“Yes, it looks that way, now the fun will really start. Have you any further information on who has been assigned?” I ask.
“I’m afraid not, I just sent the request up the chain, I did stipulate a demolitions expert, for the safe though.”
“Good, he will be needed, I’m a bit rusty,” I tell him.
“I’m not surprised, Captain, it’s been a few years.”
“It certainly has, I never thought I’d be putting a uniform on again, but that is one of the least surprising things lately.”
“You can say that again.”
“Are you assigned to us until the mission is complete, Lieutenant?”
“Those are my orders.”
“The Colonel likes to keep a close eye on his assets, doesn’t he?”
“You know him well,” the Lieutenant says sarcastically, with a hint of bitterness.
“I certainly do. What’s your first name, Lieutenant?”
“Robert, Sir.”
We park up next to the two new vehicles outside the roller shutter and I thank the Lieutenant for an interesting journey.
I have to admit to myself that I am actually quite nervous, now that I actually think about the job as I enter the hangar. I was in charge and gave out orders at Orion Securities the whole time I was employed there, and it came naturally to me. It was, in fact, easy compared to the military. The whole dynamic at Orion was different. I was dealing and responsible for employees and Orion only employed the best professionals in every aspect of the business, people who took pride in their work and were rewarded for it. The orders were, therefore, in effect, instructions and it was very, very rare that there was a threat to life in the instructions I gave. Now, I have to revert back because I am going to be dealing with hardened Special Forces operatives who know their shit and don’t take any. They can smell weakness a mile off and I have been out of the mix for a long time, so something tells me it is going to be very testing earning their respect in such a small amount of time.
Lieutenant Winters may see my trepidation because he takes the lead, opens the door and heads straight into the hangar.
“Right, form up!” the Lieutenant says loudly and forcibly almost as soon as we get into the hangar.
There are three separate groups of people milling around inside the hangar. I am pleased to see Alice is with Josh and Dan over by the tables with the computers and comms equipment on; Josh and Alice are seated in chairs and Dan stands by them in his new combat uniform with his arms crossed across his chest.
The other two groups stand in small separate circles talking, and immediately I see that one of the groups all have the sand colour beret of the SAS whilst the others have the green berets of the SBS. This should be interesting, I think to myself; this is not the dynamic I would have chosen, all SAS or SBS would have been preferred but you can only play with the toys you are given so we had all better make the best of it!
Josh and Alice immediately get up from their chairs to come and form up, and the eight Special Forces men thankfully all break from their small circles and form a line in front of the Lieutenant and me. The green berets on the left, the sand berets in the middle and Josh and Alice on the right, Dan comes over and takes a position behind me, on my right shoulder.
When everyone is formed up and stood to attention, Lieutenant Winters addresses them. “This is Captain Richards and he will be leading today's mission on the direct orders of Colonel Reed.” The Lieutenant then takes a step back, leaving the floor to me, and I’m suddenly a bit self-conscious that I am the only one in here not in uniform.
“Thank you, Lieutenant. At ease, men,” I start. “You don’t need me to tell you about the horrific events that have unfolded over the last couple of days. Today could determine certainly the fate of London and possibly the whole country. I know some of us at least have had contact with these infected Zombies, or Rabids as we will call them, but everyone needs to listen up to what I am about to say.
“The Rabids are quicker, stronger and fiercer than you will expect. You must anticipate them, as they have no fear and they are vicious. You can shoot them or even blow them up but there is only one thing that will stop them, and that is by taking their brains out, so that means headshots or if you can’t make a headshot, take their legs out, and that will slow them down. Is that clear?”
“Yes, Sir,” all of them say in unison.
“I have two more observations from my contacts with the Rabids. The first is that they are not trying to kill you. They are trying to turn you into one of them; they may feed on you for a while, but believe me, their aim is to turn you. That is bad enough when there is one of them but from what I have seen, they like to hunt as a pack and they work as one too, so don’t be fooled into thinking they are just brain-dead creatures. Because that is not what I’ve seen, in fact, I think there is a hierarchy between them, so be aware, okay?”
Another, “Yes Sir,” sounds off.
“I will brief you on the mission in due course, but right now, I want to know who we have here. Who are the team leaders?” I ask.
Two men, one from the SBS and one from the SAS patrols stand forward, snapping to attention again. The SBS man is on the far left of me at the end of the line and the SAS man is on the
