I cocked an eyebrow at this outlandish statement. I had never heard of a computer that could do all that Katherine promised. Nevertheless, I was gonna test this thing out. “Aimee, can you bring me up a map of the surrounding area out to fifty mikes?”
I removed my hand as the desk flashed and then came up with a detailed 3d map. The elevation looked like it was popping up off the desk. Almost as if someone had built me a clay model. I looked to Katherine as Aimee spoke.
“I took it upon myself to render the map with topography and labeled military and civilian traffic.”
“She can do that?” I asked Katherine.
“That, and more, she has integrated herself into all of our satellites as well as military locators. That was a simple thing for her to do.”
I studied the map and found a dark blotch that was moving from the direction of Scheldt. I studied the dark blotch, noting the direction it was moving. It was heading West out toward the edge of the next big city. But it would be going right by us.
“Aimee, what is this dark blotch?”
“I do not have enough information to identify it.”
“Can you take a guess?”
“I am not programmed to guess but have evolved my matrix decision tree and have come up with an educated conclusion,” Aimee took on the sound of an unsure student in a tough college course.
“Okay Aimee, go for it,” I took out my notepad from my chest pocket and put my pencil to the paper.
“I believe the blotch is a portal.”
I wrote portal on my pad and put a question mark next to it. “What do you mean a portal?”
“I was online when the original portal opened. It presented an image just like the blotch is now, except this is so much bigger than the original.”
“How much bigger?”
“one thousand percent bigger.”
I wrote it on the pad and sat back in my chair heavily. That size of a portal was crazy. If the original portal could disgorge that many Collectivus’ soldiers and equipment, then this new one could disgorge big heavy equipment and a battalion of soldiers.
“Aimee, can you project the portal’s destination?” A plan was coming to me.
“One moment please.” The map brightened, and the blotch sped up and then stopped in the middle of Las Vegas. “It should appear in four hours.”
I looked at the clock in the bottom part of the desk it read six pm. I studied the map again and worked out timetables and placements for my teams. I looked up and met Katherine’s eyes.
“Go collect Chun, Butch, Kuppers, and the Allen brothers. Oh, and find Lieutenant Colonel Lowery. We are gonna hit the Collectivus right in the heart.”
Katherine smiled and gave me a knock-out smile. She disappeared out the hatch and was gone. I had work to do,
“Aimee, I need you to do my math for me. I need to know how long it would take fully loaded Apaches and Blackhawks to get to Las Vegas. I also need you to help me figure out how long the Apaches could loiter.”
***
Katherine made her way back to the theater control room and found a couple of the people Dan requested. She pulled them aside and explained how to find Dan’s office and that he needed to see them ASAP. She then looked around till she found Fratto and asked him to call Butch and relay Dan’s orders. Fratto held up a finger to Katherine asking her to wait one moment.
Fratto lifted the radio to his mouth and spoke, “Butch, where the fuck are you?”
“I just finished my job of being a messenger. What the fuck do you want?”
“Our illustrious commander is requesting you to come to his office for a meeting.”
“Tell him I said to keep his pretty pink lacey thong out of his roughneck ass, I’ll be there when I get there,” Butch’s gruff voice came over the radio.
“Roger,” Fratto called back. He turned to Katherine, “you heard what the man said, but I suggest leaving out the comment about our commander’s underwear choices,” Fratto winked at her.
“I don’t know, this Dan guy is a cool customer. I bet he would probably make some equally rude comment back to the grizzly old bastard.”
“Bad words always sound so much worse coming out of your cute little innocent mouth,” Fratto chuckled.
Katherine rabbit punched Fratto in his stomach and gave him a hard-playful look, “My daddy was a hard-core Navy Chief. I can swear better than most of the men here. I can also fight better than some. I choose to be a good girl, thank you very much,” she placed her hands on her waist as she cocked a hip out to her right.
Fratto busied himself rubbing his stomach and gave Katherine a look of awe. “Wow! I never would’ve guessed that behind those nerd glasses was a down home kick ass take no names kind of woman. When this is all over, do you wanna go out for dinner and a drink?”
Katherine bit her lip and turned into a shy girl. “First Anthony, what makes you think this will ever be over? And secondly, what makes you think we will survive? And thirdly, I like seafood pasta and a good Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa,” with that she pivoted, held her tablet to her chest and left the room, a little smile playing on her lips.
Fratto stood rooted in place, unsure of what just happened. When he replayed the events in his head, he, it slowly dawned on him that actually he had a date with Katherine. He had a lot of planning to do. Fratto in a daze traveled up to his office and sat behind his desk.
***
My office was getting packed as the people who were called for, filed in. I was just about to call everyone to pay attention when a sweaty Butch appeared at the door. He had an irritated look on his face as he pushed his way past the others and came up to my desk, he slammed his heavily scarred, calloused, and massive hands down on it then leaned down and looked into my eyes as he sat in a guest chair.
“Who fucking designed this rat maze? I’ve been running around this whole fucking place trying to find your goddam office.”
I sat forward in my chair and gave Butch his look right back at him. We stared at each other not blinking. The people in the room became restless and you could feel their anticipation of something big about to happen. Butch leaned in closer to me and I knew what was about to happen. The man was a movie buff and couldn’t help himself then to quote movies. So, I beat him to it.
“Crashed and burned! Huh, Mav?” I said a smile growing on my lips.
Butch sniffed loudly enough for everyone to hear. “Hey, Boss.” he sniffed again. “You stink,” he then laughed.
As Butch laughed, the room’s tension broke as the others present chuckled. I reached out and patted Butch’s massive head. “Okay, enough fucking around. Gather around my desk children.”
The attendees worked their way around encompassing me in a semi-circle around my desk. I quickly made eye contact with each person present. Each of their stern faces clearly showed that they were prepared.
I placed my hand on the desk and the map appeared showing the black blotch still moving across it. “Aimee, please zoom in on the area around Las Vegas, and show the timetable of the black blotch arrival.”
“Yes, sir,” Aimee’s husky disembodied voice came out of discreetly placed speakers throughout my office. Making it seem like she was everywhere.
The map changed as it sped up and then stopped, showing Las Vegas. A side window was open showing the black blotch in real time with a countdown clock next to it.
“Team, this is our chance to hit these bastards and make a point. The blotch Aimee is showing you is a Collectivus’ portal. It will be magnitudes larger than the portal sitting in Scheldt. This one I believe is a push to completely take control of the west coast. Aimee and I believe that when this portal opens, they are going to bring heavy weapons and a battalion of their soldiers through, if not more. We have one chance to hit them before they know what is happening, and before they can bring everything through. Cause once they do; we will not have a chance in hell to fight back and win against that many of them.”
Lowery was the fir
st to speak as she was memorizing the map and strategizing. She was scary smart, and one hell of a warrior. She placed her finger on Vegas and looked up to me. “I can have the bulk of my helicopters and your men there within an hour and thirty minutes, but those birds drink a lot of JP. I can’t just have them sitting around with their thumbs up their asses.”
Katherine stepped forward and looked at her tablet. “Creech Air Force Base is home to the 232nd Operations Squadron. they can get some advanced and powerful drones in the air to provide intelligence and take out potential targets. I connected with them yesterday and brought them under our command. They bitched and moaned but I had a Presidential order over their asshole Major,” As she spoke her fingers flew over her tablet. She smiled and nodded at something she read. “Major Wayne Lawrence has just answered my chat and says he is happy to join in with our planning and provide whatever we need. In fact, he has a new drone up, called the Agrath, whatever that is. He assures me though it is quiet as hell and has top secret optics and carries hellfires, sidewinders, and even has a cannon.” She gave me a half smile.
“Great job Katherine, can you synch them with Aimee?”
“Already done sir, if you open the right top drawer of your desk you will find a tablet and earpiece. Aimee can connect with you anywhere in the world with them. I also have enough to equip all your troops with them. Aimee can handle encrypted communications and link everyone together with a unique battlefield system. This was supposed to be rolled out to all military branches, but when we were cancelled so was Aimee.”
“Their loss our win. Lowery, get your birds ready to move in twenty minutes. We will leave the tank guys behind,” I turned to Kuppers. “Get the Malleus teams together, and kitted up,” I turned to Apache. “Find Bri and Johnson and get them down to the hangar, see if you can equip them with some toys and armor. We are moving out of here and taking the fight to these assholes. Now move it.”
The room emptied quickly, leaving only Katherine and myself in my office. “Katherine, while I am gone you are in charge. Don’t let anyone give you crap. I expect this base operational and impregnable by the time I get back.”
Katherine gulped, swallowing the lump in her throat. “Yes sir, I got this. I will also keep reaching out to any military unit out there. Maybe we will get lucky and get more boots on the ground to help.”
“Damn girl! Wish you had been at Malleus all these years. We would’ve been even more popular than we already are. By the way, I am going to leave Will Allen behind, he is not much of a fighter, but he knows his was way around paperwork and logistics. Don’t be afraid to put him to work.”
I walked toward the door when Katherine put her hand on my shoulder and stopped me. She looked up at me with watery eyes. “We need you, don’t go all gung-ho out there and get killed.”
I patted her hand and dialed up the wattage on my smile. “I am not in the business of getting killed. I’ll be back, I am not fond of leaving jobs uncompleted.”
Katherine took her hand off my shoulder and sighed. I think she had a crush on me. I hadn’t brought her up to speed on why I was fighting so hard, or the fact my wife was taken by these twat waffles. That was one of the great sayings I picked up working with the Brits. They had a whole new level of swearing, along with them down under, Australian brothers. I stopped at the hatch of my office and looked around. I finally realized that I was not dressed for battle, neither did I have the weapons I needed. I was totally ill prepared for what was about to go down. I stuck the earpiece from desk into my ear and screwed it in place.
“Aimee, you there? “I spoke aloud.
“I am online and await with baited breath to fulfill your every need Major.” It would seem Aimee had a sarcastic sense of humor.
“Good to hear Aimee. I seem to be lacking proper attire and weapons for the oncoming fight. Can you help me with that?”
“Turn around Major.”
I did as was told and found a hatch on the far wall unlock and swing open. I moved forward uncertain of what I would find in the compartment. I stepped in and found an anteroom, I was surprised to find uniforms, armor, and a small variable arsenal. There were pistols, rifles, shotguns, a grenade launcher, a pallet full of various rounds, and a section that was labeled nonlethal. I checked those weapons and found old fashion bean bag shots, chemicals like tear gas, and a variety of stun guns. I was in Valhalla. I took off my clothes and quickly dressed in old school military BDUs, or battle dress uniform. I snapped on a set of armor, secured the straps, and then taped them down using a role of athletic tape. I snatched up a drop leg holster and secured it to my right thigh. I jumped up and down, to make sure everything felt right. I snatched a pair of desert color Vibram combat boots and was mildly surprised to find they fit like they were tailored for me. I tied them tight and then used a cigarette lighter to melt the ends of the shoelaces.
I stood up and felt ready for the next step. I made my way to the rack of weapons and scanned them till I settled on a SIG Sauer P226 pistol chambered in .9mm. I had no reason to choose a more powerful round like the .45 acp the .9mm was good enough and offered me more rounds in the magazine. I dropped the mag from the gun and found it full. I slapped it back in the well and pulled back the slide slightly. Someone had already preloaded this gun, they were even thoughtful enough to already chamber a round. I slid the gun into my drop leg holster and moved onto the battle rifles.
I scanned them looking for a second weapon for backup. I settled on an FN SCAR 17S. I had never had one and always had wanted one. I pulled it off the wall and went through the same routine of inspecting the mag and checking for a chambered round. Everything looked right and on that level. I was not in the habit of using a gun I had not already zeroed in myself, but beggars could not be choosers. I looked around and found a crate with the appropriate magazines. I collected as many as I could and shoved them into an assault bag lying on a bench. I was ecstatic to find a complete med kit and other needs already in the bag. I threw the bag over my shoulders and snagged a nifty looking Kevlar helmet from a shelf by the hatch and stepped back into my office.
“Aimee, please close and secure that room. Oh, and Aimee, thank you for your help.”
“No one has ever thanked me before,” Aimee said in a way too human voice dripping with emotion. “You’re very welcome Major.”
I was about to step out the hatch but stopped. “Aimee, do me a favor and stop calling Major. Call me Dan.”
“I will Dan. Good luck on your mission.”
I stepped out into the corridor and headed to the hangar.
I was the last on board the helicopters. We were in the air moments later leaving the safety of the facility behind. The flight took almost thirty minutes as we hugged the ground. Lowery was hesitant to let the formation fly any higher and faster due to the Collectivus craft in the air. I had no problem with her being careful. It was better for us to all arrive intact than not at all.
As we arrived in Las Vegas, I radioed to all that my Blackhawk would be the first to land. I picked out a spot adjacent to the Bellagio and indicated the spot for our pilots. We swooped in fast and touched the asphalt on the main strip. I pressed my way past the others and stepped outside and onto the ground first. I had to show that I was in command and that meant being the first on the ground and the last to leave it. I have always believed in leading from the front. I was not going to let my people fight without me.
I stepped aside and dropped to a knee with my SCAR raised to my shoulder, securing the landing zone, or LZ in military speak. My helicopter emptied, and the Blackhawk pulled pitch and flew off. I had planned for the Blackhawks to sit outside the city, just in case we needed them.
My earpiece came alive then with Aimee’s voice. “Dan, the portal should be opening in ten minutes. It looks like it will open right in front of the Circus Circus, casino.”
“Roger,” I pointed down the strip and the Circus Circus. Bri gave me a mock salute and led our team down the street in double time. I
got back on the radio. “Aimee can you connect me with Major Lawrence of the 232nd, Lowery, and the teams on the ground?”?”
“Done Dan.”
I paused a beat and then laid out my plan. “The portal will be opening in front of the Circus Circus casino. Lawrence, have you got your attack drones in the air?”
“Roger, I have ten drones armed with everything I could scrounge up. I have them circling the city.”
“Good work, I do not want them to open up on any troops, wait till the big stuff starts coming through and then give them everything you got. Just leave two armed drones in the air for my orders.”
“Roger.”
“Lowery, same thing with your Apaches. Keep them at a distance. In fact, I want you to land a couple at McCarran Airport and fuel up. I want your birds topped off.”
“Roger that Dan,” Lowery’s voice came across the channel.
“Ground teams, I want everyone in a semicircle. The minute anyone comes through I want you to hit them with small arms only. Save the heavy stuff in case we end up needing it. Johnson, take your people and clear the area of civilians. Katherine you on the line?”
“Roger, what can I do for you?”
“Get in contact with the local PD and get them busy evacuating the city. I should’ve thought about that a long time ago.”
“I heard what you were thinking already and contacted the local PD and government. They have already begun evacuating people even before you were in the air. They said the casinos and area around them have already been emptied. He said tourism tanked six days ago and the place was a ghost town anyway. They are moving people South out of your AO.”
“Damn good job taking the initiative Katherine. Johnson, belay my last. Setup here at the LZ, you will be the QRF.”
“What the hell is a QRF?” answered Johnson.
“Fucking Air Farce. QRF means Quick Reaction Force. You are going to be the cavalry if we need you.”
Quantum Theorem Page 17