Mega Cataclysm: The Last Survivors Chronicles

by Scott Todd

  "I have to agree with Ben," I said quickly, and I had thought about it hard too. "One thing to consider is that if they did indeed attack us on a wider scale, we may be the only hope and salvation left for the rest of whoever is left back at home. It will do us no good to go there and die too. If news reports prove that they did attack us, I feel it's our duty to retaliate, with the only major weapon left- this sub. And being in close will give them no time to respond and trace our missiles. So I must vote Two as well. But I think we need to return home ASAP after that. Sorry Jan and Terry."

  They both burst into tears again, saddened by the news.

  "I suggest we follow the water into- or over, rather- what used to be Spain, and keep heading directly as far east as the water will take us into Europe," Ben said. "We have to start somewhere, and we are already headed in that direction."

  "Ok, sounds like a plan Ben," Gary finally said. "But I want you all to know that the minute we can, we will head back after we know more."

  He looked at Terry and Jan with the statement, and he put a hand on Terry's shoulder. "Ok?" he asked. "I want to go back too. Just not yet. Not until we find out what is really going on."

  The women were sad, but agreeable in the end. And so we settled in for the long, slow, and cautious trek. Before too long things got back to more of a lighter tone, and Jan whipped us up another delicious meal. We tried not to think too much about what we were going to see- until we got there.

  Chapter 60: Only in the MC:TLSC- EXTREME Version

  Chapter 61: Water World

  With the erotic recreations of the previous day still on all our minds and bringing us closer together than seemed possible, we continued pressing on through the endless ocean.

  But temporary satisfaction soon turned to anxiety as we got closer and closer to the coast of Spain. The ocean was still dead quiet, according to Gary and Terry, and there seemed to be no end in sight to all that water.

  We had been at sea for about five days total, and Ben had estimated that from where we were it was going to take about another nine days or so to reach the coast of Spain- at the slow, cautious speed of about 10 knots per hour. 10 knots per hour is equal to about 11.5 miles per hour. So we were basically at a snail's pace, but we had to be extremely careful- and quiet. And then there were also the stops, to give everyone breaks.

  We had over a week to get to know each other further, which we did. And how! When Gary and Terry finally emerged, I couldn't help wondering how Ben was feeling, but he seemed ok with it, and was really more concerned with keeping the sub pointed in the right direction.

  Finally the day came and Ben announced that we were within 50 miles of the coast of Spain. Then it was 20 miles, and then it was no miles.

  "Gary can you check your instruments and confirm these coordinates please?" Ben asked. "We should have run up on a beach by now."

  "Yes, confirmed," Gary replied after checking. "We are directly over what was the coast of Spain." Then he gasped. "But sonar is telling me that the water depth here is still well over 5,000 feet!" he said, terrified.

  Ben looked shocked. "Oh my God," he remarked in horror. "If we take into account what water has already receded, then... then...I can't even imagine the size of that initial wave. With the gradual slope upwards from the sea floor into the coast, that wave must have been nearly a mile and a half high when it hit. Jesus! That's horrible," he said, with a half broken tone and fighting back tears of his own. He collapsed into his chair in deep frustration.

  Finally he looked up at us. We were all mesmerized once again by the utter scale of the calamity.

  "Now according to maps, there were some higher mountains on the border between Spain and France- the Pyrenees," Ben said. "In Spain, a few of the highest peaks in that range were probably the only mountains that were tall enough to avoid the water in all of Spain. Other than that, I guess we should consider Spain a total loss. Nothing else here could have survived this. All the other mountains were too low. At our current rate of speed it will take about two days to reach that mountain range."

  "Those mountains extend into France though too, right?" Gary asked somberly.

  "Yes, there is a French side to the Pyrenees too," Ben replied. "Why?"

  "Well because France was also a nuclear power," Gary said. "And if anything like what happened to us at Mt. Mitchell happened to them and the remaining peaks got nuked... Then that is exactly where we DON'T want to go."

  "Well I think we'd better find out then, don't you think?" I said. "I mean what's to stop us from sneaking in and taking a Geiger counter reading near the peaks? We've got one, don't we?"

  "Well yes, we do, but how do you propose to do that?" Gary answered, looking concerned.

  "Well, couldn't we get close and then surface momentarily, just long enough to stick the counter in the air and see if it beeps?" I asked. "Surely there would still be enough radiation to set it off if they nuked the place."

  "Well it would depend on the weapon used, and the winds, and our distance... But considering the steep angle of high peaks like that, we may be able to get close enough indeed. And we do have a radiation suit as well. Several, in fact. I could put one on and step out on the deck briefly. We could scope out things first at periscope depth, if we can get that shallow," he replied, seriously considering it.

  "Well the mountain range itself may help to keep the currents at a minimum there, so it might be possible," Ben added, sounding interested.

  "Ok, let me get to work on this then," Gary said. "I've got to get some things together and do some testing. Ben, if you want, take us in. I'll be ready long before we get there. 50 miles out I want to know." Then he scurried off and disappeared.

  "Ok so, what do we do if the answer is yes, and we get readings that confirm nukes were used?" I asked Ben.

  "Well if so, then the situation will become that much clearer," he said. "After that we would probably head to the Alps and see if we can find any remaining peaks there."

  The two days to get there seemed like only a moment after all we'd been through. At about 50 miles out, Ben had me go dig up Gary, who had assembled some equipment down below and was finished testing it.

  "We about there?" he asked. "...Cause I'm ready. And I want to find out what in the hell is going on up there." He produced a modern version of a Geiger counter, with a digital display and all kinds of buttons on it.

  "We're about 50 miles out like you asked," I confirmed.

  "Ok, I'll be up there in a minute," he replied, and got back to finalizing his gear. "Please tell Ben to start ascending slowly and then level at 400 feet. I'll take it from there."

  Back on the bridge, we heard the sub's hull creak and groan again as the mighty pressure of the ocean depths slowly yielded to shallower water. Ben and I kept expecting to feel the turbulence again, but this time it was much calmer. No sooner had we reached 400 feet, Gary appeared, dressed in a bizarre suit, motioning for Ben to move.

  "Ok, as soon as I get this to periscope depth, you take back over Ben, and hold her steady right there while I check things out, ok? Zero knots, and keep her pointed in the same direction," Gary asked.

  "No problem," Ben said confidently.

  After a few minutes Gary handed it off to Ben and went for the periscope. He came back a minute later with an unsatisfied look on his face. "Well the surface is clear. No ships or anything, but I could just barely make out the mountain peak in the distance. We've got to get closer. How about taking us to five miles out, Ben? Dive first to 400 feet again please, and resume 10 knots," Gary commanded. And strangely he was starting to sound more like a military man all of a sudden. Now it was a military operation, and he was all business.

  In less than two hours Ben announced we were five miles out, while Gary was attending some other instruments to gauge the water depth.

  "Ok, back to periscope depth, and park it please. Can you handle it?" Gary asked.

  "Yes I think so," Ben replied.

  Within several minutes
I felt the sub stop, and only mild currents appeared to affect the sub's hull.

  Gary came back quickly this time, with a horrified look on his face. "I believe what I see is a burned out mountain top," he said. "It appears black. But let's get closer still," he said. "Take us to one half mile out."

  "Well it should be near white at that elevation, and should have an ice cap on it," Ben immediately retorted in response, while he continued forward.

  In a few minutes, Ben stopped the sub again.

  "Ok, let me have one last look before we surface," Gary said. Then he was back again, and this time he was panting with anguish. "Those bastards," he groaned. "Ben, go look at that and confirm please," he commanded.

  Ben came back a few minutes later with his head down. "Yes, I would have to agree that is completely abnormal in color, and totally barren. It looks to have been destroyed. But let's do what we came to do and confirm it with the meter," he said ominously.

  "Ok, if you insist," Gary responded. "But we have to make this quick." He took control and finished surfacing the sub, then put on his helmet and headed for the upper deck. "Everyone stay here, and hold her steady," he said. "I'll be right back."

  Jan and Terry appeared and while Gary was on top, Ben and I explained to them what we were doing.

  Gary was back in minutes. "I didn't even have to go out," he said. "The second I opened up the hatch, the counter went off, and that's all I needed. We've got to dive, NOW!"

  Ben hurriedly took us to 400 feet again, but Gary insisted we go deeper, fearing nuclear contamination and exposing us to the enemy.

  It was a very sad moment as all of us realized just how really messed up the world really was: Destroyed by catastrophe and then nuked, to add insult to injury.

  "Well we've got some decisions to make now," Gary said quietly. "And none of them are going to be easy."

  Jan and Terry hugged and cried. And I finally had to give in and joined them. It was decided we all get some sleep before we decided anything, and so sleep we did while the sub remained parked at depth.

  Chapter 62: Save Ourselves or Save the World?

  I was finally awoken with a nice cup of coffee, and Jan standing there looking at me with an uneasy stare. She knew what we were about to tackle, and the nasty discussions that would ensue.

  "I don't want any part of it," she began. "I am NOT going to take part in killing millions of people."

  "Well we may not have a choice," I retorted as I yawned and sipped the strong brew. "Thanks for the coffee. Listen... Those bastards are clearly blowing up any mountain tops that are left in enemy territory, and taking no prisoners. You want to die like that, incinerated by scum after all we've been through?" I asked her.

  Jan went silent, and then Terry came in. "Well I guess we'd better go up there," she said hesitantly. "Gary and Ben are already up, and waiting on us."

  Once on the bridge, Ben wasted no time in informing us. "I've been over those readings carefully, and there is no question that the mountain here was nuked as well," he stated. "The nuclear signature appears to be Chinese, but I am no expert at that. As to how they could do this, they probably assessed the situation pretty quickly worldwide from satellite shots, and decided to make a move."

  "Well I AM an expert at that as a weapons officer, and yes, it was Chinese," Gary interjected. "I am sure of it. What I am unsure of is how that particular weapon was used in this case. It appears to have come from northern China, and from nowhere near Beijing. We could be dealing with a rogue military element that has seized power, since Ben seems to think that Beijing itself was destroyed by the water."

  "Oh, I am virtually sure that Beijing is gone, being only a hundred miles or so from the coast," Ben said. "The water surely went way beyond Beijing, past Mongolia, and well up into northern Russia. Exactly how far, I don't know."

  "Yes, which is why I have been reprogramming targets for the past couple of hours, and dropping any targets already destroyed from your projection map," Gary said. "With so many of our targets gone, including Moscow probably, we can bring to bear an incredible amount of force on the remaining targets in northern China and northern Russia. We actually have more weapons than we need at this point. But one thing is becoming clear: We've GOT to stop this madness and soon," Gary concluded.

  "Do we?" Terry countered. "Why is it up to us? We're just barely surviving this ourselves, let alone now trying to save the world??!!"

  "Because if we don't, how long do you think it will be before we are discovered, as we go roaming all over the planet in search of survivors and land?" Gary insisted with a strong tone to his voice. "It's just a matter of time before we are nuked ourselves. Unless we can obtain a unique strategic position and deal a multiple point death blow to these bastards at once, forever silencing them. Or at least for many years to come."

  Curious, I just had to ask: "And so what strategic position is it that you are talking about?"

  "Well it appears from the map projection that there would be such a location now possible to reach with the water, right over what was Kazakhstan, giving us a prime firing position close enough to destroy just about anything either Russia or China has left. And that is so close that by the time they realize what is happening, it will be too late. They might get a missile or two off after they back trace the trajectory to our position, but even then I can set it up so that they appear to have originated from a different point, 200 miles from where they really did. That would give us the time to get away unharmed," Gary concluded.

  "But I remind you that assumes the map projections are correct. They might not be, and that is changing daily as the water recedes," Ben quickly countered.

  "And that is precisely why we have a limited window of opportunity to get there and take the shots before the water recedes any further," Gary retorted. "I propose that we get as close as possible to that location, make brief contact with any satellites I can find for final targeting parameters, and fire. We could also get those images you wanted too, once we know the targets have been destroyed."

  Ben looked stunned. And the rest of us were mesmerized, not even knowing what to say.

  "I can't believe it has come down to this," Jan finally said sadly. "It just makes no sense."

  "We'll sure it does- unless you want to speak Chinese or Russian any time soon," Gary blurted out. "And speaking of satellites... There is also something else we planned for that will need to be done," he continued. "In the event of large scale war, we have the ability to destroy from space virtually any satellite orbiting the planet. And all known enemy satellites were already targeted. What I don't know is if any of our killer satellites survived the disaster- or enemy attacks- since I ceased communication attempts early on. But if I can find one, I highly recommend we issue a kill order just before we launch our missiles."

  Ben again looked stunned. "Boy, you people just had no end to military expenses and weaponry, did you, Gary? I mean we were trillions of dollars in debt, taxes were sky high, and no one could put on the brakes? Runaway madness. That's what it is... Or was..." Ben had a look of triumph with that last "Or was," driving the point home that the insanity was no more.

  Gary sighed, but had no response. He just put his head down looking at the floor in contemplation. In a last ditch effort of attempted justification, he mumbled something about how if it hadn't been for military expense and the sub, that we wouldn't be alive right now. But it was weak, and he gave up. Finally he said "I'm just a guy on a sub doing his job. I don't do politics."

  "Yeah well that's the problem," I immediately interjected. "We never should have left politics up to politicians, and military expenditures up to those who benefitted from them. If we ever get the chance again, we need to change that. It's all our own fault really. We let them get away with it."

  "Well before this turns into a political debate, we really do have to concentrate on what we're doing here," Gary responded. "So do you mind?"

  After some moments of silent stalemate, Ben finally
resumed discussion. "Well I don't know if you noticed, but that box also took the temperature outside when you opened the hatch. 105 degrees Fahrenheit, in mid May this far north? If it's that hot now, imagine what it will be this summer! We've GOT to gain access to satellite data Gary, ASAP. I've got to calculate some things to see what has happened to the earth's orbit around the sun," he iterated.

  "Yes, I know, and we'll do what we can soon," Gary said. "But first we've got to deal with the most immediate threat. I can't help it if a bunch of madmen are going around nuking the remaining mountain tops. I'd say we have no choice but to respond. So unless someone has a better reason not to, can we all agree that destroying this threat is our number one priority right now?" he asked.

  "And so what about collateral damage to innocents?" Jan questioned.

  "It will be off the charts," Gary said sadly. "But considering the circumstances, I don't see any other way. We still have limited weapons and we will need maximum yield on all of them to accomplish the task. And that is going to mean utter and total destruction anywhere within 300 miles of most of these targets. And if after that we still get attacked, then we will have to consider the more powerful weapons I talked about earlier.