Moosehill Militia (Book 1): INFECTED (19 page)

“Admiral how true is it that the virus was delivered in a vaccine for the flu?” Commodore Hanford asked.

Aki looked down then back up. “It’s true as far as our doctors can tell. The initial virus was introduced into the flu vaccine and injected into hundreds of thousands of patience, we think. Since then the virus has been traveling the United States mostly by bites, saliva that is. I’m sure other bodily fluids will spread it also. All our Troops are instructed to wear goggles while dealing with Infected and to stay out of bite range.

What I’m thinking is for your force to accompany part of Second Fleet north back to New England. Boston is gone as far as we know, we will be conducting Helicopter rescuer operations from roof tops as soon as we have units in the area. I’m sure we are going to find plenty of uninfected on roof tops and such.”

I’d like you to lead your Task force further north to the City of Portland Maine. Where still receiving radio broadcasts from that city, much of the city is on a peninsula and there are several large islands. I need you to go up and evaluate the situation up there. The more secure locations we have and population we can rescue the better. Right now the biggest population density is Bermuda with around Sixty five thousand, then Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket with around twenty two thousand. We intend to add another twenty thousand in civilians and dependents within the next week or two, so you see why it’s important to find more secure living space for civilians and to connect with any surviving military units.” Admiral Rin finished.

“Admiral consider it done. My forces are placed under your command until notified differently by my Admiralty. When can we expect to leave?” He said.

“Tomorrow will be soon enough Commodore.” Rin finished.

Commodore Hanford made his excuses and left to get back to his command to organize their departure. He was informed that the USS Gonzalez DDG-66 and the USS Whidbey Island-LSD41 would be placed under his command for this operation.

Chase started thinking what he could do with his twelve hundred Royal Marines and another four hundred U.S. Marines. He wasn’t worried about them working together, if any two units could get along as they have proven in the past it was the Royal Marines and the U.S. Marines, as his Sea King helicopter ferried him back out to his flag ship the HMS Ocean.

CHAPTER TWELVE

Day +4

Waking up slowly Mike turned over looking at his bedside clock, 0730 a.m., time to get up he groaned. He could hear someone in there little kitchen. Mike got up went into the bathroom and took a quick shower, hot water never felt so good, he thought. He couldn’t believe how sore he was from yesterday. After dressing in a clean set of BDU’s he walked out into the common area and found Mary his daughter sitting with Charly the Channel 3 news reporter, she stayed in his shelter after yesterday, in Mary’s room that had two single bunks.

“Good morning Dad, sleep well?” Mary asked.

“Yes Sweetie, how about you, and you also Charly?” Mike replied.

“Like a log Dad.” Mary said with a mouthful of cereal.

“It took a while but I did fall asleep eventually Mike. Thanks for asking.” Charly replied.

“What are your plans today?” Mike directed the question to both Mary and Charly.

When Mary finished chewing, “I’m giving Charly the five dollar tour then I have an advanced flight lesson with Norman Ellerman.” She turned to Charly. He’s one of our original instructor pilots and a really nice man, you should come and sit in, maybe we can convince him to take us for a ride or I could pilot us. What do you think Dad?”

“If he’s willing sure, but don’t pester him, he’s busy with all the pilots we have in training. You’re not the only one!” Mike said.

“Okay” Mary looked down with a grin as she replied.

“I’d like that Mary. If that’s fine with you Mike.” Charly said.

“Sure no problem, maybe you’ll want to take pilot lessons, who knows? I have to go, morning brief and all.” Mike said as he got up grabbed his gear and walked out the hatch.

Mike made his way through the labyrinth of tunnels and shelters to the Command Shelter near the Dome which sat in the middle of Moose Hill Base Complex fifty feet underground. He entered the Command Shelter and greeted everyone already present including Mac his X.O., his Company Commanders Jack Majors, Dave Maddox, Sean Thornton, Larry Evans and Paul Epps. They Commanded Company’s Alpha through Echo. Each company roughly consisted of 13 or 14 APC’s and at least a half dozen hummers and or SUV’s and trucks. There are around one hundred men per company Most have had prior military training of some form or other. Mike and Mac also have an ongoing training program, basically boot camp, less the bull shit.

“Morning everyone. We have a lot planned for today. Yesterday Charlie Company extracted our platoon from Walmart in Leicester along with two dozen trailers of consumable goods and other products that are now in our storage. They sealed the building up good. It will be safe to return in the future. Today we are going to do the same for three stores, Big Discount grocery store in down town Spencer. That will be the trickiest, we expect a lot of Infected in the area. So Bravo Company will take that store down, Charlie Company will take the Big Y Grocery store on the west side of Spencer along with the other stores in that plaza. Where taking everything immediately useful. Make sure you leave the store sealed up good with no Infected inside or out, when you leave. And Finally Delta Company will take Clem's department store on the Spencer East Brookfield line. I want at least a dozen of those tractors they have parked outside. There too big to load up, so drive them home.

Echo Company will be hitting Ahearn’s tractor store on Main Street where Donnelly Road comes out onto Route 9, the area’s been mostly cleared so you shouldn’t have much trouble Paul, this is your first time outside the wire, you’ve been pulling guard duty and training up, but I think you’re ready now. It’s all OJT, on the job training from here on out. Besides Foxtrot Company is taking over perimeter duty and training, then Golf Company. After we will continue training leg infantry, until we get more transportation and weapons. Alpha Company will be on a down day today.”

“Mac what do you have this morning?”

“Moosehill is now home to approximately six thousand people with still more coming in every hour. Some are bravely making their way here on their own. I’ve had at least one chopper dropping leaflets along the roads with houses and using loud speakers rigged up underneath directing people where to go, or if they can hold out longer stay in place until we can clear the neighborhood. Tomorrow I’d like to use at least four companies for neighborhood clearing duties. One company in each town boarding us, Leicester, Spencer and Paxton. The last company I’d like to put on the east side of Leicester in the valley, bordering Worcester and see what we can do in that direction. The air wing has conducted operations in all the surrounding towns rescuing a few hundred off roofs and killing dozens of Infected that were threatening to overrun houses that people were looking to be rescued from.”

“Mike, communications has also picked up military comms in the east possibly off the east coast or down by the Cape. We’ve talked to them in the clear, since we don’t have their equipment or codes. Admiral Rin of the United States Navy would like to come in the day after tomorrow for a visit to coordinate.” Mac Said.

“Really, how interesting. Well, invite this Admiral Rin for Lunch then.

Robert, Oddie, how goes our building program?” he asked his construction management team.

“Pretty Good Mike. Oddie is leading the team putting in those extra Opus factory shelters you purchased. It was a good thing you did. I’ve been leading the team building barracks with all that wood we cut up two years ago and with what you purchased. I think we can build about twenty, hundred man barracks. Where also starting on four more hangers along the access road. We believe we can tie it all in to our present water and sewage. After that we have to think about setting up other enclaves. Oddie and I have been thinking about that and we have some idea’s we can talk about later.”

“Great guys, how’s the farming situation going Mac?” Mike asked.

“Well, I spoke to Mr. Anderson the other day, he has more workers from our refuges then he actually needs, I told him to find something for them to do, it’s good for morale. If we get those tractors we can start clearing the fields that haven’t been used in years, he also has about sixty cows, and forty of them milk cows. We can send security out with several groups to work other farms and find any livestock left, during the day and bring everyone back in the evening. I figure we could have several hundred acres under cultivation this summer. Mr. Anderson agrees with me. It should help out food supply situation.” Mac told him.

“Sounds Good.”. First after visiting with this Admiral, I want to take a flight of Huey’s and a Blackhawk to Westover Air Force Base near Springfield. If I recall correctly the base which is one of the largest Military bases in the United States is home to a large group of Mothballed aircraft including three squadrons of Marine UH-1N Twin Huey’s just like we have, these craft have been mothballed since 2012 when the Marines switched over to the UH-1Y Venom. I want two of the C-130 in the air with as many helicopter mechanics as we have or can find, plus the Troops to protect them on a mission that could last a few days. This would be our biggest operation to date. Let’s plan on executing this in three days.” Any questions Mike asked.

“Okay then, the next thing is I want a helicopter team hitting every national guard in the area concentrating on military communication equipment and make sure you empty there armory’s. Okay, enough talking today. Let’s get the company's moving to those grocery stores pronto.” Mike said as he walked out.

Mike Mohan decided to go with the most at risk, Bravo Company at the Big Discount Grocery Store in down town Spencer.

***

Mike rode along in one of the ten tractor trailer truck units maned by a former truck driver Stew, who fled the Infected. As they drove, Mike asked him about what happened to him. At first Stew was very quiet, after sharing some stories he finally told Mike that two days before the Solar Flare he went to visit his son and his family. Stew lived alone and tried calling his son and his family with no luck. His son Paul lived with his wife Elizabeth and Sean his twelve year old son and Abigale his seven year old daughter.

Stew drove to Spencer to check on them.

“Mike, I can’t speak of the horrors I found, I knew these things in the house were not my family. Whatever they were they needed ending. So I went to the shed where I knew my Son kept a can of gas for the lawn mower or snow blower. I took that gas and poured over the front and back of the house. I lit the gas stood across the street and watched the house burn. I thought I heard a scream I’m not sure. No Fire Department or Police showed up. Knowing now what was going on, I don’t wonder why. I dream about them every night. I have a daughter with two children who made it to your Moosehill refuge. So I thank you for that and I do what I can to help, and pray every day for salvation from my sins.” Stew told Mike with as much humility as he ever saw in a human being.

Mike didn’t know what to say at that, so he kept quiet. As they pulled into the Big Discount parking lot and followed the line of trucks around the back he told Stew anytime he’d like to talk Mike would listen. Stew nodded.

Bravo Company led by Dave Maddox arrived ten minutes ahead of the Convoy and set up a perimeter, as one platoon cleared the building. No Infected were inside, twenty three survivors were found inside instead. All elected to go back to Moosehill. The perimeter started to get lively as sporadic gunfire erupted from different locations.

The volunteers with the trucks and Second Platoon quickly and efficiently started loading dry good product, canned goods, Paper products, just about everything a small community needed. Some but not all the produce was ruined. The generators failed less then day ago so the freezers were still cold enough that the contents were still frozen. After two hours of loading at a frantic pace. Mike signaled to load up and move out.

“Everyone onboard, we move out first with an escort, then the rest of Bravo Company will follow as soon as we leave so let’s move.” Mike Yelled to everyone loading the trucks.

Mike’s radio came to life. “Mike the Infected are starting to pile up. They are coming up from the area to the south of Main Street from Elm Street and Mechanic Street. There’s a lot of houses and apartments down there, lots of potential victims. I’m appreciate it if we could get moving.” Dave Maddox informed Mike over the Radio.

The firing picked up to a fuselage of shots, Mike wasn’t worried about them being overrun, he just didn’t want any casualty's.

“Mike we have had a dozen or more people come through our lines that have been trapped in their houses for the last week or so. I’m sending them back to you.” Dave sent over the air.

“Okay, will do. Give me five minutes and we are pulling out.” Mike sent back.

Mike could see a skirmish line slowly pulling back across Main Street into the far side of the Big Discount parking lot. Almost there he thought. Just then the trucks started up there big diesels and the first started to move out accompanied by Bravo Company's Humvee’s. Mike got the new refugees settled in a half dozen SUV and Trucks. The Convoy moved out with another large catch of goods for the base. They went out the side entrance onto Route 31 and headed north for around five miles then they turned east onto Thompson Pond Road which turned into Marshall Street then south onto Paxton Street and into the back entrance of Moosehill by the airport.