Zombie Theorem (Book 2): The Siege (22 page)

“Come get me when we reach the outskirts.” I waved my thanks and went back to the planning meeting still in session.

“The drone is also armed, so we have plenty of air support.”

Vic watched me during the planning meeting. I got a little annoyed and looked back at him, “What’s up, Vic?”

He shook his head at me, “Just thinking about the guy I was about to book for murder, only to find he was just a victim. Someone who I had to teach how to use a gun, and here you are, planning a military mission and talking about air support and ordinance. I just found the way you have grown in such a short amount of time amazing. I wonder what kind of guy you could’ve been if you would’ve joined the military young. Something tells me you would probably be a high ranking officer by now.”

I stepped back and took in his words before I answered. “I am a data guy. I run multiple projects and, for some reason, am damn good at it. I adapt and massage data from chaos into order. I just took that and made it work here. I think abstract. You guys are the ones who can take that plan and make it succeed. This is where I feel comfortable. Shooting guns and killing people is not my forte. Apache is the one who told me to man up and be part of the team. I am still confused and scared, but I have a job to do. So I will do it the best I can. All of your lives and safety are in my hands.” That ended up coming out more like a speech then I meant it to. I pushed back the raising fear and switched my mind back to the job at hand.

I saw Julie out of the corner of my eye watching me with interest written all over her face. She is analyzing who I have become. I really hope that when she said she would love me no matter what, that she meant it. She is the entire reason I was doing what I was doing. I slipped back into my mind, thinking numbers and the data of the mission, trying to find a fault in my thinking.

Harry snapped me out of that inner place with a literal snapping of his fingers. “Dan, the drone has arrived in the city. You need to see this.”

I put everything aside in my head and followed him back to the drone station. The rest of team followed. I came in behind Brian so I could see the video from its best angle. “Explain to me what I am seeing, Brian.”

“We are coming in from the south, and just crossed over the mountains. I can see the city in the distance. I am going to fly over the airport first and see what we can see.”

He adjusted something on his controls and then typed in a command on his computer. “This thing really flies itself. I just need to tell it where to go, and it goes.”

I could see the airport coming up in the distance. “I’m going to slow it down and check it out from high above first. I’ll bring the altitude lower on the next couple of passes.” I watched as an image came on the screen.

I reached over and plugged my headset into the jack on the wall. “Phillips, the drone is overflying the airport now. The high altitude picture shows the airport looking pretty empty. I’ll let you know more when we take lower passes.”

The picture changed, and we could see the city. There was a fire over by the river to the northeast, smoke was being blown to the west. The drone banked and lost altitude. I could see the airport better now. “Phillips, the runways look clear. I count what looks like four planes, they look like airliners to me, parked on what must be the tarmac to the northeast of the airport. To the southwest, there are numerous smaller planes.”

“We will be inland in five minutes, Dan. I can be on the ground in twenty-five minutes,” Phillips answered back.

I kept watching the screen. I didn’t see any movement, whether alive or dead. “Brian, Vic will give you the routes if you can gain some altitude and check those out, please.” I grabbed the tablet Diana had given me earlier and started studying it, looking for big open spaces far away from the airport.

I heard someone calling my name and made my way over to the drone station. “Dan, two of the routes are pretty bad and are not passible. The third has a pretty big horde but is free of any obstacles. What do you think?”

“I think we will need to fall back on my new plan.” I plugged into the jack again and called, “Phillips, I have a plan but we need to do it while still in the air. If I give you the coordinates from the map that Diana gave me, can you have the escort jets drop some bombs for me?”

“I can ask, but it is up to them. Wait one.” He switched over channels then came back on the line quickly. “Halo 1, Mustang. Our rescue team’s lead has a favor to ask. He’s actually a civilian, but don’t hold that against him.”

“Halo 1, my name is Dan.”

“Hey, Dan. So what can we do for you?”

“I need you and your partner to drop some bombs for me.”

There was a slight pause, “Okay Dan, where would you like us to drop our ordinance at?”

“Give me a sec. I need to verify some information.” I turned to Hase and showed him the tablet and my notes. I shrugged at him.

“You are a sneaky bastard, Dan. I think that will work.”

I read the coordinates to two open areas away from our objective to Halo 1. “Think you can hit those just as we are coming in to land?”

“Dan, we could put these bombs on the ground within 6 inches of your target and on the second you need them.”

“Philips, can you handle the coordination with Halo 1? I want the ordinance on the ground as we come screaming in for a landing.”

“Yeah, Dan, I got this.”

Halo 1 came over the radio, “Good luck, Dan, call us if you need us again. Our relief will be in the area in twenty minutes. You can have all our ordinance if you want it.”

I thanked him and disconnected from the jack. I took the headset off and handed it to Vic. “Okay, guys. Halo 1 will be dropping their bombs in these areas here on the tablet’s map as we come in for a landing. I am hoping they will cover our noise landing and, hopefully, divert the horde to those points, giving you an easier trip.”

Kuppers met my eyes and smiled, “Damn good plan, kid. Wish you were coming back with us.”

“I don’t, but thanks for the compliment.” I turned to Brian next, “Hey Brian, how far can we stay in command with the drone while we are on the ground?”

He looked up from his controls and motioned to Harry. Harry flipped through his manual. “Doesn’t say, but I would bet no more than thirty miles.”

I wrote that down on my notepad and left, making my way over to Julie and Angel. I needed to sit for a minute and take some time out. Julie took my hand and pulled me down next to her. “Hey, soldier, need a rest?”

I kissed her lips and enjoyed the time we had together during this eye of the storm moment. Little Angel leaned forward around Julie so she could see me. She waved like only little girls can and smiled. I waved back and sat back against the straps, making up the back of the seat. I closed my eyes and tried to clear my mind. I am the kind of guy who tries to never let their mind become blank. I have an impulse to always be in control. I don’t like letting go; feels wrong somehow. Something heavy landed in my lap, and I opened my eyes fast. Angel had jumped into my lap and was now staring at me cross-eyed with her cheeks blown out like a cute Disney blowfish.

Somehow this kid always knew when I needed a boost or to be reminded of what I was fighting for. I crossed my eyes back and stuck my tongue out at her. She laughed, slapped my face between her little hands, and kissed the tip of my nose. I slid my vision over to Julie and caught her hiding a smile behind her cupped hand. I grabbed Angel and tickled her sides, making her explode in laughter and struggling to get away from my attacking fingers. I finally stopped after she begged and pleaded, saying she was going to pee herself.

“I have to go potty now.” She stood on my lap and looked around, “Where is the potty, anyway?”

I grimaced and shook my head, “I have no idea.” I looked around and caught Diana’s eye. I waved her over. She rolled her eyes, yet she came over anyway.

She put on a fake smile and sarcastically asked, “How can I help?”

“Our little Princess, Angel, has informed us she needs to use the potty, but we don’t know where it is, or if you have one. Can you help us out?”

Diana looked over to Angel as if seeing her for the first time. A genuine smile spread across her face, “I would be honored to show the Princess where the facilities are.” She reached out and took Angel’s hand, “If the lady would follow me this way, please.” Angel’s face somehow brightened even more, she was radiant. I’m not kidding, I’m not just saying she looked simply happy, I mean she glowed a little. Maybe it was my imagination.

Julie jumped up from her seat and proceeded to follow them, “I think I will go with them.”

“Dan! Get over here!” Kuppers’ drill instructor-like voice rattled and surprised me. Yes, I jumped a little, wouldn’t you?

I gained my feet under me, and the wave of exhaustion tried to take me down again. I shook it off and made my over to the crowd around the drone station. I patted Kuppers shoulder. “What’s up?” He pointed at the screen. I felt fear climb up my spine, like someone injected ice water into my spine. The screen showed our objective encircled.

“I’m not going to worry yet. I am taking that as a good sign. They would not be surrounding that house if someone alive were not inside. When the bombs go off, I expect it will pull most of those zombies away.” I put my headset on and jacked into the intercom. “Phillips, how long ‘till we start our landing?”

“Starting our landing now. Should be on the ground in five minutes. Halo 1 will be starting their bombing runs in a couple of minutes.”

“Thank you.” I looked toward our little group and relayed what Phillips had informed me.

Kuppers gathered his team and they started gearing up. Apache appeared next to Hase, and they shared a word before separating. She and her team climbed aboard their Humvee preparing to follow the lead Humvee to the gates of the airport and their hold position.

I looked around and found Julie and Angel taking their seats. I gave them a little wave and turned to watch the drone footage, holding onto Brian’s seat while the plane under our feet lost altitude quickly. I tapped Brian on the shoulder, getting his attention, “Gain altitude, I want to see the explosions. After the jets are finished, fly in those directions. I need to see the results. Then circle back to the objective.” He gave me a short nod of his head, as he was extremely busy flying the drone.

The C-130 came in fast, dropping altitude quickly. Before I knew it, I was rocked backward and heard the tires chirping on the ground as they made contact with the runway. Diana yelled for me. I turned and found her at the lead Humvee. I ran over and she pointed to the straps, holding the Humvee in place. I threw a thumbs up and disconnected them from their holds on the Humvee. Once done, I made my way to the rear Humvee and copied my movements from the lead.

I made my way back to the drone just in time to see the last seconds of the explosions. I heard and felt the ramp motor down and the Humvees pulled out slowly. Once on the ground, they made a beeline to the airport’s exit. The air of the outside flowed in. I could smell a tinge of rot, but mostly acrid smoke from fires caused by the escort jets.

Someone tapped my shoulder, and I turned to find Julie with her rifle over her shoulder. She thrust my MP5 into my chest and kissed my cheek, “No more leaving your weapon behind. I’ll take Harry and Diana. We’ll set up a defensive line at the end of the ramp. If we need you and Brian, I will call. I also sent Angel to go sit with the pilots.” I nodded my thanks and turned my attention back to the monitor. I watched the view from the drone feed while slinging my MP5 over my shoulder and adjusting the strap. My fingers and hands ran on their own as they clicked off the safety and pulled on the charging handle to make sure it was ready to fire.

I found Brian’s M4 leaning against the C-130’s wall and retrieved it for him. He took it and leaned it against his legs while he sat on his chair. We watched as slow-moving figures, single creatures meshing into a larger horde, circled the explosion points from where the bombs dropped. Brian instructed the drone back to the objective, and we watched the horde surrounding Sharla’s house slowly start to disperse. I clicked on my personal radio and called out, “Kuppers, I hope you can still hear me. Most of the horde around Sharla’s house has dispersed. If you hurry, you might get lucky. Over.”

A static-filled reply came back, “Roger all, radios will not last long. They have a small range. Over.”

Brian, without needing me to ask, adjusted the drone’s camera to pick up the lead Humvee’s progress down the streets. The picture was black and white, but I could make them out pretty easily.

A voice came over the plane’s intercom, “Dan, we have a problem. A small horde has discovered us. They are making their way down the taxiway. I give it ten minutes before they get to us.”

“Thanks, Phillips, I’m going to disconnect now and go down the ramp. Brian is still on station and can act as a relay if you see anything else.” I disconnected after he acknowledged.

I ran down the length of the bay and down the ramp. I made my way to Harry and pointed to the nose of the plane. “We have a small horde coming this way.” He looked around me, grimaced, then nodded.

“Okay, you and your pea shooter are with me. We will watch them together while the girls guard the rear. I wish we had more shooters, but we will make do.” I trotted over to Julie and let her know the plan. She slapped my ass and winked at me. Harry and I made our way under the massive wings of the C-130.