Infected

by Rolfe, Michael I

  Epidemic became Pandemic, which became something that humans do not even have a single word to describe, it became a “near extinction event”. Humanity was on course to self-annihilate, if a single word could have been used to describe what was happening, that word would be apocalypse.

  Every nation on the globe was affected by the rapid and violent onslaught of the infection, some less advanced nations with not so extensive transportation systems or reliance of electronic devises resisted infection for a while, but in time these too succumbed to the inevitable and the infection raged on.

  Vessels on the high seas from goliath nuclear powered Aircraft Carriers, Oil tankers and Cruise ships to small privately own motor cruisers were also rapidly overrun by the mania. They became ghost ships crewed by the dammed whose sole purpose in their hellish existence was finding their next victim. Most of these ships would go on to wreck, causing massive pollution. The oil, cargo and the bodies of the victims would be washing up on shorelines around the world for years to come. Even in its death throes humanity was still destroying the planets ecosystem.

  Around the world governments failed to adequately respond to the crisis, and in most cases the higher echelon of ruling elite was amongst the first to become infected, leaving the people of their respective countries leaderless and without any hope of a coordinated response. So, Pamela was right when she said, “We really are on our own!”

  Day Two. Dan and Pamela

  BBC Radio Four was the last station to convey what little information they could, but even this venerable station had stopped transmitting, there was no “Good luck, farewell” or playing of the national anthem, the transmission just stopped and never started again. Dan and Pamela were now taking it in turns to keep a lookout and sleep but most of the time they were planning their next move. They both knew that they could not stay in their home indefinitely, but to relocate would be very dangerous. They planned every aspect of the move that they knew must follow and discussed when that should be. Dan said “It would better to move at a time of our choosing rather than having to run at short notice, we should leave well before our food runs out and we should try for a place with little to no population. Ideally, we would be looking for a building that we can make secure and if possible something with a strong perimeter fence or wall, and we will need running water nearby. I think, quite literally, we will have to run to the hills!”

  All the time they could hear screaming and shouting as people were attacked by the infected, then the sound of cars as families attempted to leave, then later still in the distance they could hear car horns as people were caught in the grid lock when so many cars tried to leave the town and suburbs all at the same time.

  That evening they could hear assault rifles, some heavier weapons and explosions emanating from the town, the sound of the battle lasted for around an hour before there was silence once again. They looked across the fields towards the sky above town, the town was some five miles away, but they could see an orange glow illuminating the sky, it looked like the whole town was ablaze.

  At first light Pamela was keeping watch, or “Stag” as Dan insisted on calling it, she saw a soldier limping along the road, his assault rifle hanging from a sling and bouncing against his flank with every step that he took. Pamela knew at once that he was infected and she involuntary took a step back from the window, before quietly calling to Dan who was sleeping only a metre away. Dan was instantly awake, he took one look at the infected soldier and then took a long look up and down the road, he saw there was no one else was in sight. He picked up his Katana sword and walked down the stairs toward the front door. “Same drill as before,” he said, “once I am back don’t let me back in from the porch for a minute”. “Where are you going?” Pamela asked with panic in her voice, “I’m going to get that weapon” replied Dan as he walked through the inner front door.

  He observed outside area for a few seconds before opening the outer front door and stepping outside, then walked quickly but stealthily after the infected soldier. Dan’s Katana was still in its sheath, held in his left hand against his hip, unnoticed he walked up behind the soldier then reached across and with his right hand grasped the handle of the sword, then, in a single fluid and practised action the blade was drawn out of the sheath, up in an arc and it sliced through the soldier’s neck severing the cervical vertebrae and the spinal column. The infected soldier dropped to the floor instantly and as he did so Dan stepped forward and grabbed the assault rifle to stop it clattering to the floor. Dan took a quick look around making sure that no one (or thing) had seen him, then he set to work.

  Dan placed his Katana on the floor within easy reach, then removed the assault rifle from the body of the fallen soldier. The magazine was missing from the weapon, but Dan was already going through the soldiers webbing pouches, there were five remaining magazines each fully loaded with thirty rounds, he selected one and then with a practised action placed it into the rifle. He took another quick glance around then removed the webbing pouches and slung them and the rifle over his shoulder, picked up his Katana and then walked quietly back towards the house.

  Pamela could barely contain herself as she counted the sixty seconds before she would admit Dan in to the house, she had seen the whole incident from the upstairs window, she saw Dan calmly walk up behind the soldier, she watched as Dan had felled the young trooper, retrieve his equipment and then almost stroll back to the house as if he was just out for an early morning walk. The allotted time was up, and she unlocked and ripped the door open. She looked in to Dan’s eye but saw no trace of any emotion after what he had just done, he just stood there, proffered the rife and said, “This will improve our chances no end!”

  They made their way back upstairs and Dan started to sort through the equipment he had retrieved from the soldier. There were two water bottles, both still full, and a twenty-four-hour ration pack. There were also the five full magazines giving them 150 rounds of ammunition, lastly there was a rife cleaning kit. Dan said, “It looks like that guy fired off one magazine and then got taken out before he could reload.” Dan set about stripping the weapon and cleaning it before reassembly, Pam watched him in fascination “How do you know how to do that?” she asked. “Many moons ago I spent some time in the Parachute Regiment” Dan answered, “Why did I not know that?” asked Pamela. “It did not seem relevant to our life together and I did not think it would be something you would be interested in” replied Dan. “True on both counts” thought Pam, but she now calculated the odds of their survival had just improved, and not just because of the cannon that Dan had just retrieved.

  Dan finished reassembling the weapon, then looked at Pamela and said “This is a SA80 A2 assault rifle, standard issue in the British Army. The muzzle velocity is 940 metres per second and the rate of fire is up to 775 rounds per minute but as interesting as that is, maybe what you really need to know is that the magazine holds 30 rounds of 5.56mm ammunition and you will be able to effectively engage targets at up to nearly 400 metres”. Pamela then realised with a shock that Dan was training her in the use of the weapon as he pointed out the fire selector switch, the bolt, the magazine release catch, trigger and the all-important safety catch. He drilled her in the use of the weapon showing her how to load and unload it and how to strip and clean it and he taught her the principles of marksmanship. “Never let the rifle out of your sight, you keep it with you at all times.” he said, “But why don’t you have it?” asked Pamela “You will be better with it than me” she said. Dan simply asked, “What would you rather have, the rifle or the Katana sword?” “Good point!” said Pamela.

  She carried on training with the SA80 until she could load, unload, then reload with her eyes closed, “You are really starting to look the part!” said Dan as he watched her with a critical eye “Don’t use the rifle unless you absolutely have to” said Dan “let me take out targets with the sword, it is silent and unlike the rifle does not run out of ammo, only shoot if you or I get into trouble.�
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  He made her practise moving with the rifle, always moving with the safety catch on, stopping to aim, safety off, fire, safety on, then move. He made her train like her life depended on it, because he knew that it did!

  Dan had simply taken to calling infected people “The Infected” and so it was no surprise to Pamela when he said, “We know that the Infected can take a lot of punishment before they go down so if you have to fire, shoot them in the head or heart.” Pam knew this made sense but although she had been practising with the rifle for three days now, she was still not sure if she could bring herself to shoot someone. Dan seemed to read her mind and said “If you do have to fire, do not hesitate, it’s us or them, besides from the look of them I think you will be doing them a favour. One last thing, although your weapon handling skills are very good, bear in mind you have not actually fired a shot. When you, do don’t be shocked by the noise, it will be loud!”

  End of Day Two - Ambulance Paramedic Amanda Bell

  No one came to collect Amanda, and Tim, her driver had never returned, although she had tried calling Control and other units on the radio numerous times and had no response, and she now had a better understanding of what was going on. From her hide within the ambulance she had seen the infected people walking past, their mannerisms were animal like, some had horrific injuries and just the sight of them terrified her. She had been waiting for two days only leaving the ambulance to use the bushes, and then only once she was sure that the coast was clear. She had not eaten for thirty-six hours and the only water she had was from the drip sets aboard the ambulance. Just before the sun dipped below the horizon she could hear gunfire from the direction of the town and this only served to strengthen her resolve to stay in the vehicle as instructed and wait for someone to save her.

  End of Day Two Patrols Platoon Commander Captain Alan Brown

  Captain Alan Brown had been tasked to locate and extract the scientists that were local to the Porton Down research facility. To speed the operation up he had split his platoon up into two teams, he commanded the first team and his Sergeant led the second. The first name on Captain Browns list was “Bob Harkins” but he was missing from his home and from the state of the house, which looked like it had been torn apart during a bar fight, Captain Brown knew there was little hope of finding Harkins alive, or in any fit state to contribute in any meaningful way to a scientific analysis of the infection. The fact that that Bob Harkins had possibly been hit by the infected did not surprise the Captain, so he and his team moved on to number two on their list. However, number two on the list did surprised him as they found their target dead in the hall. Shot once in the heart and twice in the head, this was a professional “hit” and this guy never stood a chance!

  Captain Alan Brown knew how important the people on the list were, and now it seemed likely that someone was looking for and killing them. He grabbed the radio and spoke to the Sergeant commanding the other team and was informed that they had found much the same thing, someone was systematically hunting down and killing the scientists from Porton Down. Brown knew what he had to do, he did not like weakening his teams, but he had no choice, he would have to divide is teams again, so they could find the people remaining on the list as fast as possible.

  Brown arrived at the third property and they had to fight their way from their vehicles to the house, they lost a man in the process, bitten by one of the infected. Captain Brown had to shoot him in the head as he was on the ground convulsing, then they found that the scientist had been executed at his own front door.

  The team that had been detached from his own fared better and managed to save the last person on their list, Brown ordered them not to take any risks with their lives and ordered the team back to the security of Porton Down. Brown found the last address, but the house was locked, and they had to break in only to find no one at home and no car in the Garage. The teams made their way back to Porton Down, their mission almost a total failure. Despite their best efforts and at the cost of one man lost, of the sixteen people they were sent to collect only two were found alive.

  A Downbeat Captain Alan Brown reported to Lt Colonel Curtis, “Sorry sir, I think I could have done a better job.” he said. Lt Colonel Curtis replied “I disagree, I think you did the best job you could. It was a courageous decision to split your force and it paid off, if you had not done so you may not have recovered the two that you did in time, and Alan I am sorry about your man, but you did the right thing by euthanizing him.” He paused, then continued “We now have a total of three choppers and am giving you two of them, your mission is the same as before. Find the people on this list and bring them here, I cannot stress the importance of this mission” Captain Brown replied, “Do you want me to present my plan to you before I initiate?” Lt Colonel Curtis knew that this competent young man’s confidence had taken a knock, so he replied “Look Alan, believe it or not, you did a good job, no one could have done better, and I trust you to do a great job now. You have my full confidence, so no, I don’t want to see your plan, I want you to get on with it and get you and your men back here ASAP so that I can give you another thankless task” he smiled, “Now get going!” “Yes, sir and thank you!” said Alan Brown and he made for the door. Lt Colonel Curtis stopped him by saying “Alan, when I said get back here as soon as possible, I meant it. I need you and your men here, there is more to this outbreak then meets the eye, the very fact that you found those scientists shot is proof of that.” “I understand” said Captain Brown.

  Captain Brown split his Patrol Platoon into three, his Sergeants team departed in one helicopter with a list of names and he himself left in the other, the remaining team of eight men were to surprise Lt Colonel Curtis when they turned up on masse at his office to announce that they were now his personal bodyguard. The Lt Colonel was slightly embarrassed but was pleased and impressed with Alan Browns decision to leave some of his men to reinforce the facility, so he smiled and said “Thank you gentlemen, I feel safer already, now go and get some sleep, and I mean all off you! You can “babysit” me once you are rested.” They smiled but only half of them left to sleep, the rest disobeyed a direct order from a Lt Colonel and remained camped outside his office, after all they were British Paratroopers and they knew best!

  End of Day Three - 3 Platoon Commander Lieutenant Walters

  Lieutenant Walters had been tasked to capture alive an infected person, he had come up with an idea, but he knew it would not be pretty. The team selected for this unenviable job was 9 section 3 Platoon, and none of them was keen on the task. Walters discussed his plan with the men and asked for comments. A new addition to the platoon, a Private Thomas, did have a suggestion “Sir, I think we should shoot our target in the legs to immobilise him, then hit him with the dart gun, stand back and wait for him to go bye byes.” The rest of the section laughed but they could all see the merit in this proposal, anything to stop them getting bitten was welcome! As a team, they worked on and adapted their plan, then they rehearsed, taking it in turns to play the “Infected”. Finally, they had a plan that they thought was workable, all that was required was to put it to the test.

  The following morning, they were to implement their plan, they drove five miles away from the camp, so the noise of gun fire would not attract the infected to their base. Two men were left on the high ground to keep a lookout and give covering fire if needed. The remaining seven men were with Lieutenant Walters, Walters had arranged his men along a track in a linear ambush, he was in the centre with his men either side of him, this was the “Shoot and grab team” two other men were some twenty metres away in either direction along the track, they were the “Cut-offs”, whose job it was to warn when someone was coming along the track and to take out anything that made it out of the ambush alive. Not that anything was likely survive this ambush! One last man was positioned behind the “Shoot and grab team” to protect their rear. Once they were set up they settled down to wait, not making a sound or even moving, they did not have to
wait long.

  Three infected walked past together, Walters whispered “Let them pass”. The team waited and an hour later two more of the infected arrived in the ambush “Killing Zone” but the Lieutenant gave them a pass too. He was waiting for single infected, but for the rest of the day there was only groups of infected walking by. It was getting late and he was just about to give up for the day when another couple of infected arrive in the Kill Zone, Walters whispered to the man to his left take the one in the lead in the head, then to the man to his right you take the other in the right leg, I’ll take the left leg, shoot when I do, stand by… 3, 2, 1 he pulled his trigger and almost instantaneously the other two men fired.

  The two infected went down, “To your positions!” shouted Walters, raising his voice for the first time that day. Everyone knew what their task was, Walters and four men ran forward, one man put another round into the head of the shot infected to make sure it was finished. The crippled infected reached out towards the approaching men but Walters fired a dart from the tranquiliser pistol into it, then all five of the men kept back and waited for the drug to take effect. After thirty seconds they could tell that the dart was doing its job, but Lieutenant Walters waited for two whole minutes before allowing his men to approach.

  The men went to work on the sedated infected. The first thing they did was place a sand bag over its head and tie this in place, then secured the body to a rigid stretcher making sure that it could not move no matter how much it struggled if it came around from the tranquilliser. The last thing they did was to apply tourniquet to each of the wounded legs. The whole-time Lieutenant Walters watched and was ready to shoot the infected in the head if it all went wrong, ready also to shoot any of his men should they become infected. Walters called in the rear guard and the two “Cut-offs” in and it appeared that the operation had gone like clockwork, but as they were preparing the lift the stretcher the Lookouts on the hill reported that multiple infective were running toward the ambush site and were less than 30 seconds away. Lieutenant Walters ordered the four largest men to lift the stretcher and run for the transport that was parked eight hundred metres away while he and the other three Paratroopers covered them in a classic fighting retreat. As they started running he shouted into the radio to his lookouts “We are making for the transport, cover our withdrawal!” he hardly heard the reply “Roger!” that came from the lookouts. He did not look behind him knowing that he could rely on the lookouts to tell him how far behind the infected were. He heard the first shots when they had only cover one hundred metres, the infected were moving fast! “Enemy 50 metres at your rear” came the first report “Shit they are gaining fast!” thought Walters. The two lookouts on the hill were now pouring fire in to the infected as they pursued but most of them came on even when they had been hit, the distance was too great and the targets were moving too fast for an accurate shot to the head or heart so the two men just poured fire in to the centre of the visible mass, some of the targets dropped but most kept on going and the infected were gaining on their brothers in arms at an astonishing rate. “Enemy 30 metres!” the lookout reported between firing.