“This is Black. Go, Green.” Captain Daubney was leading Team Black.
“Black, they’re ditching stealth—they’re coming hard. Trying to make up ground. Over.” Mickey had set the explosives strategically. He was trying to create a ditch in the asphalt and a roadblock for Phoenix, one that would slow them considerably.
“Their patience has worn thin, Green. Slow ’em down. Over.”
“Copy that, Black. It’ll be my pleasure. Over.”
“Has Santa placed the gifts under the tree? Over.”
“Yes, sir, the gifts are in place. Over.”
“Good news, Green. Vacate area ASAP. Over.”
“That’s a negative, Black. Over.”
“Say again, Green.”
“The remote’s not functioning, sir. One of Santa’s elves has to stay behind to make sure everyone gets their gifts. Over.”
“Green, that’s a negative on staying behind. Do you copy?”
“Black, I gotta deliver the gifts and its gotta be in person—within close proximity. Over.”
“Green, I want you to open the gifts now and bug out. Over.”
“Sir, there’s no one there to receive the gifts. Over.”
“Mickey, just open the gifts. That’s an order. Over.”
“Understood, sir. Your order will be carried out in a minute. But I suggest waiting a few more minutes to let some of the kids come a little closer—you know, see the presents up real close. They’re getting closer, Black. Over.”
“Green, I appreciate your tactical efforts to engage the kids, but you’re up against an experienced bunch. Over.”
“Copy that, Black. Our new commander hasn’t seen Team Green in action. You might wanna fill him in. Over.”
Connor was walking with Captain Daubney and overheard the exchange. It was most likely what Mickey had intended. Mickey knew that it would be a test of Connor’s leadership and it would gauge his willingness to let the men in the field take initiative when required. Connor suppressed a grin. He valued men who were able to take charge of a developing tactical situation to achieve an improved outcome. Connor thought the new Top was probably such a man.
The captain took Connor’s silence as disapproval and felt the need to explain the first sergeant’s words. “Sir, there’s no one better than Mickey at blowing shit up. He’s impervious to damage, colonel.”
“Okay, captain, tell him to use his best judgment, but only one man should stay behind—the others should join the main force immediately.”
“Okay, Green, the new commander acknowledges your tactical command and agrees with your strategy. Make it happen with only one man, Mickey, and start the rest of your team back to the main unit. Be home for dinner. Over.”
“Understood, sir. Green out.” Mickey used the NVG assessing the progress of the enemy team moving up Brownsville Road. The lead men had abandoned stealth and were coming fast. Despite the quickness of their advance, their movements were exceptionally well choreographed. He scanned a broader area and caught the whispers of two other groups skirting the houses and apartment buildings on the side of the street opposite the library. Each man moved with purpose and one group was nearly on top of the hidden explosives.
“That’s right, keep comin’.” Mickey readied the manual trigger. There were five men in the lead—they would surely die in the explosion. Mickey was disappointed that no more would fall within the radius of the blast. “We’re live, gentlemen,” he said into the radio. “Take cover and then move out. Fire in the hole!”
He pressed the trigger and the explosion rocked him backwards despite the fact he was fifty yards from the kill zone. A fireball lit up the sky and the explosion reverberated. The five enemy men in the lead were instantly vaporized and Mickey’s hope was that the casualty list was longer than those five. One thing was for certain, though—there was a huge hole in the road and the enemy vehicles would have to find another route in their continued pursuit.
CHAPTER 9.13-Watching the Fireworks
“Wow!” said Cody. The explosion lit up the night sky for several seconds and the massive sound reverberated in lingering echoes.
All three children had stopped to watch the fiery sky.
“What is that, Nully?” asked Gabriella. The fireball mesmerized her.
“It’s some explosives our guys used to keep the bad guys away, Gabby. Don’t worry.”
“’Kay.” Gabby returned to ripping cooked dog meat off the bone with her strong white teeth, but she moved a little closer to her brother.
“Are you guys doing okay?” asked Roger.
“Sure, Dad,” said Cody.
“Good. We gotta keep moving. That was our team setting off the explosives. Stay sharp.”
“We will.”
Roger returned to Rhonda who was a few yards ahead of the kids. They were nearly ten yards behind Connor and Captain Daubney. “Those were some nice fireworks, Mac,” he said loudly.
“Yeah, they were. That should slow them bastards down.”
Daubney held the radio to his ear. “Sir, Mickey says he caught at least five men in the blast.”
“Excellent news, captain. Tell him to haul ass and return back here with the team ASAP. I’m worried about a pincer movement when we get closer to Route 51. With his force of equipment and men, catching us from behind is a concern.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Let all the teams know to form up at our primary rendezvous before we exit to the secondary.”
“You don’t think we can hold them off, colonel?”
“With all the shit that went down, they’re gonna be coming hard and fast. We need to be gone. Like now. We’ll take Route 51 south down into Uniontown and meet up at the hospital rendezvous.”
“Yes, sir.”
“You seem unconvinced, captain. Speak your mind.”
“Sir?”
“You’ll see what you’re up against soon enough, captain. Probably before the hour is out—trust me on this.”
“Yes, sir, I will. But the road’s blown and they’re too far back. They can’t possibly interfere now. They won’t mount a full attack at night or until they make a working corridor for their trucks and supply line.”
“I think you’re wrong, captain. Phoenix will make good use of side roads to regain Brownsville on the other side of that hole. I expect he’ll engage a shitload of men on foot to try to overwhelm us.”
“His trucks will be delayed, colonel.”
“Yes, of course. So will his cavalry. He probably doesn’t want them running hard at night. He’ll need to explore side streets and find a path. That adds at least a mile to his pursuit—maybe more if he makes a wrong turn. But he’s sharp enough to know that the trucks are not the primary factor of engagement in driving his assault forward right now. He’ll set that up for later, but he’ll send everything he’s got on foot and that’s a considerable force. He’ll probably keep the quads and bikes in check to conserve the batteries at night. Until dawn, those vehicles won’t be a factor.”
Captain Daubney sighed heavily, unconvinced but hesitant to ask further questions of his new commanding officer.
“Captain?”
“Yes, sir?”
“I was serious when I told you to speak freely. I already value your input and I know you bring substantial military expertise to the conversation. You wouldn’t be a captain on Starkes’ staff if you were any less of a soldier and tactician. So, please continue to voice your concerns. And don’t worry—I don’t get off on command. I’ve fought too many times to get the right man to make the right decision. I welcome your input, captain—believe it.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Remember that’s not my style. Period. Now, I’m not saying I won’t be pissed off at you every now and then, but you’re an intelligent part of this army and I wouldn’t be a very good commanding officer if I didn’t value your judgment. So… let’s have it.”