and shower facility. Just before that were the holding cells.
He was led to his desk and asked to sit down. “Please place your right thumb in here,” Lucas said extending a portable electronic device. When he did, there was a wave of green light that moved across the screen followed by a sound indicating it was finished.
Lucas looked at the small screen, pressed a few keys, then turned the device and held it directly in front of Keith’s left eye, “Hold still, please. And try to keep your eye open and focused on the red light.” Keith did so until the small machine made the same noise it did while tracing his thumb. While he waited, he watched his father’s assistant go through what seemed to him to be a rather complicated process. When he was finished typing on the keypad, he slid a plastic card through an electronic reader on that same device, then he handed the card to Keith.
“This is your identification card. It is an ‘anytime anyplace’ access card. At some stations, you will also need your thumbprint to gain access. You also have access to the facilities SCI or Sensitive Compartmented Information areas. You will need a retina scan to gain access to them. Those are the three levels of security we have here” He placed the machine back into the briefcase. “I’ll come back tomorrow to issue the remainder of the identification cards, and thumb scans. You will need to select five men to function as your shift supervisors who will need all of the same clearances except for the SCI. There are the folders containing the records of those who seemed best qualified for those positions,” Lucas said pointing to the stack on his desk. “Those are the rest,” he said pointing to the piles on another table. “Of course you can choose anyone you want, but I would suggest you don’t take too long because you will need help putting together a roster, assignments, and schedules right away.”
“Sounds like I’m not going to be getting much sleep anytime soon,” Keith said in a friendly manner.
“Probably not; but then again, having your days filled isn’t such a bad thing,” Lucas offered.
When they walked out of the newly designated Security Force offices, indicated by a sign above the door, they went across the corridor to a locked door requiring a thumb scan for entrance. He had Keith open it to ensure his clearance was in fact activated. When they were inside, Keith saw it was an equipment room filled with a variety of tactical supplies, everything except firearms and ammunition. “This is your equipment room. You will also need to control who gets access beyond your supervisors. I recommend you limit that.” Keith nodded in understanding. They went back out into the corridor and secured the vault like door behind them. Keith was led into an auditorium filled with men talking to each other.
“They’re all yours Chief,” Lucas said signifying what title he would be recognized by, “I’ll see you tomorrow to finish issuing the ID cards and clearances.”
“Thank you,” Keith said as Lucas walked out of the room.
He turned toward the men seated in the now quiet auditorium. He never had a command such as this, at least not one of this size or composition. It was a new outfit, with a new commander, and a new line of work. But it was his now, and everyone here would assume he would, or at least should, know what he was doing. “Hello. My name’s Bishop. I’m your new Chief….”
The crews of the Texas and Nevsky continued inland on a northeasterly course. It was slow going as the terrain was difficult to navigate, and everyone seemed to be dealing with chronic fatigue. The first few days were the most challenging as the carnage among the densely populated areas along the coast was abundant. They salvaged what they could, and moved on as soon as they were able. It was not long before they became numb to the devastation surrounding them. The area ahead was a dry wasteland. The vegetation was brown, the air was dry, and the only existing sounds emanated from themselves, or the occasional feint breeze. The sky was ominous looking with its overcast skies, and dark low hanging unnatural clouds.
They eventually came to less populated areas where former villages were evident. Among these, they found survivors. They were even more despondent and detached. They came along willingly, and offered no resistance to instructions, the majority of them speaking only Spanish. They tried to comfort one another as they went, but that soon became nothing more than hollow words.
In time, their ranks grew to more than twenty-five hundred men, women, and children. Everyone carried, or assisted in pulling, much needed supplies on their makeshift wagons. It was in the last town they came upon when they found several students, and teachers, from a once popular university. It was from them that Weston, and his crew, learned about what had taken place. They knew now that their decision to leave their vessel and turn inland was the right one. It also explained the physical effects people were experiencing.
Seventy-two days after leaving the Texas, and not nearly as far along as they thought they should be, they came upon a scenic valley. The opening appeared before them only when they were at its edge. The first sign of its presence was in fact the sky above it. It was clear. Sunlight was breaking through the cloud cover. The first clear rays of sunshine any of them had seen in over two months. It was a majestic sight that stood out in a world of destruction. Though their spirit was taxed, their hearts were energized by the promise ahead.
The long train of people, and the supplies they were able to bring with them, continued in their ranks until they all came to a stop to take in the now overwhelming view. It was a valley unnatural in appearance, especially considering the surroundings. The valley walls rose to a thousand feet on both sides. It was lush and wide. There were both deciduous and evergreen trees standing tall on its floor. A waterfall came out of one side of the valley, with a narrow river running through its middle. Birds were in the air, and animals were seen moving in the grassy fields below. The only way in was where they were standing now. Nobody could say a word as they were consumed by the grandeur of the scenery surrounded by a world of death and destruction. Some people even began to cry.
After some time had passed, they moved on to the floor of the valley. They set up camp that evening and enjoyed clean water and star filled skies.
One of the university staff, a Mr. Bayek, who had joined them, was a natural science professor. He spent the evening discussing with Commander Weston, and his officers, the likely causes of this unnatural valley. “Actually,” he said, “I wouldn’t be surprised if there were other areas such as this.”
“What makes this possible,” Sasha asked.
“I think a number of conditions have to be met. This is probably an area affected by a magnetic shifting of the poles. If the ground conditions are just right, this valley is most likely operating as a natural electromagnetic field of sorts. That would explain the sky as well,” Mr. Bayek explained.
From what little his audience understood about such things, it sounded reasonable to them. The fact was, there was life in this valley and it was much more appealing than what they had just traveled through.
“I’d like to take some readings with the equipment I have and see what more I can learn. But, I’d bet this is as good a place as we can hope to find,” Bayek offered.
“Sure,” Weston said, “I don’t see any reason why we can’t spend a day or so right here and recuperate while we see what we have here. In fact, I’d like to send along some of my men with you, just in case, and when you are finished, we’ll go over your findings and decide on our next course of action.”
Mr. Bayek nodded his head in agreement and said, “We will go first thing in the morning. You can send whomever you like, and I’ll bring some of my students as well.”
As their meeting came to an end, Weston invited Sasha, whom he had become rather fond of in the past few weeks and his former executive officer, Lt. Emil Gonzalez, to remain behind. When they were alone, Weston explained what he wanted. “I think it’s safe to say that we have an opportunity here. I don’t believe we will find what we had hoped to find. I intend to make a go of it here. How do you two feel about that?”
“Sounds fine with me skipper,” Emil said. It was an easy decision for him. The Navy was his family. His mother had died when he was young, and he never really got along well with his father. He doubted that he was still alive and he had no real intention of trying to find out. He did not feel bad about that, and when he took the time to think it over, he never did come up with an answer as to what that said about him.
“Yes. I think it is good idea,” Sasha said in his heavily accented English. It was a little different circumstance for the Russians. They were far from their homeland, and knew the realities of trying to return.
“Okay then. I want the two of you to select ten men from our crews and explore the valley. Go as far as you can, and map out as much as you can. I think it would be best if we were to divide this crowd into manageable groups. If it is as good as it looks, we may just be able to make a fresh start here.”
His two junior officers nodded their heads in agreement. At first light, they would gather their necessary supplies, and head out into the valley.
