“What did the sensors in the CBN vehicle tell you?”
“We’re still running the tests. We know there’s no radiation and no chemical residue which leaves biological which could take time for the computers to figure out. And we don’t have connection to the master libraries which the system was designed to use in case of a biological agent. We don’t have all of the files in the vehicle. If the agent is a virus like one of the COVIDs we’ve faced before, our sensors can’t alert us to them. Remember the one in ’19, ’22, and ’25? They weren’t classified as biological agents so our software won’t alert us to them.
“What about plague?”
“Sir, that depends on what type of plague. If it is a weaponized version which was classified as a biological agent then yes, however, if it’s not one of those that was weaponized then no, our software won’t alert us.”
“You’re not telling me what I need to know.”
“Sir?”
“Is it safe for us to continue driving or not? The longer we sit here, the more precious fuel we burn, the more our wheeled vehicles to have tire problems and our lube begins to freeze.”
“I thought we used arctic lube on everything.”
“We did, but it helps to move instead of sitting still which allows the cold to penetrate everything. I need to get us moving. I need to know what we can do.”
“Sir, how many over-pressure vehicles do we have?”
“Only the tanks have a full CBN system with a full over-pressure system. All of the other vehicles are going to be at risk. They take in the outside air through the heaters. Will the heater core and interior filters block the agents?”
“No, sir.”
“Damn it, give me some options. We can’t sit here and my information from HQ of the North American Command strongly suggests not leaving the freeway.”
“Sir, something in that small town killed everyone. It killed them very quickly and by the looks on their faces, they died in agony. If we had a lab, we could run tests but even those would take anywhere from a couple of hours to a couple of days.”
“I’ve told you, we don’t have either. If it was a COVID or a plague, how long would it last without a host?”
“Sir, I don’t mean to be disrespectful, but we have no way to know without knowing what the agent is and…”
“You don’t have the resources to do that here, am I correct?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Well, they pay me the big bucks,” the Colonel laughed. “I’ve made my decision. We’re going ahead, but we’ll keep our windows sealed. We have enough 100 mph tape to seal every window. Then we’ll send the plows with their over-pressure ahead to make a few passes on the road to clear it. When clear, we’ll haul ass through the area, comments?”
“Sir, I think it’s our best option given the limited data we have.”
“Okay, I’ll see how long it will take us to pull off this crazy plan.”
“Sir, one point. I’m not sure the tape will stick in this weather…”
“It’s called one hundred mile tape because it’ll stick at one hundred miles per hour, it’ll stick. It doesn’t want me any more pissed off then I already am.”
“Yes, sir. I’ll get the tape.
The Colonel nodded thinking, “we want you back, you’re perfect for the little assignment we have for you. You’re one of our most experienced officers who knows how to operate in extreme cold. You’ll be sitting on your butt for most of the time. All you have to do is assist people to make the trip south. How hard could it be?” Yeah, how hard. They forgot to mention the raiders, a potential plague, and we’re still a few miles from our FOB. Well, I’ve no one to blame but myself. I agreed to return and now, I’m in for the duration. I should have asked how long my assignment would last. Damn me, I should have read the reenlistment papers. They own my damn soul. Well what else can go wrong, we’re only a few miles away from Binghamton so once we get through the plague or whatever this is we should be home free.
Chapter 22
Jon saw the four soldiers working on the vehicle ahead of his SUV. He wondered why they were sealing their windows, but he figured they’d tell him in a few minutes. Someone knocked on his side window bringing him back to reality. He cracked the window an inch and the cold wind blew in quickly chilling everyone in the SUV. “We have orders to seal your windows. Once they’re sealed, do NOT open them until we return to remove the tape. When the convoy begins moving, you’re to set your heater on recirculate. No outside air should enter your vehicle. Any questions?”
“What’s going on?”
“Do you understand your orders?”
“Yes, but could you tell me why?”
“We don’t know. We follow our orders and you should too.”
Erin looked at Jon who shrugged his shoulders, “I have no idea, none at all.”
Twenty minutes later they heard the horns of the vehicles in front of him blow three times, Jon blew his horn three times to pass the message they were going to start moving again. The convoy slowly began moving, the snow had accumulated 6 inches on the hood and roof. When they begin driving the snow flew
