Orb Weaver: interlude, Storm Warning

“Colin,” Dragon’s voice was tense. “Do you agree?”

“Yes.” Colin stared at the readouts, complex lines of probability moving across the screen. The SOSUS network had picked up Leviathan, moving, but now the movements were starting to fit in with the prediction software.

If I am wrong… He shook his head and touched a button. “Director Piggot?”

“I’m in a meeting Armsmaster.”

“Leviathan. The Prediction network indicates a high probability of an attack on the Gulf Coast.”

“I’ll be up. Tie it into all other departments.”

“It’s still preliminary.”

“If you’re willing to call me, that’s enough for an alert.”

Colin nodded.

A few minutes later, he entered the conference room. Videoscreens showed local directors, Costa-Brown and Legend. The Secretary of FEMA was on another one, while state disaster relief secretaries were on their own screens.

“The probability is at 70 percent for an attack somewhere on the Gulf Coast in the next six hours,” Armsmaster said.

“Jesus Christ,” the FEMA secretary muttered. “Somewhere on the Gulf Coast? Do you know how many people we’re talking about?”

Colin opened his mouth but the Chief Director beat him to it. “Too many to evacuate. Especially since we cannot rule out the possibility that Leviathan might notice such actions and just move to hit a site we aren’t evacuating.”

“As the window of the actual attack time gets closer, the program will make it easier to determine where Leviathan will attack,” Colin said. “I expect that within one hour of the predicted attack time, it will be able to estimate the city landfall with 90 percent accuracy.”

“Six hours? That’s not nearly enough time—we should hold off and have them get into the Shelters—“

“What about hospital patients?”

“Hell, half the shelters on the Gulf Coast are marginal against Leviathan, and the other half are death traps…”

The room dissolved into chaos, and Colin knew why. There were organized plans for evacuation with Behemoth, because the Hero Killer took its time. But nobody had ever had time for a leisurely evacuation with the Simurgh or Leviathan, and so those plans… Well there were probably some papers sitting in the archives, but nobody had cared to keep them updated. The first warning with Leviathan was the Endbringer sirens and tidal waves.

Colin mentally kicked himself. He should have planned for this. But he hadn’t known, not really, if the predictive software was going to work and he didn’t want to set himself up to look like a failure…

And now it worked, at least at first glance, and they weren’t ready. He’d envisioned evacuating a single city, but hadn’t considered, not really, the issue with having to worry about an entire coastal region.

The sound of the Chief Director rapping her desk silenced the room.

“Instead of bemoaning the fact that we don’t know exactly where the Endbringer will strike, we will take advantage of the time we have. We cannot activate the Endbringer sirens so early. Between the panic and people deciding they were a false alarm when Leviathan failed to appear right that minute, we could do more harm than good. We’ll reserve them for when we know the  target. The Navy and Air Force are sortieing. With this advance warning, they hope to be able to engage Leviathan directly and hopefully drive him off.”

Colin carefully didn’t shudder at the image of trying to fight Leviathan from a boat or submarine.

“We will start with an unannounced S-class drill for all regions with marginal shelters, focusing on hospitals and schools.” Costa-Brown’s voice was calm, like she was talking about the weather and Colin watched as the incipient panic in the room calmed. “The legal provisions regarding people who interfere with those drills should ensure that they can be carried out effectively. Secondly, we cannot assume nobody will find out that this is in fact Leviathan, say in the next two hours, and they will call other people. Police and emergency services need to be prepared for crowd control. People will be trying to get away from the coast.” She paused. “I am activating the Parahuman Disaster Relief units. Directors, remind your Wards that they are there to rescue people, not fight Levithan, and the withdrawal order is non-discretionary.”

“When will you know for certain regarding the target?” The FEMA director asked.

Colin nodded. “Unless we assume that Leviathan calls the whole thing off, 30 minutes.”

“Roughly the time for a normal attack only this time we have five and a half hours to get ready.” Legend nodded. “I’ll be calling in the Protectorate and any non-affiliated capes willing to join. We’ve got enough time to actually organize a response, put teams together with good synergy.”

“Do you think we can win?” Someone asked.

“It’s a better chance than usual,” Legend replied. “Gentlemen, Ladies, I have to go.” He nodded and the screen blanked.

“Right,” Costa-Brown said. “PDR units will be withdrawn at 10 minutes before landfall.” She shook her head. “Again, Directors and Protectorate team leaders, remind them that they’ve done their job by getting the people out, and we don’t need dead heroes. I’ll be talking with the President, but right now, you know your jobs. Get ready.”

A few minutes later, Colin found himself calling in the rest of the ENE Protectorate and Wards. Dragon would be flying out to the Gulf Region. She had a few toys that might help the Navy. Director Piggot was off preparing to send what PRT forces she could spare while they were setting up the stage for Mover transport.

He paused, looking out one window. He could see the Boardwalk and beach, people sunbathing or playing games.

They didn’t know.

Just like the ones playing on the beaches on the Gulf Coast.

Colin shook his head. He needed to check out his own equipment and start considering how to best integrate it with other Tinkers.

The time the predictive software had bought was a great boon.

Now they’d just have to see if it was enough.