“I’d like to sit in on some of your drills,” she said, pushing her palm against her head.
“You’re welcome at any time.”
The salad was placed before her by an orderly. Creamy white dressing covered the salad. She sniffed and began to eat.
“What is that?” Cain asked the orderly.
He followed her finger towards Avery’s food. The orderly looked back at Cain in confusion. “Erm, salad.”
“I can see that. This is your commanding officers food. If you can’t get it right for her then what hope have the rest of us.”
“It’s fine,” Avery said. “I don’t mind the dressing.”
The orderly edged away then sped up, head down towards the kitchen. Avery glared at Cain. Her lips were tight and there were deep frown lines across her forehead. The remainder of the command team appeared not to notice, eating in silence and looking at the table.
“How do you train dogs?” Cain asked, though gritted teeth.
“They aren’t dogs,” Avery said.
Cain dropped her gaze first.
“As you wish,” Cain said, at last, rising from her chair. She took a bread roll with her and walked stiffly out of the canteen.
The canteen chatter slowly coughed back into life, chasing tension from the room. Avery continued to eat in silence.
“I find exercise helps,” Daniels said.
He was staring at her with his chilly blue eyes. Kaya sat next to him, nodding agreement.
“You feel it too?”
“We’ve all been there commander. Go with it, everything becomes easier,” Kaya said.
“What are you talking about?” she breathed.
“It won’t be long,” Daniels said.
Avery staggered up from the chair, lifting her plate and spilling it onto the table. She left Daniels and Kaya in the canteen and headed downstairs to her quarters.
She took a moment on the staircase to collect herself. A head began bobbing up towards her. His face and shoulders came into view. It was Dowey, the wolf whistler. Her hand twitched in anger, a craving inside urging her to attack him.
“Commander,” Dowey said, saluting.
Did he smile? Before she could stop herself, her fist shot out and hit Dowey in the windpipe. He collapsed, holding his throat and gasping for air. She grabbed a handful of his hair then smashed his face into the wall. His body rolled down the steps and lay on the concrete slab below.
She suddenly appeared beside him. Transported again by magic. His face bloody and eyes rolling. Avery brought her elbow down but stopped herself before it connected with his neck. She staggered back in horror, looking at her fist then back to the fallen man in revulsion.
She wrenched open the door to level three and shouted for a medic. The shout carried away on the voices of others. Avery rubbed her hands together to keep them from shaking, glancing at Dowey, unable to believe what she had done.
A group of onlookers gathered around the staircase entrance. Their hushed chatter accentuated Avery’s embarrassment. A group of medics came running up from the level below. They fanned out around the unconscious man.
“Looks like he fell down the stairs,” Avery said.
“He’s not the first,” the medic replied. “Been quite a few accidents in the last few weeks. Seems we have a careless lot to look after,” he said, smiling and looking for acknowledgement.
Avery managed a brief smile and nod in return. Cain appeared amongst the entrance door crowd and she ushered the doctor to one side.
“The nanos, will they protect him from this type of injury?”
“I’m sure they will. Have you a special interest in Corporal Dowey?”
“I’m interested in the welfare of all my soldiers.”
“Accidents happen. Perhaps you would be kind enough to accompany me to the lab. I’d like to check your biometrics.”
“If you think it’ll help.”
“I do Commander.”
Chapter 10
“What are these?” Barney said, a three dimensional display hanging in the air above his desk.
“Requisition orders,” Logan replied, standing opposite the screen.
“I know what they are. What I don’t know is why we need, thirty rolls of electrical conduit, two thousand light bulbs, thirty shovels. I could go on?”
“Forward planning, I have been making sure the plant is ready for any incident. With our staff level reducing we can’t be too complacent.”
Barney nodded then leaned back in his chair. “That’s very commendable, but where are they?
“They should be in the store, or maybe haven’t arrived yet. You know how supply has been recently.”
He leaned forward in the chair and wiped away the air screen with a wave of his arm. “I can have a new one of you delivered tomorrow if you don’t give me a straight answer.”
“I’m trying to do my job in difficult circumstances.”
“I know you received a fourth gen injection. What about the rest of us?”
Logan left the room without replying, walking back to his office and sitting behind the desk. It was all blown, no going back. The country was on a full military lockdown. There was also a rumor of flu pandemic spreading like wildfire. He had no reason to stay at the plant any longer. A full week of playing hide and seek with Barney had left his nerves frayed to the point of snapping.
He began to gather his belongings into a box when the door opened. A large security guard dressed in a black suit stood in the entrance. The man’s dead eyes regarded Logan for a split second before he lurched forward, arm pumping out to smash into Logan’s cheek. With a bone breaking head lock, the guard dragged him through the corridor into Barney’s office.
“The chairman of the joint chiefs has just announced DEFCON 1.” Barney said.
“Let me go,” Logan whispered, spitting blood through swollen lips
Barney paced in front of him, his suit jacket discarded on a chair. He held a glass of brown liquid spilling the contents as he waved his arm."It looks like we’re all going.”
Gripped by the minder, Logan struggled for breath. He couldn’t break the head lock and even if he could, it was unlikely he would be able to fight his way out of the room.
“You’re not jumping the sinking ship for your salt mine.” Barney said, spinning around to stare at him. “Yes I know about the mine. When the police get here you won’t be going anywhere.”
“Barney, please let me go and be with my family.”
“Was there ever a place for me in your mine?” Barney glanced out of his side window, turning to sneer at Logan. “The army are here.”
Logan pushed upwards to ease the pressure on his neck. Blood and saliva covered the minders arm where it held his head. There was a knock at the door then two soldiers entered.
“Captain, thank you for attending so promptly. I’m Barney Fairfax, plant VP.”
“Thank you Mr Fairfax. We’ll take it from here.”
The pressure released and Logan stood, rubbing his neck to encourage circulation. He recognised Jason Skillet and glanced across to Barney. The minders stepped back, but maintained a striking distance.
“Where are you taking him?” Barney asked.
“He’ll be interned whilst we prepare a report and appoint a case officer. Rest assured Mr Fairfax, he’ll face the full fury of our penal system. In times like these, theft of nuclear property is treated in the most severe of ways.”
“Are we still at DEFCON 1?”
“You know as much as me. If I were you, I would find somewhere to shelter for a few weeks.”
Herded out of the office by two weapons, Logan didn’t look back at his old boss.
“I would’ve helped you Logan. You only had to ask,” Barney shouted.
An SUV was waiting outside, engine running in the centre of the car park. Logan ambled towards it, stopping after he opened the rear door. He threw a glance over his shoulder, three figures watched him from behind the window in Barney�
�s office.
Jason threw him a bottle of water from the front passenger seat. “Don’t get too comfy, we don’t have long.”
The SUV pulled away and drove straight through the open security barriers of the plant. Logan glanced across at the empty guard stations.
“What’s happened?”
“Nothing yet but for all I know we could fire first.”
“Start the war?”
“If the fights unavoidable, best to hit first.”
“Straight to the mine?”
“Affirmative. Most people are already there, steady stream all day.”
“How about your men?”
“We have a phased withdrawal planned. If I act too early they’ll come after us. Leave that part to me. You make sure we can all live down there.”
They sped towards the mine, roads clear of traffic. Logan tongued his split lip and swollen flesh. It had stopped bleeding but he would take a few days to heal. He rested back on the seat and stared out at spindly trees poking above the snow. If all their planning was right, it would be a few years before he saw the countryside again. He tried to take mental pictures of landscapes and sky.
Jason’s voice broke his reverie, responding to a radio communication. “That’s a negative. We’re heading south to respond to a situation.”
He paused to listen.
“Localised gunfire, SO2 and SO3 in position. SO4 on route.”
Another pause.
“Affirmative, withdrawal in two hours. Out.”
“Like you,” Jason said, turning to Logan. “I’m running a fine line between savior and traitor. You’re a lucky man. HQ sent me to take you to an RV.”
Logan deciphered the acronyms to understand his rescue was an accident. He breathed out hard then thought of Barney. He would probably stay in the plant to the bitter end, even though he knew about the mine.
“Fuck,” Skillet whispered.
Ahead of them two cars blocked the road, surrounded by a ragged line of rifle waving civilians. Instead of slowing, the driver sped up. Jason pulled up a rifle and cracked the window.
“Get down and hold on,” Jason shouted.
Logan ducked and lay across the back seats. He wedged his legs against the door and held his arms out to brace for impact. Rounds began to ping off the bodywork and a window above his head exploded, showering him with cubes of glass. Jason returned fire, the weapon noise popping his ears until all he could hear was ringing. His body flew forwards as their SUV smashed into the road block. Logan was wedged into the footwell, listening to the engine revving loudly as they burst through and sped away.
“Stay down,” Jason said.
They’d risked everything to get to this far and failure was still a possibility. Especially now others knew about the mine.
Logan brushed away pieces of glass and eased himself into a better position. Freezing cold wind screamed in from the broken window, ruffling his hair and attacking his exposed skin. He closed his eyes and prayed to god they would reach the mine.
“Almost there,” Jason said.
Logan opened his eyes and relaxed his fists, wriggling stiff fingers. He eased onto the glass strewn seat and watched the quiet countryside.
Their SUV approached the mine roadblock at full speed, braking hard and skidding to a halt.
Jason lowered his window and gestured for a sergeant to approach. “Any activity?”
“Authorized personnel only so far sir,” a sergeant replied.
“We met hostiles on the road. Fall back to the mine if you’re engaged.”
The driver accelerated away, turning onto the mine track. They drove around the fallen towers at speed and then slowed to a stop. The road ahead was crammed with cars, people, boxes, scattered clothes and rubbish.
“Shit,” Jason cursed.
He sprang from the SUV and ran towards the entrance. Logan followed, picking his way through the obstacles. They reached Caspar, who was sweating despite the cold.
“Get them moving,” Jason said.
Caspar glanced around at the unorganized rabble and shook his head. “We need a secure area perimeter until we get everyone down?”
“Make it quick. Cram them into the lift if you have to,” Jason replied, striding away and talking into a radio.
Logan searched the crowd for a familiar face but he couldn’t recognize anyone. “Did Jarod get here?”
“He went straight down. All your group are in place.”
“Good, what can I do?”
“Keep the elevator moving, you heard Jason. I need to secure a package, back in an hour. Don’t close the doors without me,” Caspar said, walking away towards Jason.
Logan ran through the mine entrance, jostling through the crowd until he reached the elevator. He shouted for order and a line, but there were too many people. They were shouting, talking, laughing and singing.
As the empty elevator opened, Logan pushed in as many people as he could. He cut off their arguments by pulling closed the shutter door.
Load after load of people and possessions. Men, women and children. Their faces fearful, words sharp and movements jumpy. After an hour of shouting and cajoling, the line of people thinned enough for Logan to hand over to Sean and risk a walk to Jason.
He was stood next to his SUV, a rifle slung across his chest. Wolfish eyes narrowed as he stared into the distance.
“Nearly there, any news?”
“The president has left the White House. HQ ordered Radio silence. I’m in the dark.”
“Where’s Caspar?”
An SUV window exploded in response. Glass showered over Logan, nicking his face and neck. Jason pushed him to the ground.
“SO2 report,” Jason shouted.
Metallic smacking sounds and holes appeared in the SUV. Splattering the bodywork and heading for Logan’s head. He scrambled backwards until his foot connected with a body. It lay face down, blood oozing from wounds in the torso where bullets had penetrated body armor.
Military vehicles broke cover from the treeline. They bounced and wheel spun across the surrounding land towards their SUV. Braking hard and forming a shield of vehicles. Drivers and passengers leapt from their seats and dived to the ground.
“SO2, what is the location of the hostiles,” Jason said, crouching behind the SUV.
“Main body is on Severne road. A civilian group came up in convoy and opened fire,” a voice replied.
“SO2 and SO3, fall back to mine entrance. Out.” Jason said.
“Covering fire,” Jason said.
He thrust a rifle into Logan’s hands. “This is an M9 Assault Weapon.”
Logan lifted the unfamiliar cold metal. Jason already knelt in a firing position, aiming over the SUV hood. Logan tested its weight before taking up a shoulder position. He chambered a round from the magazine and moved the fire selector from ‘Safe’ to ‘Burstfire’. Taking aim through the laser optic at the road in front, he squeezed the trigger at the sight of movement behind the rubble. Firing controlled bursts, he emptied the magazine.
“Jason can you hear me?”
“That’s Caspar on the radio,” Logan said.
“Where are you?” Jason replied.
“I’m hurt. You’ll have to take command of the bunker. Logan’s a good man, he’ll help you.”
“Tell me your location, we’ll come and get you.”
“I hope it was all worth it.”
There was a loud explosion, then silence on the radio.
Logan peered out over the open ground. Shadows moved in the distance, coming towards them. He fumbled in the dead drivers pouches for another magazine and reloaded the weapon.
“All units fall back to my position,” Jason said into his radio. He spun around, collapsing face down with the back of his skull torn off.
Lurching backwards, Logan tripped over a case of ammunition. He fell to the ground still staring at Jason’s twitching body. He scrambled up onto his knees and into cover, gripping the assault weapon for comfort.
“Medic, medic,” a soldier shouted.
Combat suited bodies rushed over, crouching low to avoid overhead fire. A soldier removed Jason’s radio earpiece and passed it to Logan. He ducked back into cover to adopt a firing position.
Orders on the radio called for a withdrawal to the mine entrance. He needed to act, before the men saw him sitting immobile. Forcing himself up, he began to fire at shapes in front of the funnel building.
Sergeant Ortiz dived into cover by Logan. He glanced at Jason then scanned the area with his thermal imaging monocular. “SO5 this is SO1 Designate, Starburst status, over?”
“Starburst established at mine entrance and available for fire mission, Over?
“Starburst Fire Mission. Set sub munitions for kilo effect. Designate target footprint for fifty yard radius of my laser aim point. Calibrate to my sight. Lasing now. Fire when ready. Out.”
Ortiz steadied his rifle, aiming his laser sight into the centre of the attackers.
“Firing Starburst.”
With a roar of its rocket, the Starburst munition soared upwards. It seemed to pause in the air then release bomblets that rained down upon the attacking force.
Logan joined the soldiers firing into the smoldering Starburst impact area. Two more soldiers took up firing positions next to Logan, aiming towards a now inert enemy.
“SO1 Designate, this is SO3. Bogies west of RV, permission to engage, over?”
“Negative SO3, all callsigns fallback to the mine, Out” Ortiz replied.
Soldiers appeared from both sides of the mine entrance, leaping over debris and filing inside. Ortiz counting them as they passed. There remained only five people including Logan in defense of the mine.
Ortiz scanned the track with his monocular, remaining soldiers fanned out around the entrance to cover arcs of fire. Logan was breathing hard, hands shaking as they gripped with weapon tightly. He relaxed the grip and breathed out.
In the distance a flash of light was visible on the horizon, far enough from the mine to be unrelated. Logan turned to Ortiz as an icy wind raced over them, pushing him back and rocking the vehicles.
“What was that?” Ortiz asked.
Eximus Page 11
