Blue Plague: Decisions, page 4
“Adam Cole. You’re shitting me? He was our scout for our Ranger attachment!” the colonel shouted.
“What? It doesn’t matter. Homeland is searching for him using micro UAVs,” the general replied.
“Ah sir, micro UAVs don’t have the range if he’s been gone for almost eighteen hours. Even on foot he would be fifty miles from here,” the colonel told him.
“You seem to know a lot, Colonel,” the general snapped.
“Sir, I talked to him three days ago and one of the Homeland agents tried to ‘push sexual advances’ on his wife. I tried to calm him down and I thought it worked—” the colonel said as the General yelled.
“If those fuckers get near any of my troops again, I want them shot on sight! You go and get Decker, the President’s aide, and bring him here now!” The general pointed at a technician as he screamed his orders at the top of his lungs.
“I’m sorry sir, I tried to keep them from hurting your men but they are everywhere. I really thought I had Cole calmed down, we really needed him for this attack,” the colonel told the general.
“Colonel, that’s alright. The next time you see them bothering my troops, you shoot the son of a bitches. How can I attack anything if they are doing this to my troops? We will fail,” the general said.
The colonel wanted to jump up and down then moon walk, but couldn’t dance to save his life. The general had finally found his balls. Granted, the only reason he wanted to protect the troops was so he could slaughter innocent Americans, but at least he was going to protect the troops.
A man in his late forties walked in behind the technician. “General, what’s the meaning of this?” Decker asked.
“I’ll tell you what the meaning of this is. I’m issuing an order to my troops that the next time a Homeland officer bothers them, they may use deadly force. They are destroying any chance we have of attacking in the winter. As of yesterday we have nine thousand six hundred eighty-five troops and we need every one of them. The escapee left because one of the Homeland boys wanted to screw his wife. Did the President not order me to prepare for a winter attack in Louisiana?” the general asked.
“Yes he did General, but don’t you think you’re blowing this a little out of proportion?” Decker asked.
“Are you going to grab a weapon and help?” the general asked.
“What?” Decker exclaimed.
“See, I need these troops. You tell the Homeland Director if he screws with my troops I’ll order all Homeland officers executed,” the general told him. The general then turned to the colonel, “Colonel, get word out to the troops now. If any Homeland officer bothers any of my troops they are to be shot on sight. If any Homeland officer apprehends any officer, all Homeland personnel are to be shot immediately.”
“I’ll relay your orders now,” the colonel said, walking over to a radio and giving out the orders.
“You can’t do that, General,” Decker blustered.
“Oh yes I can. I have an attack to lead that will hopefully get us out of this desolate valley. You should be standing with me unless you like it here. I don’t, and I need these troops to get us out of here,” the general told Decker.
Decker thought about what the general said and looked up at him. “You’re right, General. I’ll tell the President that I agreed with your order. I’ll find the officer responsible for threating your soldier’s wife and have him shot today,” Decker promised and left. If the colonel knew how to dance, he would have busted a move on the spot.
The general turned to the colonel. “Colonel, you don’t think Sergeant Cole would head to Louisiana and warn them, do you?” he asked.
“No sir, he had family in the mountains of Northern Idaho,” the colonel lied. He had spoken to Cole three days ago. Cole said if he left he was making for Louisiana. The colonel gave him all the information they had on them and possible safe routes.
“Well at least we have that. I hope that sergeant makes it,” the general said, turning back to the monitor.
“Me too, sir,” the colonel said and slowly smiled.
Chapter 4
Standing on top of his RG, a mine-resistant light armored vehicle, Bruce looked at the new fence in the late morning sunlight. He was at the south gate, guarding the only area open to the south. The clan had been working for two weeks nonstop and only had half a mile to go till they finished the fence. They’d totally blown his schedule right out of the water. They averaged three miles a day, double what he’d planned. This afternoon they would be done and the only way inside would be through one of the three gates they left open. Right now three teams were working on those and Bruce figured they would be done in a few days.
Bruce looked up at the wall, the top of which loomed thirty feet above him. The only thing visible were joiners on the outside; the round bolt heads at the top and middle that they used to bolt the ten poles together. They laid a three-quarter-inch thick, three-inch wide strip of steel, drilled holes through it and the poles, then bolted them together. The third row was underground and cemented in. Paul had thrown a fit and then just started rolling the cement trucks out, pouring cement into the trench. Now the poles were sitting in ten feet of concrete.
They had not seen any blues close to the base but did run into a few while out getting the poles. They even had several small groups follow them back but they’d stopped about forty miles from the base. The blues just turned around and left. When he watched that on the monitors in Mission Control, Bruce felt good.
He was in his own world when his radio went off. “Big Daddy One, this is Spook One.”
“This is Big Daddy One, go ahead Spook One,” Bruce called back.
“You need to come to Mission Control please. It’s not an attack but you need to move it,” Jake told him.
“On my way,” Bruce told him. “My squad, load up. Ted, you’re in command!” Bruce yelled out. As soon as Danny, Buffy, David, and Mindy loaded up, the driver took off. Jake and Matt were working on computers today. They’d tried to explain what they wanted to do to Bruce but he wouldn’t listen. He knew he wouldn’t understand and had no need for others to know his shortcomings.
The driver rolled through the gate. The gate work crews already had the train tracks across the road and were now extending it a hundred yards each way along the wall. The thought that they still had over ten miles to go to get to the farm, as they entered the fence, made Bruce grin. ‘We have some room now’, he thought as the driver floored the RG.
Pulling up to the farm, the driver slowed down and pulled inside. Bruce climbed out the back, followed by the rest. Bruce walked through the front door then headed down to Mission Control. Inside he found Jake, Matt, Mike, Conner, and Willie.
“Okay, what’s so important, son?” Bruce asked, laying his rifle on the table.
“This,” Jake said, and turned on a radio. The radio was playing AC/DC.
“Son, I have that album. What’s the big deal?” Bruce asked.
“Dad, this isn’t a being played here. It’s a real radio station broadcasting,” Jake told him.
“It took the end of the world to get a good radio station!” Bruce yelled.
Jake just shook his head at his dad and looked down at the table. “Daddy Bruce, we know the DJ,” Matt told him.
“Well who is it?” Bruce demanded.
“Hold on, he talks after every song,” Matt said. Bruce listened to Angus jam and fought the urge to start on his air guitar. When the song ended, Bruce turned pale when he heard the DJ’s voice.
“Hello out there America, we have music again. I want to tell Omega thank you again for bringing me this chance to deliver hope and some rock-n-roll. I have watched them fight the hordes and win. They are the new light for America. Now all you bad guys out there don’t be sad assholes, oops now I done it again the FCC is gonna get me. Oh I forgot, they’re gone. Now you bad guys, just because Omega hasn’t broadcast in a little while don’t be thinkin’ they aren’t around. I have it on good authority they just needed to get some down time and pick up some more drill bits. That Bruce loves his cordless drill. Now Gopher has some ‘Kiss’ for ya!” Gopher yelled out.
“What tha fuck is he doing!?” Bruce yelled.
“Playing some damn good music,” Mike said, bobbing his head with the beat.
“How far do you think he’s broadcasting?” Bruce asked Jake.
“Dad, I have no idea but our receiver here is maxed out and he is over a hundred and fifty miles from us. I bet they could get bounces up to Missouri, maybe further. I’ve never seen this kinda power from a radio station,” Jake answered, impressed.
“Is he insane?” Bruce asked.
“Obviously,” Matt said.
“Get ‘im on the radio!” Bruce yelled.
“Hey Bruce, if he’s takin’ requests let’s listen to some ‘Crew’,” Mike said. Bruce just slowly turned to look at Mike. “Well, I like ‘em,” Mike said.
“Dad, here,” Jake said, handing him a head set and mic.
“Gopher, it’s Bruce,” he said.
“Hey Bruce, long time no play, how are ya doin’?” Gopher asked.
“Gopher, I’m coming, will see you in an hour. Get your yard clear,” Bruce said, throwing down the headset.
“See ya soon,” Gopher said.
Mike looked at Bruce. “Dude, you didn’t put in my request!” Mike yelled.
“I don’t like you right now Mike,” Bruce said, walking out. He keyed his radio. “Little Red and Little Foot, get someone to babysit. Get your gear and meet me at my chopper. Squad one, get to the chopper and that means Matt and Jake. Steve, get the Apache warmed up with extra tanks and tell the ground crew I want one set on mine. We lift off in ten. Mike, get what you can of Gamma ready for a hot insertion.”
“What’s the deal, Bruce?” Mike asked over the radio.
“Mike, it doesn’t take a genius to track a radio broadcast. If a gang gets their hands on Gopher, they can destroy the fear we’ve spread!” Bruce yelled over the radio.
“Why the fuck didn’t any of you say that down here?” Mike yelled back.
“I thought you would’ve figured that one out!” Bruce yelled back. Bruce ran to his room and grabbed his flight bag and took off to the barn. Everyone was at the chopper waiting on him. “Jake, do the walk around. Danny, make sure the mini-gun is ready to rock in case we have to roll in hot. Steve, what’s your load!” Bruce yelled, stripping off his clothes.
“Two external fuel tanks and eight Hellfires, full load of 30mm!” Steve yelled back.
“Stephanie, tell Mission Control to get a UAV over Gopher’s. I want it loaded with Hellfires and stay at five thousand feet,” Bruce told her as he pulled on his flight suit. Stephanie radioed Mission Control. Bruce jumped in as Jake jumped in beside him.
“How long has he been broadcasting?” Bruce asked, starting his checklist.
“Have no idea, Dad. I just did a radio scan and found him,” Jake said, strapping in.
“Is everyone in?” Bruce asked.
“We’re ready, Bruce,” Angela told him.
Bruce started the Black Hawk up and when the turbine was up to speed he applied power and lifted off, followed by Steve in the Apache. Turning south, Bruce opened the throttle. “Angela and Stephanie, I promise I’m not trying to scare you but we need to get there fast,” Bruce told them.
“We know that Bruce,” Stephanie said.
“Told ya she would get ya, Bruce,” Angela said.
“Well you neutered me good, girls,” Bruce told them.
“You didn’t like doing my toes?” Stephanie asked.
“Yeah, but the shit I put up with afterwards, I’m getting ready to beat the hell out of people,” Bruce told her.
“I’m sorry Bruce. I should’ve thought of something else,” Stephanie replied.
“Nah, that was a good one, Little Red,” Bruce told her.
“Really?” Stephanie asked.
“Yeah, Debbie did that to me my second year in the Army when I embarrassed her,” Bruce told her.
“I know, that’s where I got the idea,” Stephanie told him.
His jaw hit his chest. “That’s so unfair,” Bruce told her.
“Well I’ll make it up to you Bruce,” Stephanie said. Bruce could hear Angela laughing and snorting over the intercom.
“Hey you guys, I think this is getting into gross territory,” Danny informed them.
Bruce laughed as he headed south. Jake had programed the GPS and Bruce had to admit he really liked that. Fifty minutes later they were hovering over a house out in the middle of a swamp south of I-10. “Steve, I’m sitting down first. If it goes to hell, level everything,” Bruce told him.
“We just heard him Bruce, they couldn’t get him that fast,” Angela said.
“What if they already had him, Little Foot?” Bruce said. “Danny, get on the mini-gun and dump the whole pack if the need arises. Angela and Stephanie, you two guard our ride if we have to go and get him.”
“Whoa bitch!” Angela yelled. “You aren’t going then. Who’s going to fly us home if you get shot?”
“Well that would be a problem then,” Bruce said as he slowly lowered down to the lawn, leaving the engine running. He yelled, “Let’s go!”
They jumped out and headed to the house. A short bald man in his fifties was at the door and got a worried expression seeing the group run at him. When Bruce and his team got close he raised his hands. “Bruce?” he asked.
“Gopher?” Bruce asked.
“Yeah,” he said.
“Are you alone?” Bruce asked.
“No, my family and a few friends are here,” Gopher answered.
“Are any bad guys here? If they are, let me know and we’ll rush the house!” Bruce yelled over the chopper noise.
“Hell no, there are no bad guys here!” Gopher yelled back.
Bruce turned around and walked back to the chopper and shut it down, telling Danny and Buffy to stay put for ten minutes, then tell Steve to land. Angela and Stephanie followed Bruce back to the house. Gopher was talking to Matt and Jake as they walked back to the porch.
“Bruce, I’m sorry. Jake here was telling my why you came in like that,” Gopher said.
“Gopher, I’m sorry but you have to leave here. I can’t afford to assign protection this far away from us yet. Any gang that heard you knows where you’re at now,” Bruce told him.
“You said you had my back,” Gopher accused.
“What do you think I’m doing here? It’s easy to sneak in a small team at a location like this and it took us almost an hour to get here,” Bruce told him.
“Damn, didn’t think about that,” Gopher said dejectedly.
“Tell ya what, come with us and you can broadcast from our location if you follow the clan rules,” Bruce said, and told him the rules.
“That’s it? Basically be a human?” Gopher asked, not believing what he heard.
“Yeah I never thought about it like that but yeah, just be human. You can do what ya want as long it doesn’t hurt others,” Bruce said.
“Let me ask my family. Come on inside,” Gopher said.
Bruce followed Gopher and saw a woman about Gopher’s age, two pretty women with dark hair that appeared in their early twenties, a young man about the same age, and another couple about the age of Gopher. The first woman Gopher introduced was his wife and the two women were his daughters. The young man was a friend, as was the couple. Bruce and the family shook hands and they introduced themselves. Bruce noticed that Gopher’s wife seemed terrified of him.
Gopher, or Charles as he introduced himself, spoke to the family and told them why Bruce had come and he apologized for endangering them. When he explained why they had to leave and the rules, they all agreed to leave. Turning around, Gopher looked at Bruce, “Can ya put up seven more?” he asked.
“Gopher, we have almost five thousand now. Just remember you have to keep the broadcast going. I’m sure we can have ya set up in a few days. Gather what ya need but space is at a premium, and Ma’am, you may bring all your photos,” Bruce told Gopher’s wife which made her smile.
“How much can we bring?” one of the women asked.
“Let’s say two hundred pounds apiece,” Bruce replied and they all took off as Bruce keyed his radio. “Base, this is Big Daddy One,” he called.
“This is Big Daddy Two, is everything cool?” Mike asked.
“Yeah, do we have anything around,” Bruce called back.
“If you’re talking about blues, the closet is a few miles from ya outside the swamp. We have no human sighting to speak of,” Mike called back.
“Scramble Gamma and have them bring a Chinook to bring Gopher and seven to join us,” Bruce said.
“What the hell are they bringing that they need a heavy lifter?” Mike shouted.
“Don’t know but we have ‘em, let’s use ‘em,” Bruce told him.
“Copy. Will be en route and see ya in an hour,” Mike told Bruce.
Looking up, Bruce saw his crew. Gopher and his family had gone to grab what they needed. Danny and Mary came over and stopped in front of Bruce with irritated expressions. “What?” Bruce asked.
“Daddy, Jake and Matt are drooling and you need to say something before we shoot them in the leg,” Danny told him.
“Danny, there is no way the boys were looking at those girls like that,” Bruce told her.
“What?” Danny shouted. “No Dad, they’re not drooling over those girls. They are drooling over a computer,” she clarified. “Daddy, they’re looking at it like they want to sleep with it. Make them stop and if they don’t, break something,” Danny commanded.
“They’re your husbands,” Bruce snapped.
“Daddy!” Danny said, stomping her foot.
Bruce just turned away to find the boys before the two took the matter in their own hands. He found them in a room staring at a really cool computer set up. Bruce had no idea what all the towers did. Some were six feet tall, but it damn sure looked cool. There were six monitors with the smallest at forty inches. Turning to the boys, he saw that they were indeed drooling over the setup. “Boys, you’re really pissing your wives off looking at this thing like you are,” Bruce informed them.
