Cast Out - Part Ba

The Chinese nuclear attack submarine “Zheng He”, a Type 095, was making its way back to its home port of Hainan after an accident that killed 20 of its crew and civilian visitors, occurred yesterday. During an underwater test run the fire suppression system discharged gas, suffocating everyone in the bow of the sub. The on board medical team verified that all the bodies in the bow were deceased.


Rather than dispose the bodies in the sea, the decision was made to leave them sealed in the bow, and go back to port (albeit at a reduced speed and under radio silence). The officers and civilian leaders wanted to make sure they got their stories straight. There was too much at stake to have this mishap scuttle the program.

About 1100 hours there was a report of sounds emanating from the bow of the submarine. Captain Zemong called on the medical team for additional verification that all the bodies from the accident were deceased. They confirmed their initial findings, but asked permission to re-examine the bodies. Captain Zemong granted permission, but told the team to wait for him, as he wanted to personally watch the re-examinations.

Less than 3 minutes later, the medical team, the captain and officers, as well as select civilian leaders were cramming in the space before the bow hatch. The captain ordered silence from all present, even the civilians. All complied.

They could hear the sound of movement in the bow. The captain thought to himself, “The medical team must have made a mistake with one of the bodies.”

He said, with determination, “Someone is alive in there.” He ordered one if his officers to open the hatch.

The hatch was opened, and the smell of decay overwhelmed everyone. Darkness in the bow covered the source of the stench.

Then they heard deep voices say “Jiaru women!” (Join us).

Fear and dread overcame everyone, who tried to take a step back, but they couldn’t. The civilians panicked immediately, the crew took about 2 seconds longer.

Out of the darkness of the bow compartment came the undead. Reaching, grasping, and lunging.

The undead had infested every one of the dead bodies.

They pulled in the unlucky officer who opened the hatch first. Everyone there heard him screaming. They were able to pull in several more unlucky souls, who soon would not have one.

Then they came out of the bow, one by one. Blood was dripping from their mouths and onto their clothes, and the deck.

The undead, increased in their number, moved forward in their hunger.

The living, the lucky few who made it out to the rear of the submarine lived a little longer than the rest. They were able to gather a few firearms from the rear armory, and while trying to take back the sub from the ghouls, a round discharged into the nuclear reactor.

The explosion tore the ship apart, and registered on Richter scales halfway across the planet.