The pain of his maimed limbs was nothing compared to the excruciating pain he experienced in the next several minutes as teeth fastened on all exposed parts of his body, slowly ripping him to shreds. With a prone, helpless captive, the zombies fed slowly. Very slowly, and Tony was conscious through most of it. He was already in Hell.
*****
Chapter 12
"You're a hard man, Reaper," whispered Schuster. Hamilton and Barber had left them after the grisly end of the would-be rapist, taking the girl back to the industrial complex and safety. Now he and the Reaper were completing their mission. Brian still shuddered at the images he had witnessed before they'd escaped through the side tree line. At least twenty zombies had quickly converged on the prone form, and even a hundred yards away they could hear his muted screams. The escape from their presence had been easy, as the zombies always focused on readily available prey first. Brian shuddered again just at the Reaper spoke.
"That's been said before, Shue," was the answering retort.
"I'm sorry, Captain. I didn't mean to offend you, but that was pretty vicious. Wow, what a bad way to go." Beside him, the Reaper paused as they wound their way around the backside of the cemetery. Then slowly those dead brown eyes fastened on him and Brian could not stifle the chill that ran down his back. He saw the Reaper glance quickly around, then draw him close.
"The girl’s end would have been worse in her eyes, Shue."
"Agreed, sir, I don't doubt that, and I hope she'll be OK." Brian could see this man was deep in thought and held silent, waiting.
"Shue. I spent over twenty years as a sniper in Force Recon. After the first few years, it simply became a job. Not just something to do, but a good job that helped our causes and humanity in general. Then my family was taken from me, and in that moment I believe the Lord spoke to me. This new world is breeding two types of people. The good, honest, and strong who only want to survive and rebuild, and care for their families. And then their is the other type who are bent on making this test of the Lord's that much worse with their rape and pillage."
The Reaper paused briefly before continuing. "What my flesh wished to do was create an example of this man. One in which he would be found and those others would know. I hope that some would redeem themselves and leave, or even help, but most would not have. The message would have been lost on most because they do not wish to hear the message. They are already damned in my eyes and those of the Lord. Then, I decided that no message needed to be made. It was enough that this man who would rape a young girl is now in Hell. I, personally, have no need to make a statement of those I service in the name of the Lord, and it will also help our cause if he is not discovered. Schuster, I do not ask your religious beliefs, but I strongly feel there is a higher plan in place, and that we are tiny parts of it. Like that child we rescued. Perhaps she will grow up to be another Ashley." The Reaper sighed and turned away to continue on when Schuster reached out a quick hand to stop him.
"Who is Ashley?" he inquired. The Reaper swiveled his head to look at him, and then spoke softly.
"Someone who is a very special young lady, and perhaps one day you'll meet her. Now, let's go. We have a recon to perform."
"I still wish you had taken Hamilton's coat. We're going to be out here all night and it's cold as fuck, sir."
"Like I told you then Shue, long underwear. I'll be fine."
Schuster nodded, not understanding all of it, and followed the Reaper as they melted into the undergrowth.
*****
"So how does it look?" It was early morning, shortly after dawn, and the Reaper and Schuster had just arrived back at the industrial complex. The Reaper’s first act was to inquire about the girl that had been rescued, and was told she was sleeping after Nancy had given her a light sedative.
"Doable," replied the Reaper.
The short reply threw Rodriguez off, and for a second he struggled with what to say. "Sir, I need a little more than that to go on."
"I need paper, and some pencils. I'll show you what we found. Sergeant, it's easier to explain as I show you what we're facing."
"Yes, sir." Rodriguez asked one of the civilians to fetch the needed supplies, and together with some of his men, joined the others who stood around the large conference table in one of the offices waiting for the Reaper to begin.
As soon as the requested materials were delivered, Jason immediately grabbed them and, sitting down with Schuster beside him, began to sketch. Quickly the outline of the grounds took form, along with the interior buildings and front gate, then a back gate Rodriguez hadn't been aware existed. As the Reaper outlined the facility, Schuster was quick to point out and add small details, bringing the larger picture into sharp focus.
"There are only two entrances to the grounds. The front gate here in the center, as you know, and this one at the back, here. It's a smaller utility gate made of heavy steel, and my guess is its a groundskeeper and supply access." Another line was drawn and a number written in above it. "It's relatively close to where they're keeping the captives. Less than two hundred feet, in fact,"
"Defended?"
"Yes, but there are only two guards, along with the same defensive setup as the front with a bus pulled up blocking it on the inside." Rodriguez nodded, and Jason continued as he drew another building across the street yet close to the rear entrance. "Groundskeeper's shed and currently filled with assorted lawn and excavation equipment. No guards, and currently unoccupied.”
Next, the Reaper started drawing symbols. Round ones to indicate enemy concentrations, along with notated figures next to them. Rodriquez was adding them up when he noticed something. "Hey, wait. If I am reading this correctly, there are close to, if not over, a hundred and fifty of them. Our last count was just over a hundred."
"Sergeant, like you told me yesterday. Your information is out-of-date. Their group is obviously expanding. At a guess, they're taking in anyone and everyone in order to have the numbers to take your group out with minimal casualties. It's what I would do."
"Sir, we have an agreement with them, and we've abided by it."
"So, you think they’ve suddenly acquired honor?" snapped the Reaper, his deadly gaze turning on Rodriguez.
"Sarge, there's a lot of welding going on inside. They appear to be adding what looks like plates of steel or armor to some larger vehicles. We think it's to counter our M-ATVs," Schuster spoke again as he witnessed the tension suddenly appearing between his NCOIC and the Reaper. The two senior enlisted exchanged glances for a moment before turning back to Jason, but the Reaper had already returned to the drawing.
"From the looks of their progress, I would estimate you have two days at the most before you're attacked, and no more." Beside him, Shue was nodding.
"Yes sir, that was my take also."
"Let's move on. At this point, pre-planning is sheer speculation until we know for sure what Newaygo is sending in the way of men and supplies," muttered the Reaper.
"If they send anything," muttered Rodriguez in return.
The Reaper instantly turned his cold gaze on the younger man and paused before speaking.
"Jay and those with him have honor. If they say they will deliver, then you can count on it. Until proven otherwise, it would irritate me to hear them disparaged!" The tone was stern yet deadly, as those brown eyes pierced Rodriguez, who quickly held up his hands in a placating gesture.
"Yes, sir. Got it. We'll wait, and no more comments," he replied.
"Good. We have two teams of Special Forces dropping tonight. Unless they come up with a better plan, we'll keep this simple. Against forces such as these, it's important not to overestimate them. A fluid engagement that decimates a majority of their numbers and frees the captives is the most important aspect of this entire operation."
"Barring disagreement at final planning I'm going to use one team to infiltrate on the north side and take possession of the captives’ location, making it secure. Once that signal is given, two things will happen
simultaneously. The primary assault element positioned here," the Reaper indicated the friendly symbols along the north edge of the cemetery, "will breach the fence on that side and skirmish inward. As that happens, we'll push all four M-ATVs down Highway 24 from the north. We’ll space them a hundred feet apart and have them firing over the walls at targets of opportunity. The idea is to drive the enemy south, which will quickly happen. They'll be disorganized, most of them scared and only trying to get away. I will initially be positioned here," another spot was indicated."From our recon it looks perfect for me to shoot down into the interior of the cemetery, helping out where needed. I will relocate later, but ..."
"But sir," Rodriguez interrupted. "If you drive them south, they'll enter the city and we're on the far side. Also, there will be no one on the east side, they can escape that way." The sergeant was obviously concerned and wasn't afraid to voice his opinions.
"Wait. I'll address the east side first. They won't go in that direction except to get to the main highway. That entire flank is heavy woods, which would impede their progress, and almost none would even attempt it without their vehicles. When we light them up, they'll be running hard and fast. We want to drive them south and actually east to the parking lot area. As to the former part of your question, watch," and with that the Reaper drew a circle around a small valley just south of the cemetery.
"Right here are five farmhouses. If we get those AT4s as promised, we'll put a force in here. Bunkered down and hidden. I don't want anyone hit by friendly fire. Once the main group of marauders starts to run south down 405, we'll cease fire on the north side and group two will pop their surprise."
"Surprise, sir?" Schuster had spoken again.
"They currently have in the neighborhood of sixty to seventy vehicles. By the time our north and west elements hit them, they'll be half that and running hard. Robinson indicated a pallet of forty AT4s. Our second assault element will pop up and hit them right as they're passing. Most should be wiped out. Those marauders that do happen to escape should keep running, or will be eliminated as we hunt them down, one by one. By then I will have relocated to this position here. A farmhouse with a silo that will suit my needs perfectly," and quickly Jason circled a spot on the map a little more than halfway south of the cemetery's north wall, on the west side.
"Wow. Well if it works, it will destroy most of them, from the looks of it. Not that I'm an expert, but it seems fairly simple," commented Nancy, who was leaning over Rodriguez's shoulder while watching intently.
"Yes Nancy, that is the plan. It's simple and should work. We'll run it by the components we're receiving and see what they think. I also want some of the demo used for IEDs in those stranded vehicles along 405. We can have a spotter remote-detonate them as the vehicles are passing. I'll need a small element of our most accurate men and women not engaged in the direct assaults to provide a mop up of stragglers running on foot. They would be here," and another circle was drawn further south on the map, right at the city’s edge. "They can take cover in the buildings, and if fire is returned, their job is to evac. Our northern skirmishers will soon be there."
"Wait!" Rodriguez was standing and looking angry. The Reaper also stood and just stared at him as he waited for the man to continue. "Why do the civilians need to be involved at all? We are trying to protect them, Captain, not put them in harm's way."
"Because this is a new world and everyone is needed. This is a fight for the survival of our species, Sergeant. There are those that would turn this country into a thousand petty fiefdoms, and that will not be tolerated. You will stand, and your people will stand with you, and we will prevail! We are all combatants in this fight of good over evil. There are no innocent bystanders except for the children. All able adults will do what's needed and necessary to ensure their survival."
"But we'll be heading to Newaygo when this is over. There is no need to involve them."
"Now there you are wrong. The whole point of this is not just to gain the captives their freedom, but to create a viable community here after stamping out the current rot. After our immediate mission is complete, more help will be forthcoming. You will use the foundation given to you and build on it. Your group of survivors will grow from their current few hundred to thousands, perhaps tens of thousands as more groups seek out your beacon of hope. In a few weeks this will seem as nothing, and you'll be busier than you can possibly imagine. I hope your civic skills are sharp. They'll be needed."
Rodriguez sat down in his chair, hard. The enormity of what the captain was saying was beyond his capabilities. Possibly tens of thousands in a few weeks? Survivors all looking to him for help? His mind started to shut down, when Nancy's firm warm hands gripped his shoulders from behind, and he looked upward into her eyes. Slowly she leaned down and kissed him softly, completely disregarding the stares of the others.
"Babe, he's right. We know there are many more survivors out there. Hiding. Afraid. Desperately scared. They need to see a stable community before they will come in. We talked about this."
"Yeah, Hun, but that was in Mexico City, maybe next year after we cleared all the zombies out."
"Next year will be too late. Many will die over the winter. You need to bring them in now, in order to save them," intoned the Reaper, watching Rodriguez.
"But it's too much responsibility," he muttered.
"No, I think it's exactly the responsibility you need. You will have help."
"OK, fine. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it, but getting back to the attack, if ...” and suddenly the entire plan made sense to Rodriguez, yet he was still skeptical. "Isn't this a little basic?" he inquired, and once again he was treated to a rare grin from the captain.
"Many times simpler is better. No plan survives contact with the enemy, and this one will be no exception, but if we give them exactly what they expect, our chances of success are that much greater." The Reaper’s words had Rodriguez nodding, and he smiled before responding.
"I like it, and now see what you meant by 'doable'. Assuming your friends in Michigan come through tonight, I can commit, sir."
"We'll have a Q&A before final mission approval when the men from Newaygo arrive. Don't worry. We'll beat it to death, I'm sure."
Just then, a solder came crashing into the conference room, breathless, with an angry look on his face. The Reaper looked up at the interruption.
"Sir, the damn marauders are attacking the survivors in that manor on the corner of Main and Trump ... again! From what Smith and I could see, it's going bad for them. The bad guys have two huge snowplows and are trying to smash through the cars they piled along their parameter. Rough guess is thirty minutes or less until they’re breached." The private was breathless, and stopped to draw in a deep breath. In that moment the Reaper stood and addressed the others.
"We have to go to their aid," he growled.
"Sir, if we do, we have to be carefully about it."
"You're going to be attacked anyways. It's time to help and not stand idly by, Sergeant," and the Reaper could see Rodriguez's resolve hardening as the man responded firmly.
"Sir, you're right." Rodriguez turned to Schuster, his visage hardening even further. "Shue, take three men and change into civies. Leave your dog tags and I.D.s here. We want this action sterile so if it goes bad, nothing can come back to us. You can't have the M-ATVs, they're too low on ammunition and would give us away."
"Got it, and about damn time!" Schuster was grinning with delight and already stripping items from his person as he called out to three of the other soldiers present to start doing the same. For the first time, Rodriguez turned to the Reaper and addressed him by his moniker.
"Reaper, take care of my men, and Newaygo had better come through or we are truly fucked," he growled.
"I get it."
In moments, the others were back, dressed in civilian clothing; even their three-point slings had been detached from their issued M4s. Each carried a satchel which, from the bulges, indicated they we
re full of spare magazines.
"Let's go," the Reaper growled, his voice deeper and more menacing than Rodriguez's.
Jason needed his rifle, and he needed to get to that cell tower that he had earlier noted overlooked the city, specifically Main Street. Then he needed to set his men up in a flanking maneuver to provide support for his position while remaining in a position that would require the marauders to disembark their vehicles. Waving for Schuster and the others to follow, he nodded curtly at the others and left.
*****
Chapter 13
Tom was more than worried, he was frantic. Everything the Reaper had told them was happening, and much sooner than he had anticipated. His group was taking no chances, and firing from cover, but already two of his men were down along with three of the women, all seriously wounded. They were mainly being attacked along their front entrance but enough shots along with those damn Molotov cocktails were hitting the sides and back to keep them overwhelmed. Thank God the manor was built with heavy fieldstone and brick or they would have already perished. In the background, he could hear the screams of the children they were keeping safe.
Quickly turning around and resting his rifle in the narrow window, he fired again, watching as a man standing in one of the trucks arrayed against them collapsed. Then rounds were ricocheting off the stone of the opening and instantly he ducked back. Taking each shot was a major risk, but you did what you had to do for the people you were trying to protect. A crash sounded and, risking safety, he peered around to take a quick glance. Damn them, the marauders were slowly but thoroughly using large snowplows to smash a hole through the cars they had lined against the sides of the walls surrounding the manor. As Tom's heart sank with dread, he knew they only had a short time before they were inside the house. There was nothing stopping them this time. He swiveled into position, taking another shot which missed, before he ducked again and vainly prayed for any form of rescue.
The Reaper: No Mercy Page 11