"Two MLRS barrages dug in on Fort Independence. If they make it through that -- and they will not -- we've got an entire battalion of M109 Paladins just waiting on top of the hill. Just for shits and giggles we also brought in M1's, Bradleys, Humvees, mortars, and Comanches. Gonna be quite a show." ― New York episode menu radio
New York City was a city visited in World War Z. It was the most populous city in the United States of America, and also formerly their most densely populated city. As the site for the United Nations HQ, and numerous financial corporations, New York served as both the global hub for international diplomacy and financial center.
During the events of World War Z, New York City was amongst the hardest hit city during the initial wave of Solanum-infected individuals. The sheer density of the city, combined with the rapid infection rate resulted in the city becoming overwhelmed in a matter of days.
In the Book[]
With the virtual collapse of civil order in New York City, the United States military was partially mobilized for a "morale boost" operation, seeking to stem the panic that was enveloping the country. As the island of Manhattan was overrun, the city of Yonkers in Westchester County was selected as the battlefield to engage the hordes of infected from New York. In their haste, the United States military underestimated the enemy, and completely ignored attempts to delay or reduce the infected's numbers prior to their arrival. Compounding their mistakes was the mass deployment of numerous technological marvels of Pre-War America, including the Land Warrior program, various combat vehicles (including Humvees, Bradleys, and Abrams), electronic warfare equipment and vehicles, and deployable toilet system (Family of Latrines, FOL for short). Ammunition was not provided in extensive numbers to the infantry against the expected hordes, as the usage of the "technological marvels" was intended to supplement the shortages.
Aside from the Land Warrior equipment, the deployed infantry were ordered to equip MOPP 4 gear, designed to protect against biochemical and radioactive equipment and dig extensive trenches meant for conflict against human opponents. The sheer weight of their equipment, combined with the scorching heat and burning buildings created an extremely hostile environment for the soldiers long before the infected arrived. Situated near the Hudson River, the urban environment behind the soldiers was radically redeveloped, as parking lots were blown off to clear for tank placements and FOLs deployed despite the water pressure inside numerous houses and buildings in the area still readily available. Exacerbating the rushed nature of the operation, the numerous buildings just behind the frontlines were not properly cleared, instead merely sealed off by the soldiers, thus when the infected broke through, the soldiers would potentially have been overwhelmed from all sides. In addition, unconfirmed reports from surviving units from Yonkers suggested that for every two or three soldiers, there was one reporter stationed with them.
Nevertheless, as the battle began, the shambling first wave entered the first expected killzone. With a sufficient buildup of the infected, the MLRS was activated and launched numerous canisters of bomblets with limited armor-piercing capabilities. Despite taking out three quarters of the first wave, the infected continued streaming in, as each infected was merely replaced by four more infected. Furthermore, the deceased infected corpses somewhat shielded each other from the "steel rain" of the MLRS, thus limiting the damage potentially inflicted. With the infected shambling into the second killzone, the United States military deployed its howitzer M109 Paladins, many of which fired their high-explosive shells, which caused even less damage than the MLRS rockets. Under the expectation that the shells would inflict the Sudden Nerve Trauma, the deployed soldiers were surprised when the infected continued wandering into the third and final killzone, occupied by the infantry and attack helicopters.
Although the combined infantry, armour and attack helicopters allowed the tide to temporarily stem, shortages of ammunition rendered any further attempts futile. Out of desperation, numerous F-35s were deployed to carpet-bomb the frontlines. The sheer proximity of the bombing temporarily left the infantry dazed, allowing the infected to quickly overwhelm the soldiers. With the equipping of the Land Warrior system, the morale of the infantry near-instantly collapsed as soldiers were able to see their fellow comrades devoured by the horde. Already exhausted by hours of preparation, the entire frontline collapsed as soldiers began trampling upon each other to flee the infected hordes. Previously sealed-off infected broke out of the buildings and ambushed the weary soldiers. With the failure of the battle, U.S. Northern Command issued a general retreat, as troops and reporters fled the battlefield.
With the failure of the battle, the modern United States military was completely discredited. Having completely underestimated the threat of the infected, U.S. Northern Command failed to adequately equip its soldiers with the necessary equipment vital for the actual battle. Thus, instead of restoring the confidence of Americans to their government, it instead backfired and hastened the Great Panic, as millions of Americans either fled to Canada or succumbed to the undead hordes.
In the Game[]
Taking place concurrently with the Battle of Yonkers, groups of survivors survived the city's downfall, unbeknownst to the United States military at large. American special operations units were tasked with surveilling the undead hordes and evacuating potential survivors.
Descent[]
With their supplies running low, four survivors, Angel Flores, Tashaun Burnell, Bunko Tatsumi and Arnetta Larkin decided to make the risky gamble of leaving their hideout on the roof. As they made their way through the building, the survivors contacted their fellow survivor Dan, whom refused to leave his hideout, citing confidence in the United States military. As they made their way to the lobby, the survivors discovered a swarm of infected at the ground floor and began the process of luring them to the upper levels and exterminating them. Successfully doing so, the team traversed the destroyed elevator shafts into the now-cleared ground lobby.
However, as they arrived, they discovered a US Army helicopter hovering nearby with loudspeakers, seeking to attract the horde to the prepared defences at Yonkers. However, the pilots were unaware of the presence of survivors, and thus inadvertently lured a major swarm from Broadway to their location. Hastily setting up numerous defences across the lobby, the survivors successfully held off the Broadway swarm, before exiting the building and making a mad dash to the subway.
As they arrived in the subway, the survivors stumbled upon an active metro train run by Stevie, the infamous mad subway conductor. Despite begging Stevie for transport to Inwood, the mad conductor refused, and struck a deal with the survivors, forcing the survivors to gather supplies scattered across the subway before he agreed to transport the group to the extraction point. In spite of numerous waves of zombies chasing the survivors across the subway, they successfully gathered the required amount of supplies for Stevie before the mad conductor finally began the journey to Inwood.
Tunnel Vision[]
Despite a promising start, the trip does not long, as they discover a blocked access tunnel to the terminal hub. Stevie, having disembarked the train, attempted to contact his former friend Roy for assistance, however, Roy had previously been infected by Zekes, and spitefully sealed off the tunnel in retaliation for Stevie having abandoned him. Thus, Stevie forced the survivors to open the path for the train, much to their disdain.
Upon arriving at the terminal hub, the survivors began the process of opening the access tunnel, however, a cowardly Stevie falsely claims malfunctions on the train, and leaves the survivors to fight off the incoming swarm alone. Once again setting up hasty defences, they successfully repel the swarm of infected just as Stevie drives in. With the next access tunnel similarly blocked, Stevie sends the survivors through a nearby ventilation shaft on the far side of the hub to access the next terminal to continue the journey to Inwood. During their exploration of the abandoned metro, the team wandered into a spiral center was forced to make a mad dash to the upper levels, as the Solanum-infected hordes discovered their presence and threatened to overwhelm them.
Following their narrow escape from the horde, the survivors inadvertently stumbled into the sewers in a gas-filled area. With the workers having previously been infected, the entire area had been choked up in toxic chemicals harmful to humans. Thus, the survivors searched the corpses of deceased workers to procure the keys required to activate the ventilation system. Upon reaching the third and final level, the survivors exited via a vent and arrived into the final terminal checkpoint. As they did before, the survivors began setting up defences as Stevie drove the train into the area. With the hordes threatening to overrun the train, the survivors fought a desperate battle as numerous swarms threatened their only means of transportation. Fortunately, the survivors prevailed and as they prepared to evacuate, Stevie decides to leave the survivors. Angered, the survivors threaten Stevie, who brushes off his attempt as a joke, before order the survivors to board the metro.
Hell and High Water[]
Upon their arrival to Inwood, the four survivors depart from the train, grateful for leaving the mad conductor. Seeking to make their way to the supposed final evacuation point at the nearby docks, the survivors fought through a nearby maintenance hub, before discovered the sealed exits. With little options left, the team utilized one of the trains to ram the blocked shutter, as they held off a swarm descending upon them due to the noise. Fortunately, the team were able to fend off the swarm long enough to flee to a nearby museum. Discovering large numbers of infected sealed off in the antique cells by the military, the survivors quietly made their way through the museum before finally reaching the exit.
As the survivors leave the museum, they witnessed the last remaining military defensive lines become overrun by an infected swarm. However, mortar fire from nearby units repulse the majority of the swarm, allowing the survivors to make their way to the extraction point relatively unhindered. Upon reaching the extraction point, and re-programming numerous auto-turrets left by the military, much to their horror, they discovered that the military been completely overrun, and promptly abandoned the extraction point. Fortunately, the military had left a previously tethered boat off the shores of the docks, and the survivors began making plans to reel it in. However, the noise of the tether, combined with recordings from the loudspeaker drew swarms of the infected in, and the survivors began utilizing the vast equipment left behind by the military. Despite some mechanical issues with the tether, the survivors successfully boarded the boat, as they made their way through the Hudson River.
Dead in the Water[]
With the failure of the Battle of Yonkers, the military began making plans to evacuate the entirety of New York. Scattered groups of survivors in Yonkers gathered at the Memorial Hospital, the last remaining evacuation point in the city. Concurrently, the four survivors discovered their boat had run out fuel. With no choice, the team decided to dock at a nearby trainyard. As they fought off roaming infected in the streets, the team discovered numerous evacuation helicopters landing at the Memorial Hospital. Desperate for evacuation, the team decide to take their chance at the Hospital, and made their way across a wrecked bridge. Discovered by military spotters, the team was contacted by the hospital garrison's commanding officer who requested their assistance in exchange for evacuation. Grateful for the opportunity, the team made their way to the underground parking garage, avoiding the claymore explosives left behind by the military.
Upon linking up with the military units in the hospital, the team was informed by the commander on the impending swarms bearing down on their position. Needing time to evacuate both survivors and the wounded, the commander ordered the survivors to assist the military garrison in setting up defences across the hospital. As the survivors continued their preparation, the commander attempts to contact his radio operator Sgt. Pembry, however, Pembry had been killed by the infected. As the swarms began their siege on the hospital, one of the survivors were ordered to grab a flare gun, allowing a nearby AC-130 gunship "Elvis 12", to provide fire support against incoming swarms.
As the survivors held off the swarms of infected, they were additionally tasked with repairing numerous electrical grids, many of which had been overloaded and shut down. With the last of the wounded and civilians evacuated, the commander ordered his men and the survivors to the rally point as they boarded the final evacuation helicopter, just as the Air Force began a final bombing run against the gathered hordes at the hospital. Exhausted but relieved, the survivors inquired to the commander as to their next steps, however, he simply informed them that the military was on the run, as the infected swarms at the Bronx were hardly affected by the bombing runs.
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