by Mark Goodwin
“Thanks.” Everett wiped his shoes on the mat. “Where’s Tobias?”
“In his room listening to radio. New report is coming from GRBN. I think so is update about sun.” Ali waved his hand for them to follow him. “Come on, maybe we can catch it.”
Tobias raised his hand to greet Everett and Courtney when they walked in his room but did not turn his attention away from the radio.
A spokesman for the Global Republic Aeronautics and Space Administration was providing information about the agency’s latest observations. “The good news about the event that GRASA scientist witnessed today is that we expect the massive flare will act to regulate the sun’s magnetic field which should calm the solar engorgement phenomenon we’ve been monitoring over the past five days.”
A female GRBN reporter was interviewing the man. “The way you made that last statement, it sounds as if I should expect a follow-up announcement. Are you about to issue some ominous caveat, Doctor Reynolds?”
The man laughed nervously. “Your journalistic instincts are well-honed, Miss Carter. I’m afraid there is some bad news that goes along with my analysis.
“Solar flares are graded in classes. A, B, C, M, and X. The classification system works something like the Richter scale. A C-class flare is ten times more powerful than a B-class. Obviously, we’ve had flares above X class before. Those are numbered to represent the magnitude. The strongest ever recorded was an X-28. The flare may have been larger, but the sensors cut out at X-28. What we saw today is so far beyond anything we’ve ever watched, GRASA has categorized it as an Omega-Class flare.”
Carter quizzed, “Couldn’t you have assigned a numeric value to the X-class? Let’s say an X-1000. Did this event really warrant a completely new class?”
The doctor continued, “No. It was that magnificent.”
“I have a feeling this isn’t going to be good,” Carter said.
Reynolds proceeded to tell of what was to come. “Large solar flares, or Coronal Mass Ejections, are popping off all the time, but they generally are just projected out into space. Regretfully, this one exploded in the general direction of our planet. Lucky for us, it is not a direct hit, but it will be close enough to cause massive disruption to electrical services, computers, and most electronic devices.”
“Oh, no. We’ll lose power?”
“Yes, but the Global Republic has already begun making preparations to mitigate the effects of the Coronal Mass Ejection. We’ll be taking power grids down this afternoon to try to isolate critical components from the power lines, which will act as conductors to the violent pulse from the CME. This action will greatly reduce the time and resources necessary to restart the grid, once the threat has passed.
“We expect the effects to hit the Earth Friday evening. The electromagnetic wave generated by the CME is so large, the planet could be immersed in it for up to three days.”
The GRBN reporter asked, “Is there anything we can do to protect our own electronics?”
“I’m glad you asked. The best thing you can do is unplug everything, disconnect your antennas or retract telescoping antennas, and remove power cords from anything that has a removable cord. The wavelength of a CME is rather long, so it needs a significant length of conductive material to couple into. Household electronics typically won’t be affected, as long as they’re unplugged.”
“Will my Mark still work?”
“Yes and no,” the doctor answered. “The components in your Mark won’t be affected by the CME, but the infrastructure with which your Mark uses to connect with Dragon will have to be temporarily taken offline. We recommend that people stock up with a minimum of three days’ worth of supplies.”
Tobias chuckled. “Three days. Like they’ll be able to just flip a switch and turn everything back on in three days.”
Courtney gave Everett’s arm a squeeze. “This is our chance. We can relocate to the underground cities when they take Dragon down for the CME.”
Everett nodded. “The Fifth Vial begins Friday at sunset. We’ll leave at dusk.”
CHAPTER 11
And the fifth angel poured out his vial upon the seat of the beast; and his kingdom was full of darkness; and they gnawed their tongues for pain, And blasphemed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, and repented not of their deeds.
Revelation 16:10-11
Everett and Courtney checked their gear Friday evening as the sun sank low in the sky. They would be driving one of the Russian Typhoons at the front of the convoy traveling across the Turkish mountains to the underground cities in the Cappadocia region, roughly 500 miles from their location in Batumi, Georgia.
Everett opted to keep his HK G36C for his primary battle rifle, even though its magazines were not compatible with the rest of his team. Its short, compact design made it easy to maneuver from the driver’s seat of the vehicle. He stuffed as many magazines as he could into the pouches on his load-carrying vest. He wore his Sig pistol on a drop-leg holster. A tactical sling hung around his left side, holding five hand grenades. An open crate of additional grenades sat between the driver’s seat and front passenger’s seat of the Typhoon he’d be driving.
Everett’s team would be the tip of the spear for this perilous journey. The convoy’s route would take them directly through MOC territory. While the imminent CME would reign down technological darkness on the Holy Luzian Empire and crippling the Anti-Christ’s ability to launch drone attacks, the Martyrs of the Caliphate would be nearly unaffected.
Everything except last-minute supplies had been loaded into the vehicles at sundown the previous day. Due to lack of fuel, many of the civilian vehicles in the convoy had not been driven much in the three years prior. Most of the automobiles were in poor repair, and much of what little fuel they had was stale. If the children of Israel made it across this stretch of remote, barren, and hostile terrain, it would be no less of a miracle than the journey of the Jews out of Egypt so many thousands of years before.
Everett and Courtney were well-rested for the mission at hand. Everett took his wife’s hand. “Let’s pray before we head out.”
She kissed him. “Good idea.” She bowed her head.
Everett closed his eyes and made a conscious effort to clear out the anxiety and fear from his mind. “Lord, you have carried us this far. We’ve seen miracle after miracle. We’ve watched you pour out your Spirit on your sons and daughters as you promised you would do. We’ve seen the thing that the prophets before us only dreamed about and we’ve been honored to be a part of the most exciting period in the history of your creation.
“We know our redemption is close, the time when we will see you face to face. We pray only for courage and strength in these final hours of this age, and that we might honor you in all we say and do.
“I pray that you will watch over my precious bride and grant us success on this mission. Thank you for all you have done for us, especially salvation. Amen.”
Everett looked up, but Courtney did not.
She added, “And protect my husband, God. Don’t leave me here without him. Amen.”
Everett hugged her. “Are you ready?”
She smiled and ran the back of her finger along his cheek. “I’m ready.”
The two of them grabbed the last of their things and headed for the Typhoon parked across the street at Tobias and Ali’s.
Rabbi Hertzog stood by a black Russian Patrol MRAP speaking with some of the former IDF soldiers who would be part of the security element.
Courtney handed him the green duffle bag containing Moses’ staff. “You’re in charge of the water. No matter what, you have to get through with the staff. Otherwise, we’re just jumping out of the frying pan and into the fire.”
The rabbi nodded graciously. “I will protect it with my life.”
Everett repositioned the straps of his various pieces of battle gear. “We’ll get to Kayseri first. When we arrive, you should enter the underground city right away and transform the water supp
ly there. Kaymakli will be the next underground city, then Derinkuyu after that. All three of them are fairly close together so we’ll focus on getting water for them first. Then, once we're settled, we can go around to the remaining cities.”
Rabbi Hertzog gave Everett’s arm a squeeze. “I will do just as you have recommended. Thank you for your help.”
“It’s my honor to serve the children of Israel.” Everett smiled.
Ali patted Everett on the back. “I need you come in house for a moment if you please. We have some last-minute detail to cover.”
Everett waved at the rabbi, then he and Courtney followed Ali into the house. A large map of the area they’d be traveling through was spread out on the dining-room table. Tobias and the IDF team leaders were gathered around.
Tobias nodded at Everett. “Ali is pointing out the suspected MOC hotspots.”
Ali put his index finger at a position on the map. “All area from Ankara to Van is heavy MOC territory.”
“No way around it?” Everett asked.
“We cannot,” Ali replied. “Barely we have fuel for trip straight through. Go around can be one day more of travel. And still does not guarantee we don’t see Martyrs. Only way is through.”
Everett looked at Tobias. “You know MOC is going to look at the blackout as an opportunity to raise havoc.”
Tobias shrugged as he looked at the map. “Maybe they’ll focus on attacking GR outposts and leave us alone.”
“Ignore 150 thousand Jews crossing through their territory?” Everett looked at Tobias as if he were a bit naive. “That’s wishful thinking.”
Levi pulled his rifle close to his chest. “We’ve gotta do what we’ve gotta do.”
“Okay, so let’s do it.” Everett looked around the room, sizing up the resolve in the eyes of each man. He turned back to Ali. “What have we got?”
Ali tapped a location on the map. “This is Imranli. We must go through it. It is small town. Maybe 500 people. Probably we have fight but we can do it.”
Everett nodded. “Great. We’ll just go in expecting to fight. We’ll roll in hot and heavy with 2000 troops and kill anything that moves. What’s next?”
“Next thing is Zara. Also is small town. Good thing is that highway go outside town—don’t go through it.”
Everett looked at the map. “That’s great, but what are the odds they won’t call up all their fighters to come hit the weaker section of the convoy after the primary security component has passed by?”
“Probably not good. Also probably going to be MOC person go from Imranli to tell them we coming,” Ali added.
“Then we should probably just roll on in and subdue all military-age men in the town.” Everett looked up.
“How do you intend to do that?” Tobias asked.
“We’ve got a bullhorn on our Typhoon. I’ll drive up and tell them they’ve got thirty seconds to come out in the street with their hand over their heads.”
Levi laughed. “You watched too many John Wayne movies as a kid. What are you going to do when they start shooting before they even let you finish your sentence?”
“Shock and awe. We’ve got enough RPGs and surface-to-surface munitions to level a small village.”
Tobias crossed his arms and looked at Levi. “I don’t like the idea of announcing our arrival over the bullhorn, but you can’t argue with the effectiveness of shock and awe.”
Ali continued, “Next is Hafik. Same thing like Zara. Maybe 500 people, maybe less.”
Levi looked at Everett. “More shock and awe?”
“More shock, more awe.” Everett glanced up from the map to look at Tobias. “But no bullhorn.”
Tobias smiled to let him know he appreciated that Everett was following his advice.
“Then is coming Sivas. Major city. Talking like 300 thousand before Great Tribulation start.”
Everett’s confidence began to fade. “So how many do you think are still alive?”
“Probably 100 thousand.”
Everett nodded. “Figure half of them are men, and three-quarters of the men are capable of engaging us in a firefight. What’s that—like 40 thousand potential shooters?”
Ali shook his head. “Anyone still living is probably shooter. All weak people have been taken out by judgments. Those still around are toughest of the tough.”
Everett huffed. “That’s reassuring.”
“What’s the plan?” Tobias asked.
Everett didn’t have one. “Any chance they’d let us pass through in exchange for drinking water?”
Ali nodded. “Sure. Then they slit your throat the minute they have water. Al-taqiyya is Islam doctrine of lying. Muslim can say anything to unbeliever to make deal then go back on their word without consequence from Allah.”
Everett lifted his eyebrows. “Scratch that idea.” He looked up at the other team leaders. “Anyone else has a suggestion?”
Courtney examined the map. “What if we cleared the three smaller towns, then pushed in with our entire security force and lined the highway all the way from one side of the city to the other?
“We don’t have to take and hold the city. We just need to secure a corridor to get us from one side of the city to the other. It looks like most of the population is concentrated on the north side of the highway. We could put two soldiers on the north side of the highway for every one soldier we assign to the south.”
Everett considered her plan. “Theoretically, that would work, but when the enemy hits you, they center all of their energy on one location. We’d be spread too thin to resist a concentrated attack.”
She looked at the map. “So we have pre-positioned platoons every half mile that can provide backup when someone gets hit. It’s only four miles through town. We’ve got more than enough soldiers for eight platoons.”
“We’ll be operating without radios. We can’t even turn them on. They’d be fried by the CME.” Everett shook his head.
“What about flares?” she asked.
Tobias looked at Ali. “You’ve got those fireworks you were saving for a special occasion.”
“Probably they are too old. Might not even work.”
“Go get some and try them out.”
Ali shuffled off to his room and returned with three large boxes of mortars. “I have many more.”
“Where did you get those?” Everett asked curiously.
“Someone in town found them in basement when we first got here. I traded for some fish I catched in the river.” Ali stood holding the colorful boxes.
“Why didn’t we ever shoot them off? New Year’s Eve, your birthday, anything,” Everett asked.
Courtney said, “Maybe he was saving them for such a time as this.”
Ali smiled revealing his big white teeth. “Perhaps this is why, Courtney.”
Everett led the way outside. “Well, let’s see if they still work.” He selected three mortar shells, one from each box as a test sample. Everett dropped the shell in the tube provided, lit the wick dangling out the edge of the tube, and stepped back.
Poof! POP! The shell shot out of the launch tube, soared upwards and exploded in a shower of red and white sparks. He ignited the wick of the next one. Thoop! Likewise, it went airborne. POW! A dazzling display of golden embers radiated out from the center of the pyrotechnic burst. The third shell also took flight. BANG! It provided a shimmering ball of white and blue light in the evening sky.
Everett unboxed the remaining mortars. “I guess they’re still good. We’ll do the math and figure out how far apart we need to spread our security forces to line the entire four-mile stretch of road through Sivas. We can allocate one shell to every tenth man who will be assigned as a signalman.”
Levi nodded. “It’s a good plan, but you’ve only got one launch tube per box of mortars.”
Everett looked around. “Do we have some PVC pipe roughly the same diameter as the launch tubes? It doesn’t have to be exact as long as it’s not too tight.”
Tobias nodded.
“We’ve got some under the crawl space of the house.”
“Great. Can you and Ali work on cutting one-foot sections of pipe?”
“Yes, but it will have no base to hold it up,” Ali said.
Everett replied, “It’s mostly sand all through that region. The signalmen can just stick the launch tube in the ground. Even if they have to hold it with their hand and look away while the mortar exits the tube, it won’t kill them.”
Courtney wrinkled her nose. “Sounds dangerous.”
“Less so than being attacked and not being able to call for backup. Safety is relative in times like these.” Everett put his arm around her.
The finishing touches were put on the battle plan over the next hour and teams were assigned for the various objectives. Six MRAPs, including Everett’s, would storm each of the small towns, with large cleanup teams coming in behind them to eliminate or detain any additional threats. The assault squads would engage and destroy hostiles while the motorcade passed through the smaller towns, then the assault squads will fall in behind to form a rear guard.
If they weren’t pursued by the jihadists, the rear guard would retreat from the small villages behind the caravan. If they were, the assault teams would be armed with sufficient force to leave the towns without anyone alive who was capable of firing a weapon.
They would soften up Imranli first, then Everett’s armored squad would proceed past Zara, and straight to Hafik. A second wave of former IDF troops would secure a path through Zara while the motorcade drove through then meet up with Everett’s team in Hafik.
They would fend off any hostiles while the caravan passed through Hafik, then escort the convoy to a remote area of farmland about halfway between Hafik and Sivas. The countryside would be used as a staging area before moving on to the major city of Sivas. Once all the vehicles in the convoy were progressing steadily toward the city, Everett’s group would lead the charge through Sivas and serve as one of the reinforcement teams to assist any portion of the defense line that came under fire by locals.