We climb out of the vehicles and are approached by the military officer waiting for us. Smith moves up to join us as we exit them.

“Welcome Gentlemen to the Herzeele Zone. I wish we did not have to meet under these events but it is what it is. I am Colonel Mayer forward field commander with the Euro Corps for this zone.” The man reached out and shook our hands as Smith introduced us to him.

The man was in his late forties and was lean like most soldiers. He had black hair peppered with grey and green eyes. I noticed when we shook hands that his hands were callused like mine were becoming. His English was excellent with a soft German accent. He had a German flag above the Eurocorps emblem on his right arm.

“Please come with us to the C&C tent so we can get the briefing done.” He turns and leads us deeper into the encampment. We pass by different tents and vehicles with military personnel moving around and setting up different things. I recognised the decon tents being set up closer to the zone.

We were led into a large tent that was clearly the C&C due to the impressive number of aerials and communication dishes on it. The tent was filled with personnel hunched over laptops.

The inside of the tent was the same set-up as all the other C&C tents I had been in. Gregson melted into the background as Smith and I were seated. Looks like we are straight down to business.

“Let me introduce you to Monsieur D'Aboville from the French Government and Lieutenant Greco my intelligence officer.” He indicates two people who turn from the map of the town up on board.

D'Aboville is a short man with a stereotypic government look. Dressed in a suit he stands out in the tent the most. He was standoffish with us and clearly was in some type of mood. The rest are in military field fatigues. When it came to Lieutenant Greco the only thing, I could say was DAMN!

Lieutenant Greco’s shoulder patch had the Italian flag above the Eurocorps symbol. The woman was a supermodel or porn star plain and simple. She carried herself around the tent with professionalism and grace. She was easily six feet and even in military fatigues had an incredible figure. I think about thirty. Black hair tied up into a bun with black eyes. I am a man so sue me for appreciating the female form, especially this one. Call me what you want but I am a proud red-blooded human male.

Smith introduced us to them Greco nodded and D'Aboville was sullen. Our attention was led to a map on a board dominating on side of the tent. The map showed the area with the town. The original and new perimeters of the zone were clearly marked. The zone had clearly expanded massively by at least four times now its original size.

I ignore the babble of conversation and focus on the map. There was a clear route from the camp down a series of roads to the cathedral where the breach is located. From the map, it looked like an easy run to the breach but I was waiting to find out what they wanted with me.

“Right down to business.” Mayer said drawing me back to the conversation. I and Smith were sat down facing the map.

“Lieutenant Greco please let our allies know what we need from them.” Mayer stepped away and Greco stepped up.

“Thank you, Colonel. In the last 48 hours, several new Zones in the Low Countries and France have appeared. Due to several operations, Eurocorps has a depleted pool of Operatives. This has required us to ask the British Government for support.” She began her prepared briefing. She had a pleasant voice without a harsh accent.

“Your mission here at Herzeele is to enter the zone and head to the breach. We wish to know what its condition is and we need you to attempt to identify what is causing the expansion. Due to the lack of support, it is understood that this may be impossible. The main objective is the status of the breach.” She took a moment to allow me to process. “This zone is a recorded Grave class. You were selected for this zone due to your experience with Grave types from information supplied by your government.”

“The entry point is named Alpha and the breach is named Beta. Again, you are not required to clear the zone only report on conditions inside.” She turned and indicated the two points on the map.

“Several civilians are not accounted for at the moment as we do not know if they were all in the town when the zone expanded. If you encounter any civilians you are to direct them out of the zone or have them bunker down until we can retrieve them. Fire a blue flare to notify us of their location and a second to notify us that they are leaving. When you reach the breach fire off a green flare to let us know that you have arrived at its location.” She indicates it on the map.

“If you encounter too much resistance in the zone you can withdraw under your own volition.” She finished looking at me. “Any questions?”

“Yes, what types of undead have been reported. Last time I saw something like this I got jumped by a pack of Ghouls and almost killed.” I ask.

This had the Euro Corps personnel looking at each other. It was clear that they were not aware of this little piece of information or that I was involved. Smith shifted uncomfortably next to me. God, I wish these people would talk to each other more!

“We had heard of that event but were unaware that the Operative was you.” Mayer said. “We do not expect such a threat escalation but as Lieutenant Greco said withdraw if you encounter anything above a level 2 threat.”

“Operative Harrington’s experience with Grave class threats will allow him to make the right decision.” Smith added.

I look at the map behind the hot Lieutenant. The more I see of the town the more I can see the problems that could arise. Plenty of ways to be ambushed. The town had a road that would lead me directly to the cathedral and the breach. So, on that front, it looked good. Yea I can do this but I had to be careful.

The room had gone quiet as the main players were looking at me.

“I will need a map of the town.” I started. “I will also need the support teams ready if things go sideways to help extract me.”

Mayer nods at my requests and Greco was taking notes on a digital pad of some kind.

“I heard rumours that grenades that work in zones are underdevelopment any chance of getting any if available?” I was taking a chance with this one. The response was not what I was expecting, however.

“The French Government does not seek damage to its citizen’s property so this is only a recon mission.” The tone was nearly as harsh as the accent that D'Aboville delivered it in. He was now clearly glaring at me and Smith. Mayer and Greco were clearly keeping a neutral expression.

“Of course, Monsieur D'Aboville Operative Harrington was only seeking to know what options he had.” Smith politely interceded.

Anger flash hot through me at this pompous prick who wasn’t going into the zone. I rained it under control and stood up.

“Times wasting, I will need to get geared up.” I chose to side set the idiot. Mayer nods.

“Lieutenant Greco please led Operative Harrington to the equipment storage unit supplied for him.” I think he was happy to avoid an incident.

Smith stayed in the tent as Greco led Gregson and me out. We followed her through the bustle of the camp to a large shipping container with UK Zone Command markings. Two soldiers were waiting for us at it. I knew one of them to be from Lou’s arment team.

“John how’s things,” He asked when he saw us.

“Allen, what are you doing here?”

“Serge assigned us to the drop off when the call came in yesterday. He told me to tell you that the gear requested has been assigned and not to “Fuck This Suit!” as it is new.” Allen told me with air quotations when required.

He opened up the container door and the racks inside contained all that I was going to need. I went in and noticed a changing area in the back. There were lockers for my clothes so I started to change. Allen closed the door for some privacy.

It took about twenty minutes to go through the equipment check and change. In the end, before I put my helmet on, I went through a quick recheck to make sure. Paranoia is a way of life not just a state of mind in my line of work. The only differences were the suit had more webbing to carry more gear kit if needed and the trench knife I requested was now part of my loadout. Happy I left the container.

Greco and Gregson were waiting for me outside. When she saw my kit loadout, she was surprised.

“What’s wrong?” I asked.

“Sorry I should have realised from the reports that you are the how shall I say “mysterious axeman” of the British Zone Command.” The humour in her tone and slight smile were not hidden. Gregson snorted. I grew annoyed.

“Christ Sake! Not here too.” I exclaimed. Which caused them both to laugh.

“I apologise Operative Harrington but the news stories and so-called reports coming out of Britain have been a great source of entertainment in Euro Corps Intelligence Department.” She said with an apologetic tone. “Here is the map requested.”

I nod at her request and check the map. It is contained in a watertight pouch that allows me to see it. I begin to finalise my route. This will be the largest zone I have ever entered.

We were camped in a field next to the road D17 Rue de Wormhout. The Aire de covoiturage d’Herzeele Cote Herzeele was behind us. If I follow the Rue de Wormhout straight it will lead me into the zone and Herzeele. Once I reach the centre of the town called Place d’Herzeele I could hopefully go through an alleyway I think from the map directly to the cathedral. The map had a blue X marking the breach’s location. The map also had a green line showing the original zone boundary and a red one for the new.

I was under no false pretences this was not going to be easy. The area of expansion clearly showed that something had triggered this reaction. The last time I had gone into something like this I had been mauled by a trio of Ghouls and have some very clear scars to remind me of them.

I look up and see Greco and Gregson waiting for me to finish with the map.

“You ready John?” Gregson asks. He was clearly concerned.

“No, but as we are all here and I am all dressed up let’s get this show started.” That was all I could say.

“Very well this way please.” Greco said. She led us to the edge of the camp that was where the road entered the zone past the perimeter guards. I put my helmet on here and unslung my axe. Finally checking my shield straps. I nod to myself and begin to get ready for what is about to happen. The psyching up part is really important. I have found that I must not even try it in a zone as it never works. Fear of the unknown is a very real thing for Zone Operatives. The two remain quiet as I get ready mentally.

“I am going.” That was all I say as I enter and walk forward. The zone fog is clearly in front of me. My instincts tell me to leave here but I press on. Into the fog.