by Scott Todd
Jan and Terry seemed to both sigh at once, and left the bridge visually disturbed.
We all just looked at each other with a "Was it something we said?" look on our faces. But that didn't last long. Because not a minute later we started hearing some loud banging and a commotion going on. Sounded like it was coming from the kitchen.
Gary and I raced down there, leaving Ben steering the sub, and couldn't believe our eyes when we arrived. Jan was totally freaking out, and slamming pots and pans around like a mad woman.
"What's the fucking point anymore, huh?" she screamed when she saw us staring. "Just come get us and blow us up already! I am SICK of this shit. There's no hope anymore." She threw another pot against a cabinet, making a loud bang.
I looked at Gary and told him with my eyes to leave- I'd handle it. After he did, I grabbed Jan quickly and tried to settle her down. She finally stopped fighting me and collapsed, sobbing in my arms.
"I understand your feelings, and I can't blame you one bit," I began, as I stroked her hair. "We've got to hold on and..."
Then Terry suddenly burst in, asking "What's all that racket...?"
One look at Jan and she understood. "Yeah, that's about how I feel too every time you guys start talking your doom and gloom," she said accusingly. "Just go, will you?" she pleaded, grabbing Jan to comfort her.
The two of them just hugged each other and cried, as I left with my tail between my legs. God I felt bad, but what more could I do?
I headed back to the bridge and hoped that the ocean was indeed as empty as Gary said it was- and that no one heard the bangs.
Back on the bridge we decided it was just best to let it go, and not to say anything further about it to Jan. We had to understand, and the fact was that we brought it on ourselves. We had to be more careful in discussions- yet somehow we had to also include them without scaring them to death.
Then again, maybe it would be better to die in a nuclear instant than to be beat into a red pulp by hyper velocity winds. The women weren't alone in their fright- what Ben said had an effect on all of us, as again we realized the prospects of long term survival were looking bleaker by the hour.
Nonetheless, we carried on and had a long discussion about possible destinations, and the pros and cons of going to each place. Gary was most concerned about approaching any place in the US, feeling that it was either being bombed or being watched or both. Even so, Ben still wanted to go, arguing that we needed to do an assessment of damage, and get a sense of just how bad it really was.
"I suppose you've tried direct satellite linkups for pictures?" I innocently interjected.
"Well that's a real problem," Gary immediately responded. "I did try early on for a little while, and got no response from anything. I assumed there was obviously major problems- either they were out, destroyed, or some other kind of problem. But I haven't tried since we were attacked. And I highly recommend we DON'T try, because any communication with a satellite at this point could be our death warrant. If any satellites survived, don't you think the enemy will have them under surveillance? If they aim to destroy us, they won't just forget about those assets. It's too risky to try to contact one, and potentially reveal that we exist at all, and our position, too."
Ben looked sadly disappointed. "That's really too bad, because satellite photos could save us a lot of guesswork," he said. "And the more I think about it, the more it may be worth the risks- because we might be killed by what otherwise we knew was there- like, for instance, a massive whirlpool in the ocean that could have formed somewhere. We could be heading right into one for all we know. And the potential for those is great, with all the ocean movement."
Gary and I looked at each other bleakly. We couldn't really argue his point. But another more sinister thought came to my mind.
"Gary, wasn't there some high level concern lately of all the Chinese chips embedded in various military equipment? I mean I hate to think they'd be that stupid to use chips from China in our own military equipment, for the obvious reason that there could be backdoors built in. And what if they have them built into chips used in the satellites?" I asked, concerned.
"Well if they do, one connection to any of those satellites, and especially any file transmissions would alert them to its use, and could be used to track our position as well. If they have been thorough to this point of eliminating anything left of our military, then they must have destroyed most of our satellites too. But leaving one or two up as potential bait for leftover military to potentially contact does not seem like an unreasonable strategic plan in this case," he related. "And especially those that have backdoors.
"I am extremely leery and concerned with trying to contact one, because we might just find one. And a few hours later, all we'd feel would be a tremendous nuke impact above us and we'd be thrown into fatal depths and destroyed- if it didn't breach the hull and kill us instantly first. I think there is too much at stake here to risk it. I like our chances better the way we've been going, moving in total stealth and not contacting anyone," he concluded- with a very serious and intense face.
Ben backed away, receding like usual into deep thought. He was obviously weighing Gary's words carefully against our need for world damage assessments. Gary kept watching him and waiting for a response. Finally he spoke.
"Ok well, if we lose control of the sub all of a sudden and get sucked into a deadly whirlpool, don't say I didn't warn you," Ben remarked in a frustrated tone.
"Then we'll just have to pay damn close attention to currents, and move very slowly to avoid rushing head on into one," Gary countered. "We can do that, but keep in mind it's going to greatly lengthen the time to get to any destination."
A pervasive silence ensued for a while. But I finally had to say, "Well speaking of long travel times, it seems as long as no one knows we're here, we've got all the time in the world. Ben, I am going to have to agree with Gary on this one. No satellite contact attempts please. Can we agree on that?"
"I suppose," he quickly answered. "But damn it, I could really use some satellite photos. That would save us SO much trouble, conjecture, and concern."
"Well to be honest Ben, even if I was to make contact, remember I am a weapons officer," Gary lamented. "I'm not even sure that I could manipulate a satellite into giving up the information you seek. We had technical communications specialists onboard for things like that. I mean there are similarities, sure, like with satellite pictures we use for targeting, but still..."
Though convinced it was a bad idea, Gary was obviously racking his brains trying to come up with something else to ease Ben's frustration. "About the only way we could obtain footage of anything would be if we surfaced and sent out the drone. And that's not possible- at least not yet. You saw what happened when we last tried to surface. We couldn't even make periscope depth. Plus, the drone's range is limited. If we get near land and we can surface though..."
"I'll keep that in mind," Ben said- in a tone that conveyed he wasn't all that thrilled.
"The only other option I can offer you would be..." Gary paused a minute, thinking. "Well, we are carrying one particular experimental missile weapon on board, but that is top secret. Even so, it does offer a live video feed back, but I'd have to fire the thing. And you DON'T want me to do that. Not unless..."
Again he paused. We expected him to continue, but he didn't.
Ben looked interested. "Unless... What..." he said, pressing Gary.
Gary looked up with a frightening look on his face, and then looked back down at the floor.
"Unless you want to wipe out an entire continent," he said under his breath, and sort of hesitantly.
Ben looked wide eyed at me in shock, and then turned back to Gary. "What on earth do you MEAN, an ENTIRE CONTINENT?" he demanded. "There's no weapon that can..."
"Not that YOU know about, no," Gary interrupted. "But the fact of the matter is that we have many secret, incredibly powerful weapons that are not disclosed to the public. They would never stan
d for it, and would have our asses on a platter if they knew. We'd be crucified over some of the things in our arsenal. But the thing is, we have suspected for a long time that our enemies may have developed similar weapons.
"To be honest, how we as a race have survived to this point with such mega weapons around was a daily perplexing dilemma," he continued. "Suffice it to say that the public has, or had, no clue of just how close humanity was living on the constant edge of annihilation at a second's notice. It teetered and wobbled with every major news headline of conflict, every major military action, and every political saber rattle. After a while, you just figure the other guy won't do it, and get used to it. But had this not happened, it was just a matter of time anyways. We were doomed any way you slice it. This, the event, just hastened the inevitable, in a different way."
"And I suppose how quickly they attacked when we were weakest is evidence of that," I interjected. "I mean they wasted no time it seems, and seized the opportunity of natural catastrophe to destroy us once and for all."
Ben looked dazed, and struggled for words.
"Yeah well, I've got news for our attackers," Gary said contemplatively. "If we so decide, we can end whatever's left of any country with the push of one button. And if we need to take out three or four countries at once, I can do that too. You see that locked panel over there?" he said, pointing. "Well the captain thought it would require his key too, when in fact my key fits both locks. He just never knew it. So anytime you decide you've had enough of Russia, China, or North Korea, or..."
"We CAN'T just kill all those innocent people," Ben immediately intervened. "No WAY. I will NEVER go along with any such plan."
"Well why not? Nature just had no problem at all killing millions, or even billions at once," Gary half smirked. But he was halfway serious, too.
I could see this was not going to end well. "Umm, could we get real please?" I blurted out. They both turned to look at me with intense stares. But they were looking through me. I wasn't even there.
"Well suppose there are still one billion Chinese left, even after all this. We could play roasty toasty. One weapon we have will roast their entire atmosphere at 1200 degrees. Nothing would remain uncooked. Not in the entire country," Gary mused.
"Ok, I've heard enough!" Ben barked, and now he was mad. "How you people saw fit to develop weapons on that scale in secret is just par for the course!" he fumed. "I wish you all would just die. It's not fair to the rest of the human race to be subjected to this insanity against their will. And worse, subject to the whims of a few who can end it all if they so choose at any time. We've GOT to stop this!" he screamed.
"Well you're a little late," Gary countered. "But if it's any consolation- if I could be sure all weapons of mass destruction were destroyed along with it, I'd destroy this sub in a heartbeat. See that other locked panel over there?"
Ben looked confused, and backed off.
"I don't like it either," Gary said regretfully. "And I agree. But regardless, you should know your options. And we have many. If it comes down to it..."
A noise interrupted him, and we all turned to see Jan and Terry standing there with their mouths wide open in total shock. We were so engrossed in the conversation we failed to notice the visitors. Gary bowed his head in shame.
"PLEASE tell us you are NOT going to do that," demanded Terry, with angry tears streaming down her face. Jan couldn't even speak.
Gary just looked at Terry with a blank stare, but Terry was on the warpath- a side of her we had already seen before. Experience had taught me once to be wary of the fiery redhead, and I made a mental note to prepare.
But before the thought fully registered, Terry lunged at Gary with lightening speed, going for his throat. "You're NOT going to do that, right Gary???!!!" she screamed, trying to strangle him with an angry demon beaming from her eyes. Ben and I quickly tackled her, and she fought us with everything she had.
"Terry, NO! No, NO!" Ben pleaded, "We are NOT going to destroy China. Please, calm down... PLEASE!"
Terry finally backed off, but her demon still peered angrily at us, while finding temporary refuge in Jan's arms. "You don't even know for sure who attacked us, and you're talking about wiping out their country?" she raged. "What kind of lunatics are you?"
"Gary was just... Pointing out some of our options," I said, catching my breath, and trying to diffuse the situation. "I don't think he really..."
"Well I can speak for myself, Brian," Gary interrupted with a surprisingly forceful tone, that was not well received. "And I want to be clear. We don't have to take these attacks. We have weapons on board even more powerful than what I described. And you all should know that given these circumstances we may have to use one of them in order to survive. I remind you that I have ceded command of these weapons to you, as a group. But you need to know your options. If all else fails, and it may, we might have to do the unthinkable. That's it. I just need you all to know it."
Jan ushered Terry out of there slowly before she could respond, but Terry's intense stare of utter disgust said more than words ever could have.
I struggled myself in a sea of conflicting feelings. On one hand I shared Terry's feelings, but on the other I was still in a rage over the merciless attacks which were clearly aimed at... at... us?
Well, wait a minute. I had no proof of anything. It might be possible they were aimed at assassinating the President, if somehow communication backdoors were tapped to intercept the top secret plan for him to be there on the mountain. Hmm. I hadn't thought of that. What a calamity it WOULD be if we destroyed an entire population over a false assumption. That's why assumptions suck. Half the time they are flat out wrong, and I'd bet that it's MORE than half the time. At least assumptions have been wrong more than half the time in my life.
So don't assume. Don't assume ANYTHING, and find out the truth before action, I kept reminding myself. Even when the worst APPEARS to be right at the time. You need facts before action. If only humanity could live by that simple rule. I was slowly learning to, and it felt good when I was aware of my assumptions and proceeded with caution. In some cases I had avoided total disasters by finding out facts before letting false assumption get the best of me and acting like a fool. But sadly that's one lesson that has to be relearned every single day to really be effective- and even then sometimes I had failed.
What was crucial now was that failure in the assumption department could cost millions of people their lives seeing as we were in command of the most powerful weapons on earth. Yes, if there is anything completely demonic and meant to destroy us all, it is assumption. I felt all the people left on earth after this cataclysm now begging me not to fall victim, again, to assumption. The cries of innocent souls pleaded for wisdom, even in spite of us facing death ourselves.
"Well I think we ought to go towards Asia," Gary said, yanking me back from my thoughts. "I want to see what is left of Russia and China, and try to get some sense of what is going on over there. They won't be expecting us, figuring that we're all dead. Besides, if we have to, we will then be in a close enough position to..."
He paused as one nasty stare from Ben shut him up. We knew what he meant.
Suddenly Terry and Jan reappeared with worn out looks and dried up tears on their faces.
"Sorry for the trouble," Jan said meekly, looking around with begging stares to each of us. "I just lost it."
"So where did you decide to go?" Terry asked.
We told them of the possibilities, and then Jan quickly asked:
"Don't we have an obligation first to defend our country and find out what is left before we go on a tour of Asia?" She shook her head in disdain.
"Well I've told you the risks," Gary quickly countered. "We can die defending it or possibly live by making a surprise attack on them. I was hoping we could get close enough to pickup some radio or TV broadcasts and see what officials are saying. But if that's what we decide as a group, then so be it."
A long silence ensued. We were
at a crossroads, and a decision was going to HAVE to be made.
"Votes?" I finally said. "One for America or Two for Europe."
"One," Jan said. "It's risky either way, and if we have to we can defend ourselves."
"One," Terry said. "I'm with Jan."
I looked up at Ben, sure that we were headed to America at that point. But surprisingly, he stalled.
"Well we have to carefully consider what Gary is saying, and after thinking hard about it, I think it may be best if we stay away until we know more about what is going in China and Russia. Regretfully I have to agree that we stand the best chance of getting news by going there, rather than the USA. All the projections I have done of the water coverage would back that up. So I'm going to have to vote Two at this point. Sorry Terry and Jan."
I glanced at Gary, who looked surprised at first, and then looked straight at me, waiting.