Blackout

One year earlier.

The zodiac crashed upon the waves as they made their way towards the coastline. A storm was brewing in the distance behind them, its triumphant tremors echoed through the turbulent water, indicating the dangers to come.

“This shit’s pretty fucked up.” Rookie commented.

“Hooah.” Said Toast.

Captain Knox snapped his fingers. The men gave him their attention.

“This shit-hole is crawling with them.” He said. “Most of them look like the regular kind you see around but I want to keep this op silent. If there are any other types here I’d rather avoid them.”

“I heard that, you know, the Doctor was here experimenting on ponies.” Rookie told them.

Clouds began to roll over. What was left of the daylight slowly crept away. The Captain turned on his flash light, the others followed suit.

“Keep your shit together,” he ordered them, “This mission is Recon only. Don’t engage any targets that don’t block your path. Understood?”

“Yes, Sir.” They answered.

“Load up, safety off. Watch for civvies.”

As the zodiac made its way closer to the beach, Knox switched off the motor in an attempt to avoid detection. As their craft glided onto the sand and beached itself they departed and spread out along a ridge of sand about twenty metres inland.
Knox peered from the cover of the ridge, directly in front of them lay the main entrance to the town of Borenai covered with hundreds of Infected. Around the gradual incline were cliff faces on all sides that reached as far as the eye could see in either direction.

Too many, he thought. “Toast, is there another entrance to the town mentioned in the brief?”

Toast scanned his PDA, analysing the map and cross referencing co-ordinates mentioned in their mission briefing.
“One,” he replied, “a mine tunnel about two kilometres south of here.”

Knox paused in thought. “What's between us and it?”

“About one and a half kilometres of beach and half a kilometre of mangroves.” Toast replied.

“Then that is our best bet.”

“Mangroves will slow us down, Sir,” Rook commented.

“We don't have much choice,” said Knox.

On Knox's command all three men got up and moved along the ridge to the south. The infected on the other side hadn’t noticed them.

As soon as he could see the mangroves Knox halted and scanned the other side of the ridge, checking for hostiles.
“Area clear,” said Knox.

Knox crossed the ridge and moved towards the mangroves. The team followed closely but stayed a pace behind each other so that no-one would step on anyone else.

At the edge of the mangroves the bank sloped away under water. The mangrove roots were partially submerged but remained, for the most part, above the water.

Knox took hold of a mangrove tree and pulled himself up, standing on the roots. “Watch your footing, its slippery.”
A cracking sound broke through the silence. Toast looked around. Nothing.

The team moved deeper into the mangroves, this far in all directions looked the same. They couldn't see the beach, the ocean or the cliff face. Knox routinely checked his compass, to ensure they remained on track.

Deep in the mangrove jungle a moan pierced the air. The murky water stirred beneath their hooves.

“Fuck it.” Knox cursed. “Don't touch the water.”

“No shit,” said Rook.

“Stow it.”

They continued through the jungle as fast as they could.

Barely audible, a whisper of breath pierced the silence.

“Did you hear that?” asked Rook.

“Keep quiet,” said Knox.

Rook took a step towards another mangrove root and held on tightly to the tree. His hoof clapped the root in front of him but slipped off.

“Shit,” said Rook.

Knox looked back and saw Rook clinging to the tree with his left hoof dangling above the water. “Check your footing.” He ordered.

“Captain!” Rookie shouted as he plunged in the murky water below.

“Rook!” shouted Toast and Knox as they clambered back to the tree he fell from.

“Rook, come on!” Toast shouted.

In the distance a powerful shriek pierced the air.

“What the fuck was that?” Toast asked.

Rook splashed up from the water, gasping for air. He flailed his forelegs about, Knox and Toast grabbed him and pulled him clear of the water.

“Did you hear that Captain?” Rook asked. “The noise?”

“Yeah I heard it.” He answered. “Keep your eyes peeled. If you see it, try to stay away from it.”

“What the fuck happened, man?” Toast asked.

“I don't know, I think something pulled me under.”

The murky water began to stir all around them. Knox's eyes opened wide in fear and anticipation.

“GO, get the fuck out of here!”

They moved as fast as they could towards the edge of the jungle. Finally, Knox saw sand ahead.

Almost there, He thought as he leapt ever closer to the bank.

They breathed heavily as they reached dry land, their relief, however was short lived. A crack of thunder erupted from the skies above. Thousands of droplets fell from the open skies and pounded the ground below.

“Ah, shit,” said Knox.

“Captain,” Toast began, he pointed toward the cliff face, “Look, the mine opening.”

“Move it!” he motioned towards the opening. The team sprinted into the open tunnel.

Knox activated his Tactical light, gripping his M16A4 tightly, and peered into the tunnel ahead. On the ceiling a series of deactivated fluorescent lights followed the path deep into the mine.

“Toast, motion tracker,” Knox commanded.”

Toast set up the tracker at the entrance to the mine. “It should give us an indication if anyone is following us, but it won't show anything more than ten metres in, the signal is bouncing off the stone.”

“Alright, let’s move out.” Rook took point as they moved into the dark abyss.

Subtly at first a wafted stench of rotten flesh flowed through the air. Then it was stronger, more present. Knox halted and pointed his tactical light around but was unable to determine the source. He turned to ask the others if they could smell it too.

The stench of rotting flesh amplified as a whisper of hot breath brushed against his right cheek. Frantic, Knox turned and snapped his M16 to his front. He scanned for anything moving, but there was nothing. Reluctantly Knox relaxed and continued moving forward.

As they moved deeper into the tunnel a dark shadow behind them edged ever closer to the wall and disappeared.
The stench of rotting flesh dissipated as they moved further into the darkness ahead. Gradually moss became more noticeable on the walls, floors and ceiling.

A continual wave-like sound began to echo through the tunnel. They couldn’t tell how far away it was.

A light flickered, Rook smacked his Tactical light. It flickered once more and then went out. “Fuck!” he said under his breath.
“Change the batteries, you’ve got the spares,” said Knox.

Rook patted his pocket and searched his webbing. Nothing.

“I think they fell out when I went under.”

“Fucking hell,” Knox began, “Toast, I want you on point, I’ll take our six.”

They moved on, edging slowly into the darkness. A sense of cold came over them as they approached a fork in their path.