Taking his seat Thomas watched as the scenery speed by as they made their way down the road. He really did not know the area they were in very well so relied on his team mates as they navigated through the "wilderness". If he saw a road sign or some other identifying feature he pointed it out.

Looking at the map, Kel remembered going to an air show at Abbotsford International Airport back before the war. The airport was due east of here.

https://goo.gl/maps/eav9Hswauz12

It had been on a beautiful August weekend, with CF, RAF and USAF aircraft attending, as well as various antique and classic military and civilian jets and helicopter, including a WWII Lancaster, plus a more modern C-5 and B-52 (although the B-52 wasn't much more modern than the "Lanc"!).

YVR, the Vancouver International Airport, was certainly bigger. But Abbotsford International was closer to both the US border and far closer to the area of combat where Soviet and NATO forces clashed in the Fraser Valley during the last Soviet push of the war on this front. Therefore Abbotsford International had been the primary logistical and supply point for joint US-Canadian operations in mid-southern BC. As well, it was farther away from the centre of the civilian population, and there was less chance of collateral damage due to a nuclear strike.

(Much of the population of the GVRD, the "Greater Vancouver Regional District", had been evacuated to Alberta at that point, although it only became clear months later that many refugees and evacuees never reached their destination. Armed "Republican" militias infiltrated by New American radicals had separated out racial undesirables like Asians and Indians at the border with Alberta for execution and burial in mass graves. These revelations led to the collapse of the Republic of Alberta and rooting out of New American cells operating at the highest levels of the Republic's military and government.)

"The Airport is due east of here!  Abbotsford International.  It was a primary Supply point at one time!"

She brooded a little, remembering the good and the bad.

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg # 484):

Taras radioed back, "I see. It is becoming more difficult to progress. Many fallen trees. Even if the road isn't blocked do you think we will find more of value if we progress?"

"Depends on radiation level, and how much it has been looted.  The airport may be a gold mine, it might be a death trap.  We will want to keep an eye on radiation meters."

She scans the horizon with binoculars.

"If the road is blocked, I say that makes the decision for us.  Going to be slow going and we have other things to do today, right?"

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg # 486):

"It also depends on what size the strike was, it it was a ground or airburst, and whether it was on target or not. A near-miss by a smaller weapon might still cause damage to the airport and the area but would leave little fallout if it was an airburst.

"Let's go as far as we can. I will monitor radiation levels. They are low now, basically normal. If they increase then we shall retreat."

He signalled for Wayne to continue forward, eye on the Geiger counter.

The convoy moved out.  Abbot remained vigilant behind the gunshield of his m240.  All of the talk about radiation unnerved him a bit.  It seemed to be a known, but unseen threat that he couldn't actually fight.

Within five kilometers they came to a stretch blocked by trees that had been blown down, then burned out.

Stranded among the charred tree trunks on the road was a blackened wreck, probably a pickup truck, burned down to the wheel hubs and starting to rust in the couple of years that had passed since the nuclear strike and firestorm. The driver-side door was still open, although they couldn't see inside the cab. Maybe the driver had bailed out and attempted a desperate dive into a nearby ditch when the fireball had begun it's terrible ascent into the stratosphere.

Around them stood countless blackened trees, the remains of woods and orchards, a few charred fence posts. There were also blackened and burned fields that were starting to show signs of rebirth as brilliant green grasses and bushes began pushing through.

Black and grey drifts of ashes and cinders filled the roadside ditches, partially covered the melted asphalt roadway and fields. A few blown-down burned-out buildings remained.
This message was last edited by the GM at 09:46, Sun 05 Feb 2017.

In reply to helbent4 (msg # 489):

In the Cougar's commander's seat, Taras checked the map, and the Geiger counter.

"Ok team. Is close enough! Still no dangerous radiation levels. Probably an airburst, then.

"Get the vehicles turned around. We have investigated as much as we need to, let's get on with our rendez-vous."

Kelsey whistles softly  "Yeah, not much to see in that direction."

Kelsey compares the map with what she sees, trying to figure out if the airfield is near the center of this.

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg # 491):

Triangulating ground zero for the nuclear strike from the ground was difficult. If it was soon after the attack they could triangulate from radiation, but that was long gone (and consequently safer). Many fires were set by the thermal pulse, both close in and farther off. Burns from the firestorm could run a long ways. Ultimately they would probably need an aircraft to really survey the damage. Other possible alternate targets included the Abbotsford border crossing and the city of Abbotsford itself, but the International Airport still seemed like the best bet.

In reply to helbent4 (msg # 492):

"All right. We've learned about as much as I believe we can. Trying to determine an epicentre  for Ground Zero is very difficult unless you are in the air. Let's get turned around, head to our RV. We should be able to make it by this afternoon. No need to rush."

In reply to Taras Vladimirovich Shevchenko (msg # 493):

"Aye-aye."

Starting the Cougar, Wayne slowly made a 3-point turn to get turned around on the narrow farm road.

Mac turned the Iltis around, quite glad to be getting out of this unnatural place.

By the time they reached the weather radar, Bezhov's crew was there. They had to park their massive SAM-8 Gecko vehicle outside in the road, as there wasn't enough overhead clearance due to the low trees around the radar tower and building. The two twin missile tubes were pointed aft in travelling position, with the wide search radar dish folded down to the front, over the tracking radar. Bezhov's crew and vehicle were formerly Soviets, who defected to the NATO side and were now serving the Canadian army.



They were getting cases of gear out, preparing to check out and repair the weather radar. The RCMP "ghost car" was still parked in front of the building, the Mounties waved.

In reply to helbent4 (msg # 496):

"Taras Vladmirovitch, good to see you! What have you got for us here?"

Formerly Major Bezhov flagged them down.

In reply to Vitaly Mikhailovitch Bezhov (msg # 497):

Taras explained what they found, and what he wanted.

Basically the radar needed to be put back into commission to both track the weather and perhaps air traffic. Bezhov explained the latter wasn't possible as that required different equipment, but getting useful weather data was still important.

That completed, they headed out west and northwards, into the empty roads and streets of rural Abbotsfored, Langley and then Surrey. A few empty suburban tracts of houses and condos appeared among the fields and patches of trees. Some radio traffic confirmed that Koldan and Tyler were waiting to receive them in the rural neighborhood of Surrey known as "Port Kells".

A century earlier, Port Kells was once envisioned as an industrialised metropolis at the endpoint of the Canadian Pacific Railroad and as a river port close to the Fraser River. But the railroad didn't terminate there and instead continued all the way to the town of Granville on the ocean (now known as Vancouver). Port Kells remained a farming village, although now a few abandoned warehouses and light industrial areas had sprouted up among the overgrown fields and derelict greenhouses and orchards.

They made it to the farm outside Port Kells in Surrey without a problem. Like most places, the rural area seemed largely deserted.

Tyler, formerly a paratrooper in the 82nd Airborne, met them at the gate, dog in tow and CAR-15 in hand.

"Hey, ya;all, great to see you again. We got steaks on the grill. Pull on in."

"Cool." Steak, it had been a long time since Thomas had one of those. He followed the other in with his rifle slung on his shoulder.

"Sounds good. A blessing on your hospitality."

Mac wasted no time in parking up the Iltis and following his nose towards food.

The team rustled up some grub, said "hello" to Tyler and Koldan, and their crew, which were American veterans who'd accompanied Tyler and his family when they fled the USA. Heavily-armed sentries with dogs patrolled the woods so it was very private.

There were indeed steaks, cut from a side of beef, a freshly slaughtered cow. The house was spacious but not overly luxurious, built on the top of a wooded ravine and the entire basement was a large workshop. There was also a walk-in gun safe where much of the wares for the "gun runners" was being stored. Due to this ravine this rural area was more woods than farm.

In reply to helbent4 (msg # 502):

Taras finished his steak, then was called inside to take a message. Coming out onto the patio, he reported, "is a message from Belanger. We are to wait here, he will be along shortly. It looks like there is going to be a change of mission, of focus. So please, relax. Finish lunch.

"Is good beer, freshly brewed locally. Of course!"

Kel greeted Koldan and his crew warmly, asked about the condition of their gear.  It hadn't been long since they had seen them last, but she liked them and made some small talk.

Steak.  Kelsey devoured the beef as if she had not had a good meal in ages.  Well, that was nominally accurate.  Beer was much appreciated as well.  Once she tucked in the meal she looked around herself.

"Nice setup."  She frowns, then shrugs.  "What's got him coming out here, not elephant thieves I would hope."

In reply to Kelsey Sarah Champlain (msg # 504):

Taras laughed, then replied, "is not unimportant, these elephant thieves. Are renegade US Army personnel, belonging to illegal MILGOV faction. While supposedly have assisted in fighting bandits, have crossed border and assaulted Canadian citizen, stealing property. So clearly their actions are being dictated by desire and opportunity. One moment are fighting criminals, next moment are criminals themselves. Are not answerable to law, and are heavily armed enough to decide what law is to suit them in moment. So be expecting further efforts to curb their behavior.

"As well, have possible intelligence on gang faction stronghold up valley. Am not sure if that is going to be new objective. Loose ending, so to speak. Will be curious to know what is in store!"

Thomas made the most of the down time though riding around on sprung seats was not the challenge he had expected. The steak was appreciated and while the beer was nothing on the brown ale he craved it was still a welcome sight. Given his current locality it was unlikely he would be tasting Newcastle amber anytime soon.

He mopped up the gravy as Taras spoke of a possible change of plan and another run in with gang elements.