by Unknown
Chapter Five
As the days went on it became evident that they were not going to be able to secure all of Camp Grayling it was too big. They decided that main post, housing areas on main post and Lake Margrethe as well as the lake itself were the primary concerns, this also included motor pools, fuel points (civilian as well in Grayling), Military Storage facilities and Gas and Electric facilities, although they weren’t working at the moment.
The 416th Medical Battalion was ordered to be set up on main post and to use any of the medical dispensaries that were available. The pharmacy’s in Grayling were asked to relocate to post so it could be protected from looting and better serve the community, they were more than happy to move they could see even with the small population of Grayling people were becoming more and more desperate for everyday household items. The town’s people had come in begging for drugs but they couldn’t pay for them, at first they started to give them out, but after a while when they found supplies were going quick they cut back which prompted all sorts of death threats.
Mercy Hospital in Grayling was the largest local medical facility in the area and like most everyone else they were now struggling after a few days without power and no running water. There backup generators didn’t work and it hadn’t occurred to the Hospital Administrator’s to ask Camp Grayling for help. It was the 416th CO, Lieutenant Colonel Maggie Heresey, who reached out to the Hospital to see how they were doing. It was on the third day of the event and Colonel Hersey arrived at the Hospital in an armored Humvee with another as an escort, they were heavily armed and scared the medical staff and patients that were around when they arrived.
The Hospital had set up a triage center in the parking lot and built fires that they kept going to boil water and sterilize equipment. It was clear the hospital was hurting and patients were suffering, Colonel Hersey asked to speak with whoever was in charge immediately, unfortunately there seemed to be no one who was, then she asked who made the decision to move the triage center outside. They directed her to a Nursing manager Sarah Chey who was more than a bit perturbed to see the Army here they were just too busy.
Colonel Heresey showing up with armed Soldiers then demanding to speak with her almost threw her into a rage but she thought better of it, she was escorted out of the area into one of the offices off the lobby of the hospital where Ms. Chey and the Colonel could talk privately. The first thing the Colonel wanted to know what was the status of the hospital, Ms. Chey was very reluctant to say what it was primarily because it wasn’t good, patients were dying because they couldn’t care for them.
Ms. Chey went onto brief the Colonel who asked where were the administrators and doctors? Her response was that the administrators chose to stay home and so did many of the doctors, they were sure everything would be fine and the electricity would be back on soon. All of them were afraid to be sued so better to stay home, there were several doctors here but they were overwhelmed and there was no way they could handle everything. It was nurses making the most of it and it was tough going.
The Colonel sighed it was the typical everything was going to be ok and the government was all powerful and everything would be ok, but truthfully it wasn’t things would never be the same again.
The Colonel sighed again exasperated, “Ms. Chey the power isn’t coming back on nor is the water going to start flowing again, I’m sorry. We believe there has been some sort of EMP event and everything for the most part that had no EMP protection has shut down. I’m sorry to say things will get a lot worse before they get better.”
At hearing the news Ms. Chey sat down in a chair, “How sure are you of this information?”
“Pretty damned sure, we don’t have a presidential declaration stating that if that’s what you’re asking. But all signs point to it. We’re working and planning on that assumption.”
“So what do you want from us?” asked Sarah Chey.
Colonel Heresy looked at Sarah Chey who looked like she had resigned herself to that conclusion, “Nothing Ms. Chey, I’m here to ask what we at Camp Grayling can do for you.”
Sarah was caught off guard, “I’m sorry, what?”
Colonel Heresy smiled, “I’m here to help, and I’m the CO from the 416th Medical Battalion on Camp Grayling. We need to work together if we want to be successful in saving as many lives as we can. I’m also a physician.”
Sarah was trying to gather her thoughts, “Well….we need electricity and running water to begin with can you help there?”
“We can help some; we can bring over generators with fuel to power lights. They won’t power your entire hospital those days are gone for now. Also, anything computerized is gone you’re not getting that back. As for running water we can bring in water buffalos and you can get water from them but you’re going to have to carry it. We can offer butane stoves so you can boil water for the time being and sterilize equipment as needed.”
“Anything else?” asked Sarah.
“I can send over some generator mechanics to see if they can get the hospitals generator on line that should help some. We can get you some GP medium tents to your patients in with heaters if you need them, shouldn’t though it’s still warm out.”
“Wow, it seems like a lot but it’s really not. People are going to die still.” Sarah was agitated.
“Yes Sarah people are going to die there is only so much we can do I’m sorry. We can also give you some butane refrigerators, they aren’t big but they should do the work for now until we get the generator back on line.” said the Colonel.
“What about transportation and ambulances?” Sarah was now starting to brainstorm.
“We might be able to provide a Humvee ambulance but you have to keep in mind that fuel for anything right now is finite unless we find other avenues to get fuel we are going to run out.” replied the Colonel.
“How much fuel is left?” Sarah looked concerned.
“We don’t know the Camp CO is checking on it now what we have at the Camp and what’s in Grayling. I’m sure it will be rationed at some point and first priority to essential services.”
“Ms. Chey do you have the names and addresses of the Administrators and doctors who haven’t shown up?”
“Yes I do around here somewhere.”
“Would you please give me a list and I will personally see what I can do to get them in here. They aren’t going to be sued, for now there are no more courts that I’m aware of. We need all hands on deck and what they’re doing isn’t going to fly.” Colonel Heresey was angry that her counterparts refused to come in and help.
Colonel Heresey went on to explain that things were going to get worse as people got more desperate that they should expect attacks on the hospital. People are going to see the lights and know you must have something and they are going to do their best to take it from you. “Are you trying to scare me?” asked Sarah.
“Nope it’s the reality of the situation, I’m just trying to prepare you.” replied the Colonel.
Sarah wasn’t so sure but it was nice to have the US Army in here corner.
“Now if you get me that list if doctors and administrators I will start to get ball rolling.” said the Colonel.
Sarah left for a moment and returned with a list of doctors and administrators she gave it to the Colonel who left quickly after. A few hours later several deuce and a half’s showed up pulling generators, water and fuel as well as tents and other items. Following them was a Humvee pulling a larger generator and generator mechanics seated within the vehicle. Once they pulled up they were all business getting everything set up quickly and getting the generators on line that they brought with them. Tents up, beds moved in, heaters ready to go with lights ran through each tent they powered up the generators and brought light to the triage area.
The work went on through the night the mechanics that were working on the hospitals generator left several times and came back. There work lasted throughout the night and well into the morning, and then all of a sudden th
e lights came on inside the hospital. There was applause and smiles throughout people were happy but they knew they were a long way from normal, as the Colonel said not one computer worked or anything that resembled a computer.
Around noon several POVs, older cars and Humvees pulled up, out of them several doctors and hospital administrators poured out they were under heavy guard. They were not happy at all but it was explained to them by Colonel Heresey that they could either become part of the solution or part of the problem. If they chose to be part of the problem then when they needed help none would be forthcoming. She briefly explained to them what the Army believed had happened, an EMP event, and if that was truly the case then things were going to get a lot worse, looting, rape, murders you name it because there was no law enforcement readily available to help because at this time as far as she knew they had no vehicles and more important how were you going to call for help with no telephones or radios for that matter.
The doctors and administrators wanted guarantees that their families would be safe no matter what. The Colonel said no, their families were no more special than anyone else’s that were currently at the hospital. They could certainly take their families with them but rest assured they were going back to the hospital to work. Some resisted and were handcuffed and dragged into the hospital, once there some refused to work, that was ok by the Colonel they wouldn’t get fed until they did and they weren’t going any place. The tactic by the doctors and administrators lasted about half a day until they became hungry and thirsty. Then they swore up and down they would sue the US Military for this, the Colonel told them to go ahead and knock themselves out.
By the end of the first week everyone was pitching in at the hospital everyone could now see what the new reality was starting to look like. Looting had started in town, the ring of gun shoots could be heard daily. Many of the people who worked at the hospital did bring their families in but they for the time being had to stay in tents they either brought with them or were provided by the Army, no one was happy.
The MP’s were busy working with the engineers to secure the posts many engineering vehicles and determine if they still ran, bulldozers, backhoe’s, and others primarily because they had no sophisticated systems built-in they were largely engine. It took a couple of weeks to get everything done to the Colonels satisfaction. The Colonel ordered all POV’s checked out to see which ones ran and which didn’t the ones that didn’t all of the fuel in the vehicles were to be siphoned out and stored for future use. All fuel, water and foods were now under heavy guard.
The POV’s that did run were for the time being confiscated and placed in a secure area of the post in the event they were needed, this didn’t make the owners happy. The vehicles that didn’t run were moved to another location to a somewhat remote area of the post basically to get them out-of-the-way.
After the first week they had the inventory of food, available portable water, and fuel with the current population at the Camp they estimated they had enough for about six months at a minimum if they were careful and didn’t waste anything it could go out to nine months. However, people from town were now congregating at the front gate of the post asking for help in the way of food and water. For the time being the number of Soldiers on post far outweighed the number of beggars at the gate at least that’s the way Colonel Rogers felt about it but not everyone agreed with him.
The Company Commanders from the 126th Infantry and 126th Cavalry asked Colonel Rodgers to begin running patrols outside the gate into the community to help reel in some of the crime, it would also benefit the camp as it might spill over and threaten everyone here. It would also show the colors maybe help people relax a bit to know that the US Military was still here and willing to help. Colonel Rodgers declined stating that it was the civilian authorities responsibility not his to clean up the mess outside of the gate, they didn’t have the resources.
Chapter Six
After three weeks the Imam and Steven Tuma had secured a much greater swath of Dearborn then they could have imagined. It was done though through violence of action and intimidation over half the city was now in their control. They had burned down all of the churches as they made their way through the city, looting and killing anyone who wouldn’t convert or the Muslim’s who wouldn’t join their cause.
As they cut through Dearborn they had collected more weapons and built more explosives which were helping their cause. They had implemented Sharia Law and were holding public executions as well as limb amputations and stoning. Any symbols of the United States or Michigan were torn down and a new flag that they had devised was raised, it was all too surreal.
Other mosques in the area and neighboring towns and cities were joining their cause; some had sent emissaries to ask to be incorporated into the new Caliphate. They would be allowed to join but first must rid their respective towns of infidels how they did that was up to them. They must also require all men between the ages of 15 – 50 to join the Soldiers of Allah and fight for them. They all must implement Sharia Law and live by the true word.
Soon fighting was breaking out all over these towns, not just the looters and other criminals but the Islamic fighters taking ground from the towns and small cities and they were winning. They were overwhelming police stations and finding a horde of weapons and body armor which they were putting to good use. There numbers were increasing daily as worshippers streamed into the Caliphate by foot, bike, motorcycle, horseback and old cars, there were thousands of them now ready to fight. There were certainly a lot of people who did convert mainly because they felt they had no other choice they wanted to live; they wanted safety, food, water and shelter that was all being provided by the Caliphate.
Within another week all of Dearborn as well as its surrounding towns had succumbed to the Caliphate. It was ruled with a heavy hand and kept everyone inline through intimidation and threats which it often carried out. However, there was very little crime but there wasn’t much to take to begin with because it had all been taken by the Islamic fighters.
Next was attempting to take on the rest of Detroit now that would be a feather in the Cap of the Caliphate. They now had close to ten thousand fighters and were moving on Detroit. However, the citizens of Detroit and the National Guard were aware of the Islamic movement on the city, they didn’t have the numbers to defend it but they had the 1-182nd Field Artillery Battalion, Battery A, as well as the 1072nd Maintenance Company which as Soldiers they would have the training to defend the town, then there were the citizens themselves who were armed. They might fall but they would take as many of the bastards with them as they could.
On the fifth week of the event things had moved fairly quickly, reports from advance units of the Army of Allah as it was calling itself now reported Artillery Batteries located in various avenues of the city. The Imam, Aaban Abad had now proclaimed himself Sultan and Steven Tuma was now the Commander of the Army and Revolutionary Guards. The Sultan’s orders were to attack regardless and if they died they would become martyr’s they would go to heaven and be richly rewarded. On the second day of the fifth week they attacked, all they had were small arms to attack the Army National Guard with who had M60, SAWs and M249 machine guns they also unleashed an artillery barrage onto the Islamic fighters which made them pause and pull back they were being slaughtered.
However, as the pulled back their commanders were at the rear urging them on and anyone that ran they shot. They knew that they had the numbers and would be able to sooner or later to overwhelm the American lines and kill all of them. Their artillery was doing great damage but they were spread thin and couldn’t cover every avenue of approach. A company of Islamic fighters made their way around the city and was able to breach the line that was manned by local citizens who really thought they were up to the fighting, they weren’t. The company of men was able to raise hell in the rear but were eventually hunted down by the National Guardsmen and killed.
After the first several days of fighting the Islamic fight
ers had taken tremendous casualties and had pulled back regardless of what the Sultan wanted. The Army Commander, Steven Tuma, studied the battlefield he was sure he was missing something but couldn’t quite put his finger on it. The American lines were strong, they had sent squad after squad to probe the lines and other than the one time a few days ago they had been unable to find a way in.
Then it hit him, if they couldn’t go through them on the ground could they go through them underground, infiltrate through the sewer systems. He quickly called his commanders in and spoke to them; he ordered them to send infiltration teams into the sewers and come up in the city and to kill all of the infidels. The commanders were stunned by the order and had never considered going underground to get at the Americans, Allah’s will be done they executed their orders.
At 0100 ten teams entered the sewer systems around Detroit the men using compasses followed the tunnels for what seemed miles when they came up they were well within the city and behind the Americans. Slowly they moved toward the Americans they first encountered one of the artillery batteries but there was no one there and the cannon had been destroyed in place. They thought it odd why would they destroy the cannon? They were hoping to capture several of the cannons so they could use them either in the ongoing battle or in future ones. Not only that they were also hoping to capture some of the military vehicles and firearms.
Some of the other teams started to engage the enemy and were successful in killing many of the infidels and opening a hole in the line to allow their brethren into the perimeter. Two of the teams were able to find one active battery and overcome the Soldiers manning it and capture the cannon and Humvee as well as their personal weapons. The problem they immediately found was that there were no rounds for the cannon; where were they or did they run out. As the night went on most of the teams were successful in engaging the Soldiers and civilians and eliminating the threat they were able to capture two more cannons but that was all and none of them had any ammunition for them. They were also fortunate to be able to capture one more Humvee and a deuce and half.
