Nathan Jones - Determination

A moment later Jack Hornady’s came over the radio, shrill and excited. “The blockheads on the east flank are dropping like flies!”

Lewis stared at the dead man, vaguely aware that the blockheads behind the cover he’d been aiming at were also dropping, or stumbling into view only to be shot and flop to the ground. “Good shooting,” he said numbly.

A new voice appeared on his radio. “Thanks, Aspen Hill. We’re cleaning your mess up, now be sure to let your people know we’re friendlies.”

After a stunned moment Lewis relayed the order, not only over the radio but also by shouting it into the night. Somewhere out there, farther north he guessed, Grimes’s reinforcements had miraculously showed up to help them.

He addressed the newcomers over his headset. “Our mess? The blockheads didn’t break through on our end.”

Grimes’s man sounded a bit sheepish when he replied. “Yeah, sorry. They took out one of our patrols to the man and slipped through the gap. Good thing your people had their eyes open to pick up our slack.”

Lewis shook himself out of his daze. “Down in the valley! The blockheads are preparing a—”

Sheepishness was replaced by amusement. “We’ve already sent four trucks, with enough troops and firepower to fight World War III. If the enemy tries to press their attack they’ll regret it.”

“I thought we were already in World War III.” That was Tam.

Grimes’s liaison sounded even more amused. “Well it’s about to get even more exciting. Give us your positions along the mountains overlooking the valley, so we don’t accidentally light you up as we deploy.” A slight pause. “And you best be grateful, civvies. You’re not the only ones fighting tonight, and we might get punished for sending help your way.”

The last blockhead in Lewis’s field of view fell and went still, and he nodded to the other defenders in the truck. “We are,” he replied. “I’m Lewis Halsson. You?”

“Lieutenant Faraday. Don’t let it go to your head, but I’ve heard of you. It’s a pleasure.” There was a brief pause. “We’ve eliminated the enemy here. Tell your people to stand down so we can come join you… we still need to deal with whatever the blockheads are sending our way from the valley.”

Lewis repeated the order, and the noise of gunfire faded to disconcerting silence around him.

Minutes later Faraday’s unit approached, those in the lead waving green glow sticks to indicate their friendly status. Lewis couldn’t help but admire the lieutenant’s people, who all looked like proper soldiers. They had the expected uniforms, equipment, and night vision gear, as well as camouflage paint. More than that, they slid through the night like they were part of it, so even with the glow sticks it was hard to follow them.

Small wonder they’d managed to ambush the blockheads from behind and wipe them out to a man.

“Cheers for protecting our southern flank,” Faraday said as he made his way up to the truck, piercing green eyes looking up at Lewis from beneath a shock of blond hair. “I wish we could do this more often, but we’ve got our own fires to put out.” He paused. “Speaking of which…”

“This way,” Lewis said, hopping down to stand next to the lieutenant. “Thanks for saving our bacon.”

The gratitude was genuine, but it wasn’t all good news. The blockheads had given as good as they got, from the initial volley right up until Faraday’s people showed up. Over half of Lewis’s defenders had been killed or seriously wounded in the fighting, and as far as Lewis could tell their rescuers had taken out two dozen or so blockheads to finish the battle. Not the best showing for Aspen Hill; a lot of good people had died tonight.

“All part of a day’s work,” Faraday replied. “Or a night’s, in this case.” He motioned. “Are we taking the truck?”

Lewis shook his head. “It couldn’t take us where we need to be. Besides, the wounded need it.” He turned to Catherine, who’d hopped down from the cab to greet the officer.

The Mayor nodded at his unspoken question. “I’ll take over here.”

Faraday nodded as well. “Fair enough. I’ll leave behind the few people I’ve got with training in field triage.” He suited his words by barking a few orders, and a handful of soldiers trotted over to where the defenders were gathering the wounded. Catherine hurried after them to organize relief efforts.

During that time Lewis picked out as many defenders as he could spare from helping the Mayor, getting them ready to move out. Then, with Faraday waiting expectantly, he led the way back east towards the slopes and the threat there.

It turned out to be unnecessary. By the time they reached the sniper positions, where Lewis’s volunteers and the four trucks’ worth of troops Grimes had sent had been desperately working to push back the enemy below, the blockheads had already withdrawn. Maybe losing their infiltration team had effectively ended the enemy’s attack, or they’d been intimidated by the quick arrival of reinforcements.

Either way it was over. After a half hour of waiting, once they were fairly certain there’d be no more excitement that night, Faraday announced that his men were needed elsewhere.

Lewis was a bit disappointed to hear that, remembering how the Army reinforcements helping Davis had stayed the night to give the sergeant and his people a reprieve. But from the sounds of it Colonel Grimes’s forces were getting hit hard in other areas, and after leaving here the lieutenant’s unit would work right through the night, hopping from location to location putting out fires. Lewis was just glad they’d come at all.

On the plus side, before leaving Faraday announced that Aspen Hill could have the gear retrieved from the blockheads they’d just fought. “You need that stuff more than we do,” he said with a tight grin. “Maybe it’ll help you hold this area on your own from now on. We might not be in a position to send help next time.”

Lewis nodded. After tonight it was pretty obvious he didn’t have enough defenders, so he’d probably need to talk more townspeople into signing up. It might be a hard sell after everyone they’d lost tonight, but he had to find some way to impress in his neighbors’ heads that he couldn’t defend them as things stood.

People in town refusing to join Matt and his volunteers was one thing. But refusing to step up and defend their own homes, humble as those the refuge offered were, as well as their own family and friends, was something else entirely. If Lewis couldn’t get enough defenders the only option he could see was sending the townspeople even farther up into the mountains, then leaving them effectively defenseless while he pulled everyone he had to guard this area.

But that was an issue for another time, and hopefully one he’d never have to deal with. He held out his hand to the lieutenant. “Thanks again. Best of luck out there.”

Faraday shook, grip firm. “Same to you here. I had my reservations when I heard the Colonel was leaving this area’s defenses up to civvies, but you folks are doing all right.”

The soldiers left as quickly as they’d arrived. With them gone Lewis suddenly felt as if a boulder of exhaustion had landed on his shoulders, but he had a lot to do before he could rest.

First off he pulled his volunteers back from their sniper posts. They were too tired to keep going as they were, and anyway if the blockheads didn’t know where they’d been getting shot at from tonight by this point they were complete idiots. Besides, he didn’t have the manpower to defend everywhere without them.

Lewis spent a while organizing new sentry positions and patrol routes, to make sure that those who were most tired or shellshocked from the night’s fighting got the rest they needed. Then he left Jane in charge and headed back towards the refuge with those who were going off duty.