Government Z (Book 1): The Beginning (8 page)

Chapter 10

We made our way to the army base to find it completely deserted.  All vehicles were missing and not a living person in sight.  I think we need to lock the main gate and verify the compound since it is enclosed because if someone else shows up they will have to go through the gate and that will give us time to react instead of being ambushed again Rus said.  We closed the main gate and made our way toward the commanding officers quarters.  You hear that? Don said.  A loud humming sound coming from a small electrical shack, so we headed over to see what the sound was.  We opened the door to reveal a huge generator that was running.  Then we went to the commanding officers office looking for clues to where the army may have disappeared too.  I started searching through the file cabinets, Rus went to the desk, and Don searched the computer.  There is nothing in his emails, but I found something that looks like longitude and latitude coordinates Don said.   I’ll print them off and put them with that map off the wall Don added.  I found something here it’s a telegram that requests all army commanders to have their top recruits report to Washington D.C. by order of the President of the United States Rus said.  Better keep that Don said.  You find anything Bryan, Rus asked.  Yeah, keys to the entire base and a file titled Emergency Military Project I said.  Load these documents into truck and let’s go inspect the sleeping quarters first, than the garage, and lastly we will hit up the armory.  As we headed to the base quarters we checked all the doors on the way to see if any were unlocked to make sure we were still alone.  We got to the quarters and I unlocked the door.  We hadn’t heard anything but we still entered with guns drawn and very cautiously.  The quarters were empty as well the beds had just mattresses on them and no signs that they had been used in weeks.  Let’s go see what supplies are in the garage Don said.  We made our way to the large garage and opened the side door.  Let’s open the main rolling doors so we have better light to see what’s in here Rus said.  We opened the door and turned on the overhead lights to see what we had to work with.  Look at the size of those doors I think that’s what we are looking for the garage at the compound Rus said.  We took the next hour disassembling the doors and stacking them in the trailer.  Once we disassembled the doors and the lights came on we found where all the army vehicles were stored plus any civilian vehicles that were left on the base when everyone left.  There were several cargo trucks, a HUMVEE, two off road ATV’s, a six wheeled gator, motorcycles, and a few cars in the garage and a lock box on the wall that must hold all the keys for the vehicles.  I started flipping through the keys to find one to try.  Rus walked over and said this will be quicker and shot a round from his glock that blew the lock off the box.  There we go Rus said.  Rus back up the trailer to that loading dock and we can load those small off road vehicles Don said.  Rus moved the trailer up to the dock so Don and I could load the truck.  We loaded the ATV’s, the six wheeled gator, a Can-AM Spyder three wheeled motorcycle, and an Ural motorcycle with side car that Rus claimed as soon as he saw it.  We also grabbed the keys to the HUMVEE and the M36 cargo truck that had a sixteen foot bed and a covered top.  We can use the M36 to transfer what we want out of the armory and then we can build benches in the back to transport a larger group of people instead of taking extra vehicles each trip Don said.  We need those also Rus said pointing to the wall where two large tracks were.  Those go on the gator and it gets better traction thru the snow and swamp Rus said.  Well let’s get to the armory and see what they keep on base if anything is left and then to the dealership and store before we head to the compound.  We moved all three vehicles to the armory.  We got out unlocked and opened the door. There was a long hallway with two doors on the left and two on the right and one at the end of the hallway. Let’s start on the left side Don said.  We opened the first door to reveal assault rifles and sniper rifles.  We knew we couldn’t take everything so we checked the next room to find the ammunition.  The ammunition was for heavy guns as well as the rifles we had just seen, so we loaded all the ammo up first since we could stack it around the off road vehicles we just loaded.  Then we went back and grabbed one of each gun that went with the ammunition that we had just got so who ever used it would have the most ammo to go with their gun.  After going through the rooms on the left and loading up what was needed we headed for the second door on the right.  We opened the door to see the walls covered with grenade and rocket launchers with crates of ammo and explosives stacked on the floor.  We took three of each launcher along with all the ammo and several boxes of C4 that was stacked with the ammo.  We hit the next door and it was the jackpot we were looking for. We walked in to see several miniguns with six barrel action along with cases and cases of ammo for the mini guns, so we loaded the entire room into the truck.  We then headed for the door at the end of the hallway and found all the heavy army clothing like boots, vest, and cargo pants and some hi-tech items.  Grab those heavy duty binoculars, night vision goggles, canteens, and utility belts.  Alright let’s head to the dealership we passed and see if what I wanted was still available Rus said.  We locked everything up and Rus lead the way smashing thru the front gate as we headed for the dealership.

Back at the compound the bodies of the deceased were taken to the neighbors and burned in the pile with the remains of the zombies.  Christi called Bruce, Abby, and Bev into the command center and discussed what she had found in the files Bev took from the hospital.  We need to get Bryan and Rus in here as soon as they get back and inform them of what we have discovered so far Christi said.  But for right now we need to keep everyone united and working together.  Bruce you go help Blake, Bart, and Brent with Rus’s project Mike got them started on it already.  Bev can you go help finish the Rec room and Abby and I will go help Mike with another project I want done.  Bruce went pass the armory to the southeast corner and helped the boys who had start laying the cinder blocks out to start the wall underground. Since it was only a fifteen by fifteen room it wasn’t going to take long to complete the seventeen foot tall wall Rus asked to be built, twelve underground and five above the ground level.   Bev went to the rec room and helped finish the drywall and the floor.  It took only three hours to finish the rec room completely all that was needed was the furnishing.  So Bev took the crew and started putting away all the tools and extra building supplies away in the newly finished tool shed.  Christi and Abby went to talk with Mike about what she wanted for the community.  I want you to lay a new foundation behind the hospital and make a small church for Pastor Scott to praise in Christi said.  With everyone so stressed out I think it would be helpful if we can start restoring everyone’s faith Christi added.  I think that is a fantastic idea Mike said.  I’ll get started right away Mike said as he dashed off to get the excavator.  Abby, we can go start condensing the food in the kitchen and free up room to empty the refrigerator truck Christi said.  Mike used the quick drying cement and that would only take twelve hours to dry once it got poured out.  Mike worked as fast as he could to get the cement poured and the foundation smooth.  He had the cement poured and smoothed out by nine in the morning so the cement should be dried by before nightfall.  So while his cement was drying Mike went and checked on the progress of the pit that Rus asked Mike to build.  When he got to the pit Bruce and the boys were nine feet up the wall so Mike started working on the brackets for the steel door that needed to be installed.  Since it was a really heavy duty door it took a little more time to secure the door in place.  Two hours later Mike had the door installed and the guys were on the last row of cinder blocks.  Mike started on the staircase doing down to the door while Bruce and the boys went to the mess hall and got something to eat.  After a half hour the boys returned and helped Mike finish the staircase in an hour.  Mike went to get something to eat now while the boys started working on the enclosure that would cover the pit.  It was a long day at the outpost.  Everyone was working hard and together at the compound and finished every project that could be completed before sunset except the church.  The cement just wasn’t set yet but the four walls were built they just couldn’t go up until the cement was set.  We will finish the walls and roof tomorrow and use that wood flooring they got for the inside Mike said.  Everyone ate up and headed to bed. 

We arrived at the dealership around eight in the evening.  Rus and Don parked the semi and HUMVEE in the road and I pulled the cargo truck into the dealership since I had a hitch on the back of my truck.  That’s one of the things I was looking at when we drove by Rus said.  Back the truck up Bryan so Don and I can hook the trailer up to the hitch.  Rus had me back up to a small trailer which I didn’t see what was on it until I got out of the truck.  Nice three brand new snowmobiles were sitting on the covered trailer.  That will come in handy in a few months when winter hits Rus said. We hooked the trailer up then suddenly five motorcycles drove up and started circling us.  We drew our guns when they stopped and removed their helmets.  What do you think you are doing? The leader of the group said.  We are getting supplies for the outpost we are building and we are not looking for any trouble Don said.  Well you found it another biker said.  He raised his arm and blasted a loud air horn in the air and they started to drive off again.  We turned and saw a herd of zombies coming toward us. That son of a bitch Rus said as he pulled out his crossbow.  Rus took aim down the scope and shot an arrow toward the bikers.  We watched as Rus hit the back tire of the lead biker and he lost control of his bike causing the other bikers to crash into the down biker and fall off their bikes.  We jumped in the trucks and headed toward the downed bikers.  As we approached the bikers helping each other up Rus leaned out the window of the semi and said hope you are not looking any trouble fellas.  He then honked the rigs loud horn several times and ran over the motorcycles as we drove out of town.  We looked in the rear view mirror to see the zombies were headed toward the down bikers.  Rus stuck his hand out the window and flipped them off to add insult to injury as we finally headed back to the last stop and hopefully would be home for the time in four days.  The final stop was at an outlet mall on the way back to camp.  Since it was mostly a clothing outlet it looked like no one ever bothered to raid it.  We went store by store filling every open space we had left in the truck with shoes, socks, underwear, shirts and pants for all sizes to cover everyone at the camp.  We then headed home.

We finally arrived back at the outpost at six in the morning.  Christi ran out and grabbed me.  I guess we’ll unload later I smirked as I chased Christi back to the tent.  Bev came up to Rus and dragged him away to a tent also.  Don got out of the HUMVEE and introduced himself.  Let’s get some breakfast, then you three get some rest, and we’ll get everything caught up after you wake up.  While you are resting we will get the trucks unloaded, put everything away, and finish up some of the small projects with the final supplies you guy got Mike said.  After a while Christi and Bev joined everyone unloading the trucks.  They both had naughty grins on their faces.  Abby looked at both of them and said jeez what were you two up too? Making sure they were really sleepy Christi laughed.  What are we working on? Bev asked.  Well a few are installing the garage doors, Mike, Chris, and Bruce went to do the electrical, walls, flooring, and roof of the building you asked Mike to make, Blake and Bart are unloading some vehicles the guys found into the garage, and the rest are unloading the weapons into the armory and clothes into the house.  It was now nine in the morning the garage was complete, the trucks were unloaded and put away, and the church only needed the hardwood floors installed.  After finishing with the vehicles Bart, Brent, and Blake went to the church to install the flooring, so Mike, Chris, and Bruce could go and finish the pit.  They added the bars across the top of the pit with an accessible door on the top and the enclosure also was surrounded with walls made out of plywood and the steel bars and a roof.  Now it was one in the afternoon when Rus, Bryan, and Don woke up just in time for lunch in the mess hall.  After we ate we showed Don around the outpost and Bruce showed us the new additions.  Everything is completed but the bath/shower room was completed and that should be up in three days once everything sets we can turn on the water Mike shared as we walked by.  Then we all met in the mess hall to hear of the stories that had happened and we told what our trip involved.  Well let’s establish the rules for the compound and if these rules are not followed you can be banished from the outpost or executed depending on the severity of your rule breaking Rus announced.  The head of this compound are the ones that started this and stayed calm to get this going.  Bryan, Christi, Abby, Bruce, Bev, and I will make the major decisions for the entire community Rus said.  The first rule in this community will be we vote on letting new survivors join and become part of the community, second rule is you must be willing to protect one another and put your life on the line for each other we are a family now we may not get along but all we got is each other, the third rule is when you are on night patrol you must stay awake until the next patrol relieves you we will rotate every ten hours, and the fourth rule is if you have infected family that you want to save while we search for answers or a cure let us know cause will we be transferring all our children to the compound and keeping them in a caged pit we have made.  Are there any questions or objections to these rules we have established.  Everyone stood in the room and shook their heads.  Mike raised and glass and shouted to the outpost and family.  We all cheered with him.  Now let’s get this community completed Rus said.  Rus jumped on the Ural motorcycle and Bryan jumped into the side car we are going for the children does anyone know if they have other family members they need us to bring back? Rus asked.  No, good luck and hurry back Mike said.  The gate flew open and the motorcycle drove down the road.  Well what needs to be done first? Mike asked.  Let’s go building by building and complete them that way Christi said.  All the guys start with getting the sleeping quarters set up, so no one has to try and sleep in the tents another night Christi added.  Mike I need you to take the excavator over to the north side of the garage and start digging a large deep hole Bev asked.  How big? Mike asked.  I am not sure big enough to hold two large tankers, Rus wants to put gas on the site both regular and diesel so we don’t always have to search for it Bev said.  Dr. Li, Samantha, and Anne please verify everything is all set in the hospital, Abby, Jessica, and Jennifer make sure the armory and garage are set, Pastor Scott and Irene please check out the church we built and set it up however you want if you need something built make a list and we can complete it tomorrow and after that check out the tool shed.  Bev, Blake, and Bruce leave now for the tank that the boys saw at that new gas station being built it shouldn’t tank more than two hours Jessica, Janelle, and I will set the command center, kitchen, and mess hall are in order and make dinner.  We have three hours before they return with all the children, so be sure we are completed on everything Christi said.