Read LZR-1143: Evolution for Free Online Page B

blinked slowly off the coast of Massachusetts. Four more blinked off the coast of North Carolina, Georgia, Florida and one in the Gulf of Mexico.
    “We’ve got naval assets up and down the coast, and we’re doing what we can, but there are so goddamned many of these things, and every city we firebomb is a drop in the bucket. Bottom line is, we got very few survivors showing up, and every report we get is of more infected overrunning safe points. Every city we haven’t torched has strongholds filled with normal people. Uninfected people. Wilmington, Norfolk, Charlotte, D.C.,” he pointed at yellow markers on the maps.
    “They’ve all got schools, prisons, and military bases filled with people who knew where to hide or hole up or were just plain lucky. People are surviving this thing. They’re working together, banding together. We just don’t have a way to stop this damned infection from spreading.” He shook his head, clearly frustrated.
    “Now, every day, we lose more coms with folks. Don’t know if they’re alive or dead. The repeater towers are going down, and the satellites aren’t pinging correctly. Our satellite imagery is for shit, and the only way I can get good pictures is with my recon birds. And gas is too damn valuable to send them out unless it’s necessary. So here were are.”
    He slammed his huge hands on the table top for emphasis, his voice angry.
    “Slowly destroying the very cities we swore to protect when we joined up. You can’t fucking ask me any question I haven’t asked and answered already. I can’t stand this bullshit, but I do it anyway. I will tell you one thing: if I had a way to end this shit right here and right now, I would take it in a heartbeat.”
    I nodded, understanding what he felt. I desperately wanted to share what we knew. But I couldn’t.
    Not yet. Not until we were sure.
    I spoke softly, my voice breaking slightly. It was really hot in here.
    “You get no quarrel from me Captain. You’re doing what needs to be done. Take it from me. We saw these things up close. There’s no reasoning, no tactics. They aren’t people anymore. If they’ve taken a city once, it will belong to them forever. Nothing is left but to burn it to the ground.”
    I could see Kate nodding slowly. I wasn’t sure if she meant it, but I’m glad she picked up on his emotion. Didn’t want to irritate the man, that’s for sure. Particularly in light of our peculiar circumstances.
    Staring at the map, the colors blurred in my eyes again. I shook my head, ignoring it as an effect of staring at the bright lights for too long.
    “Mind me asking where we’re headed?” I asked. I leaned against the table, feeling tired again.
    He nodded, pointing at a green star on the coast of the Chesapeake Bay.
    “First order of business is a recon and assessment of Dover Air Force Base,” he said, pointing at the map. Dover blinked green. “ Lost contact with them only a few hours ago, and they have some airlift flights returning in about 7 hours en route from Iraq with equipment and men. At least 12 C-5’s packed with useful assets. Due to arrive in 7 hours, and we suddenly lost contact. I got 2 SEAL teams briefing now, and raring to have a crack at these things and I’m inclined to oblige them. We’ll wait for first light on that, but the thought of losing an air base is not attractive. We have flights of men returning from overseas every hour, and we need that manpower.”
    “While the SEALs are doing that recon, we’re going to push up the Bay. Ordered to rendezvous in Annapolis for a rescue op. Some brass holed up in the academy that needs extraction, and we still own the academy. At least we did last time we had secure coms with them, a couple days ago. Ultimate orders are to reinforce the Pentagon from outside Baltimore harbor. D.C. is crawling with the bastards, but since command and control is still operative from the Pentagon, we’re going to support with air power when we can. Com has