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

Battalion,” Kinsey said. “And soon enough, you won’t need reinforcements. We’re ordering the immediate withdrawal of all armed forces—including your command—from your area with orders to join us in establishing an FOB in Washington.”
    Dom couldn’t restrain himself. “General Kinsey, with all due respect, I fail to see the logic in abandoning Fort Detrick at a time when a biological weapon is wreaking havoc on those you’ve sworn to protect.”
    “Who am I speaking with?” Kinsey said with disdain.
    Shepherd held a hand up to prevent Dom from speaking up again. “I apologize, sir. I should’ve explained earlier.” He briefly gave an overview on Meredith, Dom, and the Hunters.
    “Far be it from me to turn down the sage advice of a government contractor,” Kinsey said when Shepherd finished. His voice dripped with derision. “Maybe you should be doing my job.”
    Dom shared a look with Meredith. Since he’d cut his formal ties with the government long ago, he’d forgotten about the egos driving many of those in power. Even the lowly CIA analysts he’d worked with were staunchly defensive when given any degree of criticism. Little kings and their little kingdoms , Dom thought. Still, he decided to try a different tack. “I apologize for my brashness, sir. My crew and I are more than happy to offer our service.”
    “If you want to help, you can assist in Fort Detrick’s evacuation,” Kinsey responded.
    Dom’s face turned hot. He curled his fingers until his knuckles turned white but willed himself to remain calm. He understood the general’s difficult position of leading the military forces of a tattered and desperate nation. But he resented the man’s stubborn lack of respect.
    “Sir, this is Meredith Webb representing the Biological and Chemical Warfare Defense division of the Central Intelligence Agency. My primary interest is in the eradication of this bioweapon and identifying the culprit responsible for its development and subsequent outbreak. Are there currently any plans in development to counteract the bioweapon?”
    Meredith had always been the more diplomatic of the two in their working relationships. Dom hoped she might have better luck convincing the man to be more sympathetic toward their cause.
    “We do have a plan. As soon as we have reassessed the strength of our military, we will launch an operation to retake our cities one by one.”
    Commander Shepherd arched an eyebrow. “I’m sorry, sir, what do you mean?”
    “I believe our best option for survival is to eradicate each and every one of the infected. We’ll kill every single goddamn Skull we find.”

-7-
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    D om was no stranger to taking another’s life when the need arose, and he had certainly inflicted his share of casualties on the Skulls. But relying solely on the brute force of firepower and soldiers on the field was the wrong way to respond to the outbreak. Such an action would be risking the lives of the men and women in service along with the lives of those civilians caught in the crossfire.
    “Your scientific findings confirm the CDC reports I saw before they went dark,” General Kinsey said. “When a few head of cattle get Mad Cow Disease, the whole herd must be put down. We need to destroy all hosts of this so-called Oni Agent.”
    Dom couldn’t believe the General’s best plan for reestablishing security in the United States was to essentially commit genocide against its people. Yet something else bothered him. “Sir, I have one more question.”
    General Kinsey’s voice seemed to drop an octave, laced in venom. “One more, Captain Holland.”
    “What happens when the Oni Agent returns? What happens if we don’t find the source, the group, or country responsible?”
    The line went silent for several seconds.
    “When our mission is successful, we’ll secure the borders until the disease is eradicated globally,” General Kinsey said.
    “Excuse my bluntness, but it