Chapter 7: Situational Reformation

A crackle of lightning deafened the room while the forced photon overdose could have blinded those within the Biosphere and it’s glass roof, had it lasted a little longer. It left glowing purple cracks on the insides of the eyelids. Craig’s voice crackled over the radio at the same time, but no one heard him. Impatiently, he tried again.

“Hey!” Craig yelled over the radio. “Fuck!”

“What?” Cano answered quickly, confused at the harsh tone.

“I tried radioing you,” Craig said. “There’s fucking trucks coming.”

“What?” Cano asked. “Where? Who is this?”

“It’s fucking Craig!” Craig yelled. “Incoming god damn it! North by north east! We have fucking incoming!”

“Holy shit!” Brent yelled through the radio. “I’m on it.”

“Me too!” Brad said joining in on the radio chatter.

“Damn it!” Cano radioed back. “No! Don’t fucking go anywhere! Who is that?”

“Brent,” Brent said. “I’m by ‘the greens’, like three minutes from Craig’s location.”

“Brad,” Brad said. “I’m in the upstairs bathroom, like three minutes from hand washing.”

“Hold on,” Cano said more calmly. “Wait a second! Brad, this is serious, shut up. Craig, what do you see?”

“Like a mile out,” Craig responded, he sounded anxious or overly excited. “I see like three groupings of headlights. Two of them look like those of a Hummer, the other a big truck maybe? I can’t tell, it’s fucking pouring!”

“Do you see a flag?” Cano asked. “Or markings of any nature?”

“No,” Craig responded. “Either they don’t have anything or I can’t see it.”

“You got a ride?” Cano asked.

“Yea,” Craig responded.

“Ok,” Cano directed. “If they seem to be coming toward you head off on a trail and meet up with Brent. Keep your lights off and wait; it will only be a few moments. Brent!”

“Yo!” Brent responded.

“Let’s get serious,” Cano said. “Get behind them. If you can hold it tell they get in range of the spot lights we can converge on them as a group, we could have them surrounded and blinded. Like, it’s obvious they are coming here right?”

“For sure!” Craig responded. “They are coming right for me…I got to get moving.”

“Ok,” Cano said. “I’ll get things prepared here; you guys just get safe and follow them. Make sure we know exactly how big they are.”

“Well,” Brad chimed in again. “The one is like almost seven inches and the other is about five…”

“What?” Cano asked. “Damn it! Shut up Brad…”

A flushing noise came over the radio with laugher in the background.

“Gross,” Craig announced. “Meet me by post 38.”

“Cool,” Brent said. He laughed a little as he sat down in his car. As he turned it on and shifted into gear, it was like a mental shift happened as well. He smirked, staring down toward the shifter. His expression changed slowly as he watched his hand move to the wheel. A disturbing look grew upon his face as he twisted his hands on the wheel, almost smiling but evil. “Let it rain,” he said under his breath as he revved the vehicle and took off toward Craig.

“Alarm!” Cano said to Edward in the Biosphere Control Room. “Level one!”

“Yes sir,” Edward responded, he hit a big yellow button next to a big green button, a big red button and a big black button.

The lights of the Biosphere dimmed to a dull yellow, a low tone beeped on and off. Everyone inside, working, relaxing or sleeping, stopped what they were doing and started running around the facility, what looked like chaos was organized and precise. It was something they practiced, it was part of being allowed to live there, they were all very good at it. They ran to their individual stations, some herding the little ones, others arming themselves, a few locked down the fort. They didn’t know or worry if it was a drill or not, they just got to it. It took a little over a minute for everyone to be in positions, as they settled Cano and Coby exited the control room and addressed the situation.

“Unfortunately,” Coby said over the com system. “This is not a drill. There are at least three vehicles headed in our direction. They seem well equipped so they probably aren’t survivors. We haven’t determined friend or foe yet but Brent and Craig are on it now.”

Lightning flashed all around them, the entire building was illuminated for a microsecond.

“We have 10 minutes before they arrive,” Cano said over the com system from the catwalk above. “We are going to surround them. They are coming here, we know that because there is no where else to go. I need as many strong men as possible who are willing to risk it all in the thunderstorm. Our best plan of attack is to surround and blind them, then we can talk and set up for a strike if necessary. I need volunteers, our safety depends on this.”

Almost everyone volunteered. They were a team, a close nit group. They were paranoid and rightfully so, living behind enemy lines. Enemy vehicles were passing by every day, it was only a matter of time that one ventured this way. Weeks of drills and training, some were just ready to use it.

“Ok!” Ian yelled from a side of the room. “I need this half of the room to come with me and get supplies, the other half of the room follow Cano.”

Cano, and the group on his heals, ran outside and collectively produced a trap and engage plan. Ian lead a group to storage where they grabbed spotlights and extension cords. Those still inside stared at the cameras and doors, they were armed to the teeth, gripping their guns as they watched what little they could see of their comrades disappear into the decreasingly stormy night. The Biosphere and surrounding land was only occasionally illuminated by the lightning of the passing storm for nothing more than a second or two and then back to darkness. Everyone outside hid in positions to flank the enemy from behind as it stopped at the bait, the only illuminated object at the Biosphere, Brad. He stood holding a flashlight looking at the corner of the building with his back facing the road.

“We’ve been behind them for a little bit now,” Brent radioed in. “No markings at all and we can’t identify race or anything, just two hummers and a crazy semi truck.”

“What do you mean crazy?” Ian asked.

“You’ll see,” Brent said. “You may want some snipers on the roof.”

“Already done,” Cano stated. “I’ve got a visual on them. Less than a minute now. Remember, we go when Brad drops his light.”

For some the seconds ticked by like hours, others like milliseconds, either way in less than a minute headlights were focused on Brad who turned around and aimed the flashlight at the incoming trucks. He shielded his eyes, with his other arm, from the bright headlights. The trucks came to a stop, the hummers up front and the semi in the back, all with their lights pointed at Brad. Cano and his group moved into positions behind the trucks and were ready before any of the intruders exited their vehicles.

The rain was lighter now, there lightning more rare. Finally one of the doors opened and a man began to approach Brad who was still shielding his eyes and pointing his flashlight.

“Can I help you?” Brad yelled to the man through the storm.

“I believe so,” the man responded.

“Oh yea,” Brad said. “How’s that?”

“You can bring me Ian and Cano.” the man said in a sly manor.

“What did you say? Who?” Brad acted perplexed.

“Ian and Cano!” the man demanded. “Don’t toy with me, this is a matter of national security. I know they are here and I know this is probably a trap and they are just waiting for your signal.”

“Sir,” Brad said. “I don’t know what you are talking about.” He then immediately dropped his flashlight to the floor.

As it fell in less than unison, the group turned on their many shop lights aimed at the intruders, brightly illuminating the rear side of the vehicle. The hummers and semi were clear as day along with those inside.

“Whoa,” the man said as he turned looking back toward the lights then back to Brad. “Don’t know what I’m talking about eh? Cano! Ian! I’m Sergeant Donaldson with the United States Navy. I need a moment of your time please.”

“Look,” Brad said. “For now you are going to have to deal with me. I need all your men out of the trucks.”

“Fine,” Donaldson said and singled his men to get out. Seven men exited the vehicles and stood unarmed in the light and rain. “How’s that?”

“Good,” Brad said. “Now, what is this all about?”

“I really need to talk to them.” Donaldson responded.

“We’ll you’ve got me,” Brad said.

“Fine,” Donaldson replied. “I’m here to recruit them for a mission of the up most importance. I have been sent by Lieutenant Richard Jenkins. Dr. Anderson is needed by Dr. Blundquist and Dr. Cramer. Mr. Martin was recommended for the roll of escort.”

As he spoke Cano approached him from behind and stuck out his arm, “I’m Cano, it’s good to meet you Sergeant Donaldson.”

Donaldson turned around and shook his hand with a relieved expression on his face.

“Don’t mind them,” Cano said as he noticed Donaldson identify the danger he could have been in as his eyes adjusted to the lights. “They are just loyal.”

“I see…” Donaldson said as he looked to his men, some holding their arms in the air, surrounded by at least a hundred armed civilians.

“Pack it up guys,” Cano announced to the Bio’s. “Let’s shut her down!”

“Let’s get out of the rain,” Cano said calmly to Donaldson. “Sorry about all this.”

“It’s quite alright,” Donaldson said. “I now see why you’re nominated for the job.”

“Nice Rig,” Brad said as he walked behind Donaldson and Cano. “What’s it for?”

“All in good time,” Donaldson said. “First Mr. Martin and I need to talk.”

The group packed in the lights and weapons, relieved and curious about the pending situation. Cano and Ian escorted Donaldson inside to the conference room, everyone else was treated to food and water and a tour of the facilities.

“So,” Cano said as he sat at the table with Ian and Donaldson. “How do you know Jenkins?”

“About the beginning of this conflict,” Donaldson said. “After the SBIC one tragedy. I hear you two spent some time in Chubut together, working on and testing it.”

“Tragedy indeed,” Ian responded as he looked to Cano. “That’s correct, we were also on the ISS together with Dr. Cramer. I didn’t think Blundquist got out alive…what does he want with me?”

“He isn’t the only one who survived the attack,” Donaldson said. “He needs your help, I don’t know much more than that. You are to report to Denver Colorado as soon as possible, Cano is to escort you. Rich and a Dr. Mark Cramer will rendezvous with you near Denver, Colorado at the 'DIS'.”

“What's the DIS?” Cano asked.

“The Denver Institute of Science,” Donaldson responded. “Listen. The United States is a much different place than it was six months ago. In fact, the entire world is. The amount of nukes that were dropped, the many blasts by ion cannons, we have altered the environment is a very negative way. There are places you cannot go, places you will not survive in. They call them ‘Dead Zones’, patches of land that will no longer support life. They are spreading. I believe what you are to do in Denver is directly linked to countering this. There is not only hostile land between here and there but also hostile people. Rogue groups of civilians and enemy military factions litter the path to Denver. Not to mention the ‘Marauders’. You will be safest with a full convoy.

“Marauders?” Cano asked.

“How do you know we had a convoy?” Ian asked.

“The same way we knew you were here,” Donaldson responded. “The same way we know about the resistance in your path to Denver. Satellites. We’ve been watching your community grow for over a month now.”

“It’s good to know there’s still an eye in the sky,” Cano said. “So what are Marauders?”

“I understand you worked for EERF in the old world,” Donaldson said as he looked into Cano’s eyes. “I have read your file. I know of your tests and work on the SBIC. You mentioned things about ‘Forced Ionic Bonding’ and ‘Unnatural Mutations’, do you remember?”

“Yes,” Cano said. “Trees were melded with rocks, squirrels had branches attached to their feet, things like that.”

“Well,” Donaldson explained. “It doesn’t just effect rocks, plants and animals. It effects humans too. We have identified multiple groupings of people who are not really people anymore. They have mutations and ionic additions to their bodies. As of yet none of them have acted ‘human’ at all. They have all been overly aggressive and some worse of a threat then the damn Korean army.”

“Look man,” Ian said. “We had problems getting just out of town, how the hell are we going to manage crossing a state and a half?”

“The navy has released one of its experimental vehicles to you for this trip.” Donaldson said. “It’s the semi we brought. It’s pretty much an all terrain greenhouse. In the next few days we will be helping you upgrade your convoy and teaching you and your team about the greenhouse.”

“So we really don’t have a choice in the matter,” Cano said. “What about the camp, the people here at the Biosphere.”

“After we see you off they will be under our watchful eye,” Donaldson said. “We know most of your group is seen as leaders here and we know the removal of that power could through this group into chaos. With your help we will start forming a new power structure and help prepare them for your departure. We will then remain here with them until an evacuation is possible. Then we will relocate them, or the willing, to a safer location, probably a military base in Texas.”

“Sounds like you have a good idea of what you’re doing,” Cano said. “When do we start?”

“Tomorrow,” Donaldson said. “Rain or shine. Until then I hope you can put us up for the night.”

“Absolutely,” Ian said as Coby walked into the room. “Perfect timing. Coby, will you show the Sergeant and his men to some bunks and food?”

“Sure thing,” Coby said. “I just came up to tell you we’re done with rounds and about to shut down for the night.”

“Ok cool,” Cano said. “Thanks Coby.”

“Any time,” Coby said. “Sergeant, if you’d follow me please.”

“Thank you gentlemen,” Donaldson said. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

Donaldson and Coby left the room, Ian and Cano sat in silence staring at each other, mulling over the dish they had been served.

“I dreamt this,” Ian said. “The second they stopped their trucks I knew what was going to happen. Brad dropping the light, him calling our names.”

“I had flashes of that semi last night,” Cano said. “It wasn’t much but I saw the inside. I’m excited about what we get to do, what we are apart of, I’m worried that they found us so easy. That they know what we did.”

“He called it a tragedy,” Ian said. “Nothing to worry about.”

“Still,” Cano said. “Why were they looking for us? What if some of Vice’s men catch word.”

“Rich is the one who found us,” Ian replied. “He isn’t involved with them anymore and even if they found out where we were, they have nothing on us, don’t worry about it. This is how this is supposed to go down, we are seeing these events to prepare for the future, we are meant to do something. This is our path now, to Denver.”

“I suppose you’re right,” Cano responded. “Still, it’s just so much to take in. I’m going to bed. I need to rest my mind.”

“Ok, I’m gonna’ stay up for a little while,” Ian said. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

Cano left the room and retired to his bed, Ian stayed up, he buried himself in his notes and mentally exercised for a few hours until he passed out in the control room.

Midlogue 2: Seven Months of Silence - Chapter 8: Squad Blender