“They’re frozen,” Bergeron said the amazement in his voice apparent.
“What?” Morrison said.
“Look,” Bergeron said, pointing to the ground and the ice that coated it. He moved his hand up, pointing to the ice that coated all the infected from head to toe. He then looked up at the roof of the apartment complex. He could make out the ice trails from where water had frozen from some container that had been used to spill it on the infected.
“Ingenious,” he said. A native to Idaho, he knew that once winter hit, cold weather came down through Canada and across Montana, dropping temperatures all over the state. The last few weeks, he had been sure that the nighttime temps had been well below freezing. It was doubtful that the daytime temps would be above freezing even with the sun out. Soaking the infected with water and then waiting was something that he had never considered. Probably because they had to forage for water each day. He walked around the multitude and looked at them. Each was coated in ice and frozen to the street. Approaching one that was close to the gate, he pushed it hard. There was a cracking sound as the body broke off at the ankles and fell over against the one next to it. Looking down at the white of bone, the ragged clothing and desiccated flesh made him almost vomit.
“Why hasn’t anyone noticed we’re here?” Morrison asked. The last time they visited, the inhabitants of the complex knew they were here.
“I don’t know,” Bergeron said before a rumble of a large engine broke the silence of the morning.
He looked over at Morrison who was moving to a car across the street when a large city garbage truck rumbled into view. It stopped at the end of the block, lowered the forward collection bin and then began moving along the street. Bergeron hurried over to Morrison as the truck drew closer. They watched as it started scooping frozen infected into the bin like mannequins. The truck made one pass then stopped at the end of the block. The bin moved up and over the cab then deposited its load into the rear compactor. As the bin made its journey to the ready position, the driver slowly backed up and turned around. Once realigned with the street, the bin now back in front, the truck moved forward again scooping infected up and depositing them into the rear. Morrison caught a glimpse of the driver who appeared to be enjoying his work. In fact, the driver’s head was moving back and forth to the music being played through the earbuds he wore.
The two teenagers were amazed at how efficiently the cleanup of frozen infected went. After three passes, there were no more on the street and the truck trundled off out of sight. They exchanged a look then shook their heads before they returned their attention to the apartment complex across the street. The wait was short as the gates opened and Driscoll stepped out wearing a bathrobe and slippers over his thick, gray, wool socks. He took a deep breath, held it, and let it out as he looked up and down the street before he looked over to where two visitors were watching him.
“You gonna stay over there all morning or you gonna get your ass inside?” he called out.
Morrison and Bergeron exchanged a look then stood up and walked over. They could smell breakfast cooking as they entered and both their stomachs rumbled loudly.
“Sounds like you boys could use something to eat,” Driscoll said as he closed the gates. The courtyard had changed since the last visit. Now, dominating the center was a large greenhouse that even through the thick fog inside, Morrison could tell there were a lot of plants. The smell of cooking food made him turn and look at the clubhouse.
“I see you found the kitchen,” Driscoll said. “You two could use some food.” He had felt how thin they were when he had put his hands on their back to guide them inside. “You head on in there and tell Cheryl to give you two helpings. You tell her I said it was all right.”
Morrison and Bergeron exchanged looks then almost ran into the clubhouse. Driscoll watched them go, then his expression changed to one of sadness before he turned away and walked to his apartment. They had no idea what was about to happen. Driscoll checked his watch. There was enough time left to have a satisfying meal.
***
Chapter 58
Private Island somewhere in the Florida Keys
“Sir?” the guard at the doorway to the room said as he put his head in. Guard was a generic term. The man looked like he could wage a battle with just what he was wearing. He had admitted he was part of the government, or that’s what he said to the man currently occupying the room.
“Sir?” the guard said again. “Your presence is requested in the main house.”
Frowning and closing the book he was reading, the sole occupant in the room placed the book on the table next to his chair and followed the guard to the main house. He looked around at the island they were on. It wasn’t large, yet it was professionally landscaped. In fact, a two-man team of gardeners were working a few yards away with the sun starting to set behind them. The image was ruined on closer inspection as the high walls around the interior of the island reflected the sun’s fading rays. The main house, looking like something out of the antebellum era, was only a facade that hid the armored walls, equally armored metal louver shutters, and stout doors that contained a titanium core.
Ascending the steps to the foyer, they were greeted by more armed guards, just as well equipped and armed as the single guard who had been sent to fetch him. The doors opened ahead of them and they were escorted inside the Grand Hall. At one time, prior to its latest incarnation, this building had served as a reception area for weddings, reunions, and corporate retreats. The latter becoming more popular as the cost for supplying the island grew more and more prohibitive. Looking back as the large doors closed, the man took note that his guards, he had been told that they had only been there for his protection, did not follow him inside. Ahead, the doors to the dining room opened and a liveried butler, white gloves and all, stepped aside, motioning him to enter.
Inside, already seated at one end of the large table, the man who claimed to be only there to monitor what went on and oversee the large guard force, beckoned for him to be seated. There was another person at the table as well, partially hidden behind a PC Gamer magazine that was months old. The reader put the periodical down and looked up. A smile crossed his features as he pulled out the earbuds he was listening to and popped the top of a Mountain Dew.
“Hey, old dude. Glad to see you could make it,” Bill Johnson said before taking a large drink of the carbonated soda and belching.
Doctor Robert Foster pulled the chair back from the table and sat down. A waiter came over and unfurled his napkin with a flourish and set it on his lap.
“Now, Doctor, let’s have dinner and I’ll tell you all about what’s happening in the world,” the man at the head of the table said as he reached for his wine glass, nodded and tipped his glass in a mock toast to Foster and took a sip.
***
End of Book 5
***
As you know from reading this book, and hopefully, the series, there are a lot of terms and abbreviations used within that can be confusing. The initial idea was to add in these items as footnotes but for epub versions those take the reader out of the story and be quite a nuisance. The other idea was to insert the definition/meaning of those terms and abbreviations within the section that they occur. That may work for some of the shorter terms but there are some definitions that are quite lengthy and would also take the reader out of the flow of the story.
It was finally decided to add a glossary at the end of the epub books that contained a comprehensive list of all the definitions for the terms and abbreviations used within the entire series.
Glossary of Terms and Abbreviations
201: The military numerical designation for an individual’s personal file that details everything they have done while in the military.
1114: Numerical designation for the 1114 Armored HMMWV (Hummer).
ABU: Airman Battle Uniform. The US Air Force ground combat uniform.
AC-130 SPECTRE: A conversion of the C-130 Hercules cargo a
ircraft that is equipped with a 105mm Howitzer cannon (the largest operational gun ever placed in an aircraft), a 40 mm BOFORS automatic cannon, and 25 mm Gatling guns. The aircraft has been nicknamed “Spooky”. The airborne gunship concept has been in use since the Vietnam War era. The most recent upgraded version is equipped with a television sensor, infrared sensor, and radar. These sensors allow the gunship to visually or electronically identify friendly ground forces and targets in most weather conditions and can even detect spark plugs firing in vehicles. The gunship squadrons are part of the Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), a component of United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM). See SOCOM.
ACE: Ammunition, Casualties, Equipment. An ACE report is similar to a SITREP (Situation Report) as it lets command know the combat status, i.e., readiness of a unit after contact with a hostile force, what their remaining ammunition level is, status of equipment, and any casualties that unit may have sustained. See SITREP.
ACH: Army Combat Helmet. Replaced the Kevlar ‘K-pot’ or “Fritz’ Helmet.
ACU: Army Combat Uniform. The successor to the BDU and Army Desert Pattern BDU (DCU). Features design changes and a new camouflage pattern known as Universal Camouflage Pattern (UCP). A blending of tan, green, and gray allegedly to work better in more environments. Similar to MARPAT: the USMC digital pattern camouflage. Eliminating the color black, as it is not found in nature. Some design changes include more Velcro, a Mandarin style collar for a more comfortable fit while wearing body armor, and more breathable fabrics. Slant chest pockets were reintroduced from the older 1960-1970s style OD green ‘fatigues’ as well as the addition of elbow and knee pockets to facilitate pads. See BDU, MARPAT.
AEGIS: Advanced Electronic Guidance Information System. An integrated missile guidance system in use since 1987. Integrates single ship and ship-to-ship networking, and is able to perform search, tracking, and missile guidance functions simultaneously with a track capacity of over 100 targets at more than 100 nautical miles. This interface makes the Aegis combat system capable of simultaneous operation against a multi-mission threat. In use by other countries as well as the US navy. See CIC.
AIT: Advanced Individual Training.
AMA: American Medical Association.
Alpha Mike Foxtrot (AMF): A term that dates back to the Vietnam War. Originally used as a joke or a way of signing off a radio transmission. Has since been adopted as a way of signing off when the unit/individual is imminently being over run by hostile forces and there is no support or extraction available. Adios Mother F**ker.
AR-15: The civilian, semiautomatic only version of the M-16. Originally designed as a civilian sporter rifle by Eugene Stoner; creator of the Stoner Weapons System. The AR comes from the manufacturer, ArmaLite which sold the rights to Colt in 1959. Colt marketed the rifle to the US military which adapted the automatic/semiautomatic version into what became the M16A1 in 1963 and was the standard infantry weapon for the US Military by 1969. Other manufacturers continue to sell the semiautomatic only version as the AR-15 to civilians and law enforcement agencies. See M-16.
ASP: Ammunition Supply Point. A remote yet highly secure location on a military installation where ammunition, artillery shells, mortar rounds, grenades, and other items that go boom are stored in concrete ‘igloos.’
BDU: Battle Dress Utilities. Phased out in 2008 for the ACU. This style was first introduced in the woodland pattern, then a first generation desert pattern, and finally in a three pattern desert version (DCU) which is still in use but being phased out within the US Army for the ACU pattern. Some SPECOPS (see SPECOPS) units still prefer the woodland pattern BDU over the newer ACU while others are using Multi-Cam. See ACU, SPECOPS.
BENELLI M90: A tactical 12 gauge shotgun sold by Benelli, an Italian manufacturer.
BLPS: Ballistic/Laser Protective Spectacles. Eye armor that look like Gargoyle brand sunglasses.
BRAC: Base Realignment and Closure. The program that combined some military bases that neighbored each other into joint bases like Joint Base Lewis/McChord and closed others that were too expensive to remain open or were deemed redundant.
BUD/S: Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL. The beginning step to become a Navy SEAL. The course runs 25 weeks or approximately six months to complete not counting pre-BUD/S, INDOC or any time allotted for ‘rollbacks’ due to injuries or too small a class size. See INDOC, SEAL.
BZO: Battle Sight Zero. This is a basic form of calibration that soldiers will do so that their rifle is accurate up to 300 yards.
C3I: Command, Control, Communication, Intelligence
CBIRT: Chemical, Biological, Incident Response Team.
CDC: Centers for Disease Control. The federal agency that is responsible for monitoring diseases and pandemics.
CIC: Combat Information Center. The brains and fire control of most naval vessels. See AEGIS.
CINCPAC: Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet, (pronounced as ‘sink’). Example would be ‘sink-pac.’ The position of CINPAC (Commander in Chief, Pacific), CINCEUR (Commander in Chief, Europe) ‘sink- your’, CINCALT (Commander in Chief, Atlantic) ‘sink-alt’. COMSUBPAC (Commander, Submarine forces, Pacific), COMSUBALT (Commander, Submarine forces, Atlantic), COMSUBEUR (Commander, Submarine forces, Europe), are all held by admirals or generals obviously depending on the branch of service.
CIWS: Close In Weapons System. This looks like a white, round top garbage can on naval vessels. It is a radar guided 20mm Gatling gun that fires depleted uranium shells. It was designed as a last resort weapon to destroy incoming missiles and other hostile flying objects. Normally, CIWS does not have an IFF (identify Friend Foe) setting so friendly aircraft are sent out of the immediate airspace. See AEGIS.
Claymore: M18A1 Claymore Antipersonnel mine contains 700 steel ball bearings fired in a 60-degree arc from a 1.5lb charge of high explosives. Small, man portable, and can be fired remotely with a pocket-sized, hand squeeze type device (a ‘clacker’), a tripwire, or other means. Has raised writing in the front that states ‘Front towards Enemy’ and is rumored to have had ‘Do Not Eat’ on the back.
Cluster Munitions: Air or ground launched weapons that distribute smaller bomblets, or submunitions. These can be anti-personnel, anti-armor, anti-vehicle, aircraft runway crater charges, anti-infrastructure, or mine laying payloads. They are called “firecracker” or “popcorn” bombs due to the large number of mini-explosions that occur after deployment. They are controversial due to the large areas that can be covered that may lead to non-combatant casualties and the large number unexploded ordnance (UXO) or “duds” that can lead to casualties decades after combat operations have ceased. Recently, submunition-based weapons have been designed that deploy so-called smart submunitions. These use heat and visual sensors to locate and attack particular targets, usually armored vehicles, and are exempt from recent international attempts to ban the weapons.
CO: Commanding Officer.
COB: Chief of the Boat. Normally, a senior petty officer, a chief petty officer, or a senior chief petty officer.
COG: Continuity of Government. A program to preserve government operations and viability after a major crisis such as a nuclear war or devastating natural disaster. There are also COGCON or COG Conditions similar to DEFCON where certain protocols are enacted based on the severity of the event. See COGCON, DEFCON.
COGCON: Continuity of Government Condition. This term is usually followed by a number that indicates the level of severity of a threat to the US government. Examples of this are COGCON 1, COGCON 2, etc. COGCON 1 means a severe situation where as many members in the line of succession to POTUS are moved to safe locations within a 300 mile radius of Washington D.C. See DEFCON, POTUS.
CONN: Conning Tower. The upright structure on a submarine hull. Older submarines were commanded from this structure. Sometimes referred to as the sail.
CSH: Combat Surgical Hospital. Pronounced as CASH. Replaced the MASH units that were in use from 1945 to 2006. Essentially, this replaces the tents wit
h modular prefab structures to create a ‘hard shell’ hospital in the field. Think of it as a relatively mobile trauma center that emphasizes evacuation of seriously injured by air.
CUCV: Commercial Utility Cargo Vehicle. Pronounced ‘Cut-Vee’. Military designation for the M1009 and other variations, usually patterned after full-size civilian Sport Utility Vehicles, (SUVs) and pickups depending on the numerical designation.
DAGBY: Dumb Ass Gun Bunny. Slang term for artillery personnel. Sometimes complimentary, sometimes not.
DARPA: Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. An agency that is part of the US Department of Defense (DoD) that is responsible for the development of new technology for use by the military. They are tasked with keeping the US Military’s technology more advanced than a potential enemy’s.
DEFCON: Defense Condition. Normally followed by a number. Examples: DEFCON 2, DEFCON 3 etc. DEFCON 4 is peacetime, DEFCON 1 is war.
DFAC: Dining Facility. A term now in use to describe what used to be referred to as the Mess Hall in the US Army. However, the Navy and Marines still refer to their eating areas as the galley.
DGSE: Directorate General for External Security. France’s external intelligence agency similar to the US CIA but operates under the French Ministry of Defense.
Up From the Depths Page 26