Simulant by Bobby Adair

Author:Bobby Adair [Adair, Bobby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-07-14T22:00:00+00:00

Chapter 15

Corley spread the map across the hood of an abandoned Escalade. Looking at Caywood as he unfolded it, he said, “We lost seven guys—four dead, three wounded. Six more took injuries but they’re still combat effective.”

“Man up!” cheered Caywood as he surveyed the troops.

“When can we expect cas-evac?” asked Bell, glancing at the wounded still laying in the street on the other side of the intersection.

“I just got off the radio with command,” said Corley. “First and Third Platoon set up a collection point eight blocks west of here. We’re supposed to transport our wounded there and proceed on foot.”

“On foot?” whined Caywood, losing his enthusiasm. “On foot? Where?”

“Pursuit, sir.”

“We have wounded,” argued Bell. “We need to take care of our wounded.”

“Like you give a shit!” snapped Corley.

“We need to get back to base and regroup,” persisted Bell.

Corley looked to make sure none of the enlisted men were in earshot. “We carry the wounded to the collection point. Then we have our orders.”

Caywood looked around at the rubble, at the fires and smoke, and at the line of sims on the curb in front of the bank. Those that hadn’t spontaneously exploded had been shredded with automatic rifle fire. Soldiers have their frustrations. “We’re still under attack.”

“Nothing’s detonated in over an hour, sir.”

“Looking east,” Caywood said, “it’s dangerous.”

Corley pointed west. “The collection point is that way.”

“Dangerous,” Caywood stuttered. “Every way looks dangerous. We should evac.”

“We have our orders, sir,” countered Corley. He turned and waved the RTO over. “Get Colonel Holleck on the line.” Corley turned back to Caywood. “Would you like to clarify with Colonel Holleck?”

Shaking his head, Caywood asked, “Why was Holleck talking to you?”

“Yeah?” asked Bell.

“The RTO was with me, sir. Colonel Holleck asked me to pass the order on to you. If you need to call Colonel—”

“What are we pursuing?” asked Caywood.

“Foot mobile EM signatures,” said Corley

Bell snorted. “Foot mobile EM signatures? Walking fucking Charlies. We’re a goddamned airborne unit.”

Corley glared at Bell. “We’re an Elite AI Deactivation Unit. Did you think the most important thing you were ever going to do was torch TVs at Target and cap wounded civilians?”

That popped a pepper on Bell’s balls. “You’re out of line, mister. You don’t know.”

“Captain,” asked Corley. “What are your orders?”

Defeat sank in on Caywood. “When does Command want us to pursue?”

“Immediately sir.”

“What about transport?” asked Caywood.

“No transport, sir,” answered Corley.

“This is bullshit,” complained Bell. He stomped toward the driver’s side of the Escalade.

Corley shook his head. Everybody knew any car in range of a quantum pulse blast would never run again.

Focusing on Caywood, Corley said, “Intel says the foot mobile EMs we’re assigned to seem to be converging here.” Caywood pointed out the spot on the map.

“That’s halfway to Fort Worth.” Caywood’s whine let everyone around know just what he thought of having to hump his combat gear all the way out into the burbs. “There’s a building there. What is that place? An AI auto-factory?”

“An old factory, sir,” answered Corley. “They used to build F-43s there, but it’s been shut down for years.

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