Book 2 Chapter 8 Albuquerque Part 2

The Choppers arrive by the West Wall Gate and touch down at about 10:45 am. We fired flares to provide a visual for their approach to give them a bearing once they got close to Kopeke. As they land the Crew Chiefs of each jump out and help people out of the choppers. Many look at the walls in surprise and awe.

People from our side are helping them and escorting them into the complex. My teams are standing by to board the choppers as we watch them unload. As the last person is aided off, the crew chiefs then wave at us motioning towards them and we all board the three Blackhawks and lift off, heading back to Albuquerque.

I am handed one of the head sets to talk to the crew.

“Glad to see you Master Gunnery Sergeant,” says the one of the Crew Chief with a smile.

“Likewise, I am glad Albuquerque had survivors.” I reply.

“It has been rough the past few weeks after the mass kill off”, he replies,” We made contact with some other towns further out, but then lost contact with them afterwards, never to hear from them again. The towns were too far for us to get there and back by Pave Hawks.”

“What about using extended range fuel tanks?” I ask

“We suggested that too, but the Colonel said no, that it was a waste of resources and we could not take on more people from other cities too.” He says to me, a slight anger in his voice.

Fucking bastard let those people die

I read in his mind. “So this Colonel where is he now?” I ask,”and who is he?”

“Colonel McNair, Army guy from the VA Hospital, he and his staff came to the hospital after the attacks started, said it got overrun by big bear looking creatures, slaughtering everyone in sight. So they fled and somehow wounded up at the Hospital we were at. His staff is strange tho, they all keep to themselves in their little group and go silent when we come around, never talking to us. Only the Colonel speaks and gives orders.” Says the Crew Chief “Right now they are packing up and said they would be taking the next flight out.”

“What about women and children” I ask

“The Colonel gave priority to those......in favor of him.....” The Crew Chief hesitates to answer.

Can not tell him that we are under orders, and that all those people were kiss asses to the Colonel.

Indeed something is not right here.

“So this Colonel McNair is it? I am curious why he did not take the first of the Blackhawks out.” I say to the Crew Chief.

“No disrespect Master Gunnery Sergeant but these are Pave Hawks, not Blackhawks, we are Air Force”, Says a voice in my headset.

“Ah yes, Pave Hawks, been a while for me” I say.

“That was First Lieutenant Miller and his second seat is First Lieutenant Barns, I am Tech Sergeant Schroeder and over there is Master Sergeant Tillman”, Says Schroeder.

Crap officers....sigh oh well go with military protocol for now till things get settled.

“Sorry Sir, has been a long time for me, I am retired Marines, Master Gunnery Sergeant Smith here, Lieutenant”, I say into the head set.

“No worries Master Gunnery Sergeant, it is just an ongoing pet peeve for us, haha.” says Miller.

“Lieutenant what is your impression of the Colonel.” I ask

“Respect the Rank, not the Man.” is all Miller says.

Seems the colonel is not well liked,

“We are headed back to Kirtland for refueling, then to the Hospital, if you and your men can cover us while we refuel that would be a great help Master Gunnery Sergeant,” says Miller.

“You got it Lieutenant, we will set up a perimeter” I say to him.” has anyone put the fuel into their inventory to take it on the flights with them to extend your range?”

“What do you mean by put it in our inventories?” Says the Schroeder and Miller at the same time.

“I heard some of you have unlocked your professions and have access to your inventories, you can add stuff to them and take them with you anywhere, I am carrying 16 Hum-Vee's, 7 buses and 6 tanks not to mention mobile artillery and ammo too.” I say in the headset.

“How the hell did you do that?”, exclaims Miller losing all form of military protocol.

“I can show you when we land and we can take all the fuel with us instead of having to stop at Kirtland each time. All my men can do this too.” I say in the headset.

“Well god damned, if that is not a blessing in disguise.” says Schroeder smiling ear to ear now.

We talk some more on the flight to Kirtland AFB, Lt. Miller asks we dispense with ranks for now as we talk more on moving people and the plans to follow. They also commented about all the commotion going on at our complex. I explained that it was being upgraded, and explained the Builders and the Ny'Har'en. I also told them I had asked for the Builders to help in making a neighborhood secure and livable for the Albuquerque folks.

The Builders were converting the generators we brought back from the DiY Store to mana crystals and installing them into the power grid to power, the chosen neighborhood. The people of our complex, over 400 of them, were going house to house to clean out and make the houses presentable. Our Builders were going in and making any needed repairs. So when the first 33 arrived, houses were already standing by for them. Some of our own folks had claimed houses of their own as we predicted.

An hour passed by quickly while I talked and we arrived at Kirtland AFB. My men set up a perimeter and began shooting the Zombies that were crawling all over the place. It was heavily infested. As directed ,head shot only as nothing else seemed to kill them, they kept coming missing, limbs or with gaping holes in them.

I selected all of the 41 new Super Soldiers the 11 added Super Soldiers and the 10 original Super Soldiers. I also took Julie and Cindy with me. I will have to make it up to Ki'Diera in a big way, having left her alone now several times and she is starting to feel useless. I know this and need to fix it fast but right now is not the time. 33 on this flight and the 32 remaining behind, will come on the second trip to join us.

Cindy not hesitating to show her stuff, trying to prove her usefulness to me in some fashion, lets off an inferno from hell incinerating Zombies by the dozens with her cone of fire, clearing almost all of the area in front of us. Like dual flame throwers, the flames fly 10 meters in front of her from her hands, as she moves them back and forth slowly burning everything in her path.

“Smith we need to watch those flames with this fuel!!” Schroeder yell urgently to me.

“Cindy Stop!” I yell to her.

Surprised, Cindy looks back at me

“Fuel is flammable!” I yell to her over the noise of the Choppers. She has her mind link turned off.

She nods and looks embarrassed now and steps back as Super Soldiers move forward and start shooting at the approaching Zombies.

“I just wanted to help” She says her head bowed.

“I know, I know and you will get to shine soon, but not here please.” I say to her and give her a quick hug, then move to start shooting Zombies with my mana blaster.

We quickly dispatched the Zombies within 100 meters range of us and then broke into team to start taking anything useful for the Pave Hawks. Including 8 spare Pave Hawks. We took weapons systems, ammo, fuel and fuel trucks, spare parts and anything the Pilots or Crew Chiefs pointed to. I saw a pair of F-22's sitting close by and grabbed them as well. That was it for aircraft here as the rest all seem to have been flown off during the evacuation. There were some in the hanger but had been stripped down for repairs or out of service. We decided they would be more hassle for now as we had no aircraft mechanics that we knew of and none knew of any at the hospital.

We got everything we were asked to carry, we reloaded into the Pave Hawks after the refueling was done and took off for the Hospital. It was a short flight from there. I asked Miller to advise the rest to hold off taking off till after I had a chance to talk to the Colonel, something was off.

We arrived at the Hospital, landing in the parking lot, where many of the vehicles had already been cleared away to make room for the landing and the Colonel was standing ready with his 4 man staff, it looks like 1 Major, 2 Captains and a First Lieutenant. Many others were shooting or doing something as beams of light or energy were sent towards the Orcs, killing many of them assaulting the Hospital, some Orcs were even using magics to fire back hitting some of the defenders.

As I approach him, I salute the ranks, they all give off sloppy return salutes as if it were a nuisance.

God an army guy, I hope McNair does not fuck this up, deceiving the Air Force guys was already hard. One of the Captains thinks, as I look at him, then look to McNair.

Hmm need to handle this one quickly get to their complex and take control there. Thinks McNair, a tall man about 6'3” Short cut hair, black in color, decent build, fair features.

“Colonel we are here to assist in the evacuation of the Albuquerque people, sir.” I say lowering my salute after they lower theirs.

“Fine, fine, go ahead and proceed, I need to get on board so we can lift off right away.” McNair says dragging several heavy over night looking bags with him.

“Sir I need a moment of your time to brief you on the situation.” I say to him insisting.

God damned it, shit, he is going to delay me even more now. McNair thinks, ”Alright be brief we need to lift off as soon as possible Sergeant.” he says impatiently

“Over here sir, some of it is sensitive information” I say to him, leading him off a ways

What the fuck does he mean by sensitive information sigh I need to secure these valuables fast .......McNair thinks again, huffs and heads over with me.

“So what is it, Sergeant Smith is it?” He says looking at my rank and name tag.

“Sir we have come into contact with other races at our complex.” I say to him slowly.

“And....” he says as if it did not concern him.

“They gave us the ability to read a persons mind”, I say to him with a grin” so who are you guys really?”

Fuck there is no way he can be telling the truth, he is bluffing......I can pass this off easy.

“I ..We are from the VA Hospital, Are you questioning me Sergeant? You dare to question a Colonel? For an Army Sergeant you sure are none too bright, you can consider yourself demoted and stripped of rank as per the war time act.” He starts off hesitantly then quickly regains his composure.

“No, I got everything I need from you McNair” I say and motion for Holloway to come over, he runs over quickly, “ Yes Master Gunnery Sergeant!”

“Staff Sergeant Holloway take these fakes into custody, chain them into a room of your choice.”

“Billings! Wright! Help!!!” McNair yells now and tries to flee from us dropping his precious cargo.

Before any of his so called staff can move, 29 Mana Enhanced Rifles are pointed at them and glowing lightly, ready to shoot. Halloway takes down McNair in a tackle.

Lt Miller comes running over, “What is this all about?”

“It Seems the Colonel and is staff were running a scam on you all. They are fakes. “ I say to him.

“Not even the rank was real?” Miller says anger beginning to swell up in him.

“Alright! New orders then, women with children first, lets secure the area and get these choppers loaded.” I yell out.

“No offense Master Gunnery Sergeant, but I outrank you.” says Miller.

“You know what”, I rip my rank off my sleeves, “Now I outrank you Lieutenant” I smile to him.

“How so?” He asks confused.

“I am the elected official of the Kopeke Kingdom, a representative of the people's government.” I smile to him.

After a moments hesitation, he laughs and salutes me” Works for me Smith!”.

Holding McNair in an arm hold, Halloway asks, “so what do we call you now Master Gunnery Sergeant?”

“I guess Chief will do fine, it has a good ring to it and is clear in meaning.” I say to him

“Roger that Chief” Halloway says as he leads a whimpering McNair away.

I, Julie and Cindy head for the entrance of the Hospital and see the next batch of people ready to board the Pave Hawks, most look like self important people, I do not even bother to read their minds as the expression on their faces says it all when McNair is dragged back into the Hospital by force and his staff is escorted as well.

“LISTEN UP, Women with children first! Everyone else, back inside!!” I yell loudly.

Everyone listens, no arguments were made. I then quickly turn around and run past the Pave Hawks waiting for loads. I take out the Hum-Vee's and Tanks and place them in a line to covering the entrance, a staggered formation with the tanks in the center and the Hum-Vee's covering the sides, as each one is placed a Super Soldiers runs to man them or take positions for cover and begins to fire at the Orc Army assembled and assaulting.

“RETREAT to the Hospital we got this!”, I yell to the other defenders.

The other defenders quickly break off dragging their wounded with them. As the Super Soldiers begin to tear into the Orc army with steady beams of their Mana enhanced Rifles, some shine especially brighter than others, thicker and more blue in color than the rest. I nod to Cindy and she smiles and unleashes a flurry of fireballs into the distance as huge fiery explosions erupt all over the place. Nothing stands up to the onslaught of 29 mana enhanced Rifles on continuous fire bursts and Cindy's fireball storm.

Many of the defenders simply stop to watch in awe as the Orc army is reduced to nothing in minutes. The Orcs begin to flee in ones and twos then by the tens, till finally they all retreat.

“Hold Position!” I say and return to the Hospital entrance, while the onlooking crowd simply stands in stunned silence.

“LETS MOVE! Women with Children first MOVE! MOVE!” I yell now to get them all moving. Cindy and Julie begin herding women holding onto their young to the waiting Pave Hawks “Count two small children as one person, load them up!” I continue yelling order.

Finally the Pave Hawks are loaded and take off. Silence then hits the Hospital. Everyone is staring at me in silence, no one making a move or speaking.

“Alright then! All those promised the first seats, well you probably figured it out by now that is not happening, you will be on the buses with me, unless you have small child and are a women!” I say looking over the crowd.

Finally a man comes out of his silence and speaks up, he is self important looking wearing an expensive looking suit that has seen better days. “And just who are you to be giving us orders? You do not even have a rank?” He says eyeing me closely, his anger is now flaring up after being left behind.

I need to get out of here now, I can not be one of the last to leave, and no way am I getting on some filthy bus. I can not let myself be killed by those monsters.

His mind is going a hundred miles an hour trying to figure out how to get on the next flight, he is scared.

“I realize you all are scared and do not understand what is going on. McNair was a fake and deceived you all”. I say in a steady and calm voice.

Many gasp and begin to whisper to one another. Many questions start to ring out but I ignore them all and continue.

“My team and I will get you all safely out of here in one piece back to our safe zone.” I say to them, “We will evacuate the Women and children first by choppers and the rest will go with us on buses and Hum-Vee's”. I explain looking over the hundreds gathered in the lobby now.

“On buses and Hum-vee's? You can not be serious, we will all be killed!” Someone yells loudly, a male voice.

“It is either that or you can remain here and take your chances on your own, I am not going to argue the point. Now Cindy and Julie here will get the groups together for then next flight. Anyone who does not agree can come see me directly and we will talk about it in private.” I say, the last was a threat. No more complaints come forward.

Halloway returns with a smile on his face.”All five are secured” he says.

“Good now lets get a few teams to start searching the area for food and supplies, you lead those teams and have Montgomery hold a perimeter of the entrance. Also radio me when you find a good stockpile and I can send it back to the complex.” I say to him and he nods and runs off.

“Umm we have a large stockpile of food here as well.” says a man coming toward me, with a few other people behind him. He is 5'10” Light brown hair, short cut, unshaven it seems since the events happened. His clothes are dirty and blood covers many places on them. What used to be a white shirt was brown and bloody., his blue jeans looked the same as the shirt. He had a haggard look to him.

“Can you show me please, I will send it all to our complex right away.” I say to him

He looks confused at first, but then leads me to the morgue, it is cold in here and lots of food is stored here in the cold temperatures. In the rooms before it, many boxes of food were piled into each, it looks like they had been scavenging non stop.

“How did you get all this stuff” I ask.

“We used ambulances and other large vehicles to hit the grocery stores and warehouse, we have two Semi's in the back parked that we used as well.” He says looking at me as if he wanted to ask a question.” we also have a few freezers full of meats, frozen still.”

“Alright let me get started here then”, I say to him and start with the cold food products, there were meats, vegetables and produce here of all kinds.

Ki'Diera you there? I think in my head.

I am here Scott tho I am not pleased at all

I know princess please forgive me, but this is really important to us all. I am going to start sending the refrigerated stuff first then frozen goods ok?

I am ready here as are many others, but I can not help but feel useless, you understand that right? As a warrior and your life mate I should be at your side!

Princess, I promise you are not worthless to me, I will make this up to you!

Very well send the items, we are ready

I then start taking ownership and putting items in my inventory quickly and just as fast, they are removed from the inventory. The people who followed all gasp as they see the food disappear in front of them one by one.

“How are you doing that?” The man asks in disbelief

“I am married” I simply say and smile as I continue on the food items.

“Chief, there is not much here for food in the area” comes a call over the radio.

I grab the radio “ expand your search, I am going to be a while here at the Hospital, it seems they grabbed everything in range, but be careful, safety first!” I say then put the radio away.

“Copy that Chief!” the voice says.

After two hours I get the call, the Pave Hawks are returning with our re-enforcement's and were going to pick up the next load, Montgomery has the fuel ready for them, Cindy and Julie have the next load ready and all goes smoothly as I continue to put food items and boxes into my inventory, while Ki'Diera removes them on her end.

At four hours I am still putting food items in inventory and the Pave Hawks return again. This continues until almost 9 hours total later when the last of the food items have been been sent to the Keep.

That is it Princess I will send more tomorrow, you have a good night and please forgive me, I do love you. Also please start the next upgrades when the time comes as we discussed.

Scott you have never said that to me before.....

I am going to go check on the others now and will contact you soon ok?

Yes my warrior I will be waiting, as your life mate I am always here for you.

I then look about, the others had left after a few hours, bored with my progress and got sleepy. Halloway and his teams had found pockets of food and supplies and put them in their inventories and still had room. They found a few pawn shops that still had some ammo and various items left, but most were picked clean of useful items. Eventually they too, returned to the Hospital.

The people there had already cooked the prepared dinner for the day. Tomorrow there would be no food, except leftover's if any, or our rations.

I went back to the lobby, the Choppers were about 1 hour out and had done 5 runs already today. This would be their sixth run as planned, then we can let the pilots rest for the day and beign operations in the morning again.

Cindy and Julie had a small crowd around them and talked, answering questions about the safe zone, reassuring the people. I nod to both of them and they both smile to me and keep answering questions or explaining things. You would think after 9 hours everything would be said and done, but a scared people can never get enough reassurances, you just have to be patient and grin while bearing it.

I head outside to Montgomery and Halloway's position, our full force is here now, they had sent some to the other entrances as well, to re-enforce the defenders there. So far the Orcs seem to have given up trying to assault the Hospital for now.

"Have the men break into teams, grab some chow and rotate out. Set up watches and let them start to get some rest." i order.

“Copy that Chief!” Says Montgomery who has now adopted the title as well. I head for one of the Hum-Vee's and lay down inside to grab some sleep.

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Author's Note: Some will complain that the colonel issue was too easy, but think about it, with mind reading, it is that easy to catch a scammer when they least expect it :)