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Chapter Text

I write this as an intro to my news career.

                The book I am proud to say did very well. Though band in the Holy Russian Empire, it has done well everywhere else. Sold the most in Israel and Cuba.

                The book did cause some controversy with some of the participants. Grover Carlson had claimed to have been taken ‘out of context.’ Brechinridge “Breck” Scott’s, legal team claimed the book will poison the jury for the upcoming trial. Despite this, I have heard positive feedback from other participants.

                After a book tour and some time for myself, I received a call from an interested party wanting me to start a new organization. I accepted, journalists and other staff members were hired.

                The mission of the World News is to keep you informed of the continued fight with the undead.

Chapter Text

I enter the offices and see my staff hard at work. He see’s 5 of the eight journalists at their desks writing and joking with each other. It doesn't change when they noticed their boss enter, in fact he even joins in.

                The first reporter is a person with a shaved head, black fuzz surrounded their scalp, a neck tattoo of gothic letters spelling FERAL, and a green pearl like tongue piercing. Their name is Kai Smith. They were once a feral child that were found by members of the neighborhood security in Salem. They earned their reputation for their stories on feral children, and there on the group reporting on combat with private extermination groups.

                The second journalist a bald headed man wearing a business suit is Charles Buckinham. He became known for his work reporting on UN and other government actions.

                Vladimir Petrov started his work for the state media before the Zombie War. He reported on the aftermath of the many battles the Russian army fought against the undead. His time came to an end when he refused to covert from Catholicism to the new state religion.

                Omar Le Roux is a South African journalist who followed the South African’s Army in their campaign across the numerous countries that now compose the United States of Southern Africa. A small Zulu drum on the side of his desk, shows his relationship with the ‘zulu’ zombie extermination squad is positive.      

                The last journalist in the room is Maria Sanchez. The dark-skinned woman followed the many nations of the European Union as they fought their zombie wars.

                “All I’m saying is that deer meat out in the sun all day is just as good as a New York strip.” Kai told everyone gave them repulsive looks.

                Kai put up their hands. “Hey when you are a little kid by yourself in a vast land of Zack and crumbling infrastructure you think everything might be your last meal.”

                “Still, we do not wish to hear about your exotic meals you ate as a child.” Charles told them.

                “Hey, Omar asked.”

                “And I regret it.” Omar said.

                “That’s what happens when you break a rule.” Vladimir said keeping his focus on the article he was writing.

                Charles just ignored them as he drank his tea, and writing his emails to his sources. Maria just shook her head at her colleague’s antics.

                “Good morning everyone.” I greated.

                “Morning.” Everyone else said.

                “I hope no one got too grossed out about Kai’s tales eating the delicacies of the panic wasteland.”

                “Only the usual amount.” Vladimir muttered.

                Kai stuck out her tongue and pulled her bottom right eyelid down. “Bleh.” Vladimir just rolled his eyes.

                “Well good to see that everyone is in a good mood this morning.” I said before taking a seat at my desk. “Has anyone heard from Wei?”

                “She sent an email to me, telling me to be ready for an important announcement.” Charles said. “She lacked details.”

                Kai rolled their eyes this time. “I don’t know what she could know all the way in Cambodia.”

                “Well, the campaign in South Asia is almost over, there are many places that need to be cleared.” Vladimir said.

                “Yeah, well most of those places are underwater, on land that is highly irradiated, under the rule of theocrats, or Iceland.” Kai said counting the places with her fingers.

                “Still, it’s good to know that our colleague is alive.” Omar said.

                Vlad nodded. Maria smiled slightly at that.

                There was a half-hour of silence before I checked an email from a source at the UN, and as I read the email my eyes widened. “Charles!”

                He turned towards me. “Yes, sir.”

                “Be at the press room at the UN building at 1 PM!” I told him. “That announcement is coming.”

                Charles looked at me curiously. “What’s happening sir.”

                “They’re about to announce the start of the liberation of Iceland.” I told him.

Chapter Text

At the pressroom at the UN building in New York, Charles Buckingham was in a seat in the middle of a few dozen was in a seat in the middle of reporters from different outlets. There were mingling and murmuring with each other, waiting for the UN press secretary to arrive.

                After around 10 minutes of waiting, the UN press secretary entered the room and made her way to the podium. “Hello everyone, welcome, I will get right to business.”

                She took a moment before she started speaking. “I’m pleased to announce that we are now ready to liberate Iceland from the undead.”

                Charles notice the door where the press secretary entered from opened to reveal a four star general. He walked over to the podium behind the press secretary. “Now to go over the plan, hear is the Commander of zombie command, General Travis D’Ambrosia.”

                “Thank you everyone for being here today.” The general said. “The task of liberating Iceland will be difficult but not impossible as more of the hordes are being tracked or exterminated, I can say for certain that we are ready to liberate the landmass with the highest concentration of the undead.”

                He took a moment before speaking again. “The task won’t be easy and will require the assistance of outside help, and in doing so we have contracted three firms to sail to the north, south, and east coasts. There they will attract the zombies towards them and allow us to land our air ships at Vaprafjorour Airport and to establish a base of operations.”

                There was a moment of silence before he spoke again. “I will be happy to take any questions.”

                The reporters raised their hands hoping to be pointed to. As the general scanned the sea of reporters. He took questions for the next half hour.

                Once the press conference was over, Buckingham took a cab back to the office. Going into the offices, he went to his boss’ office and knocked on the door. “Come in.”

                Buckingham entered the office. “It’s confirmed!”

                “Call a meeting.” The boss told him.

                Buckingham went to the door. “Meeting in the bosses office!”

                “To Iceland!” Kai shouted as she ran into the office.

                Most of the other reporters entered though they had to wait a minute for Omar to enter. “Sorry everyone, trying to get details about troop deployments to clear the Sahara.”

                “It’s alright Omar.” The boss said.

                “Cool Omar was late, can we talk about the liberation of Iceland now.” Kai said impatiently.

                “Yes, you impatient twat.” Buckingham told her playfully.

                Kai sucks their tongue out at him. The boss chuckled. “Alright, Charles if you would.”

                Buckingham went on to explain the announcement and the plan of attack. When he informed them that private mercenary groups were going to be a part of the liberation, Kai’s face brightened as a wide grin appeared on their face.

                “What are the names of the ship?” They asked.

                Looking through his notepad, Buckingham found it. “Let’s see, the ships attacking Iceland are the IS Lee, the IS Dixon, and the IS Imfingo.”

                The boss perked up when the Imfingo was mentioned. “So, we can have on of ours during the beginning.”

                “The UN won’t allow any journalists on their air ships.” Le Roux said.

                “Who said anything about the UN?” Kai said gleefully.

                “I will have to make some calls, but I may be able to get Kai onto the IS Imfingo.” The boss said.

                “You think the UN will let them?” Sanchez asked.

                “We are sending the gremlin?” Petrov asked.

                “That’s what the calls are for, and yes we sending Kai if allowed.”

                “Yes!” Kai shouted excitedly.

                “If! You gremlin. If!” Petrov sternly told them.

                “It’s going to be extremely difficult to dump our favorite feral.” Sanchez said.

Chapter Text

‘Well, it turned out to be super easy, barely an inconvenience.’ Kai Smith thought as they took in the mess hall of the IS Imfingo.

               They were seated with T. Shawn Collins as he ate his breakfast with a face familiar to the journalist. A dark and gloomy face of a woman in her early forties. The woman looked to have never smiled for years, as when Kai interviewed her for a feral child interview six years ago.

               This gloomy feral child is Willow Taylor. When she was only 10 when the zombie outbreak decimated Birmingham. Her parents were killed in the panic when they tried to leave. She was found by the army when they were making their way through the Midlands.

               When Kai saw her, they had given her the biggest hug she had ever given, much to the confusion of the crew and much to Willow’s discomfort.

               Now here they all are eating chow in the ships mess taking the shit. “Looking at you, I wouldn’t think of you as a journalist, you look more like an F-cat that was sleeping in a trash can for days.”

               “Why thank you, and you look like if Crocodile Dundee was sent back in time to the Wild Wild West.”

               “Really, that’s the best you could come up with?” Willow said despondently.

               Kai stuck their tongue out at her causing her to smile a quick small smile that lasted for only a second. Collins saw it as well and gave a hard chuckle while putting his left arm around her.

               Putting their tongue back in their mouth, Kai got serious. “How have you been since our interview?”

               Willow’s mouth upturned for a half-second before speaking. “I have been well, just going through the countryside taking care of the undead I came across.”

               “We eventually found her in the Lake District.” Collins said. “We had a small break while the ship was docked in Liverpool for inspection, surprised us when she sliced the head off a rare one.”

               “A rare one?” Kai asked.

               “A newly infected.” Willow answered.

               “The Z didn’t even show a single sign of decomposition.” Collins adds shaking his head. “The Z must have been swimming when he got bit, fucking idiot.”

               “They approached and asked if I wanted to join and I said yes.”

               “Neat.” Kai said before the intercom sounded.

               “Attention, we will be at our position in one hour, please be ready, thank you.”

               “Well, best get into position.” Collins said.

               Willow nodded. “Good talking to you Kai.”

               “You to.” Kai said pulling out their camera.

               The two mercenaries went to their stations while Kai went to the deck, where the captain and the field commanders were surrounding a large map of Iceland. Captain Jacob Nyath, was going over the docking procedures with the crew while the field commanders were discussing the liberation procedures.

               “Captain, drop the anchor 500 meters from shore.” A Scottish voice told Jacob.

               “Yes, commander Patel.”

               “Alright, we will be attracting the hordes on the island towards the ship and our snipers will eliminate as many as possible, while the UN lands it’s dirigibles.” Patel told everyone as Kai took pictures. “Are the snipers rested?”

               “Yes commander.” A Russian accented voice said.

               “Good, I want them ready when the UN gives the signal, lets get to our stations people.”

               “Yes commander!” They shouted as they got up to prepare.

               Patel turned towards Kai, who was still snapping pictures. He coughed getting their attention. “Um…”

               “Kai.” They calmly introduced themselves.

               “Kai.” He said awkwardly. “We ask, for your safety to stay here in command while we prepare and commence the operation.

               “Of course.”

               “Good.”

               Patel then turned to his men giving orders and receiving reports and Kai just kept taking pictures.

Chapter Text

Revolt

Bolivar, Missouri, USA

[At the house of Bolivar’s former mayor. The former mayor Kennedy Johnson is tending to his garden, while we talk about his experience as the mayor of an isolationist zone.

Bolivar, it’s sadly considered one of the most infamous cities in post war America, just behind the Black Hills. An infamous secessionist zone that fought the army during the liberation going east. Truth be told we were not a secessionist zone until after the Battle of Hope.

What was it like before?

Hare. The police were barely able to get the people to calm down after Yonkers. Not to mention the outbreaks inside and outside of the cities is keeping everyone busy. We were also running out of bullets and food. And we made the mistake that would eventually turn our city into a secessionist zone.

There was a militia that would practice firing automatic weapons outside of city limits. We knew that they all hated the federal government, but we were desperate.

So you asked for the militia’s help?

Yep and before the Federal Government started to reclaim lost territory, we had a good arraignment. They helped us secure the city and thanks to the air drops from the US Air Force we got supplies and food to feed everyone. We almost became self Sufficient.

Almost?

Yeah, we could grow vegetables and raise chickens, but we were always lacking when winter came. It was longer and our electric grid was in shambles. Thankfully an engineer was sent by the army core of engineer’s.

[Johnson takes a moment to exhale]

Much of the folk here didn’t trust him. The militia wanted him out. Thankfully cooler heads prevailed and he managed to fix our power and we didn’t have to worry about our folks dying from the cold. We even could listen to Radio Free Earth.

How?

I don’t know the engineer said it was a stop gap that until it could connect with grids out west. The power will crash weekly, but he was out there fixing it like clockwork. Most of the folk accepted him after the first winter he arrived.

I take it the militia didn’t accept him?

No. It was strike 2 for them. Stike 1 was our city accepting supplies from the federal government. They wanted us to be completely self-sufficient, no government ‘apology’ handouts. I told them that a quarter of our people died due to a lack of food, and supplies. They begrudgingly accepted, but the engineer we had to give him 24/7 protection.

What was strike three?

[Johnson takes a deep breath and sighs]

It was after the president declared his intentions to wipe out the zombie threat from the rest of the country, our town was divided. One side, not happy with the federal government, wanted to return to something more normal, while the other side wanted to secede. Our council meetings would devolve into chaos.

[Taking another moment he continues]

One of the council members came up with the idea of a referendum. A choice to separate or to fully reintegrate with the federal government.

What was the result?

3,206 voted for reintegration, 2,854 for secession. We thought that it would be the end of the division.

[Johnson stops briefly looking up towards the sky]

It didn’t. A couple of weeks after the election the council was having a meeting when a group of seven or eight barged in and held us at gun point. They told us that the police station had been taken over and armory had been secured.

One of the council members initially thought they were bluffing, but he didn’t say it then with machine guns pointed at him. They took us to the jail where most of the police officers were in the cells. We were then placed in the cells as well.

Do you know what happened after?

They executed the engineer and hung let his body hang from a street light. Announced to the citizens that we had manipulated the ballots and that we were under the control of federal agents.

[He then takes a moment to chuckle darkly]

The militia was started to protect their own liberties, but once they got power themselves they start infringing on the liberty of those under them.

There was a woman. Came to every city council meeting, helped raise funds for the animal shelter and library, and even helped organize the pride parade.

[He takes another deep breath]

It was only after the army took the city back was I told that she tried to start a protest to bring elections back. They hung her for it.

The militia would hand 16 people in total ages 14-68.

[He continues to stare at the sky, his face shows sadness]

We were in those cells for 2 months before the army rolled in. We were feed the bare minimum. Our guards glaring at us or mocking us. I recognized a couple of guards as members of the police force. Turns out they were part of the militia way before the outbreak and never left. They were giving inside information to the militia.

When the milita was taking over the police station the chief was about to organize a defense when he was shot by one of them. From what I told they let him bleed out and shot the officers that tried to avenge him. Four fifths of our police officers were either killed or were part of the militia.

Were the officer’s that died…

No, I was told they were given proper burials.

[He sighs, taking a deep long breath]

When did you know when the army attacked?

Me and the other prisoners heard gunshots. We really didn’t think much about it at first. A swarm would come at us once every 4-5 months. It usually ended after 10-20 minutes, but it was different this time. Gun fire lasted longer and the next thing I hear is a boom. Outside I hear the ground rumble and the militia yell, “pull back!” The rumbling got closer as well as fire from guns.

It all lasted for around 3-4 hours. One of the soldiers got us out of our cells and outside and we all saw the destruction of the battle. Seeing those teenage boys that the militia conscripted to fight lying on the ground dead, their assault lying on the ground dead, their assault rifles being clung to like life rafts.

[He shakes his head]

You know that movie where the teenagers volunteer to take on the army because the rebs indoctrinated the children ever since the governments pullout. That wasn’t really the case. Most of the teenage boys were forced to join or else their families were executed in front of them. One of the boys that were on the street his grandmother had been executed when he initially refused. I am thankful to the ‘Wako’ for pardoning the boys that were dragged into this, I am disappointed that most of the leadership only got life in prison.

Why do you think that is?

I think it’s the famous quote, ‘We didn’t leave America, America left us.’ I understand that, if word got out that the army executes it’s prisoners who until recently were abandoned by the people that were supposed to protect them, there would have been more secessionist zones.

I don’t think it would have mattered too much I guess. I mean what did they think was going to happen if they fought the army? The secessionists may have, arguably, the moral high ground and morale might be better, but they were outclassed in every other  way. The army had a manufacturing base and even had factories in the gray on stand by so they could get supplies to the troops faster. And speaking of troops, they are better trained, better equipped, more numerous and better weapons. Those soldiers have body armor and protective helmets.

[He shakes his head again]

So stupid. The militia also made things worse when they hung the engineer. Any sort of reservations the army had about fight the militia were gone and so they came in hard and fast. It was personal. I found his body and a female soldier was being held by a couple of soldiers.

[He sighed sadly, looking at the ground]

The engineer was her twin brother. I was told later that he volunteered to be parachuted in to help us. As the mayor I was the one to announce and agree to an unconditional surrender.

How did your constituency take it?

Mixed. Most were just relieved that the militia’s rule was over. Some were even celebrating. Others were pissed because they trusted the militia more than the army. Some were booing me and the army. To be honest, I didn’t give a damn. I still don’t.

Elections were coming up, and I decided not to run for reelection. Most of the council didn’t run either.

The war on the continent maybe over but Bolivar is still feeling the consequences is still feeling the consequences.

How so?

Of those killed fighting the army, all but one were young men. That’s a huge chunk of the city’s generation. In response many of the young women moved elsewhere, as well as the families of the people killed.

Before the war the city’s population was at 10,679 people. After everything, the panic disease, the cold winters, food shortages, the undead, and the battle… The current census puts our population at around 378 people. I don’t see it changing anytime soon, but I hope the city I spent most of my life in comes back, but I don’t realistically think it will.

[This interview was conducted by Jeffrey Ellison for the World News]

Chapter Text

Undisclosed location, The United Kingdom

[On our way to my subject, I am blindfolded so as not to reveal his location. Taking it into his home, I eventually see that the blinds are down. My two escorts stand by the door. My subject turns off his stove and turns to us. Offering a bowl of borscht to my escorts who politely decline. Taking two bowls out of one of his cabinets, he then scoops up some of the contents into the bowls. After plopping a spoonful of sour cream on top, he then pulls out a loaf of rye bread. Setting the table, he motions for me to have a seat at the opposite side of him. As we eat, my host begins the conversation.]

I was once a spy. Started at the KGB when the Soviet Union was still a thing. When the Soviet Union collapsed, I was transferred to the FSK, then the FSB.

I specialized in people. I could get nearly anyone I interrogated to confess to anything; I don’t have to torture the person.

[He chuckles before taking a large spoonful of borscht.]

Though I was a good interrogator, my specialty, and what my main job was to come up with plans to handle the public in case of something catastrophic.

Did you know of the outbreaks?

Not until the Cape Town outbreaks, when everyone thought it was a form of rabies. I have to again emphasize that my agency’s focus was internal; we’re not the SVR. I did hear the rumors that their decedent crackdowns were a cover. It would explain the numerous Chinese citizens making their way from China.

Was that a concern?

Yes, it was, we had received the most Chinese citizens of any country during those days before the panic. We didn’t know what was really going on back then; we were just worried about the thousands of Chinese who were fleeing their country.

What was your government’s reason for the Chinese exodus?

The Taipei Crisis. It wouldn’t be the first time that people ran from their own government when they perform crackdowns. We figured that they were headed for the countries in the European Union. Most of us just let them go on their way.

You just let them go?

It’s not like they were planning on staying, ‘let the West deal with it, we have enough issues here.’

When did your country realize that there was something more to the migration?

When our Central Asian neighbors were telling us of rabid humans, as well as the first outbreaks in South Africa. Much like the rest of the world, we thought it was a form of rabies. That was our first mistake.

When the first outbreaks were reported, we took the infected to specialized hospitals in the major cities. When they had turned, we strapped them down. We thought that was a solution.

[He takes a deep breath]

We also made sure our media kept everything silent. It didn’t work the way we hoped. Many in our country got bitten trying to detain the ones turned, and many had family abroad, and they were telling their families about African Rabies. We worried a little, but since there were no public disturbances from the public, we didn’t worry too much. Especially when winter came and the news of rabies stopped almost altogether.

[He takes another deep breath, grabbing his spoon tightly]

We thought everything was fine until… the Israeli declaration, and one of our sources secured a copy of the Knight-Warren report. We know now that it wasn’t rabies.

What did your government do?

We kept everything confidential; only those at the top knew about the infections. The thought being that the Israelis were overreacting to the situation, and the news of their civil war solidified that thought. Besides, winter also stopped the infection during those few months, so we believed that there was nothing to worry about anymore.

[Gripping his spoon even tighter, he inhales deeply before taking a deep breath.]

Winter ended, and cases rose significantly. Refuges started flooding in again. We were working on a plan when that American newswoman pulled wool out of everyone’s eyes and nearly everyone on earth panicked. We also panicked. For months, the government was trying to relocate and was so focused on setting up their new base in Siberia, that those overseeing the military forced us to eventually resort to desperate measures.

[He sighs before taking a bite of his meal]

I would not learn of the decimations until much later when I had made it to the Finnish safe zone.

So, you left because you believed that the country would collapse?

Yeah. Selfish, I know, but if the country had collapsed and the country entered a new period of warlords and chiefdom’s I needed to let the world know how the zombie infection put us on the course of collapse. You know that Russia is no longer a nuclear power.

Is that the reason why they have not made threats against the Baltics?

Most likely. You have noticed that those bearded men in charge have only sent the army to conquer lands where the government fell or were already teetering on the edge of extinction.

Belarus didn’t have an army when the army came in. Ukraine’s army was that of the prewar population of Montserrat. As for those Central Asian republics that were a part of the old Soviet Union, most were like Belarus or Ukraine, but the Chinese were aware of what was going on and the Russian army made sure to stay at least 10 miles from the Chinese border. Should I also mention Kyrgyzstan? Not only did the Kyrgyzstan army survive the panic and the infection, but is now resisting the occupying forces. If the army is pushed back from Kyrgyzstan, it could mean the beginning of the end for the Holy Russian Empire.

This interview was conducted by Ian Rivers for the World News.