“SIR, THIS IS NOT A DISCUSSION" #zombie #book2 #apocalypse #axiom

“You guys are nuts!” One of the flight crew interjects.

Anxiousness sets in to see who or what it is that is attacking their home. They begin to load the machine guns on top of the vehicle. Jayce oversees the situating of the vehicle. He is no longer their friend, but their commander. A member of the flight crew approaches Jayce, who has climbed up onto the side of the Stryker to help Ben load the machinegun in the turret. He tugs at Jayce’s pant leg.

“Captain Granger, Sir?”

Jayce looks down at the man.

“What?”

“Your presence is requested in the cockpit.”

Jayce climbs down and enters the cockpit. Harris informs him that the tower is not granting them permission to land. Just as Harris finishes, Granger’s phone begins to ring once again.

“Soldier, I gave you orders to carry out your mission.”

“Sir, our mission was to stop the attack before it happened. It’s discernable that we failed.  Sir, we’re returning to retrieve you, stay in your office!”

“DO NOT RETURN TO THE BASE! THEY ARE TRYING TO EVACUATE, IT IS NOT SAFE! THAT IS AN ORDER, CAPTAIN!”

“SIR, THIS IS NOT A DISCUSSION, and Sir bring the letter.”

“GRANGER!” the Colonel yells as Jayce hangs up the phone.

Jayce picks up the radio in the C17, “Tower, this is Captain Granger, I have control of the plane. We are on a deviated rescue mission, and will be landing!”

“It’s not that we go out looking for a fight." #zombie #book2 #apocalypse #axiom

Harris turns back around, pulling on the controls to turn the plane around. Jayce returns to his unit, who are strapping their gear down to them, preparing for battle.

Major Harris enters the cargo hold as Jayce is rallying his unit, “Granger, I will go with you and your unit. I know where the other pilot lives.”

“Cooper, you stay with the plane. If it moves before we get back, put a bullet in them.” Jayce orders Adam.

Harris looks over at Ty concerned.

“It’s what we do. We never lose and we always have a contingency plan for anything.” Ty shrugs with a smile.

Without argument, Harris returns to the cockpit to ensure the rest of his crew understands the same.

“We’ll unchain the Stryker before we land, I want everyone inside before we stop moving. Once the plane slows down enough, we’ll go show them what kind of training we have.” Jayce clarifies.

Jayce then orders the flight crew to raise the cargo ramp before the plane comes to a stop to prevent whatever is attacking the base an opportunity to board the plane. The flight crew looks at Jayce’s unit in disbelief. They ask if the unit always goes out looking for a fight.

“It’s not that we go out looking for a fight. . . we just never back down from one.” Ben swiftly explains.

“Captain, I need to get Anne.” #zombie #axiom #book2

The men’s faces are cold and unemotional, not a single hand is raised.

“ALL OF YOU THAT WANT TO GO HOME AND FIGHT?”

Before he can finish, the entire unit stands.

“I’LL GO INFORM THE CREW WE NEED TO TURN THIS BIRD AROUND!”

Jayce reenters the cockpit, and informs the flight crew that they are going home to fight.

“Sir, let me remind you of your orders.” Major Harris starts.

“Major, you have two choices. You can help, or my men and I will take control of this plane.” Jayce interrupts. Harris looks past Jayce to see Paul and Ty standing right outside the door of the cockpit, ready to back their commanding officer. The flight crew, fully aware of what Granger’s unit is capable of, know they do not stand a chance against them. Harris explains that he is not against it, he just needed to state what concerns some may have. Jayce replies that when they touchdown, his team will go out in the Stryker and gather up Stan and any other survivors they may find. He orders the flight crew to stay on the plane. Harris pleads for Jayce to allow him to retrieve his family. The copilot asks the same for his live-in girlfriend. Jayce allows it, as he knows that if he had any family here, he would do the same.

“Captain, I need to get Anne.” Jayce hears Pat’s voice behind him.

“MEN, OUR HOME IS UNDER ATTACK!" #zombie #book2 #apocaclypse #axiom

“CAPTAIN GRANGER, SIR!” Jayce is woken up to one of the co-pilots shaking and yelling at him.

“WE NEED YOU IN THE COCKPIT IMMEDIATELY!”

Confused, Jayce follows the co-pilot into the cockpit. The pilot closes the door as Jayce passes through the doorway. He looks down at his watch, as they have only been in the air for an hour.

Major Harris turns around. The expression on his face is one of obvious distress.

“Sir, bases everywhere are coming under attack, including ours!”

Their conversation is cut short as Jayce’s satellite phone rings.

“Granger, the base is under attack. You need to finish your mission. That is an order! It is not safe for you to come back. Do you understand?” Jayce hears Stan’s voice on the other end.

“Yes sir!”

The phone goes dead. The pilot questions Jayce as to the contents of the phone call. Jayce explains that his orders are to carry out their mission. He then leaves the cockpit without a word to the flight crew, and enters the cargo hold with authority that his men have only seen in combat.

“MEN, OUR HOME IS UNDER ATTACK! WE HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO CONTINUE WITH OUR MISION. OUR FIRST MISSION IS TO PROTECT AMERICAN SOIL. IT’S UP TO YOU. I WANT A SHOW OF HANDS. ALL THOSE THAT WANT TO GO TO THE SANDBOX?”

“This is Major Harris" #thezombies are coming #zombie #book2 #axiom

Ty has gathered the attention of the rest of the unit. Andre is the first to ask what Ty is talking about. Jayce hesitates, not wanting to detour from the mission, then decides that not informing them of his resignation now will be a larger deterrent. He begins explaining of his meeting with the Colonel and his reasons for his decision. Expecting backlash from his men, he is surprised to receive his unit’s full support.

The intercom crackles, “This is Major Harris. I will be your pilot on this wonderful flight to the desert. Please keep your arms and legs inside the ride at all times. Should you have any needs, please consult the inflight stewardess. The flight crew, who had taken their seats closest to the cockpit, laugh and shake their heads. The sense of humor from the pilot brings a smile to the somber team. Thoughts of the undead, however, still linger in the back of their minds.

The loud hum of the engines drone out every other noise in the plane. The aircraft jerks as it departs from its parked position and begins to taxi down the runway. It sways as it moves towards the end of the tarmac. They feel a shutter as they lift off from the ground, and then the ride grows smooth. Jayce signals for his men to get some sleep and pulls one of the ear buds out of Ty’s ear. He places it into his own and begins to nod off to sleep.