The Oort Plague

by Cliff Deane

  I accept that you can call me back to active duty, but I also request that because of her specialized training and education, she certainly meets current Medical Corps requirements to be given a direct commission to First Lieutenant. Please understand, sir that I am not making any demands, here, I am simply pleading a case to request your special consideration for commissioning, sir.”

  General Merritt leaned back in his chair and smiled at both Jake and Gale. He said, “Captain, that was an eloquent and passionate plea to commission Miss Gale Storm. In the last few days, I have commissioned many an enlisted man to the Officer Corps with far fewer credentials than Gale. The President and General Morse have given broad powers to me in such matters. First Lieutenant Storm, welcome to the United States Army. Jake, may I assume that you will teach her the rudimentary courtesies of the military, you know, saluting and such?”

  “Yes, sir,” said Jake as he turned to Gale saying, “Bubbala, say thank you to the General.”

  Gale was far more proper in her bearing than Jake. She said, “Thank you, General, I promise to work hard to make you know you have made the right decision, sir.”

  Merritt then swore both into the Army for a term not to exceed six months beyond the conclusion of the Mag War. Following this ceremony, with the Command Sergeant Major looking on as a witness, all four again sat at the table to hear the plan for Jake’s small unit.

  “Captain,” said the General, “My vision of your unit, name it what you wish, will consist of no less than thirteen personnel. I envision the following:

  Commander

  XO

  Senior NCO, rank E7

  Doctor

  2 Nurses

  2 Medics

  7 Man Security Team

  1 each E-6, Staff Sergeant

  6 each E-4 and below

  “This, of course, is just a baseline estimate. Should the need arise, we will increase the number of personnel to suit the individual mission. The Command Sergeant Major will work with you to flesh out the personnel. This brings us to your first assignment. Your team will be flown to Atlanta to initiate a database on Mag culture. The CDC also wants a Mag child for study and research.”

  Jake said, “That’s all you want, sir? Now let me get this straight. Basically, you want us to just casually hang out with a Mag Clan, then steal one of their children? I think we should also need to keep in mind that the youngest of their children will be from around eleven to thirteen, right? Well, from what I have gleaned from my study of the Mags, eleven or twelve is an adult.”

  Merritt smiled at his Command Sergeant Major and said, “See, Sergeant Major, I told you he would catch on right away.”

  “Oh, yes sir,” replied the Sergeant Major, “but, I can’t wait to hear how he plans to kidnap a Mag kid.”

  “Yes, sir,” snapped Jake, “How do you propose that we accomplish the snatch?”

  The General smiled, shrugged his shoulders and said, “Oh, come on Captain, you’ll think of something.”

  Turning to Gale, Jake said, “Yeah, right, heaven help us, we’re in the hands of maniacs.”

  “Good, now can you think of anything else you might need in the way of equipment?”

  “Yes, sir, off-hand I think we’ll need a dart gun with anesthesia to knock the kid and any adults with him out cold. I also want each team member to receive an AI linked to our commo, which needs to be added to the team.”

  “Done. The Sergeant Major will coordinate whatever you need. Oh, I forgot to mention that you are scheduled to depart for Atlanta in three days. Jake, you have carte blanche here, but you also need to have a sense of urgency putting together your team, Roger?”

  “Yes, sir, is there anything else I need to know?”

  Merritt stood, shook Jake’s hand and said, “Captain, your missions may be many and varied. They may take you, well, wherever you are needed. Sergeant Major, please give the good Captain and his XO whatever support he needs. This team is your number one priority for the next three days, Roger?”

  “Roger sir,” said the Command Sergeant Major.

  General Merritt then stood up, signaling that the meeting was over. After shaking hands and wishing Jake well, the Sergeant Major escorted Jake, Gale, and Russell back to his office, where the planning phase of Operation Snatch would begin in earnest.

  Back in the Command Sergeant Major’s office the equipment list and personnel (TO&E) was fleshed out.

  “Iz,” said Jake, “the team will also need an XO. If an experienced Officer is unavailable, I have no problem with commissioning a combat proven NCO to a First Lieutenant. In fact, let’s go that route and promote a proven NCO.”

  Gale interrupted saying, “Wait, I thought I was the XO, whatever that is.”

  “Yes, and that is exactly why I want combat, field experience in that position. You will remain by my side to learn about the military, tactics, and decorum. Gale, I hope you don’t take offense here, but I need someone who has been in real combat in our leadership positions. As you gain that experience, your duties and responsibilities will increase, okay?”

  “Yeah, when I think about it, I realize that’s the right path to follow. Okay, sir, make a leader out of me.”

  “LT,” said a serious Captain Abraham, “you are already a leader, I have to turn you into a soldier. If I didn’t think you were that leader, I would never have asked for your commissioning.”

  7 April 2118

  Cairo, Egypt

  Cairo, much like every country in the world that failed to allow firearms to be owned by their citizens became bleeding grounds as the Mags decimated the unarmed populace. By the time Humans managed to group themselves into defensive perimeters, the battle for supremacy was already lost. The Mags soon came to avoid these defenses until those Humans either starved or came out to find food and water. Those who came out failed to return.

  Cairo was a city of nearly fifty million people before the Mag-Flu struck. This reduced the population by nearly 90%, to roughly six million. The death toll was far above the first world average of a 75% reduction in population. When the Mags appeared, the population was reduced another 50%, to around three million.

  The Mags took a terrible toll of Human survivors, and hygienic diseases took the remainder. In less than a month, Egypt and most other countries were under the sole ownership of the Cro-Magnons. Entire ethnic groups just disappeared within weeks of the Mag’s appearance.

  Throughout the Middle East, only those countries where firearms were readily available were able to stave off the Mag infestation. Israel’s population dropped to fifty-thousand when the sick went into hiding. Only discipline, freedom to own firearms, and the Grace of God saved the Jews from extinction.

  7 April 2118

  Switzerland

  Switzerland was the most successful nation in Europe to secure their nation against the Mag attacks. Gun ownership saved this traditionally neutral nation, while the other nations of the European Union began to fall like ten-pins. Ancient fortresses once again resumed the role of defense. The surviving militaries of these nations began a program of arming the populace, which blunted the Mag assault upon Humanity. Still, the populations were so decimated that there could be no stopping the new Dark Age that would spread across Europe, Asia, and East Asia.

  7 April 2118

  Beijing, China

  Within days of the Mag emergence, the Asian world suffered to the point of near extinction. China was hit especially hard as the military was forbidden to issue weapons to the Chinese people, for fear of a counter-revolution against the ruling Communist State.

  Should Mankind survive this Mag War, the world’s maps would see dramatic revisions.

  9 April 2118

  175th Ranger Regimental HQ

  Fort Benning, GA

  Jakes team had fleshed out well, and the team was set to fly to Atlanta the following day, via Ch47. The plan was to land in front of the CDC to establish, and secure, a small perimeter around the Shnook. From there Captain Ab
raham, First Lieutenant Storm, and Sergeant Russell would begin the away mission.

  Once word got out about the formation of a special team to study the Mag Culture and to carry out missions that would put them at the pointy end of the spear, the Command Sergeant Major had a long list of volunteers. However, due to the nature of the upcoming missions, the recruits volunteering for the Security Section were limited to Rangers only, in the rank of E-7 and below.

  Jake would have been happy to have Staff Sergeant Frank Lusk assigned to the team, but he had been given other duties involving the capture and securing of one of the many food distribution centers nearest to Fort Benning.

  The Mags in the immediate areas surrounding Fort Benning outnumbered General Merritt’s force by several hundred to one, but the Soldiers were supremely confident in their force multiplier; firearms.

  10 April 2118 0700

  Headquarters, 175th Ranger Regiment,

  Fort Benning

  Staff Sergeant Lusk and his Assistant-Squad Leader sat at General Merritt’s Conference Table as the new Division G-3 (Plans and Ops) stood before a computer-generated map of the insertion point for their portion of Operation Trap.

  “Sergeant, as you can see, the objective is to insert your force into the Walmart Supercenter located at 385 Callaway Church Rd, Lagrange, GA, which is due north of the Benning Front Gate.

  “Sergeant Lusk, your force is the lynchpin of the entire operation. You must take and hold the Walmart position. Your squad has been reinforced with:

  Squad Leader

  Asst. Squad Leader

  12 Squad Machine Gunners

  22 Infantrymen/Standard Issue Rifle

  4 Grenadiers

  2 each, Medics, Combat

  12 each, Squad Machine Guns

  4 each, Auto Launchers, Grenade

  40 each, Sidearms, 9 mm

  120,000 each, 7.62 Ball, Linked

  28,000 each, 7.62 Ball, Loose

  800 each, Grenades, Auto Launched, 40 mm

  4,000 each, 9mm Ball, Loose

  Rations to come from Walmart canned goods

  40 each, sets of Body Armor

  AI for each Squad Member connected to Intranet and Squad Commo Section

  Squad Leader/Asst. Squad Leader AI also connected to Fort Benning Mission Control.

  “Staff Sergeant Frank Lusk, your objective is considered pivotal to Operation Snag. You will be choppered in to the parking lot of the Walmart Supercenter. This insertion will begin the data baseline for the creation of a Standard Operating Procedure (SOP). These early movements to contact will:

  “Establish the groundwork to find the best and safest ways to secure and defend captured objectives.

  “This is deemed a requirement, as each objective will serve as an anchor for each new Operational Mission to attack and eliminate the Mag threat.

  “It will also allow a safe transit arena to feed both military and the local civilian populace. The third mission goal is to engage and destroy any Mags encroaching upon your outpost.

  “Once an outpost is secured, additional troops will be brought in to begin the mission to search out and destroy any and all Mags in the immediate area.

  “Once you have secured your objective, two Battalions of Infantry will arrive via helicopter to begin establishing a line to the south of your position. Two battalions of Infantry will simultaneously exit the Benning Main Gate and push north.

  “Once these two pincers meet, they will move west, trapping all Mags between the two battalions and the Chattahoochee River. Upon completion of this mission, we will have established a corridor to allow unfettered movement throughout this entire area of roughly ninety square miles. This operation is named Trap, and it is anticipated to take up to ninety days to complete.

  “Hundreds of small drones, capable of detecting infrared heat signatures, will move just ahead of the ground forces. The drones will transmit the location of any living thing larger than a house cat to ground control which will then send forces to eliminate any enemy targets. Human civilians will be sent to the rear where they will receive medical check-ups or aid, as required.

  “We will not be using Artillery, Armor, or Gunships as we do not want to destroy buildings or infrastructure.

  “This initial campaign is intended to create a Mag-free zone to allow the open movement of men and materiel to provide the systematic elimination of any Mag infestation.

  “It has been decided to use Walmart Stores as the origination points of insertion as they are in wide distribution and readily recognizable for planning purposes.

  “Success of this Operation will prove the concept, and similar Operations from Forts across the U.S. will commence.

  “Staff Sergeant Lusk had no significant questions concerning his portion of Operation Trap. He would attack, destroy any enemy present, secure, and hold his Mission Objective until properly relieved. He chuckled to himself that the briefer could have just said, “Take it and hold it, Soldier.”

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  THE DIARY

  10 April 2118 0900

  Temp Office, Captain Abraham

  Fort Benning

  Jake’s 175th Ranger Regiment’s, Special Mag Operations Group (Provisional), or the 175th SMOG was shaping up, but way too slowly. The initial plan was for him to have departed Fort Benning for the CDC in Atlanta on the 9th of April. Unfortunately, several of the key players had either not been available or, as yet, found.

  Captain Jake Abraham lamented the fact that the air assets originally slated to fly his unit were unavailable. The aircraft were plentiful, but pilots were now in short supply. This lack of assets meant that SMOG would be forced to increase their Tactical Operation Equipment and personnel to maintain them. Again, the problem was not materiel, but personnel.

  Jake looked over the newly authorized equipment and personnel lists and sighed. “Izzy, the size of SMOG is getting out of hand, hell, soon we’ll be at company strength, and now the G-3 (Plans and Ops) says we need more Grunts to improve security.”

  General Merritt’s Command Sergeant Major smiled at Jake and said, “Sir, more equipment and support personnel means more Grunts with bullet launchers. We have to protect the equipment and the unit personnel, especially the Med folks.”

  “Okay, I get that, but the plan to ease in quietly, make the snatch and get out without being spotted is now out the window. Hell, we’ve got clerks, supply, fuel, maintenance, and I’m sure that isn’t all. And, if we are spotted, we will come under attack.”

  “Yes, sir, that is a reasonable assessment, but please don’t forget, the overriding mission is to eliminate the Mag infestation. And from what I see here in your new TO&E, you are going to have the opportunity to contribute to that mission.”

  “Sergeant Major, I know all that, but we, as the President so eloquently put it, are supposed to be Sneaky Pete’s, not front-line Grunts.”

  Looking just a bit more serious now, Sergeant Major Sanders said, “Sir, you know the exigencies of the Service supersede everything else. So, it comes down to hurry up and wait, be flexible, and accomplish any and all assigned missions. Come on, sir, you know all this.”

  “Yeah, I know, Izzy, but if we have to hurry up and wait much longer SMOG will become a battalion, and I definitely ain’t qualified to run one of those.”

  “Yes, sir, I understand, and I promise that I am doing the best I can to get you on the road.”

  “Okay, okay, how much longer?”

  Sergeant Major Sanders said, “Hopefully not more than another week. Operation Trap has priority, and that is why you will just have to wait until we can muster up your requirements.”

  10 April 2118

  Amish Country

  Pennsylvania

  Lancaster, Pennsylvania was a beautiful area of farms, peaceful people, and quaint horse-drawn carriages, that is, until the Mags arrived. Many an Amish farmer tried to communicate with these creatures. Having suffered their own losses, and realizing the Mags were once huma
n, these non-violent people tried to meet with them and offer help. The Amish were immediately killed, down to every last living soul. Sling blades quickly became the weapon of choice, replacing the club of the Cro-Magnon Man. An ancient form of the age-old Arms Race had begun.

  The Amish, Quakers, and all others who sought peace over protecting themselves and their families were quickly overrun. Their existence would be only a memory; a small footnote in future history texts.

  By 2118, nearly 75% of all American households held, at least, one firearm. Unfortunately, only a small percentage of the surviving population heard the President’s warning to go armed. Those that did hear and followed this advice held up well against the new invader, but a shortage of ammunition often became the downfall of even the bravest of Human Souls.

  Churches overflowed and sadly became killing fields. What seemed to have become lost in Church teachings was one simple and basic fact. God gave Man dominion over all things upon the Earth and was given Free Will to decide his own path. It appears that God, having given this gift of Free Will, left Man to stew in his own juices if he screwed it up.

  10 April 2118 0900

  Flight Line (Helicopter),

  Fort Benning

  Staff Sergeant Lusk’s reinforced squad had become a platoon. They mounted the waiting helicopters and were quickly transported to the Walmart Supercenter located at 385 Callaway Church Rd, at Lagrange.

  10 April 2118 0900

  Walmart Supercenter

  Lagrange, GA

  Two Mags had discovered the Walmart at Lagrange on the second day of their rebirth. Over the next few days, they found others suitable to become Clan members and by 10 April their numbers had grown to nearly two-hundred.

  The Cro-Magnon Man was ignorant, meaning uneducated, but they were far from stupid. As a result, they very quickly learned how to open plastic and cardboard containers of meats and such items as cereals.