Roth(Hell Squad 5) by Anna Hackett Page A

awake.”
     

Chapter Eight
    “No.” General Holmes dropped heavily into a chair at the conference table in the base’s Operations Area.
    Roth nodded. “They have information on Blue Mountain Base. Our military capabilities. Our systems. Our location. Everything.”
    “Fuck me.” Marcus Steele raked a hand over his head.
    Tane Rahia, leader of Squad Three, stood silent, his face looking as though it were carved from stone.
    “The Coalition would never go for something like this,” Holmes said.
    “It sounds like Howell acted on his own. There’s no way to know how many others he sold out, like Avery, who discovered and opposed his little escape plan.” If Howell had been there, Roth would have taken great pleasure in slamming a fist into the politician’s square jaw.
    “We aren’t safe here,” Marcus said.
    Holmes planted his hands on the table’s glossy surface. “The raptors haven’t attacked the base. Not once in eighteen months. Maybe they never got the information? Roth, maybe that hard drive you found was data the aliens lost.”
    Roth didn’t respond. They all knew it was wishful thinking. They couldn’t risk lives on wishes and dreams.
    “The aliens have been hanging around the mountains, but never coming close enough to spook us off.” Tane’s voice was smooth and deep, with the hint of a New Zealand accent in it. The man’s Maori heritage was obvious in his strong face and darker skin. His black hair was pulled back in dreadlocks that would have never been code in the military. Tane, and all his squad—known as the Berserkers—hadn’t been military. Mercenaries, bounty hunters, bikers—they were all rough, badass, and damn good fighters, if a little crazy and prone to never following orders.
    “They know we’re here,” Marcus agreed.
    Holmes dragged in a breath and nodded. The man looked beyond tired. “Okay, they haven’t attacked yet…so we aren’t going to go off half-cocked and rush out of here. We need to step up the evacuation drills, make sure all the residents have it down pat. And I want all squads pulling extra shifts for recon for escape routes and alternative shelter locations.”
    “And more base patrols,” Roth suggested.
    The general nodded again. “Yeah. We have to know the second a raptor steps foot within an inch of the base perimeter.” He tapped his fingers on the table. “I’ll step up the prep work on Operation Swift Wind.”
    Swift Wind was the top secret evac and escape plan the general was working on. Roth had only heard parts of it, but his respect for the general had risen another notch. The guy was smart, and he wanted everyone in the base to make it if they had to leave.
    “Nowhere is as safe or as well set up as Blue Mountain Base,” Tane said. “It’ll be hard to find a good alternative.”
    “That’s just it, Tane,” the general replied. “The base isn’t safe anymore, but if we rush out before we’re ready, not everyone will make it.”
    “Stay here and everyone might die.” Roth knew it was what they were all thinking.
    “Then let’s hope whatever it is that’s holding the raptors from attacking keeps them at bay a little longer.” Holmes rubbed the back of his neck, then straightened. “But like I said, more base patrols, more recon, and I’ll talk to Noah. We need more drones in the air, as well. We won’t let these bastards sneak up on us. And the priority needs to be a safe alternative.”
    Roth stared hard at the other men before his gaze settled on the general. “There is one possible safe place we could go.”
    The general frowned. “Where?”
    “Avery said Howell outfitted an underground bunker. No idea how big it is, or how many it’s already holding…but it would be better than caves or burned-out buildings with no power or water.”
    The general nodded, his gaze distant. “It’s a possibility. But we don’t know where it is.”
    “South of the city, somewhere.”
    Elle, who’d been sitting quietly by a