Garen hadn’t realized it at first, but this was the first time in a long time he had been in a HMMWV. The last time didn’t work out so well. He had high hopes this time would work out better. The signs weren’t good for that however.
The route he was taking had run into a few detours so far. Unfortunately, the last two were man made. Kara had spotted them soon enough they could bypass them, but the activity was troubling. The detours kept pushing them farther and farther south, away from the direction they wanted to go.
Some of the storefronts they were passing had obviously been looted. The looting was bad enough, but there were also some bodies around them as well. This was giving Garen some serious flashback potential. He was reminded of Baghdad in 03, and New Orleans after Katrina.
They rounded another corner to find a rope or cable stretched across the road between two rows of cars lining each side of the street. Kara spun around and found a truck had pulled out behind the SUV and trailer, closing the distance rapidly. There was no place to turn around, and no good place to turn. Kara hopped on the radio at this point, since there is no reason to keep trying to sneak when you’re in an ambush, they know you are there so you might as well communicate!
“Buffy! Inbound on your six!”
Garen was already doing calculations in his head to see if ramming the cable was an option. His eyes were darting frantically trying to find what it was attached too. What he found wasn’t good. Somebody had been doing their homework. The cable had been tied to the telephone poles on each side with cord. He knew it would snap, but the cable went from there to the line of cars on both sides. That were chained together. If he rammed the cable trying to snap it, it would just pull free and leave him trying to drag six more cars down the road. It was basically like an aircraft arrester gear: too much flex to break, and too heavy to tow. He had a plan though. He screamed up to Kara.
“Hold on, this could get hairy!” Then he keyed his mic. “Buffy, I’m going to get us some running room, maybe. Give me a moment, but be ready for a ground fight if I **** this up!” Garen punched the accelerator after shifting down to low. The big vehicle surged forward. He knew this was exactly what this trap was set up for. He also knew most people wouldn’t think after hitting the wire.
“Kara! Keep an eye to the sides for goblins trying to chock the wheels or something!”
Garen was going to hit the wire enough to engage the wire. This should snap it free from the poles. The next part was the big if. He would then stop and back up a bit to get the cable to drop, then, they could drive right over it and escape. With his solution so easy, they had to have some sort of contingency for that though.
He hit the wire with enough force to pop the strings. He carried forward enough to feel the HMMWV slow as the dead weight of the other cars took hold. This would be where most people would stomp the gas. Garen hit the brakes. As he was throwing the big machine in reverse Kara screamed.
“Goblins left and right! I have the right, you got to get the left!” He voice was punctuated by the booming of the 12 gauge.
Bekka knew this had been too easy. They had detoured a few times, but this all collapsed now. Kara’s call had started a cascade of events, many not good but necessary. Bekka pulled her shotgun onto her lap, ready for use as her eyes scanned for targets. Allyson meanwhile had one of the more unfriendly duties. She pushed a full load of Narcan into Angelique’s IV to negate the pain drugs. They didn’t want something to happen and Angelique be out and unable to defend herself. This was one of the lessons and plans modifications after the AAR from their last patient evacuation. She was going to hurt bad, but not be a complete sacrificial goat.
Bekka saw figures moving on the other side of the line of vehicles as Garen’s voice came over the radio. She saw the HMMWV move forward and stop. She barked a warning over the radio.
“Goblins behind the vehicles.”