by R. K. Sidler
Several of their number, however, were not plagued by such thinking. They were the ones preparing for an event such as this, knowing long beforehand that it was a certainty. The preparations they made went far beyond their initial survival. They planned for all contingencies involved for an indefinite stay underground, and what would follow. They knew people needed structure, routine, and satisfaction in accomplishment. But most importantly, they needed hope. Hope of a return to what had been, hope of a future not living underground. Hope for themselves. Hope for their children. They gathered many of the best and brightest into the complex under the guise of an exercise. These were the ones who would shape that hope. The scientific advancements known to the government and military establishment were much farther along than those whose progress was hindered by the many bureaucratic layers that existed in private industry. Geneticists, biologists, pathologists, and engineers of all sciences were recruited without their knowing their actual roles. They were assigned to labs with technology and equipment with which even they were not familiar. This served to both placate them, and make them useful for the promotion of the goal to inhabit the surface once again.
Without the ability to grow food underground, geneticists built upon the already available science to engineer designer foods. These foods resembled protein bars. They could be made to taste like any known food, and shaped into different forms. It was one more thing to which people needed to adjust. It was more nutritious than food grown naturally, and it tasted great, it was just unusual.
A fresh water supply was no problem. They had tapped into separate underground aquifers many years prior, and while the sources were pure, they also maintained a filtration system. Power too was unlimited. A geothermal power plant had been in operation providing electrical power, hot water, and steam to power most of their earth moving equipment. Natural gas was also integrated into the facility, though the decision was made to limit its use to necessity.
These basic needs, however, were not enough to maintain order. The people had to appreciate and understand life in a new light. This would be accomplished in a variety of ways. Just like basic trainees in any military, they had to be trained to forget their former lives. Their dress changed, their vocabulary changed, and their thinking changed. While people both in and out of the military pursued advancement based on authority, recognition, titles and money, those were to be a thing of the past. Self-advancement was not conducive to the ultimate goal. A collective effort was. The challenge here was in stimulating the initiative with new rewards, a different mindset. This was all taken into consideration by those few who were actually controlling the sum total of all the parts. They would accommodate the needs of people as much as they could, they would reason with them when necessary, and they would punish them when warranted. Nothing would interfere with their main objective. In time, they would once again walk upon the surface of the earth. If they succeeded, it would be a world made in their image.
―
The last time he and his father talked, it had been brief. Keith did not entirely forgive his father for his brother’s fate, and his attitude did not improve after having to deal with his wife. She was inconsolable for the first couple of weeks. She managed to deal with the catastrophe itself, the loss of her family, and the understanding that her father-in-law knew it was going to happen but did nothing to help them. She eventually made progress, and had accepted the consequences of the first two. He did not think she would ever forgive his father. But then again, he did not know if he would either. The two of them just viewed matters from different perspectives. He could not completely fault his father’s actions, but there were still some things that could have been handled better, at least in his mind.
Terri benefited from her work in the lab. She was assigned as an assistant to Dr. Maddow. Keith still did not know what to make of him; he just couldn’t quite figure him out. Terri said she would become a doctor herself in a matter of time through the work she was doing; Maddow had promised that. She said she was also learning things she never even heard of before. Nothing in comparison to what college or her work at the hospital had offered. She worked and studied beyond her assigned eight-hour days. He did not mind that this encroached on their time together. Anything to help her recover from the trauma was worth it.
Keith received a call to report to his father’s office. When he arrived, he noticed some changes. His junior aide, who had initially brought them to the mountain, was not wearing a uniform, but rather a pair of blue overalls with only a name patch affixed to them. No title or rank was indicated. He was offered a seat and waited until his father was ready to see him. He started to ask about the uniform change when his father’s voice came over the intercom letting his assistant know he was ready to receive his guest.
“How’s Terri doing,” he asked as he stood to greet his son when he walked through the door.
“She’s doing okay now. Work has been good for her, but I think it will be some time until she is anywhere near her old self again.”
“Good. Martin said she’s been an eager and apt student.”
Keith simply nodded having nothing to add, and waited for his father to get to the reason for his being summoned. He also noticed that his father was no longer wearing his uniform, but rather a business suit. The rest of the room looked the same. He still had the pictures of his superiors on the wall, all the way to the President himself. Keith wondered if this was out of respect, or if his father believed these men had also survived in facilities such as the one they were in, and he would find himself once again under their authority.
Breaking through his line of thinking, his father began, “Keith, there is obviously a lot more going on here than you’ve been made aware of. This complex has been under development continuously since the early 1960’s. Although this wasn’t what was envisioned at the time, it is serving its ultimate purpose now; and it will have to for some time. We have a sustainable environment for the number of people we have here. There are measures we will have to take to keep that viable. Some of which will be welcomed, others that won’t.”
“For example,” Keith interrupted.
“For example,” his father repeated calmly, “We have many vaccines and medical advances at our disposal to ensure no disease will affect the quality of life here. They existed on the outside, but were not in sufficient production to publicize. On the other hand, our population must be controlled for our resources to meet the demands.” He let that sink in for a moment before continuing. “Our only goal is to return outside. Nothing is going to hinder that. Everyone will come to understand this, and it is our hope to work together toward that end.”
“And if they don’t,” Keith asked.
“Then, they will have to be dealt with. We are talking about civilization Keith; a new world, the continuation of our species. Individual aspirations cannot interfere with that.”
“So what do you want from me,” he asked somewhat confused. He was still adjusting to the new world he found himself in through no design, or thought of his own. Long-term goals and planning had yet to even enter his mind.
His father looked him in the eyes and held them as he continued, “I need you to handle matters of security; not just controlling who goes where, but enforcing the rules. Rules established now, and rules established once we get outside. People function much better when they know there are boundaries, well-defined boundaries, and that they will be expected to abide by them. Those guidelines will be made known soon, and as such, the system for administering them has to be in place.”
“Okay,” he said following the simple logic behind the statement.
“You will be in charge of two hundred and fifty men. You can choose which of those will act in positions of authority. You can assign training, and duties, as you see fit. I will give you the few requirements I’ll need for full time postings. Your men will be equipped with riot batons instead of any kind of lethal weapons. All firearms will be confiscated and secured unt
il we make a foothold on the surface. In time, you’ll need to retrain in military tactics and weapons for our eventual exodus. You report directly to me, and your men answer only to you.”
“So we just train and let people in and out of doors until we’re ready to get out of here?”
“No. There is a lot of work going on at the lower levels of the complex. You will need to patrol those areas as well. This place is a lot larger than you think, so your two hundred and fifty men won’t seem like all that many. In addition, you will need to influence their thinking when it involves enforcing rules they do not like or agree with themselves. You will have to stand apart from everyone else.”
Keith was digesting what was being said, as well as what was not being said. “You said no weapons, what about uniforms? I see there have been some changes already.”
His father smiled, “Yes. Your security forces will be the only ones in uniform. It will be dessert brown fatigues; not because they match the working environment, but because that is what we have on hand. They will only have a name patch, no rank, the same as everyone else.”
“What about you and the suit,” Keith said nodding toward his father’s attire.
“This is one of the changes that are necessary. Things are different now. People are going to have to think differently. I am no longer a general officer. I am a director. It might not seem different because I am doing the same things, but we all need to think along the same line. There is no longer the division of Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy, and civilian personnel. There are those who are supervisors, and those who are assisting them.”
“And you think that will work,” Keith asked with some skepticism.
“In time, yes. Everything has changed, and other changes will be needed.”
“What if I don’t want to be your security chief, or officer, or whatever,” Keith asked.
“Then you will be assigned something else, most likely something not as interesting. Everyone here has to contribute Keith. There are no free rides.”
Something about this whole conversation troubled Keith, but he could not figure out what it was. It was surreal in concept, yet he knew it was practical. His father had obviously planned everything out to the last detail, while he was considering it for the first time. Keith did not like going into a situation only knowing part of the story, but he also knew his father would only tell him what he wanted him to know, and when he wanted him to know it.
“You said I get to control everything?”
“Everything; you only report to me,” his father said.
“When do I start?”
“Right away, there is a small auditorium capable of handling your work force two levels down. You will run everything from that level. Brian will take you there now and show you where your offices and equipment are located.”
Keith smiled at his father, not in an appreciative way, but in a way of understanding. His father never made a move without knowing the likely outcome beforehand. His father returned his smile. They stood and shook hands as his assistant entered the office, obviously signaled in some way by his father.
“Oh,” Keith said turning back toward his father, “What do I call you now that it is no longer General?”
“Dad will be fine when it‘s just us. Mr. Director or Director Bishop would be more appropriate when others are around.”
Keith nodded his head in understanding.
―
Before going to meet his new recruits, Keith was shown into the offices set aside for his new department. There was an outer reception area, with several glass walled offices lining the back wall. His office was at the south end where it could overlook the entire facility. At the opposite end was a door leading to a locker room, break room, and shower facility. Just before that were the holding cells.
He was led to his desk and asked to sit down. “Please place your right thumb in here,” Lucas said extending a portable electronic device. When he did, there was a wave of green light that moved across the screen followed by a sound indicating it was finished.
Lucas looked at the small screen, pressed a few keys, then turned the device and held it directly in front of Keith’s left eye, “Hold still, please. And try to keep your eye open and focused on the red light.” Keith did so until the small machine made the same noise it did while tracing his thumb. While he waited, he watched his father’s assistant go through what seemed to him to be a rather complicated process. When he was finished typing on the keypad, he slid a plastic card through an electronic reader on that same device, then he handed the card to Keith.
“This is your identification card. It is an ‘anytime anyplace’ access card. At some stations, you will also need your thumbprint to gain access. You also have access to the facilities SCI or Sensitive Compartmented Information areas. You will need a retina scan to gain access to them. Those are the three levels of security we have here” He placed the machine back into the briefcase. “I’ll come back tomorrow to issue the remainder of the identification cards, and thumb scans. You will need to select five men to function as your shift supervisors who will need all of the same clearances except for the SCI. There are the folders containing the records of those who seemed best qualified for those positions,” Lucas said pointing to the stack on his desk. “Those are the rest,” he said pointing to the piles on another table. “Of course you can choose anyone you want, but I would suggest you don’t take too long because you will need help putting together a roster, assignments, and schedules right away.”
“Sounds like I’m not going to be getting much sleep anytime soon,” Keith said in a friendly manner.
“Probably not; but then again, having your days filled isn’t such a bad thing,” Lucas offered.
When they walked out of the newly designated Security Force offices, indicated by a sign above the door, they went across the corridor to a locked door requiring a thumb scan for entrance. He had Keith open it to ensure his clearance was in fact activated. When they were inside, Keith saw it was an equipment room filled with a variety of tactical supplies, everything except firearms and ammunition. “This is your equipment room. You will also need to control who gets access beyond your supervisors. I recommend you limit that.” Keith nodded in understanding. They went back out into the corridor and secured the vault like door behind them. Keith was led into an auditorium filled with men talking to each other.
“They’re all yours Chief,” Lucas said signifying what title he would be recognized by, “I’ll see you tomorrow to finish issuing the ID cards and clearances.”
“Thank you,” Keith said as Lucas walked out of the room.
He turned toward the men seated in the now quiet auditorium. He never had a command such as this, at least not one of this size or composition. It was a new outfit, with a new commander, and a new line of work. But it was his now, and everyone here would assume he would, or at least should, know what he was doing. “Hello. My name’s Bishop. I’m your new Chief…..”
****
The crews of the Texas and Nevsky continued inland on a northeasterly course. It was slow going as the terrain was difficult to navigate, and everyone seemed to be dealing with chronic fatigue. The first few days were the most challenging as the carnage among the densely populated areas along the coast was abundant. They salvaged what they could, and moved on as soon as they were able. It was not long before they became numb to the devastation surrounding them. The area ahead was a dry wasteland. The vegetation was brown, the air was dry, and the only existing sounds emanated from themselves, or the occasional feint breeze. The sky was ominous looking with its overcast skies, and dark low hanging unnatural clouds.
They eventually came to less populated areas where former villages were evident. Among these, they found survivors. They were even more despondent and detached. They came along willingly, and offered no resistance to instructions, the majority of them speaking only Spanish. They tried to comfort one another as they went, but that soon became nothing more
than hollow words.
In time, their ranks grew to more than twenty-five hundred men, women, and children. Everyone carried, or assisted in pulling, much needed supplies on their makeshift wagons. It was in the last town they came upon when they found several students, and teachers, from a once popular university. It was from them that Weston, and his crew, learned about what had taken place. They knew now that their decision to leave their vessel and turn inland was the right one. It also explained the physical effects people were experiencing.
Seventy-two days after leaving the Texas, and not nearly as far along as they thought they should be, they came upon a scenic valley. The opening appeared before them only when they were at its edge. The first sign of its presence was in fact the sky above it. It was clear. Sunlight was breaking through the cloud cover. The first clear rays of sunshine any of them had seen in over two months. It was a majestic sight that stood out in a world of destruction. Though their spirit was taxed, their hearts were energized by the promise ahead.
The long train of people, and the supplies they were able to bring with them, continued in their ranks until they all came to a stop to take in the now overwhelming view. It was a valley unnatural in appearance, especially considering the surroundings. The valley walls rose to a thousand feet on both sides. It was lush and wide. There were both deciduous and evergreen trees standing tall on its floor. A waterfall came out of one side of the valley, with a narrow river running through its middle. Birds were in the air, and animals were seen moving in the grassy fields below. The only way in was where they were standing now. Nobody could say a word as they were consumed by the grandeur of the scenery surrounded by a world of death and destruction. Some people even began to cry.
After some time had passed, they moved on to the floor of the valley. They set up camp that evening and enjoyed clean water and star filled skies.
One of the university staff, a Mr. Bayek, who had joined them, was a natural science professor. He spent the evening discussing with Commander Weston, and his officers, the likely causes of this unnatural valley. “Actually,” he said, “I wouldn’t be surprised if there were other areas such as this.”
