Recovery: V Plague Book 8 Read online

  Realizing part of what these guys were doing I went into the back room and waited for the HIND to move away. When I heard it circling several streets away I looked through the peephole then cracked the back door open and peeked out. The alley was clear and I quickly dragged the two bodies through the opening. I wanted the Russians to find them, to be able to recover their men so there was one less reason for them to stay in the area.

  But the two men had obviously been killed with an edged weapon. That wouldn’t do for their comrades to find. They’d never leave until they found me and exacted their revenge.

  Knowing how to get around that, I lifted one of the soldier’s rifles and fired a long, full auto burst into the air. I held the trigger down until the bolt locked open on an empty magazine. I knew there was no way the men in the helicopter could hear the gunfire over the noise of their machine. Dashing back into the building I slammed the door and flipped the lever to lock it.

  I pressed my eye to the spy-hole, watching the alley. It didn’t take long for the first females to show up, and they did exactly as I hoped they would. They fell on the bodies with screams of delight and began feasting. In minutes their teeth and nails had obliterated the evidence of how the men had really been killed.

  Of course an autopsy would show the truth. There would be damage to bones caused by the Kukri that couldn’t have possibly been made by the infected. But there wouldn’t be an autopsy. Why would there? And even if there was, it would be hours or days before it could take place and I planned to be long gone by then.

  The HIND passed over the front of the building several times then finally the pilot widened his pattern enough to see down into the alley. The helicopter went into a hover directly overhead and I could imagine the discussion that was taking place. They were determined to recover their teammates’ bodies, but as I could see through the peephole there wasn’t much left of them by now.

  They would have liked to use the helo’s cannon to clear the alley of infected, but if they did that they’d chew up the bodies they wanted to retrieve. That only left them with two options. Fly away and leave them behind, or come down and get them the hard way.

  I well understood their dilemma of conscience. When I’d been in the Army I’d never left a fallen brother behind. But then there’d always been somewhere to take a body so it could be laid to rest and the family could get some closure.

  Since the attacks, well, I’d left a lot of bodies where they’d fallen. Most recently my good friend, Gunny Zemeck. I’d had to leave him for the scavengers in the middle of a field in Oklahoma because there was nowhere to take him and no way to bury him. But it was harder for the Russians.

  If they recovered the bodies they could be taken back to McConnell Air Force Base, which they were occupying. From there a flight home to mother Russia and a military funeral. No, they weren’t leaving without their brothers.

  Eventually they did pretty much what I would have done. As the HIND hovered they opened the troop compartment doors and the Spetsnaz began picking off the infected with their rifles. One at a time. It took them a while but they eventually thinned the number of females in the alley to a manageable number.

  Watching through the door I saw four ropes hit the ground, a moment later four figures sliding down and bringing their weapons up the instant their boots hit the pavement. As they fired and kept the infected back, two more slid down and quickly scooped what was left of their brothers into two body bags, which were clipped onto a thin cable.

  The remains were winched up. A few moments later the six Russian soldiers stepped into loops on the end of each rope, two of the lines with dual passengers. I saw one of them twirl his hand in the air before grabbing the rope then they were lifted straight up. The helicopter would fly a short distance to a safe location where it could set them down then land so they could climb aboard.

  I listened as it moved slowly away, relocating to the front room when I realized they were heading for the bank building. It took them less than a minute to complete the maneuver, the last man climbing aboard and turning to look back out at the street below.

  At first it seemed as if he was looking through the glass front of the building, directly at me. But I knew that he couldn’t see through the reflective film attached to the inside surface of the window. He sat that way for a few long seconds before closing the armored door. The rotor noise changed and the HIND quickly gained altitude and disappeared over the rooftops to the east.

  35

  The ride in the Bradley was rough, partially due to the fact that the decision had been made to travel cross-country to shorten the distance and save time but Irina’s driving style didn’t help. She seemed fearless, not bothering to slow for anything. Small crests in the terrain became a method for her to get the heavy vehicle airborne for a brief moment.

  “Damn it, woman, you’re going to beat us to death before we even get there!” Martinez shouted after a particularly rough patch of terrain.

  “Now you know how I feel when I’m in a chopper with you,” Scott said without taking his attention off the forward-looking periscope.

  “I fly like an angel, Tech Sergeant,” Martinez shot back. “And when I don’t, at least you don’t feel like you’ve been shaken and stirred.”

  “Whatever you say, ma’am,” Scott said, rotating the scope slightly. “Irina, how are we on fuel? There’s a small truck stop on a highway at our three o’clock. Maybe four miles away.”

  “We should fill up while we can,” she said, making a hard right turn without any reduction in speed.

  Everything that could be tied down had been secured, but as the Bradley roared through the turn and the momentum shifted a large ammo can broke free from its bungee and slid across the floor. Johnnie Ray barely had time to jerk his feet out of the way before it crashed into the bulkhead he was seated against.

  “This is bullshit,” he shouted. “That crazy bitch is going to kill us all!”

  Igor turned and looked down at the smaller man. Walker flinched when Igor raised his big hand but all he did was hold his index finger to his lips in a shushing sign. He managed to make it seem more intimidating than if he’d ranted and raved. Walker lowered his gaze and leaned back in his seat.

  “Thank you, Petty Officer,” Colonel Crawford was speaking to Jessica over the FSOC system. “Keep me updated.”

  He gestured at Scott who had looked around when the Colonel was obviously signing off.

  “What’s going on, sir?” Scott asked, terminating the connection with the satellite.

  “The Russians chased the Major into Dodge City,” he said, reaching out and handing the headset to Scott. “They bit off a little more than they could chew. Two of them down and the rest heading back to base.”

  “Doesn’t surprise me, sir,” Scott grinned before shooting a cautious look in Irina’s direction. It was easy to forget that she and Igor were Russian. He had grown fond of them and didn’t want to offend either by celebrating the death of their countrymen.

  “Me either,” Crawford said, understanding the look Scott had given to their driver. “They still aren’t back on the road yet. Quite a few infected in the part of town where they’re hiding and they’re probably waiting to make sure the helos have actually left the area. How far are we from Dodge City?”

  Scott swiveled back to his station and began clicking on the rugged laptop connected to the Bradley’s internal network. Still not comfortable with the software it took him a few moments to find what he needed.

  “We’re about three and half hours away, sir. After we stop for fuel,” he said as Irina finally backed off the throttle to steer them into the truck stop.

  Martinez, seated at the gunner’s station, was scanning a full circle around them. By the time she had completed her first circuit, Irina had brought them to a stop next to the hatch covers that protected the tops of the underground storage tanks. As everyone breathed a sigh of relief at the absence of the battering from her driving, Martinez performed
a second, slower scan.

  “All clear,” she finally called, reaching out and slapping the button that lowered the rear ramp.

  Igor was already on his feet and was the first out, his rifle up and ready as he looked over the area. Martinez was right behind him, grabbing her M4 out of a rack as she headed for the door.

  “Stay put,” Crawford said to Walker as he moved past him to stretch his legs.

  “I’ve gotta piss,” Johnnie Ray said.

  The Colonel sighed, staring at the man for a moment before finally nodding and reaching down to release the harness that held the prisoner in place. Walker’s hands were still cuffed behind his back and he scooted forward on the seat before standing and following Crawford out into the fresh air.

  Martinez and Igor were at opposite ends of the Bradley, keeping watch. Scott already had the plate in the parking lot open and was feeding the hose from the Bradley’s pump through the opening.

  “You going to un-cuff me General, or maybe one of the ladies can hold it for me?” Johnnie Ray leered at Irina who was walking down the ramp as he spoke.

  “I’m sure Captain Martinez would love to get it in her hand,” Crawford said, not bothering to correct the man’s improper reading of his rank. “Shall I call her and her knives over?”

  Walker swallowed audibly and shook his head, remembering his encounter with the Mexican beauty when they were leaving the jail. He didn’t doubt for a moment that she was more than capable of carrying out her threats against his manhood.

  “OK, then,” the Colonel said after a few moments of the prisoner not responding. “I’m going to take your cuffs off and you are going to walk that way ten feet, stop, take a piss and then come right back when you’re done. You try to go one step farther and I’ll shoot you in the ass and drag you back. I don’t need you healthy when we get to Seattle, just alive.”

  Unlocking Walker’s cuffs he stepped back and gestured at the open parking lot with the muzzle of his rifle. Johnnie Ray gave him a dirty look before turning and walking a careful four paces. Fumbling with his zipper, he glanced over his shoulder at Crawford who was staring intently at him with his M4 up and ready.

  Irina stood next to the Colonel, also watching their prisoner as he began peeing onto the pavement. She said something under her breath in Russian then chuckled to herself.

  “What’s that?” Crawford asked without taking his attention off of Walker.

  “I said he must have a small dick with a pitiful little stream like that,” she said in a quiet voice.

  When Walker was finished and zipped up he turned and slowly walked back to where they stood. The Colonel could tell by the look on his face that the man wanted to say something, but at the last moment he held his tongue. Irina re-secured the handcuffs and under Crawford’s watchful eye led their prisoner back into the Bradley and strapped him to his seat.

  “How are we doing, Tech Sergeant?” Crawford called out, staying by the rear ramp so he could keep an eye on Johnnie Ray.

  “Almost there, sir,” Scott called back. “Maybe another thirty gallons and we’ll be full.”

  Crawford nodded then tilted his head when he heard a faint sound on the wind. It was a low, thrumming noise, barely even detectable, and would have been ignored by anyone who hadn’t spent time in war zones across the globe.

  “Chopper!” He shouted, dashing inside the Bradley and to the gunner’s station.

  Irina followed him inside but Scott kept the fuel pumping and Martinez and Igor stayed in place to watch his back. Powering up the targeting system the Colonel began scanning the horizon. Several miles to the northeast he spotted a single HIND helicopter transiting to the west. Slaving the computer system to the helo, he watched as it slowly began swinging in their direction.

  “Single HIND,” he said to Irina. “Low and slow.”

  “A patrol,” she answered without hesitation. “Part of a dual layer CAP after the incident where you shot down all the planes at Kirtland.”

  “That’s just great,” he said. “I think they’re coming this way.”

  There was banging from outside as Scott coiled up and stowed the fueling hose. A few minutes later he came inside with Martinez and Igor trailing him. Irina rattled off a quick explanation in Russian for Igor’s benefit.

  “They’re definitely coming this way,” Crawford said after watching for a few more moments.

  “What are you doing?” Walker shouted. “We’re sitting ducks just parked here.”

  Everyone ignored him. All of them knew that the Bradley couldn’t outrun the HIND and that the helicopter carried missiles that could easily penetrate their armor.

  “Are we fighting, sir?” Scott asked.

  “We’re fighting, Tech Sergeant.” Crawford answered. “I’m locked on. Just waiting for the right moment and I’ll introduce him to a TOW missile. We’d better hope he can’t get a shot off first.”

  36

  “Wait a minute,” Martinez said, pushing forward past Scott. “We’ve got native Russian speakers. Can we draw them in? Maybe get them to set down? If we can get our hands on that beast I can fly it and we’ll get to Idaho a hell of a lot faster.”

  “Captain?” Crawford turned and looked at Irina who stood silent in thought for a few seconds.

  “I can probably convince them I’ve captured the Bradley and have American prisoners, but…” Her voice trailed off.

  “But, what?” Crawford prompted.

  “Depends on the flight crew,” she began to explain. “If they’ve been in a combat zone the pilot will be experienced and land a hundred meters away and drop the soldiers, then take off and go into an orbit around the area. If it’s a new pilot then it might work.”

  “How many men will be on board a patrol?” The Colonel asked, checking on the advancing helicopter. It was still over two miles away.

  “Two to four,” she answered after consulting with Igor. “Depends on available manpower. Igor says it will most likely be two but he doesn’t guarantee that.”

  The Colonel nodded his head in thought, his eyes still pressed to the periscope. If they were lucky they just might come away with a helo that could fly around in Russian controlled airspace without attracting attention. If they weren’t, then they were all dead. The HIND could flit around like a fat bumblebee and put a couple of armor defeating, high explosive missiles into them.

  He wasn’t overly confident in being able to hit it with the TOW missile. TOWs were designed to engage and defeat ground targets. Tanks and APCs (Armored Personnel Carriers), not helicopters. To succeed, the HIND would need to stay nice and stable, not bouncing all over the place like combat helicopters tended to do.

  “OK, we’re going to try it,” he said, decision made. “Irina, get on the radio and convince them. Tell them you’ve got a high-ranking American officer as a prisoner. Scott and Martinez, get some weapons hidden on your bodies. You’re our Trojan Horse if we can convince them to take us on board.”

  Irina snatched a headset off its hook and settled it on her head. Adjusting the short-range HF radio to a new frequency she began transmitting in her native tongue. Soon she was obviously engaged in a conversation, but no one other than Igor had a clue what she was saying to convince the HIND’s crew that she was one of them.

  Crawford watched tensely as the big helo settled into a hover over a hundred yards away. The stubby wings bristled with missiles and he could clearly see the multiple barrels of a rotary canon mounted in the nose of the aircraft. His hand hovered over the fire control for the TOW system. The turret was perfectly aligned with the target, the pilot having flown directly at them after the Colonel had already engaged the computer.

  “He’s cautious, but he’s landing,” Irina said.

  The HIND descended, landing gear just brushing the small state highway. The troop door opened and four Russian soldiers jumped out. They scanned the area as the helicopter lifted back into the air and began a tight orbit. Crawford quickly hit a button that shut down the targeting s
ystem so the computer didn’t rotate the turret to track the helo and alert the pilots that something wasn’t what it seemed.

  “We need to go meet them,” Irina said, removing the headset.

  “Let them get a little closer,” Crawford said.

  Tension was high inside the Bradley as they waited, Irina moving to where Walker sat and releasing his harness. Martinez stayed close in case she needed help with the man.

  “You are General Walker,” Irina said, pushing her face close to his. “Give us away and if the soldiers out there don’t kill you I’ll personally hold you down while she castrates you. Understand me?”

  “It’s time,” Crawford said. “Good luck.”

  As previously arranged with Igor, he and Irina made a production of pushing Martinez, Scott and Walker down the ramp and into the open. Igor stayed behind them, rifle up and aimed at their backs. Irina moved around the small group as they got into the open and strode purposefully across the asphalt to meet the soldiers.

  Approaching the men, Irina pulled out her GRU credentials and held them in front of her. She was counting on the paranoid secrecy of the Russian military and intelligence services. Since there was theoretically no need for these men to know that she had been labeled a traitor she was fairly confident they wouldn’t question her authority.

  The man in the lead was a Sergeant, a Corporal and two Privates following him. She zeroed in on the slightly older man, immediately berating him for the helicopter having taken off. She was playing the roll of a GRU officer and as she screamed at the NCO she saw the fear in his eyes.

  He apologized profusely and activating his radio began yelling at the pilot to bring the HIND down to pick up the infuriated woman standing in front of him. The three men at his rear, who should have been spread out and watching the “prisoners” standing behind Irina were too scared to move. They stood immobile behind their Sergeant who was listening intently to his radio.