by Paul Kirk
“I’ll fuckin’ kill you!” said Phoenix. Not satisfied with his outburst, he planted both feet and fired all five rounds toward the circular platform across the ridge. He knew the bullets would never come close, but did enjoy pulling the trigger on each round.
"Phoenix! Get your ass over here!" said Larry Reed.
Phoenix turned and looked over at his uncle tucked low and hiding behind the sidewall. Choosing to ignore him, he turned toward the ridge and prepared to yell one more time when he saw sparks bounce off the thick vertical suspension cables thirty feet in front of him. Realizing the bullet came from the ridge and was meant for him based on his position and where the bullet hit the cable, he calmly walked to Larry Reed and settled into a crouch next to the bridge sidewall. Crawling, they made their way down and off the ramp. At the bottom, Phoenix glanced back to see three more men collapse despite their decent efforts to remain hidden. One had tried to run to the next car in line only to have his head explode in a bright red spray.
“I’m gonna so kill that fucker,”
“Keep your head down, dammit,” said Larry.
“I’m gonna find them. All of ‘em. They been nothin’ but trouble to me.”
CHAPTER 8.3-Finding Bird Parts
“Ma’am?”
“Yeah, GT?”
“Can I speak with you for a sec?"
"Sure." Standing near the main camp in the Youngstown mill, Colonel Starkes burped CJ with expertly timed pats between his shoulder blades. Not surprised, she was rewarded with a decent-size blob of white puke bursting in a blast of air. It landed on the shop towel strategically placed on her shoulder. Mostly ignoring GT, she walked toward Nicole and Amanda who were talking raptly a few yards away. Seemingly like lost sisters, the colonel watched while they prepared lunch atop a makeshift table of steel plates. Glancing behind, she confirmed that GT followed. He was intense and energized.
"We need to be wheels up in fifteen minutes.”
“Huh, last time I checked, I was in charge here, GT…you know, being president and all.” Colonel Starkes smiled at GT to lessen her building irritation.
“Yes, ma'am. I’ve worked out a solution to fix the bird.”
The colonel's playfulness evaporated. “Excellent! What’s it entail?” Before he continued, she held up her hand for him to stop. She smiled at Nicole and Amanda.
"Nicole?"
"Yeah?"
"Take this little puke monster, would ya?"
In the process of preparing the fresh meat off a recently killed Rottweiler, Nicole tossed the fillet knife onto the table and dipped her hands in a water bucket to rinse. Wiping them clean, she grinned at CJ. Nicole reached for her son. "Sure, C'mere you."
Amanda stopped stuffing raw meat into Ziploc bags and picked up the fillet knife in Nicole's absence. She expertly continued slicing the thigh meat off the bone.
"Amanda, please see if you can preserve and pack that meat up double-time, would you? What you can't prepare in the next ten minutes, toss," said Starkes. "We're leaving in fifteen minutes. We'll eat MREs on the run, that is, if GT here has anything to say about it."
"Okay, Hannah," said Amanda. Hour by hour, she was gaining strength at an impressive rate; and her voracious appetite had not diminished. Preparing today's lunch, Amanda ravenously consumed large quantities of the team’s deer jerky reserve and any of the incredible Black Diamond cheese she could place her hands on. It was clear her body was demanding calories and making up for some lost time. Observing the urgency on GT's face, and the building enthusiasm of Colonel Starkes, Amanda probed for information.
"We're heading to Pittsburgh?"
"Not sure…GT?"
Colonel Starkes, Nicole and Amanda all studied the intensity on GT’s face.
“There are several options.”
“Don't keep us in the dark, please. You figured how and where to find the part?”
“Yes, ma'am. If it’s anywhere, it's there, so yeah.”
“Where?”
"Coatesville, Pennsylvania."
"Coatesville?" repeated Colonel Starkes. Turning to Nicole, she asked, "Nicole, gather up the captain and major right away, okay?"
"Sure." Nicole left to locate the men. While waiting, Amanda expertly processed the dog meat; so much so, that GT watched her use of the blade with some admiration, before continuing.
Major O'Malley and Captain Daubney hustled over to the workstation with Nicole and CJ not far behind.
"Ma'am," said Captain Daubney. He nodded to GT and Amanda.
"Colonel, GT, what's up? Hi Amanda," said Major O'Malley.
"Go GT. You’re on. Sitrep. From the top," suggested Colonel Starkes.
GT launched. "Yes, ma’am. Our Superhawk was built and customized in Sikorsky's highly protected and secure facility located in Coatesville, Pennsylvania. Their shop will have the rotor driveshaft bearing we need, probably sitting in their warehouse wrapped in plastic. I imagine most parts there have remained unmolested, pre-packed for storage and shipment. There's probably not much there for scavengers, so the parts are likely in good shape if they were packed right.”
“Go on,” said Colonel Starkes.
“Shamus, Scotty and I’ve worked out some logistics. From here, Coatesville is 330 miles east and 120 miles west of DC.”
“Uh, huh,” said the major.
“On due course, we can complete a fly-over of Pittsburgh on the way if you want. If we leave at 13:00 by my watch at a cruising speed of 174 mph, we can be there by 15:30. Still plenty of daylight to find the parts."
"Options?" asked Colonel Starkes.
GT continued. "Several. Shamus, Scotty and I leave together, grab the parts, and complete the repairs at the facility. We can be back no later than tomorrow at 18:00. Provided no glitches."
"Hmm," said both the major and colonel simultaneously. Neither much liked the idea of being left stranded in Ohio.
"Granted, it’s the least attractive option, but it does ensure the safety of the men and women here in the event the bearing fails. On the other hand, if things go wrong, we leave you, Nicole, CJ, Amanda, and the men sittin’ on the border of Ohio with a roving army and some hard travel miles to make it back to DC. It violates the primary mission objective. I know."
"Next option?" asked the Major.
"We run straight to DC as a full team, complete the primary mission drop-off of Nicole and CJ at Storm and then return to the Coatesville shop for repairs.”
“And then?”
“Then, we return to DC and pick up some fresh players and supplies for a full combat-ready mission to Pittsburgh. Locate Colonel MacMillen."
"Go on. Your third option?" asked the Colonel.
"We all scoot to Coatesville, make the repairs, then head back west, to Pittsburgh with primary mission valuables…still in tow. We complete unspecified activities in there and then head back to DC, assuming no equipment destruction, future malfunctions or loss of life."
"Is there a fourth option?" asked Captain Daubney. His mind was moving fast, thinking through the various possibilities.
"Sure," continued Scott, "we drop the captain, Top and a squad or so of men in the south end of Pittsburgh, or anywhere proposed, then the rest of us head to Coatesville, make repairs, then roll into DC to drop off the primary. Thereafter, we return with a full contingent to hook up with the advance team in Pittsburgh. In this scenario, two full squads will hafta hoof it back after the mission. Our bird does not have the capacity to carry all of them. Or, they await extraction at a later date.”
“I see,” said Colonel Starkes.
“Oh, and Scotty strongly suggests we bring along a sniffer dog or two on our return.”
“Does he now?”
“You know him and his dogs…"
"Anything else?" asked Colonel Starkes.
“Nothing considered viable.”
“Major?”
Major O’Malley stood to the left of the colonel, deep in thought. Clearly excited by the prospects, his tense sho
ulders and faraway stare suggested he was running through each scenario. He turned to the colonel. “Uh, ma’am, let’s drop the captain, Mickey and an eight-man squad in Pittsburgh and fly to this Coatesville and see what’s up.”
“I like the decisiveness, but explain.”
“We’ll be 330 miles closer to DC and Storm. That helps complete our primary mission objective.” Unable to help himself, he glanced at Nicole and CJ. He continued. “We’ll have a chance to briefly recon Pittsburgh on the way for possible updates in intel. And, we’ll have boots on the ground to provide real-time interdiction on this Connor MacMillen. The team can scout that Brownsville road meet point designated in Amanda's note.”
“Yeah,” suggested Captain Daubney, "I like it, ma'am."
Major O'Malley nodded. “In the meantime, we make the repairs, drop off Nicole, CJ and…now Amanda at Mt. Storm. Then, we’re on our way with a fully repaired bird and fresh men back to Pittsburgh. I like it. Oh, and I do like Scotty’s idea of a few dogs.”
“Ho! Wait a sec. I’m not going anywhere to sit and wait while you hunt Mac,” said Amanda. The conviction in her voice snapped all heads around. The bloody knife had stopped moving in her hands.
“Amanda, hold up! We’re trying to figure this out here,” said the major.
“Screw that! I’m going in with the men dropping in Pittsburgh or you count me out. Especially since this Phoenix bastard’s hunting my team and they might not even know about it.”
“No. You’re not dropping—”
“No? Colonel, Hannah, I'm sorry, but you're not hearing me...I’m going to Pittsburgh if I have to start walking from—”
“Then start walking!” said Colonel Starkes. The power in her voice snapped the command. Furious at the interruption and being disobeyed, she flung her arm out to point east toward Pittsburgh, emphasizing the direction of travel.
"You got it!" Angry, Amanda smiled grimly and tossed the knife onto the table. The rattle of steel on steel reverberated as she turned, dropped her hands in the water bucket and roughly wiped them on the towel. Done, she snatched her rifle and began a determined walk toward her pack. Twenty feet away, she stopped and turned, walking back. Once near the table, she grabbed two plastic bags of meat and turned again to walk away. She did not turn back. All stood mesmerized and tracked her exit.
“She’s serious ma’am,” suggested Nicole.
“For sure,” said GT.
"She's not in our chain of command, ma'am. Unless she was formally inducted here at the mill and I missed it," said the major.
"She can walk. Let's see how far she gets," snapped the colonel, still furious.
"Yes, ma'am. Should I provide her with any further rations or supplies?" asked Captain Daubney.
"No. The little princess can fend for herself."
"True, ma'am. She probably can," said the major, "might I have a word in private, ma'am."
The colonel answered by moving away from the group with the major following close behind.
"What is it?" The colonel was still furious.
"Ma'am, if we are able to locate Connor MacMillen, what will we tell him about the whereabouts of this civilian, Amanda Abbington?" asked the major.
They watched Amanda crouch and hastily shove a few items into her pack. Standing, Amanda waved at a few men and walked toward the gate. Colonel Starkes began to calm somewhat. She nodded to the major.
“Bring her ass back here, major. Instruct this civilian that she will keep her damn mouth shut during discussions on any military matters."
"Yes, ma'am."
Major O'Malley cut a diagonal toward Amanda's progress toward the main exit gate. He quickly caught up with her and they had a brief but intense discussion. Together, they returned to the lunch prep area. Amanda wore a look of steely determination, though she glanced at the major before saying anything upon their return. She did take a few deep breaths and made an effort to calm her intensity. She moved to stand in front of the colonel.
"I'm sorry Hannah. I apologize for my outburst. But, I would like to be more involved in locating Mac." She glanced one more time at the major, "I would ask that you please consider my request."
Goal-oriented and positively motivated, Amanda gave the strong impression she’d not be denied being there to find Connor. Everyone noticed the focused fury; even Colonel Starkes seemed impressed. To herself, the colonel wondered if this was the woman Connor MacMillen had seen beneath the gentle facade of beauty and grace.
“Apology accepted. We don't have a lot of time for discussion. Amanda, would you agree to come with us to Coatesville, sit with the repairs then, once done, we head straight back to Pittsburgh, without reinforcements?”
“Umm,”
“You’d be a liability on the drop of the men on the ground in Pittsburgh and you know it. At least until your strength is back.”
“Huh. Watch me.”
“No one’s doubting your loyalty or courage, Amanda,” suggested Major O’Malley, “We just want things to work out right.”
Grudgingly, Amanda nodded in agreement.
“I’d like to find him, too,” said Nicole. She had a firm tilt to her jaw. She stroked CJ’s hair.
"You wanna leave CJ and go with the men?" asked the colonel. She was nearing the end of her patience.
"Ah, no," said Nicole, "I just wanna find him."
Colonel Starkes gave a quick smile at the comment and turned to the major.
“Listen up! Major, captain, prep the men. Captain?”
“Ma’am?”
“Grab Mickey and a squad of your choosing for the drop. I’ll want to keep Timmy with me for now. Any others outside of Scott, GT and Shamus are yours. Drop coordinates to follow. Move it.”
“Yes, ma’am.” Captain Daubney left immediately.
“GT, work your magic. Tell Shamus to fly our team over to Pittsburgh, just south of it for now, and then off to Coatesville in one piece, if it’s not too damn inconvenient. Go. Dismissed."
“Ma’am.” GT hurried toward Shamus and Scott near the helicopter.
“Major, work the drop area options south of Pittsburgh on the way. Find this Brownsville Road. We decamp in ten.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
Left alone, Amanda, Nicole, CJ and Colonel Starkes watched the men bustle about in preparation. Energized, Amanda returned to prepping as much meat as possible. Colonel Starkes and Nicole tracked her hands for a moment. Her exquisite use of the blade was a thing of beauty. She certainly stripped a carcass with an inherent ease and efficiency.
“We’ll all meet up with Connor MacMillen together, when we have the opportunity,” said Colonel Starkes, “Agreed?”
“Thank you,” said Nicole.
Amanda remained silent, slicing meat and stacking it for packing.
“Amanda?”
“Yeah, thanks, Hannah.”
“You’re welcome.”
“But we’re doing it before we make any pit stop in DC, correct?” asked Amanda.
Colonel Starkes stared at her, thinking. “So far. Yeah, against my better judgment.”
“Great. That gives me another day or so to get my strength back. I won’t disappoint.” Pausing in her meat cutting, Amanda wiped her hands clean on the towel and slipped another strip of jerky into her mouth, pulling it from her pocket. She placed the chunk of thin meat between her teeth ripping off a large piece.
“I don’t think that was ever in doubt, Amanda.” The colonel left toward the helicopter.
"Thank you again, Hannah."
The colonel waved a hand without looking back. Returning to the task and gripping the filet knife firmly, Amanda returned to cutting the last remnants of dog meat off the carcass. Finished, she wiped the bloody blade with a rag and used a sterile wipe to finalize the process. Nicole finished stuffing the meat slices into the plastic bags and packing containers and tossed in salt.
“Where in the heck did you learn to use a knife like that?” asked Nicole.
“My grandpa
. I cut all his kills. He started teaching me when I was five. We’re done here. Let’s get moving…for the real reason we’re together right now,” said Amanda. She dipped her hands into the wash bucket and wiped her hands on the blood-spattered towel. She tossed the towel on the table and used a second sterile wipe on her hands. She cringed and stared at the ancient crud smeared into the towel. Her frustration boiled over.
“Where’s my damn dish towel? Dammit! Mac!”
Amanda left and the energy in her walk pulsed with each step. Nicole watched her leave for a moment. Then, she followed.
CHAPTER 8.4-Phoenix Regroups
“I know this might seem like I repeat myself, uncle, but can you tell me what the fuck just happened?” Back at his truck, Phoenix hovered at the passenger door with the Judge held white-knuckled in his hand. Angry, he waved the gun around at no one in particular, but clearly sought a target to help with his frustration.
“Snipers had us nailed down.”
“Wow! Snipers? Around here? I hadn’t noticed. Now there’s a thought!” Phoenix stared across the pickup hood. Snatching binoculars handed to him by Titmouse, he took his time to carefully seek out any new movement or potential sniper nests beyond the bridge.
“No. I’m serious, Phoenix. They took Luke’s team and us on as well. Both bridges. We each took some serious casualties. It had to be planned.”
“Planned you say? As in, they knew we were comin’?” Phoenix scanned the high ridgeline known on his maps as Mount Washington. He continued to search for movement. He was certain the Rat Pack he was hunting was up there.
“Sure. It had to be planned, how else? They hadda know we were coming.”
“They?”
“That Connor MacMillen guy. There had to be at least two or three of ‘em snipers takin’ shots at us. Top-of-the-line snipers, I'd say. Probably up in one of those buildings. No question.”
“With top of the line sniper rifles no less?” suggested Phoenix, getting angrier.
“Uh, yeah.”