Moosehill Militia (Book 1): INFECTED (39 page)

The view switched to another location. “I believe this is the incursion of Infected that Colonel Mohan was taking about.” Admiral Rin stated to the room as the scene continued. Mike watched as intensely as everyone else. The view was from Locust Street showing a line of APC’s blocking Route 9/Main Street. The tension in the room built as the uncountable hoard of Infected advanced toward the single line of APC’s parked side by side totally blocking the way between a tall stone retaining wall holding back the hill where the filming was going on, and the old red brick Mill building. The gunners on the APC’s and riflemen on top of the M113’s were shooting at a prodigious rate of fire and shredding the front ranks of the afflicted humans. As the camera moved around you could see U.S. Marines shooting down from the hill into the flank of the swarm of Infected. The Infected moved forward shredding body parts, blood, skin, gore, but it was unstoppable. At the last seconds the Troopers on the APC’s dropped down into the bowels of the vehicles and sealed up. The wave of Infected pushing up against the APC crested and rode over the top of the APC’s. They disappeared beneath the swarm as it continued west on Route 9. The camera view changed looking west, further up Route 9 where a second company of armed vehicles waited totally blocking the road again.

The representatives in the meeting watched as the wave of flesh rode up and over this second road block before disappearing around a bend in the road. The video shut off.

“I showed that for a few reasons, first it shows everyone what were up against, Mr. Mohan’s right, next month things are not going back to the way they were magically. This is our, the survivors new reality. The next few years are about survival for us and the human race. Cooperation is the key. Right now the Navy controls Cape Cod, Nantasket, Martha’s Vineyard and Bermuda. And probably about one hundred and fifty to two hundred thousand people. Second Fleet is also conducting air rescue operations based out of Cape Cod rescuing people working our way inland on the south shore down to Rhode Island all the way up the Route 3 corridor and the route 25 to I495 Corridor, where rescuing hundreds every day. Still it’s a drop in the bucket. All together we have three or four hundred thousand vs the seven or eight million people that use to live here. Just think how many mobile Infected are out there. We have some operations coming up that should increase our numbers and capabilities

I understand that The Moosehill Militia has set up a boot camp for all practical purposes.” She looked at Mike and he nodded yes. “The Navy and Marines are planning the same on Cape Cod, hopefully up and ruining in around two weeks. It’s quite simple, if you’re not involved in some industry helping production or a job deemed vital everyone will go through boot camp between the ages of 18 to 38 for now. Most will go back to their jobs and serve in a reserve capacity. Volunteers will be enlisted into the Marine Corps. The second reason I shared that video was to dispel any notion that the Moosehill Militia are some citizen warriors playing at soldiering. That video shows professional soldiers in the worst conditions possible, conducting themselves as true warriors in the best traditions of the United States.

On the brighter side we have medical people who think we may have a working Vaccine to prevent further infection amongst the healthy.” I’d like to let the Portland Delegates speak now. “Chief Grady if you’d please.”

A short stocky man stood up he wore a plain blue Police uniform with stars on his collar showing his rank. “Good morning folks, with the help of Commodore Hanford of the Royal Navy and Colonel Truman Astbury of the Royal Marines we were able to hold Portland and advance some distance inland to some natural barriers that will be our border for now. We believe we can grow enough food in the future on the Casco Bay Islands and with our fishing industry to support ourselves. I’d like to send a few thousand men to either of your boot camps also. It’s obvious that the military will play a strong role in our futures for some time. I’d like to thank Admiral Rin for sending our British friends to help. I never thought I’d welcome a British invasion on American soil! It was touch and go until they arrived. Thank you.” Chief Grady sat down.

“Thank you Chief Grady, and you’re welcome.” She replied to him with a smile and nod.

“Captain Ward, would you like to add anything.” The Admiral asked.

“Thank you Admiral. For whatever reason the people of Hull chose me to come here for them. I believe they will approve this agreement. Hull’s going to have a food issue soon, it’s a small land area with about twelve thousand people with limited room for crops. Looking at a map, I think they could easily isolate Lands’ End peninsula with some help and gain around two hundred acres of rich farming land. They would still have to rely on fishing and imports. I’m also sure it would be a prime recruiting area for your military. Oh, also we’ve had contact with Winthrop out in the bay, fishing boats crossing paths. They cut their own bridges and they say Cape Ann is cut off from the mainland, so Gloucester and Rockport are on their own. I’m surprised the Navy hasn’t been in touch with them.

I’m a trained pilot, ex-military and I’d like to go out to Moosehill and help with the pilot training and possibly an officer billet. Thank you” He said this while turning to Mike. Mike nodded at Captain Ward.

“What I’d like to purpose to you at this time is a mutual aid agreement with air transportation set up between our respective areas, cross training such as Chief Grady wants, Right now two U.S. Marine Companies are operating with the Moosehill militia and I’m sure learning from each other. I intend to leave them there longer if it’s okay with Mr. Mohan.” She communicated.

“Do we have an agreement in principle.” the Admiral looked at Mike then at Chief Grady. Mike nodded, Chief Grady agreed. “What about any new communities we find or find us?” Mike asked.

The Admiral thought for a second or two, “we use majority rules if two thirds of us agree then we bring them in on our terms. Agreed?” They both nodded yes.

The three principle parties, the Navy, Moosehill and Portland had lunch in the Admirals dining room and had further meeting that evening, the important issue of Cooperation was already decided.

Mike was tired and turned in early after the meetings.

CHAPTER TWENTY

Day +15

Day +15. The Beach

Mike was up early, meeting Jake his aide and his two man security detail for breakfast in the chow Hall onboard the USS Bush a Nimitz Class Nuclear Aircraft Carrier anchored in Buzzards Bay, south of the Cape Cod Canal. Yesterday he met with Admiral Rin and other top Brass from Second Fleet.  

Second Fleet composes all Naval and Marine elements that have survived the world changing solar flare and the biological attack that's turned Ninety percent of the world's population into for all intent and purposes, Zombies. Mike came to a Mutual Aid and Co-operation Agreement with the Admiral Representing Cape Cod, the islands and Bermuda. Also in agreement is the representatives of the City of Portland Maine and surrounding area including the Casco Bay islands. Captain Ward had to go back to Hull and present the agreement to the citizens. He was under the impression that they would sign up also.  

After a Navy breakfast, which Mike always enjoyed in his Navy days, they were escorted to the flight deck by Commodore Sharp the CO of the USS Bush and newly promoted.

Before exiting onto the Flight deck where it was rather noisy they shook hands.

"Mr. Mohan it's been a pleasure and I hope we're successful in our efforts in the future, Good luck." "I'm an optimized Commodore, we make our own luck, Goodbye." He said.

Mike and his retinue crossed the flights deck entering a SH-60F Seahawk   helicopter. They buckled in and lifted off the deck on their way to Hyannis airport to transfer to their own plane, a C-145 Skytruck. Mike acting as his own pilot flight checked the plane. They were ready to go but had to wait for clearance to take off, a Moosehill C-130 cargo plane was on final approach. As the plane landed Mike admired the freshly painted Moosehill emblem that his daughter designed.

They received clearance to take off. Mike increased the throttle and the Skytruck curved out onto the main runway and he pushed the throttle to the stops. The plane responded right away and smoothly accelerated down the runway until he had plenty of speed and gently pulled back on the steering yoke. The small but powerful cargo plane lifted into the sky easily and in no time were at twenty five hundred feet and on a heading back to Moosehill.  

They were on a course to fly over the north side of Plymouth where the pilgrims landed. On a whim he curved a little further north to the Scituate area. Mike and his wife use to rent a house in the neighborhood at North Scituate or Minot Beach. Those were some of his favorite memories. Mike just wanted to see how that neighborhood faired. He could see the coast line as they came across Cape Cod Bay. As they turned and followed the coast line north he felt the plane shudder and the engine failure light's came on. Mike quickly scanned the instruments and saw that the right engine was losing oil pressure. He spotted North Scituate Beach ahead as more lights came on for the left engine.

Mike knew right then he had to put it down. He lined up on the beach.

"Everybody buckle in where doing an emergency landing on a beach. Jake stay on that radio calling out a mayday. Give our location as North Scituate or Minot beach."

Thank God it was low tide Mike thought, at high tide this beach disappears as the waves come right up to the seawall. He came in just over the rocks on the south end of the beach and touched down with hardly a bump. Minot beach was around three quarters of a mile long and close to a hundred yards wide at low tide. They were lucky today, he thought as he killed the engines and coasted to a stop near the main entrance to the beach, an incline small boat ramp.

"Jake did you get out to anyone." Mike asked.

"I'm not sure sir. I think I did. Someone was trying to call us back. Once we were lower I lost them all together."

"Okay, everyone out grab your packs, Jake help me with these extra packs." He directed the men in gathering the survival packs kept in every plane they included medical kits, food, extra ammo and rescue radios.

Mike directed his people up the concrete stairs a little further down the beach.

"Don't show yourselves above the stairs." He told Private Joe Vibenius, with Bo right behind him.

"See anything, Joe?” Mike asked from third in line down the stairs.

“Yes sir, There’s a thin tall man standing here looking at me with a Hawaiian shirt and swim trunks and sandals looking back at me.” Jose said.

“What? Is he infected?”

“I don’t think so he’s smiling.” He said.

“Well don’t just stand there like an idiot get up and say Hi.” Mike said while standing up. They all came up the stairs and sure enough a late fifties age man was standing with a tall glass of clear liquid in his hand wearing what Joe said he was.

“Hi, looks like you had a little problem. Nice parking job though” The man indicated pointing with his finger sticking out from the glass, to the plane on the beach. “What year is that?” he added.

“Yes we have we were lucky to land here. Can I ask you your name sir? I’m Mike Mohan from Leicester Mass.”

“Sure you can, I’m Bill, Bill Brown. You boys need a refreshing drink or something? I live in the second house down on the left.” Bill told them.

“Sure Bill, are you the only one here?” Mike asked him.

He replied. “God no, how boring would that be. Most people stayed in there house with the troubles and all.” Bill said while taking a drink. Mike suspected that it wasn’t water he was drinking.

“Bill are there any Infected around here?” Mike asked.

“There were a few a week ago or so, we took care of that by cutting the bridges with dynamite at the bridges on Border Street going into Cohasset harbor, Gannett road and Hatherly road essentially making us an Island. One of the residents owns a large contracting company and brought all his equipment over before it became too crazy, he blew up the roads. The only spot that could give us trouble would be the beach connecting over to Egypt Beach, his excavator has been down there tearing down the sea wall and digging up the beach to make that difficult for any of those unfortunate people.”

As they talked they walked down along Collier Ave to the second house on the left a quaint cottage style that has seen lots of care and renovation. Bill invited them to sit on his screened in porch while he got some refreshment.

“Hellooo.” Mike heard from across the street, where a little tanned elderly women wearing a white blouse and flowing skirt walked across the road from another large unique house. This elderly women appeared in her eight’s if he had to guess. “I’m Theresa, Bill has guest and didn’t tell me. Now who are you boys? Did Bill invite you to dinner this evening, I’ll have to make a blueberry pie, the blueberry's come out early down her on the south shore you know.” Just then Bill came back out with a tray of tall glasses with a clear liquid.

“Enjoy Gentlemen. Now I sent one of the neighbor’s boys running around to let everyone know where having a meeting at the Country Club in a few hours. I’m not a member, I think that’s a waste of money quite frankly, but they let me in anyway.” Bill raised his glass with a wink, waiting for us to take a drink.

Mike looked at Jake and the two privates and gave them the go ahead with a nod and he took a drink himself. He almost spit it out. He shouldn’t have been surprised, it was what he expected. Vodka and Pellegrino water with a splash of lime. Quite refreshing actually, he took another drink. It looks like we’re stuck here for a while anyway. Theresa had run across the street to start a Blueberry Pie, Mike assumed.