by Newman, AJ
Barbara said, “I’ll work on the numbers to see how to balance donations to synthetic transfusions. I like getting people immune as fast as possible, so we’ll probably save the synthetic blood for new people. By the time any new synthetic blood transfusions would become immune, we would already have over six hundred and fifty immune people, and no one left to make immune.”
Jon shook his head. Barbara said, “Jon, do you disagree with my forecast?”
“No! I just don’t see how you can do the math in your head so fast.”
Barbara said, “I have a knack for numbers, but I also have a spreadsheet with several different rates of adding immunes and just extrapolate.”
Jon shook his head again and continued his part of the meeting. He knew they’d been lucky with the Lubbock people. Only a few people had to be killed or runoff. Their only threats were from a small gang working east of Lubbock and the ranchers. They stayed east of Lubbock, and Froggy’s community stayed in Lubbock or west of Lubbock.
Jon looked around the group. “I’ve been in charge of fortifying the NAS to make it our stronghold and fallback position if we become under any serious threat. We can hold over a thousand people for three months, but that means we would have depleted our supplies and eaten most of the livestock. There are five acres producing cabbage, carrots, celery, greens, and peppers. We have tons of potatoes, sweet potatoes, and apples stored. We need to increase our scavenging and get crops growing as fast as possible. I also plan to try raising catfish in some of the tanks around here.”
Jo asked, “What about those ranchers? Shouldn’t we be worried about them? I know one of them is Jill’s dad, but can we afford to ignore them as a threat?”
Froggy jumped back into the conversation. “Great question. Jon, Jill, and I plan to visit with Walt Scott, Jill’s father, this week. We’ll feel him out and determine if we can safely help them become immune.”
Grace said, “That’s BS. I hear they killed people just to get their land. They need to get the virus, and all die.”
The words hurt Jill, but she knew it was true. She still had a hard time believing her dad was part of that ruthless group. “I hate to say it, but I have to agree with Grace. My dad is part of that group, and I don’t think for a minute, his hands are clean.”
Jon hoped their meeting with Walt went much better than he thought it would.
☣☣☣
Fort Hood Texas –January 2038
Captain Randy J. Johnson had joined the Army nineteen years ago and immediately joined the paratroopers and a couple of years later, the Special Forces. He’d been in all the major hot spots around the world and was the General’s go to and fix-it man. The General had tried to groom Randy for bigger things, but Randy was a warrior, and even the captain’s rank was too high for him. His nose was slightly bent to the left and had a bump in the middle. He had a wicked scar from his chin to his left ear, where the enemy had tried to slit his throat. His body had several shrapnel and bullet wounds. He looked fifty but was only in his late thirties. His salt and pepper hair aged his looks.
He wanted to lead men into battle. He lived for it. At thirty-eight years old, he knew he only had a few more years before he wouldn’t be able to keep up with the young pups. The General had kept Randy close and watched over his career when others would have forced him to retire. Randy knew where his bread was buttered and took on every assignment from the General with a salute and a yes, sir.
“Randy, come on into my office. No need to salute, it’s just old buddies in the room. How’s Marge and the kids doing?”
“They’re fine and thrilled to be out of the bunker. Thanks for sending the team to get us. How’s your family?”
General Frank Tice replied, “Beth, Greg, and Sherry are great. My wife is still depressed, but I won’t trouble you with that. How did your family cope with being in a cave for half a year?”
“We organized games, read books, and I tried to keep the troops' morale up. I must say we went in with over a hundred mostly single troops ready to fight and came out with over forty weddings and thirty-one pregnant soldiers. I’m sorry, but it was a long time in isolation.”
Frank looked at his longtime friend and saw a soldier who looked beaten. “No worries. If I’d been in that situation, I’d have done the same thing as your men and women. Besides, the world could use some more children and future leaders.”
“I thought you’d be upset at the lapse in discipline.”
Frank exhaled. “I have had over a thousand men and women under my command here at Hood, and we tried to keep them separate, but love or lust finds a way. Forget about that. I need you to take on an assignment. I know you received a briefing from Major Benton, and I’ll fill you in on the situation.
Under the Secretary of Defense, our troops have declared martial law across the country and have taken back control of all military assets. There are approximately one hundred thousand survivors in bunkers, and about another hundred thousand survivors spread out around the country.
That fool who killed the president and took over has been lynched at Fort Detrick. The billionaire asshole thought he could get away with a coup while we were in isolation. A million things have to be done to get the country organized and everyone healthy again. Pockets of the virus are still popping up. That's where you come in.”
“I’ll do anything to help.”
General Tice said, “I know I can count on you. The traitor started a small army of bounty hunters searching the country for people who were immune to the virus. We have to stop them and find the immune people ourselves. His goal was to kill them for their blood and make a few people immune. Doctor Green of the CDC has convinced the Secretary that we can get the immunes to volunteer to donate blood that’ll make others immune without them having to die.”
“How do I start? Who do I talk with?”
“Randy, Major Benton has the details, but it appears there is a group of the immunes somewhere around Lubbock. You’ll have to find them before the remnants of the traitor’s group find them. You can use some of your men plus some of my SOG folks. Those guys haven’t had any action lately, and they’re good at infiltrating groups and blending in with the locals. Lieutenant Bond will have your men ready at 0600 tomorrow. I expect you to leave for Lubbock no later than two days from now. We can’t let those immunes fall into the wrong hands. I would imagine those immunes are a bit gun shy of outsiders. Be careful. They might have itchy trigger fingers.”
“I’ll do my best. Frank, before I forget, what happened to our friends and enemies?”
“Our friends are in the same boat we’re in but probably in worse shape. All our major enemies ceased to exist.”
“What?”
“We knew where their bunkers were located. It was easy to eliminate most of their military hardware and nuke their bunkers. Let’s just say we reduced our nuclear stockpile by quite a bit.”
☣☣☣
Jon found Froggy playing ball with his grandkids, and he watched them for a while, daydreaming about Barbara’s and his future children. He hoped he’d be as good with kids as Froggy was. Froggy saw him and came running over all covered in sweat. Froggy was huffing and puffing as he approached Jon. The man wasn’t overweight, but thirty years of smoking hadn’t helped his lungs. He was in pretty good shape for his age.
“Froggy, you get along with the kids very well, don’t you?”
“Oh, not so good for a week or so each time. My daughters try to be their best friends and don’t make them mind worth a darn. It takes me about a week to drill into their little noggins that I mean business and I ain’t their best friend. Can I take a quick shower before we go?”
Jon said, “Please take a shower. Hey, Jill called in, and her dad is willing to meet with us. She said he was heading here when she passed him on the road. They’re going to be here in about a half-hour. I yelled for Jack and Bob to join us.”
“Good deal. I don’t know whether to feel good or bad about this rev
elation.”
“I’ll go on over to the meeting room in case they get here a bit early.
Jon had barely sat down when Jill, her mom, and her dad came busting through the door. Jill looked worried with a scowl on her face. “Jon, we have trouble on the way. Dad’s ranchers sold us out to those bounty hunters.”
“Catch your breath and give me the details. We’ll cover them with Froggy when he gets … Hey, Froggy, trouble is on the way.”
Froggy sat on the edge of the table with a cowboy boot on a chair. “I guessed as much when I saw Jill’s truck take the corner on two wheels, so I shagged ass over here.”
Jill said, “Dad just told me the ranchers sold us out to the bounty hunters. The bounty hunters and a small group of heavily armed rogue soldiers will arrive in a couple of days. They’re scheduled to meet at Dad’s home three days from now.”
Walt spoke up. “I know y’all think I’m a bad man, but it was going along with them or getting kicked off my ranch or maybe killed. I draw the line at killing and kidnapping innocent people.”
Jon shook his head as he listened with white knuckles. “What about the innocent folks just passing through the area? Were they all infected?”
Walt’s head dropped. “No, they weren’t. I’m now trying to make up for all the bad I’ve done. I want to help.”
Froggy slapped his leg. “Why should I listen to a murderer and a liar? You could be setting us up to be kidnapped.”
“I’ll give you all the details and help you set a trap for them. I just want Jill’s mom far away from the ranch.”
Meg pleaded with them while sobbing. “I know Walt and I have done wrong, but we couldn’t let you all be butchered by those evil men. I’ll stay here as your hostage to prove we’re trying to help.”
Jill asked, “Won’t the ranchers think it’s odd that you’re not there?”
“No, I told them Meg was going to a friend’s house to be out of our way while we planned the operation. I have to be home in a couple of hours to talk with them over the short wave.”
Froggy looked at Jon, and both nodded. “Go on back home. Jon and I will put a plan together.”
Froggy asked the group to gather the rest of Froggy’s team, so they could put a plan together. Jack caught Jon before he left the room. “Son, how fast can we make some more pipe bombs and firebombs?”
Jon’s frown turned upside down. “I get your drift. We don’t wait on the bastards to attack us.”
“Bingo! Your mom would be proud you’re using your head for something other than a hat rack.”
Chapter 18
Wilson Texas – January 2038
Wilson Texas had been a little sleepy ranching and cotton town. Huge bales of cotton were sitting all around the city and made great defensive positions. A bale of cotton would stop a 105mm cannon shell. The town had been wiped out by the plague and had been scavenged so thoroughly there wasn’t a book of matches left to fight over. It was a perfect bottleneck to trap the enemy and destroy them.
Jon knew the actions they took today would be pivotal in their survival. Losing this battle could be the end of their community. Jon cleared his throat. “Walt said he’d bring them over on Highway 212 through Wilson and then up Highway 87. Jack and Iwill take two planes up with a small crew. We’ll watch for the bounty hunters from up high and alert you. As you know, they arrived late yesterday evening, and Walt fed them and plied them with beer and whiskey.”
Bob asked, “How will we know you’ve spotted them?”
Froggy said, “Our lookouts will let us know when they gear up to leave, and Jack and Jon will take off and watch them from high up. They’ll radio us when the bastards are a couple miles out of Wilson. Jack and Jon will begin bombing them about a half-mile from the city and chase them into our trap.”
Jon looked around the room. “Jack and Iwill leave now and take turns scouting from above to make sure we’re not tricked. We don’t want any surprises. Get in your positions and remember – no survivors – no prisoners.”
Jon taxied the plane down the runway and roared into the air in the small single engine Cessna. It was a six-passenger plane but had plenty of room for Barbara, Jill, and their bombs. Jon leveled off at five thousand feet and flew southeast toward Walt’s ranch. Barbara and Jill had binoculars and watched for any movement on the ground. They overflew Walt’s ranch and were surprised there wasn’t much going on there.
“I think somethings rotten down there. I expected to see a dozen vehicles. There’s the usual farm trucks and no army trucks. Let’s circle back and see what we’re missing,” said Jon.
They didn’t see anything around Walt’s place or back toward Wilson. On a hunch, Jon flew further north when Barbara said. “Look at that dust cloud. Someone’s in a hurry down that old dirt covered road.”
Jon was now above them and saw a convoy of large troop-carrying trucks, several Humvees with machine guns, and six school busses. “The bastards must know we’re expecting them. Get on the radio and warn Froggy the asshats are north of him and heading to the NAS. Damn, that looks like Walt’s foreman’s truck leading the SOBs.”
They circled high above the enemy when the column pulled off the road in a cluster of manufacturing buildings on the south side of Lubbock. “Look, they pulled off into that bunch of buildings,” Barbara noted.
Jon came back from behind them and saw them scramble into position. “They’re setting up for an ambush. Our people are on their way from behind them. Who could they be ambushing? Jack, this is Jon. Copy.”
“This is Jack. Go.”
“Dad, get over here to the intersection of Highways 41 and 87. The asshats have set up an ambush for someone. I’m going to expand my search to the west and see who they’re afraid of.”
“Roger, I’m only a few miles away. I’ll tell our guys to take cover.”
“Roger, Dad.”
Jon made a sharp turn back to the west and ran a search grid to find the unlucky people who were to be ambushed. It only took fifteen minutes. Jon saw a convoy of three Humvees heading west on Highway 41. They only had machine guns mounted on the lead vehicle, which was manned and ready. Jon knew the other men were bad and wanted to hurt these people. He thought that must make them the good guys.
“Barbara, write a note and tell them there’s an ambush up ahead. Let them know we won’t hurt them. Oh, write down the channel on the walkie-talkie. They might be able to communicate with us. Tie it to this wrench and add that yellow handkerchief so they’ll see it. Let me know when you’re done.”
A minute passed, “Got it.”
“Okay, ladies, I’m going to buzz them and then drop the note when I say. Get ready.”
Jon dropped down to the deck and was only fifty feet above the lead vehicle when he flew over them. He came back around, waggled his wings, and then yelled. “Drop now.”
The column had already stopped, and Jon saw someone looking at them with binoculars. Jon saw a man run away from the vehicles and pick up the note. The man with the binoculars waved at the plane, and Jon waggled his wings at the man. A few minutes later, Jon heard a squawk on the walkie-talkie.
“Unknown aircraft, this is Captain Johnson with the US Army. Do you read me?”
Jon answered, “We read you. There’s a rogue Army unit and some bounty hunters about two miles ahead of you. They know you’re coming and have at least three Humvees with machine guns. One Humvee has the big one. I think it’s a .50 caliber. Anyway, you’re outgunned. We’ll soften them up for you.”
“Thanks for the warning, but be careful. Any of those weapons will chew your plane to bits.”
“They don’t know we’re up here, and we have them trapped. Our men are behind them. Watch the fireworks, and then I’ll get back to you.”
Jon changed back to the aircraft’s radio and contacted his dad. “Dad, those are the bad guys. The real Army guys are the ones they want to ambush. Let’s make a bomb run together and see if we can put them out of business. We plan to drop
half our load.”
“Son, I have the most incendiary bombs. Let me come in at treetop over them and splash them with our homemade jellied gasoline. We’ll come in low, drop the jugs, and head up with a quick turn to keep their guns from getting a fix on us.”
“Will do. Roger dodger.”
“Roger, son. Let’s git’er done.”
Jon barked orders. “Girls, get your M4s and have a couple of the extra thirty round mags ready. I’m going to take us in close enough so you two can rain some hell down on them. It doesn’t matter that we can only dint the Humvees. It’ll draw their attention away from Dad’s bombing run.”
Jack spoke into the mic, “I’m lined up and will be dropping in about a minute.”
Jon replied, “We’re going to distract them. Good hunting to you, Dad.”
“Same to you, Son.”
Jon could see the twin-engine aircraft below them, making its bombing run. “Ladies aim at the right side of their position and spray the hell out of them as we pass over them. I’ll count down and start shooting on the count of three. Here we go. One …Two, Three, shoot!”
Barbara and Jill strafed the men and the vehicles as their aircraft passed by at over two thousand feet. They only hit one man and a couple of vehicles. It was just enough to get their attention before the small plane disappeared. Their turrets turned toward Jon’s plane, but they didn’t shoot because their target was gone. A minute later, gallon glass jugs full of gasoline with Styrofoam mixed in rained down on them. Each jug had a railroad flare taped to the side. The flares smoked as the jugs fell to the asphalt parking lot. The glass shattered, the thick gasoline mixture exploded in a ball of fire. The burning liquid stuck to everything it touched, setting it on fire.