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 interviews took far longer than expected. Jackson and I had the most exposure to what was happening, so we were interviewed far longer than the others. Eventually, however, they let us both go with a clear threat of more debriefings to come.

I had changed out of my armour into some loose-fitting clothes I had brought. I was awaiting transport back to command with the others when Hills found me.

“Hey, John.” She said as she approached me, a bit hesitant at first but eventually decided to sit next to me on the crates I was sitting on.

“What’s up, Hills.”

“That mission was a strange one.”

“Yes, it was in some ways.”

“What do you mean in some ways?”

“Come on, Hills. You’ve been through this enough to know that all missions into a zone are strange.”

She pauses for a few seconds and thinks over what I just said. “Okay, you’re right on that one. What do you think of the new sealing device they deployed.”

“Now, that is a good question. Honestly, I don’t know at the moment.”

“Why do you say that? We are able to seal that zone with no issue. The older device’s power cable will not reach that far.” My lack of willingness to commit to a positive outlook confused her.

“Just wondering what the cost is.”

“What do you mean?”

“Hills, the sad fact is there is always a cost. I’m just waiting to find out what it is.”

She falls silent and looks at the ground with one of her knees under her chin. Since becoming a zone operative, I have developed a necessary but annoying habit of constantly looking around. Even at base camp, I always watched what was happening around me. That’s why I noticed the change in the posture of the soldiers assigned to the command tent.

“Something’s up.”

“Sorry……. Why did you say that?” Hills was off thinking about things in her mind and was not paying attention. I nod my head towards the tent. She turns and looks and she too, notices the change. Soldiers are coming in and out of the tent much more animatedly. Something had gotten riled up.

“You’re right something is up. Do you think we should go and find out what it is?”

“Hell no!” She looks at me, wondering why I am so adamant about not finding out. “Think about it. We both know it is not only good news and finding out is helpful, but there is a good chance of being “volunteered” in possibly dealing with it.”

She again goes quiet for a few seconds. Then nods understanding what I was saying and why it was a good idea not to get involved. We sit there for the next few minutes, watching people hurriedly leave and enter the tent. We noticed that all the camp’s senior officers are now present.

“Definitely big. I hope I have nothing to do with this one.” I say aloud. Hills nodded in agreement.

“Hi.” A timid voice behind us says. We both turn and see Jackson standing there. “I thought….. I decided to come over and say thanks for helping me on my first mission.”

“That’s okay.” Hills smiled at the younger woman. “The first missions are always rough until you get the hang of it.”

“That’s what they said in training. But being there, you know….. It’s different.”

“Yes, we know.”

“I heard the horror stories……. We all have. So the fact that we got out of this one relatively unhurt….. I thought I just say thanks.”

“It’s okay. You got my number and feel free to call me if you need to talk.” Hills continued with a conversation.

Jackson didn’t say anything more, just nodded and turned, walking away. I glanced over and watched as she left and when I knew she was out of earshot, I spoke.

“I recommended that she not be classed as an operative.”

“I’m not surprised. What are your main issues?”

“Temperament and upper body strength.”

Hills go quiet again and turns her attention back to the command tent. I’m not sure, but I think she agrees with me on both counts.

“You know that they will send her in any way.” She says after a few seconds.

“Yeah, I know.” We both fall silent at that and watch the tent.

For about 10 minutes, we sit there awaiting transport. We had been warned about delays due to other missions wrapping up or being deployed. Grey eventually emerged from the tent and looked around.

“Shit.” I said.

She spotted us and came over. Her walking and body language clearly showed she was looking for us or maybe just me. I did know at the moment.

“Sgt Grey.” Hills said as a way of greeting.

“Good, you two are together. Come with me.” She turned and headed back towards the command tent. We got up and followed her.

She led us into the tent; the place was a hive of activity. There was a notable difference in the hum of conversation within the tent from what it usually was. You could almost feel as well as here the sense of urgency and fear. Hawk stood near the back of the tent with his back to us and hands clasped behind him. His head was angled down and his focus was on a digital pad on a small table before him. Sgt grey letters to the room and most people got out of the way quickly as she advanced.

“Sir, I have them.” He turned to face us. His expression was unreadable to me.

“Thank you, Sargent. Carry on.”

“Sir.” She turned smartly and moved away. I noticed that Walker was still in the tent as well, but she was busy elsewhere.

“You best come over here, you two, to hear this.” He motioned towards the table.

Hills seemed hesitant, but I strolled forward, knowing we would be told what was happening anyway, so hesitating would not help—seeing me do this to follow my lead. We stood next to each other as Hawk moved around the other side of the table with his back now against the tent wall.

“What you’re about to hear will be broken to the public in a few short hours through news feeds.” He indicated the pad on the table flashing with different priority messages. It was clear that something was happening, giving live updates as soon as the information came in.

“As of now, an hour ago. The Russian Federation central government collapsed.”

This was both surprising and not surprising at the same time. For years the Russians had been projecting an image of strength and control in the face of the zones. Most people believed it was a front as they had gone dark on every form of communication with the outside world shortly after this all started. Now it seems that we were right.

“How did it happen?” Asked Hills.

“Satellite imagery shows seven massive zones owned up in Russia over the last 24 hours. Moscow and St Petersburg were hit especially hard by the zones. They were unable to evacuate most of the government in time. It also appears that many of the secondary government facilities were also taken out.”

I turned my attention from the pad back to Hawk at this.

“What you describe sounds like a decapitation strike.”

“It does look that way, doesn’t it.” He agreed.

We all fell into silence as we mould over what he had said. The implications were quite scary for all of us.

“How does this affect us?” Hills asked.

“Short-term. Very little. Medium to long-term. We are still projecting.” He replied.

“Things are going to get crazy again.” I thought aloud.

“Definitely.” He agreed.

Before anyone anything else, a technician came up and whispered in his ear. In short order, the information was passed on to him and the technician withdrew.

“You’re ride is ten minutes out. Best get back to the pickup point.”

I nod, turning to leave the tent. Hills again hesitates but follows. I quickly move through the gaggle of technicians and intelligence officers to leave the tent walking back to the pickup point.

“What do you think is going to happen?” Hills asked from behind me.

“Ultimately, nothing good for us.”

## ## ## ## ##

A similar conversation happened miles away in a United Kingdom Zone Command bunker. Due to the seriousness of the situation and the required conversation, the two men had withdrawn back to the bunker that was shielded against all known electronic surveillance.

“I know it’s bad. But do we know how bad yet?” Hamilton asked his old friend.

“Everything is in a state of flux. But this is what we do know.” Holsan replied, not looking up from his digital pad. Data was flashing across the screen as updates were flooding in.

“What’s the best guess at the moment?”

“Best guess. For all intents and purposes, the central government has gone dark. We’re looking at localised rulers now mostly military based.”

“So, the country will be fractured along ethnic and political lines. With military warlords filling in the power vacuum.” Hamilton mused.

“That’s almost guaranteed at this point.” Holsan agreed.

“What about the nation’s nuclear stockpile?” The concern is evident in his voice.

“At this moment, we have no clue.”

“So, we’re looking at a worst-case scenario.”

“It would appear that way, yes. But we might have a much more pressing concern.”

“Refugees.” Hamilton didn’t take long to see where the general was indicating. “They will swarm into what’s left of Europe, causing a humanitarian disaster.” The general nodded to that.

Both men knew from experience that when a nation collapsed, the population that was able usually got up and moved to seek “safety”. The problem was that there was no safety anywhere in the world at the moment, but the world’s population wasn’t paying attention and thinking logically. They were panicking.

“How long do you think before the flood?” Hamilton asked.

“Given the speed of government collapse. We may have 2 to 3 weeks before the majority head towards Europe. But the warlords will rise in that time, so we can’t be sure.” Holsan was grime in his predictions.

“Are we going to have to implement the fortress protocol?” Hamilton asked after a few minutes of thought.

“Yes.” Holsan reply was immediate and firm.

“Christ. This could not have come at a worse time.” Hamilton said, rubbing his hands upon his face.

“Roger. We both know it’s going to get worse. A lot worse.”

“I know. International trade has almost completely stopped. There’s been a rise in piracy attacks in many parts of the world targeting transport ships. With America in chaos, the Europeans and we have been trying to keep the sea lanes open. Add to the fact that many people are migrating onto the seas due to zones on land or their nation’s collapsing.”

“So, we’re going into the trade convoys system again like a World War II?” Holsan asked.

“Yes. CANZUK, Brazil, Japan, South Korea and South Africa have all agreed. We think India, Vietnam and Indonesia will agree shortly.”

“What about Egypt? With the Panama Canal now blocked by a zone, the Suez Canal is even more important.”

“Hard to tell at the moment. The Israelis don’t know which way the government is going to go. Like most Middle Eastern countries, they have split into different factions internally.”

“Are we going to occupy the Suez Canal again?” Holsan asked in concern.

“The Cabinet floated the idea. But the lack of resources makes it near impossible at the moment.”

Before anything else could be said and a ding came from the general’s pad.

“God, don’t tell me more bad news!” Griped Hamilton as Holsan read the message.

“No, some good news project Slammer’s field test was successful.”

“Fantastic. Good news, indeed. Let’s hope we can hold on long enough for it to make a difference.”