by Nick Mariano
ON TO NYC
Bob and the ISIS members continued to monitor the events taking place in NY State for the next two days and things appeared to be going from bad to worse. The outbreak of the virus continued and outlying towns near Whitney Point began to report cases of the virus and of zombies or flesh eating people throughout the area. The Army had requested additional troops to maintain martial law and to better control the access roads throughout the state. More infected people had been reported being killed by the military and law enforcement and people began carrying weapons whenever they were forced to leave their houses. Grocery stores were broken into and looted and most of the general population was afraid to leave their homes. Several of the surrounding states had declared a state of emergency and the Governors of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Connecticut had ordered the National Guard mobilized to ensure that no one from New York State entered. Suspected sick people were quarantined until doctors were sure they hadn’t contracted the virus. A curfew went into effect throughout New York and people were told they could not be outside past 9:00 pm. Persons violating the curfew would be arrested on sight.
The rest of the Eastern seaboard watched the TV stations to see what was happening in New York and whether the virus had spread to any other cities or towns. Major train and air transportation was temporarily halted on the Eastern Corridor in an attempt to prevent any infected persons from traveling outside the area. Hospitals in New York were filled to capacity and some patients were relocated to northern Pennsylvania for observation. So far over 450 people had been reported killed. The CDC and Fort Detrick were busy dissecting victims and trying to ascertain just what the virus was, what parts of the body it affected and how they might attack the virus to slow or stop it. A number of experimental drugs stored at Fort Detrick were tried on some infected patients, however, the effects were minimal. Doctors consulted with disease experts throughout the world gathering information and advice from them. It was finally confirmed by several doctors at Fort Detrick that the virus was a mutant of the flu, plague and rabies. The doctors knew how to treat each disease separately, however, the combined viruses defied any drugs the doctors had in their arsenal. Since the virus was an airborne variety, people were again warned to stay inside their homes and avoid any contact with outsiders. The doctors hoped that eventually the virus would run itself out. Their investigation showed that the virus required a live host or it would cease to spread. The only other means of transmission was through a bite wound, which unfortunately was happening frequently throughout NY State. Reports of zombie like people continued to pour into the CDC control center. It appeared that the infected could live only five to six days beyond their exposure to the virus and they hoped that by isolating people from each other they might be able to slow the virus down enough to get a handle on it.
After several days of viewing traffic cams from outside of Wilmington and along New York highways, the ISIS Task Force finally spotted the SUV used by Bob and his group. The vehicle had been spotted on several highway cameras in New York and the last sighting was about one hour away from Whitney Point, where the virus had broken out. Howard ordered all the agents Homeland Security could spare plus elements of the National Guard up to this area. They would begin a house-to-house search of all houses in the area, if necessary, until they found the ISIS group. Agents were issued chem/bio gear and everyone would be fully suited when they started their search. Foster and Cominsky were familiar with this part of the state and they theorized that a safe house of some sort might be located in some isolated area, close to major roadways but out of sight of passersby. Agents were assigned to the county records office to see if any recent land/home sales had taken place over the last one to two years. Bank records and large cash transactions were also looked into. Howard just hoped that the group was still in the immediate area and had not moved on to another location to plan more attacks. After searching local land transactions for the past year agents discovered that there were five properties sold that were isolated enough to make a good safe house. The groups divided and headed off to check the properties. The first three turned out to be homes occupied by local families and a quick check revealed they had no known ISIS connections. The fourth house appeared deserted, however, upon entering the property the agents noted a high level of security throughout the grounds. CCTV cameras were mounted throughout and perimeter alarms had been installed. The front gate was remote controlled and when they buzzed for entry, there was no response. They breached the gate, and as they drove up the road, two persons equipped with automatic weapons fired on their vehicles. A firefight ensured and finally the two assailants were killed. Two agents were also wounded in the exchange. The two assailants were caretakers that ISIS had placed to keep the property secured and to keep outsiders away. They had been there throughout Bob’s stay but had kept out of the way throughout the period. The agents searched the premises and when they entered the basement they found what appeared to be some sort of clean room that might have been used as part of the NY attack. There appeared to be a cleaned up blood spot on the floor but otherwise the room was empty except for two chairs fastened to the floor and equipped with restraints. Upstairs revealed little to help the agents. Televisions, CB and Police scanners were found in the living room and so it appeared that the terrorists had been monitoring things from this location after the virus had been released. They were able to hear what the police and authorities were doing by monitoring the radios they had. Two computers were also found, however, the hard drives had been removed from them. The only piece of evidence that might prove helpful was a map of NYC laying on the kitchen table. Nothing was marked on the map but the agents feared that this might be the next attack site. A further check of the grounds revealed a large garage with a stable of vehicles. Both vehicles used by the ISIS members in Wilmington were parked in the garage. This was the final bit of evidence to show that they had found the group’s operational starting point.
Howard decided to locate the Task Force back to NYC, as this appeared to be the next possible target. He was fairly sure that Bob and his group were not aware that Homeland Security and DS had identified him and his friends and so he hoped that Bob might slip up and rather than using another safe house, would head back to his own house in NYC. He also put a clamp on all dissemination of information outside the task force. Only specially encrypted radios were used to transport operations. He didn’t want any press reporting that they had found the NY safe house. He hoped that the group would somehow slip up and that they would be spotted in NYC. This was their only chance for preventing a second attack, which would prove much more deadly than the first. NYC was one of the most populated cities in the world and the virus could spread rapidly and be out of control in a matter of days. Homeland Security put out an all points lookout for the four ISIS members and photos from Wilmington and their passports were disseminated throughout the area and at all access points into the city.
While all this was occurring, Bob and his group had been sitting in their Pennsylvania safe house. Bob and Nazari decided that it was time to move and get the NYC attack started. They had some new vehicles already packed and would travel to NYC separately in two different vehicles. Each vehicle would take one of the remaining canisters with them in case the authorities caught the other group. Bob had originally thought about going back to his NYC home and using that as a base of operations but then decided that they would be better off to check into a hotel initially. Bob had some things he needed at his home but he would visit it alone sometime during the nighttime hours. The group took off for NYC even before the ISIS Task Force had begun to distribute photos of the ISIS members to law enforcement. Three hours later the group was in Manhattan and checking into an out of the way hotel. NYC was a very large city to get lost in. The group only had to avoid detection for another two days before they carried out their attack.
The Pennsylvania safe house would later be discovered by federal authorities after an alert agent
found an address written on a piece of paper at the NY safe house. Homeland Security and local authorities would raid the house and after being confronted by an armed caretaker, who would give up without a fight, entered and searched the premises. Unlike the house in NY there was no clean room in the basement and other than a CB and Police radio scanner, nothing appeared out of the ordinary. Authorities decided to leave the house as it was found and surveil it from a distance in case anyone returned to it.
NEW YORK-NEW YORK
Members of the ISIS Task Force returned to NYC and set up at the New York Field Office of Homeland Security. Since they believed NYC would be the next attack site, Howard telephoned the Police Commissioner of NY and requested a meeting at 1 Police Plaza.
The NY Police Department had primary responsibility for law enforcement and investigations within the five boroughs of NYC. NYPD had a broad array of specialized services, including the Emergency Services Unit, canine, harbor patrol, air support, bomb disposal, counter-terrorism, criminal intelligence, anti-gang, anti-organized crime, public transportation and public housing. The Department currently had an authorized uniform strength of 34,450. There were also an additional 4,500 Auxiliary Police Officers, 5,000 School Safety Agents and close to 3,000 Traffic Enforcement Agents. NYPD also had officers assigned to 11 foreign cities to help collect intelligence on suspected terrorists. Howard knew that he would need all the NYPDs and Homeland Security’s resources if they were going to catch Bob and his group before another attack took place.
An expanded task force met at 1PP that afternoon. Members of the ISIS Task Force briefed everyone on the attack at Whitney Point and the follow-up investigation into the incident. Members of the CDC staff briefed everyone on what they knew about the virus and the extent of contamination so far. The deadly virus had now infected over 4,000 people. 2,500 were reported dead. The virus had now spread itself to Pennsylvania, Connecticut and three cases were reported in Chicago. The state of NY was under a major quarantine. Only NYC remained open to outsiders and this could change quickly. Governors of Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Maine, Vermont, Ohio and New Jersey had now mobilized the National Guard. Martial Law and a curfew remained in effect in NY. Hospitals in upstate NY were filled to capacity and hospitals in Pennsylvania were now being used for the infected. The CDC and the US Medical Command at Fort Detrick were analyzing bodies of the infected to try to determine the degree of infection and possible antidotes. So far there was no cure once you became infected. Death would occur within 5 to 6 days after infection. The virus appeared to be a mutation of the flu, plague and rabies virus. It was transmitted through the air like a normal cold or flu virus. Once persons entered the last stage of infection they could display zombie like behavior and become extremely aggressive. Hundreds of attacks had taken place in NY and reports of cannibalism had also been reported. Police and military had been given authority to shot to kill all aggressive persons who posed an immediate threat. Several hundred people had already been shot. The President and his National Security Council were monitoring events. Homeland Security was in touch with several foreign law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
Howard then took the stage. He went over all the details of the attack at the County Fair in Whitney Point. He said that he believed this was a test attack to determine how the virus reacted. He described the people they believed to be involved. One was a NYC resident and three had recently flown to the US from Germany. The three Germans had degrees in medicine and chemistry. A fifth suspect was a prominent doctor at Mount Sinai who had suddenly went on sick leave and still had not returned to NY or his job. The five people had been observed in Wilmington, NC, and had found and dug up a container on the beach after several days of searching. It was believed that this item may have contained the virus canister. A canister had been found at the County Fair site and it appeared to be of Nazi origin. Subsequent research by the CDC and US Medical Command had uncovered evidence that a super virus had been engineered by Nazi Germany, for use possibly during the war. There was no evidence, however, that this virus had ever been deployed during the war. It was believed that ISIS was responsible for the NY attack and they had in fact taken credit for it. ISIS stated that more attacks would take place. Safe houses had been found in both NY and Pennsylvania and evidence gathered there seemed to indicate that NYC would be the next target. Although an all points had been issued for the ISIS members, no one had been spotted or apprehended so far. The White House had imposed a total blackout of all news in the NYC area. It was critical that the members not be alerted that authorities believed them to be in NYC. This could merely result in a change of attack plans. Photos of the five suspects had been distributed throughout NYC and officers and agents were currently scanning all CCTV feeds throughout the city in an effect to spot someone. The Federal Government in conjunction with NYPD had the lead on this case. It was critical that these suspects be found within the next two days as it was believed an attack was imminent within this time frame.
While the 1PP meeting was taking place, Bob and his group were planning their next attack. Aisha and Nazari had narrowed down the attack sites to four locations. The NY subway system, Yankee stadium, Macy’s Department Store and Radio City Music Hall. All had large attendances and after the initial infection, the virus would spread quickly throughout the city. Bob decided that each member would visit one of the locations, make mental notes about such things as admittance procedures, security in place and how a device could be quickly concealed. The group had decided that they would deploy only the aerosol canister in NYC and use the last canister, designed for water reservoirs, at another location the following week. The NYC attack would take place the very next day after the group discussed their site choice.
That afternoon Bob, Hassan, Nazari and Aisha paid visits to the four selected sites.
RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL
The afternoon before the group planned to carryout their attack the four of them split up and surveilled the four sights, the NY Subway, Yankee Stadium, Macy’s Flagship Department Store and the Radio City Music Hall.
Bob arrived at one of the nearby subway stations and a quick scan of the area told him that this would be ideal spot to place a canister, lots of people coming and going and a very confined space so the virus would have the maximum effect. The only big drawback was that now the subways were checking everyone with walk-thru metal detectors and x-raying all carry items, following a number of terrorist attacks elsewhere in the world. Bob doubted that they would be able to smuggle the canister into the station without being detected.
Hassan took the subway out to Yankee Stadium that morning. Yankee Stadium is located in the Bronx and is the home for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball and the home stadium for New York City FC of Major League Soccer. Hassan took a backpack with him similar to what they would use to carry the device in the next day. Upon arriving at the stadium, he purchased his ticket and headed for one of the many entrances. As he approached the gate he saw a large sign advising all attendees that they would be searched prior to entering. Before proceeding through metal detectors, visitors were be asked to remove cell phones, cameras and any large metal objects from their pockets and place them in a small plastic container for inspection. Additionally, security personnel at a screening table alongside the metal detector visually inspected all bags and their interiors. Only MLB-compliant bags (soft-sided, measuring 16 inches by 16 inches by 8 inches or smaller) would be permitted inside the Stadium. Individuals were able to watch their belongings throughout the screening process and could pick them up at the end of the table once they passed through the metal detector. The removal of belts, shoes and jackets was not required. Another sign also listed a large number of items that were prohibited to bring in the stadium. Backpacks were not excluded entry. Hassan went through the process even though he already knew this site wouldn’t work. Inside the stadium there were several hundred people already there and Hassan saw that with th
e stadium wide open and a fairly good amount of wind whipping through it, this was not the site they wanted.
Nazari went to Macy’s flagship department store at Herald Square on W 34th Street. The store was over 2.2 million square feet in area and it was advertised as one of the largest department stores in the world. The store had been at this location for over 110 years and people from all over the world flocked to it for their shopping whenever they visited NYC. Several thousand people could be found strolling the aisles during store hours, which were from 9:30 am till 10:00 pm, Monday through Saturday. There was no security at the entrances and patrons could carry back packs and packages into the store freely. Security agents were located throughout the store but were mainly there to watch for shoplifters. CCTVs were placed throughout the store but there were still a number of dead spots where a person wouldn’t be seen placing an item under a counter or table. The store had several floors and the only real drawback Nazari saw with placing the device here was that there was no guarantee that a large crowd would be in the area when the dispersal took place. It was still a favorable location and Nazari would discuss things with the group when they met later in the day at the hotel.
Aisha visited Radio City Music Hall at Rockefeller Center, located at 1260 Avenue of the Americas. Radio City had 5,933 seats for patrons and additional seating could be placed for sold out events, bringing the total to over 6,000. The seating was divided into the main floor areas, and three mezzanine sections. There were no shows that day, however, Aisha had found on the Internet that there was a Stage Door Tour that afternoon which took you all through the famous theater and even showed you areas behind the stage. She thought this was an ideal way to get fully oriented with the theater. The tour lasted over an hour and at the conclusion of it Aisha knew pretty much all she needed to know about Radio City Music Hall. The mezzanine sections looked ideal for placing the device as it was a very large area and the dispersal would contact the maximum number of people. There was a large area under the seats for placing purses and packages and there was no entrance security. One merely presented their ticket for entry. Aisha checked the performance schedule and saw that the following day Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga were having a concert and that there were only ten tickets left. Aisha decided to purchase a ticket before she left and was happy to see there were still two seats in the second Mezzanine. She was fairly confident, that once the group heard her presentation on Radio City, it would be picked as the site.