The next day we were airborne on the way to Northern Ireland. The afternoon yesterday was finished with dreaded paperwork and additional briefings. We were sitting in one BTL helicopter with our crates in the centre of the cargo bay. Captain Clarkson was with us and a few officers. The rest of the support team was in a second helicopter.

We have had an initial briefing on the zone we are going to. The community of Meigh is near the Irish border. A Grave class zone is not too large that we can deal with in one day. We are going in to clear it out and then call in the support team to seal the breach. The standard fare.

We are sitting in the cargo area along the side of the helicopter. The transport is larger and faster but a lot less pleasant to ride in. We are shaking around and need to use the headphones to talk. It also helps to drown out the noise of the engines. We are not conversing as we are all thinking privately or messing with phones.

I am still surprised at the choice of me as team leader. I expressed my reservations yesterday loudly. I had never led such a mission before. The fact had not registered completely until after. I became nervous at this new status that I had no experience with. I was told flat out that I was in charge as I was the senior British Operative on the mission and to deal with it.

I am reflecting on this and other things as we travel. My mother was not happy I was on a mission but was pacified by this being a group mission. I have to do the first review on Keller in the field. They had told me the requirements were to watch out for her and see how she reacts under pressure in a zone.

I was going over the list of things I was to observe when the helicopter banked heavily. We all look around in surprise. Clarkson was talking to someone on the radio and it was clear it was not good. The helicopter was now heading on a new course.

Clarkson got up and came over to us. His face was grim. He indicated that we go to the standard radio channel.

“We are being rerouted to a level one event. The RCT went into a zone this morning and something happened. The base camp has been abandoned by the support teams. They are in full retreat from the area.” His voice was clear across the channel.

“Are we going in?” Mannford asked.

“Level one protocols are in full effect as so right now. As the closet Operatives, we have been rerouted.” He paused as he got more information to arrive on an e-pad he was carrying.

“The zone is expanding as we speak and has swallowed a town next to it. The RCT has not been heard from since they went in. The UKZC has ordered that you go in and investigate. The rescue of the civilian population and determining the status of the RCT are top priorities.”

The level one protocols are a joint agreement between nations. When enacted all Operatives regardless of national status most respond if able. The situation is dire at best.

“Am……… I go in too?” Keller asked. Clarkson nodded. She slumped in her seat afraid.

“We are going to a town called Carndonagh. It is a Creature zone. It is towards the northern part of Northern Ireland. The creatures in it are like apes. They swarm and are known to use basic weapons at times. We will be landing in thirty minutes. You are to head in straight away as I attempt to establish a new base camp.”

We are all quiet as we fly towards a growing disaster that was unfolding.

“You need to arm up now. As soon as we get there you are going in as I said.”

“Alright let’s get started.” I said to the others.

We get up and begin to open the containers. Keller does not move. I turn to her.

“Come on Keller we need to be ready.”

“You……mean here and now!” She was shocked.

“Yes, welcome to the life. Move it, woman!” She got up unhappy with what is happening.

We begin stripping down to our underwear. My scars attract more attention than I realise as I am trying to get equipped in a moving airborne transport. This was not fun. But we get the job done.

## ## ## ## ##

We are approaching a large zone. Clarkson had supplied us with the best maps he could. Which were not the best as they are pulled from Google at times.

“The two hospitals have been consumed into the zone. We have also lost contact with most of the original support base camp personnel.” Clarkson told us. “We will be landing in a field on the map next to a road listed as R240. We are rushing as many units here as fast as possible. The zones breach is to the north of where we are landing. You will need to head through the town to get there.”

We looked at the maps to find out the distances involved. This was bad. The zone had expanded dramatically. It was miles that we will need to cover to find where the original camp was.

We were going to be going through urban concentration and the countryside. We will need a crossing point for the Glenogher river. To get there.

We start banking again preparing to land. We are standing at the back loading doors holding on to hand grips to try to stay standing. We remain standing but are flung around some.

The doors open as we come into land.

“GO!” The crewman yells as we land.

We quickly get out. Running in a squatted fashion to clear the rear rotor blades. We stop at the road we are very close to the zone boundary. Clarkson follows us out. Small groups of civilians are around all clearly in different levels of distress.

“Right the building behind us is a florist and will be the command centre. Send everyone you can here. This is where the new base camp will be focused. It appears the zone has stopped expanding but if it continues, we will relocate to the Glentogher National School located here. Good luck!” He is forced to yell. The first Ox lifts off and the second comes into land.

I look around to get a feel for the area. The land is organised like most of the countryside. Organised fields and small groups of buildings. The big difference is the wall of fog stretching in the north.

The scattered civilians are heading towards us and down the road away from the zone, I see emerging vehicles approaching. This was going to be a hellish thing to organise. I turn to the others. I motioned them to follow. When we were further away, I began to give instructions.

“Right, we are going in Karlsson to the left Mannford to the right of me. Keller, you follow behind. Let’s stay focused it’s bad out here it will be worse in there.” It was the simplest formation I could think of.

We walk up to the zone’s perimeter. People emerge from the zone fleeing from the creatures inside some are wounded. All are affected by the zone. We send them back to the rapidly growing camp. They tell us that a lot of people are still trapped inside the zone.

Entering the zone is still a harrowing thing for me. That transition between the sunlight on a clear day to the fog. The zone effect quickly settles over us adding to the discomfort of the damp and cold foggy air. We are all in combat-ready poses as we can now be attacked at any time.

“You Ok back there Keller?” I ask over my shoulder.

“Yes.” The answer comes after a few seconds. This is her first time in a zone without a full support team.

“Right onwards then. Eyes open people.” The conversation was spoken normally but the sound of our voices was somehow quietened here in the zone.

We walk along with the road debris from the population’s exodus all around. Abandoned vehicles litter the road. Thankfully no sign of attacks. To our right are some buildings that look like most homes.

“We checking them?” Mannford asks.

“No. We need to keep moving. We have the two hospitals up ahead.” Mannford nods at my decision.

“But what if there are people still there?” Keller asks.

“The people living there should have gotten out by now. If not, we cannot search every building, we just do not have the time or bodies.”

We continue up the road. A pair of civilians come running down from the opposite direction. They nearly collide with us. They are terrified and panicking. They almost bolt in another direction but realise we are here to help them. They turn out to be two women in their early thirties. They quickly cling to me and Mannford sobbing and blabbering about monsters behind them.

“Ma’am……...Ma’am………Ma’am!” I try to get the one trying to cling to me to focus. She is a complete mess the zone effects and horror of the monsters within have broken her mentally. She is making no sense. I am uncomfortable with her and try to keep her at distance.

Mannford was able to get the other to focus and talk to her quietly. Karlsson was still alert. Keller was approaching to assist.

“Keller keep back and stay alert!” I snap at her. She quickly retreats.

“Harrington, we have a bus full of civilians trapped just ahead of us. They were coming from the special needs hospital.” Mannford tells me.

“Can she take this one and herself the rest of the way out?” The woman talking with Mannford looks at me.

“Yes……. I can.” She was hesitant and distraught but I think she could.

I managed to get the woman clinging to me off and handed her off to the other.

“Keep going down this road the zone ends soon. There is a florist there that is being used as a rallying point.” I tell her. She brightens up at this.

“The florist. I know it.” She looks down the road.

“Ok. You need to keep going your nearly out.” She nods at this and starts with the other clinging to her. The knowledge that she is almost safe gives her that final push to get out.

They are quickly lost from sight in the fog.

“We have a bus full of people ahead we need to secure the area and get them out. Let’s keep going and find out what we are dealing with.”

I do not change my pace even knowing people are possibly in danger ahead. My head is swivelling constantly looking for dangers. Mannford and Karlsson are doing the same. We are tense and ready for action. Keller is behind me hopefully she is doing the same.

I know I should be spending more time teaching her but this is an emergency. She is going to have to learn the hard way here. But still, I realise I have to try to show her something she was going to stay alive.

“Keller swap with me.” I tell her. She moves up after a few moments. I fall back. Mannford and Karlsson glance at me but say nothing. We continue a short distance and I watch how she moves.

She moves like she has been taught in basic. Look around and be ready for an attack at any time. It plays hell with your nerves and stress level being in such a state. Until you get into a mindset to prevent it off course. But that only comes with experience.

It does not take long until Mannford signals to stop. He crouches down and the others follow suit. I move up.

Up ahead we can just make out movement in the fog. We can just make out the rough outline of figures moving. It’s hard to tell what they are doing. It is evident that they are not walking down the road trying to leave.

I get closer. The figures get a bit clearer and I realise that they are zombies. This had gone from very bad to nightmarish.