A changed world part 2

Thompson was reading the latest report from the Central. He was still smiling from the one detailing Parkson giving a punch to some Japanese guy. He had a pretty good idea who the guy was and he did deserve it. The rest of the news was a mix of good and bad.
Some freaks in Oregon had started a new religious cult stating that God had sent the virus to cleanse the human race. Like he had done with the Flood long ago. They had been arrested for trying to infect their members. The leaders were on trial and facing the death penalty. Death sentence had been reinstated in almost every country in the world with the revelation of the Virus and what people who were infected became. Hiding an infection or worse, an infected was a crime that was more often than not punished by death. Thompson understood the idea of “wanting to keep the loved one close regardless of what they were”. But they were undead and needed to be put down for the good of humanity.
Most countries had changed their military standard equipment. Now, every unit had a sharp shooter and a medic. Every solder had the following: Mid distance rifle that could be modified for urban warfare, a short blade for close quarter fighting and reinforced clothing. These were a true innovation. Some genius in Finland had meshed titan wire between light but resistant cloth. The wire made the cloth impervious to biting. Which was amazing for the regular grunt. Thompson was reading about some of the equipment list that had been issued and wondered if it was a coincidence that most countries had gone back to the medieval time or even older for their bladed weapon. The Greek had brought back the Kopis, a short blade with a inverted curve, the Indian had chosen the renowned Kukri, The Italian the Roman Gladius, more precisely the Gladius Hispaniensis, the Scottish had opted for the basket hilt sword while the British had chosen the Officer Navy sword. The Japanese had gone with the katana and more importantly, the Wakizashi. Used in combination using the Niten Ichi-ryū style. They had also rescinded their no army close in their constitution. They had over 20 000 new recruits ready to learn to defend their country. Even the Canadian had their weapon: The native Amerindian Tomahawk. They had make a new upgraded all steel version which was devastatingly efficient.
The most surprising and daring people where from Thailand. They had recruited the best Muay Thai fighters and had outfitted them with a small machete. But their true weapon was a kind of body armor that covered their fist, elbow, shins and knees. They were made from the same plastic from which where made the pm 34 nightstick. The fists were supplemented with bumps on each knuckle, the elbow and knees had spikes and the shins and forearm guards were both protection and weapon. These fighters would engage the Z’s and using their particular martial art, reduce them to squirming pulp and only then deliver the finishing blow with the machete if they had not killed them beforehand. The only truly prepared forces were from Philippine. With their Martial art, Escrima, they already had everything they needed for close quarter combat against the living dead.
Thompson shook his head amazed with the speed at which the world changed. Almost every armed conflict on earth had been stopped in face of the new peril. Religious, political and other reasons for fighting your neighbor became irrelevant when the living dead were scratching at your backdoor. There were still some radical groups in every country that called to arm and called divine retribution on their ancestral enemies. But they were a minority and mostly ignored. Most disturbing were the small bands who had joined the cause of the Bringers of Light. These where the scary one. Going to the media and actually inviting people to mass suicide or to become one of the “blessed”. They would become one with mother earth and eventually would be joined with Her as soil and fertilizer for her nature to nurture. Sick and perverted psychos…
Well, he had to concentrate on the now. He was in Germany, leading a small platoon of both Germans and regular D.B.H troops. A report had come 4 hours earlier that a small group of Z’s were coming their way. They had gone through the town of Munich mostly undetected but had finally been spotted. Their trajectory had brought them to the Englischer Garten Park where Thompson and his troops were waiting for them. 18 man for 12 Z’s, it was good odds. Thompson heard the first moans when something made him stop. He had the feeling that all was not right. Not being the type to have premonitions, clairvoyance or PSY powers, he was stunned. What should he do? The feeling became stronger. Going from “bad” to “ominous”. Making a decision, he called a general retreat, moving to their second position which was on higher ground.