Part Thirty Nine

Storage Shed
Militia Camp
1420 Local

Mac struggled for awareness as she fought against the blackness that was trying to devour her. It was terrifying and seductive at the same time. It promised a surcease from the pain and fear that had come to dominate her life of late. All she had to do was loosen her grip, let go and slide into oblivion. It was tempting, she was so tired. Mac wasn't even sure why she struggled except for her innate distrust of the darkness. With an effort she pulled herself one step closer to consciousness. With it came the memory of what she faced and a growing feeling of hopelessness. She found herself wavering, perhaps it would be better... easier... to let go.

Even as that thought manifested, her resolve strengthened. She'd survived too damn much in her life to slip quietly away now. If she was going down, it would be kicking and clawing. The blackness slipped a little further away. With renewed determination, she pushed harder. Abruptly, the darkness fled. In its place, semiconsciousness flowed in, in a roiling, tumultuous miasma of red-tinged gray. She felt dizzy and sick, her extremities leaden. The worst was the noise. It was a painful, deafening roar inside her head that pounded and buffeted, making it almost impossible to think. It was inexorably wearing her down. The darkness crept back in to hover at the edges. It would be a matter of time.

So overwhelmed by the turbulence, she almost missed the voice. It was familiar somehow, she knew this voice. It meant comfort and safety; it would lead her out of the maelstrom. Desperately she clung to its sound. She couldn't quite make out the words but the tone was becoming increasingly anxious. Mac concentrated harder and found the noise lessening. She could almost put a name to it... Harm! That was the voice - Harm! He was calling her, talking to her. Stubbornly, she brought more attention to bear. The noise and tumult receded still further. Now he sounded... exasperated? The words began to filter through... what was he saying? What the hell? Why that...

Mac used her outrage to focus her energies. If she could just make a fist, she'd give him 'reasons'. Dammit, she couldn't feel her hands, or her feet for that matter. Had she managed the fist? Harm's voice changed again, now he was sounding hopeful. If he thought she was going to let the stuff he was saying slide... She concentrated on prying her eyes open. Anger was proving useful.

Harm stared anxiously down at Mac, he was positive she'd squeezed his hand a moment ago. She was so still; please God, he hadn't imagined it. He glanced up to see Bell watching him uncomfortably, he'd completely forgotten about the corporal. Harm cleared his throat and said softly, "Thank you for rescuing her, Tink."

Bell managed to add embarrassment to the uncomfortable look and shrugged slightly, "I wish I'd gotten to her sooner, sir."

"Know what you mean," Harm replied quietly, returning his gaze to the still form beside him. It took him a moment to register that she was looking back. "Mac!"

*******

The Admiral stood silently for a moment after Singer finished her report. It was impossible to know if Trask was actually dead and someone had taken the body, or if he'd survived and managed to escape. From everything he'd just heard from the Lieutenant, added to what Corporal Bell had to say, he fervently hoped it was the former. He looked up in surprise when Perez came pounding around the corner and skidded to a halt. Tyler and Walters both lowered their weapons, exchanging a glance.

"Sir!" Perez rasped out, trying to get his breath. "The Feds are closing in on this area. There's militia falling back. We're going to be caught in the middle."

'Dammit!' Chegwidden looked at the young captain, "How much time do we have?"

Perez looked grim, "Not enough to get Tink or the Colonel to any sort of safety, sir. Ten minutes... maybe."

"Then we'll make a stand here," AJ started rapping out orders, sending Tyler, Walters and Singer flying. He looked back at the Captain, "Keep an eye on their progress." Perez started to turn when Chegwidden stopped him once more, "Don't take any chances, Captain, we've had enough casualities this trip." Perez nodded and was gone.

AJ spun and stalked back into the shed. He silently berated himself, he should have moved to a new location. He'd been worried about possible complications moving Corporal Bell. Now he'd just have to worry about keeping everyone alive. He threaded his way through the barricade to where Harm, Mac and Bell were staying. "Commander?"

The smile on Harm's face gave him the first good news he'd had in a while, AJ quickly closed the distance. When Harm started to stand, he waved him back down with a gruff 'as you were'. He knelt down beside them and looked over at Mac in time to see her eyes flutter open once more. "Colonel," AJ said with a quiet smile. He saw recognition flare in the dark eyes and then change to frustration. He held up a soothing hand, "Take it easy, Mac. Let the drugs wear off." He settled back on his heels and let his gaze take in all three, "We've got a problem." He saw Harm and Bell tense. "The government forces are driving into this area. Unfortunately, they're pushing the militia here as well. It's likely we're going to be caught in the crossfire. There's not much time and I've got the others doing what they can to make this position more secure." He stopped Harm from saying anything with a look, "You three are non-combatants. All I want from you is survival." He stopped and waited for the outbursts.

"Sir," Harm protested, "I'd like to help defend, there's not nearly enough of us."

Tink nodded, "I don't have to stand to be able to shoot, sir."

AJ looked at them. Damn, even Mac managed to look defiant. "No. We're not trying to get into the fight, we're trying to stay out of it. With a little luck, the Feds will push through quickly and we can be evacuated."

"And, hopefully, they won't mistake us for militia and try to blow us off the face of the earth. ... Sir." Harm grumbled.

AJ glared at him for a moment, "That, too." He paused, the ever-present gunfire was becoming noticeably louder. He looked at Harm, "You still armed?" Harm nodded, pointing to the machine pistol lying near him on a small crate. AJ looked at Bell and then tossed him a pistol. He rose to a crouch and swept his gaze across all three again, "Nobody dies. That's an order." He turned and made his way back to the front of the shed.

Harm looked back at Mac. Her eyes were again closed. She was drifting in and out every few minutes and still hadn't managed to speak. However, he had the distinct impression she wanted a few words with him. Actually, if Mac had heard half of what he'd said, what she probably wanted was to box his ears. He didn't care. If it meant she had fully recovered, she could take her best shot.

He looked over at Tink and then at the barricade, "Let me see if I can beef this up at all. Keep an eye on the Colonel, would you?" There really wasn't much more he could do, but it kept him from fidgeting and it certainly couldn't hurt. He was shoving a sack into an opening when Perez came pelting to the shed. He dove over the breastworks the others had hurriedly thrown together in front of the door. Harm instinctively ducked when a few bullets whizzed in high overhead. He scrambled back to Mac's side, taking up the machine pistol and sharing a look of frustration with Bell. They couldn't see a damn thing. He glanced down and rested a hand lightly on Mac's shoulder. Although her eyes remained closed, the physical contact reassured him. Now, there was nothing to do but wait. He was going to hate every minute.

Three militia men turned the corner in their pursuit of Perez, firing as they ran. They stopped in surprise at the sight of a barrier in front of the shed doorway. They scattered to take advantage of whatever cover was available and sent a few desultory shots towards the shed. One man detached himself from the group and ran back the way they had come.

Chegwidden stayed hidden behind the barricade. Walters and Singer crouched there too, waiting AJ's signal to fire. He hadn't been sure of the wisdom of letting the Lieutenant join in the fighting. Vaguely, he wished it was Mac instead - he had no question of her ability in combat. But Singer had argued her point and he needed every able body he could get. Hopefully, if there was a problem, he and Walters could cover. Tyler and Perez would be backup, in addition to watching their flanks. Singer shifted, nervously readjusted her grip on the rifle and shifted again. AJ looked over at her and whispered, "Easy does it, Lieutenant. We're stalling for time." She shot him a look and stayed still.

Clearly, the lack of response was puzzling the militia men. They knew for sure that Perez was in there, they had expected return fire. Suspicious of some sort of trap, the two men remained where they were. AJ was content to wait with them. Every minute brought the Feds closer, if he could get out of this without firing a shot, so much the better.

Tyler and Perez were at opposite corners of the shed. One good thing about the aerating the shed had received earlier, it had left numerous places to look out. Tyler glanced over at the Captain before returning to scanning his side of the shed. He was pretty sure he'd be a lot more rattled if he'd been the one being shot at and chased. Movement at the edge of his field of vision riveted his attention. He shifted to another spot. 'Damn!' Tyler gestured for Perez's attention, jerked his thumb to the outside and held up four fingers. He sank lower to the ground while Perez silently wormed his way through the barricade to signal Rabb and Bell to stay out of sight. As the men slowly crept up alongside the shed, Tyler tracked their progress through the bullet holes. He was aware of Perez coming up beside him. The Captain motioned towards the last two men and brought his shotgun to his shoulder. Tyler did the same, focusing on the front two. They were almost to the corner of the shed. Tyler could feel Perez slowly tapping against his foot. On the third tap, the two opened fire, blowing fist-sized holes through the side of the shed. Two militia men went down to stay, the others hit the ground and began scrambling away in a panic.

Harm jumped in spite of himself, the shotguns going off in an enclosed area made his ears ring. He felt Mac jerk under his hand and allowed himself a slight smile. It was his first indication since he reunited with her that she was recovering motor control. He gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze and returned to surveying the area.

AJ thought he would jump out of his skin when the double shotgun blast reverberated through the shed. At the same time, he caught the movement beside him. He clamped a hand on Singer's arm, aware that Walters had done the same from the other side. Together, they kept her from leaping to her feet in panicked surprise. "Stand down!" he said in a harsh whisper to the still struggling Lieutenant. She subsided, her breathing still rapid. The two militia men were also surprised. It was a full thirty seconds before they opened fire. It died away quickly. Chegwidden could almost feel their uncertainty. Silently, he urged them to cut their losses and bypass his location.

His hopes were dashed when more militia suddenly spilled out of the alleyway. It was little consolation that most were looking back up the alleyway. There were more than enough to overwhelm his little group if they were properly handled. The gunfire flared up again, most of it directed to the alley. AJ swore under his breath when a group broke away and headed for the shed. Obviously, they wanted to take a stand there. They came firing as they ran, no doubt hoping to keep anyone in the shed pinned down until they could reach it. Poor tactics any way you looked at it, Chegwidden was surprised they weren't hitting each other. He held up a hand and waited, letting them get closer. Abruptly, he dropped his hand, he and Walters popped up from behind the barricade and opened fire. A moment later and, to her credit, Singer opened fire as well.

The concentrated barrage wiped out the approaching group and sent the rest of the militia reeling. Confused by the disciplined onslaught from an unexpected quarter, a number of the men threw down their weapons and raised their hands over their heads. The rest scattered - away from the shed - and AJ breathed a sigh of relief. Now they would wait for the Feds.

The black-suited Federal agents flooded into the area minutes later, sweeping up prisoners and weapons. Half a dozen broke off and cautiously approached the shed, checking among the fallen militia men for survivors. Slowly, AJ stood up, hands in the air. Immediately, weapons were focused on him. He took a breath and bellowed, "I am Admiral AJ Chegwidden, the Naval Judge Advocate General. I have wounded that require medical attention."

There was silence for a moment and then an agent yelled back, "Whoever else is in the shed, put down your weapons and come out with your hands up."

AJ scowled and glanced over at Walters and Singer. They, too, slowly rose with hands raised. Behind him, Perez and Tyler appeared in the doorway. Agents swarmed around them, gathering weapons and shoving them against the shed wall. Keeping his growing anger in check, AJ glared as one of the agents approached. "Contact Agent Ramos and tell him I'm here and I have my people back. Some of them are hurt."

The agent stared back, ignoring what Chegwidden had said, "Is there anyone else in there?"

The Admiral looked at him in exasperation, "Yes, I've told you that. I have wounded. Call Ramos!" The agent turned away and gestured. Three other agents started into the shed. With a muttered oath, AJ swung towards the shed, ignoring the weapons suddenly aimed at him, "Rabb! Those are Federal agents coming in! Hold your fire!" He turned back to the agent, "Nothing better happen to them, young man, or I'll see to it your next duty station is in the Artic Circle."

The agent opened his mouth to retort only to be cut off. "McElroy!" An older agent was rapidly approaching. "What's going on?" he said as he came up beside the first agent. He glanced at AJ and others and then did a double-take. "Admiral Chegwidden?" He stuck out a hand and smiled, "I'm the ASAC, Mike Donnelly. You've had Ramos sweating bullets." He took in the scene around him and his expression darkened, "What the hell is this?"

AJ smiled grimly, "I believe Mr. McElroy thinks we're part of the militia."

Donnelly's eyes widened a little, "Didn't you identify yourselves?" Not waiting for AJ's answer, he pinned McElroy with a glare, "Did you have cotton in your ears during the briefing, Mr. McElroy?" He paused while the hapless agent sputtered. "We'll be discussing this at length, once we get back to the office. Meanwhile, why don't you go assist in the mopping up?" He waited until McElroy had left and turned back to AJ, "I'm sorry Admiral." He stopped again when an agent walked out of the shed, followed by Commander Rabb. He took in Harm's appearance and turned to AJ in surprise, "You have wounded?"

Chegwidden growled in frustration, "I've been saying that. No one's been listening. Colonel MacKenzie, Corporal Bell and Commander Rabb, here, all require medical assistance." He looked over at Rabb, "Any problems, Commander?" Harm shook his head.

"I'll have McElroy's ass for this!" Donnelly muttered angrily. He pulled out a handheld and started barking orders, walking away as he spoke. A few minutes later, he was back. "The choppers will land as soon as we finish securing this area. Should be about ten minutes, there's EMTs onboard and we'll evacuate all of you at that time. Again, Admiral, I'm sorry." He shook AJ's hand and then trotted back to his men.

Chegwidden looked over at Harm, "It's over."

"Almost." Harm replied.