Steven E. Wilde
Hi. I'm Steve. I grew up in Salt Lake City and graduated from the University of Utah with a bachelor’s degree in engineering. My wife, Marilyn, and I have five children and fifteen grandchildren. Together we enjoy camping, hiking, travel, and family get-togethers. In my quiet time, I enjoy gardening, genealogy, emergency preparedness, and writing. I love to read, and enjoy most genres, particularly murder mysteries and science fiction.
My work as a project manager has given me experience in multiple industries and specialties, including electric utilities, nuclear power plant construction, water management, global mining, and aerospace. Each of those experiences contributed to my interest in the potential effects of global thermonuclear war on the infrastructure and people of the world.
The premise of Omega Crisis is that, faced with the prospect of nuclear weapons in the hands of madmen, the U.S. government chooses to confront the perpetrators and fight back, rather than sit idly and be abused. Like you, I hope we never see nuclear war. However, what we see in today’s headlines led me to speculate on the ability—or inability—of government leaders to control the radical ideologies that threaten to engulf us in world war.
This story about the war to end all wars, the Omega Crisis, is meant to entertain. I hope you enjoyed it. There is a science fiction thread in the story that will become more obvious in the sequel, Worlds in Collision (Book 2 in the Gemini Gate series), which will be out in 2019. Don’t miss it.
Thank you,
Steven E. Wilde
President Gregory McCormick faces an Omega Crisis: the threat of a nuclear detonation on U.S. soil, which would push the world toward global thermonuclear war. He knows that Al-Qaeda, Russia, and North Korea are all involved—but who is the prime mover? And can they be stopped before it’s too late? As U.S. intelligence searches for answers, McCormick turns to an old friend outside of the halls of government for advice.
Dr. Amos Blund, brilliant doctor, inventor and scientist, is on the verge of a breakthrough not even he can fully comprehend. What had begun as research into new medical imaging techniques has become... something else. When McCormick calls and confides in Blund, Blund quickly becomes convinced that a nuclear detonation is unavoidable. He interrupts his research to get his family to safety, angering friends and neighbors left behind when he travels to a hidden retreat.
As McCormick and Blund work together to prevent nuclear war, they realize that Blund's research might hold the key to saving the human race . . .
Nuclear war, deterred for decades by the threat of mutual annihilation, has begun. Al-Qaeda, unconcerned with the consequences of its actions, has detonated a bomb in Washington D.C., destroying the nation’s capital.
As President McCormick and his advisers face the tough decision of whether to follow through with their threat to retaliate against the perpetrators, a new challenge arises—one as potentially deadly as nuclear war.
Once again, the president turns to his old friend, Dr. Amos Blund, for help—but will it be too late? Can Amos help the president avoid global thermonuclear war and the horrors it will unleash? Struggling to control infighting in the Preserve, Amos faces a daunting task. Helping the president face global challenges, as he must, while also reeling from the staggering, nearly incomprehensible discovery of a gate—to somewhere or to somewhen—Amos must decide where his priorities lie, especially when worlds collide.
Life on earth has been decimated by global thermonuclear war—the Omega Crisis. As surviving government leaders, in underground bunkers around the world, attempt to rebuild a collapsed infrastructure and near-total electrical failure, a new threat appears. A deadly virus has escaped containment at multiple secure storage facilities, threatening the survival of the human race. One of those contaminated is determined to find and kill the president, and he appears to be unstoppable.
While President Gregory McCormick struggles to understand the impacts of the war—on everything from the bunker that’s keeping him alive, to the physical world and its environment—he realizes that his long-time friend, Dr. Amos Blund, may hold the secret to restoring power and rebuilding the infrastructure. But Amos is focused on the problems in the Preserve, from personal conflicts, to an overly anxious son, bent on exploring the new world on the other side of the Gemini Gate.
Can Amos keep his priorities straight, and protect his family, and can the president keep his sanity, with the world in chaos?
The chaos caused by global thermonuclear war has overwhelmed President Gregory McCormick, and his closest advisor is worried about him. They’ve eliminated one threat, renegade former Vice President Art Klemp, one of the carriers of the mutated smallpox virus, but another group of contaminated survivors—the Outcasts—is carrying it unwittingly across the country, and the military can’t stop them. Unable to repair the national power grid, the president has now been told that the bunker that is keeping him alive, is failing; and he believes the only solution is to acquire a new power supply, but where will he find what he needs?
Dr. Amos Blund is focused on the unbelievable capabilities of the Observer, as an aide to medical research, and as a gate—the Gemini Gate—to a twin world. With the help of his partner, Terry Stephens, and driven by his son, Michael, Amos decides to look for himself in the twin world on the other side of the gate.
When the Outcasts end their winter hibernation in Wyoming and continue their search for a place to live in peace in the Rocky Mountains, they encounter Amos’s nemesis, and the battle for Aspen Valley begins, with unexpected consequences for those in both worlds.
If you like the Gemini Gate series, don't miss this extroardinary story by Daniel P. Wilde, Today We Die.
The horrors of World War 2 are widely known. The horrors that have remained unknown--until now--are far worse. In the year 2093, an ancient biological weapon is accidentally unearthed from the sands of the Sahara Desert.
Experts Shift Bader and Anta Chalthoum are called to investigate, but even they cannot fathom the breadth of what has been uncovered.
The stakes quickly rise as the peril intensifies. Shift and Anta must set aside their budding feelings for each other as they face a catastrophe the likes of which the world has never known; the effects of which threaten to reach beyond the borders of our own world.
Gemini Gate Story Guide
The Gemini Gate series: An Overview
Gemini Gate combines real-world geopolitics, including a detailed, behind-the-scenes look at the White House and the possibility of a global thermonuclear Armageddon, with a fictional technological discovery that just might hold the secret to saving the human race. It takes a component of science fiction—a hypothetical, fictional technology—and embeds it in a realistic, present-day world.
The inspiration for this series came to me many years ago. The original story, about a young engineer trapped by a futuristic technology on a dying world, was primarily science fiction. When I began writing the story, I realized that I wanted to tell the back-story—how nuclear war and scientific discovery led to this crisis in the engineer’s life.
The back-story started out as one book, Omega Crisis, and quickly expanded into a series. Worlds in Collision is Book 2 in the series and it looks like there will be at least three more, yet to be named, following that. An overview of each book will follow this overview of the series.
The Characters:
The most difficult aspect of writing this story was developing and maintaining each character’s personality, independent of the others. Being a member of a large family, surrounded by people that I know well, has been a big help.
Here’s a brief description of the principle characters in the series.
Doctor Amos Blund, the protagonist in the series, was inspired by several people that I admire, including my dad—intelligent, organized, resourceful, hardworking, he’s a witty, loving family man and a romantic. His integrity means a lot to him and other people’s ignorance and stupidity test his tolerance.
Lillie Blund, Amos’s wife, was inspired by my wife, Marilyn. A loving, responsible and dedicated mother, she has the self-confidence and sense of humor needed to manage and control her world.
Michael Blund, Amos’ son, reminds me of myself as a young engineer—analytical, goal-oriented, always in a hurry and a little naïve, but with the potential to become like his dad.
President Gregory McCormick has a personality that’s a composite of several good leaders I know. Aggressive and charismatic, he is also fair and compassionate.
Jason Carlsen and Vice President Art Klemp are exaggerated versions of people I’ve known who are so arrogant or self-absorbed that they either can’t or won’t acknowledge other people. Art’s chauvinistic and erratic behavior makes him a perfect antagonist for President McCormick in Omega Crisis and prepares him for the major role he plays in Worlds in Collision (Gemini Gate, Book 2). Similarly, as Amos’s antagonist, Jason’s arrogance will provide some of the drama in Worlds in Collision, and his obsession with escaping the Preserve will play a key role in a later book
A detailed discussion of each of the named characters is included in a later section.
Behind the Scenes:
Working as an engineer and project manager in various industries, I’ve been able to apply personal knowledge and experience to many of the locations, objects and concepts in the story. Here are just a few:
The Preserve: Coming up with the design for the Preserve required knowledge in several fields, including steel fabrication, electric utility, graphite composites, food production and water management.
I selected corrugated steel pipe for the main structural component in the rooms and tunnels of the Preserve because of its relative strength in underground applications. As described in the story, the weakest aspect of the design is the need for welded joints, which Terry checked for radiation leaks using a Geiger counter each time the earth shook. In reality, if one of the welds cracked, then a magnetic particle test would give more accurate results, but that would require more sophisticated equipment, take more time to perform and would require clean up. The Geiger counter test is easier to perform, but would only detect radiation after the radiation had worked its way down through the soil over a longer period of time. For that reason, in the story, Amos tells the others that they will continue periodic testing following the earthquake.
It would be impossible to store enough water to survive thirty years underground without some way to treat wastewater and recycle it. My education in civil engineering, coupled with work in water treatment equipment design taught me about water treatment and distribution, as well as wastewater collection and management—the complete water management cycle. I haven’t attempted to calculate the volume of water that would be required, considering system losses, to last thirty years.
Likewise, it would be impossible to store sufficient food without it spoiling over time. By including living gardens, I avoided the problem of spoilage and reduced the amount of food required to be stored, including specialty foods (i.e. freeze dried). Information provided in the LDS Preparedness Manual, Handbook 2: Provident Living, Version 8.0, June 1st, 2012 (www.ldsavow.com) helped me determine how to stock an emergency retreat.
Power supply: In Omega Crisis, Chapter 19, Amos asks Terry about the status of the Preserve’s power grid. If the Preserve were to be independent of the national power grid, it would need a low maintenance power source that wouldn’t be solar (solar panels would be too visible) or hydroelectric (not enough water in the valley), so I had Terry and Amos invent a power source, which will be revealed in Book 3.
Graphite composite: In Omega Crisis, Chapter 20, Matt asks Emily how the doors of the Preserve are constructed, which leads to a discussion of graphite composite, a material similar to fiberglass, but lighter and stronger than steel. When I worked in the aerospace industry, I was fortunate to be assigned to manage fascinating development projects that used graphite composites, including one to build prototype components for the V22 Osprey Tiltrotor Joint Service Aircraft, and another to build structural components for Americas Cup race boats, for the America3 Foundation, that raced in San Diego during the 1980s.
The V22 Osprey Tiltrotor Joint Service Aircraft
Omega Crisis (Book 1): An Overview
Omega Crisis is the first novel in the Gemini Gate series. Published in November 2018, Omega Crisis is the first of five books that tell the disturbing story of a possible global thermonuclear conflict—the Omega Crisis of the title. It introduces and follows real-world, American government organizations, including their domestic role and interaction with those of other nations, and speculates on the motivations that drive policies and decision-making among world governments in times of crisis. Omega Crisis also introduces a spectacular new technology which will eventually become the focus of the series.
Worlds in Collision (Book 2): An Overview
Worlds in Collision is the second novel in the Gemini Gate series. Published in July, 2019, it continues the story lines introduced in Omega Crisis—the conflict between the world’s nuclear powers and the discovery of the Gemini Gate. In this story, we see several worlds in collision—the U.S. and her allies collide with Al-Qaeda and its co-conspirators, the vice-president’s world collides with the president’s, and several conflicts within the Preserve become more pronounced. Plus, two new conflicts are introduced, one between the government and a new global threat—people contaminated with a mutated virus—and another, when Amos’s world comes into conflict with the world on the other side of the Gemini Gate.
World in Chaos (Book 3): An Overview
World in Chaos is the third novel in the Gemini Gate series. Published in December, 2019. With the world powers and their enemies rendered impotent by global thermonuclear war, President McCormick focuses on fixing the chaos caused by the war; stopping the vice president, who has been contaminated and is determined to find and kill the president; and finding a group of contaminated outcasts who attempt to escape the chaos and inadvertently spread the virus west of the Mississippi River. Amos Blund may hold the secret to their survival, but is consumed by family problems, including a son bent on exploring the new world on the other side of the Gemini Gate.
Battle for Aspen Valley (Book 4): An Overview
Battle for Aspen Valley is the fourth novel in the Gemini Gate series. Planned for publication in 2020. The government bunkers are failing, and President McCormick needs to discover the source of Amos Blund’s power supply as a solution to his problem, even if it means the end of their long friendship. The Outcasts end their winter hibernation in Wyoming and continue their search for a place to live in peace in the Rocky Mountains. Jason wants to prove that Amos has been lying about the war and plans to escape from the Preserve. Michael wants to find himself in the world beyond the Gemini Gate. When everything comes to a head, the family is in for a big surprise, one that will have an everlasting impact on both their world and the world beyond the gate.
The Door Between Twin Worlds (Book 5): An Overview
The Door Between Twin Worlds is the fifth and final novel in the Gemini Gate series. Planned for publication in 2020. President McCormick has the solution to the energy problem. The Outcasts find a place to live in peace. Jason is no longer a problem for Amos, but the family is left with a serious problem, one that only Michael, with Terry’s help, can solve, and the solution lies in the world beyond the Gemini Gate.
Key Characters introduced in Omega Crisis:
The Blund Family:
Dr. Amos Blund (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 2): Fifty years old, Blund is a brilliant doctor, scientist, and inventor. The son of a cattle rancher, he paid his own way through engineering school, and then medical school, at the University of Utah.
He is also—unbeknownst to many of those closest to him—a friend of, and informal adviser to, President Gregory McCormick. The two have been friends for more than thirty years, and McCormick has relied on Amos’s advice since before he became president. When McCormick was a senator, he provided Blund with an encrypted satellite phone so that they could communicate securely when necessary, and they maintain that channel of communication today.
He’s six-foot-two in height, with a medium build and a full head of unruly hair that hangs below his collar, graying at the fringes. He has a habitual gesture, running his fingers through his hair when he’s concentrating.
With the help of his longtime business partner, Terry Stephens, Blund invents and builds medical devices, including the Observer, which is their effort to find a nonintrusive way to accurately observe and diagnose the condition of internal organs and tissue (see Omega Crisis, Chapter 6). They discover that the Observer has capabilities they couldn’t have imagined when they built it, and which are mind-boggling when they encounter them (see the entry for Observer, The under Key Objects and Concepts (introduced in Omega Crisis)).
Expands the Board of the Aspen Valley Corporation to seven (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 5).
Thinks about all the people they left behind in Logan and wonders what happened to them. Tells Lillie about the twin world. Catch Mike and Katie in the lab. Mike tells him about seeing his name in the paper (see World in Chaos, Chapter 11). Decides to begin recording video in all the common areas of the Preserve. Decides to begin testing the gate on people, starting with Lillie and Emily. Rescues Mike from Duke and two friends in the twin world with Terry’s help and takes him to the hospital to operate on him (see World in Chaos, Chapter 12). Figures out that interference from Mike’s sinoatrial (SA) node is what caused the gate to close behind him (see World in Chaos, Chapter 14). Tells Jason that Mike’s medical condition is none of his business. Tells family that he put Mike in a medically induced coma (see World in Chaos, Chapter 15). Tells the family that Mike is awake (see World in Chaos, Chapter 16). Asks Katie what Mike told her he was trying to accomplish by going into twin world (see World in Chaos, Chapter 17). Convinced Mike is correct about twin world (see World in Chaos, Chapter 18). Decides to begin stealing newspapers (see World in Chaos, Chapter 19). Asks Mike what he remembers. He doesn’t remember anything about going through the gate (see World in Chaos, Chapter 21). Criticizes Mike for disobeying instructions. Performs wedding for Mike and Katie. Tells Lillie that Nathan is watching videos late at night (see World in Chaos, Chapter 22). Steals papers through the gate (see Battle for Aspen Valley, Chapter 1. Takes Chris, Rachel and Nathan to the hospital for treatment after the knife fight, locks Jason out, operates on Nathan (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 3). Jason thinks it must have been Chris who attacked Nathan, doesn’t believe Nathan’s been watching pornography, takes Jason to Nathan’s bedroom and finds pornography (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 4). Tells Lillie he’s stealing newspapers and has found some stories about himself, asks Mike to take over study of newspapers, decides to call Amos in the twin world, Amos Two (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 5). Finds his name in paper as special advisor to president, tells Lillie and Terry what he found out (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 6). Calls McCormick and asks for classified details about how the bomb got smuggled into the country and about the war Alarm in hospital tells everyone that Nathan’s condition is worse (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 8). Answers questions about Nathan’s death, thy need to cremate his body, convinced Jason stole Becca’s keys (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 9). Goes outside to onfirm that Jason left, then explains that Jason couldn’t handle Nathan’s death and committed suicide (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 10). Turned twin world research over to Mike and asked Terry to Summarize Mik’s reports for him (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 11).
Lillie Blund (first mentioned in Omega Crisis, Chapter 2): Forty-six years old, she’s a registered nurse. Physically, she is still slender and active. By nature, she’s calm, compassionate, understanding, and an excellent caregiver. She is the house manager and likes to plan parties whenever the group needs a distraction from outside events. She becomes Rylee Parker’s surrogate mother when Rylee’s family dies in an auto accident. She suffers a sprained ankle during the earthquake (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 11).
Organizes the women to plan Emily’s wedding (see World in Chaos, Chapter 3). Reconfigures Matt’s room as a honeymoon suite (see World in Chaos, Chapter 6). Amos tells her about the twin world. Go to the lab to see it. Mike shows her and Becca the twin world. She questions Mike about seeing Amos’s name in the paper (see World in Chaos, Chapter 11). Feels that she’s being watched. Amos tells her she will be his first guinea pig testing the gate on people (see World in Chaos, Chapter 12). Refuses to tell Rachel what happened to Mike (see World in Chaos, Chapter 14). Asks Amos if he things Mike told her about his trip to the twin world are true (see World in Chaos, Chapter 16). Leads Katie to Amos to ask why she can’t see Mike. Explains what Mike told her he wanted to accomplish by going into the twin world (see World in Chaos, Chapter 17). Suggests that Mike and Katie get married (see World in Chaos, Chapter 21). Rachel tells her Rylee is staying up late with Nathan and Rylee says she’s in love with him. Tells Amos her worries about family relationships, asks him to hold Sunday School classes for the youths (see World in Chaos, Chapter 22). Tells the board that Nathan has stopped chasing Rylee and is now interested in Rachel (see World in Chaos, Chapter 24). Rachel tells her she exposed herself to Nathan to distract him. (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 4). Gives Rachel sedative to stop nightmares, tells Amos (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 5). Tells Amos about Becca’s keys, but won’t let Amos wake anyone to change the passcodes (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 9). Announces a birthday party for Becca (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 10).
Michael (Mike) Blund (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 6): Twenty-three, he has degrees in geology and structural engineering, a combination that’s made him useful in his dad’s research and indispensable in the construction of the Preserve (see the entry for The Preserve under Key Locations introduced in Omega Crisis. Physically, he is the image of his father. He convinces his dad to experiment with the Observer after discovering its strange capabilities, configures the Observer to jump to specific coordinates, and draws the conclusion that they’re looking at a parallel world (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 8). Shows his dad and Terry their neighborhood in the twin world (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 21). Sees his dad’s name in a newspaper in the twin world (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 24).
Tells Katie he loves her (see World in Chaos, Chapter 3). Retrieves a coin from the twin world. Shows his dad the construction site in the twin world (see World in Chaos, Chapter 5). Teaches Katie how to operate the Observer (see World in Chaos, Chapter 7). Goes to Katie’s room, tries to get intimate with her (see World in Chaos, Chapter 9). Falls asleep on Katie’s bed (see World in Chaos, Chapter 10). Finds a second newspaper in Ogden. Suggests testing Panel B inside the Preserve. Catches Jason trying locked doors. Caught in the lab. Tells his dad about seeing his name in the paper. Shows Lillie and Becca the twin world (see World in Chaos, Chapter 11). Tells the board that they’ve been watched by the Observer. Goes through the gate with Katie’s help, it closes behind him. He’s assaulted by Duke and two friends, rescued by Amos and Terry, and hospitalized. (see World in Chaos, Chapter 12). Amos and Terry operate on him (see World in Chaos, Chapter 12). Wakes from his induced coma (see World in Chaos, Chapter 16). Tells Amos what he remembers. He doesn’t remember anything about going through the gate (see World in Chaos, Chapter 21). Criticized by his dad for disobeying instructions. Marries Katie (see World in Chaos, Chapter 22). Finds stories in newspapers that show the twin world d has the same global tensions as his world (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 6).
Emily (Em) Blund (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 7): Twenty-one, with long blonde hair and delicate features, she’s a student of veterinary medicine at Utah State University. An animal lover, she’s determined to work to make the world a better place. She suffers a fractured arm from the earthquake on the Wasatch Fault (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 11). Gets engaged to Matt (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 14).
Marries Matt, wedding performed by Amos (see World in Chaos, Chapter 9). Amos tells her she will be his second guinea pig testing the gate on people (see World in Chaos, Chapter 12).
Rachel Blund (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 7): Eighteen, she’s a student of literature at Utah State University. A romantic, she writes poetry, and wants to teach high school students to appreciate reading, particularly the classics. She has jet-black, shoulder-length hair, an almond-shaped face, and her mother’s slender build.
Tells Chris that her dad knows the president and that Mike is in Katie’s room late at night. Goes to Katie’s room to find Mike (see World in Chaos, Chapter 10). Tells Lillie that Rylee is staying up late with Nathan (see World in Chaos, Chapter 22). Tells Chri that Nathan hit on her (see Battle for Aspen Valley, Chapter 1. Nathan follows her into her room and attacks her, fights with Chris, Is injured, distracts Nathan so Chris can get an advantage over him (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 3). Tells Lillie and Becca hat she exposed herself to Nathan to distract him. Rachel tells her she exposed herself to Nathan to distract him. (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 4). Hospitalized for four days (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 4). Has nightmares about Nathan (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 5). Cries for Rylee being hurt by Nathan, feels badly for Chris, who hasn’t a clue why everyone’s upset. (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 8). Thinks Chris doesn’t love her anymore, they clear it up, she tells about exposing herself to Nathan and about the nightmares (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 11).
Matthew (Matt) Green (first mentioned in Omega Crisis, Chapter 7): Twenty-three years old, and a medical student. He is Emily Blund’s boyfriend and joins them in the move to the Preserve. He went against his father’s wishes by going into medicine instead of law, and he’s distant from his parents as a result. Physically, he is almost Amos’s height. Gets engaged to Em (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 14).
Practices performing an appendectomy on Mike (see World in Chaos, Chapter 3). Marries Emily, wedding performed by Amos (see World in Chaos, Chapter 9).
The Stephens Family:
Dr. Terry Stephens (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 6): Forty-five, he stands five-foot-six and is heavyset, with dark hair cut just above his collar, and he’s balding on top. Like Amos, he’s a medical doctor with a scientific bent, but his expertise lies in finding ways to execute Amos’s brilliant plans. Helps his longtime business partner, Amos Blund, develop and invent medical devices, including the Observer (see Omega Crisis, Chapter 6). Assists Amos in discovering that the Observer has capabilities they couldn’t have imagined when they built it (see the entry for Observer, The under Key Objects and Concepts introduced in Omega Crisis).
Reopens the gate after it closes on Mike, kicks Katie out of the lab when he sees what’s happened to Mike. Helps Amos rescue Mike from the twin world and take him to the hospital (see World in Chaos, Chapter 12). Figures out and tells Amos that interference from Mike’s sinoatrial (SA) node is what caused the gate to close behind him (see World in Chaos, Chapter 14). Tells Amos that he can’t find any newspapers at libraries (see World in Chaos, Chapter 19). Tells Amos that Nathan spends late nights watching videos in the community center (see World in Chaos, Chapter 22). Helps Amos take Chris, Rachel and Nathan to the hospital for treatment after the knife fight, operates on Nathan (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 3).
Rebecca (Becca) Stephens (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 7): Forty-one, she’s the wife of Terry Stephens, and known as Becca. A former botanist, she gave up her career to raise her children. She’s four years younger than Terry, but as much a mother to him as a partner, ensuring that he doesn’t forget to eat and sleep when he’s working. Her hobbies include raising fruits and vegetables and cooking.
Realizes something is wrong between Katie and Mike and questions Katie about it (see World in Chaos, Chapter 10). Mike shows her and Lillie the twin world (see World in Chaos, Chapter 11). Tells the board that someone is raiding the pantry. Feels that she’s being watched. (see World in Chaos, Chapter 12). Surprised when Nathan shows up to help with lunch (see World in Chaos, Chapter 24). Rachel tells her she exposed herself to Nathan to distract him. (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 4). Can’t find her keys (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 9).
Katie Stephens (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 7): Twenty-one, she’s the daughter of Terry and Becca Stephens. She was a gymnast in college, has a degree in elementary education, and is a teacher. A party is held for her twenty-second birthday (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 19).
Tells Mike she loves him (see World in Chaos, Chapter 3). Stops Mike from being intimate with her (see World in Chaos, Chapter 9). Tells her mother about Mike trying to become intimate when questioned (see World in Chaos, Chapter 10). Tries to seduce Mike, but he falls asleep. She is awakened by Chris, looking for Mike (see World in Chaos, Chapter 10). Can’t reopen the gate when it closes on Mike, goes to get Terry, kicked out of the lab when Terry reopens it and sees what’s happened to Mike (see World in Chaos, Chapter 12. Asks Becca, then Amos why she can’t see Mike (see World in Chaos, Chapter 17). Marries Mike (see World in Chaos, Chapter 22).
Chris Stephens (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 7): Nineteen years old, son of Terry and Becca Stephens, and a political science student at Utah State University with an interest in international relations. Hopes to work for the State Department after graduation. Chris has teased Rachel Blund since they were children—a habit that turns into flirtation, then romance, now that they’re older. He makes a joke about the Preserve resembling the Starship Enterprise (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 13).
Rachel tells him Amos knows the president and that Mike is in Katie’s room late at night, goes to Katie’s room looking for Mike (see World in Chaos, Chapter 10). Is convinced Mike and Katie are having sex. Goes to Rachel’s room (see World in Chaos, Chapter 21). Studies the preserve’s life support systems (see Battle for Aspen Valley, Chapter 1. Follows Rachel into her room and finds Nathan attacking her, fights Nathan, Is injured and forces Nathan to land on his own knife (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 3). Hospitalized for four days (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 4). Giving Rachel room to get over trauma of Nathan’s attack, leaves her thinking he doesn’t love her anymore, they clear it up (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 11).
The Carlsen Family:
Jason Carlsen (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 9): In his forties, and a corporate controller, he’s Amos Blund’s next-door neighbor. A tactless man in a loveless marriage. He works long hours, although his wife believes it’s at least partly a cover for avoiding the family and home. He’s a large, muscular man. He attacks Amos (see Omega Crisis, Chapter 10) and is attacked by Amos (see Omega Crisis, Chapter 24). Doesn’t believe the war is real and makes fun of Brittany (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 13).
Caught by Mike trying locked doors (see World in Chaos, Chapter 11). Questions Amos about Mike’s medical condition and told its none of his business (see World in Chaos, Chapter 15). Asked by Brittany to talk to Nathan about leaving Rylee alone. He refuses (see World in Chaos, Chapter 23). Thinks it must have ben Chris who attacked Nathan, doesn’t beleive Nathan’s been watching pornography, follows Amos to Nathan’s bedroom to see and finds pornography (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 4). Wants to be in the hospital when they check on Nathan, then insults Amos and is told to leave, determined to leave the Preserve as soon as he can find a way out (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 8) Stumbles his way out of the Preserve, through the valley, up the trail and to Garden City, not prepared or the crowd or the evidence that Amos was right about the war, meets Isaac and Zaac, goes go the Convention Center to get work and a food voucher, meets Justin, Isn’t prepared to answer questions about his clothes and where he’s been all winter , sleeps in Zaac’s mom’s car (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 9). Loses interest in Garden City because he doesn’t like people, moves to Laketown, misses the Preserve (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 11).
Brittany Carlsen (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 10): Jason’s wife. She’s a quiet, reserved, and mostly submissive woman, but has a hidden inner strength. She’s also had to become independent since Jason spends most of his time at work. She’s done most of the work raising their three kids. Physically, she’s about half the size of her husband. Quotes scriptures about the moon turning to blood (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 13). Asks Jason to talk to Nathan about leaving Rylee alone. He refuses. She tells Nathan to leave Rylee alone (see World in Chaos, Chapter 23). Confronts Jason about his Las Vegas trip (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 8). Tells Lillie about her newlywed days and Jason’a lack of interest in his boys (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 10).
Aaron Carlsen (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 10, and dies in Chapter 14): Eighteen, the eldest son of Jason and Brittany Carlsen. He’s a delinquent, running with a tough crowd, and rarely comes home except to eat or sleep, usually during the day. He’s muscular, with dark shaggy hair and multiple tattoos, including one of a large eagle spreading its wings across his back. He dies in an auto accident, along with his friend Duke.
Nathan Carlsen (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 10): Seventeen, the middle child of Jason and Brittany Carlsen. He was a good kid growing up, but recently has taken to idolizing and imitating his delinquent brother, with whom he spends most of his time. He resembles his brother, though he’s not as buff and doesn’t have as many tattoos.
Notices Rylee for the first time at the wedding (see World in Chaos, Chapter 9). Invites Rylee to work out with him (see World in Chaos, Chapter 10). Spends late nights watching videos in the community center , but Turns off TV before Rylee can see what he’s watching (see World in Chaos, Chapter 19) Brittany tells him to leave Rylee alone. He decides to drop Rylee and go after Rachel. He checks the schedule to see when he and Rachel are on the same work team (see World in Chaos, Chapter 23). He ignores Rylee, then tells her to go away (see World in Chaos, Chapter 24). Dreams about his childhood with Aaron (see Battle for Aspen Valley, Prologue). Follows Rachel into her room and attacks her, fights with Chris, Rachel and Chris are injured and Nathan lands on his own knife (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 3). Die from the poison on his knife (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 9).
Sydney Carlsen (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 10): Fourteen, and the daughter of Jason and Brittany Carlsen. She’s on the honor roll at school, studies piano, and runs track. She doesn’t like, or fit in with, her brothers, who disdain her. She suffers a concussion and head injury from the explosion at Hill Air Force Base (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 11). A party is held for her fifteenth birthday (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 19).
The Parker Family:
Tyler Parker (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 9, and dies in Chapter 14): In his late thirties, a grocery store manager, and a neighbor who lives one street over from the Blunds, two doors down from the Stephenses. He and his wife, Megan, love each other very much, and when he’s not at work he’s with her and their two kids. The family spends its time outside whenever they can, camping, skiing, and fishing. He’s a large, muscular man. He dies in the auto accident with Aaron Carlsen.
Megan Parker (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 10, and dies in Chapter 14): Wife of Tyler Parker. She dies in the auto accident with Aaron Carlsen.
Joshua Parker (first mentioned in Omega Crisis, Chapter 8, and dies in Chapter 14): Seventeen years old, son of Tyler and Megan Parker. He dies in the auto accident with Aaron Carlsen.
Rylee Parker (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 13): Fifteen years old, daughter of Tyler and Megan Parker. Orphaned by the auto accident, she becomes the unofficial ward of Lillie Blund.
Nathan invites her to work out with him (see World in Chaos, Chapter 10). Walks in on Nathan watching TV, but he turns it off before she can see what he’s watching (see World in Chaos, Chapter 19). Not getting enough sleep because of her late nights with Nathan. Rachel tells Lillie that Rylee is staying up late with Nathan and Rylee says she’s in love with Nathan. Goes to Nathan for sympathy (see World in Chaos, Chapter 22). Nathan ignores her, then tells her to go away (see World in Chaos, Chapter 24). Interrupts Rachel’s nightmares about Nathan, tells Lillie (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 5). Hopes Nathan dies (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 8).
US Government:
Appleton, Lisa (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 6): White House press secretary. In her thirties, with a striking appearance and short brown hair. Is later replaced in the position by Ryan Jamison.
Dickson, Charles (Chuck) (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 9): U.S. Secretary of Homeland Security (HomeSec). Key member of the NSC, but not a member of the Panel (see Key Organizations and Groups). Tells McCormick about the backup power problem at the CDC and other Level 3 and 4 facilities (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 12). Tells McCormick about the geophysical changes and problems restoring the power grid (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 12). Tells McCormick that the government bunkers are running out of power and spare parts and weather patterns are changing. McCormick tells him to find out the secret of Blund’s power source (see World in Chaos, Chapter 14). Reports to McCormick that they have made a few copies of a submarine nuclear reactor (see World in Chaos, Chapter 19). Directed by McCormick to help Lister find resources to begin producing vaccine (see World in Chaos, Chapter 24). Tells McCormick about Mexico plague (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 1)
Epstein, Eric (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 1): McCormick’s Chief of Staff. Later invited to meetings of the Panel (see Key Organizations and Groups). He worked for McCormick as a speech writer for fifteen years before becoming head of his speech writing team (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 4).
Hutchison, Cyril (Cy) (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 2): U.S. Secretary of State. Served with McCormick in the Senate for twelve years before McCormick became president. Notable for his integrity, logical thinking, and diplomacy. Key member of the NSC, but not a member of the Panel (see Key Organizations and Groups). Tells McCormick about Preppers. Directed to locate them and see if they have power sources (see World in Chaos, Chapter 14).
Jamison, Ryan (first mentioned in Omega Crisis, Chapter 9): McCormick’s advisor on terrorism and a member of the United States Department of Counter-Terrorism. He also takes over as Press Secretary, replacing Lisa Appleton. A small man with thinning hair and a nose that looks like it’s been broken in the past. He is confident, even bold, and direct to the point of bluntness.
Klemp, Art (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 1): Vice president of the United States. A loose cannon, who is suspected of leaking classified information for his own benefit. McCormick doesn’t trust him after soldiers are killed because of leaked information. Key member of the NSC, but not a member of the Panel (see Key Organizations and Groups). He thinks he may be able to declare McCormick unfit for service and take over running the government (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 2). He is removed from an NSC meeting when he panics and is sedated (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 12). He leaves the VEEP bunker, and goes to the Johns Creek public shelter, out of fear, where he contracts the mutated smallpox virus (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 15). Survives the gun battle at the shelter, escapes with five followers and steals a military truck (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22). Attacks the VEEP bunker to get the location of the Prime bunker (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 23).
Leaves the VEEP bunker and runs into traffic congestion on the freeway, gets to South Carolina and has to syphon gas to refuel (see World in Chaos, Chapter 1). His truck is stopped at a barricade and has to walk (see World in Chaos, Chapter 4). Shoots a man for not sharing food (see World in Chaos, Chapter 11). Kills a man while searching a home for food (see World in Chaos, Chapter 13). Shoots a man for arguing with him (see World in Chaos, Chapter 16). He watches an elimination team in Harrisburg, Virginia, kill and cremate a group of contaminated people (see World in Chaos, Chapter 17). He ambushes and captures the elimination team and steals their truck. Recruits five people to his team. Reveals himself when he shoots a captive sergeant in the knee while he’s reporting on a radio (see World in Chaos, Chapter 18). Recruits nine more citizens for his army (see World in Chaos, Chapter 19). Captures Captain Alyssa Marston and her team of six Prime soldiers in West Virginia (see World in Chaos, Chapter 20). Leads two teams to attack Prime and is captured by the president’s soldiers. Surprised that Marston allowed herself to be contaminated (see World in Chaos, Chapter 21). Visited by McCormick by video and offered a pardon if he helps with the research for a smallpox cure. Told he has been charged with treason. His volatile personality is apparent (see World in Chaos, Chapter 22). Has become highly erratic and is dying. Doesn’t realize McCormick is talking to him via monitor He dies (see World in Chaos, Chapter 24).
McCormick, Gregory (Greg) (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 1): President of the United States. A tall, dignified-looking fifty-year-old, his hair beginning to turn gray at the fringes. He comes from a wealthy family with oil money. He is also a longtime friend of Amos Blund, and tried to recruit Amos to several different government posts, but Amos always declined. He organized the Panel (see Key Organizations and Groups). He authorized the retaliation on Russia and North Korea (see Omega Crisis, Chapter 23). He wears himself out from overwork and stress (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 2). He tries to calm the nation (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 3), then plans an offensive with allies—the UK, France and Israel. He served as a senator from Ohio before becoming president. Speaks with the Russian President (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 4). Warns the public to seek shelter and declares nationwide martial law (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 8). Initiated a nuclear allied offensive against Al-Qaeda (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 9). Authorizes the destruction of the CDC and other Level 3 and 4 facilities (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 12).
Directs Seymour to find contaminated people and Mitchell to find space and equipment for Lister to use for vaccine research. Directs Mitchell to search Lister’s phone records (see World in Chaos, Chapter 5). Confronted by his wife about elimination squads and begins to wonder if he’s lost his soul (see World in Chaos, Chapter 6). Tells Seymour that his wife has kicked him out (see World in Chaos, Chapter 7). Tells Dickson to find out the secret of Blund’s power source (see World in Chaos, Chapter 14). Directs Hutchison to locate Prepper groups and see if they have power sources (see World in Chaos, Chapter 14). Learns that Art has captured an elimination squad and taken their truck. Agrees to let Art come to them (see World in Chaos, Chapter 18). Approves Seymour’s plan to infiltrate Art’s army (see World in Chaos, Chapter 19). Finds out that Marston has infiltrated Klemp’s army (see World in Chaos, Chapter 20). Apologizes to Captain Alyssa Marston for her being captured and contaminated by Klemp. Visits Klemp by video, and offers a pardon if Klemp helps with the research for a smallpox cure. Tells Klemp he has been charged with treason. His volatile personality is apparent (see World in Chaos, Chapter 22). Names the mutated virus Smallpox K after Art Klemp. Lister tells him Klemp has been vaccinated, reacted to the vaccine, expected to die shortly, and has become erratic. Talks to dying and highly erratic Klemp via monitor (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 23). Lister tells him that she thinks they’ve found a cure, ready to being clinical testing. He orders her to begin producing vaccine, directs Dickson to help her find resources. Visits Klemo in cell. Klemp has become highly erratic and is dying. Doesn’t realize McCormick is talking to him via monitor He dies (see World in Chaos, Chapter 24).
Mitchell, Thomas (Tom) (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 1): U.S. Director of National Intelligence (DNI). He is a slender man of about fifty, with thinning hair and a long face. He is a political appointee who doesn’t have an intelligence agency background. He leads the United States Intelligence Community, and thus directs and oversees the National Intelligence Program and is an adviser to the president on intelligence matters. He is a brilliant strategist and a longtime friend of McCormick, who managed two of his political campaigns, including the one for the presidency. One of McCormick’s key advisers and member of the Panel (see Key Organizations and Groups). Discovers that the Los Zetas cartel used a million-dollar submarine to smuggle the bomb into the United States, then scuttled the sub (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 1). Had the sub raised and inspected (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 4). He is from Tennessee (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 12). Tells McCormick about St. Louis community contaminated, number of people killed by elimination squads and medical teams (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 23).
Peatross, Robert (introduced, but not named, in Omega Crisis, Chapter 9, named in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 2): U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs (JCS). Key member of the NSC, but not a member of the Panel (see Key Organizations and Groups). Dies when his JCS bunker is hit by a Chinese missile and destroyed (Worlds in Collision, Chapter 10).
Porter, Daniel (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 9): U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations. He is placed in charge of the VEEP bunker when the vice president is removed and has to be sedated (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 12). Reluctant participant in Art Klemp’s attack on the VEEP bunker (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 23).
Seymour, James (Jim) (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 1): A general in the U.S. military and Secretary of Defense (SecDef). He heads the Department of Defense, with authority over the military that’s second only to McCormick’s. He’s a veteran of the Gulf War, where he served with McCormick, is a key adviser to McCormick and member of the Panel (see Key Organizations and Groups). Orchestrates the U.S. response to the terrorist bombing and China’s and Russia’s response (Omega Crisis, Chapter 23). Reported to the president that China and Russia launched retaliatory missiles (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 1). Reported that China’s missiles have destroyed seven locations in the western states (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 2). Pushes McCormick to destroy the CDC and other Level 3 and 4 facilities (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 12).
Reports details of the terrorist takedown (see World in Chaos, Chapter 1). Reports details of the VEEP attack by Klemp (see World in Chaos, Chapter 2). Sets up elimination squads (see World in Chaos, Chapter 5). Explains special military hazmat suits that she and her research team can wear 24/7 squads (see World in Chaos, Chapter 6). Wonders if he’s lost his soul for having recommended aggressively pursuing retaliation (see World in Chaos, Chapter 7). Tells McCormick about the Mississippi river dam failing (see World in Chaos, Chapter 14). Reports on contact with prepper groups (see World in Chaos, Chapter 15). Recommends letting Art come to the president when Art reveals his presence in Virginia (see World in Chaos, Chapter 18). He comes up with the plan to infiltrate Klemp’s army (see World in Chaos, Chapter 19).
Unknown name, Secretary of Energy (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 9): U.S. Secretary of Energy (ENERGY). Key member of the NSC, but not a member of the Panel (see Key Organizations and Groups). Dies when his ENERGY bunker is hit by a Chinese missile and destroyed (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 10).
Unknown name, Director of National Drug Control Policy (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 9): U.S. Director of National Drug Control Policy (NDCP). Key member of the NSC, but not a member of the Panel (see Key Organizations and Groups). Dies when his NDCP bunker is hit by a Chinese missile and destroyed (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 10).
Foreign Government Leaders:
Blakesley, Horace (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 19): British member of the UN security council.
Chung, Unknown given name (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 19): Chinese member of the UN Security Council.
Denis, Jean-Luc (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 19): French member of the UN Security Council.
Jiang Zemin (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 23): Former president of China and patron to several members of the Standing Committee of the Chinese Politburo. One of a small number of real people who appear in the Omega Crisis. Influences the Politburo to retaliate against the U.S. for launching a missile at North Korea.
Jorgensen, Peder (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 19): UN representative from Denmark and president of an emergency session of the United Nations dealing with the terrorist threat.
Xi Jinping (first mentioned in Omega Crisis, Chapter 23): President of China and General Secretary of the Communist Party of China. One of a small number of real people who appear in the Omega Crisis. Directs the Chinese military to retaliate against the U.S. and other countries following the allied offensive (see Worlds in Collision, chapter 9).
The Rest of the Omega Crisis Cast (in alphabetical order):
Ahlstrom, Unknown given name (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 15): Police officer at the scene of the auto accident on the way to the Preserve. Officer Dooley’s partner.
Chase, Justin (introduced in Omega Crisis, Prologue): Reporter in the Channel 11 News helicopter. Dies in the helicopter crash, along with his pilot and cameraman (see Omega Crisis, Chapter 23).
Dooley, Unknown given name (introduced in Omega Crisis, chapter 15): Police officer at the scene of the auto accident on the way to the Preserve. Officer Ahlstrom’s partner.
Kearns, Melanie (introduced in Omega Crisis, Prologue): Reporter, Channel 11 News.
McCormick, Elizabeth (Liz) (introduced in Omega Crisis, chapter 22): The wife of President Gregory McCormick, went to the Prime bunker with her husband, two sons and their families.
Confronts her husband about elimination squads and asks if he’s losing his soul (see World in Chaos, Chapter 6).
McKensie, Patrick and Kathy (Kitty) (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 9): In their seventies. They live across the street from the Blunds in Logan, Utah. They decided not to go to the Preserve. Are caught in the firestorm that rages through Logan (Cache Valley) and die (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 12).
Mendoza, Jose (El Jefe) (first mentioned in Omega Crisis, Chapter 1): Los Zetas Drug Lord, known as El Jefe, “the Chief.” Shot by U.S. soldier in the attack on the Los Zetas drug cartel plantation but saved by his titanium vest (see Omega Crisis, Chapter 4).
Samaan, Jean-Loup (first mentioned in Omega Crisis, Chapter 9): A real person. He’s the author, with Laurent Verneuil, of a study on emergency response to Hurricane Katrina (see “A Bit of the Real Word—the Katrina Study”).
Spaulding, Dennis (introduced in Omega Crisis, Prologue): Reporter, Channel 11 News.
Stenger, Robert (first mentioned in Omega Crisis, Chapter 3): The Senior Senator from Florida. Suspected of leaking government secrets, received from Art Klemp, to the media. Worries about being discovered selling secrets to the Chinese (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 4).
Unknown surname, Saleh (alias Samuel Smith) (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 1): Terrorist who works with the Los Zetas cartel to build a nuclear weapon and have it smuggled into Washington, D.C. Raised in Saudi Arabia, in a Wahhabi training camp. Sent to England at seventeen to experience western decadence. Started carrying out assignments at age twenty, to activate sleeper agents for Al-Qaeda and prepare them for suicide missions. Shot in the attack on the Los Zetas drug cartel plantation but saved by his titanium vest (see Omega Crisis, Chapter 4). Successfully delivers Washington, D.C. bomb to sleeper agent, Austin, who detonates it (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 1). Receives second mission to bomb the CDC in Atlanta, Georgia (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 1). Becomes the prime suspect in the bombing (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 8). Meets suicide bomber, Jackson, and shoots him when he blows his cover (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 9). His car is damaged and he is contaminated with smallpox when the CDC is destroyed (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 15). Kill two would-be thieves (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 20). Dies in a shootout with the military (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 25).
Unknown surname, Ahmed (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 1): Terrorist and Saleh’s handler. Delivers the message on Al Jazeera TV that Al-Qaeda is preparing a second strike against the United States (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 2).
Unknown surname, Deshaun, (Duke) (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 13, and dies in Chapter 14): Hoodlum, friend of Aaron Carlsen’s. He wears his hair in dreadlocks and has a scar on his left cheek. Dies in the car accident with Aaron Carlsen.
Unknown surname, Jordan (Jord) (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 13): Hoodlum, friend of Aaron Carlsen’s. He sports limp, greasy blond hair and so many tattoos that his pale skin looked black in places.
Unknown surname, Perry (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 3): Head of Vice President Klemp’s five-man security team, all of whom go with the vice president to the Johns Creek public shelter (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 15) where he dies in the gun battle (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22).
Unknown surname and given name, Drug Lord (introduced and dies in Omega Crisis, Chapter 1): Unnamed leader of the Gulf Cartel.
Unknown surnames and given names, College Men (introduced in Omega Crisis, Chapter 14): Two unnamed college students who stop at the scene of the accident involving the Parkers, Aaron Carlsen and Duke.
Unknown surnames and given names, two Navy Seals (introduced and die in Omega Crisis, Chapter 4): Unnamed Navy Seal commander and lieutenant tasked with intercepting a bomb being moved from Russia to North Korea.
Unknown surnames and given names, four Delta Force operatives (introduced and die in Omega Crisis, Chapter 4): Unnamed Delta Force operatives tasked with intercepting a bomb being smuggled from Mexico into the United States.
Verneuil, Laurent (first mentioned in Omega Crisis, Chapter 9): A real person. Author, with Jean-Loup Samaan, of a study on emergency response to Hurricane Katrina (see A Bit of the Real World—the Katrina Study)
Key Characters introduced in Worlds in Collision:
The Blund Family:
Blund, Mandy (introduced in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 16, along with two children, Amy, age 14, and Ian, age 6): Married to Kevin (introduced in Omega Crisis), Amos Blund’s younger brother. She doesn’t understand why Kevin resents Amos’s successes, and why they couldn’t join Amos and Lillie in Logan before war broke out. Mandy and Amy are captured by desperate refugees after Kevin’s death, Ian escapes into the corn field, their fates are unknown (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 16).
Mayfield, Brady (introduced in Worlds in Collision, Prologue): Husband of Brienne, who is Terry Stephens sister. Lives near Mt. Vernon Square in Washington, D.C. Doesn’t believe the threats of a nuclear bomb in the Capitol and waits too long to get out of town. Tries to hide his family under a bridge and is caught in the shock wave from the explosion in Washington, D.C. and presumed dead.
Mayfield, Brienne (Bri) (introduced in Worlds in Collision, Prologue): Wife of Brady Mayfield and sister of Terry Stephens. Has thirteen-year-old twins, Rebekah (Bekka) and Levi. Wanted to accept Terry’s offer to stay with them in Utah for a few days, but Brady wouldn’t agree. Caught in the shock wave from the explosion in Washington, D.C. and presumed dead.
Mayfield, Rebekah (Bekka) and Levi (introduced in Worlds in Collision, Prologue): Thirteen-year-old twins, children of Brady and Brienne Mayfield. Bekka was named after her aunt Rebecca (Becca) Stephens. Caught in the shock wave from the explosion in Washington, D.C. and presumed dead.
US Government:
Monroe, Gary (introduced in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 2): U.S. Director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), part of Homeland Security. Asked to help coordinate the government’s response to the national disaster, since FEMA’s usual role is to coordinate the federal response to floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires—disasters that overwhelm the resources of local and state authorities.
Foreign Government Leaders:
May, Theresa (introduced in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 4): Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. One of a small number of real people who appear in Worlds in Collision. President McCormick enjoyed her cooking and listening to her British accent during a visit with her and her husband, Philip, in England. Participates in a phone call with allies—the US, France and Israel—to plan an offensive against Al-Qaeda (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 4) and carry out the offensive (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 9).
Netanyahu, Benjamin (introduced in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 4): Prime Minister of Israel. One of a small number of real people who appear in Worlds in Collision. Participates in a phone call with allies in the US, UK, and France to plan an offensive against Al-Qaeda (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 4) and carry out the offensive (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 9).
Philippe, Édouard (introduced in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 4): Prime Minister of France. One of a small number of real people who appear in Worlds in Collision. Participates in a phone call with allies in the US, UK and Israel to plan an offensive against Al-Qaeda (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 4) and carry out the offensive (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 9).
Putin, Vladimir (introduced in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 4): President of Russia. One of a small number of real people who appear in the Worlds in Collision. Speaks with the U.S. President (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 4). Warns U.S. not to launch additional missiles (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 8). Counters the allied offensive with nuclear weapons (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 9).
Johns Creek Shelter:
Byron, Beth (introduced in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 15): Johns Creek Shelter doctor. A plain looking woman in her early thirties. Attracted to her male nurse, Ben Schick. Contracts smallpox from the family of three (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 20). Survives the gun battle, escapes the shelter with eleven others and becomes the leader of the Outcasts (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22).
Suggests the Outcasts bath in the river (see World in Chaos, Chapter 1). Decides maybe they should call themselves Outcasts with a capital “O”. Introduces herself to the other Outcasts, she worked in a clinic in Johns Creek when the call went out for volunteers and was assigned to the Johns Creek shelter (see World in Chaos, Chapter 2). First to see that the Mississippi River has shrunk (see World in Chaos, Chapter 6). Speaks to group headed south about damage to the north (see World in Chaos, Chapter 7). Confronts group of seven men protecting bridge that demand a toll. Learns that an earthquake has blocked the Mississippi River (see World in Chaos, Chapter 8). First to see the berm backing up the Mississippi River above the Interstate 255 bridge (see World in Chaos, Chapter 13). First to see the tent city (see World in Chaos, Chapter 14). Convinces the Outcasts to follow the Oregon Trail (see World in Chaos, Chapter 14). Leads the Outcasts to several historic Oregon trail sites. They encounter Harvey, and a group of friendly farmers (see World in Chaos, Chapter 15). Leads Outcasts to Ft. Laramie in a blizzard, cold and wet. Ben watches her change clothes and she watches him. Treats Lisa for frostbite, but can’t save her (see World in Chaos, Chapter 16). Thinks she should have done more for Lisa. Proposes they cremate Lisa’s body. Reads 23rd Psalm (see World in Chaos, Chapter 17). Moves the Outcasts to home in Ft. Laramie for the winter (see World in Chaos, Chapter 24). Outcasts dig their way out of the house in FT. Laramie (see Battle for Aspen Valley, Chapter 1). Convinces the Outcasts to take the Mormon Trail to Utah (see Battle for Aspen Valley, Chapter 3). Takes Outcasts to Devil’s Gate and Martin’s Cove (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 5). Leads Outcasts to Ft. Bridger and buy food, contaminate, then vaccinates boy and his parents, learns that Wasatch Front has been destroyed, divert to Bear Lake valley (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 6). She leads them to Laketown, they meet an try to avoid Jason
Gibbons, Melissa (introduced in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 15): CDC scientist. Goes to the shelter to avoid being in the VEEP bunker when the CDC is destroyed (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 15). Contracts smallpox from the family of three (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 20). Survives the gun battle, escapes the shelter with eleven others and becomes one of the Outcasts (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22).
Introduces herself to the other Outcasts, a PhD, who was studying flu viruses with Evelyn Shumann, trying to understand why new ones appear each year (see World in Chaos, Chapter 2). Leads half of Outcasts to find shelter in barn (see World in Chaos, Chapter 9). Is shot by farmer and dies in a corn field while stealing corn (see World in Chaos, Chapter 11).
Learner, unknown given name, Sergeant (introduced in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 15): Shelter security until the vice president relieves him and placed his security detail in charge of the shelter. Contracts smallpox (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 20). Dies in the gun battle in the shelter (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22).
Schick, Ben (introduced in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 15): Gentle male nurse in his late twenties. Contracts smallpox from the family of three (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 20). Is shot in the arm during the gun battle, escapes the shelter with eleven others and becomes one of the Outcasts (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22).
Defends Callie from an attack by Jared (see World in Chaos, Chapter 1). Introduces himself to the other Outcasts, from Pennsylvania, worked in a clinic in Johns Creek when the call went out for volunteers to work in the Johns Creek Shelter (see World in Chaos, Chapter 2). Breaks his arm defending Callie and kills a crazed, tire iron wielding man (see World in Chaos, Chapter 4). Reinjures his arm when he rescues Callie from Colin at the bridge (see World in Chaos, Chapter 8). Watches Beth change clothes, then she watches him (see World in Chaos, Chapter 16).
Schumann, Evelyn (introduced in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 15): CDC scientist. Goes to the shelter to avoid being in the VEEP bunker when the CDC is destroyed (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 15). Contracts smallpox from the family of three (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 20). Dies in the gun battle in the shelter (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22).
Unknown surname, Callie (introduced in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 18): Daughter of Raquel and Jim. Pretty eighteen-year-old woman who wears bright clothes that attract Klemp’s attention. Contracts smallpox (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 20). Assaulted by Art Klemp, survives the gun battle and escapes the shelter with eleven others and becomes one of the Outcasts (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22).
Attacked by Jared and rescued by Ben in the river (see World in Chaos, Chapter 1). Introduces herself to the other Outcasts, resentful of the president for waiting so long to warn the public, when her parents are killed (see World in Chaos, Chapter 2). Allows herself, through inaction, to be captured by Colin at the bridge and is rescued by Ben (see World in Chaos, Chapter 8). Laughs for the first time (see World in Chaos, Chapter 12). Rescued by Norman on the Interstate 255 bridge (see World in Chaos, Chapter 13). Helps Kerri care for Lisa’s frostbite (see World in Chaos, Chapter 16).
Unknown surname, Candy (real name is Sheryl) (introduced, but not named in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22): Contracts smallpox, escapes the shelter with eleven others and becomes one of the Outcasts (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22).
Introduces herself to the other Outcasts, gorgeous woman from Denver in her thirties. Worked in modeling and commercials in New York, and was a back-up singer in a rock group. She was on her way to Florida from an audition in Nashville, when she was directed to the shelter. Her stage name is Candy and she is unattached (see World in Chaos, Chapter 2). First to see that Memphis has been bombed (see World in Chaos, Chapter 6). Falls into an underwater hazard in Tennessee, and is rescued by Norman (see World in Chaos, Chapter 7). Sleeps with Norman in the hayloft (see World in Chaos, Chapter 9). Norman tells everyone her given name is Sheryl, but wants to continue to be called Candy (see World in Chaos, Chapter 10). First, with Norman, to see the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers (see World in Chaos, Chapter 12). She and Norman play in Ft. Laramie. Leads other Outcasts to new home in center of town (see World in Chaos, Chapter 17). Discovers she’s pregnant by Norman (see World in Chaos, Chapter 18).
Unknown surname, Jared (introduced, but not named in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22): Contracts smallpox, escapes the shelter with eleven others and becomes one of the Outcasts (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22).
Draws the wrath of most of the others when he attacks Callie in the river (see Worlds in Chaos, Chapter 1). A man in his late forties with a fringe of hair around his head like a halo. Introduced to the other Outcasts by Pepper (see Worlds in Chaos, Chapter 2). Disappears, along with Pepper, with the Outcasts supply of food and water (see World in Chaos, Chapter 3). Leaves Outcasts and goes to Gulf Coast with Pepper, steals a boat belonging to Thomas Strang (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 2) Takes Pepper as far aas Galveston before they stop, he’s afraid they’ll run out of fuel for the boat. They steal clothes, cosmetics and gas, contaminate a group of people by pretending to be curfew enforcers, then continue toward Mexico (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 7).
Unknown surname, Karen (introduced, but not named in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22): Contracts smallpox, suffers a superficial gunshot wound to her left side in the gunfight. Escapes the shelter with eleven others and becomes one of the Outcasts (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22).
Gray haired older woman, introduces herself to the other Outcasts, lived on a farm north of Johns Creek, her husband, John, is killed in the gunfight at the shelter. Has three married children, whereabout unknown (see World in Chaos, Chapter 2). Killed by a crazed man with a tire iron before the Outcasts have left Georgia (see World in Chaos, Chapter 4).
Unknown surname, Kerri (introduced, but not named in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22): Contracts smallpox, escapes the shelter with eleven others and becomes one of the Outcasts (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22).
Introduces herself to the other Outcasts, was an intern at the United Nations in New York, with Lisa, working for Ambassador Daniel Porter and follows the ambassador to the VEEP bunker. Quiet and reserved, she goes to the shelter with Lisa to avoid being in the VEEP bunker when the CDC is destroyed. (see World in Chaos, Chapter 2). Jokes about reading Lisa’s mind (see World in Chaos, Chapter 14). Cares for Lisa’s frostbite. Believes she and Lisa have a telepathic relationship. Receives a telepathic message from Lisa as she’s dying in Ft. Laramie, Wyoming (see World in Chaos, Chapter 16). Lights fire to cremate Lisa’s body (see World in Chaos, Chapter 17).
Unknown surname, Lisa (introduced, but not named in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22): Contracts smallpox, escapes the shelter with eleven others and becomes one of the Outcasts (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22).
Introduces herself to the other Outcasts, was an intern at the United Nations in New York, with Kerri, working for Ambassador Daniel Porter and follows the ambassador to the VEEP bunker. Confident and helpful, she goes to the shelter to avoid being in the VEEP bunker when the CDC is destroyed (see World in Chaos, Chapter 2). Treated for hypothermia. Talks telepathically to Kerry as she nearly freezes to death in Ft. Laramie, Wyoming (see World in Chaos, Chapter 16). Body cremated (see World in Chaos, Chapter 17).
Unknown surname, Bryce (introduced, but not named in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22): Contracts smallpox, escapes the shelter with eleven others and becomes one of the Outcasts (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22).
About thirty, medium height and weight, with a receding hairline and going bald in the back. Introduces himself to the other Outcasts, a tool salesman from Denver who grew up in Johns Creek. Met his wife in high school, were trying to have kids and had started in-vitro. His wife dies in the gunfight at the shelter and he is shot in the left hand. (see World in Chaos, Chapter 2). Rescues Candy (Sheryl) from an underwater hazard in Tennessee (see World in Chaos, Chapter 7). Attacker with a knife falls on Norman’s knife in barn and dies. Sleeps with Candy in the hayloft (see World in Chaos, Chapter 9). Learns that Candy’s given name is Sheryl, tells the other Outcasts (see World in Chaos, Chapter 10). Practices throwing the attacker’s knife. Kills Caruthers farmer in corn field with attacker’s knife (see World in Chaos, Chapter 11). First, with Candy, to see the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers (see World in Chaos, Chapter 12). Explains the problem with uncompacted. Uses a coil of rope to tie the Outcasts together to cross the Interstate 255 bridge, rescues Callie, but can’t rescue Suzanne, who falls of the bridge and dies (see World in Chaos, Chapter 13). Kills a man chasing the Outcasts at the tent city (see World in Chaos, Chapter 14). He and Candy play in Ft. Laramie. Leads other Outcasts to new home in center of town (see World in Chaos, Chapter 17). Discovers he’s the father of Candy’s baby (see World in Chaos, Chapter 18).
Unknown surname, Pepper (introduced, but not named in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22): Contracts smallpox, escapes the shelter with eleven others and becomes one of the Outcasts (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22).
Middle-aged woman with bright red hair and gray roots. Outspoken and plain looking without her makeup. Introduces herself to the other Outcasts, Left first husband and two kids in New York. Second husband, Lyle, is killed in the shelter gunfight (see World in Chaos, Chapter 2). Disappears, along with Jared, with the Outcasts supply of food and water (see World in Chaos, Chapter 3). Leaves Outcasts and goes to Gulf Coast with Jared, steals a boat belonging to Thomas Strang (see Battle for Aspen Valley, chapter 2)
Unknown surname, Raquel and Jim (introduced in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 18): Parents of Callie Raquel helps Beth with the family of three and is one of the first to contract smallpox. Contract smallpox (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 20). Jim is assaulted by Art Klemp (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22). They die during the gun battle in the shelter (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22).
Unknown surname, Suzanne (introduced, but not named in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22): Contracts smallpox, escapes the shelter with eleven others and becomes one of the Outcasts (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22).
Middle-aged woman with curly, dark brown hair, introduces herself to the other Outcasts, A corporate trainer from Florida, who was visiting her sister in Johns Creek when they were told to find shelter. Left a husband and children in Florida (see World in Chaos, Chapter 2). Falls off the Interstate 255 bridge and dies (see World in Chaos, Chapter 13).
Unknown surname and given names, family of three (introduced in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 16): They arrive at the shelter two days after the CDC is destroyed, with rashes that resemble radiation exposure. The rashes are confirmed to be smallpox (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 17). They die two days later with Hemorrhagic smallpox (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 20).
Unknown surnames and given names, four Special Forces soldiers, two of them imitating doctors (introduced and die in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22): Unnamed Special Forces soldiers sent to the Johns Creek shelter to kill everyone, especially the vice president and any other aggressive smallpox victims. They die in the gun battle.
Unknown surnames and given names, Mary Catherine (M.C.) and Jean (first mentioned, but not named, in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22): Two women who contract smallpox and survive the gunfight at the shelter, then escape the shelter with Art Klemp. They help Klemp attack the VEEP bunker then escape with Klemp and Dayron (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 23).
Mary Catherine goes by M.C. and Jeanette goes by Jean (see Worlds in Chaos, Chapter 1). They are captured during the attack on the Prime bunker (see Worlds in Chaos, Chapter 21).
Unknown surnames and given names, two aggressive men (first mentioned in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22) Two aggressive men who contract smallpox and survive the gunfight at the shelter, then die in the attack on the VEEP bunker (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 23).
Wilson, Dayron (first mentioned, but not named in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 22): A tall, slender, attentive black man in his late twenties or early thirties, who contracts smallpox and escapes the shelter with Art Klemp. We learn his name and that he is an ultimate fighter, he overcomes two security guards to let the vice president and the other four survivors into the house over the VEEP bunker. Escapes the VEEP bunker with Klemp, M.C. and Jean (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 23).
Leads one of Klemp’s two teams in the attack on the Prime bunker and is captured (see Worlds in Chaos, Chapter 21).
The Rest of the Worlds in Collision Cast (in alphabetical order):
Close, Brent (appeared in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 3): Channel 4 news reported in Boston, Massachusetts.
Headrick, Julie (introduced in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 17): Evelyn Shumann’s supervisor, and Anne Lister’s subordinate, at the CDC, a PhD, who goes to the VEEP bunker when the CDC is destroyed. Convinced that it must be smallpox in the Johns Creek shelter and is asked by McCormick to be the interface between the shelter and Director Lister (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 17).
Johnson, Unknown given name, Colonel (introduced in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 2): The senior military officer in the VEEP bunker. Charged with monitoring the vice president’s activities. Is contaminated with the mutated smallpox virus during the vice president’s attack on the VEEP bunker (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 23). Contracts smallpox (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 24).
Joiner, Gene (appeared in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 3): Channel 2 news reported in Seattle, Washington.
Lister, Anne (introduced in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 12): Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a PhD, who goes to the VEEP bunker when the CDC is destroyed (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 14). Admits that it must be smallpox in the Johns Creek shelter see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 17).
Directed by the president to find a cure for the mutated virus (see World in Chaos, Chapter 5). Reports that Klemp has been vaccinated, reacted to the vaccine, is expected to die shortly and has become highly erratic (see World in Chaos, Chapter 23). Tells McCormick that she thinks they’ve found a cure, ready to being clinical testing. McCormick orders her to begin producing vaccine (see World in Chaos, Chapter 24).
Prettyman, Unknown given name, Corporal (introduced in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 23): Member of VEEP bunker security team, contaminated with the mutated smallpox virus during the vice president’s attack on the VEEP bunker. Contracts smallpox (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 23).
Stark, Holly (appeared in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 3): Channel 4 news reported in Boston, Massachusetts.
Strang, Thomas (introduced in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 14) Deputy Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), a PhD. Questions the evacuation of the CDC, then steals a smallpox sample, with an associate, and escapes without going to the VEEP bunker (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 14), Is assumed to be dead when the CDC is destroyed and he can’t be found (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 15). Discovered by Jared and Pepper, dead in his boat from smallpox (see Battle for Aspen Valley, Chapter 2). . They locate his accomplice, Saleh, in his car and shoot at him, then track him, but he escapes.
Unknown surname, Adam (introduced in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 1): Saleh’s Al-Qaeda contact in America. Looks like he could be a middle easterner, but with an American accent. Delivers keys, phones, instructions, guns and ammunition to Saleh.
Unknown surname, Austin (introduced in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 1): Al-Qaeda sleeper agent who lives in Washington, D.C. and works in the National Gallery of Art where they hide the bomb. until he detonates it.
Unknown surname, Bill (mentioned in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 3): McCormick’s former head of speech writing, replaced by Eric Epstein following McCormick’s first successful Senate election.
Unknown surname, Jackson (introduced in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 9): Al-Qaeda sleeper agent and suicide bomber who lives in Atlanta, Georgia and works for the power company. He uses his company truck to get close to the CDC wearing a suicide vest, then gets shot by Saleh, and dies, when his cover is blown.
Unknown surname, Tim (assumed to be an alias) (introduced in Worlds in Collision, Chapter 1): American drug runner. Picks up Saleh and the crate containing the nuclear weapon from the submarine, off the coast of South Carolina, and delivers them to the mainland.
Unknown surname and given name, Captain (introduced and died in Worlds in Collision, chapter 23): member of VEEP bunker security team who is killed by the vice president during his attack on the VEEP bunker.
Key Characters introduced in World in Chaos:
Ames, unknown given name, Colonel (introduced in World in Chaos, chapter 21): Colonel in Prime bunker that led the ambush to capture Klemp (see World in Chaos, Chapter 21).
Marston, Alyssa, Captain (introduced in World in Chaos, Chapter 20): Leader of a team of six soldiers (three men and three women, including herself) who volunteered to infiltrate the vice president’s army and stop them from getting into the Prime bunker. Captured by Klemp. Gives Klemp information on how to access Prime, some of it false. Reports in, giving security alert (see World in Chaos, Chapter 20). Leads Klemp and his team into an ambush at Prime. Turns on Klemp, takes his gun, notifies everyone that the battle is over, tells Klemp that he was easy to manipulate (see World in Chaos, Chapter 21). Embarrassed when McCormick apologizes to her. Told that Private Peterson died of hemorrhagic smallpox (see World in Chaos, Chapter 22).
Peterson, unknown given name, Private (introduced and dies in World in Chaos, chapter 11): Male soldier in Captain Marston’s team who died of hemorrhagic smallpox (see World in Chaos, Chapter 22).
Unknown surnames and given names, five contaminated citizens in Harrisburg, Virginia (introduced in World in Chaos, chapter 18): Four men and one woman who join Klemp’s army after being rescued when Art captures an elimination squad. They contaminate the captured soldiers. Are captured in attack on Prime (see World in Chaos, Chapter 21).
Unknown surnames and given names, three soldiers captured in Harrisburg, Virginia (introduced in World in Chaos, chapter 18): Members of an elimination squad captured by Klemp. Klemp shoots two of them, a private, in the elbow, and a sergeant, in the knee. They are confirmed to be contaminated. Sergeant suggests Art capture soldiers from Prime (see World in Chaos, Chapter 19). Rescued when Klemp is captured during the Prime bunker attack (see World in Chaos, Chapter 21).
Unknown surnames and given names, nine additional contaminated citizens (introduced in World in Chaos, chapter 19): People who join Klemp’s army to help with his attack on McCormick’s Prime bunker. Are captured in attack on Prime (see World in Chaos, Chapter 21).
Unknown surnames, Colin and six other men guarding bridge (introduced in World in Chaos, chapter 8): Demand toll from Outcasts, of all their valuables plus the three young women. Scared off by Beth’s willingness to agree, after explaining their mutated smallpox. Colin, attacks Callie, is fought off by Ben, and shunned by the other six.
Unknown surnames and given names, farmer and wife (introduced and died in World in Chaos, chapter 9): Outcasts find farmer recently dead on the front porch of his burning farmhouse and his wife dead in the barn.
Unknown surname and given name, barn attacker (introduced and dies in World in Chaos, chapter 9): He attacks Norman with a knife from the barn hay loft, falling on Norman’s knife.
Unknown surname and given name, Caruthers farmer (introduced and dies in World in Chaos, chapter 10): Farmer confronts Outcasts stealing corn and shoots Melissa, then dies when Norman throws knife.
Unknown surname and given name, crazed man with tire iron (introduced and dies in World in Chaos, chapter 4): Attacks and kills Karen with tire iron, then killed by Ben.
Unknown surname, Duke and two friends, in twin world, sitting in front of Smiths (introduced in World in Chaos, chapter 12): They assault Mike, are attacked by Amos through the gate (see World in Chaos, Chapter 12).
Unknown surnames, and given name, protecting tent city (introduced in World in Chaos, chapter 14): Several people at the tent city guard the gate or chase the Outcasts, supposedly to take their valuables. Norman kills one of those chasing the Outcasts with his knife.
Unknown surnames, Harvey, Eddie and three other family members (introduced in World in Chaos, chapter 15): Harvey, Eddie, a woman and two young girls in a corn field in the rain, give the Outcasts some of the corn and potatoes they’d already harvested, then give them the rain ponchos off their backs.
Key Characters introduced in Battle for Aspen Valley:
Brownsville, Texas Border guard Introduced in Battle for Aspen Valley, Chapter 1, where he gets message about plague in Matamouros, Mexico.
Mexican working for U.S. Homeland Security at Brownsville, Texas border crossing. Introduced and dies in Battle for Aspen Valley, Chapter 1, where he delivers message about plague in Matamouros, Mexico to border security.
Key Locations introduced in Omega Crisis:
The Blund Home:
A family home in Logan, Utah. It’s also the site of an outbuilding that houses the laboratory used by Amos Blund and Terry Stephens for research and the development of a series of inventions. Logan is the largest of several farming communities located in Cache Valley, about half way between Ogden, Utah (site of Hill Air Force Base) and Bear Lake (site of Garden City and Laketown). All real places.
The National Mall:
Park-like area in Washington, D.C. bordered by the Capitol building on one end and the Washington monument at the other and by the Smithsonian museum buildings on either side. All real places.
The Preserve:
An underground emergency retreat located in a small valley in Logan Canyon, owned and named Aspen Valley by Amos Blund and Terry Stephens. The Preserve was built by Amos and Terry, using their own technological expertise and funds they obtained by selling patents on several of their inventions.
Aspen Valley, above the Preserve, is lush and green, with a variety of trees, wildflowers, animals and birds. Amos and Terry mounted video, audio and environmental sensors in the valley so they could track activity. Fire swept through the valley (see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 8), burning the deadfall and bushes, blackening the trees, and damaging the sensors—except for one high on the cliff face.
Two views of the Logan Canyon area. Photos by Ken Lund (left) and Andrey Zharkikh (right).
Corrugated steel pipe was chosen as the main structural component for the Preserve because of its strength in underground applications. EMP shielding over the structure adds protection against electromagnetic pulses, and layers of concrete and soil insulate it against radiation and help control internal temperatures.
Large and complex—a network of rooms connected by tunnels—the Preserve is compared to an ant hill by Mike Blund. Its complexity is due to the diversity of activity needed to keep its occupants healthy and entertained for a long period of time.
Following are some of the layouts and details of the Preserve that I prepared to help me keep track early in the writing of the story. There’s more about the Preserve in the following sections.
Legend
A – Airlock
B – Bedroom Cluster
C – Community Center
D – Dining Cluster
E – Exercise Cluster
Ex – Exit
G – Garden Cluster
L – Lab Clusters
M – Medical Cluster
O – Office
S – Study Cluster
Note: All of these are below ground except the garage and exits
Preserve details
Sea Passenger Terminal:
This real-life terminal, on Zolotoy Rog Bay (“Golden Horn” Bay), in Vladivostok, Russia, next to the Vladivostok train station, is the location in Omega Crisis, Chapter 4, where two U.S. Navy Seals attempt to intercept bomb components being moved from Russia, on the Trans-Siberian Railway passenger train, to North Korea. Here is a picture of the train station where the intercept is attempted.
United Nations General Assembly Hall:
The United Nations complex in New York City contains a number of facilities, including offices, a library, and an art gallery. One of its main features is the General Assembly Hall, where President Gregory McCormick gives a confrontational address in Omega Crisis, taking both the Saudis and the Russians to task for their roles in the crisis.
The UN building (left, photo by Prayitno) and the General Assembly Hall (right, photo by Basil D. Soufi for IIP Photo Archive).
Washington D.C.:
Capital of the United States of America and site where Al-Qaeda threatened to explode a nuclear bomb unless Muslim terrorists being detained in U.S. prisons were released by the fourth of July. Here is a conceptual image of the nuclear explosion prepared by Katie Wilde Petersen for the Omega Crisis book cover design.
The Capital building and mushroom cloud (photos purchased from Depositphotos, Inc., copyrights belong to curraheeshutter)
Key Locations introduced in Worlds in Collision:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
A United States federal agency under the Department of Health and Human Services and the leading public health institute of the United States. Its main goal is to protect public health and safety through the control and prevention of disease, injury, and disability. In addition to its other functions, the CDC and its sister Level 4 facilities at Ft. Detrick, Maryland (the National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center or NBACC) and in Koltsovo, Novosibirsk Oblast, Russia (the State Research Center of Virology and Biotechnology or VECTOR), researches and provides information on infectious and noninfectious diseases. Its headquarters are near Atlanta, Georgia, although it has offices in other parts of the country. All of them are real. Read about them here.
Cheyenne Mountain:
The Cheyenne Mountain Complex is located at the Cheyenne Mountain Air Force Station (CMAFS) inside a granite mountain southwest of Denver, Colorado. Built at the height of the Cold War in the late 1950s, it became fully operational in 1967 as the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), an aerospace control center that provided early warning of ballistic missile or air attacks against North America. A real place. Read about it here.
Wasatch Front:
A series of valleys running north and south along the westernmost face of the Rocky Mountains in northern Utah, from north of Hill Air Force Base and Ogden City, along the Great Salt Lake, through Salt Lake City, and south of Provo City, all real places. The Weber Segment of the Wasatch Fault, a known earthquake fault that is predicted to experience a major slip within the next fifty years, runs along the Front, and over two million people live there (see Earthquakes in the section titled Key Objects and Concepts for more).
Key Objects and Concepts introduced in Omega Crisis:
DEFCON (Defense Readiness Condition) Chart:
A defense readiness scale, from 1 to 5, shown below. See more information online, here.
Nuclear weapons development, and stockpiles:
Omega Crisis mentions the buildup of nuclear arsenals around the world following World War II, during the Cold War era. This history has been documented and the size of the nuclear arsenals estimated by watchdog groups and others. There are numerous internet sites that discuss the development, buildup, use and effects of nuclear weapons, both actual and estimated. Here are those used in writing Omega Crisis:
An estimate of the number of nuclear warheads by country (2015): See it here.
Estimated global inventories of nuclear warheads by country (1945 - 2018): See it here.
Magnetic particle testing (MT):
A method of testing ferromagnetic materials to detect cracks, porosity, seams, inclusions, lack of fusion, and other discontinuities, using metallic particles establishing a magnetic field attract the particles to the discontinuity. Read about it here.
As Amos Blund explained to his family in Omega Crisis, human knowledge about the effects of nuclear explosions is limited—thankfully—due to the limited number of real-life examples. There’s a diversity of opinion and a lot written about the possible effects of nuclear war, and I’ve listed below those that I studied in preparation for writing.
Effects of nuclear weapons (twenty-four separate but inter-related topics, 2015): See it here.
Effects of nuclear explosions on human health: See it here.
How nuclear radiation harms the body: See it here.
How to save yourself from radiation poisoning after a nuclear disaster: See it here.
Worldwide effects of nuclear war: See it here.
Nuclear fallout: See it here.
How to shelter from fallout after a nuclear attack on your city: See it here.
How to survive a nuclear attack: See it here.
Nuclear war survival skills: See it here.
The dangers from nuclear weapons: myths and facts: See it here.
Acute radiation syndrome: See it here.
Radiation effects on plants and animals: See it here.
Effects of radiation on plants and animals: See it here.
Nuclear conflict casualties estimate:
In Worlds in Collision, President McCormick asks his director of National Intelligence, Chuck Dickson, about the number of domestic casualties from the first missile exchange. Chuck provided a statistical estimate based on major population centers.
Here is a copy of the table Chuck sent to McCormick to explain his estimates.
Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP): An EMP is a is a burst of electromagnetic energy, natural or man-made, that can overheat and disable the delicate circuitry found in almost all communications devices, transportation, manufacturing, water treatment plants, and myriad other technological devices.
In Worlds in Collision, a few cars and trucks continue to operate because, as Amos explains, cars built before the late 1960s do not have all of the electronic components found in later models, and later model cars stored in metal or brick garages are somewhat protected from the effects of EMPs.
Here are the sources on the topic used in writing Omega Crisis:
Report of the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack: See it here.
Electromagnetic Pulse: See it here.
Observer, The: A device invented and built by Amos Blund, with the help of his son, Michael and his partner, Terry Stephens, which is their effort to find a nonintrusive way to accurately observe and diagnose the condition of internal organs and tissue (see Omega Crisis, Chapter 6). President McCormick called it a viewer.
A metal box about two feet square and three feet tall, it has a cable protruding from one side, designed to plug into a custom power outlet. It also has a circular opening, covered by a glass lens, on its face, from which it appears to project an image of the area under examination. A control panel fits into a slot on the back next to several control dials and gauges.
They are initially confused when the image projected by the Observer doesn’t match their personal observation. They discover a design flaw in the control panel, build another that matches their schematic, and the new projection shows them what they expected to see. Then they discover that what they thought was an image is actually a portal—a door or gate—to another time or place (see Omega Crisis, Chapter 25), and the dramatic unintended capabilities of the Observer shift their research away from their original objective, in a totally unexpected direction.
In Worlds in Collision, they discover that the portal can pass through stationary objects and allows them to see the inside of trees and internal organs of animals without apparent damage to the host. They also discover that a moving object (i.e. a hopping rabbit) can pass through the portal without apparent injury, which leads Amos to reach his hand through the opening. When they discover that the world through the portal is a twin of their world, with a parallel timeline, and that Amos, at least, exists in that world, they rename the portal, the Gemini Gate, or the door between twin worlds.
Key Objects and Concepts introduced in Worlds in Collision:
Earthquakes: Two real earthquake faults in California, one in Alaska and one in Utah are discussed in detail in Worlds in Collision. Several others, real or invented for the story, are also mentioned. Information about the Wasatch Fault in Utah is from personal knowledge, but information about the faults, as well as earthquake effects and the NEIC (See Key Organizations and Groups) in Denver, Colorado, can be found on several internet sites. Here are those used to develop Worlds in Collision:
Earthquake Articles, Information, News and Facts: See it here.
Rupture in South-Central Alaska—The Denali Fault Earthquake of 2002: See it here.
Exposing the Wasatch Fault: See it here.
7.0 Earthquake: If the big one hits Utah’s Wasatch Front: See it here.
July 2019 California earthquake. See it here.
Military Satellite: Military Satellites (Milsat – see Worlds in Collision, Chapter 8) are hardened to protect them against the destructive effects of electromagnetic pulses that would shut down commercial satellites. Since commercial satellites carry a large percentage of non-military government communications today, their loss to an EMP would result in an overload of the Milsats.
Tsunami: Also known as a tidal wave or seismic sea wave, it is a series of waves in a water body caused by the displacement of a large volume of water, generally in an ocean or a large lake: Read about it here.
Key Organizations and Groups introduced in Omega Crisis:
A real militant Sunni Islamist multinational organization founded in 1988 by Osama bin Laden and others.
In Worlds in Collision, McCormick and his allies—the UK, France and Israel—compile a list of suspected Al Qaeda and Isis strongholds and weapons stashes, then plan and carry out an allied offensive against them.
Small teams of U.S. soldiers sent out with automatic weapons, flamethrowers and orders to locate and cremate the dead. Later, they are instructed to kill anyone contaminated with smallpox. When McCormick realizes that the researchers need contaminated people as guinea pigs to test possible cures, they are told to capture the contaminated and deliver them to the researchers.
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA):
A real federal agency within the Department of Homeland Security whose main purpose is to coordinate the government response to any disaster within the U.S. that overwhelms state and local governments.
A real Mexican drug cartel. In Omega Crisis, the Gulf Cartel is a rival to the Los Zetas Cartel, and is routed by the Los Zetas.
A real Mexican drug cartel. In Omega Crisis, the Los Zetas Cartel is a rival to the Gulf Cartel, over which it wins a decisive victory with the help of automatic weapons and bullet-proof vests provided by Al Qaeda, in exchange for their help in building a bomb and delivering it to the U.S.
A real organization which controls the Chinese military—the People’s Liberation Army.
National Security Council (NSC):
A real U.S. government agency which includes representatives of virtually every domestic agency, as well as those that deal with U.S. interactions with the rest of the world. The following internet articles explain the history, membership and authority of the NSC, including the real secret panel (see Panel, The, below) formed to carry out kill authorizations on suspected terrorists.
United States National Security Council: See it here.
History of the United States National Security Council 1993–present: See it here.
Believed to be a real, secret panel formed to carry out kill authorizations on suspected terrorists, authorized following the 2001 terrorist attacks in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In Omega Crisis the Panel initially consists of President McCormick and his closest advisors, DNI Thomas Mitchell, and Defense Secretary General James Seymour. Later, Chief of Staff Eric Epstein is invited to their meetings to assist in preparing public communications.
The military of the People’s Republic of China.
In Russia, these are believed to be real, former KGB and military officers who now control most Russian industry and banking.
Key Organizations and Groups introduced in Worlds in Collision:
The Hawaii Emergency Management Agency (HI-EMA) is the emergency management coordinating agency for the State of Hawaiʻi with headquarters in Diamond Head Crater. A real organization. Read about it here.
National Earthquake Information Center (NEIC):
The National Earthquake Information Center in Denver, Colorado: A real organization. Read about it here
World Health Organization (WHO):
The directing and coordinating authority on international health within the United Nations’ system. A real organization. WHO recommended destruction of all remaining smallpox virus stocks, being retained for specific research purposes, in 1986, and again in 2010.
Facts in the Fiction—Real World Disaster Research in Omega Crisis:
Omega Crisis and Worlds in Collision are works of fiction, but their details are based—as much as possible—on facts rather than fantasy. Here are a few examples:
The study on Hurricane Katrina that President McCormick hands out to his advisers, Civil–Military Relations in Hurricane Katrina: A Case Study on Crisis Management in Natural Disaster Response, is a real publication by Jean-Loup Samaan and Laurent Verneuil that you can get online, for free, here.
The Katrina Report by Samaan and Verneuil.
In August 2005, Hurricane Katrina, a deadly Category 5 storm, hit areas along the Gulf Coast of the U.S. from Florida to Texas, killing hundreds of people. Its deadliest effect was the flooding it caused in and around New Orleans as a result of flaws in flood protection in that area.
Damage from Hurricane Katrina.
The study by Samaan and Verneuil was prepared under the aegis of the Harvard Kennedy School’s Program on Crisis Leadership. The PCL is intended to “improve society’s capacity to deal with natural disasters; infrastructure, technology, and systems failures; emergent infectious disease; and terrorism,” and it has published a wide range of crisis studies (you can see a complete list here).
The Katrina study focuses on how governments react to emergencies—not unlike the one President McCormick faces—using Katrina as an illustration of a more general set of issues. The focus is on the question of the relative advantages of centralizing government response (by placing it within the federal government, for instance) and coordinating response (by having authority rest with state and local governments, for example).
Thermonuclear War: At the Preserve, Amos explains some of the effects of a thermonuclear war to the people who have gathered there. He’s answering a question from Matt, but he’s making his point to all of them. He says:
“...One of the possible results of a thermonuclear war is a worldwide power outage—an electrical meltdown, so to speak. I read one Congressional report, from 2008 I think, that detailed what would happen in the United States if we had a total electrical blackout. They estimated that nine out of ten people would die in the first year—from starvation, disease, and social breakdown.”
The report he refers to here is another piece of real world research, the Report of the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack, Critical National Infrastructures, from April, 2008. As with the Katrina report, it’s available free online—you’ll find it here.
Although the report stops short of predicting the number of deaths that would result from a nationwide power outage, it does give real life examples of the impact on people and the infrastructure of natural and man-caused disasters that have occurred in recent years. The most serious potential impact would be the inability of the local governments to treat and distribute clean drinking water. After clean water supplies are depleted, and denied drinking water, death can occur within three to four days.
In both of these cases, and in many smaller, less obvious ways, Omega Crisis is a fictional story built on a factual framework.
Facts in the Fiction—Real World Disaster Research in Worlds in Collision:
Worlds in Collision is a work of fiction, but the details are based—as much as possible—on facts rather than fantasy. Here are a few examples:
Nearly submersible, self-propelled submarines have been used to transport large quantities of drugs from Columbia to Mexico, to be carried overland into the United States. Read about it here.
In Worlds in Collision, I used a fully-submersible, manned submarine to move the bomb from Mexico to the U.S.
In the 1970s, construction was started on five nuclear power plants in Washington State. Eventually, four of the five power plants were cancelled, due to spiraling construction costs that resulted from safety concerns, and a labor dispute, at the same time that energy consumption declined in the northwest. The Washington Public Power Supply System (WPPSS, or Whoops, as it became known in the media and on TV in the eighties) was forced to default on $2.25 billion worth of municipal bonds—a humiliation for the financial industry. Read about it here.
Mutually Assured Destruction (MAD):
Secretary of Defense James Seymour reminds McCormick that the buildup and stockpiling of nuclear weapons by the United States and Soviet Union during the Cold War created a stalemate, neither side willing to risk starting a war that would cause the complete annihilation of both sides—what became known as Mutually Assured Destruction, or MAD (see it here).
Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT):
Following the Cold War, the fear that some country might actually launch a nuclear weapon led to the development of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons or NPT. Eventually 191 countries signed the treaty. Read about it here
An infectious, airborne disease that caused death in about thirty percent of its victims until a vaccine was developed. It was believed to have been eradicated in 1978, when the last known case occurred. The World Health Organization (WHO) transferred all known and late discovered samples of smallpox virus to the CDC, in Georgia, and VECTOR, in Russia. Read about it here.
The Three Mile Island Nuclear Generating Station, reactor number 2 (TMI-2) in Pennsylvania, suffered a radiation leak and partial meltdown on March 28, 1979. It was said to be ‘the most significant accident in U.S. commercial nuclear power plant history’. Read about it here.
Brady Mayfield, Terry Stephens brother-in-law, remembers seeing tornado storm chasers hide under an overpass, and mistakenly believes that will protect his family from the nuclear explosion in Washington, D.C. In fact, is hiding from a tornado under an overpass is a terrible idea because high winds will throw objects at you. Staying in your car is also a bad idea as tornadoes have been known to pick up and toss cars. The best rule of safety is to get inside a building, and away from windows and objects that might fall on you. Read about it here.