Asterion (22 page)

Sarge immediately radios. “We need an evac at LZ 5. No, we can’t get further. Transportation gave out.” He looks at Taylor and Christine. “Just gather water and munitions. All you can carry and still move fast. We have a less than a mile, about a click to get to the landing zone.”

They rush to get a few things and run off into the swamp carefully threading their way on the driest parts of the landscape.

Asterion catches up to the busted airboat and lets out a bellowing laugh. The three turn around in the direction of the sound and then turn to each other with a worried look and take off again.

Asterion steps off his boat near the bank into the water. The cypress knees catch him and reinjure the wound he got earlier. He limps out of the water and examines the tear. Angry, he chases them at the best speed he can muster.

They are following Sarge as he keeps a watchful eye behind him. Taylor looks up and sees an army helicopter coming low and fast. Waving their arms the chopper changes course and hovers over them. They lower the rescue hoop and hoist Christine up into the helicopter. Asterion fires an assault rifle trying to get a lucky shot at that distance.

“Taylor, get on next. I’ll hold him off!”

Taylor dons the harness and lifts off as Sarge lays a suppressing fire in Asterion’s direction. Looking up, Sarge sees Taylor enter the chopper. He radios, “Go, go, go, go!”

The helicopter spins around and noses down as it starts to pick up speed. Christine shouts, “You’re leaving Sarge behind, go back, go back.

The pilot yells over the noise, “It’s too dangerous. Sarge ordered us to bug out. I have orders to deliver you posthaste and unscathed. Sorry!”

Taylor leans close to the pilot, “We have time, we can get him.”

“We can’t take a chance on getting shot down. Sanderson’s orders and Sarge’s call.”

Their last glimpse is of Asterion closing in on Sarge. They look at each other with sadness.

Taylor laments, “A lot of people have given a lot for us.”

Christine nods, “How do we repay them, especially those who gave their lives.”

They sit back, quiet and stoned faced, listening to the beat of the chopper and it wings westward.

CHAPTER 24 - HEART OF A MOVEMENT

The sub surfaces in Haifa harbor and slowly cruises toward the dock. Coming to a halt, the sailors catch the lines from the tug and secures them to the boat and it slowly tows the sub to the dock. Below the captain looks at Milar, “Join me on the conning tower.”

“Okay.”

“They climb the ladder and stand, looking at the harbor and taking in the fresh air. The captain turns to Milar, “I have already made my report on the attack”

“How did they take it?”

“Not good. Oh, by the way, they want you to address the security council of the Knesset. I think we are choosing sides.”

Milar looks over the city and turns back to the captain, “America’s recognition of Israel as a sovereign country is responsible at least in part for our survival as a democracy. It’s only fair that we support the democracy movement there.”

“Good luck to you.”

“You to captain.”

Milar climbs down the tower and into a waiting car that whisks her away from the dock. She never thought that she would be in a conflict like the one that formed the nation of Israel. They would return the favor to those who helped them. She begins to make notes and thinks about how she will address the council and what their questions would be.

Falling asleep from exhaustion, Taylor and Christine are awakened by the approach chatter and landing of the helicopter. They get off and an ambulance takes them to the base hospital where they are treated for minor wounds and a general checkup. A corporal asks them to follow him and they are led to a large empty conference room where they sit and wait.

Christine looks at Taylor, “Did the right people pick us up?”

Taylor looks around, “I think so. Hard to tell nowadays.”

Jacobs comes in and sits with them. “I’m glad you made it out okay.”

Christine sighs, “Well, we did, but Sarge didn’t.”

Jacobs touches her forearm, “Dear, he was a good man, a Christian. He really changed after his wife passed some years ago. He wanted to have nothing to do with her faith, but when he saw her faith throughout her illness, it changed him forever. I know he has his reward if the worst happened. Each of you must keep in mind the gravity of the situation now. In just days, Burnsom has escalated his aggression towards us. He sees a rich resource he can rob and an enemy he can vanquish.”

Taylor asks, “Why were we brought here and what are we waiting for?”

“General Sanderson is giving a briefing on our situation to Bob and other political leaders. We thought that time and diplomatic processes would have worked, but the situation is deteriorating fast.”

Shocked, Christine asks, “Really.”

“Unfortunately, that’s where we stand.”

Bob enters the room and hugs them. “I was so worried about you two. I haven’t stopped praying for your safe passage to us. Bill let me know about Sarge. Sad, so very sad, he was such a good man. Faithful in this life and rewarded in the next one.”

Local and regional political leaders file in the room sporadically. Some are recognized and some they had never seen. General Sanderson enters the room and stands behind the podium. Standing tall, his career has taken him from bloody hand-to-hand combat to leading Northcom and now, the forces in the province. A no nonsense leader in the mold of Patton, Le May, Bradley and Eisenhower, but he possessed the diplomatic skills to work with indigenous populations and leaders to strike accords and alliances. People either loved him or hated him, but no one is ambiguous in their feelings about him. An honorable man, if not a religious one. “Ladies and Gentlemen, we have come to a crossroads on a very sad day. Burnsom has declared to us that he will assimilate this province into the surrounding ones and all its assets into the larger government. He has offered no negotiation, only threats. He is now drunk with the power he feels after the mass production of the hybrid creatures. They now outnumber the soldiers we are capable of putting out in the field. If we acquiesce, we will lose everything we have worked for in this bastion of freedom. If we bend, we will never be able to get up. We have no choice but to declare our independence and invite our many friends and allies to join us in this fight for liberty. The day we all feared, has arrived and we must replace fear with resolve. If we survive as freedom loving people, it will not be by dividing the country, but by reuniting it on the grounds of freedom and liberty.”

A politician stands up and shouts, “Surely there must be another way!”

“Those of us in higher positions have wrestled with that question. If there was another way, more time or some compromise we would pursue it. All the talking in the world will not change what he is planning. Those creatures make it easy for him to commit to war without the fear of massive human losses.”

Another voice from the assembled spoke up. “Why didn’t we act sooner to stop him? Now he has all those things at his disposal. He can attack us with little cost on his side.”

“The process is more successful and initiated at a faster rate than we anticipated. Additionally, he fooled us into thinking he is negotiating in good faith. That turned out to be another one of his ruses.”

Governor Stanley stands up and looks over the crowd. “Good people, make no bones about it. This is as grave as the nation’s fight for independence, the Texas fight for independence, the Civil War and the many wars that followed. Everyone will have to sacrifice. Some will give their lives. Some will face grievous injury altering their lives forever. We have to find the resolve and backbone to face the challenges head on, with confidence and with a sense of duty for the present and the future. General, please carry on.”

“Thank you Governor. We are either a free people or enslaved captives. There are no in-betweens or shades of grey. As in the past we have to rise up and defend our way of life against a tyrant bent on personal gain and not the will of the people, its elected representatives or the personal wellbeing of the citizens within its borders.”

The General uses the remote to lower the screen and display the areas we have allies within the country. The map of America shows the many tentacles that run through all areas of the country. “We are not alone. We have cultivated our relationships with like-minded people who, while not in the borders of this province, are freedom lovers also.”

Switching the slide the General continues, “This is our troop strength. Don’t be alarmed at its size. A man or woman who fights for their freedom is stronger than one who fights because a government forces them to fight. We have invested and have access to the latest automated fighting machines developed. Pilotless drones, bombers and fighters lessen the loss of skilled lives and outperform the mainly piloted aircraft of Burnsom. We can mount a formidable defense.”

A voice arose from the crowd again, “What about those creatures. They are an abomination. They cause unruly men like Burnsom to wage war without considering the cost. We have to stop whoever is behind engineering these things.”

Sanderson smiles, “Well we just so happen to have the two scientists who started the project here with us today.” The crowd looks around, speculating who they might be. “You will meet them in due time. They are not our enemy. Our enemy is a traitor that took their research and created Burnsom’s war machine. Their intent was to create a beast for peaceful purposes. They will help us understand and exploit the weaknesses of these monsters and when peace comes to us again, they will help us to be prosperous as they take their place in a free society.” General Sanderson laughs, “Well, provided they want to do that. I don’t want to make the term, free society an oxymoron.” Sanderson waves his hand ushering Governor Stanley to the podium, “Governor.”

John Stanley, governor of the province, strides confidently to the podium. A middle-aged man with greying temples and a calm demeanor looks over the crowd. The lines in his face show the years, but his energy reveals a vibrant man. “We have fought hard to mend our differences over the years. The polarized factions of the past have become the united statespersons of today. We forge our differences together to create a brighter future for our progeny and ourselves. Burnsom is epitomic of that past. Tyrants, be they liberal, conservative, libertarian, Marxist or socialist are not beneficial for society. We strive for freedom and liberty, just as our ancestors fought for their freedom. Just as they fought to make freedom available to all within these shores and fought to free the mind of unfounded bias and hatred. We are neither religious, nonreligious nor anything else. We are lovers of freedom wanting all to live their lives and pursue their dreams. Not fulfilled all at one time, but there are always multiple trips to the well of opportunity. We are a nation of people who fought from the low ground to the high ground. Sometimes, tossed to the low ground again, but the fight is still in us. That will to survive, thrive and succeed has been with us all along. We fight a common enemy defined by oppression, austerity, enslavement and tyranny, not each other. We fight for the opportunity to lead our own lives. Success is never so sweet than when we struggle to achieve it through sheer will and determination. Then, we capture it. Responsible people make responsible decisions. A people dependent upon government, or in our case, a dictator, is a slave to that entity. We have much to do and I won’t give a stem-winder of a speech, but before we dismiss, I would ask Bob Cameron to say a few words on behalf of the faithful.”

Bob slowly makes his way to the podium. “Good people, our differences may be great between philosophies, faith, and ideas, but we stand united against those who would force is to believe or adhere to their will. I pray for each and every one of you, Godspeed and good fortune in our fight.”

Sanderson stands up and looks over the crowd. “Dismissed.”

Sanderson walks over to Christine and Taylor, smiles and shakes their hands. “I know both of you, but I don’t think each of you knows that I do.”

Christine smiles, “It is great to see you again. How do you know Taylor?”

“Before the Cartel war, I was a Colonel working with the Israeli’s in their last conflict. Taylor was working with their people at that time. I’m glad we have both of you together. I’m confident that we will succeed with your help.”

Taylor smiles at Sanderson. “Thank you sir, we won’t let you down.”

“This is larger than me. We’ve learned that to achieve individuality we have to have a combined resolve. It’s for all that we make the sacrifice. You will both receive commissions as Majors, because of the need for continuity. Phillip Wallitz will assist you. He has been working in your lab for some time. I warn you. His personality takes some getting used to, but his benefits are worth the trouble. You leave tomorrow. Good luck to you both.”

Taylor and Christine look at each other with somber expressions. Christine asks, “Do you ever think we will get a break?”

“Maybe we can sleep on the transport.” His twisted smile reveals his displeasure.

Bill comes up behind them. “You two basically came here with the clothes on your backs. We need to get you some essentials and a real meal.”

Christine hugs him. “That means a lot Uncle Bill. We need it.”