Hellspawn Dominion

by Ricky Fleet

  No one balked at the news.

  “Our forces in the Chiltern Mountains are under siege and it won’t be long until they fall.”

  The whole room erupted with worried conversation at the thought of their fellow soldiers in mortal danger.

  “Dauntless has been closely monitoring the situation in London on the off-chance contact is re-established with the government. Unfortunately, radio communication with the Prime Minister and the cabinet remain out of commission.”

  “Thank God for small mercies,” muttered a soldier at the back.

  “I have to agree with you in some small part,” replied Hayward. Politicians had no clue about military matters and the only reason contingents of the Army, Navy, and Air Force still lived was because they had ignored suicidal orders. “If that was our only problem, we wouldn’t have an issue. However, satellite imagery shows the undead are leaving the city by the thousands and the exodus is showing no signs of slowing. Whether they are migrating because of the lack of… stimulus.” He almost said food. “We don’t know. Irrespective, the reality is that in the past few weeks hundreds of thousands of the zombies have left the city. By the end of the week, it will be millions. The same pattern is repeating from every population centre across the country.”

  “And they’re attacking the mountains, sir?”

  “Not quite yet, and that’s the biggest dilemma we face. Some unknown instinct is driving them straight towards any remaining pockets of life. That means we have a massive horde headed south towards the coast as well. Our forces are close to breaking point with the relatively small number that are already attacking. When the wave of zombies from London and the surrounding area hit, they’ll roll over them as if they’re nothing. Current estimates put contact at twelve days.”

  “We need to evac them now!”

  “Extraction still isn’t an option. As soon as we weaken their front lines, they’ll be overrun by the remaining undead. Ammunition and food supplies are nearly all gone because the last chinook crews are trying to bolster several different fortifications at once,” explained the captain.

  “What can we do then, sir?”

  “We have two choices; We can sit here and pray for them…”

  The shouts of outrage echoed from the walls.

  Holding up his hands, the yells diminished. “Or we can saddle up in the remaining Chinooks and help them to repel the vile bastards.”

  “Once we land, there won’t be anywhere to fall back to will there, sir?” Holbeck asked.

  “No, Sergeant. This is a one-way ticket. Once we get there, it’ll be a fight to the death. If we win, we can buy ourselves a window to withdraw and bring our boys and girls home in safety. If we lose? Hell, we’ll give the bastards a good kicking first.”

  “What happens to Dauntless and the other ships if we fail?”

  “Admiral Wright has given us the go ahead under the assumption we may not succeed. The battle group in the Solent still has a chance of finding another way if we fall. It may just need a leap of faith and an all-out attack on Portsmouth Naval Base from the water, even if it means losses. What’s certain, however, is our troops will die if we don’t reinforce them. That’s something I can’t ignore.”

  “We’re with you, Captain!”

  The whole room agreed in unison.

  “I’ll be liaising with command on the logistics and as soon as I know more details I’ll share them with you. Dismissed!”

  Eldridge caught Holbeck’s eye, raising her hands to say where does this leave us?

  “Captain, can we have a word?”

  “Of course, Sergeant. Follow me to comms.”

  ***

  “What’s the status of our mission, sir? We were hoping to move out at first light.”

  “For now, the mission is on hold I’m afraid. Because you’ve been out there and faced the things, I need you and your team more than ever. You’ll be heading the convoy with me.”

  Holbeck was taken aback. “Convoy, sir? I thought you said we were going by air?”

  “If we ever hope to hold them back, we’re going to need some hardware. We have the personnel to take the Challenger tank, two Warriors, two Warthogs and four Mastiffs. They’re all operational and ready to roll out. The remaining soldiers will be airlifted to bolster the front lines in readiness for our arrival.”

  Holbeck nodded. “I know the team will be disappointed, but we’ll do what’s required, sir.”

  “Sir, may I speak freely?” Eldridge asked.

  “Of course, Private.”

  “We need soldiers with experience against the undead. There may be two mean sons of bitches who have fought the monsters on foot across land and captured a castle. Those guys are not a million miles from where we stand.”

  “I can’t risk it, Private. If you get bogged down out there, we lose some of our most vital assets.”

  “If we leave at dawn we could be there by nightfall. I know the others will fight all the harder having Jonesy and DB at our side, sir.”

  “What makes you think they’ll want to leave their new friends?”

  “With all due respect, sir, that’s not even a question. As soon as they hear of the trouble coming from London, they’ll be on our side. And if I may be so bold, how many soldiers will be remaining at Thorney?”

  “A bare minimum of essential personnel. Communications, reconnaissance and troops to patrol the gates and perimeter.”

  “Sir, we promised the folks at the farm and holiday park a sanctuary. If we can’t deliver that until we make it back, then the castle may be a safer place. We’d just have to get them there.”

  “What do you suggest?” Hayward posed, stopping outside the communications room.

  “Let us go and make contact with the prison and the castle…”

  “Not the prison,” Hayward shook his head. “It’s strategically irrelevant for now and the detour would add unnecessary risks.”

  “Ok, we head straight to the castle. We make contact with Privates Jones and Mutanto and explain the situation. If they’re secure, we return to base and load the civvies into one of the choppers. Should the worst happen and we don’t make it back from the mountains, at least they’ll be in a safe place. We all saw how close the undead were to swarming us during the cull. If the London horde reaches the base, they’ll eventually clog the river and flood across the barracks.”

  “That’s a sound plan, but we need the birds to help the Logistics Corps. If we don’t get enough food, water, and ammo on that mountain we’ll all die.”

  “It would only take an hour, sir,” Holbeck interjected. “And if I may also speak freely, I’d feel better knowing the people that we’d saved were somewhere fortified. Fifty feet of water and a chain link fence just doesn’t have the same impact as solid stone walls.”

  “I’ve got no problem laying down my life out there, sir. Nor did Langham or Walker, but I think we’d be doing their memory a disservice if we rescued the civvies only to let them die on this island,” Eldridge added.

  “Dishonouring their sacrifice was never my intention, Private,” Hayward replied in a clipped tone.

  “Sorry, sir.”

  “That being said, I understand that emotions are running high and I can appreciate your sense of responsibility towards those people, especially the children. Leave it with me. I’ll make sure to leave a window open in the schedule should you find our wayward brothers at the castle.”

  “Thank you, sir!”

  “Tomorrow we’ll be running drills and I need you here for that. You can move out at dawn in two days’ time.”

  The soldiers came to attention and saluted the officer.

  “Dismissed.”

  CHAPTER 23

  “Hi, Joan,” Eldridge said.

  “Private Eldridge, please join me. I still haven’t had a chance to thank you all in person.”

  “Call me Beth. Do you have a drink?”

  Holding up a beer, she smiled. “Yes, thank you.”


  “I was surprised that you aren’t with the others at the party. Christopher said you’d gone to the library to gather your thoughts.”

  “I just needed some quiet time and it’s too cold to be wandering around outside. As much as I love the fact that we’re safe now, it just reminds me of all those people we couldn’t save and I didn’t want to sour the mood. Those poor children will never have the chance to say goodbye to their families.”

  “Sadly not, but they have a chance at a life now. All because of your group’s bravery during the outbreak.”

  “It didn’t feel like bravery. It felt like a few hours of unending terror and bloodshed that I can’t stop dreaming about.”

  “I remember it well,” Eldridge shuddered. “No one would believe what was actually happening and we lost a lot of good soldiers. Then things got much worse.”

  “I know what you mean,” Joan commiserated.

  “How did you keep them all safe. If you don’t mind talking about it, that is?”

  “It may help me to get some of it off my chest. It all happened so quickly I was acting on instinct and adrenaline for the most part. To the west there’s an old church which was both a blessing and a curse.”

  “I don’t understand. How could it be a blessing?”

  “Because it was so close, we were hit by the newly resurrected monsters within the first hour. If we’d been caught unawares by the swarm that came from Selsey town later in the day we wouldn’t have stood a chance. Their… incompleteness… Is that even a word? It meant they were a lot slower because of the bits they left behind. It gave us a chance.”

  ***

  “Trailer thirty-eight F?” Joan said into the phone. “I’ll be there asap.”

  “Problem?” asked Maisey, the assistant receptionist.

  “There’s a leak in one of the trailers. It’s the one we’ve had a couple of antisocial behaviour complaints about so I expect they’ve been messing around with the plumbing. I was going to get Xander to have a word later, but I can do it myself.”

  “Probably better that you go. If they get mouthy, you can be a bit more diplomatic.”

  “Pardon me,” said a young lady, approaching the desk. “Is this the right place for the Teddy Club?”

  “It certainly is,” Joan replied. “All I need you to do is fill in this form with your details.”

  Offering the clipboard across the counter, the woman took it and began fishing for a pen in her handbag.

  “Here, take mine,” offered Maisey.

  “You’re a lifesaver, thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. What’s your name, sweetheart?” Maisey asked the child who darted behind her mother’s skirt to hide.

  “It’s Penelope,” replied the mother. “Say hello to the nice lady.”

  The red-haired girl peered from behind the pleated camouflage and whispered, “Hi.”

  “Do I need to pay now?”

  “It’s all part of the holiday. There’s no charge,” said Joan.

  “Really? That’s amazing. I didn’t even see that on the pamphlet,” beamed the mother.

  “It’s not. We had an issue with our last marketing manager who has since left us. If you notice any other parents looking like they could use a break, send them our way and we’ll entertain the children for a few hours.”

  While Maisey played peek a boo with the young girl, the mother shook Joan’s hand gratefully.

  “You go with the nice ladies, Penelope, and I’ll be back to pick you up at two o’clock.”

  “I don’t want to, Mummy.”

  Joan was a dab hand with children and moved from behind the counter, kneeling by the cowering girl. “What’s your favourite thing to do in the whole wide world?”

  Looking uncertainly up at her mother, she pulled the skirt around her like a protective cloak.

  “Penelope, the nice lady is talking to you.”

  “I bet I can guess,” Joan coaxed, smiling warmly. “Is it… playing football with the boys?”

  The little girl turned away, burying her face into the fabric.

  “I don’t blame you. Boys are icky. How about playing armies?”

  The head shook slightly. Joan caught sight of the Jurassic Park motif on her t-shirt. An unusual interest for such a young girl, but she went with it.

  “Really? You look like a soldier. Ok... Is it… playing with dinosaurs? I love how scary they sound,” Joan said, mooing like a cow.

  Penelope giggled into the skirt.

  “What? That’s how dinosaurs sound, isn’t it? Or is it like this?” Joan whinnied like a horse.

  The girl giggled again and turned towards her. “That’s a horse, silly.”

  “Penelope!” gasped the mother.

  Joan winked to say it was fine then raised an eyebrow at the girl. “Are you sure?”

  “Yeah. Dinosaurs sound like this,” she replied meekly, making a cute attempt at a roar.

  “That doesn’t sound right,” Joan replied, “I’m sure they sound like this.” She clucked like a chicken.

  “That’s a chicken,” giggled the girl.

  “All this time I’ve been getting it wrong.” Joan threw her hands up in frustration. “Would you mind teaching me?”

  “Mummy, can I?” asked Penelope.

  “I think that would be wonderful.”

  Taking Joan’s hand, the girl led her past the reception desk. The initial reticence was completely forgotten in the excitement of teaching a grown up. “It’s really easy. Have you ever heard the noise a lion makes?” Almost as an afterthought, she turned around and waved, “Bye, Mummy. See you later.”

  “Bye, sweetheart. I love you.”

  Chatting excitedly, they moved through the building to the auditorium. Seven children were already playing in the hall. Seeing the new girl, they all rushed over to greet her.

  “Everyone, this is Penelope. She’s been teaching me how to sound like a dinosaur,” Joan explained and they both roared.

  The youngsters clapped and gathered around to say hello.

  “Do you like colouring?” asked one boy.

  “Yeah, I guess so,” replied Penelope, feeling a little overwhelmed. She moved towards the familiarity of her new friend, pulling on her leg.

  “Sweetie, that’s Christopher.” Joan pointed at the friendly looking man. “He doesn’t know how to roar, either. Would you mind showing him too?”

  “Yeah!”

  Joan grinned as the beautiful girl scurried off to play.

  “Are you ok with them? I’ve got to do a couple of jobs and I’ll be back,” Joan asked Christopher.

  “Are you kidding? We’re going to have a great time and I’m going to learn to roar!”

  ***

  “Maisey, are you ok holding down the fort while I fix the leak?”

  “Sure. It’s still early, so the only people coming through are the kids who your new friend can round up.”

  “New friend?” Joan asked.

  “Mrs Glenmoore. She’s over the moon with you and how you handled her little girl. She’s going to write a letter of thanks to the bosses.”

  “That’s nice of her. I’ll be back in a jiffy!”

  Pushing through the double doors, the wind tugged at her hair. Dark clouds were gathering overhead. The passing holidaymakers all looked downcast and Joan pitied the poor souls. The British weather was a gamble, and they had lost.

  “Good morning,” she said to an elderly couple as they passed.

  “Is it?” grunted the old man.

  “You’ve got your health and the love of a beautiful woman. I’d say that’s good.”

  He refused to answer, but Joan felt a warm glow as his hand sought out his wife’s, giving it a squeeze. Opening the back of the maintenance van, she checked the tools were present. Gary had left the bloody things in the pool room the last time and she had made it all the way across the park before having to come back. It looked unprofessional and she hated that.

  “Excuse me?”

 
Joan turned to see a gathering of parents and their excited children. “How can I help you?”

  “Is it true that the kid’s club is free?”

  “Absolutely. It doesn’t cost a penny. I’m sorry for the misunderstanding.”

  “That’s ok,” replied one of the fathers. Turning to his son, he asked, “Did you want to go?”

  Joy lit up the young faces with thoughts of getting out from under the dank and dreary summer weather.

  “If you pop in and see my friend, Maisey, she’ll help you with the paperwork. It runs every day from ten in the morning until two in the afternoon.”

  Thanking her profusely, they hurried inside. As Joan turned the van around, the smiling adults emerged. They stood around for a few moments, seemingly lost and unsure what to do with their newfound freedom. One of the women made a suggestion and the heads all bobbed in agreement. Joan moved around the building and lost sight of them just as they headed off on whatever activity had them so delighted. It probably involved a local pub and alcohol.

  ***

  “What took you so fucking long?” demanded the tattooed man who ran up to the van window.

  “Mr Lord? I came as soon as I got the call, sir.”

  “Well that’s not fucking good enough!” he growled, blocking the door.

  “If you move out of my way I can fix the problem and see about getting you an upgrade on your accommodation,” Joan said, trying to maintain her cool.

  “You’d better,” he yanked on the handle, pulling the door open aggressively. “I want compensation as well. This has completely ruined our fucking holiday.”

  “I don’t have that power, sir. You’ll need to write to the owners and make a complaint. Where’s the water coming from?”

  Ignoring the request to see the plumbing issue, he grabbed her by the arm. “I’m not writing no letter. You get your supervisor on the phone and get him over here. Now!”

  “Take your hand off me and show me the problem. Sir!” Joan replied, pulling away.

  “Who the fuck do you think you are, you uppity bitch?”