested it.
"Shit, sergeant," he said over the radio. "I think there was a subdivision over here, but there's just a big smoking hole now."
"Well don't that make our lives a whole lot easier," Sakamoto said, sarcasm dripping on her words. "Now we got a big fucking hole to back fill and that much less housing for refugees."
"Whiskey Charlie to all ground forces. I have a visual update on the MOAB. The subdivision NW nearest ocean is gone, ocean rising to fill the hole. Whiskey Charlie out."
Sakamoto then toggled the channel switch on her comms. "Sgt Sakamoto to Captain Bains, over."
Silence while the patrol regrouped.
"Relay to Air Force, no heavy ordinance. Friendlies in ops area, over." Clayton took point into the charred area left by the napalm. The patrol stepped over burned bodies and finished off those still moving.
"Copy all, Sakamoto out." She motioned the move out and the patrol entered the school proper.
By a great stroke of luck, most of the school population lay in charred ruin, only a few stragglers here and there. By late afternoon, the entire school grounds were secure and in the hands of Allied forces.
"Get that dozer to finish sealing the north perimeter," Sakamoto radioed. "I don't want any surprises coming from the rear."
The patrol approached the walkway and stairs leading to what had been the northeastern end of the western subdivision. Here, Shaun laid charges and demoed a small section of hill, blocking access through the gap in the ridge. The entire path was then secured in this manner until the school lay isolated behind earthworks.
"Let's make sure the school buildings are empty before night fall," Sakamoto said as they rejoined the main force. "I want to use the place as a prime staging area for the next phase."
Sakamoto took a seat at an outdoor dining table and spread aerial photos for her platoon leaders.
"Here is the school itself, the gym and these are support structures," she said, pointing at each in turn. "Let's get the school cleared first, so we can house the first wave of refugees. The gym comes next if we need the space. Leave the out buildings unless we think we can get the power back up and running."
"I know someone who could do just that," Davis suggested. All eyes turned to face him. "Civilian woman named Park. Eun-ji Park."
"Once we get this place super secure, we can consider bringing her in," Sakamoto said. "I don't want civvies in a shooting op if I can help it."
"Aye, Sergeant," Davis responded. He opted not to regale her with his tale of Osaka.
Sakamoto pointed to the senior soldier, Jeffries, by his name tape. "Take five men and clear the top floor. Edwards the second. The British on me and we clear out the first and basement. Sgt Phillips remains out here to help the Army with the earthworks. Understood?"
They nodded in unison, then each group split up and carried out their orders. Jeffries and his team made their way in first followed by Edwards and his team. Sakamoto and the British then fanned out and conducted their search of the first floor.
To the east, the Air Force, heeding the warning about friendlies, began dropping lighter ordinance onto the narrow strip of flat land between the large hill and the beach. A second landing force followed up and dug in with explosives and hand tools, creating a series of wide, shallow trenches spanning west to east, north of Sotoura.
Sakamoto and her team moved cautiously room to room.
"I would like to suggest a trick we learned in Tokyo," Edmonds chimed in. He approached a closed door and knocked several times. At the sound, a low moan and scraping at the door brought a smile to Edmonds' face. "Now we know it's 'occupied'."
"Smart Marine," Sakamoto said as she shouldered her weapon and stood to one side. Clayton and Sharpe fell in behind as Davis and Edmonds lined the other side. Sakamoto held her left hand and counted down from three before she whipped the door open.
What had been a student stumbled forward, having lost its balance. Davis put a bullet into its head as two more followed close to heel.
"Clear?" Sakamoto asked. Davis poked his head for a quick look. He nodded and signaled the all clear.
The laborious process of clearing the first floor took the remaining daylight hours. By the time the team reached the end of the hall, the sun was sinking well behind the hills. The second and third floor clearing parties reported similar results and declared each floor cleared.
"Block the stair wells to the basement," Sakamoto ordered. "It's too late and way too dark today. We catch it first light."
The securing teams were brought into the school.
"I want all but one stair to the second floor demolished," Sakamoto ordered the assembled soldiers and Marines. "That means the fire escapes as well. The remaining staircase gets barricaded with the rubble."
The men set to work immediately, demolishing all staircases except the one nearest the west wall. They moved to the second floor, blocked access to the stair and tried their best to get comfortable for the night as the sounds of aircraft droned overhead and ordinance exploded around them.
A/N: In collaboration with Draco38, the State will tie in the next couple of chapters with Draco's "Living with the DEAD" series. As always, The State wishes to thank Draco38, jm1681 and Rassilon001 for their efforts. Reviews and comments are welcome.