The Rescuer Pt. 07

She gave me a horrible salute. I am not in the mood for fun. I turn and start running at a slow jog. Oh shit, Penny is six months pregnant, we better walk fast. They run right by me. Oh, I bet they loved that. Next time it is going to be so easy to fuck them hard. I have a lot of anger to draw from now. Rocky is alert, I can tell he is looking and sniffing, just like he is supposed to. Mary has it the hardest, she is carrying a box of ammo. I should swap for the backpack.

Mary sets me in my place, "I can't shoot a weapon, my job will be keeping my head down and stocking you all with ammo. Let me do my fucking job."

How did I become the private? Nobody listens to me. Barry is obviously right, my days in the field need to end.

As we are running up, I can hear gunfire now. How did this happen? You can't attack an army and air force base. This never happens. Too much security and MP's let alone thousands of troops. How can they win? This feels wrong.

We sneak up slowly to the edge of the forest. The base is smart, they have 200 yards in all directions cleared out. I see most of the attack coming from the north. The main gate is on the south end, and I see no activity over there. We all assemble our rifles and crawl up to the top of a small hill. Nakita was smart to take the ponchos, they conceal us. Rocky and Shorty stay back in the woods. The last thing I need is them making excellent targets and giving away our positions.

I call out distances to significant landmarks, and that helps my partners with range. I have them thinning the herd that is attacking. Most of the men are running across the 200 yards. My girls have been duck-hunting, it's very similar, but humans are slower.

I look at the front gate in my scope. The men have heavy machine guns, and I see two M-50 machine guns set up on tripods looking inside of the base. They are wearing our uniforms, but they have beards. It's obvious, these aren't our men. I do head shots for effect. It's gruesome, and rather than looking for the sniper, they are freaking out because their friends are dying.

These are professionals that have seen death. It doesn't take long before the gig is up. They are looking at the trees and not the bare hilltop. They spray the forest as I mow their people down, one by one. When I run out of targets, I make a phone call.

I call Phil, the leader of my group, he answers, "Hey Phil, what's up? I hear you have a cockroach problem."

Phil is calm yet agitated, "Can I call you back, we are a bit busy right now, they are inside the base."

Oh shit, that's bad.

I tell Phil, "Well, how about you drive out here, pick my wives up, and let's go out for dinner."

Phil chuckles, "You brought your wives? Fuck." I hear a shot. "Sorry, nobody is leaving here for a while. We are locked down."

I am calm as I explain to my best man, "Try the front door. I liberated it for you. Then swing around the edges and surround them. By then our plan will be shit anyways so improvise. OH SHIT, I have to go."

I try to remain calm, "Penny and Kim. Barry's house, two buildings closer. That is the command center where Barry will be. See that group going there? Let's stop them. Headshots if you can, let's freak them out. NOW."

We didn't kill them all, but we did kill enough that the target ceased to be worthwhile. I am pretty sure the man leading them was the Major that didn't like dogs and is no longer a Major. It looks like he switched sides. Can't be sure but that could explain a lot.

I hear barking from behind us. FUCK!

Three men are walking just outside of the forest, walking towards Rocky who is barking. They look very nervous. They know I am near. While still concealed, I turn around on my stomach, Penny and Kim follow my lead. I give them a target.

Nakita starts counting down in a whisper, "Три."

I tell Nakita, "English please."

Nakita giggles for a moment, "Three ... Two ... One ... shoot." Only a single shot is heard. Three bodies fall.

As we turn around, a variety of vehicles and men are storming out of the base and around it. The attackers are in full retreat. We don't give away our positions. We have no idea where in the woods they are. We will sit here for a while and let it cool down. Unfortunately, an ambulance, with sirens blaring is driving straight out to us. So much for that strategy. This is one of those big red box trucks with a white cross on the side yet very modern and clean on the inside.

I am a bit surprised to see Phil driving it. He slowed down as he approaches, he doesn't know where we are. I stand up, and he stops and tells us to get in the back. I whistle for the dogs, and they come running.

I tell Phil, "I want you to drop us off at the west entrance of the command center. I don't want them seeing the mess on the east side. Then you will drop Kim off at the hospital. There you volunteer others to help you to pick up wounded. I will see you and the others later."

We hop off the truck and then enter the back door of the command center. Immediately Penny is given a chair. She is six months pregnant, it shows. Barry isn't there. Everyone is standing around looking at each other.

With a calm voice, I stand next to Barry's chair.

I point at four men, I yell, "You four. Go to Barry's house, find him. If he isn't there, cafeteria, and everywhere else he goes until you find him. I saw a group walk from east of here to this building, after his house and mess hall, check that direction next. You six, out to the front gate. We're on lockdown. Check all the badges. If in doubt, detain them."

I continue, "You four, call in all the help you can. The rest of you, organize the tracking of those mother fuckers all the way to the ocean. I don't want any of them escaping. You, yeah you. Here is my personal phone. Dial the number labeled General and tell him what happened. Me, my wife, and my two female friends are fine. You! Call someone from headquarters and report this. We need investigators, doctors, and someone from the Navy to help stop the retreat. WHERE IS INTELLIGENCE?"

A man is standing at my side, "Here sir. How may I assist?"

I am calm and use my normal voice, "Do you remember my first trip here when I sank the sub?" He nods his head yes. There was a Major that screwed up and was demoted."

The guy says, "Yeah, he was an asshole. I know exactly who you're talking about. Everyone hates him."

I smile, "Great, east of here outside the building, many people were killed. I think he was leading them, so I took him out first. See if that isn't the same guy, then start an investigation on him, get the police involved so we can search his place."

He grabs my hand, "I understand sir, I'll start the process. I'm owed a bunch of favors, today is a day to call them in. I have a hunch you're right, and a lot of this one way or another is tied to him."

I gracefully turn to Mary, "Mary dear, would you mind calling our parents. They'll probably want to know."

I look at Penny, "Penny, please try to contact our flight crew. Send them back to our lodge. I don't want anything new coming here and ruining evidence. We are closed to all flights until we get answers and know it's safe. In fact, send anyone outside of the base to our home. Mom and dad will feed them and provide a place to sleep until it's safe to come back."

I speak to both Penny and Mary, "You don't leave this building or this room without my knowledge. We don't know who the bad guys are yet, and I'm not risking your lives."

Mary made the call, and Penny took care of the pilots.

I instruct them, "I am going to be overwhelmed with questions. You two make the small decisions. If it's important, get my attention. I don't expect we'll see Barry for a very long time. We will be held up here until relieved of command. Have food brought in and make sure everyone eats."

I instruct the dogs, guard us. Both Penny and Mary look at me.

I point at two guys in uniforms with revolvers, "You two, come here. Let me see your ID's."

They show me their ID's, they are real MP's.

I give them their orders, "I saw men at the front gate in our uniforms. Check everyone on base. I want everyone in here checked, and then I want you watching the doors. Call in two people you know and take four-hour shifts."

Mary, "Call Phil back, tell him I want to see my team here at the Operations building. Warn them about fake ID's. Then get all the cashiers from the cafeteria over here. They know everyone on base by face. I want them working with security to verify everyone on base is who they say they are."

While I am explaining this, one of the MP's is taken prisoner by a man sitting in our room. The guy has a gun to his head. Rocky walks up to the man and sits down, facing him. His tongue is hanging out, and he is panting, it's freaking hot in here.

I look at Penny, "Please put a bullet between his eyes."

As expected, the guy swings his arm away from the MP. Now the MP, he is a smart guy, he uses his training and knocks the arm up, so it is pointing at the ceiling. Rocky was waiting for the gun to stop pointing at the head. As soon as it wasn't, he zeroed in on the pressure point between a man's legs. He is down for the count, and I have a very embarrassed MP on my hands.

Two reports come in, Barry has been shot in his house and left for dead. He is in bad shape but in surgery as we speak. As more is known, they will update us.

I yell out, "Ok that makes it official, Barry's out of action, nobody has clear succession, so I am taking charge. Does anyone object? OK, back to work."

Every fiber of my being wants to rush out of here and check up on and be with Barry. I knew the right thing to do was stay where I am. They need me here, and Barry is in the best hands, nothing I can do for him there.

Mary suggests, "I could sit over there for you."

I smile at her, "I would love if that were possible. He will be in surgery for hours, and Kim is there. I need both of you here. I need to think and figure out what they were doing here. I need to make sure we are all safe."

I yell out, "Ok everyone, I need updates every hour. I need to know the progress we are making. Did we get through to Montreal yet? I need some answers. Do we have a conference room?"

My Intel guy comes back, he leads me into the conference room.

I yell out, "All reports and decisions go through Penny and Mary until I come back."

The Intel guy looks alarmed that I just gave the base to two civilians. Boy, he would blow a gasket if he knew one was Nakita. That makes me smile.

Before I leave, I yell out, "Are we taking prisoners?" A man yells out, "Yes." I inquire, "Where will we put that many? Let's start building a detention area. Get some tents. We will treat them humanely."

In the conference room, Thad, my Intel guy tells me, "You were right about the old Major. He was there, and he is quite dead. This is the dead man's cell phone. The idiot doesn't even have a code on it, zero security, geeeez. All his plans are on the phone. Both Barry and you were revenge killings. He hated you with a passion. You were correct, he hated dogs. He was also a spy for the drug smugglers. He was also selling military secrets to the Russians for years."

Thad reaches for his revolver but freezes when he hears me release the safety on my gun under the table.

Thad asks, "How did you know?"

I smile at him, "Too many people know about the line, anywhere, any place, any money and for nobody in Intel to know about the third run being a trap was unbelievable. You couldn't find me because of helicopter maintenance issues delayed us almost four hours. Kim knew and has people over there looking for your people. She is safe."

Thad says, "You know I have to try, right?"

I smile as he starts reaching for his revolver, I shot him long before he drew a shot at me.

I tell Thad's dead body, "I know. Did I mention I can use a handgun as well as a rifle?" I get up and leave the body in position.

A bunch of people are rushing the room, led by Penny and Mary with looks of horror on their faces.

I announce, "Until further notice, the conference room is out of order. Someone, please tape it off, so nobody enters the room."

I grab my phone from Mary and quickly dial Phil, "There is a team at the hospital to kill Kim, Penny, and Mary. Find them."

Phil is pleased with himself, "I know, Kim told me. They've been rounded up already, we're safe over here. We were a bit surprised to see two cashiers show up, but they spotted the men immediately. You're one smart man. Kim says it's about 50/50 on Barry. When we know more, you will be the first to hear."

I sit down and start trembling, one of my best friends may die, I am distraught. Both Mary and Penny stopped their conversations and gave me a hug and a kiss. That made everything better, well, mostly better, I am still worried about Barry.

The rest of the day was spent tracking down bad guys. It wasn't until 11:00 PM that a crisis management team showed up. I only had a skeleton crew left. They come in, set up some equipment for communications and then ask for the situation. I spend two hours giving them the rundown. They are furious that I did not read the manual and follow procedures.

The Major informs me, "Sir, I am relieving you of command. For my records, who are you?"

I smile at the young man, "Son, I am Robin Hood."

He looks at me with amazement, "Well holy shit, I really get to meet you. You are famous in Montreal, everyone knows about you and your stories. Brian, there are free beds in the Hospital, take Mary and Penny with you, and make sure Kim gets some sleep. I bet you can slip in Karen again. They figured you would be asleep, and nobody wanted to bother you. By the way, Barry made it out of surgery, he will live, he should be awake in the morning."

He gave me his best salute, shook my hand, then shook Mary and Penny's hand. He sure was excited. I am tired. A Jeep is outside waiting to take us to the hospital. Kim is waiting for me with tears in her eyes. We put two hospital beds together, and all slept spooning each other under a few blankets.

What a horrible day.

+++++

We all wake up about the same time and use the washroom. Then it is off the see Barry. He looks horrible, he is weak looking and sad. Two nurses are in the room watching him full time. On seeing me, ok, on seeing Penny, Kim, and Mary, he perked up a lot and has a look of surprise on his face.

Without him asking which he can't, I explain, "We were four hours late, they didn't get us. I killed him rushing your command center. Kim and Penny each used a bunch of ammo and Mary was our eyes, ears, and ammo distributor. I am not used to shooting so much. The base is safe, we have weeded out the traitors in the wrong uniforms. We are going to get breakfast and then relieve the crisis management team, they will need sleep. We're not leaving until you are back on your feet."

I don't sugar coat the next part, "You, me, and all the top brass were targeted. I took over and organized a cleanup. Without their money guy and leader, they fell apart once they realized he was dead. A lot of your friends are dead. You should be, you're just too damn stubborn." He smiled. "We're hungry. Get some sleep, I'll leave your daughter here to watch over you. It's going to be a long day, and I need to move on. We're all fine. No holes, no blood of my own." His eyes perk up.

I explain, "Your intel guy was one of them. I am afraid I made a mess in your conference room. I will have the carpeting replaced." Barry smiles.

The nurses kick us out, he needs sleep. As we walk into the cafeteria, the entire place stands up and salutes. I look over my shoulder, and nobody is there.

Penny smirks and says, "They are saluting you, dummy, return the salute."

Shocked, I do return the salute, and they remain standing. I guess it's time for a speech.

I collect my thought and then use a clear, loud voice so all can hear me, "Yesterday a group of terrorists and drug smugglers tried to kill our base commander. They failed!" A cheer is given. "Hurrah!" I continue, "The enemy is being rounded up and will be prosecuted. If you need anything or have suggestions, please see me, Kim, Mary or Penny. Trust me, they have my ear and know how to get my attention." They all laugh.

"We will arrange a ceremony for the fallen. The base remains on lock-down until all systems and the front gate are back to normal. I am sorry, but all passes and leaves are now denied while we're on lock-down. I'm sorry, I know you deserve them. You will find me at Operations after we finish breakfast. You all have served valiantly and brilliantly. I thank you all for your professionalism and service to your country. You make me proud to be a ... soldier. Special thanks to our cashiers, you were awesome. Thank you all!"

We then walk to the line to get food. The line evaporates like the Red Sea for us. They won't charge me for the meal. When we sit at an empty table, the place sits down. That was almost embarrassing to select food while they stand at attention and cheer for us. Now it is back to normal.

Mary looks at me, "I guess word got around."

The rest of us giggle. What else can you do to a reaction like that?

Halfway through eating, a guy comes running in with Barry's cell phone, it's open, and a call is going. The frantic man thrusts the phone into my face. I am already annoyed.

I say, "Hello."

The man on the other end starts yelling at me, "You must follow procedure. Chapter eleven clearly says that forms ..."

I cut the asshole off, "Look, dude, I don't give a shit who you are. I have no idea what book you are talking about, and I certainly don't know how to fill out a form that my base was attacked, people are dead, and I have hundreds of prisoners. Barry is barely alive, and the other top brass are all dead. I am a fucking rescue sniper with a dog and have three gorgeous and pregnant women with me.

"Shut the fuck up and do something to get us more doctors, more MP's, those are Military Police by the way, and then I need more body bags. You make that happen and then I will fill out any God damn form you have. Until then, keep my lines free, so I can do some real work. Goodbye!" Then very feebly, I say, "Sir," and hang up the phone.

You could have heard a pin drop. Penny is the first to start laughing, and the entire room soon follows. I finish my breakfast without a smile, yes, I understand the joke. I just don't have any sense of humor right now, too many people have died.

Finally, even grumpy me needs to laugh. I say to the room, "That felt good."

I send Kim back to the hospital where she is needed. The whole room volunteers to be her bodyguard. I picked the oldest guy there.

I look down on the old man, "Nothing bad happens to her. I am entrusting her life into your hands. The dogs go with you. Pay attention to the dogs, they will alert you to danger. Question anyone you don't personally know. Do you understand me?"

The shaking man salutes me and says clearly and loud, "Sir, yes sir!"

Kim hooked arms with the lucky soldier, and they walk to the nearby hospital. Penny and Mary go with me back in a Jeep to the Operations building. They objected but in the end, the relief crew went to bed, and I take over again. There are a thousand decisions to make and organize. Reports are coming in by the hundreds of injuries and bad guys being taken into custody. It was fast and steady. Damn glad I had Mary and Penny there.

About 2:00 in the afternoon an alert comes in from the air traffic control tower. "Army One" and a "ton of blips" are asking permission to land but my orders say we are closed, and nobody lands.

I respond via the headset, "Sir, that plane that wants to land contains the man with the highest position in the Canadian military. That puts him about twenty levels above you and twenty-five above me. If he wants to land, you and I are not going to stop him. Find the red carpet, roll it out, and find a bunch of vehicles, so he and the people he brought with don't have to walk here from the airfield. Warn him we are not secure yet.