Moosehill Militia (Book 1): INFECTED (13 page)

***

Day -2

Mike was uncomfortable doing nothing he decided he wasn’t going to sit in the Command shelter just yet, he wanted to get a feel and see things himself. He was in touch with Chief Rory Scannell, the Chief told him that they have had fifteen cases of assault with a dangerous weapon, (Teeth) so far today. He doesn’t know what’s going on yet. It seems all the towns are experiencing these type of assaults. Everyone was gearing up for some kind of solar event and possible power loss, not this personnel kind of chaos.

All the Mohan Groups vehicles and planes were EMP protected, hopefully that includes solar Flares. Two hours before the flair is due to hit in approximately ten hours he has standing ordered for all electronics to shut down for twenty hours, in an effort to protect the equipment from damage. The best guess estimates from the science people is the event will last approximately twelve hours. Everything underground should be safe, all the above ground building have had Faraday cages built into them and should protect the contents of those building.

“Mac, things on the radio are getting crazy, he spoke into his mic attached to his headset, you been following so far? I’m thanking on heading over to the Leicester Police Department.” Mike addressed Mac.

Mike heard in his headset. “Roger that I’ve been monitoring, at least take a section of Hummers with you.” He said.

“Okay, I’ll take two Hummers and six men.” Mike walked into the main garage entrance to Moosehill and asked Sergeant James Dowdy who he had available to take a ride he needed two Hummers and six men.

“Sir, I’m good to go.” Dowdy stated, yelled over to a group of men in camouflage pattern uniform. “I need six men fully outfitted in ten minutes with two Hummers gassed up and a basic load out.” After a short discussion six men ran back into the complex and within ten minute drove out in two camouflaged Hummers. They picked Mike up near the main entrance and were out the main gate which was closed right behind them all under ten minutes. Mike didn’t want to show it to the men but he was impressed. The two vehicles turned east onto Main Street off Donnelly Road in Spencer and were shortly over the line into Leicester a few miles from their destination. As they approached the intersection of Main Street/Route 9 and Pleasant Street the road was a mess with vehicles, the lights weren't working properly and people were out yelling at each other.

Mike got out of his car, he was dressed in camouflage BDU’s and wearing a tactical vest and gun belt and M4 rifle on a single point sling. With two of his Troops he stood in the middle of the intersection and yelled to be heard. “People shut up and listen, you have to be home with your vehicles shut off. Where going to get hit with a Solar Flare that will kill all electronics unless they are protected. Most modern cars will be useless at that point. A police cruiser is on the way up here to direct traffic remain calm and pay attention to the officers.” Mike finished and walked back to his Hummer as a police cruiser showed up. Mike indicated for two Troops to stay here and assist the officer and they will be picked up on the way back. Mike entered his Hummer and as soon as traffic started moving at the officers direction they made it through and headed east on Route 9, another quarter of a mile and entered the Police Department.

Mike was meet at the door by Chief Rory Scannell. “Good to see you Mike, thanks for the assist at the center of town.” Rory said. He wasn’t quite sure what to make of Mike and his Mohan Group. They have been nothing but help to the surrounding towns donating equipment and money to Leicester, Spencer, Paxton and some of the smaller towns west of Spencer, Mike was a good officer while he worked for the Leicester Police. So he’s ignored any irregularities that he might have taken issue with if it was someone else other than Mike and Mac.

“Chief good to see you. Listen I know you don’t want to hear any of this. But in around six hours that Solar Flare is going to bring everything to a abrupt stop. Now all the vehicles I have and have provided to your Police Department should be protected as long as there shut off, no power going to the electronics at all. We’ve been preparing for something like this, don’t ask how we knew, you wouldn’t believe if I told you. This other thing, people going rabid or something I wasn’t prepared for that. How’s the situation.”

“Not good Mike all eighteen of my guys are in and we still can’t handle the situation. The three ambulance’s the town have are being run ragged. We lost two EMT’s to bites. As far as we can tell, if bitten it takes about one hours for the victim to become violent and attack whoever. It doesn’t matter mothers, fathers, children. No discrimination on who they attack. It’s happening all across North American and Europe. I haven’t heard about Asia, you probably know more than me. I’m guessing some kind of terrorist attack.” Rory said.

“I think the same. A naturally occurring virus would have had a starting point, this has broken out simultaneously in to many locations. This along with the Solar Flare, that I think is going to be a lot worse than the Government is letting on, are a recipe for the perfect storm. ”Mike replied.

“Anyway all we can do is worry about our local problems first. So how can I help, I have some ideas. Is the Governor declaring martial law?”

“He just did about ten minutes ago essential personnel only, I’d like to put roadblocks at the town line with Worcester on Route 9 first then go from there. I don’t have the manpower for it thought.” Rory told Mike.

“Well, I think I can help you out. I have two Mechanized Companies of infantry about as good as U.S. infantry would be, lots of ex-cops sprinkled in there. Company A is led by Jack Major’s and Company B is led by Dave Maddox you may remember them.” They both laughed.

“I should Mike, you stole my best guy’s right out from under me. Where’s that pirate Mac, I expected him to show up anytime.” Rory complained.

“I left him in charge back at the complex, you have to come up and see everything we’ve done since you last visited.” Mike said as they shook hands. Mike went back to his Hummer and radioed in new instructions for Alpha and Bravo Company.

***

Day -1

Charly Smith was in Fall River covering a piece about heroin overdoses that have reached epidemic levels in Fall River Massachusetts at Charlton Memorial Hospital on Highland Avenue.

“Chuck get the camera set up in front of the Charlton Hospital sign, I’ll do my intro then I have a doctor Rivera lined up for an interview.” She told Chuck her Cameraman and driver. Charly wondered how Mike was doing with his crazy plans. She couldn’t keep seeing him after he told her about her daughter and what he was planning. She felt horrible but when this whole thing blew up in his face she didn’t want to be dragged down with him. Charly couldn’t afford to lose this job. This business is cut throat and the next pretty face was waiting just around the corner.

Charly was already planning her next article about this sun spot thing she’s been hearing about. She had a connection at the Boston Science Center she could interview about how sun flares affect us in modern time.

“Ready Charly, whenever you are.” Chuck announced. He had the news camera in place and was waiting on her.

“Okay, let’s do this.” She said as she picked up her Mic and gave herself one more look over on a pocket mirror.

“Three, two, one.” Chuck pointed at Charly.

“I’m Charly Smith of Boston Channel Three News, reporting from Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River. We are here today because of the rampant number of heroin overdoses reported this month according to the Massachusetts State Board of Health. Just last night I found out that two overdoses were brought in, one male survived and a female victim died. Stay tuned for our six O'clock live broadcast with Doctor Julian Rivera head of Internal Medicine for Charlton Memorial Hospital.” Chuck gave the finger across the throat to end the recording.

“Great, that segment is uploaded to Boston, they want you to try and interview the doctor in front of a nurse’s station, think it will be more dramatic or something.” Chuck announced.

“Have you noticed the amount of ambulances coming in the last twenty minutes or so Chuck?” Charly asked Chuck as another ambulance entered the emergency entrance.

“No, been too busy with the equipment, what do you thinks going on?” he asked while packing up the camera and tripod.

“No idea lets go take a look. Put the Camera on your shoulder and let’s go. Charly and Chuck walked across the parking lot, just as three police cruisers pulled up in front of the Emergency entrance. Another officer meet them at the doors and the four of them rushed into the Emergency entrance. Charly could hear screaming and two or three patents came running out with blood on their clothes, one man was holding his arm and yelling, “What the hell, she bit me!” As he ran across the parking lot.

“Charly I don’t know if we should go in there.” Chuck said although he was still filming, the sound could be edited later he thought.

“Don’t be a chicken shit.” Charly told Chuck. “Follow me.” Chuck did reluctantly. Charly pushed open the glass door and was assaulted by noise and smell. People were running all around apparently with no direction. She saw several other people with bites and the police were wrestling with a man on the hallway floor about thirty feet away, she could hear growling and the cops swearing and yelling at the man to stop. One of the officers jumped back while yelling, blood was pumping from his arm. A nurse ran up with a large bandage and wrapped it around his forearm trying to stop the bleeding.

The Man being subdued broke free from the police and turned on a nurse standing nearby gawking at the scene and grabbed her by the front of her scrubs before anyone could react. The deranged man bit the side of her neck tearing at her like a dog with a chew toy. The women was screaming and blood was spraying. Charly heard the older of the two cops in sight say. “Enough of this shit and pulled his gun out and fire two rounds into the man’s chest from four feet away on an angle to avoid hitting the victim. The assailant was thrown off the victim and to the side on the ground. The deranged man slowly stood up as the cops were yelling for him to stay on the ground. The same officer shot the man in the head twice when he advanced on the officers and went down for good. The place was in chaos.

Charly yelled at Chuck. “Quick let’s get the hell out of here before your camera is confiscated.” Charly and Chuck ran out the door and back to their van locking themselves in. “Can you believe that shit. That was the craziest thing I’ve ever seen. Let’s head back to Boston, we need to get out of this city. This footage is priceless!” Charly said.

Chuck drove away, while they were nearing the Highway they witnessed a teenager attack and bit an elderly women. On their way back up 95 to Boston, they heard reports on the radio news station and police scanners of numerous attacks across the Commonwealth involving victims being bitten. They pulled over in a rest area and raised there antenna and transmitted there footage to the news room where it became a instant video sensation.

Charly couldn’t believe what she saw, could this be what Mike was talking about. As the day went on Charly and Chuck made their way to Boston and heard more and more reports of people being bitten by complete strangers or family were piling into the police departments not just in Massachusetts but around the country. The epicenter of these events appear to be around hospitals and major cities. Charly and Chuck headed for Channel Three Headquarters in Waltham just outside Boston. What normally would have taken one and a half hours took six, with the traffic and vehicles abandoned on the road.

***

Jack rode in the open commander’s hatch on his M113A2 behind the four APC’s, armored personnel Carriers of 1st Platoon behind him in line came 2nd and 3rd Platoon. Two Hummers rode point out in front of 1st Platoon and the other Hummers and vehicles in his command followed up after 3rd Platoon. One M113A2 from each platoon had a M60 machine gun mounted next to the commander’s hatch. Jack thought this was the balls, commanding a company of twenty four vehicles with a hundred and twenty men all equipped as line infantry, each infantry Troop was equipped with a sixty pound pack containing rations for three days, extra socks and underwear, three hundred rounds of 5.56 ammo in thirty round magazines, a Spax survival tool which can be used in CQB, close Quarter Battle. The only thing out of place would be the shoulder patches which show the MG for Mohan Group and a Moose silhouette under that, otherwise there would be no difference from a first world mechanized infantry unit from ten to fifteen years ago, and that due only to the older equipment.

As they road down the Center of Route 9 into Leicester several of the units had speakers announcing that martial law has been declared and to go home lock you vehicles and cars and shut off all electronics for twenty four hours due to the Solar Flare that was due.

“Moose Alpha Actual to Moose Actual.” Jack called in on his radio to Mike. Moose Alpha for Company Alpha and Actual for commander of Alpha Company.

“Moose Actual, Go ahead Moose Alpha Actual.”

“We are almost to the Center where do you want them?” Jack asked.

“Send First Platoon to Route 9 Worcester Line, Second Platoon to Huntoon highway by the Oxford line and Third Platoon to Stafford and Pleasant to cover the southern route from Charlton. Your discretion on your location. Bravo Company will cover Route 56 North and Route 9 West into Spencer. That covers all the major roads. A Leicester Officer will be at each road block also show the proper respect gentlemen. Moose Actual out.” Mike thought, I’m getting pretty good at this radio lingo, it’s been awhile.