Gas canisters + fire = Explosion!

Simple math.

How to use this to my advantage and not get killed? Now that’s a good question. I had plenty of ideas but nothing that I could say for certain would not kill me in the execution. My first plan was still looking to be my best option. I was going to have to do this the hard way. I could not risk any collateral here.

I chose the nearest zombie and hurled the chosen bottle at it. I ducked back into the doorway before it struck. Then waited.

I heard movement. One zombie was investigating from the direction what had been thrown had come from. It climbed over the low wall. Seen now. A male carcass in a suit.

I struck as quietly as possible. I went forward quickly bringing my axe up and then down. The blow only clipped the skull as the zombie moved seeing me. I quickly followed up. I struck again and again as the zombie used its arms to halt many blows. However, the fourth got through penetrating the skull.

The zombie dropped and I span around. None of the others had noticed due to being focused on the barricade and the noise of the attack. This was going to take too long the barricade was not going to hold. I struck at the downed zombie’s head a few more times to make sure it was not going to get back up.

I returned to the shop. I dug around and found several glass bottles. Not many but maybe enough. I began emptying them. I gathered the rest of the materials to fill them to make Molotovs. I had to use oil-soaked paper as the fuse. I was able to make four. The zombies were making progress too.

I lined the bottles along the low wall. This was where I was going to take the stand. Hopefully, the wall would give me enough of a barricade to hold them for the fire to work.

I lit off a flare and placed it on the wall to light the paper fuses. The light was noticed and several zombies turned. The first Molotov hit the ground.

The smash of shattering glass

WWHHOOMMPPHH

The fire erupted spreading amongst several zombies mainly around their legs. I did not wait throwing the others as fast as possible. Even on fire, they attacked. I grabbed my axe and braced.

I think they are all charging me!

They came in force and fast. The pack mentality of the zombies makes them more dangerous in full effect. All became a blur of action. Striking out with my shield and axe. Burning zombies pushing me back. The smell of the burning flesh was all around.

Left and right as well as in front there were just too many.

I was losing the numbers were just too great. Blows were impacting faster than I could react. I kept attacking. My armour absorbs a lot of the blows. My rage surged through me sharpening my reactions and fuelling my attacks. Countering the Grave Chill.

Suddenly the zombies were distracted as they were attacked from behind. The defenders from the building attack the distracted zombies. The fight was still on.

I blow hit my head stunning me for a few seconds but I was able to recover and kept going.

Before I fully understood the fight was over. I had shield slammed the zombie in front of me and then drove my axe into its head. As it collapsed, I looked around and found no more. Breathing very hard and extremely hot. Sweating like there was no tomorrow. I did see part of the team I was sent to find.

I was glad to hear Henry’s voice until it fully registered what he had said.

“Bruv glad to see you…but you realise you are on fire. Right?”

I looked down. SHIT!

Small patches of flame were located all over me. I leapt from the pile of bodies then dropped and rolled. The others came to help.

After a few minutes, we had managed to put me out. The zombies were still burning away to different degrees. The zone dampened the fire. They would soon be out not consumed as they should be. I lay there exhausted and in a lot of pain. I knew I had to get up. I did not want to.

I stood up, groaning all the way and faced Henry. He was facing me with his faceplate lifted. He looked terrible but was happy to see me. His gear was covered like mine in gore and was damaged.

“Bruv not a very good dramatic rescue.”

“Dude had to fight my way to you and create an epic distraction to save you. In response I get is complaints!” I lamented as he responds by rolling his eyes. “You know that makes you… a Karen!”

That got a response from the other two who snorted at Henry’s reaction of sputtering outrage at such an accusation.

“Are we clear?” Came the call from the location of the barricade. I knew that voice.

“We are clear.” Henry called back.

“Play nice.” He asked me in a lower tone.

From the fog can the figure of Goldsmith. She was like Henry and the other two that were here. I tried and have been through the grinder a few times. She realised the newcomer was me and displeasure was evident for even me to see.

“Harrington! Christ, we are in trouble if all they could send is you.” She began.

“Knock it off Sarah!” Henry snapped before I could say anything. Which was surprising for him. This clear shocked her too. “Let’s get inside.”

We went to the barricade and I saw two members of the base camp security team manning it. We climbed over and the barricade was rebuilt with additional material.

Inside was dark but I could make out the huddle forms of both base personnel and civilians. The air reeked of sweat and fear. I was led to the back of the pharmacy where a command position had been set up. A Captain was there with a map of the area lit by a few candles. She looked haggard. Looking up she realised I was new. She stepped around the table to greet me.

“Captain Richards present commander of this unit.” She was about to offer her hand but looked at my present condition and decided not to.

“Operative Harrington. I have been tasked to find you.” Relief caused her to sag slightly.

“Did you come alone? When can we expect help?” Sarah snapped the questions from my right. Before I could say anything, Richards continued.

“All good questions let Operative Harrington brief us properly.” She told Sarah. I pulled out the map I had.

“First what happened to your base camp?” I asked.

“The RCT had cleared the zone and we were about to send the closest team in when things went crazy. The zone expanded without warning swallowing the camp. Major Daniels sent in the support team to get the RCT to pull back. We were attacked soon after and we suffered numerous casualties. The attackers were the creatures from the zone just cleared. Major Daniels and a lot of personnel were lost. I ordered the retreat to leave the expanded zone when the RCT returned. As we were passing this building on the road, we were attacked by Undead class threats. We pulled back into here and fortified the building and rescued as many civilians as we could awaiting help.” The report she gave me was very mono-syllabled hinting at a lot of traumas from the previous day.

“Well, I have good news and a lot of bad.” I put my map on the table. “I was sent in with three other Operatives from here at then the edge of the zone.” There was a collective groan at the size of the zone. “The zone is still expanding but at a slower rate.” Silence meets that statement.

“The base camp and civilian evacuation point is here.” I point to the school at the edge of the map. There are numerous exclamations and liberal use of bad language at that.

“As for the zone expansion, we found another breach here at this church.” I pointed out the church. “This is where the undead are being spawned from. We have cleared this route out of the zone. But I don’t know if it will be viable for long.”

“Why?” Richards asks.

“The hospital here has been overrun and we don’t know how many more undead are or yet to appear.”

The silence is deep as they work out what they are going to have to do to get out of this zone.

“You said three others where are they?” Henry asks.

“One is acting as a runner trying to keep the evacuation route open the other two. Well, one was wounded and needed support to get out.” I looked around at the three people around me. They were all exhausted and suffering zone effects to different degrees. Time to hit them with the worst thing I was thinking.

“We need to move as I am betting that higher level Undead threats are or have already appeared. Not counting the creature types.” That got their attention.

“Why do you think this?” Richards asked

“Experience.” That was all I could say. She had no reply.

“We cannot move all these people to the evacuation area!” Sarah exclaimed. I looked at her. She like the others was covered in the signs of combat. Her face was a clear picture of stress and fear.

“We have to. There’s no way that a support team large enough to get you all out can be arranged for at least another few days. From the defence’s here we all know that you will not last if higher-level threats attack.” I was calm in tone and blunt in explaining my reasoning.

Sarah looked like she was going to say more but Richard spoke up.

“He’s right we have supplies but the defensive ability of this building is limited. My only concern is that we are running out of daylight.”

“Your call as the present ranking officer.” I say to Richard.

“Actually, as the highest-ranking Operatives and we are in a zone it’s yours.” She replied smiling sadly.

“Eh?” Not my best answer.

“Under MoD regulations concerning zones command is held by the highest-ranking operative when a force is found inside a zone. This is due to zone effects on different people. So, as I recognise you all as the same ranked operatives in UKZC it’s up to you. I am becoming too affected by my time here in the zone and I am not thinking as clearly as I should.” She admitted

I turned and looked at the other two. They were surprised that she was willing to do concede both the choice and diminishing mental ability.

“We can’t leave there are just too many people we will be slaughtered!” This was not the cool and calm woman I knew. This op had pushed her to her limits. Hell, it was pushing me to mine. “Henry, you know this!”

Henry had been quiet the whole time thinking about each piece of information as it was presented. He was a thoughtful guy in private and normal sought the best for his choices. He looked at Sarah and then at me. He began to ask some questions.

“You think we are going to be attacked tonight if we stay?”

“Most likely.”

“Our defence will not hold long enough?”

“Not against any tier-three threats.”

“Not much daylight and a long road.”

“Yes.”

“We will likely attract a lot of attention.”

“Yes.”

“How will we do it.” Sarah hissed at that.

We spent maybe the next ten minutes going over the plan. I walked them through the route and the dangers that we would face. I told them of the area of the zone that mess with your head that I had gone through. We could not avoid it if we wanted to be quick in getting out. Sarah was not happy but realised that she was outvoted.

Richards helped with the planning and let to get the people here ready to move. Sarah stomped off to find the rest of the RCT.

“Are we doing right here?” Henry asked me.

“Don’t know. We are damned if we do damn if we don’t.” That was all I could say.