The Tide: Breakwater (Tide Series Book 2) by Anthony J Melchiorri Read Free Book Online

treatment to help those that are already suffering from the disease. In fact, if we can start a working relationship with you to accelerate our efforts and build off of the decades of research already out there, we might develop a cure within a few months.” She paused for a second and thought better of overpromising these developments. “That is, if we’re lucky.”
    “I appreciate your input, Dr. Winters,” Shepherd said. “I’m afraid we have to patch in General Kinsey now, but I look forward to working together.”
    Lauren took the headset off and handed it back to Chao. Instead of leaving, she leaned against a nearby desk.
    “You really think we’ll find a cure?” Chao asked.
    “Truthfully, I don’t know. I hoped Detrick knew something more than we did.” She scoffed. “And if they didn’t, I thought they’d at least know who in the United States might have a better idea of how we should deal with the Oni Agent.” Lauren pinched the bridge of her nose. “If I’m being realistic, if we don’t find someone to help us, I’d say our chances are about as good as the Skulls miraculously recovering on their own.”
    ***
    D om drummed his fingers on the conference table. The conference phone clicked. He’d watched the faces of the scientists and researchers seated around him when Lauren gave her sitrep regarding the current state of research aboard the Huntress . This was the first time he’d heard that prions caused the neurological deterioration leading to the Skulls’ destructive instincts. Judging by the expressions of those around him, it was the first any of them had clearly understood what had sent the United States into a perilous nosedive straight to hell.
    He had thought rendezvousing with Meredith and his daughters in the middle of Skull-infested Maryland had been an arduous task. The odds had certainly been stacked against him. But that terrifying journey seemed like climbing over the berm in his family’s backyard compared to Lauren’s Everest-like objective of finding a cure.
    “Looks like we have a connection,” Jackson said as the clicking finally stopped.
    “General Kinsey, sir, do you read?” Shepherd asked.
    “I do,” Kinsey’s baritone voice crackled through the conference phone. “First, I want to thank you all for your service to this country in our time of need, especially as I lead the efforts to organize the United States military in response to this crisis.”
    “If I may speak freely, what exactly does that mean, sir?” Shepherd asked.
    Dom admired the man for his brazen question. He too wanted to know where the hell the military was. When he and the Hunters had flown in from Annapolis, they’d seen only destruction and chaos, pluming smoke and rampant Skulls.
    “It means we’re ordering anyone we can contact to fall back to defend vital assets such as the Pentagon and high-value targets in metro areas.”
    “What about civilians, General? Are there any shelters, secure evacuation routes, a response from FEMA?”
    “I’m afraid we don’t have those kinds of resources,” General Kinsey said. “As it stands, we’re unable to organize widespread evacuations. We’ve been performing drone sweeps over populated areas, and so far the visuals are bleak. Spreading our forces too thin is a recipe for certain failure when the entire nation has been turned into a weapon against us.”
    Dom reeled. He already knew that the situation was desolate out there, but he hadn’t considered it in those terms before. The citizens of the United States had become a living, breathing weapon against their homeland. Even as they defeated the Skulls, they annihilated their own people.
    “I understand, sir,” Shepherd said. “If your priority is bolstering high value installations and targets, when will we receive reinforcements? Our current scientific operations are in jeopardy if we can’t keep these things out of our base.”
    “You already have elements of the 82nd’sFirst