In the year 2053 the dead walked. Mankind was caught off guard at first but within six years mounted a massive military assault on the dead.
These are the stories of some of those men and women that fought back. These are the stories of some trying to find a “cure”. These are the stories of those that are just trying to survive the nightmare of the walking dead. These are the stories of those that caused The Dead War.
Excerpt
PROLOGUE
Iran: 2052
Civil war raged throughout Iran. The government with all of its military might was losing the war. Many in the army were turning against their own leaders and this had changed the tide of battle to the rebel’s favor.
The doctor could not believe he was on a drop-ship about to land right in the middle of a war zone.
He threw up as the ship literally dropped through the darkened sky. At the moment the ship was not powered and no electronic devices were on so as to avoid detection.
The three mercenaries in the rear compartment with him laughed and pointed at him.
“You ok doc?” Duncan asked the leader of the three mercenaries.
The Doctor Mitchell feigned a smile, “I’ll be fine.”
Mitchell looked again at Duncan. He was Scottish and a big brute of a man. His red hair was cut very short and he had a scar across his chin. What kind of people had he gotten himself involved with, he thought.
About three hundred yards from the ground the ship’s powerful thrusters burst on. The ship landed softly outside a small military check point.
“Let’s go doc.” Duncan said, “It’s time to get paid.”
The doctor grabbed the metal case next to him and followed Duncan and the other two soldiers off the triangular shaped ship.
A platoon of Iranian Special Forces troops awaited them.
“Captain Duncan.”, greeted one of the men walking toward the group, “I trust you have what I want.”
“General Ahadi, have I ever let you down?” Duncan replied.
Ahadi looked over at the doctor and then at the case in his hand, “Do you have the virus doctor?”
Doctor Mitchell nodded, “I have it.”
Ahadi motioned for them all to enter a small building near the checkpoint.
Ahadi, Duncan, the doctor and both of Duncan’s men entered. There were three more Iranian troops inside.
Ahadi put his hand on the doctor’s shoulder and motioned to a table.
Doctor Mitchell was already nervous but now he was scared. He had to open the case and although he had securely packed the virus himself he was terrified the vials would break.
Mitchell set the case down and slowly opened it.
Ahadi and Duncan walked over to see the ten vials filled with a black fluid each securely locked down as they rested in the soft foam holders.
“Is that the virus?” Ahadi asked.
“Yes.” Mitchell began, “It’s the Berserker Virus.”
Duncan frowned. “That’s some nasty shit right there.”
Ahadi smiled. “It will help us win this war.”
Duncan’s frown turned to a smile. “Look General I don’t give two shits about your war. Just pay me so we can get the fuck out of here.”
Ahadi raised his hand. “Not until we test it.”
Mitchell put his hands up and stepped back from the table. “Test it? Test it how?”
Ahadi looked at the vials. “I have five rebel prisoners outside. You will test it on them.”
“No!” Mitchell shouted.
Ahadi pulled out his laser pistol and aimed it at Mitchell’s head. He soon realized Duncan’s pistol was aimed at his head and every soldier and mercenary in the room had their rifles aimed at each other.
Duncan looked sternly at his men and then at Ahadi and smiled. “Ahadi if we do this you don’t get your virus and we don’t get paid. The doctor will do as you say.”
Ahadi turned his pistol up toward the ceiling. “Of course.”
Duncan lowered his pistol and motioned for his men to do the same.
Duncan grabbed Mitchell roughly by the arm. “You will test that shit on those rebels or I promise I will leave your ass here!”
Mitchell nodded meekly and then walked toward the case. He grabbed a bacterial filter mask from the case,.“I suggest you all put your mask on now.”
They did as the doctor suggested. Mitchell slipped his mask on and then slowly picked up one of the vials. He took a tear dropper and extracted one drop from the vial. He handed the tear dropper to Duncan who carefully took it.
Mitchell resealed the vial and carefully put it back into the case. He was sweating profusely now as Duncan handed him back the tear dropper.
“Outside!”Ahadi shouted.
The men walked outside. Five rebels stood surrounded by the Iranian troops who also had their bacterial filter mask on.
Ahadi pointed to the men. “Now doctor!”
The doctor walked up a few yards from the men and then released the contents of the tear dropper onto the ground.
Mitchell ran back and waited.
Two minutes passed before it became obvious that something was wrong with the five rebels. They first fell to the ground and began to convulse wildly. Then their bodies came to a sudden stop. Then with crazed yells they all rose and began to attack each other. They were biting and gouging each other’s eyes as blood flew. They were screaming uncontrollably and continued to fight no matter how badly they were injured.
Ahadi had seen enough. He motioned to his soldiers. They opened up on the five rebels. The blue beads of light emitted from their laser rifles tore through the men’s bodies. Each man fell after being hit at least ten times.
Ahadi motioned for his men to stop firing as a blue haze from the laser fire settled over them.
“Can we get paid now?” Duncan asked.
Ahadi shouted something and a soldier ran out of the building with a briefcase. He handed it to Duncan.
“There’s your two million Captain.” Ahadi said. He was very pleased with the virus testing.
Duncan opened the suitcase and then shut it. “A pleasure doing business with you sir.”
The two saluted and then Duncan, the doctor, and the other mercenaries walked back onboard the drop ship. Duncan tapped the door to the cockpit. The drop ship’s engines roared to life and it slowly lifted off from the ground.
Duncan placed the suitcase on the floor and opened it. “Gentlemen we just made $500,000 a piece.”
The men laughed and shook hands. Everybody that was except for Mitchell who was staring at the floor. What the fuck had he just done?
The fortunate inherit riches, prestige, positive notoriety. Those not so lucky bear legacies filled with poverty, infamy or, worse yet, the unhinged insanity and murderous urges of their ancestors.
