Turns out that day was the next.

I was rudely awoken at 5 am to be told to get my backside to a briefing room on base at 7 am. I was planning on going home today. So, two hours later showered, fed and grumpy I await my betters to tell me what hell hole they will be sending me to now.

Just before 7 am I am led to the room. I had run into Gregson in the cafeteria. Like me, he was getting breakfast. I had found out that he had only just got into the base. He had been called a lot earlier. He also knew the way to the room where I was going to be briefed.

We went straight into the room.

Strangely I was not surprised to find it occupied but the occupants set my internal paranoid alarms off. Several phycologists had remarked that my as they called “growing paranoia” was becoming an issue. My response was that it’s not paranoia when the Government is constantly sending me into danger.

The room had four uniforms present. All in army field fatigues. I knew two of the others were unknowns. First was Lieutenant Walker that I had encountered yesterday. The second was the officer from my debriefing a few months ago. He had a Majors insignia.

“Excellent. Here on time let’s get started. Please sit here.” The major said. He indicated two seats on the side of a table that we had entered the room. He stood at the top facing down the table towards a large wall monitor. The other three were sitting on the other side.

We both sat down. I was closest to the major.

“Alright, introductions are in order.” He said after we were seated. “I am Major Nathanial Hawk.” I was paying a lot more attention to him today. He was six feet tall and well built. White with black hair and grey eyes.

“This is Lieutenant Walker. Then there is Sargant Grey and Corporal Falls.” He indicated the others. Grey was a woman black woman in her mid-thirties and Falls was a white guy in his late twenties.

“We are meeting here today to walk through a new initiative.” Hawk press a button on a controller lowering the lights and pulling up a map of mainland Britain. All the zones were marked in red. Damn, there were a lot.

Wait! What initiative? Before I could ask, he continued.

“We all know that the RCT is the face of the UK’s anti-zone response. It has been decided to have a small team to run more quiet operations.”

Alarm bells blaring now!

“We in this room make up this team. Operative Harrington will be now deployed due to his experience in selected zones. This will take him out of normal operative rotation. The rest of us will be permanently assigned to be his support team.”

“Sergeant Gregson will continue in his role. Sergeant Grey will be in charge of a selected support team. Corporal Falls is intelligence. Lieutenant Walker is logistics and second in command. Command sits with me outside a zone.” He explained everyone’s role calmly. I was anything but.

“When was I assigned to this unit? Because I was never told!” I could not hold it in any longer.

“The decision was made a few months ago. We have been waiting to tell you. It was decided today was that day.” Hawk did not miss a beat and carried on. Gregson placed his hand on my shoulder to stop me from saying anything else.

“We have been creating a list of actively hostile or “strange” zones that we will be investigating more closely. Operative Harrington will be going in to find out what the situation on the ground is with these zones. We do not expect you to completely clear these zones your main job is to go in, find out what you can and get out. We will make a further determination on what to do with what you discover.”

“Now Operative Harrington I expect you have questions.” Hawk raised the lights and looked directly at me. I had to play smart I realised even as I was pissed!

“Why me?”

“Simple. Compared to the rest of our national pool of operatives. None match your experience or skills.”

“Really. I can name half a dozen with more time in zones than me.” I countered his logic.

“That is true. But when it comes to the threat level of engagements and adaptability you are at the top of the list. You have the highest kill count of level 3 and 4 threats in Zone Command.”

“With the scars to show for it!” I don’t hide my anger when I snap back.

“Yes, you do.” His tone was still calm and measured. “Honestly, we cannot understand what you have been through. The fights and injuries. But you are a government employee and…” His phone suddenly goes off. He frowns and picks it up.

His frown deepens as he reads the message.

“Alright, we have a change of plans. We are going active today. Everyone move out we are heading to a nearby zone.” He and everyone else in the room got up and headed out. Gregson waited for me as I was slower than the others. He stops me before we leave the room.

“John. There’s not much I can say about this. But it’s what you signed up for.”

“How long have you known?”

“I was told yesterday. Orders were clear and not open to interpretation. This is happening, John. You are going to have to accept it.”

“Doesn’t mean I got to like it!”

“No. No, it doesn’t dose it.”

## ## ## ## ##

We were air born quickly and for a short time. They offloaded us with my kit container. There is a temporary base already here up and running. I don’t recognise the container number of the operative already here. I changed and was finishing my loadout check when Hawk appeared with Walker in tow.

“Alright. We have a time-sensitive mission. A newly approved operative was sent into this zone on a recon dive at 6 am. They were only meant to get in look around and get out. Half an hour at most. It’s now 10 am and they have still not appeared. You are going in to find them and retrieve them either way. The operative name is Susan Higgins.”

“Why the rush. Normally a rescue mission is not this quick.” I ask.

“The operative was sent in with an experimental sensor unit. She was only to be no more than 30 minutes. This has required your deployment. This zone is an animal type with low-level threats. Not as bad as the fire-breathing ones you last encountered in this type of zone. They are more like large badgers. Individually weak but dangerous on packs. Are you ready?”

“Yes.” I was ready. Not happy but ready. They were rushing this one.

I was led through the camp to the outer border of the zone. I looked at the stagnant fog bank in front of me and felt depressed. I was again. Nothing has changed just me older with a few more scars. God! I don’t want to do this anymore.

“Alright head in when you’re ready we will see you when you back.” Hawks tells me then leaves with Walker. Gregson is left with me. I think he’s picked up on my mood.

“You ready?” He asks.

“Does it matter?” I asked lowering my faceplate.

“You know you have to have your head on straight in there. We told you that nonstop during training.”

“I know.” I answer with clear despondence. He looks like he is about to say something but I continue.

“Are they trying to kill me?” There I asked the question that had been growing in me. Gregson thinks for a moment before answering.

“Your reports say we are pushing you. But not hard enough to break. For the simple reason, you are a stubborn bastard. So, no they are not intentionally trying to kill you.” A rare smile crosses his face when he says this. “Get your shit together John. Try to save the lost operative if you can.”

I am quiet for a moment

“That was a shitty pep talk you know.”

“Fuck off and get to work!” We both laugh and he heads back into the camp while I pass the guards and head into the zone. I need some humour before going in.

## ## ## ## ##

Gregson wills himself not to look back as he heads towards the command tent. Passing camp personnel moving around doing their jobs. Entering it he looks around the other members of the new support team apart from Grey are here. Hawk is talking to a Captain who was most likely the original camp commander.

Tables are scattered around the tent with support personnel focused on the hardened military laptops and the data they were displaying. A large monitor showed the view of a drone flying over the zone watching for flares or any other activity. A large board had the zone’s area mapped out with the location of the breach marked. They were in a rural area and the zone was covering an area with a lot of trees but not enough to be called a forest.

There was a low murmur of conversation as the techs talked into mics relaying information to those who needed it. The tension in the air was noticeable. Any mission into a zone was bad. A rescue mission was worse. They did not normally have a happy ending.

“Major Hawk. Sargent Grey has her team ready with the original support team.” Falls called out. Hawks looked at him and nodded. Gregson knew Grey had come with her support team to go in if required. Hawks noticed Gregson and came over. Taking him to one side for a more private conversation.

“How is he?” Hawk asked in a slightly lower voice.

“Not happy but he will get the job done.” Gregson’s answers match his voice level.

“Good. We were all taken by surprise by this op. We were planning to have more time getting him ready. Prep time was very important for all of us.”

“I think it’s best to just point him in the direction you need and let him get on with it.”

“I agree Sargent. His growing paranoia will not be helped with all the changes that are about to happen.”

“Do not know about that Sir. I think what he’s been through and is about to go through is the main source of his paranoia. He values honesty above everything. The fact that command is constantly dumping him into the toughest missions by accident or design it has is not helping his mental state. Sir.”

“Yes. You’re right these zones are a threat I cannot deal with and this vexes me, Sargent. I like most of us signed up to defend the nation but are faced with an enemy we cannot.”

“You’re not alone in that Sir.”

Both men fall silent as each reflects on the fates that had led them to this point.

“Major Hawk. Outer security is reporting increasing numbers of civilians on the perimeter.” A tech called out.

“Report!” Hawks ordered.

“Reports indicate an increased number of suspected zone watchers. They are recording what they can. No attempts at perimeter breach yet.” The tech said listening to the comms chatter.

“That was faster than expected.” Walker said.

“We’ve been thinking they are becoming more coordinated. Especially tracking helicopters, they think are transporting zone operatives.” Hawk said. “Inform the police on the perimeter they can call on support if required we will leave it to their desecration.” Normally there would be the local police commander present but they were missing. Most likely inspecting the perimeter.

“We don’t need any glory hunters, today people. Let’s keep our eye on the prize.” The room became focused on their jobs again.

Gregson looked towards the monitor wondering what John was facing in there.