Disclaimer: This is a work of original fiction. Any resemblance to actual locations, characters, events and incidents are purely coincidental.
Chapter 1 -- The other side
Eight months later...
Although both of them reach the safe zone, they are never the same again. Though 1st-Lieutenant Freida adopts Kodey and Erika, they find it difficult to move on, since their mother’s death haunts them. With a strong desire to protect his sister, Kodey joined the reformed New York National Guard as a foot soldier. As for Erika, she enrolled herself in farming and first aid courses to help her move on from her mother’s death.
House Unit 2-4, Residential District, Grand Isle Safe Zone, Grand Isle, Vermont, USA, 7 November 2020, 0830 hrs
“Kodey, Erika! We need to go now. I still have to drop Erika at the farm center.” Eleanora calls out as she stands at the door waiting for them. “Coming, Miss Freida.” the two of them reply as they rush across the hallway. “Both of you need to prepare your stuff first before we leave on time. We will get penalised if we are late again.” Eleanora warns.
Kodey and Erika nod while looking away from her gaze. Aware that they are having a hard time moving on from their mother’s death, Eleanora lets out a sigh before speaking to them. “Kodey, Erika. I know that both of you loved your mother very much, but you two need to accept her death and move on.” The Lieutenant comforts them before continuing on. “Hence, I will take care of both of you and please call me mom instead.” .
Acknowledged that the Lieutenant spoke the truth, both Kodey and Erika finally accept their mother’s death and move on. Still, they are glad that Lieutenant Freida adopts them and cares for them until their father reunites with them. “Alright, mom. Thank you.” They thank the Lieutenant in unison. Glad that her adopted son and daughter finally understood the need to move on, a smile appears on Lieutenant Freida’s face. “Good. Time to leave now.” Freida opens the door and they depart from their home.
Above Grand Isle Safe Zone, Grand Isle, Vermont, USA, 7 November 2020, 0830 hrs
At the same time, above the safe zone in the air...
A Predator military drone with Young Templars’ military markings on it is flying above undetected. The military drone would circle around the safe zone as its camera spies on the buildings and its inhabitants.
Unknown Room, Clinton County Government Centre, Plattsburgh, New York, USA, 7 November 2020, 0832 hrs
A Young Templar stares at the computer screen while controlling the military drone with a joystick. As he looks at the computer screen, he sees survivors and soldiers moving around in the safe zone. However, something on the computer screen caught his eye, and he quickly zoomed in to see what it was. Sure enough, he spots several civilian delivery trucks that contain the logo of LifeCure Global Pharmaceuticals. Also, he spotted several children and teenagers playing at a nearby playground as well.
After seeing the logo and the young ones, the Young Templar immediately alerts his superior, Captain Taylor Oak, about his findings. “Madam, I spotted several LifeCure Global Pharmaceuticals delivery trucks inside the Grand Isle Safe Zone. Also, there were children and teenagers playing on the nearby playground,” the Young Templar reports to her. Captain Oak comes to see the computer screen, and her eyes are wide open upon seeing the delivery trucks and the young ones playing nearby.
“Good job, 2nd-Lieutenant. I want you to capture a screenshot of the trucks and the nearby playground as well, and have it printed out immediately.” Taylor orders the 2nd-Lieutenant Young Templar to print them out for her immediately.
“On it, madam,” the 2nd-Lieutenant replies in acknowledgement while saving the screenshots of the delivery truck and the nearby playground before printing them out. Once printed out of a nearby printer, Captain Oak puts the screenshots in an envelope with classified, labeled on it. Then she leaves the room as she heads to the command center in the building’s basement to report to the higher ups.
Command Center (Basement), Clinton County Government Centre, Plattsburgh, New York, USA, 7 November 2020, 0836 hrs
After undergoing a security check by members of Young Templars’ military police, Captain Oak enters the command center. She intends to report to Colonel Arlo Ross and Major Daxton Reid about the screenshot pictures.
“Sir, Captain Taylor Oak of the 5th Recon Company reporting in.” Taylor salutes at the two high-ranking Young Templars. “At ease, Captain.” Daxton acknowledges and informs her to be at ease. “Do you have anything to report?”
“Yes sir, I got something to report about our findings after surveilling the Grand Isle Safe Zone.” Taylor informs Daxton as she opens the envelope to take out the screenshots. “Our Predator drone spots several LifeCure Global Pharmaceutical delivery trucks located inside the safe zone. Also, there were several children and teenagers living inside the safe zone as well.” .
“Thank you for the report, Captain Oak. Let me see the pictures the drone had captured.” Daxton requests. Captain Oak nods and she passes the screenshots to Major Reid for him to see. Upon seeing the screenshots, he quickly informs Colonel Ross about the pictures and requests for his next course of action.
“Thank you for the details, Major Reid.” Arlo thanks the two Young Templars for reporting to him. “Operation SkyEye is complete and we shall move on to Operation NightStorm. NightStorm will begin tonight at 0100 hours and please inform all our combat Templars of the 14th North American Regiment to attend one last briefing at 1400 hours before moving out at 2300 hours. Also, inform the Section 10 of the Ravens to be in standby mode for the upcoming military operation.” .
Colonel Ross takes a deep breath before giving out an order that he dislikes the most. “Lieutenant-Colonel Samora, please send a message to the 2nd Grim Reapers Operations Wing requesting AC-130 air support for Operation NightStorm. Also, Major Beech. I want you to bring out some Grudgies that we currently have and use it to storm the safe zone during the start of the operation.” Arlo instructs both Lieutenant-Colonel Morisa Samora and Major Riley Beech respectively, before looking at the red-haired captain. “One more thing, Captain Oak. I want your reconnaissance team to continue using the Predator drone to spy and monitor the safe zone during the entire upcoming operation. So that you and your team can provide information on the enemy’s movements to us.” .
“Roger that, sir. My team will do our best.” Captain Oak assures. “Good. Then we are all set for tonight’s military operation. If not, all of you are free to go to make preparations.” Arlo dismisses his staff officers as he ends the discussion. All the Young Templar officers salute at Colonel Ross before heading off to prepare for the upcoming Operation NightStorm.
Abandoned Building (Rooftop), US Route 2, Alburgh, Vermont, USA, 7 November 2020, 1000 hrs
Near the North Hero Bridge...
A lone Young Templar lies in a prone position on a rooftop building camouflaged while looking at the sniper rifle’s scope. Her name was Sally Flannery. In her past, she was a former human with a happy family. Now, she is a full-fledged Young Templar and resents humans just like any other Young Templars. As she peeks at through the scope, she can see several soldiers of the New York National Guard smoking and chatting away while standing guard at the other end of the North Hero Bridge. ‘Silly humans! They should never smoke and chat in their guard posts while standing guard. No wonder we can destroy their safe zones and military bases easily.’ Sally thought as she silently observes them from a distance.
“Sergeant Flannery,” Sally hears her name call out from the Communication Headgear attached to her Young Templars’ ARIH helmet. “Please come down from your post a bit. We just received a message from the higher ups of our regiment and Lieutenant Blair wants to gather all of us in our shelter so that he can announce the message to us.” .
“Roger that, Sergeant Hass. I will be there in a minute.” Sally informs Antoine through the Communication Headgear as she stands up and slings up the M110 SASS Sniper Rifle to her back before making her way down from the building’s rooftop.
Camouflaged Dug-Out Trench (Underground), Near US Route 2, Alburgh, Vermont, USA, 7 November 2020, 1002 hrs
After walking a few distances, Sergeant Flannery arrives at the squad’s Dug-Out Trench to meet up with other Young Templars for the briefing conducted by Lieutenant Blair. As she enters, she sees them waiting for her before the briefing could start. “Sorry I'm late, Lieutenant.” .
“It’s alright, Sergeant Flannery.” Alex excuses Sally for being a little late. “Since the entire squad is here, I can present to all of you the message from the 14th North American Regiment’s headquarters. But first take off your facemasks.” All the Young Templars in the room take down their facemasks as ordered before the Lieutenant tells them the details of the message.
”Attention, Ravens of Section 10-A and B. Operation SkyEye is a complete success. Thanks to SkyEye, we received credible intel that the Grand Isle Safe Zone is working with LifeCure Global Pharmaceuticals. Hence, the safe zone is now a legitimate military target of the Young Templars. To destroy the safe zone, we will conduct Operation NightStorm tonight at 0100 hours and invoke the use of Evolved Zombie, Grudgies to tear down the safe zone’s defences before the 14th North American Regiment storm and destroy the safe zone. During Operation NightStorm, Soloman’s Protocol will be in-effect. As for Section 10-A and 10-B, your job is to assist us in releasing the Grudgies at 0050 hrs and take out any enemy defenders guarding the safe zone’s entrances.” .
“There’s no need for the Ravens to storm the safe zone since the 2nd Grim Reapers Operations Wing will cover us with AC-130 air support during Operation NightStorm. Hence, the 14th North American Regiment will destroy the safe zone, while the Ravens must secure and hold the safe zone’s entrances until the operation ends. If you encounter any survivors trying to flee the safe zone via foot or in-vehicle, your job is to prevent their escape by whatever means necessary. Once captured, kill any survivors that are above the age of 16 while keeping those alive that are 16 and below. Your squad’s commanding officer will brief you on what to do next to prepare before NightStorm begins tonight. I’m grateful for the Ravens taking part in this military operation and would like to congratulate them in person once the military operation concludes successfully. May the Young Templars’ faith guide us to victory. Yours faithfully, Colonel Arlo Ross of the 14th North American Regiment.” .
Once the Lieutenant finishes saying the message, it disappoints some of the Young Templars that they cannot take part in storming the safe zone. Some even wanted to take part in the storming of the safe zone and kill every surviving human living down there. Though Sally has a negative perception of humans, she feels disgusted to see her comrade-in-arms wanting to massacre surviving humans in the safe zone. She would rather see Young Templars take over the entire world and enslave the remaining humans instead.
“Section 10-A, show some discipline!” A Young Templar standing beside Lieutenant Blair angrily calls out her squad. She is Sergeant Major Katie Perez and 2nd in command in-charge of leading the squad after the Lieutenant. “Our order is to secure and guard the safe zone’s entrances. We are not supposed to storm the safe zone.” .
”Stand down, Sergeant Major Perez. I shall take it from here.” Alex tells Katie to stand down while he takes over the situation. “Section 10-A.” Alex addresses his squad in a calm but firm manner. Hearing the Lieutenant’s address, the squad quietens down and stands firm. “I understand that all of you want to take part in storming the safe zone. I too wished our squad to join with the 14th to storm and destroy the safe zone. However, an order came down from the top, which requires us and Section 10-B to secure and guard the safe zone’s entrances so that the 14th North American Regiment can withdraw safely once Operation NightStorm concludes. Hence, we have no choice but to follow the order given by Colonel Ross.” .
After the Lieutenant explains to them, the Young Templars of Ravens’ Section 10-A fully understands the order given by Colonel Ross and dare not question him any further. Seeing his squad accept his reasoning, Lieutenant Blair intends to give further instructions on what his squad needs to prepare for the upcoming operation. “Section 10-A. Before Operation NightStorm begins, there are some tasks we need to do.” .
”First, several military trucks from the 14th will arrive near our shelter at 2200 hours to deliver the military containers that contain the Grudgies. To avoid getting spotted, me and Sergeant Major Perez will assist the 14th to move the military containers and place them on the North Hero Bridge at 0020 hours. This is when the enemy is changing shifts and there will only be a soldier guarding the safe zone’s entrance. Hence, Sergeant Flannery and Sergeant Hass will take out both the floodlights and the lone soldier while deploying the Grudgies.” .
“Second, should there be any vehicle trying to escape the safe zone, Sergeant Nadeau and Sergeant Kozak will disable them using AVR-25 Launcher. Since any escaping vehicles might try to make a run for it, I will place them at the rear line so that they can intercept any escaping vehicle. For extra measures, Sergeant Darrell and Sergeant Vine will join with the Demolition specialists at the rear line. Their job is to detain any survivors from the destroyed vehicle so that we can interrogate them. Should the four of you encounter any hostile survivors trying to shoot or kill you, you can take them out. However, if you encounter any injured survivors. Please treat them with first-aid and then detain them.” .
Lieutenant Blair pauses for a second before finishing his statements to end the briefing for his squad. “Once Operation NightStorm ends, the 14th North American Regiment will withdraw from the area completely and the remaining Grudgies will be left there to prevent any humans from rebuilding the destroyed safe zone. We will only leave once the last Young Templars cross the bridge of North Hero Bridge and receive confirmation that Section 10-B cleared the South Hero Bridge of Young Templars as well. Once received the confirmation, we will depart back to our base at Fort Drum in our Cougar HE vehicles. Under Soloman’s protocol, we have to bring back any injured survivors for processing before the top brass of our regiment decides what to do with them. Other than that, do you have questions to ask?”
However, none of the Young Templars did not answer back the Lieutenant’s question as they fully understood his instructions. Some of them even shook their heads at Lieutenant Blair as they were looking forward to take part in Operation NightStorm. Without further ado, the Lieutenant dismisses his squad with a salute as he ends the squad briefing. They salute back at Lieutenant Blair and Sergeant Major Perez before splitting up to prepare for the weapons and gears needed for tonight’s military operation. ‘Can’t wait to see the cries of despair from arrogant humans when we destroy their safe zone tonight.’ Sally thought excitedly as she left the squad’s shelter to head back to her original post.
To be continued...
End of Chapter 1
Note: All the characters, places and storylines of the Hellwave story are owned by Jeremy Mountbatten. All rights reserved by the author. Feel free to give some feedback and don't forget to drop a like and hit the bookmark button to favorite it. If you want to support me, you can tip me on Ko-Fi (link provided below).