Page 49

“Because this differs significantly from a Bell Ranger, Doug is not familiar with it.”

“Says who?” Doug chimed in.

“You know how to fly that?”

“Well, yeah. I flew Blackhawks in Desert Storm, back when I was a warrant officer in the Indiana National Guard.”

Priest just stared at him. “Why in the hell didn’t you say that before?”

“It never came up whether I was familiar with military aircraft. Plus, you never asked.”

“I ought to slap the shit out of you,” Priest chuckled. They all pushed the aircraft out of the hangar and Doug entered the pilot’s seat. He started his pre-flight checks as they removed the wheel dollies from the skids, removed engine intake covers and all the tie-downs. The girls got in while the team posted to provide security.

There were a couple dozen infected making their way toward them from the killing field they had just driven through. Shaw made a couple more passes, and he took off for the group approaching. Shaw moved through the crowd mowing down people left and right and was having a field day doing it. Priest and Tug looked at each other.

“He ain’t all there, is he?” Tug joked dryly.

“No sir, he ain’t, but I’ll take him that way any day.”

Tug shrugged his shoulders and went back to scanning for any other infected.

Doug hit the ignition switch and the twin engines sparked to life. He brought the engines up to operable RPM and the rotors rotated. Priest keyed his squad comms. “Shaw, we’re ready to roll. Bring it in.”

“Copy.” Shaw was on board a minute later. With everyone strapped in, the Pave Hawk lifted off, heading for Louisville, Kentucky. When they were in the air and at cruising speed, Priest plugged into the bird’s comm system and hailed HQ.

CHAPTER 23

Everyone jumped up and ran to the communications area in the lobby of the HQ building. Harwell grabbed the handset. “Priest, this is Harwell. Do you copy?”

“Copy, Sir.” Everyone let out a loud breath that the entire room was holding.

“I’m here with Webb and his team. Can you give me a sitrep?”

“Affirmative. Glad to hear the rest are safe. We are in route to HQ with an ETA of 45 mics. We have the three of the existing Team, and six civilians are with us.”

Webb broke in, “You could fit all those on the news chopper?”

Priest chuckled, “Negative. We traveled to an AFB in Indiana and found a Pave Hawk. When we get to HQ, you must ask Shaw how we got to the base. It’s an interesting story he loves to tell. Anyway, the places we came through are royally fucked. We even had a run in with some redneck scumbags who set up a roadblock and were kidnapping women.”

“Can’t wait to hear. I assume Doug is flying you.” Webb inquired.

“Copy that. We had no idea he flew a Blackhawk back in the Army.”

“Ok, it will be good to see you guys. Handing you back to Harwell.”

Harwell took the handset, “Sergeant Priest? We have infected all over the place. You must land directly on top of the HQ building. We were almost overrun, so we have barriers all around and no devoid space outside the walls.”

“Copy. You want us to thin out some infected?”

“Negative. Save your ammo, you might need it later.”

“Copy. Priest, out.”

A while later, HQ came into view of those on the Pave Hawk. Priest and his team saw the destructive scene that was now the HQ building.

Doc made the sign of the cross, “Holy Mother, Mary and Joseph. It looks like the end of world down there.”

Doug maneuvered the chopper to set down on the roof while Webb and his team walked out to meet Priest and his team. There were hugs, tears, introductions and reminiscing. Soldiers from HQ took Dana, Mia, Kim, Allison and Tug to shower, eat and get some rest. They escorted the others to the War Room to meet with Harwell.