01 - Evacuation

Evacuation

The Boris Chronicles survey Earth from the time that Bethany Anne was preparing to leave Earth to 50 - 60 years after WWDE. It concentrates on the Siberian area of Russia, and pinpoints specifically the life and times of the werebear Boris Vasily - how he developed his area, and maintained a manner of civilization on his part of the Earth unparalelled except by that maintained by Yuko, in Japan, during the time from when Michael disappeared in the bomb blast to about 100 years before Bethany Anne returned, and before Michael had reconnected with Yuko, Boris or Bethany Anne. It is also before the age of Madness appeared.

BC01/1 Fighting with Michael to protect the Colorado base, was wounded (head shot), and constant headache flared. There was a cresting wave of pain as he felt himself shifting back to human form. Slowly, he dropped to the ground and fell into unconsciousness. Discovered by Eric in the clean-up process (a large man, bearded and partially nude. Eric asks Bethany Anne if Boris might be put in Pod-doc. Bethany Anne, having just been informed of Michael’s death, agrees. Save something from this debacle!

BC 01/2 Boris' Problem Bethany Anne personally retrieved Boris and took him to TOM and the Pod-doc. TOM discovered that he had a different type of nanocyte, one more similar to Michael’s original design. Woke up in the pod, and realized that his constant pain was gone. He had come to America because he needed to find out if this new technology might be the cause. “These headaches are wearing on me. I can only assume that they are somewhat related to the new technology you have created?” ADAM and I have found a solution to the source of the headaches. It will require around two hours in the pod. Boris swore service to Bethany Anne, on Michael’s memory, and Bethany Anne to Boris "In honor, I keep your vows as mine. In memory of loves lost, I will protect your people as my own." He took one knee before Bethany Anne, "On this world, my service is yours."

'BC 01/3 Boris and the TQBs, Pricolici Problems Took three hours in Pod to heal Boris of headaches. He agreed to sparring sessions with TQBs, as humans Peter went first. Took two minutes for him to be on the ground. Boris told him why. “You are good, youngling. I have learned many different styles over the centuries. Siberia was the ends of the earth for a long time, you see. People from many different schools of fighting ended up there. I tried for many decades to learn from as many as possible. I would guess that I have at least four centuries on you. Do not take it so hard.” Nathan was next. Likewise. “You have spent a lot of time training, but you let yourself fall into a rhythm. It is a weakness you need to be careful of. An experienced opponent will find it and exploit it.” Gabrielle was next. One-half minute later, Gabrielle yielded. Then wanted a rematch, with some tricks Bethany Anne had taught her. Ten minutes later Bethany Anne called it a draw.

Boris spoke to the Pricolicis in her Guard, as to how to avoid the madness of that shape. The simplest means: “One year in five, stay out of the Pricolici form and you won’t lose yourself to it.” (See Creatures, Pricolici) Frank came in, told Boris, “Boris, your town is Romanovka, right? The one in Chelyabinsk Oblast?” I’ve received information the Russian government is rounding up treasonous dissidents there.” , “It was straight from the President wasn’t it? The politics are such that if a non-Russian attempts to interfere, more of my people will be put in danger.” Bethany Anne’s reaction? If the situation seems bad enough to me, I’ll make a personal appearance and if the Russian fucking government wants to play hardball? I’ll drop some rocks on their hard-ass heads.”

BC 01/4 Romanovska Attacked When Boris got back to his town, went to friend Paul’s house. No blood, a hopeful sign. Paul and Boris will rescue those who had been arrested, and then decide if Russia is truly home for us now. Tell everyone to prepare for a Meeting of Decision.” Before they could do that, another platoon came through town and randomly picked up and killed 25 townspeople, as “foreign agents. Boris and the townspeople will free the prisoners, destroy the platoon, and take the officers captive, to find out if they have gone rogue or are acting on orders from above. Boris knew he had to get past the sentries and take out the communications building and the APCs, to block any call for reinforcements.

BC 01/5 Romanovska freed At the Militia base, where the prisoners were being kept, there were sentries, but no roving patrols. Divided forces, two leaders, Paul and himself. Brought demolition pack for communications building, as well as jammer. The jammer was to be turned on when the first of the two ‘tanks’ (really APCs) went up in flames. Boris had three packets of explosives set for remote detonation, two with thermite packs attached to their bases. The tanks would be at least crippled, and the communications building would go as well. Mortar men targeting buildings. One company, totally of were animals, were frontal assault. Others were to be sure that no one person of the government forces escaped. The rearguard action. He carefully placed the thermite and demolition block combos under the turrets of the unmanned APCs. As well as on the side with the satellite dish and antenna farm. With luck, that would take out or restrict their communications. Due to their lack of proper surveillance and monitoring, Boris surmised that these were more like the SS guards he had fought in the Second World War than real soldiers. They had a veneer of training but were more like thugs in uniform. After the blasts, a couple of bursts from his weapon followed by a bayonet charge after he detonated the demolition combo was the best strategy. Upon entering the building, he heard one of the men in the block shouting. “Get to the prisoners. We will use them as hostages. They will have to let us go or sacrifice those they came to save!” He looked at the shoulder patch on the uniform of the closest body. A red field with a white tri-bar cross on it. The initials N.V.G. under the cross. Definitely not regular army. He quickly found the prisoner section. Fifty people were crowded into a space that was meant to hold twenty. Many had been beaten. Within five minutes, those ablest had taken up weapons, looted from the five guards inside the building and supplemented with those of the dead squad members, arming twenty-five as defenders. Boris went to other areas of attack. . Anyone with the rank of corporal or higher seemed to have had his throat ripped out. Suddenly he felt a sharp burn across his back and collapsed. He cursed his own stupidity. He’d gotten into the middle of everything with no-one to cover his back. He awoke to hear a male voice tinged with irony saying, “You’re gonna have an interesting meeting with the people. Gonna have to explain two somethings. The wolves and how the hell you are up and about again.” Danislav in charge. “Two wolves down, thirty-three dead. Twelve critical, en route to the hospital in town. Over fifty with serious, but not life-threatening injuries. Of the assault force, we have three hundred and fifty capable of fighting, although many of them need rest. Over one hundred and twenty dead on the other side. Twenty captured, including a ‘Major’, a commissar and two other officers.” The Major and his commissar, separately, are both convinced the army will drop in on us like a ton of bricks when they find out. Their formation is called the Nashi vooruzhennye gruppy. Basically an armed wing of fanatics from the President’s Nashi political movement. Town meeting? How people leaning? Split, “I think you have a split. Probably two-thirds will go if you have somewhere safe for them to head. At least a quarter, more likely a third, want to take the fight to the bastards. In the pack, it’s probably the reverse, and we have more packmates on their way here. If you can hold off until tomorrow, you’ll have most of the Weres in Siberia in attendance. Boris call Bethany Anne to tell her what has happened, and request assistance for the town. (Bethany Anne may well want to know about this. The entire incident and the captured officers could well give her leverage over the Russian government. ) He called on the phone Frank had given him, telling of the incidents, and asking her to come to the town meeting, so that he could pronounce her a fitting Czarina to receive the oaths of allegiance from his people. Not a problem that she was a Vampire. “You were the woman who Michael chose to love. That makes you as close to a Queen that the UnknownWorld has ever known. You have the power, and if you could help, they will owe you. Where? When? “Here in town. As soon as possible. I assume the vehicle you send with them will be similar to those you will arrive in. It will create a stronger sense that you were responsible. If you can go into orbit, you can drop from the sky also.” When Boris got back into town, a Pod was arriving, carrying medical supplies, in the form of one hundred and fifty syringes with what looked to be blood or some other red viscous liquid in them, for the wounded. . This information, and how effective the treatment is, will need to stay here.”

BC 01/6 The Options and the Decisions The meeting, in Romanovka town Square. 10,000 people in the Square, nearby public buildings and streets. Purpose of meeting – Introduce Bethany Anne, getting them to decide in future. Who was he to ask this? A Procolici, and he changed. Many showed a mixture of awe and rapture bordering on worship. This was what they had been raised on. That among them some people were also ‘other’, protecting them from the worst of the outside world. Their stories had come to life and was standing in front of them, speaking to them, leading them. And Bethany Anne comes, in five black pods, dropping from the sky. One loudmouth, who had disputed him before, was tied up and taken away, for disposal later. First out were John Grimes, Akio, and Erik, followed by Ashur jumping down then Bethany Anne. Following this group was two of the Queen’s Elite. Nathan and Peter exited the last pod. Boris looked at her, and said, “Please, your speech and then we will head off to a distance. They have a right under the protection agreement to discuss their opinions amongst themselves without me or the candidate present if the candidate is not a Romanov.” Bethany Anne gave her best “Recruiting for space” speech, followed by “Our challenge now is to keep you as protected as we can without causing a major event. Once you hit the border, well, Russia can kiss my ass. We will have containers to get you to our base in Australia and are building our first space station to provide you with temporary quarters. You can be assured I want you to join my team! You are needed to help protect the earth and we want you to be a part of the future, a new future! While I don’t want to start a war with Russia, if they bring in too much, I’ll bomb them to the fucking stone age! You have my promise. I don’t forsake my own, ever.” The meeting is resolved with some people going to space, and others staying in Russia, under Boris’ leadership. He had agreed to help in any way he could, on earth, and he would lead the Russian contingent. While Bethany Anne and Boris were finalizing their agreement, they were interrupted by the entrance of a group of militia with a young woman they had apprehended entering town. Bethany Anne read her mind, and found that she was a supporter of the people, and that she would have helped Boris’ cause. Janna Dmitrievna, ex-captain, Russian military.

BC 01/7 The Evacuation Janna would help the refugee columns, plotting routes for them easiest to travel, less populated. Would probably be Boris’ aide de camp. Would take about three weeks to reach Mongolian Border. The tundra pack had, to a wolf, decided to join the Guardians. This would expand the Guardians by two hundred and fifty wolves. Two dozen ‘loners’ that they tolerated in their territory had also decided to join. Vassily to go to Bethany Anne for vetting, use to her in dealing with the Russians. He is sincere (mind-reading) TOM, ADAM and Boris spent hours going over people, capabilities, who should have phones, organization of volunteers, fighters. Boris had spent hours going over the lists of people who had volunteered. First, he’d narrowed it by removing at least one parent from each family with children under sixteen. Then he removed those few with university educations. Then, the eldest were removed, making an occasional exception for those who were exceptionally skilled hunters, trackers, or listeners. That brought the numbers of people that were staying down from more than five thousand to around three thousand, seven hundred and fifty. Paul to be his 2nd, Janna his 3rd. Only waiting for a storm (cloud cover), to start evacuation. Boris had other plans, to wipe out the NVG (Nashi vooruzhennye gruppy. )to a man. He had learned that they were on the move to his town, so had all roads covered, snipers, guerrilla warfare. Boris would consolidate his forces. Four hundred or so troops against his nearly three thousand. He doubted his casualties would be even between 50-100. Particularly with the extra doses Bethany Anne had provided for his medics, nurses, and doctors. The mercs had unboxed and prepared their portable anti-armor weapons, and there were enough to take out any APCs. Janna had requested a special piece of equipment, a camouflaged mobile command base that would permit them to travel quickly and discreetly between areas of operation. What Team BMW had produced looked like a rusting shipping container. It was modified to fly like the pods and had enough internal power to run communications and basic computer support. A small kitchen, first aid equipment, and beds were also included. Also three motorcycles for short travel usage. Boris had allowed about four weeks of travel for the refugee column to get to safety. The countdown to Retaliation had begun.