Valknar

Chapter 98

The trip back to the starting point went without a hitch. We recovered the device and escorted it back to our base camp. We encountered no other threats or signs of danger on the way back. So, all in all, it was turning out to be a good day. Unfortunately, back at the base camp, the debriefings began.

We were put through extensive on-site medical testing even before they began to brief us. When they found out about the weird effects within the zone of the wind and the fog moving, our in...

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Valknar.

Chapter 96

“You three form a perimeter.” I said as I began to get to my feet. My body was now starting the protest what he had just been through. I’ve been through far worse, but my body still had the issues it would like to express. Once on my feet, I reached down and pulled my blade from the body. It took a lot of effort, but I eventually got it free.

Examining the blade, I saw no damage, but it was coated in this green sap stuff. I tried wiping off on the body below me, but it was stickin...

Chapter 95

We used the wall and trees to cover us. I can only see the vague outline of things moving in the fog. I was unsure of what was out there and did not want to go blindly into a dangerous situation. We are now in a patch of darkness that should cover us from being seen.

I could make out the shape of the building a little distance from us, which I suspected from the vague outline I could see was the church. The churchyard wasn’t too cluttered with graves which was both a blessing and a cu...

Chapter 92

The debriefing I went through was far more extensive than in the past. Hawk grills me on every aspect of the mission, from the weather conditions in the zone to the final fight with the alpha. He probed extensively to the point that it was more like an interrogation on if I encountered any other unusual phenomena in the zone. I was hearing voices or encountering strange unknown entities, that sort of thing.

After almost two hours, I was eventually released. I was sitting in one of the g...

Chapter 91

I moved forward on the attack.

Getting close in as quickly as I could to use my short sword here would put me at a disadvantage if I delayed. It was a gamble I knew but I had to take it. Unfortunately for me, it didn’t work out this time as I advanced quickly the creature struck out with one of its arms. I was able to block a blow but the sheer force of the impact knocked me back again causing more pain in my right arm the kinetic energy of the blow transferring in from the shield. 2023-05-29 18:25:34 +0000 UTC View Post

Chapter 90

The third ghoul lay at my feet dead. This one had lasted a bit longer than the other two and had died much noisier, howling in pain with each blow that connected until the last one silenced it. My heart rate was elevated and so was my breathing but not bad all in all I was in good condition.

I returned my attention back to the fog as I took several steps backwards to where I had started from. I made sure to look up now and again to prevent an ambush from above. Out in the fog, I can mak...

Chapter 89

Okay, on reflection and from the reactions calling plan was definitely a stretch.

It boiled down to the simple fact that we needed to either get out or wear down the numbers against us. To that end, I would stand just outside the storefront and act as bait, luring in the most aggressive of the ghouls. The hope was to either kill or wound the goals enough to draw in the alpha. Then grey and hills would help me hopefully kill the thing scattering the pack.

Yes, this was a definite s...

Chapter 88

“Report on the perimeter status.” Hawk barked out unable to hide the stress in his voice.

“Multiple reports of probing but no breaches yet.” A voice came from behind him.

Hawk was leaning over a large table with a map of the area he was operating in on it. Different colour lines and symbols represented the present layout and organisation of the forces under his command. He was focused on looking at the situation, knowing he was in trouble. He was frowning heavily trying to...

Chapter 87

They released me from the medical ward a few days later and sent me home. My mother was happy to see me and have me back in the house but I noticed there was an undercurrent of something bothering her. I had pressed on my suspicions but she had deflected in the conversation to other matters. I had not pushed too hard as I was dealing with my own issues at this time with the disclosure of my mutations still not resolved in my mind. I cut myself off and withdrew from the world as I try to make ...

Chapter 86

Now I’m no genius, this I know, but I think I’m smart enough to know when someone is bull-shitting me.

During the last few days of physical therapy, they had been steadily building up the physical routine I was going through. I knew the drill because I had some experience coming out of medically induced comas. In my inactive state, I lose a great deal of muscle mass as my body cannibalises it. So, I found it odd that I came up with most of my muscle mass still present this time.

Chapter 85

I must admit that in the last few years, I’ve been an operative; I’ve hardly ever been to this floor. The few times I’ve been here have always been purely to have some psychologists test my mental well-being. These have typically been handled in offices close to the lifts. The same lifts that Gregson and I now exit as we walk onto the floor. Looking around, I see that it’s not changed much in terms of the décor, but in terms of the number of people present is far busier than I have e...

Chapter 84

Dropping the bombs as I did have an even more significant effect than I could ever imagine; the one-mission debrief turned into a three-day interrogation session over all of my missions. I also lost count of all the psychological tests and reviews I underwent during this time. To say that Major Hawk was not happy would be an obvious thing to say. It seemed that having encountered the, how good they term it “intelligence” that was on the other side of the void reaches was a bit of a revela...

Chapter 83

Boredom is my greatest problem.

They have been here lying-in bed with nothing to do. No distractions or ways of entertaining myself. They have purposely not allowed me any access to news feeds or entertainment. Even after much complaining.

So, when Dr Misra appeared, I was almost glad. Almost.

They were happy to see any psychologist. Let alone this government one. Always found it strange that the patient-psychologist relationship should be one of trust to foster openness to ...

Chapter 82

I lay there for a while in bed.

I might have dozed a bit.

All the stiffness and aches I was feeling were fading as I stretched and moved. My body still felt odd, but I was getting used to it. I don’t know how long I was lying there but the light in the curtains but increasing over time. I think a few hours, maybe.

Outside my room, I could hear the increased movement noise as more people began their days. I knew it had visitors who would come and end what quiet I had.

Chapter 81

Blackness.

…….

I am groggy.

…….

Pain. No Stiffness.

My head feels like it is full of cotton wool.

My eyes feel like they are welded shut.

I begin to become more aware. I have been through this before. I think.

Yes, I have. I know this.

Several times.

I listen to my surroundings.

Then the memories sweep back in like a flood.

I remember the whole thing. The fighting, pain and that v...

Chapter 80

A harsh artificial light bathed the room. There was only one window in this room and it did not look out across anything outside. The window looked into a modern military control room covered with monitors and computers. People sat at their desks or moved around, fulfilling their assigned roles. Most were dressed in military uniforms, with a few civilians mixed in. Looking out over this small group, it was clear to see the exhaustion and signs of people just beaten down by constant bad news. ...

Book 2 interlude 2

*Internal HM Government Correspondence*

*Security Level / COBRA-Alpha-01*

From: Roger Hamilton

To: COBRA, UK Zone Command.

Reference: Emergency Black Protocol activation.

As the committee is well aware, UK Zone Command activated the emergency black protocols three days ago. At approximately 14:35 hrs on November 17th, a massive surge of zone activity began globally.

As of the writing of this communication, 18 cities globally are under assault. The national ...

Chapter 79

A tiger came charging from the fog. It came in low and fast; I barely had time to turn to face it when it jumped. It collided with my shield with such force that I was knocked back several steps. In my present condition was more painful than usual. It was still clinging to my shield, its paws holding to the sides and its head biting into the top of the shield. But I was trying to drag the shield down with its body weight, but I was holding it firm.

I quickly dropped my axe and drew my g...

Chapter 78

I stand in the middle of the road looking back into the zone, the fog obscuring the figures to the point that I cannot identify what they are, just that they were there. Overhead the light of the two red flares in the sky gives everything a tinted red colour through the fog and the lights cause shadows to dance across it. I am ready for whatever is coming, my axe is gripped firmly in my left hand and the shield is strapped tightly to my right arm.

The others are now a few minutes away, ...

Chapter 77

We only got a few meters down the road when I spotted trouble. We were walking back along the road we entered the zone from. To my left, there was an overgrown field with tall grass that looked sickly. The fence along the road had several gaps in it from where the wires snapped. All the posts had been knocked over. What was the cause of this damage? I did not know. What drew my eye to this field was the two odd gaps in the grass that I could just make out, even with the fog.

I was unsur...

Chapter 76

The next day rolled around all too soon. We are transported out to the zone by helicopter. When there we were quickly outfitted with our kit. It was then I found out that my axe handle had been also replaced from wood to a composite material with a mess grip. I was not happy about this but knew that it would do nothing in complaining right now.

We were quickly pushed through a reminder briefing on what we were doing. After that, we were directed to the zone edge and given a few minutes ...

Chapter 75

Mid-November was when they called me to duty again. I was picked up a whisked off to zone command Gregson was still out with his injuries, so it was one of the base personnel who picked me up. I wasn’t surprised but still not too happy to get the call.

I was flown in a helicopter to command as normal. The weather had changed with the heatwave long gone and far more stormy weather had taken its place. It was much bumpier right than usual. There was no rush on this one, so I told my mot...

Chapter 74

Global warming is a thing. I know this because of the present state of the weather. It is early October and I am sweltering in a heat wave.

I hate hot weather!

My recent trip to Rome only reinforced this truth for me.

I had been sent back into the hectic three weeks ago. For two God damn weeks, they had me doing the dog and pony show.

Two Weeks!

I was paraded around several events and ceremonies in and around London. They were tightly controlled and organised, so...

Chapter 73

Major Hawk walked into the briefing room in the administration building. The room had more occupants than normal. Nearly all the chairs were filled in the room was split between military and civilian. The large monitor on the wall showed a map of the United Kingdom with all the zones highlighted.

When he entered the room, it was clear that the occupants were scanning over several documents that hdd been presented while he was away. There was an open chair for him on the military side an...

Chapter 72

We were taken back to the airport we arrived at this morning. The sky was full of aircraft coming and going as earlier. Looking over the airport as we were landing, it was now a full military base.

Tents and transport containers are organised across the airport. The number of people moving visibly on the ground was all moving with purpose. Many civilians were being evacuated, organised into groups, and entered a row of civilian planes.

Military planes and other forms of vehicles w...

Chapter 71

Any pretence of a defensive line had collapsed. No, slaughtered.

Those not killed outright ran back up the steps in full panic as the killers chased them. They were slicing through people as they fled.

Ironically this meant that they had bypassed us in pursuit of their prey. They were, at the moment, ignoring us.

“We got to go. Now!” I tell the others.

Henry doesn’t argue. He grabs Goldsmith hauling her back to her feet. She gasped in pain and her arm messed up b...

Chapter 70

We abandoned everything that we could not carry and most were carrying wounded. A few of the priest was still here and they were helping where they could. We were forced to leave the dead where they were. Two priests had dedicated themselves to giving final prayers for the dead.

As we walked across the plaza, the zone was slowly following us. The sounds of weapons fire from the North and South continued, but I had learned to spot them falling back.

We quickly crossed the open spac...

Chapter 69

The strange stillness had settled over the area after the ferocity of the fight. The defenders were rearming and preparing for the next wave rebuilding the barricade. Around us, we could hear sounds of weapons fire from other clashes. But with us here, it had become calm and still.

No one had remarked on my last statement because they had all noticed it. It was like the calm before the storm. Everyone recognised that something now was coming and it was going to be bad like this whole da...

Chapter 68

The day was now late afternoon. This had not let up in the heat, however and I used this brief respite to continue to cool down. Henry is sitting next to me on the “wall” of containers. He is still trying to process what I told him.

In the distance, I could see the top of the zone. The weapons fire from the castle had died off. I know the zone edge had now passed it. The fighting would start again soon when it reached us.

Above us, there were now only drones flying around. Beh...