I guess it is time to walk into the scary woods. Let's see how it goes

Agent Fallon has arranged assault teams with members from several federal, state and local agencies to conduct a simultaneous raid on both of the compounds. Since he is still in New York, he is returning to watch and direct from the EOC located at the 12th precinct

Beckett and Castle are waiting in the war room for Fallon's arrival at the station.

"Detective Beckett, Mr. Castle, The time has come to get this started. We are almost ready to move on both compounds." Fallon reports as he enters the area

"Agent Fallon" Castle questions,"I was wondering something. Have you interviewed the neighbors of these people? Talked to the residents of towns close by?"

"We have had them under surveillance for some time now. The group has kept to themselves mostly for several years now. Not bothering anyone else. A representative from group would go into town for supplies about once a month but oddly enough no one has seen any of them for about 6 weeks now."

"Did you get any intelligence from the fly over?" Beckett asks

"No in fact, they saw nothing. Nothing at all. There was no movement that could be seen from the air at either camp. We figure they knew the drones were overhead and they simply were hiding out away from probing cameras until the drones were gone.

The monitor speakers crackle with activity and the video monitors change from screen slides carrying the logo saying "Department of Homeland Security" to images from cameras located with the forward advanced team's vehicles

Fallon looks toward the monitors "I looks like it's almost show time everyone" as he turns to stand closest to the main pair of monitors

Castle, Beckett, Ryan, Esposito gather close to Fallon. The balance of the members of the EOC team is slightly farther away but everyone's eyes are on the screens that are now active.

The speakers come alive and they hear

"Team 1 ready"

"Team 2 Ready"

"Team1, Team 2 this is quarterback. You are a go. I repeat you are a go"

The EOC group watches the monitors as they see cameras start to move. It is apparent that the cameras are mounted to vehicles of some type as the images are shaking quite violently as they progress from a concrete surface and turn down a gravel road

Fallon interjects "Team 1 is in New Mexico and Team 2 is Texas"

After a very few minutes there is communication "Team 2 to quarterback. We are approaching the perimeter fence."

"Quarterback, understood"

The EOC group turns its attention to watching the monitor for the Texas team. They can see a fence in the distance

"Team 2 we are approaching what appears to be a guard shack" What they are refering to as a guard shack looks more like a modified travel trailer

"Team 2 Approach very carefully. We have intl that they are well armed and are ready for a direct attack"

"Team 2 understood"

Castle notices that something is off. Looking at the imagery he comments "There are no other vehicles at the entry gate. "Guys! Shouldn't there at least be a car or other vehicle for the guard to be in?"

Esposito responds "Not necessarily. The guard on duty would be transported out to his post then be picked up later when he is relieved. No vehicle would be left at the gate"

Then they hear the radio traffic from the group n New Mexico "Team 1 to quarterback. We have reached the first fence line. We see no movement or any activity. Also we are hearing no electronic traffic from inside the camp. It appears they are dark"

"Team 2 to quarterback. Our camp appears to be dark as well"

Castle looks over Esposito "Javi, what do they mean? They are dark?"

The former sniper responds "This means that there are no electronic signals emanating from the camps. No two-way radios, no cell phones, or other electronic devices that would normally be sending out signals. Nothing at all"

"Isn't that a little odd?" Rick questions "If they were expecting us. Wouldn't they be communicating that we are coming? Reporting to the others what was happening out side?"

Fallon looks over at the former military "Esposito. You have tactical experience. What do you make of this?"

"If I were our field commander and I am hearing no radio communication reporting that we are there then I would be expecting a pre planned counter action. An attack designed to catch us completely unprepared. It would be set to be launched when ever we reach some particular point inside the compound. A place where they can catch us in crossfire. Something like when we reach a specific location on the main street, they commence the attack. I recommend we move slowly and pay close attention at every dead end for traps and be very sensitive to roof tops for snipers"

"Esposito pauses for a moment. "Can you have the drones do a fly over again using Infra Red?"

"Hang on just a second" Fallon picks up a microphone from a radio below one of the monitors that no one had noticed before "Quarterback this is press box, do you copy?"

"Press box, we read you. Go ahead"

Quarterback, can you have a flyby checking for heat in the stadium?"

"Will do press box. Stand by for results. Quarterback to Teams 1 and 2. Proceed slowly but when approaching edge of compound, hold positions in case we need a new game plan"

"Understood"

There is an agonizing period of silence waiting for the reposts back from the drones and the ground forces while the cameras are continuing to display the advances from the raiding parties.

Suddenly there is a crackle in the radio "Break! Break! Team 2"

"Fallon jerks his head toward the monitor for the Texas team "That is the code for an emergency"

"Team 2 go ahead with emergency traffic"

"Team 2 Andromeda! I repeat Andromeda"

"Team 2 can you confirm Andromeda?"

"Affirmative"

"Team 1 we also can confirm same here"

"Team 1 you can confirm Andromeda?"

"Team 1 Affirmative. Andromeda here as well"

"Fallon grabs the microphone "Quarterback this is press box. Call the game. I repeat call the game. Report flyover as soon as it is complete"

"Understood press box. This is quarterback to all teams stand down. I repeat stand down. Return to start point and hold"

Castle looks over to Fallon "Agent Fallon. Did I hear what I think I heard?"

"Yes Mr. Castle. It would appear so" Fallon grabs his phone and dials a number and then steps away from the group

Beckett and the rest of the precinct are just looking at the man with questions on their faces

Kate looks at her husband "Rick, what is going on?"

Castle looks at the DHS agent before answers "Kate did you ever see the movie the Andromeda Strain?"

"No I can't say that I have. Why?"

"In the movie a spy satellite called scoop captures a tiny particle of space dust and returns it back to earth. It fails in its reentry and lands near a town called Piedmont. But before it can be picked up and taken to a secure lab, the town's people open it and everyone dies because of a virus contained in the dust particle. I think that is why DHS is using that code word. Something is bad wrong"

During Rick's conversation with the team, the camera on each lead vehicle continues to scan the area. No movement is seen on either monitor.

Suddenly the radio crackles and everyone turns toward the speakers as if they need to see what is said and not just hear it

"Quarterback this is over watch. The areas scanned are both void of life. I repeat there is nothing emanating heat signatures in either camp except our people"

Fallon is walking back toward the group. He takes the radio and speaks into the microphone

"This is press box. Message understood. Leave cameras and break off teams. Send in the CDC teams and set up level 5 containment perimeter surrounding the camps"

Castle is still looking at Kate as Fallon answers "It appears the separatists may all dead. The team in Texas saw a body near the gate. It was partially decomposed, but they said it looked like smallpox. When the group arrived at the main compound, they found bodies. Lot's of bodies. Bodies covered in pox. Since there are no heat signatures it looks like they may have all contracted the disease and are dead."

The group all stand in stunned silence

Mark Fallon is staring at the screens that are now displaying the cameras left for surveillance

"They are Dead! They are all dead!"