Monday, February 11, 2013

True Measure

North Jackson as a community has not been destroyed. That's the good news. The bad news, however, is truly and deeply terrible, so bear with me.

Two nights ago, well after dark, the sound of planes could be heard. Though it was impossible to tell at the time, the pattern of attack suggests those planes--at least two jets capable of dropping bombs, and two firefighting aircraft capable of dropping water--came in from the northwest. We assume this means the UAS made a serious effort to move those airplanes without being seen, since it's highly unlikely they flew all the way from the Texas region to Michigan. We think they must have moved the jets at least, and maybe flew the air-tankers in shorter jumps from a different location since it's unlikely the UAS just had them sitting around.

Either way, this attack reeks of planning. For their part, the UAS has taken full responsibility, openly acknowledging this as their action.

Bombs fell on strategic points in North Jackson that night, hitting the main industrial complex, two secondary complexes, and the massive greenhouse that provides a large portion of their food. In one swipe, the ability of our allies to produce anything at all was destroyed.

You may have noticed that I haven't mentioned NJ much in the last few months. That was an effort not to draw attention to the place, as they've been acting as a primary manufacturing center for the Union even before the Union was created. A wide array of items came from there, things the rest of us can dearly use to make each community stronger. No more.

We've tried to downplay the importance of NJ to the Union's efforts, not mentioning the massive shipments of goods coming from and going to the place. Someone, somewhere, is leaking information. A traitor that we have little chance of finding given how many people knew about the situation.

Much worse than the loss for the rest of the Union is the impact on the residents of North Jackson. They lost a lot of people the other night. The death toll isn't certain yet, as there is a lot of wreckage to sort through, but at last count more than four hundred people were dead or missing. Four hundred mothers, fathers, sons, brothers, sisters, lovers, friends, and fellow survivors. I can't wrap my head around the magnitude of that right now. I don't know if will ever be able to.

The bombing attack was followed by the air-tankers dropping their load of water. The layout of NJ and the fact that the place is lit up at night made seeing the target easy enough; the central field between the manufacturing buildings. The huge patch of--currently--bare dirt NJ uses to grow crops in. Not as critical as the greenhouse, but still very important. The UAS dropped many tons of highly concentrated salt water over that field. Maybe enough to keep anything from growing there again.

I could sit here and list out all the troubles NJ is facing and will face, but you know what they are. You've been through hell like the rest of us. Rebuilding is the least of their worries for the time being. Just managing to get by will be challenge enough.

It would be better if there were someone to fight. If we could just send soldiers up that way and be able to help by force of arms, it might bring some sense of satisfaction or feel as though we could truly affect the situation. Humanitarian aid is all we can manage. The urge to strike down the bastards who did this will have to be ignored for now. The planes are long gone, anyway.

So many lives lost. So much of our potential strength eliminated in less than ten minutes.

Since The Fall, we have managed to defeat every threat we've faced. For the first time, I truly believe we might be outmatched. I don't know if we can win this one.

Not that we won't try. The true measure of a person isn't if they come out on top. It's how they deal with defeat, adversity. Better to try and fail than give in to tyrants. The practical part of me wants to do what would best serve the group and keep the most people alive.

But god...is that the kind of world we want to live in? One ruled by people like the UAS? It's a question I now ask myself constantly. I think you should too.

10 comments:

  1. So is in the open now, its WAR with the cowards of the UAS.
    Our scouts are sure they can pinpoint the location of one bunker they are using and will be reporting back soon to the Dragoons new base.
    We are sending you a few surprises to help defend New Haven and a convoy of help has been dispatched to New Jackson with the same support in defencefor them.

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    1. So sorry for all you guys. Wé wish wé could help but we're too bloody far away to be of any use. Our prayers are with you all.

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  2. Manhunters are ready to mobilize, we have a gift for them.

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  3. Gavin If you need people to do what is necessary to get the job done we are them, there is no dishonor is killing cowards.

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  4. I find this, quite frankly, nauseating. To say nothing of the needless loss of life, what about a pure numbers game? What about the loss of resources. The whole world is split into survivor camps. We don't have the infrastructure that once existed and even if the UAS is as good at that as they claim, we never will anytime soon. So the UAS can just afford to destroy greenhouses and crop fields? They can afford to destroy industrial complexes? Scorched earth is one thing, but the UAS has to live here too. Even from their "We're doing this for the greater good" numbers game, they've shown themselves to be utterly incompetent and unable to see anything outside of their own petty need for power.

    Fuck them.

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  5. Gavin, Eddy, I want all your troops and manpower heading to our new base ASAP! We have to be strategic in our response to this. Gavin, I know about the surprise gifts for North Jackson and New Haven and I would suggest not sending them quite yet. It is one thing to prepare and quite another to broadcast. We need to prepare for the next step, not broadcast that we are afraid. Sending those surprise gifts will give the UAS the wrong impression. Haul them with you to our new base. We will deal with the UAS soon enough.

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    1. Ok all military forces are now heading to new base, will arrive within week. Humanitarian convoy still heading for New Jackson

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  6. So fucking shortsighted... destroying resources that we all need, including living people, to what end? Come be a part of our new world order so we can make survival of everyone more difficult! I am so disgusted I am at a loss of anything more to say.

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    1. Exactly. It's so bizarre. Why would anyone want power right now? It's meaningless in the broad sense. There are dead creatures biting us to death. The only power you can get is being a part of a community, or being a sociopathic marauder. One of those two choices gets you killed. And neither of those two choices gets you back in charge of the United States government because the US is as dead as my family, friends, job, and old life. How do they justify this? Seriously? How? This is beyond a "we're in charge" message. I just can't see how even misguided people like the UAS can be so shortsighted.

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  7. Getting worried, been 3 days since last post..

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