Erin kept dreaming her dreams and remembering the past, locked away in the suspension chamber aboard her ship Discovery. It was so many decades ago but almost seemed as though it were yesterday. General McCreary and his aide continued the short drive to the factory site at breakneck speed, ready to scoop up Mitch and Anya Conyers according to the President’s directives and shuttle them to the primary bunker site. McCreary’s phone rang in the limousine; it was General Meehan at NORAD.
“One moment, General,” McCreary said as he spoke to his aide. “I have to take this call, Major.” McCreary and Hastings had just arrived at the factory and turning to Hastings McCreary said “I want you to get the Conyers’ and have them start packing immediately. Tell them fifteen minutes and not a moment more; I’ll be along shortly.” McCreary then gave his undivided attention to Meehan, wondering what more good news awaited him.
“Jim, how are things on the world front?”
If it were any person other than General James Meehan they would have been out-of-breath.
“General, the war in Asia has escalated. We have preliminary indications that the Chinese have just invaded Russia.”
The phone was momentarily silent as Meehan’s words sunk in. McCreary was running through so many possible incentives for the actions on the part of Premiere Xintau; the Russians having been the only country still supplying the Chinese with desperately needed food supplies since the embargo first began.
McCreary chose his questions carefully.
“Jim, do we have any indications for the reasons behind the actions on the part of the Chinese?”
McCreary listened intently to Meehan’s assessment.
“General, our on-the-ground intelligence is limited to say the least; both the Russians and Chinese have discontinued all communications with the outside world. The only information we’ve been able to rely upon is our own satellite imagery. Our best guess is that they’re after the Russian’s food supplies.”
“And what’s satellite imagery showing, Jim?”
“Imagery indicates massive troop movements, three million in all on the part of the Chinese including massive armored columns as well as mobile missile launchers.”
“Any indications where they’re heading?”
“It seems that they’re trying to do and end run around the Russian defenses, both flanks, headed towards the food storage areas.”
“And what’s been the Russians’ response so far?”
“Premiere Kryshenski has launched massive conventional air strikes against the advancing Chinese columns as well as redirecting two million troops to the eastern borders.”
“Any indications that those Chinese mobile missile launchers are armed with nuclear warheads?”
“They are, General. Our satellites picked up residual traces of plutonium. I can come to no other conclusion.”
“Jesus,” McCreary replied.
Meehan continued.
“For the moment we don’t have any indication of large troop losses on either side, but the Chinese have already overrun the limited Russian defenses on the border. The Russians seem to be strategically withdrawing to re-group as they meet up with the advancing troops coming to relieve them. We estimate current losses at 50,000. The number of civilian casualties we’re unable to calculate, although I can assure you it’s most likely a large number.”
“Do the Chinese have any intention of using those warheads?”
“Unknown, General. They could be there solely on a threat basis, but what’s the possible outcome? The Russians can’t allow what limited food supplies they have left to be taken, so the end result seems self-determined. Someone is going to use their nukes eventually.”
“Christ.”
Thinking quickly McCreary told Meehan that he’d call him back in five minutes but first had to speak with the President. It was a call he’d always expected to make but thought the situation could be controlled for a little while longer. That hope no longer seemed possible.
McCreary quickly put in a call to President Andrews and was immediately patched through to the Situation Room. After a brief moment he was in direct contact with the President, already aware of new developments and monitoring events closely.
“General,” President Andrews said, “It’s good to hear your voice.”
“Thank you, Mr. President. There’s a situation in East Asia that’s recently developed.”
“That’s my understanding, General. We’ve already attempted to contact Premiers’ Xintau and Kryshenski, to no avail. What are your recommendations militarily?”
McCreary was relieved to hear President Andrews extremely calm and completely in control.
“Well, Sir,” McCreary responded, “We have nukes involved on both sides. The Russians have been caught off-guard and their ground forces temporarily overrun. They’ve launched their air forces but up until now have only been using conventional weapons.”
“Any indications on the yield of those nuclear weapons within the advancing Chinese columns?”
“No, Mr. President, not as of yet. It’s likely a mixture of both low-yield strategic weapons as well as high-yield weapons. I think the Chinese are hoping the Russians will blink, but I don’t think that’s going to happen.”
“Why would the Chinese do such a thing when the Russians were the only ones still assisting them?” Andrews asked.
“Desperation, Mr. President. The communist Chinese regime’s hold on power is tenuous at best. They had to make a move before their own citizens overthrew them. The parties hold on power is sketchy at best, why in the world they ever thought a two-front war was strategically within their best interest I’ll never know. I think their mindset is that if they’re going down they plan on taking everyone else with them. The Russians have little choice other than to respond in like kind.”
McCreary paused.
“What are your orders, Sir?”
President Andrews considered their options. It was only slightly more than an hour since this morning’s meeting had ended and once again the entire landscape had changed.
“General, continue as planned; total neutrality on this end until further developments occur. Let’s keep ourselves out of this mess for as long as we can. We’ll advise our allies to do the same from this end. Have you arrived at the factory yet?”
“Yes Sir, we have. Major Hastings is preparing the Conyers' to leave as we speak; we’ll have them on their way to the primary bunker site in short order. Sir, may I recommend your departure as well?”
The President was willing to see this thing through to the end at the White House, knowing of its inevitable destruction should factors escalate beyond control and thus his own demise. Andrews had contemplated long and hard, torn over his many responsibilities. His concerns also included his own family as well but eventually concluded, not through cowardice but through courage, that he would remove himself to the primary bunker site where he felt he could do the most good for both his people and country, no matter what remained of it should it come to all out global nuclear war.
“General McCreary, I want you as well as the Conyers’ at the primary bunker site as quickly as possible. I’m leaving the White House now and I’ll meet you there. I don’t want any heroics on your part, is that understood?”
McCreary was also torn but had come to the same conclusion.
“Yes, Mr. President. I understand fully.”
“General?”
“Sir?”
“The bunker systems still aren’t at full capacity and we have a large number of military personnel at those sites keeping the civilians at bay. I want each and every one of those civilians permitted into the bunker systems immediately. As many people as possible.”
It was President Andrews' intention to save as many of his countrymen as he could.
“Yes, Mr. President. I’ll contact General Meehan immediately and have the orders issued.”
“Very well then, General. We’ll meet you at the primary bunker site within eight hours. I??
?ll continue to monitor the situation from Air Force One. Andrews out.”
While this conversation was taking place, Major Hastings was already meeting with the Conyers’ in the factory.
“Mr. and Mrs. Conyers, you are to pack your belongings and be prepared to leave the facility within fifteen minutes. Take only what you need; time is of the essence.”
Mitch, at first hearing his instructions to pack immediately looked at Anya who had a devastated look on her face not knowing what had just occurred. Both knew this moment would eventually come, but the immediate reality of it was an entirely different matter. Their eyes met and spoke an unspoken language in understanding as they quickly headed towards their quarters where Erin was waiting. She was running around with a friend, playing as children often do. Although it broke his heart, Mitch kindly asked Erin’s friend to leave, not knowing what would become of her. Erin looked at her father and asked if anything was wrong.
“No, sweetheart, but we have to leave right away. We’re going on a short trip.”
Erin didn’t know where they were going, but having been cooped up in the factory was excited nonetheless. She let her mind run wild, imagining a long vacation and remembering the picnic that she and her parent’s had enjoyed not too long ago. Mitch and Anya had sheltered her from the chaos erupting around them, allowing her as best they could to enjoy what little childhood she had left. As Mitch gathered his and Anya’s things, Anya helped Erin pack in her small eight by ten foot bedroom. Erin could hardly contain her excitement.
“Where are we going, Mama?” Erin asked smiling.
Anya was at a loss for words.
“We’re going on a trip.”
“Will there be other children there?”
“Of course.”
“Will there be any my age?”
“Oh yes, dear, and you’ll be able to play all day long.”
Erin, now going on nine years old, collected her most prized possessions with her mother’s help. She had passed the age where toys were important, gathering her favorite dresses and assorted keepsakes.
Hastings stood at the doorway, looking at his watch as he did so.
Not knowing specifics but knowing what they knew, Mitch and Anya were ready in less than ten minutes. Though Mitch had gathered sufficient clothing for both himself and Anya, he also filled a second suitcase stuffed to the brim with technical charts, computer disks, schematics, and research results that were irreplaceable.
“Are you ready?” Hastings asked.
“We’re ready,” Mitch replied.
The four of them quickly exited the building and headed straight to the awaiting limousine. McCreary was still on the phone and never found the time to exit the vehicle. Mitch and Anya both carried suitcases while Erin walked between them. Mitch knew the conversation with General McCreary wouldn’t be good and asked Hastings if Erin could ride up front where she wouldn’t be able to overhear their conversation. Hastings simply nodded in understanding, and before entering the limousine Mitch leaned down to speak to Erin.
“Sweetheart, Major Hastings just asked me if I could sit up front with the driver, he needs a co-pilot, but your mother and I have to talk with Mr. McCreary. Do you think you could do that for me?”
Erin was amazed that her father would ask her to take on such responsibility and jumped at the chance.
“Of course, daddy, I can do it. I know I can.”
“That’s my girl,” Mitch said as he kissed her on the cheek.
After getting her settled in, Mitch closed the door while Erin was beaming at her father, having such faith and trust in her to take on such a task. Major Hastings held open the rear door of the limousine as Mitch and Anya entered the vehicle. He then got in himself.
“Mr. and Mrs. Conyers, it’s so very good to see you again,” McCreary said.
“And you as well, General,” Mitch replied.
After greeting each other they were all silent for a moment as they looked about stoically, the limousine speeding away at a rather fast clip. Mitch and Anya were sitting across from McCreary and Hastings; the General subconsciously keeping one hand on the telephone. After several more moments had passed it was Anya who broke the ice, the others at a loss for words.
“Where are we headed, General?” she asked pointedly.
“Not far,” McCreary replied. “Back towards Washington where a helicopter will be meeting us en-route.” He looked down as he continued to speak. “Ultimately we’re headed to the primary bunker site.”
Both Mitch and Anya knew what that meant. Something terrible had happened; their worst fears come true. Under the circumstances McCreary wasn’t even sure they even had enough time to make it, but it was information that the Conyers’ didn’t need to know.
“And will you be accompanying us?” Anya inquired.
“Yes Anya, I will.”
Anya liked General McCreary. She had much contact with him over the last several years and knew that after twenty years of marriage he’d lost his wife in the not too distant past. He’d been orphaned as a child and what biological family he did have was unknown to him, choosing not to use his position of authority to delve any further into it.
“And your family?” Anya asked.
McCreary and his wife had a daughter, his only pride and joy. She was currently enrolled at Yale University. It was the first time in all of her contact with him that Anya had seen a wisp of a smile from the General. It seemed to contain both a sense of pride and relief.
“My daughter Veronica has already been moved to the primary bunker site,” McCreary replied.
McCreary didn’t go into great detail, but let Mitch and Anya know that further developments had occurred in Asia and that the situation was tenuous at best. Mitch and Anya took this information in stride, listening with strained ears through the glass of the limousine to the muffled voice of their daughter Erin. She was going on and on to the driver how excited she was about her upcoming vacation, occasionally chastising him to slow down because she didn’t want to get into an accident, and that her mother and father were “very important people.” The driver apologized.
“Yes, of course. I’m sorry young lady. I’ll try to be more careful.”
This seemed to satisfy Erin; after all she took her responsibility seriously.
Up until this point the location of the primary bunker site had been the greatest secret of all. It was in fact located in Utah, far away from population centers. It was a group of twenty bunkers in all, clustered in close proximity that should they survive the coming onslaught, they’d eventually be joined by a tunnel system according to Professor Enghult’s continuously developing designs. Enghult was proficient to a fault. The bunker system was to become the hub, a command center of sorts contingent upon what situation developed.
As further backup NORAD had the ability to survive a direct nuclear hit; it had been strengthened considerably over the past several decades and was defended by multiple and highly advanced anti-ballistic missile systems. It was also designated to house the Vice President and many government and military officials should a secondary governing body become necessary. As many thoughts ran through everyone’s minds, the limousine suddenly arrived at the landing site where the helicopter was waiting to take them on the final leg of their journey.
Erin was amazed. It was more activity then she’d seen in her entire life. This was going to be the best vacation ever. Before departing the limousine she thanked the driver.
“My name is Erin. What’s yours?”
“Ishto,” the driver responded with a smile.
“Ishto,” Erin repeated. “Thank you, Ishto.”
The passengers quickly departed the limousine for their six hour flight to the bunker site. They would not exchange the helicopter for a faster jet regardless of the time constraints as it was essential that their profile remain off the radar system, flying approximately 200 feet above ground level. After everyone was secured, the helicopter quickly departed and was soon a
pproaching airspeeds of 300 miles per hour. Likewise Air Force One was already in the air and would land at a secondary airport, where the President and his Staff would similarly make the final leg of the journey by helicopter to what was now being called “Bunker Site 1.”
Shortly after McCreary’s contingent was airborne a call was patched through on the General’s headset as Mitch and Anya listened intently.
“McCreary here.” A slight pause. “Jim, what news?”
Approximately four minutes passed with McCreary remaining completely silent as he listened to Meehan on the other end of the line. Mitch and Anya were staring at the General, riveted.
McCreary then responded.
“And what of the President?” he asked.
The voice on the other end couldn’t be heard.
“Good Jim,” McCreary said. “No moves militarily until further developments. McCreary out.”
The General didn’t need to tell Meehan to keep him apprised of any further developments, it was understood. He reached up and turned a switch on his headset.
“Pilot, how fast can this chopper go?”
A voice at the other end.
“Make it happen,” McCreary said. Suddenly there was a burst of speed and the chopper was now quickly approaching 400 miles per hour. McCreary reached over and took off Erin’s headset so she couldn’t hear the words he was about to say to her parents. Looking at her mother somewhat indignantly, Anya simply held up a finger to her mouth, “shush,” which seemed to calm her down somewhat. Erin pouted. McCreary then hit another switch on the headset so that Mitch, Anya, and Major Hastings could all hear him and the information he was about to divulge.
“Ok folks,” he said, “Time for specifics. The Chinese have attacked Russia with three million troops, including multiple support vehicles and mobile missile launchers. Since the Russians were supporting the Chinese with food supplies they hadn’t expected the attack and had insufficient troops on the border. They were quickly overrun with over 50,000 Russian casualties so far. The Chinese are desperate and ultimately after the Russian’s food storage supplies. As of this moment the Chinese have advanced 25 miles into Russian territory. In response the Russians have launched their air forces en-masse and we have recent indications that they’ve dropped a number of low-yield tactical nuclear weapons on the advancing Chinese columns in an attempt to halt their advance.”
Everyone was silent.
McCreary again spoke.
“We’re six hours out from the primary bunker site.”
Episode 6: “Journey”