ErlBishop
There is already the tenth day after the massacre in Redding. Our squad was unable to contact the main forces. The talented youngster who is knowledgeable in electronics, the only who could fix a broken radio, was shot one of the first in a night assault.
There were too many attackers we didn’t stand a chance. We were able to save few people from settlement, they told us that raiders searched prewar warehouse, or wealth buried under the city, the Redding’s people themselves don’t know what or where it is and does it exist at all. The persecution continues, Raiders cut us from retreating to Klamath, so uor only option was to go to the mountains at the north-east. Many of us are wounded, there is barely enough supplies for a week. It is difficult to maintain order, especially after a couple of volunteers went to divert the pursuit from us, I think everybody believes that they just went over to the bandits, we are doomed if this is true.
One of my squad members who was guarding at night guard said he saw a group of miners talking far from others. I should watch them carefully.
Those bastards tried to steal the remaining provisions and to withdraw during night camp, I had to shoot the instigator, damn, we have so few people. There are storms in this time of year.
I've been thinking that we have got out from the Raiders, but apparently they want that fairytale wealth too much, much more than I thought, John caught Raider’s scout, but we couldn’t he said it would look like coyotes attack, he is better in this, I've never understood traces of animals and stuff. People are scared.
Elder said that there are abandoned mines in these mountains, I hope we can take hide there.
We found the entrance to the mine, rotten beams and heavy choking air are not what we was looking for. To be honest this place does not inspire confidence in me, but we don’t have a choice. According elder’s descriptions of the mine main shaft should be all way through mountain, we should prepare torches.
Condition of mines was even worse than I expected, an underground bugs undermined beams or it were earthquakes over the years that was corroding mines, but the main line was blocked. There is still hope that the sideway branches are interconnected and still passable.
Torches almost depleted, mine was much deeper than it seemed at first. We have to explore side tunnels with at least three men, since some insectoid creature dragged away a child, we rescued him, but it was too late, we did not have medication to to suppress the poisoning of numerous bites. People are scared, but there is no turning back.
All in vain, what a bitter irony, the rescue was so close.
The only safe line shaft was downhill, and as we went down lower, air became heavier. The tunnel widened into a wide cave, where we decided to leave the settlers, many of whom could not walk on their own, and split squad to guard and to explore the path that would lead up. I do not remember these events clearly maybe due to asphyxia, even though it was easier because for me because of built-in filter of my mask-helmet and I was leading exploring group. We almost crossed cave, when it happened. In the dim light dispersed by chemical flare, no one noticed how creature crept up to Mike, it jumped on him and plunged fangs into throat, John frantically raised his machinegun, I tried to stop him, but my scream drowned in the deafening blast. Was it gas pocket or organic methane emission, I don’t know, I hate myself for not be able to prevent that, though I remembered about danger of underground explosions when it was too late.
The explosion collapsed cave, burying my comrades and settlers. I think I was trying to dig out avalanche, nails broke, fingers bleeding, I remember I heard the muffled cries from the rubble, although now I understand that this is impossible and it has to be a hallucination from the shock.
Almost choked, I felt agonizing pain all over body, my instincts demanded to get out there, to survive and I left them, I wandered away from grave. I do not know how much I walked, my head throbbing pain, everything was swimming before my eyes. I think over time tunnel walls became straighter, more tech, but I didn’t notice that then. Without a clear goal, I walked along the tunnel my hand resting on the wall, in fear to lose only guide, and at some point I realized that I stand before crack in some smooth thick concrete wall. That what appeared to be deep side tunnels of mines, were tunnels connecting the old bunker built in mountain. Fate jokes on me, I found treasure that raiders were looking for, that what could save everyone. That crash, which destroyed the mine, opened a passage into the bunker shelter. Oddly enough, everything inside remained relatively untouched, stocks of military rations could be enough for settlers in the coming months, if not for years. As far as I understand basic mechanisms were working, I found a serviceable radio, but after configuring it, when I heard callsigns of main base I just don’t know what to say to them ...
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