Her forehead thumped on the carpet as pain, raw and sharp, tore through her stomach. Darkness flooded her mind.
Now unheard, an emotionless voice echoed calmly: "Please hold and the next available operator will assist you. 911 estimated wait time... Two hours, 14 minutes…The system is currently experiencing heavy call volume. If this is not an emergency, please hang up and try your call again later. Service outages can be expected in some areas. Please continue to hold and the…"
Behind her, the horrified reporter continued to tell the rest of the world what was happening, but few were listening. The end had come.
"...Chicago barrier gave way instantly and millions of gallons of debris-filled water barreled downstream, overwhelming towns and cities for 40 miles before joining the Wabash River, swelling it even more. It has poured down every stream, sewer, creek, and river it touched, sweeping away thousands in each state.
"This merciless torrent split briefly between the Wabash and Mississippi Rivers, widening the path of damage, then merging again in Louisiana, where it finally punched a hole through the city of Baton Rouge and emptied into the already flooded Gulf.
"The pressure of the bombs, coupled with the pounding of the raging water, has triggered the ancient New Madrid fault line under St. Louis, causing a 7.7 earthquake that is leveling untouched areas, and is being felt as far away as Kansas City and Louisville. Places like Humboldt and Jonesboro have simply collapsed like dominoes, already weakened by the surge of debris-filled waves…."
7
Once again a target for the government they represented, the military was especially hard hit. Most of the service men and women who survived, later denied they were ever a part of any armed force. As few as one out of every ten came through the War alive despite being so well-trained...
Kenn - Arizona
"Damn!"
The Lance Corporal ducked down, pushing the muddy hardback (5) as fast as it would go.
Ft. Defiance was under siege. Furious and terrified citizens were trying to get over and through the electrified, ten-foot-high fence that surrounded the 17-mile compound. It sounded like a giant bug zapper - poles, cars, furniture, and even people were being used to try to break the live wires - but so far, the strong magnetic force had held.
It didn't keep out the bullets, though, and the Marine pulled his cover farther onto his head as the popping grew steadier, almost rhythmic. Someone out there was firing an assault rifle. Kenn's grip on the wheel tightened, knuckles white - he hated the feeling of near panic that lurked just under the surface. He had to get there first! Choppers were swarming over the grounds of the base, trying to evacuate the Marines and "Draftees", but the violent winds gusting from the direction of Houston made landing difficult, and might give him a chance.