I do not own Chuck or any of the characters ... yada yada ... you know the drill.

--Chuck Vs the Bunker--

Authors Notes:

Hi Folks,

Apologies for another delayed update. I had to completely rewrite this chapter as the initial version was just so ... Dull. Unfortunately one of the problems with not having a beta is that if I don't like the first draft I have to fix it (Ahh poor me, Can't you just hear the violins playing ;-). Hopefully this version is a bit better. Next update won't be so long promise (it almost went up today but I had to give it another once over).

Last, important details: Takes place after season two.

-- Chuck Vs the Bunker Chapter 7 --

Agent William Snow was so taken up in enjoying the eager Chef's culinary delights that eventually the amused Director had to drag him away. Moving through another door they came in to a large and well equipped entertainment room. It was here that all the children had decided to congregate. The older ones, mostly in their teens, were lounging over the various sofas and chairs at the back of the room whilst the youngster were sprawled over beanbags at the front. They were watching a boy playing a videogame on the large TV screen at the front of the room. Variously booing and cheering at his progress.

Pointing to a couple of hansom looking blond twins, who Snow guessed at about seventeen, The Director started naming the children "That's Jeffry and John my nephews. The one with the book is Mia, Morgan and Anna's little girl and next to her is their eldest daughter Eleanor. The little hellion with all the piercings is Casey and Alex's oldest Kat. Their little boy James is the one on the Wii3. The little girl next to him is Amber, that would be Lester's adopted daughter and.." However, before he could finish another two teenagers came into the room.

"Hey Dad, Who's the stiff?" The oldest, about 16 said seriously. She had straight light brown hair and her father's deep brown eyes. The youngest of the pair was a boy who looked about his sister he had short unkempt curly hair and a happy face complimented by intelligent green eyes.

"Kids, be nice. This is Agent Snow. He's going to be doing some work for me. Agent Snow I'd like you to meet my youngest Lisa and Bryce". The Director said before turning back to the children "Have you two seen your sister?"

"No, but I think she went off with Lizzie looking for Uncle Casey."

Joint Operation Centre, Crystal Peak, Secure Underground Facility

Chuck was stating to get a handle on how the base was organised. Not counting the agents who had arrived with him Chuck now had a team of 47, of which a little over two thirds were annalists with the rest being specialist engineers who had been onsite installing equipment. Most were either CIA or NSA personnel but a few, including the erratic Lt Hick's, were from Military intelligence on loan from the DOD.

In addition to the JOC Crystal Peak had two other operations rooms, four floors below them was the Military command centre. When ready it would have replaced the NORAD centre at Cheyenne and acted as a backup for the NORTHCOM command centre at Peterson's Air force base. At the moment it was only partially manned but the base commander, General Winters, was rapidly drafting any spare body to fill spots.

Four floors above was the National Emergency centre, which was designed as aplace to coordinate national emergencies like Hurricane Katrina. Unfortunately under the circumstances it was the least ready out of the three. Although most of the equipment was installed the place was virtually deserted. Only a few technicians had been onsite debugging the phone system when the attack happened. A pair of FEMA guys who had been lucky enough (or unlucky depending on how you looked at it) to be on base now had the unenviable job of running it.

Working shifts they directed a rag tag group of technicians and clerks who had been ordered to help man the constantly ringing phones. They were now taking calls on everything from hospital drug shortages to when the trash was next going to be collected. No one was quite sure how anyone had got the number since the centre wasn't supposed to be operational. That just went down as yet another mystery to be solved. For the time being it didn't matter and it certainly didn't stop the calls from coming.

Jeffery Barnes and Lester Patel were alone in the storage room.

"What are you talking about, no alcohol. How can there be no booze. It must be here somewhere!" The Indian man said indignantly looking down at his friend.

"No man this place is dryer than the Sahara" the larger man said sadly before adding wistfully "Only need a hit to get loaded. Man I just need one drink".

Lester, who'd known his friend a long time "Since when have you ever needed just one drink!"

Jeff didn't appear to be listening and stared off in to space mumbling "Just can't remember if it's the thirteenth or fourteenth".

Starting to get worried Lester tried to concentrate on the problem "Come on, there must be some round here. Think who'd have booze".

Jeff was still mumbling to himself and paid no attention "I drink to forget.. I drink"

Suddenly Lester's eyes lit up with a flash of inspiration "Jeffery, I have an idea"

Chuck lean forward and switched on the large display mounted to the wall. It at been a long day but slowly the three of them were getting a handle on the situation.

Chuck began with his update

"Ok so all the computers systems have now been put back together. Thanks to the access codes in the intersect we now have access to everything that had been downloaded to the servers prior to the attack. There's too much for me to go through alone so I've got a team working to filter out the most relevant information."

"Good work Chuck, your doing great" Sarah said leaning over and holding his hand to reassure him.

"Look if you two are just going to make kissy faces the whole time I'm leaving." Casey grunted in the corner.

Sarah shot Casey a look that could have melted lead but he chose to ignore it. Composing herself Sarah lean forward and began her own update.

"We've still getting a complete wall of silence out of Cheyenne so far. We get through ok, but they just take a message and don't get back to us. I've spoken to several other branch offices and substations but they have no better idea of who's in charge than we do. It's like the whole chain of command has broken down. Also, we don't seem to be able to get through to Langley at all. They were outside the blast areas so it doesn't make sense."

Pausing she checked her notes before continuing.

"I've started getting my team to update and coordinate any field agents who've checked in with us. We're also increasingly getting calls from military units and the other civilian agencies, there all asking for directions."

Chuck sighed and said "ok, military units can be directed to Winters people. Our analysts can deal with the intelligence agencies plus any spy stuff. Everything else will have to be directed to the NEC (National Emergency Centre). They won't like us for it but it can't be helped. Casey, How's our strike team looking?"

Casey flipped over his note pad to the correct page and started reading "We were able to commandeer the three Blackhawks we came in on plus one of the bases Chinooks so we have plenty of transport. As for bodies, I've got Snow out picking up Agents and Special Forces personnel who happened to be in the area. Including Snow's tactical team we now have about 40 guys. It's a bit of mixed bag, a squad of Army Rangers, some Delta Force, a couple of 160th SOAR guys and a collection of agents. We've got a bit of everything. CIA, NSA, FBI, CTU and DEA, We even have a couple of Secret Service spooks who'd been out on a fishing trip. Not sure how well these folks will work together but it should be interesting to find out. "

Casey put down the pad and looked up "So we sure it's Fulcrum?

Chuck answered "Not for certain, we still don't have a definitive link to the bombs."

Sarah picked up from there "But its looking more likely. Going through the chatter there is clear indication of a large non-government organisation behind it. We don't have anything concrete but the Ring or Fulcrum seem like the most likely candidates.

Casey's Quarters, Crystal Peak.

Looking around nervously as Lester prized open the lock Jeff let out a sigh of relief and pushed against the door.

"To alcohol! The cause and solution to all life's problems"

"Shhh.. Jeffery. Do you want us to get caught?"

Jeff wasn't listening, to focus on finding the elusive elixir he craved. Paying no attention to the noise he was making he started ransacking the apartment.

"Keep it down! He's going to hear us!" Lester hissed. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea?

"Come to Papa!" Jeff yelled holding up the bottle of scotch in triumph. Unscrewing the cap he began to chug the liquid down."

"WHAT THE HELL!" The very angry voice of the NSA agent yelled from the door way.

Commander Winters sat there patiently as Chuck and the others took their seats.

"Agent Carmichael, sorry to drag you away, I know you are very busy. Have you been able to make any progress?"

Chuck, who had been coached by Sarah as to what to say started in the most confident voice he could summon. "Yes sir, we now have an overview of the situation both domestically and worldwide.

"How we looking?" the commander asked. "Not great" Chuck said looking across at Sarah who took over.

"As you would expect, casualties from the initial attack were high. No numbers to date but we would expect a figure in the millions. In addition the loss of so many communication and transport hubs is severely hampering aid efforts. Also, the electrical grid across the whole east coast is down due to surges resulting from the blasts. However that's not our biggest problem"

Here Chuck picked up again "Chain of command, both military and civilian, has broken down. We are unable to get any sense from Cheyenne and there is still no response yet from the Joint Chief's or the acting President. From what we can make out no one else has had better luck."

Casey came in at this "It's a mess, local state and county offices are continuing as best they can but theirs no coordination. National Guard and army units are out doing aid and peace keeping missions but its all under local command. We even have reports that overseas units are headed back to the US under their own initiative"

"What about the rest of the world?"

Chuck answered "Everyone's holding fire for the time being, there's been no further strikes since the bomb exploded over Soul. Our NATO allies have offered humanitarian assistance but Britain and France have been pretty insistent about not wanting to escalate things. However, we have reports that Russian and North Korean military units are mobilizing. It may only be a matter of time until they make a move."

"So where does that leave us?" Said the commander finally

"Hey Chuck" Sarah said sticking her head around the door. Finishing his call Chuck looked up at her. "Hey Sarah, What's up?"

"Nothing, just wondered how you're holding up, you didn't come back to the room last night."

"Yeah sorry. Had to pull an all-nighter. Something came up."

"Problem? You should have woken me ." She said coming around to the other side of the desk. Looking up at her Chuck said "Nah, you needed to rest. Besides it's all sorted now"

"Well ok, but don't work to hard. You need to rest as well" She said leaning forward and kissing him gently.

Watching her leave Chuck leaned back in to his chair and thought I could get used to this

Chuck put down the intelligence report they were discussing

"Casey, You haven't seen Jeff and Lester have you? They haven't been seen since yesterday."

Casey managed to avoid responding as just then the door flew open.

"Sir" Hicks said red faced as he stormed into the office. "We have just had news from our agents outside Boston. They picked up a convoy of personnel who'd escaped the Washington blast. They are being flown over to Cheyenne now. Thought you would want to see this" the young man said handing him the list. Casey leaned forward and grunted "looks like we have a new president".

Chuck who had been focused on another name looked up "sorry?"

Casey pointed to the first name on the list "Secretary of Education Laura Rosaline". Seeing Chuck look back blankly "doesn't anyone teach the constitution anymore?"

Flag

Images of the constitution and the articles of secession

Canon

List of Cabinet posts

Flag

"Oh, I see" Chuck said recovering himself before saying "but ok, that's not what I noticed. Check the third name from the top."

Casey looked again at the list. "Beckman" he said looking back up "She's alive".

AN: Still not 100% happy with this but it's better than it was. Any ideas for improvements let men know.