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“Yes, I understand, Mr. Baker.”
“Good, good. You have 30 minutes, and that is all I’m giving you. I would offer you the same opportunity as I gave Mr. Priest, which was to join us. I say “would”, because I understand your answer would probably be the same as Mr. Priest’s, so there isn’t any reason to delve into futility. 30 minutes, Captain Webb. 30 minutes!”
Webb turned to the team. “We have two issues to address. Stopping the infected and rescuing Priest.”
“I’m going after Priest!” Shaw growled.
“Hold on, Shaw. If we lose this facility, then we are all screwed. We have to be smart about this. Neville, what are the odds that when we roll out, these assholes will be watching?”
“I would say pretty high.”
“Ok, I believe we didn’t send everyone out last time we dealt with these locals, so they don’t know how many we have here.”
Shaw looked at Webb, “What are you thinking, Cap?”
“I tell this guy that the infected are too close, and we have to fight them, just to make it out alive. While we send out a team to engage the infected, we send another small team out the backside of the facility to find Priest. Shaw, I am going to need you on the assault team against the infected. Your firepower and ordinance expertise.” Shaw let out a big troubling sigh, but nodded in agreement. Ok, here are the teams: Shaw, Izzy, Lia and Allison are with me. Doc and Neville will make their way through the town and try to locate Priest. Make the assessment on whether or not you can extract him. Do not engage without talking to me first. Since they have one of our comm rigs, take one of these, and we will be able to communicate without being monitored.” Webb handed Doc and Neville a couple of two-way radios they had found at the dealership.
“Questions?”
While the team were making their last-minute checks, Thomas Baker’s voice came over the comms.
“Times up, Captain Webb! What say you?”
“Look, Mr. Baker, that throng of infected you so graciously lead to our doorstep is practically here. If we don’t engage this threat now, not only are we are not even making it out of here alive, you will not have any facility left to move into. That, Sir, is completely unacceptable. We also have scientists in here who cannot exit the facility until we deal with the infected. Once we deal with the infected, we will vacate the facility and head to the next closest CDC facility.”
“That will not work, Captain Webb.”
“It’s going to have to work. You led those fuckers right to us, and the only way out is that access road. We do not have enough time to pack up and evacuate this facility without running headfirst into the infected. If that is the case, then we stay where we are and we blow the facility with us in it. That is a much better outcome than being eaten alive. We have enough C4 here to do it. At that point, we both lose.”
“Come now, Captain Webb. I believe I can recognize a bluff when I hear one.”
“Hmm, ok. If you think we won’t do it, then tell me where Priest’s head is right now? I bet you he has reserved himself to die. He is willing to drift off into darkness, right? So, will we do it if you try to remove our only chance for survival. As soldiers, we have reserved ourselves to die. As far as the scientists here? Well, they don’t have a choice. We will deal with them mercifully and then blow the fuck out of this place.”
“Well, my goodness, Captain Webb. You paint a dismal picture, don’t you? You are really tugging on my heartstrings.”
Brody motioned toward Thomas and let go of the comms button.
“What?!,” he said, annoyed.
“Thomas, I think they mean it. That Priest fella in there is tough, but I think he is ready to die and doesn’t seem to mind doing so.”
“So, what do you suggest, Mr. Brody?”
“Let them go out and fight the infected. We will wait for them to leave and be ready for anyone that makes it back. If anyone does makes it back, then we will kill them easily. The scientists won’t blow that place and will be ready to give it up.”
“Mr. Brody, where have you been for the last few weeks? We have tried to get into that facility and “those scientists” who you seem to think are so meek have denied us every time. What makes you think they won’t continue to repel us?”
“Thomas, they knew people were coming to help them. They knew these soldiers were going to be arriving and helping them defend this place. No one else is coming, and they will have no help. They had the initial soldiers who were assigned here and then knew about these guys. It’s over for them.”
“Mr. Brody, you have given this some thought, I see. I do like the picture you paint. They go out and fight the infected. Their health, ammo, supplies and spirit are depleted. We will wait like vultures and pick clean what is left of their little group. Which means, they eliminate the horde for us, we remove whoever is left and get the facility. I’d say that is a win-win for us. This may well be the only option we have to come out on the other side of this with everything we need.”
“Captain Webb?”
“Go ahead.”
“I have thought over what you said and there is some truth in what you say. We will allow you to exit the facility to engage the crazies coming your way. Once that is complete, we will resume our discussion to negotiate how you will vacate our facility. Oh, we’ll hang on to Mr. Priest if you don’t mind. He is in no condition to go out there and fight. He can barely stand.” Webb didn’t respond to that.
“Go ahead, Captain Webb. Do your best against your adversaries, and we will be there to mop up the mess. We will be watching you, Captain Webb. Have a nice day and good luck.”
