Episode 10 Season 4 Explanations

[00:00:00] She started her day at home in the mountains just like any other. There was nothing unusual about making the familiar drive down to Sacramento to go to work. Then, in a flash, Mother Nature decided it was time to create a new landscape. Follow the journey of a dynamic young woman, mother and wife, Erica, as she is thrust into a world turned upside down by a series of natural disasters.

[00:00:30] Embark on a gripping journey with Erica in Sarah F. Hathaway's Day After Disaster. Erica, your family gets to lead the line. Thank you, Joan. I've never eaten horse. Are you sure? Remember that steak when we were on our honeymoon in Mexico? Oh yeah, it wasn't that bad.

[00:00:57] Look here, a whole bowl of wild carrots. That berry salad looks good too. Somebody has been doing some foraging. Oh, yummy. Fried zucchini with tomatoes and rice. Now that came from a garden. Did you get enough, Dexter? Yeah, Mom. Come on, Star. Let's go pick a seat. Hold on. I want some more corn. Don't hold up the line, guys. Everyone is hungry. I want to sit by the fire.

[00:01:27] Lead the way, buddy. I'm done living life with the lights out. I'll die with my own doubt. Be free. That was good. Dang, baby. Did you use a vacuum? I was hungry. I guess so.

[00:01:53] I can't, Dexter. Oh yeah. Well, I'm going to go dance with the kids. Can't wait to hear the stories. What stories?

[00:02:20] Everyone always tells the best survival stories in the camp in the evening. Oh. Everyone wants to know yours, baby. Come here for a minute, Vince. Joan, could you watch out for Star and Dex? It would be my pleasure. Where are you two going? Come with us.

[00:02:51] You guys want a smoke? Do I? I haven't had one in months. How about a shot to go with it? I filled this flask with the captain for you. My favorite! Thanks, Craig. You guys better finish up and get back over here. You're up next, Erica. We're on our way right now. I can't wait to hear this. I can't wait to relive that nightmare again.

[00:03:20] It's over now, baby. We want to know what happened. Come on, poor little baby. Shut up, Greg. Here, have another shot. Taylor and I were working on his Mustang in the garage. We hid under the lift. Thunder began. The roof smashed down. We dug ourselves out, but the house was gone. We searched frantically through the rubble from our parents,

[00:03:49] but a gas lining kitchen exploded. We were blown ten feet away from the house. That's when we saw that everything was on fire. I knew it was over for my family. Taylor's house was burned to a crisp. We made our way there. Next door, we heard a muffled cry and found Kim pinned under the remains of her home. Pilfering what we could, we made our way to the river and survived there until the gang from Auburn attacked us.

[00:04:18] All right, people, let's settle down. We're having a celebration. And what are we celebrating? Celebrating! And whose story do we want to hear? Here we go! Here we go! Thanks a lot, G-Man. Someone has to keep them focused.

[00:04:47] We could have a riot on our hands. Now I feel much better. Where do I begin? At the beginning! Actually, the story begins right here in Cool.

[00:05:28] Sure is good to have you home, Teresa. It's good to be home, TJ. Do you need another beer? Yes, ma'am, I do. How about you, Laudner? Keep them coming, darling. You've been busy with your maps, TJ. Yes, Mr. Lee, I have. I need a couple more routes in and out scouted. Going after Doyle? With the sick and no leader? Those people will beg for me to help them. I have another landowner interested in our stock. Just girls?

[00:05:57] No, they need replacement labor for their farms. Sick is taking out their workers, and with the lack of oil... They need people for their fields. You've got it. Perfect. We'll weed the loyal out of these next few towns. But I should have plenty of new stock for you. I'm thinking we need a couple more shower rooms to keep them clean. We don't want the sick in our holding cells. Talk to Trent and make it happen.

[00:06:21] While you're at it, why don't you build some solitary cells so you can quarantine them on the way in? That makes sense, Robert. No more business. I didn't invite you two to dinner to discuss the compound. I need a break. I'll go get the girls. Like a fire burning while a freight train you can't stop. Like a nightmare but this time you don't want to wake up. It pulls you in, it takes over.

[00:06:50] You just can't let go of the worst best thing that's ever happened to you. Major Verges. Sir. What?

[00:07:19] Sir, Major General Barnes is requesting your presence. I'm coming. Chappie, Monroe, on your feet. Let's go. What's the plan? I don't know, but the Major General called for us.

[00:07:54] Major, I need you to put together search teams. We've been robbed. What? When? We're thinking it was at the guard chains this morning. They knew our patterns. Who's in command tonight? Staff Sergeant Kristoff. He's in the briefing tent waiting for you. We'll watch them, sir. Make it happen, Major. We need to make an example of these thieves to avoid future problems. Yes, sir. Chappie, Monroe, go wake up Charlie and Alpha Squad.

[00:08:23] Tell them to get to the briefing tent now. Yes, sir. Good morning, Staff Sergeant Kristoff. Sir, I can't believe I let this happen on my watch. I'm really sorry, sir. Seems like they were studying our patterns, Staff Sergeant. It's not your fault. What do you have for me? Sir, I think it was a refugee squad from the west. The sergeant at the end of the wall says he saw a group move through in the early hours, sir. Were they on foot? How are they moving supplies? Do we have a list of stolen items?

[00:08:53] We're still working on the inventory, sir, but it looks like it was mostly IV packs. Show me the routes they could have taken out. There are four major paths west, sir. What if they weren't from the west? We should consider all the possibilities. Call in scouts from the north and the east as well. Roger that, sir.

[00:09:09] This is Jane Austen, otherwise known as Survivor Jane and the voice of Dolores Chapman.

[00:09:39] I'd like to invite you to my website, SurvivorJane.com, where I write in a conversational tone on topics of how better to prepare yourself and family. You can also find links to my books, What Could Possibly Go Wrong?, Emergency Survival Hygiene, and my game book, Puzzling Over Preparedness. You can also find information on Prepper Camp, the largest three-day preparedness event in the country every fall, hosted by myself and my husband, Rick Austin.

[00:10:12] Wake up, Mom. Wake up, Dad. Come on. What are you two rascals doing? Greg's outside waiting for you two to wake up. Okay, okay, we're up. First time I ever saw you I fell in love when you entered the room And when the light hit your face We were just kids but a new rider

[00:10:40] I will be with you until I stop breathing Can we just take a day for us? I don't see a problem with that. Let's go for a hike. I know a great spot to have lunch. Star can't walk. We'll have to put her on the horse. I like it.

[00:10:59] Good morning, Greg.

[00:11:28] There she is, the lone survivor of Sacramento. What? Well, that's what they're calling you. Wow, that's original. You gonna be okay here today? We're going out for a hike. I'll hold the fort down. Thanks, Greg. Come on, Ripper.

[00:12:01] So what happened to you, Vince? I picked up Dexter and Ripper. There was still a little light left and that crabgrass was growing like crazy. I was still mowing in the floodlight when the quake hit. The house fell into the old mines and so did I. I woke up to Ripper licking my face. He's such a good dog. There was screaming everywhere. Explosions and then the fires.

[00:12:29] I tried to save as many as I could, but... It's okay, baby. It really wasn't, Erica. I've never seen anything like that. And I hope I never do again. I hear that. Anyway, we salvaged what we could and figured we needed to go to water. We found Big John Green down at the river. I thought about you always, but everyone said I was crazy.

[00:12:59] Everything I did made me think about you. You were the one who taught me about all this survival stuff. You're cute. I love you. I still can't believe you're here.

[00:13:54] Sharing your good stuff? We must have done something right, boys. Only the best for you, Chuck. Look at this beautiful woman you brought. You're so cute. Here, have another shot. Thank you, TJ. Good girls get rewards. Careful, honey. That man's a rough lover. I think I can handle him. We'll see. Fill that glass all the way, Yuri. If you do. Easy there, Mr. Lee.

[00:14:24] That stuff's not cheap. Splurging again? I know how to allocate my resources. You do, huh? I remember the first time I gave you money. You went straight to the underground ring. I just went to watch. And ended up in the ring, gambling all your money away. I tore every ligament in that man's leg and came home several thousand dollars richer. And with one hell of a shiner. It was one lucky punch.

[00:14:52] Bet you had fun explaining that on your first date. Don't you talk about her. TJ, sit down and relax. You're scaring the woman. You have another short, brother. Yeah. Don't make me kick your ass. You couldn't fight your way out of a wet paper bag. I'll bust you up, big man. Come on then. I'm a black hole.

[00:15:31] This is L. Douglas Hogan, voice of TJ Swinson. You can follow me at Amazon or go to facebook.com slash honor your oath. I look forward to seeing you there. Alpha Squad, you are headed northwest with Staff Sergeant Kristoff. Charlie Squad, you are headed north in case they went through there. Delta Squad, you're with me. We're heading west. Yes, sir.

[00:15:57] Sir, do you still want me to sweep south after we reach the Minnesota border, sir? Let's see what we find and keep it as a fallback if needed. Yes, sir. Alpha Team, let's move out. Yes, sir. You sure are selling it well. She just needs enough time to clear the border. Delta Squad, spread out. Find me some tracks. Yes, sir. Do they have a vehicle? You would think so. It's probably a large truck.

[00:16:27] Sir, we've got tracks over here. I'll check it out. Sir, we just saw three trucks moving out from just behind the border. Roger that. Alpha Squad. Yes, sir. Begin sweeping south. We have information they may have been in three smaller vehicles. Roger that, sir. Monroe, get us a vehicle. Yes, sir.

[00:16:58] Well, guys, I guess we ought to start heading back. Already? It's been so nice. I know. But we got things we got to take care of today. Yeah, I guess so. Let's load up, guys. Dexter, Star, brace yourselves!

[00:17:16] Oh my god, Vince. It's all on fire. Here, the medical center. I can help them. I'll make sure the kids stay safe. Okay. Take care of Kit, too.

[00:17:45] What can I do? Those patients in the parking lot need to be triaged. You know how to do that. Yeah, I trained to be an EMT. I'll join you when I'm done moving the patients.

[00:18:22] Give me a hug. Vince, I have to. Take a break. Come here. It's okay, baby. It's going to be okay. No. It's not, Vince. It's not. It's not. Joan is dead. Mike is dead. Kim is dead. Greg's dad, Cliff is dead, and so many others. The pile just got bigger and bigger. All those people we were just hanging out with last night.

[00:18:53] And they were the lucky ones. So many others are burnt to a crisp but still alive. What can you do in a parking lot? Maybe if we would have been here. Now, don't even start that, Erica. Things happen, and God had us right where he wanted us to be. Our babies are safe, so just stop. Just relax now. There's nothing more you could have done and nothing more you can do now.

[00:19:23] I love you.

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[00:20:28] He was crazy. Still think you can handle him, honey? For you, Chuck, I'd do anything. It's not me you're taking care of tonight. Let me warm her up for you, T.J.

[00:20:58] Get your hands off her. She's mine tonight. You got your own trick. What are you doing here? We were attacked again. We killed the party that came in the hole. But they knew our plan and sent a flanking team. And are they dead? We took them. But Trent was shot. He's over with the dog.

[00:21:27] And we lost ten more fighters. That's it. I'm tired of this game. Call in the Southern Scouts. I'm going for Doyle myself. T.J., don't be rash. Send a team. Not this time, Mr. Lee. I could be in and out before any of them wake from their dreams. Nobody else needs to die. We need the laborers. You got it planned? You know I do. I was trained by the best.

[00:23:09] Let's move, boys. I want minimum casualties. They're moving in on the Alpha team. Lay down suppressant fire. Let's pin them down. Move forward on the left. We got them on the run. Push them away from Alpha. We got a refugee pickup crew now.

[00:23:44] Have you surrounded. Lay down your weapons and come out with your hands up. Nobody has to die here today. Chaffee, stay with Kristoff. Sounds like Monroe's wrapping this up. Yes, sir. Sergeant Cook, grab your necks for med bag. I got it. Alpha squad, secure the prisoners. Nice work, Monroe.

[00:24:14] Is she here? No, sir. Let's see what we have here. A truck full of stolen supplies. Good work, guys. Let's wrap this up. Sir, Kristoff said it for the medical facility. We lost half of our Alpha team. Son of a... She put me in a spot now, didn't she, boys? Sir, you want me to load these prisoners up? Get them out of here. I need to report to Major General Barnes.

[00:25:17] Thank you for listening to the Changing Earth audio drama. Based off of the novel series, The Changing Earth by author Sarah F. Hathaway. Available at Amazon or get your signed copies at www.changingearthseries.com. This content is copywritten in 2021 by author Sarah F. Hathaway.

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