“My name is Colonel Bennet, Canadian Army and this is Special Operative Brian Baker from the Canadian Security Intelligence Service. Do any of you know what that is?”
“No, not really.” Tyler replied. “Sounds important though.”
“It is. What’s your name, son?” Bennet asked.
“Tyler Yesmar.”
“Tyler, It’s my understanding that the three of you are brothers. Am I right to assume you’re the eldest?”
“Yeah.”
“Good. I’m here to present you with your options.” Bennet said. “As the eldest, it’s your job to help make sure that your brothers understand what I’m offering you. Do you follow me so far?”
“Yeah.”
“Excellent. For starters, ‘yeah’ isn’t gunna cut it with me. You’ll address me as Colonel. Is that understood?”
“Yeah.”
“Are you fuckin’ kidding me right now?” Bennet shouted. “Wake the fuck up and clean the shit out of your ears! ‘Yes, Colonel’ is how you reply to me!”
“Yes, Colonel!” Tyler said.
“If you get stumped on something that simple I may not have any use for you after all.” Bennet said.
“Please, Colonel, I understand how this works now. Yes, Colonel.”
“There you go. Do you guys understand how this works now too?” Bennet asked his trembling siblings.
“Yes, Colonel.” Curtis and Owen replied.
“Finally, we’re getting somewhere.” Bennet said, immediately calming himself back down. “I need the three of you to answer a few questions for us.”
Seeing the worried look on their faces begin to intensify, Brian jumped in to put their minds at ease. It was a subtle change that Bennet had completely overlooked, but Brian was all too qualified to recognize. They were already slipping into, ‘rat out the boss and we’re dead,’ mode.
“Before you do, though, we should tell you that everybody else in your gang is dead.” Brian said. “None of them can boss you around anymore or hurt you.”
“That’s correct.” Bennet said. “None of you have anything to fear by answering our questions honestly and to the best of your knowledge. If you do so, you’ll all be given a new career as Army aid workers. You’ll won’t be chained up anymore or treated like prisoners either. You’ll be given Army uniforms and the three of you will work as free men, helping the ailing population and assisting in rebuilding our country.”
“Instead of being feared and hated, you’ll be thanked and respected.” Brian added. “If you don’t hide any information from us, you’ll be treated like heroes by everyone.”
“Precisely.” Bennet said. “That that sound like a reasonable arrangement to you three?”
“Yes, Colonel.” All three of them replied in unison.
“Outstanding.” Bennet said. “I need to know where that dump truck and camper came from.”
“Xander and Mars showed up in it when they came to the lodge.” Tyler said. “Yes, Colonel.”
This fuckin’ moron will never get it right.
“Did they tell you where they got it?” Bennet asked.
“Somewhere around Lake Nipissing.” Tyler replied. “They stole it from a bunch of women living up there. Yes, Colonel.”
“I think he wants to know about the North Koreans, Tyler.” Curtis said quietly to his older brother.
Colonel Bennet smiled over at Brian.
Now, we’re getting somewhere.
Chapter 28
“Thanks very much for letting me know, Captain… ma’am.” Corporal Mark Tupp said. “I appreciate what the two of you did for my brother.”
“You’re very welcome, Mark.” Stacey said.
“We only wish we could have done more, Corporal.” Corey said. “At least you know Ron died bravely in combat along side his squad. He died a hero fighting for the people that he swore to protect.”
“Yes sir.”
“You wrote the names down that I gave you?” Corey asked. “The members of your brother’s squad?”
“Yes, I have them right here, sir.”
“Good. Make sure you get that to your commander.” Corey said. “I have one last thing for you, Corporal. I’m sorry, I can’t bend my head down to see, but do you have your side arm on you?”
“Yes, Captain.” Corporal Tupp replied a little apprehensively.
“I had Sergeant Stryer sneak my Browning out of the command tent for me.” Corey said. “He set it on the table over there under my clothes. It’s a good weapon that was well looked after. It belonged to your brother, Corporal… if you’d like to trade me for it.”
“Oh, yes sir. I’d like that very much, Captain.”
“Very good.” Corey said. “Just turn yours over to Sergeant Stryer. He already knows to place it in the command tent with the rest of our weapons.”
“Aye, sir. Thank you very much, Captain Fletcher.”
“Don’t mention it, especially to Colonel Bennet.” Corey said. “He’d be pissed if he found out Stryer grabbed that weapon for me. Good luck, Corporal Tupp.”
“And to you, sir, ma’am.”
Corporal Mark Tupp pulled the Browning Hi-Power from the table and paused momentarily to smile meekly down at it. As Corey and Stacey watched, they could tell that tears were forming in his eyes. He stepped off the truck without another word.
“That was hard to watch.” Stacey said.
“Yeah, that sucked.” Corey said. “I wish I could have given him his brother’s dog tags.”
“Maybe you can get them to him some day.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
“Okay to come in now?” Stu asked, peaking his head in the door.
“Yeah, come on in, Stu.” Corey replied. “Where is everybody? They forget about me already?”
“Ha. We’ve got a lot of messed up folks out there, buddy.” Stu replied. “Between the shot up little girl, George’s grieving daughter and the various other traumatized residents, everybody’s keeping pretty busy. Brian’s off doing something with Colonel Bennet. He’s been gone for quite a while now too.”
“If he knows Brian’s with CSIS he’s probably picking his brain.” Corey said.
“Or using him to try and figure out what the heck to do with us.” Stacey added.
“He knows what Brian does for a living.” Stu said. “Next to you, I think Brian’s his favourite.”
“Next to me?” Corey asked. “All I did was slow his unit down and cost him a bunch of medical supplies.”
“Everybody knows about your time in the Army, Corey.” Stacey said. “You might as well come clean, babe.”
Corey grimaced and looked over at an impishly smiling Stu.
“Go ahead… get it out of your system.” Corey said unenthusiastically.
“Ha! Not yet, buddy.” Stu said. “We’ll wait until you’re on your feet again… sir.”
“Stace, please feel free to try that chair over the head trick with this guy.” Corey said.
“Hey, can you guys squeeze one more in here?” Leo asked, looking in the door.
“Yeah, come on in, Leo.” Stacey said. “Your buddy was looking forward to your visit.”
“Hey, Corey.” Leo said. “I heard you messed yourself up a little. I guess we’re blood brothers now.”
“Ha. You could say that.” Corey said. “I got that badass Cooper blood in me.”
“You think those Army dudes would let me bring the Bronco up, so we could load you in the back?” Leo asked. “I wonder if they’d loan us a stretcher.”
“We’re still not sure what they plan to do with us, Leo.” Stu said. “I think we’ll have to put Corey’s relocation on hold until then.”
“No, haven’t you heard? We’re free to go.” Leo said. “Brian and Fran have already gone off to bring the truck down. They’re giving back all of our weapons too.”
“What? Nobody said anything to us.” Stu said.
“Well, that’s what’s happening.” Leo said. “Here’s the best part, we
get to watch Colonel Bennet reinstate Corey back into the Army.”
“What? Over my dead body!” Stacey said.
“Brian said that’s the only way he’d let us have all of our weapons back.” Leo said. “Get this, we’re basically Corey’s prisoners now.”
“Over my dead body.” Stu said.
“Ha. Will you two calm down? I think I know what’s going on.” Corey said. “There’s no way Colonel Bennet wants my shot up ass slowing his unit down, so you don’t have to worry about me marching off to war. My guess is, Brian managed to convince him that we’re good people that the Army doesn’t have to concern itself with. Problem is, Bennet can’t just hand a shitload of illegal weapons over to a group of civilians, especially a group that just killed a bunch of guys. In case you’ve forgotten, automatic rifles are still illegal in Canada.”
“So’s killing a bunch of guys.” Stu said.
“And don’t forget about the dynamite.” Stacey added.
“Exactly. By reinstating my commission, I’ll be an active member of the military again and he can legally assign me all of those rifles. If he makes me an MP he can leave me behind to watch over all of you dangerous gangsters. It’s just an end around, so he can take off and not leave us high and dry. He’s doing us a favour here.”
“You didn’t want anything more to do with the Army, Corey.” Stacey said. “Are you sure you’re okay with this?”
“I don’t really have a choice.” Corey said. “Not a lot would change anyway. I’ll still be home with you guys, I’ll just have a spiffy new uniform to strut around in.”
“Great.” Stu said sarcastically.
“Most of my fears were for Jenny anyway. After we lost her mother, I didn’t want to leave a bunch of bad memories all over the house, so I got rid of everything. A lot has changed since then. We have you and Emma now, Stace. We’ll always keep Julia in our hearts, but our family will make new memories together.”
“That sounds really good, babe.” Stacey said. “Someday Emma will have your name too.”
“That’s what I was hoping you’d say.” Corey said.
“Well, if you’re willing to do this, Corey, it would seriously help us out.” Stu said. “I’d really like to get our stuff back.”
“It’s cool, guys.” Corey said. “Can one of you go find Colonel Bennet for me, please? I have one last idea to run by him. If I can get him to agree to it we might be able to come out of this pretty well off.”
◆◆◆
“You are correct, Captain Fletcher. In an emergency situation, I do have the power to grant a direct commission to a civilian.” Colonel Bennet said. “However… that person has to possess a skill that’s absolutely essential to the Army.”
“I could really use the help, Colonel.” Corey said.
“Well… given the circumstances, your current medical condition and the fact that I just want to get the hell out of here, I think that would be acceptable. I’m only willing to bend the rules mildly, though, so don’t push it, Fletcher. I’ll allow you to bring one person forward for my consideration, but I will insist on that person having a university degree. Officers in the Canadian Army are educated professionals, regardless of how their commission came about.”
“Understood, Colonel.” Corey said. “I assume Brian has a…”
“…Not Mr. Baker.” Bennet said, cutting Corey off. “He’s more useful to you as a civilian authority. His association with CSIS will get you out of more scrapes than he could manage as an Army officer.”
“Ha. It already has, sir.” Corey said.
“There you go.” Bennet said. “Choose your aid and get him or her over to my tent on the double, Fletcher. Assuming I approve of your choice, I’ll get Sergeant Stryer to provide you both with some decent uniforms. I want to find two spit shined soldiers waiting for me when I come back to make it official.”
“Aye, sir. Thank you, sir. You’ll forgive me if I don’t have my collar buttoned up quite to the top, Colonel.” Corey said with a sly smile.
“Quit wasting my time, Fletcher. Hurry the hell up and get it done. Apparently, I’ve got some charbroiled North Koreans to sift through before I can complete my mission and fly back out west.”
“You’re not staying in Ontario, Sir?” Corey asked.
“Once this NK nonsense is past us, my unit is being placed on leave for a few weeks before we get reassigned to the relief effort.” Bennet replied. “You’re not the only one that has caught the eye of a lovely young woman, Fletcher. I’ve got a county reeve by the name of Janet Lively waiting for me in the Rocky Mountains.”
“Right on, Colonel.” Corey said.
“I’ll go find everyone, guys.” Stacey said, already heading for the door.
“Excellent hustle, Miss Jones.” Bennet said. “You don’t happen to have a university degree, by any chance?”
“No, Colonel, just a third degree.” Stacey replied with a smile as she hurried out.
Looking at Corey with a confused expression, Bennet was given a surprising explanation.
“Third degree black belt in karate, Colonel. She could kick both of our asses… at the same time.”
“Hmph, too bad… Professional ass kicker is a skill the Army could always use.”
◆◆◆
After a quick survey, it was discovered that only Brian, Fran, Sydney and Terrell held the prerequisite university degrees. Brian had already been disallowed by Bennet and Fran was far too underqualified. Sydney was willing and perfectly able, but there was no way to make her professional skill set sound even remotely essential to the Army. Even though everyone knew she was the best person for the job, Corey doubted very much that Bennet would find an internet fashionista critically important to the military.
Terrell, however, checked all of the boxes rather neatly. As an extremely well educated and experienced general surgeon, he had exactly what the Army was looking for. He may not have been as battle proven as Sydney, but he certainly had the qualifications.
When Terrell stepped into Bennet’s tent, the Colonel was impressed and very pleased. Knowing that he would have no problem justifying the appointment to his superiors, Bennet gave Terrell his endorsement and sent him directly over to the surgical truck to get into uniform with Corey.
A half hour later, Bennet stepped into the surgical truck and got the formalities out of the way. Corey was recommissioned as a captain and Terrell was sworn in as a lieutenant. Both were now officially active duty commissioned officers of the Canadian Army. Direct commissioned officers were normally granted the rank of captain or higher. This was especially true of doctors. Bennet, however, had no intention of permitting the arrangement to go that far. As a respected combat veteran and ranking officer, Corey would retain command of his unit.
After Corey had inquired, Colonel Bennet informed them that there was no need to make them MPs. With the country’s various civilian police forces in compete disarray, the ‘Emergencies Act’ had gone into full effect. Martial law had been declared, so the military was the law. Bennet informed them that, as Canadian Army officers, they now had the same parliamentary powers granted the Royal Canadian Mounted Police. In fact, under the articles of martial law, their authority supersedes that of any civilian police force.
With that bit of business out of the way, all of their confiscated weapons were turned over to Corey and Terrell. The bag of dynamite, however, was retained by the Army and Donny would quickly learn that the decision was nonnegotiable. As Donny watched, a demolition specialist used a small robot to drag his bag out onto the frozen lake. When the device returned without it, the entire thing was detonated from shore.
While this was going on, Bennet’s soldiers had been going about the task of dismantling their tents. With fresh intel in hand, Colonel Bennet had no intention of waiting around until morning to get his battalion moving again. Like most nights, his soldiers would sleep in the trucks and while on the move.
“I guess that’s it, Fletcher, we’re moving
out.” Colonel Bennet said as Corey was helped out of the truck by Stacey and Leo.
“Thank you very much for everything, Colonel.” Corey said, taking a moment to salute his superior.
“Your doctor has been provided with additional medical supplies, some radio equipment and a satellite phone.” Bennet said, returning the salute. “He also has maps detailing the locations of Public Safety Canada’s relief camps. They’re always looking for vetted volunteers, so I’ll expect you to extend the offer to your people.”
“Aye, sir.”
“I’ll also expect you to administer the BOTC to that lieutenant of yours” Bennet added. “See to it that he gets at least some training, Fletcher. He represents all of us now.”
“Aye, Colonel.” Corey said. “As soon as I’m on my feet again, sir.”
“Good luck to you, Captain.” Bennet said as he turned around and went back to his job.
“Good hunting, sir.”
“BOTC?” Leo asked.
“Basic Officer Training Course.” Corey replied. “It a 60 hour ‘welcome to the Army’ thing.”
“Ha! Terrell is gunna love that.” Stacey said with a laugh.
“Terrell’s gunna kill him.” Leo said.
They headed towards the Bronco where Stu, Sydney and Terrell were waiting for them.
“I see you haven’t soaked through your bandage yet, Stu.” Sydney said. “How’s the arm doing?”
“The pain is getting worse.” Stu replied. “I can barely even lift it now.”
“We’ll get Terrell to take another look and give you something for the pain.” Sydney said.
“Ha. If he’ll take a break from admiring his reflection in the Bronco’s window.” Stu said with a chuckle.
“Shit, my wife is gunna freak… out.” Terrell said as he looked down at his combat uniform. “I might have to send Dion over to stay with you guys tonight.”
“Are you saying she’s gunna be angry… or horny?” Stu asked.
“I… I honestly don’t know.” Terrell replied. “Either way, though, my boy has got to go.”
EMP [Collateral Darkness] | Book 4 Page 46
