Read First Strike for Free Online

He also tried to hunch up and appearshorter than he really was. The guard opened the barrier and let them walk into the base.
    As well as several outbuildings and workshops, there was an administration block and a large hangar. Chance set off for the hangar. In the dying light of the evening he could see grass growing through the concrete slabs that made up the roadway. The whole place looked run down and dilapidated. Some of the admin block windows were boarded up, and the doors to the hangar looked like they were rusted open.
    â€œI don’t think our passes will allow us into the main silos and more secure areas,” said Mr Chang.
    â€œThere’s hardly anyone here,” Chance pointed out. “The place has been all but abandoned. With luck we can be in and out again before anyone even notices. Or if they do, no one will miss them for a few hours.”
    â€œSounds easy enough,” Mr Chang agreed. “And the guard at the gate is obviously not expecting any trouble. He says most of the troops were moved out a few weeks ago, and he thinks the rest of them have been forgotten and left to rot.”
    â€œHe may well be right. I doubt anyone else ever comes here.”
    They reached the hangar and went inside. There was aguard standing beside a large, metal door with a locking wheel.
    â€œLooks like that’s where we want to go,” said Chance.
    The guard was walking towards them, gesturing angrily and shouting. Mr Chang shouted back, but the guard didn’t seem impressed. He advanced on them, rifle at the ready.
    â€œHe says this is a restricted area and only the base commander and duty guard are allowed in here,” said Mr Chang, quietly.
    â€œDon’t worry,” Chance told him. “Let me explain.”
    As soon as the guard was within reach, Chance grabbed the end of the man’s rifle, ripped it from his grip, swung it round and slammed it into the guard’s head. The man dropped silently to the floor.
    â€œI think he got the message,” said Chance. He checked the soldier’s pulse, and then slung the assault rifle over his shoulder. “Sorry about that,” he murmured.
    It took both of them to heave open the heavy metal door. On the other side, a metal stairway led down into blackness. Mr Chang handed Chance a torch, and produced another one for himself from his jacket pocket.
    â€œThank you, Mr Chang. You think of everything. Now, let’s see what’s downstairs.”
    Up above ground, more unexpected visitors were arriving at the base.
    The first visitors were three children. They crouched in the darkness just off the main road, watching the guard at the gate.
    â€œWe’ll never get past him,” said Jade.
    â€œThe place looks pretty run-down, but the security fence looks intact,” said Rich.
    â€œThink Dad’s in there?”
    Rich nodded. “Oh yeah.”
    â€œThink he needs help?”
    â€œDoubt it.”
    From behind them came the sound of approaching vehicles. Rich, Jade and Yoshi drew back from the roadside as lights cut through the darkness. Two massive army trucks were rumbling towards the base.
    The guard was standing in the middle of the road, in front of the wooden barrier. In the glare of the headlights, Rich could see that he looked confused, worried and surprised.
    Then he dived to one side as the front truck picked up speed—heading straight for the gate. The truck crashed through, the second truck close behind it. The first truckkept going, towards the distant hangar and admin block. The second turned in a wide arc and stopped.
    Uniformed figures leaped from the back of the second truck. The guard from the gate was running towards them, shouting, his rifle levelled.
    He was still shouting when the newcomers opened fire. The guard was thrown back by the impacting bullets.
    The other side of the gate, in the near-darkness, Yoshi tugged at Rich’s sleeve. His face was pale with fear. He said