UNSCDF2 Chapter 31- Finding Level Zulu

Reygi, Kandahar, Afghanistan

UNSC Camp

April 21, 2001

1525 Local Time

            A troop transport Warthog approached the UNSC camp and was greeted by Reid and Mendoza. Zyrok stepped out of the passenger’s seat and waved the marines on the Warthog to get off. Casey turned off the ignition and grabbed his Sega-20 whilst Williams and Christopher jumped out the back of the Warthog. Frederick just sat coolly in her seat.

            “Captain, the guns are out.” Reid handed Zyrok a pair of binoculars.

            Zyrok took the binoculars and looked at the Secronom Research Facility in the distant. The sentry guns were no longer there and seemed to have gone back underground.

            “Good job.” Zyrok smiled in satisfaction as he returned the binoculars back to Reid.

            “Zyrok, shall we go?” Reid asked.

            “We’re going, but you and your team is staying behind to watch the camp.” Zyrok replied.

            “Sir, I would like to join you. Morgan and Mendoza can take care of this camp pretty well.” Reid requested.

            “That’s correct sir.” Mendoza replied in agreement.

            “No, we need you here in case the Russians or the militia show up.” Zyrok countered.

            “Understood sir.” Reid said with disappointment.

            “I’ll let you know if we need you.” Zyrok replied.

            “Camp, this is Forester. Are Zyrok and Frederick on their way here? We’re waiting at the entrance.” Forester spoke on the RaidComm.

            “Forester, this is Zyrok. We’ve reached the camp and are on our way there.” Zyrok replied back.

            “Get back on marines.” Casey ordered as he got into the driver’s seat.

            Williams grabbed a seat beside Frederick while Christopher sat in front of her.

            “See you soon Lieutenant.” Zyrok saluted Reid and got in the passenger’s seat.

            “Good luck sir.” Reid saluted back as he watched Casey turned the ignition on.

            Casey stepped on the accelerator and the Warthog sped forward towards the facility. As the Warthog passed the broken fence with a stationary troop transport Warthog, Zyrok turned his head.

            “Stop.” Zyrok shouted.

            Casey slammed on the brakes and Zyrok got out. Zyrok looked at the Warthog and then looked at the ground.

            “What is it Zyrok?” Frederick asked as she climbed out of the vehicle.

            “Powell…” Zyrok saw a half buried Powell in the sand.

            Zyrok ran to the body and knelt to the ground.

            “I’m sorry Powell, may you be in a better place now.” Zyrok reached for Powell’s UNSC dog tag and removed it.

            “Rest in peace.” Frederick approached Zyrok and placed her hand on Zyrok’s shoulder.

            “Let’s bury him.” Zyrok cupped his hands in the sand around him and poured it over the body.

            Frederick watched as Zyrok continued to put sand over Powell’s body and froze in thought. She knew that Powell was not part of Echo Squad, but Zyrok treated him like he was in their squad. Most officers would pick up the UNSC dog tags and leave, but Zyrok did more. Suddenly Frederick realized that she was motionless as Zyrok was burying Powell. She knelt to the ground and began to help Zyrok bury Powell. As Frederick assisted Zyrok, the rest of the marines seated in the Warthog rushed over and began to follow Zyrok’s actions. In a matter of minutes, Powell’s body was buried in a heap of sand.

            “Thank you.” Zyrok thanked the marines and stood up.

            “You’re different Zyrok.” Frederick whispered as she got up.

            “Huh?” Zyrok didn’t quite catch what Frederick said to him.

            “Oh, it’s nothing.” Frederick looked away and walked to the Warthog.

            “Williams, get the other Warthog and drive with us to the entrance.” Zyrok pointed at the Warthog between the broken fences.

            “Yes sir.” Williams replied and hurried off.

            Zyrok got back in the passenger’s seat and pointed at the main gates. Casey watched as the marines got on his Warthog and then sped to the gates where Forester and her marines were waiting.

            “Open sesame!” Casey hollered and smiled.

            Forester nodded and pressed a button inside a small room and the gates slid open. Casey slowly drove the Warthog to the building as Williams drove the other Warthog behind him.

            “Need a lift Lieutenant?” Williams stopped beside Forester and her team and offered a ride.

            “Sure, thanks.” Forester thanked and climbed to the passenger’s seat.

            The rest of Forester’s team climbed aboard the Warthog and sat comfortably in their seats. As Casey drove his Warthog to the building, Zyrok studied the exteriors and looked at the map he brought.

            “Park it there.” Zyrok pointed at a side door.

            “Aye sir.” Casey steered the Warthog left.

            Williams followed Zyrok and parked his Warthog beside Casey. All the marines got out of their vehicles and huddled next to a door.

            “Alright people, this is it. We’re here at the Secronom Research Facility and now we have to find whatever secrets it holds within.” Zyrok briefed.

            “Most doors require a Secronom keycard, so be on the lookout for these.” Forester held up two keycards in the air.

            “What’s the plan Zyrok?” Taylor asked.

            “Search the entire building.” Zyrok replied instantly.

            “Here, have one.” Forester gave Zyrok a keycard.

            “Are these hard to find?” Zyrok asked quietly.

            “Somewhat, but most of the time it can be found in the office desks.” Forester answered back quietly.

            “Marines, you are to report back to your commanding officers and await further orders. Forester and I will be in charge of Echo while Frederick will be in charge of Jackal.” Zyrok ordered.

            “Let’s get going soldiers.” Frederick shouted.

            “Frederick, May’s team is currently guarding the Control Room.” Forester interrupted.

            “Ok, thanks. Williams, Christopher, and I will head on over there.” Frederick thanked.

            Frederick opened the door for her marines to enter. Zyrok smiled at Frederick as she walked in and the door closed behind her.

            “Forester, you guys can go first. Taylor and Schmidt on me.” Zyrok looked at his watch.

            “Sir?” Casey looked at Zyrok.

            “Go with Forester.” Zyrok directed.

            Forester looked at Zyrok with a confused face, but decided not to ask Zyrok. Forester led her team inside as Zyrok took out his map.

            “Zyrok?” Taylor attempted to break the awkward silence.

            “Oh, right. The map we recovered from the Archives does not indicate Level Zulu, but the Archives mentioned about this level. I want to see if we can find it.” Zyrok explained.

            “Do you think it’s outside here?” Schmidt asked as he looked around.

            “Could be…the sentry guns in the map are shown on Level 1. However, you can see that the guns clearly go underground, but it’s not shown on the B1 map.” Zyrok flipped through the maps.

            “Are you suggesting we find the entrance to the sentry guns and see what’s down there?” Taylor pointed at the ground.

            “Something like that.” Zyrok nodded.

            “Then let’s got check it out.” Schmidt said enthusiastically.

            The marines ran to the side of the building where a sentry gun originally was. The ground had a metal cover enclosing the guns.

            “Do we pry it open or blow the cover off?” Schmidt stomped on the metal ground.

            “What’s with people and blowing things up?” Zyrok shook his head.

            “Because it’s fun?” Schmidt joked.

            “There’s an access panel right there.” Zyrok pointed at the edge of the cover.

            “I didn’t see that…” Schmidt’s voice trailed off as he felt stupid.

            Zyrok crouched beside the panel and swiped the Secronom keycard. The panel beeped and prompted for an access code.

            “Get me a bypass.” Zyrok ordered as he stepped away from the panel.

            Schmidt crouched and began to unscrew the access panel. Taylor watched as Schmidt studied the wiring and cut two wires. Zyrok removed his datapad from his belt and gave it to Schmidt.

            “Thanks.” Schmidt took the datapad from Zyrok and attached two cables to it.

            After a minute, four digits popped up and Schmidt pressed enter. The metal cover hissed and slid open.

            “Get ready.” Zyrok took out his Desert Fox sidearm and readied himself.

            The ground below was illuminated by some wall lights and the light outside. In the center was a sentry gun with a stockpile of ammunition.

            “Schmidt, take point. Taylor, watch our six.” Zyrok ordered as he quickly checked his Exterminator Mesh GT armor.

            Schmidt pointed his M16 down and saw a ladder. He slung the gun over his back and climbed down while Taylor watched from the top with his MSG-9 ready to shoot at any hostiles. Once Schmidt reached the bottom, he scanned the room with his M16 while Zyrok climbed down.

            “See anything boss?” Taylor yelled from the top.

            “No, it seems like it’s just a sentry gun and some computers for controls.” Zyrok walked around the floor.

            “A wild goose chase.” Schmidt sighed.

            “Alright, let’s head back up.” Zyrok replied in disappointment.

            “Zyrok, this reminds me of hunting the Titans.” Schmidt spoke his thoughts.

            “It sure does, but at least we’re not looking to pick a fight.” Zyrok climbed up the ladder.

            “I hope not.” Schmidt joked.

            “Zyrok, this is Frederick here. We found something in the Control Room. You have to come see it.” Frederick spoke on the RaidComm with a hint of surprise in her voice.

            “What is it Frederick?” Zyrok responded back.

            “Just come to the Control Room and see for yourself.” Frederick urged.

            “Alright Frederick, I’ll be there in a few minutes.” Zyrok laughed lightly.

            “Level Zulu?’ Taylor guessed.

            “Don’t know Taylor, but let’s see what Frederick and her team have in store for us.” Zyrok slid his pistol back into his holster.