Moosehill Militia (Book 1): INFECTED (25 page)

“Not great, but where managing. We have about a dozen underpasses through the highway that needed to be blocked. I have construction equipment working on that. Most of them are blocked with rubble and cars we pushed into them. Now the highway is raised all along the Peninsula and the grassy sides are steep and raised at least twenty feet in most areas. I have people up there moving vehicles left on the highway into that outer lane up against the guard rail as a further wall. I have about two hundred Police including my SWAT team on the other side forming a skirmish line shooting any Infected that get to close, a few small swarms of Infected have rushed my line and I’ve lost about a dozen to them, killed.

Along with the Police we have two or three hundred civilians with past military experience with their own firearms with them. They come in and register their name and weapons over there.” Chief Grady pointed to a table near the back of the Command RV, where several civilians were drinking coffee with rifles slung on shoulders.

“So, I have anywhere between four to five hundred men at any given time to keep the Infected off the crews working to make this impassable. They have to be careful though we still have civilians coming through the lines and we’ve had a few killed by friendly fire, thinking they were Infected.”

“It sounds like you have done a good job with what you had. I’ll bring my air unites into this grassy park area behind us, I might have to cut few a trees down, hope you don’t mind. And my water born assets will come in down by the ferry. I will be heading back to the Task Force out in the bay. ETA for the first Royal Marines by air is about ten minutes. Good luck Chief. Their Commander is Colonel Truman Astbury, a good man to have at your side.” The two shook hands just as his Lynx Helicopter was landing. Lieutenant Commander Brother left with the Commodore leaving the two Royal Marine Sergeant's with Chief Grady, with orders to assist him and join back up with their units when they arrive. Before he left he could hear shooting in the distance on the other side of the Highway.

Closer to fifteen minutes. As the first seven helicopters arrived. Chief Grady thought, what do you know, they’re not perfect after all. Seven Sea King Commando’s configured to carry twenty eight fully armed Marines and two Boeing Chinooks capable of transporting between thirty three and fifty five Marines. They dropped off around two hundred and fifty Royal Marines. Also landing were four Westland Apache attack helicopters licensed to be built by the British firm.

Chief Grady looked on with much relief as these Marines unloaded and gathered in a staging area on part of the grassy park.

A contingent of Royal Marines came up and introductions were made.

“Chief Grady, I’m Colonel Truman Astbury.” They shook hands

“Colonel I have to tell you what a relief it is to see some real military. I have about eighty thousand people jammed into the city and more crossing the lines every day, it is slowing down. That’s means there’s something on the order of four hundred thousand Infected, or already dead outside of this city. I hear they are attracted by lights and noise. So eventually there all going to make their way here.” The Chief related.

“Glad we can be of help, I’d like to immediately send the boys I brought, to your front line to help bolster them until the rest of my units arrive. Then we can make some plans for the immediate future.

I have another wave of Marines coming in by air and about fifty amphibious armored personnel carriers coming in over the beach down by the ferry landing. I believe there is a large enough boat ramp there. After that they should be here in about a half hour or so.” The Colonel announced.

“Sounds good to me.” Chief Grady said.

Colonel Astbury gave a quick set of order to the Marines who accompanied him and most took off at a jog back to their Marines. The helicopters already left when they were talking except for the Apache attack helicopters who were there for fire support.

The inhabitants of Portland for the most part have been staying indoors through this crisis, any that were out and about down by the ferry landing and boat ramp would have seen a sight. Two LCAC’s off the USS Whidbey Island a LSD Dock landing ship carrying five hundred U.S. Marines. Three hundred and sixty were landing on the two LCAC’s which are air cushioned and weight in at around 180 tons, moved in off the water and right up the large boat ramp settling down in the large expanse of a parking lot. Three hundred and eight Marines moved off and immediately formed in marching Order and headed west onto State Street and up the hill past Congress Street down the revers slop into Deering Oaks park where the British had landed also.

Right behind the Americans came fifty British BVS 10, all Terrain Armored Vehicles. These were amphibious and each vehicle pulled an enclosed armored trailer, they drove right up the boat ramp one after other and turned left and travel west on the Fore River Parkway that connects with Interstate 295, so they could drive along the highway and be in position along the length of the Barrier and ready for defense or offensive operations. Those fifty BVS’s carried an additional five hundred Royal Marines and the BVS’s had a Machine gun ring mount on the front powered vehicle with a heavy machine gun mounted on it for fire support.

At the Command post with Colonel Astbury and Chief Grady, they were discussing operational plans.

“Colonel I have police and civilians at road blocks on six bridges including the Interstate 295 bridges at either end, the Casco Bay bridge that goes over the ferry landing, so those boys got a good view of your Troops landing I suppose, the Blue Star Memorial bridge and the train bridge to the south and another train bridge to the north for a total of six crossing points. I don’t have enough men there and the ones I do need a break they haven’t slept in twenty four hours.

“Understood Chief, I’ll send a BVS and squad to each location with a platoon of either British Marines or American Marines. They should be there within the hour, if you could so inform your men.” He asked the police Chief.

“Thank you Colonel.” Chief Grady responded.

“As far as plans go, today I’d like to get my Troops set up and organized onto those bridges and help build the defenses up. Our second Air Mobile Royal Marines have arrived along with the five hundred that came in on the APC’s and the Americans who are just arriving in the park by foot I’m told. That will give us around twelve hundred Marines tomorrow to start conducting offensive operations.

Instead of just advancing and fighting house to house. I’d like to set up some large speakers and lights on top of Interstate 295 facing west and starting around three in morning tonight, start drawing as many in as we can into the killing zone in front of the highway. Then we have them congested enough I intend to hit them from the air with Apache’s and everything else.” The Colonel told the Chief.

The rest of that day units were moved around the city to the bridges and positioned along the Interstate 295 highway and additional defense were built. The residents of the city started to come out and see for themselves what measures were being taken to protect Portland.

Some of the Air National Guard units had formed up in the city to help with the defenses too. Chief Grady figured they had around five hundred civilians or Air National Guard personnel on hand and started forming them into five companies of one hundred with the help of some of the American Marines. The Portland Militia men, as they were now being called, had a least one long gun either a semi-auto rifle, bolt Action rifle or shotgun and most had a handgun. The most common being 9mm, 40 Caliber or 45 Caliber. There was even the 38 caliber revolvers that could be seen. Several dozen diesel trucks and buses were made operational by this time and some were turned over to the Militia and others were put back into service on simplified bus route through the city. By nightfall most of the city had power again. The old city generators that hadn’t been used in thirty years, although they were maintained, were back in use and power throughout much of the city was back on. The biggest problem now was feeding the city and its inhabitants. It was figured the city has enough food and fuel for the generators for about two weeks.

When Colonel Astbury heard about this he asked, “Isn't this a fishing port? You better get those ship out fishing and bring in catches as soon as you can.” He told the city manager.

“Let’s see what first light brings.” Colonel Astbury announced.

***

Westover

This morning, Moosehill Airport was hopping, all the Blackhawk's were ready and spinning their rotors eight C-130’s were lined up on the taxi way and ready to take off. On the grass away from the helicopter pads a hundred or so Troopers were kneeling in the grass all done up for war. Mike walked across the helicopter pads to the first Blackhawk and before stepping in waved his hand around above his head. Fifty five of the Troops off to the side rushed out onto the tarmac splitting up into groups of eleven heading to their assigned Blackhawk. Eleven Troops jumped into Mike’s chopper and he strapped himself into the pilot’s seat. He wasn’t riding shotgun on this one. Once his helmet was on and communications was attached he gave the order to lift off.

“Six Actual to tower, we are in the air and heading west on a heading of 270 degrees true.” Mike called into the tower.

“Roger that, we will send the C-130 up when we get the word.” The tower announced.

“Roger that.” Mike replied.

Twenty minutes later five Blackhawk helicopters flew over the Chicopee Country Club, no one was golfing now thought Mike. Seconds later they flew over the Chicopee Memorial State park then they were over the fence and crossing the main runway of Westover Air Force base. At five hundred feet they had a pretty good view and Mike didn’t see a soul out along the runway or around the hangers or terminal. That doesn’t mean no Infected were around, possibly some could be in buildings. He was sure the surrounding neighborhoods to the south and east will have some and the noise the choppers were making were sure to attract them.

“Blackhawk flight Actual to Moosehill control.” Mike spoke into his radio.

“Blackhawk actual this is Moosehill go ahead.” The tower controller said.

“Mission is a go launch them.” Mike gave the go ahead for the C-130’s to get airborne and over here pronto. To the northwest of the main runway were some long large buildings where he assumed were the storage facilities. All units follow me in and land near the front of those large building just off the taxiway.” Mike order the other four Blackhawk.

All five Blackhawk’s landed spaced out near the large storage buildings. The Troops in there BDU’s and combat gear were out of the chopper and forming a perimeter around these building in no time. Mike left his Blackhawk to his co-pilot and followed the Troops over to the first building. Sean Thornton who flew in the second Blackhawk joined Mike at an entrance door to this building. There were several large doors in the side of the building.

“What do you think?” Mike looked at Captain Thornton.

“Let one of the young guys kick it.” Sean said. A big strapping private was volunteered to do the deed.

“Han’s give that door a mule kick right near the handle it should pop the door open.” Sean told the young man.

“Yes sir, Captain.” He said. Sean rolled his eyes still not used to the officer thing, he was a career enlisted now he finds himself a Captain in the local militia, how ironic he thought.

Hans Stinar at Six foot four wasn’t going to let any little door stop him, his boss was watching. So he backed up to the door and placed his size fourteen foot on the door to line it up, drew his leg and foot forward then thrust it back with all his might. The door flew open with enough force to kill someone if they were standing behind it.

“Excellent Hans.” Captain Thornton told him. Mike and Sean looked in, luckily there were occasional skylights otherwise the cavernous building would be in complete darkness.

Mike had a huge smile on his face. “Will you look at that Sean what a pretty sight?” He voiced. Mac stepped further into the large storage area it was at least the size of two football fields.

“Boss, we hit the lottery. Okay you goons spread out and search this place thoroughly, I don’t want any surprises.” Mac sounded off. He then assigned a Sergeant to take an inventory of what’s in the building. Mac and Mike walked back outside and over to the second large storage building of the three and was doubly astounded by the loot in that building. The third building had the biggest surprise of all. Mike couldn’t believe there luck.

“Mac this is unbelievable, we don’t even have enough pilots to get this all home.” He estimated.

“Your right Mike, we can make more than one trip. Where not leaving any of this behind.” Mac said. They just stood there staring up at the contents in Building three.

The Sergeant assigned to inventory being no idiot grabbed a half dozen others to help and in short order had list of item in each warhorse. He approached Colonel Mohan who he greatly respected and handed three sheets of paper over to him.

“Thanks Sergeant.” Mike looked at the first sheet labeled Warehouse number one. On the page was written sixty UH-1N Iroquois Ch135 twin Huey, then under that was fifteen Chinooks unknown what variant. Then ten OH-58D Kiowa’s Scout Helicopters. Also on the page was numerous crates of spare parts.

The second page held Ten C-130 Transport.

The third page held seven C145A Sky trucks and four Fairchild C-123 Provider Military transport.