Protect and Survive: A Timeline

[Macragge1]

Originally Posted by Lemon flavoured

As I mentioned in my previous post, Newark itself seems as if it would escape direct destruction, so I can imagine something similar happening there, perhaps longer and bloodier given the size and history.

That update is interesting to me for one more reason, and that is that I have for a while had a tenuous plan in my head for attempting to fortify and declare independent the village I life in just outside Newark in a "shit hit the fan" scenario. That update show how futile the idea is, but strangely doesn't erase from my mind.

The bigger towns that survived are mostly pretty well occupied by troops and police - mostly to ensure refugees are re-housed and no real violence flares up (as well as basic 'reconstruction tasks')

Theoretically a village could survive on its own, but there's problems - naturally there's the problem of food and water - starting farming and stuff from scratch (one had better have lots of seeds) in bad, bad conditions will be damn tough. Also, there's the problem Felton has had - untouched villages are prime space for re-housing refugees; if the authorities decide to dump hundreds of people there (diseased, hungry or w/e) there's very little that one can do.

[Lemon flavoured]

Originally Posted by Macragge1

The bigger towns that survived are mostly pretty well occupied by troops and police - mostly to ensure refugees are re-housed and no real violence flares up (as well as basic 'reconstruction tasks')

That makes sense, but I personally can imagine some flare ups in the area. Newark always seems to me to be exactly the wrong size. Too small to have any real advantages, and too big to have no problems. In this scenario it was perhaps occupied pretty quickly, but not without at least some trouble, maybe a few days of anarchy then a small (~50 to 100 people) resistance movement .

Originally Posted by Macragge1

Theoretically a village could survive on its own, but there's problems - naturally there's the problem of food and water - starting farming and stuff from scratch (one had better have lots of seeds) in bad, bad conditions will be damn tough. Also, there's the problem Felton has had - untouched villages are prime space for re-housing refugees; if the authorities decide to dump hundreds of people there (diseased, hungry or w/e) there's very little that one can do.

Definitely. My idea was that you could hold out for maybe a month at most, and that would need a lot of luck and a better leader than me. In a nuclear war scenario it becomes even less likely, my idea personally is based on a break down of government control for some other reason (I don't think I've ever thought of a plausible one though).

Also, I posted it earlier, but I think this song fits this update pretty well:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9-pDSYPrio

[CaliBoy1990]

Originally Posted by Macragge1

X - Stay at Home

The risk is as great in the countryside as in the towns.

The Battle of Felton was one of many such small engagements that plagued the mainland in the weeks and months after the attacks. A small Northumbrian village (twenty-four miles north of Newcastle) with a population of around 700 people, this place had been as quaint and unassuming as any other before the war. This, like everything else, changed after the attack.

H-hour itself was something of an anti-climax for the villagers - when the one hand-cranked siren atop the Northumberland Arms started to croak and whine its warning, they hid. For hours and hours they tensed up in the dark. They felt Heddon and they felt the Airport. Eventually, though, they came out - windows remained unbroken; colourful flowerboxes still rustled in the wind.

For a few days, the villagers did their best to carry on as normal. People walked their dogs and made conversation in the street. Some even bought stamps at the local Post Office. Like a family in a failing marriage, however, the cracks were clear beneath the act. Neighbours smiled at each other and revealed, inadvertently, the sleeplessness in their faces. Conversation was stilted and careful - the world outside theirs was treated like a recent bereavement and sidestepped. The phones don't work.

The Village Store has been emptied; it is not refilled, but the owner keeps it open just in case.

After three weeks, the illusion is shattered. A coachload of refugees from Darras Hall has made its way up the motorway towards the village. The bus, and its two man police escort finds the road into Felton blocked by an overturned tractor and trailer. The two policemen retreat after coming under shotgun fire from behind the barricade. A petrol bomb damages the refugee bus.

Sixteen hours later, an army munitions convoy on the A1 is ambushed and stripped bare. The assailants attempt to use surprise and numbers to shock the troops accompanying the convoy into surrender; nevertheless, a 15 year old cadet is fatally wounded trying to resist.

News of the unrest reaches as far as Whitelaw in Corsham - he demands that anyone resisting the rule of law recieve 'a short, sharp shock'.

Eshott Airfield, four miles to the south of Felton, is now busier than it has ever been. The staging post for Operation HEPHAESTUS, it plays host to as many soldiers and policemen as can be diverted from 'reconstruction' duties in the devestated areas (indeed, for the duration of the operation, the majority of soldiers in and around Newcastle are second-line; cadets or conscripts) Two Firefly training aircraft have been hastily armed with CS gas canisters and deployed to the strip (these will remain undeployed in this particular engagement)

One of these planes overflies Felton for forty-five minutes- through a tannoy system the residents are ordered to fly a white sheet from their windows or face retaliation.

Some do, but the more militant wing of the residents soon rip them down. They have no flag and no creed. This is not a revolution. The men and women simply want to live in peace. In the past.

It is 8:45 AM, March 10th, 1984. Cromwell, Cromwell, Cromwell.

*

In the plush seat of a tourist coach, the Constable had slept - truly slept - for the first time since the attack. He was wide awake now, though, as his Sergeant screamed at him to keep his head down. His squad finds itself behind a low wall looking across the Coquet - the one medieval bridge across the obstacle is uncrossable - a machine gun in the church-tower across the river has it zeroed.

There are soldiers in the pub behind the Constable. They are deafening him. Occasionaly he catches a figure sprinting across the road. He aims to miss. There is something of a stalemate unfolding.

Some of the pebbles by the Constables' hand start bouncing - the noise gets noisier. What on earth is that smell Oh christ that's a tank - the Constable buries his head in his chest and gets further into cover. He is vaguely surprised that he knows the tank is a Chieftain - long - forgotten memories of Eagle Annuals, no dou BAAAAANG

Ringing ringing ringing nose and eyes burn cordite; taste of fireworks.

Dragged up by his shoulder, running across the bridge - church spire gone - slam into a wall, smashes his shoulder. Shoot run shoot run shoot run TRIP fuck, fuck, fuck, hands and knees grazed and bleeding crawl down the wall.

The ground next to him bursts into flames; the Constable is winded. He stares at the sky and realises that he hasn't spoken a word since the war started. Snaps back into it; runs for the nearest open door.

The cool of the church hits him first - he chokes on dust second. As it clears, he recoils. Three armed men, all staring at him.

There's a fourth on the altar - most of him.

'We didn't mean for this to happen, son', said the Farmer, throwing his Sten gun down - 'we just coughcoughcough we just wanted to be left alone.'. The Farmer mops the brow of the boy writhing on the altar. He kisses him on the forehead.

The Constable nods towards the door. They are coming quietly.

The Constables' eyes are adjusting to the light when he realises that there are a good twenty soldiers with weapons trained on the church door. They do not look like they are fucking around. He turns round and looks the Farmer and friends in the eyes. Tears all round.

Choose the fucking cowboys. Especially when they've got a fucking tank.

Within two days, nine hundred refugees have moved into an empty Felton. Short and sharp, this small village's small war is repeated a dozen times up and down the land. This is Britain after a nuclear war.

Wow, I am loving it...........I do dread to see what the U.S. looks like, though......*shudders*.

[Chuck Mandus]

Originally Posted by Macragge1

Some were used on the frontlines, although with the amount of chemical and nuclear bombs going around at the same time, it's hard to tell exactly who died from what - the 'walking ghost' thing causing harder fighting is spurious - following the truly unprecedented bombardment of WMDs, troops on both sides just tried to dig themselves the biggest holes they could.



You're clearly the expert and I promise I'm taking your point - there'll certainly be radio and stuff being picked up once the aircraft gets closer to the US - the problem comes when HAM radios try to get across the Atlantic - it's not EMP but rather atmospheric interference from millions of tons of dust and ash that makes any signals the UK might receive sound like ball-bearings in a tumble dryer. Partly as well, I'm cheating a little bit for the sake of dramatic tension. This info's been very helpful though and I'll definitely work it in, so thanks!

Hey, no problem. Just wanted to help. I think like in the UK, the U.S. will be broadcasting something but it might be under less centralized control since we are a bigger country.

[Chuck Mandus]

Originally Posted by JN1

Talking of HAM operators, in the UK the RAYNET organisation was always part of local council plans. They were supposed to help in providing communications links if more conventional means failed.

WE have a couple of similar setups in the U.S. ARES for one, it is the Amateur Radio Emergence Service and RACES, Radio Amateur Civil Emergency Service.

[Hendryk]

Originally Posted by Macragge1

The Battle of Felton was one of many such small engagements that plagued the mainland in the weeks and months after the attacks.

A very well-written episode. You drove home the situation of the people not directly affected by the nukings themselves, but for whom the consequences of the war are a delayed effect.

[RPW@Cy]

Probably the most disturbing and unpleasant update in an excellent albeit nightmarish TL so far - is this really what the authorities have descended to in the aftermath? Finding the few places left that haven't been trashed and then trashing them for the crime of wanting to stay that way, all in the name of maintaining control?

And is that final line about an "empty Felton" a hint that the Village got the Oradour sur Glane treatment? I hope not - I find it difficult to believe that British soldiers would do such a thing in Britain even in the aftermath of a nuclear exchange.

[thevaliant]

Originally Posted by RPW@Cy

Probably the most disturbing and unpleasant update in an excellent albeit nightmarish TL so far - is this really what the authorities have descended to in the aftermath? Finding the few places left that haven't been trashed and then trashing them for the crime of wanting to stay that way, all in the name of maintaining control?

The problem is that Felton is trashed anyway, just the villagers don't realise it yet. It was hinted at in the line about the local shop running out of stock.

Where does Felton get ANY supplies from? Local homegrown produce, which whilst Tesco and Asda (in today's adverts) tout as being brilliant, there simply isn't enough of. Sooner or later the residents of Felton would've had to venture out, or turn and kill each other anyway.

After a nuclear war, even those areas not directly hit are going to do very very badly.

[Macragge1]

Originally Posted by Hendryk

A very well-written episode. You drove home the situation of the people not directly affected by the nukings themselves, but for whom the consequences of the war are a delayed effect.

Thanks - it's an angle that sometimes gets missed out, but I reckon these slowly dying places are just as upsetting as somewhere that gets a direct hit.

Originally Posted by RPW@Cy

Probably the most disturbing and unpleasant update in an excellent albeit nightmarish TL so far - is this really what the authorities have descended to in the aftermath? Finding the few places left that haven't been trashed and then trashing them for the crime of wanting to stay that way, all in the name of maintaining control?

And is that final line about an "empty Felton" a hint that the Village got the Oradour sur Glane treatment? I hope not - I find it difficult to believe that British soldiers would do such a thing in Britain even in the aftermath of a nuclear exchange.

The authorities see it more as a case of finding somewhere to house refugees than merely letting the villagers be - maintaining control and doing a show of force does definitely come into it though.

With reference to the 'neutralisation' of Felton, we've got to remember just how traumatised these soldiers and police will be. They've spent weeks in a pretty close approximation of hell - bodies in the trees, burning babies etc - most live in the cities, most have lost their families. They have been killing the wounded; men, women and children.

They come up here, and find a village that still has window-boxes full of flowers and a Post Office that opens. The idea that this be denied to them, and their families, is simply too much to bear - keep in mind that a 15 year old boy was also killed (albeit unintentionally) when the weapons were stolen.

It's gruesome and it's disgusting, but these men were ordered to make an example. These aren't the same British soldiers as we know; they haven't just stared into the abyss - they've spent a month in it. Some may not be happy about it (i.e the Constable) but most know which side their meal ticket is on. More space for refugees.

Originally Posted by thevaliant

The problem is that Felton is trashed anyway, just the villagers don't realise it yet. It was hinted at in the line about the local shop running out of stock.

Where does Felton get ANY supplies from? Local homegrown produce, which whilst Tesco and Asda (in today's adverts) tout as being brilliant, there simply isn't enough of. Sooner or later the residents of Felton would've had to venture out, or turn and kill each other anyway.

After a nuclear war, even those areas not directly hit are going to do very very badly.

Yeah, Felton's just as dead - it just refuses to believe it, which i guess is perfectly understandable.

Felton's got a couple of village stores which were actually pretty well stocked on H-Hour (travel restrictions and the general obscurity of the place meant people didn't come from far and wide to panic-buy). There's a couple of back-door gardens and a little wheat field.

There's a field full of horses.

Still, you're absolutely right - Felton could not become a self-sufficient unit. You couldn't tell that to the walking ghosts who went about their day to day business between the bombs and the battle though.

[RPW@Cy]

Originally Posted by Macragge1

With reference to the 'neutralisation' of Felton, we've got to remember just how traumatised these soldiers and police will be. They've spent weeks in a pretty close approximation of hell - bodies in the trees, burning babies etc - most live in the cities, most have lost their families. They have been killing the wounded; men, women and children.

They come up here, and find a village that still has window-boxes full of flowers and a Post Office that opens. The idea that this be denied to them, and their families, is simply too much to bear - keep in mind that a 15 year old boy was also killed (albeit unintentionally) when the weapons were stolen.

It's gruesome and it's disgusting, but these men were ordered to make an example. These aren't the same British soldiers as we know; they haven't just stared into the abyss - they've spent a month in it. Some may not be happy about it (i.e the Constable) but most know which side their meal ticket is on. More space for refugees.

Mercy killing someone who's already dying of radiation sickness is one thing, wiping out an entire community - after they've surrendered - is quite another level of evil. I get the stress they're under, I guess I'm just a little bit depressed that at no point anybody seems to have stopped and said "We're the British Army, not the fucking SS."

[LeoXiao]

Well unfortunately, in these circumstances, any organized unit with guns becomes SS-like, especially after they've been resisted against.

[thedarkmaster]

I think that two things have occured to the British army at this point.

1, all those dissenting voices in the ranks are no longer withus, emergancy powers and all that

2 After the exchange a naural "if it's us or them, then it's going to be them" attitude amongest survivors has set in.

we here in our Not desroyed world have no idea how these guys could possibly feel but this strikes me as bloody realistic

[stodge]

Another superb update and let me join the overall congratulation for what has been an excellent piece of writing and story-telling.

It was alluded to earlier that a bigger "threat" to national coherence wouldn't be individual villages or small towns but entire regions effectively breaking away from central control.

The less-damaged areas (parts of Cornwall, west Wales, areas of Scotland) may be more viable medium to long-term prospects than the odd village.

With some form of spring approaching, the onus will be on areas which have suffered less radiation to begin planting. In some parts of the country (south Devon, Cornwall, the Scillies) which have escaped largely intact, agriculture or horticulture might well have continued.

A long growing season and the widespread use of heated greenhouses for winter vegetables (which are then sold on to the supermarkets) might offer some medium term prospects (the greenhouses have their own generators and while glass might have been broken, we know that say 20-30 miles from any impact, glass might well have survived).

The administration of law and the distribution of food would be the main priorities in the post-war period. A local strongman with access to food supplies might be able to persuade enough of the armed and special forces to join him to set himself as something akin to a feudal warlord.

[Macragge1]

Originally Posted by RPW@Cy

Mercy killing someone who's already dying of radiation sickness is one thing, wiping out an entire community - after they've surrendered - is quite another level of evil. I get the stress they're under, I guess I'm just a little bit depressed that at no point anybody seems to have stopped and said "We're the British Army, not the fucking SS."

Some have dissented - sadly, they've been told that if they don't follow their orders, they themselves will be shot.

It's not so much evil as absolute, pure desperation - the Army genuinely believes that if they lose so much as an iota of control, anarchy will completely overtake the country and every single man, woman and child will starve to death. It's an extreme view, but these are extreme times unfortunately. You're absolutely right about it being depressing, but these days have damaged everyone very, very badly. The view is that the Felton villagers brought it upon themselves by resisting a legitimate movement of desperate refugees.

The soldiers aren't bad people, necessarily - simply decent people driven to terrible ends by desperate leaders in horrible times.

[Lemon flavoured]

Originally Posted by stodge

Another superb update and let me join the overall congratulation for what has been an excellent piece of writing and story-telling.

It was alluded to earlier that a bigger "threat" to national coherence wouldn't be individual villages or small towns but entire regions effectively breaking away from central control.

The less-damaged areas (parts of Cornwall, west Wales, areas of Scotland) may be more viable medium to long-term prospects than the odd village.

With some form of spring approaching, the onus will be on areas which have suffered less radiation to begin planting. In some parts of the country (south Devon, Cornwall, the Scillies) which have escaped largely intact, agriculture or horticulture might well have continued.

A long growing season and the widespread use of heated greenhouses for winter vegetables (which are then sold on to the supermarkets) might offer some medium term prospects (the greenhouses have their own generators and while glass might have been broken, we know that say 20-30 miles from any impact, glass might well have survived).

The administration of law and the distribution of food would be the main priorities in the post-war period. A local strongman with access to food supplies might be able to persuade enough of the armed and special forces to join him to set himself as something akin to a feudal warlord.

Thinking about it, The Channel Islands would likely be an interesting case.

[Macragge1]

Originally Posted by Lemon flavoured

Thinking about it, The Channel Islands would likely be an interesting case.

They'll basically be surviving the same way they did under the Nazis after D-Day - that is to say barely. There's enough fish and crops to support a small population, but it'll be tight and people will be unhealthy. Any luxuries are out the window, too.

They will be more or less independent as well, at least for a while - this works out pretty easily, as they have always had pretty centralised, feudal power structures.

[Nekromans]

Originally Posted by Lemon flavoured

Thinking about it, The Channel Islands would likely be an interesting case.

It's an interesting thought - any word on what the fallout near Cherbourg would be like?

Another case for survival could be the Isle of Man. It's basically independent anyway, meaning that it'd be quite inconvenient to set up anything militarily important - at least so it seems, I'm clueless as to the facts on the ground. But it does seem like it could easily adapt to complete independence and self-subsistence, provided they can make it through the first few winters.

[Lemon flavoured]

Originally Posted by Macragge1

They'll basically be surviving the same way they did under the Nazis after D-Day - that is to say barely. There's enough fish and crops to support a small population, but it'll be tight and people will be unhealthy. Any luxuries are out the window, too.

They will be more or less independent as well, at least for a while - this works out pretty easily, as they have always had pretty centralised, feudal power structures.

The question comes more long term in whether a (partially) rebuilt British government will give them full independence if they prove to be viable.

[Mario Rossi]

I don't remember if it was a feature only of TLWverse or if it was also in OTL, but Island of Man wasn't hosting a detention camp for potential subversives etc?

[Nekromans]

Originally Posted by Mario Rossi

I don't remember if it was a feature only of TLWverse or if it was also in OTL, but Island of Man wasn't hosting a detention camp for potential subversives etc?

It hosted detention camps for enemy citizens during the World Wars, but that's about it.