Bug Out! Part 9: RV Ambush (8 page)

“You okay over there?” Scotty asked, seeing the gears turning in Howard’s head.

“Yeah,” Howard said, looking over at him. He sighed. “When do you want to start?”

“I thought so,” Scotty said. “I knew you couldn’t back away.”

“Whatever. Where?”

“I think we should enter the State of Misery.”

“Misery?” Howard asked, looking at him.

“Missouri, dummy,” Scotty said, snickering. “I know a few good pickup points in Kansas City. We’ll do one there, then maybe one in Indiana, and one in Ohio. Then you’ll be free to go.”

“I don’t think ‘free’ is the way I’d portray it, Scotty.”

“You’ll thank me. After we take care of the interlopers, there will be many more adventures for us to enjoy.”

“You’re going to end up like Jason, or Dagger,” Howard said. “You know that, right?”

“I don’t think so.”

“What makes you more special than them?” Howard asked.

“I’m smarter.”

Howard shook his head and sighed again. They settled in for the drive. It would be over six hours.

Jane walked into the clubhouse, and turned on the lights. “You almost done for the day, honey?”

Frank looked up from his monitor. He looked beat. “Oh, I suppose. This is frustrating.”

“You looked like you were making good progress earlier.”

“Well, yes and no,” Frank said. “Daan has a good set of security bots watching things on his system. I’ll have to overwhelm them somehow, but if I get too heavy handed, he’s going to take notice. The last thing we want is for him to realize what I’m after.”

“He can’t figure out it’s you that’s looking, can he?”

“No,” Frank said. “I’m running most of the attacks from a series of company servers. It would take a long time for Daan to realize that the attacks aren’t really coming from El Segundo, Colorado Springs, or Philly.”

“This isn’t going to get Rami in trouble, I hope.”

“No, it shouldn’t,” Frank said. “I’m not using servers that he has control over, but I am on the user ID that he’s been protecting.”

“Can you break now?” she asked.

“Yeah. I’m just spinning my wheels. I made a good discovery, at least. I found the names file, and several backups.”

“But you can’t grab it?” Jane asked.

“No, if I try, the bots will stop me before the download gets over, and then they’ll know what I’m looking for.”

“Well, sometimes you solve problems like this after sleeping on it, you know,” Jane said.

“I know. That’s the point I’m at now, I’m afraid. Let’s go.” He logged off of his computer, and pulled the network cable.

“Why’d you do that?” Jane asked.

“Just in case somebody figures out how to follow me home,” he said.

They left the clubhouse, turning off the lights on the way out. It was peaceful. The other coaches had their lights on now.

“You look worried,” Frank said.

“Of course,” she said. “We have friends in harm’s way. They could get killed or captured, and it could come back to bite us here too.”

“Yes, that’s true,” Franks said.

“Our new trailer owners were all practicing this afternoon,” Jane said.

“Practicing?”

“Yeah, hooking up their trailers and driving around the park.”

“Oh,” Frank said. “They’re afraid we’re going to have to flee again.”

“Yes,” Jane said. “Wonder if we should have our slides in and our levelers up?”

“Nah,” Frank said. “If the enemy could sneak up on us, it won’t matter. They’d kill us on the road just as quick as they would here.”

“You always know how to make me feel at ease, don’t you,” she said, chuckling.

“You already knew the answer to the question before you asked it,” Frank said.

“I know,” she sighed. “Sometimes I need reassurance.”

They got to the coach, and Frank opened the door, standing aside for Jane to enter.

“No, I’m just bringing you home, Frank. Sleep. Recharge. I’m going back to help Jasmine be the eyes in the sky for our away team.”

“Oh,” Frank said sheepishly. “I should have known. Maybe I should keep working.”

“No, you’re stuck. Sleep on it. Really. You’re the most important resource we have.”

“Oh, that’s not true,” he said.

Jane just shook her head. “Yeah you are. By the way, you really outdid yourself with the new PC app. We can tell how many vehicles the enemy is coming in. It’s that detailed.”

“Good,” Frank said, smiling. “I was hoping. It can be a little buggy.”

“Its fine, Frank. Go to bed. I’ll be home later.”

He went up into the coach, and Jane walked back over to the barn.

“Anything happen?” Jane asked.

“The big group is getting closer,” Jasmine said, turning towards Jane as she walked up. “Looks like our guys must have taken out a sentry. Up on the ridge. There’s been no movement on that icon.”

“Can you see any other sentries on the ridges?”

“Good question,” she said. “I’ve been watching the trucks, mainly. I just went back to the canyon and noticed that sentry a few minutes ago.”

“Well, take a closer look,” Jane said. “Our team might not see them. You could text the info to the team. I’ll go check on the caravan.”

Jasmine nodded, and turned back to her screen. “Shit,” she said.

“What?”

“Two more sentries. One is on the ridge on the far side of the Canyon. The other one is at the mouth of the canyon. They might have a decent chance to see our guys. I’ll let them know.”

“Good,” Jane said, as she focused in on the string of icons along I-80.

Jasmine got on her iPhone.

Guys, see 3 sentries on ridge. 1 appears dead, hasn’t moved. About where I’d expect to see you guys, on ridge closest to road. 2nd sentry by mouth of the canyon, probably watching for caravan. 3rd on far ridge. Be careful, they might see you easier than the ones on the canyon floor.

“Okay, message sent,” Jasmine said. “How close is the largest group?”

“The first vehicle is just about to pull onto the dirt road now,” Jane said, her voice trembling. “The rest will follow pretty quickly. They spaced themselves out a little wide on the freeway, but I expect them to tighten up on the dirt road.”

Jane and Jasmine’s phones both dinged.

“Jeb,” Jasmine said. “He got the message. They did take out one sentry.”

“This program is going to be a big help.”

“You got that right,” Jasmine said. “Too bad we don’t have an iPhone version.”

“Frank told me the small portables don’t have enough power to run it,” Jane said. “Oh, there we go. First vehicle is in the canyon. The four men have swarmed around it. Number two is about a hundred yards back, and gaining fast.”

“Here it starts,” Jasmine said. “I’m really nervous.”

“You and me both. They’ll let all of the vehicles get in the canyon before they open fire. It’s going to take at least 15 minutes for all of them to get there, unless they tighten up in a hurry. Oh, there, second vehicle in the canyon.”

“No movement of the sentries, but the icons on the canyon floor are wandering around in pairs. I’ll bet they’re carrying things out of their vehicles.”

“Oh, no,” Jane said.

“What?”

“The last three vehicles that were on I-80 kept going. The rest are on the small highway now, headed for the dirt road in a hurry.”

“Uh oh. Wonder if the three are going to meet up with the motorhome?”

“Could be,” Jane said. “It might be their demolition team. Two more vehicles just got inside the canyon. They’re really tightening it up now. It won’t take as long as I thought.”

“I’m going to text the team and let them know that three vehicles have split off,” Jasmine said.

“Good. How many people are we talking?”

“Twelve,” Jasmine said, as she typed into her iPhone.

Jeb, last 3 vehicles, 12 men total kept going on I-80. Rest are on their way to the canyon. Maybe those 3 are going to link up with motorhome.

“Okay, sent. How many more vehicles yet to go?”

“I count sixteen that are still on the road. I see the ones in the canyon moving inside deeper to make room, too. Must be getting crowded in there.”

Their phones both dinged.

“Jeb got the message,” Jasmine said. “They’re getting ready.”

“The rest of the vehicles are bunched up at the entrance to the canyon now,” Jane said. “Looks like they’re having to jockey around to get the vehicles all out of sight.”

“Yeah, I see that,” Jasmine said. “Where are the three that split off?”

“Nearing the off ramp for the big RV Park,” Jane said. “We’ll know in a few seconds if that’s where they’re going.”

“Good. Only three vehicles outside the canyon now. Icons swarming all over the canyon floor. Too many to count.”

“The three vehicles just took the off-ramp to the RV Park,” Jane said. “Better call your mom.”

“Yeah,” Jasmine said, voice wavering. She wiped tears out of her eyes, picked up her phone, and dialed.

“Mom?”

“Jasmine, what go on?”

“Three of the enemy vehicles split off from the main group and are heading into the RV Park now.”

“I tell Heidi. She gave me radio. How men doing?”

“They’re all set up around the ridge, and all the cars just got inside the canyon.”

“Good. I hope we take out trash. Thanks. I call Heidi now.”

“Be careful, mom.”

“I will,” she said. Jasmine set her phone down.

“How’d she take it?” Jane asked.

“No problem. She’s going to tell Heidi.”

“Good. There’s going to be action any second now. All the vehicles are inside, and the men are unloading things.”

“Whoa,” Jasmine cried. “Both sentries down. Icons moving fast on the canyon floor!”

“Yes, I see it. Looks like an ant hill after you dump water on it.”

On the ridge, the men watched as the last of the vehicles moved all the way into the canyon. Jeb got a text message, from Jackson.

Jeb, I can take sentry on far side of the canyon. I’m closer than you guys.

Jeb replied okay. Then there was the crack of a rifle, and the sentry fell and rolled down the hill. Everybody in the canyon froze, looking up at the ridges in a panic. Then there was a loud bang from the M107, and the other sentry got hit so hard that he flew off the ridge and onto the ground hundreds of feet below.

“Get the cars near the entrance,” Kurt shouted. Then there was the muffled pop of Jackson’s mortar, and a blinding flash near the canyon entrance. No cars hit, but now there was a big crater. Jackson backed off a few degrees and then dropped another mortar round in. The round popped, and then there was an explosion right on top of the cars, turning that side of the canyon into an inferno. Shots started to ping around them now. George started up with the M107, hitting the vehicles in the engine compartments as quickly as he could, as Earl loaded up a Willie Pete round. The other men were firing away with their hunting rifles.

“Hit them with the Willie Pete!” Jeb shouted.

“Way ahead of ya,” Earl said. Then there was the pop, and a rush of heat and light as about a third of the canyon floor went up in flames. The snipers fired away at the men trying to escape.

“Oh, my God,” Earl said, looking down. Then he adjusted the mortar deeper into the canyon and dropped another Willie Pete round in. There was a pop, and then that rush of light and heat again.

“That’s pretty good coverage,” Malcolm yelled. “Concentrate on killing the survivors before they can get up the hills.”

The men all had their rifles in hand now. George was going crazy with the M107, firing round after round. Jackson’s rifle cracked a couple of times, hitting two Islamists who were trying to flee in his direction. There were several following them. They dived behind one of the bullet-riddled cars and opened fire in Jackson’s direction, forcing him down. George opened up on them from the other side, and they crept further behind the wrecked hulk of a car, towards the far side of the canyon.

Several Islamists made a run for the opening of the canyon. Jeb, Malcolm, and Kurt got a bead on them, and opened fire. They got behind cars and fired back.

“Hey, George, you think you could shoot through these cars?” yelled Malcolm.

“In a minute,” he said. He was raising the OICW and pointing it at the car close to Jackson. The Islamists behind it were still wailing away at Jackson’s position. George pulled the trigger. There was a pop, and a sizzling sound as the projectile flew down towards the car. Then an explosion. The Islamists fell dead.

“Wow, that thing is something,” Earl shouted.

“George!” Malcolm yelled.

“On it,” George shouted back. He got back on the M107 and riddled the cars with .50 cal rounds. A couple of Islamists tried to run, but George and Jeb shot them dead. Then there was silence.

“Think we got ‘em all?” Kurt asked.

“Let’s get the girls to look for movement,” Jeb said. “Also, refresh your short range apps.” Jeb pulled out his phone and started texting.

Jane, any moving? Think we got all of them, but hard to see.

“I only see about twenty icons now,” Malcolm said, looking at his iPhone. “Shouldn’t they all show up?”

“The fire,” Kurt said. “It ruins the chips. That tells me most of the bad guys burned up in the Willie Pete and gasoline fires.”

“Jane replied,” Jeb said. “She’s not seeing any movement here, but she said that there’s a lot of activity back at the RV Park.”

“Shoot,” George said. “Any movement towards our coaches?”

“She didn’t say, but I’ll text her and let her know to watch for it,” Jeb said.

“I think we ought to get back there,” George said. “Just in case they want to carjack any additional motorhomes.”

“He’s right,” Jeb said. “Let’s get our asses back there.”

“We don’t want to make sure everybody down there is taking a dirt nap?” Earl asked.

“I wouldn’t bother,” Malcolm said. They have no vehicles left, and we’re a ways into the boonies. If we go down there, one of us is liable to get killed by a survivor. Screw it. If they’re wounded, they won’t last long anyway.”

“That was a lot of fire,” George said. “The authorities might be on their way here, too, you know. Time to get out of here, but keep your eyes open. Don’t expose yourself to the canyon floor on the way out, just in case.”