by Dirk Patton
“Master Chief,” I said, holding both hands up in a placating gesture. “You’ve got to stop! Nicole will be fine. You know they won’t hurt her!”
“Get out of my way, sir,” he said, lowering his head and preparing to charge.
“Get the hell away from here!” We both froze at the sound of Nicole’s voice from inside the open door. “Now!”
A gamut of emotions played across Gonzales’s face, but he relaxed slightly, no longer intending to run me over. I glanced over my shoulder, but couldn’t see into the hangar.
“Goddamn it, now!” Nicole whispered.
Seeing the Master Chief surrender, I rushed forward, grabbed his arm and hurried across the tarmac. Dog stayed close to me, on the opposite side of my body. Quickly covering a hundred yards, we came to a stop and turned to face the hangar.
“She’ll be fine, Master Chief,” I said gently.
He nodded without saying anything, eyes fixed on the dark doorway. We stood there, waiting for something to happen. The sound of a vehicle engine caught my attention, and I looked around to see a fuel truck pulling to a stop beneath the 747’s starboard wing, Igor and Goose jumping out of the cab and unreeling a thick hose.
“What’s she doing?” Gonzales asked, the stress obvious in his voice.
“I don’t know,” I answered, even though he wasn’t asking me. “Whatever it is, you’ve got to trust her. And you’ve got to listen to her. She’s smarter than we are.”
He absently nodded, his eyes never leaving the hangar door.
“Sorry about earlier, sir,” he said after another couple of minutes. “I’ll willingly accept any punishment you feel is appropriate.”
“Punishment for what, Master Chief? For trying to protect the woman you love? Don’t know how they do things in the Navy, but as far as I’m concerned, nothing happened. Just keep your shit together.”
“Yes, sir.”
He took a step forward when Nicole walked out of the door. She gestured for us to stay where we were and quickly strode towards us.
“Are you OK?” He asked when she reached us.
“I’m fine,” she said, shaking her head. “And you’d better learn to listen to me!”
“What’s going on in there?” I asked before they got caught up in a discussion about their relationship.
“There are about two hundred females in the hangar,” Nicole said, causing me to look over her shoulder and grip my rifle tighter. “Relax. They aren’t going to be attacking today. Many of them have given birth in the past day or two, and all the rest are either in labor, or about to start.”
All I could do was stare at her, my mouth hanging open as I tried to figure out the impact of what she was telling me.
“How are the babies?”
Surprised, I turned to find Rachel standing behind me. Nicole looked at her and sighed.
“Different,” she said in a low voice. “Same red eyes. And they’re not crying. Not making a sound. They seem… very aware of the world around them. Not at all like a normal newborn.”
“And the mothers are caring for them?” Rachel asked.
“Yes.” Nicole nodded. “That’s why they’re scared of us and weren’t showing themselves.”
“Male and female babies?” I asked, still stunned.
“More girls than boys, but yes, there are males.”
“Holy Mother of God,” Gonzales said, making the sign of the cross.
“This is probably happening everywhere,” Rachel said after a long silence.
No one had a response to that.
“We should just go. Leave them in peace.”
Nicole said the last while staring into Gonzales’s eyes. He looked at her for a long time, then slowly nodded. She turned to look at me with the same intensity. I nodded, not entirely sure I was making the right decision. But, what good would it do? It’s not like I could stop the next generation of infected by slaughtering a single group of mothers and newborns. Besides, no matter what they were, I couldn’t stomach the idea of killing them, even though someday I might have to fight the grown children.
“Let’s get the fuck out of here,” I said, slowly turning.
Rachel took my hand and we headed for the plane, Dog walking at our side. Nicole and Gonzales fell in behind us, his arm around her shoulders. To say we were all shaken to the core would be an understatement.
“Hey, Dog Face!” Vance’s voice on the radio.
“Flyboy, I’m gonna kick you in the balls if you don’t knock it off,” I grumbled.
“Better hold off on that. We’ve got bigger problems. You’d better get to the plane but play it cool. We’re being watched.”
“Copy,” I said, resisting the urge to start looking over my shoulder.
I pressed us into a fast walk, my back itching as we crossed the acres of wide open tarmac. Passing through the line of defenders, I met their worried faces and shrugged my shoulders.
“Master Chief, stay out here until we know what’s going on,” I said.
“Yes, sir,” he answered, joining the line.
Igor and Goose had the fuel truck connected to the 747, the pump loud as it delivered its payload into the wing. I was glad to see that someone had found a set of aluminum air stairs and pushed them up to one of the open doors. Any of us on the ground could have climbed a rope, except for Dog, and he’s one big lump when you’ve gotta throw him on your back.
He and Rachel followed me up the stairs and into the cabin. My nose wrinkled as I passed through the open door. The girls were clustered in a group near the first-class cabin, staying well away from several rows that were soaked in blood and other bodily fluids. Pushing past them, I stepped into the cockpit and leaned over Vance.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, pausing in surprise when I saw him speaking into a headset.
“Stand by,” he said before turning to look at me. “Plane’s got sat comms integrated. Thought I’d give Pearl Harbor a call and see where the Russians are, but we’ve got bigger problems. Did you notice that private aviation terminal about half a mile to the west?”
“Not really,” I answered. “Why?”
“Pearl’s got us on satellite right now, and they’re looking at half a dozen guys on the roof. And, one of them has what appears to be a Stinger. I fire these big engines up, there will be enough heat for it to achieve target lock and we’re toast.”
48
“Who you talking to?” I asked.
“They bounced me around until I wound up with a Chief Petty Officer named Simmons. She sounds like she might be pretty hot, too.”
Shaking my head and rolling my eyes, I held my hand out. With a humph, Vance placed an extra headset into my waiting hand. Quickly pulling it on, I swiveled the boom mic in front of my mouth.
“Jessica?” I asked.
“Sir! Very good to hear your voice. The Admiral is getting anxious for you to arrive.”
“Me, too,” I said. “Now, tell me what you see on that rooftop.”
“Sir, you’ve got six men, all armed with rifles. There is also a device that I’m almost certain is a Stinger missile.”
“Have you had an expert take a look?” I asked, hoping beyond hope she just didn’t know what she was seeing.
“Not yet, sir. But, I put a call out, and there’s a Marine on the way. He should know for sure, right?
“Yeah, he should. Good thinking. OK, tell me what these guys are up to. Were you watching us before Commander Vance called?”
“Yes, sir. I was. They were there when you arrived. Unfortunately, I can’t tell you what they were doing. I tracked you from Groom Lake, and when I realized you were bypassing Nellis and going to McCarran Airport, I did a thermal scan. That’s when I first saw them.
“They’ve got two Air Force Hummers parked behind the building they are on. That’s where they were, in the vehicles, when I realized they were there. They all jumped out and ran inside before coming onto the roof, so there must be interior access. The one with the Stin
ger appeared to be tracking your helicopters with it as you landed. Once you were on the ground, he set it aside, and they’ve been watching through binoculars the whole time you’ve been there.”
“One shot with a Stinger.” Vance had been listening on the other headset. “They’re saving it, waiting to get us all in one aircraft. Efficient bastards.”
“Any change, Jessica?” I asked. “Does it look like they’re doing anything other than just watching?”
“Not at the moment, sir.”
“OK, stand by,” I said, muting the connection and turning to Vance. “They don’t know we know they’re there. Can you take them out with the Cobra?”
“Sure that’s a good idea?” Anna asked from behind me. I hadn’t realized she followed me into the plane. “If they get nervous when the helicopter takes off and shoot it down, we’re stuck here without a pilot.”
“Shucks, ma’am. You do care!” Vance said, wiggling his eyebrows at her.
“Maybe that wouldn’t be so bad,” I said, slapping his head with the back of my hand. “But, you’re right. We can’t risk him. Going to have to do this the old-fashioned way.”
I unmuted the connection.
“Jessica,” I said.
“Here, sir. I’ve got Master Gunnery Sergeant Avril standing next to me, and he’s certain we’re looking at a Stinger.”
“Somehow, I never get good news from the Jar Heads,” I said.
“Uh, he’s on the line, sir,” Jessica said, sounding embarrassed.
I couldn’t help but grin.
“Master Gunny, is there any good news?” I asked.
“Well, sir, the Tangos are just sittin’ there,” the Marine drawled in a voice that was pure Mississippi. “Don’t look like they’s in any kinda big hurry. Probably waitin’ for you to start those engines so they can shoot a missile up yo’ ass.”
“Yeah, that’s what my pilot thinks, too. See any way I can approach that building without being seen?”
“Well… hold on, sir.”
I listened as he directed Jessica on where to pan the view. It didn’t take long.
“Buildin’s free standin’, with nothin’ else ‘round it. Open tarmac to the east and south, parkin’ lot to the west and north. Two Humvees on the side opposite from ya. Hard to tell, but pretty sure they’s empty. Good news is the chuckleheads is all clustered together on the east side of the roof, watchin’ you. If you can get to the west side of the buildin’, you got a clean shot at gettin’ inside 'thout bein’ seen. Hang on, I’m lookin’ to see the best way to get there.”
I waited impatiently, but it was less than thirty seconds before he was back on.
“Best bet is that big hangar to the south. It’s open all the way, an' they’ll see you goin’ there for sure, but if you don’ make a big deal out of it, they might not get too nervous. Git there and come out the back side. There’s a couple smaller buildin's that’ll screen you from ‘em an' you can circle and stay in cover. From there, four hun'red yards open groun' to the blind side of the buildin’ they’s on. If they stay put where they are, they won’ see you comin’. So, maybe somethin’ to keep ‘em interested while you’re approachin’.”
Just great. The hangar he was talking about was the one with all the female infected inside. I recalled enough of the area to know the bad guys would have a direct view of the front of it, and if I tried to slip around the side, they’d see what I was doing and might get nervous. I relayed what I was thinking to the Master Gunny, and he quickly confirmed that I remembered correctly.
“What about you?” Vance asked, looking at Anna. “You handled that Chinook pretty well.”
“Not going to risk losing her, either,” I said firmly.
“Look,” Vance said, sighing. “They’ve already shown that they’re waiting to get all of us with one shot. So, have her take it up and fly in the opposite direction. That shouldn’t make them too nervous. She can fly around in the distance like she’s looking for something. They’ll be busy watching and wondering what the hell she’s doing and give you a chance to take the bastards out.”
I thought about that for a minute before shaking my head. I still didn’t like the idea of risking Anna’s life. I’d find another way.
“Thanks, Master Gunny,” I said into the headset. “Got it from here.”
“No problem, sir. Us Jar Heads are always happy to help out the Army whenever you get in over yo’ head!”
Shaking my head, I took the headset off and dropped it onto the co-pilot’s seat.
“What are you going to do?” Rachel asked.
“Making it up as I go,” I said, squeezing past her and heading for the tarmac.
On the ground, I casually walked over to where Igor and Goose were monitoring the flow of fuel into the 747. I had to step close and shout to be heard over the noisy pump.
“How much longer?”
“Pilot said to go until it wouldn’t take any more,” Goose said, shrugging. “Hoping this one truck is enough. This plane’s one big bitch.”
“Where’d you find the fuel?” I asked.
“Back of hangar,” Igor said, pointing to the north.
I was pleased when he indicated an area that would be shielded from the guys with the Stinger.
“Were there more trucks?” I asked, an idea taking shape.
“Three more,” Goose said. “Why?”
“Haul ass over there.” I nodded in the direction he’d indicated. “Get one of them a safe distance away from the others and blow the fucking thing up.”
He stared at me like I was crazy.
“Just blow it up? What the hell for?”
“Because I need a distraction,” I said. “Got some bad guys with a Stinger I’ve got to take care of before we take off.”
“I go,” Igor said immediately. “He not starts truck.”
Goose glanced at him, then looked back at me and nodded his head.
“He’s right. No keys. They gotta be hotwired.”
“Go,” I said to Igor.
He didn’t hesitate to turn and run for the hangar.
“So, he’s not such a bad guy,” Goose said as we watched the big Spetsnaz soldier sprint across the tarmac.
“Be glad he’s on our side,” I said, turning and trotting towards the defensive line.
“Hey, Major,” Vance called over the radio. “Pearl says those guys look like they’re getting antsy.”
“What are they doing?” I asked as I ran.
“One of them went back inside, and another is moving around, checking their blind sides.”
Shit! I’d hoped these guys were going to stay still and let me sneak up and ruin their day. I guess someone in the group was smarter than I’d thought.
“Thanks. Tell them to keep watching, and I’ll check in when I get close.”
By this time, I’d reached the line and came to a stop next to Nitro. Rachel and Dog had followed me, but I didn’t see Anna. I gave the other operators a one-minute synopsis of what was going on and what I intended to do. All of them wanted to come with me.
“No,” I said. “If it’s just me, they’ll be curious, but won’t be worried. But, if all of a sudden a whole squad starts heading in that direction, they’re going to get their knickers in a twist and try to figure out what we’re up to.”
“Then I should go,” Nitro said. “Sorry boss, but you’re not a hundred percent. One of those fuckers gets on your left, you’re in trouble.”
My immediate reaction was to flatly reject him. He stared at me, his jaw set as he waited for my objection. I opened my mouth, then paused when I admitted to myself that he was right. My ego wasn’t as important as getting these people out of here safely. Swallowing my wounded pride, I nodded.
“So what’s the best way to get there without being…”
We all spun in surprise at the sound of an engine starting. I looked at the 747, but Goose was still calmly monitoring the flow of fuel into the plane.
“What the hell is she
doing?” Nitro asked, taking a few steps in the direction of the Super Cobra.
The rotor was slowly turning as the turbine roared, and I could make out Anna through the windscreen as she donned a flight helmet. I reached up and tapped the radio earpiece to transmit.
“Anna, what the fuck are you doing?” I shouted. “Shut down, now! We’ve got a plan!”
“My responsibility,” she answered as the rotor sped up. “I’ll take care of it.”
“Ma’am, don’t do this!” Nitro called. “You can’t take on a Stinger!”
“They didn’t shoot us down when we arrived,” she answered. “They aren’t going to shoot me if I don’t give them a reason, and by then it will be too late.”
“Anna, you don’t need to do this,” I said.
“Yes, I do,” she said. “If I hadn’t given up control to them, none of this would have happened. Too many people are hurt or dead because I didn’t stand against them when I had the chance. Enough’s enough! Time to do what I should have done weeks ago.”
The Supra Cobra’s engine roared as it lifted off the tarmac. Skids barely in the air, the big helicopter spun around and with a nose down attitude raced away, following the runway.
49
“Igor, blow the goddamn truck!”
I shouted into the radio as I broke into a sprint towards the hangar with the females. Dog ran with me, and a moment later I realized Nitro and Rachel were following.
“This is going to make them nervous,” Nitro said from next to me.
“And a Super Cobra taking off isn’t? That damn stupid woman is going to get herself killed!”
Before we were halfway to the hangar, a thunderous explosion rocked the night from behind, lighting up the entire area. I didn’t need to turn around to know that there would be a massive fireball boiling into the dark sky. The sudden illumination revealed the Cobra as it screamed towards the enemy position, mere feet above the tarmac.
Someone on the roof finally realized that the gig was up and began firing at us. Several bullets struck in front of me, blasting chunks of asphalt into the air. The fucker was leading us by too much, but that only meant he was about to adjust aim.
