The Last Mission of the Living (The Last Bastion #2)(73)

“I need details within one minute,” Solomon answered briskly.

The aerial drone lifted off and flew to the next door after Lindsey sent it fresh commands. Torran watched the feed as the drone slid a sensor into the narrow space under the door. He exhaled as he saw that the hallway was empty. Lindsey issued more commands and the small drone darted overhead, resembling an oversized insect, to the other side of the room.

“We’ll use the loader in front of the empty hallway to push a sabotaged storage container against the doors,” Lindsey said.

Torran surveyed the barricades, then nodded. “Yeah. That should work.”

“It’ll affect our egress time schedule.” Lindsey slid her pad out of her uniform and started tapping away on the screen.

The drone sent an updated feed.

The next hallway was packed with Scrags.

“Well, that makes it simpler,” Torran said, sarcasm hiding his nerves.

“Fuck,” Lindsey grunted.

The aerial drone skittered just above the floor to the next door. The squad members were busy unlocking the food containers from their storage units, but a few gave the small drone worried looks.

This hallway was filled with corpses. It appeared that someone had set off some sort of explosive device. Bits of bodies littered the hallway and the ceiling and walls had partially collapsed.

“There is a God,” Torran said with relief.

“And She is good.” Lindsey flashed him a smile.

Together, Lindsey and Torran hurried to the chief defender’s side. The woman was watching the final prep for the removal of the food.

“Situation is not as dire as it could be. Southeast door and northeast doors are breach points. One hallway is blocked, the other is empty,” Torran explained.

“The empty hallway leads straight to the granary and only has one other entrance to it. Maybe someone managed to lock it,” Lindsey added. “If we use the loader from the blocked hallway, we can move damaged food containers in front of the doors that have Scrags on the other side. They’ll wake up, but they’ll have trouble getting through.”

“We’ve got six loaders. Two will be needed to block doors. That will affect our load time,” Torran finished.

At that very moment the three aircraft sent their approach status. They were about to arrive.

“Do it. Make it fast. We still have that potential breach in the rear of the facility and the Scrags about to take down the wall on the northwest side. MacDonald, get the doors blocked and the loaders prepped. Rooney, I want you to run a fresh scan on all approaches to the facility. I want to know exactly how much time we have before Scrags are on us,” Solomon ordered.

“Yes, sir.”

Torran gave Lindsey the briefest of glances. He didn’t expect her to be looking his way since she was always so intent on her tasks, but her gaze met his for a second. It was enough to make him feel a bit more grounded. They cared for one another and wouldn’t let each other down.

“Carter, Ramirez, Evins, Yates, you’re with me.”

Immediately the four SWD soldiers hurried to his side.

The aerial drone zipped past Torran and swooped after Lindsey.

Reaching the doors to the blocked hallway, Torran swiftly explained exactly what their assignments were, then signaled for more of the squad to come join him. As he talked, he saw Lindsey leading Hobbes and Franklin toward the front doors. The aerial drone darted around the curtain to the outside. He’d just finished with his instructions when Dr. Curran approached him.

“What’s this I hear about Inferi Scourge behind the doors?” she demanded.

“There was an outbreak in the building. They’re still in here with us, but the doors are blocked off.”

“But the loaders—”

“We got a plan.”

Dr. Curran gave the chief defender across the room a hard look. “I was told this mission was going to be safe.”

“You do realize where you are, right? You’re in a dead world. A world that humanity had to abandon to save itself. Nothing out here is safe.” Torran pinned her with his fiercest look. “Don’t ever think you’re safe, or you will make a terrible mistake that may cost not only your life. but the lives of others.”

“Are you done lecturing me?” Dr. Curran asked, lifting her chin haughtily.

“I hope so. Get back to your position. We’re leaving in about one minute.”

Torran made sure the self-important doctor was obeying him before he opened a link to Lindsey. “Rooney, what’s the status?”

“They’re inbound and landing within thirty seconds. Scrags near the possible breach are now waking up. And the storm is about to hit.”

“The curtain...”

“Its usefulness is done. It did the trick, though I wonder if we even needed to project the image. The Scrags are a bit dumb,” Lindsey ruminated.

“Well, better safe than sorry. They’ve been staring at the damn door for how long? Any major alterations may have jarred them awake.”

“You’re a clever man.” There was a beat of silence, then Lindsey said, “Here we go.”

A second later the sound of the massive cargo transports approaching filled the room. The air around the soldiers vibrated as the aircraft neared. The Scrags would definitely now awaken.