The Great Escape
Under the Division Support Command, or DISCOM, the Forward Support
Battalions provide direct support in maintenance, supply and medical areas
to the maneuver brigades.
The DISCOM unit concentrates on maintenance and supporting all soldiers of the
command. Service projects and response to natural disasters remained
an important mission of the DISCOM in Pennsylvania.
The mission of DISCOM remained unchanged during the war. However, the
desperate necessity of the situation could be realized within DISCOM as
easily as with the troops up at the front. Or so the leadership said...
Now medical supplies, vehicles, and heavy weapons were in short supply,
airpower was a thing of the past, and central governments barely exist,
if they exist at all. Gasoline has been almost completely replaced by methanol or
ethanol. The small trickle of petroleum that becomes available on the market
is ridiculously high priced, and is used for lubricating engines, rather than as
fuel.
It had been said that the army marches on it's stomach. Apparently Napolean
didn't study much anatomy. However, it was true, that without the beans, bread,
bullets, bombs, and so on, the effectiveness of the world's armies was greately
diminished. All war is terrible, but how terrible for a war to drag on needlessly,
and to be waged by sick, hungry, and ill-equipped troops.
Finally, all of the combatants simply gave up, and the focus in some areas,
became rebuilding. Thousands of years of civilization were destroyed
in a few short years. For nearly a year now, the actual war has mostly
cooled down into skirmishes, infiltration raids, and general unrest.
Electromagnetic Pulse has destroyed the internal components of most digital
technological niceties such as computers, television, and medical equipment.
Few things more complex than a transistor radio have survived, and even if
part of a system was immune to EMP, other components that were not are
now fried and cannot be replaced. Sadly, even though the will to return
to civilization exists, the tools that modern society relies so heavily
upon, simply do not exist, or if they do, have now ceased to function...
Date: 30 APR 03
Not long ago, Will Jackson and Jack Booker had been paired up as a high tech
maintenance team at the 228th FSB. It was too confusing to have a Jackson,
and a Jack around, each one answering when only one was called. Some people
in the Battalion thought the two used this fact for pranks and practical jokes,
but this was never proven. Will Jackson was good with alot of
technical items, but computers were his specialty. Jack Booker was
also very skilled, but his expertise was in electronics. The two man team
worked well together, but confused the living daylights out of everyone in
the Battalion. It wasn't long after his arrival that Will Jackson, the computer
wizard, or "Wiz", had made a name for himself.
Wiz and Jack had been working late in their shop. The building
was cheap aluminum sheeting over a wood frame, and measured approximately 100'x250'.
They had great freedom in their workshift, and chose to work the strangest
hours, sometimes clocking in at 0200, and working a long shift until noon,
just so they could go tearing around the base on Wiz's dirtbike. By the
same token, the two would often party until Oh-dark-hundred (late!), and
then sleep it off, and clock in sometime in the mid-afternoon.
April 3rd, 2003 was one of the latter types of days. After nearly two hours
the two had finally gotten into a rhythm, and were repairing and maintaining
various gadgets, making some progress on the waiting carts, full of radios,
computers, and other techno-goodies.
Rather suddenly it happened. Machinegun fire and explosions from
outside! First the noise and general din of an attack was heard. Then felt.
The two quickly dropped to the concrete floor, forgetting what they were
doing, and became more interested in self preservation. After a brief respite in
the initial attack, Wiz ran to find someone who know what was happening.
Soon, he spotted Herald, a mechanic, his weapon at the ready.
[Jackson]
[Herald]
[Wiz]
[Jack]
[Wiz]
[Herald]
Helicopters appeared from nowhere, and began firing rockets into the
nearby troop barracks. The explosions popped loudly, showering glass
and other debris over the top of the maintenance shed. Jack and Wiz saw
no sign of the man that was beside them, alive, only seconds ago.
[Jackson]
Wiz drew his Beretta Model 92, and chambered a round. He nervously
checked his grandfather's old pocket watch. Thank God It still worked...
From across the compound, the two friends caught a glimpse of a shape
approaching them. It was small at first, but then grew. Apparently it
was heading right for the maintenance shed...
[Jack]
=========================
Date: 30 APR 03
Dr. Trevor Novak was a member of the 28th Division's 28th DISCOM
(Division Support Command). Specifically, he was in the 728th Support
Battalion, Company F (Medical). The Company has three component units,
an HQ platoon, a Treatment platoon, and an Ambulance platoon. Novak was
a Medical Doctor in the Treatment platoon, and reported to a Major Angus
McCall.
Elements of the 28th Division participated in the raid on Washington DC
back in December, and had mutinied against the rest of the 28th
Division, (PA Army Reserve/National Guard). The situation was rather
confusing to say the least. Even knowing who was on who's side could
give a soap opera devotee's mind a workout...
When the mutiney came about last Dec., young Doctor Novak remained
loyal, and stayed put at the base at Fort Indiantown Gap, which is about
20 minutes East of Harrisburg, along the I80 and I78 interchange.
Normally, the Forward Support Battalion would move up with the other
units in the division. However, THIS (whatever THIS was) was NOT
normal...
Novak knew Philly is a wreck, and teaming with less-than-nice people. So
he was glad he was are in the relative safety at "The Gap", as the base
was called by everyone in the area, military and civilian alike. In
Harrisburg, Trevor knew things were not much nicer. Members of DISCOM,
as well as the Aviation Brigade (thankfully WITHOUT the Apache and
Blackhawk
choppers-they'd been grounded about 4-5 months now), had been sweeping
the streets of Harrisburg, Camp Hill, and Mechanicsburg, looking for
deserters. Or malcontents. Or someone who cheated them once at cards.
Thankfully the base hadn't been touched by this madness. But on the off
chance -- Novak was prepared...
Novak could get things done as an officer and a doctor that others might
not be able to pull off. Sometimes it was just a smile or a joke, or it
was listening to incoherent babble for awhile, that would make others
more at ease around him. Or allow him to blend in, or go unnoticed. It
was this uncanny ability that enabled Dr. Novak to assemble a cache of
supplies, and keep it hidden on base. The real trick would be getting
out, or really knowing just when to get out...
The maintenance area was a vast conglomeration of prefabricated
buildings and modern concrete structures. The overwhelming majority of
buildings, however, were simple, non-permanent structures of wood and
aluminum, that dated from WWII. So much for non-permanent... It was in
one of these abandoned maintenance sheds that Novak stashed his goods.
It took him nearly four months to quietly, unobtrusively assemble the
lot, but he was actually quite proud of the load of gear he had begged,
borrowed, or stolen from various points on the base. Plus, he had
conned a friend, Keefer, to fix this shot-up HUMVEE that Novak had seen
being used on one of the machinegun ranges. It didn't look like much,
but it ran pretty well.
[Novak]
Novak was in his office in the hospital, pacing around,
wondering about the possibilies of getting the men to donate blood, when
suddenly, several helicopters appeared from nowhere, and began firing rockets into
the nearby troop barracks. The explosions popped loudly, showering
glass and other debris over the top of the infirmary. "Choppers?"
thought Novak. "They look like ours. Damn. I thought all the aviation
fuel dried up months ago".
Trevor realized that in all probability the choppers would shoot anything
that moved, then again this was probably the beginning of a full scale
attack which would mean that the base was about to get inhospitable.
Trevor ran out into the hallway and began shouting, "Quickly! Get all
the wounded into shelters, and prepare for evac. Begin to pull
out after the bombardment ends. I need a few volunteers to help scout
out an exit" Looking around to the first 3 people he saw, he pointed.
"You, you, and you -- Just volunteered. Now follow me..."
Once the ''volunteers' assembled, Trevor took a peek outside. There appeared
to be general confusion outside of the hospital, but the attack seemed to
be limited to just the choppers. At this point, it looked as if there were no
hostile ground forces inside the base. Trevor thought of how far inside the
base he and his patients were, and that it would take several minutes to drive
out of the base, if indeed that would be possible.
Looking for a pattern, for any scrap of information that might prove useful,
Trevor noticed that the helicopters seemed to be not only hitting the
barracks, but also were shooting up everything in sight. "You'd think that
at least they (whoever THEY were) would be interested in the equipment..."
Counting the helicopters, Trevor saw at least one Apache AH-64 gunship leading the
attack, along with at least five UH-60s. The U60s were armed with door guns,
rocket pods, and forward-firing MGs.
Trevor considered the possibility of him and his volunteers reaching his
my HUMVEE, but realized the action was completely impractical at this point.
The group could all fit on/in the HUMVEE, but it wouldn't be the most comfy
ride with all of Trevor's cached supplies stored in it... Plus, the
HUMVEE was hidden several buildings down the street from the infirmary
where he was. Besides, there were 4 wounded under his care. Counting them
and the 3 volunteers, that makes 7. And that is somewhat MORE cramped with
all of Trevor's gear in the back of the HUMVEE.
Yet a glimmer of hope existed. The base at Ft. Indiantown Gap was huge.
The helo force was overwhelming, but not in such great numbers as to
take out everything at the base simultaneously. Trevor realized that the
force could not be everywhere at once...
While Trevor continued to consider his options, the infirmary took a
missile hit, and was being hosed with MG fire... "Good thing the
infirmary is sandbagged...", thought Trevor. "Get those wounded out
of the infirmary -- move 'em deeper into the building. And don't fire
back at 'em... it'll just make 'em madder..."
His trio of volunteers helped the wounded, some who could hobble or
walk, others who were completely bedridden, out of the infirmary, deeper
into the building.
Trevor's best guess at the strongest point in the building would be
either of the
two surgery wards. He directed his volunteers to help the wounded to
those adjoining rooms...
Time: 1815
Dr. Novak, his trio of volunteers, and his quartet of wounded, hunkered
down in the Surg-1 and Surg-2 suites, and took cover from the attack.
After nearly five minutes of sheer terror, the rattle of machinegun fire and
the pop of missiles exploding had apparently ceased.
All seemed to calm down, until the fire alarm went off. One of his volunteers, a
woman with "Yates" stenciled above her right pocket, crouch-walked over
to the wall display, and called out the extent of the alarm.
[Yates](NPC)
[O'Neill](wounded, non-ambulatory NPC)
[Arbogast](wounded NPC)
"Aw shaddup! Why'd we all come here in the middle of the flippin'
burning building, anyway?..."
[Trevor]
At the very least, the group was thankful that the Hospital was built on
the ground level. And was not several stories high...
[Trevor]
Two of the volunteers made their way out of the burning building, and
onto the street. The helicopter group faded into the distance, heading
west. Small arms fire could be heard from the north and east sides of
the compound, perhaps just 4-5 blocks away. It sounded as if at least
6-8 people were shooting...
The volunteers returned, and reported to Dr. Novak. Trevor noticed
that the gunfire seemed to be in the opposite direction of the building
harboring his HUM-VEE. Also, that there were no smoke or explosions
occuring in the general direction of the HUM-VEE's location. There was
nothing but the bleak stillness of the aftermath of the chopper's
attack...
...And here, the fire was spreading rapidly in the hospital. Trevor rapidly
grabbed what medical supplies he could, and, assessing the building like the hopeless patient
she was, he realized that all was lost here. As he flung himself through the burning
door, Trevor brushed his right arm abit too close to some burning debris, and
his uniform caught fire, painfully burning his arm. It seemed to be only
a light, superficial burn, yet it still hurt... Trevor's desire for remaining
in that place has vanished, anyway.
Suddenly, a building about 2 blocks east of the hsopital erupted in an
explosion. Trevor thought of the oxygen and many other medical gasses
in the hospital that were likely to explode when in contact with fire, and urged his
group to clear away from the building.
A loudspeaker on a nearby pole crackled, then a booming voice growled.
"Attention all personell. This Col. Winter. The inner compound has been
penetrated by hostile US forces. All personell are to escape by whatever
means become available. Extreme caution is advised, we are in the midst
of a mutiney. This is no drill. Repeat -- the inner compound..."
Trevor recognized Col. Winter's voice, and assumed that the message
was on the level. Suddenly, the message was interrupted by what could
only be a small arms burst at close range...
Several of the volunteers had armed themselves with pistols, but
anything heavier was not readily available. Yates was one so armed, and
she strongly suggested the group not hang out to meet those doing the
shooting.
Trevor ordered the volunteers to evacuate the wounded towards the building
where he had hidden his HUMVEE. While the group trotted that way, Trevor
kept an eye out for a trailer, but found nothing that had not been wrecked
in the attack.
So Dr. Trevor Novak, and his trio of volunteers, assist the four wounded
people to safety outside the building. Under the Dr.'s guidance,
they reached a disused warehouse, and Novak was seen to
heave a sigh of relief that the building was intact.
When he had cached his supplies away, Trevor had cleverly cut the
original lock and chain on the double doors, and replaced them with his
own. That way they were secure, but probably no one would be interested
in this building, anyway, since it had be unused for so long... So
while Yates and the others played lookout, Trevor produced the key from
his wallet, inserted it into the lock, and popped the device open. A
good heave-ho! on the rusted, sliding double doors, and they flew open.
Despite his precautions, Trevor was even happier to see the outline of
the HUMMER underneath the tarps. And was even happier to see that the dust
he had spread on the floor had been undisturbed, and that his stuff was
all there. Trevor approached the shape, and threw back the tarp, like a groom
uncovering his bride...
[Arbogast]
[Trevor]
It was a tight fit, but it was workable. O'Neill, on the litter, would
ride in back, atop the gear, along with 1 of the volunteers, who would monitor
his condition. Yates would ride on the left side in the backseat, so she
could sweep that side of the vehicle with fire, if needed. Doc would
ride shotgun, M16/M203 in hand. Arbogast, and the 2 other wounded would
cram into the backseat, and hope for the best. The final volunteer, a
pimple-studded motorhead nicknamed "Cruiser", would drive.
After a 2 minute wrestling match that seemed like 2 hours, Cruiser
prevailed over the engine, and the HUMMER started. Cruiser looked toward
Doc, who nodded, and put proverbial pedal to metal.
The HUMMER hesitated a moment, then shot out of the building.
[Cruiser]
[Novak]
Trevor gasped, "Go faster!... Go faster!..."
He sighted on the black shape and attempted to identify it...
Date: 30 APR 03
The chopper appeared to communicate with the HUMMER, using some sort of
signal. Blinking lights? But Novak quickly realized the blinking
lights were, in reality, machine guns firing at the HUMMER. The opening
burst riddled the back of the HUMMER, and several people in the back
screamed in fear and/or pain.
[Arbogast]
[unnamed wounded #1 and #2]
[Cruiser]
[Yates]
The chopper opened up again, riddling the area behind the HUMMER with
fire. This would be approximately where the people who BAILED would
be...
[Cruiser]
The chopper was 50' in the air now, waiting to pepper the HUMVEE. Trevor
popped off an M203 grenade at the chopper, but it went high and to the
right. The grenade arced down to the ground, and exploded in a clump of buildings with a dull
thud.
The chopper opened up with MG fire, which chewed up the road behind the
HUMMER. Bullets zinged by, or richocheted, but the HUMMER was miraculously
untouched.
Yates failed to clear her jammed M92 pistol. Then Trevor sprayed the chopper
with his M16. Trevor felt good that he was doing SOMETHING... until
his M16 jammed. He fumbled to clear the weapon rapidly...
Cruiser squealed the wheels on the pavement, threw the HUMMER in a
sliding turn that would humble Starsky and Hutch, and headed down a
narrow alley between buildings, hoping to shake the chopper off...
Which turned out to be a good move. The chopper was forced to give a
little distance, or it would crash into a 3 story building that Cruiser
just maneuvered around. So it does, tho' somewhat wobbily. It opened
up again with the MGs, and ripped up the back and midsection of the HUMMER.
The chopper again fired the MGs, scattering bullets and kicking up
dust, but doing no apparent damage.
Finally, Yates cleared her jammed pistol. Yet Trevor failed to clear
his jammed M16.
Cruiser headed down the safe (well, relatively safe) alley at full speed, praying that
the Chopper was not in a position to fire.
[Yates]
Cruiser anticipated entering into the choppers field of fire, so he tried
the ole Starsky and Hutch skidding turn again, but... well, he lost
control, and the HUMMER slammed HARD into a warehouse.
The impact of the crash was tremendous. No one was strapped in... The
HUMMER was doing about 50 when it plowed into the building. Cruiser
banged his head off the wheel. Doc went up over the hood and
rolled, twisting his left leg, and knocking the wind out of him. Yates
spilled out the opposite side of the HUMMER, and had a peculiar right
angle, in her right forearm.
And then two guys scrambled out from behind a counter, and pointed pistols
at you...
Looking at your watch, it was 1825 hours. What an afternoon!
Time: 1800
Place: 228th Forward Support Battalion(FSB) base, Ft. Indiantown Gap
People: Wiz / Jack(an NPC)
"Whats going on Herald?"
"I don't know for sure but some group is poundin' the base! I can't believe
we're being attacked!"
"Attacked, what do you mean attacked? Crap!"
Then turning to Jack, "Shall we fight?"
I don't know... We have no idea who's attacking, huh?
Terrorists, The Russians, Mexicans... None of us are ground-pounders,
and we've only got pistols -- Heck, my vote is we get the flock outta
Dodge! And fast!
Wiz and Jack grabbed their weapons, and attempted to identify the
enemy, but the speed of the attack was so swift that they both just
stood there, dumbfounded.
The look of panic on Herald's face was unmistakable. Suddenly, the man jumped
up, saying "I'm outta here, dudes!", and with that, he ran out
the door, crossed the courtyard, and entered the nearby barracks.
Wrinkling his nose, he gestured with his thumb, saying "What the?......"
Time: 1800
Place: 28th DISCOM (Divisional Support Command), Ft. Indiantown Gap
People: Dr. Trevor Novak
Novak had little to do for the moment. That would probably change if
one of the patrols returned from the State Capitol. Over the past 5
months since arriving here, Novak had learned more than any professor of
medicine could stuff into his head. He had facility in treating burns,
gunshot wounds, amputations, rad / chem / bio sicknesses, and the list
continued.
Location: Surg-1 and Surg-2, adjoining suites in the hospital building.
"I'm reading fires in Triage, Wards A, B, C, and E, X-ray Suites 1 & 2,
MRI chamber, OT/PT, and Surg-2 Storage. So, that leaves the D ward, the
infirmary, Surg-1, Surg-2, and Nuclear Medicine untouched. Crap, 3/4ths
of the building is on fire!"
"We're all gonna roast in here! Gemme out!"
Trevor turned to Arbogast, "You would prefer to be where you could be shot to
pieces, perhaps?..."
"OK , Everyone, let's evacuate... walking wounded help carry out the
non-walking wounded. I'm going to see if I can salvage as much of our equipment and
supplies as possible. Stat!, people... provided that we don't roast, we'll be
needing to get ready for incoming wounded."
Eyeing the bulletholes, Arbogast smirked, "Does it run?..."
Trevor thought of something smart, but kept his reply to himself.
Cruiser apparently thought that the HUMMER's accelerator was it's most
most important feature, because the vehicle surely showed no signs of
slowing down. Cruiser careened in and out of streets, in between the
narrow spaces between barracks, did an admirable bootlegger turn on the
Battalion Commander's Office garden, and had nearly exited the
Maintenance area when the chuf-chuf-chuffing of a helicopter's rotors
could be heard.
Looking up and behind them, Novak could see a large, black shape not far
above and behind...
Time: 1835
Location: exiting the maintenance area.
The man has had enough, PANICed, and bailed out, even while the HUMMER was
moving. He hit hard, rolled, and...
They likewise PANICed, and bailed out, tumbling on the asphalt...
Cruiser tromps the pedal down even further, yet the HUMMER can give no
more. "That's all she's got, Doc! Hang on, I'll try weaving..." Cruiser
jarred the HUMMER around, and like on a wild rollercoaster ride, the occupants
were slammed to and fro.
Screamed an unladylike streak of swear words at the chopper, and opened up
on them with her M92 pistol. She fired a few rounds, then cursed again
as her pistol jammed...
The youth shot a nasty look at Novak, and spat, "I ain't stoppin', Chief.
Don't even F****'n say it..."
Mentioned something concerning urinary function and the chopper, and fired
5 rounds at the chopper with the M92. At least 2 bullets
glanced off the chopper, but there seemed to be little or no effect. Finally,
Trevor cleared his jammed M16.
