Feb 21th
I wanted to load Tom’s journal onto the central drives that E created, but when I walked into the lab, it was a hornet’s nest and I figured it would be better to back out slowly. From what I saw they had gone with the assumptions of military branch codes and were trying to reach other units. They were doing the 1’s first, figuring that army to army would be the smart way to go. But I was under the impression that they were not getting very far and weren’t very happy about it.
I guess I should start to read his journal, I think I will have some time for it.
Feb 22nd
I was up late last night with Tom’s Journal, it is an interesting read, I understand and remember some of it, but see it, saw it different than he did.
The Boys are beat, spent all day yesterday trying to reach different Sat-Comms listed in the contact list of the computer. There is no correspondence to any particular base, so it is hit or miss and there are a lot of frequency addresses.
I want to draw a little and think.
Feb 23rd
1n reading Tom’s journal I just realized it has been a year that we have been out here, a year since the meteor started all this.
Got to run, the dinner bell is ringing, this is bad.
The bell is our “shit hit the fan” signal and the reaction was to head to the Dining Hall for instructions or preparation or whatever. When we got in, Teckla quickly told us that it was not anything to panic over, but we needed to talk and we needed to do it quickly. Then she turned it over to the Major and E.
E started, “We made contact. There is still a military left, small, but they are out there. We were right with the numbers, and the tribal locations. The frequencies were just a case of finding someone on one of them and then we were given the key to the rest of the bases.”
“There are operational bases that are on the links. The Air Force has one in Minot, North Dakota, Marines have one in Key West, Florida and the Navy has one in Groton, Connecticut. We have been in contact with the Groton base, actually it is a submarine that is at the base for refit and was trying to get food and water supplies. Then they are going to break for open water again. There are a number of other naval ships out there, mostly subs that have not been infected. Most were on deep runs when the meteor and infection hit,” added the Major.
Henry spoke up, “We are the first civilians with contact to the military, although we’re now considered militia; we’re not under orders or obligations to the military, beyond helping them out if we can. We are not drafted, or anything like that. They consider us non-combatants, which is good. But we are an intel source for them and they have opened up some resources of information to us.”
“And this is where it gets interesting. We told them about the lights in the sky. The good news is that it is not alien invaders that are coming to eat us, it is drone activities. The military has managed to get a small fleet of Predator A drones up into the air and is using them on hunt and destroy missions,” the Major informed us. He had been allowed access to information after his rank and ID info was verified.
“But who are they hunting and destroying?” asked Ethan.
“Yeah, that is the problem, those are the other lights, Major, please continue,” said Charlene.
The Major looked thoughtful for a moment then started, “Well, a few years back the idea of a plague, was discussed and planned for by the CDC and the various health agencies. In doing so, they enlisted the aid of the military for both a means to neutralize the threat, the infected with minimal risk to humans who were uninfected. As a result, there was the development of two types of robotic machines. There was development of the Hunter A and the Hunter G.”
Del whispered, “I’m not liking where this is going.”
“I know,” I whispered back
The Major looked at us briefly then continued, “It did not go well. The hunters were based on existing technology with a couple of twists. The Hunter A (airborne) was based on the Predator A. The Hunter G (ground) was based upon what was basically a small robotic like vehicle that has been used for IED detection in Iraq. That was not bad. They had been retrofitted with special weapons and equipment. They shot small ball bearings about the half the size of a marble. Their guns were laser sighted and programed for headshots. In any disease situation that was the quickest, most effective and painless means for the kill, so far, so good.”
“The devices were designed to carry large numbers of ball bearings (like thousands) with the capability to automatically reload their magazines if they found refit stations that had some kind of sync software. They were also solar powered which meant that as long as the sun was shining they were powering up, still not necessarily a bad thing.” He continued.
“The problem was, or is, in the detection software. The CDC had somehow created a virus detection sensor that could sense the virus at a distance of up to 500 yards. The how of the tech is not all that important, the problem was and is that we are all infected. So even though we are asymptomatic, we are all valid targets in the “eyes” of the hunters.”
That created a stir in the group for sure.
“What can we do?” asked Joseph
“Before we get to what we can do, let’s talk about what is being done,” added Henry, clearly The Three had been briefed before the meeting.
“Right now, the lights we are seeing are the military Predator A’s and a few remaining military aircraft pursuing and shooting down any of the Hunter A’s that they find. But there are not a lot of Predators and most are in the Mid-West. What we have been seeing are some of the fringe activities that are in western NY and Pennsylvania,” explained the Major.
“Are they getting closer?” asked Ethan.
“Yes, they are and we might soon see some in our area, so we need to be ready,” he added
“What about the ground ones?” Nick asked.
“Those we think we’re pretty much okay with them, there may be a few on this side of the Hudson, but for the most part they would not be able to cross the river easily,” E told us.
Things pretty much wound down after that and we talked a little but nothing new or significant came out of it.
E and the Major did take Del and I aside, along with Matt and gave us some information that would help us use the 50 Cal sniper rifles against the hunters and also how to identify them from the good guy Predators. The identifying was really easy, the Predators (Good Guys) had been painted up in a bright rocket orange, and there was no need to camouflage them. So if it was a drone, and was not orange, shoot it down.
But shooting them down was not quite so easy because they were a moving target. If you could get them while they are coming at you, it was a nice clean shot, but, they would be shooting back. Taking them from the back was easy as they were flying away. The side shot was the safest but also the most difficult because of the moving, you had to figure on leading them and shoot at where they would be, not where they were.
According to the information that was given by the submarine people you can kill these things by a hit on the engine compartment, or taking off one of the main wings, something a 50 Cal bullet can easily do. Or you can render them blind and basically harmless by taking out the small sensor pod that is on the bottom of the drone in the front.
“Piece of cake” I thought sarcastically.
“We need to go back up to Hinsdale and revisit my old base,” said the Major, “We had some Kevlar helmets up there which should give some protection from the metal balls. It may not stop them completely but will prevent the fatal head shot in most cases.”
“Del and I will head out within the hour,” I said
“No, we need to keep you two close by, you are our ace up the sleeve, as is Matt, We are sending Mark and Joseph,” said Henry.
“Oh, I bet Teckla is not happy about that choice,” I thought.
Feb 24th
Mark and Joseph left early this morning in the Hummer. It was supposed to be an easy trip but about an hou
r into the trip we got a radio call, they had found something and were asking for medical help and a few more people. After a few more questions, the biggest one was who was hurt, things calmed down a little. It wasn’t one of them that had been hurt. They had found Ron and one of the girls that he had left with. Ron was okay but the girl was not, she had taken a ball bearing to the head and was in and out of consciousness.
Fred, Charlene and Matt mounted up and headed on up to Hinsdale. The Major wanted to go, but they felt it was too risky, and he is too valuable. An hour later they were back in camp and the Major and Charlene were working hard to save the girl.
Ron was brought into the dining area and Henry and Fred asked him what happened.
“We never expected it, we were all just walking along and then these things, robots just started shooting at us. They got Terry and Andrea right off before we even knew what was going on. Karen, Jill and I started running, we hit the woods, the robots did not move so well in the woods,” started Ron.
“Where were you when this happened?” asked Henry who had kind of taken the lead in this.
“We were in Pennsylvania, about halfway through, we had been following the turnpike, figured it was the easiest going, and would cut time with the tunnels through some of the mountains.”
“So what happened from there?” asked Henry.
Ron continued, “We got to a little north of Allentown and were kind of hunkered down, our supplies were getting low and we needed food, badly. We hadn’t seen any of the little tanks in days so we figured we were safe.”
“Hunter G’s, they’re called Hunter G’s” interjected Ethan.
“Yeah, well, we figured we were okay, so the plan was to grab some food and then head back here. We scavenged a couple of snowmobiles. It went fine at first, but after we loaded up and started back toward here we ran into a couple more of those things, Hunter G’s? We tried to get away but Jill took one to the head ….. we knew, …. she was gone.”
At this point Ron became kind of emotional, this part was hard for him.
“Yeah, we just found out about them a day or so ago, tech gone wild.” explained Henry.
After a few sips of coffee Ron went on, “Karen and I made a break for it on the remaining snowmobile, almost made it, she…..she took a hit. She had a helmet on, and that may have saved her, Jill didn’t. I felt her shutter, she was on the back of the snowmobile, but she seemed to be holding on to me, so I rode, and rode for hours, until we ran out of gas. We had taken to the woods so I think, thought we were pretty safe.”
There was another long pause as he relived the events and composed himself.
“When we stopped I got up, and she fell over, blood trickling down her face, she was breathing, I saw the hole in the helmet. I….didn’t know what to do at first. I took off the helmet, the bullet fell out and there was a hole, on the side of her head. It was not a deep hole, but ….”
Matt stepped in here, and the compassion in his voice was amazing, “Ron, you have done the right things, you have helped her, and we will all pray and join together for her.”
“I know, it’s just…..”
“You are here, safe now, and they will help her,” added Nick.
“I carried her the rest of the way to Hinsdale, where Mark found me, us.”
The door of the dining hall opened and Charlene came in, “Does anyone here have type “O” blood?”
Several raised their hands, Nick, Fred, Jan, and a couple of others.
“We need to work on some transfusions, she is alive, but lost a lot of blood.”
They all left, and Ron just sat, with Matt and Tanya.
“If she live, God, let her live, I will be your servant till the end of time,” said Ron.
“Del, Code, we need to get ready, we need to keep watch,” I said.
“Yep!”
So with Kevlar helmets and flak vests we took up shifts watching. It was not just the three of us, but everyone took turns, even Nick and Grace did shifts.
Feb 27th
We’ve all been at it pretty hard over the last few days, watching, and thinking about what the government had done to us. It was on the surface not the worse idea ever and actually if it was not for that fact that we all had the virus or whatever it might have been a good plan.
We have seen the lights at night, and we have seen, or imagine that they appear to be getting closer. But we haven’t seen any more blowing up midair. We are getting a storm tonight so it is unlikely that we will see much.
Karen is hanging on; she is still out, in a coma. The Major seems to feel that she was getting stronger and may try to wake her up in the next few days.
One of the things that someone brought up was the idea that there may have been some kind of anti-aircraft weapons systems like some hand-held missile thing in the arsenal somewhere. But to find them we would have to search the place, and the general feeling is that wandering too far from home and especially on the other side of the Hudson would be very risky. The only person who might know for sure, and make it an easy go-grab was out in space, and we don’t have a way to talk to her.
Feb 28th
A late season snowstorm, great, and it’s cold again.
At breakfast I was talking to E and Del about the missile thing. It was Code who said, “Maybe we can talk with Asuna.”
We all looked at him as if he had two heads.
He kind of blushed and looked down, “Well, remember just before the Krezz showed up we had those clicking noises, and then the radio messages where she and the lizard guy talked?”
“I see where you’re going with this, but we would have to send a broad range signal, and it could take hours or even days before they heard it, if they’re even listening,” E said thoughtfully.
“We got nothing to lose by trying.” Code piped in.
“We could send a recorded loop message; say every hour, asking for a reply. It might work,” offered E.
“You think it will work?” asked Del.
“Really? I doubt it, but like the man said, we got nothing to lose,” E said with a smirk.
Later that day the message for contact began to be beamed into space, every hour, on the hour. “Camp Romanica to Krezz, come in please, we need help. Must talk with Asuna.”
March 1st
There has been no reply from the lizard guys, but as E explained, the message we sent could take days, maybe even weeks to get to them and even longer to get back to us, it really depended on how fast they were moving away from earth.
Karen is awake, weak, but awake. She seems to be okay, but the Major can’t tell for sure yet. She is still restricted to bed and although she can talk, there was a lot of damage done by the ball bearing. They had to remove her left eye, and some of the facial bones which were badly shattered.
The watching continues.
It has been cloudy the last few days so we have not seen much, we can’t tell if they are getting closer.
I am getting edgy again, not just because of the idea of the Hunters, but because…
March 2nd
I kind of jumped ugly with Code this morning, he said something stupid, and well, I just let go. I apologized to him, and he understands. He is good that way.
No word from space, Asuna, or the Krezz.
Not feeling like writing or sketching much today, just want to sleep, and my stomach hurts.
March 3rd
Feeling better today, not so puffy.
It was actually kind of warm so a little walk sounded good. Almost forgot my helmet, Guess that will take some getting used to when we are outside.
E has sent a second message out to space asking if Asuna knew about any hand held anti-aircraft missiles or things in the Arsenal, still no word back.
Code and I sky-watched last night, we didn’t see any drones or lights. But it was a full moon and that kind of messes with the chance to see long distance stuff.
Ate like a little piglet tonight, Nick changed up the deer stew to some rabb
it, we had brought him a bunch that had been cured and tucked away. It was awesome.
March 4th
Message from space, It was Asuna, she told us there were about 10 stinger missile launchers at the Arsenal and where they were. I could hear Tom in the background
“Ask them what is going on, why do they need them! I should never have left.”
She did ask the question but we knew they would not get it right away.
E explained what was going on with the Hunters in a return message but knew it would take time for delivery.
It looks like we have a mission, gonna visit the Arsenal.
It is going to be pretty much the same routine as when we went in for the Sat-Comm. Stephen would fly us in, we go quick, get our goods and out the door. That should be easy, but this time it was going to be a case of arming the chopper. We need to be able to fend off the Hunters if we see them and we will be on the west side of the Hudson, so we could see both type.
Stephen will fly the mission, Mark, Joseph and Code are going in. The door gunners are going to be Taylor and Henry. Del and I wanted to go, but The Three wouldn’t let us, “You are our best home defense right now, we can’t leave ourselves defenseless.”
It made sense, I wonder, WWTD, it was being smart for sure.
March 5th
We met our first Hunters today, it did not go well, and we lost Henry. They were successful in getting the stinger missile launchers at the Arsenal, and figured we had it made. As they were loading up a Hunter G was just there, it hit Henry before anyone realized it, it was kind of a lucky, well unlucky shot, got him in the back of the head. The Major said the marble snapped his neck right at the base of the skull. It was quick. Tay killed the Hunter.
Quiet at the camp, Henry was a great guy, helped keep us alive with the food. We are going to miss him.
March 6th
Matt and Tanya did a great job in saying goodbye for us all. That is the hardest part of the world now, we are all so close, so interconnected, and its like a part of you dies when we lose someone.
Code and I spent the day together, just holding each other and enjoying the moment, the time we had, one just never knows, we live on the edge of a knife.
The Event Series (Book 2): The Gospel According to Matthew, Margo & Lance Page 3