Bug Out! Part 13: Finale

by Robert Boren

  “That must be what’s going on,” Marie said. “Sound carries in here. We heard them right away.”

  “How many openings are there in the caverns?” Ted asked. “To the outside, that is.”

  “Lots,” Marie said. “There’s over a hundred caves in this system.”

  “Oh, my God,” Heidi said. “This is going to be bad.”

  “Maybe not,” Malcolm said. “That’s not a very big opening. They can’t rush in here quickly.”

  “It gets even worse further in,” Marie said. “One person at a time, unless they were able to do a lot of widening.”

  “If they dug a tunnel all this way, they probably made it big enough for more men to get through,” George said. “It’s at least a quarter mile from those buildings.”

  “They might have found cavities that helped with that,” Marie said. “You know we’re still finding caverns here, right? This formation is huge.”

  “Shit,” Malcolm said.

  More gunfire came from the tunnel. “We’d better get in there,” George said.

  Suddenly there was rumbling, then a fluttering sound. A cloud of bats came flying out of the tunnel, followed by Pete and several other men, wide eyed, terrified.

  “What happened?” Marie asked.

  “They blew open a passageway,” Pete said, trying to catch his breath. “That rock is harder than they expected. They can only get three, maybe four men through at a time.”

  “Where’s James?” one of the hostages asked.

  “Shot in the head,” Pete said, his eyes welling with tears.

  “Oh, no,” Marie said, crying.

  “C’mon, guys, let’s give them the welcome they deserve,” Malcolm said.

  John Harper’s dogs growled, looking towards the opening. Two men ran out, looking around, surprised to see people pointing guns at them.

  “Sic ‘em,” John Harper shouted, and the dogs rushed the men. They gave up shooting and tried to run, but didn’t get far. The dogs pulled them down.

  George rushed over to one of the men with a dog over him. “Call them off,” George said.

  “Stop!” John Harper shouted. The dogs let go. Malcolm rushed over next to George and the two men as the rest of the men got to the passage opening, guns pointed inside.

  “How many men coming?” George asked the first man.

  “Infidel,” the man shouted back at him, his white robe bloodied around the neck from dog bites. George pointed his pistol at the man’s forehead and fired. Then he looked at the other man, who Malcolm was standing over.

  “See that?” Malcolm asked. “What’s in the tunnel? How many men? Talk or we’ll splatter your head in here too.”

  “No, please,” he said. “We find cavern between buildings and here.”

  “How many men?”

  “Hundreds trying to get out of building,” he said.

  “But they can only get out a few at a time,” George said, smiling. “They’re going to trap themselves.”

  “Thanks for the info,” Malcolm said. He pointed his pistol at his head and fired.

  “Why’d you do that?” Marie asked, looking horrified.

  “We’re too busy to watch him,” Malcolm said.

  “I’m glad you shot him,” Pete said.

  “Here come more,” Ned said. “Wait till you can see them. Don’t waste ammo hitting the walls.”

  “I see them,” Wedgie said. “Now.”

  Several of the men fired. Screams came out of the tunnel.

  “They can hide behind those bodies,” Ned said. “We need to get them out of there.”

  “On it,” Spence said, running into the tunnel with Wedgie.

  “Take a look when you’re in there, but don’t get shot,” Ned shouted.

  “Roger that,” Spence shouted back.

  There was gunfire from inside.

  “Oh, shit, you guys alright?”

  “Yeah,” Wedgie shouted back. “Three more. We blasted them. Gonna keep going.”

  There was silence for a few seconds, then more gunfire.

  “Think I better get in there,” Ned said, looking at the others.

  “No, wait,” George said. “They’re okay. That was M-16s, not AKs.”

  “You can tell the difference?” Pete asked.

  “Yeah,” George said.

  There was a muffled explosion, followed by another, then another. Dust blew out of the passage way, and a few more bats fluttered out.

  “You guys okay?” Ned yelled,

  Wedgie and Spence ran out, dirt coating them.

  “What happened?” Pete asked.

  “The opening was pretty small,” Wedgie said. “We could see where they’d dug the tunnel. It was un-reinforced dirt. We tossed three grenades in there and it collapsed, but they’ll probably dig it out again.”

  “How far back could you see?” Pete asked.

  “There was an opening about fifty yards down the tunnel. You got to climb it on your belly. Looks like it opens up to a big cavern.”

  “Yeah,” Spence said. “No way would I climb down there. Nothing to hide behind. Of course, the same goes for them if we're on this side with guns.”

  George and Malcolm looked at each other, then at Shirley. They grinned.

  “They’re trapped underground,” Malcolm said. “And we’re about to own the exit on the building side.”

  “About to own?” Marie asked. “What’s going on out there?”

  “They were bringing mortars out and getting laser target designators ready when we were leaving,” George said.

  “That’s gonna ruin their whole day,” Ned said, laughing.

  “What’s to keep those guys from using their own grenades to blast open that spot you closed?” Marie asked.

  “I hope they try it,” Wedgie said. “They’ll just collapse more of the tunnel. They’ll need shovels and picks to clear it. That will take them a while. If they get through we can lob a few more grenades down there.”

  ***

  General Hogan was breathing hard as he got to the ridge next to Private Peterson and Private Jennings.

  “Stay down,” Private Jennings said. “They’ve got some decent riflemen down there. Almost nailed me a few minutes ago.”

  “Seeing much movement?” General Hogan asked.

  “Not anymore,” Private Peterson said. “I think they’re just interested in keeping anybody from rushing down there now. They know they can’t escape this way.”

  General Hogan sat behind the ridge and pulled out his phone, hitting refresh on the short-range app. “Down to 600 men now. Another hundred have gone through the tunnel.”

  “Yeah, that’s what I’m seeing with the detail app from here, general,” Frank said. “I’m getting a slight reading every so often, moving down about 60 yards towards the main cavern. Then they just disappear. Oh, and there are two hits inside the cavern. Not moving now. I assume our guys in the cavern got them.”

  “We did,” George said over the web meeting. “We blocked the crawl space they dug with a few grenades, but it won’t hold them forever. One of the Islamists who got through said there was a large cavern between here and the buildings.”

  General Hogan’s phone dinged. He looked at it and grinned. “Jets on line. Let’s light up that building.”

  Suddenly there was a pop, and an explosion, hitting left of the building.

  “Mortar,” Private Peterson said. “Hey, gunner, you’re too far to the left.”

  “Roger that,” Charlie said. He made the adjustment and dropped another round down the tube. It popped, and then there was an explosion, right in the center of the building. Several Islamic Fighters got up and ran towards the driveway, but were cut down by fire from the M60s and the M2 machine gun.

  “Hit them again,” General Hogan said.

  “Hey, guys, don’t hit those big fuel tanks in back of the building,” George said.

  “Why not?” Charlie asked.

  “I’ve got an idea,” George said. />
  “Okay, I’ll hold off for now,” Charlie said. “Let me know when you want me to continue.”

  “Let’s paint the building,” General Hogan said. “That’s a little more surgical. Hit several sections of the building, as deep as you can.”

  The men pointed the target designators at different parts of the building and pulled the triggers, sending the data to the planes. After a few seconds, they heard the missiles approaching. They went into the ruins and blew up, sending debris up into the air. More Islamists tried to run away, but were cut down by machine gun and rifle fire.

  “Let the dust settle,” General Hogan said. The men strained to see the site.

  “We got most of their structure,” Earl said, looking from the ridge nearest the front driveway. “We might want to hit them on the far left side of the building, up by the front. I think there’s a stairwell there.”

  “I’ve got the binoculars,” Jackson said, getting up next to Earl, taking a look. “Yeah, that’s a stairwell alright. Hey, a head just poked up.”

  “Let’s paint that as deep as we can,” General Hogan said. He joined the privates, all centering on that area. The missiles approached, and then there was the blinding flash and explosion.

  “Bullseye!” Jackson said. “That impact went down a ways. Tore out a big chunk of wall. I can see quite a ways in. Still movement. I’d hit them again. Probably just one missile at a time would do it. Let’s peel the onion a little more.”

  “I’m on it,” Private Peterson said, pointing his designator as far down the hole as he could. He pulled the trigger. The missile came a few seconds later, with the blinding flash and concussion.

  Jackson laughed. “Wow, you see how far in it flew before it blew up?”

  Suddenly there was gunfire, hitting the ridge, chipping rocks.

  “Get down, General,” shouted Private Jennings. He hit the dirt and slid back behind the ridge.

  “We need a commando team down there to clean them out,” General Hogan said.

  “Already on our way,” Ned said.

  “Leave enough down in the cavern just in case,” Hopper said.

  “We’re still here,” Shirley said. “I’ve got Orr and Goodnight with me, and there’s others too.”

  “We’re gonna join Ned,” George said. He left the cavern with Agent Williams, Malcolm, and Ted.

  “Hey, general, I can see where the Islamists are with my detail app,” Frank said. “The guys on top, anyway. There’s only about five left, and I don’t see anybody by those stairs anymore.”

  “I’m gonna bring my dogs up there,” John Harper said.

  “No,” Dobie said. “Been listening. Gabe and I just got here. I’ll take the Dobermans in. You watch that tunnel with your dogs.”

  “Okay,” John Harper said.

  Dobie let his dogs out of the van. He checked his pistols and walked towards the driveway, getting up next to the armored semi. Clint saw him and climbed out.

  “Glad to see you,” he said.

  “What’s the best way in?” Dobie asked.

  “The whole front of the place is open, but there’s still at least five enemy fighters in there,” Clint said.

  “You mean five people with chips,” Dobie said.

  “Yeah,” Clint said.

  Ned’s group trotted over next to them, then George, Malcolm, Ted, and Agent Williams.

  “You guys leave enough men in the cavern?” Clint asked.

  “Yeah, Wedgie and Spence are in there with a couple of our guys,” Ned said, “and three of the best militia people are in there too.”

  “And John Harper with his hounds,” Dobie said.

  “Yeah,” Ned said. “They ain’t gonna come through there. It’s a death trap for them unless they can make that opening a whole lot bigger. It’ll only take a few guys to stop them from doing that.”

  “Good,” George said. “I saw five icons when I was walking over.”

  “Yeah, that’s what we’re seeing,” Clint said. “But remember there may be some without chips.”

  “That’s where the dogs come in,” Dobie said. “You guys ready?”

  “Yeah,” George said. The others nodded, and they crept up the driveway towards the wreckage of the buildings.

  Two rifle shots came at them, whizzing by, parting the air. The men hit the ground, eyes scanning.

  “Watch it,” Clint whispered. “Want us to send a machine gun volley in there before you go?”

  “No, and keep off that sucker when we’re in there, okay?” Ned asked.

  “Yeah,” Clint said.

  Dobie crawled forward to a curb that curved into the main driveway. He unhooked his dogs and let them go. “Go kill.” The dogs looked at him and trotted inside, looking everywhere. Dobie crawled further up the driveway on the far right edge. George, Ned, and Malcolm ran in a crouch up the other side. Ted and Agent Williams went up the middle.

  Suddenly there was snarling and gun fire. One of the dogs let out a squeal.

  “Peabody!” Dobie cried. He moved faster up the drive as the dogs snarled and barked. They were charging three men towards the back who were trying to fire in a panic. Dobie stood up and fired three rounds, killing the first two men. The third man fired, and Dobie felt a sharp pain in his side. He hit the ground, blood flowing out into a large puddle. George fired, killing the third man as they all rushed into the ruins.

  Chapter 26 – Fire Hoses

  “Dammit,” George said, rushing over to Dobie, who was holding his side, trying to stop the blood flow.

  “I think the bullet went through,” he said, looking up at George. “Go nail them. I’ll make it.”

  “C’mon, George, let’s go get them,” Ned shouted. “The dogs have another guy surrounded over there.”

  “Get somebody over here to move Dobie,” George shouted. Then he got up and ran in, rifle in hand.

  There was more gunfire, dogs snarling, and screams. It went on for several more minutes, and then there was silence.

  General Hogan came down off the ridge, rushing over to Dobie, who was surrounded by Gabe, Charlie, and Kurt.

  “We’ve got to get him to a hospital fast,” Charlie said.

  “I just called for medivac,” General Hogan said. “They’ll be here in ten minutes.”

  Ned ran over with one of his men. “Private Samuels is a medic. Let him have a look while we’re waiting for Evac.”

  “Thank God,” Gabe said, motioning for everybody to make room.

  Private Samuels snapped his fingers in front of Dobie’s face. No response.

  “He’s probably in shock,” he said. He got out a light and looked at the wound. “Try to roll him so I can see underneath.”

  The men gently rolled him, and Private Samuels looked at the exit wound.

  “Well?” Gabe asked, tears running down his cheeks.

  “He’ll probably live if we can get more blood into him quick enough.”

  The sound of a helicopter approached. “That the medivac?” Kurt asked, looking up.

  “Yeah,” General Hogan said. “Keep an eye on the perimeter. There might still be enemy troops around, and we don’t need them shooting at the chopper.”

  “He’s waking up,” Private Samuels said.

  Dobie’s eyes opened slightly, and he saw Gabe standing over him.

  “You okay?” Gabe asked.

  “I’ve been better,” he said softly. “Keep track of my dogs, okay? Check Peabody. I think he got shot.”

  “Don’t worry about your dogs,” Gabe said.

  “Tell Vicki I’ll be okay,” Dobie said.

  “Save your strength,” Private Samuels said.

  The chopper set down, and several men ran over with a stretcher.

  “How bad?” the first medivac man asked.

  “He’ll make it if you hurry,” Private Samuels said. “Let’s get him the hell out of here.”

  The men put Dobie on the stretcher and rushed him to the chopper. It took off a few seconds later.
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br />   “Where they taking him?” Gabe asked.

  “Probably Carlsbad,” Private Samuels said. “There’s a good hospital there, and it’s less only five minutes by chopper.”

  “Good.”

  ***

  Frank was watching the laptop screen when Vicki ran in, crying. “Dobie got shot.”

  “I know, but he’s alive,” Frank said. “They’re airlifting him to the hospital in Carlsbad.”

  “I’m going,” she said.

  “What about your kids?” Jane asked.

  “Clara and Frankie said they’d watch them.”

  General Hogan’s voice came over the web meeting. “I heard. Don’t let her drive there by herself. I’ll get the chopper to come get her, okay?”

  “Vicki, General Hogan will send the chopper here to get you,” Frank said.

  “I heard,” she asked, smiling through her tears. “How soon?”

  “I’d get ready now,” Jane said. “I’ll help with your kids too if you need me to.”

  “Oh, thank you so much,” she said. She sat down on the bench and waited.

  “Frank, what do you see around the buildings?” General Hogan asked.

  “Stationary icons,” Frank said. “Looks like they’re deader than a doornail to me.”

  “How about below?”

  “Almost all of the hits below the building are gone now, and the ones that are there aren’t moving. The live ones must be underground.”

  “We sure there’s no other way out of that cavern they’re in?” Jane asked.

  “No, we’re not,” George said. “I need a bunch of hose. At least a hundred yards of it.”

  “What do you have in mind, George?” General Hogan asked.

  “There’s a tank of gasoline and a tank of diesel in the compound behind the ruined buildings. I say we pump that into the cavern and light it up.”

  “Ouch,” Jane said.

  “I like it,” General Hogan said. “But where we gonna get the hose for that?”

  “Hey, guys, let’s go talk to the park employees,” Ned said. “They might know where the supplies are for the park. They probably have fire equipment. Maybe we can splice the fuel lines into fire hoses.”

  “Good idea,” George said. “I’ll meet you at the entrance to the caverns.”

  “Okay,” Ned said.

  “Frank, keep an eye on the tunnel and the building area,” General Hogan said. “Let us know if anybody tries to come back out. Also watch for anywhere they might be escaping.”