Chapter 753: Three Days Left, Bay City, Catanduanes, and Auraboros (1/2)
Day 155 - 8:21 AM - Bay City Military Settlement, Central Business Park, Pasay City, Metro Manila
*COUGH! COUGH!
Coughing sounds could be heard here and there. All around the settlement, most people's faces were covered. Whether it be face masks or just plain folded clothing, almost everyone seemed to be protecting their faces from something.
Fortunately, there was no pandemic happening within the walls of the settlement. However, it did not mean that the situation was any better.
To some, it was even better if a pandemic happened instead. In the least, the military would be able to address that and provide countermeasures.
Unfortunately, even the military was powerless in the current situation.
It was early in the morning when the sun should be up in the sky. Yet, it was rather dark in Bay City. There was no storm, although they got a drizzle of rain the other day. Instead of clouds in the sky, what covered it was a thick veil of ash. The surroundings had lower visibility as if everything was covered in a thin mist.
The roads, roofs, and many other things were covered with a layer of brown ash, inside or outside.
Many people were starting to have breathing difficulties because of the ash.
Even the drizzle of rain they experienced the other day was acid rain. Although it only lasted for half an hour, it caused substantial physical and mental damage to everyone.
It was all due to Taal Volcano's eruption several days ago.
Volcanic ash covered a wide area around the volcano, reaching even the northern parts of Metro Manila. The visibility in the streets was not optimal for travel, causing a stop in all activities, military and private, outside the settlement.
It was not a good situation, considering that the military was in charge of feeding their several thousand refugees in Bay City. If this continued for a prolonged duration, it was very likely for the settlement to face food and water shortage.
”This situation is not making any sense.”
General Miguel Perez said, looking at the ash-covered skies from the window of his office.
The latest recorded eruption of Taal Volcano was in 1977, and it was not this devastating.
It was different in 1911, though. That was when the strongest eruption of Taal Volcano occurred, affecting even Metro Manila and had a death toll of more than a thousand and three hundred casualties. Nonetheless, it was not to the degree where the city was immobilized.
Did the current eruption of Taal Volcano exceed the one in 1911?
”It's not the strongest eruption of Taal Volcano, isn't it?”
Angeline Perez, know as Ange by her friends, voiced out. Within the room was not only the father and daughter.
Everyone with important roles and positions in Bay City Settlement was present to discuss the situation.
”It is not.”
Someone interjected Ange. It was Professor Isaach Co, the head scientist in the settlement.
”What do you mean, professor?”
The General asked.
Professor Isaach then prompted Nia, his adopted daughter, and assistant, to distribute the documents she was carrying to almost everyone inside the office. The people immediately checked the information as Professor Issac began to explain.
”Since we concluded that Taal Volcano erupted, we began a few observations and tests. It's not really our field of expertise, so the results took longer than expected. We also compared the results with the data of previous eruptions. We concluded that it might be stronger than the latest eruption but definitely far weaker than 1911's.”
”If the eruption is weaker, then how come that almost the whole capital is covered in volcanic ash right now?”
Another person asked. It was Major Alfred Lopez. The head officer in charge of the military rescue squads.
”Please refer to the third page.” Professor Isaach replied. ”There, you all can see the comparisons of the 1911 eruption and the current one. One clear difference is that the ash cloud during the 1911 eruption was witnessed to reach and spread over Metro Manila. I'm pretty sure that none of us here saw such a scene. We are now directly affected by the volcanic eruption. What we are experiencing right now was more of a severe Ash Plume instead. The volcanic ash that Taal Volcano spewed is being carried over by the wind towards Metro Manila in extremely large amounts. That is what caused our current problems.”
”This still makes no sense.” General Perez rubbed the bridge of his nose. ”We are currently amidst summer, and the southwest monsoon should be blowing. The ash should be blown towards the northeast. Not directly north.”
”You are correct, general.” The Professor nodded. ”But it is better to throw logical thinking away in the current state of Earth. Please refer to the fourth page. At first, we assumed that there is a high-pressure area near the country, causing the wind to deviate from its natural direction. But, as you all can see there, our equipment detected irregular magnetic spikes in the surroundings. We don't know for sure, but there might be some unnatural phenomenon that caused this. We even believe that it is the cause for the weird changes in the wind's direction.”
”Furthermore, please look at the graph below the page.” Professor Isaach continued. ”In the previous days, we observed extreme changes in the heights of low tides and high tides. The deviation reached about two to three feet more than the norm. Furthermore, it seemed to be swiftly increasing.”
”Does this have to do with the moon?”
Ange asked. After all, high tides and low tides were directly caused by the moon.
”I wish that have to be the case.” Professor Isaach shook his head to everyone's shock. ”The unusual tide height I mentioned seemed to happen without the effect of the moon's gravity. High tides happen during the moon's presence, while low tides are the complete opposite. The change in the unusual tides only occurs day and night, disregarding the moon's position. In fact, it seemed the gravitational pull of the moon is also struggling to maintain itself by how the tides behaved.”
This explanation gave everyone in the room a bad feeling.
”Just say what you want to say directly.”
General Perez urged with a serious expression.
”There is something in space that is affecting Earth's magnetic fields. And by how the high tides continue to increase every night, that thing... is coming closer and closer to Earth.”
***
Day 155 - 11:21 PM - Catanduanes Military Settlement, Codon, San Andres, Catanduanes
As prophesized, the Catanduanes Military Settlement was now enveloped in turmoil.
The previous night, General Padilla was found dead in his room. Leaving the General half-frozen and electrified to death, there was only one person capable of doing this. Of course, the person herself did not try to hide her doing.
Everyone in the military base was suddenly alerted by loud sounds of crackling electricity. It was accompanied by the agonized screams of the General. The soldiers tried to respond to the situation as soon as they could. But none of them were able to enter the General's room because of the shockingly thick layer of ice.