Global Reaction [RP thread for Z-related actions)

[Glasgia]

Please post any preparations, reactions and events within your nation, related to the outbreak. It doesn't have to be anything to do with other posts, I just thought it would be cool to have a thread full of IC reactions.

I guess I should make the first entry as an example.

Novantae, Democratic Republic of Glasgia

"You ready for this, Sarge?" Ian looked across at his comrade, surprised to hear a voice amongst the tension.

"Ready? No. No one is. They're fucking monsters, a horde of fucking monsters, headed straight for the capital. Take that macho mask off, you bastard, and wait for the fight to start." Looking through the sights of his rifle, a standard issue SA80, Ian could already hear his comrades sniggering. Of course they would. They were mainly young guys, having never fought even against normal humans. He'd love to see them against a horde of undead, watch their confidence drain as the city burned. Him? The campaign badges under his stripes said enough. Portsmit War. Portsmit Anti-Insurgency Campaign. Operation Black Fire. Valkan Wars I and III. Occupation of Vorshka. He could deal with some rotting corpses.

The barricade they manned was one of many set to isolate Novantae from the outbreak, or to isolate the rest of the country from Novantae. As with every city and town throughout the nation, the military had begun to occupy defences while volunteers and professional medical teams set up checkpoints to watch infection rates. The two sides of the reaction had been codenamed Operations Back to the Grave and Infection, for military and medical. Even the police had been issued weapons, ranging from hunting rifles to pistols to shotguns, in order to help defensive efforts against the city's population. Densely populated areas, like flats, were patrolled regularly by police officers with orders given to kill undead on sight. They knew when and how the outbreak would occur and they would not take chances.

In an address by the President, himself an ex-military figure, citizens had been urged to isolate themselves, advice taken to the extent of some households assigning themselves sections of their home for each person. Others had simply bought enough to last a few days and locked themselves indoors - a great short term boost for supermarkets but other businesses had frozen for those few days. Home generators had been encouraged, hoping to power a nation for a few days while the power stations slept.

The policy was no prisoners, whatever the cost.

[CTALNH]

Pull out everyones teeth/end thread.

The marvels of social engineering.

[Glasgia]

Pull out everyones teeth/end thread.

The marvels of social engineering.

Thank you for your brilliant contribution to this roleplay, so brilliant that I'm afraid I'm going to ask that you don't do that again - We wouldn't want your posts to outshine that of others

[CTALNH]

Pull out everyones teeth/end thread.

The marvels of social engineering.

Thank you for your brilliant contribution to this roleplay, so brilliant that I'm afraid I'm going to ask that you don't do that again - We wouldn't want your posts to outshine that of others

Yes ante gamhsou kai se sena....

I will not be posting again bye

[The Campbell Nation]

Capitol District, Campbell City
Chancellor Campbell gazed out from the balcony of the Executive Tower over the Capitol. With his pair of high powered binoculars he peered down to an intersection a few blocks away. A civil defense officer was inspecting a vehicle at a checkpoint. Large fences and barbed wire cordoned off streets at vital intersections. As per his instructions, all major cities were being sectioned off into smaller, easier to contain, sectors.
The civil defense sirens sounded, marking the hour, and reminding the citizens of the impending disaster. In the city below, there was an atmosphere of silent dread, as citizens rushed to stockpile essentials. Civil defense and national militia personnel had been mobilized, and were assisting at grocery stores and warehouses to facilitate the rush. The military was reinforcing all of its bases, and had used the extra warning to start training new conscripts.
Earlier that morning, the senate had, in record time, passed an emergency powers act, authorizing the chancellor and the military to do what needed to be done in this hour of crisis. The Chancellor had announced, by emergency broadcast, a general amnesty on weapon carry and hoarding laws. The ministry of finance had suspended its operations; zombies didn't use the central banking system. The ministry of defense and ministry of health were working overtime. Posters reminding everyone to keep calm and practice common health practices were being broadcast on the jumbotrons. The ministry of information was pouring through records of the first zombie apocalypse, trying to recall what had gone wrong, what had gone right, and what they needed to do. A team of scientists was being assembled in the Capitol to search for a cure, if it was possible. If not, there were always the strategic nuclear weapons stockpiles.
The chancellor had been busy all morning, in meetings, making broadcasts, and assisting with the preparations himself. He had sent telegrams to all of their allies in the region, reminding them of the importance of cooperation.

[Maltropia]

"Again?"

"Well, technically, it never ended."

"..."

"Sire, preventative measures were required and never legislated for. Ishgar offered to step in and immediately a massive cover-up operation ensued. Yes, the media has been reporting with delight on the transport corridor through the Seanbolg and the sizeable areas that have been opened up recently, but the excuse that most of the region is 'irradiated' doesn't really work. We've never even used nuclear weapons."

King Brendan sighed, as he did so often these days. "Are you suggesting that now is the time to start, Minister?"

"Not at all, but something must be done. We've made no progress whatsoever towards a 'cure', so there does seem to be just the one option open to us."

"I'd rather not have to go there, Mick."

"Sire, we're going to have to decide on some course of action before it's too late. The Councils will both be in session today, and this is the first thing on their agendas. Better to suggest this to them first than have them demand it later." The Minister was quite fervent in his proposal, Brendan noticed. He nodded.

"I'll think about it," he said, hoping it would be taken as the dismissal it was.

Minister Micheál Ó Tuama frowned. "Time," he enunciated sternly, "is of the essence, sire," and with that he turned about and marched out of the room.

Brendan I, King of Maltropia, sat in silence for a moment before picking up his phone. "Clara," he said in a quiet tone, "get me the Minister of War."

[Lamplight Caverns]

"Hey, MacCready."

Bullets hopped up on to the wall with the Mayor, after passing off his scav pack. While rolling his shoulders, he gestured to the front of the cave.

"Zombies are movin', again. They're a lot more active."

"Like the last fucking time?"

"Yeah."

He just laughed.

"Oh, children, it's not good to live in a cave all of the time, waaah, waaah. Gimme a fucking break. I bet they're now going to flock here."

"If they make it..."

"Here's the deal, I'm going to keep like four extra mags up here. I can pick of stragglers, I'll ring the alarm if there's /somehow/ more. But I really fucking doubt it."

Bullets slapped his shoulder, and hopped off, venturing deeper in to their home... Their home that would be the safe bastion, the envy of the post-apocalyptic world.

[Ainin]

Aininian Forces Base East Forestia

---

"Ma'am," said the warrant officer while saluting as the President and Commander-in-chief of Ainin, Katherine Raspberry, entered the official government jet airliner, Ainin One. As soon as the Prime Minister, Council of Ministers, several high-ranking military officers and senior aides had been seated, the large passenger aircraft took off from the asphalt runway, leaving the small urban archipelago of Forestia, heading towards the heavily-fortified bunker 500m under Mount Jasper, capable of withstanding a 20 megatonne direct nuclear blast, that was Air Force Nuclear Command's headquarters and the designated government continuity control centre.

Meanwhile, the seaports and airports of Forestia were completely crowded as the 16 million citizens of the waterlocked city began evacuating the city via airliners, military transport aircraft, cargo ships, cruise ships, fishing boats, canoes, yachts, speedboats and everything in between.

Onboard the aircraft, the staff were all assembled in the conference room in the back of the plane.

"Ma'am, Air Force Command has disabled all land-based ICBMs and is moving them to [the] Mount Pleasant [Secure Storage Facility]," announced a man with the 2 1/2 bars rank distinctive of a Captain, and wearing the black uniform of the Navy.
"Thank you, Captain Gerald," replied the President. "Please tell Military Police Command to divert more resources towards evacuating Forestia, it's taking longer than we thought."
"Yes, ma'am."

The captain left the room, heading towards the telecommunications centre on the second floor of the Airbus A380.

A second military officer, this one wearing a blue tunic of the Air Force, and with epaulettes showing the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel, approached the President.

"Ma'am," he said. "The situation is dire, and we're not going to be able to finish the evacuations in time."

He sighed.

"The only way we possibly can get this done is if you bring us to DEFCON 1 and activate Section 23 of the War Measures Act."
"Lt. Colonel, remind me what Section 23 is again?"

"Conscription."

The President sighed, torn between forcing into involuntary servitude millions of Aininians or letting millions other die, trapped in vulnerable and undefended sectors.
"Alright," she said, slowly. "Activate Section 23."

As soon as those words were said, the order was sent across the nation to conscript all able-bodied male citizens between the age of 18 and 25 into the Military Police.

[The IASM]

Kokumin ākorojī -Ōato
Airship docks
Ditorate sector
Ōato, Titianicia
Current Temp: 27° C

---

The city was calm as the subtle hum of the thousands of drones slowly filled the air, it was a glorious jewel, a black and white demonstration of Titianician logic. Ōato clearly had enough police forces to crush most nations in a conventional war and to this very day law and order has been maintained with such a ruthless efficiency it would not vanish in the face of chaos - it will bend chaos to its will. This what lady Máchiko saw of this city and so did Lāzīn when he first built it. She was overlooking the segregated city from the floating colossus that was the High Altitude City Management hybrid Airship, or HACMA for short and her where she held the fate of the city in her tight grip. She waited until she heard footsteps in echoing from the carbon floor and noticed Kokkagensui Kai Lee enter the room. "Kokkagensui, I hope the drones are ready as right about now my patience for this is decreasing rather rapidly" she spoke, letting the words slowly drip from her mouth. Kai saluted before answering his master "Administator, the drones are loaded with neurotoxins, their anti-personel long range incinerators are prepared and their fuel tanks loaded - and may I ask what does your plan entail madam?"

Máchiko looked back at Kai, displaying a sly curiousity before asking him "Have they not told a Kokkagensui, then my puppets are becoming increasingly ineffective at their jobs. Anyway you see there has been multiple cases of Pesuto in Yàosài, if you worked with me on the previous case you'd may know that we kept some strands of the disease in order to prevent it from expanding once again. However we had a NARF raid on the very facility it was stored in and now it turned out here. My plans mostly revolves around systematically exterminating Pesuto infected in an organised per-emptive strike where they'd be trapped inside the cities while fire and nerve gas kills them off. This will result in rather the rather effective destruction of Pesuto and will allow the killing of many politicial dissidents-"

"Pardon madam, did I just here what I thought I just heard? Are you going to massacre those who are in need of rehab, moronic fools who need to be guided elsewhere! What the actual fucking 'ell are you thinking madam, this is insane in all regards!"

"And is it not insane to insult a superior officer who currently controls enough weaponry to destroy a city, is trained in several self defence techniques and is currently pessesimg several pieces of weaponry on her person. Common sense, why don't people have it these days. Your herby dismissed from duty and let the Shinobi take you out."

Kai sighed before exiting the room to Máchiko's great satisfaction; three Shinobi stood outside all carrying tranquilliser rifles. They quickly opened fire on the Kokkagensui before he was able to react and slowly dragging him into eternal darkness.

The red dawn was rising upon Titianicia.

---

[New Emmerian Coalition]

Liberty Defensive Perimeter; New Emmerian Coalition, Zero Hour

A Journal Entry, written by one of the Garrison Rangers

Here we stand.
Our nation, has turned to Hell.
Our turrets, our guns are manned.
Waiting, for the wretched yell.

We have fought back using our guns.
Nobody thinks to use wit.
They were right, those priests and nuns.
The World is ending, and us along with it.

We can only pray.
Oh Lord, what have we done?
We only wish for one more day.
But now it appears, we will be seeing none.

Here we fall.
Heaven, seems so far away.
We wait, behind this wall.
Hoping to keep the demons at bay.

[Dutch Afrika]

Thank you for your brilliant contribution to this roleplay, so brilliant that I'm afraid I'm going to ask that you don't do that again - We wouldn't want your posts to outshine that of others

Yes ante gamhsou kai se sena....

I will not be posting again bye

OOC: Aaah, so cute, telling him to fuck himself in greek.

[Glasgia]

Medical Centre, Outside Chase Hospital, East Calabeul, Democratic Republic of Glasgia

The pain in Cameron's arm crackled once again, the sores rusting against the sleeve of his hoodie. Even in the crisp autumn morning, he did not feel the chill wind suffocating his lungs with icy air. Instead, his body was filled with burning pain and then, beyond that, numbness. The line took a couple of steps forward and Cameron followed it, hand on his switchblade.

"Next!" Cameron stepped up and took a seat next to the medic. Without word, the doctor leant forward and took hold of Cameron's left sleeve. Cameron grimaced as he did so, but the wounds were elsewhere. As the doctor was satisfied, Cameron made to roll his sleeve down again. Before he could do so and with surprising speed, the doctor grasped at his right arm. At his sore.

A howl of agony filled the room and Cameron was on his feet, switchblade open and in hand. The doctor clenched at his throat, the crimson fluids quickly staining the floor. The police bolted upright, firearms waving aimlessly at Cameron. They were not confident enough to use them, not after their mere hour of training, not when Cameron stood in front of a rapidly dispersing line of people. Luckily, they were not alone in guarding the facility.

The gunshot, suppressed not out of necessity but out of practice, could barely be heard in the panic of the crowd. There had been few 'infected' in the past days and people were waiting for the outbreak, unaware of the build up. Their screams and shouts had allowed the vehicle, a military jeep, to park three hundred yards away across the square and unheard by Cameron. The bullet had left the muzzle, travelling the distance in just over a third of a second, and slammed over three thousand joules of kinetic energy through Cameron's brain.

"Please be calm, the problem has been dealt with!" A small squad leapt out of the jeep and into the crowd, beginning to re-organise the line as more police arrived to aid them. These were just the first signs of what was coming and everyone knew how much worse it could get.

[Republic of Astana]

48 Hours before Z DAY

---

Trucks filled with troops ,helicopters patrolling, Snipers on most roofs checkpoints and outposts in every street and major fortifications in key areas, were being done. Along with the most plan for the nation, Chemical bombs planted on every street so if thing got out of hand blow them up kill zombies without causing damage.

24 Hours before Z DAY

---

Civilians instructed to get prepared to leave for shelters while State of Emergency declared, some civs didn't listen, while most did, the scene is still the same, ZEF (Zombie Extermination Force) is prepared and ready to go and protect key persons and search and rescue.

15 Hours before Z DAY

---

Most streets are clear scene is terrifying, people saying goodbye's.

10 Hours Before Z DAY (Current Time)

---

Nation is preparing to stop air broadcast and activate EAS...

OOC: This well be updated.

[Farledor]

Farledor borders, currently known as Checkpoint 1A

The jeep rolled up, halting as the wheels made a dirt trail to the sandbags. The 1940s-dressed and armed men were all standing there, with semi-automatic rifles and sub machine guns, a few heavier sets of weaponry on the sandbags and artillery not far off behind the jeep. The officer and the soldier whom was sitting in the back of the jeep got out, walking up toward the sandbags and looking out across the cold field, the sun just rising overhead on the nation. They all wore some sort of mask or something to cover their face besides their eyes, making everyone seem more lifeless.

"Nine hours." The officer muttered, the soldier nodded, quickly yelling at the men down the line to prepare. The soldiers along the checkpoint loaded rifles and weapons of sorts, as they all looked at the horizon.

Inside Victus City, capital of Farledor

The truck rolled down the street, followed by ten more trucks like it, all green-covered and with soldiers bunched up inside, moving out through the pouring rain as families looked out their windows, scared, or just outright giving up on the spot. The streets were abandoned entirely, no one walked among the sidewalk, no one wanted to, fearful of catching the infection that had spread. Rations were handed out carefully and soldiers were in full uniforms, only their eyes shown. Some, wore metal-like armor, heavy and their weapons heavier...

"Nine hours! A squad of soldiers should arrive and drop off rations within four hours, after that, you are to barricade your houses and apartments and await until the clear sign that this is all over. Military personnel will be marching along the street 24/7, if you're found outside of your house or apartment, please comply with their demands, thank you. We'll see this through, Farledor, we always do. This is Emperor Victus on my last public message before the invasion, do well, men, do well." And with that, the speakers shut off, everyone left in silence.

[Intonisia]

intonisia. after learning of impending zombie apocalypse. decides to put its old organization back into order.

F.V.Z.A
the F.V.Z.A is a paramilitary orginization featuring members of the highly trained and elite soldiers of the task force 101 who are secretly trained in the art of both stealthily exterminating humans and stealthily killing zombies. so far it is a small force of 26 squads with up to 4 men in each sqaud. squads A,B,C,D,E,F,G,H,I,J,K,L,M,N,O,P and Q are currently done with training and are ready for deployment. squads R,S,T,U,V,W,X,Y and Z are still in training. if any nation needs assistance from the F.V.Z.A. we will gladly help.

[Bautizar]

HMS Banhelm, Gulf of Deradund, Royal Kingdom of Bautizar
Current Local Time: 1734hrs
Current Local Temperature: 7° C and falling

The motorboat swung away from the starboard side of the flagship and headed back in towards the coast as the captain watched from the bridge wing. It was cold out here. Damned cold. He rapped his fingers on the combing and puffed on his pipe as he watched as it opened up the throttle and chugged away towards Port Allansberry, capital of the Kingdom, a thick line of black smoke pouring from the launch's single stack and a white flag whipping defiantly in the wind.

"Excuse me sir, message for you," someone behind him said. It was the signals leftenant again. He took the piece of flapping paper and eyed the message, not caring as the man disappeared back inside and out of the winter wind. ALL SHIPS TO PROCEED TO SEA. All right then, he thought to himself as he headed back inside.

The warmth of the bridge was a palpable increase from the exposed bridge wind. "Take up the anchor Mr. Coxsley. Rig for sea," the captain directed as the door closed behind him.

"Rig for sea, aye aye sir," the first officer said before bending to the speaking-tube for the forecastle. "D'you hear there? Engage the engine."

"Engage the engine, aye aye sir," the tinny voice said in reply. The captain looked down through the forward windows to see a man by the number-two turret waving his arms before cupping his hands to his face. Several men out by the starboard anchor chain waved back by way of reply before knocking blocks off the chains. Links began to creep back aboard. The telegraph rung as the engine room acknowledged to get up steam.

The captain looked up from the deck, seeing the black smoke billowing from the stacks of the dreadnaughts and cruisers. A plane droned overhead on a slow loop around the fleet. The flagship catapulted off another aircraft as a destroyer slowly threaded between the Banhelm and the flagship. The crew by the forward three-pounder mounts looked cold.

"Excuse me sir, second message for you." The captain took it without a word. THE NATION IS NOW AT WAR AND ALL EYES ARE ON HIS MAJESTY'S ARMED FORCES. STAND TO YOUR DUTIES AND YOUR POSTS. GOD BLESS YOU ALL.

"Mr. Coxsley." The captain passed him the slip with the hastily-written message. The two men stood there, in silence, until the anchor broke the sea and the dreadnaught turned her nose to the harbor entrance. The rest of the squadron followed in silent formation, leaving the panicked land behind.

Ministry of War, Port Allansberry, Capital of the Royal Kingdom of Bautizar
Current Local Time: 1753hrs
Current Local Temperature: 5° C and falling

"... Reports of skirmishes outside Tyengnal," a communications officer said in the base of the war room. Someone slid a marker into place on the table as she continued to listen to her headset. "Zombie pack estimated at twenty infected destroyed by infantry patrol. No casualties."

"Just the start my lord," the general standing beside the Minister of War quietly remarked. Lord Hampstead nodded and said nothing. Knowing what was coming tended to bring out the silence in most men. The general continued to summarize off the slip of paper in his hand. "Third report in the last hour. Zombies ashore in the Barrier Islands, Buardem, and Warhatray, nothing near the strength of the last time though. I expect that'll change in the next few hours."

The markers with the black flags told enough of a story. "At least they're not coming from the north again," the Minister finally said. The invasion in April had involved legions of zombies rising from the sea and sweeping over Claradight, the northern and thinly-populated island. It had taken days to retake New Strathill just to land reinforcements: two entire divisions of battleships lashing the port and its outlying areas with the thirteen-fives and secondary batteries, just to keep the pressure off disembarking troops.

"What about a cure sir?" the general asked. The minister turned to his neighbor.

"No word on that yet my lord," the Army's surgeon-general said. The fabric with the red cross on a white background was wrapped tightly around sleeve of his olive-green uniform. A pistol swung securely in its holster on one hip, a sword in its sheath on the other. Swords in the Kingdom were once considered archaic. That had changed in April. "We expect some of the nations to contribute to a cure, but the overwhelming majority have said they will pursue a military solution."

The minister nodded as the communications officer spoke again. "HMS Curacoa reports shelling a pack of infected on the coast near Fort Byrton. Aeroforce plane is en route to confirm. Artillery field company in action against infected near Tyengnal."

Map of the Kingdom, to put locations to names.

[Bautizar]

The Royal Kingdom of Bautizar, Northern Sea of Storms
Current Local Time: 2322hrs
Current Local Temperature: 9° C

The first shots of what would be later known as the Second Zombie Emergency, in the Royal Kingdom of Bautizar, would be subsequently confirmed as having been fired at 2255 local time by C Company, 6th Field Artillery Battalion, from an entrenched position near the city of Tyengnal in the Barrier Islands.

Following reports of bodies coming from the ocean, according to the official after-action report, gunners of C Company proceeded to fire illumination flares from their position on a hill overlooking a coastal beach. When they found themselves facing not a small group of bodies but instead a pack of hundreds the company began immediate fire, supported by entrenched marines operating bolt-action rifles and well-trained for headshots. The official kill count was reportedly in excess of 400 with zero fatalities on the part of defending personnel.

Elsewhere in the Kingdom this activity was repeated within minutes, as Zombies began rising from the ocean outside major cities and towns. Despite preparations, the military garrison of Fort Byrton was rapidly overwhelmed within minutes and forced to withdraw from the town and into a well-prepared defensive position including barbed wire, mines, and machine-gun emplacements. Mariners on the docks in the Port of Warhatray fled as bodies began rising from the ocean and shambling into the town, opposed by local constabulary supported by a platoon of marines.

Farther out to sea the submarine HMS Conqueror was attacked by zombies climbing the anchor chain from the ocean seafloor, the ship being saved only by a last-minute closing of the hatches and an emergency dive that swept the undead from the outer hull at the cost of 15 personnel including the commanding officer. The nearby cruiser HMS Gylernys was attacked in similar fashion, but a last-minute air 'blowthrough' of Turret A - normally reserved for sweeping cordite remnants from the barrels between rounds - instead succeeded in blowing the zombie horde back over the bow and into the sea, allowing time for defending marines to rally and pick the undead off the anchor chains as the ship prepared to get underway.

Elsewhere, other naval warships met with more initial success, and soon a steady stream of reports to the Admiralty in Port Allansberry confirmed resistance on almost every front. At Endontine's Folly, infantry ashore were preparing for vicious hand-to-bayonet fighting when a series of 13.5" shells from battleships offshore succeeded in blasting a horde climbing the cliffs outside the town. Picket boats and steam launches succeeded in clearing a low-lying bridge near the town of Hatageet, allowing a convoy of survivors to escape and be rescued. A scout aeroplane catapulted from HMS Banhelm in the Gulf of Deradund strafed zombies trying to board a ferry attempting to clear its dock with survivors, as marines fired shots from the bridge wings.

However, the reports were not so universally good. Marines along the Gulf of Deradund were for the most part surprised by zombies rising from the ocean to attack numerous smaller towns. Soon, pillars of smoke and fire were rising from well-known local places with names like Angalskel, Rothorban, Sibdra, and Denkalim. Ferries trying to evacuate survivors in Cirisnal were overwhelmed before they could leave the docks, with waterfront areas being swept by naval gunfire and machinegun fire from catapulted scout aeroplanes. The town of Swarrtor simply went off-the-air mid-radio call for help, with a single frantic scream being the last thing heard. Theroldber in the far north met the same fate.

In the first hour of the zombie invasion, 11% of the population of the Royal Kingdom of Bautizar was infected. By that point the order had gone out to every outpost, company, and warship: kill all infected on sight. There would be no mercy, and a cure would have to come from elsewhere.

[Bautizar]

There were many firsts in the Second Zombie Emergency. The first battery to go into action. The first warship to use an airblast as a weapon against attacking Zombies. The first confirmed kill of a Type-2 mutant zombie. The first use of depth charges to wipe out an underwater zombie attack.

Another first was set by the crew of His Majesty's Airship Z-21. At time 0514 hours, Z+6, HMA Z-21 became the first unit in the history of the Royal Bautizan Air Corps to drop a combat payload on foreign soil comprised entirely of non-lethal bombs popularly called "cure missiles" by airship crews. The stick of forty bombs was dropped just outside the capital of the Green Socialite Republic of Free Radakaie, suffering under heavy infestation of zombie hordes, by order of Commander R.L. Steinman as the opening shots of Operation Crusader.

In all, airship attacks over the course of two hours proceeded to wipe out 401 million zombies in the Republic. The astounding record remains unsurpassed in the combat history of the Royal Bautizan Air Corps, far exceeding casualties inflicted even during the height of fighting in the 1444-1573 war with Erindor. HMA Z-21 and the crews of the other six airships would later be commended and decorated for their role in spearheading action with enemy forces.

HMA Z-21 received one battle star for wartime service.

- Excerpt taken from the Official Manual of the RBAC Airship Service.

[Azurlavai]

Ferronclad, Yanza State, Allied States of Azurlavai
15th Armored Regiment, 112th Infantry Battalion and 61st Artillery Battery

With a flat -boom-, the Cyclops artillery vehicle nearby fired again, sending a large shell flying into the air towards Ferronclad alongside six others in its battery. A young trooper nearby winced, his hands clasped over his ears, his X-9 assault rifle dangling from his chest. The Sergeant snorted, approaching the young man and smacking him over the head.

"Square up, trooper! Zed ain't gonna stop cause of loud noise!"

The young man fumbled, apologizing quietly as he raised his rifle again, peering over the Bulldog LAV next to him, staring out at the city. Ferronclad was an industrial center, like Marxburg had been, and it was literally swarming with the undead buggers. If not for the mountains of industrial waste and the deep rivers, the current encirclement of the city would be full of holes and ineffective. For now, at least, the Army was deployed on the outskirts, with reinforcements on the edges waiting for the signal to go in. Overhead, a trio of Harpy gunships swooped by, their rotors chopping at the air as rockets flew from their pods, slamming into the city. The Air Force was also here, as evidenced by a flight of B-58 Valentine bombers dropping payloads on the buildings from above, able to fly in close thanks to the lack of AA weaponry.

The trooper turned back, looking like he was going to be sick, but the sergeant pushed his shoulder.

"None of that now. Remember, they're not actually dead! They're infected, and they die just as easy as any human."

Nearby, a Mars battle tank rolled by, swivelling its twin-barreled turret towards the city, taking position before the guns fired one after the other, a double-tap if ever there was one. On the outskirts, a building collapsed on itself, and the soldiers who had been pinned down nearby were finally able to move towards their comrades at the isolated Cougar IFV, boarding and heading further into the city.

"We'll win this. Azurlavai always wins..." the sergeant muttered, as the guns fired again. Finally, however, a shrill whistle cut the air, and with that thirty-one tanks and four-hundred soldiers moved from the safety of their fortifications, as a squadron of Harpies sheared past, followed by a Ragnarok heavy gunship. Over on the flank, several Cougars were coasting down, their holds full of soldiers. Almost unnoticed, a Skyranger VTOL deployed on the roof of a nearby building, expelling several Z-COM commandos, a SHIV battle drone and a soldier in an Aesir exosuit.

Whatever happened...Azurlavai would fight until the end.

[The Godly Nations]

The Godly Nations, being a free and tolerant society, rather than shun the Zombies, have endeavoured to integrat Zombies into our society as equals, with equal rights under the law, and promote mutual understanding and fellowship between non-Zombies and Zombies. As proof of the extensive cooperation and friendship between our kind, many of our citizens has opted to adopt the Zombie lifestyle, a testement to the openness of our people. We encourage all other nations to accept their Zombies as brothers/sisters, and, rather than behave as though their lifestyle is somehow 'wrong' or 'immoral', embrace them for who they are.

[Glasgia]

Glaswegian Military Headquarters, Unknown Location, Democratic Republic of Glasgia

"Alright, I want a full report for every single square inch of our nation!" President Rob Wands marched into the bunker, followed by twelve armed guards. He wore full military uniform, a General's combat fatigues with an SA80 rifles slung over his shoulder. The titanium door locked shut behind him, having been built in precaution in case of a Vorshkan nuclear strike - in the days when such a thing was a worry. Right now, they were more focused on the approaching hordes.

The Head of Military looked up at his head of state, showing a fear in the man's eyes unseen before. He was a veteran soldier, having worked his way up from the ranks, yet now his tone was grave.

"We're overrun. Caledoni fell first, at zero two hundred hours. Somehow a block of flats became infected and quickly turned into a horde, swarming police in the area before they could react. It grew and the military was overran. Our troops in Calabeul and Warra Warra are currently falling back, having engaged multiple hordes in both cities between zero three hundred hours and ten hundred hours. Troops in Journey's End, Fort Cameron and Yell are all in combat. Only Novantae and Dungroate are holding out, though the capital's been faced with sporadic reports of infection since zero three hundred hours." Rob cursed under his breath.

"Bloody hell James, at least tell me our researchers have got a cure." James looked up, a tiny slimmer of determination in his expression.

"There's one thing. The Versutian Federation are offering us a cure. We'll need to put thousands gallons of the stuff into tranquilisers and airdrop it to our troops, but it's something."

"And what they want from us?"

"Money. Two hun-"

"Give them however much they want."

[Albaie]

They were breaking through. A zombie pulled itself over the wall but stopped and gave a roar and he buried a bullet into its head and then watched it fall back over. He turned and started walking. " Hold the line " He heard a staff officer scream as he rode his horse forwards waving his gun in the air. They were breaking through all over the line. " Fall back men, fall back " The staff officer screamed and the men from the palisade ran for their lives and the zombies swarmed over. While others ran he walked calmly until he reached the officer on the horse and stood next to him. " Form up form lines form up men " The staff officer barked orders and despite being scared half to death and knowing they were near death almost all of the soldiers formed up in the opening of the street. The zombies were now coming over the wall in fast numbers and despite the men around him picking them off they were growing in numbers but yet not charging. " Charge " He heard the Staff Officer scream and then watch him spur his horse towards the zombies sword out. Not a single man followed the officer but by the time he realized he was among the zombies. " In his credit he thought he didn't scream and he did take a few with him " He thought as he watched the officers body ripped to shreds.
" Men I am Captain Joseph Luktar the only living survivor of the slaughter of Hujek and now I give you a choice run and try and escape or stand with me and throw back these beasts. " He roared a great roar came back at him. " Those high and mighty commanders have got you trapped here and you know how we are going to get out we are going to fight. " He roared and again they roared back and then he looked forwards and saw the zombies start to move forwards. " Front row crouch, second row stand, third row guns over shoulder. " He cried and hoped the men could remember their basic training and then he stepped back a rank and let another man fill in for him. The zombies were snarling but only creeping forward. " Hold fire. " He roared and he felt so anxious to break his own commands but yet even the other men kept it. The zombies crept even closer but yet the men kept his command. He saw out the corner of his eye the first zombie running and he raised his Hellhammer and then screamed at the top of his lungs. " For the Emperor ! " The three lines burst into fire and the zombies fell like sacks of potatoes as they were riddled with the flying bullets. While every men was firing a automatic rifle he stood there in the center of the line and fired off his Hellhammer round after round and he made sure each one lodged itself into a zombies head. The zombies were being slaughtered and he just watched as their writhing bodies flew through the air as round after round of bullets hit their charging bodies. His men were firing for about two minutes before he barked the order to stop fire. He looked out and saw one remaining zombie just standing there looking confused and he walked up to it placed his pistol against its head and pulled the trigger watching its brains splatter the wall behind it. The men behind him started roaring and cheering their victory when a Ensign on a horse rode up behind them and pushed through.
" Who commands here. " The teenager asked in a high pitched voice.
" Luktar does he is a fucking hero. " Cried one man and the rest roared in response.
" We have lost the civilian sector you are to take these men and report there to hold the gate immediately " He wheezed and then a huge roar of anger rose up from the men and it carried on for a few minutes before they quietened down to listen to Luktar.
" It is our du... " He started when a lone soldier ran down the road alongside the palisade.
" They have gotten in we lost the south gate run for your lives " He screamed and the group of soldiers who minutes before thought they had saved the encampment but now found out they had just fought in vain turned and ran. Luktar saw the ensuing chaos and walked up to the ensign and grabbed the horse.
" Give it up boy before I kill you " He growled and the teenager lept off the horse and ran away as Luktar hoisted himself into the saddle. He rode back to where he was billeted pushing his way through the mass of men until he reached the house to see the girl who he was living with called Alice standing in the door.
" Joe what is going on " She said above the noise of the chaos and in the distance he could hear screams and cries of pain.
" Zombies have gotten in come on we have to get out of here. " He said outstretching his hand and hoisting her into the saddle behind him. "I know where we can get more horses come on. " He said and then pushed his horse towards the Grand Duke's Hunting Lodge. He rode up to it and for the first time since he had been here he noticed their were no guards at the gate then more at the door. He rode in and up to the stables and saw that there were dozens of fine horses and the two of them dismounted and he mounted back up on a black mare that looked stunning. They were riding out when he heard the noise from the doorway. Watornstein and his staff were running towards him.
" Luktar you have come to save us brilliant. " Watornstein said and Luktar stayed quiet. " Well then dismount my horse and get ready to follow us. " The Grand Duke said and Luktar drew his pistol and shot a round into Watornstein's knee and he heard the fat pudgy Duke scream as he fell down. " You bastard what was that for I shall have you executed men go capture him. " He growled and Luktar shot another round into his other knee and the Duke fell flat.
" It is your fault civilians are dying you wanted to come here and feast in you Hunting Lodge while we should have been pressing onwards now guess what you shall stay in your hunting lodge for about as long as it takes for the zombies to reach here and then you will enjoy the feast right here in your hunting lodge with you as the special guest. " He said slowly and calmly as the Duke whimpered and cried and then Luktar fired another round into his elbow and the Duke screamed as he lay flat on the ground.
" Men arrest him and then tie him up and we can leave. " The Duke demanded then when no reply came looked up to see his staff sprinting away towards the gates and as Luktar rode out of the gateway he fired a single shot into the air to commemarate all those who had died due to Watornstein's folly.