"Whoa!Whoa!Whoa....did that kid just say cannibals are over the other side of the river?" one of the newer Red Legionnaires, a former member of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Enginners, said to Captain Seb Johnson.
"Get a grip Wilcox" Johnson turned on him. "These boys lasted here years with whatever it is over there running around, be it cannibals or just some headcases, they're in good enough shape to still have fun playing cricket without messing their knickers. You're supposed to be a Red Legionnaire, that means we deal with it or is it true REME really stands for Really Enjoys Making Excuses?" The other men chuckled and Wilcox, as Johnson had intended, went very quiet. Johnson turned his attention back to the conversation he'd been part of. "Is there any easy way over the river?" He asked the boys who confirmed that there were several bridges, all in good condition. "Excellent" Johnson proclaimed, if anything goes wrong then you can come and get us before someone starts snacking on Wilcox there. "You're going to be busy turning this place into our new home away from home. What I'd suggest" he turned to address
Lt-Col Ramsey who for now would be the commander of the Morelander contingent in the capital. While he may be the commander he also realised that Red Legion tended to operate outside the usual confines of command structures and Johnson had a plan in mind for what he wanted his little patrol to do it generally would be a good idea. "Is that Lt-Col Ramsey here and the Marines get this place ready to receive more troops and more people should things go a little chaotic. Meanwhile the cool kids will cross the river as covertly as we can and take a nose around. If we find anyone over there not looking like they're about to start turning a ballbag into a three course meal we'll send them this way if need be. If we find the buffet club we'll try and work out if they're a threat. If they are we'll take them out."
"Roger that Captain" Ramsey said. "Might be better making the crossing as nightfalls and until then we've a few drones we can send for a look. How does that sound?"
"Perfect" Johnson said as he took his Legionnaires off to get sorted for that nights forray.
The Royal Marines, Royal Engineers and assorted bodies from various other regiments got themselves settled in as one of the Marines unpacked a pair of small drones that they sent into the city. As the UAV's soared between abandoned blocks of flats, high rise office buildings and even across parks and plazas they saw next to nothing. They spotted a few signs of life, a rooftop garden that looked like it had been tended to, a clothes line full of clean washing elsewhere and finally what looked like a group of people sat in prayer in a backyard. These places were marked on maps and handed to Johnson as places he may want to head by on his exploration. At around 9pm Johnson had proclaimed that it was dark enough for him and his team to make their forray into the southside of the river. Ramsey had positioned some of his marksman in positions to keep overwatch of the five Red Legionnaires who had picked out a spot that allowed them to cross where the drones had seen no activity. That part of the operation went off without any hitch. The team had picked out a three floored building close to the bridge that would be there base of operations, it seemed to have at one point been a restaurant of sorts with accommodation above it. As they entered the place had everything covered in a layer of dust, it seemed no one had been here for quiet some time. As they went room to room making sure there was no one here it became apparent just how long the place has been deserted when Legionnaire Forbes could be heard heaving having checked out one of the downstairs backrooms. Johnson went to check on his trooper and instantly regretted walking in. The room contained a now opened walk in fridge that Forbes had opened releasing a stench of rotting food. "Wow" Johnson said, "Breath through your ears" he remarked as he did his best not to follow in Forbes path. Braving the stench he walked in and using a gloved hand turned over a packet, no chance of recognising what had once been the form of the liquid in the bag. He could see the useby date, some time in 2021. In a way that was a good sign, no one had clearly been here for some time. Johnson imagined how many homes across the city may have similar situations waiting for people to return, if they ever did. He pulled Forbes away from the room and shut the door. "No one opens that again.....leave it for some bloody Marine to sort out" The team laughed as they began setting up shop in one of the upstairs rooms. It gave them a good view down what would at one point have been a busy street and across a small park. Johnson pinned a large map up in what would have once been the flats living room. "We move in a spiral out from here going this way" he traced a finger across the map, "We check each building, we're quiet and if we see anyone we do our best to make contact ok. We go out a pair at a time, no longer than an hour for now. Me and Forbes are out first. If we're not back in an hour let the Marines know."
"Yes boss" the team responded.
Johnson and Forbes made their way back outside checking each direction up and down the street before crossing. Across the road was a similar building to their own only this one seemed to have been a hardware store. "At least no smelly fridges here" Johnson said as he forced the lock on the door as quietly as they could. The pair moved quietly through the building which seemed much better kept than the first. All the merchandise seemed to have been taken, no doubt the hammer, nails, screws etc that labels on shelves showed would have once been placed there had been taken to help the nation under Bachchan. Next they moved up stairs and as they entered one of the bedrooms they noticed a shape on the floor. Johnson passed his torch over it and then motioned for Forbes to step back and cover him. Johnson slowly approached and called out. "Hey!" he said three times, each time increasing the volume. Next he used the barrell of his rifle to poke the body and still no response. "No signs of life" He told Forbes as he used his left boot to roll the body over. "Ah shit" he said rather quickly. "Forbes back out man." The Legionnaire complied but Johnson could see him glancing at the body. Johnson took out a small camera phone he had and snapped some pictures but only having put his respirator on first. Before he exited he ordered Forbes to do the same and then joined him back downstairs. "We're not heading back just yet" He said as he motioned they could take the masks off. "He showed Forbes the photo, "I'd say been dead less than a day. You see that, blood around the mouth, white stuff. Now look at the arm chunks missing.....that rash." Forbes nodded but wasn't sure what he was looking at. "I was once in Safraen, then I was in Gaia when some samples went missing and there was a lab accident. I'd put good money on this being one thing." He sighed "Kaiju Virus."
"Bollocks." Forbes said thinking Johnson must have been winding him up.
"Nope. If there is an outbreak it'd explain what the kids saw, it'd explain why everyone's keeping the fuck away from this place. Pass me the radio." He called Ramsey and told him what they'd found.
"Missions off Johnson. Head back, you and Forbes stay in the car park for now, you're the only ones potentially exposed. We'll get the test kits in ASAP and work out if you're right." Johnson wasn't too worried, While Kaiju was horrific if caught early enough it was actually relatively easy to treat and he was confident that even though he'd been close to the body there was nothing that could transmit the virus. It made sense though to take precautions. As they followed the other three back across the river at a distance it was Wilcox who, once they were nearly back at the stadium spoke first.
"Hey boss" he yelled at Johnson. "Can we get you to promise not to eat us?"
"You're safe Wilcox I don't eat junk food" Johnson yelled back and the team shared a brief moment of light heartedness as they split, Johnson and Forbes into a truck that had been parked up to be there home until test kits arrived while the others returned to the stadium. Ramsey radioed in what they'd found and waited for more information from KASA.
