Dead America The Northwest Invasion | Book 4 | Dead America-Seattle [Part 2]

and whip zombie ass on Mercer Island,” Dixon began, lowering his hand. “However, I think we’d all like to know exactly why we are going on what amounts to a suicide mission? I think knowing how we fit into the grand scheme of things would help to motivate us.”
McCarty crossed his arms, eyes blazing. “Doing your job and surviving should be motivation enough, Private!” he snapped.
“Private Dixon is right,” Kersey cut in. “It doesn’t seem fair to drop you right in the thick of things, outnumbered eight hundred to one, and not know why. Plus, it’s not like we have to worry about the mission details falling into enemy hands.”
There was a ripple of chuckles, albeit nervous ones.
Kersey took a deep breath, clasping his hands in front of him. “In a nutshell, you are going to be turning Mercer Island into one giant decoy,” he explained. “Once it’s secure, we are going to be moving in hundreds of men and equipment to drum up as much noise as possible so that the zombies on both sides of the mainland will come to the waterfront. This is not only going to make life a whole lot easier when we start moving in the main force from the east, but will also greatly reduce the potential they get overrun by a massive horde.”
The soldiers glanced at one another, nodding in approval.
“Knowing some of these boys like I do,” Dixon piped up, “I can safely say we’ve all been called worse things than decoys before.”
The room erupted into laughter, with even McCarty cracking a smile.
The roar of planes landing behind them cut through the air, and the Sergeant raised a hand, whirling it above his head, snapping back into work mode.
“Sounds like our ride, boys!” he barked. “Let’s start getting suited up!”
Kersey straightened his shoulders. “Be safe out there,” he declared.
There was a loud, emphatic chorus in the affirmative, and he gave them an appraising nod. He stepped to the side to allow them to get ready, but caught Herrera’s eye and waved for him to come over.
“Yes, Captain?” the Corporal asked as he approached.
Kersey leaned in, lowering his voice. “Wanted to check with you and see how our problem child is doing?” he asked.
“Gilbert?” Herrera replied and shook his head. “He’s still pouting a little from being demoted, but he’s doing what I tell him to. Might have a little lip behind it, but he complies.”
Kersey nodded, brow furrowed. “You know if you have any issues with him…” He let the insinuation hang in the air, and the Corporal playfully gave him a finger gun.
“Don’t worry sir,” Herrera assured him, “he’s put his last person in danger.”
The two men turned to see Private Dixon zipping around to the other men in the squad, helping them with their packs and giving words of encouragement, sometimes making them laugh.
“What do you know about Dixon, there?” Kersey asked.
Herrera shrugged. “Only been with him the last couple of days,” he admitted. “Seems capable enough for a grunt.”
“Looks like he has the trust of the men,” Kersey pointed out. “Not an easy thing to get.”
The Corporal smirked, a twinkle in his eye. “I don’t know, I found it to be pretty easy.”
“Well, not everybody gets to beat down a superior officer after they endanger the unit,” Kersey shot back, and they shared a small laugh.
McCarty glanced over and pursed his lips. “Corporal, are you waiting on an invitation to join this excursion?” he demanded. “Because if you so require it, I can send a runner out to find a silver platter with which I can deliver one to you.”
Kersey waved a hand at the creative Sergeant. “That’s my bad, Sergeant,” he admitted.
“Appreciate it, Captain,” McCarty replied. “Corporal, you will be riding in my plane so that we may have a talk en route.”
Herrera glanced at Kersey, who gave him a playful thumbs up in apology. The Corporal scratched the back of his head and then walked over to get geared up.
Kersey headed out of the hangar, looking at the planes being refueled before glancing back at the soldiers he was likely sending to their deaths. He took a deep breath, swallowing hard before heading back to his office.

CHAPTER TWO
The planes soared above the darkened landscape, carrying the soldiers heading to what could be the last battle of their lives. In the rear plane, McCarty shifted and adjusted his headset, picking up a second one and handing it across to Herrera so they could speak over the loud noise.
“Can you hear me, Corporal?” he asked when his subordinate slid the headset over his ear.
Herrera nodded. “Yes, sir.”
“Good,” the Sergeant replied. “Now from what I understand, you recently got a field promotion.”
The Corporal nodded again. “Yes sir, a few days ago during the Spokane assault.”
McCarty looked him up and down and then raised his chin. “Normally I like having experienced men as my second in command,” he began, “but Captain Kersey seems to think you’re up to the task despite your inexperience. I’ve heard other soldiers whispering about how you got your promotion, but I want to hear it from you.”
“Not much to tell, really,” Herrera replied, and inclined his head to Gilbert. “The former Sergeant here shit the bet, got a few good soldiers killed, and I had to step up.”
“Is that all?” McCarty asked, furrowing his brow.
The Corporal swallowed hard, and lowered his gaze. “I… may have sucker punched him and threatened to shoot him after his ignoring of the orders killed a couple of my friends,” he admitted.
McCarty cracked a smile. “Well, I’d like to think if I pulled the same kind of nonsense he pulled,” he said, “you’d deal with me accordingly.”
“You can take that to the bank, Sergeant,” the Corporal replied firmly, meeting his superior’s gaze.
McCarty nodded. “Good,” he replied, “I like having no nonsense people working with me.” He cocked his head and raised a finger. “I am curious about one thing, though.”
“What’s that?” Herrera asked.
“Why are you insistent on bringing