He took a breath and made eye contact with some of the people gathered around him.
“We have orders to pull out immediately and join up with the rest of our battalion. Your military escort has been absorbed into our unit and will accompany us. We will leave within the next fifteen minutes. My advice to you folks is to lock down this facility and stay inside for as long as you can. Hunker down.”
People reacted to that. Some people moved around uncomfortably, while others started muttering.
Matheson cleared his throat loudly. He scanned the group once more, meeting the eyes of several people including Jack. The group got quiet once more.
“You are the future of this country. If you are still symptom-free then you are likely not infected with the syndrome. Be wary though and know that once somebody is infected there is no way back. They will die, they will likely turn, and they will attack the living.”
“Alright. Thank you for your patience. Please raise your hand if you have a question.”
Immediately, half a dozen hands shot up. Matheson pointed to the girl in the track suit.
“Are you leaving us with any weapons?”
“We have left behind crates with a mix of handguns and long rifles, including ammunition. I do not advise that you folks attempt to handle any of these weapons unless you have some experience with them. There are more armaments in the sea can outside, but I recommend that you leave that stuff for the professionals. I strongly advise you not to use the weapons in the first place, as the noise tends to attract the undead!”
“What about hand-to-hand combat?” tracksuit girl interjected.
“Young lady, I suggest that all y’all stay as far away from the undead as you can. We will try to destroy as many as we can, and we hope that with time they will simply fall apart. I do not recommend hand-to-hand combat!” With that he pointed towards the next person.
It was Jack’s dad. “Have you left us any communications equipment? How can we get in touch with the government or other survivors?”
Good question, dad.
“We have left several communication devices along with instruction manuals and code books. I believe there are some walkie talkies but more importantly a radio. Get that stuff operational asap. We would have done it if we had been given more time.”
Matheson continued. “There is also a lot of other survival gear. You’ll find these in the pallets that have been put down in the gym.” Matheson waved off to the left towards where presumably the gym was. He held up his clipboard for all to see with his right hand.
“This is a manifest of all the equipment and supplies that should be present here at the school, some in that gym and some outside in the parking lot. I suggest you folks get organized and inventory what you have.”
Several people started speaking at that moment, but Matheson continued.
“Let me re-iterate. You need to set up that communications gear as soon as you can. Any remaining government agencies will attempt to stay in touch with you and send you further instructions”
Jack knew a thing or two about electronics, so this was of interest to him.
Before pointing to the next person, Matheson looked at his watch.
“Folks, I have time for one more question.” With that he pointed to Mr. Collins.
“Are you leaving us without any protection? Can’t you leave a squad of soldiers to help keep us safe?”
“Mister...”
“Collins. Joe Collins.”
“Mister Collins. We do not have the resources t– “
“This is outrageous! We need protection here! We’ve seen what these ... things can do to people!”
“Mister Collins!” Matheson locked eyes with the African American man. Joe Collins’ mouth snapped shut.
Matheson closed his eyes in a slow blink.
“We are dead men.” He let that sink in for a moment. “The United States Armed Forces will cease to exist within the next few days. Infection rates within all branches of the military are estimated at over 99%. The task for the last few of us is to remove as much of the threat while we still can. The biggest reason, Mr. Collins, that we can not leave any infected soldiers here at this location, is because they will surely become a threat to you.”
There were some shocked gasps in the audience at this.
Matheson continued. “That’s right folks. It looks like pretty much all of us are infected with the syndrome. Our numbers are down so much, that we are dangerously close to being non-combat effective.”
Some folks looked confused, so he elaborated. “We’ve lost almost 90% of our forces since this thing started. We’re down to less than two thousand able-bodied men in and around this city and can no longer provide security for all of our strategic locations.”
“I feel the infection, and most of the men you see around you do too.” Jack looked over at Garcia, Brown and Collins, and noted that the three men looked at each other and nodded. Collins definitely looked the worst off. The young man looked paler than he should, and he was perspiring slightly.
Matheson continued. “We’re dead men.” He repeated solemnly, then looked up at his audience. “And that means you folks are on your own. I’m sorry. But that’s what it is.”
Stunned silence met this statement. Jack knew things weren’t going well, but he never considered that there would be no army! Looking around him, he could see that most of the others had made the same assumption.
Somebody started to say something, but Matheson held