by Ricky Sides
“Yes, Captain,” the officer responded, but then he returned his attention to the group of Cuban peacekeepers that by now had swelled to thirty in number. His team appeared to be ready to defend the Americans if necessary.
As Evan and Ramon boarded the ship, a group of Cuban peacekeeper officers left the command building and walked over to the growing crowd near the barracks. Evan couldn’t understand what the base commander was saying to the men, but it was apparent that he wasn’t happy with their behavior. Glancing over his shoulder, he saw Ralph and his team backing up the ramp behind them. When they were all aboard the ship, Ralph closed and sealed the door.
Once they were inside the ship, Evan led Ramon into the control room. “Drone operators, mind the airspace. We’re taking off. Navigator, take us up easy and head out to sea. We’ll link up with our escorts, and then hover in position while I meet with Captain Marino.”
“Yes, Captain,” the crewmen acknowledged.
“I’ll give you that test flight after our meeting, Captain. I have an urgent dispatch for you that the council didn’t want to send via radio.”
“And I have one that I need you to return to the council if you please,” Ramon responded.
***
“Does it work?” asked the Warlord in an ominous tone of voice.
The engineer looked up at the Warlord who had just knocked him to the ground with a punch to the mouth. Blood flowed from his split lip. Glancing to the left, he saw his terrified children. His thirteen-year-old son was holding the hand of his six-year-old daughter, who was crying.
Bradley got to his feet, wiping the blood off his split lip. “I asked you where my wife is?” he responded.
“If you want to see her again, you will answer my question,” the Warlord said without a sign of emotion on his face. When the engineer stubbornly set his jaw and remained silent, Bannister turned to one of his men said, “Kill the boy.” He said it with no more emotion than one might evidence when selecting the color of his socks.
Paling in fear, the engineer shouted, “Wait!”
The man, who had been in the act of drawing his knife, paused and looked to the Warlord who held up a hand in a signal for the man to wait.
Sighing, Bradley said, “It works within acceptable perimeters for this model. Now, what about my wife? You promised you’d let us all stay together when I got the laser built and working.”
“That was not the entire deal. You were to teach us how to tie them into the battery systems of the vehicles, and design a factory where we could mass assemble the components as well.”
“I’ve already taught your men to tie a unit into the batteries. That was the easy part.”
“And I did bring your children, who will remain with you if the weapon test-fires satisfactorily. But you don’t get your wife back until I see the factory up and running.”
“Daddy,” said the little girl who held her arms out for her father, but her brother put his hand on her shoulder to stop her from running to Bradley.
Bradley turned to face his little daughter with an eager look of yearning on his face, but he didn’t dare try to get to her.
Sensing a weakness that he could exploit, the Warlord said, “You can hold her for a few moments, but then I want to see the laser test-fired.
The boy let go of his sister’s shoulder and told her that she could go to their father, who squatted to take her in his arms. He clutched her to his chest, wishing he never had to let her go again. Tears poured down the tormented father’s face as he held his little girl for the first time in a month. He held out his hand for his son, but the Warlord said, “No! It’s time to see if the weapon works.”
Reluctantly, Bradley released the little girl, but she held her arms stubbornly around his neck, clinging to him in fear. Though it broke his heart to do it, the engineer pulled his daughter’s arms free of his neck and told her to go back to her brother.
“I’m ready,” Bradley said. He stood up and turned to the laser, which was mounted to a worktable. It was aimed at a three-inch thick stack of six-inch square metal plates, stacked together and positioned vertically. They were held in place by a heavy duty bench clamp, which was attached to the end of the worktable surface.
“Do you want to do the honors or shall I?” Bradley asked.
The Warlord had already examined the laser, checking specifically to see if the engineer could pick it up to use as a weapon against him. It was securely bolted to the table, so he knew he was in no danger if the engineer conducted the test. “You do it. If it blows up, I don’t intend for it to happen with me in close proximity,” he responded, and then he took several steps back. “By the way, what is the purpose of the clear plastic panel you have set up between the laser and the target?”
“That’s a safety precaution that I installed to stop any fragments from blowing back toward us,” Bradley answered. Then he said, “It would really be safer if everyone left the room.”
“No. I need to see this. If it isn’t safe, then make it safer.”
“Can’t we at least send the kids...?”
“I said no. You are trying my patience,” the Warlord warned irritably.
“All right, get ready,” Bradley advised those present in the room. “Don’t stare at the beam. It might hurt your eyes,” he advised. A moment later, he activated the laser. A blue beam lanced through the thick protective layer of Plexiglas and struck the steel plating. It began melting through the plate steel at once, and then the red pulses began to race down the beam, exploding when they reached the molten metal.
The engineer deactivated the laser and turned to the Warlord with a smile of satisfaction on his face. “How was that for a demonstration?” he asked. Despite the situation he was in, he was proud of his engineering achievement. Building the laser from the schematics hadn’t been easy because they referred to several components that were only identified by a part number designation. He knew it had been done to safeguard the technology. Only someone with an advanced Engineering degree could have worked out the function of the parts and suggested known replacements. Therefore, this was not something that a layman or even most engineers could have accomplished.
Stepping up to examine the target plates, the Warlord squatted and peered through the round hole at the damaged wall behind the target. Standing up, he said, “Excellent, Bradley. Tonight, I’ll give you a reward. You can have your two children as promised, or I will keep them and send your wife to you for the night. Tomorrow, she will return to our custody and we will bring the children back to stay with you.”
Bradley frowned in consternation. He looked to his children who both looked scared, but to his credit, his son said, “Pick Mom. You need to know that she is safe. You already know we are.”
“I want to stay with Daddy,” the little girl said.
“I admire courage, boy,” the Warlord stated. “So I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll leave your sister with your father and mother tonight, but you’ll stay with us.”
“Thank you,” the boy said. Looking at his father, he added, “Tell Mom I miss her.”
Bradley walked to the boy and hugged him. “I will, son.”
“How long will it take to set up the factory?” asked the Warlord.
“According to the history of their development that you gave me to read, Bleakman set it up as an assembly line process. That was a smart move. The man is brilliant. If everything on the list I gave you is at the building, we can have it up and running in ten days. Less if your men are good workers.”
“I doubt any of my men have ever worked an honest job a day in their lives, but you’ll have the men you need, and yes, all of the equipment is there waiting. Tomorrow you’ll be taken to the building. Enjoy the night with your daughter and your wife. Tomorrow morning, she comes back to us, but your brave son will be returned to you.”
“Thank you,” Bradley said in response. He wanted to keep the man happy. At least now, he’d get to see his wife again. “Will you let u
s go after the factory is up and running?”
“If you get the laser assembly line working, you’ll have made me the most powerful man in America. Yes, I’ll free you and your family if you accomplish that for me. I’d like to retain your services. You could become as prominent in the field as Pol Bleakman. But I’ll understand if you just want to walk away.”
“I can’t live this way,” Bradley explained. “I can’t handle the constant fear for the safety of my family.”
“What would it take to make you change your mind? As I said, I’d like to retain your services on a permanent basis.”
“Free my family. Permit them to live with me unhindered.”
“If I do this, you would then serve me willingly?”
“I would, and I already know the first project I want to tackle.” Looking at the Warlord, Bradley smiled and asked, “What would you say if I said I think I know how to make larger lasers that would be much more powerful?”
“Build it,” the Warlord said with an evil grin.
“Do I get my family?”
“Yes,” the Warlord promised. Turning to the boy, he said, “It seems things have changed. You’ll be staying with the rest of your family.” Turning to one of his subordinates, he added, “Get Bradley’s wife in here. Now!”
“You won’t be sorry. I missed my work. As long as we are provided with the food and shelter we need, I’ll be happy to work for you.”
“I can promise you a great deal more than that. As long as you deliver on your promises to me, you need never worry about anything.”
Later, one of the Warlord’s lieutenants asked if he really intended to keep his agreement with Bradley. His response surprised the lieutenant, when he said, “Of course. If I am ever to rival the peacekeepers, then I need a Pol Bleakman. Bradley may never be as good as Bleakman, but he is the best man I’ve located. In time he may grow demanding. But as long as he is worth what he asks for, I’ll give it to him.”
“And if he demands too much?”
“That would be a mistake, but it’s not one I think Bradley will make.”
***
“So the council thinks it is possible that this Warlord may be able to break our scrambling for the secured transmissions?” asked Ramon as he pocketed the disk that contained everything the council knew about the band of men following the Warlord.
“They consider it unlikely, however, it’s a possibility that we can’t ignore,” Evan responded. “And, there is a remote possibility that he might seek to target you Cubans first. He has yet to attempt a full-fledged attack on a manned peacekeeper outpost, but it’s just a matter of time before he does. Dad thinks he might try Cuba as a field test of his forces if he can lure your fighters away.”
“And breaking our codes would let him know who is where and when they plan to return to the bases. In that case, I can see why they are committing four ships to the hunt for this rogue band. Tim, Jack, and Bill are all good men, and you are as well. I wouldn’t want you four hunting me,” Ramon stated with conviction.
“We’ll be joining the hunt when we leave here,” Evan stated.
“I hope you can return to the Damroyal first. I have an urgent dispatch for the council that simply must get through and I don’t dare send it through our network, because my countrymen in the peacekeeper service would have access to the message if I did.”
“In that case, we’ll alter our planned course so we can deliver the dispatch,” Evan promised.
“Thank you, my friend,” Ramon said with a look of relief on his face. He handed Evan a small package that he had carefully sealed. “This details the problems that I know to exist,” Ramon explained.
“What’s going on, Ramon?” Evan asked. “We thought we had excellent relations with the Cuban people.”
“You did, and in time, I’m sure you will again.” Ramon sighed and said, “We asked for the vaccine, and you Americans gave it to us, knowing that it would cost the lives of thousands of your own people who would not have access to the medicine. My people were greatly relieved when they received the vaccine. Yet, so many died that now, there isn’t a Cuban alive, who doesn’t know someone who perished, as a result of taking the drug. This has caused anger, and in some cases, a hatred that is being directed at our benefactors by my people.”
“That’s hardly fair, Ramon. Dad warned you about the consequences of using the vaccine.”
“I know and I agree. I have angered my people by my defense of yours to such an extent that my strike team leader insists on accompanying me everywhere I go.” Pausing, he added, “It’s worse in the rest of the world. I’m afraid that America is now the most universally despised country in the world.”
“What?!” Evan asked in surprise. “Why is that?”
“Given that Americans fleeing the plague delivered it to the rest of the world, surely you can understand why America is now universally hated.”
“Ramon, what are you talking about? We didn’t give the plague to anyone outside our borders. In fact, it came to us from Mexico.”
“You mean the council doesn’t know that cars left your east coast and made it to Europe where they spread the plague to several nations. From that beginning, it continued to spread eastward and is still raging in portions of the Far East.”
Evan was stunned. The council had feared the possibility, but they had no knowledge that it had actually come to pass. Pale from the shock of Ramon’s revelation, Evan said, “No, Captain. We had no idea that it had come to this. The council even gave the Royal Navy the plans for building the devices that disable the cars.”
“Then it is now critically important that the council receives this dispatch as soon as possible,” Ramon stated sadly. “It contains all that I have been able to learn about the spread of the plague and the reaction of the world community.”
“I agree. Under the circumstances, I think I’d better cut short this visit. I’m sorry, but there isn’t time for the tour.”
“I understand. Just drop me off at the base. I’ll still get to see a bit of the ship while we travel there.”
Chapter 5
“So that’s why Ramon’s voice has sounded so strained during the few times we’ve spoken,” Jim said to Evan. “Thank you for bringing the dispatch straight back to me. Do you want to stay the night on the Damroyal? There are only a few hours of daylight left.”
“No thanks, Dad. Ralph has been working on trying to figure out the Warlord’s location and I want to follow up on that.”
“Oh? That sounds interesting. Tell me about it.”
When Evan finished explaining the reasoning behind Ralph’s Montana guess, Jim said, “It’s certainly worth a try. Be sure to have your escort pilots land on the top of your ship well before dark, take the pilots aboard and park at maximum altitude. I don’t care what the Warlord does to his stolen APCs, and cars, there’s no way he can reach five hundred feet with them. Not even Pol can manage that with their current drive packages.”
“He has more than one? I thought he just had one APC.”
“That’s what we thought, but both Bill and Jack have come across witnesses who have seen them raiding on opposite sides of the country within time periods that make it impossible for it to be the same aircraft. Of course, it could be another group, but their methods of operation were identical. They come in hammering one side of town, setting fires to create a diversion, and then leave. They circle wide and then raid the other side of town.”
“We’ll be careful, sir,” Evan promised, and then he left.
“He seemed in a hurry to get back on the hunt,” Lina said with a smile after Evan had left.
“He’s probably afraid I’ll take the ship and go after the Warlord myself.”
“He knows you well then. I’m surprised you didn’t.”
“One of us needs to maintain a presence for the cleanup of the Texas bases, and the Damroyal is needed here to house the workforce.”
“I hope we don’t end up causing an epidemic in
the ship due to the contact with the victims,” Lina observed.
“Maggie is taking elaborate precautions to ensure that doesn’t happen,” Jim assured Lina.
“Speaking of Maggie, I have to go see her. Don’t work too long on those files. Remember, you’re supposed to meet me for dinner in the mess hall in an hour and a half.”
“Is something wrong? Are you feeling well?”
“I’m fine. It’s just routine, dear. You know how insistent Maggie is about people getting their yearly physicals on schedule. Enjoy your paperwork and I’ll see you in the mess hall.”
Jim grimaced at the thought of all the paperwork he had to sort through. “I’ll be there,” he assured his wife and she turned and left the office.
After Lina left, Jim opened the dispatch from Ramon. The cover letter explained that the intelligence that had been gathered was the result of a Ham radio station listening post that the Cubans had set up on Pico Turquino, which was the highest point on Cuba. Jim read the briefing with increasing alarm. Ramon had dutifully summarized the two-inch stack of intercepted messages and drawn several conclusions. Some American plague bearers had made it across the Atlantic Ocean in their flying automobiles. They had carried the plague to the United Kingdom, France, Spain and Italy. From those points of origin, the plague had spread to the rest of the Western European nations, and then it had spread south into Africa and to the east as well.
A desperate mob had seized two Royal Navy airships and forced their pilots to fly the heavily overloaded ships to Iceland. One of the ships had gone down at sea just off the coast of Britain when her captain and crew fought to take back their ship. The crew had been slaughtered to a man, but not before the communications officer managed to enable the failsafe programs that caused the ship to drop altitude and land on the surface. Like Patricia had done during the testing of the Peacekeeper in the Tennessee River, that communications officer had managed to bypass the safety failsafe long enough for the ship to land and begin to sink. The last message received by the British government was from that officer. She said, “God save the King.” The other ship managed to land in Iceland. They had carried the plague with them.