The Deadzone: Tales from the Leviathan War (Open)

The sky was black, thick clouds of ash and smoke shrouding the world below in the darkness, months of shelling and immolation bombing reducing the capital to a burnt hellscape. Anyone walking outside without a respirator risked death by inhalation, the defenders were forced to don hulking environment suits, this only adding to the claustrophobic darkness of an already hellish battle.

From his position on the snaking trench line, Hernandez watched as a squadron of warplanes screeched overhead, quickly crossing into the overrun sectors of the capital and dropping incendiary payloads. A wall of fire briefly illuminated the smog-choked dark, for a few moments providing the illusion that the horrors within had been scoured clean by the flames, but then as the fire receded, the shambling hordes remained.

Four months had passed since the outbreak began, the once-thriving colony had long since been reduced to a charred husk by the armies' futile attempts to hold back the spread of the virus. Vega had been a good place, a little overcrowded perhaps but prosperous, a major player in local trade routes, Vega had grown off the commerce brought by passing ships. There was a bitter irony in the fact that the very thing which had ensured Vega’s growth would now be its undoing.

The apocalypse had thus far not disappointed, all the fire and darkness promised by the old prophets had indeed materialized, it was just one detail they had gotten wrong. It hadn't been demons from hell that had brought the end times to Vega, rather it was the strange horrors that descended from the cold expanse of space that had brought the world's doom.

It had started imperceptibly, people reporting nightmares and feelings of increased anxiety, nothing unusual for a colony on the frontier. As time passed the unease had grown more pronounced, people commenting on the coldness of spouses or colleagues, cold eyes, and monotone voices, the sort of thing that would have been better handled by marriage counselors or social workers than soldiers. But then people had started to go missing, nights had grown more dangerous in the city and outlying settlements had started to go silent.

When the end had come no one could have imagined the horrors they would witness, hordes of swollen, eyeless horrors with organic growths bursting from tortured flesh. The so-called “shamblers” had spread across the capital like wildfire, their numbers seemingly endless as they infected and devoured everything they came into contact with. The outer city had fallen quickly, its millions of inhabitants becoming yet more sustenance for the pathogen.

Scientists had spent long, sleepless nights trying to understand the threat they were facing, it seemed so vast and terrible that they had quickly coined the term “Leviathan” to describe the abomination ravaging the planet. Paranoia had spread even more quickly than the virus, anyone could be infected and the leviathan could mimic sentient life with all its mannerisms and quirks with fearful ease. The threat of infiltration had only served to divide the colony even further.

The colonists had retreated to the central hub of their capital, an island in the middle of the Ilungo river, bridges had been blown, severing the remnants of humanity from the rest of the planet. It had bought them time, but the virus was relentless, a body of water proved only a minor impediment to the leviathan's tireless advance. Siege lines were erected, the outer city was shelled until there was no more ammunition to fire, and still, it was not enough. No matter how many they killed, more viral forms would appear, it was like throwing pebbles at a tsunami.

“Father of the prophets guide us in the night” Hernandez whispered as he mouthed the Abrahmic prayer with trembling lips

In the distance, an ever-growing line of viral forms was gathering on the other side of the river, seemingly unphased by the ordinance and small arms fire being hurled at them. Since the fall of the outer city, a strange terraforming process had begun, thick vines and mossy growths spread across the husks of city blocks, more horrific still was the skin of vines and organic matter that had formed on the river.

The twisted mix of flesh and plant matter was fed by the endless waves of shamblers, they would stumble toward the river and hurl themselves into it, their bodies breaking apart as they merged to form a living bridge. Flamethrowers, shells, and even incendiary bombs had all been hurled at the flesh bridges, but they continued to spread unabated, now they spanned from one end of the ilungo to the other. Whatever time had been bought had now well and truly run out.

Hernandez gripped his rifle with white-knuckled hands as he looked upon the endless sea of twisted forms that stumbled forwards, ponderously, clumsily but never stopping or tiring for even a moment. The virus had a near limitless supply of biomass to throw at the defenders, the same could not be said for the colonial forces, ammo was low, morale abysmal and any hopes of a speedy evacuation had been quashed long since.

The planetary council wasted weeks debating the potential course of action to take, precious time that could not be recouped. Privileged old men and women arguing from the safety of their bunkers whilst the world outside ended. Generals who had never set foot on the battlefield advocated for the insane idea of detonating the planet's terraforming unit, creating an ad hoc nuclear explosion. Officials pondered whether a vaccine could be synthesized against the infection, some even debated whether the virus could be negotiated with.

All those mad schemes had come to naught, time had run out, the virus could not be defeated militarily, it could not be cured and it certainly could not be reasoned with. in the end logic had prevailed but it was far too late, the evacuation had been called with what few ships could be gathered. Even with the most optimistic of projections, hundreds of thousands would almost certainly be left to die and that was assuming the leviathan could be held back long enough to proceed.

That question now seemed to have been answered by the virus, shamblers in vast crowds clambered over one another as they ascended from the bank of the river. Someone screamed and the shooting began as rifles cracked and flamethrowers showered the infected with liquid fire. The stink of superheated metal and synthetic petroleum filled the air as everything descended into terror and chaos.

“Fire at will! Use the flame guns!!!” an officer roared over the comms

“Father the prophets be at my side!” Hernandez prayed almost whimpering as he did so

He started to fire, again and again, shamblers exploding in showers of gore and burning plant matter. He was screaming obliviously as he did so, he soon lost count of how many shamblers he had killed. Again and again, they fired devastating volleys, withering hails of flame and supersonic projectiles cutting through the ranks of the virus-like a scythe, but the enemy was endless and ammo was running low.

“Shit I'm empty!” Someone called out anxiously

The firing line began to waver and then the cracks started to appear, screams filled the comms as the shamblers flooded the trenches.


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Sobchek was running, he couldn’t remember when he had dropped his rifle, or at what point he had climbed out of the trench, all he knew was that he had to run as fast and as far away as he could get. He tore the combat helmet from his head, it didn’t matter what the voice on the other end was saying, screaming seemed to be a universal language.

Others were running too, soldiers were tearing heavy gear from their bodies running, one man sat slumped on the ground, his leg broken, a crack of a pistol roared out as the crippled soldier used his last bullet on himself. Sobchek paid no attention, he just kept running, oblivious to the pain in his chest or the pounding in his temples. All military discipline had now collapsed, an army reduced to a vast rabble of terrified men.

Instinct now ruled the day, the leviathan was death and every living thing on Vega was now scrambling to getaway. The Vegan defense force had been a proud formation, well trained and equipped, against raiders they could have prevailed, against any number of alien powers they could have held the line, but the Leviathan was not an enemy that could be defeated militarily.

War was a concept society had imposed, the Leviathan understood the universe in far simpler terms, it would keep coming until its prey had been assimilated in their entirety. It didn’t matter how many clever strategies or daring assaults were launched, there was no value in shock and awe and no purpose to attrition, as long as a single trace of the virus remained it would multiply and grow, once again becoming a threat to all sentient life.

The broken army routed, fleeing toward the only place it made any sense to run to, the evacuation zones at the spaceport. There was no battle line anymore, only a vast stream of fearful refugees all trying to get off-world.

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Liya was on the verge of hyperventilating, the warning sirens were blaring from loudspeakers as the crowds in the spaceport jostling and shoved, all trying to push their way through to the waiting transport ships. Her infant son was screaming loudly as she tried in vain to settle him, all around them people were yelling and trying to get to the checkpoint. She winced as the crowds began to trample anyone who fell to the ground, there was simply not enough space.

Basim was presently arguing with a security guard at the checkpoint, flashing his detective's badge in the vain hope that it would allow them safe passage through the barrier. The security guard was shaking his head and pointing to the line.

“I saw you let that corporate suit in before us!” Basim yelled accusingly

“My orders are to process priority individuals first” The guard replied sternly

Basim's bearded face took on a strange expression like he was angry, crestfallen, and amused all at once. The revelation was plain to see as it filled Basim with a vacant look for a moment. Basim put his badge away and stared at the guard with a look of incredulity.

“You don’t have enough ships to evacuate everyone.... you're stalling so you can get the wealthy and the powerful off world!” Basim growling with a raised fist

The guard raised his rifle ready to fire, Liya felt a surge of fear as the rifle barrel was aimed at her husband, but the shot never came. Instead, a crashing sound filled the cramped terminal, she turned to see men in military garb burst into the hall with their weapons raised, they had the wide-eyed stares of men who had seen hell.

“The lines have broken! The leviathan is coming!” Someone screamed

The room descended into anarchy as the crowds surged toward the barrier intent on escaping the coming horrors. The guards raised their rifles only for the soldiers to begin firing on them, gunfire filled the terminal as all hell broke loose. Basim grabbed the distracted security guard by the collar of his tunic and slammed his face headfirst into the glass barrier. Liya felt Basim grip her wrist and pull her forward as they stepped through the barrier.

They ran for the hanger bay; shuttles were loading neat lines of well-dressed corporate staff and government personnel. Basim already had his pistol drawn, a guard stepped forward to try and bar their way, Basim shot him at point-blank range sending people in the crowd ducking for cover and darting to avoid being shot. They shoved their way past the line of suits, Basims gun providing a convincing argument to stay out of the couple's way.

The shuttle, a commercial charter, was in the midst of a frantic attempt to quit the landing pad. Basim entered the cockpit and pressed the still hot barrel of his gun to the pilot's head, the pilot made panicked excuses but Basims glare suggested he was not in a talking mood.

“Take us out of this hanger, NOW!” Basim growled

The pilot, not wanting to catch a bullet, complied and the takeoff sequence began to engage, behind them more people from the terminal had followed Basims push, several ragged-looking soldiers and a collection of elders, children and tired-eyed parents all filled the shuttles hold. On the hanger floor, the bodies of the intended passengers lay slumped, the soldiers having shot their way through.

The ship rose from its pad as the landing gear was retracted and the fusion engine kicked into life, Liya had just enough time to see the horror unfolding in the hanger bay as a sea of humanity fought tooth and nail for survival. People were trampled, shot, and beaten to death as a crashed melee filled the spaceport. Mothers abandoned children, elders were pushed aside by their own children, and everywhere the illusion of society faded from view. There was only one moral imperative left for the people in the hanger, survival at any cost.

Liya sighed with relief when the shuttle doors finally closed and the windows were illuminated by white clouds, signaling their ascent into the heavens. Basim lay slumped in the chair next to Liya, his face pale with exhaustion. He reached forward with a gentle hand to calm his crying son, he leaned in and kissed the baby's forehead softly.

“Hush my son, everything is going to be okay now,” he said in a soothing voice

“Are we safe now?” Liya asked in practiced sign language

“We will be fine, we made it my love!” Basim replied with a weary smile before kissing Liya’s hand

The dark void of space soon filled the viewing port of the shuttle, a thousand lights glittering in the silent expanse as the ship headed for the waiting bays of the evacuation ships. Something bright glittered into view, a vast shadow shrouding the passenger bay of the shuttle as it did so. Liya leaned forward, a vast warship loomed overhead, it was unlike anything she had ever seen, the angles and colors did not resemble anything crafted by a human hand.

“Yvirri” Basim said quietly

“What are they doing here? Are we in danger!?” Liya asked gripping her husband's hand tightly as she did so

“I don’t think they are here for us,” Basim said in fearful a whisper as though he was frightened the warship might hear his voice if he talked any louder

A flash of pale light filled the screen as the Yvirri vessel opened its weapon banks, a blinding white light overwhelmed everything as the shuttle shook violently in response. When the light faded, they nervously looked out again, Vega was burning, a vast Firey wound spreading across what had once been the capital city.

“This is shuttle 43, requesting immediate permission to land!” the pilot yelled over the comms as the evacuation ship grew close

“Confirmed 43, but make it quick, we are jumping as soon as you land” the controller on the vessel replied

The shuttle flew into the vast hanger of the waiting transport ship, Liya stared out at Vega one more time, then the vast blast doors sealed behind them, Liya shuddered as she thought of the terrible forces being unleashed on the ailing planet. She hoped they would be safe, hoped that was the end of the Leviathan, but deep down, she knew the horrors witnessed on Vega would spread across the galaxy, all it took was one infected soul.

Despite the “easy” nature of the mission, an entire crusading fleet was sent out to test a new weapon on a world of the weak and faithless. The mission was simple, Land and establish zones of control, from there the weapon would land and tests would begin. This world was built along trade lines, and the weapon was a new cannon that would destroy vessels without any trace.

you can imagine the shock that was felt when myself and the others from the first wave landed to see utter chaos on the planet. These creatures were ripping into the civilians, it was a thing of beauty. The pungent smell of death filled my helmet, I knew that there was going to be some fun today. Civilians ran towards us asking if we were help, they seemed to think that some government was sending reinforcements. We freed them from their pathetic fearful lives. Their screams attracted what could be described as plant based infected to us. This battle was more difficult putting it in the best terms.

As the mass of infected broke on our lines they proved to us that numbers eventually would get to us. They initially tried to bite our armor, when this proved ineffective, they started tearing at it. One of the six of us who landed at the sight was separated and ripped apart. To save him we threw a grenade over and made sure he stayed dead and killed the group by him.

When we got the chance to report our findings to the fleet we were given new orders. Take one alive, we would use it on the ancient enemy. However we were to wipe out the rest and test the new cannon. Reinforcements were landed. All over the planet battles raged.

Though I only know of my horrors. Our mission was to clear out the city we landed in. We were given air support and told to go house by house, block by block, subway by subway.

The first building we entered was a shop of some sort. There we found a man shaking, rifle in one hand a cross of some sort in the other. He seemed relieved to see us, so much so that he ran over to us. We grabbed him bound him and put a charge in his hand, then we made loud noises in the building so the infected would come. When enough of them entered, we blew the charges. Hundreds of them died in the explosion and collapse, causing hundreds more to rush at the sight. Between us and the air support we fired for hours. It was a slaughter. Two more of us fell to their horde, but even three of the initiated are enough to crush armies.

Eventually we found what could best be described as a hive. They laid there, almost in a dormant state. Their sight disgusted us, so we did what any reasonable person would do. Blocked them in and burnt it to the ground. They rushed us, as was their only tactic. But we cut them down by blaster and sword.

Coms came live again: “All units are to pull back, this world is designated for destruction.”

We grabbed one of the infected and began to make our way to our ships, where some of the non infected natives were trying to make their way to. The group of fifty stragglers pleaded with us to take them with us. They looked shocked to see us carrying an infected in our containment pods. In their Shock we left them.

As we took off I began a sermon into the ships speakers: “Blessed are the strong, by who’s hand the weak will leave this Existence.”

When we arrived on the ship the order was given. The command ship turned the main cannons onto the world and fired. Within minutes the surface of the planet was reduced to a smoldering volcanic hellscape. All the while I went and disinfected my armor. We would allow no breakouts.