by Robert Boren
“Tad, stay in your mole and run the countermeasures,” Jace said over the intercom. “There are too many for Eve to handle by herself.”
“No problema,” Tad replied. “These things perform a lot better with full power.”
“Yeah, I hope the power gets turned on past 34th Street,” Jace said. “We can take out a lot more bad guys with the lasers.”
“Watch the multi-target mode, though,” Zev said. “It’s still got some bugs. Remember?”
“Yes, that’s a good point,” Jace said.
“Look, UN Peacekeepers standing on that platform,” Eve said. “Shall I try the lasers?”
“Yeah, just like I showed you. ID targets and lock. Then tap auto fire.”
Eve punched the weapons menu, selecting lasers, the crosshairs showing up in the middle of the screen, splitting into many crosshairs when she pressed multi-target, the sensors locking onto targets in a split second. Eve punched the auto-fire button, the men on the platform falling, a few trying to run, but not making it, their bodies left smoking on the floor. “Whoa. This is one hell of a system.”
“Nice job,” Jace said. “You’re a natural at this.”
“Now they’re gonna know we’re on the way, sister,” Slash said.
“Here comes Penn station,” Jace said. “If they didn’t get the power on, we’ll be back to the rail guns. Remember that the NYPD is still holding this, so don’t get trigger-happy.”
“Yeah,” Zev said.
They flew past the first Penn Station platforms.
“Yes, we’ve still got power!” Jace said. “Perfect.”
“No Peacekeepers on any of the Penn Station platforms,” Eve said. “I can see all of them. The sensors in this machine are really nice.”
“You can say that again,” Tad said.
“Keep an eye on your radiation tags as we go,” Vasil said. “We’re almost to no-man’s land.”
“Yes, that’s good advice, everybody,” Jace said, “and anybody who gets any reading hits the washdown units as soon as we get back.”
“Is that co-ed?” Slash quipped.
Laleh laughed. “In your dreams, buster.”
“Can’t blame a guy for trying.”
“True, and don’t stop trying,” Laleh said.
“You’re such a flirt,” Taylor said
“Okay, time to cut down the chatter,” Jace said. “We’re getting a lot closer, and we know there have been enemy fighters outside the bunker.”
The group went silent, the moles moving off the tracks to avoid a car, sitting stationary with its lights on.
“12th Street,” Eve said. “We’re definitely in no-man’s land now.”
“No reading on my strip yet,” Taylor said.
“Same here,” Zev said, “but keep an eye on it.”
They continued on, all the station platforms empty now, a few bodies laying here and there.
“Oh yuk, you smell that?” Eve asked.
“Look ahead,” Jace said. “See any bodies lying on the tracks?”
“There’s a train car,” Eve said. “We’ll be on it in a few seconds.”
Jace saw it in the darkness ahead of them, the lights not burning. “Uh oh, maybe we’re about to lose power.” They got off the tracks, going by it.
“It’s full of bodies, and the side was burned,” Eve said, choking up. “Those poor people were incinerated in there.”
“Hope it was fast,” Laleh said as her mole went by.
“Almost there,” Jace said. “Two more stations to pass. We still have power.”
“Oh no,” Eve said. “Multiple targets, right at the opening to the City Hall bunker. Looks like at least twenty, maybe a lot more.”
“Can you see them well enough to tell if they’re friendlies?”
“They’ve got UN Peacekeeper uniforms on,” Eve said. “Activating lasers.”
“Tad, contact the Mayor’s team please,” Jace said.
“Here we go,” Eve said, locking onto as many targets as she could and firing, men falling, the others behind them turning to flee as they were targeted.
“This weapon is amazing,” Eve said, targeting another group, hitting the auto fire button, men hit in the back as they fled, the rest of them disappearing through an opening on the right side of the tunnel.
“We’re gonna have to lay down fire to cover the Mayor’s team as they escape,” Jace said. “Here it is. I’ll pull a little past. Eve, keep your eyes peeled. We’ve still got juice, so keep that laser warmed up.”
“You got it,” she said, moving the screen to the side a moment as the canopy raised, Jace closing it again as he got out. “Uh oh, some trying to come back.” She targeted them and fired, hitting several, the rest running back to their cover.
Jace and the other commandos rushed to the door, which was sliding open as they got there.
“Boy are we glad to see you,” Chief Harvey said. “Expected to hear gunfire going off. We know there are Peacekeepers in this tunnel.”
“We nailed them with the lasers,” Jace said. “Come on. First five vehicles. Load in like the Matterhorn Bobsleds, one behind the other.”
Chief Harvey helped people onto the floor next to the tracks, Eve targeting and firing at another group of Peacekeepers, hitting them all before they could get a shot off at the Mayor’s team.
“Wow, those are something,” Mayor Fine said, helping Jean off the platform, rushing her to the first vehicle, Jace opening the canopy so they could get in, then getting back in the driver’s seat as the rest of the people rushed to their vehicles. Shots rang out from behind them.
“Dammit,” Tad said, using his laser, firing at the Peacekeepers behind the last car, killing them all. “Somebody get back there and move the bodies, so we can use the rails.”
“Here come more from the front,” Eve said, opening fire, a couple shots hitting the canopy, Jean screaming.
“It’s bulletproof,” Jace said. “Tad, we clear?”
“Yeah, just waiting for the commandos to get back in. They cleared the track, but we’re gonna have to fight our way home. Glad the power is still on.”
“Seriously,” Vasil said. “Everybody’s back in the moles. Let’s blow this joint!”
“Don’t have to tell me twice,” Tad said, driving it in reverse, getting to full speed on the rails in an instant, the other moles right on his tail.
“These things will back up the whole way, huh?” Mayor Fine asked.
“Yep, just like a mole or a gopher,” Jace said. “Good to meet you, Mayor Fine. I’ve become a fan.”
“Thanks so much for saving us,” he replied.
“Yes, thanks,” Jean said. “I didn’t think we were gonna make it.”
“These vehicles are amazing,” Chief Harvey said, Julio nodding in agreement.
“Jared Carlson cooked these up ahead of time,” Kate said. “He knew what was going to happen.”
“No doubt,” Mayor Fine replied.
The moles sped through the tunnels, getting off the tracks every so often to avoid stopped cars, having to shoot at UN Peacekeepers only once, at 60th Street.
“Glad there aren’t any bad guys near home,” Tad said as he saw the opening coming up for the base.
“They’ll get smarter,” Jace said. “They’ll map where we shot people, and where we were no longer seen. Only a matter of time.”
The wall slid open to the left, Tad hovering his mole, driving it through the opening, the other moles following him, the door shutting the moment all the vehicles were through.
“Home sweet home,” Slash quipped as the vehicles lowered to the floor, the motors stopping, canopies rising.
“Wow,” Jean said. “That gave me a lot more confidence. We have a fighting chance.”
“We sure do,” Jace said. “Come on, let’s go to the intel room and we’ll introduce you to everybody. There are places to work there.”
“We need to make the enemy believe you’re still in the City Hall bunker,” Slas
h said.
“How are we gonna do that?” Chief Harvey asked.
Eve smiled. “Let’s chat with Albena about that.”
“Who’s Albena?” Mayor Fine asked.
“She’s the person who figured out the bomb was about to go off,” Eve said.
“In other words, she’s the reason we’re still alive,” Chief Harvey said.
“That’s a true statement,” Slash said. “We’re all in her debt. Her and Penko.”
“Thank you,” Vasil said.
“What did Penko do?” Mayor Fine asked.
“He went to UN headquarters to gather the data Albena needed to hack into the UN email system.”
“This is a team,” Jace said. “We’ll all bring things to the party. We know what your team did to protect the NYPD precincts.”
“We lost three,” Chief Harvey said, looking down.
“And you saved the rest of them with your quick thinking,” Jace said. “Follow me.”
He led the team into the intel room, introducing everybody to Albena, Penko, Kinsey, Cary, and Hector.
“What’s the status on the UN Peacekeepers?” Jace asked Albena.
“We’re at 140,000 and still rising,” she said. “Our freedom of movement will be gone soon.”
“I call this a target-rich environment,” Zev quipped.
Chief Harvey chuckled. “Yeah, Custer had a target-rich environment too.”
Several around the room broke into laughter, as Jace called Don.
“You’re back?” Don asked.
“Yes sir, with the Mayor and his staff. You know how many Peacekeepers Albena sees now, right?”
“Last I heard it was 75,000 and rising.”
“She just said 140,000 and rising.”
There was silence on the line. “Okay, thanks. I need to chat with Jared. You weren’t followed home?”
“Nope, but we killed a lot of UN creeps in the subway.”
“How close were the last ones?”
“About 60th Street.”
“That’s good, pretty far back. Find out what the Mayor’s team needs down there, and we’ll see what we can do.”
“Yeah, we’re also gonna chat with Albena about ways to fake the enemy into thinking they’re still in the City Hall bunker.”
“Good idea. Talk to you soon.”
Taylor was eyeing Jace from a few feet away.
“Something wrong?”
“Huh?” she asked, breaking out of her trance. “Oh, sorry. Guess I just gelled.”
“Gelled? Haven’t heard that one for a while.”
“Sorry, my dad used to say it,” Taylor said. “Can we talk?”
“In a minute. I’ve got to chat with the Mayor.”
She nodded, following Jace to the front of the room, where Mayor fine and Chief Harvey were standing with Jean, Kate, and Julio, watching the MVS displays.
“You’ve got a better set up here than we had,” Mayor Fine said. “Something’s on your mind.”
Jace smiled. “Albena, come over here for a sec, please.”
She nodded, locking her screen and coming over. “What’s up?”
“Two things,” Jace said. “First, for the Mayor’s team, come up with a list of things you’ll need to do your jobs. We’ll try to get them here for you.”
“How?” Jean asked.
“We’ve got a pretty air-tight supply delivery setup,” Jace said. “That’s all I’ll say at this point.”
“Okay, we’ll do that,” Mayor Fine said. “What else?”
“Albena, we need to figure out a way we can spoof the enemy into thinking the Mayor’s team is still in the City Hall bunker. Could you work with the Mayor’s team on that?”
“Of course,” she said. “Penko could help too. He’s good at that stuff as well. Same with Tad.”
“Okay, sounds good,” Jace said. “Thanks. Oh, and there’s coffee and snacks through that door over there. Just go down the hall. We’ll get you set up with sleeping quarters soon.”
“You’ve got enough space?” Jean asked.
“Jared set this up for a few thousand people,” Cary said, walking over to them. “It’s a nice resource, as long as it lasts.”
“Okay, I’ll leave you to it,” Jace said, walking away with Taylor.
“We can talk now?” Taylor asked, her eyes meeting his with startling intensity.
“Sure. Where?”
“In the back,” she said. “We could use some downtime anyway. We’ve been on duty for over eighteen hours, you know.”
Jace smiled at her, opening the door into the main corridor, watching her walk through, then following her.
“Where to?” Jace asked. Taylor looked back at him, her eyelids heavy. “My room is closer than yours.”
“You know where my room is?” Jace asked, his heart beating harder as he watched her.
“So many questions,” she said, turning right at the next corridor, leading him to her door, which she unlocked and entered. There was a twin bed and a dresser in there, but nothing else. “Sit.”
Jace sat on the bed, and she approached, facing him. “I’m not going to waste time. I like you. You like me too.” She started to unbutton her blouse.
Jace groaned, watching her. “You can tell, huh?”
“And you can’t?”
Jace reached out, pulling her onto his lap, his arms around her waist. Their lips met. “I’ve wanted you since the limo ride.”
“I know,” she said, pulling her blouse over her head. “Get that stuff off.”
They undressed frantically, making love, then drifting off to sleep in each other’s arms.
***
Jaak and Quincy watched as the last of the computer equipment was loaded into the truck.
“That’s everything,” Dave said, walking to him with Ava and Gavin. “Heard from Jacob and Sunshine yet?”
“Yep, we got all the names, and the background check is underway,” Jaak said. “I’m hoping they get finished before we have to go.”
“What do we do while we’re waiting?” Quincy asked.
Jaak shrugged. “I’ll order lunch for everybody.”
“Now you’re talking,” Trinity said, getting out of the truck with Adrian and Ashley.
“We can whip something up, you know,” Ashley said.
“You’ve been working for hours,” Jaak said. “Go in and rest. I’ve got this. Somebody close the back of that truck and padlock it.”
“I got it,” Dave said, doing that as the others went through the kitchen into the bar.
“We opening today, boss?” Quincy asked.
“Nah, they aren’t letting any bars open for the first forty-eight hours of martial law,” Jaak said. “Got a call about that from the sector commander before we started breaking down the office stuff.”
“What if our truck gets stopped in a checkpoint?” Trinity asked.
“That’s why we’re leaving today,” Jaak said. “Checkpoints are going up first thing tomorrow morning.”
“What will we do when they’re up?” Gavin asked.
“Attack,” Jaak said, picking up the phone behind the bar. He ordered fish and chips for the team. Then his cellphone buzzed with a text. He read it and smiled, then sent a text to Jacob.
Everyone checks out. Come back to the bar, and we’ll go to the new location. I’m ordering fish and chips for everybody right now.
Jacob replied after a moment.
Perfect, we’ll be over there soon.
“Jacob’s coming back?” Ava asked.
“You’re jealous, aren’t you girl?” Ashley whispered.
“I am not,” she said. “We tried dating, remember? Didn’t work.”
“You two okay?” Jaak asked.
“Yeah,” Ava said, smiling at him. “Thanks so much for everything.” She hugged him tight, kissing him on the cheek. Jaak looked flustered.
“What was that for?” he asked.
“For taking us under your wing,” she said, “and for
being a patriot.”
Ashley got up, hugging him too. “You’re a sweetheart.”
Jaak smiled. “I could get used to this.”
“Oh, crap, look at the TV,” Gavin said, staring at one of the monitors over the bar.
Everybody rushed over, seeing recycled footage of the UN Peacekeepers fighting with the citizen militia group.
“That says two hours ago,” Trinity said.
The announcer came back on with live video.
The surviving militia members have just surrendered, and are coming out of the school building right now.
“What the hell happened there?” Ava asked, her face flushing.
“Where are the men?” Gavin asked, watching as women walked out with their hands on their heads.
“Oh geez,” Trinity said, looking up from her phone. “They’re all dead or wounded. The police and National Guard had the group surrounded, but most of them refused to fire on citizens. Then the UN Peacekeepers came and took over.”
“No no no,” Quincy said, watching as the UN Peacekeepers lined the women up against the front wall of the school building.
“What are they doing?” Ashley asked, her eyes wide as the UN Peacekeepers backed away from the line.
“Shit, they won’t dare,” Dave said.
“They’re taking some of the police officers and National Guardsmen up there too,” Quincy said. “They’re going to shoot them all.”
“No they aren’t,” Ava said, her eyes glued to the screen, turning away as the UN Peacekeepers mowed all of them down with machine gun fire.
“My God!” Ashley cried, running in the back, Ava and Trinity following her, all of them crying.
Jacob arrived with Sunshine and her team at that moment, his smile fading as he saw everyone’s expressions.
“What happened?” Sunshine asked.
“Frigging UN Peacekeepers just executed a bunch of patriots in Philly,” Quincy said, his eyes filled with tears and hate. “I can’t wait to kill me a bunch of these bastards.”
{ 8 }
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C liff Bates walked into the office as Governor Romano watched his TV screen in horror.
