by Parker James
* * *
So now it was a race against time. Another hour had passed since their journey from the factory had begun; McCreary and his contingent heading toward the primary bunker site with the helicopter exceeding speeds of 400 miles per hour. The trip originating from Virginia would be over 2,000 miles in all. As their journey continued soon they had been in the air for nearly two hours, that much closer to their ultimate destination. To a person all were praying to God that the world continued to hold its breath and hoped beyond reason somehow would come to its senses.
The three million advancing Chinese troops had been stopped dead in their tracks the moment the Russians deployed their tactical nuclear weapons on the advancing columns. While the Chinese had considered this possibility, they were insufficiently supplied with radiation resistant gear for so many troops engaged in the attack. If they continued with the attack they would have to re-route their troops or otherwise respond by deploying their own nuclear weapons. Two million additional Russian troops were nearing the border, while the Chinese columns were being continuously pounded by the Russian air defenses with conventional weapons. It was now the Chinese who were taking on losses in very large numbers. Although they had been the ones to initiate the attack, the Russians seemed to be getting the upper hand and it left the Chinese with very few options other than to respond in like kind with their own nuclear weapons, but they were ill prepared to make that fateful decision. They had counted on the Russians to blink, but that hadn’t turned out to be the case. If the Chinese decided to re-route their troops, there was nothing to stop the Russians from again deploying tactical nuclear weapons which would very likely force the Chinese to respond in similar fashion and quite probably lead to an all-out nuclear war. Now it was the Chinese who blinked.
Attacking the Russians was a desperation move in the first place, now the Chinese were fighting the Russians on one front and India and Pakistan on their southern border. It was an ill-conceived endeavor brought on by the Communist Chinese regime in an attempt to keep from being overthrown by their own starving citizens. All four warring countries possessed huge nuclear arsenals, and with both North and South Korea having been wiped off the face of the earth several months earlier, one wrong move on the part of any one of the four warring countries could potentially be the end of it, literally. It was a temporary hold as the government leaders all headed to the safety of their own bunkers. That perhaps was the only element keeping the situation at bay; they were concerned solely of their own safety.
The phone in the cabin of helicopter again rang, and of course it was General Meehan at NORAD ostensibly to give McCreary a current update on the situation. Since all communications with the outside world had been terminated by the warring parties, all Meehan had to go on intelligence-wise was the latest satellite imagery. It was a conversation that only McCreary would be privileged to, and with the whir of the helicopter’s engines, Mitch, Anya, and Major Hastings were unable to overhear the discussion. All they could do was look at him and try not to let their minds run wild. What was occurring was completely beyond their control as they collectively and silently prayed there would be enough time remaining to reach the primary bunker site before it was too late.
It was a somewhat long conversation. McCreary was generally a stoic person, calculating and difficult to read, but the others picked up traces of dire facial expressions on his part and after about fifteen minutes the conversation with Meehan ended and McCreary hung up the phone. While they all looked on in suspense, waiting for some sense of what was occurring, for some reason McCreary turned away and looked out the window. This continued for several minutes until General McCreary oddly let out a slight laugh; perhaps it was the futility of it all. He turned to the others and tapped his headset indicating to them to do the same. They understood his meaning; he was ready to give them the current update. Mitch reached over again switching off Erin’s headset, not wanting her to overhear the conversation about to take place. She wasn’t as indignant this time around and nodded to her father in recognition as she now began to look out the window; it was the “grown-ups” time to speak. Besides, it was her first time in a helicopter and after all she and her parents were going on a vacation for the first time in a very long time. Without anyone knowing it she discreetly hit the switch on her headset as she continued to gaze out the window at the countryside below; it was all so very exciting. This time though, she would be able to listen in. With everyone riveted on General McCreary, no one seemed to notice what she had just done. Erin simply wondered why everyone was so unhappy when they all had a vacation to look forward to. Perhaps they couldn’t decide on where they wanted to go?
“No bother,” she thought. Wherever they were going it would be better than the factory. She felt sad for her parents, having to work so hard. She was suddenly in for a rude awakening and would continue to gaze out the window throughout the conversation. She didn’t know it yet, but this day she would also remember for the rest of her life. September 18th, 2073; the day her childhood ended and the day she grew up.
McCreary collected his thoughts and then began to get the others caught up on current events.
“No need to hold anything back,” he thought. “Well folks, needless to say that was General Meehan at NORAD.”
Before he could continue the pilot suddenly broke in. “Sorry to interrupt, General. We’re approaching Illinois; slightly over four hours out from our destination point.”
McCreary looked at the landscape below; the helicopter still flying at 200 feet above ground level.
“Copy that, pilot.”
McCreary repeated the pilot’s words to his captive audience.
“Four hours out from the primary bunker site,” he said as he immediately went into Meehan’s update for the benefit of the others. “So far it seems to be a stalemate. There’s been some activity picked up by our satellites of massive Russian troop movements. The Chinese have not responded with nuclear weapons as of yet and their troops are stalled. The Russians are pounding the bejezus out of the Chinese with their air forces; the Chinese haven’t been able to match them plane for plane and they’re paying for it dearly. The Chinese can’t advance any further into Russian territory due to the residual radioactivity. We’ve picked up traces, but being tactical nukes for the moment it’s not our greatest concern. What we are concerned about are those mobile missile launchers in the Chinese columns, not even to mention their stockpiled nukes. We also have the Indian and Pakistani armies on the southern border of China, so now we have two powder kegs and both fuses are lit. Our analysts believe that both the Russian and Chinese leadership is headed toward their own bunker systems, and once they’re safe and sound they just might let the nukes fly.”
McCreary paused as he chose his next words carefully.
“President Andrews took Air Force One most of the way to the primary bunker site and should arrive there shortly; within an hour most likely. That’s somewhat of a relief. Our naval forces have been ordered to disappear and continue to avoid contact with any and all ships. At the moment our main concern is that if and when nuclear weapons do start to fly, and they will, how many are going to come our way and when? Several months ago President Andrews had a large number of our nuclear weapons converted to anti-ballistic missiles, but depending upon what kind of numbers we’re dealing with, we’re not going to be able to stop them all. I don’t need to tell you the level of destruction that will result should that occur.”
McCreary again looked out the window, almost as if taking in the view as though it would be the last time he’d be able see the landscape below in all of its beauty.
“I think we have enough time to make it to the bunker site comfortably, but what we’re going to have to deal with when we get there isn’t going to be pretty. It’s the prophecy come true. I’m afraid the United States and the world as we know it won’t exist for much longer if the course of this juggernaut isn’t changed.”
Mitch started to ask ques
tions, which at first were pointless.
“Why would the Chinese attack the Russians in the first place, General, when they were supplying them with food?”
McCreary knew Mitch was in shock over the magnitude of unfolding events. He’d known him for too many years, but under the circumstances was willing to placate him despite knowing the fact that Mitch already knew the answer to his own question.
“I don’t know, Mitch; pure desperation on the part of the Chinese. They were about to be overthrown by their own people and the only way to avoid that from happening was to pacify them, and that simply meant more food.”
“But the chambers,” Mitch said exasperated, “They could have solved the problems that we’ve been experiencing and avoided this war altogether.”
“Yes, Mitch, they could have, but it’s gone too far. It’s just too late and become a dogfight for survival. There are very few allies we can count on, but there are some.”
Mitch needed a moment and became quiet. He and Anya had such hopes that they could have changed the outcome of what they knew was coming, but also subconsciously knew it was futile. It only seemed to double their determination in the same fashion as it had President Andrews, to save as many of the human race as possible. He looked over at Erin. “Thankfully she wasn’t hearing all of this,” he thought. But that wasn’t the case. Erin continued to look out the window but had listened to every single word. It was the first inkling of the person she would become. Erin had heard enough and discreetly switched off her headset without the others noticing, nor the tear that suddenly began to fall from her eye.
Anya had been silent throughout the discussion; perhaps also in shock at the reality of events. Yesterday now seemed like a century ago, but she had also known what was coming. Major Hastings, being a military man kept his cool, even though he was unnerved as much as the others. His thoughts wandered to his immediate family, already secured within the primary bunker site, but his parent’s weren’t there and never would be. Anya looked at Erin, saddest for her of all. “What world would be left for her to live in?” she thought.
The cabin of the helicopter became quiet and remained that way for the next two hours as their journey continued, all lost in their own personal thoughts.
Although many things were running through her mind, Anya took solace in that her daughter would have a little more time left of her childhood, short as it would be. If she could get her to the bunker site perhaps she could shelter her somewhat from the larger picture, difficult as that would be. She was surprised when Erin looked over at her and smiled, grabbing her hand as she did so. Anya could do nothing else but smile in return. If this were to be the end, if they didn’t make it, at least they would be together. She was very proud.
McCreary, also lost in his thoughts was thinking strictly in military terms. He could have turned on the television to see what was occurring on ground level in the states, but toward what end? Meehan and the President were handling the situation and according to his last conversation with them the situation was not good. Due to the limited communications within the Asian theater the U.S. Military was only able to rely upon satellite imagery and extremely limited intelligence. The rest was speculation on the part of analysts. The media was even more in the dark, but the war between India, Pakistan, and China had been common knowledge and was fodder enough to keep the airwaves jumping. What they did know was that something extremely serious had occurred in Russia, enough to put the entire United States on edge. Speculation had run rampant, and journalist Eric Massey was determined to stick it out no matter what. He’d also become a rock that people could count on. McCreary snickered as he thought “that is one man with chutzpah.” Smiling, he was thankful that he’d been raised in a country that produced such brave individuals.
Almost four hours into the trip with approximately 900 miles to go, the pilot again came over McCreary’s headset and gave him an update on their position. They had been continuing along their flight path while maintaining an altitude of slightly over 200 feet.
“Approaching Colorado, General. A little more than two hours to destination.”
“Copy pilot,”
Approximately twenty-five more minutes passed and the General had again been looking out the window. As he did so, off in the distance he could see smoke rising and immediately got on the intercom.
“Pilot, what’s our location?”
“Approaching Denver, Sir.”
“I’m seeing smoke ahead.”
“We’re seeing it now too, Sir.”
“Pilot, get us up to 1,000 feet immediately.”
“Copy, General.”
Everyone in the helicopter felt a bit heavier as the pilot pushed it to the limit, attempting to gain altitude as quickly as possible. He’d reached six-hundred feet but they’d already approached the outskirts of the city limits. Without any warning the helicopter was suddenly strafed by ground fire. There was a “plink, plink, plink” sound as the chopper took on a number of hits and began to shudder. Erin cried out in pain. Buzzers began to go off as everyone in the cabin grabbed anything and everything that they could to hold on to as the helicopter became erratic.
McCreary looked over at Erin, and as far as he could tell she had a graze wound on her leg but otherwise no visually obvious life-threatening injuries. Anya held on to her for dear life as the chopper continued to rock back and forth. Two minutes passed before the pilot was able to regain control, but the damage had already been done. Major Hastings grabbed the med-kit as McCreary got on the intercom.
“Pilot, status report.”
“Ground fire, Sir; small arms. I think they got part of our tail rotor. I can keep her in the air for another twenty minutes, but I wouldn’t push it any much more than that.”
“Copy that. Radio ahead to the bunker site and have them dispatch a relief chopper immediately. I want you to skirt the city limits and get us to a safe landing zone in an unpopulated area.”
“Copy, General.”
The co-pilot quickly radioed ahead for the relief chopper as the pilot continued to fight for control. The pilot was a veteran, which is why he was sent for the General and his very important passengers in the first place.
Hastings checked over Erin’s wound as Mitch and Anya looked on, unable to speak. She was a trooper and had been through a lot for one single day, but bearing the pain she was in was a different matter.
Seeing no other injuries, Hastings quickly injected her with a local anesthetic which seemed to quiet her down a bit as it began to go to work. He cleaned the wound with an antiseptic ointment, and applying direct pressure stemmed the bleeding. It seemed to do the trick, so he dressed the wound and tightly wrapping it in gauze got it to the point where the injury could be properly treated once they reached the primary bunker site. It was a grazing wound that would leave a scar, but barring any infection was not life-threatening. Certainly this wasn’t the vacation that Erin had planned on. Major Hastings gave Mitch and Anya his assessment of the wound which also calmed them down considerably.
True to his word the pilot found an appropriate landing site; the relief helicopter already having been dispatched with the exact coordinates of their position. Immediately upon landing the chopper the pilot shut down all systems and addressed McCreary.
“General, we have confirmation that our relief chopper is on the way; it’ll be here in approximately one hour. I suggest we get clear of the landing site; there’s still quite a bit of fuel on board.”
McCreary confirmed the recommendations of the pilot; completely composed. It almost seemed as though this was something that happened to the General on a daily basis. As they all removed their headsets McCreary addressed the others with him in the cabin of the helicopter.
“Our relief chopper’s on the way. Major Hastings, I want you to grab the med-kit and any food and water on board. I’ll take the hand-held radio and mobile location finder. We’re going to evacuate the landing site and wait for our relief in that clearing
over there. He was pointing to an area about 100 yards away as the pilot and co-pilot looked on. Hastings nodded as Mitch scooped up Erin with Anya close behind.
McCreary then turned his attention to the pilot and co-pilot.
“Pilot, do you have any weapons on board?” he asked briskly.
“Yes, Sir.”
“Good. Get them.”
Without hesitation both quickly went about their task and shortly reached the clearing where the others were waiting. McCreary looked at the pilot dead eyed; pointing.
“You, over there at the ready.”
Then, turning to the co-pilot he pointed to a hill overlooking the clearing.
“You, over there. Unseen.”
Almost in unison they responded, “Yes Sir, General.”
They both knew their mission. Now it was time to wait.
Episode 7: “Rescue”
* * *
The first fifteen minutes since landing passed quietly, Mitch and Anya attending to Erin who despite her newly acquired wound was relatively calm. The local anesthetic had done its job and she wasn’t in a great deal of pain.
General McCreary thought it better that they position themselves closer to the tree line bordering the clearing so that the group would be slightly out of sight should anyone with otherwise bad intentions cross their path. Although they were armed, there were only four of them including Hastings who had been carrying his Beretta. The pilot had found a relatively unpopulated area, but with the chaos happening in Denver and most likely the rest of the country as well, until their relief arrived McCreary wanted to make certain that their profile was kept to a minimum. According to his conversation over the hand held with the relief chopper (three in all had actually been dispatched), assuming all went well within forty-five minutes they would again be on their way to the primary bunker site and arrive in slightly under two hours. Their best course of action for the moment was to simply remain quiet and out of site.
