Paul Kirk - Devastation Point

“Yeah, this little town’s fairly prosperous. All right, captain, let’s talk strategy. Surf Boy said that there’s guards manning the towers and there’s snipers beyond the walls in a position of support.”

“Correct.”

“Full time snipers on duty—probably at the south gate, too—means they’re pretty vigilant.”

“I agree, colonel.”

“What haven’t we seen, captain?”

“Those gate guards or snipers shoulda caught a whiff of us if they’d been paying attention.”

“I doubt it, captain. We took our positions before dawn and we’ve all been trained in the art of covert approach.”

“True. If you’re asking what we’re missing, maybe we’re not missing anything.”

“That’s possible, but not likely—you always miss something. I only hope whatever we’re missing is not a big part of the picture. When those doors opened, did you see how clean it was in there? There were people walking from place to place—like it was a sidewalk market.”

“Yeah, I saw it. What else?”

“I’m thinking about the man behind the mask. A leader who takes the precaution to keep two sniper nests at each gate inside his city to guard gates like that is someone who doesn’t like to leave anything to chance. He keeps the place clean and it appears to be organized—the town’s thriving and that’s very impressive in today’s world.”

“What’s your point, sir?”

“This is a town that’s continued to grow stronger since the Sickness.”

“Okay,” said the captain. “What’s that mean to us?”

“If we go any further, we’ll light up their defenses.”

“How far would we make it with a frontal assault, sir?”

“We’d have to wait for nightfall for any hope of success and we don’t have the time. It would be crazy to try an assault in the light of day—they’d be safe behind their fortifications while they picked us off one by one.”

“I’d agree.”

“See all that glass sprinkled around the cleared-out areas?” The rising sun highlighted the sparkling pieces of glass.

“Yes, sir, I see it.”

“That glass is there to deter anyone from crawling near the gate or side fencing.”

“Yeah, a nice touch. That would put a damper on a silent assault. But they haven’t given any indication of discovering us, sir. They’re kinda sloppy.”

“It’s the boredom—they probably haven’t seen action in a long time. Boredom will slowly kill vigilance.”

“Not my men, sir.”

“Not mine either, captain, but I’m sure there are times when you have to be vigilant about keeping your men vigilant. Given enough time, day after day, hour after hour, any guard duty becomes a bit loose. Even our guys.”

“Did you wanna go around the town, colonel?”

“Possibly. It would place us off the highway and away from the main force of Phoenix’s army. I like that idea—but, it’d slow us down considerably in getting to the secondary rendezvous.”

“How slow?”

“I think we’d lose at least eight or more hours trying to avoid a confrontation with this town.”

“Shit.”

“I agree, captain.”

“Mickey, you still awake?” asked Connor into the radio.

“Yeah, Mac,” came the answer. He knew Connor was only teasing him.

“BB, do you read?”

“Loud and clear, Mac.”

“Give me your impressions about how to engage. BB, you and Roger go first. Over.”

“It’s no easy takedown, Mac. We don’t have a head count and their armory capabilities are unknown. I gotta recommend an end-around. Over.”

“Negative on the end-around. We’d lose at least eight hours and we can’t afford that. Over.”

“What about a night assault? Over.”

“Negative on the night assault—it would put us under worse time constraints to the rendezvous. Over.”

“I agree with BB that there’s more to this town than meets the eye,” chimed in Marty. “The place is well-fortified. Those snipers could learn a few things about focus and discipline, but they’re in place and would be a big factor in repelling an assault. There’s too many unknowns to try to waltz in and bully our way through. Is there an alternate route? Over.”

“Perryopolis is a pinch point. The mountains serve as natural protection. It’s a pretty good place to defend if you got the right personnel. Over.”

“Sir, Mickey here. The only way we could take this town is at night and very carefully.”

“I agree, Top,” said Connor.

“Do we have any options, Mac? Over,” asked BB.

“We’re pressed for time and this limits our options. McLeod? Do you copy?”

“Yeah, Mac, I’m here. Over.”

“I don’t like it. I think we need to try to go in peacefully despite the serious defensive posture. We’ll hold the main force in reserve at the crest of the hill while we send a representative of the President of the United States on official business. I’d like you to be that representative, John. Over.”

“I’m up for it, Mac. Over.”

“I want you carrying a white flag. You can have a weapon, but it should be shouldered—non-threatening. We’ll try trading for peaceful passage. You can use those negotiation skills of yours, John. Over.”

“Mac, that might be a suicide mission. Over.”

“If McLeod takes a bullet, Surf Boy, I’ll destroy this town and everyone in it. They have to have some experience in negotiation—they’re sitting on the main road. Over.”

“There’s twenty skeletons hanging from pikes on the road,” said Marty. “It maybe these guys shoot first and ask questions later. Over.”

“That’s simply a scare tactic. Whoever’s hanging on those pikes probably tried to gain entrance to the town by force. Over.”

“I understand, Mac, but it’s still risky. Over.”

“McLeod, do you read?”

“Yeah, Mac.”

“You’re the guy in the crosshairs, John. I’m leaving it up to you. Over.”

“I trust your judgment, Mac. What are we trading for our passage through the town? Over.”

“We’re selling critical information. Over.”

“What’s that? Over.”

“This town might not exist tomorrow. They need to collect their valuables and disappear before Phoenix comes along. Over.”

“When do I go, Mac? Over.”

“I want you coming down that hill alone in exactly five minutes on horseback. Keep your horse at a slow walking pace so they have a long time assessing your attitude. Your attitude, by the way, should be non-threatening. BB, I want you targeting the guys at the gate and Surf Boy, you cover the snipers. Over.”

“Copy that, Mac,” said Marty.

“Understood, Mac,” said BB.

“John, do you copy?”

“Yeah, Mac, I read you loud and clear.”

“Top, you serve as back up to BB in case there are any surprises.”

“Yes, sir. Copy.”

“I want everyone to understand that there is to be no deviation from my orders. We will not fire first. Is that understood?”

They all agreed and waited for John McLeod to crest the hill.

“There’s the riders!”

“I see ’em, major. Heading’ south after our team most likely. How far are we out from the Route 51 intersection?” said Colonel Starkes.

“I say ’bout ten miles, ma’am,” said the major.

Shamus nodded.

“Continue your approach, Professor. Get as close as you can to those riders with stealth.”

“That’s my plan, ma’am.”

Following the asphalt ribbon of Route 51 South had been uneventful after the RPG launched at them earlier. For several moments after the near fiasco at the Brownsville intersection, each team member had settled into their own thoughts beneath the steady pulse of engine and rotor. The intercom was silent. Nicole fed CJ a large piece of hardened cheese. She let him gnaw on it to keep him calm and was pleased that he had taken each helicopter flight in stride and with little fuss. Next to Nicole, Amanda absently rubbed her leg bandage and stared out the window. Eventually, the men in the cabin began small talk and many expressed a clear desire to land and engage after the RPG attack. However, each knew that this would be suicidal and against the primary mission of returning Nicole and CJ safely into Mt. Storm. Trained as hunter/killers with extensive experience, it was hard to let things slide. But, well disciplined, they kept restrained in an effort not to express the unreasonable suggestion of attacking Phoenix and his huge army with the scant number of men they had.