Capital Falling (Book 3): Resurgence

by Winkless, Lance

  They reach the end of the corridor and turn right into the lift area just in time to see Major Rees and another soldier about to go through the open lift doors.

  “Major!” Winters shouts.

  Major Rees, startled, turns to look at Lieutenant Winters and Sam rushing towards him. He has a sudden horrible feeling that something else has gone wrong.

  “What is it now?” Rees asks quite abruptly.

  “Sir,” Winters starts, slightly out of breath. “I thought it would be a good idea if you took Sam with you, Sir. She is familiar with the data and would be an asset in continuing to analyse it, Sir.”

  Major Rees immediately suspects that Winters’ reasoning for making his suggestion isn’t entirely as stated. He suspects the real motive is getting her out of the danger zone more than anything. The suggestion isn’t without its merits, however. Sam has proved herself to be an excellent analyst and she is indeed already familiar with the data.

  Sam is taken aback by the Lieutenant’s suggestion; she hadn’t considered it. She had assumed she was here for the long haul, something she really doesn’t fancy now things have taken a turn for the worse. It suddenly dawns on her that that is the reason Lieutenant Winters is doing this, to get her out. She has seen the way he looks at her and her feelings grow for him because of his unselfish act.

  “A very good idea, Lieutenant,” Major Rees agrees.

  “Thank you, Sir.”

  “Are you in agreement, Sam?” Rees asks.

  “I hadn’t thought of it, Major. I am supposed to be reporting back to my superiors. I haven’t been cleared to leave.”

  “I will sort that, Sam, but you will have to go now. Major Rees cannot be delayed,” Winters tells her.

  “But I haven’t got my belongings?”

  “Is there anything important in them?”

  “Not really. My phone charger and coat. I have my wallet and ID card,” Sam says, slightly embarrassed by their insignificance.

  “You will have to leave them. You can get new ones,” Winters tells her.

  “Yes, you’re right, silly of me.”

  “Shall we then?” Major Rees says.

  “Can you give me one minute with the Lieutenant please, Major?”

  Major Rees looks at the two of them before he and the other soldier go into the lift. “I will hold the door for you.”

  As Major Rees disappears into the lift, Sam turns to Winters. “Thank you, Lieutenant.”

  “There is no need to thank me, Sam. It just makes sense for you to carry on the work with the Major,” Winters tells her, not wanting a fuss.

  “I don’t even know your name, Lieutenant?”

  “It’s Robert.”

  “Robert, I am not bragging but I am one of the top analysts at GCHQ, so I know how to read things. I know when someone is watching out for me and the reasons why. I’ve seen the way you have been looking at me.”

  Winters feels himself blush with embarrassment. He has been found out, which is not something he is used to, especially in this type of situation. To make matters worse, he tries again to hide his real motives by starting to say something too ridiculous to deflect, but Sam is having none of it.

  “Robert,” she says, placing her hand on his shoulder. “There is no need to be embarrassed. I’ve had my eye on you too and if things were different, maybe we could have explored it. It’s a shame; perhaps we will see each other again, so in the meantime please accept my thanks for getting me out of here, okay?”

  “Yes okay. You have caught me. I do hope we see each other again, but you had better go. The Major is waiting. Good Luck, Sam,” Winters tells her.

  “You too and try not to feel too bad for the orders you gave out; it had to be done.” Sam leans in and kisses his cheek. “Goodbye, Robert and good luck.”

  “Goodbye, Sam.”

  Sam turns for the lift and Winters watches her all the way, her forthrightness making him even more attracted to her. She turns back to look at him as she enters the lift, smiles and is gone. Winters hears the lift doors close, but he doesn’t move for a moment as he wonders if he will see her again. It’s just his luck that he actually finds someone he is interested in and she is out of reach. He is sure he made the right choice to get her out while he could. However, anything could happen here now.

  Winters starts to make his way back up the corridor towards the command room. As he reaches into his pocket for his phone, he decides that it is quite possible he will see Sam again. There is a chance Colonel Reed will decide to evacuate, and Porton Down is an option to relocate to. He consoles himself with that.

  Josh feels his phone start to vibrate in his hand at the same time he sees the screen light up. At last, Lieutenant Winters is phoning him back.

  “Hello Sir, thanks for calling me back. We have been extremely nervous here, as you can imagine,” Josh says quickly into the phone, afraid that the Lieutenant will have to hang up for more important business at any time.

  “Hello, Josh. I’m not surprised; things have taken a bad turn. The base has been breached and infected are outside.”

  “How did that happen, Sir?”

  “One of the incoming helicopters was overrun. That is what caused all the explosions. We have infected outside this building as we speak,” Winters informs him.

  “Fucking hell, what are we going to do?”

  “I don’t have that information yet Josh. I will try to keep you updated if I can.”

  “Is there any chance of getting us some transport to get us out of here, Sir?” Josh asks, trying to hide the desperation in his voice.

  “As soon as I can, I will, Josh, but it isn’t going to happen just at the moment. As I said, the infected are outside the building, and we need to find out how serious it is and what decisions are made before I can let you out there. I have also still got to figure a way to get Alice clearance.”

  “Aren’t we better off going now before it gets worse?”

  “Right now, we don’t know how many infected are out there, but they have just chased down and killed two men I sent out on reconnaissance. It’s too risky, so give me a bit of time, Josh, to get a handle on things, okay?”

  “Yes, Sir.” The disappointment in Josh’s voice is plain.

  “Thank you. Do you still have your weapons?”

  “Both Alice and I do, Sir.”

  “Good, see if you can find somewhere secure to wait for me to phone you again.”

  “How long will that be?” Josh asks.

  “As soon as I know how the land lies. Believe me, I want to get you all out.”

  “Yes, Sir. I know that and thanks.”

  “Okay, Josh, be ready for my call.”

  “I will be, Sir.”

  Josh looks at his phone screen and presses end call. He looks around to the four ladies that are all sitting looking expectantly at him. He is going to have to dash their hopes of a quick getaway. What is he supposed to tell them—that they have all got to find somewhere to hide again? They all know how badly that seems to end up. Josh can’t help but ask himself what his father would do.

  Chapter 12

  Another huge explosion rocks the Terminal 4 building to its core. There is no sign of the devastation ending, Dixon thinks as he looks around at the rest of his patrol, as all of their heads duck as if the roof is about to collapse in on them. All three look back at him, waiting for him to tell them what they are going to do. Dixon is at a bit of a loss, though, as the team was told to wait in the hangar for further orders that never materialised.

  A strong smell of smoke has been building in the hangar since the first explosion hit and it is starting to become visible in the air. Dixon is positive that the building is on fire and spreading their way. They can just wait here like rabbits in the headlights; the orders they have been waiting for are clearly not going to arrive now.

  Standing next to the table where he and his patrol had been sitting around chewing the fat, Dixon re-evaluates. Firstly, he notes that his fresh
tea is fucked and full of dust, but nonetheless, he picks it up and takes a large scaling gulp from it. Nothing concentrates the mind like a fresh brew.

  One thing that Dixon doesn’t have to concentrate on is the fact that their position is compromised. They are in a burning building which also happens to be full of ordinance waiting to blow it to kingdom come.

  The situation outside the hangar does require his brain to work as the banging on the doors and roller shutters keep reminding him. They were lucky to make it back inside and secure the doors before the Rabids got to them. That is one thing Dixon has decided, to call them Rabids. He had thought the term was apt when Andy had first said it, but since he has seen them and fought them, it is even more so. The creatures literally are Rabid people.

  If it weren’t so terrifying, it would be comical the way they had all run outside to look when the first explosion went off, only to hightail it back inside when the Rabids came at them. Luckily, two of the roller shutters were already down and the open one made it down just in time.

  Their situation would be easier to calculate if it was just the four members of his patrol in the hangar. The patrol would gear up and get the fuck out of Dodge, but there are other people in the hangar with them. Of the seven others, some are civilians and some military, and even the military personnel are more used to loading bombs than fighting.

  Dixon knows they have to evac their position, but how and to where?

  “Suggestions?” Dixon asks the rest of his patrol.

  “Let’s get the fuck out of here!” Kim volunteers.

  “Brilliant idea, Kim; any suggestions on how?” Dixon growls at him.

  “We take that pick-up,” Kim answers, reining himself in a bit and pointing to a dated red pick-up truck with fire written on its door.

  “We aren’t all going to fit in that,” Dixon replies.

  “Us four will. Two in the front and two in the tail; we draw the Rabids away so the rest can escape?” Downey suggests.

  “Umm,” Dixon sounds. That plan isn’t bad, he thinks to himself. It could work. What other options are there anyway? He is struggling to think of another and looks around at the other people, congregated a couple of meters away from them. The military personnel have their weapons and it would give them all a fair chance of escaping if his patrol drew the Rabids away. There aren’t any safe options, and the pick-up could be overrun as soon as it gets outside. If they stay inside the hangar, they are all doomed for sure; there are no other exits and Dixon has somewhere he needs to be.

  “Okay, listen up,” Dixon says. “We are going with Downey’s plan. We take the pick-up and draw them fuckers outside away from the hangar. Downey, check that the pick-up is good to go. Kim, see if there are any other useful weapons around. Collins, get those people over here.”

  “Where are we going to go, boss?” Collins asks.

  “I’m going back to Terminal 5. Josh, his sister Emily and Alice are there. I intend to make sure they are alright, but that’s just me, if any of you need to be somewhere else then that’s fine, just drop me off.”

  “What do you mean, desert?” Kim asks.

  “I did not say that, soldier.”

  “What do you mean then?” Kim persists.

  “I mean that I am going back to Terminal 5. This base is compromised; you might want to leave, go back to base in Poole or wherever you want.”

  “Well, the command room is in Terminal 5, so it sounds like as good a place as any,” Collins says, and the other two nod in agreement.

  “That’s settled then, let’s get ready,” Dixon says.

  The three men turn to head off to their tasks. Dixon waits, ready to speak to the rest of the people in the hangar, who Collins has started to roundup.

  Dixon feels a kind of obligation to look out for Andy’s two children. He may have only known him for a few hours, but Dixon liked the man and they fought together; he now considers him a brother in arms, especially as he gave his life covering their retreat. Dixon is then forced to admit to himself that he is going back for Emily, really. That’s the least he can do for Andy. Josh and Alice are big enough to look out for themselves, so misplaced or not, he is going to look out for Emily.

  The engine of the pick-up starts on the second attempt and Dixon hears Downey give the engine a few revs to make doubly sure it’s turning over properly. The reversing lights come on as Downey starts to manoeuvre it into position. Dixon’s attention is then taken over by the group of people Collins has finally managed to bring over.

  “What’s going on?” a middle-aged man asks. He is the highest-ranking of the military in the group and as a Staff Sergeant, he actually outranks Sergeant Dixon.

  “We have got to get out of here; the building is on fire and it is only a matter of time before the fire spreads into this hangar—and I don’t need to tell you what will happen then. So, we have come up with a plan,” Dixon says.

  “And what makes you think that is your decision, Sergeant? I am the highest-ranking person here and we were just discussing options.”

  “Okay, Sir, what did you come up with?” Dixon asks.

  “Well, we haven’t yet,” the Staff Sergeant says sheepishly. “Tell me your plan and I will make the decision then.”

  Dixon rolls his eyes. “Sir, with no disrespect. This is the plan that we are going to carry out, and it isn’t up for discussion. This is a combat situation and me and my team are best placed to deal with it. We haven’t the time to fanny about, Sir.”

  The Staff Sergeant’s eyes drop, and Dixon knows the Staff Sergeant has deferred to him, so he presses home his advantage. “My team are going to create a diversion to allow you to all escape. We are going to drive that pick-up out of the roller shutter to draw all the Rabids—sorry, infected people—to it and away from the hangar. Once the area outside is clear, you all need to get out as quickly as possible. Go left outside and get into one of the buildings farther down where hopefully you will find safety. Agreed, Sir?”

  The Staff Sergeant looks unsure for a moment and looks around at the people beside him, who look even more unsure than he does.

  “Sir?” Dixon asks again.

  “Yes, Sergeant, that sounds acceptable,” he eventually says.

  “Very good, Sir. Wait until we are clear, and the infected people have taken the bait, Sir. Don’t move too soon, Sir, and have your weapons ready, in case you need them.”

  “Okay, understood Sergeant.”

  “With your permission, I will get my team ready, Sir.”

  “Carry on, Sergeant.”

  Dixon leaves the group before anyone changes their minds. He heads over to the pick-up, which has been parked facing one of the roller shutter doors a few meters away, ready to go.

  “Downey, you’re driving. Collins, you’re shotgun and Kim, you have the pleasure of keeping me company in the tail. Is everyone kitted up?”

  “Yes, Boss and we have found some more ammo, so here’s your kit,” Downey says, passing Dixon his rifle first.

  “Thank you, Downey,” Dixon says as he attaches the rifle to its harness at the front of his body. “As soon as the roller shutter is open enough, Kim and I will throw a spread of grenades under it, to clear the immediate threat. Then full throttle to get us out of here, understood?”

  “You got it, Boss,” Downey replies with a smile on his face.

  “Don’t go all Mad Max on us, Downey; we want to get there in one piece! Okay, in positions. Kim, press the button on my signal.”

  Dixon climbs into the back tail-section of the pick-up, while Downey and Collins get into the cab. Kim takes up a position by the buttons that operate the roller shutter positioned on the wall next to it. His finger hovers over the green up button.

  Dixon positions himself at the front of the cargo area, looking over the cab. He registers two places on the cab where he can grab hold of if needed on the ride before he bends down and retrieves three grenades from a holdall on the floor.

  As Dixon comes back up,
he is aware of the fear and adrenaline coursing through his body. It’s like an old woollen sweater to him now; it still scratches but somehow feels comfortable.

  He looks over to the rest of the personnel and gives the Staff Sergeant a nod. The man looks petrified and his rifle looks cumbersome in his grip, but to his credit, he returns the nod.

  “Hit it, Kim!” Dixon shouts as he drops the pins to the first two grenades onto the floor. He doesn’t hear the clatter of steel on steel as they drop, however.

  Kim’s finger pushes the green button and immediately, the roller shutter lurches into life, its motor straining to lift the heavy door. Kim waits next to the rising door momentarily, as he too drops the pins from the grenades in his hands. When the door reaches about six inches up from the floor, he rolls three grenades into the ever-increasing gap. As soon as the last one leaves his hand, Kim bolts for the pick-up.

  Even though Dixon is well versed in the art of throwing grenades and could hit an arms dump from thirty meters out, he waits. There is no point trying to be clever; if he were to miss the gap and a grenade bounced back into the hangar, the trip could be over before it starts.

  As the shutter rises on its long trip to the roof and the gap opens, Dixon throws. The first grenade is in mid-air when the grenades that Kim rolled out explode in virtual unison. Their shock wave hits the roller shutter hard and it strains and rattles against its runners, threatening to blow out of them. Thankfully, the shutter stays within its runners and keeps rising. Dixon throws his three grenades in quick succession, their strike levers springing away as they go and tumbling to the floor.

  All three grenades sail through the gap and bounce out beyond the shutter which is now about a meter up from the floor. Kim has jumped into the tail of the pick-up and has taken up a position ready to cover the rear. The pick-up’s engine revs. Downey isn’t taking any chances that it could die while he waits for the gap to increase enough for him to plant his foot to the floor.