by Cliff Deane
“Yes, I realize that but we simply cannot take the chance, I guess the FED will just have to print some more money to cover it.”
“Good enough, sir, we are already on the move. I would also ask that you consider contacting the Governor and asking him to be prepared to call out the National Guard if we need the help.”
“Good thinking, my friend. I’m on it.”
The Mayor then called the Governor.
*
April 1st, 1030 hours
Governor’s Office, State of New York
Albany, New York
Following a conference call from Homeland Security, the Governor placed a call to the Commanding General of the New York National Guard and explained the situation, as he knew it.
“General, I am directing you to put the New York City Lockdown Plan into full execution… yes, give them ammunition, but for God’s sake don’t let them get trigger happy.”
*
April 1st, 1135 hours
Oval Office, White House
Washington, DC
“Mr. President, the Chief of Staff, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the Surgeon General require an immediate meeting. They have asked that you clear your schedule and see them at once. It has to do with Ebola at JFK.”
“Yes, send them in as soon as they arrive.”
“Sir, they are standing in front of my desk as we speak. I’ll send them right in.”
As the group entered the President said, “Gentlemen, please sit down.”
The group sat, and the Chief of Staff said, “Mr. President, it appears we have an outbreak of Ebola at JFK, and to further complicate the problem we have substantial evidence that this strain is airborne. The facility is in lockdown status. No outgoing flights until further notice and all outgoing flights originating at JFK from 0700 hours this morning have been recalled.
It appears that only two flights have reached their destinations. It would seem unlikely that all of those passengers can be captured before they reach their terminus.
The airlines and governments involved have agreed to pass on the word for local authorities to detain each name on the flight manifest. I’m sorry sir, but that’s all we could do about them.”
The NYPD and FDNY are en route to JFK to seal off the airport. Currently, passengers who have already boarded flights are being held on the planes until we can ensure the facility is, in fact, secured.
The military is bringing mobile kitchens to feed everyone involved.
Mr. President, it is imperative that you immediately approve the decision of the Director of the Federal Aviation Administration to close all borders, and ground all aircraft in the U.S. except for the Military, CDC, and Homeland Security. No one must enter the country, and no one may leave.
I would also recommend that any cruise ships currently at sea or preparing to depart, seek any port outside the Continental United States. I think we should let them go since no flights for the Florida or Texas Ports have left JFK.”
The President maintained a reflexive posture and finally said, “All right, do it… but… we’d better be right. Concerning the Cruise ships in port; are you sure it is a wise idea to allow them to depart?”
“Mr. President, I do not see any possibility that… no wait, check that. I suppose that it is possible that someone from New York City may have come into contact with the dead woman before she arrived at the airport and now could be anywhere.
Sir, I believe your thought may be correct. No ship sails. They can party right there at the docks. Even though the likelihood of infection is remote, we simply cannot rule it out.”
“Jim, we have thousands of passengers and airport workers stranded at JFK. I need options now! Get with General Olfield at Fort Detrick, then Homeland. Arrange a meeting for later this morning. Oh, yes, make sure every available Governor is on the conference call. Get the manual out and get everyone to this meeting. We may have the same scenario in a dozen airports later today. Oh yeah, let’s put a gag order on the airborne thing. That would panic the entire country.”
Realizations of what must be done immediately came at the President rapid fire, like the rattle of a caliber .50 Ma Deuce.
“Oh, God, we have to seal off New York City. Jim this is going to call for Martial Law, at least in the City. I suppose we need to issue ammunition to the National Guard troops. Oh, God, please don’t let another Kent State happen.”
President Jack Prescott looked at each man in turn before saying, “Gentlemen we are talking about millions of unhappy travelers, many of them stranded away from home. Jeez, this is going to be a bitch, well no matter, it must be done. Go.”
Once the President and his Chief of Staff were alone, Brand patted his lifelong friend on the shoulder and said, “Jack, take a breath. I suggest you begin preparing to speak to the nation, and I certainly do not envy you that task.
I’d better get my own tasks started. I’ll be back as soon as I have some news.”
Now, nearly in shock, the President of the United States put his head in his hands and tried to think of what he would tell America.
His secretary brought some hot tea, Earl Gray, and some donuts. She though he could use a sugar high right about then.
*
April 1st, 1220 hours
Outside JFK Int’l Airport
New York City, NY
The New York City Police Commissioner met with the JFK Airport Director and briefed him on the procedures to encapsulate the entire airport facility.
The Commissioner said, “The cordon will consist of two thousand five hundred Uniformed Police Officers, supported by our armored personnel carriers and SWAT Teams.
The Army is bringing in enough razor wire to surround the entire airport. They tell me that they are bringing sufficient personnel to have the wire in place before dark today. I sure wish that I could keep them, but the Oval Office is not quite ready for Martial Law.
Let’s see, it’s 12:30. I think the cordon is sufficient to keep those inside from sneaking through our lines. I’m sorry to say it, but anyone who does will become SWAT bait.”
“That sounds fine,” said the JFK Director, “I’ll allow the passengers sitting on the planes to offload back into the respective terminals.”
All of the doors leading out of the airport are locked and guarded. As soon as the passengers get off the planes those doors to the jetways will also be locked down and guarded.
I have asked all food vendors to remain open for as long as they have food to serve. I have also ordered that all alcohol sales be stopped as of 11:25 this morning. All alcohol is to be moved to storage in case we have a stampede or a riot. We have a lot of people jammed up and jelly tight.”
The Commissioner said, “Yes, I really do have a bad feeling about this whole deal.”
*
April 1st, 1240 hours
JFK Int’l Airport
New York City, NY
As the novelty of the dead woman faded, the passengers began to become agitated. Most said to anyone who would listen, “Hey, we weren’t even in the same terminal as the dead woman, so why do they insist we stay here. I’ve spent the last two weeks in hotels and airports. I want to get home.”
Breathing heavily of the stale, recycled air of the airport, the passengers continued to wander throughout the various terminals. Food shops quickly began to close as the food ran out.
Now people were saying, “Well, shit, if they are going to try to hold us here then they could, at least feed us.”
The mist continued to blow unseen from the A/C ducts where thousands of people partook of the invisible, tasteless vapor.
Sadly, nearly everyone in the terminal became infected with this strain of Ebola. A weaponized killer.
*
April 1st, 1245 hours
JFK Int’l Airport
New York City, NY
The CDC Mobile Response Team made their way along the tarmac directly to the gate to dial back the panic allowing them to get their equi
pment and portable lab up and running quickly.
The people trying to leave the airport were frightened, confused, and combative. They became even more frightened when they saw the people in the Tyvek suits walk from the large vans and into the terminal.
The team set up tables and test equipment efficiently and took samples from the people’s clothes, furniture, floors, and walls while others were taking samples from the stranded passengers and working staff.
Swabs were taken from the people’s mouths, skin, noses, and blood was drawn from each of them.
Another group of EIS officers began interviews to find out as much as they could about the circumstances before and after the event.
The CDC Doctor and all CDC personnel wore Tyvek suits. The Doctor leaned over the dead woman, who had been removed to the airport clinic. “Damn, this sure looks like the crap we saw in 2014 in Liberia. I can see why the folks panicked.”
“Let’s not jump to conclusions.”
“Jump to conclusions my ass, if that’s not Ebola I’ll kiss your ass and give you thirty minutes to draw a crowd and sell tickets.”
“Listen asshole, I’m telling you clearly to keep your mouth shut until we know for sure. Now come on, let’s get the body on the plane.
Yeah, it damned sure does look like that shit in Liberia; sorry about the asshole comment.”
Smiling the Doc said, “Forget it, George, I can be an asshole, of course not as big a one as you.”
“Ok, ok, let’s run the ReEBOV Antigen Rapid Test Kit, though I’m pretty sure what we’ll find.”
While waiting the fifteen minutes required for the ReEBOV test to tell the tale, the Doctors began the initial inspection. “Good Lord, look at this, she’s wearing several soiled diapers. I think I am very glad that I’m wearing this Tyvek; the smell must be awful.
I can’t imagine how she was able to do this with full-blown Ebola symptoms… wait… have the testers run drug tests. I’ll bet she has enough drugs, meth, pain pills, anti-diarrheal and anti-vomiting crap in her system to kill her without the Ebola. Make a note to study whatever is in her system. It might lead us somewhere helpful down the road.
She was bleeding from every opening in her body. Okay, I’ve seen enough, let’s get her tagged, bagged and off to Atlanta.”
One of the assisting EMTs asked, “Doctor, do you think we could start running some blood testing of the passengers? Tests for Ebola that we can run here rather than wait for Atlanta.”
“Oh, I don’t really think so, but yeah, good idea; let’s not leave any stone unturned. Go ahead and run, say fifty samples and let’s see what we’ve got.”
“Yes Doctor, on the way.”
*
April 1st 1500 hours
JFK Int’l Airport
New York City, NY
One of the CDC techs taking blood samples and running the field tests reported to the Lead Doctor. “Doctor, you’re not going to believe this but we have taken fifteen blood samples, and after running the field test we found thirteen positive tests for Ebola.”
“Son, that is simply not possible. There is no way people could already be showing infection. At the very earliest, it would be tomorrow before anyone was showing positive. Run them again.”
“Yes sir,” said the frustrated technician, but Doc I gotta tell you the results will be the same. The samples were properly taken and the test properly administered. They’re positive sir, but, of course, I’ll rerun the blood and field test right away.”
Turning to one of the other attending physicians he said, “He had to have made a mistake. It’s just not possible for anyone to show positive after only four hours.”
The physician looked at his boss and said, “George, five minutes ago I also would have been sure that there was no way anyone could be positive so quickly, but you have to admit that this strain has at least one other trait that I would have said was not currently possible… it appears to be airborne.”
“Oh, sweet Jesus if anyone has escaped we could have a worldwide pandemic on our hands.”
The Doctor excused himself and placed a call to Director Hardin at the CDC. “Hello Director, I have some disturbing theories for you. Are you sitting down and are you ready?”
The Director said, “Yes to both, what have you found?”
“Okay, but don’t fire me, because this is nuts. First, we have discovered that this is a new strain of Ebola. It is so virulent that thirteen of fifteen subjects given the field test show positive after being exposed for no more than four hours.”
“What? That’s crazy. Did you rerun the tests?”
“Yes, of course, we did, and the result was exactly the same. The lab tests are more accurate, but all of the ReEBOV tests were positive. We can’t wait for the lab tests. Sir that may not be the worst of it. This strain is airborne.”
“Oh Dear God, are you sure?”
“Sir, so far we have found nine aerosol cans that all show positive for Ebola and something else that we have yet to identify.”
“All right, listen, I’ll meet with General Olfield at Fort Detrick and give him the bad news, and ask him to send more of everything.
We have potentially twenty-four thousand patients that in a few days will develop full-blown Ebola.
I’ll also send a full component to assist you. You are in charge from the CDC perspective. Oh, and have the tech that is doing the blood testing send the video of his work directly to me, and to Dr. Gibbons. Make that super quick my friend.”
After ending the connection, Director Hardin called his secretary and directed her to find Dr. Gibbons and get her to his office.
*
Five minutes later
CDC Headquarters
Atlanta, Georgia
“CDC Director Hardin called Dr. Cynthia Gibbons to his office and said, “Cindy, I want you to take leadership on the Ebola outbreak in New York. Dr. George No will conduct a conference call with us in 15 minutes. Get Boo and join me in the conference room next door. This was a terrorist act, but we are keeping that close to the chest until the authorities are ready to let the public know.”
“Are they sure it’s Ebola?”
“Yes, well as sure as we can be from just the field test, however it appears to be a modified strain, and we only know the one victim’s symptoms are very similar to Ebola. Samples should arrive within the hour for further testing. Cindy, one more thing, it's airborne.”
“Oh shit.”
“A big oh shit. It appears that everyone at JFK was exposed and some flights left before the Airport Authority locked the place down. The ramifications could be catastrophic.”
Be prepared to join a task force made up of several agencies to chase down the source of the virus.”
“What will happen after we find the source?”
“That’s when you come home, and the perps are arrested and brought to justice.”
“You mean bombs and bullets fly.”
“Yes, and I prefer that to Ebola spreading around the world.”
“John, are you moving your family to a safe place?”
“Yes, I have a cabin in Idaho. I called my wife, and she is driving there as we speak in our motor home with my parents and the kids. Her parents live in Idaho, so they are busy stocking the place.”
“You think it will get that bad?”
“I don’t know, but I do know there are potentially hundreds of people who may be infected with a new, possibly weaponized strain of Ebola who have flown to several destinations around the world. The lockdown protocols went into place at JFK, which started a panic, but no one escaped according to Airport security and the NYPD.
Cindy, if I were you, I’d tell my family to head to a remote part of the country on a two-week vacation. By then it will either blow over, or it won’t matter. Tell them not to tell anyone about this, or we’ll have mass panic.”
Dr. Gibbons thought that cow might be out of the barn, too.
*
April 1st, 1800 hours<
br />
JFK Int’l Airport
New York City, NY
By 6:00 p.m., the CDC had initiated a full court press on JFK. The Army and Air Force were setting up their hanger hospitals, complete with P4 labs.
An old National Guard hanger was being set up to house those who were possibly infected.
Most would die there, as death hung heavy in the air.
*
Field kitchens were brought in, and meal preparation had begun one mile from the airport proper.
My good friend, Mr. A.J. Newman has just released the first book of a new series:
Adventures in the Apocalypse
Here is the first chapter of his new novel.
Cities on Fire:
A Family’s Apocalypse
by
AJ Newman
✼
Chapter 1
Day One – A Bad Day Gets Worse
They were driving along Algonquin Parkway in Louisville when Walt saw the sign for the Dixie Highway up ahead.
“Let’s stop at Al’s and get a couple of burgers Doll.”
“I could go for a burger,” his partner replied.
“Okay, I’ll call into the station and tell them.”
“Tell Sarge to have you stop calling me Doll.”
They had been assigned to patrol on the west side of Louisville for six months now and had only run into general domestic disturbances, bicycle thefts, and a few drug busts. They didn’t encounter anything that ended up being dangerous or too exciting for that matter. The west end of Louisville was the low-income area of the town and was populated with lower middle class and poor blacks and whites. It had a bad reputation that was much worse than reality.