The Forgiven The Fallen The Forsaken (19 page)

There was a
reception afterwards where Jim demonstrated that he had learned everyone’s
names.  It had the desired effect and most of them ate it up.  

Toward the end
of the evening, Jim caught Helen alone for a moment and whispered into her ear,
“You keep any more secrets that big from me and I’m going forbid my niece from
playing with you.”

She put on a
hurt expression, kissed him on the cheek and said, “I love you, Uncle Jim.”

Later in the
afternoon, Jim repeated his performance with the
forsaken,
asking them
to work in agriculture until the vaccine was available, otherwise to use any
specialty skills they might have to help rebuild the country.  After so many
lean months, they were ready to move mountains for anyone who would promise
them food, but Jim knew that it would take more than that.  He promised
reassignment after the vaccine to those who wanted it.  He also reviewed
infection prevention measures with them.                             

By the time he
finished, the
forsaken
were every bit as willing to move mountains for
him as the
forgiven.

JUNE 3
^rd

Jim placed Jake
in charge of the Flagstaff effort and was pleased to see immediate results.  The
forgiven
were being sent out in working cars and trucks to evaluate farms,
clear roads, scavenge equipment, and look for more survivors.  Ranches and
farms that could be made operational quickly were slated for
forsaken
contingents
.
 In some cases, the
forsaken
were sent out that same day with truckloads
of supplies.  It was late in the season for planting, but it was better now
than not at all.

Jim was encouraged
by the progress, but the scope of the tasks remained daunting.

Will was
waiting for him.  "Hey Reaper, what's going on?"

"You
probably shouldn't call me that, boss."

"Oh.  Wish
you would have told me sooner."

"It's just
that I got the name in college ball, but it stuck because of some ugly things
that I've done since then.  You don't want to be caught calling me that on
video."

"Okay,
Will it is then.  Thanks for letting me know."

"We've
noticed something really interesting about the ethnicity of survivors we're
finding. It looks like Native Americans are almost immune to the virus."

"How is
that possible?"

"I don't
know," said Will.  "God has a sense of irony?  More of the local Hopi
and Navajo have died from running out of insulin than from the flu."

"Can we
get them working for us?"

"We're
trying.  They're fully aware how valuable they just became."

Jim said,
"Good!  And it's about time, too.  Can you find out who I need to talk to
in their communities?  I want some of them working with me and with Jake.  Are
they getting supplies?"

"It's
already in the works."

"Thanks,
Will.  This is incredible news!"

Later in the
day, Jim flew to the Hopi reservation and met with the tribal chairman, Daniel Honanie,
his son, Leroy, and several other members of the tribe.  Jim found that he warmed
to them quickly. 

After
discussing their situation, Jim said, "Right now I have to focus on saving
as many lives as possible.  It looks like Native Americans have a natural
immunity to the disease, which means that you have freedom of travel that most
of us won't have until the vaccine is widely available.  I need all the help
you're willing and able to give, especially with transportation issues.   I
don't expect to have a tremendous amount of power in the long term, but I will
do everything I can for you whether you can help us or not."

Daniel looked
at him and said, "We've heard that before, white man."  As Jim's face
dropped, he said, "Oh, just screwing with you."  The entire group
laughed.  "Of course we'll do what we can, but we're going to hold you to your
offer to help."

Jim laughed,
too.  "You had me going there.  That was painful."

"Imagine
how we feel," said Daniel, dryly. 

"Point
taken," said Jim.

"The land
that we lost was sacred to us.  We're not just connected to it.  It's part of
us and we're part of it.  It's like losing an arm or a leg.  You don't have to
understand, but I ask that you do everything you can to return our land."

Jim paused. 
"It would seem that there are a lot less people needing land.  I don't see
any reason why land can't be returned to you, though there might be issues with
where and how much.  It's not an area that I know much about right now, but I
will do whatever I can."

Daniel looked
at him and said, "I believe you will." He looked at Rob intensely and
turned back to Jim.  "And I think you have much more power than you know. 
I'd like to send George here with you to represent us.  We'll pass the word on
to the other tribes in the area."

Jim shook his
hand and said, "Thank you.  I brought satellite phones so you can stay in
touch.  Let me know what you need and we'll get trucks on the way to you with
whatever we can put together.  I'm going to try to get aircraft for you so you
can start pulling in other tribes as well."

George left
with Jim and Rob on the Black Hawk.  He was in his early thirties and Jim
immediately noticed that he was well educated.  On the flight, Jim told him,
"I'm going to be using you as a liaison with the tribes but I also need
you as an advisor.  I'm thinking we can change a few things out there."

"I would
like that, Jim."

"So what's
your education?"

"I'm the
tribal attorney."

Jim laughed and
said, "I'm happy to hear it.  Welcome aboard!"

PHOENIX,
ARIZONA

JUNE 4
^th

Matt, Luke,
Julio, Will, Stew, Jamie, Manny, Rob, Samantha, and four
forgiven
volunteers
were among the first to travel to Phoenix.  The volunteers didn’t need it, but
everyone else had received the vaccine.  The first group in was dropped at the
airport and was tasked with clearing runways and setting up a base camp. 

Within an hour
of landing in helicopter area, Julio and Will had been able to start two
tractors and put the volunteers to work on moving planes.  Rob took Matt and
went searching the smaller hangars for smaller aircraft that were functional,
while Luke and Jamie climbed into one of the towers to stand watch.  Stew and
Manny went to work on refueling the chopper.

They now had
working satellite phones, though the network was very small.  Rob called Helen
and Julie to let them know that it was okay to start the trip down in the
Piper.  He looked forward to having them there.   He also called Jim to update
him. 

Once the
Airport camp was set up, they would start working on the Arizona State
University camp.  The idea was to collect people and move everyone who was
willing over to rural farms or to support positions.  People who weren’t
willing would be given a strong lecture as to how crime or interference with
the rebuilding could be dealt with by immediate execution.  Once they agreed
that they understood, they would be turned loose and left to their own devices. 

This time,
supplies were delivered by C5 cargo aircraft.  Rob had the supplies unloaded in
front of a large empty hangar.   The first flight in brought a squad of Marines
with it.  Rob would have liked more, but they were severely limited by the lack
of available vaccine.  Still, he was happy to have the Marines there. 

The first civilian
survivors showed a few hours later when an SUV drove up to the airport fence. 
Julio instructed them to drive around and come in the cargo entrance to the
airport. It was a Hispanic
forsaken
family.  Julio gave them food and
questioned them about survivors in the surrounding area.  They described seeing
survivors, but being afraid of them.  They had witnessed Hispanic gangs
executing all other races and any Hispanics who wouldn’t join.  Julio thanked
them for the information.

Will and Stew
gave them food and drinks, and set them up in an airport lounge for the time
being.  He also filled them in on the plan for the next few days. 

Rob called Jim
to report about gangs.  “It’s bad down here.  We’ve gotten a report of Hispanic
gangs slaughtering all other races in the area.”

“It’s
credible?” 

“Yes.”

There was a
pause, and then Jim responded, “You have my authorization to execute gang
members of all races on sight.  Specific gang tattoos are sufficient evidence. 
Other tattoos are not.  Make sure people know the difference.  I’ll have Al put
it in the log.”

“Will do. 
You’ll take hell for it later, but it’s right.”

“Remind me of
that at my war crimes trial.  I’m sending all of the forgiven who are willing
to go.  I’ll send them by bus down to the pickup site.  You can shuttle them
from there.”

“Thank you.”

When Julie and
Helen arrived, they refueled and Rob sent them back out in the Piper to fly the
sky banner, “
FOOD  AT  SKY  HARBOR  &  ASU
.”

Rob dropped 
Matt, Julio, Will, and the
forgiven
volunteers with several cases of
MRE’s and bottled water to the ASU campus and set down in an open area. 
Survivors soon began to trickle in.  One of the first was a small group that
was obviously on reconnaissance for one of the gangs.  Julio took them into a
room to talk to them then shot all five of them from behind with a silenced
pistol.  A search of the bodies revealed that they had been armed to the teeth.

Afterward, Will
called Rob and said, “We’re going to need that manpower soon, boss.” 

Rob was already
picking up the first group of 12
forgiven
with their equipment and
ammo.   He shuttled the first two groups to Julio and then started alternating
between sites.

Rob called Will
between flights to get a status report.  Will said, “The gangs are sending
small groups in to try to infiltrate.  We’re taking them into interior rooms
and using the silencers on most of them.  We’ve interrogated a few.  The plan
is apparently to hit about 3 in the morning, take the supplies and weapons, and
then fight a guerilla campaign for the city.  They were trying to get enough
inside to make it an easy victory.”

“You’ve got to
be kidding me.”

“There’s more. 
A lot of these folks are from the cartels.  There is no border anymore, so the
fallen
are coming up from everywhere.  There are thousands of them now.” 

“Just what I
needed to hear.  I’ll line up reinforcements.  You’re authorized to do whatever
you have to do.”

“Roger that.”

Rob hung up the
phone.  
Shit.  This is going to be ugly.

 Rob called
General Whitman directly and requested any available help.  Hopefully it would
be enough.

At midnight, an
Osprey landed and was directed to an empty hanger.  Whitman had come through
with a platoon of Marines, infantry and snipers. 

Captain Young
was in charge of the Marines and asked to report to Colonel Mullins
immediately.  Rob was delighted to receive the information that armed drones
were already overhead monitoring enemy movements closely.  

Will brought
out aerial map of the airport area, pointing to one section and saying, “Our
interrogations of gang members indicated that the gangs would be meeting first
then moving into positions to launch the attacks in this area sometime around
03:00. 

Young opened
his laptop and pulled up an infrared view from one of the drones.  “This will
be their primary meeting place, then,” he said as he pointed to a group of at
least 250 gathering at a parking lot in a warehouse district about two miles
away.  Pulling up another screen and pointing out a number of heat signatures,
he said, “They have scouts all around the airport. The snipers should be able
to take care of most of them without a problem. 

On a third
screen, there was another large group formed near ASU.  Young continued, “Now
these folks are going to be more than your guys can handle.  They’ll have to be
taken out from the air.”

Rob said, “Good
work Captain.  Get your men set up and launch on your judgment.”

“Thank you,
sir.” 

The Captain
walked over to the Marines in the front part of the hangar and started giving
directions. 

Young ordered
the missile strikes as soon as the snipers were in position to protect the
camp.  There were loud explosions in the distance and rifle shots nearby as the
snipers killed off the enemy scouts.  In a few minutes, it was over.  Both
enemy concentrations were eliminated and the stragglers were tracked through
the night to see where they would go. 

Once the
stragglers made it to an area with several people, that site was taken out as
well.  Rob cringed, knowing that a certain number of those were going home to
their families and that missile strikes would be taking out noncombatants, but
this wasn’t the time to be screwing around. 

Will reported a
quiet night after the missile strikes.

The gangs were
offered the option of leaving the United States via Mexico by whatever
transportation they could find.  Jim ordered food and fuel to be left
periodically along the route.  Rob asked him, “Are you sure about this? We just
let them go?”

Jim answered,
“They slaughtered American citizens.  Of course I’m not going to just let them
go.”

Ambushes were
set up in desolate areas and the gang members were never given a chance.  Those
who attempted to flee elsewhere were eliminated as soon as they were far enough
from the city to prevent collateral damage.

Those tasked to
carrying out the ambushes were sworn to secrecy on the matter.  Jim knew that
word would get out, but a year down the road didn’t matter.  Right now, on the
other hand, mattered a great deal. 
I'm not letting any of those murderers
away if I can do anything to prevent it,
thought Jim.