Night two-and-a-half
Mission log, April 20th, 2010, part III
The mission was a success - we managed to fend off these creatures long enough to send all three messages through. These things simply refuse to die - you can blow off a limb or three, nail them right between the eyes, and they'll go down... but fifteen minutes later they're up again and kicking, and scratching, and biting. Mostly biting. I think we lost the scrawny tech in the confusion, but once the transmissions were done we split up and started to head back. One group decided to take the laptop back to the security post, but I went with the squad I'd been traveling with. Think I might join up with them after this is all over - if we're still alive, that is.
They knew the way around this place better than I did, and they knew that the zombies usually didn't stray too far from the facility. We cut through the labs that were still accessible and then took the long way around. They're really very well organized, mostly whispering orders and using hand signals to communicate. We reached the outskirts of the base and ran into a group of zombies - fast, slobbering, and very hungry zombies. We were all low on ammo from the assault and subsequent defense of the radio transmitter, so we cut through some tall reeds growing out of a creek to try and lose them. I had a bit more trouble making it through the brush, and was a bit startled when the entire squad dropped prone on the other side. We must have laid there for half an hour, motionless, waiting for something to happen. Finally, something distracted them - probably some poor soul who got separated from the rest - and we hurried along. We had to go through the woods again - at least, that's what I thought. It turned out to be a swamp. Who in their right mind builds a science facility on top of a hill between a forest and a swamp? We had to crawl around in the muck, plowing through all sorts of vines and dead branches, most of which were absolutely riddled with thorns.
After what seemed like forever we made it through the swamp. I had thought the swamp had the worst stench imaginable. I was wrong. The clearing ahead of us was vast, and empty - if you don't count the blood stains and uncountable footprints surrounding what was left of a deer. The carcass showed telltale signs of a zombie attack, and the entire area reeked of death. We pressed on, wanting to spend as little time in this secluded 'hunting ground' as possible.
As we were nearing base, we received word that fire support was ready for us but would only be available for another forty five minutes. We sped things up, but somehow that only managed to attract more infected. The one taking point suddenly called for a halt and we all crouched beside the trees, searching the horizon for zombies. There was only one. The commander and his lieutenants rushed it, and in a matter of seconds the monster was in several pieces on the ground. I only got a glance at the grotesque face, twisted by the pathogen, but I could have sworn it was my old squad leader.
We passed through the area until we came to a steep escarpment. We didn't have any rope, and there were no paths easily in sight, so we had to carefully climb down in turns. Halfway down the slope, I lost my footing and slid. I was fortunate enough to land in a deep puddle of mud which managed to break my fall - and my rifle. I took out my sidearm for the remainder of the trip.
We got back to base, and found out the scientists we had just went to hell and back for had holed up and refused to speak to anyone. The whole squad was exhausted and fed up with them, so we decided to get some rest and deal with it tomorrow. That's certainly going to be a fun day...