A level 3 call-out.

Well, that’s bad the call-out system is numbered 1 to 5 with 5 being a normal event and 1 being when a city is about to fall. A level 3 is called when shit is going to hit the fan and HM Government is about to panic because it’s bad but they don’t know how bad yet.

The next morning Sergeant Gregson is at my door at five o’clock sharp. He doesn’t need to knock on the door as I am ready to go as soon as he pulls up. I hate early mornings and don’t bother to hide my displeasure.

“Morning John.” He says as he sees me coming out. I couldn’t be sure, but he might have smiled at my facial expression, but it was too quick to tell.

“God this must be bad a level 3 call.” I grumbled to him.

“I heard that something is happening in Norfolk at a town called Willowdale.”

“Norfolk, not much been happening there that’s normally Morgan’s area.”

He shrugs and heads back to the car. We get in and he quickly gets us underway to our air transport. Morgan Sinclair is an Operative that’s been assigned a given section of the country to monitor and handle the local zones. I had tried to be assigned my local area but was kept as a mobile asset. In my opinion, she is one of the lucky ones.

“We are heading to the Norfolk/Suffolk border well inland. Graveyard zone it has been reported.” He informed me as we headed to the base.

“Great more “Grave Chill” to enjoy.” I bemoaned. After I got rid of the last lot.

The good Sergeant chose to ignore that and we made good time to the base as traffic was practically nonexistent at this time in the morning. We reached the gates a were quickly waved through as Sergeant Gregson waved his ID at the guards. We were expected of course.

We are in the helicopter and away faster than normal. This was clear that the higher-ups are worried due to the speed we are moving at.

I try to doze as we fly as after the first few dozen flights helicopter rides had lost their appeal to me. I fail but still try for the whole trip.

“We’re approaching our lading zone.” The pilot spoke through the intercom.

I woke up and was surprised at what I saw. Normally the air transport lands in a military base or airfield nearest to the zone but this time we were coming directly into the area of the forward base. The trucks were already here and set up. Then my attention was drawn to the zone and I realized the scale of the problem.

All zones have a perimeter made up of standardized barriers. The barriers are 12-foot-tall by 4-foot-wide and 3-foot-thick concrete blocks. Well, they were not present. So that starts the alarm bells in my head. I turn to Sergeant Gregson. Speaking to him through the intercom.

“New zone?” I enquire. Trying to figure out what was happening.

He looks at me and shakes his head negatively. Alright, alarm bells ringing at full blast now.

The town below us was the usual mix of older communities built around a central market with newer modern housing zone extensions going out into the countryside. Farms and small areas of trees could be seen further out.

We land in a field next to the encampment and we get out. Staying low as Sergeant Gregson leads the way from the helicopter still spinning rotor blades. As soon as we are clear it lurches into the sky and fly’s off.

We are met at the perimeter of the camp by Alexander and Sergeant Green the soldier in charge of the armoury at the main home base. Sergeant Lou Green was a five-foot block of muscle in his early forties. He had a face that look like he had been run over a few times. One hell of a drinking partner for nights out.

“Thank you for getting here so quickly. We need to get you briefed and suited up.” Alexander stated and turned away and headed towards an armoury truck. We followed behind.

Lou was grim and looking around I realized that there were two armoury trucks present. Another Operative was present or even deployed. This was now officially a really bad situation but too late now like I had a choice anyway.

There was a lot more activity within the camp than normal. Mostly soldiers but quite a few police and support workers. We entered one of the armoury trucks. We climbed into the back section and found Dr Helena and another person I did not know. Alexander turned to me.

“John, we need you to head into the next section and get geared up with Sergeant Green. We will meet you in the briefing tent set up outside when you are done.” With that, he ushers everyone else out.

“All right Lou what’s going on?” I asked turning to him.

The deepening grimaces were not what I was looking for. I am about to get dumped into a shit storm.

“Alright, John better get you suited up. Won’t lie to you boy it’s not good. They breaking out some new gear for you on this one, however.” He motioned to the back. That shocked me the most so far. HM Government is legendary for its hated to spend money except on its expense accounts.

In the back section, I find out what meant. The left wall had my usual weapons and support gear. The right where my armour was normally hanging had something a bit different. I go over to inspect it. Under my armour, I wear what could be described as a boiler suit. This was similar in basic design but improved.

The suit was made of a material that was more akin to a wet suit and matt black in colour. Instead of armour being placed over it the plates were part of the clothing. This allows much faster dressing and undressing as all I have to do is get into the suit and zip up. The shines were the only section without armour.

“Alright get into it John we are on the clock.”

I remove my civilian clothes putting them into the supplied locker. Stepping into the new suit I pull it up and over my body. The zip is located on the front of the suit between the front sections of the armour plate. The suit fitting was good and matched my frame well zipping it closed. The suit’s armour plate sections were set into the suit allowing me a good range of movement. The shine guard armour was part of the boots and was put on last. The armour section of the shines sits below my knees. My helmet was the same as always as are my gloves.

“Alright all suited up. Let’s go over your gear.” Green said.

“Gladius.” He began.

“Check.”

“Ammo belt and flare gun.”

“Check.”

“Water bottle and energy bars.”

“Check.”

“Shield.”

“Check.”

“Axe.”

“Check.”

We finish the gear checklist looked at each other and nodded together. I was ready to go. We headed out of the truck to the tent set up for the briefing. Everyone was waiting. The tent had a map of the area on it. The map was of the local community. A green line shows the barriers’ location and a red one shows the zone boundary. Now I am no map reader but the barriers were located a fair distance inside the zone.

The tent was filled with a lot of unknown faces some hanging around others manning laptops at tables. I attract a lot of glances from the crowd. I decide to remain standing as I am not sure that I can sit comfortably all dressed up as I am.

“All right let’s begin.” Alexander started.

All of us present turned our attention to him and an officer I did not recognise.

“This is Captain Leerson and will start the briefing.”

Captain Leerson stepped forward.

“Thank you, Mr Harley-Grenville. Ten days ago, the people living in Crawford council estate bordering this zone began reporting the disappearance of both pets and several people.”

He pointed the map to a housing estate now with several dozen buildings located in the zone.

“Local police units stepped up patrols but nothing was spotted or identified. When the fourth person was reported to have disappeared three days ago. The investigation found evidence of a violent altercation with tracks leading to the zone. A Zone Response Task Force was called for as that night the zone boundary began expanding.”

This sent a murmur of apprehension through many as the only way Zones expanded after their initial creation is when mammal-based lifeforms mainly humans died in them. Plants did not do it but reports indicate that some zones mutate them over time.

“The Task Force arrived and set up at the new outer perimeter. The local population has been evacuated from the Crawford estate. Yesterday Operative Sinclair was sent into the Zone for a standard recon and basic target sweep. She has not reported back at this time.”

Another murmur swept the tent. Alexander moves forward.

“As Ministry protocols, another higher tier Operative was called in.”

Hang on. Me higher tier Operative what does that mean? Captain Leerson continued before I could ask.

“Operative Harrington will enter the Zone here at point Alpha and then head west to barrier gate marked as Bravo. From there he will inspect the barriers along the Crawford estate’s old perimeter for any evidence. Once completed He will move into the Graveyard making up the original Zone. He will move to point Charlie the Zone breach located here for visual inspection.”

During this, he pointed to all the things he was explaining on the map.

“Target identification and termination are at the Operatives discretion. However, the location of Operative Sinclair and its status is a high priority. If found alive or injured her evacuation takes priority.”

With this, he set back as he had finished his part of the briefing and Alexander took centre stage again.

“We have a media blackout for the moment but social media stories are gaining traction so we need information for a statement for the public this operation will start in…”

“Outer perimeter breach reported!” One of the laptop operators a female soldier reported. Focused on the data on her screen.

We all stop and turn our attention to her. The outer perimeter meant it was not a zone creature threat. Just over a minute later she continued.

“Civilians stopped and detained attempting to enter the forward position from the Crawford Estate side by security units.”

“Sounds like Zone Watchers or Deniers maybe.” Someone in the back said.

Zone Watchers was the name of one of two groups that had arisen because of the zones. They were truth seekers that were dedicated to finding out what was being “hidden” by the Worlds Governments about the Zones. They were made up of mostly conspiracy theorists and such. They did however as a group had one dangerous quirk for me that they were constantly trying to identify and rate Zone Operatives leading to numerous online fan clubs of noted Operatives.

The other group are Zone Deniers of course every similar type to the Watchers but denied the threat from the zones. Actively trying to prove that the Government or the Illuminati of the world had created to strip their freedoms away. They were the most dangerous as in the beginning they travelled into Zones to find evidence to support their theories. But mostly found dead and the rest of us had to deal with stronger zones thanks to them.

“Anyway, the operation starts in ten minutes any questions?” Alexander continued.

I was tempted to ask if I could go home just to see the reaction but chose to start to get my head in the game. Death was not what I wanted today.

Lou motioned to follow him and we left the tent. He led me to the start point and turned to me.

“This is a bad one boy.”

“No shit Lou I have not seen a Zone expand like this and the only one I have heard of is just before they lost Portland.”

“Yea the higher-ups are panicking just a bit.” He agreed.

We fall silent for a few minutes looking at the fog bank in front of us lost in our thoughts.

“Boy, I have been a soldier for twenty-four years. Trained for every form of warfare but failed the zone aptitude test flat.” He said shaking his head.

The test was simple to be escorted into a zone a find out if you can hack it.

“It should be bastards like me going in there but no.” The sadness and bitterness were clear in his voice. He turned to me.

“Stay live boy and good luck.”

Before I could answer the PA, the system came to life.

“Operation commencement. Repeat operation commencement.”

With that, I nod at Lou slammed my visor down and head into the Zone.