Blue Plague: War (Blue Plague Book 6) (2 page)

“I was heading over to pray with the teams before they left this morning,” he said, stopping beside Bruce. Father Thomas looked over at him, and from the lights in the field, he could see tears on his cheeks. “Is everything all right, Bruce?” he asked.

Bruce closed his eyes and sighed. “Forgive me, Father, for I have sinned,” he said.

Chapter 2

It was Friday evening over a week later when the command group met in mission control. As everyone sat down Bruce moved to the head of the table. “Now, let’s get down to business,” he said as everyone took out notebooks, and Paul took out a bottle of Tylenol and set it on the table.

Grinning at Paul, Bruce started, “Angela, how long until the scavenging crews are done?”

“At our current rate, we will have all the bases in Alabama emptied of what we want in four days, six at the most,” she said.

“Now, that’s what I want to hear,” Bruce said, smiling at her. “Stephanie how, is the supply inventory coming?” he asked, turning to her.

“Everything we have stored has been logged, and what is taken out is marked off. From this moment, we can eat for five years if we only eat canned food we have stored here. We have enough food put up to last forty thousand for that long. The refinery is ready to start when we need it,” she said.

“Oh yeah,” Bruce said and looked at Paul. “Paul, how goes the building world?”

“All towers are fully operational, and the walkway around the inside of the wall is up. The lake is almost full, and the hydro station will be online in two days. We did a test run, and it works great. The road system you wanted for the compound is underway and should be finished in a month. The air crews asked if we could build some hangers for the aircraft, and I have started that. The barracks are up in Hope. We can now take seventy thousand people here. We will have the dining halls and rec areas completed in a month,” Paul said.

“I said fifty thousand,” Bruce clarified.

“Yes you did, but at least this will buy me some time before you ask for skyscrapers,” Paul answered. Bruce shook his head, looking at Paul. “What? I’ve learned if you want something, always do more to save myself a headache later.”

“Fine, Paul, your point is taken,” Bruce said, grinning.

Paul looked at Bruce for a minute then started talking. “Bruce, I remember when we were fighting to just keep control of a few miles around us. Where we were going to get food and fight a battle with every blue in northwest Louisiana. Now, we are fighting blues over the Midwest and Eastern seaboard. I remember being stuck in a tree with my family thinking we were going to die up there. You come along and start a war on a scale few can imagine and try to save humanity. That is forward thinking on a scale few are capable of.” Everyone in the command group nodded.

“Paul, I’m not the one you should be thanking,” Bruce said.

Looking Bruce in the eyes, Paul said, “I know Debbie asked you to keep this going, but you were doing it.”

“No, that’s not what I meant. Debbie asked me to save everyone I could and rebuild. I’m still not the one to thank.”

“What the hell do you mean?” Paul asked.

Bruce sighed and looked at Paul. “Paul, it was never my plan to bring people here that were not already an asset to the family. If I would have followed my plan, we would be dead.”

“What the hell do you mean, Bruce?” Nancy asked.

“I asked Angela and Alex here because they were an asset. They work hard and grew up on farms. It wouldn’t take much for us to invest in them. I never asked Susan and them to join; they just followed. It was after the school Mike and I hit to get supplies that I started to think. I was going to leave Maria and Lynn with those kids; Susan and her two were slowing us enough already. It was Mike who convinced me I was wrong. If people wanted to survive and could live by our rules, then we should save them. That’s not what Mike said, but it’s what he meant. I didn’t understand at first, but if I wouldn’t have listened to him, we all would be dead now. If Maria and Lynn wouldn’t have been there to pass us their magazines when that mob hit us in the woods, we would’ve been overrun and died. The rest I leave to your imagination. Maria and Lynn didn’t know anything, but they tried and it saved us. If anyone needs thanking, it’s Mike. Without him, I can honestly say we would all be dead several times over.”

Mike gasped, looking at Bruce, then everyone at the table turned to look at Mike. Mike’s face started turning red as everyone stared at him. Nancy hugged and kissed him on the cheek. “Thank you, Mike,” Paul said.

Conner nodded toward Mike and looked at Bruce. “Well, since we have diverted off the subject, I want to ask. Do we have enough to fight this war now?” he asked.

“Not really. It will take us two decades to fight it, and even then, it would just be a stalemate,” Bruce said.

“What?” Willie asked.

“We need to have a five thousand strong attack group out at all times fighting this war. Right now, that is half our total strength, and you can’t keep men out under constant combat conditions.”

“When did you come up with this?” Willie asked.

“A few months ago,” Bruce replied. “During my insane run through Texas, I realized I had to have a shit load of troops to fight this war. The best I could do there was run and gun. Granted, it worked, but as Stephanie pointed out, all we could do was hold them in check in that one area. To win this war, we need a lot more troops.”

“That was why you wanted to be ready for fifty thousand. You were planning on getting those in the government camp,” Stephanie said.

With a slight grimace, Bruce said, “No, to be honest, I was going to nuke them.” Everyone froze hearing that. “What? I’m not going to lie. They are bigger than we are and have more troops. Why is it so hard to imagine my reaction?” Bruce asked.

“Bruce, we hit that group in Grenada, and they were a lot bigger than we were,” Conner blurted.

“Untrained with very little knowledge on the military weapons they had. We had the advantage. If they would’ve been a little larger or I would’ve known just how large they were, I would have just wiped them off the Earth,” Bruce answered.

“Damn, you play for keeps,” Adam said, glad he had left Colorado.

“Make no mistake, I’m going to save what I can, but I won’t risk what we have to do it. If Walker can pull off his plan and get those troops join us, we can win this war in ten years. If not, we will pass this war off onto our kids,” Bruce answered.

“Do you think Gene can pull it off?” Stephanie asked.

“I give it fifty/fifty,” Bruce answered, shrugging.

Adam looked at Bruce with hesitation. “If he can’t, are we going to kill those troops?” he asked.

“Down to the last man,” Bruce replied. “That is the commitment I asked for and you gave.”

“I know, and I will, but it’s not fair. They are just doing what they are told. They know if they don’t, most have families there that will be hurt if they don’t follow orders,” Adam said.

“I know that, Adam, but nobody is going to hurt this family or this clan as long as I have a breath left in my body. You really think the clan would have a chance if those idiots up there were in charge?” Bruce asked.

Adam sighed. “No, Bruce, I know we would all live in a state of terror. Just like when I left. I will do it, but I won’t like it.”

“None of us like it, but we will do it,” Bruce replied. “We have a week left in November. I want all the crap from those bases here now. The weather is getting nippy, and the blues aren’t pulling up like they did last year. I feel they are going to be active longer this year. If Walker can work his magic, the government won’t roll till January. That gives us a little over a month,” Bruce said.

“Can we beat them if Gene can’t work his magic?” Mike asked.

“Without a doubt,” Bruce replied.

Raising his eyebrows, Mike added, “Without popping a nuke?”

“Yeah, I’m not popping a nuke unless I have no choice,” Bruce said.

“How can you be so sure?” Mike asked.

“I have more planes than they have anti-aircraft missiles.”

“Well. how is he going to do it?” Angela asked.

“Have no idea, but I’m talking to him tonight. He’s been busy, so we haven’t been able to talk,” Bruce told her.

Jake looked down at his notebook. “They have been scraping up fuel and sending out patrols, getting more. It’s been colder up there, and they have very little movement of blues around them. They will be coming at us with seven thousand troops. Three regiments of two thousand each and a command regiment of a thousand. The three regiments are going to be in flying wedges with the command regiment in a reverse wedge behind them. Their principle is if we hit them, they can drop one wedge back to form a circular defense while two regiments attack us. They have twenty-five choppers in support. Twenty of those are Apaches. They don’t have fuel for prolonged operations for the rest. They will have six Patriot systems, ten MRLS, fifty artillery, a dozen tanks, and several dozen Bradleys. The rest will be Strykers, Hummers, and troop trucks. All track vehicles will be driven down on trucks along with the choppers,” Jake said and looked up.

“Walker, come up with that?” Bruce asked.

“Yeah, Dad,” Jake replied.

“Well, if they stay in that formation, we can take them apart easy enough,” Bruce said.

“How?” Mike asked.

Shrugging, he said, “Same thing I said before; hit them on the side with a small group, make them deploy to chase us, and when they leave their air umbrella, wipe them out with air.”

“Sometimes, you scare me,” Mike admitted.

Bruce blew him a kiss. “Okay, when we start prepping our battle area, I want the UAV from over our head gone,” Bruce said.

“Dad, we will lose our intel,” Jake reminded him.

“No, they will keep one close to the troops to watch them on the way down but won’t put any above us. I’m sending out the first platoon to warn the groups in Arkansas and Oklahoma. We found that the government will be coming soon and to stay put or join us. There are several thousand people, and I really want to warn them, especially the two large groups. I want at least one armed UAV over each one at all times until this is over. We gave our word to help them if we could,” Bruce said.

“How long do you think this will last?” Nancy asked.

“I’ll know tomorrow or at least enough to give an educated guess,” Bruce answered.

Nancy looked around the table. “Command meeting tomorrow night,” she said, and everyone nodded.

“Jake, let Walker know I want to talk to him tonight,” Bruce said.

“Bruce, will you please call him by his first name, Gene?” Nancy said.

“Sorry, babe, but I have known and called him Walker longer than you have called him Gene.”

“No problem, Dad,” Jake said, standing, and started passing out boxes. Danny and Mary both let out squeals, ripping them open. Jake slid one down for Bruce, and he opened it, finding a cellphone.

Letting out a long remorseful sigh, “Well, it was bound to happen sooner or later,” Bruce said, taking out the phone and looking at it. Hearing a phone ringing, he looked up and saw Danny and Mary texting. “Are you kidding me, Danny? Y’all are sitting right beside each other,” Bruce shouted.

“Back off, Daddy,” Danny popped off as she answered Mary’s text.

Bruce just shook his head as Jake finished passing out phones. “The clan will get theirs tomorrow,” Jake said.

Marcus looked at his phone then at Jake. “I never had one to begin with,” he said.

“Mr. Marcus, this is the fastest way to talk to someone. I can show you how to work it,” Jake said with confidence. Marcus looked at him, unconvinced.

“So I hafta have one too?” Carroll asked, looking at the phone like it was a snake.

“Yes ma’am. The command group has to be able to talk to each other, and now, we can do it without radios,” Jake said.

“Okay, Jake, I’ll dos it, but I ain’t liken it,” Carroll said, and Bruce smiled. At least he wasn’t the only one who hated the damn things.

The meeting continued for another hour and then adjourned with Bruce heading to the boys’ computer area beside the house.

Chapter 3

Colonel Walker was sitting in the command area at the table with General Givens, the President, and the other advisors as the meeting let out. The general leaned over the map and pointed at an area. “Colonel, don’t you think you are bunching us up real close?” Givens asked.

“Sir, the units will be ten miles apart. Any closer and we make a good air strike target, conventional or unconventional,” Walker answered.

“You think they will use nukes?” the President asked.

“No sir. They don’t like causing collateral damage. You saw they didn’t blow up any bridges over the river when they fought that mega horde. They want to keep the infrastructure intact,” Walker replied.

“Then why mention it?” he asked.

“Sir, when we start wiping out their army, I don’t want them to think they can launch one nuke and be rid of us. As we present now, we will be moving along a hundred mile front with thirty mile depth. It would take a dozen nukes with the terrain we will be in to take us out,” Walker said.

“Fair enough,” the President replied. “When do you think on launching?”

“First week of January. The news reports they have put out say the temperature is starting to fall there. I hope the blues are bedded down by then, or we will have to move it further out. We were only able to secure twenty tons of ammo in Idaho. That along with what we have is not enough to clear a path to them,” Walker said. Looking down at the map, he added, “From what they were reporting against the mega horde and their movements around the area, they used close to that much ammunition alone. Against the horde, they used three times that. Their troops shoot better than ours like I detailed in my report. If we had the ammunition and time, we could’ve trained ours, but we don’t have the luxury of having a truly secured area, sir.”

“Well, that will change shortly, Colonel,” Givens said, grinning. Just the thought of getting out of these mountains made him happy.

“Yes sir,” Walker replied, looking at Givens’ grin.
I wish I could shoot you now, you son of a bitch,
Walker thought.

“How long do you think it will take?” one of the aides asked.

“It all depends on when they engage us. Once they commit, it will be over in a week, two tops,” Walker answered.

“Why would they engage us? Why not just sit behind their wall?” the aide asked.

“They don’t know we want their site. You don’t let a hostile army camp around you and lob explosives over your walls and poke holes in them. They have a defensible position and will defend it or surrender. If they knew we weren’t willing to risk hurting the site, they would just wait it out,” Walker replied.

“So you think they will surrender?” the President asked.

“They might when we show up but definitely will after the shooting starts. This will be the first time they come up against a force that can fight on the same level they do, and we are bigger,” Walker answered, feeling the phone in his pocket vibrate.

“How many do you think we will have to kill to get them to the peace table?” Givens asked.

“We will have to wipe out one of their strike teams: Omega or Gamma. When they are down to half strength, they should try to negotiate a deal,” Walker answered.

“What do you advise then?” the President asked.

“Negotiate in good faith, and accept the offer to join them. Ask the remaining strike team to lead a thousand of our troops back here to get the others and wipe them out while the rest of the force takes over the compound,” Walker answered.

Sneering in disgust, “Seems like chicken shit to me,” Givens said.

“It will save our troops’ lives, sir, and we need them for the coming battles ahead,” Walker said, looking at Givens.

“I like that,” the President said. “When will my staff be able to join?” he asked.

“Sir it will take us three days to secure the site, and the troops here can escort you, the command group, and Homeland down to the site. The troops that wipe out the remaining strike team can lead the civilians down,” Walker said.

Shaking his head, the President smiled and said, “We will only be taking half of the civilians, remember, Colonel?” Seeing the President smile as he spoke made Walker want to puke.

“What’s the worst-case scenario for our troop survival?” Givens asked.

Never expecting a question like that from Givens, Walker studied Givens before he answered. The general never cared about the troops before, and now, he was asking questions about their survival rate. “If it comes to a slug fest, we will lose three thousand, possibly four,” Walker answered.

“That’s manageable,” Givens replied, making Walker’s skin crawl.

“Sir, that’s half our force. We can’t sustain casualties like that,” Walker replied.

“Colonel, that will still leave us with a force of five thousand, more than enough,” Givens said, smiling.

“Are the troops ready?” the President asked.

“Almost, sir. We are getting all the tracked vehicles on trailers along with the choppers. We will be ready to roll in a week if need be, but I still want to wait until the blues bed down. I also want to go over the attack with the regiment commanders and company commanders several times. I want them to know the area,” Walker said.

“I agree, Colonel,” the President said. “Let’s say January the fourth for the launch of attack.”

“Sounds good, sir,” Walker replied with the aides agreeing.

“Mr. President, what if the weather gets colder before then? We could launch earlier,” Givens said.

“No, General. The colonel is right; we need our troops ready for this battle. They will have many more after it, but this will be the most important,” the President said, and Givens nodded but didn’t agree.

Walker straightened and stretched his arms out. “Gentlemen, if you would excuse me, I have not stopped in the last four days. I really want to grab some rack time,” Walker said.

The President looked at him with alarm. “Colonel, you will get some rest now. If I had known that, I would have asked for a briefing tomorrow. You are too valuable to me and this country. I command you to take tomorrow off.”

“Well, sir, I would like to sleep a little late, but we still have a lot of work to do. Besides, what else is there to do?” Walker pointed out.

The President laughed. “Colonel, go grab some rack, but at least sleep late. If anyone disturbs you, let me know; I’ll have them shot.” Walker wanted to laugh, but he knew the President was being serious. Grabbing his papers and shaking hands, Walker headed out of the room.

Reaching the hall, he pulled out the cellphone and read, “need to talk.” Walking down to his room, he looked at the camera on the wall and smiled. Over the last week, he had talked to Jake and Matt but also Angela and Stephanie without Bruce knowing. They told him about Debbie and the months of Bruce going insane.

When he heard the reason for Bruce’s actions, Walker felt much better about Bruce. The Williams he knew was crazy and loved the wave, but that was taking things to a whole new level. Closing his door behind him and locking it, he put down his papers and grabbed a bottle of water as his laptop came on. It still unnerved him that Jake and Matt had that much control over this base.

After the screen warmed up, he saw Bruce looking at him. “That better be water you’re drinking. You made me do pushups for sneaking in some Vodka,” Bruce said, grinning.

“Williams, you snuck Vodka into a war zone. That is not the best time to be drinking.”

“Oh, but it’s the best time to do pushups,” Bruce shot back.

“I bought you another bottle when we got state side,” Walker answered.

Bruce leaned back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “We wanted it over there.”

Collapsing back in his chair, Walker smiled at the memories. “Well, did you hear that meeting?” he asked.

“Of course I did. I know how you’re going to attack. Your line of advance, troop disposition, supply status, equipment, and manpower. I have to say it’s a fair plan for suicide,” Bruce said.

Almost dropping his bottle of water, Walker looked at him in shock. “How? Nothing has been put in a computer. And we didn’t talk about it in the command center,” he blurted.

“You didn’t put it in the computer, but one of the general’s aides did. Plus, we were watching when you briefed the general in his office. His web cam is really good.”

“Your boy is very scary.”

“Walker, he is the joy of my wonder years.”

Shaking his head at Bruce, Walker looked at the screen. “Bruce, you will either call me Gene or Hammer. You aren’t in the green machine anymore, and I would appreciate it,” Gene said.

Letting out a sigh, Bruce looked at the screen. “Fine, Gene,” Bruce said, knowing somehow, Stephanie had been involved in that.

“Thank you, Bruce.”

“Well now, since we are on first-name basis. What’s your plan?” Bruce asked.

“Once we deploy, you will test our line from a distance. We have a few long distance skirmishes, and one of my regiments is going to defect to you. Then, you will call for a meeting to discuss terms, and I will kill the general and take control of the forces and turn them over to you,” Gene said.

“You throw that around real easy, Gene. Skirmishes can get my troops hurt for nothing.”

“Mine as well.”

Narrowing his eyes, Bruce said, “Gene, you’re asking me to risk my troops for a charade.”

“It’s a risk, yes, but worth it. I know my troops are good, but they will listen.”

“Your troops aren’t that good, Gene. I could launch Omega now and have that area destroyed in a week.”

“Your troops aren’t that good,” Gene said.

Leaning closer to the camera, Bruce’s face filled Gene’s screen. “You have a mega horde six hundred miles from you. We could led them right to that valley and never even face you. Or wait till you leave and take out your convoy en route. I can name a hundred different ways, Gene,” Bruce informed him with confidence.

“Bruce, what the hell are you getting at?” Gene asked, getting pissed off.

Leaning back again in his chair, Bruce said, “You’re asking me to risk my troop’s lives for nothing.”

“Nothing?” Gene gasped, jerking his head back.

“Yes, we have security, which we have fought hard and died for. This clan has paid for what we have with our blood. You’re asking me to risk their lives in a charade to set up this coup,” Bruce said.

Gene looked at Bruce and sighed, nodding. “You’re right, Bruce. I am, but I think it’s worth the risk. I’m trying to save these troops’ lives and these civilians here. I think it’s worth the risk.”

With a minute nod, Bruce said, “Well then, Gene, if you think it’s worth the risk, we’ll do it.”

Gene let out a sigh of relief. “Thank you, Bruce.”

“I’m sorry, Gene, but the war after this battle is going to take a long time, and I’m going to need my troops.”

“I understand, and I want you to have these troops as well.”

“I’m sure most of those troops will not continue the fight that I need. This is going to be a war of attrition on a scale never seen before,” Bruce said.

A broad grin filled Gene’s face. “Oh, I’m sure they will. Most want to join you now. The only thing holding them back is they have families here. I was ready to come and follow you when I heard about Omega, and I didn’t even know it was you, Bruce.”

“They will be your troops, Gene; I will just tell you where to attack.”

The grin fell off Gene’s face replaced by a scowl. “That is a big fat Fuck-You-Fat-Lady,” Gene popped off. “I’m joining your army, Bruce, and my troops are as well. You are the boss, troop.”

Throwing up his hands, Bruce snapped, “Okay Hammer, shit, back off.”

“You need to go and get a tampon, boy,” Gene said.

Bruce cracked his knuckles in front of the camera. “Gene, I’ve had enough shock to my system. I’m not in the mood,” Bruce said with narrowed eyes. Slowly. Bruce’s expression softened and he sighed. “I’m going to be a daddy again.”

Letting out a whoop, Gene threw up his fist, pumping it up and down. “Bruce, they are lovely girls, and to put up with you, they deserve a medal. You should feel lucky that they are having your kids.”

Watching Gene’s reaction, Bruce smiled then became serious. “Givens wants to fight a battle and become a hero.”

“Yes, that’s what I think,” Gene said.

“I don’t think; I know. He told his aide he wanted to wipe us out so he could go down in history as the greatest general of America.”

“Oh, that’s why you’re bitchy,” Gene groaned and continued. “Bruce, if I thought it would go down that way, I would get a group and leave then just let you lay waste to this place, but I really think we can save a bunch here.”

Feeling better after hearing that, Bruce tried to relax. “Okay, Gene, get some rest. Matt said your security blanket is under the bed, and your night light is out, so fix it, and get some sleep. We will talk some more Sunday night.”

“You better leave my woobie alone. It’s mine, and you can’t have it.”

With a wide grin and holding out his fist, Bruce said, “Hoorah.”

“Hoorah, troop,” Gene said, turning off the screen and smiling.

Bruce turned to the group to see Angela, Stephanie, Marcus, Carroll, Mike, Nancy, and the kids staring at him in ogle-eyed shock. “What?” he asked.

“You thought he wouldn’t join? Then you were just going to let him command the largest part of the troops?” Angela yelled, stomping her foot.

Crossing his arms, Bruce said, “I would have commanded them.”

“Commanded?” Stephanie screeched.

Dropping his arms, “Oh shit the hormones are here,” Bruce said, shaking his head.

Angela and Stephanie reached down, grabbed their notebooks, and threw them at Bruce. Dropping to his knees as the notebooks sailed over his head, Bruce looked at the two like they were crazy. They turned and started grabbing whatever their hands fell on for another volley.

Danny jumped in front of them. “Hold on; let him finish. Then, you can throw shit at him. I might even help,” Danny said as they lowered their arms. Danny spun around, looking at Bruce. “Now Daddy, spill it, and no bullshit, or I unleash them.”

With a weary look, Bruce stared at them. “I was hoping he would lead the army?” Bruce said. They all stared back at him with dazed expressions. “What, I can’t be tired? I’m getting sick of this shit. I want to sit the fuck down and rest for a minute. Maybe read a book for no other reason than to read something for fun. I want to take a minute to breathe. I’m fixing to be a daddy—again—and I can’t even enjoy the moment because I have to get ready for a fucking battle, which I hope doesn’t happen. I think that fucking Givens is going to throw monkey wrenches in this fucking escapade! Then, I have to plan an entire war across this continent that will last years and cost us a lot in lives, manpower, and supplies. I’m getting pissed off just thinking about all this shit, and when I get pissed off, I want to ride through the land wading in blood!” Bruce finished, yelling at the top of his lungs.