“I dunno, like maybe twenty or thirty minutes—they’re pretty pissed. They’re probably gathering together… regrouping before they come this way.”
“Oh, I imagine you’re quite right—we’ll talk some more later.” Bursting with a voice built to shout orders, Connor pushed each man into action. “That means you, too, Rhonda.”
Rhonda quickened the pace of her packing. “Yes, sir!”
Within seconds, purposed movement spread around the KFC. Radios blared and a defensive exit strategy was put in place. Brownsville Road had become a hot zone and each man responded as trained. Within the new command structure, plans were laid out based on the new information.
“We head away down Brownsville with a squad running counter. We move fast, captain. With your hand-picked men, you’ll lead us up front to the primary evac point,” said Connor.
“Understood, sir”
“Team designation: Black.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Top?”
“Sir?”
“I want you runnin’ the back team to cover our exit.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Designation: Team Green. Got it?”
“Yes, sir. Team Green.”
“Take as many men as you require from your prior unit.”
“Yes, sir.” Mickey bustled away to a group of men gathering up their gear for transport.
“Surf Boy? BB?”
“Yeah, sir?”
“Go on… sir.”
“Run tight overwatch. Mainly behind us. Designation: Team Blue.”
“Got it, sir,” said BB.
“Copy that.”
“Roger? Stick with me. Jackson? John? Jason? Jude? Take those horses and ride ’em around us up front and keep us safe. Cody, you manage BB’s horse. You’re all designated Team Red right now, got it??”
All agreed, moving out.
“Captain Daubney?”
“Sir?”
“Every so often, personally hang tight near me as we walk. Let’s keep this thing tight like a gnat’s ass to the junction of Route 51.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Renaldo? You and Gabriella stay close to Rhonda and Cody over there. Got it?”
“Ahh, yeah.”
“Eat while you move, son. Get going.”
“Right—”
“Keep an eye on your little sister.”
“Always.”
CHAPTER 9.8-Pushing Through the Night
“They’re situated near a shopping center. At a KFC. They got a perimeter set at about one hundred yards. They’re vigilant, expecting trouble.”
“What else, Luke?”
“Jon’s best count when he got back is there’s at least twenty or so.”
“That all? That boy and girl with ’em?”
“If you mean Renaldo and Gabriella, I believe so, Phoenix.”
“Good.”
Luke grinned at the tunnel vision of Phoenix Justice. Larry Reed, standing beside Luke simply shook his head and briefly rolled his eyes. Phoenix caught the exchange.
“Don’t worry, you assholes. I know what I’m doing. I was only wondering if there was a bonus in the mix—seems there is.”
“Okay,” said Larry.
“Luke?”
“Sir?”
“You bring that boy to me alive and I’ll make sure you get 3000 credits.”
“Yes, sir.”
“But right now, let’s focus on the needs of the moment.”
“They’re armed and military trained.”
“You sure, Luke?”
“Sir?”
“Answer the damn question, Luke,” said Larry Reed. Leg hurting painfully from the bullet that had passed through his quadriceps, he was in no mood to deal with Luke’s little quirk of not repeating himself.
“They are, sir. Their perimeter team moves with precision as a unit. Their weapons are top military grade and their uniforms are well tended. I believe they’re wearing Kevlar. They have radios.”
“Mobility?” asked Phoenix.
“A few horses were spotted.”
“That’s it?”
“Yeah.”
“Piece of cake. Let’s take ’em,” said Larry.
“Hold on. This team’s not attached to the president’s team, is it?” asked Phoenix.
“There’s no ’copter in site nor any place to land it nearby. Though Jon did say a few guys looked kinda familiar, but he was too far away.”
“Jon see Starkes?”
“If he would’ve, I woulda told you outright, sir.”
“Yeah, well, don’t worry about it, Luke. We’ll find them.” Phoenix did enjoy the fact that his comment irritated Luke. Continuing to regain his cold, calculating demeanor, Phoenix thought for a moment longer and turned to Larry Reed. “Can we loop around and catch them from behind? In a pincher? How ’bout it, uncle?”
“Based on the map, we could do an end-around down to Route 51 and up into Brentwood/Carrick. It’d take some time; they’d have to stick around some for that to happen.”
“How passable is the road for movement up here on Brownsville?”
“Jon says the mile or so past the church is fairly clear to the shopping center and the KFC. We’d have to go single file at a few points, but doable.”
“Your thoughts on a night engagement, Luke?”
“Be dark in about half hour. Don’t much matter to me when we go in.”
“Uncle?”
“The men are tired, but after—after what just happened, a night’s sleep might not go well. I say we press on and take these men now. Score a win to reestablish.”
“Control? Are you suggesting I lost control?”
“No, Phoenix! But like I said before, a win right now would be real nice to set matters straight—even an active engagement with the enemy would help set the tone.”
With the entire army massing near the church on Brownsville Road and waiting for the green light to set camp, Phoenix considered the advice.
“Luke? Can your men sneak up on them with the army behind you?”
“Sure, if they’re still there.”
“Why wouldn’t they be?”
“These are most likely the same guys who took shots at us, back in the city. They know we’re tracking them, they know we’re coming. They might not be sticking around. I sure wouldn’t.”
“Larry, instruct the men that we’re traveling through the night. Any grumbling, please shoot the first two men to prove the point. Got it?”
“Right.”
“The first two little bitches who complain.”
“I know. I’ll plan on it.”
“And send the Ninth brigade down onto Route 51 to begin the pinch maneuver. Have ’em use four trucks, but tell ’em not to let the trucks slow them down if impeded. They’re the fastest. See to it.”
“Got it.”
“Luke, take the men you want and go after them bastards.”
“Yes, sir. Right.”
“You’ll have America’s best army at your back, so radio in when the time’s right and we’ll come running.”
“I’m taking half a brigade, twenty men, trackers. All equipped with nightvision. I want two RPGs. Four radios, sir.”
“They’re yours. Go.”
Though night was fast approaching, Phoenix knew there would be no stopping until the recent debacle was put down and the Rat Pack and young boy and girl were recaptured. Phoenix caught many men staring his way. He also noticed numerous smiles at the sudden change in the boring routine. Itching, many men were ready for bloody combat. Phoenix touched his leg above the ankle, feeling the pain run up from his foot in agony.
“Fuck me.”
CHAPTER 9.9-The Use of High Explosives
“Sir? Team Green to Team Black, do you copy?”
“Copy. Black Team here. Go Team Green,” said Captain Daubney.