Dr. Ngyung Noc stepped out of the portable lab that had been assigned to her. She had to respect the excellent training of the team Mr.
Dace had put together. There were over 25 men and women, militarily trained, and essentially all loyal to him and the higher ups.
The man in charge of this group that Mr. Dace had dispatched was a Sgt. Ronald West.
Sgt. West had, within an hour, cordoned off the entire town and locked it down very effectively. They had started by creating road
block on the road that led from the lab. Then using seldom traveled side road, with their ATVs, they had quickly covered ground to a
second road out of town. There again they created a road block, then moved on to the third road, the road that followed the rover up to
the city and where they would create a base of operations for controlling the viral spread. This was the road that was considered the
most important as it passed though most towns that would be in the way of infection.
After securing the outskirts of Otter Falls as such, only three roads led into the town or out of it, Sgt. West ordered the phone lines to be
cut. Power lines would remain uncut so as to avoid suspicion of sabotage as long as possible; the power would keep people form
panicking. Phone lines had to be removed because the virus’s effects took hold so quickly. There was a need to keep a cap of silence
on the mater. This problem with this method, in Dr. Noc’s opinion, was that it also caused a great deal of danger for the town and
endangered the lives of those who could possibly escape infection before it was too late. She had said nothing, at the time as she was
busy giving orders to the four scientists under her. All of them had been assigned by Mr. Dace to collect samples and the distribution of
masks. Another problem with the quarantine was that there were a number of forest trails that, if one knew well enough, could be used
to escape. Sgt. West had said that they were the preliminary beach head. People would attempt, at first, to leave through the roads and
only think of the trials later; after they found the roads impassible. By then though, back up from the company would arrive.
Apparently the company was calling in favors and drawing all its resources to bear on the situation; the company’s resources were
indeed considerable. In a day, perhaps two, many more soldiers would arrive on the road and help to cordon off the other towns as they
came under infection. More teams would be dispatched into the woods to guard the trials and capture any errant anthropomorphic
creatures.
“Is all well, Dr. Noc?” asked Sgt. West as she came up to him. He gave a form to one of his underlings.
“Yes, I’ve already started gathering data for Dr. Summers and I’ll make a report to him soon. The virus is moving at the projected
speeds which is a small blessing. I must say I am surprised Mr. Dace gave me aids for this project.” Ngyung said.
“He felt it was necessary.” Sgt. West said, simply.
“Still it was unexpected and very good of him. I hope to have a clinic set up, in another hour, for the injured and infected citizens.” Dr.
Noc said.
“Excuse me ma’m? I thought you were a scientist?” said Sgt. West “Why are you setting up a triage and hospital?”
“I am a scientist, but I am first and foremost a doctor” said Ngyung.
“I see” said Sgt. West.
“I do wish to bring up the fact that we have left no way for uninfected to leave the town. With the way these blockades are set up there
is no quick way to process people as they try to leave the town.” Dr. Noc said.
“Of course not, that’s because no one is leaving Otter Falls” said Sgt. West simply looking at Dr. Noc.
“Excuse me? What do you mean?” said Dr. Noc consternation on her face. “The policy as I understood it was to allow uninfected
humans out of quarantine zones so they would not be infected. We are supposed to be holding only the ones who knew about the
infections, of course, until later but…”
“We are under orders, Dr. Noc, from the higher ups. No one leaves under any circumstances” Said Sgt. West “The town of otter falls is
to remain under full quarantine.”
“What higher ups?” asked Dr. Noc, a bit angrily and with some suspicion.
“Mr. Hammersmith.” said Sgt. West.
“What? Hammersmith? But he was one of the major proponents of testing the virus on the general populace to see its effects as a
weapon and quick way to create bodies for the military breeding program. He was overruled by the rest of the board.” Dr. Noc said.
“The same board, as I understand it form Mr. Dace, feels that this situation can have some… dividends. They feel large scale testing,
now that it’s inevitable, is worth any potential cost.” said Sgt. West.
“But that unethical! Unfeeling! It’s plain monstrous!” said Dr. Noc angrily. “Innocent people could die!”
“No, once a human is infected, he isn’t human. Those things are monsters. They ain’t human anymore, Doc. Sorry no clinic, no one
leaves and that is final” said Sgt. West. “I’ve been given authority over you in these maters by Mr. Hammersmith. You retain command
over data collection, only.”
“But those people will need help!” said Dr. Noc angrily
“Stop being a bleeding heart Doc. In a few hours, the only ‘people’ in this town will be those of us who are keeping those ‘things’ here.
Now I suggest you get back to data collection; oh and a warning, Doc, don’t go reporting to Dr. Summers about this.” said Sgt. West.
“Hammersmith told me about that goody-two-shoes. He’s not willing to use an opportunity like this if it gets in the way of ethics. He
seems to lack a certain scientific conviction.”
“Fine,” said Dr. Noc with a hint of malice in her voice. The only thing holding Dr. Noc back form screaming at Sgt West and attacking
him was her long held, family taught, patience that had somehow, over time, subsumed her temper. She was angry but she knew she
would be of no help to Otter Falls or any other place if she got angry now. She’d be off the project in an instant if West reported that
she was ‘uncooperative’. She would comply, for now.