Disclaimer: This is a work of original fiction. Any names or characters, businesses or places, events or incidents, are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Chapter 4 -- Fall of Grand Isle Safe Zone (Part 1)
Freida's Personal Room, House Unit 2-4, Residential District, Grand Isle Safe Zone, Grand Isle, Vermont, USA, 8 November 2020, 0042 hrs
The sound of the safe zone’s alarm awakes the lieutenant, and she immediately springs out from her bed to wear her ACU (Army Combat Uniform) jacket. Meanwhile, a nearby radio speaker stated that Code Exodus was in effect. Straight away, it alarms 1st-Lieutenant Freida upon hearing the codeword. She thinks the breach of the safe zone’s defenses is not just the work of zombies. She believes that the Young Templars were the ones behind the attack. Worried they may kidnap Erika by force, she plans to get Kodey and Erika to leave the safe zone together in her personal Humvee.
After wearing all of her combat military uniform set, she puts on her IBA (Interceptor Body Armor) military vest. Then she packs all the essential items into her US military Molle backpack in a hurry before carrying it on her back. Next, she slings her M4 Carbine Rifle on her left shoulder before putting on her military ACH (Advanced Combat Helmet). With everything all set and ready to go, 1st-Lieutenant Freida takes the vehicle key from a nearby key holder before leaving the room.
Living Room, House Unit 2-4, Residential District, Grand Isle Safe Zone, Grand Isle, Vermont, USA, 8 November 2020, 0048 hrs
As she closes the door, the lieutenant sees Erika sitting on a sofa in the living room. “Erika, where’s Kodey?” Eleanora asks as she doesn’t see Kodey’s presence in the room. “Mom, Kodey is still in the room packing his stuff,” Erika replies. Immediately, 1st-Lieutenant Freida walks to the door of Kodey’s room and opens the door. “Kodey!” Eleanora calls out his name as she enters the room. “We have to go to the emergency assembly point, and they will leave us behind if we don’t make it in time!”
“Sorry, Mom.” Kodey apologized. “I was doing a last-minute check on whether I took all the essential items with me,” Kodey explains as he slings his M16A4 assault rifle onto his left shoulder. “Ok, everything is all good. We can leave now. Let’s go, Mom.” Kodey tells Eleanora before they leave Kodey’s room, with the lieutenant closing the door behind them.
Before they leave the house, 1st-Lieutenant Freida wants to give some instructions to both Kodey and Erika first. “Alright, you two. Listen up carefully,” Eleanora begins. “Currently, the safe zone is under attack by zombies. However, I don’t believe this is just a mere zombie attack. I have a gut feeling that Young Templars are involved as well.” The words: Young Templars, alarm both Kodey and Erika as they know it is big trouble if what the lieutenant said is true. “Mom, I don’t want to see the Young Templars kill you and my brother. I don’t want them to take me away and convert me into one of them.” Erika pleads in a worried voice. “Relax, Erika. I won’t allow them to take you away from us,” Eleanora reassures her adopted daughter. “I already got a plan for us to escape from here during the chaos.” .
“Ok, we will go to where my personal Humvee is. Then, Erika will wait in my vehicle until me and Kodey return.” Eleanora explains. “You don’t want us to evacuate with the others at the assembly point?” Erika questions. “Yes, I think it’s too risky to join the others. There’s a possibility that the Young Templars may attack the evacuation assembly points.” Eleanora answers. “Mom, are we now deserting from the New York National Guard?” Kodey asks.
“Not really. I’m doing this for all three of us. Once we leave the safe zone, we shall head West of the mainland US. I heard Seattle is a zombie-free city, and we will head there. It will be a long and treacherous journey ahead. But this is the only way for us to find refuge.” Eleanora tells them before passing a vehicle key to Erika. “I want you to hold this key, Erika. If I never return, pass the key to Kodey when he returns. He will drive my Humvee and leave this safe zone for good.” .
Erika feels sad upon hearing this. She wished all three of them to leave the safe zone alive and head west to search for refuge. The lieutenant pats Erika lovingly as she understands her feelings if she does not return. “I know you are afraid to lose me, just like losing your mother to the zombies. But you and your brother must mentally prepare to live on without me, Erika.” Eleanora says before her eyes glaze at Kodey. “As for you, young man. Please look after your sister when both of you journey across the forsaken mainland.” .
“I will. Don’t worry, Mom,” Kodey assures in a confident tone. “Good. I will bring both of you to where my personal Humvee is and drop Erika there. Then, you shall head into the armoury to get the ammunition we need, and I will head down to the cafeteria to get as much food as possible. After that, we shall rendezvous at my personal Humvee before leaving the safe zone. Got it?” Eleanora questions them as she finishes instructing them. Both of them nod their head as they give a firm reply — “Yes, Mom!”
Glad that both of them accepted her instructions, the lieutenant knows it’s time for them to leave. “Alright, time to go. I want you two to stick to me closely while moving towards my personal Humvee. Don’t get separated from me in the chaos.” Eleanora instructs both Kodey and Erika as she brings them to the door. “Ready?” Eleanora asks as one of her hands holds the doorknob. Both of them nod in agreement, and 1st-Lieutenant Freida twists the doorknob as she opens the door.
With the door opened, the trio see lots of people moving everywhere. They witness surviving civilians carrying their belongings as they rush to the emergency assembly point. Also, they notice several US military soldiers moving back and forth to guide the civilians to the assembly point for evacuation. “Follow me and stay close!” Eleanora orders while pulling Erika’s hand as they leave the house. They soon join the chaotic crowd while moving towards the lieutenant’s personal Humvee.
Checkpoint C-2, Last Safe Line 2, Grand Isle Safe Zone, Grand Isle, Vermont, USA, 8 November 2020, 0055 hrs
“Shit! They are breaching the outer third gate!” A US soldier shouts as he observes a large group of zombies attempting to break open the wire-fenced gate. “All soldiers! Fall back towards the second gate and maintain a solid defence line against the zombies. Direct your fire at the incoming zombies until the IFVs arrive to reinforce us!” An unnamed US military officer shouts his commands. Immediately, all the soldiers defending the outer third gate retreat towards the second gate. Moments later, the outer third gate broke open as the zombie tore down the wire fence through brute force. Hence, many zombies rush through as they head towards the US military soldiers defending the second gate.
“All soldiers, open fire!” The officer orders, followed by sounds of gunfire as the US military soldiers fire on the oncoming zombies. Despite the intense gunfire, more zombies are about to approach the soldiers defending the second gate. “Shit! They are about to overrun us!” a soldier shouts as he sees the horde of zombies closing in towards them. Just as the soldiers were about to be overrun, an unknown machine gun opened fire at the zombies, mowing them down quickly.
To the US soldiers’ surprise, they see two LAV 25-AD IFVs (Infantry Fighting Vehicles) exiting the second gate, followed by more US soldiers arriving to aid them. “Thank god, they arrive in time to save us!” a soldier defending the second gate shouts in relief. The “Sir! We hear you and your guys are about to be overrun, so we are here to assist you. Is everything alright?” Another unnamed US military officer approaches the officer with a question. “Thank you for your arrival, madam. The zombies successfully breached the outer third gate, and they keep on coming in. We may not last for another few hours if these zombies keep on streaming in.” The officer informs the madam officer. “I see, Captain. As of now, Code Exodus is in effect. We must hold this checkpoint until everyone can leave the safe zone safely. Then we can only join them and leave this place.” The madam officer informs him that left him speechless. He didn’t expect the higher-ups to evacuate everyone and leave this safe zone behind.
With no other choice left, the captain reluctantly agrees with her command before replying to her. “Alright, madam. Please inform the higher-ups to…” Before he can finish his statement, a LAV explodes with its turret tossed in the air. “What the hell?! Where did that come from?!” the madam officer rages as she sees the burning LAV. To her horror, she sees an M2 Bradley IFV moving among the crowd of zombies before stopping outside the outer third gate. Then, the military vehicle fires a TOW anti-tank missile which heads straight to the second LAV before destroying it in a fireball of an explosion.
‘Why the hell is there an M2 Bradley firing against us? Aren’t we on the same side?’ The madam officer wonders why the military vehicle would fire against them. She knows the US military has M2 Bradleys at their disposal, but attacking her and fellow US military soldiers seems odd. However, she soon realized that the vehicle belonged to the Young Templars. Her mind froze in terror as the thought of the Young Templars came into her mind. She remembers encountering them once during a reconnaissance operation and witnessing them indiscriminately killing innocent adult survivors found in the outside world.
But it is too late for the madam officer to respond further. The M2 Bradley military vehicle unleashes its M242 chain gun on the US soldiers, swiftly mowing them down before they can take cover. Those who survived after being shot found themselves helpless as zombies quickly attacked and infected them with the zombie virus. As she sees everyone at the checkpoint has fallen prey to the zombies, she knows it is over for the safe zone. Accepting that she will die at the checkpoint, she hurriedly takes out the military walkie-talkie and radio with the following message. “Checkpoint C-2 has fallen. I repeat, Checkpoint C-2 has fallen. May god help us…. AHHHH!!!” The madam officer screams in pain as a zombie bites her in the neck. Soon, more zombies join in as they feast on her body for blood.
Meanwhile, beside the M2 Bradley vehicle…
An unnamed Young Templar captain views with delight as she sees the despair and suffering of the US soldiers’ faces while getting torn apart by the zombies. With the checkpoint overrun, she knows it’s time to move on to the next phase of Operation NightStorm. “Sergeant, is Checkpoint C-1 secured?” The Young Templar officer asks. “I’m checking with the other side. Give me some moments, Captain.” The unnamed Young Templar sergeant replies before communicating with another Young Templar officer through his Communication Headgear. Later, he checks in with the Young Templars on the other side and confirms they successfully secured Checkpoint C-1.
“Captain, I checked in with Captain Shaw. He and his battalion have secured Checkpoint C-1. They are requesting permission to storm the safe zone,” the Young Templar sergeant replies. “Alright, tell Captain Shaw that he and his battalion can storm the safe zone. But first, tell him to give some instructions to his soldiers before entering the safe zone,” the Young Templar captain orders. “Roger, Captain.” the Young Templar sergeant acknowledges her order before relaying important instructions to Captain Shaw. Then she turns backwards, intending to instruct the rest of the Young Templars in her battalion before storming the safe zone.
“My fellow faithful brothers and sisters of the Young Templars! It’s time to punish these inferior humans for collaborating with LifeCure Global Pharmaceuticals. Soon, we will bring down their safe zone and make them fear our vengeful wraith!”
Several Young Templars cheer in delight as they hear their captain’s rousing speech. Soon, she takes a breath before continuing.
“However, I need to issue important instructions for all of you first. When you enter the safe zone, all of you must strictly follow the will of Simon’s vision. Our job is to kill every survivor and enemy US soldier found in the safe zone through whatever means necessary. You can either shoot them dead or use zombies to kill them. Hence, I want all of you to show no mercy to them, even if they are begging for their lives. But I forbid you to kill any young ones that are aged 16 or below. It is our job to liberate them and turn them into our kind. If you find any young ones trying to hide or run away from you, restrain them before forcing them to come with us. If not, you can knock them out unconscious, but they must still be alive to be transported back to our base. Is that clear, everyone?”
“Yes, madam!” All the Young Templars roar in agreement after hearing her instructions. They can’t wait to storm the safe zone and kill all surviving humans. “Alright then. As for escorting the young ones, ensure the zombies do not harm them. Once we destroy the safe zone, we and the young ones will board the Strykers and transport them back to our bases at Plattsburgh and Burlington. After that, we will receive an operation debrief by Colonel Ross and his staff officers, as Operation NightStorm concludes.” the Young Templar captain finishes briefing her battalion before issuing new orders. “For now, I need Platoon 1 and 2 from Company Alpha to follow me to take out some high-ranking military officers from the New York National Guard. Also, I need Platoon 2 and 4 from Company Charlie to secure Checkpoint C-2. The rest of you comb every building in the safe zone. Leave no adult surviving humans behind and liberate all the young ones in the safe zone. Now it’s time for all of us to get ready.” .
As they get ready, the Young Templar captain takes a breath to charge her spiritual power. Then, she proceeds towards the burning wrecks of the destroyed LAV-25 military vehicles and pushes them off the road with her god-like strength. With the road finally cleared, she draws out her Young Templar knife, which expands into a sword. Then the captain issues an attack command as she waves her sword towards the open second and first gate. — “Let’s storm the safe zone, my faithful brothers and sisters! For the faith of our kind!”
Hearing her attack command, all the Young Templars rush into the safe zone as they begin their attack. Then, the M2 Bradleys follow them as they enter the area to attack any hostile survivors and buildings. ‘Too late, pathetic humans. Your safe zone will fall tonight. All of you will suffer for your wrongdoings, and your descendants will repent for that by spreading our teachings to the world,’ the Young Templar captain thought as she smirked in silence. She looks forward to convert all the young ones aged 16 and below into new recruits for the Young Templars’ military forces. With that, she looks forward to see the eradication of humanity and the entire world rebuilt under their leader’s vision.
“Let’s go, Platoon 1 and 2!” The Young Templar captain orders the two platoons from Company Alpha to follow her. “Our special assignment is to kill Brigadier General Biggs and his staff officers. Kill anyone who stands in our way!” They soon enter the safe zone and split from the rest of the battalion to complete their separate mission.
Thus, the fall of the Grand Isle Safe Zone has begun.
To be continued...
End of Chapter 4
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