"911. What's your emergency?"
"We need the police! Now!"
"Okay, ma'am, please, I need you to try and stay calm. What's the problem."
"They just fell out of the field."
"Who did?"
"There's so many of them... They're all over..."
"Who ma'am? Who's all over?"
"I don't know! They're coming up to the house. They're all covered in blood. Oh my god, it's Mikey! He has no arm!"
"Ma'am, I have units en route. Just stay on the line.
What do they look like?"
"There's so many! They're all covered in blood!"
SMASH!!!
"Ma'am, what was that. Are you okay?"
"They're trying to get in the house. Where are the fucking police!?
Tom! Tom, get back here. What are you doing? Don't go out there. They're coming in. NOOO!!!!"
---unintelligible screaming---
"Ma'am, what's happening?
Unit 5, be advised subjects have entered the house.
Ma'am? Are you there? I can't get a response. Ma'am?"
Time: 1500. Location: Classified.
"That gentleman was a 911 call that came into the Caldwell, Idaho Sheriff's Office this morning at 0600. Similar calls have been flooding 911 call centers all over the Northwest. Local mayors asked for National Guard assistance at 0900. By 1100, the National Guard was activated and on-site throughout Idaho, Oregon, Nevada, and Montana. The Caldwell contingent, the first on the scene, was last heard from at 1332. Gentlemen, the President has asked me to figure out what the hell is going on and how to stop it. I've asked you here because you are the best that we have in each of your respective fields. Now gentlemen, any ideas."
Around the table sit four men, Dr. Link Talbot D.V.M., Dr. Carl Greer M.D. (a.k.a. Doc), Dr. Edwin Steen M.D. (a.k.a. Lifeline), Dr. Kenneth Rich M.D (Psyche-Out). The man speaking to them is General Clayton Abernathy, Hawk to his men. His men. The best of the best, they have to be they are Joes.
The four sit in stunned silence as they ponder what they just heard.
"Sir, is there anything else you can tell us?"
"Negative Talbot. Right now, I want to hear your gut reactions to what this could be?"
"You say this is happening in several rural areas. It may be some form of Mass Hysteria," suggests Rich
"It could be a new form of rabies. There has been increasing Lyssavirus activity in that area." Talbot interjects.
"Perhaps it's a biological attack. We have solid intel suggesting that Al Qaeda and Cobra have been dealing in bio-terrorism as of late." Steen says.
"As of yet, we have neither confirmed nor denied any of these possibilities, gentlemen. Those are theories that the eggheads at the Pentagon gave. But I'm not asking you to regurgitate what the armchair generals at the Pentagon think. I'm asking you to think outside the box. I expect you to tell me what I don't want to hear. What the President won't want to hear."
"Hawk, let me see if I understand this correctly. This call comes in at 0600, and in less than 8 hours, all hell's broken loose. You call us in and expect us to tell you what's happening from a simple recording. Is this correct?" Greer asks.
"That's correct, Doc."
"Well fuck me."
"Excuse me?" asks Hawk.
"With all due respect, Sir, this is a real shit-fest. I mean, based on that call alone, it could be anything. But if you want to know what I think..."
"I do." interrupts Hawk.
Doc pushes away from the table and makes his way to a whiteboard. He grabs a marker and starts, "Let's see what we know, shall we."
The four nod in agreement.
"The caller says that an unknown number of assailants have 'fallen' out of a field we can assume she meant stumbled. She describes them as being 'covered in blood,' and Mikey has no arm. Why are they covered in blood? Where's Mikey's arm? These people could be in shock from some farm machinery accident. The caller doesn't seem to be worried about the assailants but rather herself and Tom, as is witnessed by the sounds of breaking glass and the woman calling Tom back when he went outside. That seems to rule out an accident since most folks would offer help. Although, something obviously painful happened to Mikey. So why is our caller scared? We learn that from the end of the call, the screaming. If I'm correct, it sounds like animals are attacking in between the human screams. "
"I'd agree with that," Talbot says.
"Thanks, doctor. Well, the caller makes no mention of animals. Only the bloodied assailants."
"Actually, I'm quite aware of that fact, Lifeline. That's my point. I never thought I'd ever say this and mean it..."
At that moment, a very determined courier, briefcase cuffed to his wrist, bursts into the room, snaps off a salute, whips the case onto the table, and opens it.
"What's the meaning of this Lieutenant?!" Shouts Hawk
"Sir, this just came from the Joint Chiefs. I received orders to bring it directly to you and only to you, without delay." Replies the Lieutenant undeterred.
"Well, what is it?"
The courier hands Hawk a very full-looking folder labeled "TOP SECRET S-CCO." Hawk opens the folder, jaw-dropping; he gathers his composure, pulls out a chair, and takes a seat. He continues looking through the file.
"Doc, if you would continue what you were about to say."
"Well, Hawk, gentlemen... What I was saying I can't believe I'm saying this without anything more to go on than a recorded 911 call. I think we're dealing with something viral, something that turns men into monsters. Perhaps dead men. Hawk. Damn. I think we're dealing with reanimated corpses."
"With all the wildlife out there, it's more likely some form of rabies..." replies Talbot.
"There could be any number of psychological reasons for this behavior..." says Rich.
"Gentlemen."
The three doctors continue to toss out ideas as Doc listens, shaking his head.
"GENTLEMEN!"
The three squabbling doctors immediately snap to silence at the outburst from their commanding officer.
"Gentlemen, I'm afraid Doc may be right. Take a look."
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