More demonic howls washed over the stunned men and women as another volley of missiles raced above their heads. Everyone turned and watched their flight, seeing that they were trailing in the path of the first. There was nothing that any of them could do but look on in complete disbelief as the salvo of rockets slammed into the ships that were anchored in the Channel and presenting themselves as easy prey. The frigates and destroyers surrounding the Illustrious seemed to vaporize as they were hit by a multitude of warheads that ploughed through their sides and detonated deep within their hulls. They momentarily jumped from the sea from the ferocious blasts, their backs broken and their upper decks collapsing in on themselves before dropping back into the water. The booms of the explosions raced out over land and sea, merging into one continuous cacophony of obliteration as the remains of the Royal Navy were wiped out. Within seconds, the English Channel was ablaze as the fleet of warships was quickly destroyed and sent down to the seabed.
The cries of terror and screamed questions from amongst the group were drowned out as fast moving fighter jets screeched in low from the west, racing across the island at blinding speed. They were almost close enough for Taff and the others to see the concentrated faces of the pilots as they took aim on their designated targets. The fighters began unleashing their ordnance with pinpoint accuracy upon the army and militia positions running through the centre of the island. Tall geysers of earth and shrapnel were flung into the air as the defensive positions were reduced to craters filled with pulped organic material that had once been human beings. There was no discrimination between militia and government forces. All were targeted and marked for total annihilation.
Taff and Bobby looked on in total awe of the scene. The attack was fierce and sudden, leaving no one with a chance to react. The sky buzzed with the whoosh of rockets and the growl of jet engines as enemy aircraft dropped in from high altitude, swooping in low across the farmlands, and smashing their targets before veering off and making room for the next wave of aircraft to begin their attacks. It was a light show like no other as hell was rained down upon the unsuspecting inhabitants below. The flames of the rockets and the glow of afterburners zipped through the airspace above the land while on the ground, a multitude of flashes, sparks, and flames sprang up from every corner of the island. All that Bobby and Taff could do was to hunker down in their flimsy shell scrape and watch the awesome firepower that was being brought to bear against them.
In the distance, more bombers were zooming in from the western end of the English Channel and moving towards the positions on the north and central parts of the island. They were headed directly for Newport and began pummelling the town with their guided missiles, aiming for specific points where command and control was centred. Within seconds of the first bomb hitting its target, the streets were ablaze as buildings were blown apart in the torrent of rockets that were unleashed against them. The entire island seemed to be under bombardment.
To the left of Newport, and from what Taff and the others could see, the airfield was also under heavy attack. Bright flashes spread out from the area followed by enormous fireballs and spurts of debris. It was virtually impossible to be heard over the crescendo of the explosions and jet engines. Some of the group were calling out to one another, unable to be understood amongst the chaos. Others were screaming up at their attackers, close to madness as the assault continued and intensified around them. Emily, Richard, and William were huddled together, terrified and burying their faces inside their clothing. They clung to one another, covering their ears and screaming as they sought protection behind the vehicles. Everyone took what cover they could, sinking low into their trenches or dips in the ground as they watched the modern day Blitzkrieg unfold in front of them. Shock and confusion was complete, leaving them staring with open mouths and blurred minds while the island’s defenders were mercilessly swept aside and engulfed with fire.
A few minutes later, the distinct thump and whirl of approaching helicopters began to filter through the pandemonium and reached the ears of the survivors clustered on the southern high ground. Everyone dropped deeper into their positions as a group of Chinooks and Apaches drifted by over their heads, looking like giant flying insects headed towards the open and bloodied wounds of a dying animal. They headed straight for the low ground to the east where the refugee camp was situated. The gunships swung out from the flanks and moved forward to begin preparing the landing zone, blasting away with their 30mm chain guns, and pounding the militia and the remaining refugees with their hellfire missiles.
The defences around the refugee camp collapsed immediately under the torrent of bullets and explosives but for the majority of the men, women, and children within the perimeter, it did not spell freedom. As they attempted to flee, scores of them were caught up in the carnage as the attackers fired into their ranks indiscriminately. Their screams of fear and pain could be heard above the beat of the helicopter rotors and the bark of their guns. Within just a few short seconds, the enclosure was filled with smoke and fire as the low ground became carpeted with the bodies of the dead. The guard units attempted to return fire, but they were soon dead or dying, lying in pools of their own blood and innards as the troop transports hovered in and began disembarking their loads. Soldiers ran from the tailgates and instantly began pushing through the devastation, firing at anything they saw moving, uncaring whether they were dead or alive.
Next, the circling Apache gunships began a sweep to the north along the front lines of the two previously opposing forces that occupied the island. They ripped up anything in their path with their rapid firing cannons and Hydra rockets, leaving a trail of bloody torture and scorched devastation in their wake.
“Fuck me,” Bobby grumbled as he watched the enemy units fanning out from the rears of the CH-47s. “This doesn’t look good.”
“Stan, Taff, check,” the team second in command called into his radio as he and Bobby ducked back into their hole and continued to watch the enemy troops below. The whole island seemed to have fallen into anarchy. “Stan, can you hear me? Radio check.”
The noise and activity from the invading forces inevitably attracted the attention of the hordes of infected that were drifting around in the rural areas. They began to flock towards the nearest sounds and dazzling lights, excited by the prospect of sinking their teeth into the living. They stumbled through the fields, tripping and falling through the ruts and bushes as they stubbornly continued their advance. On seeing the soldiers and refugees running in all directions, the dead worked themselves into a frenzy and staggered towards the animated figures. Many of them were cut down long before they reached the troops, but it was almost preordained that some would reach their goal. They sprang from the darkness, grabbing at the soldiers, and snapping their teeth together. Some had the satisfaction of tearing out a piece of flesh before being blasted by the men and women fighting their way through the smoke and chaos.
Some of the refugees that had managed to escape the carnage, racing through the fields in search of safety, soon found themselves hemmed in and cut off with a circle of rotting corpses closing in around them. They fought desperately, attempting to fend off the ravenous ghouls, but the dead refused to yield. Others, in shock from the horror that they had experienced and screaming with madness, ran blindly into the clutching hands of the infected and were dragged down into the dirt. The howls of agony and terror mixed with the wails of lustful excitement, exploding bombs, and machinegun fire while the helicopters continued to buzz around overhead. The island’s defences and its people had collapsed. There was nothing that anyone could do to stop the inevitable now.
There was no reply from Stan. Taff tried again and again to raise him but to no avail. He turned to Bobby, gritting his teeth in a snarl and a look of frustration in his eyes. Both men turned their focus to the north and the area of the airfield. By now, huge columns of smoke were rising from that particular part of the island. The entire zone seemed to be ablaze, glowing brightly from the fires and exploding rockets that continued to pummel away at the positions around the airfield.
“If Stan and Bull are caught up in that, I don’t think we’ll be seeing them any time soon,” Bobby mumbled to himself.
After a while, Taff gave up on trying to contact Stan. Their leader was either dead or was unable to reply. At that moment, the reasons did not matter, and it was up to Taff to take overall command of the group. He looked behind him and saw the frightened eyes of Emily, William, and Richard staring back at him from their hiding place behind the Land Rovers. They were looking to him for guidance, reassurance, and orders. The veteran team members were less reliant upon their commanders.
Danny had already began checking his position and ammunition, ready for a fight, while Kyle scurried over towards Bobby and Taff with belts of glistening ammunition draped over his shoulders. He dropped into the trench and began placing the belts into position beside the machinegun and checking over the weapon, ensuring the rounds were seated correctly into the feed-tray. Satisfied, he pulled back on the cocking lever and pushed his shoulder against the butt. The gun was pointed towards the enemy landing zones and ready to fire.
In the distance, heavy weaponry rattled, and the low thud of explosions continued to resound across the island. They could see the tracer rounds whizzing horizontally across the ground and from amongst the buildings and streets of the towns, glowing brightly in the gloomy dawn. The burning red projectiles occasionally smashed against something hard and ricocheted vertically into the sky, seemingly slow as they sailed high into the air. For the moment, the positions around the farmhouse had not yet been noticed or received any incoming, but it was the calm before the storm, and they all knew it.
Bobby reached down and checked that his rifle’s magazine was seated firmly. Next, he pulled back the cocking lever slightly, checking that there was a round in the chamber, and readying himself for battle. He remained crouched at the bottom of the trench, staring back at Taff for a moment, anger filling his eyes, and an expression of revulsion etched into his face. He was also scared and felt no shame for it. He had proven himself many times, and it was only natural to experience fear and dread before charging towards machineguns.
“You’d better get over to Danny and give him a hand, mate,” Taff grunted to him, following it with a resigned and understanding smile.
Taff knew they were in for a fight, and as always, had no idea how they would fare when it was all over. He could feel his stomach tighten and knot at the prospect, and his body begin to tremble with the rush of adrenaline. It was always the same, and no matter how many times he found himself headed into battle, he always felt sick to the stomach and racked with fear. However, the tough and experienced Welshman had learned how to use that same fear and turn it against his enemies. He picked up his binoculars and turned to check on the flashes of guns and high-explosives to the north.
“Keep everyone on that side under control, Bobby, and send over one of the ops guys to help Kyle on the gun.”
Bobby nodded and jumped from the hole, headed for the western defences of the high-ground where Danny was positioned. He passed Samantha on the way and stopped, dropping down beside them and grinning broadly. She was crouched in a shallow dip besides the track leading up to the house and covering the approaches. The two men she had brought with her from the command centre were squatting next to her, clutching their rifles, their eyes as big as saucers as the battle continued to rumble all around them.
“Smoke ‘em if you got ‘em,” Bobby hissed as he knelt in the ditch beside Samantha. “You might not get another chance.”
“What’s happening? Has anyone spoken to Newport or anyone from the ops room?” Samantha asked. She looked remarkably calm and constrained considering the circumstances. Others were close to losing their heads, their nerves stretched taut and ready to snap, but she seemed casual in her appearance, almost bored.
“Haven’t a clue,” Bobby replied with a shrug. “Someone has fallen out with us, but I’ll be fucked if I know why. I doubt that anyone is talking to anyone on this whole rock at the moment. I think most people will be too busy digging into the ground with their eyes lids and arse cheeks.”
“The Irish Sea,” one of the newcomers from the command centre blurted with a strange and seemingly out of place enthusiasm. “The transmissions we were picking up from the Irish Sea; they must’ve been them. They were using weird codes, and we couldn’t break them. Who do you think they are?”
“No idea,” Samantha shook her head. “Could be the Americans for all we know.”
“Maybe,” Bobby nodded back to her with a smile before turning to the young soldier. “The reasons don’t really matter at the moment, though, and personally, I couldn’t care less. We’re in the shit in a big way, and all I care about is crawling out of it without getting hurt. What’s your name again?”
“Paul,” the soldier replied with a sudden dread that he was being singled out for something unpleasant.
“Right then, Paul. I need you to go over to Taff and give him a hand. You’ll be the assistant gunner for Kyle. You know what you’re doing on the machinegun?”
“Not really,” Paul shrugged. “I haven’t touched one since my basic training, and even then it wasn’t exactly in-depth.”
“Brill,” Bobby huffed. “Well, now’s the time for a refresher course. Do exactly as Taff and Kyle tell you, and for fuck sake, if the shit starts flying and we come under attack, don’t get in their way. Follow their lead and stay close to them. Make sure you keep the gun well stocked with ammo. Okay?”