by Parker James
“Agent Phillips, we’re headed up to the Atrium. You know the drill; and just you this time.”
Phillips didn’t need to be told twice as he removed his jacket and sidearm and placed both in the wall safe hidden behind the picture. One minute later and they were in the stairwell which was also heavily guarded by yet another team of Secret Service Agents and were on their way to the main Atrium on level 10. President Andrews was glad for the opportunity to stretch his legs and felt like a man on a mission. The simple act of climbing those 10 flights of stairs was invigorating and gave him a brief sense of normalcy. As Andrews arrived unannounced he met Major Hastings in his office off of the Atrium. The other bunkers were laid out in a similar fashion. As he arrived he could see Major Hastings chastising one of his subordinates yet he quickly terminated the discussion and rose as President Andrews entered the room.
“Mr. President,” Hastings said.
“At ease, Major,” President Andrews replied.
Hastings turned to the Captain with whom he had been speaking.
“Dismissed, Captain. We’ll continue this conversation later.”
“Sir,” the Captain replied with a salute. “Mr. President.”
He made himself scarce as he returned to the Atrium, completely visible through the clear glass windows outlining Major Hastings Office. The Captain would continue to oversee operations as he had been earlier.
“Major Hastings, how are things going?” the President asked.
“It’s been a busy night, Sir, but things quieted down once we began assigning quarters. There were a lot of hungry people, mostly the citizens we let in when the bunkers were initially opened. Some of them haven’t eaten for days and were in pretty bad shape. We triaged them and despite everything I think just the simple fact of having food and a bed to sleep in calmed them down considerably. As a matter of fact some of them haven’t even woken yet. In addition to lack of food they were sleep deprived. We have our medical teams looking in on them periodically just to make sure that they’re ok. Is there anything I can do for you, Sir?”
“Are we serving MRE’s or giving them a hot meal this morning, Major?”
“Breakfast was basic, but it was a hot meal. We fed them in shifts and began serving lunch about an hour ago,” Hastings replied.
“Good, Major. Let’s keep them calm. Can I assume that we have that level of calm?”
“We do, Sir. What we did experience was a number of citizens with panic attacks and nervous disorders, quite a few of them have been brought to the infirmary and are being treated there. Other than that we’ve had no other incidents to report of a belligerent nature. I would categorize the general mood of our new arrivals as a “numbness.” They’ve been through a lot just getting here.”
Hastings was unsure as to the specific reason for the President’s visit as Andrews paused looking out of Hastings’ office window and the citizens within the Atrium. He could see that a large number of people within the Atrium were returning his gaze. The reason for the placement of the Bunker Site Commanders’ offices specifically in the Atrium throughout the complex was to show that military presence as a calming effect. Phillips lingered outside the door, always close but never there.
“Major Hastings, we’ll be having our 1400 conference in two hours. I won’t go into details but for now I can tell you that the situation within the other bunkers is similar to our own. You’ll get the full update then with several new directives. I just wanted to come up here and check on things firsthand. I’m going to take a short walk, if that’s alright with you?”
Hastings was surprised. The President didn’t need to ask his permission; he was the Commander-in-Chief. By all means, Mr. President,” he responded. “Would you like me to accompany you?”
President Andrews hadn’t initially considered this, but he thought it a good idea on Hastings’ part.
“Why not?” President Andrews responded. “It will just be you and me, and of course my shadow standing outside the doorway. No other military personnel. This is a meet and greet and calming mission. Understood?”
“Absolutely, Sir,” Hastings replied.
“Well then, Major, let’s go stretch our legs a bit.”
As the President and Major Hastings walked throughout the Atrium it was similar to the President’s prior walk-thru. Andrews spoke to the citizens with Hastings more in an observation mode. After about half an hour President Andrews turned to the Major.
“Major Hastings, I find myself hungry. Would you care to join me for lunch?”
Dumbfounded Major Hastings responded affirmatively despite the fact that he had just eaten his lunch an hour earlier while pouring through reports in his office.
“Absolutely, Mr. President.”
What further surprised Hastings was that the President placed himself at the end of the serving line. It was a quick meal, both sitting at a table placed near the center of the eating area with those also in the Commissary; an area off to the left of the Atrium. It was a brief lunch with little conversation taking place. President Andrews thanked Major Hastings for his efforts and as he rose Major Hastings saluted him. It seemed as though every eye in the room was upon them. President Andrews was a true showman and knew what effect his visit had made. A sense of structure and stability for those who had lost everything. That was the true purpose of his visit.
“1400 hours then, major,” the President said. His mission having been accomplished he then walked over to the serving line and gently placed his tray in its proper location, once again heading toward the elevator on his way back to the control room. Upon his arrival Andrews was glad to see additional personnel had arrived and were manning their stations as ordered.
“Any news from NORAD yet, Phil?” Andrews asked.
“No, Mr. President, and I wouldn’t expect our first drone to arrive for the next three to seven days despite their shielding against the EMP pulse. What we have done is raised one of the shielded sensors on the surface to take a look around the bunker site. You can see the enhanced picture on monitor number three.”
President Andrews glanced over and all that he could see was a white screen. There was a picture but so much debris had been lifted into the atmosphere by the two nuclear blasts that it was impossible to make any sense of it. This particular bunker complex had been built-in an unpopulated area as were most of the others. Even if there was a picture it wouldn’t tell much for the time being.
“Despite the fact that we don’t have a clear visual picture yet, what we have learned is that the radiation levels are off the chart. Nothing could have survived up there,” General McCreary added further.
“And our resident genius?”
“He’s having a quick meal and he’ll be out shortly to continue his work.”
President Andrews looked at his watch. The conference would begin in half an hour.
“Let him finish up, General, but I want Enghult out here during the conference.”
“Yes, Mr. President.”
Soon the Joint Chiefs filed in, most of them having been working feverishly on contingency plans for the Naval Fleet under Admiral Pichton’s direction. But it was McCreary who oversaw it all. He was the buffer between the Joint Chiefs and the Commander-in-Chief, filtering out only the most important of information. While they stood there quietly the President had been walking throughout the control room. Earlier in the day he had looked over the schematics and operational protocol; he was absorbing information like a sponge. Ten minutes away from the meeting and Professor Enghult entered through a doorway off to the side of the control room. It was another conference room now turned into his own personal quarters and would be for the foreseeable future. Andrews looked at his watch and turned to one of the technicians at the console.
“Corporal, turn on the monitor,” he said.
The Corporal did as he was instructed and again 20 faces appeared. Before the President issued his directives and made any adjustments he required a status report from e
ach and every Bunker Site Commander. Similar situations were reported as those occurring within Bunker Site 1. The only significant situation regarding control within the bunkers occurred at site number 14, with one of the citizen arrivals smuggling in a weapon. A fight had broken out in the food line and another individual was shot. The situation was quickly contained and the offending individual was subdued and placed in the brig. The other individual was not so lucky and didn’t survive his wounds. The President took this into consideration as he made his adjustments mentally. He began.
“Commanders. We have yet to receive any communication from NORAD and can expect none for a number of days. Perhaps a week. The radiation levels on the surface above our location are beyond survivability. The damage to the outer blast doors on bunkers 13 and 17 have been contained with a high degree of success. Tunneling operations are to begin within two to three weeks’ time. Of the five power generation units affected by the blasts, Bunker Site 1 sustained the least amount of damage and will go to restart upon Professor Enghult’s inspection and approval. We’re waiting for the final assessment on the other four bunkers. Within this bunker control has been maintained by military presence yet we have a number of citizens in poor physical condition. You are to make your presence known and your ultimate goal is to keep our occupants calm and secure. I have consulted with the Conyers’. Based upon current food supplies and our occupancy rates we must begin suspension operations at the earliest possible moment. That means tomorrow, gentlemen. After this conference you are to let the citizens know that I shall be addressing them at 1600 hours. I shall be answering any questions from our citizens after the address. Each of you is to make your presence known within the Atrium before and after the address. Your ultimate goal is to impart the knowledge that the bunkers are secure and those within it are safe. The following information is not to go beyond this room but at our current occupancy and stored food supplies under existing conditions we cannot sustain our citizens for more than 36 months without increasing our ability to get as many individuals into those chambers as quickly as possible. The Conyers’ are coming up with a solution as we speak, which we shall discuss at 1400 tomorrow. You are to address your occupants and segregate any and all of those individuals who have any medical experience whatsoever, no matter how limited that may be. I want a detailed report on each and every individual and the total number of people we can utilize to assist in our efforts. Their services will be required and I have no doubt that the Conyers’ will be successful in the solutions required. Are there any questions?”
There were none. Apparently McCreary had done his homework and picked the right people when he chose those who would take charge of the bunker sites.
“Very well, then. We will again conference at 2000 hours; for now you are to maintain calm and control within your bunkers. Meeting adjourned.”
The implications of what the President had just said were not lost on anyone within the room. The food wouldn’t last unless solutions were forthcoming. It was quiet and somber in the conference room as the President dismissed the Joint Chiefs. He then turned to General McCreary.
“Phil, you keep watch for now, I’ll be in my office.”
Although he didn’t show it, McCreary felt an overwhelming sadness for the President and the burden that he bore.
“Yes, Mr. President.”
The President returned to his office, Margaret as always greeting him with a smile. After many years together she could see the concern unmistakably written on his face. Somehow he managed to return the gesture.
“Margaret, if you would so kind would you please put on another pot of coffee?”
“Coming up in a jiff, Sir.”
“Thank you, Margaret.”
It was unusual, but President Andrews closed his door. He thought to himself of the Conyers’; solutions; possibilities. He also knew that if these problems couldn’t be solved in this bunker system in all likelihood they couldn’t be solved in the others as well. That was of course those bunkers that had somehow withstood the attack. He contemplated; calculated. Suddenly he found himself praying.
“God, please give me the strength,” he said out loud to no one in particular.
Tomorrow the report from the Conyers’ would determine a great deal, but he wasn’t done yet coming up with his own possible solutions. Several minutes had passed and there was a gentle knock at the door. It was Margaret with his cup of coffee.
“Just the way you like it, Sir.”
“Thank you, Margaret,” President Andrews replied.
He had collected himself with a new determination. He couldn’t see letting any of his citizens go, nor letting any of them down due to any personal failings that he may have had. They were counting on him more than they even knew. Margaret was slowly closing the door when the President suddenly spoke.
“Margaret, you can leave the door open,” he said with a smile.
“Yes, Mr. President,” she replied.
The President took a sip of coffee and leaned back in his chair, rocking for a moment with his hands folded. He closed his eyes lost in thought. After about a minute he leaned forward and tapped a button on his desk, his display monitor once again rising from its hidden recess within his desk.
“Voice activation,” he said.
And once again the little green light appeared on the corner of the monitor.
“Primary Bunker Site; reports and schematics; hydroponics.”
Episode 16: “Truth Be Told”
* * *
President Andrews had begun to learn a great deal about the science behind hydroponic food production. The program within the bunkers was initially instituted by Dr. C. J. Wilkins, Director of Hydroponics and Bioengineering for all of the 10,000 bunkers dispersed amongst the allied nations. His specifications for the hydroponic food program were also incorporated into Professor Enghult’s structural designs based upon space requirements and similarly distributed to all other nations; be they adversarial to the United States or not. The President’s greatest wish had been to avert the possibility of war at all costs yet despite his best efforts to do so the war had inevitably occurred. Although Wilkins’ work within the field was based upon that of many individuals who had come before, he had invariably advanced the technology to an entirely new level and done so recently. Not only in the short-term did hydroponics have the potential to increase food production dramatically within the bunkers; in the long-term and with further planned expansion the program had the potential to exceed required food stocks exponentially. Taken as a whole it held the potential to bring those soon to be placed in the suspension chambers out of stasis much earlier than expected, but for now based upon the anticipated depletion of food stores use of the suspension chambers was imperative. Yet it all started to come together. Coupled with bioengineering and maximization of yields through the use of filtered spectrum lighting, crop yields were expected six times annually. Although hydroponics seemed fairly simple on paper; it was in fact much more complicated than that. Food generation using plant life suspended in a nutrient-rich water based solution without the need for any soil whatsoever had been simplified through Wilkins’ research and designs. Other forms of plant life, terrestrial plants, could similarly be cultured and grown using a variety of mediums including perlite, gravel, mineral wool; amongst several others. Their root systems would develop in a natural form and the burgeoning plant had the ability to be replanted into a soil based environment at a later point in time should that possibility present itself, if ever. Andrews was thinking about the surface and the damage that had been done to the planet as well as the possibility of one day rejuvenating the earth once the level of damage had been determined. Nevertheless he considered converting one of the bunkers to an arboretum so those within it would have at least some sense of normalcy; to remember what the world was once like prior to the war and give his fellow countrymen hope.
Andrews further discovered that three of the bunkers within each 20 unit grouping
were currently fully dedicated to the generation of hydroponic food production. One facility was located in the outer perimeter of the three ring grouping with two additional facilities located within the inner secondary ring for the sake of both redundancy and ease of food distribution once interconnection of the bunkers was complete. All three facilities were in close proximity to the artesian wells dug deep into the earth which would provide the desperately needed water and minerals required. Future expansion of the bunker systems would produce additional minerals once tunneling operations began, scheduled within the next three weeks. The waste materials would not be “wasted,” in fact nothing would. It was simply not an option. All materials would be utilized in one manner or the other. Some materials would be used for the sustained production of precious metals required for the magnetic rail systems while others yet would be utilized for the production of the simulated concrete necessary to shore up the tunnels and further expansion of the bunkers as of yet unplanned. Some materials would be fractionated in the factory facilities located in the outer ring dedicated to those endeavors. Within the three hydroponic production facilities the structural aspects of the food generation units were massive. Each production unit was 150 feet in diameter comprising 15 tiers, each tier being ten feet in height. Additionally, all of the tiers were comprised of a circular metal base known as the “tub,” each tub being five feet in depth and containing the nutrient rich water based solution. Catwalks crisscrossed the tubs which would be later used to harvest the crops once ready. Part of the genius of Wilkins’ design was the fact that specific crops requiring specific nutrients would be planted in the top tier, with the unused nutrients slowly filtering down to the tub below it and thus that specific crop would have the nutrients it specifically required. And so on down the line it went with continuous automated testing within each tub as they were slowly churned for even distribution of the nutrients and adjustment to the mixture would be made as necessary. Additional minerals were slowly and continuously introduced into the top tier from above. It was a masterpiece of engineering that would have made Galileo proud. Andrews further discovered that the first planting had occurred two weeks prior and if all went well within six weeks’ time the first harvesting would begin. Dr. Wilkins as well as his laboratory facilities were located in bunker five within the secondary ring and he could not (for the moment) be met in person. After looking at anticipated food production estimates President Andrews called out to Margaret in the adjoining office outside of his own and had her set up a conference call with Wilkins for the following day. He was completely intrigued by the program’s potential and it was most definitely part of the overall equation to the future and continued survival of those within the bunker; perhaps even all of mankind and literally the planet itself. The President was a man on a mission, and with the Presidential Address occurring later on this very day he turned his attention to other matters. Margaret peeked her head inside the President’s office, smiling despite the recent loss of her husband.