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Athens (Chapters 6-7)
Posted By: QuickTactical<quicktactical@hotmail.com>
Date: 19 April 2008, 6:53 am
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Part Two
Chapter 6
3.5.2525, 11:50 (Athens Time)
30 Miles South of Spiritfield
Mike looked up just in time to hit the brakes and turn the wheel. The Warthog's tires screeched in protest as he moved left around a stopped trailer truck. The truck's driver in front for protection, and turned and waved his fist as Mike disappeared down the four-lane highway.
Mike grimaced at the nearly fatal error, but then his mouth formed a grin and he laughed at himself. He had been looking down the computer screen of the Warthog, trying to find out how many more miles it was to his destination. He looked down again, after making sure no one else was on the long stretch of road, and learned he had about ten miles to go.
Even with 100,000 people living on the planet, Athens was still mostly barren farmland. The larger continent, Pertrene, was two million square miles, and it had been calculated that only half of that was needed to support the nearby systems and Athens' own population. To save on costs, only the north half of the continent had been "fertilized" with nutrients suitable for growing human food. The southern region was still covered by that typical grass.
Not that it looked much different here, Mike thought. The northern part of the continent was dominantly farmland, planted with billions of crops. Several major highways crisscrossed the northern region, forming immense fields. These were tended by automated JOTUN farming machines, which tilled, planted, maintained, and harvested the crops. All the human farmers had to do was repair the machines occasionally when they needed maintenance. Life was very simple on Athens everywhere. Even in Avoria, Athens' capital on the northern coast of 70,000 people, there was little to do except run small businesses or work in the tourist industry. The entire beach along the northern coast was a sandy stretch that attracted thousands of tourists every year. Many visiting people had called the planet "Paradise".
His thoughts drifted to Sarah, his lovely wife, leaving in a beach house along the coast. She would be taking care of John now, their one-year-old son. Mike wondered if-
"All UNSC units, this is Athens command. We have an emergency that takes top priority over all other assignments. Report immediately to Spiritfield. Medevac is needed. Out."
Mike cursed; he had been waiting for this chance to get away for so long. What could possibly be so important to interrupt all UNSC personal on the planet?
Medevac. That couldn't be good. He sighed, slowed down, and put the big vehicle into a U-turn, heading north again. He waved at the truck driver on his way to Spiritfield.
Chapter 7
3.5.2525, 12:20 (Athens Time)
Spiritfield
He had driven through here only an hour before, but everything had changed. As he approached the small farming town of Spiritfield, a place of 5,000 residents in the middle of Athens' crop fields, he couldn't believer his eyes. Blacked chunks of metal, some still burning, littered the fields and the roadway, which became increasingly clogged with civilian emergency vehicles. He began to understand the gravity of the situation when he finally reached the middle of town.
The bulk of a large cargo ship was sitting on what remained of downtown Spiritfield. It was severely damaged; huge, gaping holes in the hull were pocketed all over the ship and smoked poured into the blue, midday sky from unseen fires.
Mike had a dozen questions form in his mind, but he put that aside and did what his training told him. Stay calm, find out the situation, and do what he can to help.
He made his way through a haphazard of vehicles scattered on the wide roadway, and parked next to the burnt outline of a general store. He jumped out, grabbed his kit, and walked toward where the center of activity seemed to be.
Dozens of homes were smashed into dust and splinters. Fires raged everywhere. The sirens of emergency vehicles blared. The smoke of the fires suddenly shifted, blocking out the sun, and the town was bathed in half-darkness. Mike reached in his pack to grab his flashlight, and he lost his bearings. He walked past a medical station, and stared at the victims. Most were burned all over their bodies, and many had been injured by falling debris. He turned away when he saw one man had nothing but a blackened stump for a leg.
He was closer to the wreckage now, and he saw that firefighters were attempting the douse the wild flames that were spreading from the center of the crash. Hundreds of people were running around him. People screaming, crying, shouting orders. The town's small security force had become overwhelmed by the situation, and Mike heard a police sergeant order an officer to call for backup from Pertrene.
A medical officer from the town's small hospital ran by him; Mike grabbed his arm.
"What the hell is going on here?"
The man shoved Michael's hand away. "That ship crashed from orbit and we've got hundreds of injured here. Are you going to help or just stand there?"
Mike looked at the wreckage again. The freighter was about 500 feet long and 50 feet high. The ship was actually a giant cargo container attached to a propulsion unit. Those kinds of setups were usually automated, so there shouldn't have been anyone on board.
"How could anyone survive inside those houses?"
The medic grimaced. "There aren't any survivors on the ground. There were people inside."
Mike stared at the man, too stunned to speak. Why would there be people in a cargo ship?
"You got a ride?", the medic asked.
Mike didn't say anything for a minute, contemplating the situation. How many had been inside?
"Oh, yeah", he finally said, turning and pointing in the general direction of his Warthog. "I heard the call for medevac."
The medic said, "Follow me", and started walking. Mike hesitated a moment and then went after him, back to the medical station.
They went to a row of stretchers and the medic turned around. It was then Michael noticed the named printed on the man's uniform; Henderson.
"Josh and Vic will help you load up some people", Henderson said, pointing at two of the orderlies who walked up.
Mike was silent. He looked at the stretchers; these people were the most critically injured. He felt like he was at the front lines of a real war.
"Isn't there an air evac?" he asked, almost meekly.
"Pelicans are an hour away. You can get to Pertrene in 90 minutes with the 'Hog. Get moving."
Henderson moved on, and Josh and Vic looked at Mike.
"Where's your vehicle?", Josh asked.
Mike pointed at his Warthog down the street.
"That's too far to carry these people. Drive it up here."
Mike nodded and sprinted down to his Warthog. People were swarming the streets, so he drove carefully through the crowd until he reached the medic station.
He jumped out and helped load the injured into the rear. One went on the floor in the back, one went on the bench seat, and two were laid behind the backseat. All of them were close to dying, and none of them moved. They were covered in blankets and had oxygen masks over their mouths.
Only Vic came, jumping in the front passenger seat. "I'll keep an eye on them. You drive. We have to get to Pertrene, it's the only place with a hospital good enough for these people."
"I'm Mick Hawkins, by the way", Mike said as he continued north.
"Vic Burwell", the medic replied. "Are you a civilian?"
Mike smiled at the question. "Yeah, technically. I was actually one of the people who first arrived at the planet".
Vic nodded, impressed. Most terraformers left for home after the planet was inhabited by a large population, their work done. For one to stay meant he was dedicated to the well being of the planet.
After taking several detours around the wreckage, they were clear of town. Even then, the highway was still crowded with vehicles; ambulances and Warthogs were going in either direction to help evacuate the people who had been injured. Mike settled the 'Hog in at 80 miles an hour, even with what now seemed like a large convoy headed north.
Vic and Mike were silent for a few minutes as the Warthog picked up speed along the road, now six lanes. Mike eased the 'Hog over one hundred miles an hour, passing slower traffic, and keeping a steady hand on the wheel. Crashing now would kill everyone in the vehicle.
"So why were people inside that ship?", he asked.
"We don't know. All of them appear to be civilians."
"We?", Mike asked.
"Well, the officials in Spiritfield. The amount of people injured was too much so we had to call for help".
"It probably didn't just fall from orbit since it wasn't vaporized on impact", Mike said.
Vic considered this for a moment. "Yeah, it seemed like more of a controlled crash", he replied.
"Wait, you saw this thing come down?", Mike asked.
"Yeah", Vic replied, thinking. "It made a huge noise when it broke below the sound barrier a few miles up. I was at work in the clinic and went outside with everyone else when the building shook. We thought it was an earthquake."
"The town alarm went up about a minute later. We mobilized our response vehicles, thinking it was going to land in the fields…"
Vic's eyes suddenly swelled up, tears running down his cheeks. "But, it crashed right in the damn middle of town. Destroyed everything within a block. That's where", he said, "It's where my family is. Where they were". He broke down, sobbing into his hands. Mike was surprised by this, somewhat embarrassed but also struck by the tragedy.
Vic jerked up suddenly.
"God Damnit!" he, banging his fist hard against the dashboard. "I should have gone home! Got them away!"
Mike couldn't do anything but keep his eyes on the road. But he was thinking about calming him down, getting him to think about what was important.
"Jesus, man. Vic. I'm", he hesitated, searching for the right words. "I can't understand what you're going through. I have a wife and kid too, where we're going. I don't know what I'd do without them."
Vic looked up, frowning. Mike continued.
"But listen man, you can't think about them now. These people we have here, all that matters now is saving them. They have a chance if you focus. Got it?"
"Yeah", he sniffed. "I got it. I'm good". He breathed in deep.
"Alright, great", Mike said, relieved he had him back in order.
Things were silent between them for a few minutes. Vic seemed to have gained back his confidence, and Mike felt he had gained a new friend. But he was still utterly confused by the situation, and where the freighter had come from.
Why were there people in it?
Michael became more aware of the four injured people in the rear of the vehicle. He almost felt that he could sense their pain, their nearness to death. He would not let it over take them. So he motioned to Vic, who looked at him questioningly.
"You better check on them. We've got a way to go".
Vic nodded, carefully turned around, and got to work.
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