Typhoon Fury (Oregon Files 12)

The lights in this building must have been connected to the ones in the factory because they were all on. It was apparently a final assembly facility and warehouse. Long rows of Kuyog drones were arrayed nose to tail in a pristine white environment. The ones at the front of the building looked complete and ready for shipment while those at the back were just missing the all-important imaging sensor.

Juan and Linc ducked low so they wouldn’t be seen over the Kuyogs and put some distance between them and the side door.

“I don’t see a back exit, do you?” Linc asked. “And I don’t think we want to go out the front.”

“Not with everybody wide awake now. It looks like I’ve got us boxed in.”

“You have a Plan B, right?”

“Plan B was the one where we leave by truck if we need to.”

Dozens of shouts and pounding footsteps outside the building made it clear that they had an army coming at them.

“Then I hope you have a Plan C,” Linc said.

Juan looked at the nearest Kuyog and nodded. “As a matter of fact, I do. But you’re not going to like it.”

“Why?”

“Because it means getting as many of them in here with us as possible.”

64

Locsin was out of his bed in the barracks the moment he heard the first gunshots. He snatched up his rifle and his radio and shouted, “What’s happening?”

“We’ve got intruders in the warehouse,” Tagaan replied. “It’s Juan Cabrillo and the black man who was with him at the shipping dock.”

During a typhoon? Locsin couldn’t believe it. “Here? He can’t be.”

“They just killed two of my men.”

“How did they get in here?”

“I can’t reach the guards at the front gate.”

Locsin went out into the corridor and saw men racing down the halls, weapons in hand. “How many are there?” If it was a full invasion, he could slow it down by blowing the tunnel entrance.

“I don’t know. So far, just these two.”

“Don’t let them out of the warehouse,” Locsin ordered. “Do you understand me?”

“Yes, comrade.”

Locsin stopped Dolap, who was running from the direction of the mess hall.

“What are you doing away from your post?” he demanded.

“I was just gone for a minute,” Dolap replied.

“Check on Beth Anders.”

“Yes, comrade.” Dolap ran off.

Locsin exited the barracks and stopped one of his top soldiers. “Take ten men and sweep the compound. Make sure no other intruders are here.”

Locsin didn’t wait for an acknowledgment. He sprinted toward the warehouse.