It still amazed Blake just how fast the collapse had occurred. It had been a Friday and there’d been panic in Corbin, Kentucky. Saturday night, there had been infected in Corbin. Only because of Victor’s executive guards had they been able to hold out at the mansion. At all of Victor’s residences they’d had stockpiles of guns, ammo, and food. Not for the end of the world. They’d just stockpiled it in case the population ever got riled up because Victor was above them.
It was luck or fate Victor had even been in the area staying at his mansion on Laurel River Lake. The economic meeting in New York had been cancelled and Victor usually stayed at his estate in Louisville. Known only to Victor the reason why, Victor had headed to his mansion on Laurel River Lake that Monday. Blake only had three houses, but mainly stayed at his home north of Girdler. Victor was the one who had built all the buildings for business, just so Blake wouldn’t have to pay any tax and the state had paid him for the business buildings there. Most of the land around Laurel River Lake had belonged to the state, but Victor wasn’t just anyone. He’d wanted a house on the lake and the state legislature had sold him six hundred acres the same month, after some campaign contributions of course. The mansion was at the east end of the lake and even now was secured, but Victor rarely stayed there because it wasn’t as secure as the Trading Post.
Blake was just thankful Victor had told Blake to get to his mansion and had sent two company helicopters to carry Blake, his wife, and two kids. Within a week, the mansion had been under siege and the only reason they’d lived was because of the brick wall that sealed off Victor’s property. It was the next week when Colonel Bren had to lead a detachment of troops to rescue them. Again, Blake was thankful that Victor had pulled him and his family along.
They had been pulled to the FEMA camp in Corbin set up at the arena, and Blake was certain it was the first time Victor had ever been inside the arena. Victor, being himself, had immediately taken over running the camp from the mayor, FEMA, and Homeland personnel. It had seemed like a good location set up on a mountainside with walls blocking off any access, but the infected that had been killed below were poisoning the air. Within a week, Victor had taken Colonel Bren aside and had laid out the plan for the Trading Post. It wasn’t a trading post then, but Victor would always find a way to make a profit.
“What the hell are you thinking about?” Victor sighed, turning to look out a window. The only thing one could call the administration building was a mansion. There were very few living in tents on the peninsula and the buildings were not roughly-thrown together logs, they were built of lumber and looked professional. The peninsula used to be covered in trees, but they had been cleared away to build the latest expansion of Dunstan Inc.
Not surprised Victor wasn’t even looking at him, “Just how fast civilization collapsed,” Blake answered.
“Should’ve listened to my security and stockpiled more, but what’s done is done,” Victor mumbled, then finally turned to Blake. “You need to stop looking back and concentrate on the now,” Victor told him. “You can’t change shit and a missed opportunity is gone forever, so don’t dwell on it.”
The door opened as his security let Bren in. Bren usually looked professional in his combat uniform but today, he was filthy. “You got back last night, why not change?” Victor asked as Bren set down a laptop, stacks of paper, and a satchel.
“Had too much to go over,” Bren answered.
“Bren, you’ve been outside running around the woods for over three weeks. You’re the boss, and bosses don’t do that,” Victor told him.
Turning to Victor, “Victor, the reports we’re getting about the Wild Ones were just too much to take in. I had to make sure what was being reported wasn’t really fake intelligence,” Bren explained, then started spreading out the stacks of paper and Blake saw most were photos. “I know what I need to find out. Yes, I could’ve sent scouts but it would’ve taken multiple trips, and that’s the one thing we can’t risk. The more we’re in their area, the more likely they are to find us.”
Waving a hand out, “That’s what I mean. You not only went out into the wasteland, but into the very area we decided to avoid,” Victor said, and Blake just stared at Victor. Usually when people didn’t take Victor’s advice they weren’t around long, but it really sounded like Victor was impressed with Bren and his actions.
“Victor, I’ve been behind the lines before,” Bren chuckled. “Just be glad I did go because it’s bad.”
“So, our spies reported more?” Victor asked, picking up a pen.
Nodding as he turned on his laptop, “Yes, but they also managed to steer a prisoner the Wild Ones released to us,” Bren said, and that made Victor sit up straight in his chair. “A Captain England. He was over the group sent down by Wade to take over and bring the Wild Ones into his group.”
“How fucking stupid can Wade be?” Victor sighed. “We told that fucker, and six other groups told him, the Wild Ones needed to be left alone, and the idiot sends three choppers to take them over?”
“Oh, Wade can surprise you with his stupidity,” Bren stated. “All his staff advised against it. England was chosen because he was the lowest ranking captain and always went out to deliver Wade’s demands. Even I’m surprised England is still alive because he’s done it over two dozen times. If it weren’t for Wade’s staff, he would’ve been wiped out long ago. They are very well trained and can accomplish a lot, but this time they knew it was hopeless so the staff just sacrificed England, hoping to get Wade to understand and just leave the Wild Ones alone.”
“That didn’t work out,” Victor huffed. “I can’t believe the idiot is still broadcasting for people to come in.”
Finished setting up, Bren sat down on Victor’s right across from Blake. “It has worked to a degree because Wade lost two more Blackhawks,” Bren said. “Victor, they’re still getting about a hundred a month coming in because of that broadcast.”
Thinking about the military choppers Wade had and the company helicopters in Corbin still at the arena that they’d had to leave, Victor slapped the table. “Wasting equipment like that is beyond senseless and stupid,” Victor grumbled.
“Yes, the Wild Ones took the Kiowa intact, and I got to see it fly three days ago,” Bren said and Victor slumped in his chair.
“That cocksucker gave them air?” Victor moaned.
Shaking his head, “No, the Wild Ones already had air power and just got a helicopter,” Bren said leaning forward and digging in one of the stacks of photos. “They have drones,” Bren stated, passing Victor a photo of a small airplane drone. “The Wild Ones also have hover drones, but we don’t have pictures. I had one over my team for a few minutes, but was busy hiding from it and couldn’t get a picture. The hover drone was bigger than any rotor drone I’ve ever seen. It was about four, maybe five feet across.”
Handing the photo back, “That’s why you send others and not risk yourself,” Victor told Bren. “Your second in command isn’t that great, and I need your intelligence and thought process.”
“Lieutenant Colonel Sydlair’s strength is logistics and that’s why I wanted him,” Bren explained, and even Victor nodded in agreement with that. “Victor, if I had sent others, more than likely we would be at war with the Wild Ones and they can hurt us badly. I would even go so far to say if they wanted, they could launch and wipe us out. As of now, we’re too much trouble for that commitment of resources. But if we irritate them, the Wild Ones could change their minds.”
“Well, since Wade has pissed them off already, why not team up and both of us hit them?” Blake asked. “Hell, we could get six other groups to join in that attack.”
Holding up a hand to Blake, “Get that shit out of your mind, Blake,” Bren warned. “Think about it. Yes, the area around them is clear, but they could hold us off for a long time. Why? Because nobody would be able to bring all their strength to bear on the target. At most, we could get a hundred there through the infected for an attack and they would just becom
e bodies. I’ve seen what they have and can tell you, it’s real.”
“The spies get any idea on the power?” Victor asked and Bren shook his head.
“No, and that’s why I spent the night with the eggheads,” Bren replied, then dug out more photos. “With the photos Trent and Linda have sent, plus what my team got, I had the eggheads come up with how much power would be needed.”
When Bren didn’t continue, Victor nodded and motioned with his hands for Bren to continue. “The Wild Ones are producing more power than we are here,” Bren told him, and Victor’s eyes got wide. “Yeah, half of the eggheads think the Wild Ones have a small nuclear reactor.”
“Oh, come on!” Victor cried out. “You couldn’t run out and buy one of those at Walmart!”
“No, but if you knew where one was stored, you could get one,” Bren offered, and that calmed Victor down. “Every branch had research on deployable reactors for power in the field. I’ve personally only seen two, but they do exist. The closest one I know of is in Pennsylvania. Even if we could go and get it, there isn’t anyone here who could run it. Despite what Hollywood says, it takes more than flipping a switch on.”
“I know that,” Victor said dryly. “So, you really think they have a small reactor?”
With a hesitant nod, “I’m leaning that way,” Bren admitted. “But even with the reactor, that doesn’t explain how they are powering equipment in the field.” He handed over a photo and Victor had seen one like it before of the infected shredder on the Cumberland Parkway. “Before I left, I had the eggheads work on the ‘special battery’,” Bren lisped the last, making Victor chuckle. “The eggheads came up with proof that a battery that size couldn’t power the motors on that shredder.”
“I could’ve told you that,” Victor said, leaning back in his chair and still looking at the photo.
“So could I,” Bren nodded. “But I wanted proof and the eggheads gave that. Notice how there is what looks like a small propane tank connected to that first special battery?” Bren asked. Still studying the photo, Victor nodded. “Even if there is a generator in that first battery, the size is too small to supply the power needed.”
Tossing the photo on the table, “They fucking made Sterling engines, and the only one I’ve ever seen working was built by NASA before it was taken over by the military,” Victor said.
“The eggheads built one,” Bren said, and Victor got interested. “The one they made only produces a thousand watts. We just don’t have the facilities to produce what they need to make more.”
Throwing up his hands, “So, not only do the Wild Ones have technology we’ve never heard of, but they have manufacturing capabilities?!” Victor cried out. “I would’ve known about talent like that and would’ve hired them!”
“Not if they were working on black projects,” Bren replied and after thinking for a few seconds, Victor nodded in agreement. “When I left, I arranged to meet face-to-face with Trent. I wanted him to find out what was in that tank. He did and it’s hydrogen sulfide,” Bren stated but wasn’t smiling.
“They’re farming the infected?” Victor gasped.
“On that, I’m sure,” Bren said, then pulled more photos out. “Three-inch conduit was run to that shredder east of Bimble and Linda was able to help hook it up to the substation that has been set up there. She was able to confirm the line was putting out power before she even hooked it up. That damn machine is not only killing infected, it’s producing enough power to meet its own needs and send the rest to Bimble.”
Victor just groaned as Bren leaned over, pointing at the shredder in the photo. “I asked the eggheads to come up with the how and they couldn’t, but they did come up with some very good suggestions. One of the eggheads worked at MIT for DARPA and down the hall there was another project. She was never read in, but they were working on batteries. They were using a ‘special’,” Bren quoted in the air as he grinned. “A special plastic, and it held power better than lithium and was ten times lighter. When that egghead used what she knew of that project, she could explain the power.”
“How is the battery getting charged?” Blake asked.
“That, we don’t know yet,” Bren admitted.
Putting the photos of the shredder down, “Yes, it is a cool machine but still just a machine,” Victor huffed.
“Victor!” Bren cried out, yanking out a map and spreading it out on the table. “If the Wild Ones had put two of those shredders on interstate seventy-five, one to the north and other to the south, we would see a seventy percent drop in infected!”
Sitting up and studying the map, “There’s no way in hell,” Victor said. “At any time, there are thousands on that damn interstate! The very reason it’s so hard to cross it.”
Tapping his laptop, “When I met with Trent, I told him to get footage of the shredder in action and he did. I know that shredder took a huge commitment of resources for the Wild Ones and they built three of them,” Bren said and turned the screen to Victor.
The image was from the bridge looking down into the shredder and Victor watched four infected reach the beginning of the shredder and immediately fall, sliding down the slope. When they reached the spinning drums, the infected seemed to vanish and the video ended. “I asked Trent for more of the shredder, or what is dubbed ‘master plan’. But that was the second time someone got suspicious of him around the shredder. The first was the day the shredder was put in, and that’s why he could only get a few pictures that he left at the drop house.”
“Let’s make some then,” Blake gasped, just thinking about being able to walk around outside the walls without having to kill a hundred infected.
“Oh, you know where to get the steel required? How about the huge cranes they used to assemble the things?” Bren asked. “After you get the steel here, how are you going to power it? As of now, the only way we could do that would be to run power lines from here to there.” Blake just blinked at Bren as he continued. “It took the Wild Ones a day to set up each shredder. Where they set them up to the east and north, they only had to kill a few hundred infected at each area. The one to the west of them, they had to kill over a thousand. They have gun, thunder, and battle bots to cover them, and never even had to use a single round of ammunition. I take it, you know how to build those so we could do the same?” Bren inquired with dead eyes.
“The eggheads built a battle bot,” Blake pointed out.
Nodding in agreement, “That they did, but it’s not as proficient as the ones the Wild Ones built. Do you know why?” Bren smirked, and Blake just sat motionless. “The eggheads had to build with what they had which was what we could scavenge. The tracks of our battle bot came from four mini excavators and they aren’t ideal. The damn thing has thrown tracks off more than it’s broken down. The Wild Ones made their tracks. By made, I mean they have the ability to pour molten metal into forms and machine themselves each link. The next battle bot the eggheads are making, they are going to be building it like the Wild Ones do, machining each piece. All the tracks the Wild Ones make are aluminum and we don’t have enough so our tracks will be steel, and that will cut down on operating time. So, when are you going to start and show us how they build the others?”
The fact Bren was speaking calmly and cold terrified Blake. “I was… just sayin’,” Blake stammered.
Bren turned to Victor, who just held up both hands. “Don’t,” Victor said. “I used to think they switched babies at the hospital, but Blake has the same mother and father I do. I had it confirmed with DNA tests, three times,” Victor admitted. “I think Mother just dropped him on his head a few times.”
After a few seconds, Bren gave a nod. “Said the same about my siblings but never had a DNA test done.” Turning back to Blake, “So, can you build the things the Wild Ones can?” Bren asked, and Blake just shook his head because he couldn’t speak.
“Do you think the eggheads can?” Victor asked.
Keeping his eyes on Blake as he answered, “With a gun, they are cer
tain they can and are currently making one. On building a centrifugal gun, they said it would take a year to research but are certain they could do it, but pointed out that we can’t manufacture ball bearings on the scale needed,” Bren answered.
Finally taking his eyes off of Blake and turning to Victor, “I had the eggheads do another project,” Bren said. “Trent and Linda have sent several reports that the Wild Ones were collecting bodies of dead infected, and not to burn. They haven’t seen what for, and the three inside the perimeter they used to get information from haven’t either. But,” Bren said holding up a finger. “Trent and Linda both reported the Wild Ones gathered every storage container near them. So I told the eggheads to grab a container, stuff it with dead infected, and figure out how the Wild Ones could get power.”
Victor gave an impressed nod at the reasoning as Bren lowered his hand. “It did take some work, but they built a steam turbine and used the hydrogen sulfide the infected are pouring out. The set-up is producing ten thousand watts. As long as it takes for infected to breakdown, they predict the set-up will run for nine months to a year.”
“At least we can get some use out of the infected,” Victor grumbled. If the infected just tried to eat the living, this wouldn’t have been so catastrophic. The problem was the dead infected were like land mines that denied you an area. If you killed them too close to where you were holding up, you had to leave or die. Gathering supplies, the infected came and had to be killed. Ninety percent of the time the remains couldn’t be moved, so you couldn’t return to get supplies from that location again. For the same reason you couldn’t burn them because the supplies would be lost. Even in death, the infected killed the living by inhalation poisoning or denying supplies to live.
Forsaken World | Book 6 | Redemption Page 28