“Akio-sama, is it time already?” Terry’s voice relayed through the speaker.
“It is. I am leaving right now. We will be there shortly.”
“We’ll be here,” Terry replied flatly. Akio looked at the device and signed off.
***
North Chicago
“Akio is on his way to pick us up,” Terry told Char, then turned to Aaron. “We need you with us, because we’re going to China.”
Char hung her head and exhaled. “We can’t take the kids with us. It’ll be a hot zone from the second we get there. Let’s ask Billy and Felicity.”
Terry didn’t know what to say, but they had little choice but to leave the children behind. He wouldn’t go into combat without his better half. They balanced each other in ways that neither could do without, in ways that vastly improved their chances of survival.
They needed the Weretiger because he spoke Chinese and maybe the tiger part of him would intimidate the masses in ways that firepower couldn’t.
“Clemson!” Terry yelled when he caught sight of the young man. The Weathers boy ran over. “Do me a solid and go get Mark and tell him to bring the platoon, armed as we discussed, and we need them in front of the mayor’s building in twenty minutes. Fast as you please, good sir.”
Clemson smiled with teeth that were too white against his dark features. It was infectious and Terry and Char had to smile back, even though they weren’t in the mood. He ran off, almost as fast as a Were.
Terry walked with Aaron to pay the mayor a visit while Char had to bring the Werewolves in. She ran for the motor pool, hopped in the dune buggy, and then returned to their quarters where she grabbed Ted, since the wolves were mostly healed. He resisted for only a moment, but her hair was on fire.
They spun out on their way out of the old parking lot on their way to the power plant. She drove up the road faster than she should have, but slowed as they approached the turn. She powered through it and into the plant’s lot. She slid to a stop, jumped out, and ran inside.
Ted climbed out casually and headed for the reactor. Gene was standing at the control station with his arms crossed.
“You need to go. Akio is on his way,” Ted told Gene without emotion.
“Are you coming, my friend?” Gene asked in his booming voice.
“No. Someone needs to stay behind and keep an eye on the instruments,” Ted replied. “Make sure that it doesn’t do anything it’s not supposed to do.”
“A joke! Well done, little man!” Gene climbed from the platform and started jogging toward the base. He stopped, removed his clothes and changed into his Were form. He picked up the bundle of clothes in his mouth and rumbled toward the base. He stepped on a sleeve with his shirt firmly in his mouth, yanking his head down, his back legs went up and over, driving his face into the pavement. He rolled once and ended flat on his back.
Ted watched out of idle curiosity, wondering how the Werebear was so different from Gene the nuclear engineer. Ted then turned his attention to his baby, the Mini Cooper.
Although he fiddled with it, the system had been hands-off once the reaction had started.
Char returned dragging Timmons, Shonna, and Merrit from the plant. They complained mightily, but they had no choice.
Where the alpha led, they had to follow.
“Hold down the fort, Ted!” Timmons called as the four of them piled into the dune buggy, hanging on to the machine gun mount as they stood within. Char took it easy on the drive so she wouldn’t lose anyone.
When she pulled back into the motor pool, the oldsters were waiting, ready to go to war. But Char had something different in mind for them.
“Blevin, what are you doing?” Char asked.
“We’re ready to go, ma’am,” the first sergeant reported.
“We have a more important mission for you. Have you heard that we’ve seen another boat offshore?” Blevin nodded and Char continued. “We need to secure the base and when the platoon leaves, Billy Spires is going to have a complete meltdown. None of us want to see that, so it’ll be up to you and your people to secure the base from strangers. I think that fifty cal on the top of this baby might make a great deterrent. If they want to talk, we’re counting on you to make sure they do it without being a threat to our people.”
“We won’t let you down, ma’am,” First Sergeant Blevin replied, saluting. He looked relieved in one sense, while disappointed in another. The other oldsters seemed happy to be able to stay home.
“Twenty-four-hour watch, starting now, First Sergeant. Get to the armory and get yourself some weapons, AK-47s for each one of your people,” Char ordered, snapping a sharp salute and walking away. Timmons, Shonna, and Merrit followed.
Adams was with the fishing crew, which meant that he’d be left behind. When the fishing boat returned, he would find his pack gone, the entire FDG would be gone, but they couldn’t wait for him.
Char didn’t mind sending Timmons to tell Sue she was going. Since they were in a relationship, there was nothing like throwing a little water on the fire to see if they were serious.
Terry had already gone to see the mayor. Sue would probably already know, spoiling Char’s fun.
And then there was Clyde. He’d gone into combat with them on previous occasions, but Char wasn’t convinced that was a good thing. Terry loved that dog, despite his foibles and his new pack.
Char yelled after Timmons, “And find someone to take care of that dog!”
***
As soon as Clemson arrived, Mark knew what it was about. It took five seconds before the lieutenant was yelling for the platoon that they were to gear up and report out front.
Mark sent Clemson after Sergeant James, Corporal Lacy, and Private Geronimo. Married members of the platoon were in separate quarters in between the barracks and the other housing on base as a balance between the military and civilian worlds.
He expected the warriors of the FDG would be ready to go in two minutes. They slept with their weapons and their packs were maintained as go-bags. All they had to do was throw on their uniforms, flak jackets, backpacks, and grab their weapons and helmets as they left their rooms.
The first man was out the door in thirty seconds. Next out were the two squad leaders.
“Three days of combat operations. What’s ammo look like?” Mark asked.
“The standard—two full magazines and two boxes in the bottom of the pack,” Corporal Charlie replied.
Mark didn’t have to think about it. “Open the armory and issue eight more boxes and two extra magazines per man. Max load of grenades and gas for those with the launchers.”
“What about those rounds that shoot the nets?”
“One each to the squad leaders,” Mark answered, then raised his voice. “Make it happen, people. Form up out front, ASAP!”
Mark returned to his room to get his gear. He had been waiting and was ready. It took no time for him to gear up and head outside.
The dune buggy rolled in carrying First Sergeant Blevin and Corporal Heitz. The first sergeant jumped out and saluted. “The major ordered us to remain behind and assume the role of shore patrol. We’re to be issued AK-47s, one each, so twelve total. The major didn’t say anything about ammunition, but we’ll take what you got.”
“They’re at the armory now,” the lieutenant replied, returning a crisp salute. “Go tell Charlie what you need, but you’ll probably have to help yourselves.”
The two older men hurried into the barracks and found themselves swimming upstream against a flood of grim-faced warriors. They allowed the younger men to pass. They were all shapes and sizes—from the man-mountain that was Jim to the diminutive Blackbeard. They were all colors and nationalities.
And no one cared about any of that. The only thing that mattered was how they did their duty.
Terry had worked relentlessly to instill his ideals in each and every member of the Force de Guerre. They fought for a reason: to free humanity from the bonds that kept it from returnin
g to civilization. When they went into battle, it was to save lives, not end them.
It was ten minutes before James, Lacy, and Gerry approached at a full sprint. Sergeant James ran to the front of the platoon, saluted the lieutenant, then turned and yelled, “Report!”
Corporal Lacy stood at the head of first squad and was breathing heavily. It took her a second to gather herself. She saluted. “All present!”
James returned her salute.
Corporal Charlie saluted. “All present!”
James returned his salute.
Corporal Blackbeard was hidden behind the larger warriors in front of him, but he belted out his report with confidence. Mark assumed the small man was saluting. “One absent!” he reported.
“What?” Mark asked before James could say anything.
“Who?” Sergeant James asked.
“Ivan,” Blackie said softly.
“Find him!” the lieutenant and sergeant yelled together. Blackie bolted from the formation.
“Not you!” James growled. Blackie slid to a stop and ordered two of his people out of formation. The selected squad members were happy to leave and disappeared into the barracks.
They returned less than a minute later.
“He’s not in there,” came the unhappy report.
Eldie raised his hand. “What?” James barked.
“I think he’s been sleeping down by the beach,” Eldie answered.
The oldsters made their way out of the barracks, loaded down with weapons and ammo. Lacy dispatched two of her people to help them. Mark jogged to the dune buggy to talk with the oldsters.
“Can you whip down to the beach and check on Ivan? We think he’s sleeping somewhere around there,” Mark said, rolling his finger to hurry the men.
“I’m on it, boss!” Blevin called as he climbed in, saluted from the driver’s seat, fired the beast up, and spun the tires as he drove away.
The dirt sprayed the platoon, but no one ran. They heard Blevin call “sorry” as the dune buggy skidded around a corner.
“Why do they drive like that?” James asked.
“It’s an old-timer thing. I guess before the fall, they were kind of reckless, but it must have taken a lot of practice to get it right, because I tried, and I can’t really drive that thing. I’m almost ashamed to admit it. Almost,” Mark confided.
James chuckled. “They won’t let me near it, so consider yourself lucky for getting the chance.”
Together, they checked the platoon, verified ammo load out and weapon cleanliness, then they executed a right face and marched in the direction of the field where they’d be picked up.
Instead of the mayor’s park, Terry wanted to call it the LZ for landing zone.
But no one would let him call it that.
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
When Char arrived at the mayor’s building with the others, Terry, Sue, and Timmons were out front. Clyde sat between the two Werewolves. Timmons wouldn’t look at Char as she delivered her best stink-eye.
“Fuck no,” she said in a low voice when she was close enough. She didn’t want to project as the children stood in the doorway with Billy and Felicity. She saw they were crying and didn’t want the last words they heard from her to be cursing. She knew that she would take fewer risks, because of her family. She knew that Terry felt the same way and that was why he brought the whole platoon.
Aaron stood in the back and was getting mobbed by the rest of Clyde’s pack. He held his hands up in frustration.
Terry looked at the FDG’s special members. Gene was walking across the field with the grizzly cub, Bogdan. Aaron was fighting off a dog pack. Timmons and Sue were avoiding looking at each other, Char, or Clyde, the big blue-tick hound. Merrit was fumbling with something in his pack. Shonna was trying to help so neither was able to get their hands all the way in.
Char had her arms crossed as she glared at her pack.
“Pistols for you four,” Terry directed them, looking specifically at Timmons. “Take Sue and go get four pistols, eight magazines and four hundred rounds. Hurry up, Akio will be here soon. And Clyde’s not going.”
“We’ll see about that!” Sue declared as she and Timmons ran off. Clyde chased after them. Sue laughed and pointed at the dog, then turned back as they picked up speed.
Gene ambled up, Bogdan at his side. “Where is plane?” he asked, annoyed at being made to wait.
Terry shook his head, not bothering to answer the Werebear, happy that he’d changed back into human form and was dressed.
TH turned to his wife, taking her hand as they walked over to see the children. It was hard for both the parents.
“I want to go!” Kaeden cried, while holding his arms out to be picked up. Terry kneeled to be at the boy’s level.
“Not this time, little man,” Terry told him.
More tears.
“This is going to be dangerous, worse than the other times. We were never comfortable with you being in a battle zone with us. Never,” Char clarified.
Kimber understood only what she’d seen at the compound where she and the other women were being held hostage. She’d seen how the warriors had laid waste to the compound, killing all the men but one. She knew that the women were satisfied by the retribution that had been delivered.
They were happy in North Chicago and Kim was happy there, too. She didn’t want to leave.
“I’m here with you, and it’s okay that we stay,” Kim told her brother.
Kae looked at her through red and puffy eyes.
“It’s okay, little darlings,” Felicity drawled. Marcie stood on her own, holding hands with Cory. The two appeared to be the same age as they stood side by side.
Billy had his hand against Cory’s back as she teetered precariously close to falling.
She was still new to the whole walking thing, but it wouldn’t take long before she was running.
Sue and Timmons jogged back into view, and they had company.
Mayra jogged easily with them and she carried a pistol of her own.
“This is new,” Terry said, still holding Kae by the shoulders. “I need you to be strong for everyone. There’s no reason for anyone to be crying. Before you know it, we’ll be back and then we’re going fishing! I hear we may be able to find a small boat that will be just for us and family outings!”
“Promise?” Kae asked, turning his head to look out of one skeptical eye.
“I promise that we’ll go and look. If we can find a boat, then we will all work on it together, earn the right to sail it. How about that?”
“I guess,” Kae conceded. Terry kissed him on the head, then Kim, and finally Cory. Char stayed with them as Terry left to talk with Mayra.
“I’m going,” she stated flatly.
“Like hell you are,” Terry responded, firmly with no room for negotiation.
“If you are going to free more people, then I’m going,” she insisted, this time with less confidence.
“This one is different, Mayra,” Terry started as he saw three familiar ships appear in the distant sky. “We’re going where the bad guy has surrounded himself with an army. This is all-out war, and you haven’t trained with us. I can’t let you wade into the middle of it.”
“Maybe it’s not your decision what I’m in the middle of. I don’t remember asking you for permission for anything.” She threw her head back and jutted her chin out in defiance.
“No, you haven’t, but this is a military operation, and the one flying those pods? He invited us, a combat unit to go make war. Stay here and please, help Billy and Felicity protect our kids, protect the whole town,” Terry pleaded as the three pods descended, slowing rapidly to touch down soundlessly. “If you want to go in the future, we can work you into some training, make sure you know what we’re doing so you don’t get into the line of fire. We would hate to see something bad happen to such a good person.”
When she turned, she was surprised to see three pods simultaneously lowering their ramps.
She shoved the pistol into her belt. The man approached, stopped, and bowed.
“In due time,” Akio told Mayra. She hadn’t said anything, but he knew what she was thinking. That didn’t upset her. “You have many people who look up to you. You have been and will be their beacon of hope. If they are to be at peace, they need you.”
Akio turned and walked away. Mayra watched him go, feeling a strange sense of calm, knowing he was right. Rash decisions made on emotion would not help those in her charge.
Char separated the Were folk, putting Gene and Bogdan on the pod with Blackie. Timmons, Sue, and Merrit were on the second pod and Aaron was with Terry and Char on Akio’s pod.
Mark approached Terry as he was about to yell his trademark “wagons ho!”
“We’re still missing Ivan,” he reported.
“Get on board, Lieutenant, with the bear and put the platoon sergeant in number two. We need to go.” Mark saluted and did as Terry had ordered.
“Whenever you see Ivan,” he yelled at Billy, “tell him he works for Blevin and when we get back, he’ll be peeling potatoes for the rest of his god-awful life.”
“We don’t have any potatoes,” Felicity said, confused.
Terry checked the third pod, getting the thumbs up from the lieutenant. Terry nodded and headed to the second pod. The entire center area was filled with dogs.
“Get out!” Terry yelled. No one moved. “SERGEANT!”
James jumped up and started chasing the pack out of the pod. After a couple started running, the rest joined them, all except Clyde. He was held firmly in place at Sue’s side. She looked at him, challenging him to say something.
“Button it up, Sergeant,” Terry ordered, twirling his finger in the air.
He ran onto the first pod, getting the thumbs up on his arrival. He nodded to Akio and that was it.
The ramp closed and they lifted off.
***
On Lake Michigan
Anne was watching the sky as she always did, looking for clues to wind shift, for storms, for anything that she needed to react to.
Nomad Omnibus 02: A Kurtherian Gambit Series (A Terry Henry Walton Chronicles Omnibus) Page 53