The Terran Menace by J R Robertson

Author:J R Robertson [Robertson, J R]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2021-08-03T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Seventeen

Scorched Earth

Ben heard the emergency sirens long before the lightening of the eastern sky allowed them to see the thick black columns of smoke. The acrid pall rose from the complex that housed the regional headquarters of the Civilian Defense Force on the outskirts of the city. He and Jim had been headed there to report what had happened at the farm and call in the cavalry, but it looked like whoever was after them had anticipated their move and beaten them to the punch. It seemed that whatever force had it out for him, it was done screwing around.

“What does this mean, Jim?”

They had been stopped by a local police cordon at the intersection nearest to the CDF facility as firefighters worked to extinguish the flames that still licked out of shattered windows. From the rubble, police and paramedics extricated the mangled remains of the men and women who had been on duty at the time of the attack. Ben’s gaze shifted from the carnage a short distance away to the hard face of his mentor and friend. The acrid smell of burning insulation mingled with something reminiscent of charred meat, and his stomach heaved when he realized what it was.

“Change of plans,” Jim growled through gritted teeth as Ben retched next to him. “Come on.”

Ben wiped his mouth on his sleeve as Jim led him down a side street to a fenced-in parking lot. At the entrance hung a small metal sign declaring it was government property and for CDF employees only. With the main complex burning around the corner, the small guard shack was empty, and the two men passed right by.

Ben’s guts were still twisted into knots, but no longer from the stench. Those people had all been killed because of him. What the hell made him so damn special that dozens of people would be murdered in a brazen attack solely to tighten the net around him? He made up his mind right then and there: he had to discover what made him such a threat.

Jim stepped purposefully toward an old pickup truck parked in the far corner of the lot, opening the unlocked driver’s door and flipping the visor down. A set of old-school metal keys dropped into his waiting palm as Ben looked on, unsure of what to do. He had never seen Jim this visibly angry, and the former SEAR was radiating such a strong threat of violence that Ben didn’t dare speak for fear of setting the man off.

“Get in.”

Ben did as he was instructed without comment, dropping his backpack into the bed of the ancient truck and pulling his rifle out from under his long coat, where he had it slung on his back to conceal it from passersby. He climbed into the passenger seat and positioned his rifle next to himself for easy access, muzzle on the floorboard. The old truck smelled faintly of gasoline and mildew, but the interior was spotless. Jim put the silver key into

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