by Michael Bray
"I know something about these people, the ones who are doing this. I... I've seen them before."
Branning tore his eyes away from the television screen and gave Akhtar his full attention.
"Tell me everything," He said.
Akhtar took a second to compose his thoughts, and then right there in the gloom of the underground pumping station, told Branning all about what happened at the roadblock.
CHAPTER NINETEEN
VASHI BRIDGE
MUMBAI
INDIA
THE TRUCK SPLUTTERED TO a halt halfway across the Vashi Bridge just outside of Mandala. Suvari had been hoping to get across to mainland Navi Mumbai, and from there out into the dense jungle where they might be able to hide and protect the children from whoever was attacking the city. During the drive, she had seen the devastation and panic and had managed to piece enough together from the radio to know there was a major situation happening with similar attacks all over the world. She sat for a moment, listening to the engine tick as it cooled. The bridge looked incredibly long from where she was. More than that, it was incredibly exposed. The six lanes of the bridge were jammed with traffic as people tried to flee the fire-ravaged city. As she sat, another dull explosion rolled across the water. She had become so accustomed to the noise that she didn’t even look back at the fire-ravaged city. Across the bridge, partially shrouded in smog was the industrial suburb of Turbhe, its chimneys spewing acrid smoke into the air. She supposed that there at least might be a place to find shelter and perhaps find more transportation before moving on to the forest area beyond where she would set up some kind of camp where thy could stay in relative safety away from the populated areas of the city. She climbed out of the truck, the acrid air burning her throat as she walked to the back and looked at the frightened children inside.
"Come on, we have to walk," She said.
They didn’t move and only stared at her in fear.
"We have to hurry, it will be dark soon."
Still they stared and in a way, she didn’t blame them. They were probably as confused as she was. She tried to put herself back to the time when she was living on the streets, at the sheer simplicity and endless struggle of life. They simply didn’t understand.
"If we don’t go, the bad men will come," She said.
Half a dozen pairs of eyes looked at her from the gloom, and then one by one, they climbed out of the truck.
"Come on, this way," The children followed as she led them towards the maze-like industrial area, hoping she could find somewhere safe for them to hide. As they crossed the bridge, more explosions rocked the city, and as night fell, the sky above Mumbai was alive with the red-orange glow of hundreds of fires as the city was ravaged by its attackers.
CHAPTER TWENTY
HARMONY PLACE TRAILER PARK
WEST VIRGINIA
USA
DRAVEN HAD REMOVED GENARO’S notes from Herman's wall and spread them out across the table. He was working through them, trying as best he could to get a better understanding of Project Apex. Kate paced the room, looking out of the window as two military jets raced overhead, the sounds of the engines as they shrieked towards the capital deafening.
"Anything useful?" She said, turning towards Draven.
"Plenty, it's just a case of trying to sift through it now and figuring out what we need to do. The research was much further advanced than I ever expected."
"No pressure but we need something soon. As it is, I'm struggling to get through to Homeland. Things seem to be escalating in ways we never anticipated."
"That can't be good."
"What do you mean?"
"Well," Draven said with a thin smile "If the people who are supposed to be protecting the country stop answering the phone, you know we have big problems."
"Hey, you two might wanna come see this," Herman said.
He was sitting cross-legged on the floor watching the news.
"What is it?" Kate said as she stood behind Herman.
"Looks like your secret is about to break free. The President is about to address the nation."
Draven abandoned the mountain of notes and joined Kate and Herman in front of the television. On the screen was the familiar blue backdrop behind a podium bearing the presidential crest.
"I can’t wait for this," Herman said, eyes wide with excitement.
"This isn't some TV drama." Kate snapped.
"Look, don't get me wrong, I’m as distressed as anyone about what's happening here, but I've listened to your government lie and cover up what's really going on for years. Hell, it even went on before I was born. Remember Roswell? Weather balloon my ass."
"Shh, it's starting," Draven said.
Herman turned away from Kate and turned up the volume on the TV as the President entered the frame. He approached the podium and looked into the camera.
"He looks like hell," Draven said.
"Burden of all those lies, man," Herman replied. "Bound to get to you sooner or later."
"Shhh."
Herman looked at Kate, thought about carrying on then turned back to the television just as the president started to speak.
"I speak to you now, citizens of this great country at a time of crisis." President Fitzgerald said, his gaze unwavering as he looked straight down the camera. "As you have seen via reports from the multitude of news agencies across the world, we are under attack. And when I say we, I don’t just mean here in the United States of America. I refer also to our international neighbours, countries whose citizens also face this new threat, this coordinated attack from a group who so far remain anonymous."
The President paused, and referred to his notes in front of him on the podium before going on.
"Make no mistake. Our military forces and those of our neighbours will engage this threat with extreme prejudice, and consider all acts of aggression perpetrated by this new group as terrorism of the highest order. In an unprecedented move, we have decided to unite as one and share information in order to combat this devastating new enemy."
The President remained calm as he referred to his notes, knowing the next passage was the one which would potentially cause chaos. With a show of outward calm which betrayed his true feelings, he went on.
"You will notice I used the word devastating, a word which I wouldn’t use unless there was a specific need to do so. This is one of those times. After consulting with my fellow world leaders and analysing intelligence data, we have reason to believe that our attackers, this as yet unknown group, are infected with a highly potent, highly contagious virus, a virus which if allowed to spread could conceivably lead to the extinction of mankind on a global scale."
He paused, letting the words sink in, knowing that already people would be panicking, others barricading themselves inside their homes or trying to get to relatives.
"At this time, I urge you to remain calm. Plans are in place to control this situation and eliminate this new threat as quickly and efficiently as possible. It is because of such unique circumstances that after deliberating with my cabinet, I have decided to invoke a nationwide state of martial law."
"Jesus," Draven muttered as he stared at the television screen.
"Furthermore, there will be an eight p.m. curfew until further notice. Troops will be patrolling the streets and looking to engage our attackers in small arms combat. You are urged to stay in your homes. Keep doors locked and ensure you are protected. Anyone caught looting, anyone seeing this situation as an excuse to break the law, will be punished. Food banks will be in operation in designated safe zones just as soon as our forces have secured the various communities within our nation. Remember, this is a pre-emptive motion to ensure the security of not just our country, but our world. Many of you will not be affected by this. Those who are will be protected by the brave men and women of the United States military. Forces will initially be located in the following cities."
As the President reeled off the list of cities, Vice President Carter stood
at the side of the stage with Chief of Staff Morrison. Carter leaned closer to the chief of staff, wrinkling his nose at the older man’s overpowering aftershave.
"This is a mistake," Carter whispered. "All this will do is cause chaos on the streets and make the job even harder."
"It was going to happen eventually," Morrison said. "The public are already getting twitchy. Maybe this is the right call."
"Come on," Carter said with a grin. "You and I both know the old man has lost it. This is just the latest in a long line of bad calls."
Morrison turned to face the vice president. "You should be careful saying things like that. If the President ever found out-"
"Come on Eamon, forget protocol for a second. Man to man, off the record. Do you think we should have gone for a more aggressive strategy?"
Morrison chewed his bottom lip and fidgeted. "Maybe it might have been better to stamp this out before it got out of hand."
"Exactly," Carter said, flicking his eyes to the president as he went on addressing the nation. "I grew up on a farm in Kansas, and my father used to always keep dozens of rat traps in the barn. I mean, he had tons of the things. I always wondered why he had so many. I remember asking him about it one day. He told me he would rather kill the rats before they can breed otherwise they would infest the entire farm."
"What are you saying?" Morrison asked.
"I’m saying even though I’m sure the president thinks he's doing the right thing, all the time wasted on this small arms street-level warfare is giving the rats time to breed. If we're not careful, pretty soon we won’t have enough traps to stop them."
Morrison hesitated, choosing his words carefully. "Even if I agreed with you - which for the record, I don’t necessarily, - but just say I did. What would you suggest we do? He's the commander in chief. He makes the decisions."
"This isn’t about decisions or about who gets to sit in the oval office. This is about the survival of our species. The problem is, as admirable as it is, the president wants to resolve this without any casualties. As much as we all want that, it's unrealistic. My worry is if these people are as contagious as we suspect, then soon enough we won’t have the ability to stop them." Carter smiled as he clapped Morrison on the shoulder. "Now I don’t know about you, but to me, a few hundred dead civilians is an acceptable loss if it means wiping these freaks out and restoring order."
Morrison frowned, and Carter had to force himself not to smile. He had seen that look before. It was a look of a man who was rethinking his opinion.
"Even so, it doesn’t change the fact that we have no power here. We're duty bound."
"Oh, I wouldn’t dream of doing anything to jeopardise that. All I’m saying is that in circumstances as extreme as this, it might pay to be prepared."
"What did you have in mind?" Morrison asked.
"I’m about to take a chopper out to the Pentagon to meet with General Shaw. Like me, he's a man who is aware of the huge potential risk of allowing this situation to get out of hand. I want to make sure that if and when the President changes his mind and decides more decisive action is needed, we have it ready to go. Call it a contingency plan."
"Won’t the President need you here?"
Carter snorted and stifled a smile. "He doesn’t need me or my opinions. Whatever happens from here on in, he'll be making up his own mind about what’s best for the country. My job as vice president is to be there with an alternative plan if he fails."
"Look, Paul, I understand what you're trying to do here, I really do, but don’t you think you should be cautious? You don’t want to be seen as undermining the president."
"Of course not," Carter agreed. "As I said, it's just a contingency plan. God knows, it pays to be prepared."
"Fair enough, I’m not entirely sure why you're telling me anyway."
Carter pulled his wallet out of his pocket and opened it up, showing Morrison the photograph in the plastic sleeve. "My wife and our two kids, Amy and Aaron. I spoke to her this morning and she's scared. She's relying on me to keep them safe. Do you have kids? A wife?"
"I have a partner, yes. His name is David." Morrison said, holding Carters gaze to see how he would react. Somehow hiding his surprise, Carter went on.
"Exactly. Don’t you think David would want you to do what’s right to make this country safe? To make him safe?"
"He doesn’t know much about this, or, at least, I don’t think so. He's on business in New York. I get the point, though."
"All I’m saying is that when it comes to my family, I trust my own instinct when it comes to protecting them, no matter who has the title of commander in chief. As a human being, it's my right to do whatever it takes to protect my family. As I’m sure you would want to do too. Do you see what I’m saying Eamon?"
"I do, I get it," Morrison said with a sigh. "I don’t think I can do anything about it, though. Maybe it would have been better if I didn’t know how you felt about it."
"As chief of staff, you have a right to know. I’m just making sure people - good people like you and David and everyone else who works here - are aware that I tried to fight for an alternative plan of action prior to the President making his decision."
Morrison nodded. Carter let him think. He could see the chief of staff processing the information. A quote from the Greek poet Aeschylus came to mind.
From a small seed, a mighty trunk may grow.
Under the circumstances, it was quite apt, especially as this seed, the seed of doubt, had been planted well.
"Anyway, I have to go," Carter said with a sigh. "I’m due to meet with Shaw in an hour. Keep me informed of any developments would you?"
"Of course. I'll keep you in the loop." Morrison muttered, still watering and waiting for said seed to blossom.
"Thanks, I appreciate it," Carter said as he took a last look at the president then left the conference room, hoping against hope General Shaw was more inclined to see that the lack of decisive action by the commander in chief could have disastrous repercussions.
Back in Herman’s trailer, the trio watched as a tired-looking President Fitzgerald finished his address and walked out of camera shot.
"This is crazy," Draven said.
"Something must have happened. Things were fairly calm when I came out to find you." Kate replied.
"It’s the contagion." Herman cut in. "My guess is they never figured how easy it was to spread this shit around. Now good old Mr. President is shittin' bricks and looking to resolve this quick so he can stay ahead in the opinion polls."
"Not everything has an ulterior motive you know." Kate snapped.
"For the record I agree with him, or at least, I agree the contagious nature of this being way higher than anticipated has caused panic. Remember, Fitzgerald has only ever known peacetime since he's been in office. This is his first crisis."
"See? He gets it." Herman said. "You should think like a human for once instead of a government stooge."
"Yeah? Well, maybe since I’m such a government stooge, I might have to report you for stealing sensitive government data." She said, glancing towards the reams of paper spread out across the table.
"Hey, that's not fair, I’m trying to help you."
"Please, can everyone just calm down," Draven snapped. "We don’t have time to bicker. We need to decide what to do."
"You heard the president," Herman said, flicking his eyes from Draven to the door. "Martial law. Best thing to do is hole up here and see what happens."
"We can’t just sit here and hope things get better," Kate said. "Unlike you, we have responsibilities to try and fix this."
"Don’t get me wrong, lady, I’m no coward. But look at the TV screen." He pointed to the images on the screen which were showing looting and rioting in various countries around the world. "That shit won’t just be on the box anymore. It will be happening right now out there."
"The President said there would be food banks, he said-"
"Come on," Herman cut in, tossing the
remote on the floor in front of him. "Do you really, genuinely believe that people are going to sit at home playing happy families and wait for someone to bring them food? Sorry, but we all know that ain’t gonna happen. People are going to go out there and stock up on whatever they can carry, and when the store shelves are empty, that’s when they'll turn on each other and start to kill over a box of crackers or a bottle of water. No matter how you try to butter it up and put faith in our so called commander in chief, society is on the verge of breaking down. End of the world, man, end of the fucking world."
"Will you shut up!" Kate snapped. "I’m sick to death of hearing all this conspiracy bullshit. What the hell is wrong with you?"
"Ain't nothing wrong with me lady. It's not my fault if you can’t see what's right in front of you."
"This isn’t the time." Draven cut in. "Like it or not, the three of us need to work together if only in the short term."
"So what do you suggest we do," Kate said, cheeks flushing in anger. "To say you're our expert, you seem to be taking quite the back seat."
"If by back seat you mean concentrating on solving the task at hand rather than bickering, then yes, I suppose I have. Now like it or not, Herman has a point. Despite the assurances of the President, I don’t think it will be too long before people start rioting and looting and whatever the hell else."
"Exactly, which is why we need to stay put." Herman said, giving Kate a smug grin.