Dr Harman ordered Masters to head for Otter Falls. With a little grumbling the driver drove over the remaining tents and soon they where back onto clear road. Harman ordered all the lights killed inside the bus which did nothing to allay the fears of those inside. About 5 minutes in someone reported Anthony Morris missing. Had he wandered off? No everyone was sure that he had been on the bus when they where paraded through the tent, though no one could remember him getting back on. Harman considered the possibilities- Morris was either with Transgene or had managed to run off either way he was beyond their help now.
False Dawn broke over the valley where the Lab complex was and as he watched the sun rise Harman wished for more sleep and less complications in his life.
“Sir” Masters called as they approached Checkpoint Delta. Harman looked up in time to get blinded by a powerful spotlight. He could see many guns trained on them. Masters brought the bus to a stop and waited. Soon a mask wearing Captain was banging on the door, which Morris opened
“Your late Morris” the Captain snapped climbing into the bus. His name tag identified him as Captain Lutz.
“Trouble on the road” Masters replied as tartly.
“Serious?” the Captain said looking at Dr Harman
“Yes. Checkpost Beta has gone and Transgene had taken Checkpoint Charlie, though they are gone now. We need to get to Otter Falls and report back to Dr Rothman asap”. Lutz licked his lips and said
“Sir. You might not like the situation in Otter Falls. The men there are not from the base but Dace’s people brought in by the Board, a Sergeant West has command. It seems his orders and ours differ sir”
“Oh so?” Last thing Harman wanted was more bad news.
“They seem to be working on an agenda of total quarantine sir. Nothing in and nothing out, even the uninfected people” Lutz said with a shake of his head.
“How did you find this out?” Harman snapped.
“Dr Noc got a message to us sir. She is mighty pissed that Sgt West has taken control of the cordon around the town, but there is little she can do. I am suggesting perhaps you stay here sir.”
“Where’s Major Conroy?” Harman asked sharply.
“Missing sir”
“This is dire.....” Masters said quietly. There was no noise on the bus everyone was trying to hear any of the words said by Harman and Lutz.
“Can you deal with a bus of civilians?” Harman said well aware everyone was listening.
“Not really sir, but if you go past us and towards Otter Falls you are not leaving again”
“What communications have you got?”
“We have some contact with various groups in the field – of the Teams Mr Dace sent out we have contact with Teams C and D. Also we have our people at Theta base but the Company is bringing in more and more people by air Sir. Otter Falls is totally surrounded now. Dr Noc and her team is cut off the Recon teams they have out in and around town are not in her control either. “
“Dammit” Harman said sharply “you got a map?”
“Yes sir” Lutz said
“I want to see it now” He turned to Masters “Bob, get these people processed through the checkpoint with food and drink, then back on the bus inside 20 mins.”
“Yes sir” Masters said and stood up as Harman left.
“Ok ladies and gents…..” Harman did not hear the rest as he walked away from the bus- he was grilling Lutz for every aspect of the situation.