UNSCDF Chapter 4- An Unexpected Turn

Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

Pacific Center Mall

March 15^th, 2001

0900 Local Time

Hawkes and Casey entered the hardware store on the second floor. It was semi-barricaded at the front with blocked windows. It took Hawkes and Casey quite some difficulty to squeeze inside.

            “Hello! Anyone here?” Casey hollered assuming that the hardware store was a makeshift holdout.

            “I don’t hear anyone and it’s dark.” Hawkes turned on his flashlight attached on his M16.

            “Private Stevens, come inside and watch the entrance.” Casey spoke on the RaidCall.

            “Roger that, I’m coming in.” Stevens spoke back on the RaidCall.

            Casey turned on his flashlight on his shotgun and pointed it at the entrance they squeezed through. Stevens’ head popped in and then he squeezed inside.

            “Take point here.” Casey shone his light at the entrance, “We’ll go take a look.”

            Casey and Hawkes slowly walked past some broken boards and furniture and then split up in different aisles. Casey swept his gun back and forth as he advanced down the aisle. Hawkes panned his gun left and right as he walked down aisle by aisle. Casey turned to a closed door and slowly reached the handle. Casey wanted it to be stealthy and not be like the mistake they had made in the sports store. He slowly turned the handle and pushed the door open slowly. He stuck the barrel of his gun forward and turned his head in. The light revealed a radio, food, and bottles of water.

            “There are survivors here.” Casey told himself as he picked up some water bottles and food and placed it into his backpack.

            Hawkes continued to sweep the aisles and reached the storage room. He steadied himself as he poked his gun into the darkness. He approached a heavy duty metal door and heard some whispers. Stevens stood his ground and looked around as he shone his light at the cash registers. He suddenly turned around to the entrance thinking that he had heard a noise. He tightened his grip on the gun and walked forward. Click. Stevens froze as he felt a gun barrel touch the back of his helmet.

            “Freeze!” a man said from behind Stevens. “Drop your weapon.”

            “We’re here to help.” Stevens lowered his M16 and placed it onto the ground.

            “Turn around slowly.” the man ordered as he nudged his gun at Stevens’ back.

            Stevens turned around and saw a man holding a Webster 1942.

            “Who are you?” the man asked.

            “Private Zack Stevens from the UNSC, sir.” Stevens pointed at his name stenciled on his flak jacket.

            “Thank goodness, I thought you might be those looters who steal from other survivors.” the man lowered his gun.

            “We’ve received a transmission and we’re on a search and rescue mission.” Stevens said.

            “I’m Tim Owens, the last survivor here.” the man looked relieved.

            “What happened to the others?” Stevens asked.

            “A horde was roaming here and got them all.” Tim looked upset.

            “Well, let’s get going then. I’ll notify my Sergeant.” Stevens looked around and then decided to use RaidCall.

          “Sarge, I’ve found the last remaining survivor. He’s with me at the entrance.” Stevens spoke on the RaidCall.

            “That’s great. Regroup at the entrance and I’ll notify Zyrok.” Casey commanded.

            “What about my stuff?” Tim pointed at a direction down the aisles.

            Suddenly, a series of machine gun fire echoed from the back of the store.

            “Run now!” Hawkes ran out of the storage room spraying at a horde of zombies chasing after him.

            “Forget your stuff! Get outside first.” Stevens picked up his M16 and dragged Tim out the entrance.

            As Hawkes ran towards the entrance, Casey slid beside him and pumped three rounds into the crowd.

            “Go!” Casey shouted.

            “Got it.” Hawkes squeezed out of the entrance and quickly reloaded his M16.

            “Zyrok, do you read over?” Stevens spoke on the RaidCall.

            “Loud and clear. What’s the noise downstairs?” Zyrok spoke back and asked.

            “A horde of zombies are attacking us. Request backup on the second floor hardware store next to the elevators.” Stevens called for help.

            “Copy that, we’re on the way.” Zyrok replied.

            Casey squeezed out the entrance quickly as the zombies attempted to pull him. Hawkes laid down a heavy cover to hold the zombies from pouring out. The barricade gave way and the horde poured out.

            “Run!” Casey shouted as he fired his shotgun.

            Stevens and Tim ran towards the escalators next to the elevators and realized there were more zombies running upwards.

            “Bottom is compromised!” Stevens fired bursts at the oncoming zombies.

            “Head up, Zyrok can cover us.” Casey ordered.

            Hawkes emptied his gun and placed a new clip and headed to the escalators.

           “Go, go, go.” Hawkes tapped Stevens’ shoulder and took his place holding the zombies from coming up.

            Stevens reloaded his gun and ran up the escalators.

            “Clear!” Stevens shouted.

            Casey and Time ran up the escalators and stood next to Stevens.

            “Hawkes, get up here. Cover fire people.” Casey shouted.

            Hawkes stopped firing and slung his gun over his back as the zombie horde and the mob of zombies downstairs ran at him. Hawkes ran up the escalators while the men laid down heavy support fire. When Hawkes reached the top, he turned around and fired a couple of shots.

          “This is Zyrok and Taylor on the fourth floor in position. Head for the roof, we’ll provide cover.” Zyrok spoke on the RaidCall.

            “Got it LT, on it.” Casey waved at the men to head up.

            The men hurried up the next set of escalators while Taylor fired continuous headshots at the zombies behind them. Zyrok was standing next to the entrance to the roof stairs waving them to head up. Casey took out some shells from his belt pouch and loaded his shotgun. He pumped one round to one zombie’s head and another to its chest. Casey stood beside Zyrok and watched as Stevens, Hawkes, and Tim got up.

            “Taylor, get in here now!” Zyrok shouted as he fired at a zombie behind Taylor.

            “Yes sir!” Taylor swung his sniper rifle over his back and sprinted towards Zyrok.

            Zyrok and Casey fired furiously at the oncoming zombies. When Taylor headed up, Zyrok and Casey headed inside and closed the door. The zombies pounded furiously and violently while Casey and Zyrok pressed against the door trying to keep the door from bursting open.

            “Try this. It’s empty anyways.” Taylor offered his M21.

            Zyrok took the M21 and wedged it between the door handles. It was going to hold, but not for long.

            “We need to call for evac now!” Zyrok waved at Taylor to head to the roof.

           Casey and Taylor ran up the stairs and regrouped with an exhausted Stevens, Hawkes, and Tim sitting on the ground. Zyrok took one last look at the M21 wedge and ran up the stairs.

            “This is Echo Team to Foxtrot 515 requesting immediate evac on the Pacific Center Mall roof over.” Zyrok spoke on the RaidCall.

           “We read you Echo Team, we just left base headed for the extraction point. Rerouting flight path. ETA ten minutes.” Stewart replied.

          “Listen up gentlemen, our ride isn’t going to be here in another ten minutes. Reload all guns and prepare to defend the rooftops.” Zyrok spoke to the men.

            Stevens took out his clip and looked at the near empty clip. He put the clip into his belt pouch and took out a full magazine. Casey loaded two shells into his shotgun and pumped it. Hawkes looked into his ammo pouch and saw one clip remaining. He pulled out his Lock 17 and loaded the gun. Taylor just looked at everyone loading their primaries and shrugged. He reached for his Lock 17 and cocked the handgun. Tim sat on the ground as he emptied the barrel of his revolver. He checked his pocket to find two rounds remaining. He slid the bullets into the revolver and set his gun down beside him as he watched the marines form a defensive line in front of the entrance. Zyrok walked to the edge of the stairs and looked at the door. The handles and door frame was loosening as the zombies continued to bash violently.

            “Get ready.” Zyrok shouted as he formed up in the defensive line.

            “Tim, get behind us.” Casey shouted at Tim who looked scared.

            The door frame broke and the zombies poured up the stairs.

            “Fire!” Zyrok shouted as five more zombies appeared.

            Casey blasted one round at the first zombie and then sprayed another round at the emerging horde. Stevens fired single shots towards the heads in attempt to hold the line. Hawkes fired bursts of two into the masses of zombies trying to lay a light cover. An endless wave of zombies continued to pour out onto the rooftops. The marines began to move back slowly as some of the marines reloaded.

            “Down to my last clip.” Hawkes shouted as he placed his last magazine into his gun.

            “Take mine Hawkes, I still have one more.” Stevens hurled a magazine at him.

            “Thanks bud!” Hawkes caught the magazine with one hand and continued to fire.

            Casey took the last shell from his belt and fed it into his shotgun. A zombie leapt at him and made him swerve his shot. Casey swung the butt of his shotgun and slammed it hard to the zombie’s skull.

            “I’m out!” Casey swung the empty shotgun at a zombie and slung it to his back.

            Casey kicked a zombie and pulled out his Lock 17 and fired. Taylor fired his Lock 17 as he noticed a zombie approaching a reloading Stevens.

            “Thanks Taylor. Last clip guys.” Steven smiled at Taylor and continued to fire.

            Zyrok fired his USP into the crowd and checked his spare clips. He knew his team wasn’t going to survive against a horde with just pistols. He looked at his watch and then looked at the sky.

            “They must be here.” Zyrok scanned the skies and saw nothing.

            “LT, I’m running low on my sidearm.” Taylor shouted as he reloaded his gun.

            “Here, take mine instead.” Zyrok tossed him his USP and his remaining clips.

            “What about you sir?” Taylor grabbed the USP and asked.

            “I’ll use my knife.” Zyrok pulled out his bowie knife and charged at a zombie.

            “Out! Switching to secondary.” Hawkes switched over to his pistol.

            Tim looked at the zombies pouring out and then at the marines shooting down zombies with nothing but their pistols and knives. He noticed a zombie behind Zyrok and placed a well aimed shot. Bam! The zombie head exploded as the bullet hit its skull. Zyrok turned around and nodded thanks.

            “Argh!” Stevens screamed as two zombies whacked his flak jacket.

            Casey ran to Stevens and fired at the two zombies. Casey looked at Stevens’ damaged flak jacket and helped Stevens up to his feet.

            “Thanks Sarge.” Stevens looked at his chest.

            “Fall back!” Zyrok ordered, “Fall back!”

            The men slowly retreated to the edge of the roof and formed a box around Tim. Hawkes was down to his last clip and Casey was down to three rounds. Stevens has switched over to his golf club and was swinging the club randomly. Both Zyrok and Taylor had reverted to using melee as the zombies ran at them. Suddenly, an engine noise came from behind them and a Pelican lifted upwards.

            “This is Foxtrot 515, ready for evac. Need a hand?” Stewart spoke on the RaidCall.

            “About time you got here.” Zyrok spoke with enthusiasm.

            The Pelican turned around and a female marine stood on the mounted M60 turret. She fired the M60 into the crowd as the Pelican docked next to the edge of the roof.

            “Get on!” the woman shouted.

            “Hurry up! Double time!” Zyrok shouted to his men.

            Tim and Stevens got inside and quickly sat down. Taylor looked at Zyrok and then got on.

            “Go LT, I can hold them off.” Hawkes fired his gun while Casey covered Zyrok as he began to move.

            The woman turned the turret to the front line of the zombies and sprayed down some heavy cover.

            “Go!” the woman shouted.

            Casey and Hawkes turned and didn’t look back as the zombies chased after them. Once all the men go onto the Pelican, the woman fired suppressing fire as the Pelican lifted off. The woman dismounted and then sat down in front of Zyrok.

            “Lieutenant Forester from Seattle.” the woman offered her hand.

            “Nice to meet you Lieutenant, I’m Zyrok.” Zyrok shook her hand.

            “We have a lot to talk about.” Forester spoke looking at Zyrok’s men.

            “I’m sure we do.” Zyrok said with exhaustion.

            The Pelican lifted into clouds and headed towards the Richmond Outpost.