“Is this what I think this is?” #zombie #apocalypse #book2 #axiom

“Is this what I think this is?” Jayce asks disregarding the colonel’s tone.

The Colonel solemnly nods as he looks down at the floor.

“There isn’t much sense in trying to thwart an attack that we are currently in. I did what would be the best thing for the country, protect our assets. We don’t have much time, we need to go, now!” Jayce orders Colonel Wallace as gun fire erupts outside the building.

Ben slides his finger in the blinds in order to open them up enough to peek outside. Through the crack, he watches as half a dozen soldiers are overtaken by several of the unarmed hostiles. The look on Ben’s face shows everything Jayce had wanted to ask about what Ben had seen.

Jayce orders Stan and Tracy to stay in the middle of the unit as they begin to make their way back to the Stryker. They approach the point where the corridors meet and stop to listen. It is silent except for the sound of their breathing. Pat raises the rifle to look at the cutout in its magazine. He presses the button on the side of the rifle, dropping the magazine from the bottom. The magazine lands flat on its side with a slap on the floor. Ty and Ben watch as two of the creatures stand up from behind what appears to be a victim of the onslaught. They signal for the unit to tuck back into the hall leading from the Colonel’s office. Stan taps Jayce on the shoulder. As the captain turns his attention towards the Colonel, Stan points towards a fire exit. Ben shakes his head no, then whispers that the safest exit is to go out the front door. Ben then explains exactly what he had seen through the blinds.

“Granger, is that you?” #zombie #apocalypse #book2 #axiom

Through the dimly lit hallways, several combatants rush towards them covered in blood. They appear to have been shot. The gaping wounds do not seem to be slowing them. The unit opens fire. Andre and Pat watch for any possible threats approaching them from behind. After subduing the combatants, they continue their way towards the Colonel office.

Jayce knocks on the door while Ty backs towards Sergeant Woods’ desk to wait for the Colonel’s response. He leans against the desk, lowers his rifle, and immediately feels something firmly grasp his foot. He kicks out as he spins around yielding his rifle. The thing that had a hold of him, begins to pull its self out from underneath the desk in pursuit. Startled, Ty backs into the wall on the opposite side of the room in-an-attempt to determine what it was that had ahold on him. The snarling and chomping of its teeth echoes in the small office space. The sharp pop of the rifle echoes through the room as Paul fires, momentarily stunning the unit.

“Colonel!” Jayce calls out.

“Granger, is that you?” Is heard from the opposite side of the door.

Knowing that that the Colonel probably has a gun trained on the door, Jayce warns Stan that they are going to open the door. Slowly, Ty turns the door handle and pushes the door open. The unit finds the Colonel sitting on a couch in his office with Tracy at his side in the dark. The emergency lights in the corridor expose the pistols that both hold tightly in their hands.

“Captain, I ordered you to complete your mission!”

“HEAD SHOTS, HEAD SHOTS!” #zombie #apocalypse #book2 #axiom

It is a horrid sight, bodies litter the steps and walkway leading to the entrance. They make their way through the blood staining the steps, only to find that the glass around the command center to be shattered.

Jayce signals for the unit to stay quiet as they pass through the entrance of the building. The shattered glass crunches beneath their feet. With a quick glance, the unit notes the bullet riddled walls. Florescent light fixtures hang from the ceiling, flickering. Jayce turns his attention towards the members of his team behind him. He pauses as he stares at the bloody footprints he and his men have left.  Andre catches a glimpse of something moving fast as it flanks them. He fires several rounds into it with his rifle, tearing apart its torso. It does not slow down, Pat turns also firing several rounds towards it. One of the rounds strikes the combatant in the head and the unit watches as it falls, lifeless.

“HEAD SHOTS, HEAD SHOTS!” Andre calls out, directing the men.

As they make their way through the command center, they pass body after body, the very same people that had looked at them as if they were the dead men walking. Both military personal, mostly officers and their assistants, and the occasional body of what they can only assume are the undead, line the corridors. Several of the creatures appear to be deceased. Suddenly, to the unit’s surprise, they begin to reach for them. Ben and Ty take aim, ending the threat.  The officers they pass have bite marks covering their exposed flesh and pieces of flesh have been torn from their bodies as they lie in pools of their own blood. Once in the center of the building, the corridor splits off into three directions. The left hall will take them to Colonel Wallace’s office.

“Granger, is that what I think it is?” #zombie #apocalypse #book2 #axiom

The unit is appalled at the sight of absolute chaos with the muzzle flash of gunfire erupting all around them. Jayce orders them to retrieve the Colonel first. Using night vision, they catch a glimpse of two people that seem to be feeding on a fallen soldier. Jayce yells up to the turret and asks Pat if he can get a bead on the creatures, just as the machine gun rattles off. Pat yells down questioning how he is supposed to discern from the soldiers and the combatants. Jayce answers that they probably will not be able to until their boots are on the ground and are engaged. Pat watches as one of the creatures overtakes a soldier trying to flee. Jayce orders him back inside the Stryker from the turret. Ben is startled as something jumps onto the side of the vehicle and begins pounding on one of the side windows.

“What the hell is that?” Harris screams.

“Granger, is that what I think it is?” Ty asks.

Stunned, Jayce nods as he confirms that he thinks it is. Ty climbs out of the top hatch. The passengers in the vehicle hear the report of Ty’s pistol echo through the still open hatch.

It is evident that both the military and local, first responders called in to assist were not prepared for what they have encountered. The unit make their way through the building complex, not deviating from their self-made mission of retrieving and securing the Colonel. They arrive at the command center and stop in front of the main entrance. Jayce orders Harris to stay with the Stryker while they go for the Stan.

“Let’s go play boys!” #zombie #apocalypse #book2 #axiom

The tower reluctantly agrees with the lack of options they have been given. Shortly after getting the half-hearted permission, the flight crew hears the screams through the radio followed by gunshots. They attempt to regain contact with the air traffic controller without avail. Approaching the air field, they see the scramble of planes trying to get to the safety of the air. Several make it off the ground while others veer off the runway and crash. Beneath the plane lies a spectacular light show with the emergency response vehicles going every which way.

“Harris, it’s time to go.”  Jayce informs the pilot as he turns ordering Cooper to take control of the cockpit. Harris turns the controls over to the co-pilot.

The unit climbs into the Stryker. The anxiety is thick as they feel the jarring of the landing. Jayce orders Pat to the turret. Ben watches as the ramp opens up in front of him. He starts the Stryker, and pulls out of the cargo hold. There is a sharp jerk as the speed of the Stryker has not yet had the opportunity to match the speed of the plane as it touches the concrete. From the turret, Pat watches the cargo door close behind them as they clear the ramp.

“Let’s go play boys!” Ty blurts out as they begin driving across the dark tarmac.

“SIR, THIS IS NOT A DISCUSSION" #zombie #book2 #apocalypse #axiom

“You guys are nuts!” One of the flight crew interjects.

Anxiousness sets in to see who or what it is that is attacking their home. They begin to load the machine guns on top of the vehicle. Jayce oversees the situating of the vehicle. He is no longer their friend, but their commander. A member of the flight crew approaches Jayce, who has climbed up onto the side of the Stryker to help Ben load the machinegun in the turret. He tugs at Jayce’s pant leg.

“Captain Granger, Sir?”

Jayce looks down at the man.

“What?”

“Your presence is requested in the cockpit.”

Jayce climbs down and enters the cockpit. Harris informs him that the tower is not granting them permission to land. Just as Harris finishes, Granger’s phone begins to ring once again.

“Soldier, I gave you orders to carry out your mission.”

“Sir, our mission was to stop the attack before it happened. It’s discernable that we failed.  Sir, we’re returning to retrieve you, stay in your office!”

“DO NOT RETURN TO THE BASE! THEY ARE TRYING TO EVACUATE, IT IS NOT SAFE! THAT IS AN ORDER, CAPTAIN!”

“SIR, THIS IS NOT A DISCUSSION, and Sir bring the letter.”

“GRANGER!” the Colonel yells as Jayce hangs up the phone.

Jayce picks up the radio in the C17, “Tower, this is Captain Granger, I have control of the plane. We are on a deviated rescue mission, and will be landing!”

“It’s not that we go out looking for a fight." #zombie #book2 #apocalypse #axiom

Harris turns back around, pulling on the controls to turn the plane around. Jayce returns to his unit, who are strapping their gear down to them, preparing for battle.

Major Harris enters the cargo hold as Jayce is rallying his unit, “Granger, I will go with you and your unit. I know where the other pilot lives.”

“Cooper, you stay with the plane. If it moves before we get back, put a bullet in them.” Jayce orders Adam.

Harris looks over at Ty concerned.

“It’s what we do. We never lose and we always have a contingency plan for anything.” Ty shrugs with a smile.

Without argument, Harris returns to the cockpit to ensure the rest of his crew understands the same.

“We’ll unchain the Stryker before we land, I want everyone inside before we stop moving. Once the plane slows down enough, we’ll go show them what kind of training we have.” Jayce clarifies.

Jayce then orders the flight crew to raise the cargo ramp before the plane comes to a stop to prevent whatever is attacking the base an opportunity to board the plane. The flight crew looks at Jayce’s unit in disbelief. They ask if the unit always goes out looking for a fight.

“It’s not that we go out looking for a fight. . . we just never back down from one.” Ben swiftly explains.

“Captain, I need to get Anne.” #zombie #axiom #book2

The men’s faces are cold and unemotional, not a single hand is raised.

“ALL OF YOU THAT WANT TO GO HOME AND FIGHT?”

Before he can finish, the entire unit stands.

“I’LL GO INFORM THE CREW WE NEED TO TURN THIS BIRD AROUND!”

Jayce reenters the cockpit, and informs the flight crew that they are going home to fight.

“Sir, let me remind you of your orders.” Major Harris starts.

“Major, you have two choices. You can help, or my men and I will take control of this plane.” Jayce interrupts. Harris looks past Jayce to see Paul and Ty standing right outside the door of the cockpit, ready to back their commanding officer. The flight crew, fully aware of what Granger’s unit is capable of, know they do not stand a chance against them. Harris explains that he is not against it, he just needed to state what concerns some may have. Jayce replies that when they touchdown, his team will go out in the Stryker and gather up Stan and any other survivors they may find. He orders the flight crew to stay on the plane. Harris pleads for Jayce to allow him to retrieve his family. The copilot asks the same for his live-in girlfriend. Jayce allows it, as he knows that if he had any family here, he would do the same.

“Captain, I need to get Anne.” Jayce hears Pat’s voice behind him.

“MEN, OUR HOME IS UNDER ATTACK!" #zombie #book2 #apocaclypse #axiom

“CAPTAIN GRANGER, SIR!” Jayce is woken up to one of the co-pilots shaking and yelling at him.

“WE NEED YOU IN THE COCKPIT IMMEDIATELY!”

Confused, Jayce follows the co-pilot into the cockpit. The pilot closes the door as Jayce passes through the doorway. He looks down at his watch, as they have only been in the air for an hour.

Major Harris turns around. The expression on his face is one of obvious distress.

“Sir, bases everywhere are coming under attack, including ours!”

Their conversation is cut short as Jayce’s satellite phone rings.

“Granger, the base is under attack. You need to finish your mission. That is an order! It is not safe for you to come back. Do you understand?” Jayce hears Stan’s voice on the other end.

“Yes sir!”

The phone goes dead. The pilot questions Jayce as to the contents of the phone call. Jayce explains that his orders are to carry out their mission. He then leaves the cockpit without a word to the flight crew, and enters the cargo hold with authority that his men have only seen in combat.

“MEN, OUR HOME IS UNDER ATTACK! WE HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO CONTINUE WITH OUR MISION. OUR FIRST MISSION IS TO PROTECT AMERICAN SOIL. IT’S UP TO YOU. I WANT A SHOW OF HANDS. ALL THOSE THAT WANT TO GO TO THE SANDBOX?”

“This is Major Harris" #thezombies are coming #zombie #book2 #axiom

Ty has gathered the attention of the rest of the unit. Andre is the first to ask what Ty is talking about. Jayce hesitates, not wanting to detour from the mission, then decides that not informing them of his resignation now will be a larger deterrent. He begins explaining of his meeting with the Colonel and his reasons for his decision. Expecting backlash from his men, he is surprised to receive his unit’s full support.

The intercom crackles, “This is Major Harris. I will be your pilot on this wonderful flight to the desert. Please keep your arms and legs inside the ride at all times. Should you have any needs, please consult the inflight stewardess. The flight crew, who had taken their seats closest to the cockpit, laugh and shake their heads. The sense of humor from the pilot brings a smile to the somber team. Thoughts of the undead, however, still linger in the back of their minds.

The loud hum of the engines drone out every other noise in the plane. The aircraft jerks as it departs from its parked position and begins to taxi down the runway. It sways as it moves towards the end of the tarmac. They feel a shutter as they lift off from the ground, and then the ride grows smooth. Jayce signals for his men to get some sleep and pulls one of the ear buds out of Ty’s ear. He places it into his own and begins to nod off to sleep.

“Sir, a part of me will always miss it.” #zombie #book2 #Axiom

“Sir, a part of me will always miss it.” Jayce explains, but makes it clear that he is not thrilled about being one of the first to see what “undead really means”.

They look at all the commotion surrounding the plane. Jayce then questions why his unit had been picked for this mission.

“This may be the most important mission ever exercised. There is no better unit for the job.  Life, as we know it, hangs from a frayed thread.” Stan responds.

The pilots stroll up and salute Stan and Jayce, unaware of what the mission entails.  The two return the gesture and the pilots board the plane.

Stan extends his hand and Jayce grasps it, “Captain, you and your men stay safe.  We will be waiting for you.”

“Yes, Sir.”

Jayce turns and walks up the cargo ramp, signaling to the flight crew to close the plane. He takes his usual seat between Ben and Ty. One of the flight crew members walk through the plane and opens the door to the cockpit.  It appears as if he is telling the pilots something before he shuts the door and approaches Jayce.

“Captain, I let them know we are ready whenever they are. They are doing their pre-flight checks and it should be about twenty minutes.”

Jayce nods and sits back into his seat.

Ty removes his ear buds from his ears and loudly asks Jayce, “So are you going to let everyone else know what you have planned?”

“Son, are you going to miss this?” #zombie #book2 #axiom

“Captain, you ready?” Ty questions as he jogs up to Jayce and Stan.

Jayce assures him that he is with a smile and puts his arm around Ty’s shoulder. Trekking across the tarmac, Ben turns and smirks as he watches the flight crew back the Stryker into the plane, Ben’s favorite. As they approach the rear of the plane, the flight crew chains the Stryker down to the floor of the aircraft. Making his way up the cargo ramp, Ben opens the rear hatch on the vehicle and takes a deep breath through his nose.

“Yep, going to be a great mission!”

The other members of the unit begin to choose their seats on the enormous plane for the eighteen-hour flight, not to mention the stop in Germany to refuel. Ty nestles himself into his seat, slightly head banging with his eyes closed to the music coming from the ear buds in his ears. A tug pulls up to the bottom of the cargo ramp with a cart loaded with ammunition and supplies. Ben, Paul, and Adam begin loading the contents into the Stryker.

“Son, are you going to miss this?” Stan questions at the bottom of the ramp.

“Sir, we are ready.” #zombie #book2 #axiom

The others still groggy, merely shrug. Ty plugs his mp3 player into a speaker before informing the other men that a little Rob Zombie seems appropriate. Jayce and Stan enter the same doors Tracy had just left through. Jayce glances at Ty, who quickly glances around the room at the other men. He nods back to Jayce.

“Sir, we are ready.” Jayce advises the Colonel as Ty rushes over and turns down the music.

Jayce begins to finalize their assignments.

“Jensen, Sanchez, you have point with me. Cole, you and Jessop take up sniper positions.” Jayce orders Andre and Pat.

“Keys, you are on the Saw. Cooper, you have the M240.” He finishes with Paul and Adam’s assignments, “Once we secure a way in, we will enter together, with the other unit.”

The assignments are the same as every other mission the unit has been on, however, Jayce goes through the list as if it were the first time.

“Hey Boss, what’s our ride?” Ben asks.

“You’ll know soon enough.” Jayce responds as Tracy reenters the room to inform the unit that the plane is ready.

The soldiers salute the Colonel. He salutes them in return and orders them to the waiting C17. They retrieve their gear off the stainless, steel tables and exit the prep room. Ty runs back inside, remembering his mp3 player.

“He has to have his tunes.” Jayce comments to Stan.

“You’ll know soon enough.” #zombie #book2 #axiom

The others still groggy, merely shrug. Ty plugs his mp3 player into a speaker before informing the other men that a little Rob Zombie seems appropriate. Jayce and Stan enter the same doors Tracy had just left through. Jayce glances at Ty, who quickly glances around the room at the other men. He nods back to Jayce.

“Sir, we are ready.” Jayce advises the Colonel as Ty rushes over and turns down the music.

Jayce begins to finalize their assignments.

“Jensen, Sanchez, you have point with me. Cole, you and Jessop take up sniper positions.” Jayce orders Andre and Pat.

“Keys, you are on the Saw. Cooper, you have the M240.” He finishes with Paul and Adam’s assignments, “Once we secure a way in, we will enter together, with the other unit.”

The assignments are the same as every other mission the unit has been on, however, Jayce goes through the list as if it were the first time.

“Hey Boss, what’s our ride?” Ben asks.

“You’ll know soon enough.” Jayce responds as Tracy reenters the room to inform the unit that the plane is ready.

“Hey, anyone seen where Jayce went?” #zombie #book2 #axiom

After hours of relentlessly memorizing the steps of the enemy’s compound, the exhausted men lay on their cots asleep. A symphony of unique ringtones set to be alarm clock tones, wake them.  One by one, the men begin to stir. They groan and reach for their phones to silence them.

“Mom, I don’t want to go to school today.” Ty jests as he reaches for his phone.

They roll out of their cots and begin to get dressed. With bags packed, the men are almost ready.

They sit on the edge of their cots, lacing up their boots. Their attention is drawn to the door as a soft knock reaches their ears. They watch the door slowly open. Tracy appears in the doorway, her uniform perfectly starched, as always.

“Boys, wheels up in one hour!” She informs the unit as they make their final preparations.

Turning to leave, Ty looks at the empty cot where Jayce had been sleeping, the bedding is neatly folded at the foot.

“Hey, anyone seen where Jayce went?” He questions.

“Can I ask you guys a question?” #zombie #book2 #axiom

“Sergeant Woods.” Ben acknowledges with a puzzled look as to why the Colonel’s assistant has paid them a visit.

Tracy shyly greets the men realizing that she has not had any interaction with them.  Jayce returns to where he had been sitting in the sand. Tracy sits down on a log in between Anne and Andre, who is sitting in the sand. Quickly, Tracy explains that she had to bring some documents for Jayce to look through. The men look over to find Jayce thumbing through a small manila folder. Ty returns carrying an arm load of sticks for the fire. Paul follows behind him.  The large framed man drags a large log.

An hour of laughing and talking goes by, when it comes to be serious.

“Can I ask you guys a question?” Tracy inquires.

The men turn their attention towards her, Anne has not ever had the nerve to ask questions. She has accepted the fact that she only knows her husband for the loving man that he is, but also knows that anything outside of home life is classified, nor does she want to know.  For her, that is good enough.

“How can you guys carry on like this? You know what you are walking into.” She states as she apologizes for not sugar coating it.

The only thing that can be heard through the silence is the crackling of the fire and rushing of waves hitting the beach.

Anne and Tracy waiting for an answer jump to the loud thud as Paul throws another log onto the fire. Paul, who rarely speaks, takes a beer.

Again, Tracy asks, “How can you guys carry on like this when you know what you are walking into?”

Paul carefully squeezes one of the lime wedges so that the juice mixes with the beer then squeezes the wedge into the bottle.

“Most do it for the fame and or glory. We do it for neither. We do it because we took an oath for our country and to protect the people that live within its borders.” Paul explains looking up.

He takes a drink and then finishes, “Plus, we are the best there is and it’s what we do.”

The laughing resumes.

“Is it the waitress from the club?” #zombie #book2 #axiom

“It might be the last chance you ever get to hang out with us.” He justifies with a hint of laughter.

She reluctantly agrees for the opportunity to be in the presence of the men she has read so much about in their personnel files, but has never gotten to know as people. She follows the Captain’s silhouette through the darkness towards the group illuminated by the flames of the campfire.

#

Anne keeps an eye on the hillside as she talks with the men that have grown to be family.  She first sees Jayce’s silhouette and then close behind his, another silhouette of what appears to be a woman wearing a skirt. Pat notices his wife’s attention to the hillside and turns his own attention towards the unit’s leader approaching. To his surprise, a woman seems to be with him.  Soon after, the other men see the distraction and look towards Jayce and the stranger.

“Is it the waitress from the club?” Anne questions Pat.

“No, he would never have invited an outsider here, especially tonight!”

Jayce is the first to arrive into the light.

"You want to join us for a beer?” #zombie #book2 #axiom

“Damn-it! This had better not be my dad calling to talk shit again.” Jayce mutters.

He pulls the phone out of his pocket and looks at the screen, “This is Jayce.”

His mood changes as Anne watches him interact with the person on the other end of the call. He tells the person that they are on the beach with a campfire, then gives the person directions to their location. Anne looks around at the men in the unit, it is apparent that not a one of them is paying any attention to the Captain. Anne assumes that it is the waitress from the club.  Jayce hangs up with the caller and slides the phone back into his pocket. Curious but not wanting to pry, she watches him glance towards the parking lot every couple of minutes. She sees headlights appear in the parking. Jayce stands up and brushes the sand from his pants. He walks towards the trail leading to where they had parked, disappearing into the darkness.

#

Jayce walks barefoot up the trail to where the parked car awaits. He watches the silhouette of a woman get out of the practical, four door sedan. She walks around to the rear of the car and opens the trunk. She closes it just as fast.

“Tracy, you want to join us for a beer?”

“I really don’t want to impose, Captain.”

"The ride is quiet" #zombie #book2 #axiom

The ride is quiet.  The smell of the ocean fills their nostrils as they approach the beach.  Jayce parks and has Ben look in the glovebox for a book of matches.

“Well . . . let’s go find some wood.” Ty suggests after Ben finds the matches.

Ben and Ty follow Jayce as they scour the beach looking for driftwood.  Ty shines the small light on his phone back and forth.  Pieces of drift wood lie scattered along the shore and the men load their arms up as they walk.  Returning to where they had started, they drop the wood onto the sand.

Shortly after the fire is lit, Paul arrives with the beer.  Andre arrives shortly after him with Pat, Anne and Adam.  After a stroll down the pathway, they all take a seat in the sand around the fire and one by one they all kick off their shoes.  Paul begins to pass around the beer.  They raise their beer, and toast to staying alive.  Ty finishes his beer and asks Paul to help him find more firewood as the fire begins to dwindle.

Anne watches as the men disappear into the darkness, her concentration is interrupted as Jayce’s phone begins to ring.