In this changed world, the regress from the airport is completely unconventional. The three officers and four senior NCOs are given permission to recruit and plan as they feel best needed. An NCO heading north will gather people that live to the north. The same with an officer that may be heading east, into the mountains, or west into the city. The camp is moving in too many directions at once as word of the security groups forming gets around. Vigilance at the guard posts starts to wane as people line up with a group that may be able to help them out, may be able to help out their families, take them where they need to go.
Earlier, Zach sent four of his people in the Deuce with a SAW to the southern gate. He is in the suburban, scurrying about, trying to find people who want to go with him to Central City, or Somerset. His best E-5 is with his hummer at the armory as the munitions are being dispersed. He recruits another E-5. She and three wide-eyed young men have a front-end loader in operation. Zach has them hook up a twenty-four foot trailer and sends them to the supply depot to load up on food, water, clothing and any other supplies they can scrounge up. They are to meet him at the armory by midnight.
Zach tries to think of what else he should try to do. He hears gunfire, but it is distant, more than a mile away. Communications, he needs to try and find working radios. They had something in the tower that worked, he heads in that direction. His mind is going a thousand miles a minute. He needs to think of everything he may need to get from here to Central City, and everything they may face getting there, and how to keep his team together on the way. Meanwhile, as he looks around, the airport is turning into chaos as groups try and scavenge what they can before bugging out. He hears more gunfire, not just a few shots, this is a gunfight. It sounds like it is down in the Geistown area, closer to Johnstown.
He pulls up to the tower as the distant gunfight continues. It's been five minutes and the gunfight rages on, spreads. He looks around, alarmed at the mayhem he sees, that he is part of. Over fifty men and women are scurrying this way and that. He watches as a fight breaks out over who owns the use of an old hummer, dissent over which NCO to follow. He walks over and settles the dispute. His decisiveness gains him another two recruits and a hummer. He sends the two female soldiers to the armory with their Hummer, telling them to report to his E-5 that is already there, to load up on ammunitions and arms.
Zach returns his attention to the tower, and the hardened communications systems that it holds. As he approaches the broken in front doors, he hears more gunfire. Close by. Three shots in a row. It's coming from the southern gate. He hears a few more shots, then silence. He turns and runs for the suburban. His people are at the southern gate. Those are his people, he has to get there. Just as he closes the door to the suburban, he hears a serious volley of gunfire break out. That is followed by the ripping noise of the SAW unleashing one thousand rounds per minute into whoever was trying to breach the gate. Zach has seen the effects of a SAW on unsuspecting people. He prays for their souls. He prays for the man who had to pull the trigger. He prays that he can get to the gate before everything turns upside down.
* * *
As Zach approaches the southern roadblock, he sees several uniformed men and women heading away from the confrontation. Some are angry, some are crying, a few are wounded. The gunfire has stopped, except for a few shots in the distance. He comes up on the gate and pulls his suburban in behind the deuce. There is a mob of several hundred people a few hundred yards south of their defended position. He sees civilians dragging the wounded and dead from the scene of carnage. Some are weeping, some are shaking their fists and screaming at the defenders.
Zach looks up at the SAW gunner and sees the familiar face of a man on edge. A face he has seen in Iraq, but not in America. Sweat is pouring down his face and his fatigues are drenched, despite the cool fall weather. He is alertly looking over the road below him, eyes wide, senses on edge.
A quick survey of the area shows the physical roadblock of four trucks is still in place. The mob is a hundred yards further downhill from there, with two large bonfires burning, providing a bit of illumination to the grisly scene. He sees no one actually at the roadblock. His deuce is in over watch with the SAW but he sees no more than six other people defending the gate.
He talks with the E-5 in charge. He has no more than eight people still protecting the position. The mob rushed the gate and tried to over-run the roadblock. That was when the SAW opened up. It sent the mob back, but it also sent many of his people back too, giving up defending America if it means killing Americans.
Zach fully understands. This situation is untenable, unbearable. The scared eyes of the SAW gunner says it all. This place cannot be defended. There is no reason to defend it. They have to get the munitions dispersed and let the civilians in, let them have anything left of value. But they have to take care of the munitions. He explains this to the sergeant, the gate must hold for six more hours so they can regress with the arms and ammunition. The sergeant dutifully nods in compliance.
Zach races back to the armory. What he finds causes him to explode. A long line of people are bottle necked at the armory, including the Somerset contingent. Paper work is being filled out manually as the arms and munitions are being distributed. Strict accounting is being taken care of so each and every round and weapon is accounted for.
"Cut this bullshit! Major Kerns!?! We got to get this line moving, now! My SAW gunner is shell shocked at firing on civilians. There are only eight people left at the southern gate. Hundreds of people are going to descend on this facility in the next few hours, if not sooner. And you're letting these punks ass REMF's ask for paperwork!" Zach is furious. "There is no one to review the paperwork. You know your people, major get in there and distribute as you see fit."
"Only eight people at the southern gate? Is that right, Lt. Phillips?" Major Kerns asks one of his officers.
"Could be, people are going AWOL. I don’t really know," replies Phillips.
"That's your gate, you don't know? Get your ass down there. We need to get these security teams outfitted. You need to control that gate!"
Lt. Phillips heads out, head hanging low after being dressed down by the major. But he nods at his sergeant and motions to the armory as if to say, 'get what you can'.
The major steps into the midst of the distribution quagmire and starts to issue orders. Munitions and arms start to fly out of the armory. Now the paperwork is not the problem, manpower is the problem. Dollies are put into action to move the several tons of ammunition and weapons to the few running trucks that have been salvaged. Zach steps forward and makes sure that the Somerset contingent gets well taken care of and then his own crew begins to draw ammunition.
Once outside, he lets Sergeant Hay know how dire the situation is, and that his team's rally point is the terminal parking lot.
"What kind of deep shit did you bring us into Zach?" asks Sergeant Hay.
"It's gone bad sergeant. I don't think you can leave the way we came in. The northern route is still open from what I know. As soon as you are loaded up, head to the terminal parking lot. My team will rally there. I have over twenty people with me now. They know we are to protect you. I brought you in here, it is my responsibility to get you out of here. I take that responsibility seriously sergeant, we'll get you out of here or die trying."
"Zach, we would not have made it without the ammunition we just loaded up. Deer rifles and pheasant guns can only get you so far. We needed what your major has given us. We'll meet you up by the terminal lot."
Zach watches as the four Somerset farm trucks, carrying several tons of ammunitions and weapons, head off to the north. Their two scout bikes weave and bob as they flank their convoy through the scattered crowds.
He turns his attention to his own vehicles being loaded up from the armory. Two hummers have taken on their allotted load and are standing by. His newly recruited Hummer with the two female soldiers are waiting to receive a SAW and additional ammunition. More gunfire is heard from the
perimeter. Not from either gate, but from the west. People notice the threat is coming from a new direction. Panic begins to set in and jostling for position to receive weapons and ammunition starts up. The jostling turns into a fight which the major and a few of his men breakup. Zach steps in to defend his two soldiers as they finish up getting their load.
They are issued another SAW and several cases of ammunition when they hear more gunfire, close by. Even inside the garage bay of the armory, the sound is loud, coming from well inside what was their perimeter. Zach grabs the two women and tells them to go, leaving several cases of ammunition about to be loaded behind. They protest but he tells them no and to go now as he hoists one more case into the back of their Hummer.
By this time people are rushing about. The next truck up starts quickly loading their allotment. Zach turns and races out of the garage bay door to see mobs of people descending on the armory. Only two hundred yards away several hundred civilians are steadily marching his way. He watches as two soldiers fire on the mob. He sees several dozen flashes in return and feels the searing pain of a bullet ripping through his body.
The bullet hits him high in his torso, just above his body armor, to the right of his rib cage, tearing flesh and muscle, nicking his upper rib cage just under his armpit. The pain is excruciating. But he knows he needs to get away from this mob scene, as do most of the soldiers. His suburban is only fifteen yards away and he runs for it. He has trouble opening the door but manages to jump in.
"Go. Go. Go!" he yells as he pulls himself into the truck. He sees the girls Hummer turn a hard right only one hundred yards from the mob. Several shots are fired at the Hummer as it fish tails around the corner and heads away from the mob.
He hears more gunfire from behind him as the people still at the armory realize they are about to be over run. People are running in every direction at this point. The mob is running towards the armory. Soldiers are running away from the armory. Zach's driver has the pedal to the metal as the old Suburban swings around the corner heading towards the main road. Three civilians appear before them as their tires dig for traction. One flies over the hood on impact and the other two cause the Suburban to bump and swerve as they are crumpled under the tires.
Shots ring out behind them as their truck speeds away. Zach looks back to see the mob over running the armory. Gunfire erupts from the mob as they make the final charge. He sees a deuce rampage through the crowd in a desperate attempt to escape. A dozen people are plowed down, churned under its massive tires as it careens through the crowd. But the truck is out of control and rams into a light pole. It is quickly over run by angry civilians. Fear and sorrow grip Zach as his truck heads the half-mile to the terminal parking lot. He glances back one more time to see hundreds of people swarming every building on the airport corridor. It looks like a scene from World War Z, but these are real people, desperate for food, desperate to survive.
They quickly pull into the terminal lot. His deuce, and the rest of his convoy is there, including the back hoe with the loaded up trailer and the four Somerset trucks. He sees some soldiers racing from the tower, a few civilians firing at them from across the runway. Two soldiers drop. Zach jumps out of the suburban and races towards his fallen comrades. Two of his people race to the fallen as well. The SAW, that has been silent since the attack on the gate, makes a few short bursts. Zach sees the tracers hitting far in front of the attackers. But the effect is evident as they are given enough time to bring the wounded to the truck.
With a wave of his hand the large convoy of eleven trucks and a high lift with a trailer rolls away from the last area protected by the United States Army in the Laurel Highlands of Pennsylvania. They head towards the only available route, the northern gate.
A small crowd has over run the northern gate. A few high bursts from the SAW sends them all running, and the convoy rolls out into no man's land, heading north. The gun battle dies out behind them. They see a few more vehicles make it out of the overrun airport. What lies ahead of them they do not know. What lies behind them is a scene that will bring them nightmares for the rest of their lives.
Chapter 34, On The Run
East of Johnstown PA
September 18th
Zach's mind is racing. He and his crew have escaped the airport, but at what cost? American civilians died at the hands of American soldiers. Word of this will spread. He and his convoy will not be looked on as coming to help, but as coming to kill. Why were they told to hold the airport if no help was coming? Best-case scenario is help was supposed to come and never arrived. That only means that what help was supposed to come, couldn't. Are military bases being overrun? Is the demand on their limited capabilities too great? Is there an actual war going on that super cedes the country's needs for assistance? There is no good scenario that he can come up with. He and his crew are in no man's land with no hope of help.
Zach recalls a saying his step-dad used many times when things looked tough. "If God is with us, who can stand against us." As the convoy rolls into the dark future, Zach bows his head. "God, help us. Lord, I need your guidance and protection, show me your path and I will follow it. We need you with us now dear Lord, for everyone may be standing against us."
Running with black out lights, the convoy moves slowly along Frankstown Road, heading towards Rager's Corner. Another five miles will take them into St. Michael's. If that town has heard of the army firing on civilians, it will be a bad scene. Or they could pick up Route 219 and head south. But that will take them right back past Richland and the airport, not a wise path to follow. They need to regroup and plan. Hasty decisions will get more people killed.
They are coming up on a dip in the road. Zach knows there is a large junkyard on the left hand side of the road that would be big enough for them all to regroup in, but that would have them in the low ground. Not good for a defensive posture. Another mile up the hill is Rager's Corner, a four-way intersection with wide fields of fire. It's remote enough that it should not be heavily occupied, if defended at all.
With no communications, he has no way to let his convoy know to stop. About a half mile before the intersection, he has his driver gun it and move to the front of the convoy. From there he is able to halt the group so they can formulate their plan.
He sends a runner to get one person from each truck. Five minutes later they meet briefly. "We're in no man's land and we need to regroup and organize. A half-mile up the hill is an intersection that has commanding views in all directions, many of you probably know it, Rager's Corner. We are going to occupy it while we get organized and make plans."
Zach sends his suburban on forward. If they don't hear gunfire they will assume the way is open and the rest of the convoy will roll up. If the suburban gets in a gunfight, it is to roll back and they will make new plans. The suburban heads out. Zach starts assigning security for when they take the intersection, and then sets up protocols for getting organized. Five minutes later all is quiet, and they head up the hill.
Eleven trucks and over forty heavily armed men and women swarm over the intersection. Few of these people have ever worked together, but they all have military training, and most have served over seas. In just minutes the hilltop is secured. A dozen local civilians who have holed up are helped out and questioned. Drivers find hide spots for their vehicles as the security detail watches all points down range. The only civilian in the crew, Ms. Hodge, stays close to Zach, watching keen eyed as these professional soldiers do their job.
The two injured soldiers are tended to. One will not make it without emergency room treatment. The other has a leg wound and is bandaged up. Security protocols are set up and the crew settles in for a bit of needed rest.
* * *
A rooster crowing nearby wakes Zach from his restless sleep. Like most combat hardened soldiers, a few hours of sleep revives him. His driver offers him a fresh cup of MRE instant coffee. He takes it thankfully, allowing the warmth of the cup to take the chill out of his fingers. It is sti
ll dark, but the signs of dawn are creeping in on the eastern sky.
"Security been checked on and alert?" Zach asks his driver.
"All good Sergeant. A few civilians have passed through, and a few others seemed to have been scouting us, but they moved on. Some of our men have got some sleep, and all posts are secure and alert."
"How bout you? You get any shut eye?"
"Not yet, Sergeant. Been keeping an eye out while you slept."
"Get some sleep corporal. You deserve it and need it."
His driver finds a spot next to the suburban, uses his jacket as a pillow and pulls a poncho liner over him for warmth. A good soldier, he can sleep anywhere. Zach hears his snoring before his third swig of strong coffee.
Zach waits for his eyes to be accustomed to the darkness, then heads out to make the rounds of their position. The group with him is a hodgepodge of people from different units, so he knows he needs to set up cohesive squads to build a working unit. As he makes his rounds, giving encouragement, he makes a mental list of NCOs with him. Every E-5 he comes across is told to report to him at one hour after sunrise. One of the woman soldiers he helped out is an E-6 and she is told to head to the command area right away. He comes across the Somerset contingent and asks that Sergeant Hay meet him at the command post too.
It is full dawn when Zach finishes checking his positions and returns to the command area where the E-6 and Sergeant Hay are waiting for him.
"Gloria Burns, Staff Sergeant, 556th Combat Engineers Battalion," she introducers herself to Zach.
"Zach White, Platoon Sergeant, same unit. I've seen you around sergeant, you’re in the Combat Support Company right? I'm with Headquarters Company."
Righteous Bloodshed: Righteous Survival EMP Saga, Book 2 Page 24
