Titan II

Retribution

The missile was away and gone. If I ever wanted to have the slightest chance of survival in this soon to be apocalyptic world, I'd need to find some kind of shelter. It has been no less than two hours after launch, but there is still a horrid ringing on my ears. There is this omnipresent sensation of inexpressible dread in the mere thought of such a conflict turning into a nuclear catastrophe.

By this point, it was common knowledge of the war and its near certain consequences. These missiles would soon make Korea and Iraq look like a joke. All that I was sure of was that all of what we know and love is sure to change. Such a great change of events had all news stations reporting on this. For once they are not even close to exaggerating. In fact, an exaggeration would be practically impossible.

As we drive our Armoured Tactical Response Vehicle back into Tucson, it becomes very apparent the true chaos in the streets. Everyone yelling unforetold obscenities to each other. Even the Riot Police need to get involved.

"Keep it orderly," the Chief of Police yells, but to no avail.

"We're going to get bombed! Do you expect us to just sit back and let the communists turn America into a ball of fire?" One of the citizens screams.

"As long as you can get to a bunker, you will be safe. Now move along before I have to use force," exclaims the police officer.

The citizen kept up his fight.

"Air Defence Squad, On me."

With that, we took our unloaded M16A2 rifles and ordered all of then to keep moving, paying special attention to the disruption.

"Falsec Load," I commanded. Falsec meaning using the blank cartridge.

With that, the civilian, under the impression of actual bullets, hurried on his way to join the rest of them.

"All Stations, All Stations, this is NORAD Ground-To-Air Intercept Squad. Be aware that there is a Titan II missile directly ahead of Tucson Air Force Base. Out."

Instantly, everyone not assigned to direct crowd control looks up to the sky. In what can only be described as ordered radio clutter, everyone confirms "Missile Confirmed."

As the Urban Commander, I take out my binoculars.

"Oh fuck," I mutter underneath my breath.

"Break, Break, Break. This is Lieutenant Colonel Johnathan Anderson. I am reporting secondary engine failure on the first stage central booster. There appears to be small chunks of structural elements detaching. I recommend that we get a ground-to air intercept mission ASA-"

The final sound is drowned out by the sound of the main fuel tank going up in flames. This causes the oxidizer tank to blow. This flame envelopes half the sky in a vivid blue halo. Under ideal conditions, The Main Payload Ejection would engage and shoot the warhead off into the nearest ocean. In this case, however, this system was disabled because of a risk of the Soviets using this to their advantage.

The flame turns from a dark blue to orange as it thermalizes the N2 in the air. This results in a shock wave strong enough to upturn a tree. We all know this is nothing compared to the shock wave of the nuclear missile. Those warheads are equivalent to 9 million tons of TNT. If we are lucky, Tucson will become a ghost town with few to no inhabitants. The more likely outcome, there won't even be a city to speak of. This isn't an exaggeration. The buildings will no longer be standing, but merely reduced to nothing more than rubble in wake of a storm.

"FIND COVER!!" I yell over the roaring sound of the crowd. Apparently enough to get everyone's attention.

"FIND A PLACE TO HIDE. NOT UNDERNEATH A BUILDING."

Everyone scatters. There is no time for crowd control anymore. Every man for himself. I just need to look out for my own best interests in this situation.

I hurl myself into the back of the Tactical Vehicle. It isn't much, but it is better than anything else in this city.

There's barely enough time to close the doors. The last thing I see is the giant white fireball erupting from its bright orange haze. The doors slam shut, almost by themselves. Immediately after, I feel this indescribably strong shockwave rippling through my body, sending the seventy ton armoured vehicle in what I can only describe as what would happen if you detonated ten anti-tank land mines under a very strong feather.

My back slams against the steel walls before the wall padding airbags even had a chance to deploy.

The agony. My entire back feels as if there is a knife stabbing through every vertebrae of my spine. Darkness begins crowding my vision. I can't let it take me. I will fight through this. I will survive.