Hi Everyone,
Its time for more strange goings on in New Wyndham...
Turn 3 – The Gathering Storm – June 1983
You look down the hall, “Don’t worry about Thomas, he probably heard the burglar coming and barricaded himself into one of the rooms”, you say reassuringly. You take the fire extinguisher, checking to see if it was water or co2. It’s marked up as being co2. “Let’s put these to good use and then we can get the bobby and check on Thomas, isn’t it?” Marion nods dumbly, maybe not really convinced but hoping it is true.
You lead her outside to take her mind from any more distractions. At least she has got the first aid kit.
You think “Take her mind off Thomas, ask her a question”. “Do you know any first aid? My sister, Brynn is a nurse, so I know a bit” you say as you head for the reception door.
‘To be honest Emlyn, I haven’t got a clue about first aid. Hopefully there are some instructions inside’ she adds as she shakes the green first aid box gently.
You both step outside looking around, you scan for a familiar face, “Now, where is my mate Ramsay gone to?” Your voice trails off as you see the sudden turn of events outside. First off you are stunned to see a rather large Chinook helicopter sat on the car park and 3 troops moving cautiously towards the plane wreck with rifles held at the ready.
You hear Marion gasp in surprise and awe at the sight.
A further 3 soldiers are guiding the staff and passengers from the train station toward a bridge that leads to the nearby New Town shopping centre and seem to be taking up a holding position to prevent further people from arriving on scene. A smaller helicopter is hovering over the wreck shining a spotlight and you look up as a second small helicopter of a similar design flies overhead moving to the back of the hotel.
A pilot jumps from the cockpit of the large helicopter and seeing you both rushes over, whilst at the same time waving the 3 men toward the wreckage.
You hear him shout ‘Careful men, gas masks for hell's sake!’
With this command the 3 soldiers moving toward the crash site quickly don face masks and spread out. As he rushes over to you, you hear a radio at his hip squawking and a professional voice cuts through the static ‘Majestic Air 3, two tangos rear of hotel. Oh heck!’
A flash of blue lightning reflects from the hull of the large grounded chopper followed instantly by a large crack of thunder emanating from the back of the hotel. You spin around to see the small helicopter hovering at the back of the hotel flying erratically as though taking evasive action.
‘Going weapons hot, shoot, shoot, shoot!’ cuts the voice clearly through the officer radio and then the small helicopter at the rear of the hotel fires heavy weapons.
BLAM! BLAM! BLAM!
The loud sound of the rounds seems to echo in your ears and tracer momentarily dazzles you. Marion screams and jumps behind you.
It seems everyone wants to jump behind you today! ‘Situation report, over!’ barks the officer into the radio and the response is almost instant ‘They’ve gone, no line of sight. Heading back to base, over!’
Then the helicopter turns away quickly and flies to the east in the general direction of RAF Wyndham. The officer introduces himself quickly and calmly ‘Colonel Robert Coffey at your service! Mam, are you okay?’ he directs at Marion as gently as he can. She just nods in response.
‘Did you see it’ then a slight pause as he continues ‘the plane, go down? Any survivors?’ He looks over in the direction of the wreck and you can make out two prone human shapes lay on the floor. Even from this far away, in the continued murk due to the softly falling snow you can tell that they must be Ram and the Policeman.
The soldiers move forward carefully, grab them by the ankles and pull them back in your direction away from the wreck. ‘I’m afraid I’m going to have to commandeer your hotel mam’ he says with a tone of authority.
He once more speaks into his radio ‘Site secure, send in Majestic Land One and a mop up team. Security status alpha, I’d advise full BA, Hazmat, the best you’ve got, over’
‘I’d suggest we get inside where it’s warm’ he says pointing meaningfully at the reception door.
He looks at the fire extinguisher that you’re holding, then at the first aid box carried by Marion. ‘Good thinking, but military aircraft carry aviation fuel and it looks like the fumes must have overcome the first two to attempt a rescue.’
He gently encourages you both toward the door of the reception, casually guiding Marion by the arm as his men pick up the unfortunate Ram and Policeman and head over toward you.
Both Ram and the Policeman are groaning, good news they are still alive!
Faced by an officer of the RAF and 3 soldiers you think it probably wise to follow their instructions and once more enter the reception. The soldiers dump Ram and the Police Officer on some comfortable blue reception seats.
Marion opens the first aid kit and starts checking the casualties over. Quite quickly they come around, the police officer with a sudden start, reaching for his holster which is now devoid of a weapon.
Ram gasps at the officer ‘you absolute idiot, what the…., why did you shoot at that survivor!’
You watch intently, having recovered from this rapid and crazy turn of events. The soldiers have removed their gas masks. One soldier is preparing to explore the rear of the hotel, along the corridor where you originally saw the dark shape. Another soldier has taken a position near the stairs and lift that lead to the upper levels. The third soldier has stationed himself at the reception entrance doors. In so doing they have expertly covered all approaches and exits for that matter.
Colonel Robert Coffey has sat at the reception desk. You notice he lifts the receiver of the phone, has a quick listen and places the receiver on the desk leaving the phone off the hook. He then turns down the volume on his radio, an intent look crosses his face and he lowers his voice so that you can’t hear the conversation.
Ram is looking at you stunned, but apparently none the worse for his collapse. The Police Officer has now taken out a truncheon from his belt and is slowly tapping the outside of his thigh, deep in thought. Marion is heads down, trying to help, but her clumsy efforts at being nurse are being waved off by a growingly annoyed police officer. Ram meanwhile starts complaining of various non-existent injuries and winks at you as Marion starts searching him for wounds!
The New Wyndham Hotel Ground Floor.
Ivor Cogdell
Dark Things Copyright (C) Richard Burd.
Ivor Cogdell
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