Extinction Evolution (The Extinction Cycle Book 4) Read Online Free PDF

have been working in fear of the men supervising this facility—first Colonel Gibson, the architect of VX-99 and the Hemorrhage Virus, and then his long-time colleague, Colonel Wood. The very building you find yourself in now was built to research VX-99 long before the Hemorrhage Virus made it out of a top-secret lab on San Nicholas Island.”
    “You’re telling me Colonel Wood was involved, too?”
    Kate nodded. “The paper trail continues to climb the ladder. We can prove that General Kennor knew about Colonel Wood’s involvement, and that he continued to allow him to supervise the science division of Operation Extinction.”
    All trace of civility disappeared from Ringgold’s face. She narrowed her eyes and glanced at Smith, who shook his head and said, “I’m sorry, Secretary Ringgold.”
    “Madam Secretary, I can assure you of one thing. Master Sergeant Beckham and Team Ghost have done everything in their power to stop the Variants since day one. Many of them have given their lives to save our country and protect Plum Island,” Kate continued.
    A moment of realization passed over Ringgold’s dark brown eyes. “Master Sergeant Beckham saved me from Raven Rock, but he’s still part of the military that brought our country to its knees. If what you say about General Kennor is true, then the new commander, General Johnson, could be just as dangerous.”
    Kate recalled the name. He was the General who had explained Project Earthfall. He had also been one of Kennor’s confidantes.
    “Madam Secretary, if I may,” Kate said.
    “Go ahead, Doctor.”
    “General Johnson may very well be in on the VX-99 program, but we’re running out of time to defeat the Variants. I need help coordinating the production of Kryptonite with other countries. That means contacting other labs and having access to confidential information. You heard Colonel Wood on the tarmac. He didn’t want to deploy the weapon worldwide.”
    Ringgold nodded. “I remember.”
    Kate took a moment to think. There had to be someone out there they could trust. “How well do you know President Mitchell?”
    “My experience with Mitchell has always been from the other side of the political aisle. He’s a difficult man to deal with, but maybe I can talk some sense into him. Problem is, he isn’t in control of the military, or Operation Extinction.” Ringgold looked toward the ceiling. After a brief pause, she added, “I need some time to analyze this information. This is a lot to take in.”
    “Wait, Madam Secretary,” Kate said, raising a hand. “I know what it’s like to feel as though you can’t trust anyone. I’ve been there, but I promise, you can trust us. And you can trust Beckham and his men. We’re almost out of time to save the human race, and I desperately need your help.”
    Ringgold held Kate’s gaze, searching for something. Kate wasn’t sure if Ringgold found what she was looking for.

-2-
    F itz slept fitfully that day. He woke at three in the afternoon to what sounded a lot like a gunshot. Sitting up in his bunk, he rubbed at his eyes, then scanned the mostly empty room. The muscular outlines of several Marines and Rangers slept in bunks across the barracks. After so much violence the night before, the silence was eerie.
    Chow sat on a bed a few feet away, chewing on a toothpick and cleaning his scoped M4.
    Fitz rubbed his eyes again and said, “Did you hear a gunshot?”
    Chow stopped chewing and flicked the toothpick to the other side of his mouth. “When?”
    “Never mind, must be hearing phantom noises again.”
    Chow went back to cleaning his gun, and Fitz took a trip to the bathroom. When he returned to his bunk, he changed into his uniform and grabbed his MK11. His orders were to man Tower 4 for the afternoon and the evening. There were more battles to be fought today, but the firefight with Wood’s men had taken another piece of Fitz. He was still in a mild state of shock. That was to be expected; after all, he