Stars & Empire: 10 Galactic Tales

by Jay Allan

  “Darren is giving us forty-eight hours to strip the mall of computer parts,” spoke Michael, looking back at Sergeant Andrews wanting to make sure he was clear on that point.

  “Any chance of survivors?” asked Andrews, turning his attention to Michael.

  “There have been no radio signals or other signs of anyone still being alive anywhere near here for several months,” Michael responded. Since the last eruption at Yellowstone, very few survivors had been found in the northern half of the country.

  “What about other items?” Brian asked, his eyes focusing on Michael. “After all, this is a mall and it’s bound to have a lot of other things we need. Hell, there are some things that I need!”

  “Computers and computer parts first,” Michel said firmly. “Then, if we have time, we can load the ship up with anything else that might be useful.”

  Brian nodded. It had been six months since they had made their first trip to Earth in the Raven. During that trip, they had rescued a CDC doctor and his family. Due to the large number of refugees being taken up to Luna City and Vesta, they were short of nearly everything. Brian would love to spend a few hours just gathering up some personal items. Even a few new shirts would be nice.

  -o0o—

  A little while later, Michael climbed into one of the two modified Humvees in the main cargo hold. Sergeant Andrews now had ten army rangers under his command. Four of them would stay with the ship while the rest, as well as Michael and a few other crewmembers, would go out on the scavenging mission.

  The two Humvees drove up to the mall and after a little searching, found the main entrance. The ash and snow seemed to be well over a foot deep and both were still falling. The volcanic eruptions had continued to intensify, and now the entire planet was suffering heavy ash fall. Michael knew that even at Jornada it had become necessary to clear the three long runways a minimum of four times a day just so the shuttles could safely launch and land.

  “The main entrance seems to be intact,” Sergeant Andrews said as he put on his breathing mask and goggles. He pulled up the hood of his parka and opened the door of the vehicle.

  Michael flinched as the cold air hit him. He knew the temperature outside was now hovering close to the five to ten degree mark. Getting out, he walked with Andrews and the other army rangers to the large glass doors, followed by the members of his crew that had come along. At least the short breezeway in front of the doors was protecting them from the falling snow and ash.

  One of the rangers tried both of the large doors and found them to be locked. Using the butt of his assault rifle, he broke out the glass panel on one so they could gain entrance. Once inside, they made their way to the large map of the mall at the end of the wide corridor, shining their lights around at the stores that surrounded them. Most seemed untouched. It was eerily quiet inside; the only sounds besides their voices were their footsteps echoing hollowly in the corridor.

  “One of the computer stores is on the second level, and the other two we want to check are the first,” Sergeant Andrews announced as he pointed out the locations on the map. He turned around to face the assembled group seeing that everyone had made it inside. “I will take one group to the upper level. Corporal Burns, you will take your group and check out the other large computer store. If you see or hear anything, call out on the radio; I don’t want there to be any surprises.”

  “There shouldn’t be,” Michael said evenly. “According to Holbrook Station it’s been months since any radio signals have been picked up in this area. A ship rescued a small band of survivors north of here and there has been nothing since.”

  Michael went with Corporal Burns and they were soon standing in front of the computer store on the main level. “I don’t like this,” Michael said as he looked in astonishment at the tiled floor outside the store. He could see evidence of footprints in the ash that had made itself inside through holes in the roof.

  The footsteps led off further into the mall and vanished into darkness where their lights didn’t shine. The four army rangers shifted nervously on their feet, their heavy assault rifles at the ready. Two other members of the Raven’s crew were with them besides Michael.

  “There could be survivors in here after all,” Michael said, gazing into the darkness. “The mall would have everything people would need to survive. Clothes, food, water, and even camping gear.”

  “You’re right,” replied Corporal Burns, uneasily. He quickly called Sergeant Andrews and reported the footprints.

  Michael looked around, wondering if anyone was watching them from the darkness. The mall was quiet and there was no other evidence of anyone else being around.

  “Sergeant Andrews says they’ve found footprints upstairs also,” Burns reported, looking worriedly over at Michael. “We’re to check the store out first and then begin searching the mall to see if anyone else is actually here. I’ll post a guard outside the store while the rest of us go inside and see if what we need is present.”

  Michael nodded. After gaining entrance, they set up several portable lights they had brought with them. Searching the back of the store, they were pleased to find a large supply of the most recent computers and computer supplies still in boxes in a large storage room.

  “This is just what we’re after,” Michael said in a pleased voice. He knew that some of the computers would be used as they were, while many of the others would be torn apart for the valuable parts they contained. Most would be going to Luna City.

  “I will leave one of my marines here, and the rest of us will begin searching the mall,” Corporal Burns informed Michael after reporting in one more time to Sergeant Andrews. “Why don’t you gather all the computer supplies and set them just outside the entrance. After we’re finished with the search we’ll help move them to the Humvees.”

  “Be careful, Corporal,” Michael cautioned, not sure that he approved of the corporal and two of the army rangers going off on their own, leaving only one behind. “We don’t know how many survivors could be hiding in here.”

  “I’ll be careful,” Burns promised as he turned to leave followed by two of his rangers. “More than likely there’s no one here at all.”

  Michael watched them leave until their lights vanished around a corner. With a heavy sigh, he turned and led his two crewmembers back inside the store to begin carrying the heavy computer boxes out.

  For the next hour, Michael and his two people hauled box after box of computers and computer parts to the front of the store, setting them just outside the entrance. Michael was bringing out one of the last boxes when he stepped outside the store, sat the box down, and then turned to speak with the soldier that was standing guard duty. With surprise, Michael saw that the soldier was gone.

  “What the hell?” Michael said, walking quickly over to where the soldier had been standing and examining the floor.

  From the marks in the ash, it was evident that something had happened. He could see scuff marks where the soldier had been dragged off. Michael followed the marks for a short distance and then stopped upon seeing that they vanished into the darkness. He was just about to use his radio to contact Sergeant Andrews when he sensed a presence behind him. Spinning around Michael realized that he had screwed up. A figure was standing there and then Michael felt something strike him in the head. Blackness instantly followed as he crumpled to the floor.

  -o0o—

  Michael opened his eyes and felt a sharp pain on the back of his head. Reaching up, he gingerly rubbed it. He noticed it was pitch black and putting his hand up to eyes, realized that he was blindfolded.

  “Don’t remove the blindfold,” an older male voice said in a threatening tone. “Just who the hell are you and what are you doing stealing from our mall?”

  “I’m Michael Kirby from Holbrook Station,” replied Michael, wondering just what he had gotten himself into. “We’re here to pick up some computer supplies for the new habitats were building on the Moon.”

  “Yeah, right,” another m
ale voice spoke derisively. “You’re just common thieves trying to take what’s ours.”

  “My ship’s outside in the parking lot,” Michael said defensively. “Go and look if you don’t believe me.”

  “You’re trying to tell me that you landed a spaceship in the mall’s parking lot?” the first voice spoke in disbelief. “Just how big a fool do you think we are?”

  “Take my blindfold off and I’ll show it to you,” Michael responded, not knowing what else to do.

  “Take his blindfold off,” a woman’s voice spoke. “His story will be easy enough to check out. Derrick, go up on the roof and see if anything is out there.”

  Michael felt the thick blindfold jerked off his head and he blinked at the sudden light. Looking around, he saw about twenty people watching him with suspicion. They were in a large room with several lanterns furnishing light. Several gas stoves were being used to furnish heat.

  “Who are you people?” Michael asked as he struggled to sit up and then leaned back against the wall. “We didn’t think there were any survivors still in this area.” An older man with slightly graying hair was standing in front of him.

  “I’m Jacob Kindler and this is my wife, Anita,” the man said, gesturing to a woman just behind him.

  “Where are we?”

  “In the basement of the mall,” replied Anita, stepping closer. “We’ve been here for months. We have a radio, but we haven’t heard anything on it since shortly after the ash started falling. We didn’t think there were any other survivors until we saw your people up in the mall.”

  “There are a lot of survivors,” responded Michael, knowing he needed to put these people at ease. He noticed that several of the men that were hanging back listening were heavily armed. Michael began telling them about Jornada, Luna City, and Vesta.

  “You say there are millions of survivors?” one of the men with the rifles said in disbelief when Michael stopped talking. “I don’t believe you.”

  Another man came in through an open doorway and stood looking at Michael. “We may have made a mistake,” he said in a soft voice. “There is a spaceship in the parking lot. I also saw more soldiers in the mall as well as outside by the ship.”

  “Are you telling the truth about more survivors?” a young woman with several small children asked with hope in her voice.

  “Yes, there is an ongoing effort to rescue survivors all over the world,” answered Michael, knowing he was close to winning them over. “How many of you are down here in this basement?”

  “There are forty-two of us,” Anita responded, her eyes focusing on Michael as if she were trying to judge him. “Can you take us away from here? We have food and water for only a few more months, and some of the children are sick.”

  “Yes, please,” the young woman with the two children said in a pleading voice. “At least take the children!”

  “Let me go and I will contact my brother on Holbrook Station and see if I can’t get another ship down here. He’s in charge of the station. I can’t take all of you on the Raven, but with another ship we can take everyone up to the station where I promise you will receive medical care and be safe.”

  “You can give our children medical care?” the young woman spoke, stepping forward holding the hands of her two children.

  “Yes,” Michael replied in his best voice, trying to put her at ease. “We have plenty of medical supplies as well as doctors.”

  Jacob eyed Michael for a long moment, then reached down with his hand and helped him up. “I don’t think we have any other choice but to trust you,” he said in an even voice. “As my wife said, we can’t stay here much longer, so we’re going to have to take a chance that you have been telling us the truth. The soldier we took earlier is in the next room. I’ll go with you to meet with the rest of your people.”

  Michael nodded, feeling relieved. Not only were they going to get the supplies, they had found more survivors. It made him wonder just how many others were in hiding like this group. He wished there were some way they could search for other survivors like these. The weather outside was now so bad that communication with most of the surface of the planet was impossible. Michael knew they were finding fewer and fewer people every day now. Shortly the only survivors would be those at the camps waiting for rescue. The Earth was rapidly becoming a world of the dead.

  -o0o—

  Lawrence, Marsha, General Wainright, and General Pittman were all standing on the second level of the main Operations Center at Jornada looking out at the heavy gray snow falling. Visibility was down to only a few hundred feet.

  “It’s nearly two feet deep now,” Marsha commented as she pulled her jacket tighter around her. It wasn’t cold inside the Operations Center, but just looking outside made her shiver.

  “We’re having to clear the runways just before every shuttle launch now,” Lawrence informed the others. “Luckily the cargo ships can come straight down and don’t need the runways to land or take off.”

  “What’s our power situation?” asked General Pittman, glancing over at Lawrence and Marsha.

  Lawrence shook his head. “Not good. The wind generators are still functioning, but we need so much power for heat that it’s starting to tax our ability to produce electricity. We’ve been using our standby diesel generators more and more as of late.”

  “We have people in the camp and tent city dying daily from the cold,” Marsha said worriedly. “I don’t know what we’re going to do if the weather gets any worse.” She was glad that her husband and teenage son had been evacuated a few weeks back. Both were now at Vesta and out of harm’s way.

  “We have some additional large diesel generators we can bring in from the bases,” said General Wainright, knowing that heat was the biggest problem. “They should get us by for a while. Fortunately we have a large supply of diesel fuel, so that won’t be an issue.”

  “We’ll have to build a large structure to put them in,” added General Pittman, knowing the snow and ash would make short work of the generators if they were used out in the open.

  “I’ll put some of our engineers on it,” General Wainright responded. “We’ll also see if we can scrounge up more heaters for tent city.”

  “What about your helicopters; are they still flying rescue missions?” Marsha asked. She knew that the large rescue helicopters had been flying almost daily from the two military bases and White Sands.

  “Not right now,” answered General Pittman, shaking his head. “The weather is just too bad. Once it calms down some we will get them back up in the air.”

  Lawrence nodded; each day the situation was getting worse. They had seen heavy rain, snow, and even ice in the last four weeks, all of it laced with the dirty volcanic ash that was now everywhere. There were nearly one and a half million survivors huddled in the barracks, the large tents around Jornada, and in tent city. Each day nearly two thousand survivors were hauled up into orbit to Holbrook Station, and from there they were sent to either the Moon or Vesta. There were millions of other survivors holding on at other survival camps around the world. Lawrence knew that if something didn’t change soon, many of them were going to die.

  -o0o-

  Captain Stevens stepped outside of his bunker and instantly felt the icy cold. The temperature was close to zero with a strong northerly wind. A snowplow had come through recently, clearing the road that ran in front of the fence. Looking over at tent city, Mark shook his head in concern. People were dying every day from exposure. The military had brought in better tents and even built some barrack-like buildings where people could huddle for warmth, but it still wasn’t enough.

  “It’s cold out,” Lieutenant Griffith muttered as he buttoned up his parka as far as he could. “I checked tent city this morning, and we lost another one hundred and twelve yesterday to the cold.”

  “Damn!” uttered Mark, knowing he was powerless to stop the deaths. He looked out at tent city and the heavily falling snow. It was the middle of the day and it was pitch b
lack other than a few scattered lights that were barely visible.

  In the distance, they could hear a muffled roar as one of the modified cargo ships took off, loaded down with survivors. At least they were large enough to still take off and maneuver in this infernal weather.

  Mark gestured at Griffith and the two went back inside the bunker where it was warm and well lighted. There was no point in going over to tent city in this weather. No one would be outside; everyone would be staying inside trying to keep warm. Mark knew as soon as the snow let up, troops would go into tent city and search the thousands of tents for any that had died during the storm. It was a gruesome task, but it had to be done.

  -o0o-

  Mason was making an inspection of one of the habitation tunnels crammed with survivors from Earth. It was full of bunk beds and small lockers for personal items. There was very little privacy other than a few blankets and thin sheets that had been hastily strung up. Nearly ten thousand people lived in the tunnel, and the living conditions were barely tolerable.

  The people inside were given food twice per day and allowed to take a shower every other day. Also, once every other week they were given a pass that allowed them to go into Smithfield for a full day. The tunnels were patrolled heavily by military troops making sure everyone stayed safe and there were no problems.

  “I don’t like this at all,” mumbled Mason, watching a mother and two children sitting on a bottom bunk playing a board game.

  “We have five tunnels like this now, and ten with apartments,” Keith Davis responded. “That’s ninety thousand people, plus we’ve stuffed another twenty thousand in and around Smithfield.”

  “The new habitat?” asked Mason, wishing it could be finished quicker. He had made a tour of it a few weeks back and been impressed by the progress being made.

  “Another year at least before it’s fully ready,” answered Davis. “We almost have the interior section hollowed out, but putting in the ecological systems, as well as the infrastructure, is going to be a big job.”