Valknar

Chapter 32

We are not far from the hospital. Nowdoc was the name. When we find a group moving down the road. We had stopped as I checked the map. We were crouching down. They came out of the fog and were right on top of us before they realised, we were there.

“Hello.” I said to them rising. A man span and pointed a large knife in my direction. Terrified. “Hi I am a Zone Operative there are two others with me. We are here to help.”

The group was traumatised but the chance of help coul...

Chapter 31

I fall back on the others. I motion to huddle in.

“Zombies ahead.” I tell them quietly. They are all surprised.

“Zombies! This is a Creature zone, not a Grave one.” Karlsson hissed.

“How many?” Mannford asked.

“At least six but likely more.” I answer. “Well, we have got them so this is what we are going to do. Karlsson and I will move up and engage. Mannford on the right Keller the left you two guard the flanks.” I sketch out a rough plan.

“...

Chapter 30

The next day we were airborne on the way to Northern Ireland. The afternoon yesterday was finished with dreaded paperwork and additional briefings. We were sitting in one BTL helicopter with our crates in the centre of the cargo bay. Captain Clarkson was with us and a few officers. The rest of the support team was in a second helicopter.

We have had an initial briefing on the zone we are going to. The community of Meigh is near the Irish border. A Grave class zone is not too large that ...

Chapter 29

Ten minutes before 14:00hrs we arrive at the armoury. Lou and his team are moving around serval armour racks used to transport an Operatives kit to and from base camps. Along with the usual retro-bates, I notice a group of figures. Three were in military fatigues and two in suits. They noticed me entering and we looked at me oddly. Before I could approach them, I was tackled by Lou. He lifted me off the ground and spun me around.

“Johnny boy back in action!” He exclaimed. The others...

Chapter 28

No major injury can be recovered quickly or easily if you want to do it right. My recovery continued with a lot of physical therapy and then steadily increase training. This passed the time into April.

I got a lot more time with the head shrinks. They have learned that any operative needs a lot of mental health help to deal with the horrors and traumas that we endure. Breakdowns are the second largest reason for operative retirements.

To help abate the media attempts at an intervi...

Chapter 27

It was December when I finally got back home. Physical therapy was taking longer than they thought but I was making excellent signs of progress. My injuries were healing well and the doctors told me that there would be no lasting effects from them.

The last few weeks had been stressful to me in everything outside of my recovery. My reveal to the French Government of attempted arrest had given the media plenty to work with.

They found out my address and contact info quickly. For we...

Chapter 26

In an office in the adjourning administration building, the four met after the debrief. They had said little to each other processing the things that John had told them about the mission. They were now all sitting around a table looking at each other.

“Well, that explains the injuries he sustained.” Alexander said breaking the silence.

“Yes, the information from the other teams that have entered the zone after him now is beginning to make more sense.” Nowak replied. “We ...

Chapter 25

Around quarter past ten the next day the debrief team arrive to begin. I have one pet hate in life. Well, one major pet hate is that people be on time.

“Good morning, John we are here for your debriefing.” Alexander said entering the room.

I was happy to see that Lieutenant Greco was part of the group sent. There were two others one being a man in his mid-thirties. Military from his barring and clothes. From his arm patch flag, he was Polish. The other I knew from the base cam...

Chapter 24

The three men sat in silence for a few minutes after the two doctors had left. The information given to them could and would change a lot. The Nation and world would benefit if one let alone two of the things’ Harrington’s body was doing could be harnessed.

“Well, that’s a lot to take in.” Alexander quipped.

“We will need to see the results of Harrington’s evaluation as quickly as possible. Dr Helena was too vague with her answer.” Hamilton said.

The other tw...

Chapter 23

Blackness.

The dreams come again.

Blackness.

All around.

Empty. Silent.

No something out there. As before.

Not alone

Give In

Not alone come

Anger in me comes fast and hot.

No!

You will in time

It draws near

Blackness.

## ## ## ## ##

I wake up. My fight or flight instincts blaring. Like from a nightmare. I try to move but I can’t.

Everting hurts even mo...

Chapter 22

I find a fighting withdrawal as it is known is a nightmare to do. I am being harried by Ghouls as I am walking back up the road I came down.

I have counted a mixture of male and female to nine Ghouls, I think. It is hard to tell with them using the fog as cover. Some are injured by the way they are moving. The dart forwards out of the fog seemly to attack to draw my attention while another then comes from a different direction.

I have been able to hold them off by constantly movin...

Chapter 21

The inter of the cathedral has like everything else has a layer of moister covering everything. I have to light several glow sticks to help me see. I attach them to my webbing. The effect of the breach creating a bubble of clear space is before me. The wooden benches are all around and many smashed claw marks can be seen along most surfaces. The interior of the bubble is clear of all this. It sits in the rough centre of the cathedral between the pillars supporting the ceiling.

I step in...

Chapter 20

I stepped into a small area with a large blanket being used to block outgoing light. Beyond in candlelight was not what I was expecting.

Inside the house was to my surprise were a lot more people than I was anticipating. The man with the gun was positioned behind me at the now-closed and locked door. The front part of the house was several rooms that had been knocked into a large one.

Facing me were four more adults three women and one man. A teenage girl around fourteen was also ...

Chapter 19

The fog embraced me as I entered the zones influence. The zone’s effect was quickly felt and close behind came the cold. I was ready and pushed on into the unknown. Nothing new here. I walked down the Rue de Wormhout towards the town. This was going to be a straight route to the centre of town and the breach. Everything was damp with moister and soon was the outside of my suit as well.

The road is clear at the moment and I can see the two different sides in the fog. The fog quickly hi...

Chapter 18

We climb out of the vehicles and are approached by the military officer waiting for us. Smith moves up to join us as we exit them.

“Welcome Gentlemen to the Herzeele Zone. I wish we did not have to meet under these events but it is what it is. I am Colonel Mayer forward field commander with the Euro Corps for this zone.” The man reached out and shook our hands as Smith introduced us to him.

The man was in his late forties and was lean like most soldiers. He had black hair pepp...

Chapter 17

Mid-March rolls around into late April. The usual route of my downtime between missions is well established. Physically I am back to 100% from last year’s stomping I received from the Ghoul. My medical checks came back all good. The zone effects were all gone as well. The last thing Alexander said to me stayed rattling around my head.

“President Robertson’s impeachment and removal from office last year have led to a state of political and economic instability in the US.” 2022-06-10 09:10:52 +0000 UTC View Post