UP FROM THE DEPTHS Authors note; to get a better picture of the world this story takes place in, it’s recommended to view the remake of Dawn of the Dead 2004. The montage that takes place at the first part of the film was used to generate this story. The Ohio Class submarine displaces about 30-32 feet when submerged and stands about 40ft tall not counting the ‘sail’ or antennas. By removing the missile tubes and changing the designation to ‘726’ it identifies the vessel as a Special Operatio...

Spinning to face that direction, he slowed his pace, allowing the hummer and its walking entourage to increase distance from him. As he passed the alley, he saw movement at the far end, then several lurching shadows blocked out what little light bled into it from adjoining buildings. He slowed his pace even more as the entrance moved behind him, reaching up with his left hand to key the mike on his shoulder. “Dunmire, Wilson, pick up the pace a little. Valdez, slow down, Axtell, swing that ....

“I’m going to find Dunmire. Keep everyone together. Go.” The hummer accelerated a little, the people hanging onto the sides to get the idea of how fast they needed to jog. Hathaway watched the dim red lights get smaller before he turned to look back at the alley. He could make out more shadows now on the street. Shit. He jogged at an angle across the street to the side that Dunmire had been on, carefully staying on the street but close to the curb, using the curb and sidewalk as a makeshift g...

TERMS AND ABBREVIATIONS AEGIS: Advanced Electronic Guidance Information System, an integrated missile guidance system in use since 1987, integrates single ship and ship-to-ship networking, able to perform search, tracking, and missile guidance functions simultaneously with a track capacity of over 100 targets at more than 100 nautical miles. This interface makes the Aegis combat system capable of simultaneous operation against a multi-mission threat. In use by other countries as well as the U...

Hundreds of miles away in a secure, underground facility known only as Site 18, a meeting was taking place. Major General Thaddeus Augustus Lee Royd late of the US Air Force was discussing matters with his executive officer. “So the Unbelievers are attempting to re-form the country.” He said unquestionably, his face red and sweaty, his massive girth barely contained in the strange uniform of his own design. Had he not been weeks away from retirement when IT happened, he would have faced two c...

Jimbo came down off the roof; he closed and secured the roof door before opening the inner door. The top floor of the building the small group had taken refuge in was at one time, a factory. When the EPA started heavily enforcing clean air laws, the owners were forced to close down and auction off the equipment. As Jimbo picked his path across the floor, avoiding concrete foundations and anchor points for whatever machinery used to be mounted there, he listened for any noises out of the ordin...

It was fun writing this story. For obvious reasons, I took some artistic license when it came to certain events and the use of specialized equipment. I had some great sources about the use of Coast Guard vessels and air assets and an equally informative military legal aid (the JAG office at Fort Lewis, WA) who described how US military forces are not something you want inside American cities for law enforcement purposes. National Guard units are more suited for that work than active duty sold...

The LPH faired a bit better. Its CIWS system stopped several missiles from impact but they still detonated close enough to damage the ship with shrapnel. One cruise missile flew into the open hanger bay door and detonated inside, blowing flames out the bay doors and up through the flight deck. Alarms sounded onboard as damage control crews ran to the affected areas. Another missile tore through the upper part of the island, destroying the ships radar, radio and air traffic control capability....

Inside the federal center, one minute it was calm and relaxed then the next all hell broke loose. Sirens, alarm claxons and flashing lights erupted from every level, echoing down every corridor and illuminating the normally semi-darkened facility. General Spears was trying to restore order amid the chaos of alarms, sirens and flashing alert lights. The entire operations room now bathed in combat red, with flashes of blue and orange as different alarms systems continued to sound. Personnel wer...

The closer he got the more he saw the fear on the kids faces. He stopped about five feet from the doorway. The kids had to be lying on the stairs because their faces were right above the bottom doorsill. Willis squatted down, pulled off his sunglasses, letting them hang on the neck cord. “Hi. You kids OK?” He asked gently. He saw the girl look at the boy eyes big and then they both looked at him and nodded. “Anyone else in there with you?” the girl looked again at the boy then finally spoke. ...