Chapter 1: The Beginning

Part 1: Disaster at Mt. Heatherfield

December 28, 2028

It was another cold winter day in Heatherfield, CA, with snow up to three inches deep blanketing the area. 36-year-old Hay Lin, her husband, 36-year-old Eric and their five-year-old twin sons, Michael and Chris had just come back from vacationing in the Caribbean. 35-year-old Irma Lair, her husband, 36-year-old Robert, and their six-year-old son Andrew were preparing for a vacation to the ski lodge at Mt. Heatherfield with their friends. "I can't wait to hit the slopes, what about you?" Irma asked. "I know, I haven't been skiing before, but I thought I might as well try it out." Robert replied as he finished packing the suitcase. They put on their winter gear and picked up their suitcases. "Come on, Andrew, we're going!" Robert called out as they walked to the front door. Irma's best friend, 36-year-old Cornelia Hale and her husband, 38-year-old Caleb, had just arrived in their green Dodge Durango 4X4 SUV, their skis and Caleb's snowboard attached to the racks on the roof. "You guys definitely look ready to go!" Cornelia said as she and Caleb got out. "Yeah, it's been a while since the last time I went skiing." Irma said as Robert opened the hatch on the back of him and Irma's blue Ford Windstar 4X4 van. "Corny!" Andrew shouted in delight as he rushed over to hug Cornelia. "Hey, little man!" Cornelia said as she kneeled down and hugged Andrew. "I never knew you could ski!" Cornelia told Robert as he put him and Irma's suitcases and Andrew's backpack in the cargo area of the van. "I never have; this will be my first time." Robert replied as he finished. "Is that everything?" Irma asked Robert. "Yep, that's all of it!" Robert replied as he closed the hatch.

Just then, Irma's cell phone began to ring. "Hello? Will, hey! You guys ready yet?" Irma said as she answered. "Yeah, we're ready; we're getting into the truck right now!" 35-year-old Will Vandom replied on the other end. "Great, we're just now getting ready to head out now." Irma said. "Great, we'll meet you guys there!" Will said. "OK, see you in twenty minutes." Irma replied as she and Will hung up. "Great; we're ready to go!" Cornelia said as Robert attached him and Irma's skis to the rack on the van. "Yeah, hey, Corny, are we following you, or are you following me?" Irma asked. "I don't know, what do you want to do?" Cornelia asked. "Well…I guess I can follow you, you know more about how to get there than I do." Irma admitted. "OK, we can do that." Cornelia replied. "OK, let's go!" Irma said as she, Andrew and Robert got into the van. Cornelia and Caleb got into the Durango and the two vehicles started up. Cornelia pulled in front as Robert and Irma followed her and Caleb.

Twenty minutes later, they got to the Mt. Heatherfield Ski Lodge ten miles north of downtown Heatherfield. They parked next to Will's red Toyota Tundra 4X4 pickup truck. Will, her husband, 34-year-old Matt, Sr., and their five-year-old son, Matt, Jr., were waiting in the parking lot. "I take it Taranee and the gang aren't here yet?" Irma asked. "Nope, not ye-…oh, here they come!" Will said as she spotted an orange Ford Escape hybrid 4X4 SUV pulling up into an empty spot next to Robert and Irma's van. 36-year-old Taranee Cook, her husband, 36-year-old Nigel and their six-year-old daughter Alexis came out and walked to the group. "Hey, Taranee, how've you guys been?" Will asked as she hugged Taranee. "We've been doing great and you guys?" Taranee replied. "We've never been better." Irma said as she and Robert briefly kissed. "Shall we head up to the lodge?" Cornelia asked. "Yes, we shall." Irma replied as the group began to walk up to the ski lodge. "I don't know if I can ski." Andrew said ten minutes later as the group was getting ready. "It's OK; you can stay here and play with the other kids." Irma told him. "OK, I will." Andrew replied as he got his black PSP out of his backpack. "Here we go." Irma said as the group got outside. The group went up to the ski-lift and got in line. After a five-minute wait, the group was on four chairs on the lift, 50 feet above the snow-covered southern slope of Mt. Heatherfield, which was a dormant volcano. Robert couldn't help but get his camera and take a picture of the view. Eight minutes later, Robert was helping Irma get her skis on, while Caleb got his snowboard ready. Will and Matt were already finding a good place to start. Taranee and Matt were already starting their first run down the ski-slopes. As Cornelia was getting into position, the group heard a low rumble coming from below their feet. "OK, I don't like the way that sounded." Cornelia said with concern. "I agree, I think we should be extra careful." Irma replied. Caleb started his run, with Cornelia right behind him.

Robert and Irma got into position, and put on their goggles. "After you, my dear." Robert said. "Awww, you're sweet as always." Irma replied as she started her run. "OK, it's game time!" Robert muttered as he pushed with his ski poles and began to accelerate. "Ahhh, that's a good breeze." Robert said as he picked up speed. Suddenly, the rumble they heard a minute ago resumed and intensified. Oh, no, I sense a possible avalanche coming! He thought as he picked up speed. He briefly looked back as the rumbling intensified, and was horrified to see a large mass of snow coming loose from the top of the slope. "Oh…shit, shit, shit, shit, SHIT!" Robert said as he used his ski poles to accelerate. In twenty seconds he was at the bottom of the slope, the avalanche 200 yards behind him. "ROBERT, IN HERE, HURRY UP!" Irma shouted from the lodge as Robert ditched his skis and rushed inside. He closed the door just as the mass of snow and ice piled up at the side of the lodge and the rumbling stopped. "Let's go, I don't think it's safe here." Cornelia said. "Yeah, that's a good idea." Robert said as the families walked through the knee-deep snow towards their vehicles.

Suddenly, the rumbling started up again, this time with more intensity. Just as the group got to the parking lot, a loud bang rocked the cold air and echoed throughout the area. Irma, Robert and the others looked towards the lodge and were horrified by what they saw: a massive grey cloud rising high into the atmosphere. Everyone at the lodge knew what was happening: Mt. Heatherfield was erupting! "GO!" Irma shouted as Robert started the engine. "We're gone!" Robert replied as he floored the accelerator, the others right behind them. Five minutes later, they saw that the road ahead was jam-packed with cars. "Hang on, guys!" Robert said as he switched on the van's four-wheel drive and drove off of the road around the traffic jam. After a minute-long bumpy ride, Robert discovered that the traffic was being blocked by a fallen tree. Robert and the others got back onto the road. He looked in the rear-view mirror and saw that the ash cloud had covered the entire summit of Mt. Heatherfield, and was beginning to spread. Just then, a grey snow-like substance began to fall from the sky. "What is that stuff?" Andrew asked. "It's ash, it's coming from that cloud back there." Robert replied. Twenty minutes later, they reached downtown Heatherfield, where a light haze was settling all over the city, reducing visibility. Each of the four families went to their respective houses, sealed all of the air-conditioning vents, turned off the air conditioning units and sealed all windows as they took shelter from the fall of deadly ash. "Now what do we do, Mom?" Andrew asked. "Now, we wait it out." Irma replied. That night, Robert, Irma and Andrew fell asleep on the living room couch.

The next morning, Robert woke up and checked the conditions outside through the window. "How is it?" Irma asked as she woke up. "There's still a lot of ash falling outside." Robert replied. "It's dark in here." Andrew said. Robert and Irma agreed; the room was dark. "The ash fall must have blocked out the sun." Irma said. "Yeah, it looks that way." Robert replied as he flipped a switch to turn on a light, but nothing happened. "Great, the power is out!" he said. "I'm gonna try to call Cornelia and see how they're holding up." Irma said as she got out her cell phone. "OK, I'll be downstairs getting the backup generator going." Robert replied as he went down to the basement. Irma dialed Cornelia's number and anxiously awaited her response. Ten seconds later, Cornelia's voice came on, despite some static: "Irma …that you? How are…holding…-p?" Cornelia said. "Cornelia, can you hear me?" Irma asked. "Yeah, I … hear you." Cornelia said. "How are you guys holding up?" Irma asked. "We're…up just fin-……How are…doing?" Cornelia asked. "We're holding up just fine." Irma replied. "OK, we…see you…" Cornelia said before hanging up. Thirty seconds later, the lights came on as the generator became operational. "How are they?" Robert asked after he came back up from the basement. "There was some static, but she answered, so that means that they're still alive." Irma replied. Robert breathed a sigh of relief. "That's good, at least they're OK." Robert said.

Just then, the house phone rang. Irma checked the caller ID and saw that it was Will. She picked up the phone and pressed that TALK button. There was a lot more static coming from the earpiece than there was during her call to Cornelia. "Irma? … Is…you?" Will's voice said. "Yeah, it's me! Are you guys OK?" Irma asked. "……a lot…static…can't…you." Will said. "I said, it's me, we're OK!" Irma repeated. "OK, we-…'' Suddenly, the call got cut off and the busy tone sounded. "Shoot, the line must have gone dead!" Irma said. "But they answered, right?" Robert asked. "Yeah, they did." Irma replied. "Good, that means they're OK." Robert said. "Corny's OK?" Andrew asked as he sat down next to Irma and Robert. "Yes, Cornelia's OK, we're all OK." Irma said as she kneeled down and hugged her son. The family fell asleep two hours later.

The next morning, Robert woke up and saw hints of sunlight coming from the window. "Guys, hey guys, wake up." He said. Irma and Andrew woke up and outstretched their arms as they yawned. "What is it, dear?" Irma asked as she and Andrew got up and walked towards Robert. "Take a look at this, the ash looks like it's thinning out." Robert said as Irma and Andrew stood next to him. "Wow, you're right." Irma said. "Do you think it's safe to go outside?" Irma asked. "I think so, but we'll need dust masks." Robert replied as he opened a kitchen drawer and got out three white dust masks. Robert, Irma and Andrew each put on a dust mask and went to the door. "OK, here we go." Robert said as he opened the door and the family stepped into the outside world for the first time in two-three days. There was still some ash falling, but it was distinctly thin. "Is it over?" Andrew asked. Robert looked and saw that the cloud over Mt. Heatherfield had almost completely dissipated. "Yes, it's finally over." Irma said happily. Over the next week, everyone was clearing away the ash that had fallen during the eruption. The family watched the news, which said that over eighty people were killed during the eruption, and that there was over $100,000 in property damages. Will and the other families all survived the eruption in their houses.

Part 2: Prelude to War

January 11, 2029

Robert, Irma, Cornelia and Caleb were watching TV at Robert's house while Andrew was at school two weeks after the eruption of Mt. Heatherfield. At 2:30 PM, they were watching "Dogfights", when suddenly, a news segment came on. "We have breaking news about a terrible event that has occurred in the Middle East." The report began. "We now bring you live to our representative in Kuwait with the details, Tim?" the image on the TV then switched to a city in Kuwait, where another reporter was standing in a city plaza. "Ten minutes ago, Iran launched a barrage of what was later confirmed to be nuclear missiles at Israel. With this act, Iran made their pledge to 'wipe Israel off the map' a cold reality. The missiles had an estimated yield of at least 500 kilotons to 2 megatons each, and the death toll is estimated to be at least 8,200,000, the entire population of Israel. All of Israel's allies, including the U.S. and other NATO nations, are outraged at Iran due to this deliberate and unprovoked attack." The report said as images of the destruction flashed on the screen. A tear flowed down Irma's cheek as the group looked on. "How…how could they do this?" she asked as the report continued: "It was also recently confirmed that Iranian commandoes were responsible for the destruction of New York City seven years ago, which was the first time that such an attack occurred in the US." "What, those bastards were also the ones that killed my father?!" Irma asked in a tone that was clearly one of anger and hate. "Holy shit, I never expected that!" Robert said as the report concluded in the studio. "I have a feeling that this could get worse." Caleb said as Cornelia changed the channel. "I hope this doesn't get any worse." Cornelia said.

Two days later…

"GUYS, YOU NEED TO SEE THIS!!" Robert called out as he pressed the PAUSE button on his satellite remote. Irma, Cornelia and Caleb came running out of the backyard and into the living room. They sat down and Robert pressed the PLAY button. There was a presidential address on the big-screen TV: "My fellow Americans, this is yet another day which will live in infamy. At 10:15 this morning, three Iranian nuclear missiles detonated over the cities of Jacksonville, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; and Richmond, Virginia. The entire populations of each city are either dead or injured, and the areas around the cities are uninhabitable due to radioactive fallout from the explosions. As a result of this event, and the destruction of New York City and Israel, the United States has declared war on Iran. As a precaution, at least 200 persons in each branch of the Reserve forces are being called into active duty." "WHAT?!" Robert and Caleb shouted simultaneously. "Oh my…That cannot be good!" Cornelia said.

Just then, Robert and Caleb's cell phones began to ring. They answered and got the most shocking news of their lives: they were among the Reserve personnel being called up for active duty! "What is it?" Irma asked in concern. "I have bad news: that was the office of naval command, they said that they're calling me into active duty." Robert replied grimly. "WHAT?! That can't be!" Irma said in disappointment, tears building up in her eyes. "I'm sorry, but I have no choice, but don't worry, I'll be back, you remember last time in North Korea, right?" Robert said in a reassuring voice. Irma fell into his arms and cried. "But I was there with you back then, I helped make sure you were safe." Irma said as Robert held her tightly in his arms. "In my heart, you always will be." Robert said as he wiped her tears. The next day, Robert and Caleb went to the MEPS center in San Diego, before heading to the flight training center at NAS Lemoore. Robert went to refreshment training to be recertified to fly the F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. Caleb decided to go to training to fly the Navy's newest combat helicopter, the AH-64E Sea Apache, the naval version of the AH-64 Apache. After training, Robert joined VFA-115 Eagles on board USS Ronald Reagan (CVN-76). Caleb joined HLA-26 Firestorms, also on the Ronald Reagan. They would be deployed with the carrier's battle group to begin combat operations within three days.