Project Terminus by Nathan Combs Read Free Book Online

tent.
    Linda made fresh coffee and some hot chocolate for the kids, and after everyone was seated, Wade briefed them.
    “You all know about the second EMP attack. That wasn’t a problem for us because we were prepared for it. For the past two hours, Highlander has been monitoring two different ham radio stations. One is in Melbourne, Australia and the other in rural Minnesota. There’s been a nuclear exchange between several countries, including the USA. Official information is unavailable, but at the moment here’s what we have. Two days ago, nuclear attacks were launched on New York City, DC, Norfolk, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, San Diego, and Whidbey Island in Washington State.”
    He looked around the room at their fear-filled faces, understanding the impact of the news he was sharing. “Eight cities in Russia were attacked, including Moscow. Six cities in China, plus London and Paris were also hit. India and Pakistan attacked each other, and there’ve been nuclear strikes in Israel, Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and in North and South Korea. It was a limited exchange and it’s over. At least it’s over for now. While we can’t be one hundred percent sure of this information, we have to assume it’s reasonably accurate.”
    Not everyone in the world understood the effects of a nuclear war, including the residents of Fort-T who had grown increasingly horrified as he spoke.
    “I know you’re concerned, but we aren’t going to feel any effects other than radioactive fall-out. No blast, no heat, no fires, nothing like that at all. We’re in a good area here. The prevailing wind patterns will channel the majority of the fallout around the Fort. The lower level radiation should fall to earth very quickly and shouldn’t be a problem for us. But we do need to be concerned about high-level fallout—the radiation in the upper atmosphere. That will take a long time to fall to earth. We have radiation monitors and everyone will have to wear a dosimeter badge, but that’s about it. If fall-out readings reach a certain level, we’ll stay in the cave; and if we have to go outside for any reason, we’ll use the containment suits. Also, that overhang up there,” he pointed to the granite ceiling over Fort-T, “will stop most of the fallout from reaching us. We’re in good shape. Maggie, you and Becky get the radiation kits together, gather whatever other medical supplies are necessary, and get it all in the cave. And distribute the dosimeter badges. Highlander, set the radiation meter up in the center of the Fort.”
    During the first two months after the nuclear war, there were two instances where the radiation meter went off. Although the levels were low, to err on the side of caution, they spent a total of ten days in the cave. For the next two months, Fort Terminus cautiously followed a routine of watches, school for the kids, gardening, hunting, fishing, and general maintenance and training. When it was apparent the fallout threat abated, Randal sent out daily patrols.
    “We can’t be the only people who selected this area to survive in, Dad. And I’m confident anyone with the foresight and moxie to survive has to have the same thought processes we do. If they’re out there, I want to know where they are, what their capabilities are—and more importantly, who they are—without them knowing we exist.”
    Highlander was monitoring ham radio stations in several different countries, including four in the United States. Reports indicated the worldwide situation was bleak, with only Australia left reasonably intact. The rest of the civilized world had fallen into anarchy. Scant information was coming out of the Third World countries, but it was believed they were in much worse shape than the industrialized nations. The Middle East was locked in a Sunni-Shite civil war, and the survivors were simply exterminating each other.
    News from the nuked areas was almost nonexistent; it appeared there were few