total, estimates were the 5th had lost 67% of
the personnel. The spread of the virus happened so fast there was
little that anyone could do. Putting the entire fleet on Biohazard
Alert was the best he could do, and it appeared that the action
saved the remaining 33%.
His only option was to find a way to keep
the fleet afloat and protect the remaining crews.
The 5th had been on the water for 24 days
prior to the virus outbreak. According to his med staff that was
longer than any incubation period that made sense. Someone they
were in contact with prior to departure couldn't have spread
anything, the crew caught. The virus broke out on all the ships at
once and none of the crew had moved from ship to ship. None of the
onboard air filters showed any contaminants and they were too far
at sea for a spread from land or aircraft.
Leaving the remaining crew in hazmat gear
seemed counterproductive so he called Commander Pearl into his
office.
"Doc, this virus isn't making any sense.
From what you've told me, there is no way my people caught it from
shore. We haven't had any fly-bys to spray us and we're too far out
to sea for something airborne. Besides that, it has popped up at
the same time on all of the ships. What the fuck is going on?
"Sir, I can't explain it. I don't think it's
airborne and I don't think we got it from land. If there were an
incubation period, then it would have popped up on shore before
now."
"Doc do you have any problem with storing
the hazmat gear?"
"Admiral I don't think it will make any
difference. I'm isolating the sick and leaving the med people in
hazmat gear. Following that procedure seems to reduce the rate of
spread. I think that is our only defense."
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
The door to the Oval Office opened.
President Patterson was shaking the World Trade Fund President's
hand. "It was good to see you again Pierre. I hope we can find a
way to increase trade to that area."
"Yes Mr. President that may be possible, but
we have to deal with those other issues first."
"I agree, I think we'll be able to solve
those."
After the WTF President had left, Judy stuck
her head in and said, "Mr. President I moved the meeting with the
Minority Whip until later so we could fit the CDC in. The Director
has called in from Atlanta, would you like to speak with him
now?"
"Get Eddy in here; then plug him in."
"Roberto, I want you to stay and hear this.
Also, have your office follow-up up with the WTF and make sure they
go through on what we just discussed."
"Will, do."
After a moment, Eddy was able to rush up the
hallway and enter just as Judy was connecting the director of the
CDC.
"Good afternoon Mr. President."
"Paul, how are you, Joy and the kids
doing?"
"Excellent Mr. President."
"Well, what is happening?"
"Mr. President, I wish I had a complete
answer for you. The CDC got involved about 10 hours ago and we are
throwing all necessary resources at it until we understand what is
happening. I've sent our top epidemiologist to the area and we are
waiting for her to call in and give us an update."
"The preliminary reports suggest a very high
mortality rate, a very short incubation period as well as being
airborne and highly contagious and infectious. Any of those pieces
of information is alarming. I suspect it isn't as virulent as these
early reports suggest, but we are moving as fast as possible."
"Paul, we heard it is breaking out in
multiple areas spontaneously, is that correct?"
"Again Mr. President we are far from having
all of the information, sometimes reporting is skewed. The reports
all surface at once making it appear that it is occurring
simultaneously in multiple areas. Again let's hope it is a
reporting anomaly. A virus doesn't spread like that, so I'm very
suspicious of the information we're getting. Virus' spread and go
from one person to another. They don't start in multiple places all
at once."
"Ok, Paul please stay on top of this and if
anything changes call Eddy
Jeremy Blaustein
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David Lee Stone
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Jarkko Sipila
Susan Leigh Carlton
Tara Dairman
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Paul Levine