Moosehill Militia (Book 1): INFECTED (18 page)

As the armored column moved on Main Street in Worcester and started to engage infected individuals Mike radioed for the Huey’s to take the side streets and intersections under fire. The Infected were starting to build up they had to engage them with their M60 to keep the number of Infected from overwhelming the armored column. Mike had the Huey’s leapfrogging up Main Street a few intersections ahead of the column engaging Infected on the side streets. 

The Huey's kept this up all the way to the DCU Center, where survivors were found. They also supported the armored column on its way over to the train station and then up Shrewsbury Street to the University of Massachusetts Medical Center, survivors were found at both locations.  

After Mac conducted the rescue operation at Medical Center, Mike and he discussed by radio other return options. Mike didn't want the rescue column running the same gauntlet back through Worcester.  From the air Mike could see that the elevated portion of interstate 290 through the city wasn't that bad, they can probably run down Shrewsbury Street and get onto the highway and take that to the Hope Ave exit on the south side of Worcester and then from there they can make their way over to Stafford Street in Leicester. From that point it should be a cake walk back to Moosehill Base Mac thought.

***

Day +3

Pete was the pilot, Mike was acting copilot today in the Huey, which he flew in. The convoy they were watching made it off the highway onto Hope Ave on the Southwest side of Worcester, Mike told Pete to head back and follow the Massachusetts Turnpike East from around Auburn Exit 10. He informed Mac, who commanded the armored column that he was riding shotgun for, and had just rescued several hundred people from several locations in Worcester area, that he thought they won’t miss one helicopter from this point on. They wanted to scout east along the Massachusetts Turn Pike and see how bad things were in that direction. They had the legs to go all the way to Boston and back if they had too.

“Pete, let’s go low and slow a few hundred feet up and keep the speed down so we can see how things are. I’ll do the looking, along with the gunners. You keep a look out for wires and such.” Mike reminded Pete.

“Sure thing Boss.” Pete replied.

The Huey flew along the Pike eastbound checking out vehicles. Mike thought that there had to be some survivors down there hiding out in some of those vehicles. All they saw were Infected roaming the highway and bodies on the road every so often. A white van caught his eye in the Framingham area in the westbound lane where there’s two reservoirs on either side of the Highway.

“Pete bring us over to the west side lanes, I want to check out that white van with the dish on top.” He told Pete.

“No problem, I’ll circle around and come up behind it where there is a cleared piece of road. That van is the last vehicle in that pileup.” Pete reckoned. Observing the multi-vehicle accident.

The Huey circled around and came in from the east side. Coming in they couldn’t see any Infected in the immediate area so Pete brought the Huey in about fifty yards behind the white van with the dish antenna on the roof. He touched down and kept the power up just in case they had to leave quickly.

Mike and one of the door gunners jumped out. Mike had his Mollie gear on, a helmet and his M4 rifle along with his Glock 21 a .45 caliber with seven thirty round magazines for the rifle and four thirteen round magazines for the 45, what he considered his normal battle gear.

He ran up to the van covering one side while the door gunner similarly armed ran up the other side. He could see the logo and his stomach was up in his throat. God he thought, let it not be. The logo on the side of the van read Channel 3 News in black lettering.

He couldn't see anything through the front windows, there was a blackout curtain separating the front driver’s area from the back of the van.

Mike hand signed for the gunner to come over to his side and cover him while he opened the side sliding door. He took a deep breath and yanked the door open quick and jumped back raising his rifle and covering the interior.

Laying on the floor were two bodies one moved slowly pulling down the blanket covering itself.

“Oh my God, Charly it’s me Mike, are you hurt? What happened?” Never mind tell me later. “We have to get off the road.”

She asked in a hoarse voice, “Water.” Mike quickly helped her drink from his water bladder in his pack using the drinking tube on his vest. The other person was moving now and it was Chuck her cameraman. He had a good gash on his head and it looked like his nose was broken, probably from the accident Mike thought.

“Let’s get you two on the chopper and back to base.” Just then his helmet radio announced in his ear. “Company boss, coming around the side of that tractor trailer rig, looks like at least several dozen Infected, get back her now.” Pete’s voice in his ear urging them to hurry.

Mike didn’t bother replying, he told the gunner to grab Chuck and help him to the Huey, and he put Charly’s arm around his shoulder and started moving at the fastest walk they could manage back toward the helicopter. “There closing on you Mike, pick it up or you’re going to be lunch.” Pete announced.

The second door gunner couldn’t use his M60 without hitting Mike, the gunner and the two they were half carrying. So he hopped out and moved off on a tangent from them so he had a clear line of sight. Armed with his M4 rifle he took a knee and started servicing the Infected. One round to the head would take one down. Shot to the body and they still came on.

Mike could hear the gunner shooting from his front left as they struggled to carry these two to the Huey, the hair on his neck was standing up, and he could almost feel the cold hands on the back of his neck. He reached down and picked Charly up and threw her over his shoulder, he could move faster this way. Mike moved past the gunner carrying Chuck. He tossed Charly into the open bay of the helicopter turned and ran back, stopping at the two struggling to make it too the chopper and started shooting at the nearest Infected dropping ten or twelve, giving them a little breathing room. The other gunner moved into line with Mike and they continued to drop the Infected.

“Mike, those two are in.” Pete informed him through the radio. Mike tapped the gunner and pointed to the Huey. He took off running back while Mike shot till his magazine went empty then he turned and sprinted for the Huey diving in just as Pete powered up and the skids left the ground. They had about fifteen feet to spare and were airborne heading west at one hundred knots.

“Pete take us straight to the Moosehill Base and radio in that we have two that need medical attention. There had to be a better way to make a living he theorized looking out on a partly cloudy day. He could see several locations that had large fires burning in the distance, probably from when the plans fell from the sky.

***

Colonel John Frost stepped out of the OV-22 better known as the Osprey, a tilt rotor or VTOL aircraft which has the functionality of a helicopter and the range and speed of a plane. John now an acting Brigadier General was not the first man on the ground, he came in the third wave, thirty one Marines stepped out the back ramp after him onto Bermuda’s International Airport on the east side of the island. This is actually the third wave of aircraft with four Osprey’s and four sea Stallions landing at the airport. The first and second wave landed at Admiralty Park and advanced on downtown Hamilton to secure the harbor with seven hundred Marines with orders to secure all the harbor waterfront area especially any ships at dock or in the harbor. This third wave of Marines with three hundred and twenty Marines landed at the airport to secure the east side of the Island. Another contingent of four hundred Marines was going in over the beach in twenty Amphibious Assault Vehicles AVA, off the USS Tortuga near the Royal Naval Dockyard on the western side of Bermuda across the Great Sound.

Admiral Aki Rin already had the blessing of the British before losing communications and did not expect any opposition, including Infected. Bermuda had shut down before the epidemic could reach there shores. She considered this a great training opportunity for the Marines, seeing they would be in combat situations very soon. The Governor, Gerald Fergusson was in communication with the Admiral and was aware of the general situation and that U.S. Marines would be landing on beaches and from aircraft this day.

The Admiral was in contact with the Commander of Norfolk Naval station and was aware that the situation in Virginia was getting worse by the hour.

Captain Eugene Pitts C.O. of Naval Base Norfolk advised her that he expects the base to fall to the Infected within twenty four hours and he had been evacuating sailors, civilians and as much material as he can. Many ships are on their way to Bermuda, She held the list and besides what she already has in second fleet, ships in route to her location are:

USS Abraham Lincoln CVN 72, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower CVN 69, USS Iwo Jim LHD 07, USS Mesa Verde LPD 19, USS Carter Hall LSD 50, USS Gunston Hall LSD 44, USS Whidbey Island LSD 41, Ticonderoga Class Cruisers USS Hue City, Leyte Gulf, Monterey, Vella Gulf. Arleigh Burke destroys to include, Arleigh Burke, Bainbridge, Bulkeley, Gonzalez, Laboon. Submarines in route are the SSBN’s, Alaska, Kentucky, Maryland, Wyoming and Fast Attack Los Angeles class, USS Hartford, Providence, the lead unit USS Virginia in the Virginia Class SSN. As Admiral Aki Rin looked at the list she was thankfully for the following supply ships. USNS Bob Hope, Fisher, Seay, Mendonca,Wright, and the USNS Millnocket a expeditionary fast transport of the Spearhead class. This lists doesn't include any civilian ships. She was sure there would be civilian ships showing up at some point. For now she had her hands full with what she had and heading her way. God help us she thought.

Aki’s aid interrupted her thoughts, “Admiral we just got word that a British Task Force has been sighted and are about fifty miles out.

***

HMS Ocean Task Force, cruised along at a comfortable 12 knots, fifty miles out from Bermuda. “Sir we’ve made contact with the American fleet and informed them of our ETA at Hamilton Bermuda. There Admiral, Aki Rin Newly promoted is acting Admiral, our files last had her at the rank of Commodore in command of CSG USS Bush.”

Captain Chase Hanford was in Command of the Ocean Task force, so he was called Commodore as a temporary rank in charge of the task force. When he leaves this Command he will revert back to Captain.

“Thank you Ted.” Chase replied. His Command had left England a week ago and after a period of workup, that was to take place here in Bermuda in conjunction with United States forces, he was ordered to the Middle East. That’s changed now. The last order he got was the Royal Navy was relocating to the Isle of Wight where they would conduct operations from a secure base. His updated orders were to assist the U.S. Forces until notified differently.

“Well, we can use this for training, where going to need it, I’m assuming. Let’s plan a landing of a Company of Royal Marines at the Royal Naval Docks for 8 a.m. tomorrow morning. Notify the Americans and if the Admiral would receive me sometime after that for planning purposes. Ask nicely of course.” “Of course Sir” Lt. Commander Ted Brother said.

The Next Morning four Royal Navy LCVP5’s each carrying three crew and Thirty five Royal Marines landed near the Royal Naval Dockyards, to be greeted by U.S. Marines. All things considered they got along splendidly.

Two hours later Commodore Chase Hanford and his aid Lieutenant Commander Ted Brother were landing on the flight deck of the USS Bush a few miles off the coast of Bermuda in a Westland Sea King helicopter.

Chase Hanford was greeted by Captain Donovan Sharp, the C.O. of the USS Bush. “Commodore Pleased to meet you.” Captain Sharp greeted the Commodore, after exchanging salutes.

“Thank you Captain, It’s a pleasure to be aboard your ship. The circumstances could be better though.” Hanford replied grimly.

“Yes indeed it could, if you’d follow me to the Admiral’s quarters.” Sharp directed Hanford to follow him.

Commodore Hanford followed Captain Sharp and two Marines as escort into the Island and down two levels and soon they were entering the Admirals quarters.

“Commodore Hanford, thank you for coming right over.” Admiral Aki Rin said as she shook Commodore Hanford hand and indicated for him to sit in one of the chairs with a coffee table between them and to the side was a couch also. The Admirals Steward poured tea all around and nothing was said until the Steward left.

“Again, thank you for coming right over. I don’t know what orders you have from your Admiralty. Mine were to occupy Bermuda with your government’s permission and use it as a base of operations.” Does that sound about right to you Commodore?”

“It does Admiral, we were on route here for workup Operations with your Navy when this all broke out. My orders are to stay in this theater of operations until notified. Just so we are clear, to me that means full cooperation. I have around twelve hundred Royal Marines between the HMS Ocean and the HMS Bulwark. My other ships are escort ship.” He pointed out. “Don’t worry Commodore your men will be used. Under my command right now I believe I have around 13,000 Marines. We hold Bermuda, Nantucket, and Martha’s Vineyard. Norfolk Navy base is holding out for now, but not for much longer. I have about fifty combat vessels and ten supply ships that I know about, the situation is very fluid and communications is spotty. Our intelligence brief this morning didn’t have much good news. The Infected have overrun Washington and every major city, we are finding that any communication is coming from rural area. Except here in Central Massachusetts. Admiral Rin pointed to a map on the table showing New England with a circle just west of the City of Worcester. We have picked up several style radio transmissions that appear to be military in nature. The funny thing is we don’t have anything in that area. I’ll leave enough forces in Bermuda to keep it secure, The rest of Second Fleet with your task force can be deployed to New England first as it seems we have some kind of forces in interior Massachusetts to assist us. The rest of the Eastern seaboard is gone as of right now.” A few military bases are holding out. Hopefully they can take care of themselves for a while.