Moosehill Militia (Book 1): INFECTED (27 page)

“Sir we are approaching Route 56 and Stafford Street.” John his new aide reminded him. Mac told the driver to pull over to the side. He stood up on top of the M113A2 he was riding in as his command vehicle today including his Aid John Adams, no relation, his driver Buzz and a security detail of four Troops. He thought of the Moosehill Troops as Marines now. They were just as good in his opinion. Mac stood on the top of APC and was saluted by the vehicle commanders as the vehicles drove by. He could see all the way down Route 56 a straight away sloping down and then level for about a mile and he could see the whole way.

He wanted to see this, back when he was on the Police force, Mac remembered blocking Stafford Street for Motorcycle runs so they could go south on Route 56 without stopping. It was a impressive sight then, watching hundreds of motorcycles roaring by and you could see them all the way back to where the road disappeared. Like then, today was an impressive sight also with the lead elements just passing him a mixture of twenty eight M113A2 separated by about thirty yards with hummers and civilian SUV’s in the left lane and the APC’s in the right lane. Then a total of around forty TT units and large Straight body diesels with some hummers and SUV’s interspersed amongst them. After the trucks came Delta Company with Fourteen more M113A2 all sporting a ring mounted Machine gun, a M60 or SAW M249 with around one thousand rounds apiece, with Larry Evans Commanding. Larry a former State Police Detective, who just happened to be in charge of investigating Mikes fatal shooting of the active shooter at Cumberland Farms in Leicester around three years ago. The beginning of all this madness. Mac chuckled to himself and thought what if I thought Mike was crazy then and didn’t listen to him, I wonder where I’d be now?

The trucks were almost by him. “Buzz, let’s move up the breakdown and get back up with the lead in Alpha Company.” He told his driver. The column of vehicles maintained a steady twenty miles an hour. They were always concerned about wear and tear on these vehicles, there were only so many replacement parts. He imagined if the population got so low, civilization could very well collapse and in a few hundred year the survivors would be riding horses and telling stories about our ancient civilization.

Mac’s APC passed by the trucks and most of Alpha Company led by Jack Majors one of several police officers who use to work for him. Jack gave him a salute as Mac’s vehicle pulled in behind his as they approached the intersection of Route 56 and Route 20. This is mostly new territory for them. Mac thought it prudent to bring along twenty school buses, there were sure to be survivors, they always seem to attract them, and that’s Okay, that’s always been part of their mission to rescue people along the way.

Alpha Company had two of their APC’s modified with large metal plows welded onto the front as rams to push anything out of the way, these took the lead right behind the scout hummers.

Alpha Company turned east onto Route 20 and immediately the plow APC’s were put into action pushing vehicles off to the side and leaving two lanes down the middle open out of the four lane road. As they were turning six women ran out of a building on the corner that he recognized as a strip joint. He couldn't believe it. Leave it to the strippers to survive, he laughed. They were directed to the buses by several soldiers who were more than friendly.

Mac’s Command APC was the seventh vehicle in line at this point, two Scout hummers, the two plow APC’s, the lead APC then Jack Majors in his, then Mac’s. As they advanced east on Route 20 Infected started to appear not that many at first because this wasn’t a neighborhood more businesses, gas stations, restaurants, mostly fast food. Mac thought, shit didn’t think of that he was going to miss having a Whopper with some fries.

“Sir there’s the Oxford Walmart.” John his aid pointed out. Mac just nodded. The plan was to hit BJ’s and Home Depot first, then the other stores if they had time today if not, another day then.

As the column advanced further onto Route 20 east they picked up more civilians who ran out of business and all were directed to the buses. The shooting started to pick up especially near the rear of the column. The noise of the vehicle attracted the Infected, but by the time they got out to the road from wherever they were hiding most of the column had passed accept for Delta Company.

“Actual to Delta Actual.” Mac called over his Mic looking to speak with Larry Evans.

“Delta Actual Go.” Larry replied after twenty seconds or so.

“Sit-rep.” He asked Larry meaning situation report or what’s going on back there.

“Where getting hit from the sides, estimate two hundred Z’s KIA so far and climbing. We are Okay for the time being.

“Good, were almost to our destination, Delta will have to take up blocking positions on Route 20 both directions, while Alpha clears the complex. We can re-access after that.” Mac told Jack.

“Understood.” Captain Jack Majors replied back. The lead vehicles in the column turned up the entranceway to BJ’s, there were several cars blocking the road entirely and had to be pushed off over the grassy banking. The Column advanced up the drive way that curved to the right sloping up into the main parking lot near the corner of Home Depot. BJ’s was on the far left side with a large expanse of parking. As Mac crested the slope and saw the parking lot he was relieved. Figured there’s was around a hundred and fifty cars or so, instead of the thousand or more he anticipated.

Alpha Company split in half, with Mac taking his half to BJ’s and Jack taking his to Home Depot, with the truck also splitting in half.

Mac’s APC’s took up positions around the store on the corners including the back and were left with the driver and gunners. The rest met up with Mac near the front entrance.

“Okay people, be careful going in, make sure of your targets before firing. I want no friendly fire situations today. Let’s move.” He told them.

He had approximately forty five soldiers with him, First squad forced the sliding doors and entered and were immediately confronted by armed civilians including several Auburn Police Officers looking a little worse for wear.

“Who the hell are you?” one of the cops asked Mac as he was pointing a semi-automatic pistol at him, probably a Glock from the look of it.

“At ease son, Where not hear to harm anyone. Why don’t you lower that pistol?” Just then, he heard.

“Mac is that you, crap it is.” And a curvy little bundle of women threw herself into Mac hugging him.

“Wow, Bell I thought I saw the last of you when you never showed at Moosehill. I’m glad you’re alive. Now could you tell these fine people to lower their weapons before some gets hurt, and I do mean them, there way outgunned.” Bell looked at the forty or so soldiers spreading out behind Mac and the entrance Squad with all in modern BDU’s and M-4 rifles. She thought what did Mac go and join up with the army? Then she remembered all the guns and ammo they had shipped to the Last Chance Gun Store.

“Listen up.” She turned to the Auburn cops and civilians who looked to number in the hundreds. That’s retired Sergeant “Mac” Mark McDermott of the Leicester police force, some of you must remember him he only retired a little over three years ago.” She told them. Guns were lowered and most agreed they remembered Mac as a good Sergeant.

The spokesperson wasn’t done yet. “Still what are you doing here? Are you with some rogue army unit or something? The last we heard was everything went to hell pretty fast and there were no army units in this area.” He said.

“Actually there are now. Come out and have a look see for yourself.” The cops, Bell and some civilians walked out the main entrance behind Mac and saw all the activity, the armored M113A2 and Humvee’s around BJ’s and Home Depot. While they were standing there they heard muffled rifle fire coming from inside Home Depot. Mac new some Infected were dying and hoped they didn’t lose anyone.

“Seen enough?” he asked the informal leader.

“Yes I have. I’m Trooper Joe Henderson stationed out on the Pike usually. I was caught here getting supplies when things turned bad quick. There was a lot more, most left to look after their families. The ones left either have their family with them here or unmarred like myself.” He said.

“Okay, we are here to clean out these two stores of everything useful. Everyone here is invited to come back to our base where it’s much safer and we have most of the amenities your use too. Nothing comes free though everyone there puts in a day’s work. Where even forming sports teams to play against each other. It helps with moral you know.”

Henderson again, “What gives you the right to take everything here?” He said.

“Listen son. I’m not going to argue every fine point with you. The organization we all belong too, The Mohan Group is the only thing keeping civilization alive outside Cape Cod and the islands in New England as far as I know. The Navy is out there and we have communications with them. We have our own private air force and army and where trying to help as many people as we can. So get out of my way.” Mac said to him with some annoyance. At that moment he wondered how Mike’s mission to Westover was going.

Bell jumped up pumped with adrenaline from being rescued. Mac can I be part of your staff or whatever these guys that hang out with you are. Please.” She said. Mac rolled his eyes, we’ll see.” He said. Meaning No comment. The rest of the civilians clamored to go back to their base with them.

“OK then. Everybody works, help load the trailers then you can board the buses we brought for anyone wishing to go with us.” Mac finished. “I’m going for a walk through store to check out inventory.” Mac left the group and the lieutenants took over organizing the new volunteers and the civilians that came with them, plus the soldiers.

Mac walked through the store with his aide John and Bell walked next to him. She showed him where she had slept. She slept with the Auburn Police Officers, she knew she would be safe with them. She was also carrying her Smith & Wesson M & P Shield a 40 caliber semi-auto pistol that she had purchased at the Last Chance Gun Store at an employee’s discount.

“So did you miss me Mac? I missed you. I can’t wait to get to Moosehill, where do I stay?” she said to Mac looking sideways at him.

“Ah, well there’s the singles bunks twenty to a shelter I suppose or you could move out to one of the Satellite bases we are setting up.” He mentioned.

“That just won’t do for me.” She told him, and kept quiet from then on. Mac wasn’t sure what to make of that. He let it drop for now. He had a mission to run.

Mac walked across to the Home Depot with his aid and Bell still tagging along. The immediate outside area was secure enough. He walked into Home Depot and right away saw Jack Majors standing in the middle of the floor in front of the cash registers giving out orders to his men and the civilian volunteers that came with them in the trucks.

He called out to Jack, “How’s it look Captain.” Jack looked over, seeing who it was, he gave final order or two and walked over.

“Looks good Mac, we had about a dozen Infected in here. Somethings worrying though. These Infected were moving much faster than five six days ago. I’m wondering if there’s some kind of mutation or something, these guys practically ran at us. We weren’t ready for that and almost lost a soldier or two. We had an Infected on top of one of my boys and who was holding him off by the throat. They were too close to shoot, luckily one of his buddy's was quick with The SPAX and took half his head off.”

Mac and Jack talked logistic. His half of the trucks were pulling up to the loading bays and they were already starting to move all the building material out. Plus there were several trailers and tractor trucks parked out back. He thought they could get them operational. Mac was taking this all in and realized that there was no way thee getting to the other stores today. Just these two were going to take three round trips he thought and they wouldn’t be done until dark. They need to build more storage areas he realized.

“Okay Jack, do the best you can in two hours we move out with the first trip of the day.” Mac looked at his watch, 0800 hours leave by ten. He didn’t know if they could get three trips in today or not, thinking about the timing.

“Hi Bell, It’s good to see you made it, I know Mac was missing you and worried.” He winked at her. Mac rolled his eyes.

“Captain, don’t you have something to do. Like supervise your men.” He said.

Jack walked away laughing and Bell was smiling a big Latin bombshell smile. Mac just shook his head and walked back to BJ’s.

***

Mike and his crew in the Blackhawk flew up from the southwest passing over Spencer enter, which was in darkness. The sun had set fifteen minutes ago, the runway lights were on and they could see them from where they were, especially since everything else was dark. Mike could see out to the Abby, which had some lights in that direction too. The power lines must be up and running to the Abby he guessed.

As they approached the airfield he could see a lot of activity. Helicopters were jammed in behind the hangers which were full, holding at least twelve of the C-130’s the rest of the fixed wing plans were either on the taxiway or moved off onto the grassy area on Airport Road, which was made wide enough and strong enough to take the weight with this kind of scenario in mind. Mike took the Blackhawk on a sweeping turn over the airfield and back in from the north to flare out and land near the first hanger where several people were waiting for him, including Mac, Oddie, Robert his cousin and a few more. It seemed like a lot of people were milling around. Christ, Mac must have picked up a bunch of survivors too.