“How ’bout that.”
“Don’t hear much complaining from the men under his command.”
“That right?” asked Andy, unconvinced.
Protectively, he stepped in front of Terry.
“How ’bout you?” asked Spider with interest, “Seen any action?”
Andy laughed at the man’s intensity, taking his time to respond.
“Been there, done that, got the T-shirt.”
“Some hotshot, huh?” Spider took an instant dislike to Andy. The feeling was, apparently mutual.
“Yep. Seems I managed to keep both eyes when I left that sandbox, too.”
“Andy!” said Terry.
CHAPTER 5.19-Sneaking into Cleveland
“Mac and Roger say to gather at the barn up ahead. Hidden defensive positions for cover,” said John McLeod.
“Yeah?” asked Amanda.
Rhonda, McLeod and the others gathered around BB, Jackson and Jason as they sat atop their horses. Marty materialized out of nowhere, returning from scouting duty.
“What else is going on, Marty?” asked McLeod.
“A scouting party’s coming our way. Be here in about twenty.”
“How big? How organized?” asked Amanda.
The rest of the crew had the same thoughts and waited for his response.
“Two squads. Eight each. Well trained. Well armed. Mac says they move with some experience.”
“Damn,” said McLeod.
“Yep, Mac says we need to avoid discovery at all costs at this juncture. If that fails, the entire Cleveland scouting crew needs to be… suitably detained or eliminated.”
“Let’s move it, then! Cody you’re with me,” said Amanda.
“Jackson, Jason and BB, take the horses back aways and cover. You know the drill,” said McLeod, “Jude, you’re with me.”
“Right.”
The three men took off with the five horses. The rest of the team approached a semi-standing barn, on a slight elevation fifty yards east of a dirt road and run-down farmhouse. Connor and Roger showed up a few minutes later. Entering the barn, Connor detected no evidence of his crew’s arrival or their rather hasty preparations. Standing in the middle of the barn, he spoke to the empty space. Beside him, Roger rechecked his shotgun out of habit.
“Excellent! But, remember that whoever touched the barn door shifted the dirt ten inches to indicate fresh activity. Other than that, your positions are unencumbered by evidence.”
“Crap!”
“Cody, I expect that’s you in the hayloft, hopefully with Snuff taking care of you.”
“Yeah.”
“No harm done, son. Stay frosty.”
Connor replaced the dislodged soil and scraps of hay into their original position.
“As you might expect, this is the first indication of scout recon we’ve found as we approach. I figure we’re ’bout ten miles out and I expect this is the scouting team attached to the second, maybe third perimeter guard. If at all possible, I’d like us to slip past the scrutiny of these men and then clip onto them during their return trip. Any questions?”
There were none.
“I noticed BB, Jackson and Jason have slipped back west to avoid any tracking of the animals. They’ll serve as a reserve force from that old ravine with the two tumbled cars in it. They’ll be on channel six, if needed. Let’s hope this all works out as planned and we don’t need ’em. If not, well… you all know what to do.”
Roger and Connor slipped out of the barn and disappeared into the fields to wait.
CHAPTER 5.20-Defining an Enemy
“Phoenix’s men are acting different, colonel.”
“How so, major?”
“I dunno. It’s subtle, but, I’d say they’re trying to ‘objectify’ us, you know? Kinda reclassify us as enemy combatants or something.”
“Hmmm.”
“I’m figuring they must’ve had a recent change in standing orders.”
“And you base this on what?” asked Colonel Starkes.
Sitting side-by-side atop the Hall of Fame rooftop, they stared at the front entrance. The sun cast long rays sideways providing exceptional clarity for a broad view of the city. A pack of wild dogs ran in the distance, quite large. Hunters pursued them.
“Communication levels, eye contact, reduction in interpersonal contact, and their restrained, yet increased covert surveillance.”
“Hah! Are you saying something’s about to go down?”
“Dunno about that, but something is happening I can’t quite put my finger on.”
“You think Phoenix’s showing his true colors?”
“Not sure.”
“Today’s September seventh, right?”
“Yep.”
“Must be it… they overheard someone talking.”
“You think, ma’am?”
“They know we’re sitting here on our fat asses waiting for this Colonel MacMillen until tomorrow.”
“You sure?”
“Makes sense. I felt the change, too. Shamus commented on it yesterday.”
“Yeah, I know. So… what’re your plans?”
“Prep the bird like every night. Let everyone know we’re leaving at first light and to be especially prepared for an assault tonight.”
“I’ll prepare the men. And… CJ and Nicole.”
“Make it happen.”
CHAPTER 6.1-Midnight Looms
“We attack at midnight, Phoenix.”
“Make sure you stick with your plan, uncle. It’s a good one.”
“Thank you. The men are ready. We’re at full capacity. I’ve listed 620 men active with reserves on call, if needed. That includes our cavalry, which is at full strength and 240 horsemen strong. They’ll stay out of the main fighting force tonight, but are available to catch any escapees from the surprise assault. I have five Pride Brigades set up with forty men apiece like we put in place two weeks ago. I think that’s working nicely. They’re in good fightin’ spirit and work well as coordinated units.”
“They are a hungry and violent bunch.”
“Yes, sir. For tonight, our 120-DPs (driver/passenger pairs) we usually use for the pickups will assist in the attack on foot for now. More in a secondary assist capacity since there’s no need for the vehicles. These men will compliment the five Pride Brigades. Luke Killington is heading up the twenty hunter/trackers and has asked that they be first in on the assault. I’ve authorized that request to see how he does.”
“Good idea. Luke’s been making quite an impression on the men.”
“That’s true.”
“I know it’s true. I said it.”
“Yep,” said Larry Reed, making a concerted effort to ignore the petulant remark.
“Anything else I need to know, Uncle?”
“No, I don’t think so.”
“Okay. Make sure you keep commanders Reggie, Swan and Bundy under wraps once the killing starts. Those Berserkers need a tight leash, you hear me?”
“Sure. I agree.”
“Assign Kaiden to keep them under wraps during the assault. He’s probably the only one they’ll listen to anyway. I told you who better live through this on Starke’s end.”
“Yeah, don’t worry. Nothing will go wrong.”
“Famous last words. Ever study Patton?”
“Who?”
“Never mind. Just don’t go fucking things up at this point,” said Phoenix. He lit a cigar, envisioning the assault.
“Have some faith.”
“Faith is in short supply, nowadays. Especially since all the faithful I knew started dropping dead at my feet when that bird shit came down.”
CHAPTER 6.2-Low and Quiet
“They passed us, Mr. Connor Mac. Didn’t even know we were here!”
“Excellent.”
“Why didn’t they check out the barn?”
“Cody, they probably check this barn nine times outta ten. Today, it seemed, they’re more focused on what’s going on in town, I think.”
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