Them-2 - Chapter 19

Chapter Nineteen – Bowling Green, Kentucky, USA

“Everyone into the Bradleys!” Huck commanded. They were still riveted to the news on television. Helicopters from Fort Campbell were attacking the giant ants from the air. As the gunships swooped over the area surrounding the mall, the deadly rain of lead tore the ants to pieces. Within minutes, piles and pieces of ant carcasses were scattered everywhere. A huge mound of ant body parts littered the parking area and the roofs of the mall complex.
As the helicopter gunships moved out from the mall, they took on targets of opportunity that the pilots spotted in the open streets below. Unfortunately, there were many areas where civilians were hiding among the ants, in cars that had not been attacked yet, behind strong brick walls, and other protection that would not last for long. The pilots had orders not to engage the ants as long as humans were present.
Huck could hear the damage and feel the vibrations from the ants on the roof. They would be inside the building within minutes.
“The Bradleys are as close to the building as they can get.” First Sergeant Brett stood next to the exit door. “There are also ants out on the street.”
Huck thought for a second.
“Do the Bradleys have the power to push through the building walls?”
“Brett nodded his head.”
“Tell them to slowly push their way inside the building when I give you the signal. We’ll have everyone in the next room ready to load into the Bradleys as soon as they’re inside. When we’re all accounted for, we’ll button up and wait for further developments.”
Huck explained the plan to everyone then motioned for First Sergeant Brett to signal the Bradley crews. Within seconds the outer walls of the lab begin to crumble in as the rear ends of the Bradleys pushed through the stubborn concrete and wood. They halted inside the foyer area. Huck pushed aside several boards and roofing material and everyone scrambled into the safety of the Bradelys. As soon as they were secure, they could see several ants through the firing ports. They had made it just in time.
“Take us to the airport,” Huck ordered. “We can call in transportation from there to evacuate the scientists to a safer location.”
The Bradleys slowly moved out into the streets. There were not as many ants in the roads as before, they had evidently spread deeper into the city in search of prey. Half a mile later, they spotted a woman and man trapped inside a van. The ants must have overlooked them in their eager search for food. The van had lettering on the side that indicated it was a news van. They were waving frantically at the Bradleys.
Huck ordered the driver to stop. As soon as the hatch was open, several infantrymen ran out to keep watch for ants. Huck rushed over to the van and motioned for them to follow him. The smell of gasoline was strong in the area. Evidently, the gas tank had been punctured and the smell was what kept the ants away. The attractive young female in the van continued to sweep the area looking for ants. Huck rapped on the van window and signaled with an angry motion for them to get out and follow him to the Bradley.
The door finally opened and both occupants rushed out. “Get in the Bradley!” Huck yelled, spotting one of the insects crawling down a building and heading in their direction. The infantry soldiers opened fire and tore the charging ant to pieces before it reached them. A strong smell of formic acid permeated the area. They made it back inside the Bradley before several other ants got close.
They could hear the scraping and clacking of the ants as they climbed over the Bradleys. Huck told the drivers to continue towards the airport. The ants lost interest as soon as they figured out they could not penetrate the skin of the vehicle. One ant slid off the Bradley in front and was crushed under the treads of the second Bradley.
Huck looked around. The news reporter was still shaking from fear. She was snuggled up to Tappy who was consoling her.
“FOX News,” the man stated, holding out his hand to Huck. “I’m Josh Shepherd, cameraman. We thought for sure we were goners. Thanks!”
Huck could practically smell the fear emanating from the man.
“Huck la Roche.” He nodded in the direction of the reporter.
“Alicia Bentley,” Shepherd answered his nod. “She’s with me at FOX. Ants got one of our technical people before he could make it back to the van. It was rather ugly. She’s kind of shook up.”
“She has a right to be,’ Kayle chimed in. “Those things have been ripping through cars like they were Swiss cheese. You were more than lucky, someone up there is looking out for you.”
“Why wasn’t the public told about these monsters?” Shepherd asked.
Huck gave Tappy and Colonel Grace a knowing look. Despite their efforts to get the authorities to cooperate, word was never disseminated to the public. Many people had died as a result.
“Have you heard anything more about the Capitol?” Huck asked, changing the subject.
Shepherd took a deep breath then let it out slowly. “Last word was that the creatures are on a rampage in D.C. just like here. The lawmakers have taken safety in the tunnels beneath the Capitol complex. Paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne were delayed when they saw on the news what happened to the soldiers out at the mall here. They figured that armored vehicles were needed. It was reported that several mechanized infantry units from the National Guard were on their way to rescue the Senators and Congressmen. The President is aboard Air Force One. Some say he’s on his way to Nantucket Island.”
“Any additional sightings?” Tappy asked.
“One in Toronto and one in a small town in Alberta, Canada. Several in Mexico, and at least a dozen around the United States including Chicago, Atlanta, Nashville, Memphis, and as far west as Sacramento.”
“Tappy shook her head. “They’re spreading even faster than my computer simulation. Within a few days there will be several hundred more sightings and in a few weeks, thousands.”
As they progressed through the eerily quiet streets they saw the incredible damage the ants had done. Vehicles were split or pealed open, storefronts demolished and ominous blotches of red was smeared everywhere. They occasionally saw the grotesque body of an ant ripped to pieces by heavy rifle fire, but these were few in numbers.
“I have my Brigade Commander on the radio,” the Bradley driver stated. “He wants to talk to Agent la Roche. Colonel Fuller,” the driver stated, handing the handset to Huck.
“How are you and your men, Colonel?” Huck asked.
“We’re down in the mall basement. The gunships are keeping the creatures at bay at the present time and we’ve kill those that managed to break through the roof. Is Doctor Schmitt and Doctor Gallagher with you?”
“That’s affirmative. We also have their families, Colonel Grace, a TV crew, and the Bradley soldiers with us.”
“Ask Doctor Schmitt what she thinks will be the creature’s next move?”
“He wants information,” Huck stated, handing the handset to Tappy.
“They will continue to forage throughout most of the day,” Tappy told the Colonel. “They should return to their nest at sunset to roost. I highly recommend you keep your men in the basement area until then. After dark, it should be safe enough to move from the basement and go to the airport if you have transportation available to get them out of the area.”
“We can’t leave the area until it is safe for the civilians. Our mission is to protect them from these creatures.”
“The ants have already won, Colonel. They will continue to forage off the city until there is no food left. You already know your men do not stand a chance against them in the open. Without armor protection, it would be suicide. Your only hope is to call in your armored units. They may be able to destroy this nest if they can prevent the ants from foraging. When the ants become desperate for food, they will try to expand their hunting area and you can kill them as they make their way back to the nest site.”
“We cannot leave the area until we receive orders. Most of our armor and mechanized units are overseas,” Colonel Fuller sighed. “The National Guard and Army Reserves will have to be deployed.”
“I suggest you get on the radio to the authorities and have that done immediately. It may be difficult since many of the National Guard members will be reluctant to leave their families in fear of these creatures. This is a battle on our own soil, Colonel. We do not know where and when the ants will appear next.”
“Ask him if he can arrange transportation out of the area?” Huck asked.
“It’s a mad house back at Fort Campbell,” Colonel Fuller replied. “All of our air assets have been deployed. Nashville is under assault by the creatures and half our manpower had been diverted down there. Memphis and Atlanta are also screaming for help. Luckily, resources from Fort Benning and Fort Polk can assist. I will try to get a chopper for you from Campbell.”
“Permission to retain the Bradleys until air transport arrives?” Huck asked.
“By all means Agent la Roche. Let me talk with First Sergeant Brett?”
Huck passed the handset to the driver and told him that the Colonel wanted to talk with Brett, who was in the lead vehicle.
“He’s got to know that he doesn’t stand a chance without armored protection?” Tappy looked at Huck. “If the ants make a concerted effort to break through to them in the basement, they will eventually be slaughtered. Ants are willing to sacrifice hundreds, even thousands, for the good of the nest.”
Huck nodded. He was aware of the Colonel’s situation but there was nothing he could do about it.
“We’re making a beeline straight to the airport,” the driver stated. “The news choppers still circling report that runways and terminal is swamped with ants.”
Twenty minutes later they broke through a chain link fence and drove out onto the airport runway. As they neared the small terminal they could see several passenger planes sitting on the tarmac ready for take off. Unfortunately, half a dozen ants were crawling over them trying to force a way inside. One of the planes had deep gashes slashed into the outer skin with several ants working diligently to expand the holes. It was no longer safe for flight. The passengers inside looked terrified, as well they should be.
“Any way we can help?” Sergeant Smith pointed at the damaged plane.
“Firing at the ants will only exacerbate the situation,” Huck replied. “Not only will the rounds penetrate into the passenger cabin and kill the passengers, they will act like a can opener for the ants.”
As they watched, the second plane started to take off down the runway. As the speed built up the ants clinging to it were blown off. They cheered as the plane took to the air and started a banking move to climb higher. At lease one of the planes had made it.
The terminal was a lost cause. They saw numerous bloody red spots and several ants creeping through the buildings. They suddenly noticed a military transport heading in their direction. It was a C130 Hercules, the air workhorse of the military. There were no ants on the plane.
“Hercules pilot said they have coated their plane with diesel,” the Bradley driver stated. “Keeps the ants away. They evidently don’t like the smell. Pilot says if we can get rid of the ants he may be able to take the passengers on board.”
“Get us closer to that plane,” Huck smiled. “I want you to take aimed shots at the ants that are not actually on the plane, but do not get too close to the plane. Perhaps we can draw them from it to us. The ants don’t know they can’t get through our armor. As they come to us, quickly back up until we pull them away from the plane. Perhaps the passengers can then make a dash to the safety of the C130.”
“Pilot says he has several open drums of diesel. He plans on making a circle around the damaged plane pouring the diesel out. Hopefully that will keep the ants away.”
The Bradleys pulled in close to the plane and started hosing the ants around it with machine gun fire. Within seconds they were all torn to pieces. The three remaining ants on the plane moved off and headed for the Bradleys, which appeared to be an easier prey. The Bradleys rapidly backed up taking the ants with them.
They backed into a support angle and as the ants drew near, the Bradley weapons tore the ants to pieces. They quickly drove back to the damaged plane and positioned themselves to destroy any ants that headed out onto the tarmac.
The Hercules made a quick circle of the plane pouring diesel on the cement, then signaled for the commercial pilot to open his doors and release the passengers. As soon as the doors were open, the tail ramp of the C130 was lowered. Around seventy passengers poured from the damaged plane and rushed to the safety of the C130. As soon as they were all inside, the tail ramp was quickly lifted.
The pilot of the C130 waved to the Bradley crews as he taxied out onto the runway to take off. They had managed to prevent a bloody massacre. They watched the plane until it was in the air and headed towards Fort Campbell.
“Get on the horn and advise the military not to send transportation to pick us up until after dark,” Monday ordered the driver. “By then perhaps these monsters will be in bed sleeping.”
“Radio message,” the driver replied, looking at Huck with wide eyes. “The ants have broken into the Capitol subway system. The Congressmen and Senators are under attack.”