NiGHTMARE-Z II HELL & BACK

[NiGHTMARE-Z]

Here is the second installment to the NiGHTMARE-Z saga. I will be posting bits and pieces, enjoy!



NiGHTMARE-Z
II HELL & BACK

PROLOGUE
Nations fight to survive. Governments battle it's very own citizens in a desperate attempt to maintain order. The dead rule the streets, the parks, small towns, major metropolitan cities and sub-urban areas in just about every corner of the world. Embattled soldiers and security forces all over the world implement swift and lethal force to quell the drowning effect of the virus now known as TSISC-1(Terminal Self Induced Seizure Complex) or TISK for short.
Scientists have given it this name and numeral one for the very likely hood of it mutating in the future. The first evolutionary chapter of the virus which is well known to all, is flu like symptoms which leads to self induced seizure, death and then guaranteed re-animation.
The origin of the TISK virus is still unknown to many. At this point, the very origin of the virus is not a concern to the public. Surviving it is what matters at this point, which the President of the United States made clear in his emergency address to the nation and the world.
Nations with standing governments grow rarer as the days pass. Poor governments in third world countries collapsed swiftly and in a matter of days. Police forces in these countries quit their jobs in order to protect their families. Soldiers of these make-shift governments pulled out of their checkpoints and government offices they sworn to protect. The dead reign.
Nations such as Uganda, Somalia, South Africa, Iraq, Yemen, Tunisia, Vietnam, Belize, Kuwait, Germany and all of Eastern Europe, where the virus seemed to be most concentrated, spread like wild-fire and caused an almost instant collapse of all law and order.
Major powers coming to this realization within weeks of the collapse by these nations, scrambled to enforce martial law through out their major cities. The fight rages on, as humanity is on the very brink of extinction.
Para-Military forces roam the cities of almost every nation on the planet carrying out their orders to enforce peace and good order at any price.
The German Grenzschutzgruppe-9 or GSG-9 for short, have failed in their attempt to protect their government they sworn to protect at all costs. Many members of this Para-Military force now roams and survives on their own accord with no dedication and loyalty to any nation.
The Russian Federation Spetsnaz, which is their elite, continue to carry out atrocities in neighboring villages of Moscow in order to stop the spread of the virus. In addition, they surround the Urals as they conduct genocide operations all through out that area where the dead are still majorly active. The bulk of their military now secures their borders to prevent any one from entering or leaving.
France's French Foreign Legion struggle to survive as they are abandoned and left to fend for themselves in the deserts of North Africa. Not even the French government has any contact with them, along with the rest of the world.
India's soldiers have all abandoned their posts and units to protect their families on their own. Only their hardcore loyal commandos keep their government afloat as their ranks thin day by day. Their government has decided, only a week into the plague, to utilize chemical weapons and fire bomb cities and densely populated neighborhoods with their remaining Air Force in a desperate attempt to stop the spread. Millions die.
The UN security council, backed by the American President and British Prime Minister, along with Russia, China and India, adopted a world-wide strategy passed by an overwhelming vote of remaining nations on the council.
American SWAT assists military forces in maintaining order in local towns and major cities within the United States. However, over-powered and under strength by the growing and fast spreading infection through out the states, many decide to flee. Most of them decide that it is a lost cause in areas around the Eastern Coast and Western Coast of the United States. Many believed this infection came over through the ports of these coastal communities, which would explain the high volume of TISK condensed in these areas.
American military members fall back inland within the continental United States to hopefully serve as a blockade between the dead and the living. The fight rages on.
Executive Order L-GIP 1 or Liquidation of General Infected Populace Phase 1 has been implemented on a world wide scale. A model designed by the Russians, whom enforced it quite well in the early stages of the outbreak, which in effect enabled them to corner the virus into the Urals within weeks, authorizes any standing government to sweep through identified infected areas of the population. Once these individuals were deemed infected with the TISK, prior to re-animation, all living individuals within the infected areas were to be rounded up and executed swiftly and without due process of any type.
According to Executive Order L-GIP 1, no medical treatment was to be allowed on any victims of the virus, whether it be man, woman or child. This determination would be decided by unit level commanders on the ground who would make this call. They would not be mandated to report the incident to higher echelon individuals in order to seek a clearance to execute civilians on a mass scale.
Time is of the essence. Executive Order L-GIP 1 gave commanders and soldiers alike the green light to commit genocide and atrocities on a wide-scale for the benefit of humanity as a whole.
However, Many western democratic nations were very reluctant to implement this brutal order at first. Not until the TISK spread through their very own ranks and cities were lost in less time than expected.
The Constitution is no more. Survival is priority, by all means necessary. Individual rights and freedom of speech to speak out against the government has vanished within a day of adopting Executive Order L-GIP 1.
The President of the United States has declared a national state of emergency and is now Commander In Chief indefinitely. The President and his staff with their families reside in a secure underground complex guarded by heavily armed CIA and Secret Service Agents.
The Senate and Congress was not authorized to join. The status of America's central nervous center are unknown as many believed they were killed when the dead sacked Washington D.C. not too long ago. When it happened, all of them were in session in the very seats they were entitled to be in. Sitting Senators and members of Congress continued debating the use of genocide as a tool to instill security. These men and women met their fates soon after.
The cameras stopped rolling once the dead swarmed in. Once the camera crews were attacked, the footage stopped rolling right after their horrid screams were heard. This was aired live on national television and came as breaking news on every TV channel and radio station across the country.
Instant panic ensued.
The President now makes weekly addresses to his nation underground. Advising men and women to co-operate with security forces and remain calm. He tells the public, the only safe zone which is surely secured and capable of sustaining mass refugees is Fort Hood Texas. He urges all able body Americans to go there for assistance as units fall back to secure this last stronghold.
A mass exodus begins at all corners of the country to this supposed "safe haven". After a few days once this broadcast was sent out, the President aired another address from his bunker.
He told the American people that the survivability rate of making it to Fort Hood Texas, based off the reports pouring in from his intelligence officers and news reporters, is only five percent.
There is a ninety-five percent mortality rate for those attempting to make it to the safe zone. The streets are unfit to be on. In addition, mass traffic and travelers only helped to spread the virus even further. Even to the very steps of Fort Hood.
The battle rages on.
American soldiers whom were deployed or stationed over seas in foreign countries were also left to fend for themselves. The government has abandoned them. Many have died. Some have escaped and attempt to survive on their own in a desperate attempt to make it back to the United States to be re-united with their families.
The NiGHTMARE continues.........

[NiGHTMARE-Z]

CHAPTER 1 SURROUNDED
A World Airways plane sits still on the tarmac at Leipzig/Halle Airport in Germany. Not enough fuel to take off, no ground level crew present to deploy the mobile steps for passengers, no refuel teams and not a single soul left alive in the airport.
Trevor and his men, along with the rest of a small group of survivors whom narrowly made it out of Kuwait amidst the chaos, are dead in the water.
It has already been a week now since they landed. Only the dead, whom walk about the airport, the tarmac and whom surround the plane by the hundreds, were the only ones to greet the flight once it landed. The loud noise of the turbines and the sound of the descent drew the undead to their location.
The pilot made a judgement call after consulting all of the passengers on the plane. No sense in moving, seeing as how they are low on fuel. They wouldn't even be able to attempt a flight to another unknown airport whom would more than likely, not receive them. If they ran out of fuel in mid-air they would crash. Wasn't worth it everyone concluded.
So there they sat and waited. Water and food has been rationed out at certain times of the day. Once the supply started to become depleted, only one cup of water and choice of either a bag of chips or single candy bar per passenger were allowed once a day.
The group was running out of time. They could only sustain themselves in there for so long, something had to be done.
"Damn, these bodies smell horrible," states Reagal as he stares over them while other members of his squad poke out the windows to observe hundreds of hungry assailants waiting for their meal.
"Yeah, way to state the obvious dumb ass," replies Christopher.
"Why don't you make yourself productive and help the stewardess get the rations ready!"
Reagal looks back to Christopher with a sarcastic facial expression and walks away.
The bodies of the soldiers whom died in the middle of the flight are still laid out in the back of the plane with the World Airways blankets covering them.
Trevor, leans over one of the seats as he pokes his head out in frustration.
"Damn it, I need a smoke," he says as he observes the lifeless cannibals stumble over one another on the tarmac.
Hunter rolls his eyes in agreement.
"Got any ideas, Sergeant?" Ringo asks.
"Well brother, we could jump off this damn bird onto the tarmac. However, those meat eaters would be down there to greet us upon landing. Heck, probably even break our legs in the process as well," responds Trevor.
Ringo nods his head in obvious agreement.
"What we need is a diversion," Price chimes in.
Everybody turns their heads away from the window and look at Price with their eyebrows raised.
"What kind of diversion?" Hunter asks.
Price, now with a cold stare on his face, moves his eyes away from the members of his squad and places them down the long aisle of the plane towards the bodies of the dead soldiers in the back.
"That's messed up," Christopher adds.
"It just might work though," Ringo states.
Christopher and Hunter stay silent as Trevor, whom appears to have a light bulb growing out of his forehead, proceeds to walk up to the front of the plane in order to hold a meeting with the rest of the passengers.
"I don't like the sound of this," a concerned Christopher tells Ringo as the squad members hop out of the passenger seats and follow behind Trevor.
"You're too closed minded. Expand your options, Sergeant," Ringo advises.
Christopher shakes his head in disagreement.
Trevor moves to the front of the plane with a quickness. Eager to consult with the rest of the passengers, as he approaches the first class cabin, he notices the remaining passengers of the plane in an already apparent meeting.
There is about twenty of them in all. Mostly Airmen, a few Soldiers and a few civilians with only two pilots and three flight attendants. Trevor noticed they were already engaged in conversation, as Reagal lingered in the back corner observing the discussion.
As the rest of Trevor's squad funneled in, Hunter, the last one, passes one of the Airmen whom is sitting on the floor resting his back up against the wall still keeping watch on the bathroom door, where one of the infected still remains barricaded into the in-flight lavatory.
The guard sits there quietly with his loaded M-16 as he looks up at the men passing by him.
A week ago since they landed, the passengers managed to scrounge up more items to barricade the doorway as they had nothing but time on their hands. The hungry flesh eating cannibal who resides in this lavatory is well secured and seemed to have calmed down over the past few days, realizing he wasn't going to get to his meals anytime soon.
As the rest of Trevor's men enter the meeting, Christopher approaches Reagal from the rear and whispers him a question.
"Hey man, what are they talking about?"
"Not really sure. I've been trying to make sense of it. None of them really have a plan. Air Force sucks bro."
Christopher nods.
"Glad you all could join us. Got any ideas?" one of the senior Airmen ask Trevor as the group's eyes turn to him.
All attention is now on Trevor, whom appeared to have something to add to the discussion.
"Okay look. We're all stuck on this here plane, right?"
Everyone sarcastically nods their heads in agreement.
"We're also surrounded by what appears to be hundreds of hungry, dead sons of a bitches whom ain't got nothing but time on their hands, right?"
Everyone nods their heads once again while waiting patiently for Trevor to get to the point.
"The moment we step foot off this giant coffin with wings, those bastards will snort us up like a Dallas Cowboys football player before the big game, right?"
Everyone nods their heads once more, now growing agitated and impatient.
Reagal busts out laughing. Christopher punches him in the arm to silence him.
"What we need is a damn diversion," Trevor concludes as he raises his arm and points down the aisle towards the bodies of the deceased at the end of the plane.
Everyone in the group turns away from Trevor with shocked looks on their faces as they begin to converse amongst themselves. Some members of the group decide to speak out on how wrong that sounds, as others, fully agreeing how disrespectful it may be, conclude that it may be their only option.
An Airman named Arthur, whom over time got to know Trevor and his men, backed up his proposition.
"From the moment I almost shot this guy with my Beretta back in Kuwait and all the way up to now, I noticed this guy means business. He knows what he is doing, after all, he did manage to get his squad here all the way from Basrah in Iraq," Arthur states.
A slight smirk appears on Trevor's face as a result.
The support for Trevor's idea grows as they begin to weigh their options.
"We are running out of food and water. We have to do something or else we will die here," claims one of the flight attendants.
"I agree. It sounds shitty, but hell, they are already dead. We are still alive. Anyone got any better ideas?" one of the Airmen asks the group as a general question.
Everyone remains silent for a moment.
"That is fine and dandy, we throw them boys off the plane and wait for the horde to feast on their bodies. That's if they even touch them. Those men been dead for awhile, I doubt those bastards out there will even go for it. Even then, that still doesn't solve how the hell we are going to get off this rig without breaking every bone in our bodies," states a concerned civilian whom wears a classy black suit.
Another passenger agrees, stating the fact that we are warm and that they are cold. The dead will never go for it he goes on to say.
A now agitated Trevor, becoming frustrated at the group's willingness to do nothing, decides to make a final statement before giving up his argument.
"Okay well look at it this way, we don't get off this plane unless those boys eat our boys. If they won't go for it, then we stay and come up with another solution. Simple as that!"
Reagal then suddenly claps his hands, causing an awkward reaction from the group.
That is when one of the pilots step in.
"Ever heard of an evacuation slide?"
Everyone in the meeting displays a blank stare on their face.
The pilot goes on to explain.
"Yeah the damn evacuation slide. It's an inflatable system attached to the bottom of the sealed doors. It takes 5-7 seconds to deploy. We got one for every exit on the aircraft. Two in the front and two in the rear."
Everyone now displays a sense of hope on their faces as it appears the second coming of Christ has just descended down from the heavens.
"Why the hell didn't you mention this earlier?" asks Price in an aggressive tone of voice.
Everyone else on the plane begins commenting and yelling at the pilot for his lack of information sharing.
The pilot is quick to defend himself in anger.
"All of you shut the hell up! What good is it when there are flesh eating monsters waiting for you on the other end!"
Reagal proceeds to whisper back in Christopher's ear.
"Holy shit bro, this guy got issues. Think he worked for the Postal Service at one point or another?"
Christopher chuckles.
The bickering and arguing ensues until a fed up Ringo intervenes.
"Man you people are dumb. Listen to what the man is saying here. We got a diversion and a way to get off this bitch. All we need now is a place to escape once we hit the tarmac. I don't see the point in arguing any longer over this matter. We know what we have to do in order to survive, so let's just do it and shut the hell up!"
Everybody is silent now once again.
Trevor backs Ringo up at this point.
"The boy is right. Just earlier we were poking our heads outside when we noticed the fenceline across the runway. Not too far, I say about four to six hundred meters away. We can make a run for it and hop that obstacle in a hurry."
"Then what?" asks one of the Airmen.
"Then, we head for the freeway and acquire us a ride. The fence line parallels a four lane highway. Got to be smoked out or abandoned cars along the strip some where. Best part about it, once we hop that fence, the knuckle heads won't be able to get at us."
"Home free," Hunter adds.
The idea is starting to gain more ground now with the desperate group at this point.
"What other options do we have?" Price says.
More and more passengers on the plane are beginning to agree. Some however, like the civilians and the thought of running that far, didn't sit too well with them.
An angered Reagal now feels the need to chime in once hearing the civilian's gripes.
"Okay how about this then. We all sit here and play Magic: The Gathering. I got cards and dice in my assault pack. Any takers?" a sarcastic and frustrated Reagal announces.
This quickly quiets the ones who opposed Trevor's plan.
"Look guys, I got dried up shit inside my ACU pants. My patches are filthy and my tanned T-shirt is alive. Let's get off this fucking plane already?" Reagal admits in desperation as he flicks his arms up in the air in frustration.
Price now busts out laughing. No one else finds this funny.
At this point, that is all which had to be said. Everyone agrees on what to do. The planning phase has now begun as the passengers, along with Trevor and members of his squad, huddle up together and draw out the route and timeline on paper.
While all of this is going on, Christopher, whom is leaning over another passenger to observe the plan in writing, which lies on the ground in the center of the aisle, approaches Reagal from his side.
"Hey, do you really have that Magic game in your bag?" Christopher curiously asks.
Reagal gives him an odd stare in return.
"Oh my god. Here we are humping mission essential shit, while you got a middle school game for kids in your freaking bag. What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Not like I got porn or Spice. Sorry," Reagal responds.
Price overheard the conversation with widened eyes as he attempts not to laugh at the fact that Reagal has Magic: The Gathering in his assault pack.
Christopher shakes his head and goes back to the planning.
Once the planning phase was completed and all the major and minor details were worked out, the preparation phase began.
Reagal and Hunter were tasked with dragging the bodies up to the front door of the plane as everyone else prepared their bags for movement. Many had to leave behind their duffel bags and suit cases as they would not be able to move fast enough in the event the hungry mob outside set their sights on them once they hit the tarmac.
The Soldiers and Airmen repacked their critical items into their smaller assault packs and attached it on their backs as all of them evenly lined up on the back two exits of the plane.
The group intended on sliding down from the rear of the plane out the two exits in the back. Two per slide.
Many checked their ammo and ensured they had full magazines before loading it into their weapons.
Reagal and Hunter, whom were in the front, had the pilot open one door for them up so they could toss the bodies off the side.
The plan was for them to observe and wait for the mob to converge on these corpses and clear a path for the last two exits in the back to slide down on.
Once there was enough of them to clear the other end, the pilot would activate the Inflatable System. The first four who would hit the ground, on both sides of the plane, would stay put and secure the exit until everyone was off the plane and engaged in a dead sprint for the fence line.
Ringo was picked as one of the first four for he had his M249 SAW and was a fast runner. Christopher would go with him. In an act of apparent leadership, Trevor volunteered himself and Price to be the first two on the ground for the other side as well. This comforted Ringo a bit after being told he was the first to go down there. Trevor couldn't allow his man to go into harm's way without him sharing the burden.
As everyone is lined up in the back now, nervously staring at Reagal and Hunter, Trevor gives his boys the nod. A nervous Reagal and Hunter get the massage as the pair assist each other in picking up one body at a time.
Reagal had the legs as Hunter had the shoulders. Both of them started the corpses out in a swinging motion prior to throwing each one off the plane.
The dead outside, stared up at them anxiously as corpse after corpse fell lifelessly from the plane onto the tarmac. Almost immediately, all of the cannibals wasted no time in running up to their newly found meal as they gorged into their prey and devoured the deceased soldiers. More and more continue to pile on each body one at a time as the rear exit ground level began to clear up.
"Holy shit bro. Those bastards went for it. That's so dirty," Reagal shockingly comments to Hunter as he takes a knee and observes the buffet.
"Yeah I agree with that. Kind of puts me in the mood for Pizza. What do you think?" Hunter asks with a sinister looking grin on his face.
"You sick son of as bitch," Reagal responds in a calm tone of voice as he stares back at him as if Hunter just happened to be a mental patient.
At that point, Hunter turns back to Trevor, whom stares at them from across the plane anxiously to hop off and gives him the thumbs up.
At that point, the infected soldier barricaded inside the lavatory, apparently becoming agitated by the screaming feasting mob outside, begins slamming on the door and poking his arm outside the crack of the entry way in the direction of Reagal.
As a result, Reagal is spooked and begins screaming in fright as he forgot about the infected soldier who lurks just right behind him in the bathroom. Reagal is still a good distance away from his reach.
"AHHHHHH!"
"Forgot about you! Piss off man!" a shaken Reagal screams towards the man as he backs away from the doorway.
Hunter smiles.
That is when Trevor yells back towards the pilot and gives him the thumbs up for him to engage the Evacuation Slide.
The pilot receives the message across the plane and nods his head in return. Seconds later, he proceeds.

end chapter 1

[Nancy1340]

Thanks

[teachermom44]

Should be fun getting off that plane! Great chapter!

[Laager]

I have some serious doubts that all of them are going to make it, especially the civilians.....no choice imho, well one of the options might have been firing up the jet and moving it closer to either a building or perhaps the retaining wall....

No matter what it has Charlie Foxtrot written all over it....still no other choice with the food and water running short it has to be Charlie Mike and hope for the best.

Great additional chapter by the way......

[NiGHTMARE-Z]

CHAPTER 2 ABTNAUNDORFER PARK

Five grey colored Volkswagen Transporter T5 modeled vans with the words "POLIZEI" edged on the side doors roar down a lonely corpse ridden street at a high rate of speed.
The convey comprises of ten members from the GSG-9. Two operatives per vehicle.
The heavily armed and well equipped men are in a desperate race against time to make it to CC-3310 or Containment Center 3310 which is located on the outer edge of the German city Leipzig in Abtnaundorfer Park.
They have driven on a long and dangerous journey from Berlin, which has fallen to the dead not so long ago.
With their government in shambles and every remaining citizen fighting to stay alive on their own, the men of this unit fight together to stay alive.
Their only known hope at this point is to rendezvous with the remaining members of the government.
There in the park, there should be a fortified perimeter, other armed members of the GSG-9 along with thousands of survivors held up with medical staff and make-shift living quarters designed to house mass quanities of refugees.
Many members of the unit believe however, that this may be a bad idea. Fully understanding that cities house millions of civilians, which now are all standing enemy combatants.
Oberleutnant(First Lieutenant)Hans however, is not convinced. As a bi-langual and natural born leader of the GSG-9, Oberleutnant Hans never seemed to accept defeat nor grim odds.
While battleing the riots and mobs of cannibals back in Berlin, a rumour among the senior officers of his outfit began to spread like wildfire.
Code name CC-3310 was to be the German Government's last stand. Where they can consolidate leadership, manpower and protect the remaining survivors of the general area of Leipzig. This area was chosen for reasons still unknown to Oberleutnant Hans.
The reasons did not matter to him.
Once he got wind of this and when their branch's headquarters was over ran, Hans and his remaining men fled to fend for themselves. It became clear to them right then and there that the protection of Berlin was a lost cause.
CC-3310 was their one and only chance.
Feldwebel(Sergeant) Imhoff is second in command. Also Han's good friend. They have worked together for many years. In addition, Han's trusts Imhoff with his life. Their friendship has proved invaluable over the years, especially during these harsh times.
Oberleutnant Hans has entrusted Imhoff with taking lead of the convey and navigating to safety. Over the past few hours on the road, Imhoff has done quite well going off his gut instincts while taking detours and avoiding obvious routes which could jeopardize the safety of his men.
Along the way, the bodies of re-animated victims littered the roadways and alleyways as the convey rumbled past. Many crawlers were also noticed in the playgrounds and along the side walks as their legs have been eaten away.
Imhoff's vehicle stumbled over a few of their heads more than once or twice. Instantly ruining his vehicle's paint job.
"Treiber, verlangsamen," Imhoff orders.
(Driver, slow down.)
"Ja, Sergeant. Sehen Sie etwas?"
(Yes, Sergeant. Do you see something?)
The convey comes to a slow halt. Hans grows nervous and picks up his two way transistor to contact the lead vehicle.
"Imhoff, ist alles o.k. dort? Was sehen Sie?"
(Imhoff, is everything okay up there? What do you see?)
The radio remains silent. No response.
That is when automatic rifle fire breaks out into the street. The loud snap and cracking sounds of bullets impacting the men's vehicles deafens the inside of their cabs.
Hans notices muzzle flashes coming from the windows of duel high rise buildings located to the left and right of his convey. Imhoff drove them right dead into the center of a local ambush.
Passengers and drivers of the center vehicles unsnap their window side firing ports as they place the barrels of their MP7 sub-machine guns through the holes to return fire towards their attackers in the windows.
"IMHOFF, führen Sie durch! Führen Sie durch!" Hans yells.
(IMHOFF, push through! Push through!)
Hans continues keying the mic while his driver returns fire through the firing port behind the protection of his bullet proof window.
None of the attacker's weapons seem to be pentrating the thick plexi glass of the GSG-9's up armored vehicles.
Some members of the convey get a glimpse of the shooters. All of them are wearing black ski masks with with military-like fatigues. They are welding assault rifles and appear to have backpacks or large OD green rucksacks on their backs.
"Sie blockierten von der Straße. Wir müssen zurücktreten und einen verschiedenen Weg nehmen!" replies Imhoff over the radio.
(They blocked off the road. We need to back out and take a different route!)
Hans comes back over the frequency and tells his men that he is backing out now. His driver immediately pulls his MP7 barrel out of the firing port hole and seals it. Once placing the weapon on his lap, Han's driver puts the vehicle in reverse and backs out at a high rate of speed immedatiately going into a turn.
The rest of Han's vehicles follow.
The volley of fire increases from the masked gunman at the sight of the vehicles breaking contact.
Once everybody is backed out, with bullets riddled in their front and side windows, Imhoff takes off down a side street. The rest follow.
The convey races through multiple lanes and streets. Even at one point taking a side alley in order to evade their attackers. Some of the dead, whom were drawn by the sound, now appearing to be coming out of trash dumpsters and apartment building doors on the street level charging towards the source of the gunfire.
Han's notices this and informs Imhoff to take them far away from there. He concludes over the radio that they must have been a ragtag group bent on getting a ride and some more supplies, which is common now a days.
The convey pushes on as they all appear to be in the clear now. No bullet fragment has pentrated the glass or engine compartment of any vehicles as the convey appears to still be fully operational.
Some time goes by on the road as they cruise through the city of Leipzig at a moderate speed. The GSG-9 members observe their surroundings closely as they notice more undead activity as they push deeper into the city center.
"Dieser Scheißhans! Er brachte uns direkt in den Bastelraum des Löwen! Wir müssen hier herauskommen, bevor wir darin aufgeholt werden!" Imhoff's driver comments as he appears shaken up.
(That fucking Hans! He led us right into the lion's den! We need to get out of here before we get caught up in this!)
"Pfeife unten Frau. Wir bekamen keine andere Auswahl. Wir sind dem Rendezvous irgendwie nah!" replies Imhoff.
(Pipe down woman. We got no other option. We are close to the rendezvous anyway!)
Imhoff's driver remains silent as a result.
As they continue to move, Imhoff checks his map. It appears they are right where they need to be as soon as his driver makes a turn through a built up traffic circle.
The convey zig-zags around abandoned cars as they observe some of the occupants laid out inside dead.
Once Imhoff's vehicle was the first to push through it, he now had a clear view of Abtnaundorfer Park. The lush green grass and trees which make up the park are visible as they are beautiful and appealing to Imhoff.
However, to his dismay, he notices something wrong as he drives in through the open gate on a brick paved road leading to the center of the park. The rest follow in behind.
Once inside a good few hundred meters, Imhoff decides to order his driver to halt the vehicle. The driver complies.
All of the other vehicles follow in behind and halt as well in a file. Imhoff opens his door and hops out with his G36 assault slung at the low ready.
These GSG-9 members still have their faces covered with black bacalavas as they are always so used to in public when their uniforms are worn. Even though they realize it doesn't matter anymore, seeing as how concealing their identity means very little in this new world, old habits die hard.
As he takes a look around and proceeds to walk away from his vehicle into the grass, he is horrified at what he notices.
The rest of the members of the convey proceed to get out of their vehicles and take a look around as well.
Piles upon piles of innocent civilians are laid out in rows, obviously deceased. Some are wrapped in white sheets with rope around them as others are not covered at all.
Many appear to be naked as well. All having apparent gunshot wounds to the head. The stench is tremendous and overwhelming. Some of the members of the group decide to undue their masks which cover the lower portion of their faces and begin puking on the side into the grass.
Makeshift tents all around are also present. Some lie in ruin as others stand fully erect. Silence fills the park as the men stray away from their vehicles to observe the gruesome sight.
The death toll seems so high, that apparently some space in the park was preserved by stacking the bodies in two to three layer rows. Many men, women and children are seen laid out in this orderly fashion.
The men are mortified and in shock. With no where left to go and hopelessness now growing in their hearts, many of them decide to turn away and head back to the vehicles.
Imhoff and Hans are still looking around together as they converse. Nobody else in the group is interested as to what they have to say.
As the rest of the men walk back to their vehicles, they are startled by a message blasted out on loud speakers which is located through out the park for all to hear.
"Heiligtum und Erlösung sind nur Stunden weg. Alle restlichen Überlebenden gehen zu Steinwerder in Hamburg weiter. Frau Deuschland wird Sie in die Sicherheit bringen. Ich wiederhole mich, Gehe Frau Deuschland Weiter. Sicherheit wird versichert," the loud speakers go on to repeat over and over again.
(Sanctuary and salvation is only hours away. All remaining survivors proceed to Steinwerder in Hamburg. MS Deuschland will take you to safety. I repeat, Proceed to MS Deuschland. Safety is guaranteed.)
All the members of the group who are now back at the vehicles, pull their weapons up at the high ready and take aim in all directions as a result of the loud speakers going off in the park.
Hans and Imhoff traces some of the wires from the center speaker of the camp to a nearby tent. Once inside, expecting to find a survivor, they realize the transmission was set for automatic recording and playback.
On the ground, Hans notices a flyer with a drawing of a cruise ship. He crouches down to the ground and picks it up to read.
"Frau Deuschland wird Sie in die Sicherheit in Island bringen! Flüchtlingszentrum und Schutz werden versichert! Alle Überlebenden werden ermutigt, um es zu den Häfen an Steinwerder in Hamburg zu machen. TERMIN:11 NOVEMBER," the flyer reads.
(MS Deuschland will take you to safety in Iceland! Refugee center and protection is guaranteed! All survivors are encouraged to make it to the ports at Steinwerder in Hamburg. DEADLINE:11 NOVEMBER)
The ship will leave in three days.
Hans quickly shows this to Imhoff as he takes a boot to the recording to halt the loud and annoying sound of the speakers.
Once Imhoff reads this to himself, the pair quickly take off in a dead sprint back to the vehicle in order to inform their men.
As they are running back to their trucks, automatic fire can be heard filling the air once again. This time, it is their very own members staged behind their vehicles engaging a mob of undead whom are sprinting towards their vehicles as they hop over a long line of shrubs.
The men quickly link back up with the rest of their unit and order their subordinates back in the vehicles. Once inside, they proceed to take off out of the park as the dead storm their trucks and are knocked off by the movement of the vehicles.
The men have narrowly escaped once again.
Once on the road, Hans updates the convey on their new objective and explains the situation.
As Imhoff's driver continues moving, he quickly plots a navigational route through a main highway passing Leipzig Airport and through the city of Halle.
"Feldwebel, welcher Weg?" the driver asks Imhoff as he approaches an on-ramp to a major freeway.
(Sergeant, which way?)
Imhoff points in the direction of the exit.

[Nancy1340]

A very good story but.... it's so distracting having to skim over the German and look for the English translation. It does not add anything to the story unless a reader speaks German and I doubt many do.

[NiGHTMARE-Z]

fair enough. this project is still in the works and I wasn't sure if I was going to keep it there. i was trying to instill some type of realism, however, am considering taking the german out. thanks for the advice.

[Roger Brough]

Agree with Nancy. I am Not trying to critique your art; rather, I am pointing out that it makes it difficult to smoothly flow through it without taking the time to better understand German or re-read what was meant that they were saying in the translation below it. I purchased the first version electronically, with doubt. That said, I began reading last night and completed 92% before sleep overtook me. I'll finish it tonight. I really enjoyed the story because of the two brothers, and then the two stories that spring from it as they separate. I admit to being more concerned with the CONUS part, but the idea of an entire battalion having to overcome it at once was also a good touch. In one's heart, there are different types of family.

With reference to the German, I might try using it only once. When it is first introduced, use the German and then translate below it. With good readers, the picture is mostly painted. Afterwards, using only, "The German said" and there mind will automatically make it sound Germanic in their inner ear. Don't believe me? Close your eyes and then picture Heinz Guderian's face for a solid minute.

Now open your eyes, and say, "Nicht Kleckern sondern Klotzen!" Close your eyes again.

Whose face do you see?

[Laager]

Heinz Guderian's face for a solid minute.

Now open your eyes, and say, "Nicht Kleckern sondern Klotzen!" Close your eyes again.

Whose face do you see?

First you have to know who Heinz Guderian was and what he looked like.....

Major General Heinz Guderian's and Adolf Hitler (since Adolf "borrowed" the line from Major General Gunerian).......




I've always been partial to: Man schlägt jemanden mit der Faust und nicht mit gespreizten Fingern.

[NiGHTMARE-Z]

Sounds good to me guys. I really appreciate the feedback. I was also sketchy on the whole translating German portion of the read. I mean none of this is set in stone and all of your points make perfect sense. As a result of all the good and sensible feedback I am receiving, I believe taking out that portion is the best way to go.

It's always good to take a vehicle on a test drive before signing, right?

[NiGHTMARE-Z]

CHAPTER 3 A NEW ORDER
US-190 is backed up for dozens of miles. Military checkpoints stretches from the very gates of Fort Hood to the city of Temple Texas.
Sand bag emplacements armed with M2 Browning .50 Caliber machine gun fighting positions stretch across the main highway for miles. Three man teams man these positions around the clock.
There is only one way in and one way out. The main gate of Fort Hood, where the visitor center resides, is the only entry control point in which people can enter and leave.
Thousands of refugees and survivors flocked to this stronghold from all over the country, as was televised by the President during his addresses to the nation from the protection of his underground bunker.
All of the other gates leading to Fort Hood from the city of Killeen and neighboring towns were blocked off by the military. Earth moving machines tore up the concrete and brought in fourteen foot high dirt bermes backed by strands of C-wire and erected abandoned vehicles to prevent any unauthorized entry.
Roving patrols secured the perimeter of Main post around the clock with squad sized elements. Towers and ditches for the dead to stumble in were constructed around this perimeter as well. Trip wires hooked up to flares were also emplaced.
West Fort Hood was closed down as it was seperated by US-190 from the main artery of the base. This was left abandoned as it was too much ground to cover.
A smaller element was tasked to secure it's airfield however and maintain the intregity of Killeen Airport, which was also connected to West Fort Hood. No fligts were going in and out anyway.
The Commanding General of III Corp however decided to preserve this airfield in case the President decided to visit from Air Force One. This was Fort Hood's only connection to the remaining members of the United States Government. An armored convey would escort VIP's back and forth to this airport from the one and only entry gate on main post.
KPD or Killeen Police Department assisted the Army in securing US-190 as they helped to secure the main roadway for refugees. The city's SWAT team served as US-190's QRF(quick reaction force).
Refugees waiting in their vehicles grow impatient. However, many of them were relieved to be there in the first place. The wait was so long just to get into Fort Hood, that many have lived in their vehicles for days while slowly creeping forward inch by inch down the freeway in between other vehicles packed with refugees.
Outbreak of the TISK seems to be at a minimal in this area. One of the reasons why the military and KPD was able to take control and prepare so swiftly.
Martial Law is in full effect. The military patrols areas of Killeen, Copperas Cove, Gatesville, Harker Heights and Belton with fully armed conveys and platoon sized elements as if they were on deployment to Iraq or Afghanistan. Company Areas on Fort Hood were turned into full time TOC's(tactical operations center.
The soldiers of Fort Hood and these patrols are tasked with hunting down any signs of the infection and liquidating it immediately. Clearing operations followed as well. Presence patrols were also the norm. MOPP 4(Mission Oriented Protective Posture)or full chemical suit and protected mask was the uniform for all soldiers conducting mission. Many details of the virus is still unknown and the military leadership decided on taking no chances.
Black Hawks and Apaches patrolled the surroundings of Fort Hood night and day around the clock. Sending intelligence reports back to the main brain of the operation, III Corp Headquarters.
Commanding General Moore is ultimately in charge of this operation and the security of Fort Hood. In addition, he is responsible for a forty mile circular perimeter in and around Fort Hood.
All military and para-military forces report to him. Mayors of cities and Chiefs of Police all fall under his sphere of authority.
Fort Hood and the greater Central Texas is his. He is Mayor, Commander, Chief, judge, jury and executioner.
The President of the United States has granted and entrusted him with this power. He is also the enforcer of Executive Order L-GIP 1. Which he intends to carry out to the full extent as he is mandated to do once higher echelon give him final word.
Not only do soldiers and security forces fall under his command, so do non-combatant civilians. They are to fall under his authority as well if they are to maintain status as refugees under his reign.
CG Moore's right hand man is Command Sergeant Major Enrique. This dominant figure has over-sight over civilian accomodations and upkeeping soldier/civilian morale and standards. Over time, this man is to be viewed as an Enforcer and disliked by many, soldiers and civilians alike.
His aggressive militarstic nature of uniformity and standards not only rubs off onto subordinate soldiers, but crosses over onto civilians as well. Many taking refuge on Fort Hood have the notion that he views and treats civilians like soldiers as well, if not, worse.
Motorpools which were once used to house military working vehicles, now serve as internment camps for refugees who fled the bloodshed of the undead. The natural fenceline and barbed wire construction of a typical military motorpool was designed to keep people out. However, "time's are a changing".
These perimeter fencelines are now the signature calling card for the new refugee-prisoner life style CSM Enrique and CG Moore have inflicted upon the population.
They have every right to do.
Under the President's partial implication of Executive Order L-GIP 1, it states that any commander in or around an infected population, is authorized to take the necessary preventive measures and pre-cautions in order to contain the spread of the TISK by any means necessary. The needs of the many out weigh the needs of the few. If two or eight wrongs make a single right, then so be it. Desperate times call for desperate measures.
"Yeah, fucking got it."
Commanding General Moore would always respond to the President over the phone as the leader of the free world attempted after every conversation to justify his actions.
What this means for the civilian refugees of Fort Hood Texas?
Only CSM Enrique can give them a hint.
Only CG Moore knows.
Any civilian who has ever talked to the enforcer of The Commanding General's will once before has had to stand at parade rest as was ordered by CSM Enrique himself. Many believe that he enjoys his power too well.
His long speeches and high cleanliness standards of civilian quarters are that of an obsessed man whom refused to be challenged on any level.
One of his first orders of business, once civilians began pouring into the base, CSM Enrique passed a regulation requiring civilians to fall under and honor all DA policies and regulations.
This means becoming subjected to UCMJ. Becoming clean shaven every morning and maintaining presentable appearances regardless of circumstance. CSM Enrique has the backing of CG Moore and all of his senior officers.
No civilian was to talk back or display disrespect to an Officer or Non-Commissioned Officer of the Armed Forces. The same punishments that could be inflicted upon a soldier could also now be applied to a civilian.
All civilians under his leadership were considered Privates or E-1(enlisted paygrade of one).
These refugees were given details and duties to complete which freed up many soldiers to go on missions outside the perimeter and maintain control of the virus. All of them were led out of their fenced off camps by armed escort. Nobody is allowed to wander off unattended on Fort Hood.
Every civilian refugee center was broken up into units. Kind of companies and battalions within the military. Each one of those units were assigned group leaders or Company/Battalion Commanders. These commanders were ultimately responsible for that group as a whole. Whether they accomplished or failed, it was the group leader's responsibility. Within that group, sub-leaders were established along with sub-units.
Mainly modeling Platoon Sergeants and platoons. Squad Leaders leading squads. Anyone who did not play along, CSM Enrique would pay that unit a visit. For the ones who did not straighten out, those people were hauled away by CSM Enrique and his personal security.
If he allowed the Group leader to deal with it at his level, the group leader would punish the offenders by locking them in closet rooms or inflicting a public beating on that person or persons in front of everyone in that unit. This usually straigtened people up and forced them to play ball.
For the ones who still refused to play ball, they dissapeared with CSM Enrique and his men. Never to be seen again.
Nobody was void of leadership, rules or authority. CG Moore and CSM Enrique led with an iron fist.
That was the way of things now.

[Nancy1340]

With reference to the German, I might try using it only once. When it is first introduced, use the German and then translate below it. With good readers, the picture is mostly painted. Afterwards, using only, "The German said" and there mind will automatically make it sound Germanic in their inner ear. Don't believe me? Close your eyes and then picture Heinz Guderian's face for a solid minute.

Now open your eyes, and say, "Nicht Kleckern sondern Klotzen!" Close your eyes again.

Whose face do you see?

I was thinking almost the samething last night when I posted my comment.

Of course with me it's a bad Sargent Schultz accent. "I know nooooothing".

[Laager]

Great chapter, but it certainly sounds like I would not fit in there.......my military days are way behind me and I have absolutely no desire to relive them at my age, sounds like a receipe for disaster imho.

[jeepinbandtrider]

I wouldn't fit inthere and I'm military lol. I'd be finding a way out of there ASAP if I was them, conscripting people isn't what I signed up for. The tone of that camp and the way it's going is not going to end well.

[DTyra]

An interesting dilemma. Most folks who were unprepared might be interested in surrendering to authority in order to acquire a sense of security. We've seen it before, but the harness of servitude will lay heavy on many before too long. All it might need is a strong and defiant individual who knows when and where to keep his mouth shut. I once read, "If I appear subservient, with eyes cast down in submission, have no fear, I'm probably looking for a rock."

[NiGHTMARE-Z]

CHAPTER 4 WELCOME TO THE GREAT PLACE
Riggs sounds the horn of his truck out of frustration as he sits behind the driver's wheel.
"Wake the hell up guy! Can't you see the line moving!" he yells outside his window to the driver in front of him.
After multiple honks, the driver ahead of him moves forward.
"Unbelievable. We've been on this damn highway for two days now waiting to get in. I can't take it anymore," he complains.
Andrew is right beside him with Audrey, Linda and Young Andrew in the back.
Dwayne, Randall and Cynthia are laid out asleep in the back on the bed of the truck.
"You're telling me. So close, yet so far. I just want to see Joanne and the kids again. Thank god they lived so close to Fort Hood," Andrew remarks.
He was refering to the fact that the majority of their clothes and luggage were missing after the group conducted a thorough search of Trevor's family house on the way to Fort Hood.
"I don't know how the hell I am going to find them. This base is so big. I am just glad that they are okay," Andrew adds.
Riggs now begins shaking his head.
"If we ever get there."
"You guys are so impatient. We made it! Cheer the hell up," Audrey comments as she pokes her head between the seats of Andrew and Riggs.
She then proceeds to plant a kiss on Andrew's cheek. He returns the favor in kind.
"Get a room you two," Linda says as she jokingly places her hand over Young Andrew's eyes.
"Maybe we will," Audrey chimes back.
Riggs still remains frustrated at the long line of traffic attempting to enter the Main Gate of Fort Hood.
"That won't happen, because we are going to die of old age before we enter this damn base!"
"No offense, Linda," Riggs adds.
Linda raises her eye brow in response.
As the truck creeps forward, they pass a fighting position on the shoulder of the road with three soldiers sitting in it with their chemical protective gear on. One of the soldiers sits right behid a .50 caliber machine gun as he has it max elevated in the air.
"Man I feel bad for those guys. Must be boring as hell out here," Andrew notices.
"That's going to be you soon, soldier boy," Riggs counters.
That is when it hits Andrew.
"Oh shit, you're right. They are going to put me back in rotation aren't they?"
A now concerned Audrey, attempts to reason with Andrew.
"Just don't tell them you are in the military. How would they know?"
"I need freedom of movement to find Trevor's family. I doubt they let civilians roam free inside. Plus, I just can't neglect my duty. I'm not a shit bag," Andrew responds with a sense of pride.
Riggs busts out laughing histerically.
"Damn brother, I thought you traded in those ACU's for a pair of khakis and cut up T-shirts for a reason?"
Andrew defends himself.
"I changed my clothes because I smelled like death. I just can't lie man, you know how it is."
Riggs agrees, but still continues to chuckle. Audrey and Linda are now worried.
"They will seperate us. Why do you want to do this? How often am I going to see you?" Audrey continues to ask with concern.
Linda agrees.
"Hunny, just find your brother's family and stick with us. Who knows what the military is going to have you do. It's too dangerous," she says.
Andrew isn't buying it and grows upset.
"Look, i'll see you guys everyday, where ever they put you. I promise. I have to do this."
Audrey retreats back into her seat out of frustration.
"Pipe down. The boy is stubborn, let him follow his own path," Riggs reasons to the women in the back.
Linda disagrees and continues to state her reasoning for Andrew to lie about his military service.
That is when a clear break in the traffic is seen by Riggs. It now appears that all of the vehicles in front of him are now in a steady flow towards the gate as they pull off US-190.
"Sweet! Hell yeah! Here we go," Riggs yells.
The conversation is now over due to excitement of the group. Audrey begins banging on the window in the back for the rest to wake up as they approach the main gate for entry into Fort Hood.
As the group's truck pushes forward, a giant white makeshift cloth is draped for all to see from an overpass.
"All guests entering Fort Hood will be subject to search. All weapons will be confiscated," the sign says in black spray paint.
Riggs stares at this in disapointment. Audrey begins complaining.
Andrew gives the occasional nod as if this was nothing new to him.
"Yeah I could have seen this coming. Military installations hate privately owned firearms."
"Yeah but we need it to survive," Audrey replies.
"Not on Fort Hood," Riggs counters.
As their truck goes underneath the overpass, the gates are now in plain view. The sight of vehicles lined up with their occupants being taken out and forced to the shoulder of the road can be seen.
Search teams comprised of soldiers in MOPP 4 with protective mask can be seen searching their vehicles with undercarriage mirrors attached to a long handle. Others are thoroughly searching the vehicles. Some pull shotguns and rifles out of the back and toss them on blue shopping carts with the AAFES PX symbol on it. The soldier behind the cart is going up and down the road collecting fire arms found by the search teams.
"Looks like we aren't the only ones," Riggs states.
Riggs pushes the vehicle in it's respective spot subjecting it to search and seizure.
The group now realizes what took so long to get on this base.
Finally, after some wait, two soldiers approach Rigg's driver side door.
"Sir, please have everyone step out of the vehicle with their ID cards present. Do you have any weapons to claim?"
The soldier's voice is hard to make out under the mask. Riggs politely asks the soldier to repeat his instructions.
The soldier repeats himself once more, this time in an aggressive and louder tone.
"That's better boy," Riggs replies as he tells the others to hop out as he opens his door. The three in the back hop off the tailgate and meet up with the rest of the passengers on the shoulder of the road.
"They want to see our ID cards," Riggs tells everyone.
Dwayne gives him a dumbfounded look.
"I lost mine when that crazy bastard Aaron locked us away," he says.
Everyone else appears to have theirs on them. Riggs tells Dwayne they might not let him in now, however, they will vouch for him.
Andrew reminds the soldiers right before they begin searching the vehicle that they have two rifles and two pistols in the back seat of the cab. One of the soldiers thanks him as a result.
Two of the soldiers begin searching the vehicle and discover the weapons. They quickly confiscate them and whistle for the cart pusher.
Riggs hangs his head in sorrow.
"Man, I hate going to Britain."
Randall stares at him with a confused face.
"It's a joke."
Randall continues to stare, unphased.
"Nevermind," Riggs concludes.
The third soldier walks up to the group and begins checking their ID cards. The first one he checked is Andrew, when he notices his government issued CAC card.
"Says you are active duty, Specialist," the soldier says.
"Yeah, sure am. Long story."
The soldier holds onto Andrew's ID card and calls his supervisor over a portable radio.
"Specialist, I am going to need you to stand over there," the soldier says directing him away from the group on the other side of the vehicle.
Andrew goes without argueing right after he gives Audrey a final kiss.
At this point, the soldier continues to check the identification of every member of the group. Young Andrew is overlooked seeing as how he is a minor and can be vouched for by the adults. Once he gets to Dwayne, he realizes this man does not have an ID card.
"Let me explain. It's a long story, almost died trying to get here man," Dwayne desperately attempts to reason with the soldier.
The soldier does not want to hear it.
That is when Riggs and Linda march up to the soldier and attempt to vouch for him.
"Listen up everybody. There is a process for this type of thing. Sir, I will need you to step over there," the soldier orders Dwayne to seperate himself from the group.
Dwayne does this without incident.
It now appears that the soldiers are finished searching Rigg's vehicle. At that point, a Second Lieutenant approaches Andrew who stands all by his lonesome on the other side of the vehicle and begins talking to him.
It is unknown as to what they are talking about as the rest of the group attempts to make out the conversation. A few minutes go by.
That is when the soldier who checked their ID cards tells the remaining members of the group that they can enter their vehicle now at this time and pass through the gate. He hands them a sheet of paper instructing them on their follow on actions. In addition, rules and regulations for them to adhere to.
Dwayne is now escorted to the office near the main entry gate by two other armed soldiers.
"Hey, what are you guys doing with him! He's coming with us!" Riggs yells as the soldiers hold onto Dwayne's arms and escort him to the office.
One of the soldiers walks back up to Riggs and explains.
"He will be checked and cleared like the rest of you. We need to gather some information from him first. You will see him later. Please get back in your vehicle and move to the physical inspection area past the gate," the soldier orders.
"Physical inspection area?"
"You will find out shortly, please proceed."
"I'll be alright. You guys go on," Dwayne says as he walks off.
Riggs nor Linda approve. Moments later, right as they re-enter their vehicle, Andrew comes walking up and asks Audrey from the outside of the vehicle to hand him his plastic bag with some of his stuff in it.
Inside that bag includes his military fatigues and some personal hygeine items.
"Babe, what's going on? Aren't you coming with us?" Audrey asks in a scared tone of voice.
"I can't. I need to go with this man. He is taking me to my new unit. I will find you guys later okay? Please trust me, I will come back," Andrew genuinely states as he runs his hand through Audrey's hair. She begins crying.
Riggs and the rest say their goodbyes.
"No need for that. You'll see me again. I promise. Quit acting like this is the last time," Andrew frustratingly orders.
"I believe you, you bastard. Get going. You got to play Army now," Riggs adds.
Andrew shakes his head as he walks off with the Lieutenant as Audrey and Young Andrew wave to him. He waves back.
Young Andrew has been silent for days now. Ever since walking in on Lance after he pulled the trigger and took his own life at a gas station in Alabama. Riggs noticed Young Andrew standing behind him observing Lance's corpses after he had said his good byes to the troubled teenager. Once Riggs noticed him there, he quickly took him outside and calmed the boy down as he began to sob. Linda believes he is still in shock and will hopefully come around soon.
Another twenty minutes pass by until Riggs and the group are able to finally drive through the gate. Once through, soldiers on the road direct him towards the III Corp parade field where a paved road snakes in and around the grass. Riggs figured this road was probably used for running in the morning.
His vehicle was directed onto the paved road which led up to the III Corp parade field. Riggs can see the parade field off into the distance with so many cars and people lined up in what appears to be a make-shift parking lot.
Once Riggs is able to funnel in and park his vehicle, another soldier standing guard in the general area orders them out. From there, everyone leaves their belongings as they are funneled into a large OD tanned tent with observers armed with various different weaponry welding clipboards and documentation forms.
Riggs can see down the line ahead of them. What he notices are civilians being ordered to strip naked while an inspector observes their body all around for bites, cuts and scratches.
"Looks like we're going to get to know each other a little better," Riggs concludes as he points the rest of the group in the direction of the action.
Nobody is pleased.

Hours go by in the inspection tent. Riggs along with the rest of the group feels violated and embarrassed by soldiering poking and glaring at them as if they were cattle. Young Andrew began to shed tears at the the sight of the armed men and women in protective masks as their mono tone voices sharply barked order after order.

Some of them even made crude comments and jokes at the sheer sight of fear the bare naked refugees had in their eyes as they went through station after station without rest or prior instructions.

Once the ordeal was finished, their clothes were issued back to them after being thoroughly inspected in one of the back sections of the tent. The group had exactly five minutes to be fully clothed and boarded on the bus with any belongings they could take by hand.

Many of them were confused, especially Riggs. He could not understand why the military was treating them this way. Sure, he realizes safety is priority, however, as American Citizens and refugees seeking their help, treatment and belittlement of this type was not warranted. He fears what he will find once the bus goes to their living quarters.

He can smell the fear on the bus as scared passengers board two or three at a time after going through all of the grueling stations in order to be cleared for entry. None of them look relieved at this point, as they once were prior to approaching the very gates of Fort Hood.

An unstable fear lingers on the bus. Riggs is worried for his people. As he looks out the window at a few soldiers shoving a refugee girl to the ground, he notices another member of the military grab more lines of people by their arms as they shove them towards the entry of the bus.

Riggs Donovan was once at the mercy of Aaron, a homicidal lunatic. Now he fears that himself and his "family", or whatever you call them now, are at the mercy of something similar. However, the demon has yet to show his face. He only senses it's presence.

At this point, as he lies in his seat near Tammy, Linda and Young Andrew, he places his head down in order to rest.

That is when the screams and cries grow louder to him. With his eyes closed, he can even make out Audrey's weeps and moans of sadness as she whispers Andrew's name from her lone seat a few rows down from him

Something bad is about to happen. It's not a matter of if, it is a matter of when.

Riggs keeps his eyes shut in order to ignore those around him.

end chapter 4

[Laager]

Just another fine reason to avoid any fed or stategov camp, imho.......they will take everything you own especially water, food, meds, weapons (of course for the good of everyone around you, of course they don't care how it impacts you and your family).

Great additional chapter.......................

[Nancy1340]

Sounds very stressful. Don't think I'd have gone there. Who knows?

Thanks

[jeepinbandtrider]

I can defiantly understand his need to get to his bro's family. After I found them though I'd be out the F'in door after I saw what they were doing to the civie population. Bring some with me if I could.

[NiGHTMARE-Z]

CHAPTER 5 THE LEIPZIG MILE
The slides deploy with an almost sudden quickness. Upon immediately reaching the ground, the first four passengers of the plane descend down the slides with their weapons propped over their chests securely.
The dead, whom are formed in a massive mob feasting on the bodies of the previously deceased at the front of the plane, do not notice them at the moment while they continue to tear into the flesh of their long awaited meal.
Upon hitting the tarmac, Ringo immediately lowers himself to a prone supported position as he deploys his bipod legs for precision targeting on his M249 SAW.
Christopher follows behind him. Once he hits the pavement, he quickly takes a knee and signals the rest of the passengers.
Trevor and Price landed on the opposite side of the plane, who are on the same side of the aircraft where the dead continue to tear into the dead soldiers.
Trevor begins talking to himself at this point while adrenaline is flowing through his veins.
Price looks up at him as he is kneeling and aiming down the sight of his rifle as he observes in confusion.
Trevor throws up his signal as well. Passengers aboard the flight began funneling out in pairs as they enter the ground level where they instantly take off in a dead sprint in the opposite direction of the aircraft.
All of them are running for the fence line. Some medical staff and flight crew attempt to keep up the pace with the rest of the group. In effect, many begin stumbling over each other or tripping face first into the tarmac. These passengers fall way behind the military members in the lead as the embassy staff in their business suits, who were in the very back, pass them up without lifting a finger for help.
Christopher notices this.
“I think one of them sprained their ankles.”
Ringo looks back over his shoulder after comfortably resting his head on the butt stock of his weapon to observe the incident. He says nothing.
"Hurry the hell up. Damn it, come on move it," Trevor whispers below his breath as he anxiously looks back up to the plane making sure all of his men made it off.
Arthur comes sliding down as well with his Beretta 9mm pistol propped up in the air with one hand. Once he hits the ground, he approaches Trevor and Price in an attempt to assist them in pulling security.
The last Airman to slide off apparently did not have positive control over his weapon. As he slid down, he lost control of his rifle as it landed on the pavement before he did.
Upon smacking into the tarmac, a negligent discharge followed. After the loud thunderous pop was heard, Ringo noticed the trajectory of the round impact into the center of the hungry mob who were engaged in a feeding frenzy. As a result, this mishap draws the dead’s undivided attention.
Ringo instantly opens fire with his machine gun in the direction of the mob. Many of them, with guts and limbs still dangling from their jawlines, abandon their meals in order to move towards the source of the noise. The ones who resided on the outer edges of the mob, obviously neglected from gouging into any meaty portions of the devoured deceased, decided to pick up a sprint towards Ringo and the obvious fresh meals that await.
This sends many into an instant panic as they look back and notice the mob have drawn their attention on the plane.
Ringo increases his rate of fire.
Christopher quickly pulls the Airman up off the pavement and hands him back his rifle.
"Move it!" he yells.
"Hurry up man!" Reagal yells to Hunter whom as they attempt to push towards the rear exits of the plane with the pilot.
They are the last to hop off.
As the men descend down the slide, the loud and intense sound of gunfire fills their eardrums.
Reagal slides off the end landing on his back. Trevor and Price help him up as Arthur begins opening fire with his pistol in the direction of the horde.
"Get that guy up! We got to go!" Arthur yells.
Hunter and the pilot come out on Christopher's side. Upon hitting the tarmac Hunter instantly kneels beside Ringo and takes aim.
"Everybody is off! Let’s go!" Reagal yells to Trevor.
The four pick up and head over to Ringo and Christopher's side of the plane on the way out. Arthur continues to expend his magazine as he runs with Trevor.
Ringo lays waste with his weapon. Dropping attackers one by one in rows as his high volume of fire proves effective. However, there are too many to count. He will run out of ammo before he drops all of them.
Christopher is now engaging beside Ringo in the kneeling position. Hunter is right beside him frantically opening fire as well. That is when the others approach them. Trevor quickly slaps the back of their helmets signaling them to join them on a dead sprint for the fence line.
Ringo quickly picks up and collapses his bipod. He swings his 200 round drum off the weapon to the ground and goes into his pouch attached to his flick to load another. He does this while he is on the move.
"Where the hell did everyone else go," Ringo screams as he follows behind the men.
A terrified Reagal responds.
"They are so far ahead! Oh yeah, sure, we'll cover all of you! No problem," he states with loud and breathless sarcasm.
"Shut the hell up!" Christopher yells.
The men are beginning to lose their breath as they continue to sprint across the tarmac in order to catch up with the rest of the group.
Some members of the group up ahead can be seen up slowing down and tripping over themselves once again. Many of them appear to be out of shape.
One of the women whom sprained her ankle, is now being carried on one arm by a female Air Force member who wrapped the woman’s arm around her shoulder for assistance. She is desperately trying to assist her towards the fence as the woman hops on one leg and frantically cries out in terror.
The dead are quickly gaining ground on the them. The group occasionally turns around to open fire in the direction of the horde only dropping a minor amount of assailants.
Price notices the Air Force Members up ahead now across the tarmac and hopping over the fence line. Some of them end up getting caught in the barbed wire erected at the top.
As the men continue to sprint as hard as they can, they now end up passing some of the group members who lagged behind.
Trevor stops and offers assistance to both of the struggling women, when suddenly; the Air Force Member stops and sets her down on the pavement.
“I’m sorry, I can’t do this. Please help her,” the woman says as she looks Trevor in the eyes with shame as she takes off running towards safety.
The lady on the ground sheds hardened tears as she puts her hand up in the air for assistance towards the back of the person who just abandoned her. Trevor looks back as he notices the rest of his squad still moving up without even noticing that he is present.
The desperate woman then turns to Trevor for help and pleading with him. Without thinking, Trevor quickly lifts her up and places her in a fireman’s carry over his shoulder. Her immense weight slows him down greatly as he begins running towards the fence.
At this point, Christopher and the rest of the group pass the other civilian passengers of the plane. Many who have just given up and continue to walk in order to catch their breaths.
"Don't walk you dumb bastards! They're right behind us," Christopher yells while struggling for air as he passes them.
"Got to keep moving," Hunter yells to them as he quickly passes them by.
As a result, their frustrations get the better of them as they throw up their arms in defiance and sheer exhaustion.
Trevor continues to struggle on one painful thrust of his leg at a time with the fearful woman above his shoulders. As he moves, she begins chanting and crying louder at the sight behind her which sends her into a state of panic.
As a result, she begins shifting around and kicking above Trevor. He struggles to maintain his group while keeping up his pace.
Moments later, Trevor passes the hopeless civilians who gave up. Nothing is said as they stare at each other as he runs by them paying them no mind.
As Christopher and the rest of the men grow closer to the fence line, it now appears that all of the Air Force members are over the top. The few who are armed, turn around in the group's direction still on the runway and poke their barrels through the pockets of metallic fence. They use this as a makeshift platform to engage the hungry mob behind the survivors.
Eleven of them open fire from across the run way towards the mob. In effect, some of the rounds fly by Trevor and his group almost hitting Ringo and Hunter.
Shortly after, Ringo trips over himself, with all of the weight he is carrying including his husky M249 SAW. He lands face first into the tarmac.
"Holy shit, WATCH WHERE YOU'RE FUCKING SHOOTING!" yells Reagal towards the shooters. None of them appear to hear him as they continue to engage. More rounds fly by the desperate men.
Hunter yells back to them as well while Price and Christopher turn back around to help Ringo up off the ground. That is when Arthur notices how far behind Trevor is. He also notices what he is carrying.
"You alright man? You good?" yells Hunter.
"Yeah, I am alright let's keep moving," states Ringo in a calm voice as he reaches for his machine gun on the ground.
Arthur quickly stops the men and informs them of the situation. Once they notice this, everyone with the exception of Hunter picks up a sprint back towards Trevor’s direction to offer assistance. Hunter stands there in confusion while deciding on what he should do.
When Trevor notices this, he begins yelling at them.
“TURN YOUR ASSES BACK AROUND! I GOT THIS! YOU HEAR ME?”
All of them stop with terrified looks on their faces.
“This man is fucking crazy,” Arthur states.
“You don’t know the half of it, he beats me,” jokes Reagal as he shakes his head realizing that this is a death sentence.
“Come on, you heard what he said. Let’s go back and hop the fence so we can provide cover fire,” Christopher orders. The men follow suite without question. Once they turn back around towards the fence, they notice Hunter standing there up ahead.
“Enough with the fucking jokes Reagal,” Christopher orders in anger as they continue running.
It now appears the fall outs behind Trevor have picked up their pace as they notice the dead gaining ground on them. Some of them have already fell too far behind as dozens surrounded the doomed men and women as they consumed them. Their screams can be heard across the run way.
The group continues to move as they now positioned themselves off-set to the Airmen's suppressive fire.
Moments go by while the dead continue to pick up their pace, obviously realizing what their food intend to do in order to escape.
Once they reach the fence line, some of the Air Force members change their positions and continue to fire so they are not in the way of Christopher and his group trying to jump over.
All of them, almost at the same time, instantly toss their assault packs and rifles over the fence. The equipment quickly lands onto the grass on the other side.
A disoriented Ringo, appearing injured from his fall, goes to toss his M249 SAW over the fence line, only to hit the top edge of the fence. As a result, his weapon comes crashing down to the tarmac.
Christopher notices Ringo's attempt to get his weapon over. He quickly runs up to Ringo and tosses it for him. The weapon flies over the fence on his first try.
Ringo shakes his head as he begins to climb the tall fence line along with Reagal, Hunter, Price, Christopher and Arthur.
The rest of Trevor's men are now over the fence line and into the tall green grass along with their Air Force counter parts when they notice Trevor slowly moving up to the fence. The apparent look of exhaustion overcomes his face.
A few moments pass by until Trevor finally reaches the edge of the fence with the lady above him. He instantly falls to the pavement attempting to catch his breath. The injured woman goes instantly tumbling off him as a result landing on her ribs. She cries out in painful screeches.
"You got to climb!" yells Christopher from the other side of the fence as he picks up his weapon and begins firing through the pockets.
At that point, Trevor’s breathing is immensely heavy and erratic. He struggles to stand on his own as the exhaustion he endured overcomes him.
With a sense of urgency, as gunfire goes off around him, he grabs the woman and desperately attempts to pick her up in order to make her climb the fence.
Once he lets go of her, he quickly slings his weapon onto his back and begins climbing. A few seconds of ascending the metallic obstacle, he realizes that the woman had released her grip of the fence as she could not support her body weight due to her rib cage striking the tarmac with such velocity and force.
Trevor instantly hops down and approaches her side without regard for himself.
“I can’t do it. It hurts too much. Please don’t leave me,” the woman says while overcame with sadness and fear. Trevor remains silent as he looks over her towards the plane.
Glaring at the dead, realizing those people he just passed up earlier are no more and the thought of his family places him in a nostalgic state. The thought of possible death comforted him at that moment as he believed it may be the quickest way to his family. The dead are now less than fifty yards away from them.
He does not want to leave her. Nobody should die alone like this, not even his worst enemy. He wants to stay as he remains in a state of acceptance and calm. He now looks back towards the woman and stares her right in the eyes as he brushes her cheek with his dirty fingers comforting her and wiping her tears away.
The woman stares back into the eyes of Trevor. Realizing, as the sad man looks into her eyes, she is now somebody else. Maybe a loved one such as his child or his wife. This comforts her as she prepares herself for death.
Seconds later, he snaps out of it as he hears Christopher’s voice calling him.
“You got to fucking leave her man! You have to!”
Trevor instantly snaps up at the familiar sound of Christopher’s voice calling to him. Trevor looks back and sees his men firing through the pockets of the fence. Christopher has his face up against it in a desperate attempt to convince him to jump and just leave her.
After a moment of this, Trevor looks back down at the doomed woman he tried to save. He knows she needs him. His men also need him. At that point, he decides to do the only thing he can.
She looks back up to him teary eyed. Everything about her face convinces him to stay with her and hold her until it is all over.
That as when he reaches back for his rifle. Once he does this, he aims it point blank between her eyes as he stands over her. Her beautiful bright blue eyes, instantly turn away from him as she refuses to look back into the bottom of the barrel.
“I am sorry,” Trevor says to the woman in a broken saddened voice.
She does not respond.
He pulls the trigger.
Everyone at this point ceases their fire and look on at what Trevor has done. They remain silent as well.
Trevor slings his weapon back around and hops the fence as he quickly hoists his body up one reach and grip at a time.
The dead hit the fence line right below his feet just inches away. They desperately attempt to reach for his feet as they scream and yearn for his flesh.
Everyone else rips their barrels from their supported positions and back up into the grass with caution at the gruesome close up sight of hundreds of semi-living corpses. They glare at the group with senseless rage as they shake the fence frantically. Many begin biting the chain link fence in an attempt to get through. The dead who were in the lead, instantly hop onto the recently executed woman and tear into her flesh without mercy. The sight of her is drowned out by the swarming bodies.
The majority of them however, shake the fence line with horrendous strength, almost throwing Trevor clean off as he struggles to hold on and ascend one pull at a time.
Once he reaches the top and wiggles through the wire, he jumps off while landing right into the grass feet first. Moments later, Reagal and Price help him up asking him if he was okay.
"My barrel stabbed my leg," Trevor responds in a broken voice as if he was holding back tears.
"Hey guys! This fence won't hold out forever, we need to get the hell out of here!" Arthur states to the rest of the group.
"Right," Trevor responds as he gathers himself.
Arthur, Trevor and his men along with eleven other remaining survivors, quickly move down the grassy hill towards the freeway adjacent to the runway where the dead reside.
As far as the eye can see, they notice parts of the city of Leipzig off into the distance ablaze. In addition, the freeway is littered with abandoned European cars. Some have been burned out as corpses inside the cabs are noticeable even at this distance from the freeway.
The group silently makes their way to the freeway in order to find their new ride. Nobody knows exactly where they will be headed and none of them really care at this point. All of them are content with just being off that plane and out of harm's way for the time being.
Trevor still remains in shock at what he had just done.
Once the eighteen of them are off the grass and begin walking down the pavement of the freeway, all of them spread out on both sides of the road in a staggered like formation. As they walk, they closely inspect each vehicle for any signs of life or death.
"We just ran the Leipzig Mile brothers," Reagal boasts to Price and the rest of the men from his squad in the general area; somehow still finding room for humor in a somewhat desperate situation.
"Always with the jokes," Christopher responds.
"Let's make it a point not to ever run the Leipzig Mile ever again," a winded Price adds.
Reagal smiles.
Price chuckles.
Apparently, it seems to Trevor that his men are growing colder to death as the days go by. None of them seem to be phased or bothered by what he had just done. This bothers him in silence as he continues to walk with his head turned away from his soldiers. He does not want them to see the water filling up his eye sockets.
At that point, one of the Airmen in the lead, throws up his hand signaling everyone to stop.
"Hey people! I see something off in the distance! Looks like five mini-vans. Better get down!"
Everyone takes a knee behind a disabled vehicle at that point quickly reacting to the Airman's report.
Trevor stands there with Christopher as they stare at each other for a moment.
"Hey, we need to flag these assholes down," Christopher tells his squad leader.
"Yup, already on it," Trevor responds as he jogs to the center of the road placing his arms up in the air as he slings his weapon across his chest.
Trevor fights to forget about the execution. It takes every ounce of strength in his body to hold back and not break down.
Trevor remains in the center of the road as he begins yelling towards the vehicles to stop. The vehicles grow closer and closer by the passing seconds.
"Hey Sergeant, you think this is a good idea?" asks Reagal from the other side of a vehicle as he leans up against it while on a knee.
"What other option do we have son?"
Reagal places his head down as he props his rifle up to his shoulder preparing himself for whatever may come.
"Hey! What the hell are you doing? Get the hell down, we don't know these people!" yells a nervous Airman who is hiding behind the wreckage of a dump truck as he stares at Trevor.
"Mind your damn business. We dead in the water out here," Trevor counters.
The men inside the vehicles now notice the armed man standing in the middle of the freeway wearing an American Military uniform attempting to flag them down.
“Imhoff, do you see what I see? Who is this?”
“Yeah, I see him. Looks like an American soldier,” Imhoff replies to his driver.
“What should we do?”
Imhoff orders his driver to halt. The convoy slows down before coming to an apparent halt.
"Oh shit, I don't like the looks of this. Trevor, get down man," Christopher calls out to his squad leader as he now positions himself back behind a vehicle.
"Screw that. We got nowhere to go. This is the only way man," Trevor angrily yells back to Christopher as he continues to wave and yell towards the convoy.
"Do you think we're about to get into a firefight?" Hunter eagerly asks one of the Airmen that he is positioned near. The Airman gives him an awkward look as if Hunter was deranged.
"Let’s go talk to these Americans," Han's responds over the radio after being informed of the multiple men Imhoff and his driver spotted hiding behind the vehicles near the man.
The convoy begins moving again. Trevor now places his arms down after realizing he has become noticed. Now feeling wary, he positions his firing hand just over his grip keeping his finger close to the trigger.
He does not know what to expect.
"Here they come, stay cool guys," Trevor advises.
The mysterious convey slowly approaches Trevor. Once it becomes in plain sight of him, he notices remnants of bullet holes on the hoods of their vehicles and into the bullet proof windows. As he gets a clearer view, he realizes these aren't just ordinary survivors.
He notices the helmets and the German flag positioned over their chests. The passenger in the lead vehicle has a portable headset on with a microphone placed up against his mouth, realizing they have communication with each other.
He cannot make out the bottom of their faces as it is covered in black.
The convoy is now right up to the edge of Trevor's feet as he waves greeting them. That is when he notices a single man in the back of the convey open his passenger side door and proceed to step out.
The man wears an all-black military style uniform, same as his counter parts. He dons a black tactical vest with a signature GSG-9 style helmet. Slung across his chest is a H&K G36C assault rifle. The man approaches Trevor in a non-aggressive demeanor.
The rest of Trevor's group remains behind cover.
Once Hans is a foot away from Trevor, he asks him a question in German.
"Say again? I don't speak the language," replies Trevor.
"Thought so," Hans replies.
"Thank god you speak English. Hey, as you can see, me and my boys here are in a bit of a bind."
"I noticed. Need a ride? We got room."
"Hell yeah, where are you boys headed?" Trevor asks.
"MS Deuschland in Hamburg, It's our way out of here."
Everyone decides to come out of cover at this point following Christopher and Reagal's lead.
"We need all the armed support we can get. From here to Hamburg is very dangerous," Hans goes on to add.
Reagal now appears curious as to the men's vehicles and gear.
"Are you guys SWAT or something?" Reagal ignorantly asks.
Hans begins chuckling as he stares the kid down. Hans is an older fellow with apparent scars running across his face which he never talks to anyone about.
"We are the GSG-9, Germany's elite counter-terrorism unit. We are not SWAT."
Reagal feels stupid at this point.
"Damn bro, I could told you that. Dumb ass," Price exerts.
Reagal gives Price the middle finger.
Now after witnessing the American service members exposing themselves and dropping their guard, Han's GSG-9 members decide to hop out their vehicles as well and shake hands with the rest of the men.
Some of them begin exchanging cigarettes and some candy bars while Hans continues to introduce himself to Trevor. None of the other members of both groups can understand each other as a language barrier is present.
Moments later Imhoff approaches Hans from his side.
"We aren't taking these Yankees, are we?"
Trevor does not understand the man, however, he understood the word Yankee. Trevor smiles at the man as a result.
"Yeah we are. The more help the better. We don't know what we face on the way to Steinwerder," Hans replies in German.
Imhoff gives him a cold stare as a result.
Trevor stands there observing in awkward silence.
"Besides, it would be a crime to leave these allies of Germany out here to die, would it not?" Hans asks Trevor in English as he pats a delighted Trevor on the shoulder.
Trevor along with the rest of his squad nod their heads in agreement with puppy like eyes.
Now relieved, Trevor shakes the man's hand as an angered Imhoff walks off back to his vehicle.
"My name is Hans. What is yours might I ask? You are obviously their leader, no?"
"Just call me Trevor man. Yeah I suppose so. Where do you want us?"
"You can do four per vehicle Mr. Trevor," Hans replies.
"Make sure you ride with me, we have many things to discuss while on the road. It will be a four hour drive."
"Sounds like a plan Hans. We appreciate it greatly!"
Hans shakes it off as he walks up to his men to update them on the situation as they joke around with the Americans. Trevor calls his group over to him and advises every one of the situation.
Many ask questions as Trevor attempts to answer all of them to the best of his ability. In the end, they were getting a ride to a cruise liner which is escaping the country. Good enough for them at the moment. Trevor also explains the seating arrangements.
Arthur and Christopher decide to ride with Trevor and Hans. The rest funnel in to any vehicles they can with their new German friends.
Once everyone is loaded up, the convoy takes off. Moments after moving out, they notice the mob which they just escaped from not too long ago still shaking the fence line and screaming for them as they pass by.

end chapter 5

[Nancy1340]

Very good chapter.

Thank you

[223shootersc]

very good stuff, thanks

[Laager]

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