The Zulu Virus Chronicles Boxset (Books 1-3)
Page 81
Interestingly, the orders did not come from the Homeland Security commander at the Air Force base. They had been issued directly by U.S. Air Combat Command, verified by U.S. Northern Command and Air Force Special Operations Command, with specific instructions to cease taking orders from any and all Homeland Security units. Even more intriguing, they had not been ordered to land at the Air Force base. Something was up.
“ETA Scott Air Force Base ten mikes,” said the flight’s navigator.
“Copy,” said Jackson. “EWO, send verification that we’ve turned around.”
A few moments later, the flight’s electronics warfare officer (EWO) affirmed that verification had been sent.
“Any idea what the hell’s up?” said his copilot.
“None,” said Jackson. “Not even sure why they sent us to Scott in the first place.”
“That Homeland group is sketchy, if you ask me.”
“I don’t know what the hell they are,” said Jackson. “But it sounds like someone figured it out. This is the first time I’ve ever seen mission tasking coordinated by every major command.”
“Not really much to the tasking,” she said.
“I expect that to change rapidly,” said Jackson. “Why send us back?”
A few minutes later, new orders arrived, answering his question. Jackson studied the printout, barely believing its contents.
“Gabs, keep us from crashing for a minute,” he said. “I need to see these orders with my own eyes.”
“That good?” she said.
“That bad.”
“I have positive control of the aircraft,” she said.
Jackson handed her the printout and followed the aircraft’s electronic warfare officer to the IDN terminal located in a small station behind the cockpit. He read the digital orders on the green screen, shaking his head.
“Fucking crazy,” he muttered.
“Is this even legit?” said the EWO. “Seems like anything can come over this damn terminal.”
“It’s legit. Same orders came through the three major Air Force commands with authority over this airspace and this aircraft,” he said. “But call Special Operations Command to verify. Can’t hurt. You know where to find me.”
The EWO grimaced, taking a seat at his station, as Jackson returned to the cockpit. His copilot and navigator didn’t say a word until he was strapped back into his seat with his headset on.
“Are these verified?” said the copilot, holding up the printout.
“EWO is making one last call,” said Jackson.
Almost on cue, his headset squawked. “Orders verified by Air Force Special Operations Command. We are to proceed with the mission. Report when it’s done.”
“Holy shit,” said his copilot.
“Couldn’t have said it better myself,” said Jackson before transmitting on the AC-130U’s internal communications network. “FCO, prepare all weapons systems for immediate fire missions. EWO, pass digital targeting guidance provided in strike order to the FCO. No terminal guidance from the ground for this one. We’re on our own.”
“What’s our target, Colonel?” said the FCO.
“The Homeland compound and all of its assets—including personnel.”
Chapter 47
Joshua’s grandfather burst into the kitchen with his dad’s M1A1 rifle and a few spare rifle magazines. He hadn’t seen the weapon since they’d arrived at the house yesterday afternoon, and kind of hoped he’d never see it again.
“Josh, take this. Neighbors just called. Three military vehicles just turned onto Old Farm Road, moving fast. They’ll be here in a few minutes,” he said.
Josh reluctantly accepted the rifle, but didn’t budge from the kitchen table. Jack and Emma Harper gave him a strange look as he set it against the chair next to him.
“I’m not kidding, Josh. Fire up the ATV while I get your mom down here,” Grandpa said. “Take everyone down to the woods next to the lake.”
“They’re not coming for us,” said Josh before taking a bite of crispy bacon.
“Josh, maybe we should—” started Jack.
“No maybes,” said Grandpa. “Get your ass up and get the ATV running.”
Joshua was on his feet immediately, along with Jack and Emma. Something in Grandpa’s authoritative tone overrode his defiance. Maybe it simply scared him.
“If I’m not down with your mom by the time you hear those vehicles pull up, you get out to those woods.”
“Got it,” said Joshua.
He shoved the rest of the bacon in his mouth and bolted out the back door with the Harpers. The dark green, four-seat ATV sat on the grass in front of the deck’s staircase. Crossing the wide covered deck, he remembered that Grandpa had left the key in the ignition, just in case.
“Mr. Harper?” he said.
His grandpa didn’t like kids calling adults by their first names, so he’d reverted back to “sirs, ma’ams, Mr. and Mrs.” The Harpers had tried to argue, but his grandpa insisted.
“Yeah?” said Jack.
“Key’s in the ignition,” said Joshua, heading back to the house. “There’s a starter button. Turn the key. Press the button. Disengage the parking brake. I’ll be right back.”
“Where are you going?” said Emma.
“To help Grandpa,” said Joshua. “Those vehicles will be here faster than he said.”
He opened the back door, not finding his grandpa and mom anywhere in sight. He should have known better. His mom had been so tired when she arrived a few hours ago; she’d been snoring within seconds of lying down upstairs. Grandpa couldn’t wake her up that quick, and there was no way he could carry her down the stairs. He turned the corner, finding the staircase empty.
Joshua wished Mr. Fitzgerald was still here, but he’d left shortly after delivering Joshua’s mom, headed directly for the Fitzgerald family’s cabin near Patoka Lake. He didn’t think he could do this alone. Grandpa and the Harpers wouldn’t be much help.
“Grandpa?” he yelled.
“Get to the woods,” he said. “We’ll be fine.”
He took the stairs two at a time, charging into the guest room at the top of the staircase. His mom sat on the edge of the bed, his grandpa helping her up.
“I got it, Grandpa,” he said, handing him the rifle and putting an arm around her.
“It’ll take too long,” said his mom. “Listen to your grandpa.”
Through the bedroom window, he caught a glimpse of the dirt road leading to the house. It was too late. Three HUMVEEs raced down the road, leaving a dust trail behind them.
“They’re here, Grandpa,” said Joshua, laying his mother down.
He took the rifle and approached the window.
“I’ll get the shotgun,” said Grandpa, stepping out of the room.
Footsteps pounded the stairs, drawing his attention away from the window. Jack entered the room, holding the same revolver he’d carried from the first time they met in the woods behind Dr. Chang’s house. Emma stood in the doorway, a look of terror on her face.
“What are you doing?” said Joshua.
“They’re already here,” said Jack. “I’ll cover the stairs.”
“With that?” said Joshua.
“And this,” said his grandpa, appearing with a pump-action shotgun.
Joshua turned to the window in time to see the HUMVEEs slide to a stop on the gravel drive in front of the house. He raised the rifle and stared through the scope, finding one of the turret gunners. It made sense to take out the turret gunners first. They’d stand no chance against the M240s. The bullets would pass right through the house.
Before he could pull the trigger, the gunner dropped into the HUMVEE. He shifted to the next turret, finding that vehicle’s gunner gone as well. What the hell? Joshua frantically searched for a target, finding none.
“What’s happening out there?” said his grandpa.
“Nothing. They’re just sitting—”
The HUMVEE doors started to open, soldier
s and a single civilian emerging. He immediately recognized the civilian, but it wasn’t who he’d been expecting.
“Larsen?” he said. “Ragan? But where—”
Joshua’s vision narrowed, and he lowered the rifle, backing up and collapsing on the bed next to his mother. His dad hadn’t made it. Nobody said a word as his grandpa walked across the room and peered through the window.
“Who’s Larsen?” he said.
“Long story,” said Jack.
“I look forward to hearing it,” said Grandpa, glancing at Joshua. “From my son. Unless these eyes are as shot as my knees.”
Joshua launched off the bed, bringing his mother with him to the window. His dad and Ragan were helping Larsen up the drive, surrounded by several relaxed-looking soldiers. Joshua knocked on the window and they all looked up. His father waved, a huge grin on his face. When he turned to hug his mom, tears ran down her cheeks, and she smiled.
“We’re together again,” said Joshua.
“Sure looks like it,” she said, hugging him tight.
THE END
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Work by Steven Konkoly
The Zulu Virus Chronicles—Bioweapons/post-apocalyptic thrillers
“Something sinister has arrived in America’s heartland. Within 24 hours, complete strangers, from different walks of life will be forced to join together to survive the living nightmare that has been unleashed.”
Hot Zone (Book 1)
Kill Box (Book 2)
Fire Storm (Book 3)
Fractured State Series—Near-future black ops thriller
“2035. A sinister conspiracy unravels. A state on the verge of secession. A man on the run with his family.”
Fractured State (Book 1)
Rogue State (Book 2)
The Perseid Collapse Series—Post-apocalyptic/dystopian thrillers
“2019. Six years after the Jakarta Pandemic, life is back to normal for Alex Fletcher and most Americans. Not for long.”
The Jakarta Pandemic (Prequel)
The Perseid Collapse (Book 1)
Event Horizon (Book 2)
Point of Crisis (Book 3)
Dispatches (Book 4)
The Black Flagged Series—Black Ops/Political thrillers
“Daniel Petrovich, the most lethal operative created by the Department of Defense’s Black Flag Program, protects a secret buried in the deepest vaults of the Pentagon. A secret that is about to unravel his life.”
Black Flagged Alpha (Book 1)
Black Flagged Redux (Book 2)
Black Flagged Apex (Book 3)
Black Flagged Vektor (Book 4)
Black Flagged Omega (Book 5)
JET BLACK (Novella)
Wayward Pines: GENESIS
GENESIS (Compilation of novellas set in Blake Crouch’s Wayward Pines story)
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