Apocalyptic Empire: The Hatchery Compound

by Chris Blake

  Vin wants to take four members of Bravo team, and his command team, spare for Colonel Bradley. He tells the guys to bring extra ammo, food, water, and a few of their tents as they will probably not make it back tonight.

  The hour goes by, and everyone is packed up and ready to go. They load up in their vehicles, say their goodbyes, and get on the road. They stick to the highways and stay off the interstates. The drive turns into a long journey as hour after hour goes by. They pass countless number of vehicles burned out, riddled with bullet holes, and occupied with Charlie. There are numerous deposits of dead Charlie along the way.

  Vintago wanted to take the smaller highways to avoid all this, but it would appear that, in the mass exodus from the valley, all roads looked the same.

  Around midday their two vehicle caravan is finally approaching Flagstaff. Ahead of them lies a wasteland of burned out homes, buildings, cars, and complete chaos. There is litter and refuse everywhere. School busses line the sides of the highway heading into Flagstaff and piles of rotted corpses take up entire parking lots.

  This was not what Vintago had expected at all. He thought that the military and the government was going to protect Flagstaff. They even called it a safe zone!

  It would appear that nowhere was safe any longer.

  The two groups stop their vehicles just on the outskirts of the city and get out. They walk up to Vintago and ask him how he wants to continue. They will have to cross right through the middle of the city to get to the army camp on the other side.

  Vintago looks around, takes in the grotesque sights, and chuckles to himself.

  When they ask him what’s so funny, he replies, “Gentlemen, this day marks a new beginning for our little group. We now know for sure that we are alone, outnumbered by infected, and on our own for surviving this mess.”

  Without saying anything else, Vintago gets back in the truck and sits down. Logan enters the vehicle and asks what he wants to do.

  “Drive us through the gates of hell my friend, and when we get to the other side, we better pray that it was worth the drive.” Commander Vintago Hawkins replies.

  A word from the Author

  This is only the beginning for our group of survivors as they have many more trials ahead of them. This is the beginning of an empire, the forging of a new breed of nation, and it all starts...at a fish hatchery.

  This book was written because of my obsession with the zombie apocalypse genre. There are so many good writers out there that inspired me to write this book. My attempt to write my own journey was inspired by several writers. I hope that you have enjoyed the first leg of my journey. Expect that there will be many more stages in our apocalyptic empire!

  Also for more information about the group of survivors please see the roster.

  Roster of Hatchery Compound Survivors

  Hawkins Family

  (Original group members)

   Vintago Hawkins (24 years old)

  o Before the outbreak, he was an IT guy. After the outbreak, he fled with his family to the hatchery and started the compound. His skills are shooting, fishing, camping, and generally being an outdoorsman.

   Victoria Hawkins (24 years old).

  o Vintago’s wife of five years. Before the outbreak, she was a hair stylist. Her skills are generally cleaning, organization, cooking and taking care of their son.

   Grayson Hawkins (1.5 years old)

  o Son of Vintago and Victoria Hawkins. He is a happy go lucky toddler, confused about what is going on around him, but overall pleased to have his family around.

   Benjamin Hawkins (54 years old)

  o Benjamin is Vintago’s father. Before the outbreak, he was a doctor and surgeon. After the outbreak, he stayed behind to try and help the infected, eventually losing his wife to an infected patient. Afterwards, he fled to the hatchery to be with his only son. His skills are general medicine and advanced surgery.

  Roberts Family

  (Original group members)

   Gregory Roberts (54 years old)

  o Before the outbreak, he was a truck driver. His skills are general mechanics, welder, builder, generally good with his hands.

   Cindy Roberts (53 years old)

  o Greg’s wife of thirty years. Before the outbreak, she was a housewife. Her skills are seamstress, cleaning, cooking and organization.

  Hatchery Crewmember

  (Already at the hatchery)

   Jessica Owens (22 years old)

  o Before the outbreak, she maintained the hatchery and all of its vital systems. After the outbreak, when Vintago and his party arrived, she still takes care of the hatchery but also is their main cook. Her skills are hatchery maintenance, cooking, and shooting.

  Black Family

  (Added after Payson supply run)

   Logan Black (42 years old)

  o Before the outbreak, he was an Ex-Navy Seal who turned to personal training. After the outbreak, he led his family north to get away from the valley and endured a grueling month long battle before running into Vintago. His skills are extensive survivalist skills, firearms expert, explosives training, field medic training, and the list goes on.)

   Christine Black (40 years old)

  o Logan’s wife of twenty years. Before the outbreak, she was a Navy Nurse. Her skills are triage, minor surgery, and general medicine.)

   Robert Black (16 years old)

  o Logan’s oldest son. Before the outbreak, he was an Eagle Scout, a member of JROTC, and a competition shooter. His skills are expert level shooting, fishing, hunting, and everything else his father has taught him along the way.

   Rebecca Black (13 years old)

  o Logan’s oldest daughter. Before the outbreak, she was a member of the National Academic League. Her skills are in math, science and writing.

   Sarah and Timothy Black (8 year old twins).

  o Logan’s fraternal twins. Before the outbreak, they were just two normal kids. They are too young to have many skills.

  Fort Huachuca National Guard Squad

  (Added after Payson supply run)

   Private Nathan Jenkins (23 years old)

  o Before the outbreak, he was a member of the National Guard in Arizona and was a competition shooter in civilian life. His job duty with the National Guard was a marksman due to his excelling at long range shots. After the outbreak, his unit was called into active duty to defend Tucson, which failed. He and the three other members of his squad barely made it to Payson where they met Vintago. His skills are excellent shooting skills and military basic training.

   Private First Class Jose Gomez (25 years old)

  o Before the outbreak, he was also a National Guard member in Arizona. His job was as a military mechanic, and he was able to work on all of the military vehicles, diesels included. His civilian job was working at a body shop in Phoenix. After the outbreak, he followed Corporal Trevor. His skills are mainly mechanical in all sorts of vehicles and military basic training.

   Specialist Anthony Smith (24 years old)

  o Before the outbreak, he was also a member of the National Guard in Arizona. His job with the National Guard was a radioman and electrical systems expert. His civilian job was at a small computer company repairing computers. His skills are electronics, radio systems, generally a tinkerer.

   Corporal Trevor Steele (26 years old)

  o Before the outbreak, he served two tours in Iraq and Afghanistan as active Army. After his tours, he went National Guard in Arizona and worked as an investment banker. After the outbreak, he was called into active duty and was forced to retreat with the remnant of his squad, leaving him in command of the three other men. His skills are combat hardened, military advanced training, and very good with numbers.

  Steeple Family

  (Added after Payson supply run)

   Harry Steeple (63 years old)

  o Before the outbreak, he was a retired US Forest Service Firefighter. He lived outside of Payson and was an avi
d outdoorsman and hunter. After the outbreak, he called his family and told them to flee to his cabin outside of Payson, and they lived mainly unharmed until they had to gather supplies in Payson where they were attacked by thugs, and saved by Vintago. His skills are shooting, hunting, fishing, and camping.

   Henry Steeple (39 years old)

  o Harry Steeple’s oldest son. Before the outbreak, he was a personal banker. After the outbreak, he fled with his wife and two children to his father’s house. He has no applicable skills.

   Missy Steeple (38 years old)

  o Henry’s wife of eighteen years. Before the outbreak, she was a housewife. Her skills are cleaning cooking, and organization.

   Emily Steeple (16 years old)

  o Henry’s oldest daughter. Before the outbreak, she was a hugely athletic girl, participating in all the school sports. She has no applicable skills.

   Riley Steeple (13 years old)

  o Henry’s youngest daughter. Before the outbreak, she was a student and a girl scout. She has basic survival skills taught through girl scouts.

   Mitch Steeple (34 years old)

  o Harry Steeple’s youngest son. Before the outbreak, he was a Phoenix Police Department Detective. He was an avid shooter, outdoorsman, hunter and camper, much like his father.

   Gloria Steeple (36 years old)

  o Mitch’s wife of eight years. Before the outbreak, she was a lawyer. She has no applicable skills.

  Roster of Church Camp Survivors

  Church Camp “Family”

  (Originally at the Church Camp)

   Pastor Luke Abrams (52 years old)

  o Before the outbreak, he was the pastor of the summer/winter camp. He was also an avid hunter, fisher, and outdoorsman. After the outbreak, he and his wife Amanda have been taking care of five children left behind as their parents either abandoned their children, or did not make it out alive. He and his wife have essentially adopted the children into their family. His skills are hunting fishing, camping, and survival skills.

   Pastor Amanda Abrams (48 years old)

  o Pastor Luke’s wife of twenty four years. Before the outbreak, she was the Associate Pastor. She was primarily the camp cook, caretaker, and mom for hire. After the outbreak, she takes care of the children while her husband provided for them. Her skills are cooking, cleaning, and organization.

   Johnny Chandler (15 years old)

  o Before the outbreak, he was a student. His skills are everything Luke has taught him.

   Jacob Chandler (13 years old)

  o Before the outbreak, he was a student. He has no applicable skills.

   Sophia Perkins (12 years old)

  o Before the outbreak, she was a student. She has no applicable skills.

   Ethan Reeves (13 years old)

  o Before the outbreak, he was a student. He has no applicable skills.

   Olivia Bridges (14 years old)

  o Before the outbreak, she was a student. She has no applicable skills.

  Resort Group Fighters

  (Added after deciding to abandon the resort group in favor of Vintago’s group)

  Grymes Family

   Quinton Grymes (39 years old)

  o Before the outbreak, he was a former Air Force machinist stationed in Arizona. After the outbreak, he fled north with his wife and three children. He had been surviving with the resort group ever since stumbling upon them when they were looking for a place to take shelter for a night. He was one of the most experienced fighters the resort group had, due to his military training. His skills are basic military training, machining parts, and generally being able to create objects from metal.

   Dana Grymes (40 years old)

  o Wife of Quinton for eighteen years. Before the outbreak, she was a housewife. Her skills are cooking, cleaning and organization.)

   Freddie Grymes (17 years old)

  o Quinton’s oldest son. Before the outbreak, he was a student, computer hacker and programmer. After the outbreak, he has been fighting with Quinton and has become one of the resort groups’ fighters. His applicable skills are shooting and survival skills.

   Jackie Grymes (15 years old)

  o Quinton’s only daughter. Before the outbreak, she was a student and gymnast. She has no applicable skills.

   Austin Grymes (12 years old)

  o Quinton’s youngest son. Before the outbreak, he was a student. No applicable skills.

  Allen Family

   Joey Allen (29 years old)

  o Before the outbreak, he was a sheriff’s deputy for Pinal County. After the outbreak, him and his wife fled north in search of a place to stay. They went to a resort that he had stayed at during a hunting session and found the beginnings of the resort group. He quickly became one of the first resort group fighters. His skills are hunter, fisher, camper, and shooter.

   Jade Allen (34 years old)

  o Wife of Joey for five years. Before the outbreak, she was a social worker attached to the sheriff’s office. They helped the deputies from time to time. Her skills are the same as Joey’s, largely because of him, hunting, fishing, camping, and shooting. She also believes that she may be able to help some of the survivors deal with the trauma of the outbreak.

   Nick Bark (42 years old)

  o Before the outbreak, he was a stockbroker. He was also a gun collector, shooter, and three gun competitor. He was staying at the resort on vacation when the outbreak came. After the outbreak, he stayed with the resort group and became their first fighter. His skills are shooting.

   Evan Spader (21 years old)

  o Before the outbreak, he was a student on a camping trip with his buddies in the nearby campground. After the outbreak, he found the resort group and Quinton taught him how to shoot, which he excelled at. His skills are shooting.

  Western Camp Group

  (Added by Trevor and his team after a scouting mission)

  Brooks Family

   Nelson Brooks (49 years old)

  o Before the outbreak, he was a US Forest Service Ranger stationed south of the hatchery and overseeing the surrounding territory. After the outbreak, his family and their two neighbors holed up in their houses and tried to stick it out. They lived with no running water, electricity, and little food, for over a month before Corporal Trevor found them. His skills are mainly outdoors related skills, large game hunting, and woodsman.

   Catherine Brooks (42 years old)

  o Wife of Nelson for eighteen years. Before the outbreak, she was a housewife taking care of their youngest daughter and middle son. Her skills are cooking, cleaning, and organization.

   Jessie Brooks (19 years old)

  o Oldest daughter of Nelson. Before the outbreak, she lived from home and worked at the Starbucks in Payson. She was attending community college trying to get a degree in art. She has no applicable skills.

   Cody Brooks (16 years old)

  o Only son of Nelson. Before the outbreak, he was a student and an avid outdoorsman with his father. His skills are large game hunting and shooting.

   Claire Brooks (9 years old)

  o Youngest daughter of Nelson. Before the outbreak, she was a student. She has no applicable skills.

   Jerry Cambridge (47 years old)

  o Before the outbreak, he worked at the Home Depot in Payson. His skills are wood crafting, and carpentry.

   Cliff Bradley (68 years old)

  o Before the outbreak, he was a retired Army Colonel. He served in Vietnam, as an officer, and later in the Gulf War. He stayed on with the Army and was promoted to Colonel where he stayed until retirement. After retirement, he has spent his years hunting and fishing in the woods near his home. After the outbreak, he was essential to the survival of their group by assisting Nelson put food on the table.

  Job Assignments

  Command Team

   Commander Vintago Hawkins

   Lieutenant Commander Logan Black

   Col
onel Cliff Bradley

   Sergeant Mitch Steeple

   Corporal Robby Black

  Alpha Team

   Lieutenant Trevor Steele

   Sergeant Anthony Smith

   Corporal Jose Gomez

   Corporal Nathan Jenkins

  Bravo Team

   Lieutenant Quinton Grymes

   Sergeant Joey Allen

   Corporal Jade Allen

   Corporal Nick Bark

   Corporal Evan Spader

   Private Freddie Grymes

   Private Nelson Brooks

   Private Cody Brooks

  Builder Team

   Team Supervisor Gregory Roberts

   Harry Steeple

   Jerry Cambridge

  Maintenance Team

   Team Supervisor Jessica Owens

   Henry Steeple

   Pastor Luke Abrams

  Homemaking Team

   Team Supervisor Victoria Hawkins

   Cindy Roberts

   Missy Steeple

   Gloria Steeple

   Pastor Amanda Abrams

   Catherine Brooks

   Jessie Brooks

   Dana Grymes

   Jackie Grymes

  Medical Team

   Team Supervisor Benjamin Hawkins

   Christine Black

  Children - No Assignment or Light Duty

   Grayson Hawkins

   Rebecca Black

   Sarah and Timothy Black

   Emily Steeple

   Riley Steeple

   Johnny Chandler

   Jacob Chandler

   Sophia Perkins

   Ethan Reeves

   Olivia Bridges

   Claire Brooks

   Austin Grymes