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The convoy drove the last few miles as quickly as the tank plows could clear the road. Everyone inside of the trucks, MRAPs, LAVs, and Bradleys were bounced back and forth. The civilian contractors and the Coats family quickly got ‘car-sick.’ Vomit bags had been given to everyone in case this happened. Jon sealed his bag and smiled seeing the UNITED AIRLINES logo on the bag. He thought to himself, someone must have taken everything of any value when the airlines were grounded. Smart, I wouldn’t have thought of it. I hope they have extras because this ride is making my stomach want to leave my body. I wonder if closing my eyes will make it better or worse. I wonder what we’re going to find at their base. I could use a hot shower, change of clothes, and a nice soft bed. Erin squeezed his hand after he’d sealed his bag.
“I see your stomach isn’t handling the ride very well, big strong man and all that.”
“This isn’t the time to make jokes, this is worse than a roller coaster. I can’t see outside and I feel like we’re inside a paint mixer. I don’t know how the soldiers handle it. I don’t know how you can handle it.”
“The soldiers have practice and I like most women are proving we’re stronger than men.” Erin then laughed, “If you could only see yourself. Your face is a nice shade of green. Here, take my bag, I think you’re going to need it.”
Jon held Erin’s bag to his mouth as he regurgitated anything that was left in his stomach. “I can’t wait until we reach the base.”
“Me too, this bouncing is making me want to pee. I’m sure the girls are feeling it too.”
“Speaking of the girls, do you think they’re okay?”
“Yes, they’re with others their own age. Just think if Frank hadn’t been with us, we would have most likely died, we owe him our lives. You should treat him nicely.”
“But he and Trinity…”
“I’ll remind her of the mother-daughter talk and if I have to hold it again I will, but I suggest you go easy on him. He saved your life and if you hadn’t noticed, they really like each other.”
“How can they know love at their age?”
“In the past, people married at sixteen.”
“Married? No way, no way.”
“Honey, you’re going to have to accept life has changed. We’re in a completely new world and all the rules have changed.”
“Not all of them…”
“We’ll see. Now why don’t you try to drink some water and relax. We should be entering their base any moment.”
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Colonel Spivey ordered, “Threatcon DELTA. Lock and load be prepared for anything. Search this base and locate the scouts. Be careful not to shoot any of them, we need them. Tanks take up positions as discussed. Put the civilians in the apartments which were the BOQs. I don’t want them outside. Instruct them to remain in the building. Assign six guards to keep them inside and no unauthorized entries. Until I issue passes, the only ones allowed inside with the civilians will the officers and the MPs. Begin rotating the vehicles through the motor pool to check them out. There should be additional vehicles in the motor pool. I want each checked. We’ll take every one you think can make the journey. Strip the place of all spare parts.
“I want a squad of MPs and two from armor to check the armory and strip it bare. Don’t leave a single shell casing behind. Man the guard positions. Lock this place down until I get some answers. GO!”
Two squads began searching the base for anyone they could locate and the scout team. Spivey was very concerned that when they arrived at the FOB, the guard posts were empty. The HQ building was empty as was the mess hall. In fact, he didn’t see a single person. He did see the recent boot prints of his scouts, but he didn’t see the scouts. He was able to enter a Bradley when a soldier came to see him, “Sir, we found four of the scouts and something else…”
“What do you mean something else?”
“Sir, it’s in the motor pool. I think you need to see this versus me explaining it because I’m not sure I can explain it.”
“Have you been making moonshine again?”
“No sir. Well, I have been drinking a little lately.”
“I told you that crap you’re making will kill you. Climb in, let’s go see what you can’t explain to me.”
Colonel Spivey returned the two salutes from the two scouts. Then he saw on the floor the remains of the two bodies. He turned to the soldier who’d come to get him. “I see what you meant.”
He asked the scouts, “Where’s the rest of your team and where in hell is Sergeant Mays?”
“Sir, he took the rest of them to check on tracks we located.”
“What kind of tracks? Vehicles?”
“No sir, tracks made by dragging a naked body.”
Colonel Spivey’s face turned dark; his eyes looked deep black. He patted his sidearm, “Show me these tracks.” He turned his head. “I want two squads to come with me. The rest of you search this building for any more of our people. If you find them, cut them down but don’t touch them until the doc gives his okay.” What the hell? What am I dealing with here? This is right out of a Twilight Zone episode and I never liked that program. My grandfather always watched it. He used to explain the endings to me. How they moralized and took an honest look at what he
