Paul Kirk - Devastation Point

“Major?”

Major O’Malley stood to the left of the colonel, deep in thought. Clearly excited by the prospects, his tense shoulders and faraway stare suggested he was running through each scenario. He turned to the colonel. “Uh, ma’am, let’s drop the captain, Mickey and an eight-man squad in Pittsburgh and fly to this Coatesville and see what’s up.”

“I like the decisiveness, but explain.”

“We’ll be 330 miles closer to DC and Storm. That helps complete our primary mission objective.” Unable to help himself, he glanced at Nicole and CJ. He continued. “We’ll have a chance to briefly recon Pittsburgh on the way for possible updates in intel. And, we’ll have boots on the ground to provide real-time interdiction on this Connor MacMillen. The team can scout that Brownsville road meet point designated in Amanda’s note.”

“Yeah,” suggested Captain Daubney, “I like it, ma’am.”

Major O’Malley nodded. “In the meantime, we make the repairs, drop off Nicole, CJ and… now Amanda at Mt. Storm. Then, we’re on our way with a fully repaired bird and fresh men back to Pittsburgh. I like it. Oh, and I do like Scotty’s idea of a few dogs.”

“Ho! Wait a sec. I’m not going anywhere to sit and wait while you hunt Mac,” said Amanda. The conviction in her voice snapped all heads around. The bloody knife had stopped moving in her hands.

“Amanda, hold up! We’re trying to figure this out here,” said the major.

“Screw that! I’m going in with the men dropping in Pittsburgh or you count me out. Especially since this Phoenix bastard’s hunting my team and they might not even know about it.”

“No. You’re not dropping—”

“No? Colonel, Hannah, I’m sorry, but you’re not hearing me… I’m going to Pittsburgh if I have to start walking from—”

“Then start walking!” said Colonel Starkes. The power in her voice snapped the command. Furious at the interruption and being disobeyed, she flung her arm out to point east toward Pittsburgh, emphasizing the direction of travel.

“You got it!” Angry, Amanda smiled grimly and tossed the knife onto the table. The rattle of steel on steel reverberated as she turned, dropped her hands in the water bucket and roughly wiped them on the towel. Done, she snatched her rifle and began a determined walk toward her pack. Twenty feet away, she stopped and turned, walking back. Once near the table, she grabbed two plastic bags of meat and turned again to walk away. She did not turn back. All stood mesmerized and tracked her exit.

“She’s serious ma’am,” suggested Nicole.

“For sure,” said GT.

“She’s not in our chain of command, ma’am. Unless she was formally inducted here at the mill and I missed it,” said the major.

“She can walk. Let’s see how far she gets,” snapped the colonel, still furious.

“Yes, ma’am. Should I provide her with any further rations or supplies?” asked Captain Daubney.

“No. The little princess can fend for herself.”

“True, ma’am. She probably can,” said the major, “might I have a word in private, ma’am.”

The colonel answered by moving away from the group with the major following close behind.

“What is it?” The colonel was still furious.

“Ma’am, if we are able to locate Connor MacMillen, what will we tell him about the whereabouts of this civilian , Amanda Abbington?” asked the major.

They watched Amanda crouch and hastily shove a few items into her pack. Standing, Amanda waved at a few men and walked toward the gate. Colonel Starkes began to calm somewhat. She nodded to the major.

“Bring her ass back here, major. Instruct this civilian that she will keep her damn mouth shut during discussions on any military matters.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Major O’Malley cut a diagonal toward Amanda’s progress toward the main exit gate. He quickly caught up with her and they had a brief but intense discussion. Together, they returned to the lunch prep area. Amanda wore a look of steely determination, though she glanced at the major before saying anything upon their return. She did take a few deep breaths and made an effort to calm her intensity. She moved to stand in front of the colonel.

“I’m sorry Hannah. I apologize for my outburst. But, I would like to be more involved in locating Mac.” She glanced one more time at the major, “I would ask that you please consider my request.”

Goal-oriented and positively motivated, Amanda gave the strong impression she’d not be denied being there to find Connor. Everyone noticed the focused fury; even Colonel Starkes seemed impressed. To herself, the colonel wondered if this was the woman Connor MacMillen had seen beneath the gentle facade of beauty and grace.

“Apology accepted. We don’t have a lot of time for discussion. Amanda, would you agree to come with us to Coatesville, sit with the repairs then, once done, we head straight back to Pittsburgh, without reinforcements?”

“Umm,”

“You’d be a liability on the drop of the men on the ground in Pittsburgh and you know it. At least until your strength is back.”

“Huh. Watch me.”

“No one’s doubting your loyalty or courage, Amanda,” suggested Major O’Malley, “We just want things to work out right.”

Grudgingly, Amanda nodded in agreement.

“I’d like to find him, too,” said Nicole. She had a firm tilt to her jaw. She stroked CJ’s hair.

“You wanna leave CJ and go with the men?” asked the colonel. She was nearing the end of her patience.

“Ah, no,” said Nicole, “I just wanna find him.”

Colonel Starkes gave a quick smile at the comment and turned to the major.

“Listen up! Major, captain, prep the men. Captain?”

“Ma’am?”

“Grab Mickey and a squad of your choosing for the drop. I’ll want to keep Timmy with me for now. Any others outside of Scott, GT and Shamus are yours. Drop coordinates to follow. Move it.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Captain Daubney left immediately.

“GT, work your magic. Tell Shamus to fly our team over to Pittsburgh, just south of it for now, and then off to Coatesville in one piece, if it’s not too damn inconvenient. Go. Dismissed.”

“Ma’am.” GT hurried toward Shamus and Scott near the helicopter.

“Major, work the drop area options south of Pittsburgh on the way. Find this Brownsville Road. We decamp in ten.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Left alone, Amanda, Nicole, CJ and Colonel Starkes watched the men bustle about in preparation. Energized, Amanda returned to prepping as much meat as possible. Colonel Starkes and Nicole tracked her hands for a moment. Her exquisite use of the blade was a thing of beauty. She certainly stripped a carcass with an inherent ease and efficiency.

“We’ll all meet up with Connor MacMillen together, when we have the opportunity,” said Colonel Starkes, “Agreed?”

“Thank you,” said Nicole.

Amanda remained silent, slicing meat and stacking it for packing.

“Amanda?”

“Yeah, thanks, Hannah.”

“You’re welcome.”

“But we’re doing it before we make any pit stop in DC, correct?” asked Amanda.

Colonel Starkes stared at her, thinking. “So far. Yeah, against my better judgment.”

“Great. That gives me another day or so to get my strength back. I won’t disappoint.” Pausing in her meat cutting, Amanda wiped her hands clean on the towel and slipped another strip of jerky into her mouth, pulling it from her pocket. She placed the chunk of thin meat between her teeth ripping off a large piece.

“I don’t think that was ever in doubt, Amanda.” The colonel left toward the helicopter.