Chapter 4

           BythetimeRitaandIhadmadetherelativelylongtripfromtheSkyLounge,U.S.SpecialForceshadestablishedadefensiveperimeterwiththeirhangaratitscenter.

           TwominutesforRitatoputonherJacket.Oneminuteforty-fivesecondstoruntoShasta’sworkshop.SixminutesfifteensecondstoputdowntwoMimicsweencounteredonthewaytotheNipponhangar.Inall,twelveminutesandthirtysecondshadpassedsincewelefttheSkyLounge.

           Thebasehaddescendedintochaos.Tonguesofflameshotintotheskyandvehicleslayoverturnedintheroads.Smokyhazefilledthealleywaysbetweenthebarracks,makingitdifficulttosee.Thefirecrackerpoppingofsmallarmsfire,uselessagainstMimics,rangthroughtheair,drownedoutbytheoccasionalroarofarocketlauncher.Javelinsmetattackchoppersastheyscrambledintothesky,shatteringtheirrotorbladesandsendingthemspiralingtowardtheground.

           Foreverypersonrunningnorthtofleethecarnage,therewasanotherrunningsouth.Therewasnowayofknowingwhichwaywassafe.Thesurpriseattackhadsmashedthechainofcommand.Nooneatthetophadanybetterideaofwhatwasgoingonthananyoneatthebottom.

           TherewerehardlyanyMimiccorpses,andofthetenthousandplusJacketsonthebasetherewasnosignatall.Humanbodieswerescatteredhereandthere.Itdidn’ttakemorethanaglanceatacrushedtorsotoknowtheywereKIAs.

           Adeadsoldierlayfacedownonthegroundthirtymetersinfrontofmyhangar.