by Deane, Cliff
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 really 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
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.
***
This section is a reference in case you get confused as to who is who. Primary Character List:
Levi L. Levins –Retired U.S. Army, Sergeant First Class (SFC/E-7), Captain, then Colonel, Troop A, Defiance Militia
Sarah C. Levins –Married to Levi, no children, Supervisory E.R. Nurse
Ralph M. Basset -Owner Patriot Arms Gun Shop, Mayor of Defiance
Ben Smith – Manager of Patriot Arms Gun Store, Levi’s Executive Officer (XO), a quintessential manager
Bradley Cobb – Combat wounded in Berzerkistan and medically retired from Army as Staff Sergeant (Ssgt/E-6), promoted to Troop A, First Sergeant (1st Sgt, Top)
Mike Guyardo – Combat wounded in Kandahar, lost foot, Sergeant (Sgt) / Lieutenant / Captain, Marine Force Recon assigned instructor duties for Afghanistan (Berzerkistan) Army.
Scott Eldridge - Former Army Ranger Sergeant, Sgt / Ssgt / Cpt / Major / Lt. Col. (whew), Walmart Store Manager
The Doctors Monroe
(Tom and Faith) – Defiance Medicos
Jordan Daniels – Worshipful Master Masonic Lodge members of The Widow’s Sons motorcycle club…good guys.
About the Authors
Cliff Deane grew up in South Charleston, West Virginia. At 17, he left school and joined the U.S. Cavalry, as a Private. 35 years later, he retired as a Lt. Colonel, spending 10 years Enlisted, and 25 years Commissioned.
Cliff holds a High School G.E.D., a Bachelor of Science Degree in Elementary Education and English, a Master’s Degree in Education Administration and Management from West Virginia and is a graduate of the U.S. Army Command & General Staff College.
After retirement, a love of the American West took Cliff to Prescott, Arizona, which he has called home for many years.
Today, Cliff and his dog Katie reside full time in his 44’ Toy Hauler. He and Katie just go where the wind blows, as long as the wind blows them to Sturgis, SD in August.
☣
Books by Cliff Deane
Vigilante: Into the Darkness
Books by A J Newman and Cliff Deane
Virus: Strain of Islam
Books by A J Newman
After the Solar Flare - A Post-Apocalyptic series:
Alone in the Apocalypse Adventures in the Apocalypse*
*To be published late spring 2017
The Day America Died - a Zack Johnson Post-Apocalyptic series:
New Beginnings Old Enemies
Frozen Apocalypse
“The Adventures of John Harris” - a post-apocalyptic America series:
Surviving Hell in the Homeland Tyranny in the Homeland
Revenge in the Homeland….Apocalypse in the Homeland John Returns
“A Samantha Jones Murder Mystery Thriller series:
Where the Girls Are Buried Who Killed the Girls?
These books are available at Amazon:
www.amazon.com
A J Newman is the author of over a dozen novels that have been published on Amazon. He was born and raised in a small town in the western part of Kentucky. His Dad taught him how to handle guns very early in life and him, and his best friend Mike spent summers shooting .22 rifles and fishing.
He read every book he could get his hands on and fell in love with science fiction. He graduated from USI with a degree in Chemistry and made a career working in manufacturing and logistics, but always fancied himself as an author.
He served six years in the Army National Guard in an armored unit and spent six years performing every function on M48 and M60 army tanks. This gave him a great respect for our veterans who lay their lives on the line to protect our country and freedoms.
He currently resides in Kentucky with his wife Patsy and their three tiny mop dogs, Sammy Cotton and Callie.
