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Authors: Stephen Knight
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want to deal with it, either way. “We need to get on the SATCOM. And I also want to know what the hell is going on downstairs. It’s great that Rittenour rigged the stairs, but someone still has to detonate the charges before those things make it upstairs.”
“Roger that. You want that done now?”
McDaniels shook his head. “Negative. Let’s get someone to take a peek downstairs.” Through the windows, he saw that the sun was setting, and the concrete canyons of New York City were growing dark and cold. “I don’t want to attract any more attention than necessary, but it might be worthwhile to see if the zeds have forgotten about us.”
“One of the doors was open downstairs, major. There could be some of those things in the building with us. Maybe we should send some more guys with you? Just you and another swinging dick can take out a few deadheads, but what if you hit the mother lode and you run into a few dozen? Or a few hundred, even?”
McDaniels shrugged. “Not much anyone can do about it,” he said. “We can’t leave the Safires unguarded, and even if I did bite the big burrito, that doesn’t mean all chances at rescue come to an end. Hell, for all we know, the Air Force and CIA are moving every satellite and UAV they have over Manhattan right now, just looking for us.”
“For him, you mean.”
“Yeah. For him.”
Gartrell nodded. “I’ll take care of checking the lobby personally. Leary should go topside with you. I’ll take Rittenour. We’ll leave the Safires here with the Night Stalkers — they should be able to keep them out of harm’s way for the time being.”
McDaniels frowned. “I don’t want all the SF troops off the floor, just in case there’s a breach.” He looked over at the gaggle of soldiers sitting before the barricaded glass entry doors. “Night Stalkers, any of you guys up for a run to the roof?”
Finelly got to his feet. “I am, sir.”
“Then hit the latrine or whatever it is you might need to do now, because we’re going to be gone for a while.”
“Roger that, sir.”
Gartrell unslung his big AA-12 and handed it to McDaniels. “Since it’s only two of you, take the shottie. It’s got tungstens loaded up, so you should be able to blast anything that comes your way to hell and back. I’ll take your M4 for the time being.”
McDaniels hefted the AA-12. It had been a while since he handled one, and he liked how it felt. Especially now. He handed his assault rifle to Gartrell.
“Not really a fair trade, but I’ll take it. Thanks, Gartrell.”
“I’ll go over the detonation sequence with Ritt to make sure I can do the job in case the zombies get inside,” Gartrell said. “I still remember my demo training, but it’s been a while. It would be a shame to mess it up after not being up to bat for so long.”
McDaniels nodded. “If anyone can do it, you can, first sergeant. Lord knows you like blowing stuff up.”
Gartrell gave him a wan smile, but that was it. McDaniels gathered up the SATCOM and looked at Finelly.
“Are you ready, sergeant?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then let’s get this done and get the hell out of here.” McDaniels waved for the other soldiers to remove the barricade in front of the fire door.
###
The stairwell was still brightly illuminated. McDaniels checked the landing above, while Finelly checked the one below. Gartrell and Rittenour stepped out onto the fifth floor landing, weapons at ready. McDaniels, Gartrell, and Rittenour conducted their radio checks, with Leary serving as their primary point of contact. As he was from a different unit, Finelly couldn’t communicate on the same frequency, and used his handheld PRC-90 radio to maintain contact with the other Night Stalkers. If something went down, they would relay that to Leary, who would reach out to the other SF troops.
“Take it easy down there,” McDaniels said to Gartrell. He nodded toward the stairwell leading down.
“Hell sir, our climb’s nothing
“Roger that. You want that done now?”
McDaniels shook his head. “Negative. Let’s get someone to take a peek downstairs.” Through the windows, he saw that the sun was setting, and the concrete canyons of New York City were growing dark and cold. “I don’t want to attract any more attention than necessary, but it might be worthwhile to see if the zeds have forgotten about us.”
“One of the doors was open downstairs, major. There could be some of those things in the building with us. Maybe we should send some more guys with you? Just you and another swinging dick can take out a few deadheads, but what if you hit the mother lode and you run into a few dozen? Or a few hundred, even?”
McDaniels shrugged. “Not much anyone can do about it,” he said. “We can’t leave the Safires unguarded, and even if I did bite the big burrito, that doesn’t mean all chances at rescue come to an end. Hell, for all we know, the Air Force and CIA are moving every satellite and UAV they have over Manhattan right now, just looking for us.”
“For him, you mean.”
“Yeah. For him.”
Gartrell nodded. “I’ll take care of checking the lobby personally. Leary should go topside with you. I’ll take Rittenour. We’ll leave the Safires here with the Night Stalkers — they should be able to keep them out of harm’s way for the time being.”
McDaniels frowned. “I don’t want all the SF troops off the floor, just in case there’s a breach.” He looked over at the gaggle of soldiers sitting before the barricaded glass entry doors. “Night Stalkers, any of you guys up for a run to the roof?”
Finelly got to his feet. “I am, sir.”
“Then hit the latrine or whatever it is you might need to do now, because we’re going to be gone for a while.”
“Roger that, sir.”
Gartrell unslung his big AA-12 and handed it to McDaniels. “Since it’s only two of you, take the shottie. It’s got tungstens loaded up, so you should be able to blast anything that comes your way to hell and back. I’ll take your M4 for the time being.”
McDaniels hefted the AA-12. It had been a while since he handled one, and he liked how it felt. Especially now. He handed his assault rifle to Gartrell.
“Not really a fair trade, but I’ll take it. Thanks, Gartrell.”
“I’ll go over the detonation sequence with Ritt to make sure I can do the job in case the zombies get inside,” Gartrell said. “I still remember my demo training, but it’s been a while. It would be a shame to mess it up after not being up to bat for so long.”
McDaniels nodded. “If anyone can do it, you can, first sergeant. Lord knows you like blowing stuff up.”
Gartrell gave him a wan smile, but that was it. McDaniels gathered up the SATCOM and looked at Finelly.
“Are you ready, sergeant?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Then let’s get this done and get the hell out of here.” McDaniels waved for the other soldiers to remove the barricade in front of the fire door.
###
The stairwell was still brightly illuminated. McDaniels checked the landing above, while Finelly checked the one below. Gartrell and Rittenour stepped out onto the fifth floor landing, weapons at ready. McDaniels, Gartrell, and Rittenour conducted their radio checks, with Leary serving as their primary point of contact. As he was from a different unit, Finelly couldn’t communicate on the same frequency, and used his handheld PRC-90 radio to maintain contact with the other Night Stalkers. If something went down, they would relay that to Leary, who would reach out to the other SF troops.
“Take it easy down there,” McDaniels said to Gartrell. He nodded toward the stairwell leading down.
“Hell sir, our climb’s nothing
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