Moosehill Militia (Book 1): INFECTED (30 page)

“Well Major, I hope to be able to use that nickname at some point. You can just call me Mike most of the time.” He winked at the Major.

Ant couldn’t figure this guy out, winking at him, he acts like he’s Patton or more Like Bradly who was much friendlier and just as good a general.

“Major after your men use the head over in that building.” Pointing to a hanger. “We can load up with whatever company you decide to send on this mission. I’ll be Commanding personally, Let me introduce you to my officers that are here. This is my X.O. Lt. Colonel Mac, Captain’s Dave Maddox of Bravo Company and this is Captain Sean Thornton of Charlie Company.”

“Oorah.” Sean added being a former Marine and all.

“Colonel this is Captain Dylan Deneke of Alpha Company and this Captain Dong Yee of Bravo Company.” Ant introduced his officers. Handshakes were exchanged all around. He was a little dubious calling this guy Colonel, but he was under orders.

Orders were given to the U.S. Marines and they fell out and used the facilities before falling back into the ranks.

Major I took the liberty of providing transportation for your men. Pointing to the APC’s of Delta you have a total of twenty six vehicles, sixteen of which are M113A2’s with M60’s mounted on the gun ring, drivers are provided for those. I figured your men can drive the Humvee's yourselves. Bravo Company will lead off today than half of Charlie Company in front and half in back of twenty trailer truck units then your company will pull rear guard. What company were you planning on sending with us?” Mike asked the Major who looked a little stunned.

“Ah Bravo Company Colonel. I’ll be going with them also.” He said. While glazing around at all the armor. “You don’t have any tanks do you Colonel?” He asked.

“No, but I’m working on it.” Mike said with a smile. “Okay if your Bravo Company will bring up the rear today, And Major that’s no slight, The rear seems to attract the most Infected, you’ll see, so get your men familiarized with the M60. I’m sure you have a few old hands that remember them. Oh, the mission, we are going to Goddard Memorial Drive in Worcester, to the Kahr Arms factory. Where raiding the place and taking everything we can. Where also taking a dozen buses with us. We end up attracting a lot of survivors when we roll through a neighborhood.” My aide here Jake has all the maps you’ll need and the operations order. Jake ride with the Major in his command track and brief him on the plan today. We don’t have a lot of time. Let’s get going.”

***

All three companies loaded up onto their designated vehicles, it took a few extra minutes for the Marines to get loaded, understandable under the circumstances. In just over five minutes they were rolling out the side gate north on Paxton Street then east on Marshall Street. The planned march took them on Marshall Street, east to Mulberry Street, south to the end of the Worcester Airports runway which has a large gate that Mike just happened to have a key for. The column would travel the length of the runway and exit out a service entrance onto Airport Drive and down the hill half way to the Kahr Arms factory. Avoiding most of the neighborhoods. All this was in the operations order. Mike also ordered Jake to explain it to the Major since he probably didn’t have time to read it all. Mike thought all this as they were turning from Paxton Street onto Marshall Street heading east, all seventy four military vehicles and twenty TT units at a steady twenty miles an hour.

Back at Moosehill the U.S. Alpha Company Marines and Mac watched the Column leave, the gates were shut and locked and flight operations resumed with a flight of four Huey taking off to fly cover for the Airport column.

Mac looked at the young Captain of Marine Alpha Company, Dylan Deneke and asked.

“Captain you ready to take your men hunting downtown. Cause you and I are going on an extermination hunt.” The Captain looked at Mac like he had a screw loose.

Major DiCaprio, Commanding the U.S. Marines seconded to the Moosehill Militia commanded by this Colonel Mike Mohan, looked up as two Huey's flew over at a few hundred feet, in formation. He could see the door gunner leaning out looking down on the armored column advancing east on Marshall Street nearing Route 56 north, according to private Jake, Colonel Mohan's aid and the maps. He was riding on the third APC behind the lead APC and Captain Yee's vehicle in the U.S. Marines Company.

Part of Major DiCaprio’s duty on this deployment is to observe everything about this Mohan Group especially their Militia to determine how much cooperation Second Fleet would have with them. So far he's liked what he has seen.

They had crossed 56 without incident heading further east on Marshall Street, according to the map the column would turn right onto Mulberry Street, a mile south on Mulberry and there at the end of the runway was where the gate is located. While traveling he noticed how smooth and quiet the APC's were. He asked Jake about it.

"Major DiCaprio, Colonel Mohan purchased rubber tracks from some company. They supposed to have an 8000 mile life span. Major I don't know how much or what's appropriate to tell you. I'll say this, he knew in advance something bad was coming, everything you've seen, he and a few close friends like Lt. Colonel Mac planned well in advance everything you'll see and experience in the next few weeks. Everyone in the Mohan Group would sacrifice for the man and his organization that they built. We all realize that we would most likely be dead without him now and in the future." Jake said with some embarrassment. The hero worship did not go unnoticed by the Major.

Jake looking out further east on Marshall Street where the road curves sharply as they were turning south on Mulberry Street. Jake pointed out several Infected by the curve in the road to the M60 gunner. He opens up on the infected group along with the gunner in the APC behind them. As every vehicle made the turn its M60 gunner would let loose with a burst or two. The Major realized after losing sight of the corner that there must be a steady stream of Infected coming up that hill, especially with the noise from the armored column.

Mike in the lead company came to a stop four APC's back as the lead element unlocked the gate and opened wide. That hummer scout would standby and make sure there secure after the column enters.

They traveled down the north side of the runway situated east to west, turning north into the commercial portion of the airport where there would be gates leading out to Airport Drive then left onto Goddard Memorial Drive. Kahr arms was about half a mile down the hill on the left or east side of the road.

Mike reviewed the plan in his head. One platoon from Dave’s Bravo Company a hundred yards further down the hill. The rest of his company goes to the Kahr arms building with two of the TT units. Sean's Charlie Company is going to TJ Maxx Warehouse across the street from Kahr. Luckily we have an employee who has the codes to get into the building and the secure areas.

Mike instructed Sean to grab all the practical clothing, shoes etc. Two of the Alpha Marine Platoons will accompany him. The last two Marine Platoons will provide rear security around the intersection of Airport Drive and Goddard Memorial Drive. He planned two hours for this mission.

The three companies of mechanized infantry moved into their assigned positions and Mike along with Major DiCaprio walked into the Kahr factory as teams moved through the facility. Everything looked pretty secure, he didn't expect much Infected activity in the building. Soon they got the cleared signal and moved to the area near the back of the building with two doors. The employee was a supervisor at the factory and had the codes. Two technicians carried up a battery and got the cover off to the control panel and in ten minutes had it hooked up to the panel and the door open in short order. Mike and Major DiCaprio walked into a armory much bigger inside then anyone would have suspected. Along one wall packaged in cardboard boxes appeared to be Thompson submachine guns. Maybe three hundred boxes were present On the back wall were boxed M1 rifles, Another stacked pile held M1 Carbine’s Maybe another three hundred total and on shelfs on the inner wall were plastic cases holding three or four hundred semi Auto hand guns of either 9mm, 40 caliber, and 45 Caliber. Stacked in the middle of the floor were cases of ammunition of each caliber represented here today.

“Excellent, just what I was hoping for.” He told the Major. He directed men to start loading the weapons and ammo onto the trucks they brought with them.

“Major would you think the Admiral would like a Tommy gun as a souvenir?” he asked. Major Ant was about to respond when Jake, Mikes aide came in.

“Sir.” He addressed Mike. We have a group of Infected coming through the woods from a large neighborhood maybe two or three hundred yards to the southeast of us. Captain Maddox sent me to inform you, he estimates a thousand plus. They haven't engaged yet just observed, he has scouts out falling back before them. They seem to have a little trouble negotiating the Woods. He estimates ten minutes and they'll have to engage.” Jake told Mike.

“Okay, thanks Jake go tell Dave we will be out momentarily.” Mike turned to Major Ant. “Can you call your two platoons at TJ Maxx, have them get down here. Where going to need additional firepower, we have to hold them back until we clear out this building, I’m not so concerned about TJ Maxx.” He asked Major Ant.

“Sure thing Colonel, let me step out to my Comms man in the APC.” He said.

“Thanks Major.” As they both walked out. Mike grabbed a Lieutenant from Bravo Company that was in the building and told him to lite a fire under the civilian that came with the trucks. Keep your platoon loading with them until I call you for support.” He told the Lieutenant.

Major DiCaprio met Mike outside and said his two platoons are on the way and he also relayed to Sean what was happening through his men up there.

“There’s not much we can do in way of strategy in this parking lot, we will form a line with our APC’s along the edge of the parking lot. The banking going down into the woods will help us slow them down when they get here. The weak point is going to be the ninety degree angle that points like an arrow right at where there coming from. We need to enforce that corner with some extra weapons, either M60 or M240 Saw’s.” Mac explained. Captain Dave Maddox who was listening moved out and started to maneuver his twelve M113A2’s on the east side of the parking lot and Major Ant Can move his onto the south edge of the parking lot meeting at the ninety degree angle. The Vehicles were almost touching front to back pointing at the advancing Infected.

The two U.S. Marine platoons arrived and were guided into position by Major DiCaprio and Mike with approximately one hundred and ten men and twenty six APC’s as a bulwark with Machine guns on top Mike and the Major felt pretty confident they could hold this line.

“Colonel what about the Platoon on Godard Memorial Drive in blocking position?” Captain Dave Maddox asked Mike about his other platoon.

“Make sure they know what’s going on, but leave them there, we could still get activity coming up Godard.” He told Dave.

Mike and the Major took position each with their respective units both near the center ninety degree angle. The Major could now hear and see the Infected making their way through the brush about fifty feet away. In the thick brush, it looked like a human wave coming through the woods small trees were being pushed over by the weight of numbers, and there was a low moaning sound coming from them. Something caught his eye and drew it to the left where a group of Infected came up and were moving diagonal to the slower larger group almost as if there was some intelligence behind there action.

“Colonel,” Antonio pointed to the faster moving group moving toward the west side nearer the Colonel after he got his attention. The Colonel Waved back at him in understanding. The moaning and bodies moving through the brush toward the banking was muck louder then he imagined. Antonio estimated twice what they originally thought at least two thousand or so.

“Fire, Colonel Mohan yelled. Twenty six M60’s or M240 Saw opened up on the Infected who were only twenty feet away or so down a six foot slope approximately. That many Machine guns firing at once makes a racket unimaginable unless you’re heard it. The Troops with their M-4 Assault rifles were ordered to support the Saw Squad automatic weapons only if any Infected made it to the top of the banking.

“Fire for the heads.” Major DiCaprio yelled at his gunners. Only head shots will put them down for good. He watched Infected get hit multiple times in the body and jerk and fall and get right back up and continue trying to climb the banking. It’s a good thing these creatures don’t handle and incline well he thought or they'd already be swamped.

The Major could hear Colonel Mohan yelling something to his Troops and pointing further to the left. He ran across the top of the APC’s jumping the space between them. Several other solders followed him. He thought the pressure seemed to be heavier on the left.

While he watched the soldiers on the far left started firing down right below the outside of the APC’s. As he watched one of the soldiers slipped or was grabbed from below he wasn’t sure. But what amazed him was the Colonel never slowed and ran right off the side of the M113A2 and a few seconds later five or so soldiers followed him over the side.

“Holy shit, Lieutenant you’re in charge here keep the fire up, you know what to do.” He yelled and ran off to the left side of the conflict.

Mike running along the top of the APC’s to the left saw a lot more of the faster Infected then he thought, they must have crawled through the underbrush and jumped up and ran at the left flank which was up against the building. While leaping across to the APC before the last, he saw a soldier grabbed by the foot by and Infected and he lost his balance and fell onto the ground on the outside of their perimeter. Without thinking, he ran off the edge of the last APC and fell onto the ground rolling just like in Jump school and coming up drawing his Glock 21 a 45 caliber from a thigh holster and a six inch stiletto knife from his vest, he was moving on instinct now, back in the zone his instructors would have called it. An Infected came at him from the front as he drew his gun, Mike put one round in his forehead and stuck his knife into the eye socket of the one next to it on the left. He turned and shot three more in the head that were reaching for the private on the ground. He spun back around sticking his stiletto straight up into the jaw of another who was reaching for him and shot over its shoulder into the one behind it.