Story Market Day
- Thread starter ComCamGuy
- Start date
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Yeah, yeah, yeah - I know: "it will all be revealed in good time......"
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
At the Front
“Hi, Bekka. I’m Veronica. I appreciate you guys coming out to lead us in.” Veronica started as she got to the driver’s side window of the Subaru.
Veronica was trying to get a better read on Bekka. She was usually very good at reading people. Right now what she was getting was Bekka was tense, worried and ready to get the hell out of here. In the passenger seat next to Bekka was another warrior-dressed woman. She looked again. This one was even younger than the one with Sabine! She looked about the same age as Gretchen.
“Hey, Veronica. Glad to meet you. Is everyone ready to roll? We need to get moving real soon. Too many minutes here with running engines will attract too much attention.”
Dang! All business and rushing her.
“Maps all distributed. I guess as soon as Sabine is good, we will be ready to roll.” Veronica replied.
“How fast can your group go so we don’t set too fast a pace?”
“With trucks and trailers, sixty should be ok. Faster than that will depend on terrain and how much the road twists and turns.”
“Cool. That will work. Andrea told me the radio rigs she put in your G-Wagon and gave you to put in the other G-Wagon. Here is a card with the frequencies to set so you can talk to us and home base.” Bekka handed her a small laminated card. “This group is now Viking Flight. My vehicle is Viking six, the tail vehicle is Scarlet 38. You are V1. Violet in the back is V7.” She flipped the card over and showed these notes written in grease pencil.
Veronica saw these and other notes written on a chunk of illuminated Plexiglas next to the console radio in the vehicle.
“Home base is ‘ATC’ and you might hear a bunch of other traffic on this other backup frequency.” Bekka continued.
Veronica was about to ask a question when Bekka held up her hand. She was listening to her earpiece.
“Alright Veronica, do a last check and get ready to roll. Sabine says she is ready and they will be staying in the van with the casualties as planned.” Bekka turned and looked over at her co-pilot as they both started flipping switches and tightening gear.
Veronica felt both relieved and a little hurt. Where she was once the leader of this little wagon train, now she got the feeling she was definitely no longer in charge. She still felt the responsibility for them, but now she was working under someone else's guidance.
“Hi, Bekka. I’m Veronica. I appreciate you guys coming out to lead us in.” Veronica started as she got to the driver’s side window of the Subaru.
Veronica was trying to get a better read on Bekka. She was usually very good at reading people. Right now what she was getting was Bekka was tense, worried and ready to get the hell out of here. In the passenger seat next to Bekka was another warrior-dressed woman. She looked again. This one was even younger than the one with Sabine! She looked about the same age as Gretchen.
“Hey, Veronica. Glad to meet you. Is everyone ready to roll? We need to get moving real soon. Too many minutes here with running engines will attract too much attention.”
Dang! All business and rushing her.
“Maps all distributed. I guess as soon as Sabine is good, we will be ready to roll.” Veronica replied.
“How fast can your group go so we don’t set too fast a pace?”
“With trucks and trailers, sixty should be ok. Faster than that will depend on terrain and how much the road twists and turns.”
“Cool. That will work. Andrea told me the radio rigs she put in your G-Wagon and gave you to put in the other G-Wagon. Here is a card with the frequencies to set so you can talk to us and home base.” Bekka handed her a small laminated card. “This group is now Viking Flight. My vehicle is Viking six, the tail vehicle is Scarlet 38. You are V1. Violet in the back is V7.” She flipped the card over and showed these notes written in grease pencil.
Veronica saw these and other notes written on a chunk of illuminated Plexiglas next to the console radio in the vehicle.
“Home base is ‘ATC’ and you might hear a bunch of other traffic on this other backup frequency.” Bekka continued.
Veronica was about to ask a question when Bekka held up her hand. She was listening to her earpiece.
“Alright Veronica, do a last check and get ready to roll. Sabine says she is ready and they will be staying in the van with the casualties as planned.” Bekka turned and looked over at her co-pilot as they both started flipping switches and tightening gear.
Veronica felt both relieved and a little hurt. Where she was once the leader of this little wagon train, now she got the feeling she was definitely no longer in charge. She still felt the responsibility for them, but now she was working under someone else's guidance.
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
In with the Casualties
Sabine and Angelique climbed into the back of the van. Next to the bed in the back was Felicia.
“I am so glad to see you guys. I have a woman and child, malnutrition, starvation and physical abuse. We got some good quality calories into them, been keeping them warm, dry and comfortable. They haven’t gotten worse, but I can’t see any real improvements. I think there might be some underlying infections or parasite load sapping any real strength from building up. I don’t have any advanced intervention equipment or supplies and it’s been almost ten years since I worked as a medic in the Air Force.” Felicia spat out in one big rush in her relief at being able to surrender responsibility for her patients.
Sabine took all of this in. Her brain started flipping open the proverbial textbooks. She knew a viral or parasitic load can seriously degrade any recovery efforts. She turned to Angelique.
“Alright, hang the bag up here so we can work from it. I’ll start with the kid if you start with the adult. Primary assessment, pulse ox, end tidal, full set of vitals, IV access, drop a gram of Ertapenem and hang a bag of ringers TKO. Then we compare notes, OK?”
“Sure thing, Sabine.” Angelique said as she unclipped the medical hanging bag and tried to find some cabinet handles to hang it on.
Sabine looked back at Felicia.
“Felicia, you did great! These would be almost impossible to manage without resources and you got them to us alive. Better get back to your vehicle so we can get underway.”
Felicia felt a bit better with Sabine’s comments. She had to get back to her wagon!
Sabine and Angelique climbed into the back of the van. Next to the bed in the back was Felicia.
“I am so glad to see you guys. I have a woman and child, malnutrition, starvation and physical abuse. We got some good quality calories into them, been keeping them warm, dry and comfortable. They haven’t gotten worse, but I can’t see any real improvements. I think there might be some underlying infections or parasite load sapping any real strength from building up. I don’t have any advanced intervention equipment or supplies and it’s been almost ten years since I worked as a medic in the Air Force.” Felicia spat out in one big rush in her relief at being able to surrender responsibility for her patients.
Sabine took all of this in. Her brain started flipping open the proverbial textbooks. She knew a viral or parasitic load can seriously degrade any recovery efforts. She turned to Angelique.
“Alright, hang the bag up here so we can work from it. I’ll start with the kid if you start with the adult. Primary assessment, pulse ox, end tidal, full set of vitals, IV access, drop a gram of Ertapenem and hang a bag of ringers TKO. Then we compare notes, OK?”
“Sure thing, Sabine.” Angelique said as she unclipped the medical hanging bag and tried to find some cabinet handles to hang it on.
Sabine looked back at Felicia.
“Felicia, you did great! These would be almost impossible to manage without resources and you got them to us alive. Better get back to your vehicle so we can get underway.”
Felicia felt a bit better with Sabine’s comments. She had to get back to her wagon!
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Angelique grabbed the assessment gear from the hanging bag and moved to the woman. She looked down at her as she wrapped the BP cuff around her thin arm. The woman’s face was sallow and marked with scrapes and half healed scratches and scars, the largest of which was an angry red one almost as thick as a pencil from her forehead down across her face to her jaw line. Damn! She looked closer.
“Oh God! Missy, you should have come out with us when we offered.”
“Oh God! Missy, you should have come out with us when we offered.”
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Aha! Big circle to get back to saving Missy from her tribes' bad behaviours......
ETA:
I wonder if her old group mended its' ways? I'm guessing not so, there may have to be a littlecleansing on the way home to base. What better way to test the kids more completely? Might have a red shirt moment in there too ......
ETA:
I wonder if her old group mended its' ways? I'm guessing not so, there may have to be a littlecleansing on the way home to base. What better way to test the kids more completely? Might have a red shirt moment in there too ......
Last edited:
Cedar Lake
Connecticut Yankee
Sabine and Angelique need to radio Bekka ASAP just who the patients are.
Are Missy and the little boy being used as ''Bait'' by her grandparents, family & tribe?
Are Bekka's & the V's group under the gun right now?
Stay Tuned For The Rest Of The Story, to be released sometime soon...............
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Im just happy I got the twist up before Cohickman popped in with something like "I wonder if this is Missy"
Oh how I wish I had markers for the posts where each section starts…My memory is fuzzy on Missy…
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
P133 #5304
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Oh very consistent - devilishly so some might say......
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Sabine and Angelique need to radio Bekka ASAP just who the patients are.
Agreed
Are Missy and the little boy being used as ''Bait'' by her grandparents, family & tribe?
Possibly
Are Bekka's & the V's group under the gun right now?
Maybe not now but I'm betting sooner than later
Stay Tuned For The Rest Of The Story, to be released sometime soon...............
He has to; he can't torture us more until he moves past this little swamp on top of a cliff!
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Bekka
When it rains, it pours. Veronica and Violet’s group’s arrival could hardly come at a worse time. Well, that’s not true, but it could have been at a better time that’s for sure.
Over a month since Garen and Kara got back to the house and everything was in chaos again. Everything had settled down and we were looking for the new normal. Ha!
Odina called in. Her grandfather Ezekiel had died in his sleep and she was looking to cash her golden ticket before things got too bad around her grandfather’s house. This set off a flurry of activity. We assembled a bunch of people to go back down to Ezekiel’s and bring back the rest of Odina’s stuff plus all the other goodies there we might grab. No reason to leave it for somebody else.
Odina and her kids Kateri and Chayton will be in the house across the road from us and Larrissa. This keeps them close and gets the kids around more kids.
This was a multi-day effort for a lot of people. There were some vehicles and trailers but the biggest focus was on the spare parts and tools. Garen, Paige and Zed were spearheading the efforts there, with most of the rest riding shotgun and protecting the haul as each load was brought back.
It was right in the middle of all of this Veronica’s radio message came in. We looked at who we had and what vehicles we could spare, threw together a half-assed plan and met up with Veronica’s crew.
We didn’t have any issues getting them back to the house. Between Sabine and Garen, they came up with a long term treatment plan for Maerwynn and Anton. For now, they are down with Isadora. She has all the skills and experience in the type of long term sick care these two will need.
Later, Maerwynn and Anton will move in with Odina and her kids. They have the space and it will be a good environment for them.
Once Angelique filled Kara and Zed in on what happened to ‘Missy’ Maerwynn and Anton, they pulled their trip notes and started planning. Whenever I asked them about it, they said they would fill me in when it’s more fleshed out. Meanwhile Zed is doing everything he can to get his leg better and get back on his feet. The folder with their new notes is titled ‘We Made a Promise’. I have a feeling violent times are ahead.
When it rains, it pours. Veronica and Violet’s group’s arrival could hardly come at a worse time. Well, that’s not true, but it could have been at a better time that’s for sure.
Over a month since Garen and Kara got back to the house and everything was in chaos again. Everything had settled down and we were looking for the new normal. Ha!
Odina called in. Her grandfather Ezekiel had died in his sleep and she was looking to cash her golden ticket before things got too bad around her grandfather’s house. This set off a flurry of activity. We assembled a bunch of people to go back down to Ezekiel’s and bring back the rest of Odina’s stuff plus all the other goodies there we might grab. No reason to leave it for somebody else.
Odina and her kids Kateri and Chayton will be in the house across the road from us and Larrissa. This keeps them close and gets the kids around more kids.
This was a multi-day effort for a lot of people. There were some vehicles and trailers but the biggest focus was on the spare parts and tools. Garen, Paige and Zed were spearheading the efforts there, with most of the rest riding shotgun and protecting the haul as each load was brought back.
It was right in the middle of all of this Veronica’s radio message came in. We looked at who we had and what vehicles we could spare, threw together a half-assed plan and met up with Veronica’s crew.
We didn’t have any issues getting them back to the house. Between Sabine and Garen, they came up with a long term treatment plan for Maerwynn and Anton. For now, they are down with Isadora. She has all the skills and experience in the type of long term sick care these two will need.
Later, Maerwynn and Anton will move in with Odina and her kids. They have the space and it will be a good environment for them.
Once Angelique filled Kara and Zed in on what happened to ‘Missy’ Maerwynn and Anton, they pulled their trip notes and started planning. Whenever I asked them about it, they said they would fill me in when it’s more fleshed out. Meanwhile Zed is doing everything he can to get his leg better and get back on his feet. The folder with their new notes is titled ‘We Made a Promise’. I have a feeling violent times are ahead.
HERE ENDS PART FIVE
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Don't fret, Part 6 starts Monday.
Time to start closing the loop and building some structure for some issues with Six as we also look forward to Seven as well.
Feedback on 5? Thoughts as we all reset and reload for Monday?
1-5 1735 pages in Word, 764279 words, and at 300 words per page in a standard novel format, 2548 pages of story so far. There are at least three books to go so far (wife and I added one into the line last week) so we still have more Market Day ahead for quite some time.
Editing on Part 1 is slowly moving forward, but it is a word by word structural restoration. One afternoon we spent three hours on one paragraph.
Thoughts from the readers?
Time to start closing the loop and building some structure for some issues with Six as we also look forward to Seven as well.
Feedback on 5? Thoughts as we all reset and reload for Monday?
1-5 1735 pages in Word, 764279 words, and at 300 words per page in a standard novel format, 2548 pages of story so far. There are at least three books to go so far (wife and I added one into the line last week) so we still have more Market Day ahead for quite some time.
Editing on Part 1 is slowly moving forward, but it is a word by word structural restoration. One afternoon we spent three hours on one paragraph.
Thoughts from the readers?
Dannab1
Contributing Member
With that much story in your head how do you sleep???? Love that you and your wife are doing this together!!
Story just keeps getting better. Love the twists and turns. Will be interesting to see how all these big personalities figure out how to work together. Can't wait!!
Story just keeps getting better. Love the twists and turns. Will be interesting to see how all these big personalities figure out how to work together. Can't wait!!
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Precisely my plan but thanks for confirming, particularly considering how my back feels from being jerked up short like that .......
Sportsman
Veteran Member
We didn’t have any issues getting them back to the house.
Did he really say that? In this book? I can't believe it.
My only constructive criticism on Part 5 would be to add some small "flashback" paragraphs when something refers to older text we've stored in long term memory(or not). Something like with Missy. A sentence or two of introspective thought where the author reminds us who she was. Might not be important when it's all read as a single book, but for us early-adopters with old-age memory that take it a page or few at a time, it'd be a nice addition.
Very nice job. Please start publishing for real as soon as you have volume one complete. With all this effort, it's time for you to make some money on this project AND give us a paper/kindle version all in one piece.
Thank you for bringing us on this journey. Looking forward to Monday, and wondering how much of my calendar should I clear out?
Did he really say that? In this book? I can't believe it.
My only constructive criticism on Part 5 would be to add some small "flashback" paragraphs when something refers to older text we've stored in long term memory(or not). Something like with Missy. A sentence or two of introspective thought where the author reminds us who she was. Might not be important when it's all read as a single book, but for us early-adopters with old-age memory that take it a page or few at a time, it'd be a nice addition.
Very nice job. Please start publishing for real as soon as you have volume one complete. With all this effort, it's time for you to make some money on this project AND give us a paper/kindle version all in one piece.
Thank you for bringing us on this journey. Looking forward to Monday, and wondering how much of my calendar should I clear out?
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
We didn’t have any issues getting them back to the house.
Did he really say that? In this book? I can't believe it.
My only constructive criticism on Part 5 would be to add some small "flashback" paragraphs when something refers to older text we've stored in long term memory(or not). Something like with Missy. A sentence or two of introspective thought where the author reminds us who she was. Might not be important when it's all read as a single book, but for us early-adopters with old-age memory that take it a page or few at a time, it'd be a nice addition.
Very nice job. Please start publishing for real as soon as you have volume one complete. With all this effort, it's time for you to make some money on this project AND give us a paper/kindle version all in one piece.
Thank you for bringing us on this journey. Looking forward to Monday, and wondering how much of my calendar should I clear out?
The 'Missy" reference is the tag to drive others back into the earlier books, as is the 'Odina' reference. The introspective reachback paragraphs are coming, but these name drops were the Cliffish teasers
The goal is each part will be published as a separate book.
As Griz has pointed out, we are long past trilogy and into anthology range. Six starts Monday and seven and eight are in the Q. If enough story and interest shows up, it may get rounded up to an even ten before we are done.
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
All y'all pay attention: we have a verbal contract for eight (8) integrated units with a rider to possibly expand to ten (10).
Something to look forward to.
I feel way better now.....
I just caught up reading from page 133. Thank you so much for this story. I can’t wait to read the next 5+ books.
Sportsman
Veteran Member
Griz, do you still have that handy-dandy reference index to what post/page these start on? I admit to being lazy.All y'all pay attention: we have a verbal contract for eight (8) integrated units with a rider to possibly expand to ten (10).
Something to look forward to.
I feel way better now.....
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
For all the admittedly Lazy amongst us (please note: I'm never shy about asking for a link or reference point)
Enjoy:
START PART 4 Market Day | Page 98 | Timebomb 2000
START Part 3 Market Day | Page 59 | Timebomb 2000
START Part 2 Market Day | Page 36 | Timebomb 2000
END Part I Market Day | Page 35 | Timebomb 2000
Market Day | Paige Wedding Page 151
Start Part 5, Market Day | Page 141
If each Part is a separate book, a little bit of 6 needs to be reinserted in the 5 we just finished. From the longer plan we can end this chapter with a happy midpoint. The story arc of chapter 5 needs more than a wrap up and done. Either punching through a road block or hurrying back because the main base is under attack would end my version of part 5 a little better.
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Well, I understand the desire for the classic final fight at the end of the book concept but that is cliche as well. . it would have to fit and drive the story.
the concept was the surprise reveal of Missy and the set up for the follow on.
more fights are coming, rest assured
Griz3752
Retired, practising Curmudgeon
Never a doubt in my mind
All things in good time....
Monday draws nigh: do you feel the anticipation people?
ComCamGuy
Remote Paramedical pain in the ass
Market Day
Part 6
10 Apr 2022
The earthquake surprised everyone in the country. The effects of it and the tidal wave shocked the world. The scope and scale weren’t quite apparent right away. It took time for the shear totality of the devastation and the cascade failures resulting from them to surface. People not within the initial impact zone mostly went on with their lives as best as they could, until the ripples started reaching them.
Ivar was sitting at his boss’s desk when it hit. He was filling in as the temporary commander of the little Special Operation Detachment here at the Marine Mountain Warfare Center. It was near the end of the week and his boss, and a bunch of the others were down in San Diego at a big conference.
Ivar was doublechecking the details for the class starting next week when his longtime friend, the Sergeant Major for the Detachment came in.
“Did you see the news?”
“What news?” Ivar looked up from his notes. He knew from Silas’ tone it must be big. The last time he saw his face like this, they were on a plane to Afghanistan a couple hours later.
“They just had a massive earthquake in Southern California.” Silas said as he dropped into one of the chairs.
“Massive? How massive?” Silas had Ivar’s full attention now.
“The news reports that made it out say 9 plus. That’s not the worst of it.”
“A nine plus in Southern California and that’s not the worst? What’s the rest?”
“The tail of the news reports before they got cut off said something about a tidal wave, then the feeds died.”
Ivar was silent. Silas’s words hung in the air. Finally.
“How big?” Ivar’s voice cracked.
“Fragmented reports and images say well over a hundred feet.” Now Silas’s voice was the one that cracked. He already had some time to think on the implications before he came to tell Ivar.
“Then, they are gone. They were still in conference and if the wall of water was that big, it probably didn’t even break until it was across the island and at the shore.”
“Yeah, and a nine would scramble everything before the water hit. Bridges, buildings, everything. So, now what do we do, boss?”
Ivar let out a sigh.
“Get the usual gang together. We need a solid one hundred percent accounting of everyone’s whereabouts Then NCOICs and section heads in the conference room in thirty minutes. Better call Amber and tell her you will be late coming home.”
Silas stood up. He had things to do.
“OK, boss. I’ll get things moving. I doubt we will have classes on Monday though.”
“It’s not our classes that worry me. Our guys will be fine. What about the rest of the schoolhouse? Michael is in charge right now and I don’t know if he even knows. I’ll call over and let him know and see what he needs.”
Silas knew this wasn’t a good idea.
“He’s a backstabbing ladder climber. You have more rank, and a clue. He should be calling you.”
Ivar shook his head. “You are right in all these things, but he is in charge of the base. We are a tenant unit. And for all the same reasons you named, he won’t call or ask. I worry about his people. I have to try.”
“You’re right, but he won’t take it well.”
“I know. Now get out of here and get things moving. Don’t forget to call Amber.”
“Right boss. Better call Sofia as well, probably before you call Michael.” Silas said as he went towards the door.
“Yeah.”
Ivar picked up the phone. It was going to be a busy day.
Ivar’s House
The ringing phone pulled her away from the TV.
“What’s up honey? Did you see this?” Sofia asked her husband.
“Just heard about it. That’s what I’m calling about. I’m going to be working late.”
“You need me to bring you guys some dinner?”
“That sounds great but don’t go to a lot of trouble. We might not get a chance to eat it.”
“You guys can plan to take over the world and eat at the same time. No fuel for the brain, you don’t think well. I’ll throw something together you two can nuke when you get ten minutes.” Sofia countered. Then she had another thought. “Did Silas call Amber?”
“I reminded him. Now whether he did it or not…I will remind him again.” Ivar said. God love his wife. All practical at the drop of a hat. Becky was like that too. Damn. Becky. Becky went down to the conference with Al. They were taking advantage of the conference to take a mini vacation. They are probably both dead now.
“What did you say Honey?”
“I said I’m going to have to run the shop till they get us a new commander. Al and Becky were down in San Diego at the conference.”
“Damn!” Sofia hadn’t even thought that far. Al and Becky! She had gone to enough funerals over the years. More than a few with Al and Becky.
“I better go. With San Diego hammered, there’s going to be a lot of crap happening…” Ivar started but Sofia cut him off.
“It’s more than San Diego.”
“What do you mean it’s more than San Diego?”
“It’s the whole coast! San Diego, LA, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle. The quakes went all the way up. The whole row of fault lines went! They are saying eyewitnesses say the tidal wave was two hundred feet or more. Everything was knocked down and washed away!”
The phone was silent. Ivar had a hard time absorbing what she just said.
“The whole coast?”
“Baja to Vancouver. What are we going to do, Honey? What’s going to happen?”
Ivar thought. What were they going to do? He knew. The same thing they always did.
“We are going to take care of our troops. See to our people and do the right thing to the best we can.”
“How many in your meeting?” Sofia switched the topic.
“Probably ten of us at the most.” Ivar estimated.
“Get to your meeting. Fried chicken and grape Fanta in an hour.”
“I’ll tell Silas otherwise he will try to buy dinner from the vending machines.” Ivar paused before he continued. “I love you. You’re too good to me, and Silas too.”
“I know. Amber and I have our hands full taking care of you guys. She gets the mental and I get the bodies.”
“What we ever do without you guys.”
“Go hungry and crazy.” Sofia quipped.
“Yup.”
“See you in an hour.”
Part 6
10 Apr 2022
The earthquake surprised everyone in the country. The effects of it and the tidal wave shocked the world. The scope and scale weren’t quite apparent right away. It took time for the shear totality of the devastation and the cascade failures resulting from them to surface. People not within the initial impact zone mostly went on with their lives as best as they could, until the ripples started reaching them.
Ivar was sitting at his boss’s desk when it hit. He was filling in as the temporary commander of the little Special Operation Detachment here at the Marine Mountain Warfare Center. It was near the end of the week and his boss, and a bunch of the others were down in San Diego at a big conference.
Ivar was doublechecking the details for the class starting next week when his longtime friend, the Sergeant Major for the Detachment came in.
“Did you see the news?”
“What news?” Ivar looked up from his notes. He knew from Silas’ tone it must be big. The last time he saw his face like this, they were on a plane to Afghanistan a couple hours later.
“They just had a massive earthquake in Southern California.” Silas said as he dropped into one of the chairs.
“Massive? How massive?” Silas had Ivar’s full attention now.
“The news reports that made it out say 9 plus. That’s not the worst of it.”
“A nine plus in Southern California and that’s not the worst? What’s the rest?”
“The tail of the news reports before they got cut off said something about a tidal wave, then the feeds died.”
Ivar was silent. Silas’s words hung in the air. Finally.
“How big?” Ivar’s voice cracked.
“Fragmented reports and images say well over a hundred feet.” Now Silas’s voice was the one that cracked. He already had some time to think on the implications before he came to tell Ivar.
“Then, they are gone. They were still in conference and if the wall of water was that big, it probably didn’t even break until it was across the island and at the shore.”
“Yeah, and a nine would scramble everything before the water hit. Bridges, buildings, everything. So, now what do we do, boss?”
Ivar let out a sigh.
“Get the usual gang together. We need a solid one hundred percent accounting of everyone’s whereabouts Then NCOICs and section heads in the conference room in thirty minutes. Better call Amber and tell her you will be late coming home.”
Silas stood up. He had things to do.
“OK, boss. I’ll get things moving. I doubt we will have classes on Monday though.”
“It’s not our classes that worry me. Our guys will be fine. What about the rest of the schoolhouse? Michael is in charge right now and I don’t know if he even knows. I’ll call over and let him know and see what he needs.”
Silas knew this wasn’t a good idea.
“He’s a backstabbing ladder climber. You have more rank, and a clue. He should be calling you.”
Ivar shook his head. “You are right in all these things, but he is in charge of the base. We are a tenant unit. And for all the same reasons you named, he won’t call or ask. I worry about his people. I have to try.”
“You’re right, but he won’t take it well.”
“I know. Now get out of here and get things moving. Don’t forget to call Amber.”
“Right boss. Better call Sofia as well, probably before you call Michael.” Silas said as he went towards the door.
“Yeah.”
Ivar picked up the phone. It was going to be a busy day.
Ivar’s House
The ringing phone pulled her away from the TV.
“What’s up honey? Did you see this?” Sofia asked her husband.
“Just heard about it. That’s what I’m calling about. I’m going to be working late.”
“You need me to bring you guys some dinner?”
“That sounds great but don’t go to a lot of trouble. We might not get a chance to eat it.”
“You guys can plan to take over the world and eat at the same time. No fuel for the brain, you don’t think well. I’ll throw something together you two can nuke when you get ten minutes.” Sofia countered. Then she had another thought. “Did Silas call Amber?”
“I reminded him. Now whether he did it or not…I will remind him again.” Ivar said. God love his wife. All practical at the drop of a hat. Becky was like that too. Damn. Becky. Becky went down to the conference with Al. They were taking advantage of the conference to take a mini vacation. They are probably both dead now.
“What did you say Honey?”
“I said I’m going to have to run the shop till they get us a new commander. Al and Becky were down in San Diego at the conference.”
“Damn!” Sofia hadn’t even thought that far. Al and Becky! She had gone to enough funerals over the years. More than a few with Al and Becky.
“I better go. With San Diego hammered, there’s going to be a lot of crap happening…” Ivar started but Sofia cut him off.
“It’s more than San Diego.”
“What do you mean it’s more than San Diego?”
“It’s the whole coast! San Diego, LA, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle. The quakes went all the way up. The whole row of fault lines went! They are saying eyewitnesses say the tidal wave was two hundred feet or more. Everything was knocked down and washed away!”
The phone was silent. Ivar had a hard time absorbing what she just said.
“The whole coast?”
“Baja to Vancouver. What are we going to do, Honey? What’s going to happen?”
Ivar thought. What were they going to do? He knew. The same thing they always did.
“We are going to take care of our troops. See to our people and do the right thing to the best we can.”
“How many in your meeting?” Sofia switched the topic.
“Probably ten of us at the most.” Ivar estimated.
“Get to your meeting. Fried chicken and grape Fanta in an hour.”
“I’ll tell Silas otherwise he will try to buy dinner from the vending machines.” Ivar paused before he continued. “I love you. You’re too good to me, and Silas too.”
“I know. Amber and I have our hands full taking care of you guys. She gets the mental and I get the bodies.”
“What we ever do without you guys.”
“Go hungry and crazy.” Sofia quipped.
“Yup.”
“See you in an hour.”
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