“Back at the NEC,” the man in front said. “Commander Shepherd’s going to want a sitrep now.”
They piled out of the jeep, and the rest of the Hunters joined them from the Humvee in front of Kara’s. Kara helped Maggie down. She filed in behind the group as they entered the NEC building. Winding down the corridors, they passed offices with toppled furniture. Bloodstains still marred the floors and walls.
“Skulls got in here, too?” Kara asked her father.
“Right. This was where the Oni Agent first hit Detrick,” he said. “It’s the communications hub for the base.”
“So that’s why we had so much trouble reaching them on our way here, huh?”
Dom nodded solemnly, and the group paused at another set of doors. He knocked, and the doors swung open. The din of radio chatter and voices filled the air. He led them into a space that appeared to be some type of mission control room.
As Kara gazed at the uniformed men and women working at banks of computer systems and communication equipment, she saw a man approaching them with an unmistakable air of authority. She recognized him from when she’d first arrived at the base—Shepherd, the man in charge of Fort Detrick. She felt a sense of unease, as if she shouldn’t be in this room. Before the Oni Agent outbreak, a place like this undoubtedly required a certain degree of security clearance. And she, an undergraduate student at a university that probably didn’t even exist anymore, stood in this hive of activity.
“Glad to see you all made it safely,” Shepherd said. “Thank you for your impromptu service helping protect those inside the shelter. But we don’t have time to rest.” He motioned to a conference room behind a shield of glass adjoining the comm center. When Kara moved to follow them, Shepherd added, “Your daughters can wait out here.”
Kara’s unease morphed into frustration. She knew she didn’t belong here, but she’d risked her life, she’d been through hell, and she wanted to know what was going on. But the look on her father’s face told her that wasn’t going to happen.
“Girls, will you be okay?”
Kara patted the handgun Miguel had lent her. “We’ll be fine.”
***
Dom surveyed the others seated around the oblong table. Several researchers and brass from Fort Detrick sat across from his team. Jackson gave a quick sitrep regarding the breach and the ongoing efforts to reinforce the defensive barriers around the base’s perimeter. Shepherd ordered several patrols to sweep Detrick in an effort to rout out any stubborn Skulls that had evaded their counterattack earlier and to ensure all non-essential personnel on the base remained indoors.
“Now on to the matter of you Hunters.” Shepherd laid out a stack of papers before the group. “To recap, Fort Detrick was once in the business of bioweapons, and the Amanojaku Project was one of those studied and developed here. The United States abolished the pursuit of these weapons almost twenty years later. After that, our records of the Amanojaku Project go dark. All laboratory samples were incinerated along with most paper evidence of the associated work. What we have found are classified records indicating the project was adapted from World War II technology acquired from the Japanese. Specifically from a biological warfare group known as Unit 731. The project abstract we recovered correlates highly with the aggression exhibited by affected individuals. Although several other projects during the 50s and 60s also shared similar goals as the Amanojaku Project, our initial analyses of Oni Agent victims and the intelligence your group reported seem to indicate that, unbeknownst to us, the Amanojaku Project was never entirely scrapped and was instead moved to another organization we have been unable to identify.”
Shepherd took a sip of water from a plastic bottle. “Mr. Holland, I believe your group’s research has progressed faster than our own. Given our setbacks in restoring power to the base and keeping these so-called Skulls out, we’d benefit greatly by sharing data with your group—and I’ll admit freely it’s us who might benefit the most.”
“I’m happy to do whatever I can,” Dom said.
“Then let’s get to it,” Shepherd said. “I want that science briefing.”
Dom was ready to get to work again, but he couldn’t help picturing the frightened civilians they’d just rescued from the fitness facility. They’d been lucky to have the Army’s protection—but how many outside the base were still hiding and fighting for their lives? “Before we get too heavy into the science, what about rescue operations for those outside Fort Detrick?”
“I’m afraid we don’t have the capabilities.”
“Why not? You sent fully crewed Black Hawks to save us against a horde of those things. You can’t spare any to rescue civilians, even if I offer our assistance?”
Shepherd shook his head. “Truth is, most of the ordnance on this base is borrowed from Fort Bragg. They sent reinforcements to select locations at the height of the outbreak. While they provided enough to help defend what we’ve got, you’ve seen how we can barely do that. We can’t afford to risk what resources we have left. Our hope is that people follow the advice of the emergency broadcasts and stay inside until we get a handle on the outbreak.”
“But even if they stay indoors, we’ve seen how dogged the Skulls are,” Dom said. “Besides, how many Americans have enough food and water stockpiled to survive for weeks—if I’m being optimistic—while they wait for the military to actually do something?”
“I can’t answer those questions myself,” Shepherd replied. “You’d need to direct them to General Kinsey. He’s currently organizing the military’s efforts from the Pentagon, and we’re scheduled to speak with him later about our scientific developments.”
“That would be helpful,” Dom said. It was an understatement. “And if he wants to really know what our research team is up to, we should patch them in.”
“Agreed,” Shepherd said.
Dom directed Adam Galloway, their comm specialist, to help establish a connection with the Huntress. While he agreed they needed to move forward on a medical solution to the Oni Agent, he was furious that civilian rescue operations were such a low priority. The military needed to do something to help those out there without the means to defend themselves. Even those that were armed and prepared for disaster might be overwhelmed by the sheer ferocity and numbers of the Skulls. If an Army base like Fort Detrick barely stood up to the creatures, how could the average American hope to survive?
-6-
Lauren sat beside Chao Li in the electronics workshop aboard the Huntress. This was her chance to finally reach out to other scientists. Maybe they’d have something she could use to combat the neurological changes in the Skulls.
Chao handed her a headset. “Looks like we’re linked in to Fort Detrick.”
“Hello, this is Dr. Lauren Winters from the Huntress. Do you read?”
Dom’s voice came across the line. “We hear you loud and clear, Dr. Winters.” He introduced the others in the conference room with him at Detrick. “Can you brief us on everything you’ve found since we last spoke?”
“Aye, aye, Captain,” Lauren said. She relayed all her findings since the outbreak: the mode of transmission, the nanobacteria component, and the calcium apatite formation leading to the skeletal mutations.
One of the Detrick researchers spoke up. “What I don’t understand is how this leads to the psychological differences.”
Lauren drew in a breath. I’m getting there, she thought. “More or less, the nanobacteria function like little factories. They not only pump out the calcium apatite, but it also appears that they produce a complex of infectious proteins.”
“Prions,” the researcher interrupted again. “And has your group found a way to eliminate them?”
Lauren almost laughed at the irony. “No, I was hoping you all might have something to combat them.”
Another researcher spoke up. “I’m afraid not. From what I know, a cure doesn’t exist.”
Others reaffirmed his statement.
“That’s what I figured.” La
uren sighed. “The next phase in our research is to identify candidate therapeutics to stop these prion infections and, we hope, reduce the incidence of aggression in those afflicted with the Oni Agent. I’m happy to send along all the data we’ve collected, if that would help.”
“We would appreciate it.” Shepherd’s voice came over the comm link again. “Likewise, we’ll provide continued updates from our research.”
“Thank you, sir,” Lauren said. “That would be helpful.” Another thought sprang to her mind. “Do you have enough samples of the Oni Agent to perform your lab work?”
“A lack of available specimens is not a concern on our end,” Shepherd replied. Lauren could sense frustration and grief in the words, and she quickly grasped the implications of his statement. Fort Detrick must have been hit hard. “I do have another question for you, Dr. Winters. Instead of a cure for someone who’s already sick with the Oni Agent, why don’t we focus our efforts on developing a vaccine, which could theoretically be used to protect everyone from becoming infected in the first place?”
Lauren grappled with his question for a few seconds before answering. Truthfully, she wanted a cure to see if she could help Ivan and Scott. Each day the prions from the Oni Agent were allowed to eat away at their nervous systems meant they were further from any potential recovery. “Most existing research has been performed in the pursuit of prion treatments—not vaccines,” she said at last.
“But these cures have mostly failed, right?” Shepherd asked.
“Failed might be too strong of a word,” Lauren said. “Every iteration of a marginally functional treatment has brought modern science closer to a molecule or drug with the potential to halt a prion infection.”
“And so how does this relate to a vaccine?”
“There has simply been far less research performed on vaccines against prions,” Lauren said. “It’s my opinion that we may be much closer to finding a treatment to help those that are already suffering from the disease. In fact, if we can start a working relationship with you to accelerate our efforts and build off of the decades of research already out there, we might develop a cure within a few months.” She paused for a second and thought better of overpromising these developments. “That is, if we’re lucky.”
“I appreciate your input, Dr. Winters,” Shepherd said. “I’m afraid we have to patch in General Kinsey now, but I look forward to working together.”
Lauren took the headset off and handed it back to Chao. Instead of leaving, she leaned against a nearby desk.
“You really think we’ll find a cure?” Chao asked.
“Truthfully, I don’t know. I hoped Detrick knew something more than we did.” She scoffed. “And if they didn’t, I thought they’d at least know who in the United States might have a better idea of how we should deal with the Oni Agent.” Lauren pinched the bridge of her nose. “If I’m being realistic, if we don’t find someone to help us, I’d say our chances are about as good as the Skulls miraculously recovering on their own.”
***
Dom drummed his fingers on the conference table. The conference phone clicked. He’d watched the faces of the scientists and researchers seated around him when Lauren gave her sitrep regarding the current state of research aboard the Huntress. This was the first time he’d heard that prions caused the neurological deterioration leading to the Skulls’ destructive instincts. Judging by the expressions of those around him, it was the first any of them had clearly understood what had sent the United States into a perilous nosedive straight to hell.
He had thought rendezvousing with Meredith and his daughters in the middle of Skull-infested Maryland had been an arduous task. The odds had certainly been stacked against him. But that terrifying journey seemed like climbing over the berm in his family’s backyard compared to Lauren’s Everest-like objective of finding a cure.
“Looks like we have a connection,” Jackson said as the clicking finally stopped.
“General Kinsey, sir, do you read?” Shepherd asked.
“I do,” Kinsey’s baritone voice crackled through the conference phone. “First, I want to thank you all for your service to this country in our time of need, especially as I lead the efforts to organize the United States military in response to this crisis.”
“If I may speak freely, what exactly does that mean, sir?” Shepherd asked.
Dom admired the man for his brazen question. He too wanted to know where the hell the military was. When he and the Hunters had flown in from Annapolis, they’d seen only destruction and chaos, pluming smoke and rampant Skulls.
“It means we’re ordering anyone we can contact to fall back to defend vital assets such as the Pentagon and high-value targets in metro areas.”
“What about civilians, General? Are there any shelters, secure evacuation routes, a response from FEMA?”
“I’m afraid we don’t have those kinds of resources,” General Kinsey said. “As it stands, we’re unable to organize widespread evacuations. We’ve been performing drone sweeps over populated areas, and so far the visuals are bleak. Spreading our forces too thin is a recipe for certain failure when the entire nation has been turned into a weapon against us.”
Dom reeled. He already knew that the situation was desolate out there, but he hadn’t considered it in those terms before. The citizens of the United States had become a living, breathing weapon against their homeland. Even as they defeated the Skulls, they annihilated their own people.
“I understand, sir,” Shepherd said. “If your priority is bolstering high value installations and targets, when will we receive reinforcements? Our current scientific operations are in jeopardy if we can’t keep these things out of our base.”
“You already have elements of the 82nd’sFirst Battalion,” Kinsey said. “And soon enough, you won’t need reinforcements. We’re ordering the immediate withdrawal of all armed forces—including your command—from your area with orders to join us in establishing an FOB in Washington.”
Dom couldn’t restrain himself. “General Kinsey, with all due respect, I fail to see the logic in abandoning Fort Detrick at a time when a biological weapon is wreaking havoc on those you’ve sworn to protect.”
“Who am I speaking with?” Kinsey said with disdain.
Shepherd held a hand up to prevent Dom from speaking up again. “I apologize, sir. I should’ve explained earlier.” He briefly gave an overview on Meredith, Dom, and the Hunters.
“Far be it from me to turn down the sage advice of a government contractor,” Kinsey said when Shepherd finished. His voice dripped with derision. “Maybe you should be doing my job.”
Dom shared a look with Meredith. Since he’d cut his formal ties with the government long ago, he’d forgotten about the egos driving many of those in power. Even the lowly CIA analysts he’d worked with were staunchly defensive when given any degree of criticism. Little kings and their little kingdoms, Dom thought. Still, he decided to try a different tack. “I apologize for my brashness, sir. My crew and I are more than happy to offer our service.”
“If you want to help, you can assist in Fort Detrick’s evacuation,” Kinsey responded.
Dom’s face turned hot. He curled his fingers until his knuckles turned white but willed himself to remain calm. He understood the general’s difficult position of leading the military forces of a tattered and desperate nation. But he resented the man’s stubborn lack of respect.
“Sir, this is Meredith Webb representing the Biological and Chemical Warfare Defense division of the Central Intelligence Agency. My primary interest is in the eradication of this bioweapon and identifying the culprit responsible for its development and subsequent outbreak. Are there currently any plans in development to counteract the bioweapon?”
Meredith had always been the more diplomatic of the two in their working relationships. Dom hoped she might have better luck convincing the man to be more sympathetic toward their cause.
“We do have a plan. As soon as we have reassessed
the strength of our military, we will launch an operation to retake our cities one by one.”
Commander Shepherd arched an eyebrow. “I’m sorry, sir, what do you mean?”
“I believe our best option for survival is to eradicate each and every one of the infected. We’ll kill every single goddamn Skull we find.”
-7-
Dom was no stranger to taking another’s life when the need arose, and he had certainly inflicted his share of casualties on the Skulls. But relying solely on the brute force of firepower and soldiers on the field was the wrong way to respond to the outbreak. Such an action would be risking the lives of the men and women in service along with the lives of those civilians caught in the crossfire.
“Your scientific findings confirm the CDC reports I saw before they went dark,” General Kinsey said. “When a few head of cattle get Mad Cow Disease, the whole herd must be put down. We need to destroy all hosts of this so-called Oni Agent.”
Dom couldn’t believe the General’s best plan for reestablishing security in the United States was to essentially commit genocide against its people. Yet something else bothered him. “Sir, I have one more question.”
General Kinsey’s voice seemed to drop an octave, laced in venom. “One more, Captain Holland.”
“What happens when the Oni Agent returns? What happens if we don’t find the source, the group, or country responsible?”
The line went silent for several seconds.
“When our mission is successful, we’ll secure the borders until the disease is eradicated globally,” General Kinsey said.
“Excuse my bluntness, but it sounds like you don’t have scientific advisers on your staff,” Meredith said. “There’s a critical problem to your plan.”
“Enlighten me.”
“You can destroy all the hosts of the Oni Agent, but that will never destroy the bioweapon itself. We eliminated the laboratory where we think it was being produced.” Meredith shook her head. “But there may be a lab somewhere else producing or storing the Oni Agent. I have reason to believe members of the CIA were responsible for protecting the facility we found, but I have no idea who they were working with. It could be another country, a terrorist group, or an international company for that matter.”
The Tide: Breakwater (Tide Series Book 2) Page 4
