Chapter 3
"Wonder Star looking good. Closure rate is 3 feet per minute, estimate 4 minutes until docking with Space Station, how copy?" Said a female voice from the radio.
"I copy 4 minutes to docking with station." Steve repeated dutifully.
"Still looking good. Closure rate constant and 3 minutes to docking." Said the voice.
"Two minutes to docking. Safe all thrusters and engines. No further use will be required. Safe all military ordnance. No side arms or weapons are allowed on the station itself, and may I be the first to welcome you back from your mission. One minute to docking, in the grove."
"Contact in 10 seconds... 5 seconds and 4... 3... 2... 1... contact! Status board shows good seal. Locking clamps activated. We show pressure at normal our side. Open hatch your side when ready."
"Roger station, copy ready to open hatch. My board shows green and will open hatch and debark Wonder Star shortly. Wonder Star out."
Steve shut down most systems, and set status to standby on others. The Station was now providing power to the ship via it's huge solar collectors. Power flow to the ship was nominal.
"Okay, we have good contact with the station and are docked. We can go onboard anytime we want." Steve told Bob and Jessica as he exited the flight deck.
Steve pushed on a portion of the ceiling of the craft, and a little door popped open.
He looked the readouts over quickly, and pushed the 'Okay to exit' button. With a sound of air escaping a section of the ceiling detached and slide back revealing a short two foot crawl space ending in the stations exterior docking airlock. He reached up, pulled a handle and turned. It opened slowing inward, and Steve could see a face peering at him from the other side of the now open airlock. It grinned at him, and extended a hand. Steve grabbed his niece and told her to keep her arms and legs together and shoved her towards the waiting hands. She floated the short distance to the waiting hands and was pulled through.
Steve gestured for Bob to go next. With a grin and a salute, Bob pulled himself up and disappeared into the little tunnel. Taking a last look around to make sure he had done everything needed to shut down the ship with the exception of needed computer systems, Steve finally left the ship behind.
There was a hectic round of hugs and handshaking going on for several minutes.
Finally everyone settled down and everyone was being introduced to the new comers.
"As nominal head of the station, I would like to thank you and your crew for what you accomplished by saving the earth. Oh it's hurt. But it can recover from what has happened to it thus far. If that huge chunk of rock had impacted the earth, nothing would have survived it. Your efforts have ensured that life will go on, and we will have something to return to when the weather clears.
"We watched through a live feed from the Hubble as you destroyed that monster. We watched you launch at the others. Sir, you did well, and if you hadn't had to use two rockets at that monster, we think you would have gotten them all. Only three of 6 got through, and one of those was actually one target that was greatly destroyed and calved into two separate rocks. As it was, you greatly reduced it from it's previous size."
While a party atmosphere existed on the International Space Station, the earth was being struck by hundreds of thousands of lighting bolts, generated by a total earth covered storm. Tornado's swept back and forth through the United States Midwest, not unusual in itself, except for the incredible number of them. Over 500 tornados were tearing up homes, cities, and the countryside.
At sea, the Atlantic spawned an unbelievable number of Hurricanes. The pacific had over 30 Typhoons going at the same time. What was unusual were the tornados that were going through France, Germany, and Italy. The entire weather engine of the Earth was disrupted due to the impacts.
The Atlantic Ocean was having earthquakes due to the birthing process of the new volcano that was still rising from the depths. Tons of water were still being converted to steam, but the land still rising was almost at the surface now. Finally, with a great groan, the newly formed volcano thrust up above the oceans surface.
Hot rock and ash were thrown into the sky, only to be driven back down by the torrential rains that had been caused by this Atlantic Meteor strike to begin with. Still the earth rose, and water receded from a newly forming land mass.
Now the volcano was not exploding from hundreds of tons of water pressing on it.
Water was still being converted to steam, but at a substantially less prodigious rate.
Already the volcano reached a height of 800 feet above sea level. A new land mass was forming in the Atlantic ocean, that had never existed there before.
The earth surrounding the volcano slowed and finally stopped shaking with quakes. Tremors still happened frequently, but the serious jarring quakes were gone. Slowly, the glow in the crater dimmed, Finally going dark. Rain poured down from above, cooling the newly formed dome of the new volcano. Lower down on the slopes of the new volcano, vents still gave off steam, but they too were sealing.
In China, the tons of dirt that had been thrown into the air with the last strike from the asteroid, was washed out of the sky by the rain. Winds howled and gusted from 60 to 200 miles per hour.
The soldiers that had been gathered at the Russia, China border were mostly dead by now. Most incinerated from the thermal nuclear artillery shells that had been thrown their way.
On the North and South Korean border much the same had happened. South Korea had pulled most of it's soldiers south, and the American General in charge had lobbed 7. 4 Kiloton Nuclear tipped artillery shells at the massed troops. This caused the demilitarized zone to become deadly radioactive zone. North Korea was stopped in it's tracks at that point. In a gesture of spite, North Korea fired one of it's long range Nuclear missiles at Seoul South Korea and it took out most of the northern section of that city. A cease fire was then in effect after that. Winner, none.
Over 100,000,000 people were already dead in the US. This was a huge portion of the United States, and it was going to get worse. Creeks had long since overflowed their banks. Rivers were starting to reach flood levels.
Greg decided he could not afford to wait any longer. He had over 600 miles to drive to get home to safety, and he had lives depending on him. He had studied his maps, and chose to go down highway 3 to Interstate 90. The bridges on 90 were all well above flood level as were the interstates themselves. A couple places were going to be dicey, but he was confident they could do it. If there was one thing Montana did well, it was make strong bridges. Run off and flooding from the mountains were common and Montana had learned to deal with that.
So four days after the impacts, Greg gathered his people and had them go over every vehicle that was parked in warehouse 80 one more time. He had two people in the Deuce and a half, and two in the truck hauling the remaining supplies and material. Two people were to go with the 1000 gallon fuel truck.
Three people in each of the three Hum V's. All weapons were loaded and the selector switch set to safe. All with the exception of two 45 cal. Side arms were in the racks in the vehicles.
"Alright ladies and gentlemen, it's time to do this. We can't afford to wait any longer. Although the sever winds have let up, the rains are still pouring down at an incredibly prodigious rate. I will take the lead and the rest of the convoy is as follows:
"Sgt. Thompson, you're behind me. Then comes the Sfc. Ballerton with his Deuce.
After the Deuce comes the supply truck, followed by the Fuel truck. Lt. Preston will follow as the rear vehicle. Convoy freq. Will be at 20.05, and call signs are you bumper numbers.
"There will be two fueling stops this trip. MREs (meals ready to eat) are already distributed. One case per vehicle. Eat as much as you want. We switch drivers every four hours. We will try to keep going until we reach our destination. In case of an attack, first priority will be to defend the fuel truck. If no attack has happened by the time of the second fueling, then priority of defense is the ammunition and supply trucks.
"All persons have been issued NODS, (night observations devices) and everyone will be as alert as possible. We are in a state of emergency, and law is breaking down.
The president has declared Marshal Law and only official vehicles should be on the roads at all. This means we will be checked at various points throughout the route we will take.
"There should be no problems with any of the law enforcement agencies. This is a serious situation people. If you have to shoot, shoot to kill. Anyone attacking a government convoy is breaking the law, and don't expect them to treat you gently.
Shoot to kill, but shoot and move. Your task is to get through and disengage as quickly as possible. To do that, you will have to be better than whoever is attacking you. I have faith in your abilities. Any questions?" Greg asked, looking to each soldier.
"Alright, mount up and lets do this." Greg said.
Waving to his driver, Greg opened the huge door, and the vehicles slowly rolled out into the rain and pulled over to allow Greg's Hum V to take roll out. Shuttling the door behind him, Greg quickly entered the front passenger seat and donned his nods.
Everyone had switched to Black out drive, since headlights in this driving downpour was not a good idea. The light would have been reflected back at them. With the black out drive lights lit, and wearing the NODS, everyone was able to see much more clearly what was ahead of them and to the sides easily.
Slowly they made there way to the main gate where they were stopped by the MP's.
(Military Police.) Greg got out and went into the small building that housed the MP's on duty.
Greg showed his dispatches for all the vehicles. As they went over them, a vehicle approached from the outside gaining entry. Greg watched with a sinking feeling in his stomach, as the car was none other than the base commanders POV. (Privately owned vehicle.) He watched as the car pulled over, and Brigadier general Elisabeth Weber walked into the building, bringing her face to face with Greg.
"What's going on here Major?" She asked, looking straight at Greg.
"Ma'am? I am taking a convoy to a specific safe place." He responded.
"Do you have an office the Major and I can use for a few minutes Sgt." The general asked the ranking MP.
"Yes ma'am. You can use the ready room, its empty now." Replied leading the Sgt, leading them to it.
"Alright. Thank you. I will let you know when we are done here." She pointedly looked at the MP. Nodding, he left them alone, closing the door behind him.
"Greg, what do you think your doing? You know I could have you shot for this?" The General said quietly.
"Yes ma'am. I take full responsibility. My people out there think I am doing this with orders, and are not to blame." Greg said, cringing inwardly, but remaining calm.
"Tell me about it. Don't leave a thing out." General Weber said quietly.
So Greg told her his thoughts, outlined the current situation, and his solution for surviving the disaster. He outlined his travel plans, the route he was going to take, and the equipment he had requisitioned. He told her of his and his brothers Lodge in the mountains, and its capabilities.
"Ma'am, I don't know if you know this, but the basements are starting to flood here.
That means the storm drain system has reached capacity. This base will flood to at least 2 feet, probably more. I think another day will see the waters starting to rise here." Greg finished.
General Weber tapped a pencil against her teeth and though. She thought furiously.
True, this base could survive normal rains, but it could not survive a continual torrent, and that was what was expected for the foreseeable future. Not if what he was saying were true.
"Alright, I will sign off on your trip, with one exception. You will take my daughter and granddaughter with you. That's the price for my cooperation. Take it or leave it." Gen. Weber said, crossing her arms over her chest.
"It's a deal ma'am!" Greg said explosively. "Where do you want me to pick them up at?"
"You don't. They are out in my car, I had just gotten them from their house. Your right, it's not safe here. I knew that, and thought... well, I was hoping something would present itself, and if I had to evacuate this base, I wanted my family with me. Take them Major, and keep them safe for me." She said with tears in her eyes.
Twenty minutes later saw Greg and his convoy leaving the base. They went the 4 miles to highway 3 and turned south, headed towards Billings. Driving winds and rain kept the speed down to between 40 and 45 miles and hour.
Finally arriving in Billing, they followed the signs saying to I-90. They were stopped once at a police check point, but after a quick look, they were waved on. A short drive took them to the on ramp for Interstate 90 and that was the road they would be on for most of the trip. Sighing, Greg relaxed a bit.
He removed his NODS and turned to look at his passenger, or towards her anyway. He could not make out much in the dark interior of the hum V. He had chosen to place the generals daughter in his vehicle and the granddaughter with Lt. Preston.
"Ma'am? I am afraid I didn't catch your name in the rush to get you, your bags and your child transferred to the convoy. My name is Greg, Greg Baron, by the way."
"Yes, I know. I have read your stories. I particularly liked, Color blind killer. My name is Rachael Laker. My daughter is Tracy Laker. My husband is or was in New York on business when this happened. He never came home." She finished with a catch in her voice.
"I'm sorry ma'am. I had friends in New York, but can't imagine losing a loved one like that." Greg said sincerely.
"Please call me Rachael. I will call you Greg, if that's alright."
"That's fine, Rachael. We are going to get to know one another pretty well on the drive, but particularly when we get to our destination." Greg said.
"Can you tell me a little about this place we're going to? I am afraid I didn't get to much information on it. Mom just said it would be a safe place in the mountains."
So Greg talked for a long time about his home in the Bitter Root Mountains and how he and his brother had made it as self sufficient as possible. Rachael listened, totally taken in by Greg's voice and story telling ability, and that's what he was doing, spinning a story of his home for her.
Sooner than expected, he received a call on his radio reminding him that the first refueling point was coming up. He blinked in surprise. He glanced over at the instrument panel and then his watch. He had been talking for almost 3 hours. The gage read a little under half a tank. He acknowledged and told them he would look for a good refueling point. Putting his NODS back on, he soon spotted a picnic area which would serve.
He and several of the men dismounted the vehicles and did a quick reconnoiter of the area. Nothing and no one was there. He guided the fuel truck to the best spot he could find, and refueling commenced. Persons that needed to went to find places to answer the call to nature. MREs were opened and eaten since they had the chance.
Everyone got out of the vehicles and stretched their legs, despite
the rain. It had been a long three hours. They had been able to make
better time once they hit the interstate, but they had only been
tr
aveling at about 50 miles an hours. They were taking longer
than he
had expected, but then, conditions were not what he had ever
experienced.