The Last Bastion of the Living (The Last Bastion #1)(100)

The carrier bounced up over the incline then was on the worn road again. The treads slid slightly, then caught the asphalt, the carrier fishtailing slightly. The tiltrotor was a welcome sight. Already the crew on board was lowering the desperately needed weapons.

“Negative on those med-pods,” Mr. Petersen’s voice said in her ear.

Maria had been watching the onslaught of the Inferi Scourge and her eyes flicked toward the spot where Dwayne’s precious face had been. Instead the completely bland, yet disturbing face of the SWD mystery man was on the feed.

“I have two badly wounded soldiers, Mr. Petersen.”

“Are they able to fight?”

“Yes,” McKinney said from behind her.

She assumed the thumbs up was Holm agreeing.

“Medic?” Maria glanced at Denman.

Denman helped strap Holm and McKinney into some backup armor. “They’re Boon. They can keep going,” Denman said reluctantly.

Despite her composure, Maria wanted to reach through the feed and strangle Mr. Petersen. His snake-like smug smile was infuriating.

“Keep to the plan, Vanguard,” Mr. Petersen ordered.

“Arrival in thirty seconds,” Cormier called out.

Directing her attention to Mikado and Cruz, she saw they were crouched next to the door waiting.

Cormier slammed on the brakes, pitching everyone forward. “We’re here!”

“Go!” Maria ordered.

Mikado slid the door open and vanished. Cruz followed. Their helmet cameras sent a feed to Maria’s screen. As they ran toward the squat black box on the road, she felt her heart speeding up. Twisting away from the console camera, she tried to discreetly wipe the sweat off her brow and upper lip.

Outside the carrier, Mikado and Cruz reached the box. They activated it and squat wheels pushed out of the bottom of it. Gripping handles that unfurled from the box, Mikado and Cruz ran it toward the carrier as the tiltrotor began to fire at the wave of Inferi Scourge approaching from the city.

The wildfire in the field beside the road was burning itself out and the Scourge that had been pursuing closed in once more.

Mikado and Cruz reached the carrier and slid the box right up to the doorway. They activated the loading mechanism and claws extended from the carrier, gripped the box, then slid it up on a track into the carrier. The two soldiers scrambled in after it. Maria breathed a sigh of relief as Mikado slammed the door shut.

“Go, Cormier!”

“Yes, sir!”

Cormier shoved down on the accelerator and the carrier lurched forward. Excited words were exchanged as Mikado and Cruz opened the box and handed out actual rifles.

“Oh, sweet, baby. How I missed you so,” McKinney said and kissing sounds followed.

Cruz handed one to Maria along with several clips. “Vanguard, it’s good to have actual weapons.”

“That it is,” Maria agreed. “Give me one for Omondi. Some of you double up on weapons for the survivors.”

The carrier accelerated on its course that would loop around the rock formation between the foothills and the city. All they had to do now was lose the horde of Scourge following them, make their way back to the hydroelectric station, and save the day.





Chapter 29


The acrimony in the command center was a distraction Dwayne didn’t need. It was insulting to have Mr. Petersen looming over the shoulders of the Constabulary officers. Dwayne literally felt Commandant Pierce’s fury burning every time Mr. Petersen insinuated himself into command decisions.

The command center at the heart of the SWD facility was crackling with excitement. The usual boring day-to-day tasks were set aside as the men and women specifically selected to oversee the rescue of the stranded squad directed their attention and expertise to the task at hand. They were a combination of SWD and Constabulary personnel. The commandant had not put up much of a fight once she was able to pull in her own people and place Dwayne at the head of the operation.

Leaning over a communication console, Lindsey was consumed with finding a way to reach Chief Defender Omondi. She was busy adjusting the communication dishes set around the valley in an attempt to locate his feed. If anyone could find a way to contact Omondi, that person was Lindsey.

Meanwhile, Dwayne communicated directly with Maria. To see her in danger was difficult, yet he had to put aside his personal feelings and concentrate on the mission. Like any man, he wanted to protect the woman he loved, but he also felt a surge of pride at her strength and ability to lead her squad.

Watching the feed from the tiltrotor, Dwayne felt his anxiety swell as a massive wave of Inferi Scourge rushed toward Maria’s position. The aircraft shredded the creatures moving on an intercept course with the carrier. The heavy guns pulverized the running corpses, creating a clear path for the carrier. The vehicle slid through the bloody remains of the Scourge and barreled down the abandoned road.

“How many in that swarm behind them?” Dwayne asked the soldier at the console beside him.

The young man promptly ran a program to calculate the number. “Close to ten thousand.”

Commandant Pierce leaned over his shoulder and peered down at the many screens before Dwayne’s post. All the information being gathered by their staff was relayed to his station. “It appears that their plan might work if they can get some distance on that horde.”

“Agreed, but they lost valuable ground securing the drop.”