by Gary Chesla
Chapter 21
“Captain?” Clawson said. “We are now three miles off the California coast.”
“Very good Petty Officer.” Captain Thomas Bolten replied. “Hold our position here and drop anchor. Let’s not get any closer until we know what is waiting for us on shore.”
“Yes Captain.” Clawson replied.
“XO you will accompany me on the helo.” The Captain said. “Petty Officer McClain, I will be leaving the ship in your capable hands. Mr. Clawson you will also accompany us on the helo.”
“Yes Sir Captain.” McClain replied.
“Captain, do you think it is wise for both of the ships commanding officers to leave the ship at the same time?” The XO asked.
“Normally no I would not.” Tom Bolten replied. “However these are not normal times. Since you and I are the only two pilots available, if something were to happen to me, someone will have to get the Petty Officer back to the ship.”
“I see your point, Sir!” The XO smiled.
“Petty Officer, I don’t think I need to say it, but if you detect anything unusual, notify me immediately.” The Captain said.
“Yes Sir!” McClain responded. “Care to define unusual?”
The Captain smiled. “I guess the definition of unusual has changed greatly over the past few days. Let’s just say any activity that could possibly be a threat to the ship or the away team. If you’re not sure, consider it a threat and report. Understood?”
“Yes Sir!” McClain replied.
“Clawson?” The XO said. “Any activity on radar?”
“No Sir, nothing showing in the air anywhere.” Clawson replied. “Nothing in the water and nothing on the com channels. Best I can tell we are the only source of activity on the coast.”
“Keep all systems active. Track our movements and stay alert for any reaction to the helo as we go feet dry.” The Captain ordered. “Gentlemen!”
The Captain left the control room followed by the XO and Petty Officer Clawson.
They climbed down from the tower and approached the helicopter. The XO and Clawson unhooked the cables that secured the helo to the deck.
The Captain got in and powered up the unit.
The blades were turning smoothly as the other two men joined the Captain inside.
“Buckle up men.” The Captain smiled. “It has been some time since I flew one of these. I can’t guarantee a smooth ride.”
The Captain increased power and the helo lifted off the deck. The chopper reached an altitude of one thousand feet and began moving towards the coast.
McClain sat in the control tower. The moaning of the infected rose in volume with the helo as it rose above the ship.
“It’s creepy as hell around here.” He thought as the feeling of being alone on the carrier with thousands of the infected below deck made him nervous. Of all the things that had happened, he had never felt this way until now. He had never felt alone. Of course he wasn’t alone now, but those keeping him company on the carrier made him feel worse than being alone. Being alone would be better than this.
But with the Captain and the XO he had always felt there was someone that would get him through this. He had faith in the Captain.
Hell, he even enjoyed having Clawson around.
Being alone with the infected was creepy.
He studied the screens in front of him. All was clear. Maybe if he kept himself busy he wouldn’t notice the groaning and the smell.
Well, maybe he wouldn’t notice the groaning.
The life of the away team and his sanity could depend on him staying alert.
He scanned the screens again.
“Approaching the Port in San Diego Sir.” The XO reported.
“Keep alert.” The Captain ordered. “We want to see what is moving down there, but we also want to see if we can locate any survivors.”
The helo moved in over the base. Hundreds of slow moving figures staggered across the base. They all stopped and looked up at the helo as it flew overhead.
The helo circled the base two times. “Observations?” The Captain asked.
“Nothing living, Sir!” Clawson replied.
“Three destroyers and one carrier in port Captain.” The XO replied. “We could get on board to activate one of the ships if needed. Could also be a source for supplies.”
“Good point XO.” The Captain replied. “Let’s go north and check out LA.”
The Captain swung the helo around and flew over the coast line as he headed north.
The scenery below changed, but the activity did not.
The towns and the cities were full of activity. Slow and staggering figures moved around everywhere.
They continued up the coast. They flew over Oceanside, Anaheim and were approaching LA. The scene below was the same. Thousands of the infected roamed about aimlessly.
They thought the towns and smaller cities were bad. When they flew over LA they could feel what hope they had for the country fading.
“There has to be millions of them down there.” Clawson said.
“No one could survive in that.” The XO added. “There might be a few people that managed to barricade themselves up in some of those sky scrappers, but there wouldn’t be any way to get in to find out let alone save them.”
“They would be running out of food about now also.” The Captain added. “If they aren’t already dead they will be soon.”
“Any ideas, Captain?” The XO asked. “How would anyone down there survive this?”
“The only way I think would be if they went underground or up into the mountains. The infected in the ship below deck couldn’t climb to the upper decks. We survived because the infected couldn’t climb up into the tower. The mountains would be my first choice. I don’t know what mines, tunnels or subway systems would be in the area, but I don’t think anyone who went there would have survived long. All it would take was one infected person and they would fall fast. They would be trapped. It would be like what happened below deck on the ship. One infected would set it off and by the time they realized what was happening, it would be too out of control to stop it.” The Captain said. “I think we will need to look in the mountains to find anyone that would have a chance of still being alive.”
The Captain turned the helo and they started to go south.
The XO looked at the fuel gauge. “We will have to return to the ship soon.”
“I see that too.” The Captain said. “I think if we go inland and fly down the San Andreas on our way back to San Diego we should have enough fuel. We can search a different mountain range each day for the next few days.”
“Plan B, Captain?” The XO added.
“Plan B we will go north and check out the area around some of our bases in that direction. If there are any survivors it will be around our bases.” The Captain replied. “The cities are obviously hopeless. No use wasting fuel searching the cities.”
“It wouldn’t be good if we had to set the helo down in any of the cities.” Clawson said.
“No it wouldn’t.” The Captain replied.
They flew south in silence.
As they began to fly over the San Andreas activity began to get sparse.
“Not too bad below now. Not like the more populated areas.” Clawson observed.
“The only infected in these hills would have been people that already lived there. The infected from the cities wouldn’t be able to come up here.” The Captain said.
“If there are any survivors, they should be easier to spot here.” The XO added.
“But like everywhere else, if someone carried in the virus, they wouldn’t last any longer than the people in the cities.” The Captain said. “But if some of our boys managed to escape the cities and get into the mountains they might have had a chance to hold out a little longer.”
The Captain circled over a long ridge below. He looked down at the fuel gauge. “With the intel we got today, maybe we will have more luck tomorrow. Time to go home.”
The helo made a large circle and began to head southwest towards San Diego and the ship.
As the ship banked right a flare rose into the sky to the south.
“Captain, a flare!” Clawson called out.
“I see it Petty Officer.” The Captain said. “I’m going to circle wide to scan the area before we go in closer. XO, contact McClain and confirm nothing else is reacting to the helo and to be sure the ship is still secure.”
“McClain, this is helo one. Please report status.” The XO said into the mic.
“No Change.” McClain reported.
“We have picked up a flare and are going to go in closer for a look.” The XO said. “Any activity around our area? You detect any electronic activity come alive in response to our presence?”
“Negative Sir.” McClain responded. “No electronic activity anywhere on the board. I will monitor and alert you should any systems come alive.”
“Stay alert McClain. Helo one out.” The XO signed off. “Nothing active tracking us. We could still be tracked by passive systems.”
“Understood XO.” The Captain replied. “If all our active systems are negative, go silent. Shut down all active radar. Tell McClain to watch our six and report any sign that someone is attempting to track or target us.”
“McClain. Helo one going silent. All active monitoring now in your hands. Helo one out.” The XO said.
“Eyes on.” McClain confirmed.
The Captain circled the helo as another flare rose up into the sky.
The Captain began to tighten the circle around the area where the flare had come from.
As they got closer, a small group of men could be seen waving up at the helo on a small ridge below.
As the Captain moved closer Clawson yelled. “It looks like Marine uniforms.”
“Side arms gentlemen. Stay alert. I’m going in for a closer look. If it looks like it is some of our boys, I’m going in.” The Captain said. “Just because it’s our boys doesn’t mean it is safe. Who knows what they have been through?”
“Understood Sir!” The XO replied as he pulled his pistol from its holster.
The helo circled closer. They could soon make out the faces on the men below. All the men seemed to have large smiles on their faces.
“Anyone see anything that could indicate a potential threat?” Captain Bolten asked.
After looking at Clawson the XO responded. “Negative Sir. Just what appears to be a lot of happy faces.”
“I’m going to set us down fifty feet to the west. Until verified assume nothing.” The Captain ordered.
The helo slowly descended and touched down on a level spot west of the men. They could see one of the men signaling the rest of the group to stay in their positions. The man then turned and approached the helo.
The Captain kept the helo running at a high idle, ready to take flight at any sign of danger.
As the Marine ducked his head and ran to the side of the helicopter the Captain spoke. “XO, greet our contact and give me your assessment.”
“Yes Sir!” The XO replied and slid open the side door on the helo and waved the man over to the door.
The man ran over to the open door and looked inside. When he saw the Captain’s and the XO’s bars, he stood at attention and saluted. He yelled to be heard over the sound of the rotors. “Sir! Lieutenant Josh Daniels, U.S. Marines fourth division, San Diego.”
The XO returned the Salute. “Helo one USS Ronald Regan!”
The Lieutenant smiled. “You are a sight for sore eyes Sir.”
“What is your situation Lieutenant? Where is the rest of your division?” The XO shouted.
“This is it Sir! We are all that is left, ten men and myself. All our positions were overrun. I took all the men that were left and retreated here to the mountains to regroup and wait for further orders. That was a week ago.” The Lieutenant replied.
“What’s the condition of your men?” The XO asked.
“Other than being a little confused and wondering what the hell happened, the men are all fine and in good spirits. Our MREs are holding out, we’ve been boiling water from a small lake a few clicks north of here. Each man is down to two clips of ammo. We are just waiting for someone to tell us what is going on Sir.” The Lieutenant answered.
“Wait here Lieutenant.” The XO said then moved over to speak with the Captain.
“They are Marines, Sir!” The XO smiled. “They appear to be as hardheaded and stubborn as you would expect.”
The Captain smiled. “I agree.”
The Captain turned and signaled the Lieutenant to come inside.
“Captain Thomas Bolten, Lieutenant.” The Captain said. “As you have probably determined, all command structure is gone.”
“Yes Sir!” The Lieutenant replied. “What happened? What is left?”
“Not much. Maybe nothing at all is left. I’m trying to locate survivors and take them back to the Ronald Regan. Unless you have orders to the contrary, I request you return to the carrier and join my command. I am not sure the military or even the country even exists any longer.” The Captain said.
“Until I can confirm that my worst fears are indeed true, I am not going to order you to return with me at this time, but you are welcome to come. If you and your men agree to return with me, you will be under my command until further notice. I intent to carry out the business of the U.S. Navy until conditions dictate otherwise. If you would like to talk to your men, I’m getting low on fuel and plan on leaving in the next few minutes.”
“I think I can speak for my men. We are soldiers Sir, not mountain goats.” The Lieutenant smiled. “We would like the opportunity to find who did this and kick their ass!”
“The people that did this are already dead, but I’m sure I can find someone else that needs their ass kicked.” The Captain smiled. “I can take six of your men now. I will have to refuel and return for the rest in an hour or so. Also Lieutenant, before anyone gets on this helo, he must be examined to verify they have not been bitten or infected.”
“No problem Sir. If it is OK with you, I will send six of my men to go with you now.” The Lieutenant replied. “I will wait with the rest for you to return.”
“Very good Lieutenant. Get six men over here now. The XO will inspect each man before they board, so have them remove their shirts and roll up their pants. I have to be in the air in the next three minutes. Move it Lieutenant!” The Captain said.
The Lieutenant saluted and ran over to his men.
He must have asked for volunteers to stay with him until the second trip as all of the men held up their hands.
The Lieutenant pointed at six men, gave them their orders and they began to run towards the helicopter, pulling off their shirts as they ran.
The XO jumped out and stood outside the door. He quickly examined each man’s eyes then looked them over quickly before ushering them inside.
After examining the last man, he jumped inside and slid the door closed.
The space inside was cramped, but no one complained as the helo slowly climbed into the air.
The men were excited to be finally getting off that mountain and back into action. Their main concern was if they would be able to get more ammo. They were low on ammo and in order to conserve what they had left, they had been reduced to throwing large rocks at the few infected they had come across in the hills.
All conversation stopped as the men looked down at San Diego as they flew overhead. Their low altitude gave them all a new look with a different prospective at what they had only seen at street level before. The view of the larger picture was over powering. Seeing the huge naval base below with thousands of staggering figures dressed in uniforms roaming the base was humbling.
To see them all stop and look up at the helo, with their arms reaching into the sky made their skin crawl.
“McClain. This is helo one. We are approaching with six survivors. Please report.” The Captain said.
“Clear for la
nding Captain. No activity to report.” McClain answered.
“Very well. Helo one out.” The Captain replied.
The chopper flew out over the water and approached the carrier. The Captain set them down on the deck near the tower.
“Sergeant.” The Captain said to one of the Marines. “Would you have two of your men help Petty Officer Clawson refuel the helo so I can go back out to pick up the rest of your men?”
“Yes Sir!” The man saluted. “Sir, how did you know I was a Sergeant? We removed all of our insignias when the fighting got heavy.”
The Captain smiled. “I’ve been in the military for twenty-five years. You could be wearing shorts and a t-shirt. I know a Sargent when I see one.”
“Yes Sir!” The man smiled as he saluted.
When the helo had been refueled, the Captain gathered all the men together. “Clawson would you show these men where they can get something to eat?”
“Yes Sir!” Clawson replied.
“And be sure to show them what areas are safe to move around in and where they shouldn’t go.” The Captain added. “When I return with the rest of the unit I will brief you men and bring you up to speed on our situation. Until then get something to eat and Petty Officer Clawson will assign you a place in the tower. For now we are residing in the tower for safety reasons. Any questions see the Petty Officer until I return.”
‘Yes Sir!” The Marines answered in unison.
The XO followed the Captain back to the helo.
The Captain powered up and picked up the mic. “McClain. We are heading back for the rest of the unit. I intend to run silent. You will continue to monitor for anything we need to know.”
“Yes Sir!” McClain replied.
The helicopter lifted off and made its way back to the position of the waiting men.