An immense explosion interrupted his tirade. He focused on the fireball that was once a group of eighteen-wheelers and saw body parts falling from the sky among a fierce bloom of crimson. He dropped his radio on the seat.
“Fuck me.”
SECTION 11: The Battle at the Summit
CHAPTER 11.1-Expertise in Play
“That outta slow them bastards down,” said Connor. His Spartan grin and intensity made it clear he’d seen this type of explosion once or twice before and appreciated the destructive power.
“What a waste of good horse.”
“It is that, John…”
Near a black RV being used as cover, Renaldo and Cody shared binoculars side by side, watching the calamity unfold a half-mile behind them. They stood next to Connor, John McLeod, Jason and Captain Daubney, ignoring the insistent demands of Gabriella to use the binoculars. Unobtrusively, they listened to the men talk.
“We gonna wait here for Marty and Mickey?”
“Nah, Top and Surf Boy are doing fine, I think. They’ll run cover while we head up the mountains. C’mon, we gotta move. John, talk with Rhonda and see who needs recovery time. Make sure those that do, ride for the next ten miles. I want a report on how Jackson’s doing, too, would ya?”
“Sure thing.” John turned to leave, but stopped. The radio in Connor’s hand crackled to life.
“Mac, Team Green. Do you copy?”
“Go Team Green.”
“We’re barely a quarter click out from the little surprise we left. Burroughs is down. Repeat, Burroughs took a hit high in the left lung. It bypassed the body armor. Not sure he’s going to make it, over.”
Connor swallowed deeply. His arm holding the radio dropped to his side. Beside him, Captain Daubney raised his hands to his head, issuing forth a fierce stream of profanity.
“Not Burroughs! Fuck!” said Daubney.
John quickly motioned for Jason to usher the children away and came to stand beside Connor, placing a supportive hand on his shoulder. Furious, Captain Daubney paced behind the RV with raw energy. As he passed, Connor grabbed his shoulders to slow him down, consoling. A few seconds slipped by before the radio was raised again.
“You have him, Top. Correct? Over.”
“Of course, sir! Over.”
“You bring Burroughs to the black RV at the top of the crest up ahead. Bring the entire team in for now. We’ll regroup. If need be, I’ll carry Burroughs from there. We have meds standing by. Over.”
“Understood, over.”
“Give me a sit-rep on the explosion, over.”
“Yes, sir. We had a solid vantage point. Estimate at least twenty or so horses and as many men down, probably dead. Unknown how many incapacitating injuries involved. Complete chaos. White trucks and men are coming up on it now. We’re heading up to your position. Surf Boy is laying back, radio silence, taking what he can. He thinks he has a bead on that Phoenix guy based on Daubney’s description. He wants a head shot if he can before he has to fall back. Over.”
“See you here ASAP. Over and out.”
CHAPTER 11.2-An Impossible Discovery
“Cam? What the hell’s wrong?” asked Terry, studying the sweat dripping from his forehead. The man was having some difficulty catching his breath, but Terry MacMillen recognized the urgent look on his face.
“Nothin’, T,” he answered between deep breaths.
“Nothing? You’re sweating like a racehorse and so is JR. What the hell’s going on? You’re supposed to be with Andy and Ryan. Has something happened to them?” Her hand went to her mouth.
“No, they’re okay, T. We have to initiate the H-4 protocol immediately.”
“What?”
Cameron took a long gulp of water, swallowing half of it and spitting the other half out. “Andy wants you to begin the H-4 protocol. There’s an army coming up the mountain with around two hundred men. They’re using horses and trucks, dirt bikes and four-wheelers. They’re well armed and they’re coming fast, T.”
“Tell me you’re kidding, Cam.”
“No joke, T. We need to button down our place for a shit storm.”
“How do you know this?”
“General Harmon’s in contact with Commander Bastin at the Summit garrison. He talked to his scouts—to Major McLoy down in Masontown. I’ll fill you in on the way, T. You and Liam and Shannon need to come with us. Andy and Ryan said you won’t come to Nemacolin without the kids. C’mon, T, we need to go. Make sure everyone’s started on the H-4 protocol and let’s go.”
“This is for real?” she asked again. “This isn’t some elaborate test run Andy came up with to see how prepared we are? What makes you think I’d leave this place after calling for an H-4 protocol? Let alone take my children closer to the danger?”
“Terry,” said Cam, “this is as real as it gets. Andy and Ryan sent me here to bring you back. C’mon, T, we trained for this. You don’t need to be here—everyone here knows what to do.”
“Yeah, Terry, Cam’s right,” said JR. “Everybody knows what to do—we’ve run through it a hundred times. You need to alert them.”
“JR, you look like you saw a ghost.”
“I’m just tired from the run over.”
“C’mon, T, let’s get the clan ready. We have less than five hours.”
“You better give me a good reason to go with you if we need to start H-4.”
“I know you want to stay, T, but we need to haul ass to Nemacolin right now. I can’t take ‘no’ for an answer.”
“Hey, Margaret!” called Terry across the yard. She walked toward the back porch. A young woman on the porch, stirring the contents of a pot, turned toward Terry. She put her spoon down when Terry waved for her to join them and walked quickly toward them. Tall and naturally reserved, she had been preparing the sauce for the evening meal. She wiped her hands on her apron and approached Terry and the men.
“What’s up, Terry?” she asked. “Hey, Cam. JR. How you guys doing?”
“Maggie, listen up. I need you to set the clan to H-4 protocol right away.”
“You’re serious, T?”
“Yes, I am. This is not a drill. Andy and Ryan are at Nemacolin so I’m puttin’ you in charge of getting everyone moving.” Maggie stared at her, uncomprehending. “Maggie,” continued Terry, “we trained for this and I know you never had to do it on your own, but you need to today. I’m assigning you full lead. I’ll leave it to you to pick your second-in-command. Hell, Maggie, the last couple times we had drills, I was stuck with nothing to do ’cause you took care of it all. Just make it happen.”
“You’re going now, Terry? Right now?”
“Yes.”
“Okay? Why?”
Terry stared at Cameron and JR with a fury. She respected the emergency status, but she wanted to know more information. “Listen, Maggie, there’s a well armed military force moving up the mountain. They’ll be here in less than five hours, so you need to start H-4 protocol right now and shut this place down. Don’t leave anything here—like we trained. Hide everyone in the safe bunker for the duration. You understand?”
“Umm—”
“Maggie, this isn’t a drill, this is real. I wouldn’t ask you if I didn’t think you could do it.”
“Okay, Terry, yes, I’ll see to it.”
“Good. I’m going to Nemacolin to meet with Andy and Ryan. It probably has something to do with tactical coordination with Mark and his Woodland soldiers. I only know it’s important I go—Cam and JR won’t tell me why I need to be there.”
“Andy will tell you when you get there, T,” said Cam.
“Okay. Maggie? You sure you’ll be okay?”