Liberation at Riverton 1962

Please allow me to introduce myself I'm a man of wealth and taste Sympathy for the Devil

The stranger, a rather plain-looking man, had simply walked in and seated himself on one of the chairs in the outer office. Ms. Highgrove looked him over, watching as he checked a small slip of paper in his hand. She coughed, seemingly clearing her throat. When the man didnt look up, she coughed again. He seemed almost to be ignoring her. The door behind her opened, and several of the junior executives fled out from their meeting with the CEO, Ms. Highgroves boss. As the door began to swing shut, the man stood, and moved swiftly toward it. Excuse me, sir? Ms. Highgrove nearly shouted. You cant go in there!" The man ignored her, shutting the door swiftly behind him, cutting off the secretary's objections. The CEO looked up as the door shut. "What do you think you are doing?" the businessman asked, reaching for his phone. Ill have security toss you out on your ass, you know. The man removed a small device from his pocket, half the size of a fountain pen. He smiled. "Believe me, you want to hear what I have to say." He pointed the device at the wall across from him, a small red dot appeared. "What is that?" The businessman looked from the dot to the device, and back, curious now. "A laser pointer. Yes, I said a laser, small enough to be held in my hand. It's yours, if you give me ten minutes," the stranger said, smiling at the obvious confusion on the CEOs face.

1972
"This is my Vietnam I'm at war They keeps on dropping bombs And I keep score" My Vietnam

The tunnel smelled of plastique, burned meat, and nuc-mam. Dead VC were everywhere you turned. Raul Pollux backed himself out of the complex, trailing wire. He could only hope no one had cut the stuff further down the line. He sensed movement, rather than saw it, his .45 Colt swinging around as a dead Victor-Charles tried to bring his AK up. Had Raul not already been deafened by earlier shooting in the confines of the tunnel, this would have done it. The muffled boom of the pistol going off in the enclosed space was barely audible to him now. He hoped his hearing wasnt permanently damaged.

He had finally reached the opening of the complex, his buddies waiting to pull him clear when he got there. He ran out another 20 yards of wire, making sure his team was well clear of the tunnels before he hooked up the blasting machine. One twist, one thrust, and one spark later, hell was unleashed below, as the explosives hed set in the VC magazine went off. The whole place seemed to lift, momentarily, before crashing back to earth to form a sinkhole some ten feet deep. Raul shook his head, trying to clear the cobwebs. He was short; nearly ready to head home. Two more weeks, and he was on the plane. Hed already been accepted to CSU, and the Army would foot the bill for his first few years. Pretty good for a Cubano refugee whod come here without a dime to his name. After that, hed been talking to a guy back home, before he shipped out. Just have to hold out another two weeks he thought. Some outfit, Morrow Engineering, was looking for civil engineers, big construction project or something. Hed been told that if his grades justified it, theyd pay for his college degree, as long as he contracted to work for them for a minimum 4year hitch. Hell, hed already done that for the Army. He smiled as the unit began moving back toward base. Two more weeks

1975
"The heat is on in Saigon And things are not going well But still at midnight, the party goes on A good-bye party in hell The Heat is on in Saigon

She had been turned back at the embassy. No room, miss. No more allowed in. Im sorry. Yeah, he was sorry. He got to go home to America, while she was left behind to die in the hell that Vietnam had become. She would die, most likely. Or be sent for re-education. Her work with the Montagnards at Kontum, and with the US Special Forces in the area, her Doctorate in Medicine, from one of their own universities; all had done her little good. She was not Dr. Soo Lin Tai, friend of the Americans; she was just another gook in their eyes. Well, she had been smart, and converted all her money to jewelry. Now the currency was worthless, but she was still rich. She had that crossbow that one of the patients had made for her and a .45 Colt she had retrieved from a wounded American officer. Money, weapons, and she still had contacts in Saigon. She could make it out still. All she needed to do was get to the offices of Morrow Shipping and Receiving. She knew they had been hiring people desperate to get out of the country, and she hoped they were still there. If she could catch one of their boats, make her way down river and away from this place, well then yes, she would take their job, whatever it was.

1976
"Were from north California, and south Alabam And little towns all around this land And we can skin a buck, and run a trout line And a country boy can survive Country folks can survive" Country Boy Can Survive

The war was over. Seans ma was happy; her boy had made it through that time as a child, his eighteenth birthday just too late for him to serve. Sean shook his head. He had wanted to go in, and during the war they needed men so bad he could have made it, despite his reading problems. Instead, he was stuck on the outside, few prospects open to him. He had thought about trying for the police academy, as a marksman for one of those new SWAT teams hed heard of. But all the Vets were getting those jobs. If he could just have gotten that GI bill He shook his head, and stopped daydreaming. He needed to bring home something for dinner, or pa would take the strop to him. He could see a good sized buck, some 200 yards away. He knew he could make the shot, and did. Dinner was in the bag, as they say. After dressing the carcass, and getting the meat to his ma, he walked up to the mailbox out on the dirt road that ran past the farm. Bills, as usual; catalogs, his mas favorite past time; a letter to Sean OReilly from some scholarship his ma made him try for. She thought he could get it, even though he knew it was hopeless. He was ready to throw it away when he decided to at least try to read it. It dropped away from his hand when he realized that hed gotten it. Something called the Morrow Endowment Fund was paying for him to go to college. He scooped up the paper, and ran back to tell his ma.
"Well you'll work harder with a gun in your back For a bowl of rice a day Slave for soldiers til' you starve Then your head skewered on a stake Now you can go where people are one Now you can go where they get things done What you need my son: Is a holiday in Cambodia Where people dress in black A holiday in Cambodia Where you'll kiss ass or crack Holiday in Cambodia

Things had gotten very hairy for Mrs. Davis boy Jeff. King Vatthana had been overthrown by the Pathet Lao, and Prince Souphanouvong, some communist rumored to be a Soviet puppet, was inviting the NVA into the country. Against this background of civil and regional war, refugees were streaming out of the country. The NVA and the Laotian forces were churning up the countryside, hunting down folks like Jeff; Americans who they felt were responsible for the exploitation of their country.

They didnt care that he was a civilian, or that he was just there working on his masters thesis while studying the Hmong. He was a round-eyed devil, and must be killed. He had never tasted so much fear in a people before. Tales of whole villages wiped out, the children only spared to become part of the Pathet Lao, spread like wildfire. His talent for reading peoples intent, and of influencing their feelings towards him, had saved his ass a number of times. He thought back to what his father had said when he told him where he was going. He supposed he had been just the damned fool his father had suggested he was. Hed had no training, no military experience. He never planned on killing anyone. But hed grabbed the first gun he had a chance to lay hands on, and convinced one of the Hmong to show him how to use it. He had known that American troops had been working with the Hmong, and figured it would be best to move with them west, into Thailand. After months of travel by foot, he managed to hook up with one of the tribes that had fought beside the American forces, and with their help he finally got out of that green hell. Hed done things hed never known he was capable of; his talent had allowed him to pick up on the bloodthirsty emotions of those hunting him, and allowing them to wash over him he found he could distance himself from the acts. His fear, he pushed out, onto his opponents. He had gained the name devil of the hills for what he did during those long months, and hed earned it. He had trouble keeping up his studies after he got home. He managed to add BSs in psychology and sociology to his anthropology degree, but he never did write that masters thesis. He drifted from job to job, never really settling down anywhere. He did what he could to champion the cause of the Hmong to anyone who would listen, and this was to provide him with his biggest break. He was contacted by a corporate-sponsored organization that wanted to set up schools and housing for Hmong, Montagnards, and other groups that had helped the US during the war. Morrow Industries Refuge for Humanity had hired him after perhaps a 15 minute interview, putting him in charge of finding community leaders among the Hmong refugees hed gotten to know so well. People they could use to organize the refugees, get them started as communities of their own. Hed been doing it for a year or so when they called him to the California office. Some kind of special Project was gearing up, and they wanted him on it, if he would take the position. He wondered what it was all about.

1979
"The fire came and seared my skin And there I would have died, But Hathcock came and burned himself To rescue those inside. I never thought I'd be alive Today to write these lines, But when the sniper drew his bead... The life he saved was mine." Jack Mergott

He remembered that first day in Marine basic, in 74. Stebbins, Carlos H.! the instructor had shouted. Sergeant! Present, Sergeant! Stebbins replied. Son, what the hell was your mamma thinking? Sergeant! Begging your pardon, Sergeant? How is it that you came by such a prestigious name, son? Carlos Norman Hathcock Stebbins? You think youre even in the league of Gunny Hathcock? Well? Sergeant! My father changed it when I was a boy, Sergeant! Youre still a boy, son. And why in hell would he make such a change, son? Sergeant! He was a passenger in an Amtrac, traveling outside Queson when it hit a mine, Sergeant! He was pulled clear by Sergeant Hathcock, Sergeant! No Shit, son. And your daddy changed your name for that? Well, I suppose that youll be going for sniper school, then? Sergeant. Yes, Sergeant! Well, expect the instructors to kick your ass up and down the base, son. Youd better get good at telling that story real quick. He smiled. The old sergeant had been right. Hed gotten in more fights over his name than he cared to remember; even thought seriously about changing it back. Then he thought of his father, and the grizzled old Marine that hed met, whod laughed at his name. No, hed keep it, despite all the trouble it had caused. When he got to Quantico, Hathcock was there, training snipers. He seemed to push Carlos harder than any of the others, trying hard to mold him into the kind of Marine a sniper should be. Hed retired shortly after; his health had gotten to bad for him to stay on. His son was talking about joining the Marines when he came of age. Carlos smiled at the Morrow Industries rep. No sir, no relation to The Carlos Hathcock. Despite the name, I am not the super sniper a lot of people expect. You still want me to train marksmen for your corporate hostage rescue team? Yes, I am familiar with your record, Mr. Stebbins. No kills, no real combat experience at all. I expect that your instructors feel their time was wasted on teaching you to kill. Sorry, I dont mean it as an insult. Some men arent meant for it, it just isnt in their nature. But you do know something about teaching. Carlos began to become uncomfortable. Yes, hed never killed a man; that was a bad thing? I do have some teaching experience. Aside from acting as an instructor at the sniper school, I taught geology. I got my degree during the war. My father made sure that I went to graduate school to keep me out of the draft. He was steamed when I joined up afterward. But yes, I do know my way around a school, as well as a rifle.

Just the kind of man we were looking for, Mr. Stebbins. Im sure youll do fine with our company. The man pulled a binder from his case, a Morrow Security hiring packet, and handed it to Carlos.
There's trouble on the street tonight I can feel it in my bones I had a premonition That he should not go alone I knew the gun was loaded But I didn't think he'd kill Ev'rything exploded and the Blood began to spill Smugglers Blues

OMalley knew what they did with his product. Hed seen the films, heard the reports. Hed never really thought much of it. All he did was bring them things that they wanted, things theyd get with or without him. He figured he might as well be the one to make the money. Hed fired guns before, even owned a pair of Mausers from WWII, but hed never actually been around when one of his products was used on someone. But then, hed never been set up before. The IRA paid well for the kind of weapons he brought in, in American money. His contacts across the Atlantic had lots of support in the US. This latest shipment, surplus guns from the US, supposedly destroyed by the military, would bring a good price. The buyers had already paid him; he just had to make delivery. The recipient, Liam, had a warehouse location all picked out. His boys were there, as scheduled, to unload the truck. When Connor opened the back, the boxes were all there, ready and waiting. Sean had the first box lifted out, and opened it up. Inside, a US M-14 rifle waited. He smiled, and picked up one of the clips. Placing several rounds in it, he checked the action. Smood, Connor. I lyke it. Ye always got da best stuff. Tanks Liam. I aims ta please. So, ye all got dis ere andled, al go fer a pint. Connor opened the side door to the warehouse just in time to see the Brits coming in. Oi. Were buggered fer sure. He stepped back, bringing up his hands as the first trooper came through the door. He felt the pressure pass him as he stood there, saw the spray of blood come off the troopers face as he heard the shot that killed him. Liam had opened up with the M-14, covering the door. He was yelling for his boys to back him up. Gunfire erupted all over the room, as both sides opened up. In the confusion, Connor began to make his way to the door nearest the car that Liam had come in. As he did so, he stepped in something slippery. Looking down, he realized that it had once been Liam. Connor lost his lunch, and a good deal of his breakfast, as well. He went through Liams blood-soaked pockets, finally finding the keys. He looked at the rifle, and shook his head. Liam had the rifle, and now he was dead. Instead, Connor slinked away to the car outside. He leaned in, put in the keys, shifted it to neutral, and then pushed it toward the street. As it picked up speed, he hopped in. When he thought hed made it far enough, he turned over the engine. Then the lights came up, and he realized he was headed straight for the Brit roadblock. They opened fire, heavy lead slugs tearing through him after penetrating the car

Connor had woken sweating, the dream all too real. Hed made it past the Brits that night, but he knew how close hed come. He stopped smuggling arms, hed had to after they found out that he was the only one not killed or caught in that raid. The IRA and the Brits were looking, as were US authorities. He had no where to hide. Then one night it happened. He was picked up in a bar, drunk in public. He knew that when they ran his mug shots theyd find out who he was, and how many people wanted him. When the lawyer showed up to talk to him, he looked over the mans suit; it was Armani. He wondered how bad it could be that this guy was sent to talk to him. He got his answer. Mr. OMalley, we know who you are. So far, the local cops do not. We can make sure they never do, if you give us a few moments of your time. When Connor nodded, the man continued. The weapons you were dealing when you were nearly caught? They belonged to the organization I represent. Yes, I know, they were supposed to be destroyed, but believe me when I say that they were never really intended for that fate. Now, I have looked over your extensive records The man opened his briefcase, and pulled out a thick file. I dont see anything too very troubling in here. Minor scuffles, barroom fights, unlicensed firearms and shady deals. But now youre in a lot of trouble. The Brits will have you, if the Feds dont get you first. And dont think youll survive long in prison, either. The IRA has a long reach. I offer you an alternative. An alternative, eh? Okay Mr. Barrister, les ere it

1980
"People simply disappeared, always during the night. Your name was removed from the registers, every record of everything you had ever done was wiped out, your one-time existence was denied and then forgotten. You were abolished, annihilated: vaporized was the usual word." 1984

She was on the run, again. They would never stop hunting her. If that little girl hadnt burned the place to the ground, shed be there still. Now she had to worry that the next place would be worse. Or even that they had given up on their pet project, and would just terminate her as a threat. She was so tired of running. She hunkered down into the trash in the alley as a police cruiser went by. No telling what they might say to the local authorities to get their help. Dangerous psychopath, or some thing similar. They would never give up, on her or any of the others. At least the girl had gotten that Indian bastard; he was the scariest of the lot. She wondered how the girl was doing, if shed managed to stay ahead of the people chasing them both down. That story in Rolling Stone had been a brilliant idea, even if no one really believed it. While she was thinking, a man had entered the alley, unnoticed by her rambling mind. When she realized he was present, she nearly burned him where he stood. Wait, Sarah, he said, holding his obviously empty hands out from his body. I am no threat to you. Bull. Youre one of them. She began to concentrate; ready to do whatever it took to escape. I might have believed you werent if you didnt call me by name. Sarah OConnell? We have been looking for you, but were not the feds. Look around, would I be alone if I meant to take you down? He smiled, standing and waiting for her next move.

She looked around; he did seem to be alone. His smile was a bit disarming, and she felt as if she could trust him, at least a little. So, how do you know who I am? Lets just say that your name has come up in certain circles. Wed like to make you an offer. Morrow Industries has a lot of pull with the feds. We could make sure that you stay lost to them forever. Ever thought about putting your talents to work in the private sector?
"So raise your fists And march around Just dont take what you need Ill jail and bury those committed And smother the rest in greed" Sleep now in the Fire

It was summer, and things were always worse in summer. The death squads were out again, looking for dissidents. Almost anything could mark you as a dissident, especially if you were a pretty young girl. Colleen had watched them take the young girls into the trucks, had heard the screams, and had seen the bodies. She couldnt understand why no one was doing anything about it. Then she realized that she wasnt doing anything about it, either. So she changed all that. She disappeared, changed her hair, her clothes, spoke only Spanish. She became one of the locals, as far as anyone could tell. She had made lots of friends; as a Catholic missionary you met all kinds. She knew which ones had access to guns, to explosives, and could be trusted. She started her own little war. She mined a road with dinner plates, and had snipers set up to ambush the troops that went out to remove them. She took feces from sick peasants, and used it to spike the water cooler of the local camp. Her troops staged an attack on a local police station, and when the troops came to back them up, the police turned on them. It had been fairly successful at making the army afraid to come here in less than overwhelming force. So they did. Two months later, she was on her way home in a stretcher, her four-year war ended by the CIA and its trained killers. She was lucky to be alive, and she knew it. But she recovered, and she worked hard. Her entry into the Marines surprised everyone she knew. She went in to train as a nurse, but her excellence on the range and her knowledge of tactics, weapons and survival skills earned her many accolades, as did her sheer grit, determination, and resistance to pain and deprivation. Her mistake, some said, was that she was too good. She had pushed too hard, had done too well. Some in charge did not like her outspoken stance on women in combat. She saw her rank increase slip through her fingers too many times to not realize she was being held back. When her enlistment ended, she declined to re-up. But she soon found there wasnt much for her in the private sector, either. Her nursing skills, taught by the Marines, didnt get her a job on the outside without additional training and licensing. She was frustrated, and discouraged. Then she got a call. A friend gave me your number, Miss Mac ire. I understand that you are looking for a job? You have an eclectic collection of skills, Miss Mac ire. Skills we might have a use for. Are you interested? Colleen thought about it for all of a half second. Where can I meet you?

Let me give you an address, Miss Mac ire. Ill be here until four. Hope to see you here.
It's been very hard, But it's getting easier now, Hard times are over, over for a while, The leaves are shining in the sun, And smiling inside, You and I watching each other on a street corner, Cars and buses and planes and people go by, Hard times are over

Stan Carter put the paper down, sighing through gritted teeth. Just as he had warned, his fool of an opponent was raising taxes again. How could the voters not see through this guy? He shook his head, dropped the paper in a handy can, and continued on towards the office of this Morrow Industries. He had been contacted just after his campaign ended, offered work as a consultant and possible lobbyist. He no longer had anything better to do, so he figured hed go ahead and take the job. The interview seemed to go well. Guy sure was interested in Stans military experience, but that didnt bother Stan much. Sure, hed been in in 74. Hed never seen combat, but so what. His veteran status was what got him through school, and was nothing to be ashamed of. He found it interesting that one side of the room thought him a baby killer, while the other side called him a draft dodger. He had hoped that it wouldnt come up during the election, but it had. At least it seemed to be a bonus with this Morrow Industries. He had done a bit of research, and found that they were either the supplier, or owned interest in the supplier, or made parts for the supplier of just about every weapon system used by the military today, and not just the American military. Well, he believed in a strong national defense, and had no problem working for what his opponent had liked to call the MilitaryIndustrial Complex. Hed been accused of being in their pocket, and he thought it ironic that he was making it all true now.
"The public regards lawyers with great distrust. They think lawyers are smarter than the average guy but use their intelligence deviously. Well, they're wrong. Usually they're not smarter. " F. Lee Bailey

Nam was easy. Oh, sure, they shot at you, they lobbed mortar shells at you, and you never knew when one of the local kids would blow up in your bus. But you knew they were out to kill you, and you could be ready for it. And you had guys who would actually back you up. Frank swore again, and banged his hand on the table. You lied to me. You lied in court, and you got caught. Now I look like an idiot out there. Your whole defense is shot. What is wrong with you? His client shook his head. I didn know ed rat me out. How wad I suppos a know ed cut a deal? Frank shook his head. You damned fool; of course he cut a deal. Ive been doing this crap for six months, and even I knew hed cut a deal. If youd been honest about what went down in the first place, it wouldnt have been a problem.

Machek, tell that damned DA Ill plead it out, then. Dat offer still good? Frank shrugged. Ill see what I can do. I doubt hell be as willing to deal, with what happened today. Frank stood, and knocked on the door. As it opened, he brushed past the guard. From the opening, he looked back. If there are anymore surprises I should know about The man just shrugged at him, looking at the table. Frank sighed, and walked away. As he headed for the DAs office, he pulled the business card from his pocket again. Joe had passed the bar the year Frank started at NYU, and had graduated from Syracuse the year Frank dropped out to join the Marines. His appearance at court that day had been unexpected, to say the least. Frank wondered again why someone whose firm practiced corporate law, who barely knew him, would recommend him as a criminal defense attorney. He was relatively untested, and had won none of the loser cases hed gotten so far. Why Joe would send him business from this Morrow Industries group was beyond him, but he smelled money if he took the job. Sure, defending the downtrodden against the system sounded good, but he needed to eat, too. He vowed to make the call after this case was over.
I want a new drug - one that won't hurt my head One that won't make my mouth too dry or make my eyes too red. One that won't make me nervous wonderin' what to do. One that makes me feel like I feel when I'm with you when I'm alone with you. I Want a New Drug

Lisa. Lisa! He was shouting again. Oh, wait, he was shouting her name. Lisa Valente turned the music down, and looked across the lab table at Dave, her boss at Morrow Pharmaceuticals Research Department. What? Im a bit busy, you know? She shook her head. Dave was always interrupting her work with something or other. He looked like he was about to have puppies. Lisa, look, I know you are busy with this work, but you had a meeting with me this afternoon. Actually, it was a half hour ago, to tell the truth. Dave Fredrick was not amused with Lisas attitude. Still, she was a good pharmacologist, she had no one in her life right now, and had no real ties to her family. She was responsible, driven, and a hard worker; perfect for what they had in mind. He was worried about how shed do in a team, though. Sorry, Dave. You know how it is when youre trying to come in under budget. She pushed herself back from the lab table, and stood, shaking her long hair out after removing the net. Lead on, boss man. What is it that has got your panties in a twist? Well, I was wondering if you might enjoy a change of scenery. A transfer to a different division of the company? He opened the door as they reached his office. What, you want to get rid of me? Have I really been that bad, Dave? Lisa was beginning to worry that perhaps her mother had been right about that bitchy little attitude. I mean, Im sure I can do better. Actually, Lisa, youre doing quite well, which is why I am authorized to make you this offer. Do you want to hear it?

Sure, Dave. Fire away. She regretted the choice of words as soon as she said them, but Dave just laughed. Lisa, what I am about to say is highly confidential. Whether you decide to take the transfer or not, you can never talk about what I am about to tell you. Do you understand? I understand. Corporate espionage is a pretty serious problem. What sort of drug am I going to be working on, anyway? Lisa began to feel that perhaps this might actually be a good thing. Well, Lisa, first of all, this new Project; its not a drug.

1981
"There is nothing training cannot do. Nothing is above its reach. It can turn bad morals to good; it can destroy bad principles and recreate good ones; it can lift men to angelship." -Mark Twain

Machek checked their six again. Still no sign of the OPFOR unit. His scouts were out, Stebbins and OReilly had been ahead by at least an hour already. Quite a pair, those two; both silent as the grave, and likely as heck to put you there. Sarah was humping through the woods to the right, with a dragon, while Pollux checked the trail for surprises. The Ranger ambulance was a definite liability, but he figured it was better to keep it close than to have to lose all his ground troops to cover it. The V-150 dipped into a rut in the trail, and Carter swore again. You know, these damned berets dont do crap to protect your head, Frank! Frank nodded, having banged his head in the V a few times. Ill have Tai look you over when we reach the objective. He shook his head, thinking about that ambulance crew. All three were women; only Colleen had any experience, though that was in the Marines. He wondered how many other Recon teams got assigned nearly half their complement in women. Hmm. Old habits died hard. He had to stop thinking of them as the girls, and start thinking of them as his team. His thoughts were interrupted by the squawk of the radio. Foxtrot one-seven, foxtrot eyeball, do yall read, ova? Foxtrot eyeball, this is foxtrot one-seven, we read, over. Machek could imagine Davis face as the RTO replied. He always looked as if he were going to break out laughing whenever he had to use the radio, the call signs and replies like something from a war movie. Foxtrot one-seven, we god hostile foe-sis diggin in half a klick nort of yalls position, settin up to catch yall in enfilade, ova. Damn, eyeball, how many you looking at? Davis had become serious, the situation finally coming down to combat. Connor began to slow down the V, scanning the road ahead. Machek brought up the binoculars, and looked as far as he could see through the light woods surrounding them; still no sign from here. Foe wid rifles, two medium em-gees; look like a mix a em-sis-teen an many-foeteen, wida pair a sissies. Wes settin up to be fixin to fire now, ova. OReilly was no-nonsense, and between he and Stebbins, Machek figured they could most likely take the six men hed described.

Davis, call Sarah and Raul back, just in case it gets hot. Machek continued to look over the area, something triggering his paranoia. And let Lisa know to pull off route till we are sure this is clear. He thought for a moment Ask OReilly what they look like. and Dragon Lady, bring it in tight, we may have a situation. Davis had begun making the calls as Machek was listing them. Cracker box, head for the brush and lay chilly till its green. Eyeball, can I get a picture of the natives, over? One-seven, I see 6; confirm 2 wid Em-sisy, 3 wid Em-sis-teen, an one wida many-foe-teen; is scoped. Deys wearin fae-tiges, look lie Nashunal Gawd. I thank the one wida scope issa capin. Stebbins, git dat guy wida scope firs, kay? Uh, ova. Machek tried to figure out what OReilly had said. 2 with M60 machine guns, three with M16s, and a captain with a scoped mini-14; nothing for the V-150 to worry about. Tell them to hold tight. If thats all were up against, then well just pull the V on through. Tell Stebbins to hold fire till we show up, and then unleash hell. Connor, (Damned lot of Irish in this crew, thought Machek) bring us up to speed. I want maximum confusion in their line when we get there. Roit, chief. Full spoid aead, an damn the torpedoes. OMalley threw the big armored car into gear and hauled ass up the trail, his passenger cursing as they were thrown about the interior of the V. OMalley laughed, and called back eh, ye moit wanna grab onna somtin, shes gonna be a bummy roid! Machek slid down from the open hatch, and buttoned up the turret. He smiled at Carter, who was again rubbing his head. Maybe you could get one of those old tankerstyle leather helmets? Ha, ha. Very funny. Carter looked anything but amused. You know, I hear some team rolled their V in a ditch, lost three guys. Yeah, Carter, and the guys on the install team for the new fusion plants are all bald and sterile. Dont believe everything you hear. OConnell had managed to get strapped into the jump seat nearest the hatch, Pollux was attempting to do the same across from her. So, whos watchin the ambulance? Im keeping them back out of the way. Im hoping they can handle themselves. Stebbins and OReilly swept the area, shouldnt be any surprises. Whats our plan, boss-man? Raul was ready for action, his hand tight on the grip of the MAC. We gonna roll over them with the V? I dont think thats available for these training missions Oi, you jus sit toit back there, an let us perfessionals do our job, roit? Connor didnt like being told how to drive. Didnt like it even a little bit. OK, less get ready, roit? Wes preey close to dis ere enfilate. An don woiry none, I won squish nobody. The V rolled through the woods, coming up fast. OReilly kept an eye on it as it approached. From where he and Stebbins waited, he could see a good portion of the training ground. Stebbins kept an eye on the national guard troops below. They had gone to ground when they heard the V. He swept back across toward them when something caught his eye. He tapped Stebbins on the shoulder and pointed. Stebbins checked it through his scope, and started to get up to run when they heard the distinctive thump of the mortar going off. Less than four steps later, both men felt their reactive web buzz, as their deaths registered with the training judges computer. Gawd dammit! How did we miss dem bastads?

Stebbins shrugged. We were too busy looking at the obvious targets. Damn. I hope they saw that from the V. Back at the ambulance, Dr. Tai and Lisa stood outside the ambulance, looking in the general direction of the sound of a firing mortar. They started to mount back up when Colleen began cursing. They never had the chance to shoot, as the woods around them disgorged a group of a half-dozen national guardsmen, all pointing rifles at them. Hello, ladies. Looks like me and the boys will have fun tonight The crew in the V had missed the mortar shot, their commander having closed the hatch behind him. They rolled into the zone of the enfilade, the co-ax raking the soldiers there with imaginary fire. They had taken both the MGs and two of the riflemen, when the alarm on the V started sounding. What the bloody ell? Commander, Im roidin a cata-strophic veicle kill. Confirmed, OMalley. Im reading it too. Looks like they hit us with a rocket, damn it. Wonder how Stebbins and OReilly missed it. Well, Im calling the mission here. The after action reports were an interesting read, and Machek learned a lot from them; mostly what not to do. Apparently command had learned a bit from them, as well, issuing crew helmets for the Vs and other vehicles. In the following months, his crew went through several of these simulations, each more complex than the last. Urban, wilderness, foot and mounted, they fought in every kind of environment they could imagine. Sometimes they won, sometimes they lost, but they always learned something. In between, the classes filled out most of their day, learning weapons, equipment, procedures, survival, and basic recovery skills for after the war. Law school had nothing on the Morrow Project for homework, Machek found. But things were coming together, and his team had matured a great deal.

1982
"That is not dead which can eternal lie, and with strange aeons even death may die." HP Lovecraft

After nearly a year of intense schooling and training, the team was given a week off; but it wasnt free time, by any means. They went on a whirlwind tour, of Philadelphia, Washington DC, Williamsburg, Mt. Rushmore, Yellowstone, and other great points of American interest. Their final stop was Disneyworld. The whole park had been rented to Morrow industries, an employee only party. They wondered if all the teams got treated to this vacation. They soon found out why they did. Two days after returning they were checked out on their final loads and packed in ice for transport and burial in whatever bolt hole had been picked for them. The hotel had seemed like a good idea. The ski resort was within easy reach, the location was beautiful, with a view of the lake and the mountains. But then the site was found. Of course, the owners were forced to clean it up, at a major loss. Morrow Industries Hazardous Material Remediation teams were busy there for months, finally capping the whole thing off with concrete and posting warnings all over the place. A few smaller dumpsites had also turned up in the area around Grayling, and Morrows teams took care of them, as well. The fences were not too obtrusive, and the former owners were well paid for their ruined land.

1989
Dreams of war, dreams of liars Dreams of dragon's fire And of things that will bite Enter Sandman

Recon F-17, Grayling, Michigan, slept through the 80s like the dead. Reaganomics, Iran-Contra, new Coke, all passed them by as they lay frozen in the ground. They never knew Reagan was re-elected, or that Bush succeeded him. They missed the destruction of the shuttle Challenger, the rise of AIDS, the horror of crack cocaine, and the burning of Chernobyl. GI Joe would always be 12 inches tall to them, and Luke and Leia might still have a chance of hooking up, since Solo was on ice. The Apple MAC, the Mir space station, the compact disc, the fall of the Berlin Wall, Tiananmen Square, Grenada, the Achille Lauro, Pan Am 103, Kurt Waldheims Nazi past, Black Monday, the rise of Fox network, cable news, and the explosion of MTV, HeMan, Cabbage Patch dolls
Man makes a death which Nature never made. Night Thoughts. Night IV. Line 15.

Lt. Marston was bored near to death. Feed from the DEW and satellite systems was a constant stream of blips and dots, all of them boring, boring, boring. Nobody was going to start WW III. The wall was down, didnt they know? Communism was dying a well-deserved death, and no one but a bunch of pinkos and Frenchmen would mourn it. Lt. Dawes was busy, working on a cable connection between the NORAD network and some outside project. At least he had something to do. He was in the process of screwing the panel cover back on when the board started lighting up. A horn honked in the background, followed by a warbling siren, as the red flashers came on. Alert! Alert! Alert! Marston couldnt believe it. It wasnt possible. Multiple inbounds, both sublaunched and ground based, from the Soviets and the Chinese. Confirmation was coming in from all stations, including the sensors recording the launch tremors from the silos. He double checked everything as Captain Willoughby rushed in, his shirt untucked and lipstick smeared across his cheek. What the hell is going on, Marston! End of the world, sir. End of the world

There's no future nor there's any way to hide We are the reapers of Satan nor there's no way to hide Reapers of Satan

President Bush got the word within minutes. Total commitment, total war. Things had been coming apart lately in Eastern Europe, and he could only assume that the Soviets had seen the writing on the wall. If they didnt strike now, they were done for. He reached for the football and nearly vomited. Swallowing hard, he opened the case, and removed the code cards. His next act would decide the fate of the world. Hands shaking, he turned his key, and entered the codes. He held back tears, and called Barbara on the phone while his Secret Service agents scrambled to get him to Marine One. It was all over, for everyone now. He finally couldnt hold back anymore. Somewhere over DC, he lost his lunch into the belly of the chopper. He remembered Oppenhiemer, and knew how he felt. I am become death, destroyer of worlds. Mr. President? One of the agents was looking at him with some concern. Nothing, Sam, nothing. Did you get in touch with your family? Yes, sir. They are headed for the hills now. If only they could all head for the hills, Sam. They trusted me, and now theyll die for it.
O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 1 Corinthians 15:55.

Recon F-17 slept still, unaware of the chaos above. Unaware, even, of the near miss within miles of their hidden fastness. Millions died within minutes, snuffed out by the flames, heat, and pressure of a thousand burning suns, unleashed in error due to a crossed feed in a NORAD computer. Lt. Dawes mistake had doomed his world. But not all of it. Under the earth, thousands had survived. The Project, its assets, its bases, and its ideals, all slept and waited for the end of the fire. Only Prime was awake for the war, and only Prime could wake them all.

1990
Death rides on every passing breeze, He lurks in every flower. At a Funeral. No. I.

A year had passed since the bombs had fallen, killing so many in an instant. It didnt take long for the living to envy the dead. Dead men suffered no burns, no hunger, no disease. Dead men didnt die from infections that could have been cured by $10 worth of penicillin. Dead men didnt get knifed in the gut for a swollen can of beans. Dead men werent forced to bury their friends, neighbors, children, spouses The war had claimed millions in its first 20 minutes. It had claimed a billion by the third month, another within two weeks of that, and four billion all told within 6 months.

Every petty fool with a nuke or a bio-weapon had launched. Those that lacked such luxuries fought tooth and nail with conventional weapons, doing their best to wipe the earth clean of their enemies. The cloud of dust and debris brought radiation, cold, and poisoned rain to all corners of the earth. Men and beasts starved under the cloud, died in the winter it brought. The year without spring passed, and a second with almost no harvest at all. By the third year, few were left to gather the harvest that could be made. Prime had monitored it all, listening to the world dying around them. They knew the plan, but they didnt like it. Wait, wait, and then scout after the worst was over. They had waited all they could, and they had to act.

1994
All that are in the graves shall hear his voice, and shall come forth John 5:28

Scouts were sent, and survivors were found. The world had changed. Weather patterns had altered, and the area north of Prime Base seemed perfect for a community. Survivors were moved to where the project could do more for them, and a small group began farming there. All seemed to be coming together as planned and Recon Teams were making good headway in the area. Soon, they said, soon. The entire Project would be awake, and they would get to rebuilding their world. Then the trouble started. Complaints about shortages, calls for more assistance, lies were spread about the luxuries that the Project was holding back. Some of the men in the refugee village were taken one night, and all hell seemed to be breaking loose. A rescue plan was initiated, and volunteers went in to see if they could get their friends out. It was a catastrophe. The dark, the lack of training in such operations, the confusion and the mistakes, they all built up to a head. Somehow, some of the prisoners made it back to base, their rescuers with them. Others werent so lucky. If that had been all that happened, then the Project could have weathered the storm, tried again somewhere else, or even dealt with what had happened. Instead, the unthinkable The valley erupted in heat and fire that hadnt been seen in 5 years. The town was wiped out, and none of them even knew why. Prime was devastated. So many were lost, and resources that could never be replaced. Long range communications, so well protected during the war, were fried due to the proximity to the blast. It was definitely a bomb, but why? When the sickness started, they realized that why didnt matter as much as how, and how else. Someone wanted them dead. Someone who knew the limits of their Universal Antibody. Someone from within

2139
"Many of them that sleep in the dust of the earth shall awake, some to everlasting life, and some to everlasting contempt." Daniel 12:2

The light was harsh, stronger than hed expected. Machek tasted something awful, as if a cat had relieved its bowels in his mouth. Hed been through the test-sleep and had come out fine. Hed had a full briefing on cryo-sickness, and what he felt was nothing like what theyd described. This was something new, something different. He reached for the edge of the canopy, and his arm dropped back as if the muscles had been severed. He heard a groan to his right, and knew he wasnt the only one who felt like crap. He struggled against the weakness and lethargy, managing to sit up after what seemed like an eternity. He looked around to see only two of his team sitting up as well. All the tubes were open, and the telltales on the ones he could see were green, but something was wrong. Dr. Tai managed to roll out of her tube, only to fall to the floor and begin retching; nothing came up. She struggled to her feet as several members of the team began to follow her example. Machek forced himself up and over the side, sliding down to the floor in a heap. Hed never felt so sick in his life. Tai was a tough one, moving along the side of her tube to the ration bars waiting for them. She grabbed a few, and began sliding them to the team members that had cleared their tubes. What the hell is going on, boss? she asked. Youre the doctor, doctor. You tell me. Dr. Tai shook her head. Nothing in the briefings about this, Im sure you know. Looks like everyones awake, though. I suggest we all eat our bars and sit for a while. Sounds like a good plan to me, Doc. When you get a chance, check everyone out, I want to know whats wrong with us Stebbins, you have five-o-clock shadow So do you, boss, so do you, the younger man replied. I thought that wasnt supposed to happen It not, Dr. Tai chimed in. You metabolism should have slowed to crawl. We couldnt been in long enough for that, could we? Well have to see, well have to see, Machek replied. Davis? When you feel up to taking a walk, check the computer and give me a report on what it says. Stebbins, you pop the periscope and see what you can see He felt more like himself when he started getting the team moving. It helped to have a purpose.

From the age of the dinosaurs Cars have run on gasoline Where, where have they gone? Now, it's nothing but flowers (Nothing But) Flowers

The computer had been no help. The counter had rolled at least once, meaning theyd been here for more than ten thousand days, at least 28 years from the readings. Stebbins said he saw trees, full grown ones, covering the ground around the periscope. He had the crew dig out the personnel entrance so they could scope the territory, and it looked pretty bleak. The whole site was overgrown, years of growth, decades even. How could they have slept so long? Prime Base wasnt answering; hell, no one was answering. The air was deader than Davis could believe. Machek could only hope that this Grayling on their AutoNav would still be there. Maybe they could give him some idea of what had happened in the years since the war. The growth over the vehicle door didnt look too entrenched, and he had the team open it up. The loaded up the V, the Ambulance, and their personal loads, and headed out into the new American wilderness. Radiation readings were low, lower than expected, actually. At least that was good news, hed thought, until it was pointed out that perhaps the rads had simply faded over time. He put Stebbins and OReilly out front, on those awesome bikes theyd found crated next to the V150, with OConnell and Pollux flanking the ambulance to their rear. The weapons and much of the equipment looked just as it had when they went to sleep, but the vehicles Theyd been surprised when they saw the trailers for the stills were missing, thought perhaps something had gone wrong in planning. Then they saw the manuals on the deck of the V. Fusion power, now that was something. He still couldnt believe theyd gotten the units small enough to fit in the vehicles. Dr. Tai was excited about the contents of the ambulance, but worried, too. She had the crew reading all the manuals as fast as they could. It would take quite a bit of adjusting to the new gear. His thoughts were interrupted by the squawk of the radio: Foxtrot one-seven, foxtrot eyeball, do yall read, ova? Foxtrot eyeball, this is foxtrot one-seven, we read, over. Machek thought about how many times hed heard those call signs in training, right before the shit hit the fan. Foxtrot one-seven, we gots con-firmed sitens o life, ova. Machek reached for the mike in the commanders hatch. Talk to me, OReilly; what do you see? Hey, boss. We gots a farm down dis-a-way. Look like a nice lil place. Barn, coop for da chickens, fields just plowed. Cept de place look like it mighta just been attacked. Gots us some smoke, not from da chimney, gots a dead hawg, tackd to da door o da barn. No farmer guts a hawg thata way. Sumin aint right here Oh, uh Over. Shit. Sit tight, then, and wait till we get there, over and out. Conner? Move up slow, use what cover you can. Davis, get me the Oh, you already did? Davis nodded, anticipating Macheks needs as usual. Colleen, keep the Crackerbox back a few hundred yards till were sure there are no hostiles, but stay mounted and ready that .50 Cal, just in case, over and out. He looked at Davis again, watching him switch frequencies to the channel used by the flankers. He called Raul first, then Sarah.

Wingman One, join us up here, Wingman Two, drop back and keep an eye on the Crackerbox, over. Damnit, boss, why do you always send me to guard the ambu Crackerbox? Im not a little girl, you know? OConnell, it has nothing to do with you being female, it has to do with you having the biggest gun, now-over and out! She had raised this complaint during training, time and again, but Machek still wasnt keen on letting the girls, no, the women, into the front line for combat. It just went against his principles. He wondered what had happened at the farm. Well, he would soon find out
How much of human life is lost in waiting. Ralph Waldo Emerson

They had been watching the farm for over an hour. The fires had died down during that time, and no one had been out to check them or try and put them out. He wondered if they were all dead inside somewhere, or perhaps they were out in the woods as well, looking over the handiwork of some raider group that had hit their farm. He could wait no longer; it was time to check things out. He sent Stebbins and OReilly out to cover the approach from the woods, and had Carter man the 20mm cannon on the V while he took the commanders gun. OMalley was waiting in case they had to drive off fast, and Davis had suited up in the only civilian garb they had, the contact kit. Davis could have passed for a wanderer of the back roads in any small town in America before the war. They could only hope he didnt draw too much attention here. They took a big chance in allowing him to keep the prick-68, just in case he needed to call out. The military-style hand-held radio might tip their hand, but there was no way Machek was sending a man in there without him being able to call for help. Davis approached the main house with some trepidation, not sure of what waited within.
The belief in a supernatural source of evil is not necessary, men alone are quite capable of every wickedness. Joseph Conrad

The house was old, incredibly weathered, and obviously built to last. The cracked boards that made up the exterior had been whitewashed sometime in the last decade or so, from what Davis could see, but needed a fresh coat badly. The doors were closed, and the windows shuddered, but he had a feeling of being watched that he had learned not to ignore. He moved around the remains of an empty outbuilding that OReilly identified as a corn crib, and past some kind of workshop that someone had recently set ablaze. Sticks of what might once have been furniture and fence posts still smoldered between the shop and the barn. As OReilly had reported, a large hog was nailed to the barn door by its hind legs, its gut hacked open as if Jack Nicholson had gone after it with an axe. Flies, bigger than any Davis had ever seen, buzzed around the carcass and its spilled entrails. As he made his way to the door of the house he spotted the chicken coop. Feathers, blood, and the mangled remains of several hens and a rooster were strewn about like a childs discarded toys. The gate was open, and Davis took that for a very bad sign.

Only the dead would have so little care for what happened to their stock. Near the coop was a garden, and the destruction had made its way through it, as well. The fence was torn down in places, and smashed vegetables were evident near the breaks. Someone had done a through job of trashing the place. Davis hopes were dwindling fast. He made his way to the door. Hello Is anyone there? I saw smoke, and wondered if you were alright. Can you hear me? Davis knew there was someone, perhaps several people, in the house. He could feel them, their fear, their anger, their pain. The pain was the worst, almost overwhelming. Something bad had happened here, something terrible. He called out again, trying to sound reassuring, trying to project a sense of calm. I mean you no harm. Perhaps I can help, if you let me. Im trying the door now; just tell me if I should stop No one called out to him, so he assumed they had no objection to his entry. The handle turned, but the door refused to budge. Hello? I know youre in there, I can here you breathing. Davis lied. He heard nothing, but he could feel the people in the house, at least three, probably more. He never understood how he felt these things, but he knew he was right more than he was wrong. Go away. We have nothing left. Youve taken it all. Please, we have no more to give. Davis felt fear, anger, and determination in the words. Just leave us be. I dont want anything from you. I just want to help, if I can, and to find out some things. I mean no harm. If I could just talk to you face-to-face He pushed all the calm and reassurance he could toward the source of the voice hed heard. I I cant. Please, just leave us be. Theres nothing left, I swear it. Please, just go. The fear was still there, but it was lessening. Davis tried again, this time pushing his feelings out towards the other man he sensed in the room. Look, I can see something bad happened here. If someone is hurt, I have friends who can help. We can round up your stock and maybe get that fence up as well. If its all gone, like you say, then I cant take anything else from you, right? He heard a voice from further inside. Let him in, Jerry. Hes right, we have nothing left for them to take, so what difference does in make? The voice sounded resigned to its fate. It wasnt a good sign. What he saw confirmed his fears. A rough-floored room greeted him, the scene of a kind of destruction more suited to Californias earthquake country than Michigan. Shelves, obviously torn from the walls, littered the floor, as did their contents. Smashed crockery, broken earthenware plates, shattered glass all commingled with the remains of broken furniture that hadnt made it to the fire outside. Within, on a chair cut from an old 55-gallon drum, was a man, his leg propped up on a muddy, three-legged stool. His bandaged arm was propped on a pedestal table, also muddy. The man was hurt, and badly. His face was a mass of bruised and bloodied flesh, his arm lay limply, slightly twisted, and his leg was obviously broken. His side was simply one huge bruise, from armpit to hip, stretching halfway across his body. Jeff could only assume that the ribs below the surface were broken. It was probably a good assumption. He felt the tension, thick as fog in the room, and perhaps hed simply been looking too closely at the mans injuries, but he felt foolish that he hadnt picked up on the intent of the rooms other occupant.

The clicks behind him told him of the folly of his ignorance. Someone had gotten the drop on him but good. He raised his hands and said I am here to help. I cant really do that if you hold a gun on me. Hell keep it low, friend, till we find a reason not to. The older man spoke through a beard caked with grime and blood. State your piece, and then leave us in ours. Okay My name is Jeff Davis, and Im a wanderer, new to these parts. I saw the smoke from the fire, and realized that youd been attacked. I thought Id see if I could help. I have some knowledge of first aid, and I have friends who are even better at it than I am. Do you mind if I take a look? Do what you want, son. Im in no condition to stop you. Just keep in mind my boy there, the man nodded to the younger man that stood behind Davis. You a emdee? No, not an M.D., just a guy who knows how to wrap a bandage or two. Dr. Tai is our M.D. Once we sort things out Ill call her down to check you out. Damn, somebody worked you over good. Im going to take out a small bag with some medical supplies in it. None of them are weapons, ok? Sure, sure. So you have an emdee with you, a woman? The older man looked as if he didnt believe Davis, and Davis felt his distrust. He pushed a sense of honesty as he answered. Dr. Tai is a woman, yes. Shes quite a good doctor, as well. Davis went for his first aid kit, and then remembered he was using the contact gear; his kit was back in the V. Damn, I dont have my kit with me. Listen, if we could get past the gun-holding stage, I could call my doctor down to take a look at you. What do you think? Davis was pushing a calmness that he didnt really feel, and worried that his nervousness would come through instead, but was relieved to hear the mans reply. Put down the gun, Jerry. I dont think he means any harm. He doesnt look or talk much like an Imp. Jerry, the younger man, de-cocked the gun, a double-barreled Greener shotgun that looked to be in poor shape. Davis spoke aloud, and the two men looked at him as if he were crazy. Boss, you should send the Crackerbox down here, we have wounded, and the situation seems stable for now. He turned to the older man and said shes on her way. Davis slid the hip flask of scotch from his pocket. Here, this might help with the pain some, mister... The man took the flask and opened it, smelling the contents. His brow wrinkled, and he looked at Davis in surprise, almost smiling. Burkhardt, Leo Burkhardt. This is my boy, Jerry. He took a swig from the flask, and grimaced. Damn, thats strong. Davis offered his hand to the younger Burkhardt. Pleased to meet you. Thats some piece you have there, he said, nodding to the Greener. Thank you. It was my grandpas, and his grandpas before him. The younger man, no older than 16, took the proffered hand in his and gave it a hearty shake. Davis looked around. Someone was watching curiously from the curtained alcove near the back of the long room they were in. He sensed concern, as well. So, who did this? These Imps you say I dont talk like? Leo spit on the ground beside his chair. The Imps, damn them all to hell. They thought I was holding out on them. Do I look like a damned fool? No one with a brain

holds out. They always find out, and then its hell to Cough, cough. As the man got excited, he coughed up a mouthful of bloody sputum and held his good arm to his chest. Sorry, swallowed some blood down the back of my throat. Youll kill yourself yet, Leo, said a female voice as a woman came through the curtain from the back, carrying torn strips of cloth that looked like improvised bandages. What? I told you to stay in back with the kids, Leo told the woman. He isnt going to hurt us, Leo. He wants to help, she turned to Davis. Isnt that right? You said you would help? Davis nodded as he heard the ambulance pull up. And that help has just arrived. Jerry, would you mind getting the door? Jerry opened the door curiously, and then nearly dropped the shotgun. Its a truck, Pa. A bigun. Oh, Pa, what do I do? Stand aside, son. If they are Imps, were all dead anyway. The old man looked and sounded resigned to his fate. Jerry exclaimed in surprise again. Its women, Pa. Its all women. Three of em. They cant be Imps, can they? No, Jerry, the Imps wouldnt have women driving. Jerrys mother, for Davis could see the resemblance, leaned forward from behind her husband and kissed his bloody head. When Dr. Tai entered, she gasped. They surely wouldnt arm them, either. Dr. Tai went straight to the older man, and began to check him out. Colleen came in to help, and between them they got the older Burkhardt to lie on a back-board while they examined his injuries. Lisa covered the area with the ambulances machine gun and kept an eye out for hostiles. Davis excused himself and headed for the V. Boss, I think you should come on down. These folk are going to need help, and I think we need to know who did this, and why. The woman, who finally introduced herself as Suzanne Burkhardt, pulled Colleen aside as Dr. Tai worked on her husband. She took the younger woman through the curtains and into the back room of the house. Davis felt her shock from outside, and went back in, startled. What happened? Oh, god, no Colleen nearly whispered. Shes just a child. Davis overheard the Burkhardt woman speak. The Imps dont care. Shes old enough for them. I tried to get them to just take me, but they all wanted a try with her once that bastard Moss had her. The woman was hurt and saddened, but flames of hate welled up in her as well. Damn them, she was just a child. I wasnt good enough for them. Why? Why? Colleen put her arms around the woman and tried her best to comfort her. These Imps, where are they? Davis knew what she was thinking, and he shook his head. They needed to get intel before they committed to anything; Colleen should know this. He didnt blame her for her anger, he just worried that she would commit them to a course of action they might regret. Theyre at their camp, most likely. Thats where they go after a con, the woman said, anger and bitterness in her voice. Its where they take the stuff they con from us, or from the town.

Con? Whats that mean? Davis figured that it was a good idea to keep the woman talking; her anger might make her say things shed have otherwise kept to herself. Confiscation, for the emergency they say. Davis turned to Leo, who had spoken up. They come to your house, bang on the door, and give some damned speech about confiscation, necessary supplies, looters and hoarders being shot. My father said it was from the big war, the Time of the Fire. They claim that some guy they call The President authorized them that they could take whatever they want from us, just because they wear those green clothes and have guns. They kill anyone who resists, especially if they have guns of their own. You folks had best get on back up the road, or theyll kill you, too. By then, Machek was approaching, and caught the last part of the older mans speech. Youll find, Mr. Burkhardt, that we dont go down that easily. You say these Imps have a camp near here? Yes, they do. Through the forest and across the river, west of Riverton. The man seemed in much better spirits now, probably at the cost of some heavy duty narcotics from Dr. Tais bag. While Colleen took over bandaging his ribs, Dr. Tai moved into the back room to check the Burkhardts twelve year old daughter, now identified as Lorna. She gasped when she saw the girls condition. How many Imps were here today, Mr. Burkhardt? she asked. Five, including Moss. Weir, McGrew, Warren and Spencer. If it hadnt been for Spencer, I think Moss and Weir would have just as soon killed me. Burkhardts words were getting a bit slurry, and Machek wondered how much morphine hed been given. This Spencer called them off? he asked. No, none of the privates calls off a sergeant. He just explained that if they killed the goose, theyd get no more eggs. If hed tried to call them off, Moss would have probably sliced him from groin to gullet, and left him to bleed. I hear hes done it before, just for fun. Burkhardt seemed to have a hard time focusing on Macheks face. Sounds like a real piece of work. Davis, when you get a chance, Id like to talk to you outside. Machek looked grim, and Davis figured he knew where this was going.
Thou shall not be a perpetrator; thou shall not be a victim; and thou shall never, but never, be a bystander Yehuda Bauer

So, Boss, what do you want to know? Davis already knew the answer, but he wanted to hear the TL ask, anyway. Are they telling the truth? Did five men in uniform come here today, trash their farm, gang-rape a mother and her twelve year old daughter, and beat the father senseless under color of authority? Are we looking at total breakdown of social order, a lawless group of bandits, a renegade unit of Guardsmen? What do you think? Machek seemed rather cool for the circumstances, something that Davis had seen precede an explosion of violent action. He could feel the roiling anger flow off the man like steam. Sir, from what Ive been able to gather, they are telling the truth. It sounds like they got hit pretty bad, and that its just the way it is for these folk. This isnt the first time theyve dealt with it, so Id say its an entrenched system. These Imps are likely

the biggest bullies on the block around here, and so they run things however they like. Davis wondered when Machek would say it They said a camp. Camp Grayling is just on the other side of those trees; over the river and through the woods, as they say. Maybe we should pay them a visit. Find out just what you can from the Burkhardts, and let me know so I can set up an action plan. We cant just stand by and do nothing, this has to stop. Macheks eyes were looking somewhere else as he spoke, and Davis could feel the anger turn to cold determination. Davis answered will do, boss. Will do. He went back in to talk to the Burkhardt boy some more, and then the wife, if he could.
Usually when people are sad, they don't do anything. They just cry over their condition. But when they get angry, they bring about a change. Malcolm X

The Burkhardts intel was limited. They knew a few Imps by name, mainly because they were the ones who did the conning. They knew that the officers and sergeants sometimes partied in town after a con, and that they were likely to be there tonight. While most of the troops rode horses or used wagons, the Imps had vehicles. They used two kinds: small vehicles, described to be very like a jeep, and bigger vehicle that could only be a deuce-and-a-half. They mounted long guns on both, fed from belts; Machek showed them Lisas 60 and they confirmed that it was the same. They carried M-16s, the Burkhardts recognized those from OReillys load, and side arms, and this Sergeant Moss had a fondness for knives. They took mostly food, sometimes household goods, and rarely, women, back to their camp. The women were never seen again, but then, neither was anything else. When they conned, they beat the men folk, raped the women, and generally partied like barbarians sacking Rome. Machek was looking forward to eliminating them from the face of the earth. The Imps allowed no guns, no bows, and no resistance. Jerry said the town had been raided by bandits, according to his grandfather, and that his father remembered when slavers had come through collecting stock. Both times, they said, the Imps went to war, wiping out any competition. Machek figured it was like gangsters fighting over territory; no one was allowed to hunt on anothers turf. Jerry had told them about a man he called Doc, a local medicine man that they referred to as an emdee, as if the initials were a word. Doc was said to have actually been to the Imp camp and lived, something that could be said of no other person that the Burkhardts could name. If anyone could provide them with hard intel, it would be this man. They set out towards this Riverton that the Burkhardts had described, a small town next to the ruins of an old, pre-Fire city. From the Auto-Nav maps Connor figured that Riverton was next to the old city of Grayling, Michigan, and that Machek was surely correct about Camp Grayling being the Imp camp that the Burkhardts had talked about. Davis was set to go in using the contact pack again, with no guns this time. He had given the younger Burkhardt a few lessons on the use of the Greener, and cleaned the weapon thoroughly. He laughed when he found out that the boy had no ammunition in the weapon when he pointed it at his back. He gave the family 20 rounds of 00 buckshot with instructions to aim for the legs if he had to shoot someone. The youngest

Burkhardt, Robert, was merely a boy, four years old, and traumatized by what had happened. Dr. Tai had sedated him, and had Davis rock the boy to sleep. He read as much of the boys fear, shock and horror as he could stand, and worked to keep it fresh in his mind. When he met the Imps, he planned on giving them as big a taste as he could.
It is an unfortunate fact that we can secure peace only by preparing for war. John F. Kennedy

When they loaded up and rolled out, things were a bit different. Lisa was on the . 50 Cal atop the ambulance, eyes peeled. He put Davis in the back of the V, ready to drop. Sarah had her Dragon prepped, and strapped atop the hull with some of the bungies. She rode in the commanders seat, waiting to pop out and fire at a moments notice. Machek had Carter load the Vs 20mm Cannon with a candy stripe mix of HE-I and AP-I, just in case. Foxtrot Eyeball, his sniper team, rode ahead on the bikes, keeping an eye out for hostiles. They figured theyd head for Grayling, and then have Davis make his way from the ruins to this Riverton place, just for a look.
There are very few monsters who warrant the fear we have of them Andre Gide

Grayling was gone. Sure, there were traces. A bank building, the vault long since looted, still stood. A few crumbling remains of concrete structures and block walls. But most of the place had simply collapsed. Connor nearly cost them the V when he drove over a small hillock that turned out to be wreckage over a basement. Good think he had quick reactions. It was odd, though. Rusted wreckage abounded, but there were no cars anywhere to be seen. No old tires, either. There were remains of what had likely been telephone or power poles, but no wire. In some of the wrecked buildings they found lights, but no bulbs. Someone had looted the old town of anything that might have been useful. Connor and Carter had some ideas of what was useful, though, that the locals might not have shared. They found an old grocery store, and Connor insisted they search for old carts. They found a few that were fairly intact, though most were rusted to near powder. Conner insisted that if he could set up a welding rig, he could make bustle racks with the baskets. It sounded good to Machek, and they stashed the carts where they could find them later. Connor planned to do an extensive search for a welding shop in the area; perhaps at the airport. It was while they were searching the ruins that it happened OReilly and Stebbins had set up atop the bank, the tallest structure still intact in the area. Colleen and Lisa were watching the ambulance and Dr. Tai. Carter and Machek kept an eye on the V, and OMalley, Davis, Pollux and OConnell were scouting through the ruins. They were checking the wreckage of a building, looking for somewhere safe to park the V when Davis felt something odd. Boss, I think were being watched out here, over. Were not picking up any movement on the ground radar, Davis. Are you sure? Machek trusted Davis more than the equipment; if he was sure, then they were being watched.

Im sure, Boss. Its just weird, I cant put my finger on in, but somethings strange about it Davis turned to Sarah, Raul and Connor. Get ready, somethings coming, he hissed. Just as he did so, Sarah caught movement behind him. She brought up her Mac 10 and readied it, nodding to point out what shed seen. As he turned, it leapt from the darkness. Half the height of a man, it looked like some childs nightmare. The eyes were huge, almost as big as a mans fist. Its arms were impossibly long, and they were swinging out to hit him. He couldnt bring the shotgun to bear fast enough, and he was blocking Sarahs shot. Raul was still clearing his holster as it leapt, and Davis knew he was going too slowly to help. Suddenly, the staccato sound of automatic fire erupted from beside him. The flash of the muzzles and the tang of burning powder hit his senses just as the bullets hit the creature. Conner had already dropped the magazine from the gun in his right hand, and was reaching for a second, covering the creature with an identical weapon in his left. The twin Mausers hed brought with him had already proved themselves worth the weight. I heard fire, give me a sitrep, over. Machek was concerned for his crew, and they could hear it in his voice. Something jumped us in the dark, here. Im not sure what it is yet, but Conner dropped it with his Mauser. I think its dead, over. Davis felt nothing from the creature, not even pain; it was definitely gone. Then he felt that watching, waiting, hungry feeling again, in the darkness. Theres more of them, get ready! The team turned to face the threat, and this time they werent surprised as a pair of the creatures came out of the shadows. They hosed them down with fire from the SMGs, Davis shotgun booming over the silenced Mac-10s and even Conners unsilenced Mausers. The light from Davis M10 shotgun showed where the creatures were coming from; a hole in the floor that led into the darkness beneath the wreckage. Whats the situation, Davis? Machek was even more worried now. Clear, boss. We got them. Im going to bring them out so Dr. Tai can look them over. They seem to be some kind of ape or something. You need to see these things.
There were three circumstances in particular which made me think that its rare emergence above ground was the outcome of a long-continued underground habit. In the first place, there was the bleached look common in most animals that live largely in the dark - the white fish of the Kentucky caves, for instance. Then, those large eyes, with that capacity for reflecting light, are common features of nocturnal things witness the owl and the cat. And last of all, that evident confusion in the sunshine, that hasty yet fumbling awkward flight towards dark shadow, and that peculiar carriage of the head while in the light - all reinforced the theory of an extreme sensitiveness of the retina. The Time Machine

Youve got to be joking, Machek said, his expression incredulous. Its a freaking Morlock. I dont think so, Boss. Its arm too long, head shape wrong. No way this ever human. I think might be adapted chimpanzee. Still, I dont see how this much genetic drift could have occurred. We not sleep that long, not long enough for this to happen. Dr. Tai looked upset, but she continued her examination of the creature. Its skin was pale, unhealthy-looking, and covered in sparse white fur. The teeth were longer and stronger than a humans, and Machek had to agree that the structures did

look like those of a chimp. The arms ended in two talon/claws, opposed to each other, which Dr. Tai explained as ectrodactyly. She could see where the Morlock comparison came in, though. They attacked from underground, they seemed hungry, and their eyes were huge and highly reflective. It was heavily muscled, and was likely immensely strong for its size. She checked her holster again out of reflex. Would you quit calling me Boss, Doc? Youve got the whole team doing it. Machek felt the things arm, and then wiped his hand on his leg. Sure Boss, whatever you say, Boss. Dr. Tai was a cynic and a critic, but she was a damned good doctor, so Machek just sighed and moved to the next body. This one female, Doc? He got in his licks, too, knowing she hated the term Doc. It seems to have teats. And no external sexual characteristics. Oh, you notice. You know how tell difference between girl dolphin and boy dolphin? she asked, talking in a thick Vietnamese accent that she put on when she was trying to get a rise out of someone. No, I cant say I do he replied. Good thing you no dolphin, eh? She laughed; a high-pitched and slightly grating noise. Machek was glad she didnt do that often, but he joined her. So, do you think well find more surprises like this one around here? he asked. Who know, Boss. It a brave new world, and from what I see, here there be monsters. She still used the voice, so he wasnt sure how serious she was being, but he let it slide.
The art of war is simple enough. Find out where your enemy is. Get at him as soon as you can. Strike him as hard as you can, and keep moving on. Ulysses S. Grant

Davis, get me OReilly on the horn for you, chief. Davis had interrupted him before he could even complete the request, holding out the mike from the doorway of the V. Thanks, Davis. OReilly, what do you see out there, over? Machek winced slightly less at Chief than he did Boss. Howdy, boss. Ah gawd da place rawt in m sights. Look lawk a small town ye mawt see in a mobie bout da old west. Dirt road tru da middle, woodn buildins, lossa horse apples. Deys a jeep out front a a buildin dere, look lawk two storeys, wid smoke comin from da chim-knee. Mus be da place. Uh, ova. OReillys accent was so think you could cut it with a knife, but Machek had grown used to it by now. Sit tight. Im going to send Davis in, using the contact gear. I want you to cover his six. Were going to have Pollux and OConnell, Machek rolled his eyes at Sarahs squeal of delight about being sent up with Raul, move in using cover to keep a closer eye on him. Well have him go to this Docs place first, and then decide whether to make a move on these guys based on his intel. Keep in radio contact with me and alert me if you see anything suspicious, over. Roger dat, boss. Eye-ball ova an out. OReilly picked up the binoculars, and did a quick scan of the place again. Ah thank da boss aint con-siderin alla da angles, Cawlos. Mebbe we oughta go down der a piece an get a closer shot. Yaall thank so?

Sure, Sean, sure. That pile of rubble right there looks good. Good cover, high enough, and a clearer sight line to the jeep. Move up slow and Ill follow.

Doctor doctor doctor make me well I've not got long to go now I can tell Doctor doctor doctor make me well I've not got long to go I can tell I've not got long to go I can tell Doctor, Doctor

Davis made his way along the dusty street, looking over the ramshackle buildings as he approached. The place looked almost like something out of an old western, if the builders of the 1800s had used recycled modern materials in their construction. There were several buildings surrounded by rail fences; it seemed like most people here had small garden plots, regardless of whatever else they did for a living. One of the first buildings he came to was obviously abandoned, the window panes broken, one shutter hanging by only a single hinge. There was some smoke damage above the windows and door, indicating that there had been a fire inside at some point, though the exterior looked intact. Across the dirty street was a small, neatly-kept cottage that seemed almost out of place here. Beyond the two, perhaps a few hundred feet up the road, was a jeep, parked alongside a two-story building hed been told was the inn, run by a family named Geary. Docs place was directly across from it. He hoped the Imps inside were too busy to look out and see a stranger approaching; their jeep was just across from the Docs gate. Davis made his way along the fence, and slipped into the yard. A short walk up the path and he was at the door. He knocked lightly, hoping the man would hear him. Whosat? Its open, ya know. The voice sounded gruff and a bit angry, but Davis entered as bid. Who the hellre you, anyway? he older man asked, peering at Davis in the entry of the house. Just a traveler, sir, just a traveler. I hear tell youre a doctor. Davis tried to act friendly, pushing calm at the man all he could. A traveler, you say? Well, iffin ye gots any brains in yer head, yall just keep on travalin. Taint nuthin herebouts ye want, ye ken it? The man sounded a bit like he was from Kentucky, or perhaps Tennessee. Well, Id just as soon keep moving, but the rest of my party wants to do some business here first. After talking to one of your local farmers, he suggested that you might be the man I should talk to about opportunities here about. Davis kept pushing the mans emotions as he spoke, hoping to make himself trustworthy. Aint no business here, son. Yall just openin yself to a world a hurt. Deys folk aroun here would just asoon kill ye as look at ye. Ye tell yer people dey needs be movin on iffen they likes they skin all in one piece. The Doc had closed the gap, and was squinting at Davis as he spoke, sizing him up. Actually, those people you speak of are the business we plan on doing. And while your advice might be good for most folk, my people have no intention of moving

on while the Imps are still here. Davis laid it on the line, sensing the mans hatred when he spoke of the Imps. Whatre ye, crazy? Yer plannin on takin on the Imps? She-it, thats a tall order, son. Ye have any idea how many dey is? How many guns dey got? Ye best be havin a army. Davis smiled; the man seemed to have no fear of the Imps even as he was trying to instill it in Davis. Actually, no, I have no idea. But I bet you do Well, I been Wait, ye espect me to tell ye about dem, when I know nuthin bout ye? Uh-uh. Mamma Davidson raised no dummies. Who the hell are ye, and what are ye plannin iffen ye take down the Imps? An dont be tryin a shit-talk me. Jus cause Im an old coot dont mean Im a fool. Sit down a spell, and gimme the dirt, as dey say. Davis took the offered chair, and launched into a brief explanation of what had happened so far. He explained that he and his group were travelers, coming from the north. That they were looking for communities that had built up after the war, ones that they could help. He got to the part about the Burkhardt farm when Doc interrupted. Are dey alright? Huh? Oh, Leo got beat pretty bad, and Im sure if youre familiar with your local Imps, you already know how the girls are doing. Jerry seemed okay, but little Bobby is traumatized. Im surprised anyone cares. Whatta ye mean, surprised, ye cold sonovabitch. Course I care. Doc was angered by Davis assessment, his knuckles white on the arms of his chair. Just thinking that if something like that happened in my home town, wed have strung the bastards up. Shows what ye know, son. Ye gots guns back der in yer home town? Cause the only guns round here is the Imps guns. And they aint fraid to use em, neither. So unless ye gots a way to handle a lotta hard men with a lotta fast-firin guns, mebbe ye oughta just move on down the highway, and leave us here alive, at least. Cause I tell ye now, iffen ye get the Imps riled, deys not gonna stop with killin yall, deys gonna take it out on us, to. Doc was angry, frustrated and ashamed. Davis did what he could to focus that anger and frustration, pushing his own fury toward the Imps in with it, centering the pain and rage on them. We have ways, friend, and we can safeguard your townsfolk, too. I know youre suspicious, Davis picked up on it all through the conversation, but understand, we have been taught and trained for just this sort of thing. Part of our job, our mission, so to speak, is to deal with people like your Imps, to make them pay for what they have done. Ye can really keep the townsfolk safe? I dont know Doc was still uncertain, and so Davis decided that perhaps a demonstration was in order. We plan to take the Imps at the inn, Doc. We need to know their numbers, what weapons they have, and such. I hear you can give us a lot of that, but these men can give us more. Now, once we have them, I can show you what strength we have. Does that sound okay? Davis pushed the Doc to accept his plan, but ultimately, his will would win out I aint got much choice, do I? Yall gonna do watcha gonna do. Jus make sure ye get the bastards afore dey get deys ray-de-o. Dey carry it on da jeep, an dey can talk

to dey camp with it, all the way from here. Doc seemed concerned over that, and so Davis reassured him. Doc, we have radios, too. We understand how they work. Dont worry; we can make sure they dont get a transmission out. Just sit tight. Davis stood, and started for the door. Watch yerself, son. Dey don play too well with others, dem two specially. Moss, hes a greasy little weasel, but Johnson, hes a sonovabitch, and likes a play with knives. I sewed up his handiwork too many times. Just keep it in mind. Docs concern was genuine, and Davis appreciated the advice. Thanks, Doc. My back is covered, but thanks just the same. Davis glanced out the window to insure the street was clear, and then headed out toward the inn.
We're gonna rock this town Rock it inside out We're gonna rock this town Make 'em scream and shout Let's rock, rock, rock, man, rock We're gonna rock till we pop We're gonna rock till we drop We're gonna rock this town Rock this place apart Rock This Town

Foxtrot one-seven, dis is Foxtrot Eye-Ball. We gots Davis in our sights, makin fer da inn, ova. OReilly was watching through the binoculars, while Stebbins took a bead on the windows of the inn with his rifle scope. Tell him I can see two men in what appear to be army uniforms inside. The jeep looks old, the tires worn, and the seats are covered with new leather. Theres a 60 on the pintle, shes got a belt loaded. I can see an aerial, but the radio is behind the dash. Stebbins squinted through the eyepiece, trying to see more inside the inn as Davis made his approach. Thats about it, so far. Eyeball, say again, all after bald tires, over. Machek still had trouble with OReillys accent when he was excited. I re-peat, new leatha on da seats, em-sissy on da pintle, and shes loaded. Aerial, but we got no view o da rad-i-o. Uh, ova. Sean tried to slow down so that Machek would get all that. Roger, Eyeball, good work. Well see if Wingman has a better view. Over and out. Machek signed off, switching to the other pairs frequency. Wingman, what can you see, over. Not squat in town, boss. Too many buildings over here. Were moving up behind cover to get a better look, over. OConnell had chafed at being left out too many times, and couldnt hide her excitement at finally being useful in the field. Raul smiled at her as he motioned her to move up. Macheks reply was swift, and not unexpected. Wingman, maybe you should stand down. We dont want to spook the locals, and we dont want to expose any more of our assets than we have to. Over

Damnit, boss, come on. Assets? You mean you dont want to send one of your girls into the sharp end. Raul and I can handle ourselves, and since Davis is out there with no gun, he needs the cover. And thats us, so get over it. Over and out. Machek could tell from the way shed said it that she meant it. It was near mutiny, but she was right. He was overprotective of his female crewmen, and he would have to get used to using them as assets if his team was to work. He sighed, and thumbed the mike. Use all the cover you can, then. And call back if you can get into position behind the jeep. I want to know what freq theyre on if you can see it. Id like to jam them if possible. Over and out. They had trained for similar missions, but they werent a MARS team. This sort of thing was supposed to be left to professionals. He wondered again what had happened to strand them out here without back up, without coms, and without Prime Base.
Steve walks warily down the street, With the brim pulled way down low Ain't no sound but the sound of his feet, Machine guns ready to go Are you ready, Are you ready for this Are you hanging on the edge of your seat Out of the doorway the bullets rip To the sound of the beat Another One Bites the Dust

Davis opened the door and stepped back in time. The place really did look just like an old time tavern, like one would expect in some Eastern European backwater in the 1700s. It had fieldstone walls, cross timbered for strength, and a roof of wood shingles. There was a common room, overlooked by a balcony, and in it, a long bar and a few tables. Looking slightly out of place were a few booths, their hard-plastic benches and tables a mix of colors such as one would find in a fast food joint. These, and the recycled liquor bottles on the shelf behind the bar, were not the only anachronistic items in the place. Two men, dressed in faded and patched army fatigues and wearing open-fronted flak jackets, sat at a table loaded with half-empty plates and half-full mugs. They looked up as he came in, and then at each other. Davis nodded, and looked as nonchalant as he could. Hey, you one of the men hailed him. Who the fuck are you? Sorry? Im a traveler, just passing through. Looking for trade opportunities. Davis tried to push a feeling of calm that he wasnt sure he felt himself. Trader, huh? All by yourself? Whats in the pack? The first man spoke as the second man stood, grabbing an ancient M-16 by the barrel as he did. Lieutenant asked you a question, fuck-wad. Dont just stand their staring. The short, thin man spoke up, cradling his rifle. Davis realized that the shorter man must be Moss, and agreed with the weasel description. That would make the man with the questions Johnson. He held up his hands, trying again to calm the men. Sorry, sorry. I was startled. I am a trader, yes, but more of a scout. I am currently alone; the rest of my group is on their way. Im just here to find out what you all have to trade. As far as the pack goes He hefted the contact pack and set it atop the table, opening the main bag. He pulled out several interesting

items, and laid them out as if beginning a sales pitch. Here we have a fine sewing kit, suitable for minor field repairs and sewing on lost buttons, with an assortment of same. No, huh? How about a comb and brush set. Im sure a man such as yourself, he addressed Moss as he withdrew the comb and held it out, would appreciate such a grooming set. Go ahead, try it out. He smiled as Moss ran the comb through his hair, obviously pleased with the result. The man looked at the sergeant, who laughed. Now, when was the last time you had quality tobacco? Longtime, I can tell from your faces. I have a few pouches here, and more could be coming, if you have anything worth trading for. Whats that there. No, there, the lieutenant pointed toward a folded buck knife. Ah, a good eye you have, friend. That is one of the finest knives available today. Test the edge, if you wish. Davis passed the knife over, and retrieved his now-used comb. Elmer, come here, I want to test this knife. The lieutenant opened the blade with his thumb, intrigued. Lieutenant? Perhaps a piece of gristle would suffice? the older man who was obviously the proprietor had the look of someone who had seen Johnson use a blade before. Maybe youre right, Elmer. But if your daughter dont get her ass out here soon with those refills, I might decide to test it on her. The man had a predatory grin that Davis certainly didnt like. So, do you think we might be able to do some trade? Davis looked at the men as if hopeful. He watched out of the corner of his eye as a young woman, perhaps in her late teens or early twenties, made her way out with a pair of fresh mugs. Ah, Marie, about time. Why does it always seem like youre hiding when we come into town. Id hate to have to punish you for that. Johnson looked like hed be only too happy to do it, actually. Im sure you would, but it still wouldnt get you what you want. Just because my father lets you drink and eat here for free doesnt mean you can order things not on the menu. She seemed to have much less fear of the men than her father. Well, then perhaps Id punish him for not putting you on the menu. The lieutenant smiled when he saw her reaction to that, the first fear that Davis had felt from her. Davis interrupted before things could get any uglier. Miss, do you have a menu? I didnt see one when I came in. Huh? She looked at him for the first time since hed come in, and he projected as much reassurance as he could muster. Sure thing, let me find one for you. She started toward the back, slightly perplexed. Hey, Marie, you get back here quick with that. I dont want to have to come looking for you. Johnson again looked like hed be only too happy to go into the back with her. Davis was beginning to develop an extreme dislike for the man. Say, is that your jeep out front, gentlemen? Davis said the word like he was addressing a group of businessmen out for lunch. I think we might have tires that would fit it. Would you mind showing me around it? Moss, take him out and let him look at the tires Johnson took a long drink from his mug, wiping foam from his mouth with the back of his hand.

Sir? Whatever Moss saw that there was no sense questioning the lieutenant. Cmon, trader, lets go. Davis pushed an intense curiosity toward Johnson, trying to get him to follow. As they cleared the door, the man stood, looking from his drink to the back room, and then to the door. He seemed confused between his desire to go looking for Marie and to see what the man was up to at his jeep. Davis let Moss lead the way, and followed out the door. Once they were clear, he raised his hand to shoulder height, his thumb pointing back toward Johnson. He sliced his hand across his throat, and trusted Stebbins to understand the signal. Just as he and Moss got to the jeep, Johnson cleared the door, and then crumpled against the wall, his knee blown out by a 7.62mm bullet. Moss turned as his Lieutenant cried out, wondering what had happened. As he began to realize the man had been shot, Davis struck, punching him in the solar plexus. He was lucky the mans flak was open. Moss started to double over, and Davis grabbed for his rifle. Moss managed to pull it away, his flak having deflected the blow somewhat, and Johnson had cleared leather with his pistol when Pollux and OConnell popped out from behind the building, guns leveled. Pollux fired a burst into the seat of the jeep next to Moss, causing it to nearly explode in a burst of old stuffing and new leather. As Moss turned to see what had done it, Davis struck again, kicking the mans knee and knocking him to the ground. Johnson had pushed himself up to a sitting position by this time, and was cocking the pistol when he suddenly let out a scream and threw it away. The pistol discharged when it hit the ground, then exploded as all of its remaining ammo went off, the barrel and slide glowing red from heat. His hand was already blistering, and Sarah smiled at his obvious confusion and pain. Move again and Ill burn you where you sit, she said. Please, move again. And you, Moss, you go for that rifle and youll be eating it. Trust me; Id like nothing better than to kill you, preferably slow. So please, move. Davis pushed fear and hopelessness at the men, and they both stayed still where they were. He smiled what he hoped was a predatory smile. Who the hell are you people? Johnson spoke up first. You know youre dead, right? Bliss will kill you all, and rape your witch in front of you before he does. Youre dead men, all of you. Witch, huh? I think you mispronounced that. Sarah kicked him in his wounded knee, producing a yelp of anguish before the man passed out. She was angry, they all were, and spoiling to do something drastic. Davis pushed a calm over them to try and gain control. Foxtrot One-Seven, this is Wingman. I think youd better bring the Crackerbox down. We have two bad guys down, one wounded pretty bad. And bring the V in, too. Were all secure, no friendly injuries, over. Pollux was pretty sure theyd need a show of force to keep the townsfolk from running in fear of retaliation now that theyd taken down a couple of Imps. The V-150 arrived first, Machek manning the commanders gun. He looked over their prisoners and shook his head. These are the assholes that raided the Burkhardt place, huh? Tie that shitbag up, he nodded to Moss, and make sure the other one is secure. Load them up in the ambulance, ASAP. I want to move back out to the ruins as soon as we can. Bring the jeep, too. I dont want it sitting here when we go.

Pollux raised his hands in mock surrender. Jawol, Herr Kapitan. He waved the ambulance in and handed Davis his Mac-10. You heard the boss; get them secured. Over here, Colleen, back it in He held up his hands to show her the decreasing space, and she stooped well short. Dr. Tai opened the back as soon as the motion stopped, and scrambled out. Where my patient? That him? What you do, blow up his knee? Good shot, Stebbins, good shot. What wrong that one? He piss hisself? Dr. Tai was looking at Moss, who had indeed pissed himself. He was sweating and wild-eyed, shaking like a leaf. Davis, turn it off. You gonna kill him. What you do, anyway? Im giving him a taste of what the young Burkhardt girl felt. Just a small taste. Wait till we get him over the hill; hell get the whole thing there. Davis wanted the man to feel all the pain and fear and shame the little girl had felt, her mother, her brothers. He would do it to them all if he could. Just tie him up, Davis, Pollux said. Boss wants him able to talk, and he wont if you break him. It wasnt that he didnt know how Davis felt; he just wanted to keep his eyes on the missions needs over his own desire to punish these slime balls. Hows he look, doc? He wandered over to where Dr. Tai and Colleen were working on Johnson. He hurt pretty bad. No therapy for him, so he no walk again too good. His hand burned bad, too. Sarah do that? She scary girl, do that. Glad she our girl. Colleen, no waste antibiotic on him. Dr. Tai turned to the nurse, I no care he get gangrene. Let him rot away like old banana all I care. No pain med, either. Just stop bleeding, tie him off. Hey, Pollux, you grab end of stretcher, help get his ass in? Sure, Doc, let me know when. Raul Pollux was looking over the heavily worn, stained and patched uniform worn by the Lieutenant. It had been repaired many times, and had patches on the knees, elbows and buttocks. The patches seemed to be made of layers of cotton fatigues. The vest looked in bad shape, too. No bullet holes, but a lot of stains and dirt. The weave wasnt looking very good, and he wondered if the vest would still work properly. Hey, Doc? Try to get the uniforms off without cutting if you can, okay? I have an idea
There is only one thing that arouses animals more than pleasure, and that is pain. Under torture you are as if under the dominion of those grasses that produce visions. Everything you have heard told, everything you have read returns to your mind, as if you were being transported, not toward heaven, but toward hell. Umberto Eco

They drove the two men back to the ruins of old Grayling. Machek took the right to the area where the creatures he thought of as Morlocks had attacked. Once they were there, he had the two men brought out, naked except for their underwear. Im going to give the two of you a chance, now; a chance at redemption. So far, youve acted like utter cowards, but now you can die like men. Do you know where we are? Fuck you, asshole. Youre gonna die, slow and painful. And youre gonna watch my buddies rape your women before you go. Hell, some of themll probably rape you, too. Just you wait. Youre all dead! Moss was in a talkative mood, and full of defiance now that Davis wasnt pushing his emotions, so Machek waved the younger man over.

Jeff, just like we talked about. You know what he did, and you know how they felt when it happened. Just make him feel it, let it all out. When hes had enough, then well ask him what we want to know. Machek could see that now that Davis had some time to think, he was wondering whether this was the right thing to do. Boss? Are we sure ab He stopped when Machek raised his hand. Of course not. But do you see any other way? We need to know what were up against. Just do it. Hes not a man, hes an animal, and a mad one at that. If we can get some edge over him and his kind, then we will. Machek knew that what they were doing crossed some line, some line that the Projects psych evaluations were supposed to insure they wouldnt be willing to cross. But the doctors had never encountered what they had. No, Machek would see this filth flushed down the sewer like any other pieces of shit. Hey, Moss, can you shut up a minute? The mans rant had been ongoing the whole time the two had been talking, and Davis needed a moment to think. Fuck you. What do you think, they wont just kill you all? You dont know nothin. You think that armored truck will scare them? They got armor thatll make that look like a wash basin on wheels. Youre fucked! Then it hit him. Fear, raw, naked fear, followed by the horror of a mother whose daughter had just been brutally raped in front of her. Shame, such as Moss had never felt before, and pain Indescribable pain, such as Moss couldnt even imagine. When Davis was done, Moss was convulsing on the ground, a pool of vomit near his mouth and the smell of excrement on the breeze. Davis felt drained, as if he were about to collapse. Davis stepped aside to give Machek a clear field for his questions.
I am the Devil! And I am here to do the Devil's business. - Tex Watson (Manson Family)

So, Moss, how does it feel to be the victim? Not pleasant, eh? Machek was down, peering into Moss face. Now, how many are there? How many Imps? Oh, god, no Please, no more Moss was almost incoherent. Moss, are you in there? How many, Moss? Machek had the mans hair in a death grip now, and was using it to pull the mans head around. How many Imps are there? Please, no more, please Moss eyes were unfocused, and he seemed to not know where he was. Is sleeping beauty awake? Machek looked back to the ambulance crew, and the disapproving faces of Dr. Tai, Colleen and Lisa. If he is, bring him out here. Whatever you say, boss. Dr. Tai looked very serious at his tone, his demeanor and his treatment of Moss. Cmon, Lisa, help me get him out. The two women brought the man forward. What did you do? asked Johnson. Moss, Moss he shouted, as if trying to wake Moss from his stupor. Moss looked over at his commanding officer, but didnt seem to recognize Johnson. Oh, god, no! Please, not again!

Same thing well be doing to you, if youre as useless as he is. Now, tell us how many there are. Machek slapped Moss across his face, and the man pulled away in terror. Johnson looked scared, and Machek nodded to Davis. How many, Johnson? Youd better answer. Davis amplified Johnsons fear, tightening him like a guitar string. I know, youre scared, scared of what this Captain Bliss will do to you. But you should fear us more, Johnson. Bliss will just kill you, but well do so much more. Fuck you. Im not telling you shit. Johnson was scared, but still defiant. Davis was too tired to push him very hard, and scared hed break too far, like Moss already had. Do you want to know what well do? Well get what we want from you either way. But if you keep defying us, well make sure to hand you over to Bliss first. You think hell believe you didnt talk? Hell What? Realization dawned on Johnsons face. Hell What do you want to know? How many Imps are there in the camp? How many? Machek nearly shouted. Johnson shook his head. More than enough to wipe you fucks out. Moss? Machek wanted answers, he didnt care which man gave them. Suddenly, Moss sprang forward. No, I wont tell! Youre witches, youll kill us all! Moss shouldered his way into Machek, nearly knocking him down. Dont tell them anything! He shouted at Johnson. Shut up, Moss, or Ill kill you right now. Machek kicked at the man who was now sprawled before him, and Davis tried to restrain him. Boss, boss! Stop, hes down. Hes down! Davis grabbed Machek by the arm as Pollux and OConnell moved in to help. Johnson spit on the ground near Moss head. Yeah, youll kill us all. Right. You have no stomach for it. Look at you, weak, pathetic. You talk tough, but your not. Well roll over you just like we do all the others. Machek shook Davis off, and his glare warned the others off as well. Weak, huh? No stomach for it? Well see about that. Bring it out, Doc. Okay, boss, but I no have to like it. Come on, Colleen, roll it out here. The Dr. and nurse brought out their specimen, now a bit worse for wear. You know what that is, Moss? How about you, Johnson? Machek held up the head of his Morlock. A maggot. So what, you can kill maggots. Who cares. Johnson still sounded defiant. Moss looked up, and coughed. Yeah, what does that prove? Nothin. Moss also appeared to have broken through the emotions that Davis had projected onto him. Maggot, huh? So thats what you call these? And did you know there is a whole nest of them under these ruins? Machek toed the corpse, causing its mouth to open, revealing its sharp teeth. Yeah, so what? What does that have to do with shit? Johnson looked around, and saw the hole in the ruins behind him. You dont seem to want to talk, so youre useless to us. But I need to see how these things attack, so maybe youre not totally useless. With that, Machek stepped forward and kicked Johnson in the chest, knocking him backward into the hole. He fell a short way, landing in a heap and screaming as his injury started bleeding again.

Fuck, oh fuck! Oh, jeeze, help me Oh god, help me! Johnson was in excruciating pain, his knee nearly torn apart. He tried to push himself up, but his arm seemed not to work, either. Oh, god, help me! God wont help you now, Johnson. Try calling on the devil, youre his now, anyway. Machek pulled Moss head around to face the hole, and the screams. How many, Moss? Tell me what I want to know, or Ill throw you right down after him. Davis looked concerned. Machek was filled with cold anger, and deviating severely from the plan. They had discussed making the men think they were going to be fed to the creatures, the maggots. Dr. Tai and Sarah kept shooting looks toward the hole, and Raul Pollux looked like hed swallowed something rotten. Only Colleen seemed unfazed, and Davis wondered how OMalley, Carter and Valente would feel if they could see what was happening. Stebbins and OReilly were still watching the town, waiting in case more Imps showed up. Boss? He sounds pretty bad down there. Good, I hope he keeps screaming. Maybe the sound will Machek stopped short when they heard the strange growl from the hole. Oh, shit! Help me! Dont let them get me! Ah! AH! Johnsons fear was nearly overwhelming to Davis, and he cut off his reading, shielding himself from the mans emotions. Boss? Theyre here! Raul had stepped up to the edge of the hole and looked down. Suddenly, he looked away, sickened. Johnsons shouts turned to a single long, high-pitched wail, and then cut off. They could hear a tearing, rending noise, and several grunts and growls. So, Moss. Youre going in that hole tonight. I hope you know that. The question is, are you going in alive, but with your hands tied and your foot shot, or do I kill you quick, and just dump a corpse in there? Oh Oh, god. Moss realized just what sort of a man he was dealing with in Machek, and folded. Two dozen. There are two dozen of us. Machek glanced to Davis, who looked sick at the moment. Sounds right to me. Davis could feel Moss fear, but no defiance yet. How are they armed? Machek pushed as Davis read Moss. Rifles. M-16A1 Carbine. Some of the officers have M1911A1 pistols. A few of us carry grenades in the field. Moss looked scared out of his mind, but Davis could read a ray of hope in there. It scared him most of all, that hope of a clean death. He nodded to Machek to go on, as Moss talked over the sound of the feeding maggots. You have an M-60 on the jeep. How many more of those? Machek knew they had him Three more, and a couple .50 cal machine guns. One of each on the tower, the rest in the armory. Moss sat with his head hanging down, utterly defeated. What else? I know theres more Machek watched Davis face as he questioned the Imp. Mortar. Theres a mortar pit inside the camp. Theres another mortar in the armory. Moss sighed. How many more jeeps? And how many trucks? Machek was on a roll. He wished all his cross examinations had been this easy. Three of each, that work. You have one of the jeeps, so that leaves two. And three trucks. Davis nodded, Moss was telling the truth.

Your radios work? Well, do they work? Machek resisted the urge to slap the man when he was slow to answer. Yes, they work, they work. Moss didnt want to piss the man off. He could still here the maggots feasting on Johnson. How is the base protected? What traps have you got set up? Machek imagined minefields and such. Two fences, between them are mines. Machek nodded, as he had figured. The west side is the lake, so theres no way in that way. South is the hill, and the burn. The ground is clear to the north and east, so the machine gun on the tower has plenty of target space. Moss sighed when he finished. They have a mortar. Have they marked out the ranges in that killing field? Machek knew he would Yeah, the mortar crew has preset ranges to anywhere in the open. The machine gunner does, too. Moss had become a font of information. The questions continued for more than an hour, and Machek had a good idea of just how the base was laid out, and what was defending it. When he felt he could get no more intel out of Moss, he stood, and had Pollux help the man to his feet. Moss, youve been a great help to us, and so, I have just one more question for you before we release you to your eternal reward. Moss nodded, his fear returning as he was brought in front of the maggot burrow. What do you want to know? He was eying the pistol that Machek had brought out, wondering if that quick killing was about to happen. Did you enjoy raping that little girl? Davis realized too late what was building inside the commander, as did everyone else, everyone but Moss, who figured it out too late. The pistol barked twice, jumping between shots, as Machek fired once into each of Moss legs. Moss screamed as he fell, landing atop the grisly remains of Johnsons corpse. You bastard! I told you what you asked. You said youd kill me before you put me in here! Moss was in pain, but his anger was keeping him awake for now. I lied Machek turned and walked away, past the concerned looks of his crew, and entered the V-150. He went to the trade pack and grabbed a bottle of whiskey, drinking a healthy shot from it straight, and then another. Carter looked worried, but said nothing. Okay, crew, lets get this party started. I want to get a briefing done within the hour, and move out by 2200 hours. When the screaming started, he took another slug from the bottle. Move out, were done here.
We make war that we may live in peace. Aristotle

They stopped back in town and talked to the locals. Doc wanted to know what happened to the Imps theyd taken. Machek only told him theyd been dealt with. Doc seemed to understand, and didnt push the question. Machek explained the need to get the town together on this, and they gathered up the residents for a meeting at the inn. Many of the other townsfolk were worried. What would happen to them if the Imps found out, and the team failed?

Davis tried his best to reassure them all. He explained what the Project was and what it stood for. Doc asked, if yall is so peaceful, then why so many danged guns? Davis explained to him about the idea of self determination, self protection, and the use of force to guarantee anothers rights. Doc just shook his head. Yall er gonna need moren a bunch a pretty words iffen ye plan on takin on de Imps. The Watsons, a blacksmith and his son, wanted the Imps dead, and supported the idea of the team going in, as did Marie Geary, but none of the three would help. The Gerbers, traders who ended up stuck in town, wanted to help, if they could have a say in the plan. Doc was still leery, but much impressed with the V-150 and its big gun. The widow Burke and her many children were all for fighting, the oldest also wanting to join up, while the Finneys, an older couple, felt that any attempt to take on the Imps would doom the town. They were old enough to remember slaver and raider attacks, and wondered how a group as small as the team could protect the town once the Imps were gone. Elmer and Marion Geary also worried about Imp reprisals. Machek explained that the team would train the townsfolk and farmers to protect themselves, and that the team would train them how to shoot, and would distribute the Imps weapons to the town. The townies were amazed. The team had their own guns, and a means of taking over, but wanted to hand their advantage over to the townsfolk? Such was unheard of. It won over the doc, and even the Watsons were interested in getting a hold of some guns. Doc told the team everything that he knew, from Imp numbers and names to the fact that Captain Bliss had gout, and limped terribly. Machek began to form a plan, and brought the team together to finalize his components. Pollux mentioned his own ideas, and the ball began to roll
The wicked are always surprised to find that the good can be clever. - Marquis de Vauvenargues

Herz was in the tower, ostensibly keeping an eye on the open field in front of the base entrance. The duty was a bit of a joke. No one came here without being dragged here. The locals would never approach the place if they could help it. Oh, sure, he heard that once some slavers had raided the town, and a local runner had come out, but that was years ago, before he was born. Nuzzo was in the guard shack below, but at least he could sleep without anyone knowing it. Up in the tower, the Captain might look out a window and see you werent moving. Herz perked up a bit when he heard the unmistakable sound of one of the jeeps. Johnson and Moss had taken one to town, and it looked like they were on their way back. If they were coming back this early, maybe they had taken a woman from town. That would still suck for him and Nuzzo, since they were on guard till dawn, and shed likely not last that long. He tried to see through the darkness and light fog, but couldnt make out any details of the jeep or her potential cargo. He wondered if Johnson had finally decided to take Marie Geary, even over Captain Bliss objections. Well, if Johnson had a death wish As the jeep rolled up, Herz did notice something odd. The smaller of the two, must be Moss, had his head in his hands, elbows on the dash, as if he had a splitting headache. He wouldnt have found that odd in the morning, but wondered how the man could have gotten a hangover already. Then he heard Nuzzo in the shack, the

unmistakable sound of an M-16 being readied to fire, his exclamation of who the hell are you? As he reached for his own weapon, their was a burst of fire from within the shack, a small blossom of flame that seemed to envelope Nuzzo as he collapsed, no time to even scream. Moss hair was flying out around his head like a halo, and Herz though it odd, Moss hair was cut short, just like the rest of them. He was swinging the towers .50cal around to fire down on the jeep when he saw a second flash from the corner of his eye, and then he felt an odd pressure near his ear. From across the open field, two men in the woods watched, one through binoculars, the other through a rifle scope, as Herz head slammed sideways, his skull pierced by the rifles deadly payload. Tower neutralized, boss, Stebbins spoke into the microphone clipped to his helmet. Dey gots da guy in da shack, too, boss. OReilly had swung his binoculars to see what had happened with Sarah and Raul at the jeep. Deys openin da gate now, ova. He watched as the jeep pulled to a stop just beside the tower, and Pollux hopped out, starting his climb. Now would be a bad time for someone to come out. Oh, jeezus. Dat guy in da shack, hes movin. Hes on fire, an hes movin. Gitim, Carlos, gitim quick! Carlos Stebbins had just killed his first man that night, and was still a bit shocked by how easy it had been. When he realized what OReilly was saying, he swung around to draw a bead on the man crawling across the ground in flames. Just as he was about to fire, the man grabbed his rifle and pulled the trigger, Stebbins shot coming just a moment too late. The sound of the long, rattling burst was loud even across the open field, and must have woken everyone in the camp. Lights started coming on throughout the base, and they knew the plan had just gotten screwed. OReilly thumbed his mike, Foxtrot One-Seven, Foxtrot One-Seven, dis here is Eye-Ball, we is totally SNA-FU. Repeat, all is SNA-FU. Roll in, quick as ye can. Deys in trouble now. Move, OMalley, move. Get us up there now! Machek waited in the commanders seat for the vehicle to finish its approach so he could get a better look. Turning to Carter he said I want you firing as soon as we are clear. Light up the barracks on the way through, and then co-ax anything that moves after that. Turning back to his driver, he told OMalley I want to be on that jeep ASAP. And Davis, he looked to the contact specialist, get ready to drop a white phosphorus grenade in that mortar pit as we pass. Just toss it out the firing port; it should get it either way. Sure thing, boss. I got one right here. Davis was reading Machek, and he picked up very little fear, just a cold anger and determination. He looked at OMalley, whose knuckles were white on the controls, and released his breath in a low whistle. OMalley swallowed hard; hed dealt with men like this before, and people always died around them.
Anyone who clings to the historically untrue -- and -- thoroughly immoral doctrine that violence never solves anything I would advise to conjure up the ghosts of Napoleon Bonaparte and the Duke of Wellington and let them debate it. The ghost of Hitler would referee. Violence, naked force, has settled more issues in history than has any other factor; and the contrary opinion is wishful thinking at its worst. Breeds that forget this basic truth have always paid for it with their lives and their freedoms. Robert Heinlein

Ang on, wes ere. OMalleys warning was just in time, and all were thankful that someone had finally wised up and issued helmets to the V crews. The wheels hit land and the V-150 rose from the lake like some kind of huge, angry alligator. As soon as they were ashore, Carter cut loose with a long, hosing burst from the 20mm cannon. AP and HE rounds, all incendiaries, laced through the corrugated steel of the barracks like a swarm of angry, flaming bees. He had fired high, cutting a swath of obvious destruction that he hoped would discourage any fools from coming out to see what was happening. Davis was on the mike, and used the PA to address the camp. Lay down your arms and surrender. You cannot hope to win; we will kill anyone who resists. Dont be fools; we -will- kill anyone who resists. He didnt mention that Machek was likely to kill those who surrendered, as well, he could feel it. Machek popped the hatch, and saw a few men starting to come out of one of the barracks as they passed. He fired a long burst from the Mag-58 atop the turret, and cut them down. Confusion was the word of the day as men wondered what the hell was happening, and who could be driving through their camp, so secure only moments ago. Pollux slid back down the ladder, and grabbed the 40mm grenade launcher that he had secured from the V before starting the trip in the jeep. He nodded to OConnell, who had dropped behind its cover to remove the fatigue shirt and expose her coveralls. She then slipped the armored vest over it, closing it up for better protection. Pollux followed suit, and then motioned her to move out while he covered her. They made their way across the camp, hearing the roar of the Vs 20mm cannon, and the pops of the HE round going off inside the barracks. They hit the back of a wooden building, and Pollux waved her to go left while he went right. As she moved, she ducked behind the cover of a brick building. Several men were running through the darkness toward what they had been told was the motor pool. They would not see her if she moved along behind the building, so she did, trying to get their ahead of them. Pollux moved up along the side of one of the barracks, heading toward the bases generator, hoping to sabotage it without destroying it. As she sprinted across the road, Sarah saw something she almost recognized; a shape in the darkness. The men were headed for it, and it took her a moment to realize what it was. Moss had never mentioned it, but then, they had never asked. It was a tank; an M60 if she wasnt mistaken. It had a huge gun, way more than it would need to take out the V. She had left her Dragon in the V, and had nothing that would even slow it. Boss, we have a problem. I have four men headed to what I believe is a tank, all armed, too far apart to take easily, over. Shit, a tank? Do what you can, were on the way. Machek looked worried now, his whole plan screwed by a single man who didnt know when to die. He saw another group of men clear a corner, bringing weapons to bear. He couldnt swing around in time, but then, he didnt need to. The 20mm barked again, and the men went down in a hail of fire from Carters main gun. When the smoke cleared, Machek smiled grimly. Theyd been warned. Stan, load that thing with AP-I. Weve got a tank. As the V was winding its way toward the motor pool, Pollux met a problem of his own. A man came out of the brick building he had just passed. The man hailed him; Cmon, we need to get to the other tank. Lets go! He hadnt been recognized in the

confusion, but that wouldnt last long. He had no time to pull another weapon, so he used what he had, firing the 40mm grenade launcher at close range. The warhead wouldnt arm at that distance, but the 40mm projectile packed quite a punch. The man was lucky, he was wearing a flak vest, but he still collapsed in a heap, his ribs broken at least. He saw three more men, and they saw what he had done, so he ducked into the generator shed he had been going to, anyway. Thumbing his mike, he let the rest of the team know what was happening. Pollux here, in the generator shed. Ive been seen by hostiles, and Im in a world of shit. Can someone get me out? Just as he made the call, there was a terrible explosion from the front of the camp, and the flash of it blinded the men pursuing him. Unknown to Pollux, a group had made it to the mortar pit, and had started to ready the weapon. Stebbins had a clear view of the pit from his vantage, and managed to get a shot off into one of the readied rounds of ammunition, causing it to detonate. Pieces of mortar and crew rained down in the camp. As the three men by the shed were picking themselves up, Pollux stepped out and cut across them with a burst from his Mac-10. The tank crew had also dropped when the mortar blew, and Sarah took her opportunity. The tank was huge, way too big for her to handle. But the hatches, they were a different story. She picked the drivers hatch first, and concentrated, the hot breeze kicking up her hair. She kept it up until the hatch glowed a dull red, and then switched to the turret hatch. As she watched, the men got up, and headed for the tank. One of the men climbed on top of the deck, and grabbed the handle of the hatch. His scream echoed above the din from the north, and the man who had followed him up looked at him confused. The first man held his hand, still screaming, and while the second was trying to help, a third man climbed up, grabbing for the commanders hatch. He wasnt as lucky as the first man, and his hand stuck to the handle for a moment, the flesh sizzling. As he began screaming, the second man leapt clear, and turned to run. Sarah stepped out of the shadows and said dont fucking move. I will kill you all where you stand. The gun in her hand showed she meant it.
You dropped a bomb on me, baby You dropped a bomb on me, baby You dropped a bomb on me. You Dropped a Bomb on Me

The V slowed to a stop before the tank, the tank crew lying on the ground. Good job, OConnell. Keep them there while we go clean up this mess. As Machek spoke, the lights died around the camp. Pollux, I take it your problems at the generator have been solved? Sir, I cut the power, yes. I still have potential hostiles outside, over. Were on the way, Pollux. Sit tight. Turning to the man in the RTO seat, Machek said Davis, get out and cover OConnell. Tie those men up with some paracord, and well sort them out later. I want that tank crew alive. As soon as he was clear, he smacked the top of the V. Lets go, OMalley, lets roll OMalley drove to the generator shed, only a few dozen meters away, and pulled around. Machek covered the men near it with the commanders gun, and let them know what would happen if they moved. The only lights in the camp were those of the V, and

the fires in the barracks and mortar pit. The place looked like it had been bombed from the air. Machek got on the PA and called out to the survivors. Alright, youre beaten and you know it. Everyone who wants to live, come out with your hands in the air, no weapons. Anyone I see with a gun will die. Do you all understand? No weapons, come out now. Men started filing out of the barracks, a few from the brick building as well. When the trickle stopped, Machek got back on the PA. Anyone who didnt come out better be shot to hell, because if they arent, they will be soon. Now, are there any survivors inside that didnt come out? He looked over the motley group of men that stood in the light of the V, and waited. No, theres no more in the barracks, a man said, stepping forward. None in the officers club, either, said a second man. The captain was in the Armory with Lt. Rose, spoke a third man. Lt. Rose is right here, Stein. A man with his hands tied behind him was marched out of the darkness by Davis and OConnell, along with several companions. Shut up, Drayan, they dont need to know who the officers are. The man named Rose was defiant, and so Machek decided to make an example of him. He climbed out of the V and approached the man. Youre Rose? Machek was already sure of it, but wanted it confirmed. Yeah, Im Rose. Who the fuck are you? Roses hands were crudely bandaged and tied in front. Machek took the opportunity to sucker punch him. Im the guy whos kicking your ass. Machek have him a kick in the ribs while he was down, and looked around; now, anybody else have any questions? No one seemed to, and Machek was satisfied hed made his point. Now, wheres this armory? I want the captain out here with the rest of his scum. The man Rose had addressed as Drayan pointed with his chin to a large concrete structure near the burning wreckage of the mortar pit. It figured, the only fortified position in the camp
He take the thunder from the mountain He take the lightning from the sky He bring the strong man to his bended knee He make the young girls mama cry You got to hidey-hide You got to jump and run You got to hidey hidey-hide The old man's down the road The Old Man Down The Road

Machek left the Carter and OConnell with the V to guard the prisoners, and took OMalley, Davis and Pollux with him toward the structure. On the way he had Davis call in the ambulance and his sniper team. He sent the ambulance to check over their survivors, and told OReilly and Stebbins to meet him near the armory. He moved up using what little cover there was, leapfrogging with OMalley while Davis did the same with Pollux. Davis had his M10-A, while Machek took the Remington from the contact pack; OMalley had his twin Mausers and Pollux his MAC-10.

As they cleared the Officers Club, they began taking fire from the armory. Someone up there had an M-60, and was chewing up the ground with it. Machek waved his troops back, and had Pollux fire a round from the M-79 grenade launcher he still had on him. The firing stopped, and Machek motioned for OMalley and Davis to toss smoke. Both men looked at him and shrugged; neither had smoke grenades. Machek shook his head, and called Stebbins and OReilly on the radio, but they both responded in the negative. Macheks plan was already snagged, and it had barely started. He put on his mask, and motioned for the others to do the same, then tossed Pollux one of his 40mm CS grenades. Pollux smiled, and loaded up. When he gave the signal, Davis popped out from behind the brick building and fired of a round of buckshot toward the window that the 60 had been firing from. As it opened up again, spraying that side of the building with fire, Machek and Pollux stepped around on the left, each firing a CS grenade into one of the windows on the building. Soon, gas was poring from three of the windows they could see, and the firing had stopped. The men charged the building in a zigzagging run, and hit the first door they found. While the others covered him, Pollux checked the door for possible booby-traps. He wasnt disappointed. The door opened out, and a small piece of wire had been tied to the handle on the inside. It wasnt tight, so he assumed it was designed to trigger something if the door were opened. He looked around the corner with his signal mirror, and saw what it was. Sweet Right out of the manual. 81mm HE with a grenade fuse rigged to it. Ill cut the trigger wire. Pollux seemed confident enough, and Machek nodded. Three seconds later, he was opening the door. Were in, boss. Lets kick this guys ass. Hold up, here come Stebbins and OReilly. Machek waved at them to take cover, and they did so just in time as the 60 started firing again. Damn, either he has a mask or hes just a tough son of a bitch. Boss-man, OReilly here. I don tink we ken make it to yalls position. Wes gonna tryn su-press dat der em-sissy. Yall watch yerselves in der, awright? You do that, OReilly. Keep him busy while we get in up top. Machek motioned for Pollux to move ahead to the stairs while he and Davis covered with the 12g shotguns. Pollux hit the stairs, and then stopped, sweeping his eyes back and forth. Sure enough, a few steps up, he saw what he was looking for. He checked the wire carefully, and shook his head. Shes rigged to go if I cut her, boss. No time to look for the charge. Ill mark it, and you guys just skip that step, alright? Machek nodded. Just keep looking, there might be another. They heard a loud ricochet above them, and assumed that Stebbins was doing his best to keep the Captain busy. By the time Pollux had reached the top of the stairs the 60 had stopped firing. They hoped that it might mean Stebbins had nailed the Captain, but they werent counting on it. Pollux motioned for Davis to come up. As Davis crossed the hall, Pollux fired a burst from his MAC down toward where they believed the Captain was holed up. Davis burst into the room across from the stairs, shotgun ready, only to find himself in the latrine. He did a quick check of the room, and then returned to the doorway, letting Pollux know it was clear.

Cmon up, weve got a clear staging room, Pollux called over the radio. Davis was soon joined by Machek and OMalley. Machek took a quick peek down the hall, and then waved Davis across to a room on the opposite side from the latrine. As Davis entered, Machek swung around and entered the room directly across from it. Both rooms appeared to be used for storage. With that end of the building secured, they spread out, moving up to cover the next door up the hall. Okay, nice and easy, whispered Machek. Pollux, low right, OMalley, low left, Im high left, and Davis is high right. Everybody got it? They all nodded, and got ready. Pollux, blow the lock and hinges, one trigger. I want the door off in one try. Raul smiled and pulled out his demo gear, rigging the three charges to blow on his command. Foxtrot Eye-Ball, give me some cover fire from out there, I want him to think were still attacking from that side. Roger, boss-man. Wes on it. OReilly opened up with his M-16, spraying the windows on the side of the building. Moments later, the 60 opened up again, and Machek nodded to Pollux. The demo man hit the clacker twice, and the charges blew, the door falling inward from the explosion. The men entered the room, sweeping with their guns. A table lay against the windows on the far side of the room, a couch in front of it, and they could see the flash of gunfire from between them. They all fired at once, the sound of the 60 mixing with the shotgun blasts into a deafening cacophony, drowning out the sound of the silenced MAC and OMalleys twin Mausers. As the smoke cleared, they took stock of the room. It appeared to be a lounge, with casks and kegs in the corners. The couch was heaped with something, hard to make out what in the dark. Machek flicked on his light and saw it was a pile of flack vests. Shit, cover! he shouted, and just in time. The barrel of the 60 came up over the back of the couch and swept across the room at waist height, and nearly got Davis as he was on the side the sweep started from. They all hit the floor, and watched as the volatile alcohol from the kegs sprayed throughout the room. OMalley squirmed out into the hall, followed by Davis, while Machek fired under the couch as best he could with the shotgun. Pollux pulled a frag grenade, and rolled up against the couch. As the shooting stopped, he pulled the pin and tossed the grenade over. Machek cleared the room and waved his men back down the hallway, just as Pollux rolled out in a somersault. The building seemed to shake, and their ears were left ringing by the explosion. While they waited for the smoke to clear, they took the time to reload. Yall aright in der? OReilly asked over the radio. Fine, OReilly, were peachy. Move in while you can, I dont think hell be firing anymore. Pollux fragged him. Machek looked over the men, who all nodded that they were ready. Again they formed up around the door, but entered cautiously. There was no movement in the room that they could see, and they surrounded the couch, which had collapsed from the explosion. Machek took a quick peek behind it and saw only the wreckage of the M-60, and no body. What the Before he could even finish the question, Davis had hit him from behind, knocking him down behind the ruined couch. The wall erupted with pock marks, the chattering of an automatic weapon resounding through the room. OMalley and Pollux were still by the door, and ducked back into the hall. The fire had come from a door in the side wall of the room, and the one quick burst was all that was fired. While OMalley

sprayed the doorway, Machek moved up against the wall, while Davis flanked the door on the other side. Both men fired a blast from their shotgun into the room, and then Pullox rolled through the doorway. He glanced around, and shook his head; no target. Just then, a second burst of fire came from the hall. OMalley stepped back into the room, shouting allway! Es in the fookin allway! He stuck his fist out through the door, firing off an entire clip from his Mauser. Somebody git im afore e gets across! Pollux moved up, but dropped back cursing in response to another burst of fire that struck him across his torso. They heard a door slam in the hall, and Machek shook his head, cursing under his breath. What the hell? This one guy is giving us more trouble than the rest of the camp put together. Did you see where he went? Far end of the hall, opposite side, boss. Pollux had seen him go in, but had no clear shot, still stunned from the rounds hitting the vest hed put on earlier. Ill get a charge ready. His breathing was ragged from the pain in his chest. Machek shook his head. Dont worry, I have a better idea. He pulled his HK69 40mm grenade launcher, and loaded a multi-projectile round. Pollux laughed, and Davis raised an eyebrow. About then, they heard footsteps on the stairs down the hall. Who goes there? Machek called out. Stebbins and OReilly, who else? Stebbins shouted from the stairs as OReilly poked his head around. They say the hall was clear and moved up to join the rest of the group. The ambulance is in camp treating the wounded. Whats up here? This guy is good, and he knows the layout. Hes in here, and I dont see any other way out for him. Get a BZ ready, the CS didnt seem to work. Machek nodded to Davis, who slid one of his grenades from its clip. Ready, boss. Davis pulled the pin on the gas grenade, holding the spoon down so that it wouldnt go off until the door was open. Machek nodded to everybody as the formed up on either side of the door. He leveled the HK-69 and fired, blasting a huge hole in the door. Just as he did so, Davis tossed the grenade in. The men moved back, away from the gap, and waited. After several long minutes, and a few sporadic bursts of fire from inside the room, they figured that the Captain was down, enjoying the hallucinations that the BZ produced. Cover me, Davis, Im going in first. Machek reached through the hole in the door and unlocked it, glancing around. The bed in the room was flipped over in the corner, the Captains obvious hiding place. He pulled his arm back through, and swung open the door. They all heard the ping of the spoon flying, the tinkle of metal hitting as the spoon struck the far side of the door frame. Machek pushed Davis through the far doorway, into another storage room, while OMalley and OReilly ducked into the room adjoining the club. Stebbins had no where to go, and Pollux leapt on to of him, dong his best to shield him from the frags. When the smoke cleared, they found that only Pollux was seriously hurt, his Imp vest having caught a number of large splinters, and none of the others penetrating his ResistWeave coverall. His ears were still ringing from the blast, though, and he was one big bruise. They entered the room cautiously, the doorway blown apart by the blast of a grenade apparently hidden in a niche in the wall. What they found was anticlimactic. Bliss lay dead under the overturned bed. Several frags had penetrated his legs, and he had been struck by at least two bullets in the

gunfire. The tough old bastard had simply bled to death, though he had made some effort to tourniquet his injured arm. Machek and his crew made their way downstairs to find the ambulance crew doing triage on wounded Imps. The team commander made his way past the group and stepped into the V, taking something from his pack there. Davis wasnt surprised to see it was one of the whiskey bottles from the trade pack.
When the war of the giants is over the wars of the pygmies will begin. Winston Churchill

Machek made his inspection, looking over the captured Imps. They had been stripped, tied up with paracord, and separated into 3 groups. Lt. Rose and Sergeants Stutt and Manning were placed under guard in one of the barracks, while 5 men identified as tank crewmen by the man they called Drayan were placed in a second. The rest of the men, 8 in all, were sleeping out doors as two of the barracks were too badly damaged to use. Nine men had died altogether: Captain Bliss, Lieutenant Johnson, Sgt. Moss, Sgt Blagg, and five privates. A man named Lont had lost a leg, Ross three fingers on his right hand, and a host of minor injuries had been treated as well. The team was debating what to do with the Imps when Machek came into the discussion. Were going to have them did a long pit, and then well line them up and machinegun them all. Hopefully, theyll mostly fall in the pit. The lucky ones will already be dead, the not so lucky will survive until burial, or shortly thereafter. What? Bullshit! and Sod off, ye Nazi git! were among the politest comments made. Davis could tell Machek wasnt joking, and the crew was near to revolt. Dr. Tai had her med kit ready, prepping a sedative in case she needed it, and several of the crew were white knuckling their weapons as Machek spoke. Davis pushed calm at everyone, and stepped forward. Sir, I dont think thats a good idea. Who gives a rats ass what you think, Davis? I -Urrp- I say we kill them all. This close, Davis could smell the whiskey on Macheks breath, strong and foul. Whos team commander, anyway? Right now its you, sir, but I think maybe you should consider stepping down Davis knew he was treading dangerous ground here, but something had to be done. He could feel the anger in Machek building, and did his best to draw it out of him. Really? Step down? And who would take over, you? Is this a mutiny then, Mister Fletcher? Machek took a stumbling step forward, chest to chest with Davis. Dr. Tai stepped forward at that point, jabbing Macheks shoulder with the medkit, the autoinjector firing the payload of sedative deep into his arm. It would hurt like the devil, having gone into the muscle, but she didnt feel she had the time to look for a vein. As Machek turned, he muttered et tu, brute? He reached for her, but she ducked his flailing arms, and Davis and Carter grabbed him before he could fall. All could smell the booze on him, and they looked at each other incredulously. The commander had lost it, and things could only get worse from here
Risin' up, back on the street Did my time, took my chances

Went the distance, now I'm back on my feet Just a man and his will to survive Eye of the Tiger

Machek had been removed from command by Dr. Tai, a decision he took hard. He drank more and more, and was seen less by the team as they struggled to rebuild the damaged camp, set up secure housing for the surviving Imps, and redistribute goods they found stockpiled at the camp. In his place Stan Carter took over day-to-day control of the team. He put Lisa Valente and Jeff Davis in town to keep an eye on things, and kept the rest of the team at the base, rotating guard shifts and cataloging what had been found. In the end, it was Machek who inspired them to come up with a solution. They set up a tribunal. Doc had been educated, so he became one of the officers, while Ray Gerber, also from outside the town, became the second. They took a long time coming up with a third, but most townsfolk agreed to go with Elmer Geary, whose family had lost no members to the Imps, and who might be able to be impartial. Davis excused himself from the trial, afraid his abilities might sway the tribunal too much. No one wanted to act as council for the Imps, so one of their more vociferous members, Steve Drayan, ended up doing the job. He could read a little, and he spent as much time as they would allow him going through what they had on pre-war law. Since Machek was the Project member with the most free time, and the one with legal experience, Drayan spent a lot of time asking him questions about his defense. Machek had told him where to go a number of times, but soon became fascinated with the legal ramifications of the trial. Whatever happened here would be the case law upon which the town drew as it expanded. He soon started giving Drayan ideas of where to look for his answers, never spoon-feeding the man, but allowing him to find what he needed. Of course, this was all whenever Drayan could find the man sober, which was not often. It was under these inauspicious circumstances that it happened. The town team, as Lisa and Jeff had come to be known, was keeping an eye on things. They had one of the Imps alcohol-fueled jeeps in the barn in town, and Lisa was on guard duty with her 60. She thought she heard something near the door of the barn, and radioed Davis. Hey, Jeff, do you read? Im here, Lisa. Whats up? He couldnt read her from this distance, but she sounded worried. I heard something odd by the barn. Im going to check it out, over. She moved toward the door, and found that the smaller man-sized door was open. Whats the situation, Lisa? He was already suiting up to back her up. Hey, Davis, the door is open. Maybe youd better call it in, over. She pushed the door open all the way with the barrel of her 60 and looked around inside the barn. She couldnt see much in there, and reached for her flashlight. In the second while she looked down, she heard it, a sudden crunch of dirt and hay, and she turned just a moment too late. She felt the weight hit her, and the tearing sensation at the front of her head. Something was on her back, and trying to hit her eyes. The 60 was useless, but she pulled the trigger down anyway. Whatever was on her moved off at the sudden sound and flash. LISA! Oh, Jesus, Lisa! Davis was in the doorway, firing the M10A into the darkness, and heard a scream and a thump. Then he too felt the weight hit him, and he

went down as one of those damned maggots leapt on him. He got his left arm wedged in the things mouth, holding it back, and as it tried to bite and claw through his ResistWeave, he pulled his .357 pistol and shot it point blank in the face. He rolled over and fired at a third maggot that had moved in on Lisas prone form, and saw it fall as well. The rest grabbed their dead and moved out running, Davis firing four more shots, hitting only one. Foxtrot One-Seven, Foxtrot One-Seven, I need the ambulance at the barn, ASAP. Lisa is down, and it looks bad. Oh, god It looks like they took the top of her skull off. Get here quick, Im checking her out. He didnt wait for a reply. Machek, on base radio duty that night, slept soundly through the whole thing. His head had been pounding since hed woken up, the previous nights binge taking its toll. He had a little hair of the dog to wash away the hangover, and promptly passed out in front of the Imps big radio. He never knew about the call, and so when he awoke a few hours later, he got himself a drink of water and went back to monitoring the lack of transmissions. It wasnt until the radio check at 8:00 AM that he knew anything was wrong. He realized that he must have accidentally switched channels during the night. Machek reset the radio and called out to the town team: Davis, Valente, please respond, this is Machek with a radio check, over. Machek, what the hell? Ive been trying to get through all night! Lisa is down! I repeat, Lisa is down! Send medical assistance now! The ambulance got there as quick as it could, and they found Davis and a semi-conscious Lisa Valente in the inn. She had lost a good deal of blood, and had a horrendous head wound. She had nearly been scalped, but the cut was back inside her hair line, so the scar would likely not show. Dr. Tai said she would survive, and that while infection was always a danger, they had plenty of antibiotics. Carter had had enough. He laid into Machek, castigating the older man for his failures, both as a man and as a commander. He asked for and got a unanimous vote to remove Machek from all duties to the Project. It was Macheks last straw. When he was stowing his weapons, he found Drayan perusing the law books under OReillys watchful eye, and when the man asked him for advice, he snapped at him. Havent you heard? Im a useless, worthless, walking piece of shit. It would have been better if Id died in the tube. I cant handle this world, its rules, and the way that it treats people. You want me to help you defend the monsters you hooked up with? You Imps are the worst of the lot. Child rapers, murderers, thieves and worse. Why should I help you? Drayan looked at him for a while, and shook his head. You shouldnt. You should kill us all. We did all those things, and worse. We were bad men, and we did bad things. But even if we all die, we deserve a trial first, at least according to these old books. You people keep talking about this great place you call the United States. Well, in what I read of it, it was great because even a child-raping, thieving murderer had rights. And I, and the rest of us scum, have the right to representation, and I cant do it, I dont have the skill or the knowledge. But you do. So if you want to pack it in, and drown yourself in a keg of whiskey, then by all means, do it. But remember that all your talk of justice and common good was just that, talk. Because if it meant anything, youd act as our lawyer
Justice has nothing to do with what goes on in a courtroom; Justice is what comes out of a courtroom.

Clarence Darrow

Machek approached the table where the tribunal sat. They had heard all the testimony of the witnesses. Everybody who had ever been conned, every person who lived in the town, anyone who was old enough to understand the questions had testified. Machek had refused to cross examine anyone, had raised few if any objections to testimony, and had sat back to watch Drayan do almost all of the work. Drayan was nearly overwhelmed by the challenge. Defending himself and his fellow Imps was a nearly impossible task, but he took it on. He was constantly interrupted by the tribunal, by the witnesses, and even by Colleen Mac ire, who was acting as prosecutor. All were hostile to him and his case. Machek finally took his turn at the bench. Gentlemen, I know you hate the Imps. Hell, I hate the Imps. There was a scattering of applause, and a whoop or two from the crowd. But does that make it right for us to prejudge this case? Can you be impartial to my clients defense if you all consider yourselves victims? He already knew the answer: No, and who gives a damn. He continued anyway; The Imps did terrible things, we dont try to deny this. But did they do anything to mitigate their reign of terror. Ray Gerber, have you ever heard of Slavers? Yes, Ive heard of them, the man answered. And youve seen their handiwork, as well. Men, women, even children sold as property. Has anyone from this town ever been taken as a slave during your memory? No, I guess not. Gerber looked confused. How about you, Doc? Do you know of anyone taken as a slave? Machek was on a roll. No, caint say as I have. Doc looked like he had swallowed a bitter pill. And is there anyone here, anyone, who denies that the Imps, as bad as they were, are responsible, wholly and exclusively, for keeping the Slavers out of Riverton? Anyone? No one answered his challenge. Doc, youre the oldest man on this tribunal. Do you remember a raid that occurred here a while back? Yes, yes I do. Det was a long time ago, dough, he hastened to add. What happened to the raiders that attacked, do you remember? Colleen had sat up straighter, wondering what Machek was up to. Wiped out, I reckon. De Imps came back wid a group of em, mebbe six. Hung em on nails from de side o de barn. Dey took days tdie. Screamed an awful lot, dey did. One of em, dough, dey let live. Cut off is fingers, is ears, is nose. Cut out one eye, eben. Carved dem a message on is skin. Don raid Rivertn it said. Brutal, jus like anyting dey done. Doc looked as if he might be sick thinking back on those days. Were there any more raids? Machek used his best court voice asking the question. What, ye tink dem raiders is crazy? Dey stayed well away from ere. Musta taught dey was dealin wid da debil hisself. Doc shook his head. So, what youre telling me is that the Imps protected this town and all in it? From Slavers, Raiders, even the maggots from what I hear. Machek looked the tribunal over. Is that true? He looked straight at Elmer Geary. Geary turned a bright pink. Yes, its true. The maggots had raided my food stores, and the Imps went in and burned them out. But any man would kill a wolf that threatened his sheep.

So, Elmer, you say that the Imps thought of you as their flock, in need of protection, and occasional shearing? Machek couldnt believe that Geary had stepped right into his trap. Uh Uh, I wouldnt say exactly that. The man got even redder. Actully, ye jus did, Elmer. Doc was looking grim, his eyes locked on Machek. So, like dem sheeps, we gets sheard casionally. And sometimes we gets kilt, iffin de master wants him some mutton. An whore de sheeps t complain? And so we come to the question of the masters. As you all know, Captain Bliss ran his camp with an iron fist. He brooked no argument, no challenge to his authority. Those who found themselves elevated to the position of Lieutenant had to prove not just their loyalty but their brutality and depravity. The sergeants were almost as bad, or in some cases, worse. What could the rank and file Imps do when they had leaders such as this? Anyone who questioned the status quo, or who objected to the actions of an officer or noncom, died a long, slow death. Machek looked over the tribunal. Why did no one in this town rise up and stop the Imps? He glanced around. We had no guns! We were afraid! They would have killed us all! The answers came as a chorus. And if one of the Imps had taken your side, refused to Con, or challenged authority? Machek looked back at Doc, who was biting his lip. Dead, jus like us. Yall is good, Ill give ye dat. So, ye say dat de leaders woulda kilt dem all iffen dey tried to resist. An, iffen ye made de suggestion t try an organize a mutiny, ye neber knew who would turn ye in. Doc had grasped the elements of Macheks defense right away. Yes, they would have been killed for such an act. So, in defense of the Imps, they came up through a bad system, one that called upon the men involved to commit acts of brutality that cut them off from their only avenue of escape, the local populace, and put them at the mercy of a commander, Captain Bliss, who used them to brutalize those locals. They were in a classic catch twenty two. No matter what they did, they lost. Machek looked over Geary, Doc and Gerber. Most of their leaders are dead. Only Lieutenant Rose and Sergeant Manning remain. It is the proposal of the defense that the common Imps remain, in perpetuity, the chattel of the town of Riverton, that they work out the remainder of their days repairing the town, maintaining the local farms, and helping during planting and harvest to the best of their ability. It is further proposed that the Sergeant and Lieutenant be put to death, preferably in a humane manner, so as to prevent their color of authority from allowing them to unduly influence the men once under their command. Machek returned to the defense table, ignoring the calls from Manning and Rose about his mothers sexual appetites and his questionable parentage. It took the tribunal three hours of hard fought deliberation to reach their verdict. Rose would be put to death by being shot twice and dropped into a maggot tunnel. So much for frontier justice, thought Machek. Manning was to die by firing squad. Of the common Imps, Rackson, Press and McGrew were found irredeemable, and ordered killed with Manning, while a man named Tommy Weir was to be dropped down the hole with Rose. Machek shrugged; Weir had been one of the ones whod raped the Burkhardt girl, and he deserved to die. He was surprised any had been allowed to live.

All remaining Imps were to be branded, and to be hobbled and restrained until such time as the tribunal or its successors had decided they could be released. They would remain chattel of the town, though any offspring they had would be raised by local families. Any Imp found committing any act of violence against a non-Imp would be killed, likely by being dropped down the maggot hole. Machek was surprised to find that the team congratulated him on his job with the defense. Davis asked him if he was still drinking, and he was pleased to be able to say no. Much more happened in the town of Riverton, formerly Grayling, in the days after the awakening of Morrow Project Recon Team F-17. Eventually, they left the town, and began exploring the strange world they had awakened to. But those are other stories, for another time.
For everything there is a season, And a time for every matter under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; A time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted; A time to kill, and a time to heal; A time to break down, and a time to build up; A time to weep, and a time to laugh; A time to mourn, and a time to dance; A time to throw away stones, and a time to gather stones together; A time to embrace, And a time to refrain from embracing; A time to seek, and a time to lose; A time to keep, and a time to throw away; A time to tear, and a time to sew; A time to keep silence, and a time to speak; A time to love, and a time to hate, A time for war, and a time for peace. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Foxtrot 1-7 Frank Machek-Commander, V150 Crew-Czech Stan Carter-Gunner, V150 Crew-Welsh Connor OMalley-Driver/Mechanic, V150 Crew-Irish Jefferson Davis-RTO/Contact/Empath, V150 crew-Scots V-150 w/20mm Autocannon Seats 8; 4 crew, 4 passengers. F-17s V has a rack for four Project Issue mountain bikes used by Eye-Ball and Wingman when they are dismounted. The vehicle has a 20mm Autocannon with a coaxial Mag-58 and a second Mag-58 on a pintle at the commanders hatch. Foxtrot Eye-Ball Carlos Norman Hathcock Stebbins-Sniper, Bike Crew-English Sean OReilly-Spotter, Bike Crew-Irish

Foxtrot Wingman Raul Pollux-Demolitions, Bike Crew-Cuban/Italian Sarah OConnell-Pyrokinetic and Missile Specialist, Bike Crew-Irish Foxtrot Crackerbox Dr. Soo Lin Tai-Doctor, Ambulance Crew-Vietnamese Colleen Mac ire-Nurse/Driver, Ambulance Crew-Irish Lisa Valente-Gunner/Pharmacist, Ambulance Crew-Italian Commando Ranger/Peacekeeper-Ambulance Configuration Seats up to 4, with up to 2 stretcher patients and 1 patient in the onboard MedBed. Oddly for an ambulance, it carries a .50cal Browning M2HB Machine Gun on a ring mount.