“Glad to see you wearing that jacket after all this time,” she said.
“Neal had good taste when he wanted to. Now let’s get moving.”
He put the car in drive and headed off toward the airfield way on the other side of Fort Hosbon. It was still a work in progress, with areas of unfinished road, but there were already plenty of aircraft. They sped past helicopters and jets. The one they were headed for was dead ahead and surrounded by soldiers. The Peregrine was sizeable at 31 meters long and yet still had a thin and almost frail look to it. It had a resemblance to the classic SR-71, even the same color, but its wings were longer and it had increased in width to accommodate a much larger cargo hold in the rear. The chines had a radiant shine to them and there was still enough sunlight to reflect a beautiful luster off of them.
“I hear that thing can reach Mach 10,” Jacob commented as they got closer.
“You afraid you’ll vomit?” his sister laughed.
“I wouldn’t rule it out, Gabby.”
They came to a stop once reaching the others. Prior, they’d been watching Will twirl his sword artfully, jabbing at the air and presumably gutting some unseen opponent. They all wore the same matching green uniforms, free of any emblems, but the cyborg wore his usual armor and coat. He sheathed his weapon as the two Neesons joined them. Everyone said their greetings pleasantly enough, everyone except Gabriella and Will.
Will smiled at her.
“Will my presence be a distraction, ma’am?”
“I’ll just have to live with it,” Gabby replied.
Everyone turned at the roar of an engine. Far away was a speeding vehicle none recognized. It left a trail of dust behind it as it reached the tarmac. It covered the distance within a few seconds, its engine roaring loudly once more.
“There goes our ride,” Jacob said as the vehicle pulled to a stop alongside them. It was large and long, sloping downward near the front. Its tires were massive, giving it a heavy look. It looked like an armored scarab, especially due to its color. However, there was a splash of color on the hide of the vehicle. Two eagle wings had been painted onto the plating in booming red. In the center of those wings was a white star. None took more notice of it than two particular soldiers.
“The Crimson Angels,” Noah said in amazement. He’d only seen it in pictures before. Joe’s eyes watered from the sight of it.
Will remembered this relic of old. It had seemed to die off almost twenty years ago at his hand, and here it was staring him in the face. The feeling he felt was a bit of bewilderment.
A gull wing door slid open on top of the pseudo-tank, Saskia standing up to salute them all before she leaped down. The main starboard sliding door opened up and Alex emerged from the interior.
“Say hello to the first Anti-Tank Multi-Terrain Combat Vehicle,” he greeted.
“Quite a fucking mouthful,” Jacob remarked.
“She also goes by The Seraph, coined by Joe,” Alex relented.
“It’s a beaut, Alex. It’s even more impressive finally seeing it in the flesh.”
“What is it packing?” Adar asked.
“The Seraph has missile launchers in the rear and nose as well as a fully mobile turret on her roof. Between her armor and speed she’s practically a battering ram if necessary.”
“You think it’ll do fine in the forest areas?” Nusaybah said.
Alex patted the hefty tires.
“These monsters can take anything, you’ll see. A few trees won’t slow you down.”
“Like a Panzer through the Arden,” commented Will.
“Uh, yes, you could say so,” Alex ruminated, “but not only is it tough, its systems are linked to my computer. I’ll be able to report anything you might miss. And lastly, as a final fuck you, I installed a payload which can be detonated with a voice command within and from a distance of two miles with this.”
Alex produced a small detonator from his pocket, cylindrical and only a few inches in length. He handed it to Gabby, who took it in silence. Halsey patted her on the back, urging her to begin. Gabby took a deep breath and began to address them all.
“The landing team will board the Seraph, which will be carried over into enemy territory by a Peregrine. Once we reach our target zone we will advance till we reach the outer edges of the perimeter. From there, we’re on foot. Saskia, you will remain with the transport. One key thing to keep in mind is how you choose your weapon. Alex has informed we have only three working pulse rifles, and when we run into cyborgs, remember to watch each other’s backs.”
“Yes, ma’am!”
The group now began to split into its two teams. Meanwhile, Pat briefly talked with Alex as he helped him gather his supplies.
“That thing looks like it weighs more than an Abrams. I finally get to fly a Peregrine, and I have to play cab driver.”
“Write the AEF a letter. They might let you borrow it for a few extra weeks after we’re done here,” Alex replied.
“Ha-ha-ha, man,” Patrick said.
Will and Halsey were among the first to enter the interior of The Seraph. Inside, they were treated to a relic perhaps even more muddled in the past than the Crimson Angels emblem: a flag of red and white stripes with an alluring blue in the corner doused in brilliant stars. It was hanging at the back of the vehicle where both rows of passengers could admire it. Halsey could not tear his eyes from it, though Will’s concentration was more on Halsey himself. The cyborg had seen the flag before in dreams, dreams when he was still a mortal fighting a battle where Valkyries dominated his fate. It was a time he could neither scorn nor praise. He only turned away.
Gabriella’s platoon stood before her. Some would go with her to the facility, others would go with Alex. No one had a smile on his or her face, their helmets adding age to their young features. She looked them over with exuberance. These were her soldiers from the beginning. For the first time in her life, Gabby felt she had truly been a teacher. Still, she shared no grin with them.
“You were all selected by me from the birth of this unit. I chose you because you showed not just valor, but ideals. All of you are willing to fight for your principles, even if the country ensnared in the clutches of totalitarianism is not your own. In fact, it is my country. For that, I thank you dearly. I could not have had the opportunity to train better men and women.”
“Thank you, Sergeant!” they responded.
“Now, get your asses to your stations! Go, go, go!”
The super soldier watched as the juveniles clambered in in an orderly fashion, all taking their seats opposite him. He saw no fear in their eyes, no perspiration, not yet. He knew they carried standard ammunition but EMP rounds were protocol by this point as well. In fact, everyone had a grenade loaded with them. Gabby was the last to enter, and she had in her hands one of the pulse rifles. She kept it close even as she sat down. Will would have to live with that.
Alex and his team assembled in one of the hangars, now boarding the second Peregrine. His squad was composed of technicians and medical officers, and they awaited what would happen next. Alex was the only one with field experience, and though that one mission had ended with his incarceration, they still looked up to him.
The seating cargo hold area of this aircraft was fairly roomy and Bri had spent the first few hours of the day setting up a command center for Waltz. Other techs used laptops or small tablets, whichever they preferred. Alex himself got the large telescreen, accompanied by a number of smaller ones all around it. These were positioned on the wall of the plane itself.
He seated himself in the chair provided, getting a feel for the keyboard he would be using. Still, he couldn’t get past the damn chair. He couldn’t stand chairs that hadn’t been broken in yet. Patrick had just finished bringing the last of his bags and noticed his friend’s restlessness.
“There a problem with the chair or something?”
“Yeah, it’s not my chair,” Alex complained.
“I could’ve brought it, sure, but see
this one here is bolted down. One sharp turn in the other one and you and the damn chair are likely to splatter against the wall. We don’t want the team to see that, do we?”
“Get on out of here, man.” Alex laughed, “and don’t let Bri show you up.”
“As if,” Patrick replied as he went off to his own team.
“Initiate,” Alex said. Instantly, the many screens switched on. He could not only see The Seraph’s interior camera live footage, but he could also see everything the soldiers could, due to the helmet mini-cameras. Alex did a head count: seventeen points of view, roughly four per telescreen. The largest one currently displayed a map of their destination route. Wait, seventeen? Damn it, Will.
“Will, I really wish you’d reconsider the helmet,” Alex said into the intercom earpiece.
“Sorry,” the cyborg replied, “no can do.”
The passengers of The Seraph felt her lurch before the electric motor roared in their ears.
“All right, you reading me, Saskia?” Patrick said into his intercom.
“Loud and clear,” she answered from within The Seraph.
“Back her up into the plane, and slowly.”
“Roger that.”
Saskia drove the vehicle up the ramp and into the cargo bay of the Peregrine. It fit snugly, though there was indeed little to no space left for anything else.
“Secured,” Saskia reported.
“Then now we fly,” Patrick said.
The Peregrine’s engines activated. Boosters on the bottom at first allowed it hover. Patrick allowed it to rise several feet into the air, soon just about fifty feet over the airfield. Out of the hangar came Bri’s Peregrine at a leisurely roll. After getting it out of the hangar, she too began her ascent. The wheels retreated inside as she reached the same elevation as Patrick.
“She handles it beautifully, Gabby,” Patrick said.
“She and I learned from the best,” Gabriella replied.
“Activating radar-scrambler,” Brielle reported. Even though she was seemingly all business, she smiled.
“Activating radar-scrambler. Let’s go, shall we?” Patrick chimed in.
The two aircraft then took off at close to max speed, all within a fraction of a second. Patrick’s heart slowed. God, this is perfect. Fort Hosbon, the forest surrounding it, and the lake it resided next to, all became microscopic. He and Bri ascended to the clouds in roughly a minute, the enormous shapes a dazzling array of colors thanks to the sunset. Up ahead, they would fly over Lake Erie and then would enter into UNR airspace. Once more, the Crimson Angels would descend upon the sacred land it claimed to be its own.
Chapter 9 - Crossroads
October 22, 2065 - Carrolton City, New York
Vivi sat in her office all by her lonesome. Her aged joints were stiff, and she dealt with it by taking a sip from her flask. This bourbon has no damn kick to it. Vivi was quick to discount that notion, though. She knew it was her nerves getting to her and when her nerves got to her, food nor even a cigarette would do. She looked outside the window to her left, out at the road. Not a soul in sight, lovely.
“Vivi, they just called it in. They’re prepping to land,” Gael reported. He was a tall Hispanic man, dwarfing the older woman at six-eight.
Vivi nodded, seemingly without giving a rat’s ass.
Gael was distraught at this observation.
“You can still head home if you want. Me and the boys got this covered.”
“Do you really think I’d rather be at the house watching TV?”
Gael immediately felt stupid. If he apologized, he’d be in no better position.
“Guess not. Nothing on tonight but them shit reruns.”
Vivi chuckled before rising out of her chair.
“Come on, honey. Let’s go say hello.”
***
Bri spotted Russel’s Yard & More quite easily. The place was located on the outskirts of Carrolton and was the only building alongside the lonely road. The city itself was a half hour’s drive away. Just as she’d been told the yard had plenty of space to land the Peregrine. She hovered first, waiting for the signal. Far below, all the lights illuminating the yard went out, leaving only the moonlight for some distance.
“Landing starting now,” she reported.
Using the night vision cameras, Bri brought the plane down masterfully. Not a minute after landing, the rear camera alerted her to people approaching. For a second there she panicked, but a look at the screen put that to rest. It was three men and an old woman coming from the back exit of the store, all recognized due to Halsey’s telescreen presentation yesterday.
“Bri, let down the ramp and come join us,” Alex invited.
“Yes, sir.”
Gael, Vivi, and the others made some noise walking over the gravel lot. The Canadian troops in the cargo bay automatically saluted them upon seeing them. It was always an honor to meet Crimson Angels. Alex was the only one who didn’t, busy staring at the many screens.
“No greeting, huh? You ungrateful bastard. After you bled all over my shop, the least you should’ve done is brought me a gift,” said Vivi as she walked up the ramp. Alex sighed and hugged her from his chair.
“Nice to see you, too. I got some authentic Twinkies in the bag over there. Best I could do on such short notice.”
“You really do know how to treat a woman, my boy.”
Bri was still adjusting to the sight of armed strangers walking around the Peregrine’s interior. Even the old lady had a holster hanging off her hip, but Alex paid it no mind.
“So no Joe?” Gael asked.
“No, he wanted to go in with everybody else,” Alex answered while watching Pat’s camera. From there he could see the pilot was done surveying the area and was readying to land.
“Crazy fucker. Makes me itch for some action,” the soldier said.
Vivi slapped him in the back of his head, pastry in the other hand.
“Thinkin’ like that gets people killed. Enough chatter.”
Gael silenced himself. The other Crimson Angels took heed. Vivi looked at the Canadian soldiers, all watching the screens with Alex.
“You lot, help these guys patrol the area. And careful with my customers’ trucks! They’re pissed enough as it is with me closin’ up for the weekend.”
Bri went along with the order and caught sight of something as Gael and the others walked past. There were scars on his left hand and they went all the way up to his elbow. They’re burns. The deformed flesh was also prevalent on his neck and even an ear. She did her best not to stare and felt guilt for her earlier mistrust. Clearly, he’s seen more combat than myself.
The men and women all shuffled out of the cargo bay now, leaving only Alex and Vivi as spectators. Her eyes studied the screens, pausing at an image of Will and Halsey seated next to one another.
“So how’s Joe these days?”
“He’s not fifty pounds anymore, so that’s good.”
“And Robert’s kids?”
“Doing well for the times we live in.”
Vivi’s eyes were brought back to the cyborg. She still said nothing of it. It seemed like only yesterday Patrick and the Neesons had brought a passed out Alex into her shop. Joe had remained in the chopper close to the cyborg, a sight that gave her chills to this day.
“They’re in position.”
“God, please watch over them.”
***
The UNR soldier walked along the trail, admiring the tall trees all around him. He entered a more open area of tall grass next. Wait, the fuck? Up ahead was something lying on the trail. Something of decent size, too. The soldier assumed it was an animal or maybe even his mind playing tricks on him.
The closer he got, however, the form lying there didn’t budge.
He outright halted now. It was the body of a UNR troop. Before he could say a word into his intercom a blade was dicing into his throat. The assault had the soldier’s adrenaline at its peak, mustering enough strength to pull away.
Nusaybah put the knife away. Her karambit had done its work. Her victim still had several seconds of life in him, his damaged carotid artery pressing on. She drew her hand gun, silencer equipped, and let him rest. The soldier’s frozen eyes gazed up at the woman who’d ended his life. Nusaybah was about to shut those eyes but remembered her helmet was broadcasting a live feed. I’m sorry. She left him there and went on to the next target.
With Pat’s Peregrine mapping out the area for them, the landing force knew exactly how many soldiers they were up against and where best to hit them. It was a slaughter.
Less than a mile away a UNR Humvee cruised down the road. Inside, the soldiers laughed away, unaware their time was up. As they passed a large bush they were oblivious to the Crimson Angel taking position in the road behind them.
Gabriella knelt down, having already charged the pulse rifle the second she heard them approaching. Three, two, one.
She fired off her shot, the speeding car forty meters down the road. The humming died down and the car’s taillights flickered before exploding with sparks. Unable to turn at the winding corner, the car smashed head on into a thick tree. From there was only quiet; that is, until one of the car doors opened.
Stepping out groggily was a UNR troop with a bleeding temple. He was unable to find his footing, but with her night vision goggles Gabriella saw him do his best to take aim at her. She didn’t duck for cover or fire first with her sidearm. She didn’t even flinch.
“We have hostiles on the sight, over! Need immediate assistance, over!”
The soldier did not realize his intercom was fried as well.
“Does anybody read me?!”
Gunshots tore him to shreds a moment later. Halsey and several members of her platoon emerged from the forest afterward. With no hesitation, they administered mercy to the soldiers remaining inside the Humvee. Kurt aimed at one’s forehead, the man knocked out from the collision, it seemed. He fired at close range, only to hear a resounding DING. Even though blood seeped from the wound, the bullet merely fell to the Humvee’s floor.
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