Dark as Daylight Ch. 10

The barn is steel reinforced poured concrete. Rockets don't penetrate it; bullets bounce off it. The only weak points are the cooling fans, one at each end of the building, and the doors, again one at each end of the building. The roof is steel, with solar panels on top of it. Mortars are going to do nothing to it. Just like in the first attack, to get to the people inside, they have to come through those openings to get to us. This time we have already repositioned our weapons, and the fields of fire are easy. The horses will be out in the far meadow so they will be of no concern. We want them to come to us. No snipers on the way in. The house lights will be on, music playing, people laughing, and dancing. It will be like party time. We are not expecting a thing, until they are well into the minefield, and start hitting the bouncing Betty's. Then the guys in the trees open up on them, the house lights die, and we will get hit from the front with everything they have. We will be ready, but so will they. It will be a bitch of a night, and they will be back the following night, better prepared.

****************

"Papa Goose, this is henhouse."

"Henhouse, await visuals."

"Come on Davis, let's set off some flares."

Andy and Kathy followed the 2 men outside, as a fire support team, while they set up synchronized flares designating the landing zone. These were new issue to the Marine Corps, allowing them the flexibility to mark off drop zones, with low light flares that let off little smoke, while giving a bright signature for about 60 seconds before they burned out. They were called 'Synchronized Flares', because you could set them off pointing the way you wanted the drop to be made, or the aircraft to land. It was a big improvement over the old method, of carpet bombing an area ¼ mile wild, destroying everything in sight, and making a landing zone that way.

Rita followed the flares down, and landed on the last one. She shut down the helicopter, and helped Paul bring the passengers luggage into the house. That's when Andy and Kathy walked in.

Gwen stepped behind Jemma and pleaded, "Please tell me he's on our side?"

Andy replied, "Both you, and the twins are my personal responsibility. Nobody will get to you, unless it's over my dead body."

Kathy chimed in, "...and mine, Andrew."

"I'm Andy, and this is my wife, Kathy."

Gwen look at them standing together, separated them to individuals, and then looked at Jemma.

"There is no fucking way."

Kathy covered her laugh by coughing.

"Trust me Mrs. Zabo, there is."

"Young woman, we have to talk."

Gwen took her by the shoulder and led her into the living room. Andy asked Jemma if she was hungry. She nodded, so they went into the kitchen to see what Sabrina had made. So far everything was going according to plan. Whether that was good or bad remained to be seen.

****************

"Why didn't you tell me, William?"

"I was not sure when your business in Chicago would end. That was the most important piece of business to be taken care of Lucius. This popped up Thursday night, and I couldn't pull you away from one project to put you on another. Please forgive me my friend, but it was not something I planned to do, it was just something that happened.

I've been so busy with other matters, I thought I had every base covered. You were going to Switzerland, I was here in West Virginia with the boys, Jemma and Gwen were in Glens Falls, General Marcus has the boys covered in Charleston, my mind was all over the place. As I told Jemma just before she left, this is the hardest game of chess I've ever played."

"We have been friends for too long for me to be angry with you, William, especially at a time like this. I'm going to have the pilot change course and return the Glens Falls. It's not only that I want to protect our Jemma, and the babies, but I will not lose another 12 men and women at Patty's ranch. I will not have another scar on my soul, on that ground. We should be there by late this afternoon. Who is in charge?"

"Heath is in overall charge of the operation."

"He's a very good man. He'll do very well, until I get there. Get some rest William, it's not going to start until tomorrow night according to your intelligence. This is what we call, "Sleep Accumulation." If you do that now, when the war starts and you can't sleep, because of it, 'Sleep Deprivation' doesn't set in as quickly as it normally would. Neither of us is a spring chicken anymore. Do as I say, let Junior have the wheel until the first bomb goes off."

"I will Lucius; I swear I will. When this is over, I will tell you a story about how Patrick lowered the boom on his brother again."

"That boy is growing up in a hurry, William. You better get him laid and soon, before his dick gets him in trouble."

"That's happening tonight, the young lady is here, and being prepared. They are being well-paid for her virtue, and she will have a stunning future ahead of her."

"Very good William, go to sleep now. I have to turn this airplane around."

"Let the pilot do it, Lucius. I don't want you going outside and doing it physically."

"I stopped doing that when I turned 70."

"Goodbye Lucius."

"Good night William."

****************

One quarter mile west of the property, that was being used to build the Good Luck 2, a large sign went up saying a 380,000 square feet tire factory was going to be built on that site. Amazingly, that same day, an army of workers showed up with a heavy equipment chain saws, shovels, and all the normal, everyday, construction equipment work crews use every day.

This did not go unnoticed by the men and women in the watch towers lining the Western end of Schneider's property for several reasons. The first reason was no one had surveyed, and marked off the land to ensure the two properties would not encroach on one another. The second reason was more obvious than the first. There were more than 400 men clearing the area between the 2 properties. That could be explained away by a company wanting to get a quick start on the construction of the building, but it was also very expensive. However, the next reason was the backbreaker. When have you ever seen a construction crew, without one black worker on it?

Each of these men were fair skinned white men, some with long beards, in excellent physical condition. They worked tirelessly, moving brush, cutting trees and scrub out of the way, as if it were nothing at all.

All of this was called into central headquarters, who displayed it on a map. General Morris ordered the pumps be turned on, to flood the marshy areas of Sawgrass 200 yards either side of their clearing, and pyrotechnics to start fires after those men slogged through the water, and draw them into the center of the killing zone.

If his enemy knew their cover had been blown, by 4 outcast lawyers, they would have returned to their ships, and gone home alive. As it was, they were supremely confident they could get this job done quickly, and efficiently. They studied the plans of the American base. They knew all its weaknesses. They knew all its strengths, and they were going to give their enemy exactly what they expected: a head-on attack through their most heavily defended areas. When you wipe these areas off the grid, you can take every secret held in their underground temple with you, and if possible, the 2 young men also. If that was not possible, they would be among the dead.

Construction crews knock off at 3 o'clock. These crews knocked off at 5 o'clock. Tractors, graders, and all sorts of heavy equipment, are normally scattered around the construction site.

5 o'clock Tuesday evening, they were parked for abreast, at the 2 points cleared of all brush and debris. They were also fueled, oiled and greased as they were put into position.

*******************

The guards in the watchtowers wondered, "Exactly how clueless, do these people think we are?"

"Wait until the sun goes down, and we put the dummies up here to replace us. Then we'll find out exactly how stupid they think we are."

"I hope they are smart enough to read that sign, because if they're not as soon as they cross that fence we are permitted to open fire."

"Yes, but we have to wait, until the guy is at the top of the ladder, so he falls in to the coop with the dummy. The major wants them to think their guy made it, and died in the fight, rather than not making it at all. Whatever happened to the old saying, "Kill them all, and let God sort them out?"

"I'm with you, anybody crosses that fence should be a dead man. They're up to no good. They have only one intent in mind, and that's killing us and this project. I'm not sure about you, but I like working here. The pay and benefits are good. The working conditions could be better, if they could only kill all these damn bugs we have to put up with every day. The people are fun, and this is a fun city to be in, with all the colleges, and coeds running around."

"Face it George, you just don't want to go home and get a real job."

"What do you mean a real job? I'm holding in M-16, with 30 rounds of ammunition in it, and I have 30 more clips, in my backpack, for it. I have a Beretta 9 millimeter, FS, strapped to my hip; with 15 rounds in it, and 20 extra clips waiting to slide into that thing. If that's not holding down a real job, you better tell me what is."

"Sitting at the desk, with your secretary on your lap. She's stroking your dick, while you're talking to your wife, and she's yelling at your 3 kids at home. That kind of real job."

"Oh, you mean like your dad?"

"It couldn't possibly be my dad, he and my mom only had 2 kids."

"Dummy."

********************

"Come on Payne, we have to get out of here."

"I don't understand why we can't stay here. We are perfectly safe. What are they going to do land men on the roof, and fight their way in here?"

"No baby, they'll fly by with a helicopter and blow this place to pieces, using rockets and other explosives. According to Rod, what they're trying to do is kill all the patent owners for the materials that make up the Good Luck series of spacecraft. If they kill us off, they can start using the patented materials, and processes, without paying for them. It's a perfect plan, that's why we can't be here. So please honey, don't fight with me, not again, let's go."

"Can I take Zoey's book with us?"

"I would never leave that behind. It's too precious to both of us. They can have this apartment; we can build another. I can't make another you; and I can't replace that book."

"I'm glad you told our parents to leave."

"I'm happy someone in this family listens to me."

"I'm ready let's go."

"Art would you tell the people downstairs we are ready to leave."

"Yes Mister Schneider."

*********

"Mister Schneider, they are ready for you. Steve and Cynthia Temple are waiting for you downstairs, also."

"I wonder what brought them here?"

"Probably you, Payne. Steve probably thought I would have to put you in a potato sack to get you out of this house. Let's go downstairs and prove him wrong."

"Why would he think I'm attached to this place? Just because it's my first and only home, I would leave to keep my husband safe."

"It's only a thing baby, things can be replaced. We can't be replaced."

"I love you Dycke, but do you always have to be so logical?"

"I believe you said the same thing to me, on the day we first made love."

"If you start quoting everything we said that day, with Art in the elevator with us, only he and I will be getting out alive."

"Yes dear."

The door to the elevator opened, and a phalanx of guards was waiting for them. Armed to the teeth, they walked the couple to the armored van and ushered them in.

Steve said, "I don't see any broken bones on my sister, or any deep welts on you Dycke. How did you manage it; how did you get her out of the house?"

"Fuck off Steve, I came out of the house on my own two feet. I have a brain, I understand the consequences of staying in that house, and I realize leaving is the smartest thing to do. As usual, you didn't follow instructions, otherwise you would be at the terminal already."

"I was not going to go to the airport, without making sure you 2 were going to be there. I'm not going to say you've been a little flighty lately, but you are my sister, and you have been known to go off on these little flights of fancy, and leave rational thought behind.

Even though I would have profited greatly, by your death, when dad passes away, I set that aside, because I will never be as rich as your husband, who I still hate."

"It's good to know some things never change, Dycke. Once an asshole, always an asshole."

"You are correct as always dear, but you must remember, he is a very highly educated asshole now, thanks to Schneider Industries."

"You and your 'Maritime Law." You had to buy that fucking shipping line didn't you?"

"How much profit is that shipping line bringing in per year now, Steve?"

"Don't you dare tell me it's because of your stewardship. It's all been because of me, and the changes I instituted."

"Who's name is on the letterhead?"

"You prick! It's yours, of course."

"Whose signature is that the bottom of the page?"

"You're a bigger prick. It's yours."

"Whose name secured the $1,600,000,000 loan for that purchase?"

"Yours."

"Who paid that lone off in 4 years, instead of 30 years?"

"Do you see why I hate him Payne? I do all the work and he gets all the credit."

"Dycke did you ever tell Steve why he got that scholarship to NC State?"

"Payne, we were never supposed to talk about that."

"No you didn't, I got that on my own. I worked my ass off for that scholarship."

Payne replied, "Yes you did Steve, I'm sorry I said otherwise."

"Dycke, don't lie to me, tell me you had nothing to do with that scholarship."

"Steve, I swear on Zoey, I had nothing to do with your scholarship."

"Thank you, I feel better now."

"You should, look how well you did during those 4 years. Not only did you do well in track, but you were able to get into their law school also. You shocked the shit out of your dad when you did that."

"Dycke, why are you doing this to me? I got into law school on my own. I studied my ass off for that exam."

"Yes you did, and look where you are now because of it. You are one of the top 5 Maritime lawyers in the world, and you can look back on your youth, and tell yourself it was not wasted."

"I did it by myself."

"You damn right you did. You should be extremely proud of yourself, I know I am. Do you see the look in your father and mother's eyes when they look at you? Do you remember the looks your father used to give you when you shared an office with him? He couldn't believe you were a lawyer in the first place? Now, instead of you being his son when people start a conversation with him, it's 'You are Steve Temples father? You must be extremely proud of him."

His chest pops out to twice its size, when people tell him that, because he remembers those days when you were nothing, and going nowhere."

"You bastard, without me even knowing it, before you had a dime in your pocket, you were pushing me to be better than I was. How could I have been so blind?"

"I wasn't pushing you to be better than you were Steve. This is who you were; you just didn't know it yet, and it took you a little while to find out. There was one other problem in your way. You hated me, and you can barely stand me now."

"I would beat the crap out of you if I thought I could, but I know I can't, so I won't even try. Thanks boss, thank you for everything, including the Corvette with the limiter on it."

"Do you know will purchase that car when I got you the next one?"

"No, who was it?"

"The engineer who built the engine, and put the limiter inside it. He told me the engine was better than it was when it was brand-new. There was no sign of wear anywhere in the system."

"There shouldn't have been, Cynthia and I treated that car as if it was a baby."

There was a pounding on the side door, and the all clear signal was given. Dycke released the inside locking mechanism, and one at a time, they left the van. Surrounded by agents, they hurried through the terminal to the 787. The aircraft had both engines running. The tower cleared it to taxi to the active runway.

As soon as everything was set up, between the terminal, and the aircraft, the 4 principles and 20 agents, ran up the temporary stairs, and into the aircraft, in less than one minute. The stairs were pulled away, and before the aircrafts' door was closed, it was moving.

The fuel tanks were filled to the top, and with a range of 8760 miles, this aircraft should could zig-zag across the country, from Charleston, to Los Angeles, to Bangor Maine, to Seattle Washington, carrying 260 people, before it had to land to refuel. It could stop any city in-between to confuse any potential adversary, but with this 15-hour flight time, there was no way an enemy could cover them all. It was only carrying 58 people today, plus a ton of spare parts for it in the chambers below. One of the mechanics on board joked, "If the doors to the luggage compartments were big enough, Mister Schneider would have had us put an engine in there, just in case."

The other mechanics didn't laugh, because they knew it was true.

***********************

Greenbrier Hotel- White Sulfur Springs West Virginia

"This is a nice place dad, where is everyone?"

"This wing is closed for the winter, Patrick. It has many features that are not open to the public, but are not restricted to us. A few people will be here to meet us. The pool is heated, and you may use it at any time. Bathing customs are not allowed, so you must swim in the nude.

Your dance partner is here, and you will not be interrupted, unless we are attacked. If we are attacked, we will go downstairs, and take the shuttle to the presidential bunker, seal the door, and wait out the outcome. No one will be able to get to us because it is nuclear bomb proof."

"Will you be able to direct the battles from here, dad?"

"There are so many communications devices in the presidential bunker, there is no way for any adversary to stop me from doing it. The range of frequencies starts at Ultra-ultra-low, to Ultra high frequencies that only animals can hear."

"As usual dad, you've thought of everything."

"Thank you Patrick, I tried very hard to do that, because as I told you, it is a man's duty to protect his family, and that is exactly what I'm doing. I spoke to your mother a few minutes ago, and she is safe in the arms of our people in Glens Falls. That took a great weight off my shoulders. Our women are safe, and nothing on God's Good Earth can hurt them now."

"May I ask where we are getting our intelligence from, or is it too secret even for me?"

"You are my son, and nothing I do, since you've become of age is too secret for you to hear. The Attorney General has 4 young attorneys that have unearth materials in the NASA computers that shouldn't be there. It has released a treasure trove of information to us in reference to our current situation. From there we were able to spread our net through my Greek businesses. 2 of my Greek businesses were selling weapons to a Swiss Firm, but delivering them to Poland. This is very unusual in the business world, because of the amount of paperwork that has to be done to get it approved. This Swiss firm was able to do that in less than 10 days. It should have taken 2 months at a minimum. It rang warning bells at my company, and they refused the sale. The Swiss firm doubled the price, and offered a 20 percent incentive to the administrator to move the sale forward. He did, and I just fired him for doing it. However, the information we received was priceless, and we were able to plant several men into the opposition force. That's where this information is coming from."