Operation Z

Prologue

"Alright people, listen up!" Lieutenant Elena Ambrose yelled to the group of survivors, who surrounded the fire.

It was late summer, 4 years after Day One of the dreaded zombie apocalypse. The evening was particularly warm, the people were calm and the meat rations from the government tasted unusually good. Elena Ambrose, or just Ambrose, as close friends called her, was in charge of Summersville Camp, which was a safe space for survivors in West Virginia, who either settled down for good or chose to travel further around the U.S.

The group around the fire was just 1/8 of the entire camp. As soon as lieutenant Ambrose raised her voice a little, everyone's attention was turned to her. The hungered, scared, and even excited eyes landed on the small, but fierce woman in her forties, with wonder sparkling in their iris'.

"I have a message for you, and I trust you to spread the word after dinner..." Ambrose took a deep breath before continuing. "I am leaving the camp with a group of volunteers. I have been pinned a mission from the government and Sergent Claudius will be the head of the camp while I'm gone."

There was silence around the fire. Only quiet sounds from bugs and the fire could be heard. Ambrose looked around, her people closely watching her every movement.

"But you'll come back, right?" a small voice whimpered somewhere. It was a little boy, tightly clutching his mother's hand.

"Of course. This camp is my purpose, and your purpose, while I'm gone, is to stay alive! Because people need people!" small claps and smiles erupted everywhere in the crowd by the fire.

The warm wind caressed Elena's cheek, and she smiled and thought of the mission. There was hope, right? There was hope if she could accomplish the mission. Ambrose closed her eyes and thought about it for a minute. They already had the first guy, so it was two girls to go.

"You ready, boss?"

It was Maverick Niles, an old man in his sixties, who Ambrose saved a year after Black Summer. Maverick had been in Summersville Camp for about two years, and was Elena's right hand in practically everything.

Behind Maverick stood the rest of the team, whom Elena choose to travel with. It was Maddison Eden and Harvey Eastwood, who were an inseparable couple. They were both in their twenties and had arrived at the camp two years earlier on a motorcycle, all the way from eastern Missouri. It was a suicide mission these days, but the two of them had managed to get to Summersville safely. And then there was the camp's sharpshooter, 17-year-old Oliver Wrenn, who got to Summersville by an accident, a year later than the others.

"Yeah, just give me a minute. I need to check if we have everything."

Ambrose walked over to the control tent, where the rest of Maine national guard had their office-setup. They had radios, walkie-talkies, and electricity, thanks to Harvey Eastwood's amazing electronic-skills.

"Sergent Claudius, have you heard from D.C.?"

The older man, Sergent Claudius, nodded his head. He had a buzzcut, and wrinkles all over his face. Ambrose was alive thanks to Claudius. He had saved half of Maine national guard on Day One, and following orders from the government, set up a safe camp for survivors.

"Yes, I've written down the coordinates. It'll be Concordia and Searcy." Sergent Claudius scratched his head.

"Listen, Ambrose. I'm not fond of this mission, even though D.C. has sent out these orders. These people could be dead!"

Ambrose stood in front of the radio panel, her lips pressed tightly together. Sergent may not be fond of this, but she was. She was willing to risk her life if it was what it took.

"But are you willing to sacrifice these people?" Sergent asked her.

An uneasy silence fell upon the tent. Elena awkwardly brushed her cargo trousers. Her head was spinning a little, from the lack of proper breathing.

"It wouldn't be a sacrifice, if we got all the supplies that we need, Sergent! The mission will last less than 2 months, so it won't be a huge thing for the camp to give us essentials-"

"How would you know, that it won't last more?" Sergent Claudius grew mad, redness spread itself all over his cheeks and neck.

Ambrose looked away and breathed heavily. "I don't, sir."

Claudius breathed out. "Just know, Ambrose, when you're out of there - you're on your own. There won't always be contact with D.C. or the camp. Just know that."

Ambrose nodded her head, awkwardly hugged Sergent who handed her a walkie-talkie and left the tent.

At the camp's entrance stood an army truck, stuffed with bags with food, water, first aid kits, guns, and ammunition. The team stood in front of the truck, smiling excitedly at Ambrose. The word about the mission had spread faster than expected throughout the camp, for everyone was there to say goodbye to the group.

While everyone was clapping and saluting the team, Ambrose got in the driver's seat, Maverick in the passenger's seat, while Harvey, Maddy, and a man with an uneasy facial expression named Samuel were in the back. Oliver found a comfortable spot in the truck bed. Ambrose gave her fellow soldiers one last salute before she turned on the truck's engine, with adrenalin pumping in her veins.

You're on your own, Elena

Harvey and Maddy waved to their friends from their camp, with Maddy slightly tearing up. She sniffled slightly, clutching her hand around her katana.

"There there, we'll be back in no time, Maddy!" Harvey laughed a little, earning a small growl from his girlfriend.

"I know you moron, it's just-"

"They're family. I get it. It's not easy leaving family behind, even for a short while." Harvey finished for her.

It was true; the camp was one, big family, where everyone knew everyone. People cared for each other, looked out for one another, and that sort of a community was hard to find 4 years after the world went to hell. Or more like hell went to the world.

"Alright, folks, let's go!" Ambrose pressed down on the speed, and the truck drove on Turnpike Road, and out of Summersville town.