UNSCDF Chapter 1- The Search

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Downtown City Centre

March 15^th, 2001

0700 Local Time

            In the distant horizon as the sun began to rise, a black Pelican with the registration F515 on its side flew past the glistening river and then landed near a ruined dock. Two UNSC marines jumped out with M16s followed by another marine holding a M21. Next, two more marines jumped off the Pelican, one holding a USP, and the other holding a Washington 870. As the marines took cover and set up a perimeter, the Pelican lifted off and flew past a couple of buildings before disappearing from the squad’s view.

            A young man in his early twenties with the name “Zyrok” stenciled onto his flak jacket waved the group to huddle over. Zyrok slid his USP into his holster and took out a datapad from his utility belt.

           “Another routine search and rescue gentlemen.” Zyrok called out to his men as he placed the datapad back to his belt.

            “LT, this is the fifth time we’re out here and I’m feeling it’s another wild goose chase.” a slender tall man roughly in his mid-twenties voiced his thoughts out to the squad.

          “Shut it. Quit complaining so much Hawkes.” a tough looking and muscular man wielding a Washington 870 eyed Corporal Jonathan Hawkes an evil stare.

            “You don’t have to be so mean Sarge.” Hawkes put on a serious face after seeing Sergeant Major Fred Casey’s eyes.

            “I’m game.” a young man in his early twenties with a calm composure loaded and cocked his M21.

            “Good to see someone in the zone.” Casey smiled lightly at Corporal Mark Taylor.

            “I sure could use the target practice.” Taylor looked into his scope and wiped the lenses with his shirt sleeve.

          “You ready Private?” Zyrok lightly tapped a nervous man holding his M16 firmly pointed at the ground.

            “I guess so sir.” the young man returned an uneasy look at Zyrok as he answered him.

            “Aren’t you Zack Stevens, the nineteen year old who just finished your training?” Hawkes teased at the young man.

            “Yes sir, I am.” Stevens answered with a nervous look.

           “Leave him alone Hawkes, this is his first mission. You probably were like him when you first did your mission.” Zyrok spoke in a calm, but serious voice.

            “Nah, I was a toughie.” Hawkes joked.

            “Let’s get serious now. We’ve got work to do.” Zyrok took out his USP and started to walk.

            “Double time marines. Keep it silent.” Casey hustled the marines to follow Zyrok.

            The marines walked up a ramp and out the ruined dock. Zyrok approached a zombie and slammed the butt of his pistol to the zombie’s head. Then he grabbed the zombie’s head and twisted until there was a sickening crack. Hawkes walked over to the dead zombie corpse and nudged it with his boot. The squad continued to take out more zombies silently as they approached a mall.

            “A mall…” Hawkes muttered under his breath.

            “Open areas and many levels, this is a good target range.” Taylor grinned as he looked upwards with his scope.

            “A distress signal was received three hours ago inside this mall. Taylor, you’re with me. We’ll search floors three and four. Casey, you take the rest and search floors one and two.” Zyrok commanded as he looked at the mall directory in front of the entrance.

            Casey, Hawkes, and Stevens began to move towards a shop when suddenly a zombie ran out of the store and charged at them. Hawkes flipped his M16 and swung the butt of his gun to the zombie’s head. The zombie collapsed to the gun and dropped dead. Zyrok and Taylor walked up a broken escalator and signaled Casey to lead the team on.

            “This is Zyrok, come in Casey, over.” Zyrok spoke into the RaidCall communications system inside his battle helmet.

            “This is Casey, go ahead for Zyrok, over.” Casey replied on the RaidCall.

            “Casey, take your team and loot supplies on the way, over.” Zyrok spoke back.

            “Copy that boss, loot supplies on the way. Over and out.” Casey replied back.

            Zyrok motioned Taylor to scout the area with his M21 as he reached into his belt and pulled out a bowie knife. Taylor looked around and then returned to Zyrok.

            “Two zeds one o’clock and three more ten o’clock.” Taylor reported as he pointed to the direction of the zombies.

          “I’ll take the group of three with my knife and you’ll take the group of two.” Zyrok looked at his reflection on the knife.

            “Got it boss.” Taylor swung his rifle to his back and grabbed out a combat knife from his belt.

            Zyrok crouched slowly along the wall until he came across the corner and looked at the zombies walking randomly. He rushed out to the closest zombie and slashed his knife at the zombie’s chest. He kicked the zombie over and then ran at the two zombies charging at him. He crouched down as a zombie swung at him and then tripped it. The zombie which Zyrok knocked down got up and sprinted at him while making vicious noises. Zyrok saw the sprinting zombie and threw his knife directly into the zombie’s forehead. Another zombie lunged at Zyrok, but Zyrok slid sideways and avoided the hit. Zyrok placed two hits with his fist to the zombie’s head and then kicked at the head of the zombie he tripped. He jumped to the back of the zombie and tackled to get control of its head. Within three minutes, Zyrok took out the three zombies. Zyrok turned his head to see Taylor just in time to see him clean cut a zombie’s head off. Taylor waved a thumbs up as he placed his combat knife back to his belt. Zyrok walked over to the dead zombie with his bowie knife stuck on his head and removed it with a light pull. He wiped the bloody stains on the dead zombie’s clothes before he placed the knife back onto his belt. Taylor walked over beside Zyrok and looked at the dead zombies.

            “Nice throw LT.” Taylor complimented.

            “Yeah, thanks.” Zyrok smiled lightly, “That took quite a lot of practice.”

            “I would have preferred sniping.” Taylor patted his M21.

            “Let’s finish checking this floor.” Zyrok motioned to move on.

*          *          *

            Stevens held his M16 firmly as he approached the entrance of a sports shop. Hawkes stood ground outside the entrance and watched for zombies while Casey waved Stevens to follow inside. Casey noticed a zombie eating a corpse on the ground and walked up behind it with his shotgun in his hand. The zombie turned around and growled at Casey. Casey swung his shotgun and knocked the zombie to the ground. Then he slammed the stock of his shotgun into the zombie’s face and cracked the skull. Stevens stood motionless as he saw the zombie’s face beaten to pulp.

            “You’ll get used to it. Either you kill them or be killed.” Casey spoke to the frozen Stevens.

            “Got it sir.” Stevens replied uneasily.

            “Hand combat is harder. Guns are easy, but they attract hordes.” Casey pointed at his shotgun.

            Stevens walked over the empty sports racks and shifted over some piles of clothes and uncovered a golf club.

            “Not a bad find.” Casey complimented as he searched the next few aisles.

            Casey went over to the dusty cash register and slammed his shotgun on the machine and cracked it.

            “No cash, huh.” Casey looked at the empty drawers with disappointment.

          “Try the room behind it. It’s usually in a locked drawer.” Stevens pointed at a closed door behind Casey.

            “Let’s find out.” Casey took a step back from the door and gave it a hard kick near the handle.

            The door frame gave in and the door fell off its hinges. To their surprise, a mob of zombies poured out at them. Casey shoved his shotgun to hold back the swarming zombies, but got his shotgun taken away from his hands. Stevens swung his golf club franticly at the zombies, but it was no use.

            “Fire at will.” Casey kicked at the zombies as he reached for his Lock 17 sidearm.

            Stevens took one more swing and dropped his golf club before taking out his M16. Casey fired three rounds into the nearest zombie and then popped two rounds into another zombie. Stevens fired bursts into the crowd trying to hold the line. Suddenly, a couple of single shot fires came from behind Casey and Stevens and took out the swarming zombies.

          “Figured you could use a hand there Sarge.” Hawkes grinned as he held a M16 with a smoking barrel.

            “Thanks Hawkes.” Casey stood up and slid his Lock 17 into his holster.

            Casey walked over to the shotgun he dropped and picked it up. Stevens stood frozen still holding his M16 pointed at where the zombies were standing before.

            “We’re all alright now.” Casey patted Steven’s shoulder, “Thanks for the cover.”

        “Oh, okay. Yeah, no problem Sarge.” Stevens lowered his gun and wiped off a sweat from his forehead.

            Casey walked into the room and flipped over a drawer. He picked up the golf club Stevens dropped and bashed at the locks. After a couple bashes, the lock broke and Casey pried it open.

           “Cash! Looks like you’re right Stevens.” Casey grabbed a pouch full of bills and begun to count them.

            “Looks like you do know something after all.” Hawkes joked.

            “I was a civilian before the outbreak.” Stevens replied.

            “Three…hundred…make it four hundred and twenty dollars.” Casey counted the bills.

            “Not bad, the zombie mob was not expected.” Hawkes pointed at the dead zombies with his M16.

            Casey stuffed the money pouch into his backpack and then handed the golf club to Stevens.

            “Keep it, you found it.” Casey passed the club over.

            “Thanks.” Stevens took off his backpack and shoved the golf club into it.

            “Let’s go search the other stores.” Casey waved at Hawkes to exit the store.

            The group exited the sports ship and went to a food store. There were broken glass everywhere on the ground and spilled cans on the ground.

            “Watch your feet gentlemen.” Casey waved his men.

            “Sarge, need me to watch the entrance?” Hawkes asked as he checked his ammo in his gun.

            “Sure, that would be great.” Casey thanked.

            “Stevens, scavenge whatever supplies we can get.” Casey pointed at the cans on the ground.

            “Copy that Sarge.” Stevens acknowledged with a nod and begun to pick up cans.

            Hawkes stood at the entrance and looked left and right. He saw two zombies walking on his left towards him. He decided to wait until the zombies got closer so he could take them out silently. As the zombies moaned and growled towards him, he noticed one of the zombies was the mall security guard.

            “Nice looking Kevlar vest.” Hawkes examined the zombie and took out his combat knife.

            Hawkes charged at the security guard zombie and shoved the zombie to the ground. Then he went up to the next zombie and kneed it to its spine followed by a slash to the zombie’s neck. The security guard zombie got up and growled loudly and ran at Hawkes. Hawkes shoved the knife into the zombie’s open mouth until it came out the other side. Without breaking a sweat, Hawkes had taken out the two zombies in less than two minutes. Hawkes crouched to the dead zombie and took off the Kevlar vest.

            “Brand spiffin’ new.” Hawkes examined the armor and put it into his backpack.

            Stevens picked up a crushed box of crushed cereal and examined it. He turned it upside down and some moldy cereal dropped out. He dropped the box with disgust and picked up a tin can.

            “Baked beans aren’t that bad…right Sarge?” Stevens hollered over an aisle.

            “Better than eating nothing.” Casey replied back as he threw an empty soda can onto the ground.

            “This is Zyrok, how are things going so far Sergeant?” Zyrok’s voice spoke on the RaidCall.

        “Lieutenant, we had encountered a mob of zombies and had to go weapons free. So far we’ve managed to keep ourselves silent as possible sir.” Casey reported back on the RaidCall.

            “Copy that, safety’s first. If you feel the need, go weapons free. How’s the search coming along?” Zyrok asked.

            “We managed to loot some weapons and food, but still no signs of life here LT.” Casey spoke on the RaidCall while he searched the aisles in frustration.

         “Roger that Sergeant, no luck here on our end as well. We’ve got some snacks and a couple of plasters. Zyrok out.” Zyrok spoke with some disappointment.

            “Looks like we need to move on.” Casey hollered to where Stevens was.

            “You got it Sarge, on my way out to meet up with Hawkes then.” Stevens shuffled slowly on the broken glass.