UNSCDF Chapter 30- The Wilderness

Roosevelt National Forest, Colorado, USA

Signal Mountain

March 25, 2001

2015 Local Time

            Zyrok woke up from the sounds of electric sparks and fire crackling beside him. He turned his head and saw Pruett moaning in pain as he touched his cracked visor. Smoke was pouring into the cockpit as fire spread from the cockpit doors.

            “Zyrok, get out!” Casey shouted from the back of the Pelican.

            “You guys get to safety first! We’ll have to escape from the windows.” Zyrok shouted back as he unbuckled his seatbelt.

            “Alright sir.” Casey replied with a cough.

            “Pruett, let’s get you out of here.” Zyrok shook Pruett.

            “I can’t. It’s stuck.” Pruett frantically pulled his seatbelt as he saw the flames dance towards him.

            “Hold on.” Zyrok pulled out his bowie knife and slashed at the seatbelt.

            With a few slashes, the belt ripped and Pruett pulled away in time as the flames consumed his chair. Zyrok looked at a side window that was cracked and began to hit it with his knife. Pruett reached under the console and pulled out a fire extinguisher.

            “I’ll hold back the fire as long as I can.” Pruett sprayed the nozzle at the flames nearby while Zyrok continued to smash the window.

            After a minute, the window began to chip and the fire became more and more intense. Pruett coughed as he inhaled smoke and began to wobble.

           “Pruett, take my helmet. You’re breathing in too much smoke through that crack in your visor.” Zyrok turned around.

            “You need yours too.” Pruett replied with a cough.

            “Give me your helmet and I’ll give you mine. That’s an order.” Zyrok commanded.

            Pruett took off his helmet and exchanged with Zyrok. Zyrok took the damaged helmet and swung it at the window while covering his face with one arm. Pruett stopped coughing as he felt smokeless air enter his lungs.

            “Let’s go!” Zyrok shouted as he smashed the helmet with all his might at the window and broke it to pieces.

            As the window broke, a surge of fresh air entered the cockpit and added oxygen to the fire.

            “Argh!” Pruett screamed as he caught fire on his chest.

            “Get out now!” Zyrok shouted as he grabbed Pruett to the window.

            Pruett climbed out of the cockpit and ran outside where he was greeted by the other marines. Zyrok dropped the damaged helmet and coughed heavily. As he was climbing out, he saw the flames consume the whole cockpit. Once Zyrok was out, he felt his chest burn from the smoke inhalation and dropped to the ground.

            “Zyrok!” Schmidt called out as he saw Zyrok drop a few meters away from the flaming Pelican.

            Nevarez and Schmidt quickly ran up to Zyrok and pulled him to safety just in time as the Pelican exploded. The explosion shook the ground and ignited the nearby trees.

            “We have to get out of here. Either the fire is going to kill us or zombies nearby.” Casey ordered.

            “Agreed.” Taylor nodded as he clutched his injured arm.

            “An explosion that big…I don’t want to see that tentacle zombie pop up here.” Schmidt shivered at his thought.

            “Nevarez and Schmidt, carry Zyrok while Pruett and I take point.” Casey commanded.

            “Yes sir.” Nevarez and Schmidt replied in unison.

            Nevarez lifted Zyrok to his feet and slung one arm around his back while Schmidt slung the other arm. Taylor looked at the gash on his left arm and applied pressure to it.

            “Here.” Casey reached into his backpack and pulled out a roll of bandages.

            “Thanks.” Taylor thanked as Casey wrapped the bandages around his wound.

            “How are the others?” Pruett looked at Taylor’s wound.

            “A couple of bruises and scratches, but we’ll live.” Casey replied.

            The marines continued walking away from the crash site until they could only see the smoke in the sky. Zyrok muttered something under his breath and coughed.

            “He’s awake.” Nevarez shouted to Casey.

            “Zyrok! Can you hear me?” Casey asked as Nevarez and Schmidt placed Zyrok onto the ground.

            “Water…water.” Zyrok coughed as his lungs burned.

            “Alright.” Casey took out his water bottle and poured it slowly into Zyrok’s mouth.

            “Thanks.” Zyrok felt refreshed.

            “Take it easy boss.” Casey patted Zyrok.

            “Is everyone okay?” Zyrok turned his head to look around.

            “Still standing.” Taylor walked over.

            “Sir, you can have your helmet back.” Pruett walked over beside Zyrok and crouched beside him.

            “Thanks.” Zyrok took his helmet and wore it.

            “No, thank you. You saved me.” Pruett expressed his gratitude.

            “Zyrok, always putting yourself first before others.” Casey exclaimed.

            “That’s what I do.” Zyrok sat upright.

            “Best CO ever.” Pruett clapped.

            “Indeed.” Taylor clapped along.

            “Gee, thanks.” Zyrok felt uncomfortable.

            “I knew you were a good man from the first time we met.” Casey lifted Zyrok to his feet.

            “Let’s head west.” Zyrok looked at his datapad.

            “Anywhere we can get rescued is really all that I care.” Nevarez gave his thoughts.

            “Let’s go then. We should be able to reach an old radar station in a few kilometers.” Zyrok tapped his datapad screen.

            “We can use our communications here.” Schmidt tapped his helmet.

            “Go ahead, we’re in the middle of nowhere. RaidCall only works short range.” Taylor laughed.

            “Hopefully, our distress signal got heard.” Pruett looked at the darkened skies.

            “It will.” Zyrok reassured with optimism.

            “Let’s stay positive people.” Casey smiled.

         “We’ll go for another kilometer trek down and set up camp at the base of the mountain.” Zyrok pointed down the mountain.

            Nevarez sighed as he kicked a rock with boredom and Taylor stopped in his tracks as he examined his bandage.

            “Everything alright?” Zyrok patted Taylor’s back.

            “Yeah boss, I’m fine.” Taylor replied and continued to walk.

            The group of marines slowly made their way down a steep slope holding on to nothing but bushes, vines, and tree roots for support. Next, the men trekked on a rocky terrain full of gravel and coarse rocks before reaching the bottom of the mountain.

            “What a day!” Nevarez threw himself to the ground in exhaustion.

            “Indeed Nevarez.” Schmidt sat on the ground and stretched his legs.

            “We’re not done yet. We’ve still got a camp to build.” Zyrok laughed as Nevarez groaned.

            “Just when I thought the day was finally going well.” Nevarez joked.

          “Casey and Nevarez can go look for firewood. Pruett and Schmidt will establish a perimeter while Taylor and I will set up shelter.” Zyrok directed.

            “You heard the Captain. Let’s move it people!” Casey ordered.

            Zyrok watched as Nevarez and Casey headed off to find firewood while Pruett and Schmidt readied their guns to scout the perimeter.

            “I’ll see if I can find some leafy plants for shelter.” Taylor took off his backpack and dropped it to the ground along with his M21.

            “Okay. I’ll find a soft place for us to rest.” Zyrok looked at the gravel under his feet.

            “Sounds good, just be careful.” Taylor cautioned.

            “You too man. We’ll never know what we’ll find in this forest.” Zyrok smiled as Taylor walked off.