Highschool of the Dead: Fanfiction Darkpenn

Chapter 4.4: kaga base: holding on

Kaga Base: 'Holding On'

Seven months after the Outbreak, remnants of humanity are managing to survive - just.

[Author's Note: This story, part of the Chronicles of Takashi Komuro cycle, takes place six months after the story The Promise; and about six months after the group reached the Maresato farm. Kaga Base should be read as a prelude to the story Dead and the Last Show.]

Z+219

"So this," said Saya, "is the wonderful Kaga Base that Tatagi has told us so much about. Humph."

Takashi stopped the convertible at the main gate. There was a long fence, layers of barbed wire held in place by concrete poles. The gate itself was just a swinging boom but Takashi saw that there was a barricade of barbed wire that could be lifted into place. There was a wide ditch on the outer side of the fence, and raised wooden platforms on the inner side.

Two men in battered JSDF uniforms came up to them.

"Hello," one of them said, in a surprisingly un-military way. "Don't think I've seen you before."

Takashi was a little taken aback. "We've been asked to come by Major Arimake," he said. He pulled out the letter, really a polite invitation, and handed it to the guard. The letter had been delivered by Tatagi on one of his regular visits to Maresato farm.

"Ah, she told us to expect you," said the guard, reading the letter. "Pull in over there, near that building. That's the Major's office. You can leave your weapons here if you like," he said.

"We don't like," said Saya.

The other guard looked at the sword held by Saeko. "May I see that?" he said.

"No," said Saeko.

"Oh. Right. Well, through you go then."

Takashi did as directed, and they got out, with Hirano helping Saya, who was now seven months pregnant. A middle-aged woman came out of the office and over to them. She was wearing a uniform that seemed to be patched together out of other uniforms.

"I'm Major Arimake," she said. "I'm in command here, more or less. It's good to finally meet you. You're famous, you know."

"Famous?" said Hirano. "What for?"

"For ... surviving," she said. "Benaro has passed on the tales of your exploits, and people love to hear them. You give them hope, in a word. A sense that there might be a future.

"I was just going to the kitchen to get some lunch. Perhaps you would like to join me, and I can give you the tour on the way."

"I would like to find out more about your fence," said Hirano, as they walked. "It doesn't seem strong enough to keep zombies out."

"Actually, barbed wire is what we've found to be the most effective," she said. "Zombies can climb over or knock down a wall but they just get tangled up in the wire. You probably saw the ditch, which also slows them down. If there was enough to them they could probably get it down but we put shooters on the platforms if there is an attack. And the wire means that we can use flamethrowers as well, which are pretty effective. But you know about using fire against them, of course."

"We do," said Takashi. "Have you had many attacks?"

"At the start, yes, but nothing for several months now. Benaro's plane helps us to spot any, as well as keeping us in touch with outlying groups of survivors. It's a big asset, that little plane."

They arrived at the building that served as the base kitchen. They were served meals - not very large ones - and sat down at a long table. The major looked at the weapons that the group carried.