Legacy of the Living

by Sean Liebling

  "Directed at us?" Major Robinson was astounded. They were cloaked from most detection. How did Newaygo know they even existed? he thought.

  "No Sir! General sat cast on all mil freqs in real time. They're letting everyone know about the shit that's coming at them right now."

  "What kind of shit Lieutenant?"

  "Inbound bogies from them. Like we talked about last night. They're going after Newaygo. This is exciting. We'll see how they handle it. It's what you wanted, right Sir?"

  "Christ!" Major Robinson fumed. He was at least five minutes out from Central, which meant he would miss a lot of the transmission in real-time. "Tell Dispatch to put it over the speakers. We will all hear how they respond to whatever is happening."

  "Aye, aye Sir." The Lieutenant lifted his radio and spoke quickly. Immediately the clear soprano voice of Newaygo's communications officer broadcast through the speakers over the tarmac. Major Robinson squatted and listened.

  "Negative on IFF, negative on missile launch at this time, correct Badger Command?" The broadcast over the airport speakers was loud and clear. Speakers designed to penetrate the cockpits of large aircraft were easily heard by people standing on the ground within their range. The voice of Newaygo's Communications came through with crystal clarity.

  "Correct Ma'am." A male voice this time, but competent sounding.

  "I am getting negative response to transponder identification. Broadcasting on all channels. Go active. Repeat. Go active, Badger Command, and light them up."

  "Going active, Command." A pause then, "Command. We have active locks. Permission to initiate weapons release."

  "Stand by Badger Command."

  Major Robinson was standing now. The tension in the voices emanating from Newaygo was riveting. He knew this was life and death and the outcome might decide a great many things. He wished them luck and held his breath. Beside him, Lieutenant Purcell had gripped his arm in tension but Robinson ignored it. Both men remained silent as they listened.

  *****

  Major Weston looked up as the sirens went off and quickly levered himself out of the lawn chair he was sitting in. Around him, the men and women on his work crew had been erecting platforms to fight from on the inside of the new barrier. All work stopped as the sirens continued oscillating and everyone ran for their guns, then clustered around the major.

  "What's going on Sir? Where are they attacking?" One of the men had run up to him, weapon ready, but almost everyone was trying to ask the same question. Major Weston held his hands up for quiet.

  "I don't know yet. Let me check," he replied.

  Dan Weston keyed his tactical mic, accessing the net, and immediately heard the voices of Corporal Rider at Command Central and that of Badger Command. Instantly, he realized this was not a zombie attack but instead, it was an air attack by the rogue government forces. He listened for another moment and then held his arms up again to quell the shouts and frantic activity.

  "Everyone calm down. We need to get over by the granary berm. We are under attack from rogue government forces. Four F-15s are on final weapons approach and it's being handled." At least I think it's being handled, he thought as he limped away from the river. Being this close to the granary berm was giving him flashbacks of two nights ago, but he shrugged it off as he gathered everyone around him and huddled against the earthen wall.

  Suddenly the sky lit up with a bright light to their south, and as Major Weston shielded his eyes he saw four streaks of yellow smoke leave the ground and curve slightly south and east. The Badgers. Damn those things flew fast. Billowing clouds of smoke accompanied their departure and he leaned back and waited, listening in to Command chatter.

  *****

  The commander had followed her into the CAPC and finally understood what was happening. He grabbed the microphone out of her hand and, leaning over, punched for standard military aircraft frequencies.

  "This is Colonel Scarmon. Identify yourselves or face destruction. That unfriendly light you see in your cockpit is a Badger AESA phased array weapons radar system pointed right at your ass. Identify yourselves, over."

  Silence greeted them over the speakers.

  "We’re transmitting on all military frequencies right LSS?"

  "Yes Sir."

  The commander leaned forward and spoke calmly and carefully into the microphone.

  "Listen up, whoever you are. You are on the wrong side. I have cleared the Fremont Airport and its runway. You are cleared to land if you choose, but only if you signal your intentions within the next thirty seconds. At that time with no response, I will be forced to consider you hostile. Do you understand, inbound F-15s?"

  A crackle of static, then a clear voice came over the speakers on UHF. It was male and it was angry.

  "I have my orders and your time has run out, Newaygo. Like Fort Hunter, you'll be dust." Then the male voice started laughing and went silent suddenly.

  The carrier wave disappeared and the commander looked at Corey in confusion.

  "There is an Air force wing and Army Special Forces base at Fort Hunter Georgia. Sir, I don't know," she replied to his unspoken question.

  "Whatever. Badger Command, are you getting this?"

  "Yes Sir! Badger Command ready," came an unknown male voice.

  "Full weapons release authorized in fifteen seconds. If they release earlier, drop them. Understood?"

  "Understood Command, and thank you. We have two bogies turning around, no release. Two still inbound."

  "We have weapons release Command." The voice came over the radio right on top of his last broadcast.

  "Sound the sirens again, everyone under cover and full release. Take them out, Badger Command."

  "Our pleasure Sir! Release and away. Four outbound!"

  *****

  Kirk was excited. The modified Aegis missiles were too expensive to use for practice and he relished this chance to actually use one in real-time and not on a simulator. He saw two of the bogies peel off and turn around. The other two kept coming as he talked to Command, then he saw missile release from their signature and he received permission to respond. Wow, this was great! He pressed the keys to launch their own missiles. He and Scott targeted the first array at the missiles and the second array at the planes. They ignored the ones trying to escape.

  *****

  The Stinger crews had run over to where the major and the lieutenant were standing, along with flight line personnel near their position. Together they all listened avidly as Newaygo's Communications and Newaygo's Badger Command filled the air over the airport speakers.

  "This is Colonel Scarmon. Identify yourselves or face destruction. That unfriendly light you see in your cockpit is a Badger AESA phased array weapons radar system pointed right at your ass. Identify yourselves over."

  Silence over the speakers.

  "Were transmitting on all military frequencies right LSS?" Colonel Scarmon continued.

  "Yes sir."

  "Listen up, whoever you are. You are on the wrong side. I have cleared the Fremont Airport and its runway. You are cleared to land if you choose, but only if you signal your peaceful intentions within the next thirty seconds. At that time with no response, I will be forced to consider you hostile. Do you understand, inbound F-15s?"

  A crackle of static, then a clear voice came over the speakers. It was male and it was angry.

  "I have my orders and your time has run out, Newaygo. Like Hunter, you'll be dust." Then the male voice started laughing and went silent suddenly. Around the major, there was stirring and angry muttering among his troops.

  "There is a Special Forces base at Fort Hun ter Georgia. Sir, I don't know." Newaygo's communications officer was replying to an unspoken question.

  "Whatever. Badger Command, are you getting this?"

  "Yes Sir! Badger Command ready," came an unknown male voice.

  "Full weapons release authorized in fifteen seconds. If they release earlier, drop them. Understood?" A multitude of grunts rang out behin
d the major and he felt his own heart pounding at their situation.

  "Understood Command, and thank you. We have two bogies turning around, no release. Two still inbound."

  "We have weapons release Command." The male voice came over the radio right on top of his last broadcast.

  "Sound the sirens again, everyone under cover and full release. Take them out, Badger Command." This colonel’s voice rang loud and clear and it was obvious he was angry.

  "Our pleasure Sir! Release and away. Four outbound! ETA less than three minutes."

  Silence issued from the speakers, and then they heard Colonel Scarmon speak in an angry voice.

  "Fuckers! Kill them Badger Command!"

  "Doing so Sir. Stay tuned." The response was cheerful and from someone who was obviously excited, but in a good way.

  Major Robinson grinned, and that response from this unknown officer and his subordinates more than anything convinced him Newaygo was a worthy goal.

  Silence issued over the speakers and the crowd around him held their breath ... then...

  "Command, we have contact and take-down on four inbound missiles. Initiating tertiary release. Tertiary is hot, with four primed and ready. Bogies are turning back. Want me take them out, or let them go Sir?" Around Major Robinson the crowd cheered, and he even pumped his own fist as adrenaline flowed through his veins. This was good, and a partial payback for their loss.

  "Hell no. Take them out!" The voice of this colonel was very angry indeed. The men and women around Major Robinson roared their approval, and then quieted quickly as all listened intently.

  "Weapons away. Less than two minutes. They are descending below two hundred but we have positive lock." Badger Control’s voice filled the air, and even the turning helicopters had cycled down. Everyone was listening to Newaygo.

  "Splash. I repeat, splash on bogie one. Repeat, splash on bogie one. Bogie two, going evasive. Hold Command! Command, splash on bogie two, repeat, splash on bogie two. They're down Sir." The triumphant voice of Badger Control crowed over the air, as along with them, the entire tarmac erupted in cheers. Then the colonel’s voice came over the airport speakers one last time.

  "Attention rogue government forces. I know you can hear me because we're transmitting on military general communication bands. You can see we are not defenseless. Understand that we'll be coming for you also." Then the transmission cut off.

  Major Robinson realized he had a silly grin on his face and was pumping his fist up and down, but he couldn't help it. Everyone here was not only starting to get used to Newaygo, but also looking forward to Newaygo's daily broadcasts. Why, it was only this morning when scanning the airwaves that they realized Newaygo was transmitting on AM. They could receive the transmission, albeit barely.

  Whatever transmitter they were using was cranking out at fifty thousand watts, and in the absence of other competing stations it was within range. It came through very faint but was constantly playing, mostly patriotic music and some gospel hymns intermixed with constant dialog about the biologicals and conditions around Newaygo. They appeared to be hiding nothing and that, honestly, took a load off the major’s back. He turned to Lieutenant Purcell.

  "Well, it seems Newaygo has provided us with a partial payback on our lost, Lieutenant. They've also shown they can protect themselves adequately."

  "Yes Sir. I think possibly that bogie pilot was the one that dropped the nuke back home."

  "I believe it was, but we'll probably never know for sure."

  "I didn't know they had Badgers either. Deadly animals, Sir."

  "Agreed. I didn't either. I wonder where they got them?" Major Robinson mused.

  "Have you changed your mind, Sir?"

  "About contacting them? Yes, we have another Command meeting scheduled a few days from now and I'm inclined to recommend contact."

  "Time to let them know we exist, Lieutenant," the major continued. "In the meantime, I'm increasing the CAP and we'll take an active hand as long as munitions hold out."

  "Thank the Gods in Heaven, Sir!" The lieutenant had an equally silly grin on his face and clapped the major on his back. Then he shrunk back at the familiarity.

  Major Robinson laughed and hugged him tightly. Jesus! Finally, he felt good about this situation.

  *****

  DAY 9: 1600 ET SATURDAY NOVEMBER 12TH

  "Attention rogue government forces. I know you can hear me because we're transmitting on general military communication bands. You can see we are not defenseless. Understand that we'll be coming for you also." I was so mad, I was almost sputtering, and threw the headset down when I was finished.

  Major Weston and Master Sergeant Trask entered the CAPC at that moment, and I filled them in quickly. I was furious with these rogue people. As if zombies weren't enough, we also had to contend with the attacks of military forces.

  "We'll have to deal with them sooner or later, you know," Dan Weston remarked.

  "I know, but I was hoping for a little breathing room."

  "They know we're a threat, obviously. We won't get breathing space."

  "Newaygo, come in please. Are you still there Newaygo?" The speakers were going off again. This time it was a voice unknown to me, and he sounded apprehensive. I looked at LSS and raised an eyebrow.

  "That is the officer in charge of one of the Guard units on their way in, Sir," she responded. I nodded thoughtfully and picked up the microphone.

  "This is Colonel Scarmon. Identify yourselves Guard unit."

  "This is Lieutenant Colonel Jeff Botello, First Battalion 193'rd Infantry Regiment. Congratulations on yanking their chain, Newaygo."

  "Thank you. They pissed me off."

  "Well, don't let your guard down. I'm sure they'll be back."

  "Roger that. When will you boys get here? Any idea?"

  "Well, we're moving slow and picking up refugees along the way while avoiding the larger herds of biologicals. I'm estimating late morning tomorrow. We're getting ready to camp near the next town, which is Edmore, so we're less than a hundred miles from you."

  "Alright. What's your effective strength and how many survivors have you found?"

  "That's information I wouldn't share the other day with your communications officer, but we're feeling pretty confident about you guys right now. We have almost four hundred-fifty combatants, mostly infantry and support, but we picked up the remnants of two other units, so we added three paladins and some mortars to our mix. We also have over two thousand surviving dependents and refugees. We're moving really slow, Colonel, with lots of people on cargo flatbeds."

  "Dependents?" that piqued my interest, and was a good sign.

  "Yes Sir, we are all based out of Saginaw and Midland so we took the scenic route and picked up the survivors." I could hear the hint of grief in his voice and didn't ask further questions about them.

  "Well, glad to have you Colonel. We'll see you tomorrow. Be advised we are holding burial services for our dead in the early A.M. There will be people to guide you in though, once you're close to Newaygo."

  "We'll try to make the service, Sir. No promises though."

  "Good luck One Three Nine. Newaygo out." I had things to do and needed to get out there, but first…

  "Dan, I know it's late, but contact Steve. Have him start clearing out Fremont as best he can. Tell him to head back an hour before dark. We're going to need that space sooner than I thought."

  "Yes Sir."

  *****

  DAY 9: 1630 ET SATURDAY NOVEMBER 12TH

  Josh looked over at Pete and sighed as he watched the sky. Today they had noticed helicopters flying overhead. Some large fixed wing too. They appeared to be circling because they had flown over twice now.

  "You think the government is coming to the rescue, buddy?"

  "Doubt it. Sounds like civil war to me, bro." Pete was the more pragmatic of the two of them. Beverly was currently sitting in his lap sharing his beer. Beer was plentiful at the moment. The other survivors were doing what they did
. Guard or wash clothes or whatever. Josh didn't exactly keep up on it. He watched as Beverly took another sip. Damn, she did have an impressive set of lungs for sure. He grinned thinking what Alayna would do to him if she caught him ogling another woman.

  "Think we should contact them?"

  "How, bro?"

  "Maybe make a helo pad out back behind the junkyard. Throw some flares out when they pass next."

  "OK, and if they're this rogue shit your uncle's talking about?"

  "Then I guess we’re fucked, Marine."

  "Won't be the first time or the last that's happened. That's why God created Marines," Pete muttered. "Hey, you sure this Colonel Scarmon is your uncle?"

  "Yeah, I showed you the pictures." Josh had made a run back to their old apartment to grab his duffle after they started hearing the broadcasts from Newaygo, which Samuel's wife Laura had found. She was always messing with the radio, trying to find anyone broadcasting. Mixed in with dirty clothes and gun parts in his duffle was a small photo album. Josh had two pictures of his Uncle Jay in there, and he had shown them around to everyone. One of them was Uncle Jay giving Josh his first .22 when he was twelve. The second was a group shot with Josh's dad and his other Uncle Ron. Damn he missed them.

  "How come he hasn't tried to rescue us then?"

  "Two reasons. I already told you, man. He doesn't even know I'm on leave, and here in Howell, and he doesn't know we survived. Besides, he's probably just a bit busy, you think?"

  "Yeah, probably so." Pete finished his beer and tossed it in the waste can, then grabbed another off the table his feet were propped up on. His stretching made Beverly lose her balance and she grabbed his arm to keep from falling off. The movement made her massive tits bounce and Josh's eyes couldn't help but watch them. Pete noticed and grinned with an intent made evil by his next move. As he popped the top of his second Michelob, he reached up with his other hand and bounced her left breast up and down.