Paul Kirk - Devastation Point

“Shit, Mac, they’re getting a bead. Over.” His spot was fairly hidden from enemy fire by thick boulders and he stayed low. Marty, a few feet away, did the same.

The distinctive sound of a fifty caliber unleashed its echoes across the mountain ravine. A steady barrage of bullets decimated the wooden picnic benches, the trees, the waste containers, and the small restroom facility near their position. The gun churned until it stopped abruptly.

“One down, Mac,” reported BB. “Surf Boy says he got the angle, but claims he was lucky. Over.”

“Copy that. Keep at it. Another man will take his place at the gun. Over.”

“Understood. Surf Boy’s gonna take a shot to disable the gun. Over.”

Connor’s vantage point was too far to the right—he was unable to see the truck with the fifty caliber, but he studied the men hiding behind the second truck. He noticed they were loading another RPG. With an aim honed through years of experience and training for long-range shooting, Connor took concise aim with the M-4. Firing, he watched the shot strike the man in the hips and he fell out of sight. Another man launched from behind the truck. “Incoming!” yelled Connor.

The RPG vaporized the small restroom facility, raining down debris. “That’s too close, colonel,” said Captain Daubney.

“Yes it is, captain.” They hunkered down, waiting for another blast and it came a few seconds later, barreling across the ravine and striking sixty feet behind them. Exploding trees were instantly uprooted and one fell dangerously close to where Daubney and Connor lay. On the heels of the second explosion came the chug, chug, chug of another fifty caliber raining death on anyone who dared to move in the Lick Hollow picnic area.

“Colonel, the trucks and horses are advancing under cover of the fifty. Small arms fire.”

Connor turned to Captain Daubney. They shared a spot behind a boulder that would withstand the onslaught of the fifty caliber rounds, but not the power of the RPGs.

“You look a bit concerned, colonel.”

“Captain, this might be a little harder than I thought it would be.”

“Commander Del Re, were you involved in the explosion outside the southern gate?” asked Major O’Malley. He took another small sip of his second glass of ale, trying to make it last, and waited for the commander to answer. Amanda and Colonel Starkes looked at Del Re as he stood and began to pace the room.

“No, major, that wasn’t me. I figured it was Connor Mac and his team. He told me he had some explosives left. If it was me though, I would’ve collapsed the overpass to slow ’em down.”

“You told us the plan was to minimize the onslaught in town. You said he wanted to keep Phoenix’s men moving through here, right?”

“Yeah, that’s right.”

“When did Colonel MacMillen and his men leave?”

“Right after we set up the charges they headed through the gates.”

“So they left after your people were safely hidden?” asked Colonel Starkes.

“Yes, ma’am. Connor Mac has some business on that mountain. He asked a lot of questions about Nemacolin. He asked if Mark—General Mark Harmon—was still there.”

Colonel Starkes recalled her conversation with Major McLoy. She knew the name Mark Harmon was important, but her level of exhaustion was making her fuzzy. “Those are his mountains, right? Mark’s with Bastin, isn’t he?”

“It’s more like Commander Bastin’s with General Harmon.”

“Okay, I see.” She moved to the window and peered outside, catching sight of Major McLoy. She knocked on the window for his attention and, when he saw her, she beckoned him inside. He entered the room and closed the door behind him.

“Ma’am?”

“Major McLoy, we’re having a discussion and I could use your input.”

“Yes, ma’am.” He stood near the table, glancing at the ale. The colonel smiled and Commander Del Re grabbed another glass for the major.

“You have to have one of Momma’s Best while we talk.”

“That sounds good, Del. I’ve always had a taste for it.”

“Good. Here you go.”

Major McLoy took a long pull from his glass and raised a questioning eyebrow toward Colonel Starkes. He wiped the foam from his lips.

“Tell me more about Mark Harmon, major,” prompted the colonel.

“Ah, yes. General Harmon and Connor Mac are tight, ma’am, like brothers. Mark’s a smart guy. He owns the mountain now—nothing goes on within twenty miles of Nemacolin without him knowing it. And if you’re doing something he doesn’t like, he’ll come after ya.”

“Yeah?”

“He’s got the best army around here. He doesn’t take everyone that volunteers, ma’am, so everyone in his army is honored to be there. He’s turned that place into a great little town, ma’am.”

“Do you think it’s possible he was expecting Colonel MacMillen?”

“Now?”

“Yes, Keenan. Now.”

“Um, no, ma’am. General Harmon hasn’t seen him in over five years. But maybe it’s not unreasonable to think that they had some plan, you know?”

“Meaning?”

“Meaning that Connor Mac could show up at some point. At any point. In the meantime, the general’s forming his army—yeah, maybe, I could see that.”

“So, Connor Mac’s coming home with an enemy army following him and Mark’s military forces are supposed to deal with it?”

“Um, I’m not sure that was Mac’s plan, ma’am—that seems kinda stupid.”

“I agree.”

“But do you think it was Mac’s intent all along to make it here? You know, back to his family?”

“Sure, it’s what I would do.”

“Hmm.”

“He’s coming home, ma’am—it just took him some time to do that.”

“Yeah, major, I think you’re right.”

“If Mac sets his mind on something, ma’am, there’s no stoppin’ him,” suggested Amanda.

Colonel Starkes looked at Amanda in frustration. “Colonel MacMillen’s determination is not in question here.”

“I’m just pointing it out, colonel.”

“I know.”

“What should we do now, ma’am?” asked Major O’Malley.

“Tell Shamus and the team that we’re leaving in twenty minutes.”

“Colonel, when Connor Mac was here, some of his men took advantage of our dentist. Do any of your men need a dentist, ma’am?”

“Yes, commander. We could use some time in the chair—all of us, I’m sure. I’m afraid we don’t have the time right now. Major? What do you think?”

“It’s something we can come back for, ma’am. I say we stick with your plan to leave in twenty.”

“Okay, that’s settled. Now, commander, how much of this ale are you willing to part with and what do you want in trade?”

“I knew you liked that ale, ma’am! A woman after my own heart! Madam President, it’d be my honor to give you a few cases—that way I can claim that the President of the United States prefers my ale.”

“I promise to tell everyone I meet about your ale, commander.”

“Is three cases enough, ma’am?”

“I don’t want to be greedy, commander. Three is plenty. Besides, it’ll give us an excuse to come back and visit. Okay, Majors O’Malley and Keenan, take care of the commander’s generous gift.” She considered the meaning of her words. “I mean stow the unopened ale in the bird, boys.”

“Yes, ma’am,” said Major O’Malley.

“Ready the bird, major.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Commander Del Re, it was a true pleasure meeting you. I’d like to come back sometime and discuss your thoughts on rebuilding the infrastructure in this country.”

“Colonel, you and your men are welcome anytime.”