24 Hours in the Future

Written by, Nicholas Ueng

The world has changed much since 2008. Global warming has made New York, Washington D.C, and San Francisco the modern Atlantis. Epidemics and plagues have swept Earth many times leaving much death behind. War has ravaged the world and much remains in destruction. Nations are now only myths as survivors of war, global warming, and disease ban together in forts. Dwight rises, 5:00 AM life in the future, that means chores and supervisions around the fort. Dwight I strong, has brown eyes and half-moon spectacles. He had a military career, and was a veteran strategist, He had been in many wars such as when China tried to conquer the world; he was also around for the second coming of Jesus and the return of the Prophet Muhammad. He gets dressed and eat a ration breakfast, while eating he reads the reports and the Avian Flu has not yet bonded with the Ebola Virus. At least that was good. We could die in a raid rather than a vicious virus. He got ready for his stroll/patrol, every morning he would take a walk around the fort. A day in the future is no walk in the park, all major cities were destroyed or flooded and diseases wiped out whole nations.

As Dwight completes his morning stroll, the rest of the fort comes to life. Fighters ready for patrols, engineers inspect defenses and walls, parents tend to children, and leaders discuss plans. As Dwight heads to talk to the other leaders he hears the gatekeeper,

“Survivor at the gate!”

Dwight sprints to the ramparts to survey the scene. Soldiers get orders and open the gate. The survivor is beaten, his clothes are torn, and there is some blood on his face. Regardless, he is targeted and searched; there is a quick check for any identifiable sickness. Once he is given the ‘all clear’ he is brought to the med-bay. Dwight goes to the council for permission to question the man. They already know what he wants and merely nod when he appears. When Dwight arrives at the med-bay the survivor blurts out,

“I was part of an immigrating group of nomads. We were attacked by a huge force of trained soldiers. They looked like Russians.”

With that, the man passed out. He was alive but tired. Dwight digested the information. There was a second Cold War in 2042 and even thought a treaty had been signed grudges were held against the Americans. Fort Hope would have to prepare for siege; the Russians would never negotiate when they had the better hand of cards.

“Five-hundred strong, eight tanks, possible artillery… and this force will arrive when?” asked Councilman Bradley.

“In three hours,” stated Dwight.

“We will have to call in what’s left of the US Army, they they’re five-hundred miles away. It would take them five to seven hours to arrive,” sighs Councilman Obama.

We have no other choice, prepare your division, you have two and a half hours left, meeting adjourned.” Head Councilman Charleston announces.

Charleston looks at Dwight who sticks up his fingers showing ten. Cwight nods and leaves. Dwight needed ten minutes to get the people who were unable to fight into the bunker. Charleston and Dwight were the main strategists in battle. They would coordinate troops from the fort’s main tower. The Councilmen were also leaders of different fighting division and did their share in battle. Time passes as preparations are made and soon it is 1:57 PM. They would arrive in around three minutes. The last weapons were loaded and hearts raced. Dwight scans the enemy and spots something unfamiliar, plasma cannons. He was angry he overlooked this. During the Second Cold War, Russians developed futuristic weapons but it wasn’t confirmed. Word ripples through the lines and soldiers get very anxious. Charleston checks his watch and tells artillery to send the Russians a greeting card.

“Coordinated 5/43/1.76. Don’t miss. 3… 2… 1… FIRE!!” bellows the head artillery. BOOM! Explosions and screams are heard. The siege of Fort Hope begins.

The battle wages into the early evening, tired troops await the promised reinforcements. Dwight surveys the grisly scene. Of the two-hundred fifty men, eighty-five were dead, sixty-five wounded, only a hundred left standing. Heavy losses have been sustained but the Russians were still at bay. The plasma cannons were not fully operational . . . yet. They had nearly put a breach in the walls and there was the west and northwest wall that were structurally weakened. Charleston kept scanning the wall in hope of the reinforcements. The troops on the wall began buzzing with activity when the wall suddenly exploded and there was a huge breach. All the soldiers scurried to the spot. Many fell while getting into a defensive position and were eventually pushed back. The Russians eventually leaked inside but the reinforcements arrived. The Russians fought to the last man. The siege was over, Fort Hope had held.

The celebrations burned into the night but there was much mourning. Dwight wasn’t one to celebrate so instead he sat in his bed thinking. When that survivor was Chinese who was with a whole colony. There were also many Russians; there could be thousands of survivors. He decided he would leave tomorrow in exploration of the New World. He would try to find other survivors and try to unite them by sending them back here. He sighed, so much to do, so little time. Everyday in the future was different with more hardships. After all, a day in the future was no walk in the park. Something unexpected is the expected.

TO BE CONTINUED. . .