Cobra Z

COBRA Z

Book 1 of the Necropolis Trilogy

Sean Deville

“If thou openest not the gate to let me enter, I will break the door, I will wrench the lock, I will smash the door-posts, I will force the doors. I will bring up the dead to eat the living. And the dead will outnumber the living.”

— The Epic of Gilgamesh

Important Characters

British Government

David Osbourne MP – Prime Minister

Arnold Craver – Head of the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (MI5)

Bill Dodson – Prime Minister’s Private Secretary

Mitchell Tanner MP – Chancellor of the Exchequer

Sir Peter Milnes – Metropolitan Police Commissioner

Claire Miles MP – Home Secretary

Sir Nicholas Martin – Chief of the Defence Staff

Sir Michael Young – Head of MI5

Sir Stuart Watkins – Head of MI6

‘Davina’ – Interrogator MI6

Jeremy Smith – Sergeant, Metropolitan Police

British Military

Major David Croft – Investigating Officer for the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure

Captain Lucy Savage – Head of Biomedical Science, Porton Down Research Centre

Captain Mark Grainger – Grenadier Guards

Captain Lewis Hudson – SAS

Sergeant Craig O’Sullivan – SAS

US Government

General Roberts – Head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Ben Silver – White House Chief of Staff

Keith Johnson – CIA Director

Damian Rodney – President of the United States

The Sons of the Resurrection Cult

James Jones – The Chief Cleric

Abraham – Cult Leader

Fabrice Chevalier – Warrior of Truth

British Civilians

Jack Nathan

Gavin Hemsworth

Owen Patterson

Elizabeth Holden

Ref: FGu5867th

Top Secret

The Civil Contingencies Committee Command Structure Platinum

Eyes Only

WARNING

Unauthorised reproduction/viewing/ distribution of this document will result in prosecution under the Treason Act 1695 and may carry a penalty of life imprisonment under the Crime and Disorder Act 1998

Confidential Report on Project Z43851-5

Report by the Joint Intelligence Organisation

Ref: FGu5867th

Date: 21.04.14

At roughly 8PM on the 17
th
of April 2014, there was a containment breach at the BSL-4 genetic laboratory facility at the Hirta Island Research Complex, designation RESURRECTION. Although the breach was ultimately contained, 17 people lost their lives, including facility director Professor Clive Cook and head of security Stewart Goldsmith. It is as yet not known where a pathogen this virulent came from, how it escaped containment into the general facility, how it spread so rapidly, or why those infected manifested the symptoms that resulted in the tragedy. What is known is that the security lockdown prevented the contagion from escaping into the outside environment, and that the incident has now been deemed to be contained.

The following is a transcript of the final video log of Professor Clive Cook. This was sent via Intranet to the secure server at the facility where it was retrieved after the event, along with the video logs of the surveillance cameras. Many of Professor Cook’s words were inaudible due to the background noise. Some of the details have also been redacted as they fall outside the security clearance of many on the Civil Contingencies Committee.

“The virus got out [INAUDIBLE] know how. I’ve barricaded myself in [INAUDIBLE] not hold for long. Their strength is incredible. We never imagined [REDACTED] beyond all recognised scientific norms [INAUDIBLE] … and most of my research team are dead. Oh God, what have we done? How did this happen? You must not open up the facility. The lockdown must stay in place. All my research has been uploaded to the central server, but please, I implore you, this research must be abandoned. I was wrong, I was so very wrong. [INAUDIBLE] cannot be repeated. [REDACTED] ignored my advice. I told him we were rushing this, and I told him [REDACTED] would be a disaster. Oh God, they are breaking through; I can hear them … I can feel them. I was bit … I can feel them in my mind. Why does this itch so bad? In my head … they are in my head. They are so hungry. Why is my mind on fire? Fire, yes, fire, that’s what I meant to say. I tried to activate the fire sterilisation system, but it malfunctioned. Activate it from the outside, cremate everything in here [INAUDIBLE] … I can see them. They are [REDACTED].”

After analysis of the situation, Major Croft has stated he is in agreement with the position put forward by Professor Cook, and as the surveillance feed showed no uninfected survivors, the sealed-off sections of RESURRECTION were fire sterilised as per SOP on his orders. It is the government’s position that research into project Z43851-5 be terminated due to the unexpected nature of the outcome and the potentially catastrophic infectious nature of what occurred. It is notable that none of the research data on the official server shows any indication that this was a result of the research officially being performed at the facility.

Video feeds of the event as it transpired have been uploaded and will be available during the briefing. Attached, you will find summary data on the reasons for the research and the results Professor Cook had hoped to achieve. You will also find the report by Major Croft, which details the events that occurred and the steps he felt necessary to secure the situation.

Yours Sincerely,

James Flynn, Prime Minister’s National Security Advisor

Report on the 17.04.2014 containment breach at the BSL-4 genetic laboratory facility at the Hirta Island Research Complex, designation RESURRECTION

Ref: FGu5867th

Date: 19.04.14

Upon arrival at the facility, I found the lower-level laboratory area sealed and intact. Due to the nature of the apparent contagion, and the fact that all personnel in the quarantined zone were verified (via biometric data transmitted from their implanted microchips) as being either dead or “infected” (I use this word as an assumption as to the cause of the incident), I ordered immediate thermal sterilisation of the laboratory area on my authorisation as granted by s.5(1c) of The Civil Contingency Act 2004. As you are aware, the laboratory is supplied by two filtered positive pressure air vents and one access door. All three were sealed prior to sterilisation, and action is underway to permanently block off these potential access points with concrete, as whatever occurred is deemed too dangerous to risk exposure to the outside world. It is my recommendation that this facility never be re-opened, and a quarantine zone is being erected around the facility that supplies the laboratory under my authorisation as granted by s.5(1b) of The Civil Contingency Act 2004. The four-level subterranean structure above the laboratory is planned for controlled implosion to ensure nobody can access the sealed area in the future.

Through analysis of the surveillance feeds and the biometric readouts, I have not ascertained the source of the outbreak. It does not pertain to any of the research recorded in the official logs. I, therefore, suspect and deduce that there was unsanctioned research being done. I have, however, been able to ascertain patient zero. Dr. Johansson, the senior virologist at the facility, was the first to experience visible symptoms of the virus. His biometric readings show a spike in blood pressure and temperature, followed by a massive breakdown at the genetic level, with a rapid and violent expulsion of bodily fluids. He was seen on surveillance in the canteen area drinking coffee several minutes before he underwent seizure. Dr. Smith and Dr. Carter, along with three junior scientists, were all present when this occurred and went to his aid. The seizures stopped and then Dr. Johansson attacked his colleagues, biting three of them. The time stamp showed that they too underwent seizure within 5-10 minutes, indicating a virulent pathogen with a very short gestation period. They each went on to attack multiple individuals. The ensuing chaos saw the facility overrun. The video of Professor Cook shows compelling evidence that we are indeed dealing with a new form of pathogen.

Those affected show very specific symptoms of uncontrolled rage, increased strength, and an almost insatiable desire to attack other species, not just humans. One of the affected individuals was seen on video attacking the caged rhesus monkeys. He was able to rip the locked cage door from its hinges, losing a finger in the process, indicating they have a negligible reaction to pain stimulus. These symptoms follow a brief period of illness, including vomiting, abdominal and head pain, with diarrhoea and loss of bladder control. As witnessed on the various videos taken by the CCTV, those affected also have distinctly bloodshot eyes that seem to bulge out.

There is nothing in the computer logs to indicate what this potential pathogen is. The facility was reportedly working on the early stages of the Methuselah cure, an artificially manufactured gene coding virus that it was hoped could slow the ageing process. None of the test animals showed similar symptoms, and there is no indication in any of the research that this eventuality could occur, and as already stated, I believe this was either unsanctioned research or research sanctioned outside the normal chain of command that was being done in secret. Even so, it is unknown how any manufactured pathogens could escape the BSL-4 containment protocols set up at the facility. Fortunately, the quick acting nature and the virulence of the pathogen meant its affects became apparent before it could escape the BSL-4 lab. The control computer designated TRQ did what it was designed to do and sealed the facility.

As reported in my last briefing, I strongly suspect that this is another act of deliberate sabotage. I believe persons unknown have used this facility as a production site and/or a test ground for a new bio-weapon. I have no information on how this could occur. Close inspection of the computer log shows voids in the data, suggesting manipulation and deletion of files. I would advise a thorough re-vetting of all staff at similar government facilities, and immediate investigation of all staff employed at this facility since its conception, by the intelligence service MI5. One thing of note, the number of bodies in the BSL-4 lab is one short of the designation for that facility. There is no record of any other individuals working there, but the facility is definitely one personnel member short, and there are indications of manipulation of the employee files, the entry and exit logs, and the data files themselves. This suggests to me that somebody left the facility prior to the event occurring. This might very well explain the disappearance of the transport helicopter from the island the day before. Search and rescue has not located it, the assumption being made that it crashed into the Atlantic.

It is not beyond the realms of possibility that whoever this was sent a blueprint for the pathogen electronically via what might well be a compromised network. I do not believe they would have been able to smuggle a physical sample out – not with the security procedures in place. As you are aware, transport from the BSL-4 laboratory level requires the discarding of all clothing, and the full body scans would have detected a foreign object, even if in a body cavity. On sight interviews with surviving facility personnel has not shone any light into the identity of this unknown individual, although there are some who do remember a Caucasian male who is not on the list of the dead. An artist’s impression has been attached.

A full diagnostic examination of the operating systems of all facility command and control computers is now warranted, and I ask the home secretary to authorise this.

Major David Croft, investigating officer