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“Okay. Then, if the gates are still secure, land everything at once. You’ll be able to handle anything the sound draws out during the day. Those who are able can guard the people who will help with refueling. Everyone else can stay put and wait for departure.”
He grunted.
“How do you think we should secure the base?” I asked.
“I like your idea,” he said.
“Did you have a different one?”
“No. But having you say it means you will accept remaining safely in the aircraft where I want you.”
Roni snorted nearby. “Fell right into that one, Andie.”
“Pretty sure we’re all stuck in the tin deathtraps,” Steve grumbled.
Roni went quiet, and I didn’t need to turn around to know she was pouting. Although, quietly seething was probably a better word for her version of it.
“If staying inside keeps you focused while you clear the immediate area, then that’s fine. But my answer changes if the gates aren’t secure. There are too many places for infected to be hiding inside the base for us to be on the ground this long.” I nodded toward the aircraft still refueling. “You’ll need help.”
He grunted and said, “I will communicate the plan to Rick.” His gaze swept over all of us. “I will be in the first aircraft to land. I want the rest of you to split up and join the others. Keep yourselves alive. Keep your cargo alive. No risks.”
His gaze locked with mine on the last part, and I nodded, hiding my surprise. After being apart for so long, I wouldn’t have thought he would be willing to separate again. Yet, it made sense. We all knew the plan, where we were really going, and why. And none of us would panic under pressure. We knew how to protect ourselves. We understood how the infected worked and how to work together to keep them back.
“Then I guess it’s time for some of us to start hitching a ride,” Steve said, shouldering his pack. “See you all in a few hours.”
Katie and Sid did the same.
Molev walked me to the second to last aircraft and kissed me sweetly.
“No risks,” he repeated.
“I’ll be an angel,” I said.
He grunted and waited until I was inside before walking away. People I’d met over the course of the last few weeks watched me with varying expressions.
“We’re on the home stretch,” I said, holding on to the nearby straps. “Another refuel, and then we should arrive at Whiteman, our final destination for the day, before dusk.”
I could see the tension leave half of them, and I offered a small smile to reassure the rest. Did I think everything would go as smoothly as I’d just made it sound? Hell no. Things never went smoothly in the field. But spending the next four hours worrying about it wouldn’t do anyone any good.
The sound of the engine wound up, and the increasing thump of the blades drowned out the possibility of conversation. I looked through the window as we lifted off and watched Molev’s aircraft lead the way with the cargo cube suspended underneath.
The soldier next to me leaned in to ask about the plan for landing in Vance.
“Won’t know until we see the state of the base,” I said in his ear, knowing no one else would hear me.
He nodded and started to check over a weapon that had probably been checked several times already. I set my hand on his arm, and when I had his attention, I shook my head slightly.
“Sleep.”
He nodded and tipped his head back, closing his eyes. The other three with weapons did the same. I offered one more smile to everyone who was quietly observing me then followed suit even though I’d only been awake a few hours.
I found that place again, the one between sleep and awake, where I drifted for the remainder of the flight. When the soldier next to me nudged my arm, I opened my eyes and glanced out the window at the approaching base.
The bird’s eye view showed the interior fence that had sectioned off a few buildings and the nearest airstrip. The scaled-down size of the defensible area would work to our advantage if there was a compromise in the fence.
With the distance between aircraft, I had a good view of Molev’s aircraft swinging around the larger outer perimeter base before heading toward the airfield. We weren’t far behind.
I checked my weapons and shoved the helmet on my head. One of the soldiers was motioning for everyone to stay put while the other two went to the door. We touched down a few minutes later.
