Into Dark Winter

 

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Part 1: Into Dark Winter

The first five days blurred together in to one, horrific event.  General panic ensued, hospitals were overrun and quarantine areas were established in order to segregate the infected from the non-infected.

Telling you that this was done due to limited supplies would only be a half truth. Supplies were limited, but fear also played a major role in how things went down. It wasn’t our finest hour.

When the power failed, taking with it every form of electronic commerce and infrastructure, sections of the City and adjacent municipalities became Dark Zones where the only constant was chaos.

Sitting here at dusk looking out at the streetlights, empty pharmacy shelves surround me. With what little electricity that powers this block, the lights flicker both in the store and out in the street in a tranquil cadence. But the faint sounds of gunshots in the distance, and this damn cough, snap me out of my daydreaming and back to reality once more.

Hard to believe that these streets were filled with shoppers going about their New York Christmas season only two and a half weeks ago.

Ironic really, how life gets you into the routine of going from place to place to work, shop or visit friends and family. This same routine is what fueled the spread of the infection as it traveled from person to person on Black Friday.

I mean it was only three weeks ago that my girlfriend and I were coming back from a night out, and we had stopped at this very pharmacy because she had just run out of cough medicine for a cough that just wouldn’t go away.

After she left the next morning to go home and finish packing for her business trip to Stockholm, I barely remember saying goodbye to her; although how we spent our night together I’ll never forget.

It had been our second date after a rather nasty fight that we had three weeks earlier, and we were still in the “make-up” phase – a wonderful time if you know how to play your cards right.  But how much ‘game’ I had that night doesn’t really matter.  All that matters now is what’s outside the front entrance of the pharmacy, and I don’t mean the piles of waste that sporadically line the streets.

The intersection outside used to be vibrant and warm with the holidays, regardless of every Snowdrop that fell.  For anyone else, the speed at which the stores closed and apartments were deserted would have been too overwhelming to handle. But for me it’s all a part of the simulations that I was trained in months ago at a secure facility in the heart of the Manhattan…

…but that’s for another time.

The graffiti on the walls and business signs, people hurting others or worst simply for a clean bottle of water or an unopened can of soup – this is the reality that we live in now and it’s ours to fix.

Who are we?  What can we do to help our nation recover from this pandemic?

I can’t reveal my objectives, but what I can say is that we have been thoroughly trained and we are equipped with technology that no one has ever used before. It’s specifications are highly classified and extremely specialized to each individual.

My name is Nick.  I’m a self-sustained, Tactical Agent; meaning that I work outside the chain of command because the “command” no longer exists. Along with the others that are working to restore our society, we operate as Agents of The Division.

I was activated a week after the country collapsed under the weight of the outbreak.  Months of training in CQC, short and ranged weapons, medical and survival skills – it conditioned me for the country that I am now helping to restore.  That is, to restore what remains.

As an Agent of the Division, I am working with other individuals that have been trained as I was.  But it’s not like in the movies when tragedy strikes and people join together regardless of race, religion, or economic background to save the world.

That morning, two and a half weeks ago, I was awaken by a call that came to a specific phone in a secure container that only I could open.  There was no one on the other end and there were only two messages displayed on the small LCD screen:

“DIVISION AGENT 0017 – ACTIVATED.”

“PROCEED TO SITE CHARLIE WITHIN 12 HOURS FOR TEAM ASSIGNMENTS.”

My objective clock immediately began to count down (11:59:59, 11:59:58, 11:59:57, …) and that’s how it started for me.

It’s been two and a half weeks since I crossed over into the City to join up with the other three members of my team.

Since that time, we have been patrolling regions of the City in order to preserve what remains so that our nation can overcome the Dark Winter – a pandemic that we…saw coming.

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Part 2: Rescue Mission

(Backroom of a run-down pharmacy.  The shelves are mostly empty.  Snow is just starting to fall outside.)

BRONSON

Oh, hey.  Thanks for taking watch again.  These health boosters just don’t seem to do anything for this cold.

NICK

(Grunts in affirmation.)

BRONSON

You alright?

(Sips some water from a plastic bottle.)

Did I snore or something?

NICK

Emily and Megan should have checked-in by now.  They checked-in two hours ago right before they entered the Underground on their Ground Mission to check out that distress call we got earlier.

BRONSON

Should we go?

(Grabs his backpack and rifle.)

Or do you want to continue our patrol from earlier?  Emily and Megan can more than handle themselves.  That’s why they went on ahead.

NICK

We need to go.  Their locators haven’t moved from a central point in the tunnels for the last half hour.  I’ve already gathered supplies and repacked our packs.

(Bites off a piece of a granola bar and follows it with a quick drink of water.)

BRONSON

Thank you.

(Shakes his bag and notices the increased weight from earlier.)

I’ll take point.  It’s my turn, anyway.

(The two leave the pharmacy and head west towards the entrance to the sewers beneath the city.)

NICK

(Hears an alert on his wrist interface – World Map option.)

Hold up.

(Checks his map to see what alert was triggered.)

BRONSON

I don’t think I’ll get tired of seeing the Snow Drop.  Even with all of this…

NICK

We can’t go this way.

BRONSON

Why?  What’s wrong?

(Sends out a Pulse to scan the area in order to try to figure out the issue before Nick says anything.)

NICK

Do you see that?

BRONSON

The two, elite crews or their dogs?

NICK

I’ll take that as a yes.

(Looks at an alternate route on his map that directs them to a nearby manhole cover.  Walking over to it, he begins to open the cover.)

BRONSON

If we take this route, it’s going to be extremely close quarters and Chris won’t be able to give us drone support.

NICK

Roger that.

(Lifts the manhole cover completely off and drops it to the ground where the mixture of snow and ice partially mask the sound of the cover’s impact.)

Check your skills and prepare for CQC.

BRONSON

Ok.

(Opens up his inventory and upgrades his ‘CQC Skill’ on Skill line 5 of his inventory.)

NICK

(Opens up his inventory and does the same.  Shortly thereafter, he shines his torch down the manhole opening and visually verifies that the area is clear – no alarms are triggered on his interface.)

BRONSON

Go.

NICK

Heading down.

(The two descend down into the sewers.  A small stream of water is running down the center of the pipeline.  A faint light can be seen about two hundred yards ahead of them beyond a junction that fades to the left before continuing on.)

[2014-12-24 | 05:45 HRS]

NICK

(Sends out another Pulse to highlight anything that may be ahead, as well as, Emily and Megan’s last known position.)

BRONSON

I think I preferred it up on the street.  The stench in here…

(Bronson’s health slowly begins to lower.)

NICK

(An alert sounds on his wrist interface: “TOXIC FUMES”.)

Masks.  Now.

(They both immediately put on their gas masks – each are breathing quickly.  Bronson’s health slowly stabilizes.)

NICK

You alright?  Here, I’ll heal us up.

(Activates his Team Health Buff to fully restore their health.)

BRONSON

Thanks for that.

NICK

Sure thing.  Let’s keep moving.

(Moments pass as they continue to move closer to their primary objective.)

BRONSON

Left at the junction up ahead leads to another exit.  But Emily and Megan’s signal is only another a hundred and twenty two yards away just off of a central, maintenance room.

NICK

Roger that.  Stay alert.

BRONSON

Copy.

(At eighty meters from Emily and Megan’s last known position, the two stop and lower to a defensive position.  Bronson sends out a Pulse.)

BRONSON

Looks like four up ahead.

NICK

(Sends out a Pulse to detect everything within a 60-meter radius.)

I detect four, but it looks like there may be others.

(The read-out from his Pulse shows a result of five people up ahead with a possible three additional people that were barely outside of Bronson’s earlier Pulse.)

We need to move up to confirm.

BRONSON

You’re the boss.  Moving up.

(With their guns at the ready, they move forward slowly – looking ahead to the group of three men and two women guarding some ammo crates, medical supplies, rations and weapon boxes.)

NICK

Looks like they’ve been cleaning up on gathering supplies.  Those medical supplies need to be taken back to one of the medical facilities in Manhattan.

BRONSON

Agreed.  So what’s the play?

NICK

Hold on.

(He sends out another Pulse and discovers that the other three people are not all people, although he does verify that two of them are Emily and Megan.)

Looks like the elites left behind one of their K-9’s to help with guarding the supplies.

BRONSON

So do you want to divide-and-conquer or do we go in guns blazing?

NICK

Let’s keep this as quiet as possible.  I don’t want to damage those supplies, get the girls killed or alert that group of elites at the entrance.  Attach your suppressor.

BRONSON

(Attaches his suppressor to his rifle while Nick does the same.)

So divide?

NICK

And conquer.

(The two move in opposite directions around the perimeter.  Nick heads counterclockwise towards Emily, Megan and the K-9, while Bronson heads clockwise in order to cut off the group of men and women from escaping if their efforts alert them to call out for reinforcements.)

(Emily and Megan sit restrained in an alcove just beyond the perimeter with the K-9 secured to the entranceway of the alcove by a steel chain and canvas collar.)

(Nearing the alcove, Nick sees Emily and Megan and signals to them to be quiet.  Acknowledging him with a slight nod, they watch as he grabs two granola bars from his pack.  Throwing them over the K-9 to the far side of the perimeter, opposite of where they entered, the K-9 immediately shifts it’s gaze to the sound of the bars landing.  Shooting the chain, the K-9 doesn’t think twice and heads off towards the food.  Nick then moves in to free Emily and Megan.)

Go fetch, Watch Dog.

BRONSON

(As Nick made his way to distract the K-9, Bronson opened his inventory and created a ‘Distraction Device’ on Skills line 3.  Once created, he made his way over to just behind one of the ammo crates that was placed at the main entrance of the area.)

(Watching the crew of men and women, when no one was looking Bronson deployed the Distraction Device – which occurred shortly after the K-9 ran off after the food.  Two of the men immediately were alerted to the K-9, while the third man and only one of the women noticed the Distraction Device.  The other woman started to move towards Bronson’s position.)

(Having freed Emily and Megan, Nick gave Megan his pistol, which did not have a suppressor on it, and Emily waited behind them.)

NICK

We will stay here and take down whoever we can.  Make your way around to Bronson to assist him.

EMILY

On my way.

NICK

Bronson, I’ve freed Emily and Megan.  The K-9 is out of the picture for now and I’m sending Emily over to you for a weapon.  We are ready on this side to engage.  What’s your status?

(By this time, the last woman who had started to move towards Bronson was only a few feet away.  Nick and Megan watched from the opposite side of the room and waited for Bronson’s command.)

BRONSON

(Refrains from talking as anything that he says will spook the woman and alert her to his location.)

(Just before she is on him, Emily stops.)

EMILY

(Whistles – alerting the woman.)

BRONSON

(Takes the opportunity to take out the woman while she is distracted.)

Now.

(He gives the command to Nick before she drops to the floor.)

NICK

(To Megan.)

Stay on my six.  We’re moving.

(Without thinking, he opens fire – taking out one of the men and one of the women.)

BRONSON

(Sees that only one man remains and fires.  All threats eliminated.)

Clear.

NICK

Clear.

EMILY

Clear.

MEGAN

Clear.

NICK

We’ve got to move.  There’s no way that we are going to get these supplies out of here on our own.

BRONSON

You two alright?  Where are your packs and weapons?

EMILY

We’re fine.  Just a little flustered is all.

MEGAN

Our packs are over there.

(Pointing to a few crates near the Distraction Device.)

(Emily and Megan both go over and retrieve their supplies.)

NICK

Grab what you can from this supply drop.  I’ve already marked this location as a Weapons and Supply Cache that we can return to later.  What’s important is that we get out of here before anyone else comes along.

MEGAN

Agreed.

(As she chambers a round in her rifle.)

BRONSON

(To Emily and Megan.)

How did they bring you here?

EMILY

I’m not sure.  But I have seen the elites come through here from time to time from that direction.

(Pointing back towards the entrance to the Outflow Pipes.)

NICK

(Opens up his World Map.)

Looks like there’s another manhole cover a few hundred yards that way.

(Pointing towards a doorway that is opposite the main entrance.)

DOWNED SOLDIER’S RADIO

Supply Team 5, come in.  This is Gateway Team 2.  Do you copy?

BRONSON

That’s our cue.  Go-Go-Go.

(As they run for the door, they are cut off by the K-9.)

EMILY

(Points her rifle at the K-9 and is about to pull the trigger when Nick interrupts.)

NICK

(Holds up his last granola bar and waves it at the K-9.  It changes it’s focus to the food and then chases after it when Nick throws it back to where Emily and Megan were being held.)

EMILY

(Seeing that this has worked, she shifts her aim to the old, rusty lock on the door.  Firing, the lock drops to the floor.  Holstering her rifle behind her shoulder, he tries to pull the door open.  Voices and footsteps are getting louder from the entranceway opposite them.)

Help me!

(Megan begins to move in to help, but Bronson stops her.)

BRONSON

You provide cover fire for us with Nick.  I’ll help Emily.

(With only moments to spare, Nick positions himself behind some of the ratio crates while Megan brings up her wrist interface.  Selecting two Seeker Mines from Skills line 2, she positions herself behind another crate of medical supplies and waits for the elites to arrive.)

NICK

I’ll lay down some fire, while you take down as many as you can with the Mines.  Ok?

MEGAN

Roger that.

(Bronson and Emily continue to try to pry open the door with anything that they can get their hands on.  Just before the firing starts, Emily remembers that she saw a crowbar earlier behind one of the crates when she was trying to reach Bronson.)

EMILY

Hold on.  Cover me while I go and get the crowbar.

BRONSON

Ok.  Move quickly and keep your head down.

(Emily, with her weapons still holstered, runs over to the crate that has the crowbar on top of it – most likely as it was used to open some of the ammo crates nearby.)

(Laying down cover fire, Bronson and Nick all concentrate on the two crews of elites coming through the main entrance.)

(When they are all near the perimeter of the crates, Megan let’s one of the Seeker Mines go to take down the closest elites and one of the K-9’s.)

(Emily grabs the crowbar and turns to run towards Bronson.  Three strides into her return, one of the K-9’s leaps at her and gets a hold of her rifle.  Struggling with it, she unbuckles her pack and pulls out her pistol.  Firing two rounds in the K-9, it drops to the floor and releases her pack.)

EMILY

Dammit!

(As the firing continues, Emily returns to the doorway and jams the crowbar in between the doorway and the frame.)

(Hearing the screeching of the metal, Megan takes this as a cue to once again let one of the Seeker Mines go.  It rolls quickly around a few crates and finds it’s last target – two of the elites that have not, yet fallen to the team’s gunfire.)

NICK

Ceasefire!  All clear!

(They all keep their weapons pointed ahead of them and survey the result of their standoff.  Six elites, two K-9’s and a group of three men and two women all lay motionless.  The battle has been won.)

BRONSON

Clear.

EMILY

Clear.

MEGAN

Clear.

NICK

Forget about the door.  We’re taking the main entrance.  I want to close-off this place so that rescue workers can return to gather those supplies.

(Everyone agrees and reloads their weapons.)

MEGAN

Here’s a Health Buff.

(The Team’s Health returns to full.)

NICK

Let’s move.

[2014-12-23 | 06:02 HRS]

(The sunrise lights the main entrance-way ahead of them as they head out and on to their next mission.)

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Part 3: Classified

...

(Continue the Story in The First Objective).

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