Red Tide Apocalypse: Bridgehead

By Matthew L. Robinson

The United States Government still stands after the Red Tide Apocalypse. But it is teetering. General Edmond Wagner, Commander of the American Armed Forces has been severely injured in a plane crash. His assistant, Colonel Courtney Knox has been murdered. Doctor Kaylee Benjamin of the CDC is dying in the scrub woods of northern Alberta and the President of the United States of America has been infected.
The two greatest losses that the healthy world has suffered, is to their leadership and to their children.
High ranking politicians, as well as generals and colonels seem to be targeted by the enemy, leading to a vacuum of leadership.
Healthy children are also disappearing, triggering an extinction level event. After they transform into Red Eyes, those children mature until they are strong enough to join the Red army.
The remnant of the mainland military has been forced to wage a defensive war. They are tasked with escorting DZ caravans, defending bridgeheads and protecting the Main Bridgehead's flanks.
The U S Air Force has been grounded after losing most of their aircraft due to mid-air conversions and the military is forced to use drones and satellite images.
The Navy, after losing several ships to infection, has sailed out to sea and are now reluctant to defend their mainland countrymen.
While an injured Wagner and his patched together staff attempt to deal with the Red Enemy, there is some rumblings about civil wars among the healthy. There are also rumors about murders within the government's inner circle. And there's some talk of plots to enact revenge murders and honor killings. For protection, the healthy survivors break out into cabals. And like the Weimar Republic in the 1920s, these groups are masked as social clubs.
In September of Year 2, the Reds launch a massive offensive inside the Disputed Zone in an operation codenamed "The Breach Battles" by the reeling United States Government.

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Jul 31, 2022
• ISBN: 9781667856438

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© 2022 Matthew L. Robinson All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical reviews and certain other noncommercial uses permitted by copyright law.

ISBN 978-1-66785-642-1 eBook 978-1-66785-643-8

Contents

Cold Opening: The Disputed Zone

Part I: Introduction by Miss Steph Miller

Part II: The Rest

Part III: The Breach Battles

Part IV: The Mid-War Battles

Part V: Back Stories

Part VI: The Red Switch

Part VII: The Civil Wars

Part VIII: Aftermath

Epilogue

Cold Opening: The Disputed Zone

August 2 Year 2 (Month 14)

This is Sergeant Carwood of the Regina Bridgehead mobile army. Does anyone copy?

Loud and clear, my friend. You’ve reached the Winona Army Group headquarters. We’ve pinned your location.

I’m glad you do. Um, know where we are. All’s I know is, we’re somewhere in the center of Saskatchewan trying to locate the body of General M. A. Perez.

Copy that., WAG replies.

We were with a, we’re a, unit of four jeeps, now, now we’ve lost contact with the other jeeps. We’re alone. We’re, the only jeep left.

Carwood’s men listen carefully as they aim their rifles.

I’ve located three of your jeeps. The fourth has gone dark.

Copy that., Carwood answers. She sheaths the blade of her shovel into the dirt with her boot.

I’m not sure, that is.

Sally, have you slept?

No. Well, yes. But we’re starving. All we had yesterday was, were two slices of bread each; plus, a cup of eel broth.

Two slices?, Miss Miller of WAG HQ asks sadly.

Yes Steph. We’re now eating two slices a day; we’ve increased to two slices. Just because, if we don’t finish off the loaf, it will go moldy.

That’s terrible. Hold on...

Eating mildew and drinking eel broth. It’s the better, alternative, to dying.

Hold on.

OK Steph. Can you find out which way we should turn?

Hold on. Hold on. Hold... I’ve found it.

There is a stalled baggage cart south of Saskatoon. It was part of a relief caravan that was hit by the enemy. It’s stocked with all sorts of provisions, including food and ammo.

She relays a virtual map.

Follow these coordinates to road five-five.

Nice map Steph. That will take all night to get to, to there.

It’s worth it, my friend. By the way, the body of General Perez has been identified and buried. So, pack up. In excess of 500 soldiers are heading to the same gingerbread cart. That’s your rallying point. When you get there, stay at the wagon, fill up and wait for further orders.

Carwood reads the map. Steph, it looks like those Gold K’s we surrendered were headed to that very same compromised caravan.

Yes Sally. I’m so sorry.

Carwood and her men wait for further instructions.

OK, I’ve reached two of your jeeps. No word on the fourth. On your shared map, I’ve marked a rendezvous point for your jeeps. it’s about 19 clicks away from your present position. A little further for the others. I’ve shared the map with all three jeeps.

Carwood orientates her men and Steph cuts out.

Good luck, Sally. I’ve got three other birds chirping into my ears.

Sally Carwood scans around and defiantly concludes her distress call.

Carwood out.

Sergeant Sally Carwood pulls her gas mask back over her face.

She is now out of her jeep, posturing in a sea of dead bodies and wrecked equipment.

Sarge., one of her men pleads. Why do we have to be here? He is visibly wobbling.

She reaches back into her jeep and retrieves a notepad.

I don’t even remember what General Paris looks like., he squawks.

He kicks over a dead body. He gets startled by the rotting face.

She walks to the man. It’s General Perez not Paris. General Miguel Angel Perez.

She shows him the image.

They buried him today.

A snake slithers out from underneath the dead body.

The man faints from hunger and shock.

Carwood shoots the snake. That’s dinner, boys., she announces as she raises the snake on her bayonet.

She kneels and searches for some smelling salts.

She freezes.

Hear that?, she whispers to her two, still coherent soldiers. Something is moving.

A leaf slaps. Then, a twig snaps.

Carwood sets on her knee with her rifle pointed to the noisy grove.

Don’t waste bullets, boys. We have a very limited supply of shells and grenades.

She is trying to steady her men.

A woman in a threadbare ROTC uniform, races out of the trees.

Hold your fire., Carwood orders. That’s Lilly Green.

And her eyes are still green., Carwood’s driver observes.

Green races toward the jeep, hands raised.

She greedily swigs from Carwood’s canteen.

You look familiar., Green pants between gulps. Were you stationed in Georgia?

A life time ago. But I saw you last month at the lamb roast.

Oh, yeah. That was only a month ago?

Well, we’ been on our own for 38 days now. The four jeeps, that is. So, the cookout was probably six weeks ago.

You look worse than I do., Green observes as she nibbles around the mold on a heal of bread.

She looks up. I wish we slaughtered more sheep.

One of Carwood’s men is skinning the snake. He speaks. And ma’am. You can’t go near the sheep now. The Reds are using them as bait.

Carwood brushes off her own slice of bread.

We’ll be heading for a different food source, boys. Way back then, we were just culling the herd. And we couldn’t stow the meat. Mutton doesn’t keep forever., she explains.

The man who fainted is now balancing on his feet.

I’ll tell you a little secret, ladies. There are probably millions of sheep for every single survivor left on earth. We don’t need to cull their, flocks.

Carwood is not happy that this man disrespected this starving young recruit by using the term ladies.

You!, she orders. Get this reptile prepared. We have three more hours of sunlight folks. I want to be at the rendezvous in two.

Nearby, another twig snaps.

Get on the road, Sally., a distant voice transmits. Perez’s body has been found. Do not pick up survivors. We don’t need any more Sleepers.

Darwin?

Yes, Darwin Dillon of SMAG, Sally. Steph sent me your info. I’ve got you on satellite. Move out now!

Copy that, Darwin. We’re on our way to the candy cottage.

Good thing, Sally. Safety in numbers.

As they pack up, more rustling is heard in the bush. Suddenly, three enemy soldiers rush at them from the other direction.

Green gasps, I think that’s Colonel Clark.

Not anymore., Carwood answers. Hold your fire, men. Let’s pull out.

More Reds appear.

Carwood, Green and three other soldiers hightail it out, barely missing five pursuing Reds. Distantly, thirteen other Reds change direction to cover all their exits.

Part I: Introduction by Miss Steph Miller

To Wane Poetic

"August 4

Guess what? I can finally write in you again. I know, but I forgot where I put you. I wanted to write a story, comparing my life to the Prisoner of Zenda; but without Hope. Get it??? I need to use my college education for a change but... you know.

Anyways. Not sure when I’ll write in you again. I’ll try to remember to lock you away. It looks like I don’t have time to write a parable in you right now, I’ve got too much reality to read about. But I promise, I’ll keep my goal and read some of my favorite passages of the Adventuresome Miss Alice.

She places her Little Black Book on a pile of messages.

Wagner’s Take

The recently engaged, English-Lit Major snoops into a recent file.

General Edmond Wagner believed he could wipe out the Red Terror with a nuclear response. He never got the chance because his plane was lost mid-flight.

Who wrote this?, she asks her monitor. No wonder it’s ‘eyes only’.

She is curious; so, after a brief search, she drops into Wagner’s telephone conversation.

Wagner is awake. For now.

He is in his private bathroom resting in his wheelchair. It is the only place he knows isn’t bugged.

It could be just a coincidence, Noach., Wagner suggests to his listener. That our crew turned Red Eye just when I was making my final bold move.

The ease-dropper gets another call so she bugs out of the line.

Wagner doesn’t dare speak aloud about his theories. Unless he is in a secure setting.

Because, Red is listening.

In Wagner’s current state, anything is possible. But he can’t get swamped down by these paranoid notions. He has a war to run. The call is ended and Noach Muller goes back to his command post.

The Rest Room

August 7

General Wagner is back in his private bathroom. It’s where he does his best thinking. It’s also the only place he believes isn’t bugged.

He reflects into the mirror. On July 30, the two Super Hoards which had been pooling on both Canadian coasts, began moving toward each other. That’s when I made my final bold move

Both?, he questions the reflection of his forehead.

Now, he thinks better of the nuclear option. Things have changed markedly since July 30.

Wagner continues this assessment while he waits on hold.

He pulls himself up.

Wagner shoots a stern look at his nurse. The man doesn’t bother to tell the general that, he should rest, for the third time this shift.

Wagner responds I copy, Senator Denver. into his phone. I hope your Cree cousins are treating you well. Then he disconnects and plops down into his wheelchair. He is asleep before he reaches his hospital bed.

Back before Wagner’s second plane crash, the enemy had virtually wiped out every person in most of the United States of America. Then the Red Army came north and converged into two massive Super Hoards, occupying both the eastern and western coasts of Canada.

That’s when the Red Hive pulled her trick., Wagner groans in his sleep. It was a feint., he almost yells.

He wakes.

But the Hordes never converged., he tells his nurse. It was just a fake draw, while they diverted troops into Utah.

Joseph Allen, Wagner’s temporary numbers Guru, winces at Wagner.

But Wagner doesn’t cover his mouth. He wants Red to hear that he broke her code.

A voice clicks into his hospital room.

Thanks for patching me in, Steph.

The voice addresses Wagner.

This is Cliburn. You remember me? I’m referencing your map here. I understand that, the Disputed Zone is located north of the main Bridgehead between the two Super Hoards.

Wagner sits up and pulls his rolling table to his bedside.

That is correct, my newest oldest friend.

Cliburn continues. The two Super Hordes occupy both coasts of Canada.

Wagner settles. Canada doesn’t have two coasts. She has three.

Wagner grimaces.

Now, I need numbers. How many Reds are in the Disputed Zone?

Cliburn begins to answer but Wagner interjects.

Joseph Allen attempts to show his device to Wagner. Wagner doesn’t appear to notice.

Start in the east, Cremation. I need numbers of Reds, soldiers and civilians.

In Eastern Canada, Cliburn begins. Inside the Disputed Zone, offshoots of the E. W. Super Hoard. Rogues. Reds, are pursuing troops and civilians.

Numbers!, Wagner calls through his pain.

Joseph Allen and his device are ignored once again, so he composes a text.

Tens of millions sir, in both Super Hordes., Cliburn answers. Also, in the West.

He draws a breath. Both Super Hordes are standing but between the hordes, in the interior of the disputed zone, there are hundreds of thousands of Rogues.

Wagner interrupts him with a yawn.

Cliburn takes a deeper breath. Millions of enemy soldiers, sir.

His speech quickens.

Also, inside the DMZ, there are millions of civilians and displaced soldiers.

DMZ, Mr. Cold Burn? This is not 1953 Korea. Now let me try to digest those numbers.

Cliburn notes the correction and waits for Wagner to crunch the numbers. After a time, he continues his Disputed Zone report. Also, inside the DZ are a number of forts, Bridgeheads.

Cliburn waits and waits for a response.

Wagner isn’t responding so Cliburn sallies forth.

Those individuals, and also the Bridgeheads inside the DZ, are vulnerable to attacks from those wandering Rogues.

Cold Burn, while you retrieve the actual numbers, why don’t you update me on the Main Bridgehead?

Cliburn hesitates.

Finally, another voice speaks.

Fine and peachy, gentleman.

Wagner hums through his annoyance. …

Thanks Steph., Cliburn radios.

It looks… He reads. It looks like our numbers are going back up.

Wagner ignores a gesture from his man, Allen.

You are correct, Mr. Cliburn., Steph Miller answers.

She continues. According to Joseph Allen, over a million new recruits have joined the armed forces in the last 10 days., she reports.

Good old reliable Austen., Wagner thinks, as he squints at his man. Always there, always with the numbers.

Allen is too busy to notice the general’s expression.

General Wagner., Cliburn adds. As to the danger inside the Disputed Zone. Not only are there millions of soldiers manning the Main Bridgehead. But from the Main Bridgehead, we also have hundreds of thousands of troops and supplies caravanning through the DZ toward Forts and refugee centers.

And those isolated Bridgeheads inside the Disputed Zone?, Wagner asks the room.

I’m getting paged., Miller interrupts. Bah- bye.

Each fort in the DZ is still manned, Cliburn states as he scans Joseph Allen’s virtual notes. Some, of course, are better armed and equipped than others.

Thank you, C-Berg.

Wagner mumbles, Let Red listen.

Cliburn takes in one more deep breath and Wagner rests his eyes.

In Eastern Quebec we have movement. Approximately, well, it looks like thousands of Reds are diverting southwest. We believe that…

Busy Signals

Steph Miller is listening in, on four different lines at the same time and she can’t keep them all straight.

Finally, she says, Look Q, I’m taking my lunch break. T. M. I.

She walks the two blocks to General Hickshaw’s quarters. She takes a shower and then surfs the network.

Let’s see…, she scans.

Project Bridgehead takes place immediately after the Red Tide Apocalypse.

She wipes down a thigh.

In the Apocalypse, diseased humans known as ‘Reds’ by the army. ‘Rogues’ by the general public and ‘Rouges’ by the scientific community...

Hmm., Steph exclaims as she towel-dries her hair. I think I’ll call them Rojo from now on.

She goes back to her screen.

...attacked their healthy counterparts, ultimately infecting most of the world. Of those billions of people, a small percentage have survived the Apocalypse.

Ugh!, she sighs.

She doesn’t like what she is reading. So, she cuts through the CDC firewall.

The Enemy.

The Rouge Hive operates like a highly disciplined swarm of bees or army of ants, orchestrating coordinated attacks even when separated by thousands of miles. Individual Rouges carry out attacks which benefit the collective and have frequently targeted high-ranking officials and military officers. In battle, Rouges weave in and out, through the ranks of the healthy, causing massive losses due to friendly fire.

Steph is bored. So, she hacks into a recent pentagon glossary.

Scout Reds are classified as Full Red. Scout Reds split off from the main hordes to pursue healthy humans who attempt to hide. In one case, an entire family was caught hiding in a false ceiling on the second floor of an abandoned firehouse. In another case, a child was uncovered, hiding under his bed in his abandoned home, in an abandoned city. And above a storage closet in a bowling alley, a teenage couple were discovered in a crawl space and converted.

Miller makes a guess. Sounds like Courtney wrote that part or maybe Iron Boy.

She scrolls a page.

Stealth Reds are classified as Full Red. Stealth Reds split off from the main hordes. Stealth Reds do not attack immediately. Instead, they lie in wait undetected until it is time to attack.

Wow. I didn’t know...what I didn’t know., Steph exclaims. Then she gets back to the text.

Sleeper Reds are classified as Future Red. Sleeper Reds are humans who do not know they are infected. These Sleepers mix with healthy populations, eventually turning Full Red at the most opportune time for the hive. Many of these Sleepers have no overt bites or scratches.

Red Spies are classified...

Miller skips ahead.

To increase the terror of the fleeing populace...

Miller perks. Now this sounds interesting.

To increase the terror of the fleeing populace, Reds frequently travel thousands of miles just to infect former acquaintances. They track and attack their former neighbors, teachers, spouses and children.

Miller laughs. I hope Q doesn’t turn Rojo. I’ll never get rid of him.

She goes back to the log.

Allies.

The air force was hit disproportionately. Most aircraft have been lost or grounded because Sleepers frequently turned full Red in the air. Also, Stealth Reds periodically attempted to board transports undetected, dooming the humans on board.

She scrolls down the page.

After losing most of their aircraft and several ships, the United States Navy became reluctant to assist the mainland.

Miller clicks back. Yup, this is a top-secret document, all right.

She finds her place.

After losing most of their aircraft and several ships, the United States Navy became reluctant to assist the mainland. Because ships that came near to shore incurred massive outbreaks, the entire fleet was sent out to sea and the High Admiral passively ignored pleas for relief.

Wow!, Steph mouths.

She looks at her hip. What now?

She dials her phone.

Antebellum

I’m on it, Q., Steph Miller says to her phone. I’ll see what I can find. For now, I’m reading about the survivors, trying to locate the names on General Wagner’s list.

She delves into another classified CDC document.

Survivors.

Immediately, she is interrupted.

OK Q. she nags. I’ll be in, in about 10 minutes. I’m just getting dressed."

She reads as she straightens her hair.

Survivors.

She daydreams as she clicks around.

Her thoughts creep in.

Most people I’ve ever known are dead or have turned Rojo...

She feels incredibly depressed. And the dark thoughts persist. Most of my people are dead or infected, along with the rest of humanity.

She feels So heaveeee,

Miller taps on a new header and regains her focus.

Dr. Benjamin?, she questions as she scans.

The few survivors share post-apocalyptic traumatic stress. And with this disorder, guilt, fear, grief, anger as well as an unlimited amount of other negative thoughts consistently rears its head and plays havoc with the survivors’ psyche.

She trolls into the document and types, Bingo.

Steph swallows her pride and calls in.

Hi Q. I’m just dressing now. OK, I’ll be there. She pauses for his response.

When I get there. That’s when.

Call Time

Steph Miller decides to take her time and she reads on.

The Battle Grounds.

The Red Tide Apocalypse, as it is called in North America.

She skips a few paragraphs. She doesn’t want to be, that late.

...focused on North America, where the Reds waged several offensives and eventually forced what was left of humanity into Canada. While most survivors escaped into a massive fortified Bridgehead extending from Southern Saskatchewan to Western Quebec, other survivors are stranded throughout Northern Canada in the area designated as the Disputed Zone. Many of those wanderers have made their way to military outposts or settled in small communities but many more find themselves wandering through Canada, trying to stay alive.

She taps on a document entitled: The Red Tide Bridgehead.

The Bridgehead is the brainchild of Colonel Courtney Knox…

Miller adds her verbal commentary.

Before she was summarily executed by the President of the United States.

She keeps skimming.

...with a few modifications and adjustments by several committee members and strong input from local defense leagues.

The main Bridgehead was born during the Apocalypse when several cities erected walls but many of these cities were overrun before the defenses could be completed. However, northern cities were able to complete walls and soon the landscape became a series of fortified encampments.

Steph takes a break to look in the mirror. Then she turns back.

She can’t find her place so she skims back about two pages.

The United States, Canada and the United Kingdom tasked General Wagner with devising a massive defensive fortification to replace the Antoine Wall which was just a temporary roadblock made up of brush and old cars. Wagner delegated the job to Colonel Knox and made her Chair of an ad-hock committee.

Miller ignores her phone.

She clicks into David Wozniak’s private notes.

Minutes from a classified meeting? In Woz’s own words?, she breathes.

Must be right before he... became infected.

She changes her tone.

Let’s hope the stenographer didn’t take out the swears.

The Bridgehead began to take its current form when Knox poured over the map in Wagner’s ready room. She noticed that the fortified sector containing Ann Arbor, Michigan and the walls surrounding Toledo, Ohio were only 30 miles apart. She drew a line connecting them. Then she had a smaller enclosed city called Dundee, extend their walls to meet both cities and renamed that section the Fort Dundee Sector. Soon, Knox had the Battle Creek, Lansing and Flint camps extend their walls to connect to Ann Arbor and when she ordered Kalamazoo, Holland and Grand Rapids to connect to their walls, a small fortified bridgehead was created.

A natural boundary consisting of lakes Michigan, Huron and Erie protect the Bridgehead’s flanks.

Miller stands and projects her own map.

She reads with one finger on the image.

When Muskegon connected with Grand Rapids, Knox made the decision to divide the area north of Flint and Muskegon into several sectors with Gaylord, Atlanta State, Huron-Manistee, Travis City and Pentoskey the largest in area.

Steph’s pocket vibrates. She reads the text.

Honey, I really need you here.

This always works on Steph. And Quincy knows it.

She hits back.

I need you too, darling., she replies. I’m just finishing my homework. Then I’ll be in.

Miller feels a little bored. Actually, she doesn’t know exactly how she is feeling. She drones on.

Knox then erected walls connecting Canadian fortifications to the American Bridgehead. In phase 2 of Project Bridgehead, Knox drew lines between large sectors and had walls and gates built as additional roadblocks. Some of the sectors/sections had long thin pan handles and when two sectors were separated by thin gaps, a short dog-leg wall and/or gate was constructed.

The sectors vary in size and mission. Green Bay is by far the largest section/sector because it includes the entire peninsular. The smaller sectors consist of small communities, farmsteads and forests.

Steph Miller is now incredibly bored. And Anxious. And she doesn’t want to be too late or too passive aggressive. So, she closes her eyes and shuts out the world.

The depression comes back.

Now, she is more depressed than anything so she clicks into the minutes of another classified meeting.

One small sector had only fields. Soon, the residents built a barn on the property and later they built a farmhouse so the workers could sleep inside.

She yawns ahead. She is sleepy now.

Because the sectors are so large, towers were constructed to facilitate communication. To its residents, the landscape appears much like it had before. Unless they are within 20 miles of the walls, there is no visual indication that they are inside a gigantic fort.

She stands and checks her hip.

She picks up the call.

Never mind honey. I found it., a voice plays over her headset.

OK Q., she answers. Keep it on your finger.

They give loud smooches to each other and Steph straightens.

She hacks around.

A tear escapes. First his granddaughter. Now his daughter?

She lightens her search.

OK., she tells herself. Let’s see what Dr. Mirabai is keeping secret.

The Nancy Story

Personal Log: Dr. Sappho Mirabai. June 28.

"This is not a brilliant beginning. Please see the results of my latest project. It’s Out-worldly, bizarre and unsettling. It reminds me of the stories my grandmothers told me. Except this trickster is not just a spider, she is the fabled Red Witch.

"La Diablesse as my Jamaican grandmother would call her, has come to America and she is luring innocents into traps. My other grandmother would have called her Mama Dglo. Thankfully, she died before Trinidad was lost.

"I don’t believe in the old myths but something is happening. And children are disappearing. My faith has been tested of late and I’m starting to have my doubts.

"Those are just myths, I know. But the monster I’m fighting acts like a Witch. The Red Witch. And she has a coven of foot soldiers who are displaying the same behaviors that were just folklore yesterday.

"General Wagner spent some time with me this afternoon. We played chess. As we were playing, I felt an enormous anxiety attack. I felt like I was wasting my time, playing a game, while the other tasks I needed to tend to were put on hold. Iron Ed wouldn’t let me cede the match. That made me pretty angry. So, I played recklessly. He allowed three of my pawns to reach the last square. They each became queens but were quickly eliminated and each time, my position degraded.

And I almost won.

After the match, I felt more relaxed and more focused. I even decided to take time and write into this log. And now I feel more confident and I plan to out-trick the trickster."

Yawn., Steph Miller says out loud. That’s enough of that. I love reading about cultural anthropology, and all that, but I simply don’t have the time. I’m going back into the pentagon papers.

Above, Below and Between

Steph Miller opens up another document entitled Rid Tide Bridgehead.

The completed Bridgehead extends 800 miles north-south and 1800 miles east-west. In the west, Winnipeg with its rear to Lake Winnipeg is the northernmost fort. From Fort Winnipeg, the Bridgehead cuts through Central Ontario and into Quebec. The southern boundary of the Bridgehead extends into central Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan and southeast Ontario.

Just more of the same., Miller snorts.

She reads one more section before clicking on.

Below the Bridgehead is the Red Zone. The RZ is empty of healthy humans with two exceptions. The Southern Minnesota Army Group which is stationed directly below the Bridgehead and a thousand miles south of their position, is Doctor Joshua Rubin, still occupying the CDC in Atlanta.

She searches for the key word Defense.

Then she clicks onto a tab entitled Army Groups.

Defending the south is the Southern Minnesota Army Group. The eastern wall of the Bridgehead is protected by several forts, including Fort Detroit. North of the Bridgehead is the Disputed Zone and south of the border is the Red Zone.

She ignores her phone again. Then she snoops into a more recent report.

North of the Bridgehead, in the DZ, millions of Reds have pooled into two large hordes, comprising of hundreds of millions of Reds.

Miller texts. OMG, Quincy. I’m putting on my coat now.

On her way back to WAG Headquarters, she hacks into two real-time transmissions. When she arrives, her fiancé forgives her. Mostly because she shares some very valuable intelligence. The Hordes in the Disputed Zone are now Jockeying for position.

The Protocol Conference

January 20. Six years ago:

They’re killing us. It’s that new non-addictive, non-Opiate painkiller, Acetol.

Non-addictive?, a man in a blue suit asks himself. Anything for pain management is potentially addictive.

Several men are sitting in a brightly lit conference room eating a late breakfast. Twelve are invited guests and three others have planned the meeting.