\u201cI need eyes, dammit!\u201d\u00a0 Adam pounded a hand against a console.\u00a0 \u201cGet me visuals on what\u2019s going on up there.\u201d<\/p>\n
They\u2019d lost power in his command center briefly and that had severed the connection between him and the fighter that had been feeding them visuals of the war that had suddenly erupted on the surface.\u00a0 The generators had kicked in, now, but communications was having an issue reestablishing the connection.<\/p>\n
\u201cSir?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWhat?\u201d he snapped at Tomasi, glaring at the young woman, who cringed under his stare.<\/p>\n
\u201cSir\u2014sir, we lost Commander Cho\u2019s signal, too,\u201d she said, her voice remarkably steady.\u00a0 Brendan had taken her under his wing while she\u2019d still been in training.\u00a0 Adam knew she was fond of him.<\/p>\n
Damn.<\/i>\u00a0 \u201cReestablish it.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been trying, sir.\u00a0 It\u2019s not broadcasting.\u201d<\/p>\n
That meant one of two things.\u00a0 Either Brendan had turned the thing off\u2014not likely\u2014or it was too damaged to transmit\u2014a worse thing.<\/p>\n
The marshal took a short, quick breath and hoped against hope that it was just the link that was damaged, not its owner.<\/p>\n
Linny-pie will skin me alive if something\u2019s happened to him.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u201cI need eyes,\u201d he growled again.<\/p>\n
\u201cGround scanners are coming back online, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thank goodness for small favors.\u00a0 That\u2019s something, at least.<\/i>\u00a0 \u201cGive me a topographical of the city next to the viewer here.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYes, sir.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cStill working on audio and visuals from the squadrons.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adam shook his head grimly.\u00a0 The sooner he could get that back, the more comfortable he\u2019d feel\u2014not that there was anything comfortable about their current tactical situation.<\/p>\n
Hell, at this point I don\u2019t even know what our tactical situation actually <\/i>is.\u00a0 That\u2019s not a good thing.<\/i>\u00a0 He took a deep breath and exhaled it slowly.\u00a0 Be okay, Rachel.\u00a0 Be okay.<\/i><\/p>\n
The holographic projector buzzed to life and the lights in operations dimmed slightly for the effort.\u00a0 Adam grimaced.\u00a0 The generators weren\u2019t fully warmed up yet and it had been a bloody long time since they\u2019d tested them.<\/p>\n
Now would be the exact wrong time for them to fail.\u00a0 Which means we\u2019ve got a 75% chance of that happening.<\/i><\/p>\n
\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Hellfire.<\/i><\/p>\n
He stared at the holographic image that slowly came to life, a miniaturized model of the city in light, hovering in midair.<\/p>\n
Areas around several of the shelters had been bombed fairly heavily.\u00a0 One of the wind farms had been obliterated.\u00a0 The main power transfer station was gone.\u00a0 When this was over, most of the city would be dark for days, maybe weeks.<\/p>\n
\u201cDamn,\u201d he murmured.\u00a0 \u201cIt\u2019s like they knew exactly where to hit us.\u201d\u00a0 He took a deep breath and stared at Gabriel and Kara Forester\u2019s vineyard.\u00a0 \u201cWhat the hell is that?\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cLooks like a bomber went down on the north slope,\u201d one of the techs said.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019d know that hill anywhere.\u00a0 We used to sled on it when I was a kid.\u201d<\/p>\n
Adam felt his heartrate increase.\u00a0 \u201cTomasi, what was Commander Cho\u2019s last known position?\u201d<\/p>\n
She winced.\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2014sir, he was on that hill.<\/p>\n
\u201cHe was on that hill.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u201cI need eyes, dammit!\u201d\u00a0 Adam pounded a hand against a console.\u00a0 \u201cGet me visuals on what\u2019s going on up there.\u201d They\u2019d lost power in his command center briefly and that had severed the connection between him and the fighter that … Continue reading