“Take one of your men, find a vehicle and get as close to Terminal 4 as you can safely. I need a report of what is going on over there.”
“Sir, I cannot leave my post.”
“That is an order, Lance Corporal, there are enough men here to guard the door without two of you.”
“Yes, Sir, where do I get a vehicle from, Sir?”
“Use your initiative, Broad. I’ve rung my phone from yours, so you have my number. Phone me as soon as you are in position, understood?”
“I think so, Sir.”
Winters looks at Lance Corporal Broad. “Just get as close as you can; no heroics, phone me and tell me what you see. Can you do that, Lance Corporal?”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Good, report back as quickly as you can. Dismissed.”
Winters turns back into the command room slowly, thinking if there is another way to get information. A drone would be ideal but the place he could arrange for one of those is Air Combat Support in Terminal 4.
He wanders back into the command room, knowing Colonel Reed is eyeing him for answers. He will get his report shortly.
Winters goes over to the head of Tactical, a Captain Myers, whom Winters has dealt with on many occasions. She is a very intelligent and decisive operator who gathers all the data coming into the tactical department for an operation, in this case, Operation Denial. She then either acts on that information or if it is out of her remit, she will pass it up the chain of command and then implement any orders received.
“Have you got anything, Ma’am? I have heard that there may have been a breach?”
Captain Myers sees Winters coming and is ready for his question.
“We have nothing concrete, Lieutenant, but we think you have heard correctly.”
“Please elaborate, Ma’am.”
“We have a report that one of the incoming helicopters was compromised. The helicopter crashed, causing the chaos in the landing zones. The report also says that at least some of the infected people on that helicopter jumped out before it crashed. So, it looks like we have infected inside the perimeter, Lieutenant.”
“Thank you, Ma’am, I will report the same to the Colonel.”
Major Rees is still at it when Winters arrives to report back to the Colonel, who is walking up and down alongside the windows with his hands still clasped behind his back, listening.
“Excuse me, Sir,” Winters says after waiting for a pause in Major Rees’s speech.
Colonel Reed makes a show out of not acknowledging Winters immediately. He pauses his walk and turns to look out of the window as if contemplating something the Major has just reported to him. It is an act, and one Winters is well used to. So he lets him get on with his show and waits patiently until Colonel Reed has finished his act and has everyone’s attention.
Major Rees’ eyes give a sideways look in Winters direction. He is not so used to Colonel Reed’s little games and is not sure whether he should carry on with his report or give way to Winters. The analyst Sam who is assisting Rees and standing next to him looks completely bewildered by the situation. Two of the Colonel’s men are waiting to give important reports and yet he is standing gazing out of the window as if he has just arrived in his hotel on the Las Vegas strip and is taking in the view.
Finally, the Colonel turns back around but still doesn’t say anything. Major Rees opens his mouth to continue but he doesn’t get past the first half word out of his mouth before he is cut off by the Colonel.
“What have you got, Winters?”
“Sir, unconfirmed reports indicate that an incoming helicopter was compromised by the infected and crashed into other grounded helicopters. That caused the initial explosion which spread to other grounded helicopters and the ordinance they were loaded with, Sir.”
“Is the fire contained?”
“I don’t believe so, Sir. Communication with Flight Command and Air Combat Support in Terminal 4 appears cut off, Sir. Either the fire has spread to the terminal building or worse, Sir.”
“Worse? What the hell is that supposed to mean? Don’t speak to me in riddles, Lieutenant! Explain yourself, man.”
Winters couldn’t help but pay some back to the Colonel, even if it is only a small fraction and leave the best to last.
“Sorry, Sir. Again, this is unconfirmed, but we have a report that suggests at least some of the infected on the helicopter bailed out before it crashed. We could have a breach inside the perimeter, Sir.”
Major Rees next to Winters isn’t the only one to gasp at the news. Everyone looks shaken, and even Colonel Reed looks uncomfortable at the thought.
“We need confirmation as to whether the perimeter has been breached. An outbreak on this base will not only compromise the base, but it will also move the virus to a completely new area, way outside the current quarantine zone.
What are you doing to get confirmation, Winters?” Colonel Reed demands.
“Sir, up to now I have despatched two personnel to get as close to Terminal 4 as possible and report back what they find. I would like to get a camera drone in the air, but I can’t get through to Air Combat Support to arrange it, Sir.”
“Air Commodore?” Colonel Reed asks, looking at the highest-ranking RAF officer in the command room.
“I will get straight on it, Colonel.” The Air Commodore leaves to make arrangements.
“Sir, we need comms to try and get in contact with anybody in Terminal 4 who can inform us of the situation there, Sir,” Winters suggests.
“Yes Winters, get on it.” Colonel Reed orders.
“Yes, Sir. A new perimeter needs to be installed around Terminal 4 immediately, Sir. All the troops we can muster, with heavy machine gun placements, if it’s not too late already, Sir.”
“Very good, Winters, I will oversee the troop movements.”
“Yes, Sir.”
“Anybody, anything else?” The Colonel asks, but nobody adds anything further. “Right, get to it, bring any updates to me immediately, dismissed.”
“Sir?” Major Rees says.
“Yes Major, walk
