“Organizational response to any significant disaster, natural or terrorist-borne, is based on existing emergency management organizational systems and processes: the Federal Response Plan and the Incident Command System. These systems are solidified through the principles of Unified Command and Mutual Aid. There is a need for discipline, structure, doctrine, process and agility. We require our management team, officers and soldiers to use creativity, improvisation, adaptability in responding to a disaster of this proportion.”
“There is also the need to on-board and build effective leadership teams quickly, to coordinate and manage efforts, as they grow beyond first responders, surrounding the perimeter of the town. The leaders and teams must formulate and implement a disciplined, iterative set of response plans, allowing initial coordinated responses that are vaguely right, adapting to new information and changes in circumstances as they arise. We are now under martial law, quarantine and containment of the town of Tooele, so let us keep this compound from escaping. Gather your teams and meet in the main hangar for further details.”
The teams disbursed and began gathering other soldiers and forming management teams, who would be in charge of infiltrating the town, separating the infected and non-infected and eliminating any threats. The teams were assembled and ordered to complete their assessment and pre-operational training. General Raymond, Director Sumpter and Doctor Weiss met in the Bio-Safety Level 3 secure conference room.
Along with the operations that were discussed prior, the general and director was going to conduct, after hours, black ops missions. The missions were going to be ordered to operate, after the first emergency management plan operations ended. The black ops teams would be ordered to enter the town, in the night and conduct assessment and decontamination runs.
Doctor Weiss came into the conference room, agitated, looking as though he lacked sufficient sleep. His movements were herky-jerky and sudden, as he paced back and forth in the room. The general placed his hand on Doctor Weiss’s shoulder and stopped him, “Doctor, are you alright?” The doctor turned and seemed to be shaken from a trance, “Oh well hello General Raymond. Director Sumpter, how are you both?”
“Fine doctor,” The general replied. “The director wants to know more about the background research you have done on the terms of a zombie and what the general consensus is, concerning what we are seeing in the population and what we can expect.” The doctor sat down at a desk and reached for a bottle of water. “The hunters that were detained have shown a quicker incubation than I had previously expected. It seems the compounds are now developing a stronger connection through transference.”
The director and the general looked at each other and the director responded, “So every time the compounds pass to another specimen, they reanimate faster than the last?” Doctor Weiss was silent, as if in some sort of trance. The general had stood in on some of the scientist’s experiments and observed the ramifications of both the compounds, “Doctor! We need to focus on the some of the background research collected and conducted on prior zombie mythologies.
The doctor snapped from his delirium, “Zombie, Haitian Creole: Zonbi; North Mbundu: Nzumbe, the term used to denote an animated corpse brought back to life by mystical means or chemical compounds. The term is often figuratively applied to describe a hypnotized person bereft of consciousness and self-awareness, yet ambulant and able to respond to surrounding stimuli. Since the late 19th century, zombies have acquired notable popularity, especially in North American and European folklore. The monsters are usually hungry for human flesh, often specifically brains.”
“Sometimes they are victims of a fictional pandemic illness causing the dead to reanimate or the living to behave this way. According to the tenets of Voodoo, a dead person can be revived by a Bokor, or Sorcerer. Zombies remain under the control of the Bokor since they have no will of their own. “Zombi” is also another name of the Vodou snake lwa Damballah Wedo, of Niger–Congo origin; it is akin to the Kikongo word nzambi, which means “god.”
“There also exists within the West African Vodun tradition the Zombi Astral, which is a part of the human soul that is captured by a Bokor and used to enhance the Bokor’s power. The Zombi Astral is typically kept in a bottle, which the Bokor can sell to clients for luck, healing or business success. It is believed that after a time God will take the soul back and so the Zombi is a temporary spiritual entity. It is also said, in Vodou legend, feeding a zombie salt will make it return to the grave.”
“In 1937, the case of a woman who appeared in a village and a family, claimed she was Felicia Felix-Mentor, a relative who had died and been buried in 1907 at the age of 29. There were rumors that the affected persons were given a powerful psychoactive drug, but they were unable to locate individuals willing to offer the information. The process is an initial state of death-like suspended animation, followed by re-awakening, typically after being buried, into a psychotic state.”
“The psychosis induced by the drug and psychological trauma, was hypothesized to re-enforce culturally-learned beliefs and to cause the individual to reconstruct their identity as that of a zombie, since they “knew” they were dead and had no other role to play in the society. Societal reinforcement of the belief was hypothesized to confirm for the zombie individual the zombie state, exhibiting attitudes of low affect.”
“Haitian witch doctors can keep “zombies” in a state of pharmacologically induced trance for many years. Symptoms of TTX poisoning range from numbness and nausea to paralysis, unconsciousness and death, but do not include a stiffened gait or a death-like trance. In some South African communities it is believed that a dead person can be turned into a zombie by a small child. It is said that the spell can be broken by a powerful enough Sangoma.”
“In popular culture, zombies have typically been depicted as mindless, shambling, decaying corpses, with a hunger for human flesh or brains. However, the “zombies” we have generated have considerably increased their agility, motor skills and even able to regenerate, as seen in the laboratory with the CU1 compound. Innately tied to the conception of the modern zombie is the "zombie apocalypse", the breakdown of society as a result of zombie infestation.”
The doctor paused and looked down at the table, taking a drink from the water bottle and then placing back on the table. He looked up at the general and the director, “The apocalypse has begun and we have created it! We are responsible! This compound and the infection will spread throughout the populations of the world, regardless of what you think you have contained. The zombie apocalypse is a particular scenario of apocalyptic fiction that customarily has a science fiction/horror rationale.”
The general interrupted the doctor, “Doctor, we will contain the outbreak and everything will go back to normal, you will see. We have the necessary teams, in place, responding to the situation now.”
You don’t understand general, in a zombie apocalypse, a widespread rise of zombies hostile to human life engages in a general assault on civilization. Victims of zombies may become zombies themselves. This causes the outbreak to become an exponentially growing crisis: the spreading "zombie plague/virus" swamps normal military and law enforcement organizations, leading to the panicked collapse of civilian society, until only isolated pockets of survivors remain, scavenging for food and supplies in a world reduced to a pre-industrial hostile wilderness.”
Director Sumter looked at the general and then back at Doctor Weiss, “Doctor I am ordering you to the infirmary for a medical evaluation. Also, you are ordered to get some sleep and rest for the next few days.” The doctor looked up at the director, “Thank you Director, I am so tired, so tired.” The doctor stood up and walked from the conference room. He left the Bio-safety Level 3 and reported to the infirmary for a medical evaluation.
The director and the general returned to the main hangar to evaluate the emergency management plan and its progress. The teams had been assembled and were operating and undertaking various forms of additional training fo
r the operations. It covered bio-safety and undertaking missions into the town, wearing bio-suits and still offering the soldiers the ability to perform their missions.
News stations had picked up on the reports of the quarantine and containment in the town of Tooele. State news stations had gathered at the north point of the town, as close to the military’s established perimeter and blockades allowed. One of the reporters had discussed the situation with a member of the CDC, but the initial reports were vague and that there was a state of emergency and a martial law had been declared by the general of Dugway Proving Ground.
That night, the news came on the air and began reporting, “Good evening, I’m John Tellers of channel 13 news. Tonight we learn that the town of Tooele has declared a state of emergency and martial law has been declared, by the general of Dugway Proving Ground. We have been unable to get a statement from the facility; however, we have a reporter on the scene and have confirmed additional information about a state of emergency. We go to our reporter in the field, Marsha Sanders. Marsha what have you confirmed?”
The reporter stood at the perimeter of the military checkpoint and began reporting. “Thanks John, tonight we learned that the town of Tooele, Utah has been quarantined and contained. None of the residents of the general population are being allowed to leave or enter the town. Now we are not allowed into the town either.”
“I spoke to a member of the CDC, who wishes to remain anonymous and said the town is apparently under a viral infection quarantine, but the infection or virus is unknown.” The station switched back to the newscaster who asked an additional follow-up question, “Marsha, can you explain the difference between martial law and a state of emergency?”
“Yes John. The state of emergency can be abused by being invoked, for example, to allow a state to suppress internal opposition without having to respect human rights. Derogations by states having ratified or acceded to binding international agreements such as the ICCPR, the American and European Conventions on Human Rights and the International Labour Conventions are monitored by independent expert committees, regional Courts and other State Parties, but since we are not allowed into the town we can neither confirm nor deny that this is taking place.”
“Further, the president of the United States, as head of the executive branch, has the authority to declare a federal state of emergency. The only emergency provisions in the U.S. Constitution are: “The Privilege of the Writ of Habeas Corpus shall not be suspended, unless when in Cases of Rebellion or Invasion the public Safety may require it.” And an exemption from the privilege of a grand jury hearing for cases arising in the military when in service in a time of “public danger.”
“Habeas corpus was suspended on April 27, 1861 during the American Civil War by Abraham Lincoln, in parts of Maryland and some Midwestern states, including southern Indiana. It was decided in the Supreme Court case Ex Parte Milligan 71 US 2 1866 that the suspension was unconstitutional because civilian courts were still operating and the Constitution only provided for suspension of habeas corpus if these courts are actually forced closed.”
“The 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act allows freezing of assets, limiting of trade and confiscation of property during a declared emergency.
A federal emergency declaration allows the United States Federal Emergency Management Agency, or FEMA, to exercise its power to deal with emergency situations. For FEMA, emergency declarations are different from the more common disaster declarations done for hurricanes and floods. Typically, a state of emergency empowers the executive to name coordinating officials to deal with the emergency and to override normal administrative processes regarding the passage of administrative rules.”
“The United States is formally in an ongoing limited state of emergency declared by several Presidents for several reasons. A state of emergency began on January 24, 1995 with the signing of Executive Order 12947 by President Bill Clinton. In accordance with the National Emergencies Act, the executive order’s actual effect was not a declaration of a general emergency, but a limited embargo on trade with “Terrorists Who Threaten To Disrupt the Middle East Peace Process.”
“Martial law is the imposition of military rule by military authorities over designated regions on an emergency basis, usually only temporary, when the civilian government or civilian authorities fail to function effectively such as, maintain order and security and provide essential services, when there are extensive riots and protests, or when the disobedience of the law becomes widespread. In most cases, military forces are deployed to quiet the crowds, to secure government buildings and key or sensitive locations and maintain order.”
“Generally, military personnel replace civil authorities and perform some or all of their functions. The constitution could be suspended and in full-scale martial law, the highest-ranking military officer would take over, or be installed, as the military governor or as head of the government, thus removing all power from the previous executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government.”
“Martial law can be used, by governments, to enforce their rule over the public. Martial law may be declared in cases of major natural disasters; however, most countries use a different legal construct, such as a “state of emergency.” It has also been imposed during conflicts and in cases of occupations, where the absence of any other civil government provides for an unstable population.”
“Typically, the imposition of martial law accompanies curfews, the suspension of civil law, civil rights, habeas corpus and the application or extension of military law or military justice to civilians. Civilians defying martial law may be subject to military tribunal. From the town of Tooele, I’m Marsha Sanders and we will have more for you as the facts of this containment are made available.” The station then switched back to the newscaster, “Thanks again Marsha, from channel 13 news, I’m John Tellers. We will have more for you as this story unfolds.”
The general and the director supervised the team managers and their group members over the next few days. The missions were to begin within the week and the town of Tooele was still under strict containment and quarantine. Most of the population was maintaining a curfew inside their homes boarded up and secured from the infected population.
There were groups of underground militias operating within city limits, which was the main area infected and overrun. The militia had set up their own perimeter around the city, keeping the majority of the walking dead contained within the city limits. This left the surrounding farmlands and ranches safe from the infected. Baxter was going from house to house and the rural ranches conferring and discussing the current situations and emergency procedures with his neighbors.
Chapter Sixteen
I was standing in the field, discussing the recent quarantine, declaration of martial law, sightings and rumors about strange figures, shadows of creatures walking around the fields at night. Luckily, we were on the outskirts of town, far away from the perimeter of the town’s militia, sheriffs and police officers had set up, around the main section of town. There were reports coming from the perimeter that there was a virus spreading and the main section of town was the central location of the infection.
One of my neighbors, who owned a ranch a few miles east of me, approached our group. His family came to the United States in the early 1930’s and moved out west to get away from racial violence and harassment. He was well spoken and educated on world cultures. If we could figure anything out, he would be helpful in brainstorming with us.
“Marcel what do you make of all these rumors?” I asked, as he walked over to the group.
“Baxter, you know what I think? Vodou, or Vodoun and frequently rendered in your English as Voodoo.” Marcel’s face was dead serious and I could tell from his normal demeanor and high spirits, he was worried, as I think we all were, after a remark like that. After all, Voodoo was simply thought of as a religion, based upon a merging of the beliefs and practices of West African peoples, with Arawakian religio
us beliefs and Roman Catholic Christianity. Never could we imagine, it would have such a major impact on our lives, or was this really connected to Voodoo at all?
Marcel then continued, “The religion was created by African slaves who were brought to Haiti in the 16th century and still followed their traditional African beliefs, but were forced to convert to the religion of their slavers. The principal belief is that deities called Lwa, or Loa are subordinates to a god called Bondyè. This Supreme Being does not intercede in human affairs and it is to the Loa that Voodoo worship is directed. Other characteristics of Voodoo include veneration of the dead.”
Tom, my other closest neighbor, standing with his wife and oldest son exclaimed, “Voodoo? There is no way that a religion can make people into dead creatures that walk around, lifeless, in the night. This is some sort of virus and the military and the CDC will have it figured out. We just have to stay out of the main part of town and defend our homes and families” Tom’s face showed that he was equally as concerned as us. Even though he wouldn’t admit to the fact that someone or something was out there.
Marcel continued his thoughts and explanations, “Haitian Vodou shares many traits with other faiths of the African Diaspora, including the Louisiana Voodoo in New Orleans, Santería and Arará of Cuba and Candomblé and Umbanda of Brazil. Haitian Creole forms of Vodou exist in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, eastern Cuba, some of the outer islands of the Bahamas, the United States and anywhere that Haitians have emigrated to. Do not be so quick to dismiss the underlying factors of something that we do not understand, or that is unexplainable.”
Tom scoffed and kicked the dirt, which gave Marcel an even stronger reason to continue explaining, “The religion already existed in the United States Tom, having been brought by enslaved West Africans. Some of the more enduring forms survive in the Gullah Islands. There has been a re-emergence of the Voodoo traditions in the United States, maintaining the same ritual and cosmological elements as in West Africa. My ancestors tell stories of Bokors who can take control of a body and use it to achieve their desires through that body. ”
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