“Just the rumors floating around. According to the rumor mill it was scheduled to happen yesterday in the early morning hours.”
“Damn. Now we have to go to the main base,” Raymond said.
“It’s too dangerous. You don’t have enough people to take on the general,” she insisted.
“We have to try.”
“Mr. Eller. We need to get moving,” Six said finally.
“I know. Lynn, go down to your place and wait. Don’t leave. Don’t let anyone in unless they are from the Strike-1 team. They will identify themselves. Here,” he said, handing her the gun that he had been given earlier, “Use it if someone tries to force their way in,” Raymond told her.
“I don’t know how to use a gun.”
“Just aim at the middle of them and pull the trigger. Keep pulling it until it stops making a loud noise. It is loaded and one is in the chamber. Don’t pull the trigger until you are ready to use it,” he said.
“Mr. Eller. We have to go. Time is running out.”
“Okay,” he said and kissed Lynn before running down the bay and through the open door.
The team had gathered in the hanger, waiting for Eller.
“Mr. Eller,” Number One said.
“I know. I know. Were those real spacecraft and where did they come from? That’s what you want to know, right?”
“That and a thousand other things,” Miller added.
“Understood. But for now you are just going to have to concentrate on the job at hand. In a word, yes, they are real and yes, they came from some other planet.”
They all had a look of amazement and most had their mouths hanging open. Eller wondered if he looked that way when he first saw them.
“We need to focus. I know its damned hard but we have to keep moving.”
Raymond briefed them on the latest developments he had learned from Lynn. It meant an assault on the main base and the potential for the general to do something insane. They all knew what had to be done. Raymond told them about the two guards who would be outside the entrance. They would have M-16s and since the hanger was soundproof, they wouldn’t be alerted to what was happening.
Number one assigned Miller and Number Four to handle disposing of the guards. A few minutes later they got the signal that they could move out. The plan was to take two Hummers and head to the main base. They would neutralize the main guard building first and then locate the general and take him into custody.
They commandeered two Hummers and were soon racing down the main road toward home plate. They pulled up to the main security building and rushed the front door. Immediately they started to methodically eliminate any resistance they met.
During one savage exchange of gunfire, Number One was struck in the shoulder and toppled. All the Strike-1 members stopped shooting for a second. Number four crawled over and checked for a pulse. He was alive and he started medical treatment immediately. He was definitely out of action.
The others knew nothing more could be done right then except to continue with the mission.
It would all be on Miller’s shoulders now. During the raging battle that went on inside the building one of the security guards was able to get to the security system console and issue a 405, ambush/intruder alarm.
The 405 would trigger a full lock down and security alert to all sectors. Guards from other areas of the base started to rush to the security center and the battle intensified further. Miller peeked out one of the windows and could see eight or nine of the guards crouched behind one of the Hummers.
“Four, bring the Thumper and take out that Hummer over there,” he said pointing.
He chambered a round in the M-80 and fired, striking the Hummer in the middle of the hood. It exploded in a huge fireball. All nine lay dead at the edge of the burning hulk. Miller quickly aimed the Eagle and picked off three more guards before having to reload.
We can’t stay here. Eventually someone will come up with the idea of burning us out. We need to break out and take the fight to them,” Miller said.
“Yeah, sure. What? There are only like, two hundred of them left,” Eller said.
“You want me to send for some more to help them out?” Miller quipped giving him a quick smile.
“Cute. Very glib. What do we do next?”
“We are going to head out and make our way to that brick building over there. We can pick them off a few at a time. Then, when we feel the time is right, we will make a run for hanger 18. You will have to lead the way for that” Miller said.
Raymond just shook his head and took a deep breath. These guys were crazy.
“Let’s do it” he said at last.
Everyone reloaded and each unpinned a fragment grenade. They handed one to Raymond with instructions on what to do when he released the spoon.
“Ready? Now,” Miller said, charging out the door first.
Each man followed firing his machine gun and tossing his grenade. Eller had taken Number One’s weapon and was firing as he ran, trying to keep up with the other Strike-1 members. They reached the building and scrambled inside.
“Anyone hit?” Miller asked.
"Minor,” Number Three said, “Arm. Not bad.”
