Thanks for the reviews, especially JayHawk.
File #8 – Freeman's Strife
Second Impact, caused the self-destruction in Antarctica triggered by the now famous Katsuragi Expedition, had brought a lot of pain and misery to planet Earth. This is not just by altering the eco-system negatively in almost all parts of the glove, but what it caused humanity to do next in it's aftermath, which will still last for years to come.
Resources such as food, water and fuel slowly begun to dwindle everywhere on the planet and humanity, reeling from the destruction of Antarctica, began to fight one another other over these few precious resource, practically triggering a Third World War.
World Governments, environmental conservation groups, terrorist factions and all sorts of armed militant organisation all fought each other, causing the deaths of 15 of the Earth's population. Almost everybody suffered in losing a loved one, either due to the effects of starvation and thirst, or to being in the crossfire in this most destructive worldwide conflict, further fuelled by continuous religious dogma which would also have an impact in the years ahead.
The United States of America itself was under attack. As the government focused on keeping the peace overseas, the country was slowly tearing itself apart from the inside as differing factions fought one another over control of territory. One such conflict occurred near Seattle, Washington.
This was the home city of one Gordon Freeman: a Grade-A student who had lost his father to the Katsuragi Expedition and who had already felt his life was shot to hell and believed things couldn't get much worse.
He was only 13 years old…and it did.
13 year old Gordon Freeman laid on his bed, reading his Second Impact edition of Science Monthly while eating a bag of crisps. He observed every little detail of the article, which was about the title subject.
It said how a meteorite slammed into Antarctica, destroying it completely and that is what caused the planet to spiral what could be considered Armageddon. But Gordon didn't believe that.
The part of the meteorite, that is.
'That can't be right,' he thought, 'That can't be possible. Sure a meteorite passed near the Earth, but it slamming into Antarctica…'
He wiped the crumbs off his bed.
'They have got to be kidding.'
Gordon flipped a page, came across the article on the only survivor of the research expedition to Antarctica, Misato Katsuragi, and had been rescued by the Hazardous Environment Combat Unit. He became saddened upon the fact his own father was part of that expedition and how he was completely wiped off the face of the Earth during that explosion.
His feelings perked up when he saw a pic of Misato Katsuragi herself. A photo that was taken before the expedition.
'Wow,' he thought, smiling, 'She's cute.'
Suddenly, he heard the door to the apartment open and slam shut.
"Gordon?"
He heard his mother cry out. He quickly dropped his magazine and left his room.
"Mum?"
Gordon found her in her room, quickly piling clothes into a suitcase. She turned to him.
"Pack some things!" she exclaimed, her face that of fear, "We're leaving."
Gordon was hesitant, not seeing her face like this since dad died, "Why, mum?"
"JUST DO IT!" she cried.
Gordon cringed and ran to his room, where he got out a suitcase. He turned on the radio while he went through his clothes drawers.
He listened to it…
This is CNN Radio with Jay Gamers, bringing to you breaking news from around the globe.
Gordon heard the voice of Mr. Gamer's, the author-turned-news anchorman.
Once again the People's Republic of China has angered the United Nations after blowing up half of Taiwan and it's ruling Guomindang government. The Chinese government has expressed justification for it's month-long bombardment of the island, causing the deaths of 10,000 people and the complete eradication of it's government.
Gordon heard on as piled in clothing, all just casual wear…
Meanwhile, more violence last night in Palestine, where Israeli troops have taken control of the Gaza Strip, leaving thousands homeless and the hopes of a peace in the Middle East broken. Civil strife in Australia as it's territories continue to fight over control of the capital and in local news…
He stacked his favourite books into his case as he continued to listen…
Greenpeace continues it's war of 'conservation' against the government. It's spokesman-turned warlord, the so-called Mr. Green, says that he and his followers will not rest until all shall learn to respect mother nature and what it has left to offer of this stricken world.
Gordon closed his case, remembering that Greenpeace was no longer a peaceful conservation group in the 90s, but a fanatical eco-terrorism group controlled by an overly crazy mind.
(A/N: I support Greenpeace and their efforts to conserve our world. I'm just having fun here with the possibilities of a post-apocalyptic Earth with everyone against each other.)
The President has advised citizens of Seattle to leave their homes and evacuate immediately, to avoid the continuing fighting between Greenpeace 'Greenie' Troops and the dispatched Marine Corp. We will continue to broadcast as much as time permits.
Suitcase in hand and forgetting to turn the radio off, he left the room, where his mother was waiting.
This is Jay Gamers, reporting for CNN Radio.
Gordon's mother saw her son with his suitcase packed.
"You ready?" she asked.
Gordon nodded, before opening the door to find other people tearing down the hallway, directed by M4 carrying Marine, clad in Mark-1 Powered Combat Vests.
"C'mon, ma'am!" a Marine called out to her, "The trucks' waiting for you."
Escorted by the kindly Marine, Gordon and his mother ran down the hallway, suitcases in hand.
Meanwhile a few blocks down the road, Marine's took position across a line of cars as cover. 2 Marines clad in gasmasks squatted behind a red car.
"Hey, Sarge?" one of them said.
"What is it, Private?"
"Are you sure their gonna use gas?" the younger Marine asked.
"They will, private!" the sergeant replied, "Remember back at Fort Bradley?"
"I do," the younger Marine moaned, "All those melted bodies. Makes me want to be sick!"
"Yeah!" another soldier, an African-American wielding a M-60 growled, "All the more to blow their little Greenie asses away!"
"Don't worry, Tower," another Marine said, smiling and patting him on the shoulder, "You'll get your chance!"
Suddenly, the sergeant's radio cackled. He reached for it.
"Talk to me!" he exclaimed.
This is Major Cubbage, the other line replied, Is this Sergeant Robins?
The sergeant's eyes widened, "I'm sorry, sir. This is Robins, sir."
GP troops are moving down on your position, Cubbage said, Hold them off for as long as you can.
"We'll give em' Hell, sir," Robins cried, "Robins out!"
Suddenly, they heard gunfire sound off around them.
"WEAPONS READY!" Robins cried.
Back at the apartment block, Gordon and his mother ran down the stairway.
"Why couldn't we take the lifts?" his mum argued with the Marine.
"Too risky, ma'am," the Marine replied.
Suddenly, the sound of an explosion shook them off their feet.
"F#$#!" the Marine cursed, "They're here!"
Gunfire echoed downstairs, the Marine loaded his M4.
"Stay close," he said to Gordon and his mum.
They saw at the bottom of the stairs some guy with a green bandanna around his head, armed with a H&K Submachine-gun.
"Get back!" the Marine cried, raising his rifle and firing at the Greenie, downing him.
Suddenly, his radio cackled.
Carey, we got Greenies in the perimeter. Keep your guard up.
The Marine Carey acknowledged that transmission and turned to Gordon and his mother.
"We've got to move!" Carey cried.
They entered the lobby where they found hundreds of panicked civilians barge out the doors, amidst gunfire echoing around them coming from the outside. Gordon, mother and Carey also ran out.
'No,' Gordon thought.
It was a war zone that came about so fast. Buildings were burning, people running for their lives, Marines and Greenpeace fanatics firing at each other amongst cars, sandbags and buildings. Apaches flew in the distance, before being shot down by rocket propelled grenades.
"Jeez Laweez!" Carey cried.
A building exploded, sending shrapnel their way. Mother pushed Gordon down, lying on top of them, while Carey was struck by a falling piece of metal, tearing through his chest. He fell backwards, dead.
"Oh God," Gordon's mother cried, "Gordon, we have to go, NOW!"
Once the dust settled, they could see all the Greenpeace troops converge on the Marines, guns blazing. The Marine fought back viciously, among them this one guy armed with an M-60 Heavy Machine-gun.
"C'MON, YOU TREE-HUGGING BASTARDS!" Tower cried, "HUG LEAD!"
The Marine was firing wildly at the GP fanatics, all the while laughing his head off. The heat of war had affected his mind greatly, which showed in the while he mowed down enemies like if they were weeds.
Gordon and his mother ran from cover from the hotel and over the destroyed cars, bullets whizzing past them.
"WHY ARE THEY SHOOTING AT US?" Gordon cried.
"DON'T LOOK BACK!" Mother cried.
They ducked into an alleyway, which they saw badly injured Marines laying against the walls, being treated by Medics. The cries and sounds of pain were starting to wear down Gordon's nerves.
"Mum," he begun, tugging at her arm, the smell of blood and burnt flesh seeping into his nostrils..
A Marine noticed them…
"Hey," he begun gruffly, "Are you injured?"
Mother shook her head.
"Then get the hell out of here," he cried, "We need all the space we can get!"
"But the fighting is only metres away!" Gordon cried.
"Hey kid, lady, if you want evac, head for the trucks down the end of this alleyway!" he exclaimed, bending down towards a fallen Marine, checking his pulse, "We can't hold civvies here."
"Where?" Mother cried, holding onto Gordon.
"THERE'S A BUNCH OF TRUCKS TRANSPORTING NON-F#$#ING-COMBATANTS OUT OF THIS DAMN PLACE," he practically screamed, "NOW I ADVISE YOU TO BE ON THOSE TRUCKS AND STOP BOTHERING ME!"
Not wanting to get on the bad side of an agitated Marine, Gordon and his mother ran down the alley, stepping over the downed Marines. The sounds of artillery and carpet bombs shook the ground.
Suddenly, they head the screams of terrified civilians up ahead. They looked around the corner…
"Oh my God!" Mother said softly
They saw civilian trucks being bombed by Greenies from the rooftops. Marines, desperate to protect the people, fired up at them. A truck was way ahead of the others was not drawing any attention.
"Come on, honey!" Mother cried, taking his hand.
They ran to the truck, which was almost full. A Marine on board saw them.
"COME ON!" the Marine cried, "GET ON BOARD!"
Seeing their ticket out of this hell on Earth, they ran towards it. Suddenly, Gordon felt time slow down around him, before his senses went haywire.
"ARGHHHH!" he cried out.
"GORDON!" his mother also cried out.
He had been shot in the leg. He fell down onto the floor, his mother above him.
"GET UP," she cried, "PLEASE!"
Her eyes then softened as they heard another gun shot, and blood splatter all over Gordon's shirt. His eyes then widened when he realised that his mother had been shot.
She collapsed over him, her ragged breathing growing slower by the second. Tears begun to form in his eyes.
"Mother?"
She didn't respond.
"MOTHER!"
She was dead. Gordon cried out, tears rolling down his cheeks. He then passed out from the shock of losing his mother, and being shot in the leg.
Deep in his conscience, he could hear the sounds of gunfire, people screaming, explosions, then silence. His eyes then opened groggily, to see a Greenie trooper standing near him, AK-47 in hand.
"God," Gordon heard him say, "They didn't say anything about shooting civilians."
His head then jerked upwards, raising his rifle. The sound of a M-60 was heard, and his head practically exploded, before a black soldier kicked down the still standing headless body.
"Motherf#$#er," Tower muttered, looking down at the Greenpeace fanatic he just blew away.
He then looked down at Gordon, eyes wide.
"Oh shit!" he said, before calling out, "MEDIC! WE GOT A LIVE ONE HERE! GET YOUR OVER HERE!"
He then bent down towards him, putting a hand on his forehead.
"You're gonna be all right, kid," Tower said, smiling reassuringly.
Gordon then passed out.
Looking over the city from his personal helicopter, the entity known as the G-Man watched the fighting from below, while talking into his cell phone.
"As expected, humanity is tearing one another apart over the self-destruction of Adam and the dwindling resources of this once proud world," he begun, "If this planet manages to survive this conflict, then maybe we will have future plans for it."
He then peered down to see the destroyed convoy below, with bodies of civilians lining the road, ready to put away in body bags.
"They do not care who they kill. If it's a platoon of soldiers or a family of 4, they just do not care."
He then noticed a boy on a stretcher being put into a medical Humvee. He then smiled.
"On second thoughts," he said, "There is hope for this world after all. The son of Dr. Freeman has survived after all. We will continue to monitor him until further notice."
The G-Man then put away his phone and disappeared in a green flash, mere seconds before a rocket shot down his helicopter.
Gordon Freeman was devastated upon hearing the news of his mother's death. On that day, he swore to devote his life to science in conquering war and death forever, and which led him to his future job as part of the Black Mesa Research Facility Science Team, then the saviour of the Earth and the one who would prevent Third Impact.
Private Tower of the United States Marine Corp fought for the rest of this war, not being eligible for promotion beyond First Class because of his borderline psychotic tendencies. But he was eventually transferred to the elite Hazardous Environment Combat Unit, where unfortunately 11-years later he would be presumably killed during the Lamda Incident, where the HECU would be called upon to detain.
This conflict ended one year later, it's peace treaty being signed by all governments, groups and armed faction on what would be called the Valentine's Treaty, as it is not only signed on that particular day, but also symbolising man's love for his brother, enough to put down his weapon.
Hence, this war would be known in textbooks in the future as The Valentine's Day Conflict, where all of humanity fought one another and eventually stopped on this day.
