The Oort Plague

by Cliff Deane

  “Any combat jumps, Top?”

  “Yes, sir, two in Colombia and three in Berzerkistan. Our Company has made seven deployments in the last twelve years. I was a Staff Sergeant back then. In two of our deployments, we were utilized as Straight Leg Infantry.”

  “Impressive resume, Top, but I don’t currently have a billet for a First Sergeant. Would you consider a promotion to Command Sergeant Major, working directly for me?” chuckled General Merritt.

  Upon hearing that the General had no billet for him, turned Izzy’s smile into a frown, until he heard the General’s offer. Now, an enormous smile lit his face, and for the first time in a week, his eyes became bright.

  “Oh, hell yes, er, I mean, yes sir, I would like that.”

  “Good man, now please go find Sergeant Malone for an introduction and situation report (SitRep). Welcome aboard,” said Merritt as he reached out to shake the hand of his new Command Sergeant Major into the command.

  Jake interrupted and asked about the bodies of his team.

  Sergeant Major Sanders said, “Excuse me, General, I was also planning on directing Sergeant Malone to secure the bodies from the wrecked vehicle. We’ll transport them back to Benning for burial.”

  “Good plan, see to it,” answered the General.

  “Hey, Top, er, I mean, Sergeant Major, what about the other bodies?” asked Jake.

  Sanders simply said, in a way that left no question as to his meaning, “What other bodies?”

  Merritt then shook hands with Jake and said, “Professor, you have become quite famous in the last few hours. I just spoke with President Holcomb. He asked me to make sure that I met with you and request that you come to Fort Benning for briefings and conversations with the President.”

  Jakes cautious radar flared on his mind’s screen as he said, “General, I didn’t know that the VPOTUS was now the President. What happened?”

  Tom’s face sagged just a bit, as he said, “The President’s bunker at Mount Weather was exposed to the Mag-Flu for only seconds, and that was enough. President Greene became ill and turned. There were few survivors. Vice-President Holcomb was in the Cheyenne Mountain Facility and was sworn in as President. He’s a good man, Professor Abraham and I think he just might be the man.”

  “General,” said Jake, “I’m not sure I want to be placed in a situation that I can’t get out of. It’s not that I don’t trust you, no, wait a second, I guess, since I don’t know you, well, no, I don’t fully trust you. Looking around I realize that you have the manpower to force us to go with you, but if you do that, you will never know if what I tell you is true, or just lies because I’d be pissed off.”

  Tom Merritt laughed before saying, “Well, sir, I guess I understand your position, but a couple of your assertions are inaccurate. Primarily, the President has ordered that no one is to be forced into servitude or held against their will. If you come to Benning, you come of your own volition.

  “If you wish to continue on as you are, there are two things I will do. Number one is to relieve you of the data on the Mags so the material can get to the CDC as quickly as possible. The second thing is that, since you are down to only four in your little group, I will allow you to keep two of these borrowed U.S. Army vehicles and if you are short of ammunition, we will give you what we have with us. I know that NG Armories don’t normally have ammunition on-site. I wish I could offer more, but that is about all we have here. Is this acceptable to you?”

  “General Merritt,” said a thankful, though still somewhat skeptical Jacob Abraham, “I will pass on your offer and ask if any of my people wish to go with you.”

  Tom smiled and said, “Fair enough, but would you mind making a video recording of our meeting, along with your concerns; anything you think might be of use to the President?”

  “Of course, I’ll get right on it and have it ready by the time you have the extra vehicle loaded on the CH47. If you’ll excuse me, General, I’d like to speak with my crew now.”

  “Of course,” replied Tom, “you know where to find me when you are ready.”

  Jake turned to the remaining three members of the original Dig Team. Getting right to the point, Jake said, “Well, my friends, we have come to a potential crossroads. General Merritt will take the data and get it to the CDC. He has also offered to take us to Fort Benning for some debriefings for President Holcomb. Apparently, President Greene died of the Mag-Flu.

  “I told him that I did not intend to go with him at this time. I expected him to object and insist that we accompany him. He surprised me when he said that we were free to go. He also promised ammunition for the Machine Guns and said we could keep two of the vehicles. So, okay, I need to know what you would like to do.”

  Sarah spoke up first saying, “Professor Abraham, I hope you will understand, but I want to go to the CDC. Always looking over my shoulder for monsters is not for me, so I’ll take the relative safety option.”

  Frank also apologized and said, “Sir, I think I’d like to go with the General and re-up.”

  Jake gave them his blessing and directed them to the General. This left only Jake and Gale. Looking at Gale, Jake asked, “Well, Gale, what is your preference?”

  “Jake, my love, I’ll go anywhere with you, you know that but how safe can we be on our own, I mean, just the two of us?”

  He looked at Gale and said, “Yes, I know you’re right, but I am loathe to trust anyone in the government, especially at a time like this, but yeah, we can’t afford to be unrealistic. Come on, let’s go tell the Generalissimo that we will go with him.”

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  ONCE A SHEEPDOG…

  6 April 2118, 0910

  Headquarters, 175th Ranger Regiment,

  Fort Benning, GA

  Command Sergeant Major Israel Sanders greeted Jake and Gale as they entered the General’s outer office. “Jake, I didn’t get a chance to say this at the ambush site; I want you to know how happy I am that you accepted the General’s invitation.”

  “Hi, Iz, it’s good to see you, too. Is the General in, we have an appointment.”

  “Yes and no,” smiled the Command Sergeant Major, he’s over in the Post Headquarters building in the Commo Room. He’ll meet both y’all there.”

  “All right, but why there?” asked Jake.

  “Well, you two being celebrities and all, President Holcomb is anxious to meet up with you.”

  “Yeah, well, I guess I should have expected as much. Okay, are you coming?

  Before Iz could answer, Gale interrupted, saying, “Whoa, wait just one damned minute. I can’t meet the President looking like this. Come on, Jake, I look like a refugee. No way, uh huh, I have to fix my hair and get some decent clothes. He’ll just have to wait.”

  Jake and Izzy laughed at the idea of making the President of the United States wait so Gale could fix her hair. “Come on, Gale, you look scrumptious, but even if you didn’t, we still can’t keep The Man waiting, so come on, let’s go.”

  Now Gale’s eyes became those of a deer in the headlights as she said, “Oh, Jacob, I look like a schlemiel.”

  Izzy chimed in with, “Gale, he’s right, you look fantastic, and what is a schlemiel?”

  Now Gale began to regain her sense of humor, “Izzy, a schlemiel is someone who looks like a bum or a klutz, and right now that defines me. Come on, Jake, do I really have to go now?”

  “Ayup,” said Jake as they got into the Command Sergeant Major’s carryall.

  “Oh, all right, but you both know that you are gonna pay for my embarrassment, right?”

  “Come on, hon…”

  “Oh no, don’t you honey me,” but the corners of her mouth betrayed the hint of a smile.

  Seven minutes later, Jacob, Gale, and Izzy, were ushered into the large Conference Room by the General’s Aide, Captain Mark Meadows.

  As the three entered the room, Tom raised his head from his tablet containing briefing notes. He smiled when he saw his new friends and said, “Jake, Gale, Sergean
t Major Sanders, it’s good to see you. I must say that your timing is impeccable; the meeting with the President and his Staff starts in ten minutes. I know everyone was certainly tired and stressed out last night, so I think we should go over the events of the ambush one more time. Ladies first, Gale, if you would please tell us your experience in the ambush.”

  “Oh, sure,” said Gale, “well, let’s see, I was driving while Jake was looking over a road map of Atlanta to get to the CDC. Damned truck had no GPS. We were in the number three position, right behind the vehicle that blew a tire. When it went, I mean it went flat fast. The tire seemed to disintegrate in the first few feet or so.

  “I saw Eddie try to recover, but the vehicle was beyond that ever happening. It veered into a concrete abutment on the right which sent it veering back to the left and into the median. Once it went there, the vehicle began to roll two times. I’d guess that Eddie and Gwen were killed almost at once. At that point, I was stopped, so I jumped from the carry-all and ran down into the ditch to see if I could help Eddie or Gwen.

  “The gunfire began just as I reached the edge of the ditch. I don’t really know more than that because while the others were engaging the shooters, I kept trying to get to my friends.

  “General, that pretty much sums up my portion of the incident. Though, I must say that I find it awfully coincidental that there were shooters right where Frank’s tire blew. Did they shoot the tire?”

  General Merritt said, “thank you, Gale, good report, and no, we found a nail-filled board still stuck to a part of the tire. You definitely ran into an ambush.”

  Turning to Jake, Merritt said, “Jake, tell us what happened from your perspective.”

  “Yes, sir, sure, the Sergeant Major and I came together at the top of the ditch, but when the firing started Izzy told me to take Frank and secure the left side of the roadway. At that time, we didn’t know that the shooters were only on the right side. In hindsight, it seems to me that those bastards didn’t have a clue about how to set up a crossfire ambush, and actually, I’m very happy about that.

  “Frank and I took up covered positions on the far side of the ditch and basically just set up a small blocking position. It was the Sergeant Major who took off toward the shooters. Unfortunately, as they ran across the road, obliquely from the rifle fire, Ibrahim took two rounds squarely in the chest.

  “Sir, I don’t really know the details of what happened next, but I do know that if Iz hadn’t flanked the ambushers, well, we might all be dead. All I know for sure is that he took out all three of those murderous bastards, all by himself.”

  “Thank you, Jake,” said Merritt, and turning to his new Command Sergeant Major, Merritt said, “So, Izzy, is it? Apparently, you neglected to fully detail your contribution to this little firefight. I think you should be a bit more forthcoming and tell us exactly what you did, and don’t you dare give me any, aw-shucks humble pie, hit wuzn’t nuthin, crap. Come on, out with it.”

  Sanders was caught off guard from his General’s tone and said, “Yes, sir, well, um, sir, I just did what my training told me to do. I made it to the wood line on the enemies left flank, then I crept up behind them. The dumbasses had no rear security, at all. So, the first thing I did was to take out the one on the left and then that other dirtball on my right. Using my silenced rifle, the asshat in the middle didn’t know what happened to his buddies. Finally, he panicked and tried to run away, which brought him straight to me.

  “I wanted some answers, so I shot him in his right shoulder, cause that’s the hand he had his piece in. I told him not to reach for any weapon as I approached him. Before he went to hell, he told me that he and two other road gang prisoners had been freed the day before by the Warden. That was when he expired, and I left him there along with the others to rot, hell, sir, the buzzards got to eat same as the worms.

  “That was when I heard the gunships coming in, so I went back to the road, laid down my weapon, waved, and smiled my friendliest toothy grin.”

  General Merritt smiled and said, “Well said, Sergeant Major, colorful, but well said. Bright and early this morning, Frank Lusk came to the Sergeant Major and offered to enlist. He is now back in harness as a Staff Sergeant. Jake, the Sergeant Major tells me that you are also prior service, a grunt, I understand. He also said you came out an E-5 Buck Sergeant. That about right?”

  “Yes, sir, I joined up right out of High School for three years in Germany but ended up here at Benning and then in Berzerkistan.”

  “Um, huh,” asked the General, “and is that all, Jake?”

  “Well, yes sir, I was just your normal, ordinary straight leg grunt; did my three years, then went to college on my GI Bill at the University of Charleston. I took my Master’s from the West Virginia College of Graduate Studies and finished up my Ph.D. at West Virginia University. Following that, I was hired on as a Teaching Professor in Paleontology, and later I added Archaeology. Beyond that, sir, I don’t know what else to add.”

  “Oh, really,” said Merritt, “didn’t you leave out that little part about a Bronze Star, Silver Star, Combat Infantry Badge, and a Purple Heart?”

  Talking about his exploits in combat always embarrassed Jake, and he responded by saying, “Well, yes sir, there is that, but really, both incidents were blown way out of proportion. I just happened to be at the wrong place at the right time, not to mention the fact that I was also damned lucky enough to get out alive.”

  Merritt looked at Sanders and said, “There, Iz, you see what I mean with that humble pie crap. Let me tell you what his record says. While on patrol his squad was ambushed, two men immediately went down with serious injuries. One of those men was the Radioman. Now guess who ran out into live enemy fire to retrieve, not only the Radioman but the wounded Squad Leader. In the process, young Sergeant Abraham took a through and through round just below his liver. He then established firing points in an attempt to hold out until help could arrive.

  “Let’s not forget that he had a through and through wound just below the liver. Did he lay down and demand the Squad Medic see to his wound? Nope, he took command of the situation because the Squad Leader was unconscious from a head wound. The only medical assistance he received was the packing of his wounds with clotting cloth to stop his bleeding. Sergeant Abraham’s leadership and poise while under attack saved the lives of every man on that patrol, by keeping the enemy at bay for ten minutes until the gunships arrived to clear the area for the Reaction Force.

  “Personally, I think he should have received the Medal of Honor, but that’s neither here nor there. Professor Jacob Abraham, the saying is once a Sheep Dog, always a Sheep Dog, congratulations, Jake, you have just been recalled to active duty with the rank of Captain.”

  Gale dragged Jake into the hallway and said, “What? Just say no, or even hell no, I won’t go. Burn your draft card, whatever.”

  “Gale, this is still the United States of America, and the oath I took wasn’t voided when I finished my three-year hitch. Gale, my sweet, if I don’t go, I’ll be a deserter, and if I get caught, they’ll probably send me to the CDC as a guinea pig. Besides, we might be able to be of some use.”

  “We?” asked Gale.

  “Hey, if I have to go, I’d like you with me.”

  “I don’t know,” said Gale, “I love you, but…”

  “Come on, Bubbala (Boo-buh-luh), we’ll be together and, besides, where would you go, and what would you do? Don’t forget that it was you who said that we wouldn’t be safe with just the three of us.”

  “Yeah,” said Gale, “there is that. Oh, what the hell, I guess I’m in if you think it’s best. But, Jake, what will I be, a Private? Wait a minute, what do you mean by just the three of us?” asked a confused Gale.

  Jake laughed and said, “You, me, and Russell, of course.”

  Both laughed as they got ready for the President’s meeting. Gale had forgotten all about her hair. As they walked back into the Conference Room, Gale elbowed Jake and whispered, “Bubbala? Y
ou always seem to slip in some Yiddish when you want to soft-soap me. You could have just said something like Darling, you know.”

  “Yes, I could have, but I like the sound of my little Bubbala better.”

  The Cheyenne Mountain Presidential Conference Room came online at 1000 hours. Introductions were made all around, then Jake, Gale, and Izzy, all had to again go over their stories of the ambush. As a courtesy, the President also asked about the Dig site and the Team. Jake began his tale from the beginning and ended with the ambush. The only thing he left out was the Walmart incident involving Frank.

  The President and his Staff listened intently to Jake’s story. Holcomb finally said, “Captain Abraham, I just want to personally thank you for the data you provided the CDC. Your team member, sorry, I forget her name, oh, wait, yes, Sarah, yes, that’s it, seems very happy to be there. I have instructed Dr. Deen to offer her an AI that will be connected to your commo section. In this way, she can keep you up to date, and informed about her duties there. I just thought you might want to keep in minimal touch, at least. Captain Abraham, General Morse and I have discussed your mission with General Merritt. He will go over it with you following this meeting. I hope you haven’t forgotten your sneaky-Pete experiences in Berzerkistan.”

  Jake’s eyes darted to Merritt who just smiled back at him.

  Following the video meeting with Cheyenne Mountain, Jake, Gale, and Russell, who laid at Jake’s feet, sat down with General Merritt. The General was just a bit concerned about Gale being in the meeting, and he asked Jake if her presence was necessary.

  Before Gale could get out of her seat to leave, in a huff, Jake looked into the General’s eyes and said, “General Merritt, Gale Storm holds a Ph.D. in Paleontology which will be of imminent importance in our fight against these Mags. She is my partner, she is disciplined, good with firearms, and not afraid of anything, so please, let’s get her role sorted out right away, sir.