by Alex Siegel
The aerial recon drone was letting Walker see everything. Units were finally reaching the spacious parking lot around the hotel. Mortars had a minimum range, so the soldiers were now safe. They milled around and chatted with each other. Some were rubbing their arms. The weather had warmed up substantially during the day, but it was still cold.
One man went boldly to the front door and tried to open it, but it was apparently locked. He banged on the glass.
"What are your orders, sir?" an officer asked.
"Tell them to hold their positions," Walker said. "I want an overwhelming advantage before we enter the hotel. I'm sure there will be plenty more trouble inside."
As more troops poured into the parking lot, he became more confident. He had suffered serious losses, but he still had a ridiculously oversized military force at his disposal. It was fifty times bigger than what was normally necessary to take a single building. The parking lot was getting very crowded.
"Sir!" a technician called. "The Lord of the Gray Spear Society is on the line again."
Walker ran over to his desk and picked up the phone. "Afraid yet?"
"Hardly," his enemy replied.
"Did you happen to notice the large number of armed soldiers around your hotel?"
"I'm very aware of the situation. We have sensors and cameras everywhere. Actually, I called to ask you a simple question. You claim you're a good American."
"That's correct," Walker said.
"Then how can you send tens of thousands of fine American soldiers to certain death?"
"Sacrifices must be made in war."
"I think you're just a sociopath," the Lord of the Society said. "You wrap yourself in the flag as a rationalization."
"Are you seriously trying to use psychology to talk me out of attacking you?"
"I don't have much else to do. I'm actually very bored. You're taking an awfully long time to get this party going."
"Your long wait is about over," Walker said. "I'll be seeing you soon."
"That may be true, but I'll be coming to you. Jack, now."
Walker could see the hotel on the projection screen at the front of the bunker. Concealed panels slid open on all sides, and weapons extended outwards on robotic arms. He recognized some as Vulcan cannons. The weapons could fire six thousand rounds per minute of 20 mm ammunition. Other weapons looked like sniper rifles with extended barrels. They swiveled around and aimed at the packed mass of soldiers in the parking lot.
The guns began to fire. The barrels of the Vulcan cannons spun so fast they were a blur. Brass casings rained down in a continuous stream. The sniper rifles blasted once per second, and they belched fire each time.
The effect on the troops was immediate and devastating. They were getting cut down in wide swaths. Men climbed over each other in a desperate effort to escape. The guns created walls of corpses, and the piles were growing taller as soldiers tried and failed to cross them.
Secondary explosions ripped through the crowd. The bullets were setting off grenades and demolition charges. It was a massacre.
Walker turned around. He couldn't watch.
"Hello?" a male voice said.
Walker realized he was still holding his phone. He put it against his ear and said, "What?"
"You have to admit my defenses are impressive."
"Yes, the guns are very nice, but you'll run out of ammunition shortly, and I'll still have plenty of soldiers left."
"Let them come," the Lord of the Society said.
Walker heard a click. He hung up the phone.
He turned back to the screen. The Vulcan cannons had already stopped firing, and he guessed they had shot all their bullets. That was the problem with weapons that had such a high fire rate. They burned through ammunition in a hurry.
The sniper rifles were still going strong though. The big guns were terrorizing the soldiers left alive. Men were actually using each other as shields. Fights were breaking out.
Finally, somebody had the bright idea to shoot back. An anti-tank rocket struck the side of the hotel and broke a window. It failed to hit a sniper rifle, but the other troops got the hint. Suddenly, waves of rockets were battering the hotel. It didn't take long to knock out all the guns.
Walker breathed a sigh of relief. He visually assessed the damage as seen from the air. Thousands of men and women were dying before his eyes. The big bullets had penetrated multiple targets. With so many people packed together, it was hard to tell the living from the dead. Fresh blood covered the entire surface of the parking lot.
He wanted to proceed immediately to the next phase of the operation, but he knew that was impossible. His forces were demoralized. It would take time to get the dead and injured off the field.
"Let's regroup as quickly as possible," Walker told the officers at their control consoles. "I want to enter the hotel before nightfall."
* * *
There was silence in Aaron's office. Aaron, Perry, and Charles had watched the engagement on Perry's computer screens. Hidden cameras mounted on the exterior of the hotel had provided all too vivid images of the slaughter.
Aaron looked down at the floor. Even though the killing was necessary, the guilt was crushing. Unfortunately, he couldn't think of an alternative. It was the only way to guarantee the twins were safe. The worst part was that the massacre was far from over.
He took out his phone and called Marina.
"Yes, dear?" she said.
"What's your situation?" he said in a flat tone.
"The twins are having technical problems with the aperture. They keep fixing stuff. It could be several more hours before they get the damn thing working."
"That's a long time. The Army is already at the front door. We pushed them back, but it's a temporary withdrawal."
"I'm sorry," she said sincerely, "but there's nothing I can do. Nobody wants this to end more than me. There is a mess in San Francisco that really needs my attention. I have to get back there ASAP."
He sighed. "Just try to encourage the twins, please."
"I'll do my best. You sound sad."
"The death toll is getting steep. It's hard to watch so many innocent people die."
"I wish I could give you a hug and a kiss," she said. "I love you."
"I love you, too." He hung up and put away his phone. "Several more hours," he told Perry and Charles.
Their faces fell.
Aaron had an idea. He walked out into the main part of headquarters where the hotel staff was still throwing an impromptu party. They had brought up alcoholic beverages from the hotel bar and were dispensing them liberally. Aaron decided not to chastise them. A drunk staff was better than a frightened staff.
"I need some plumbers," he called out. "Who can handle a pipe wrench?"
Two men in brown maintenance uniforms stood up. They were overweight, balding, and flushed.
"Come with me," Aaron said.
He took them into the machine shop where tools were laid out on shelves. He had the plumbers take their pick. Soon, all three of them were wearing utility belts loaded with tools. They also grabbed stepladders.
Aaron led the plumbers through headquarters. They went down the elevator to the first floor.
Aaron took out his phone and called Jack. "You see me?"
"Yes, sir," Jack said.
Aaron looked around but didn't spot the hidden surveillance camera. They were everywhere inside the hotel but very well concealed.
"Tell me where a nerve gas pod is."
"Halfway down the corridor on your right," Jack said.
Aaron followed the directions. He stopped and looked up at a drop-tile ceiling. The tiles were colored gold.
He used a stepladder to get up to the ceiling, and he lifted off a tile. A gray, metal box was bolted to the underside of the floor above. The box was perforated on all sides with grids of tiny holes.
"What's that?" a plumber said.
"It emits nerve gas," Aaron said. "There are a hundred of these device
s scattered throughout this hotel."
Both men stared with wide eyes.
"I have a better use for this one," Aaron said. "We're going to detach it very carefully. After we're done here, I want to collect a few more. You're going to help me. Understand?"
They nodded cautiously.
"Let's get to work. We don't have a lot of time."
* * *
Ethel was sweating under her body armor. The hike through the mountains of western Virginia had proved even more arduous than she had expected. The team had to climb up and down steep slopes covered with loose dirt and rocks. Thick brush was a constant annoyance. They were carrying equipment that seemed to get a little heavier with each step.
At least it was beautiful countryside. The trees were tall and lush. Every time Ethel reached the crest of a hill, she had a spectacular view of the next valley. She caught glimpses of wildlife hiding in the woods. Fresh, cool air was invigorating and kept her from overheating. Under other circumstances, she would've enjoyed the hike, but whenever she thought about Roy, she became angry and picked up the pace.
Ethel's phone rang. She grabbed it and saw Wesley's code number. She frowned. There was no good reason for him to call.
She answered, "What's wrong, Wesley?"
"Put me on speaker so everybody can hear, please."
The team stopped marching. She pressed the speaker button and held the phone up. Tawni, Atalanta, and Boreas gathered around it.
"The aperture will open tonight," the Voice of Truth said. "If you come back to Chicago right now, you'll get here just in time."
"Why would we want to do that?" Ethel said.
"Because the old Gray Spear Society is going away. A new Society is taking its place, and to be a member, you have to go through the aperture."
"I don't understand."
"The aperture will transform you," Wesley said. "It will make you immortal and give you incredible abilities. You'll become a thousand times stronger. Nothing will ever harm you."
Ethel struggled to make sense of this revelation. "Hold on. Why didn't you tell us this before?"
"Because now is the right time."
"That's not fair! If I go home now, Roy will likely die, but if I save him, I'm out of the Society. What kind of choice is that?" She could hardly believe what he was telling her, but the Voice of Truth never lied.
"It's the choice you have to make."
"I can't leave Roy to die," Ethel said. "I'd suffer an eternity of guilt. No thanks."
"Good," Wesley said. "I was hoping you would make the right decision."
"This was a test?"
"Yes. Aaron and Marina can still make you members later. They'll be given the power to turn mortals into legionnaires. Now go save the President."
She smiled. "Yes, sir."
She put her phone away, and everybody resumed marching across the rugged landscape.
"Was he serious, ma'am?" Tawni said. "Immortality?"
"Yes." Ethel nodded. "It makes sense. God was unhappy with the current situation. He didn't like replacing dead legionnaires all the time. We're too fragile, too flawed, too human. It sounds like the twins have come up with a much better solution. I hope Aaron and Marina will make me a member. I don't want to be left out."
"I'm sure they will. And Aaron will take care of me. He always has my back."
Ethel nodded. "Let's pick up the pace. The sun will set soon."
Chapter Twenty-one
"It looks like they're getting ready to enter the hotel, sir," Perry said.
Aaron nodded. "Finally. I was falling asleep."
Cameras on the exterior of the hotel showed what was happening in the parking lot. The dead and injured had been cleared away. The remaining soldiers had formed close ranks. Even though the parking lot was large, there was hardly enough room for everybody to stand. Jack had estimated around fourteen thousand troops were still surrounding the hotel. It was a sea of men and women in green.
"Jack," Aaron said, "don't activate the internal defenses until I give the order. Let the enemy fill up the building. We're sure none of our people are down there?"
"Yes, sir," Jack said. "The entire hotel staff is in headquarters."
"Good. Don't let them leave again. They'll get killed."
Aaron watched the action on Perry's computer monitors. Several windows showed different views. Aaron wouldn't miss a thing.
A squad of soldiers placed demolition charges on the front door of the hotel. The door was locked, and the glass was bulletproof, so explosives were the best option. After the charges were set, everybody moved well back.
The blast was impressive, but the door held. Nancy had designed the hotel to withstand a siege.
The enemy tried again with an even larger explosive package. This time, they managed to bust open the door.
Soldiers began to pour into the building in a continuous stream. They had their guns ready, and they moved in an orderly manner. Aaron admired their disciplined execution as they systematically swept room after room. The U.S. Army knew how to train warriors.
After they finished searching the first floor, the enemy moved up to the second. Troops continued to enter as fast as they could get through the front door. It appeared all of them were under orders to get inside.
Aaron yawned. He had missed a lot of sleep lately.
The enemy progressed to the next floor, and then the next. It was a big hotel with over a thousand rooms to search. Soldiers checked each one carefully. Of course, there was nothing interesting for them to find. Some luggage had been left behind, but that didn't matter.
Aaron tapped his foot impatiently.
"How are we going to clean up this mess after the battle is over?" Perry said.
"I don't think we will," Aaron said. "I'm afraid the Rosemont Tower Hotel has seen its last guest. It was nice while it lasted."
"That reminds me, sir. What am I doing after the battle is over? Are you going to appoint another commander to Chicago?"
"I don't think the new Society will be organized that way. We may not have assistants at all."
Perry's eyes opened wide. "You're firing me?"
"Think of it as early retirement, but don't worry. You'll be taken care of. I would never just toss you out onto the street. It will be a very comfortable retirement."
Perry sighed and frowned.
It took a half-hour for the Army to reach the twentieth floor and finish searching it. Aaron could see the exhaustion on the faces of the soldiers leading the charge. They had seen every corner of the hotel.
"Jack," Aaron said, "lock it down now."
"Yes, sir," Jack said.
Aaron imagined what was happening. Steel barriers were dropping across all the stairwells and main hallways. Three-inch plates were creating air-tight compartments with no escape.
"Release half the nerve gas," he said. "Flood every compartment."
Some of the windows on Perry's computer showed what was happening inside the hotel. The gas was invisible and odorless, but its effect on the human body was obvious. Soldiers started falling over. They experienced seizures for a minute before finally dying. Their bodies were left in contorted positions. It was a very painful way to go.
Some tried to run and hide in closed rooms, but it was just a matter of time until the gas found them. The poison could pass through the skin so gas masks were no use, not that many people even had them.
Aaron closed his eyes. He didn't need to see anymore.
"How many did we kill?" he said softly.
"Three thousand, two hundred," Jack said.
Aaron nodded sadly. "Tragic. About eleven thousand to go."
His phone rang. He furrowed his brow and checked the ID. Wendy was calling. It took a moment for him to remember why his banker in Manhattan would want to talk to him. Her team was following the money trail to the enemy.
"Yes?" he answered.
"We finally discovered who paid for the bedding factory that Unit K used, sir," Wendy said. "
The money laundering schemes were masterful."
"Who?"
"Erika Navarro."
"Never heard of her," Aaron said.
"Not a surprise, sir. She's extremely reclusive. She hasn't been seen in public in years, but her financial empire is extensive. Her net worth is estimated at eight billion dollars, but it could actually be much higher. What's even more interesting is how she made her money. She has a way of getting the inside track on the sweetest deals before anybody else even hears about them. She has a lot of powerful friends. Information about her is scarce, but it's clear nobody messes with her and lives to tell the tale."
Sounds like a Pythagorean, Aaron thought. "Where is she?"
"Unknown. She completely dropped out of sight two months ago."
"Find her. I'm making that your top priority. If you need help, you have my authorization to call upon any other hacker in the Society. This woman could be behind everything."
"Yes, sir," Wendy said. "We'll get right on it."
* * *
There was silence in the underground command bunker. Nobody dared to even whisper.
General Walker's blood was pounding in his temples. He picked up his chair and threw it against a steel wall as hard as he could. It didn't help.
He forced himself to calm down even though it was difficult. In war, catastrophic disasters were common. He had dealt with them many times in his long military career. He merely had to make adjustments and continue forward as if the setback didn't matter. He still had more than enough troops to finish the job.
He looked down at the officers and technicians in the bunker. They were watching their computer screens diligently.
"We can't give up," Walker said. "We have to get inside that building, no matter what it takes."
"But, sir," an officer said timidly, "it's full of nerve gas."
"Then break the windows! Air the fucking place out. Do I have to think of everything? Quickly!"
"Yes, sir."
Everybody began chattering on their headsets.
The communications officer looked up at Walker. "Sir, the Lord of the Gray Spear Society is on the line again."
