Title: Preparation

Author: Karina

Rating: PG

Pairing: Various

Notes:  Challenge 222.  Baby Series 4  #122.  Takes place the day following Operations Underway

Spoilers: None

Warnings:

Many thanks to ShenLong Deb for her work betaing this set of fics.

Disclaimer: I don’t own Gundam Wing or the Characters from the series but the baby is mine.

Title: Preparation

“Estimated recovery time is five hours.  However, given the nature of the terrain and the fact that someone of Mr. Maxwell’s skill has failed to locate the cave, the time allocated is flexible.  The fire signatures suggest five separate groups.”

Pagan stood at the King’s shoulder briefing the group assembled at the entrance to the garage complex.  Duo was rugged up against the growing cold and kitted out ready for the operation.  He was determined to find the children and bring them to assured safety.

Heero secured the radio cuff to his ear and checked the transmission; satisfied with its performance he joined Duo in tossing the last of the equipment into the back of one of the five SUV’s.  They locked gazes and Heero inclined his head in a barely perceptible nod.  He would be certain to bring everyone down from the cliff and safely relocated before the storm could make conditions difficult.

The storm front was steadily advancing and Sanc lay in the oncoming behemoth’s direct path.  They had little hope it might veer off and do more than offer a glancing blow.  Norway, Sweden and parts of Finland had taken direct hits and reports from there were sketchy at best.  Scientists were sprouting hypothesis after hypothesis on the cause of the unseasonal storm and its ferocity, but all anyone in the path of the onslaught cared about was getting safely out of its way.  You could not move countries, but you could move people.

Sanc would be just one of a handful of countries to be impacted by the storm.  Wide spread destruction was expected and the consensus was that deaths would be unavoidable.  They were doing what they could, and that included moving some of the population out of the country.  Those deemed at risk, such as the sick and infirm, had been flown out the day before, and the warning given that if anyone chose to drive out for southern climes, that they needed to be gone by noon of this day.  After this time the borders would be closed and warnings had been issued against stopping in transit.  It was dangerous to stay, but it was equally dangerous to leave.

Milliardo had issued the recommendation that people gather in the five designated secure locations within New Port City, or in the three secured locations sited in the highlands.  All emergency services were in operation, preparing as best they could and the clock was ticking.  The storm was estimated to be 22 hours out from directly impacting on the Sancian coastline.

Milliardo watched Pagan issue his final instructions and the assembled party boarded the waiting vehicles.  He would have given anything to go with them, to be a part of the action that could visibly save lives.  Seeing the results of one’s labours was far preferable to his fate, when all he could do was speculate, theorise, plan and leave it to others to act on those plans. 

End

Karina Robertson  2013