Paul Kirk - Devastation Point

“Well, let’s assume his military record has some real life merit.”

“That’s a given. And, Amanda believes completely and wholeheartedly in him. Especially if Marty’s still around to help out.”

“Female confidence in her man, I get it. Go on.”

“No, ma’am, this is a sense of confidence fully distilled from time spent with the man. This is a certainty based on witnessed competence. She scoffs at the mere concept that Phoenix, and whatever army he attempts to bring onto the same playing field, could hope to kill Colonel MacMillen, or Marty for that matter. It’s deep in her bones on this one.”

“Okay, let’s assume her assumption carries some weight.”

“And, Nicole, simply nods at Amanda’s comments as if it’s a given.”

“She does?”

“Yeah, he has that affect on the people around him, apparently.”

“Yeah, yeah, go on. But, give me some hard, usable data.”

“Okay. How ’bout the explosion on Brownsville Road? That speaks volumes that it was our guys.”

“Okay. I like that piece of evidence.”

“And how ’bout the fact that Phoenix was at our rendezvous at about the same time we’re trying to pick up our men?”

“Yeah?”

“That fact suggests we just missed ’em. That it was due to Phoenix and his disruption.”

“Point taken. Go on—”

“Alright… tell me those riders heading south on Route 51 that were in hot pursuit don’t mean anything? They weren’t simply advance scouts. And, we wouldn’t have wasted a Hellfire otherwise. Your gut said so. You went for the launch. You know they were tracking for our men. And, they were moving with purpose in the same direction of our team if that same team, now combined, were trying to hook up at the second established extraction.”

“True. But why have we not heard from them? Huh? My projections, as well as yours and Shamus put them in or around Perryopolis. Yet we heard nothing.”

“A few hours of time matter on the ground. Pardon my saying so, ma’am, but you know that. It matters a great deal. Those few hours can make a big difference. And our radio contact is sketchy at best from the bird. But, we’ll clear that up real quick when we return back there.”

“Major, you know Phoenix will probably have already burned that town to the ground by the time we get there.”

“Possibly.”

“Probably.”

“Okay, probably, like we discussed. But, if Phoenix does pass through Perryopolis, again with purpose , it only suggests our team remains in the game.”

The colonel stood and paced, thinking hard. “True. Good point. In fact, we can assess the potential progress of our men by the progress of his army. Hey, I like that!”

“Thank you, ma’am.”

“Go on.”

“Alright. If there’s a firefight going down in Perryopolis and our men have stuck around to help, we’ll be able to pitch in. And, if it’s none of the above, we still have the second rendezvous point to check in on at the hospital tomorrow.”

“Okay. I do feel better, major. Thank you. Let’s begin preparation to leave.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“I’ll gather up the ladies and CJ.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

Colonel Starkes tossed the papers onto the floor, walking toward Amanda and Nicole. Both were chatting in the next room. Major O’Malley joined up with Ren and Stimpy, each rinsing out spare clothing in a barrel filled with rainwater.

“C’mon, guys. We’re headin’ out.”

“I hear that, sir,” said Stimpy.

A banging door across the weed-infested tarmac caught their attention. Bursting from the heliport control tower doors twenty feet away, Tim McDonald came running. He started pointing and talking from ten feet away. “Major, a coordinated team is coming down the road on horseback, about a mile away. They’re coming from that main road. They have drop offs hanging back on horses staggered up to that mountain pass. Radio stringers I think. I saw one radio.”

“Hmm, I see. Good job, Lieutenant. How many? Anything else?”

“I counted eight riders, well-armed. I think they’re the advance team moving forward.”

“They spotted us you think?”

“I’m thinking yeah, in a general sense. Probably from some distance based on the time it took ’em to round up men and come hunting. I figure they saw the bird and came—”

“Why’d you not call it in on the radio, lieutenant?”

“Tried, sir.”

“What?” Major O’Malley checked his radio. Pushing the talk button, he received no response. “Shit!”

“Ren!”

“Here, sir.” Ren handed over his radio. Major O’Malley switched over to channel nine, speaking into it. He heard his voice coming out of Tim’s radio.

“Dammit. Find me a fresh battery, lieutenant.”

“Yes, sir,” said Ren.

“We have some time before they arrive in our area, major.”

“Alright, Tim. Back to the tower and keep an eye on ’em.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Stay on channel nine as an active command com.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’ll alert the team.”

Tim McDonald dashed back to his tower post, sniper rifle held tight.

In a rush, Major O’Malley returned to the office. “Ma’am!” He nearly collided with the three women. CJ smiled at the sight of him. Major O’Malley smiled back, but turned serious.

“Major?”

“Eight incoming men about a mile away. Tim caught ’em coming on horseback. They’re coming from Route 40. Radio stringers in support.”

“Lemme see.” Colonel Starkes pulled the map from her inside pocket, flipping it open. Quickly, she rushed to the table near the window to splay it out, tracing her finger to Masontown and working her way out to Route 40.

“Should we engage, ma’am?”

“Hold on, lemme think.”

“They’re coming ’cause they know we have a bird flying, ma’am,” said Amanda, “they saw it.”

“Yeah,” said Nicole.

“Shh,” said the major.

Colonel Starkes studied the map, figuring out the logistics. Near her shoulder, the major did the same, lifting the radio to his lips.

“Tim, do you copy?”

“I copy, go ahead.”

“The men you say are staggered behind the advance team, what’s the retro line? Over.”

“Sir, they head back to that winding road that leads up into the mountain. Route 40. Over.”

“Thanks. Update? Over.”

“They’re approaching three quarter’s of a mile from our position.”

“Understood. Wait for instructions.”

“Copy that. Waiting for further instructions. Out.”

Major O’Malley noticed the colonel’s intense concentration and thought. Patiently, he looked to Amanda and Nicole, ignoring the active movements of CJ who was trying unsuccessfully to garner his attention.

“Let’s see what these guys wanna do, major.”

“Ma’am?”

“Have Tim project where they will arrive near our position. We’ll have a party waiting for them.”

“Okay.”

“You and I will go out a hundred yards and say hello if it’s not too dangerous.”

“Can I ask why, ma’am?”

“Yeah, you can. I think this is a coordinated effort to see what’s up. Not just some local creampies wanting to take us on.”

“And we gain… what, ma’am?”

“That staggered set of men behind that team suggests they’re trying to stay in contact with a base of some type, right?”

“Good point, I see.”

“Might not hurt to say hello. If we can safely do it. Have the Professor power up. We’ll ready the team to leave on a second’s notice. You and I’ll hang back with a few men to see what’s up.”

“Ma’am, I’d prefer to do it with you in the bird. I can have the—”