America Libre (45 page)

The Pentagon had created Fuller’s ad hoc task force to ferry an intel team to the rebel command center. His orders were to
let the G2 wonks snoop around and then escort them out. The mission was considered so important the generals had even assigned
an air surveillance drone to Fuller’s task force—a first for a stateside unit.

From the touch screen on the Humvee’s dashboard, Fuller studied the drone’s-eye view of the road ahead. What he saw made the
captain shiver under his flak vest despite the eighty-degree heat: a barricade of rubble and abandoned cars blocked all four
lanes of Whittier Boulevard.

After nearly a year of duty in Southern California, Fuller had come to know the insurgents’ tactics well. No matter which
detour he chose, he was certain the Panchos would have an ambush waiting.