Blue Plague: Decisions, page 17
On their way to the refinery the radio went off. “Big Daddy One, this is base. You’re needed here in Mission Control. Right away.”
Bruce grabbed his radio. “On my way,” he said as Paul turned around and floored it back to the farm.
Paul pulled through the front gate where they saw a work crew digging a hole in the front yard to expand Mission Control. They ran into the house then down to Mission Control. In the command bunker they found Mike, Jake, and Matt looking at one monitor in particular, upon which was a Stryker going down the highway. “Who took a Stryker out?” Bruce asked.
“It’s not one of ours,” Mike said, then Bruce noticed a white sheet tied on the antenna. Then on the back of the Stryker he saw a sheet of plywood with ‘Friend Don’t Shoot’ written on it.
“I think he comes in peace,” Bruce said.
“Or is setting us up for something. Remember, we’re broadcasting and like you said it’s not that hard to find us now,” Mike warned.
“Fuck those bitches, we have a Spooky and Strike Eagles. We can fuck them anyway we want and at any time we want,” Angela said. Bruce grinned and thought about taking the day off.
“Bruce,” Mike said. When he didn’t answer, Mike looked at him and knew what was on his mind. “Bruce!” Mike snapped and Bruce turned to look at him. “Later. What do you want to do about him?” Mike asked, pointing at the monitor.
Bruce almost said blow him up but looked at the monitor. “Jake, can the Gray Eagles buzz someone?” he asked.
“It would be hard but that’s not a Gray Eagle, Dad. It’s a real Predator. The pilot is in the next room,” Jake told him.
“We have real Predators and no one told me?” Bruce asked.
“Dad, you only care about having a UAV up. You don’t care if it’s controlled by a computer or a pilot,” Jake told him.
Bruce was fixing to spin off as Stephanie said, “Jake, that’s not right. The Predator is a cool toy. We would at least like to look at them.” Bruce grinned and started looking at the table wondering if it would take their weight.
“Bruce, quit looking at the table, it’ll break!” Mike snapped. “Focus, man. What do you want to do?” he asked.
“Let’s watch him and see where he goes. Where is he now?” Bruce asked.
“On I-20,” Mike answered.
“Could just be survivors, an armored ride does go a long way nowadays,” Bruce said. “How far out did we pick him up?”
“Hundred and twenty miles,” Matt answered. Bruce liked that. If one Stryker could be found then a large group couldn’t sneak up on them. For thirty minutes they watched the Stryker drive through Shreveport and Bossier and turn off, heading toward them.
“Looks like he knows where he’s going,” Jake observed, watching the monitor.
“Does, doesn’t it,” Bruce said, then keyed his radio. “Willie, this is Boss. Get Third Platoon to Mission Control now.”
“See ya in ten, Boss,” Willie called back.
Ten minutes later Willie came running down the stairs into Mission Control. “Hey, there is a big ass hole dug in the front yard,” he told them.
“New Mission Control,” Paul said.
“Oh yeah,” Willie said, then looked at the monitor they were clustered around. “Who did we send out?” he asked.
“No one, it’s not ours and it will be here in twenty minutes,” Bruce said.
“One Stryker can’t do shit to us. Blow it up,” Willie said.
“What if it’s a survivor looking for shelter?” Mike asked.
“Well they have a sign on top of the rig. That tells me they know we have eyes in the sky. That means they have intel on us,” Willie said.
“Damn, didn’t think about that,” Mike said. “They could still be a friend,” he added.
“Yeah, or that Stryker is loaded with five tons of explosive,” Willie said.
“Damn, and I though Bruce was mistrustful,” Mike said.
“Expect the worse and hope for the best,” Willie said, shrugging his shoulders.
“Willie, get Third Platoon and head to the north gate. I’m sure that’s where they’re going. If he shoots we will just Hellfire his ass. If he doesn’t shoot, make them get out and check them out. If they look okay bring them to the Center,” Bruce told him.
“Will do Boss,” Willie told him and took off running.
They watched the Stryker head straight for the north gate on the monitor. Third Platoon set up and waited and soon spotted the Stryker coming down the road toward them. In Mission Control they watched the Stryker stop fifty yards from the gate. Then the driver’s hatch popped open and a man climbed out. They could see Willie on top of the boxcar gate talking with the driver.
“I want cameras on the gates ASAP with sound,” Bruce told everyone.
The man outside the gate lifted his shirt up and turned around, showing Willie he had no weapons. Then the man called out to the Stryker and a woman crawled out to stand beside him. The gate opened and one squad of Third Platoon held the two at gunpoint as the rest cleared the Stryker. They saw Willie walk away from the Stryker and shake hands with the man. Then Willie went back to the Stryker and pulled out a shoulder bag. Willie looked in it, then slung it over his shoulder and escorted the two inside the fence as a squad drove the Stryker in. Willie led the two to an RG and closed the door.
“Well looks like we have guests,” Bruce said, turning around and heading to the Center.
When Willie drove up, Nancy, Danny, and Mary had made it to the Center and Mike filled them in. They sat by their husbands and waited on Willie to bring the couple in. Buffy walked in before Willie and joined them.
Willie walked in with a man dressed in ACUs followed by a woman wearing t-shirt and jeans. The man was about six foot with a stocky build, black hair and a dark complexion. The woman had brown short hair and an athletic build. Willie led them to the table and sat them in the middle, then placed the shoulder bag in front of Bruce.
“Bruce, this is Sergeant First Class Adam Cole and his wife Karen,” Willie said, making introductions.
“Sergeant, what brings you to this neck of the woods?” Bruce asked.
“You,” the sergeant replied.
“Come again because I don’t know you,” Bruce said.
“We escaped from the government camp in Colorado several weeks ago. Out of all the communities still functioning, this is the only one that looks like it’s trying to rebuild.”
“How did you come to that conclusion?” Bruce asked.
“Because you go out and rescue people and wipe out gangs and rescue their hostages. Then you are attacking infected on a scale neither I nor anyone else thought possible,” the sergeant replied.
Bruce studied the man and wanted to like him, but was being very cautious. Then he noticed the tab on his shoulder. “When were you at Benning?” Bruce asked.
“Six years ago, and I have to tell you this tab is earned. You can’t just put one on,” he said.
Any kindness on Bruce’s face vanished. “Boy, you’re treading on thin ice now. You better clarify fast,” he told him.
“I see a lot of tabs and on some not even old enough to serve, not to mention females,” the sergeant replied.
Danny jumped up and Matt and Jake grabbed her. “I’m going to cut his dick off and make him eat it!” she screamed.
Nancy stood up calmly and leaned over the table. “Little boy, we need to play,” she told him.
“Ma’am, it takes more than a tab to be a Ranger,” he told her.
Nancy lunged across the table and Mike grabbed her. “Mike, let me go, he dies today!” she yelled as they both crashed down on the table. Matt and Jake were still fighting Danny and Mary was helping Mike control Nancy.
Bruce was looking at the sergeant when he noticed a red laser dot pop up on his face. The sergeant turned to his left and his eyes got wide. Bruce turned to see Buffy aiming her pistol at the man. “You disrespected my sisters and Mama Nancy, bitch boy. I’m going to see what your brains look like now,” Buffy told him with a flat face.
The door opened to the Center and Ted and Carl walked in. Ted saw Buffy aiming her pistol with the laser turned on. He followed the aim and froze. “Cole!” Ted said. Danny and Nancy quit fighting and looked at Ted. Carl looked up sharply and followed his gaze.
“Holy shit, Adam Cole,” he said. Sergeant Cole didn’t say a thing. He just stared at Buffy with sweat pouring off his face. He could see it in the little girl’s eyes, she would and wanted to kill him.
Ted walked over to the table and stood by the sergeant. “Buffy, why do you have him lit up like a Christmas tree?” he asked.
“He hurt Danny’s, Mary’s, and Mama Nancy’s feelings,” Buffy replied, never taking her eyes off of her target.
“Buffy, let me talk to him, okay? I know him. We went to Ranger school together. If he doesn’t apologize I’ll hold him down and you can let Herman play with him,” Ted offered.
Buffy lowered her pistol. “Okay,” she said with a smile.
Cole let out a breath as Ted popped him on the back of the head. “Are you fucking stupid? Come in and disrespect these people. I should just let her bust a cap in your ass!” Ted yelled at him.
Cole jumped up and pushed Ted back, and Carl flew at him and shoved him on the table. “You better rectify, bitch,” Carl told him, then let him stand up.
“Look at the tabs you dumb asses!” Cole yelled.
“Oh I know you didn’t go there. You wouldn’t have your tab if Carl and I wouldn’t have carried your ass on that last run,” Ted told him.
“There’s a woman and four teens, two of which are girls!” Cole yelled.
Ted dropped his gear and pulled out a knife. “I’m fixing to cut your ass good,” he said.
Carl stepped up to Ted. “The hell you are,” Carl told him and pulled out his knife. “I’m cutting his ass first,” he announced. Cole stepped back in terror from the two men he’d thought were friends.
Cole’s wife Karen was still sitting down at the table, shaking her head. She turned to Nancy and leaned over the table. “Ma’am, I’m sorry for my husband’s disrespectful remarks. But please don’t kill him. They are so hard to train. If you kill him I’ll have to start over with another one,” Karen asked her.
Nancy relaxed, looking at the woman. Mike, feeling her relax, let her go. “Karen, I know what you’re talking about but those remarks hurt. If that would have been my husband—” Nancy left it hanging.
“Oh I promise hell is coming,” Karen told her. Nancy smiled and sat down.
Cole heard the exchange and cringed. “Pull a blade, bitch, I’m waiting,” Carl told Cole.
“What the fuck is your deal?” Cole yelled at him.
“We drove the pin in each of them,” Carl snapped.
Cole took a breath to say something as Ted shouted, “Think about it. I’ll shank your ass if you dis my team!”
“Ted, Carl,” Bruce said with a small grin. He loved how they stood up for their team.
“No Bruce, this is a classmate. He knows better. It falls out of your jurisdiction,” Carl told him. Bruce just shook his head and started going through the shoulder bag.
“Dude, teens and girls,” Cole said, waving his hand across the table.
“Man, let’s get this straight. Any one of them can monkey stomp your ass and sing a song as they do it. We have stood side by side with them fighting gangs and blues. They have killed on a scale you can’t even begin to imagine. They have earned the right. The big shaved-headed guy is old school Ranger,” Carl told him.
“It still doesn’t seem right,” Cole said.
Ted walked up to the table and took out his pistol. He threw it on the table in front of Cole. “Just reach for it, dude,” Ted dared him.
Cole started for the pistol and was looking down ten pistols before he was half-way there. “Shit, that was fast,” he said, slowly pulling his hand back.
“Dude, this is the family you want on your side. They are hard core meat-eaters. Those ‘kids’ are top operators,” Ted told him. Cole just sat down in his seat and Ted grabbed his pistol off the table. Everyone but Buffy holstered their pistol. Once again, Cole had the dot on his forehead from Buffy’s pistol.
“Ma’am, the pistol is off the table,” Cole told her.
“I don’t need to have an additional justifiable reason to pop a cap in you. You’ve offended my family, therefore I’m perfectly able to squeeze one off and see what kind of face you’d create. You come in here with your Neanderthal beliefs to belittle others to inflate your self-worth. That is very uncivil and disrespectful, displaying poor etiquette on your part,” Buffy told him.
Stopping what he was doing, Bruce shook his head. “Stephanie, what in the hell are you teaching her? A twelve-year-old shouldn’t be using words like therefore and justifiable, not to mention etiquette,” he said.
“But she can say ‘bust a cap in your ass’!” Stephanie snapped.
Thinking about it for a second, “Well yeah,” Bruce answered.
“Shit Dad, I like it. Hell, I want to pop a cap in him after hearing Buffy,” Jake admitted.
“Buffy, let me talk, please. If he acts like an ass you can smoke him,” Bruce told her, and Buffy lowered her pistol but didn’t put it up.
Cole sighed and looked at Bruce. “I’m sorry sir,” he said.
“You didn’t dis me boy. You’re still breathing. You disrespected my family so I have to kill you slowly, with much pain,” Bruce told him.
Cole turned and looked at Nancy, Danny, Mary, Matt, and Jake. “I’m sorry for my remarks. I have been under a lot of stress the last few weeks. It’s no excuse but I’m sorry,” Cole said sincerely.
They all sat down and Buffy finally put up her pistol. “So you’re old school,” Cole directed at Bruce.
“Not that old,” Bruce said.
“What was your handle?” Cole asked as Millie brought out food and tea. Carl and Ted picked up their gear and took their seats.
“Dark Knight,” Bruce answered. Ted and Carl dropped their gear again, staring dumbfounded at Bruce. Bruce heard a glass drop beside him and turned to see Willie looking at him. Bruce shook his head and looked back at Cole who was just staring at him.
Ted was the first one to speak. “Are you fucking kidding me!?” he yelled out.
“Ted, you knew that,” Bruce told him.
“I knew that was your X-box tag not your Ranger handle!” Ted yelled.
“That was a long time ago,” Bruce said.
“Dude, you’re still talked about even by the instructor cadre. You moonwalked the last mile on a forced march!” Carl shouted.
“Yeah, and had to push Georgia down ten feet below sea level for that,” Bruce admitted with a cringe.
“Holy shit man, is what they say about Africa true?” Willie asked.
“I don’t know what they say about Africa, but I won’t tell you what I did there,” Bruce told him.
“What about the Philippines?” Ted asked.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about but I will say that jungle sucks,” Bruce replied.
Cole stood up. “Then you know Colonel Walker,” he said.
“I never met a Colonel Walker,” Bruce replied.
“No disrespect, Sergeant First Class Williams, but Colonel Walker has talked about you,” Cole replied.
“I don’t know a Colonel Walker,” Bruce told him again.
“Colonel Gene Walker,” Cole said, and Bruce froze. If Bruce would’ve been paying attention he would’ve seen and heard Stephanie and Angela gasp upon hearing the name.
“Black man, stocky as hell, and loves his troops?” Bruce asked.
“That’s him,” Cole said.
Bruce jumped out of his chair. “He’s only a colonel?” he yelled.
“Yes sir, he turned down the star,” Cole answered.
“How do you know Hammer?” Bruce asked.
“Hammer?” Ted asked.
“His handle,” Bruce told him.
“I hope he didn’t get from the singer,” Cole said.
“Please, that man can’t dance. He got it because if you fucked with his troops he came down on you like a hammer,” Bruce told him. “How do you know him?” he asked.
“He’s my commander, but more importantly he’s second-in-command at the government site,” Cole told him.
“What?” Bruce said.
For the next two hours Cole told them how the government had moved into a valley in northwest Colorado. There were over sixty thousand survivors at the start but Homeland was killing off any that they thought were going to cause trouble. At last count they were at fifty thousand. The Secretary of the Interior was now the President and ruled like a king. The military there used to be almost fifteen thousand strong but were now under ten thousand because the President wanted to act like a general. They had found this site in Louisiana where people were actually living and prospering. Cole told them they had watched Bruce’s people attack on a gang, then a horde. The President ordered the general to make plans to take over the site.
“Why hasn’t Gene shot the general?” Bruce asked.
“Major General Terry Givens is a world class dumbass but has too many followers. He replaced Lieutenant General Carl Center who died mysteriously one night. We all know Homeland and Givens killed him but we couldn’t prove it, and even if we could, who would we tell?” Cole said.
“So they like our set up huh?” Bruce asked.
“Oh yes,” Cole said.
“What about the government center in Pennsylvania?” Bruce asked.
“Don’t know, they won’t talk to us. We lost those satellites over a month ago so we don’t know if they’re still active,” Cole said.
“Sorry, the boys stole them,” Bruce told him, motioning to Matt and Jake.
Cole looked across the table. “Damn that’s cool,” he said.
“Thank you, but I don’t know if I like you yet. That was my wife, sister, and mother-in-law you disrespected when you came in,” Jake told him.
“I was way out of line, I’m sorry,” Cole apologized again.
“So do you have a timetable for this attack?” Bruce asked.
“Colonel Walker convinced them to wait until winter,” Cole answered.
