Inside the Hotel Kelly found Dunstan frantically working away at his computer; his skin was pale and a handgun rested on the table next to his computer.8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡggmVmUloYg 維尼
“Dunstan,” Kelly called.8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡqxu1Zx0K1M 維尼
“I know.”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡ81DqG1CAsj 維尼
Kelly marched towards the stairs and said, “Get in contact with Connors. Patch him through to my earpiece. And watch Penelope.”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9uYwp4gnue 維尼
“What is it?” Penelope cried. “Kelly, what’s happening.”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡparaVBm2bd 維尼
Kelly did her best to remember that Penelope was still just a little girl, and no doubt she was scared to death by all this talk. She knelt down so they were face to face and brushed a lock of hair behind Penelope’s ear.8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡj3KEeqoxYB 維尼
“Some bad people are coming this way,” Kelly explained softly. “But it’s okay because we’re going to tell them very politely to leave us alone. Everything is going to be fine as long as you stay with Dunstan and do exactly as you’re told. Do you understand?”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡgPyn3Tvn5n 維尼
Penelope nodded, her eyes were panicked.8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡUKnhyphdub 維尼
With Penelope taken care out Kelly rushed into her room, unlocked her wardrobe and retrieved her rifle case. She was already putting the weapon together when Agent Connors connected through to her earpiece.8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡYWPsSJKgHI 維尼
His voice crackled. “Lieutenant.”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡM7ZVtDPbMy 維尼
“We need evac now.” Kelly finished assembling the rifle and tested the sight by picking a target far outside her window.8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡCwb330d4ZX 維尼
“Have you checked that the line—”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5snDX0r1LN 維尼
“It doesn’t matter who’s listening anymore,” Kelly snapped. “The cult are sending an attack force towards headquarters. We have civilians here. Get us out now.”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡwDYNpreuWg 維尼
She waited longer than she would have liked for a response.8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpuQ2ApzXb 維尼
“I don’t have the authority to send reinforcements into the demilitarised zone,” Connors finally replied. “Without evidence of—”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡHn9YYGXZ0i 維尼
“Christ, Connors, what more do your people need?”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡS9IoBGetK2 維尼
“We need Anton’s interface either destroyed or in our possession. Until then we can’t risk overtly engaging any of Anton’s people. He’s too well connected. You know this.”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡHxCJC6VLdv 維尼
“I can’t get you Anton.” Kelly collected her sidearm, combat knife and ammunition belt. “Is there anything you can do?”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡr4YvvU8ADT 維尼
“I won’t have time to send a sanctioned team.”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZdxVPIoWH 維尼
“Then send an unsanctioned team, Blacks Ops, anyone.”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0sklcljgR9 維尼
“I’m sorry Lieutenant, I can’t help you.”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡGskwSCRVzg 維尼
Kelly ended the call and murmured, “Bureaucratic asshole.” Then, back down the stairs she called out, “Dunstan.”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡFhHKnMGLAC 維尼
“Yeah, I heard.”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡkiA2dm12Da 維尼
“Any ideas?”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1ZgG2pMkpm 維尼
“I got one but it’s not very subtle.”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡdmpAkNT2mz 維尼
“Now’s hardly the time. Let’s hear it.”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡgB6s78mTah 維尼
“Okay, about six months back the US army lost a predator drone somewhere over cultist territory. In my preliminary investigation I found out that the drone was passed over to Gustav, but guess who also had an access code.” He tossed her a device that looked like a permanent marker. “Targeting laser. I’ve logged our biometrics so the drone won’t accidentally target us, but you’ll have to watch for civilians.”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡb8c7W9pYKl 維尼
Kelly nodded and strode towards the door. She called to Penelope, who was sitting on top of the bar. “I need you to do something for me, come on.”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡQy7I97M93M 維尼
Penelope quickly ran after Kelly.8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡHTfDWYc1Qv 維尼
“I need you to get a message to everyone in the town: the cult are attacking, if you can fight then come to the hotel, if not then get to the town hall and stay together. Make sure they pass it on. Go now, quick.”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡsNGZGvN7mu 維尼
Penelope ran off towards a pair of civilians standing just down the street. In a matter of minutes there were in a frenzy, but everything seemed to be in control. Almost a dozen men and women converged on the Hotel armed with rifles; Kelly learned that two of them were military trained, one was a retired sheriff, and four were only teenagers. Kelly urged them to hang back if it came to any real fighting but they wouldn’t hear it.8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡsyAJeFAOCq 維尼
“The cult ruined our lives,” a man yelled.8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡEiapgtuEWM 維尼
“I’d like to see them try get away with this,” said a woman.8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡMatNmosmZl 維尼
“Anton’s cult won’t be taking this position without a fight,” Kelly addressed all of them. “Trust me, I’m glad you’re here, but my primary objective is keeping you alive.”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡwpT8aPZeQd 維尼
Kelly singled out the two with military experience, both marines; a stocky man, older then everyone but the sheriff; and a stern-faced woman who was also much older than Kelly.8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1PjjFRpm8p 維尼
“They’re coming from the east.” Kelly led the two towards the edge of the town. “We need to prepare some defences.”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡVQAlqUCWJd 維尼
The town was built along one main road with another branching off downhill. To the north were high rocky hills and to the south further down was the river. The east road curved towards an open valley, which meant that Gustav and his forces would be forced to approach in full view of the town.8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡGE5oLPMyKq 維尼
“What are you thinking?” Kelly asked her new advisors.8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡcDwFtbgYnm 維尼
“First off, we barricade the road before the fork,” said the man. He pointed to a narrow part of the road where a ditch and a thicket of trees made it impossible for a vehicle to go around any obstructions. “Here. That might force them out of their vehicles. We can use the terrain further back for cover, or even fetch some hay bales from the barn. We can fit two or three rifles on either side of the road.”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡK0ji0fMQIb 維尼
“Good, but if they keep pushing we won’t be able to hold them there,” said Kelly. “If Gustav advances we’ll need to retreat. No heroics.”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡyNdn05HQzc 維尼
“That water tower will make a good sniper position,” said the woman.8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡSRmhfABjnH 維尼
She was referring to the tower positioned in the centre of the town. Kelly agreed, thinking that it offered a perfect view of the valley to the east, the road on both sides of the town, and it would enable her to move to the front lines or fall back quickly. The woman, looking at Kelly’s rifle, assumed that the Lieutenant would be taking up the tower position.8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡGhFYwkFWXI 維尼
“I saw some C4 in Santiago’s little armoury,” Kelly pointed out. “Your town, your call if we want to use explosives.”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡoOCqaqljG8 維尼
“We can put it just past the first barricade,” said the man. “Anywhere near the buildings is out of the question. And we only use it as a last resort.”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡKnv0EpHtJZ 維尼
Kelly and the woman nodded in unison.8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡO8HySR52fG 維尼
Kelly then laid out the rest of the plan. “We place you two, the sheriff, and one of the others at the forward barricade. When things start getting hot you fall back to a secondary barricade here, just under the water tower. We’ll hide the civilian personnel in the town hall with one of the younger volunteers watching them. That leaves someone posted at the fork on top of the garage, and the rest along these upstairs windows along the main street. I’ll take the water tower. I’ll keep Dunstan in the hotel manning the drone. Any questions?”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6DQK8wwSEv 維尼
“No ma’am.”8964 copyright protection165ＰＥＮＡＮＡGudIs7chmU 維尼
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