The atmosphere in the officers tent was a grim one. They were already on their third pot of coffee and smoke hung heavy in the air. The men of the Commonwealth Provisional Military were on edge, tensions were high and they were raising by the moment.
Metal chairs had been set out about the tent and a projector had been stacked precariously atop a cart most often used for hauling drinks around base.
"Alright ladies settle down and zip up." Colonel Graham spoke with a stern voice as the men found their seats settling in. He looked from one expectant face to the next, as his assistant put in the first slide.
At either side of the door stood men in T-51B power armor painted up in olive drab. Men armed with heavy Gatling lasers stood watch over the proceedings.
"At oh five hundred hours hostile forces belonging to the American military staged a full retreat from our little slice of paradise, bringing an end to our struggle for independence." Imagery of the battlefield taken from spy-plane displayed on the slide. "As you are all very well aware following this retreat the Provisional Government began the lengthy processes required to re-establish order."
Colonel Graham chomped down hard on his cigar taking a long drag as the slide swapped from one image to the next. "Orders from command came in to secure defenses in case of a renewed offensive, and at oh seven hundred we received confirmation of unidentified craft on long range radar." He tapped the cigar on the edge of his ash tray knocking embers down onto the pile.
His voice was gruff and worn down from shouting. Unlike many of the men here Colonel Graham had earned his stripes fighting in the deserts of the middle east. He was a career man who took his commission by force, and clawed his way to the top of the pile even though it had cost him the right half of his face, and his arm.
Where once was simple flesh and bone replacements had been installed a cybernetic eye that looked like something out of a science fiction film bolted to the side of his face and a complex chrome mechanical apparatus replacing his right arm all the way to the shoulder. He knew how the men talked about him behind his back but for someone like Graham it just added fuel to his fire.
"The Air force deployed craft to intercept and at oh seven thirty made contact with the hostile group suffering severe casualties, at current the craft are believed to be Chinese in origin carrying a nuclear payload."
"At oh eight hundred launch override codes in our nuclear weapons silos sent the bases into an automated launch procedure as part of MAD doctrine." He took a long drag from his cigar. "Try as they might our lab boys failed to abort the majority of launches leaving us with less then a tenth of our nuclear arsenal which had yet to be upgraded to the new ZAX system."
"Around this time four more waves of attack craft flew into our airspace and began bombing runs on population centers" His heart was heavy as he spoke the words already knowing well the death toll that had been wrought. "While our boys did what they could we've already lost contact with several of the outlying cities completely and believe them to be annihilated in the conflict."
"We are looking down the barrel of a global nuclear war ladies." He took a pause for a quick drag. "As such we commencing operation Lockbox" He motioned to the slide a map of the region with key areas highlighted in red. "Each of you will lead your squads in efforts to secure key points from potential enemy action"
"Power plants, water treatment facilities, and waste management are our top priorities" He looked to each of them. "While this situation may spell the end for America I'll be damned before it spells the end for our commonwealth."
"Anti-radiation, and riot suppression equipment will be provided for the duration of Lockbox in order to ensure minimal casualties" The men were just as stone faced. For many of them this was their first taste of real action, a swath of fresh faced men from the academy thrust into hell feet first. "We're already experiencing open hostilities from several of the local gangs such as the Mambas and they can not be allowed to hold key infrastructure."
"While we may have received minimal nuclear detonations the lab boys already expect a global nuclear winter in our not too distant future." He reached down to the desk, past the small guns bobble head and grabbed hold of his glass of water. "It's our responsibility to ensure that we are prepared when that time arises, and eventually once we have secured our local region to expand our influence to reclaim the remainder of the commonwealth from this chaos."
"Any questions ladies?"
"What sort of support are we expecting to see from the capital" One of the lieutenants spoke up leaning down onto his chair with his hands between his legs.
"We lost contact with the Capital at ten hundred hours due to sabotage of the telephone lines. Until we can re-establish contact we are on our own."
"What sort of support can we expect from local law enforcement?"
"I've been assured that we will have their utmost support in attempting to reinstate law and order around the surrounding areas, if you come across members of local law enforcement support them as much as safely possible, we're going to need every able bodied soldier we can get."
"If there really is going to be this nuclear winter what are we going to do for food, water?"
"Well that's going to be the tricky bit, ideally we'll secure factories and warehouses to provide rationed food until such a point as we can get hydroponics up and running underground." His concern was almost palpable as he took a moment to sip from his water. "I won't lie to you men, a lot of people will starve, but it's up to us to remain strong for them."
"Alright men, get your troops gathered up and move out." Graham gave a salute to the men. "We've got a commonwealth to save."
The men stood from their chairs and gave firm salutes before starting to file their way out taking their helmets with them for the road. The two power armor clad figures stepped their way out with thundering footsteps that echoed out across the tent a low murmur filled the room of voices as each officer worked through the plain in their head.
"God help us all." Graham muttered to himself before moving back behind his desk. He pursed his lips together tight setting down with a light flick given to the bobblehead. It nodded back and fourth doing its little dance on the edge of his desk.
Outside the window of the tent he could see the clouds on the horizon and deep down he feared them for he knew what they were going to bring. Death.
Outside the officers tent base was a buzz with activity. Troops marched about loading up into trucks and jeeps alike readying to head out. The armory was a constant stream of troopers heading in and coming out with gas masks and other hazmat gear.
Stood at the base of the water tower a group of soldiers were sitting back having a bit of a smoke break while one of their number lay beneath the Jeep.
"My money's on Russia" Cisco spoke with a swig from his canteen one leg lifted up on a stack of tires to the side. "They knew we were screwing them on the pipeline and something finally snapped." He held his hands together. "Next thing you know boom" He brought his hands back apart from each other.
"I'd put solid cash down on China" Redd spoke from his lawn chair grabbing a socket wrench to pass down to Edward under the truck. "They've been talking about it for years, they just finally grew the balls to commit" He leaned forward looking towards the jeep. "How long you got down there Eddy?"
"Give me five, I just gotta put the assembly back together." Ed spoke with a thick Cajun accent tinged with a bit of German of all things. He smacked the wrench against the bottom of the jeep once trying to knock the screw back into the groves. "Swear I spend more time fixing this POS then we do driving it."
Across the yard a pair of tanks thundered by. Men marched alongside them hopping up onto the treads to get themselves a ride out of camp. Almost everyone at the very least had a gas mask around their necks. Out the exhaust plumes of smog rolled up into the sky signaling that they were rolling out.
Not too far from them were the vertibirds loading up to the brim with heavily armored troopers. Folks hopped up onto the sides as the rotors spun up prepping for lift-off. Cisco couldn't do much more then watch with a smile. He was a flyboy at heart stuck in an infantryman's shoes, and he always lamented that fact.
"You got three." Jethro spoke pulling the cigarette pack from the band on his helmet. He pulled the silver wrapping off with one hand before tossing it into the bin.
"What's the good word Cap" Redd spoke grabbing back the socket wrench and pulling out a screwdriver to pass down to the man on the ground.
"Command's sending us to secure the water treatment plant on the edge of town, we're going to be meeting up with bravo for the operation."
"Oh joy we get to work with the bucket heads" Cisco spat onto the dirt before screwing back on the cap of his canteen.
"Can it Cisco they're solid soldiers" He took the cigarette from the pack and stuffed it into the corner of his mouth before flipping the lid back shut. A moment later the pack was right back on his helmet. "And that power armor makes them our best bet for getting our asses home in on piece."
"You ask me they're a bunch of fanatics who take a bit too much joy in their job." Cisco hooked his canteen right back to his hip shaking his head as he adjusted the straps on his boots.
"Admit it you're just jealous they never let you take the 45 for a spin." Redd slapped Cisco on the shoulder hard bobbing him slightly to one side. "You don't even have the training for one of those suits."
"Listen alright I'm a learn by doing type." Cisco shoved right back half falling off the stack of tires he was stood on. "Toss me in one of those toasters and give me a week or two and I'll put their kill count to shame."
"I don't know what you see in that suit." Ed mumbled knocking the oil pan just right to fit it back into place. "Thing chews through small energy cells like you chew through Insta Mash" He held his hand out from under the Jeep being handed yet another tool for the job. "The 51's a better suit in every way if you ask me."
"Yeah that's only because we're stuck using the hand me down units from anchorage." Redd shook his head leaning back in his chair. He looked up towards the sky. "Hard to fight a war when all your kit's surplus" He looked back over towards the jeep. "Hell we're still using the Ak-112's for god's sake. I get it they made a lot of the bastards but they've been out of service for over twenty years."
"We work with what we've got Redd." Jethro walked up to the hood of the Jeep and sat down his map of the region. "Don't forget until recently we were rebels, wasn't exactly like we had our own factories cranking out new gear." He ran his finger across the map before marking out a few key areas.
Ed slid his way out from under the Jeep. The entire front of his uniform was covered in grease and grime. He threw a hand out to red bringing himself in close for a quick hug before dropping his tools back off in the chest. "Should be working good as new, at least for a few hours." He wiped his hands off on the knees of his coveralls but still they were pitch black as always. "Had to replace the oil pan, drive belt, and breaks but I think she's golden."
"Alright listen up, and listen good." Jethro pressed down hard on the edges of the map trying to get it to stay into place. "We're going after the Caulwell water treatment plant" He pointed down to the center of the map. "It's only been a few hours since the bombs started dropping but we've gotten word the Mambas have already set up shop inside and killed off most the workers."
"Day just gets better all the time Cap" Cisco looked down at the map his hand held out to Redd. Oblidging he handed over a stick of bubblegum. "First the world goes to shit and now we've got to deal with a bunch of coked up junkies, why can't we let the police handle things?"
"Until things settle we are the police." Ed cut in still wiping his hands off trying to get them at least somewhat presentable.
"Bingo." Jethro nodded his head Ed's way. "We're already in the middle of a disaster, more people are going to die before this is over and the best we can hope to do is lesson that blow." He brought a matchbook out and struck it on his heel brightening the flame. "One way we do that is assuring essential services like water treatment remain online."
"The plan is to have Bravo take the front entrance and draw the majority of the Mamba's fire." He points to the main entrance. "Shortly before they kick down the front doors we'll be infiltrating through this drainage pipe." He moves his hand circling the pipe several times over. "We sneak in and thin their numbers while Bravo engages in some good old shock and awe."
"Hey Ed, Cap's tryin to tell you something, scheduled a bath and everything" Cisco offered with a smile.
"Fuck you too Cisco." Ed chuckled quietly looking over the plans. "I'm fresh as a spring daisy and you best remember it."
"The pipe should be empty, it's been out of commission for the last few months." He drug his finger across the page. "We'll come out in the back of the facility, if we're lucky they might be keeping one or two of the members hostage, if that's the case we do everything we can to secure said hostages."
"The more people we have who can actually run the place the better." Redd chimed in looking up from the plans. "Not sure how many people we have who could keep that place up and running."
"It's a small list after the bombs." Jethro confirmed before rolling up the map and tucking it back away into his pack. "We'll take the river, it should let us get in without too much risk of being spotted." He pointed to the grease monkey. "Ed, you're driving, Redd you're on point for this op, and Cisco you've got the rear"
Cisco kneeled down low to the ground picking up his shoulder mounted machine gun. It was a bulky piece of kit making use of the 10mm round but it was his baby. Painted on the side in white were the words "Make love not war" and "Peace sells, but who's buying?" Along with a collection of hash marks denoting kills made with the weapon. A fold down eye piece mounted on the side of the weapon contained a red targeting lens.
"It's party time." Cisco spoke with a smile hopping over the wall of the Jeep and into the back.
The men armed up and loaded up into the Jeep before driving out.
The road was a bumpy one worn down by constant travel from the military forces in the region. About five minutes out from the target they veered off the road and down the side of the green hill driving right down to the edge of the river.
Jethro pulled his binoculars from his chest and surveyed the area. "Looks like we've got four men on the outer perimeter watching the building, and a sniper on the second floor." He lowered the binoculars from his eyes allowing them to rest on his neck. "Pull us over by that rock formation, we're heading on foot the rest of the way."
The Jeep came to a stop in the shadow of the rock formation, each of the men hopped back out Ed shutting off the engine.
Their boots hit the mud of the river sinking down much like the tires of their ride. From their position they could look up and see the flowing water of the treatment plant constantly ebbing and flowing down to mix with the brown murk of the riverbed.
They walked along growing closer in the shadow of the facility. Ed pulled out rope from his pack and tied off a circle at the end, before passing it over to Cisco.
Cisco was a bulky man, a footballer before he joined the Provisional Military. The throw was easy as it got, circling the rope once, then twice around before throwing it with all his might. It fell down around the cliff face and a quick tug was all it took to latch it into place.
"Good work Cisco, stay frosty."Jethro patted him on the shoulder as Redd made for the rope, climbing slowly and steadily up towards the runoff pipe.
In short order the men found themselves in the mouth of the pipe. The floor was dry as a desert, unused for many months. The sound of running water flooded their ears as the other pipe spewed fourth its contents.
"Bravo this is delta, we're in." Jethro spoke softly into his radio the sound of static filling the air.
"Delta, this is Bravo, going in hot." Thuds filled the air and soon after gunfire followed. The belch of heavy machineguns the sizzle of laser fire. Explosions rocked the compound and screamed echoed about.
Redd, Ed, Jethro and Cisco made their way through the pipe coming out into a small basin within the facility a rusted ladder leading up. Redd slowly made his way up the ladder into the room. His head was on a swivel watching as footsteps echoed out in all directions.
In the door to the room a lone figure in a leather jacket stood holding the door half open with one hand his other holding a sub machine gun against his shoulder.
Redd grew closer one step at a time while drawing his knife from his boot. He crept closer, before slowly riding behind him. One hand grasped the mans mouth with a bit of cloth to silence him the other swiftly drug the blade of his combat knife from one edge of the neck to the other. Blood spurt out in a shower against the door as the man let out a gurgling scream into Redds hand.
"Shh, shh" Redd slowly lowered him down to the ground as the mans rifle fell onto his shoulder sling. Ed came up beside him and the two drug the body off to one side the cacophony of screams and gunfire covering their activities.
Jethro motioned with his hand towards the door and the group carried on stepping through the pool of viscera as they made their way further into the facility. Up ahead they could make out a collection of figures ducked behind a makeshift barricade. They were taking fire from beyond the door and had a collection of Molotov cocktails stacked up in boxes beside them.
The three stepped out to the side as Cisco went down onto one knee leveling his shoulder mounted machinegun towards the collection of gangsters. Out went a loud whistle which stopped them dead in their tracks for a moment. They spun around looking towards the group of soldiers just in time for the BLART of his shoulder mounted machinegun to tear them to shredds.
Screams filled the air as they were quickly shredded to mince falling over themselves and knocking over the boxes of Molotovs, and setting the mixture ablaze. The fire burst out coating one of the men, he began to run and scream flailing his arms as he threw himself to the ground rolling about to try and get the flames to stop.
Ed walked up beside him and with one hand putt a 9mm round into the back of his head ending his cries.
Redd and Jethro snuck their way up the stairwell to the main control room keeping their heads low as Ed and Cisco fell in watching the rear.
Redd pulled a flash grenade from his hip one hand on the door as he removed the pin. A quick chuck sent the grenade flying into the room bounding off the wall. A second later a bright flash of light filled their view and the two stormed their way in guns blazing.
They caught the men inside completely by surprise, and blinded the surviving workers in the process. Their strike was a quick precision blow that saw four men dead on the ground and one falling out an open window to his death.
Downstairs Redd and Cisco made their way clearing the building one room at a time. Like the men upstairs they were brutal in their efficiency. Blood caked their boots leaving behind a trail of bloody footprints as they carved their way through the Mambas.
Ed kneel beside one of the workers and pulled the gag from his mouth. "Don't worry, we're with the Provisional Government, we're here to save you." A friendly smile on his face as he took his knife and began cutting loose the mans binds.
A sudden explosion echoed out from downstairs along with a scream that bounded from one wall to the next. "Cap, we just lost Redd, they've got the whole downstairs trapped." Cisco's voice was filled with concern as he spoke cursing under his breath.
Jethro took off his helmet in one hand cursing his luck. "God dammit, we can't afford to lose anyone."
Ed closed his eyes for a long moment removing his cap in silence. He looked back over towards Jethro. "Cap I..."
"He knew the risks, we all did, let's just clear this place and report back to base."