I started having people move into their positions as Jesse and Liz came back. She had her arm on his shoulder, he was trying hard to control his sobbing, almost choking from the effort. It pained me to see this kid, who had lost his mother just hours before, trying so hard to carry on for the sake of others.
I needed these people to be strong. Stronger than anyone should ever have to be. Some of them couldn't maintain their composure. These weren't soldiers, they were poor scared soccer moms and dad's with corner offices. I didn't fault them for being so scared they were physically sick.
The sun had almost set by the time we were ready to go. We were on the PLA's time-line, not our own. I was waiting for the right moment to strike. If I didn't act within the split second opportunity I was waiting for then all would be lost.
“On my call” I told them, “not a moment before.”
The men on the roof trained their weapons on expected targets, who had no idea we were watching them from above.
I'd only ever used a shoulder mounted rocket launcher in training, but I was good with any weapon I could get my hands on. As I lay in wait, I tried hard not to concentrate on the fires that had popped up as far as I could see. People all over the city were dieing, their homes being burnt to the ground.
I watched the disguised fed ex truck as if I were trying to move it with my mind. Waiting, anticipating, anxious for the moment when I would strike. My entire life and the lives on 60 others depended on this split second.
The door began to open, I inhaled slowly steadying my aim. I could see the Chinese officer starting to exit the vehicle. Another second, waiting for the door to be open by another foot. All time on earth slowed down in that moment, I was watching the greatest tragedy in the history of mankind unfold at a snails pace.
I pulled the trigger. The rocket screamed out of the chamber, the officer heard me fire but couldn't move fast enough. The rocket flew within inches of his horrified face. At that moment I’m sure the world had gone into slow motion for him as well. It was just the two of us watching each other, waiting for the inevitable. Neither of us could have imagined how this day was going to turn out.
He had come to destroy my world, assuming we lacked the courage and training to fight back. He had not expected the invasion to go so smoothly, everything was on track. This officer would surely be getting a promotion for his work today. Little did he know what was happening inside.
Well, he would have, had the universe not put me in this exact spot on the same fateful day. My heart was beating a million miles a minute as I watched that rocked fly toward it's target. My aim had been perfect, but it wouldn't have mattered as long as it was close. The rocket made contact and the explosion lifted the truck off of the ground. A moment later there was nothing left of that officer's body.
"FIRE! FIRE!! mow these bastards down!" I screamed into the radio, we had less than five minutes to wipe them out. If we didn't move quickly they might be able to call for reinforcements. Eight turret mounted machine guns were screaming and sending forth death from all corners of the sieged store. Jesse and three others were hurling grenades at those to close to be hit by the machine guns.
Two minutes had passed and almost all were dead, they didn't have time to even fight back. Less than ten were still alive using cars for cover. Trying in vain to return fire.
"Everyone down now! We're moving people!" I belted as I ran toward a line of rocket launchers I had set in a row, for the stragglers. "I’m right behind, get your asses down. We need to get out of here fast."
McDonnell had everyone ready to move when I got down. We broke through the front door forming a wall around those who couldn't help fight. I had known we wouldn't be able to get all of the fighters from the roof. Even with the ten RPG's I had launched while the others ran down.
We did our best not to break formation as we moved toward the RV. As we filed everyone in, we broke off to return fire using the cars for cover. We had to make sure none of them could fire a rocket or a mortar at the people in the RV.
Liz and the EMT tore through every nook and cranny looking for the keys to the bikes and the RV. We were in luck, they were all inside, unfortunately the owner hadn't been so lucky. He was found dead in the tiny bathroom.
“Get that trailer loose now!” I yelled. “If you can't find the keys forget it.”
“Got it!” Liz yelled throwing me the other keys.
“Alright,” I said “Who can handle a bike?”
“Me” said the redneck who had caused problems earlier. I gave him and two of his friends the keys.