Xenofall (The Wasteland Chronicles, Book 7) Read Online Free PDF Page A

84.”
    “Absolutely not,” Makara said. “On moving people here, I mean. Let them stay in the Bunker for now. At least they’re safe there.”
    “They won’t be very safe without power,” Michael said. “The Bunker can only run so long without a spaceship to power it. It’s time that they moved here. It’s the only long-term option.”
    Makara sighed, thinking for a moment.
    “This is something we’ve been putting off,” Michael insisted. “We need to do it. I guess they could stay in 84, but we’d have to commit one of our ships there to power the place.”
    “They should still have enough power for now,” Makara said. “After Bunker One, we can set that plan into action, but I’m going to need you at the Bunker. It could be dangerous, and you’re a good shot.”
    “That works, I guess,” Michael said.
    Makara turned back to the table. “We’ve got Samuel, Ruth, Michael, and me. We need one more to go to Bunker One.”
    “I’ll go,” Julian said.
    Makara gave him a glance before acquiescing. “Alright. That’s our five.”
    “What about me?” I asked.
    “You’re staying here,” she said. “We’re not risking you again. I don’t know why I let you into the Great Blight earlier, but you’re out of action until we’re ready to attack.”
    “If I’m out of action, I actually will die. Of boredom.”
    Makara shook her head. “I’ll take that chance.”
    Anna didn’t even have to ask what her job was. As it was in Skyhome, she was supposed to keep me out of trouble.
    “Alright,” Augustus said. “Makara, Samuel, Ruth, Julian, and Michael. I think we have our team.”
    “I think that’s as settled as it will ever be,” Makara said, pushing back her chair.
    “We’re not done, yet,” Augustus said. “We still need to plan the attack.”
    Makara paused, sitting back down. “Right. What did you guys come up with?”
    “More agreeable now, aren’t we?” Carin Black asked.
    Makara’s mouth twisted. “Yeah. If that’s what you call it.”
    Carin smiled pleasantly. Well, I guessed he probably thought it was pleasant.
    “We did a head count of my troops and Augustus’s legions,” Carin said. “Together, we have about eight thousand. Not a lot when you’re talking about all the Radaskim, but far more than should have survived that battle.” Carin licked his lips before continuing. “A thousand of those are my men, armed to the teeth and well-trained. Seven thousand are Augustus’s.” Carin gestured to Makara. “Of course, let’s not forget the two hundred you’ve graciously brought to the table, Makara.”
    “You’re welcome,” Makara said.
    “Mobilizing the men can be done today,” Carin said. “We can leave the city limits by tomorrow morning and begin our push into the Great Blight. Resistance will be light, at first, but we expect it to get heavier the farther we go east.”
    Carin had our full attention. His tactics were the reason he rose to power in Los Angeles in the first place. As much as Makara or Anna hated to admit it, he knew what he was talking about, even if he was despicable in every other way.
    “As Augustus has already said,” Black continued. “The point isn’t victory from this engagement – it’s merely to draw Askala’s forces and attention away from the Crater. I have my doubts about that. If Askala is half as smart as you guys say she is, she’s going to leave plenty of defenders behind – enough to make getting inside close to suicide. But I digress...”
    “Get to the point,” Makara said.
    “Here’s the point: we still have nine nukes left in Bunker 84. We can use them to clear the way.”
    Now, that I hadn’t expected.
    Black went on. “We could launch the nukes at some key targets in the Great Blight. Xenoliths that seem to be communication hubs. Maybe some of the larger gatherings of swarm movements. And, right before you guys land...”
    Black made a gun gesture, followed by a pow.
    “What’s that supposed to