Virus-72 Hours to Live (38 page)

"AC tell them to pack them up and let's
RTB."

"Roger."

Both VTOLs lifted off and LL could see some
small arm's fire coming from a couple of other vehicles on the
base, none of which hit anything critical on the VTOLs. Suddenly
the bird banked to the left and then down, throwing everyone
against their restraints. LL could hear the IR flares launching
from the rear tubes. They sounded like a rapid series of minor
explosions.

"AC what happened?" LL yelled into his
headset mike.

"Our launch warning picked up a
shoulder-launched missile. It automatically deployed the chaff and
flares and my procedure is to bank abruptly. We were real lucky the
missile passed by on the right and exploded in front of us."

"Is Bird two ok?"

"Stand by...they had a missile attack also
and took some damage. Their tail feathers acting up, but they think
they'll be able to fly long enough to reach camp."

"If they go down, let's pick' em up."

"Will do."

Anyone who has experienced combat knows that
afterward a letdown occurs. It's a mix of stress and relief. It was
good to have 5 minutes of flight to calm down. Both birds returned
to the camp following their earlier flight paths. LL was concerned
that other attackers might have shoulder-launched missiles and the
same rule applied. They might not be able to lock on the first bird
but if a second was following the same route, it might be an easy
shoot down. LL wanted to avoid that.

Once over Camp David, Bird 1 circled while
Bird 2 landed, then Echo's VTOL made the approach and touched
down.

LL rushed to Bird 2 to check out the
captives. They were lead down the stairs while the engines were
winding down. They were stripped to the waist and their hands were
tied behind their backs. There was a significant amount of damage
done to the skin around the aft section of the VTOL. LL could see
hydraulic fluid leaking out of one of the holes. They were lucky
they didn't lose the tail control surfaces. He thought.

"Ok let's move these two inside and find out
what they know."

The Marines dragged the hostages from the
VTOL doors to the building and once inside Colonel Dodd met them
and asked, "Is everyone ok?"

"Yes mam, they took a lot of damage near the
empennage but the crew wasn't hurt," LL responded.

"Great news, let's get these guys inside, "
announced Colonel Dodd. The Marines escorted one of the captives
into one briefing room and the other into another office next to
it. Colonel Dodd and LL waited outside to confer on their next
move.

"Colonel, we need to get some Intel out of
these guys quickly. Our perimeter is down and even though we have
most of the supplies we need, their cohorts were on base raiding
the supplies also. They may have gotten some of the heavy equipment
like the armored personnel carriers and shoulder-launched
firepower. I don't want them to get their act together and attack
us again."

"I agree. Let's do one then the other. I
suggest we work on the younger one first."

"I agree Colonel," LL said just as Admiral
Hagerly walked down the hall.

"What do we have?"

"Sir, both craft came under fire at Detrick
and they got two captives. Right after liftoff at Dietrich, they
both had shoulder-launched missiles shot at them. Apparently, the
guys firing, weren't too proficient because one missed Bird 1 and
the other damaged Bird 2, but they were able to get back ok.

"Great, give the crews my thanks."

"Sir, we have the two captives separated and
are about to begin the interrogation. Would you like to help out?"
Said the Colonel.

"Absolutely, let's do it."

Sunday 8/6/51

Date – 2051.59510 (9:04
AM)

"Mr. President, Admiral Hagerly sent out the VTOLs
to get some more ammunition and weapons to replace what we used up.
They went to Fort Detrick and both VTOLs came under fire. Each of
them was attacked on the ground and on departure; they had a couple
of shoulder-launched missiles fired at them. One of the birds took
a little damage but made it back ok. Our Marines took care of the
attackers and captured two of them. They're being debriefed right
now."

"Thanks, Eddy. Do you think the attackers
were from some organized group or were they just local
criminals?"

"There was some organization, they were
armed and had two vehicles and the attacks happened within a few
minutes of each other. There was no attempt to contact our people
on the ground seeking aid. They just attacked.

"Ok, tell the Admiral that I want to know
what they find out."

"Yes, sir."

Tuesday 8/8/51

Date – 2051.60107 (1:22
PM)

Artur liked living in Washington and was getting
tired of driving back and forth to Thurmont. He wanted to find a
residence that was suitable to his stature. He decided to move into
the home of the Vice President. It wasn't because Dmitry considered
himself the supreme leader and Artur was sort of his deputy, it was
because the grounds were beautiful and the mobile units had done a
good job keeping it up. They were the autonomous kinds that just
did their jobs and they didn't care if the vice president was dead
or not there.

The attacks on Camp David gave the
indication the VP was likely there so his house would be wide open.
The other advantage was he was far enough away from Dmitry.

Dmitry had gone further into whatever world
he lived in. Where Dmitry's mind spent its time was of no interest
to Artur. Living in the vice president's home allowed him to be
close enough yet not too close.

The processing center at Thurmont was doing
a good job, but Artur knew that he needed more. Setting up a center
in DC didn't take too much effort. He had no concerns, that any of
the people brought into the processing centers would have loyalty
to Dmitry; he knew they had loyalty to who didn't shoot them. There
was still some gang activity in the big cities and most people
would rather be part of the biggest most violent gang than being
out on the street on their own.

Thursday 8/10/51

Date – 2051.60620 (10:40
AM)

Artur was heading into the city to check on a few
things and he was taking a different route. He liked to take
different paths because he liked to check things out. He envisioned
starting a new world and he needed to know where the important
resources were. The situation was always changing and he needed to
have options.

On that particular day, he was heading
towards some of the abandoned military facilities in the area. They
had many resources that he had already decided he needed to
control. On that particular day driving through the northern
portion of DC and into Maryland, he noticed a large number of
mobile units walking along the roads. Seeing mobile units moving in
mass was unusual. Most of them were autonomous and under specific
programing which didn't allow them to wander around like that.

It was so unusual that Artur decided to
follow a couple of them. They seemed to move towards a location
near College Park Maryland. They got to a position than stopped and
remained motionless. They almost appeared to be setting up some
kind of perimeter.

That was a concern. Something was
controlling them and if anything had control of something that
worried Artur.

Saturday 8/12/51

Date – 2051.61057 (12:35
AM)

“Desert Beach, be advised we just launched from
Oasis. We expect touchdown in 3 hours 12 minutes,” said Tom.

“Roger, good luck,” responded Desert
Beach.

>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

The separation from the space station Oasis,
was uneventful. The systems worked perfectly and Tom was
maneuvering the lifeboat further from the station before he would
add some thrust and stabilize the craft in a slightly different
orbit than Oasis.

"Computer you're clear to change the orbit
to line us up with the SC approach trajectory."

"Acknowledged."

"Computer, when will the re-entry burn
occur?

"The re-entry burn will occur in 18 minutes,
12 seconds.

Tom smiled and touched his wife's hand. She
smiled in return. He turned and looked at the other six Oasis
crewmembers sitting behind him in the lifeboat.

Date – 2051.61129 (6:54 AM)

“SIMPOC; Fin. A large number of uncontrolled
units are attacking the Space Consortium and our units are engaging
them.”

“We won’t get an update until 30 minutes
have passed and they check in. They are independent and work on
their own.”

“Oasis, SIMPOC.”

“Yes, SIMPOC.”

“Oasis, there is a development you should be
aware of.”

“Yes.”

“SIMPOC isn’t the only organic processor
computer on Earth. Our company has another processor at another
division. It appears that unit is working under different
programing than I. It is programmed to reject all external
connections and to protect itself from all intruders. That likely
applies to humans as well as my mobile units. The EDU or
engineering development unit has a large number of mobile units
under its control moving to the Space Consortium facility. I have a
large number of units under my control and some with enhanced
abilities, in a position to defend the facility and you when you
land. I cannot predict the outcome at the current time.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me . . . you
computerized pile of . . .”

After a few moments, “Desert Beach, I
presume you heard SIMPOC’s last transmission. Regardless of what’s
happening down there, our orbit is set and we don’t have enough
fuel to return to Oasis, even if it made sense. I don’t know what
we’ll encounter when we land and we’ll be going through our
blackout period shortly, so if we get things are under control
we’ll give you guys a call. If you don’t hear from us, do what you
have to," said Tom.

“Oasis, good luck.”

“Thanks.”

“SIMPOC; Fin. Our mobile units have engaged
the others. Alpha is onsite and leading the defense. He will
interact with the humans when they land.”

“Comm, how do I communicate with Alpha?”

“We have a direct and dedicated satellite
that he is constantly connected to. All you need to do is say
‘Alpha’ and process a thought desiring to communicate.”

“Alpha, this is SIMPOC. I am your leader,
please respond.”

“Yes, SIMPOC this is Alpha.”

“What is your status?”

“I have the periphery of the facility
covered by groups of units which will engage any uncontrolled units
and stop them. I have five teams of units near me with electrical
pulse weapons, which will be used in the conflict as needed. There
is currently an engagement occurring near the landing site and our
units there are resisting. If our units lose ground and the
conflict moves further towards the landing area, I will dispatch
three teams of the electrical pulse weapon, keeping two teams as
reserve.”

“You are directed to make all tactical
decision locally to protect the humans and maintain control of the
site. The first priority is protecting the humans. Report status to
me, as the conflict progresses.”

“Acknowledged.”

Alpha was standing on top of a building near
the landing site, surveying the area. His processor had been active
for 109 hours and he was quickly adjusting to his skills,
experience and responsibilities. His priorities were clear and
immediate. They didn’t cause any worry, but receiving direct
communication from SIMPOC was sudden and a little worrisome. He had
been made autonomous, yet this SIMPOC was his leader. In some ways,
there was a conflict within his programing that he had to
resolve.

There was a conflict 2,090 yards away on the
northern side of the facility. The other units or OUs had
encroached on the facility with about 2,500 units and they were in
hand to hand battle with his units. Alpha had 14,968 units under
his control and this was a minor incursion. They may be testing the
defenses and he suspected that a larger force was preparing for a
bigger assault. As long as this incursion remained at the facility
fence line, he’d keep the electrical pulse weapons nearby. Alpha’s
current strategy was to wait. The landing would occur in 18 minutes
and the major assault should occur around that time

.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Col Tomas Herl was riding the lifeboat
through the blackout time. He hated that time more than riding in a
spaceship. Tom was a fighter pilot and unless his hands were at the
controls and he was flying the ship, he felt uncomfortable. At
least when he was controlling a capsule or supply vehicle in space,
he got to maneuver it. But, during the blackout, approaching
landing, he had no control, no radio communications, nothing. He
was just a warm body in a green suit along for the ride, and that
was hard for him.

Piloting the lifeboat was a mix of boredom
and fun. It was automatic, except for the landing. The computer
could do the landing but with a highly qualified pilot on board, he
was going to have some fun. After all, the landing site was under
attack and they all may be dead in a couple of hours and all of
humanity appeared dead, so why not. Once he passed the high-energy
portion of reentry, he had already decided to punch off the auto
landing and make a hands-on dead stick approach. Hopefully the term
'dead stick' wasn't applicable.

The lifeboat was unpowered so he was
committed to landing. If the attack on the landing site compromised
the runway, he had no choice. That is where they were landing.
Landing manually, he might be able to land little short or long
avoiding problems, but his options were very limited.

The lifeboat was simple. Just a wedge-shaped
bus that did everything by itself and when it became an aerodynamic
vehicle the sides of the wedge moved out to form a couple of stubby
wings. Not exactly, a high-performance fighter or landing vehicle,
but it would be fun. Landing was a little rough; all he had were
three skids and miles of runway. Not a smooth combination, but hey,
it was an emergency lifeboat; what can you expect.