Apocalypse- the Plan

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Apocalypse- the Plan Page 52

by Gary M. Chesla


  Despite the fact that there was no longer anyone left alive, or what one would normally describe as being alive on the sub, the USS Georgia with the navigational data programed into the computer would arrive at Kings Bay and deliver the package as ordered.

  However, the method of delivery and what was delivered was not what anyone could have possibly expected.

  Chapter 15

  Dave was on his back, trying to get some rest on a stack of crates in the corner of the room.

  The wooden crates were uncomfortable as hell, but it felt good to be able to at least try to relax and get some rest without worrying what was going to happen next.

  Michelle had fallen asleep as soon as she had closed her eyes and laid her down on the crate. Despite everything she had been through tonight, being this was the first time she had ever stayed awake all night, sleep over powered her determination to stay awake.

  Bill laid on his stack of crates and pretended to be sleeping, but Dave could see Bill constantly opening one eye to watch what the Navy men were up to.

  Staying up all night was not anything new for Bill as he had worked the night shift at Medic One for the last five years.

  Bill was also suspicious of what he had been told tonight so he intended to try and lure Ensign Adams into a false sense of security, trying to make him believe everyone was asleep, with the hopes that he would slip up and Bill would hear something confirming his feeling.

  All three of them were startled and sat up when the building shook as a large explosion sounded.

  “What the hell was that?” Dave asked as he slid off the stack of crates he had been lying on.

  “The explosion came from the sub,” Barbus replied.

  “I’m not surprised,” Bill said. “The way that engine was churning up the water and who knows what else was going on inside that sub, I knew it would explode before long.”

  “It didn’t explode, it was blown up,” Daniels said. “The cavalry has arrived!”

  Adams walked over to Daniels and crawled up on the crate next to him.

  Adams looked at his watch then out through the vent.

  “0820 hours,” Adams said. “Almost right on time.”

  “It’s the Navy?” Michelle asked.

  “Yes, it’s the reinforcements we requested last night,” Adams replied.

  “Why did they blow up the sub?” Dave asked. “The sub would have the answer to everything that happened last night. On that sub would be the source of the infection and possibly the plans of the Russian operation or about the mutiny. Why would they blow it up?”

  “As you said, on that sub is the source of what caused this disaster. If we are to survive, the first thing we needed to do was to destroy the source,” Adams replied.

  “What about all the zombies out there, they are spreading the virus, they are more dangerous than whatever was in the sub,” Dave said. “And since zombies can’t talk, as Bill has reminded me, we would be more likely to find more about how the infection started from the sub than we will from examining zombies.”

  “Sorry, but I don’t have time to discuss strategy with you,” Adams replied. “Daniels come with me, we are going out to establish contact with the commander of the reinforcements. Barbus, you remain here with our guests and secure the building until I return.”

  “Yes Sir,” the men replied.

  Adams and Daniels met at the door, took a quick glance outside then stepped outside and closed the door behind them.

  Bill moved over next to Dave and whispered.

  “You were pushing the Ensign a little hard,” Bill whispered.

  “Yeah, I’ll have to restrain myself,” Dave smiled. “At least until we get out of here but blowing up that sub makes no sense. The answer to everything could have been in that sub.”

  “Exactly,” Bill replied. “That’s why they had to blow it up. They don’t want anything to survive that could question their version of what happened.”

  “Stay here and keep an eye on Michelle,” Dave said. “I’m going to go take a look at what is going on outside.”

  “I don’t need anyone to keep an eye on me,” Michelle said as she joined Dave and Bill.

  Dave smiled, “OK, then you keep an eye on Bill. Don’t let him start talking about zombie conventions to Seaman Barbus. He just might decide to shoot at us again by the time Bill’s done. This time he might not miss.”

  Dave walked over and climbed up on the crates next to Seaman Barbus and looked out through the vent.

  “Thank God help has arrived,” Dave said as he looked outside and tried to make small talk.

  “You better believe it,” Barbus said. “All of this has scared the hell out of me. I didn’t think we were going to make it. I can’t believe all the things I saw last night. I used to enjoy watching scary zombie movies, but I don’t think I’ll ever watch another one in my life, not after this.”

  “I think we’ll be OK now,” Dave said.

  “By the way, I hope there are no hard feelings,” Barbus said. “I wouldn’t have shot at you if I would have known you weren’t a mutant. I was just scared.”

  “No harm no foul,” Dave replied then turned and climbed down off the crates.

  Dave walked back over to Bill and Michelle.

  “What did you see?” Michelle asked.

  “Adams is out there talking to someone,” Dave replied. “There are hundreds of men in white Haz Mat suits with guns and flame throwers. There are more parachuting down across the base and out over Kingsland.”

  “Then we are going to be OK?” Michelle asked.

  “Well, we shouldn’t have to worry about zombies today,” Dave replied.

  “How about the Navy?” Bill asked.

  “Well, if I can keep my mouth shut and not antagonize the Navy and question their strategy, we shouldn’t have to worry about them either,” Dave replied with a slight smile on his face.”

  The door opened and Adams and a man in a white Haz Mat suit entered the building together.

  The man in the Haz Mat suit pulled off his hood and removed the filter that covered his mouth and nose.

  He removed his gloves and set them down on one of the crates.

  “This will make communication a little easier,” he said.

  “I think I was able to understand most of what you told me,” Adams said.

  “We need to be sure,” the man said. “The next few hours will be critical. I need you to tell me everything that happened last night so I can deploy my units in the most effective manner.”

  “It all started on the base where that infected sub ran aground,” Adams replied. “The second wave started at the barracks after the returning injured security men turned and attacked the men sleeping around them.”

  “We can handle the base without any additional information,” the man replied. “What I need is what happened after the infected left the base. You said you had a few civilians in custody that came to the base last night looking to escape the infected. I would like to speak with them for a few moments.”

  Adams turned and pointed towards Dave, Bill and Michelle.

  “These are our guests,” Adams said then he looked at Dave. “This is Commander Lewis, the man in charge of the Special Operations Unit that just arrived to help restore order to our base and the area around the base.”

  “Commander,” Dave said as he held out his hand and shook the Commander’s hand.

  “What can you tell me about last night?” the Commander asked. “What I specifically need is where did this start out in your community and where did it spread. We have studied the satellite images and have a good picture of where things stand now, but I would like an idea how you saw this develop and start to spread. The information could add some dynamics to the still pictures I’ve been studying. The information will help confirm what areas need active deployments to stop the spread of the infection and what areas are less volatile and where we need to just focus on cleanup operations.”

  “If I
understand you,” Dave replied. “You want to know where the infection is going so you can stop it?”

  “Simply put but accurate,” Lewis replied.

  “I will try to answer your question the best I can, but I cannot guarantee how accurate it will be,” Dave said. “At one o’clock last night we started getting calls of numerous disturbances from the northern end of Kingsland. By four o’clock it had spread into the center of town where the police station and Public Safety Building is located. I would assume it continued to spread south, but after the infected overran the police station and we were not able to get assistance, we left and came to the base looking for help. I did not observe any other incidents and didn’t have any way to receive reports of further disturbances at that point. I know it isn’t much but I hope that helps.”

  “That’s fine,” Lewis replied. “It confirms what the satellite images indicated. I believe your information verifies that we have properly interpreted the situation and are responding in the appropriate way.”

  “Is there anything we can do help in any other way?” Dave asked.

  “The only thing you can do now is just stay here and out of our way,” Lewis smiled. “I believe we will have things under control shortly. I will be having breathing masks and oxygen tanks brought to you in a few minutes. The air will soon begin to get heavy and will make breathing difficult. I suggest you use the equipment as soon as it is delivered.”

  They all soon began to hear the sound of gunfire coming from the northern end of the base.

  When Commander Lewis saw everyone begin to notice the sound, he said, “My men are clearing the base now, sanitizing operations will begin shortly. When the sanitizing operations begin that is when the air will become unbreathable and you will need the masks and oxygen.”

  Commander Lewis got up and picked up his gloves and hood, “We should have things under control by later this afternoon.”

  “Can we go home then?” Michelle asked.

  “Hopefully, but we’ll see,” Lewis replied. He then put on his hood and gloves and walked out the door.

  A few minutes later there was a knock on the door.

  Two men in white suits were at the door holding six oxygen tanks and breathing masks that were then passed out to everyone in the building.

  Michelle looked at the mask and tank that Daniels passed out to each of them

  “I’ve never used one of these before,” she said.

  “I have done a little scuba diving,” Dave said as he looked over the equipment. “You just put the mask on your face, pull the strap over your head to hold the mask in place and turn the lever on the top of the tank. I’ll help you when we have to put them on.”

  “What did he mean when he said that the sanitizing operations was going to make it hard to breath?” Michelle asked. “Are they going to be spraying something over the base that we shouldn’t inhale?”

  “You mean like Lysol?” Bill chuckled.

  “I don’t know,” Dave replied. “I have never been on zombie clean up duty before, but I guess we’ll find out soon. Just keep your oxygen tank handy.”

  “Hey,” Barbus called out. “There is a deck of cards on the blue crates if you want to play cards to kill the time.”

  “No thanks,” Dave replied. “I think I’m too nervous to play cards, but I appreciate the offer.”

  As Dave looked at Barbus when he began talking, he noticed something outside through the vent behind Barbus.

  Dave got up and climbed up next to him and looked through the vent.

  “I think I understand what they mean by sanitizing operations,” Dave said as he jumped down and came back over and sat down next to Michelle. “Their gathering up all the bodies and burning them. You can see the smoke rising up into the sky if you look up at the vents. I think we need to put on our masks, the smoke will be coming in through the vents in a few minutes.”

  “It’s also going to smell like hell in here when that smoke gets in here,” Bill said.

  “How much worse can it smell?” Michelle asked.

  “Did you ever smell hair burning?” Bill asked.

  “Not lately,” Michelle replied.

  “Well trust me, the only thing that smells worse than a dead body is a burning dead body,” Bill said.

  “Did you learn that at one of your zombie conventions?” Michelle asked and grinned.

  “No, that I learned responding to bad car accidents out on Route 95,” Bill replied.

  “Sorry,” Michelle said seriously.

  As Dave picked up his equipment, a strange thought ran through his mind.

  “Michelle,” Dave whispered as he watched Michelle trying to figure out how to put on her mask.

  Michelle looked up at Dave.

  “Michelle,” Dave said again, “go over and asked Seaman Daniels if he will trade tanks and with you.”

  Michelle replied quietly, “Why?”

  “Just do it,” Dave said. “I want to see what he does.”

  “What should I tell him if he asks me why I want to trade?” Michelle asked.

  “You’ll think of something,” Dave replied.

  Michelle shrugged her shoulders, picked up her mask and tank and walked over to the crate where Daniels was standing and looking outside through the vents.

  “Excuse me,” Michelle said. “Seaman Daniels, could I ask you a favor?”

  Daniels turned and looked down at Michelle, when she gave him a big smile, he quickly jumped down next to her.

  “Sure, if I can, Ma’am,” Daniels replied. “What do you need?”

  “I was wondering if you would trade air tanks and masks with me,” Michelle asked. “I have a blue one and your tank is green. I’m superstitious and I have a thing about the color green, it’s my good luck color and right now I sort of feel I need all the luck I can get. By the way, you can call me Michelle. Ma’am is what I called my mother.”

  “OK, Michelle,” Daniels smiled. “I’m sure no one would ever mistake you for your mother, no disrespect intended to you or your mother.”

  He picked up his tank and mask and set it in front of Michelle and gently took her equipment from her hands.

  “Here, I hope the green tank brings you luck.”

  “Thank You,” Michelle said as she picked up the equipment.

  “You’re welcome,” Seaman Daniels smiled. “If I can do anything else for you, you just let me know.”

  “I will Michelle replied, smiled and returned to where Dave and Bill were sitting.

  “Now what was this all about?” Michelle whispered to Dave.

  “I just wanted to see if he would do it,” Dave replied.

  “Dave wanted to make sure that their tanks and the tanks they gave us were the same,” Bill said. “To see if they were giving us tanks with something in them other than oxygen. It would be a simple way to eliminate any witnesses.”

  “What?” Michelle said looking shocked.

  “The thought crossed my mind,” Dave said. “I just thought I would set my mind at ease.”

  “Good try Dave, but I’m still not sure this proves anything,” Bill smiled. “I saw the way Daniels was looking at Michelle when she was standing here in her underwear before. He would have probably given her his gun if she smiled and asked him for it.”

  A sly smile spread over Michelle’s face as she looked at Bill.

  “Well Bill, If I were you, I would feel relieved that I didn’t ask him for his gun,” Michelle said then looked at Dave, “Now, how do I put this thing on?”

  Chapter 16

  It was now four o’clock.

  The building was smoky, hot and uncomfortable.

  They all were soaked in sweat and were covered in a thin layer of ash that had come in to the room through the two vents.

  They were all uncomfortable as they laid on the wooden crates trying to fight off the boredom of being confined in the room with nothing to do but wait.

  Dave got off his crate at least once an hour to climb up on the cr
ates below the vents so he could look outside.

  With the masks on it was difficult to tell the others what he had seen, but the others were now too miserable to care as the day went on.

  They would open their eyes and look at Dave to see if he had any news.

  When Dave just shrugged his shoulders, they would close their eyes again and try to go sleep.

  The morning hours were filled with the sound of gun shots around the base and off into the distance.

  The afternoon was mostly quiet, but the skies were dark with the smoke from the many fires burning outside.

  The sounds of blazing bonfires occasionally crackling were the only other sounds they had heard today.

  Finally, after almost eight hours, Commander Lewis opened the door and came inside the building.

  Dave sat up and looked as Lewis entered the building.

  Michelle and Bill, noticing that the door had been opened, also sat up.

  Lewis reached up under his hood and slid his mask down over his chin.

  “The clean up operations are wrapping up,” Lewis said. “I believe the base is now secure and you can go outside and stretch your legs if you would like.”

  “Can we go home now?” Michelle mumbled through her mask.

  “What do you think, Commander?” Adams asked.

  “I don’t have a problem with that, if that is what you want,” Lewis replied. “However, I must warn you that if you live in Kingsland, I’m afraid that there isn’t much left. You may not have a home to go back to.”

  “You are welcome to stay here on the base with us for a few days,” Adams said.

  Michelle looked at Dave, “I’d like to go home.”

  “Commander,” Dave asked. “What can you tell us about what we’ll find out there? I think I speak for all of us when I say we would at least like to try to go home.”

 

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