Survivors

by Alex Isaacs

  Simon sees me thinking; then, he tells me what is going on. The countries involved with the space platform, thinking our government is taking more of the resources without telling them, adding our government does not know everything. We are building some more PSV’s to bring back more resources; we will give more gold and other valuable resources to the countries. Simon says, as soon as the first CSV is ready, we will begin the use of the farms on board. We will test out how the animals will cope. Simon says that is why he wants to find out what Scott and his group are selling. Simon will get a few of his people to but the stolen goods that we can use to bring here to ship to the CSV for storage. I think, then I ask Simon to give me a list of what he would like. I suggest if we can get back up computers, we should get some of them as well. Simon says that is one of his items on his list.

  Before I leave Simon’s office, I stop to ask him if we could make up a story for me to talk to Scott right now. Simon gets me to sit down to discuss what we can do. Simon would like to get the supplies soon. I ask Simon where we will get the cash from to do this. Simon opens his drawer, bringing up a container with gold in it. Simon says not many places will take raw gold, he is thinking of making them into small one-ounce bars. We look at the day's prices, which fluctuate all the time. We might be able to get fifteen hundred dollars per once. I tell Simon, I can go to see if these coin shops will take them. Simon says they will, but he has to make the one-ounce bars first.

  I tell Simon I will get my parents to ship the burner phone to me quickly. I will call Scott, saying this girl I am seeing, saw the emails, saying she has a brother out west that is looking for supplies for his group of survivors. He is willing to pay in cash on the spot. Simon asks the location out west. I know it can not be in California, so I look at the map. Simon says he has access to one of the military bases in Colorado. I tell Simon we need to find a place to ship the supplies to near the base, maybe by train. Simon says we need people we can trust that will not ask that many questions of us. I suggest we use some of our battalion members. They can go out to Colorado to unload the trains to take the supplies to the base. We can use the PSV’s to take them right up to the asteroid base. Simon says we can not store these goods on the asteroid; they will need to go right onto the vehicles. Simons tells me he will look for a warehouse near a railway line to bring the materials to for now. He will try to rent it out in a different name, paying cash. Now the train, Simon asks me if George back in the valley will do us a favor to train some of our people to drive a train.

  I tell Simon that my dad is friends with George; you have done him a big favor. I know he would like one of the farms in the valley to live in with his daughter. Maybe we can make him a deal. Simon writes down some more notes. Simon picks up the phone, asking Joe to send extra PSV’s to the asteroid belt, the FSV can fuel them up when they arrive to save on our fuel. Simon tells me this will work for both groups; we can give them all more valuable materials while we take the majority for our use. I call my dad about a parcel coming for me; he says one arrived by express, from a Scott in California. I ask my dad to send it to me now, using the fastest express available. I let Simon know the burner phone is at the valley, Scott sent it by express to me. Simon tells me to change into my civilian clothes, we will see about selling some gold.

  We go out finding a coin dealer in a local mall. He has small one-ounce bars of gold for sale. I ask if he buys the gold like this? He says yes, all the time. He points to a sign; he pays top dollar less a handling fee, that is so he can make a profit on the bars. He asks how many I have; I say it will depend on what my rich uncle will send me to help pay my tuition for university. We look at the small bars, Simon knows what he needs to do to be able to sell them. I see the inscription on the bars; they are the symbols for gold, plus the weight of the bar. We thank him then head out to the base. Simon drops me off, asking me to make up a list of goods so we can compare to make sure we have everything we can get.

  I head in, seeing that I missed dinner. I go to the base store to pick up something to eat before heading back to the barracks. I write down my story for Scott, then begin on the list for supplies. I think about who we can send to help get the supplies from Scott, he has to be trustful and maybe a little bit crazy. I look around, seeing Jason sitting reading his book. I think he might be the perfect candidate for the purchaser. I see everyone getting ready for our nightly run. I put my things away, getting changed. The girls asked why I missed dinner; I tell them that I was talking with Simon about the CSV’s.

  The next morning we go to the asteroid base; another PSV is heading to the belt now. Orders for the FSV now include fueling up the PSV’s when they arrive. I find out they want the PSV’s coming back here to the base every other day. They get the materials out of the asteroids in that period. The third PSV-15 is ready, heading out to meet its mother ship at the asteroid belt. The fourth PSV-15 is now taking shape in the asteroid base. After it is ready, the PSV-14 will go into production once more. The CSV nearly has the first section inclosed. I see the tunnel that will join each of the vehicles; it is retractable and will be able to go between all the vehicles. They are going to make a second one to join all three vehicles together. We finish our run, going back to the base to do our daily training, dinner, then, some of us do our school work. I get my work done, bringing out my list to add to it for Simon.

  Monday morning, after our training and delivery run to the asteroid base, I head to see Simon with my list. I find out that he will be back later today, he flew out this morning for a meeting. I go to my daily training, then back to see Simon. He is in, smiling as I come into his office. He has George on board, George will train a couple of our people to drive the train, even going with them to do the first pickup or two. George will have a farm in the valley, then Simon said he would bring George and his family along with us, but George does not know that right now. I tell Simon that I think Captain Peabody would make a good candidate for the mission to get the supplies. Simon thinks, then says okay, he can fly the supplies up to the asteroid base from the Colorado base. The General is thinking of expanding the military personnel now for our mission. We can use that as a second base to fly out of down the road. I ask Simon what we will do with these extra people. Simon tells me they would go into the hibernation units until we need them.

  Simon sends a soldier to find Jason to come to his office. When Jason comes in, he is surprised to see me here, along with meeting with Simon. We get Jason to sit down, telling him this meeting is confidential, nothing is to be said outside this room to anyone else, unless we authorize it. Simon asks Jason if he is up for an undercover mission away from the military. Jason says yes, but why him. I tell Jason we need someone a bit wild, that can think on the spot. We tell Jason what we want to do, working out of the military base in Colorado. Simon has a man finding a warehouse near the railway. Jason sits there in shock with what we want to do and get. Simon tells him he can not get these supplies without bringing attention to our group. We now need to get some other recruits to help move the goods after Jason takes possession of them.

  The two of us go to dinner, Jason asking me some more questions. I tell him all I know about Scott and his group. There should be more people we will meet in his group; we do have to take delivery to put it on a special train with our other recruits. After we eat, I do go over my classes for the day; the professor reminds us of our exam in four weeks. I start to make my notes to be ready for these exams. We do our run, then right to bed. In the morning, I get a call to the gate; a package is here for me. It is from my dad; the burner phone is here. We head up to the asteroid where I tell Jason to meet in Simon’s office later today. The first section of the CSV is inclosed, the technicians are now able to work inside, getting all the equipment set up and the oxygen into it to check it over. The frame of the second section is now beginning. We get down to do our training; the General is there waiting. He tells the Major and me that we do not have to do the extra training now, we have more impor
tant things to look into now. I guess Simon has met with him about what we need to do.

  Jason and I show up at Simon’s office, the General is in with Simon, waiting for us. The General knows of our operation now; he was wondering how we were going to get the extra supplies. I take out the burner phone, looking at the time. I hope that Scott has the phone with him. There is no answer. I ask for a computer, then send an email to Scott to turn the phone on that he sent me. I wait for a reply, but the phone rings instead. Scott asks what the problem is, can he help. I tell him what is going on, about my girl's brother and the emails. Scott is a bit hesitant; then, I ask him if they can use extra money to help with his supplies. Scott says, yes. I set up to meet him on Saturday, telling him I will bring Jason to meet him.

  After hanging up, General Horten says we will fly out Friday afternoon to the base in Colorado. He is meeting with another General that runs this base. Jason says we should have an extra ten people for the mission. There will be the people running the train; then, the rest will be at the warehouse to keep guard of the supplies until we can move them. The supplies will be driven by military transport back to the Colorado base from the warehouse. All the extra people need to have clearance to run the military transports. Simon tells the General we all have to be in civilian clothes after getting to the warehouse. Simon tells Jason he has a motorhome for us to use, it is waiting for us at the warehouse with Colorado plates, by the railway line that leads straight into California from New Mexico. Everything is under false names. Simon brings out some gold one-ounce bars, handing Jason and me four each for now. The General looks at Simon, Simon hands the General four, saying these are to bride this other General for the vehicles. Simon tells us to change to get these changed into cash.

  We change, I grab my backpack, emptying it on my bed. I borrow Joe’s van as we head out to the different coin dealers to change the gold into cash. I check to see what the actual price of gold is before going into the shops. We get to the first dealer; his price is near the exact amount. We each exchange one bar as not to attract attention, then head to the second dealer. His price is low; I decide to go to the next dealer. His price is near the first; we each exchange another bar each. We go to three more, before finding another dealer near the price. I write down the dealers we will go to in the future. We now have exchanged all the gold for cash. Jason and I look at the cash. There is a lot of money there. We need to put it in a safe place until Friday. We write down the total, taking it to Simon to hold onto for us until Friday.

  We get back to the barracks, changing into our military clothes. Kelly asks what we are up to leaving the base. We tell Kelly that we have a mission to go on, we can not tell her, but we will ask to see if we are allowed to let her know anything. Kelly asks if the General knows about this, I say yes, he is one of the people sending us on the mission. Kelly says okay, carry on then. The next three days go quickly. Friday afternoon, we pack a bag, then head to Simon’s office. We get the cash, Simon handing us each four more bars of gold, telling us not to let anyone know we have these bars. We are to use only cash for all transactions. Simon gives Jason another phone. Simon tells Jason to give us twenty-four hours warning for picking up the supplies with our special train.

  We meet the General, along with the ten people we need for our mission. All they know is they are helping pick up containers by train, taking them to the warehouse. They will watch over them before they move them to the military base in Colorado. Their leader has a phone that Jason has the phone number to contact them. We get on the military plane, flying out to Colorado. We get to the base; the General goes to meet the commanding officer. We find out that the two know each other. We are given the transports, along with passes to get fuel along the way, in which the military will cover the expense. We get special orders from the new General, allowing us onto this base, no questions asked. We salute, then head out to the warehouse. We get to the warehouse, leaving the others to set up. We need to drive about twelve more hours to California. At least one can sleep while the other drives.

  We are lucky with the time change; we gain some time on the way there; the time back, we will lose time. We arrive outside the university just after eight in the morning. I phone Scott on the burner phone; he is happy to hear from me so quickly. We meet at the local mall; I tell him we are in a motorhome. He shows up with another guy; his name is Jake. Jake is the main driver that will bring the loads to us. I introduce them to Jason; then, I ask Scott how much for each load. Scott says if it is coming from the docks, it is a flat rate. Jake is saying that is the agreement they have for now. If there are other loads, they might cost a little more. I hand Scott the list, then ask him how much extra he would like to do this for us. Scott asks what we can afford. Jake looks at the list, saying the medical supplies will be the only special loads on our list. The rest will be in shipping containers from the docks. Jason says that will be perfect. I see Jake looking at Jason. Jake then asks Jason if he is a cop. Jason laughs, saying he is in the military, he is also in a group that is preparing for survival after anything happens. Scott laughs, saying his group has a couple of soldiers in it doing the same thing. Jason tells Scott, he does not want to know about them, no need for them to know about him as well.

  I pick up the backpack with the money in it, asking if we start, when can you start bringing the loads. Scott looks at Jake, who agrees with him. Jake says they can get the loads any time, but they need them as well. I ask if Thursday will be a good delivery date. Jake says, yes, that will be a good day. I ask how many trucks for each delivery on each Thursday. Jake says that depends on how many we can take to move that day. I tell them I have to arrange for our train to pick them up, seeing what they can carry. Scott looks at me; I say yes, Jason’s group has access to trains. I suggest we start with six shipping containers first. I set out cash for three weeks of work. Scott and Jake look at the two of us. Scott says to hold on, he goes out to his vehicle, coming back in with four more burner phones. Each of us has one that we can only call each other on now. I go into the mall to photocopy the list, bringing the copies out, handing each person one copy. I tell Scott that Jason or I will phone him on any additions. Jake can call Jason for the delivery. I tell Scott that Jason’s group has let me in with them. They seem to want my knowledge as you do.

  The first delivery will be next Thursday. That is plenty of time to let Simon know. After the two leave us, we go to find another couple of coin dealers. We each cash in one bar, it will be more than enough money for Jason right now. I decide to call Simon to let him know. Simon tells me to be at the closest airport, in a couple of hours, he is sending his jet to get me. Jason, in the meantime, is to stay here, looking for a spot to load the train. Simon is happy that we have a solid day that the deliveries will be there, he will talk with George. Jason says he will contact the men about the dates. Simon tells Jason, he will have his man get them supplies so they can stay there longer.

  We find the airport, I give Jason the rest of the gold, telling him to hide it in the motorhome away from the cash. He should also find a safe place to camp out while here. Jason says he should have brought his laptop. I tell him to take us to the mall; I will buy him one to use. My phone rings, it is Simon. He tells me that George wants us to take pictures of the railway yard there; we can also try to get a copy of the bills they use to ship out containers on the trains. I am to call Scott to see if they can take the containers right to the railway station and if we can load the train there. We find out where the train station is, I go in to ask if I can ship containers back east by train, asking if we need paperwork. The gentleman says yes, showing me the paperwork. When he turns his back to answer a question from Jake, I pick up two of the sheets. We thank him, leaving the yard after taking some pictures for George. I call Scott, explaining what we would like to do. Scott says that Jake works with other truckers that deliver to the railway yard from the docks every week. I tell Scott I will let him know what is going on later. We get back to the airport,
the plane finally arrives. I head back to Florida, arriving just after dinner.

  I see Simon, telling him the truckers deliver to the railway yard every week. Simon tells me to be ready in the morning; we will see George with the paperwork and pictures. I call to let my dad know we are flying up for a couple of hours to see George. I leave Simon, getting back to the barracks just in time for our nightly run. The next morning, I meet Simon. We fly up to see George, giving him the information. George says it might be better for him to run the trains every Thursday for Simon. He knows how the railway yards operate. Simon sets up a time to fly George down on Wednesday to the train. Simon asks will his boss miss him all these weeks. George says no, he is the boss; the trains run seven days a week, he will start taking Thursday and Fridays off, giving his counterpart the weekends off. George takes one copy of the paperwork, asking me to try to make copies. I give George one of the burner phones that will contact Scott and Jake. I will let Scott know you have it to coordinate the drops.

  We fly back to Florida, getting back in time for my training. The girls ask where I have been going. I tell them I am helping Simon set things up for the CSV. The girls ask if they can help, I tell them not right now, but when I need someone else, I will ask you, girls. They ask where Jason is. I tell them out west getting recruits lined up for the General, I think. After the training, I go to see Simon, saying that Jason does not have to stay there all the time; he can come back to his group or even back here. The drops will only be on Thursdays. Simon tells me he will think about it, but this week he wants me to fly back down to make sure everything goes alright. I look at the dates; my exams will start three weeks later. I go to do my school work, getting caught up, making notes for my exams.