They slipped across the field, staying more than thirty yards apart and low. Both were vets, both had infantry training, both knew the awesome fire power of a .50. There was safety for them in maintaining separation. If they were fired upon and one could remain unhurt they both had a better chance of survival and even if both were hit, there was better chance that one of the two would survive long enough to put out an alarm. Jack cringed as he realized how negative this thinking sounded. He also realized the most important thing now was knowing the location of the attack force. Just as they were about to turn back Jack spotted a military vehicle between two buildings on the lawn near the Hanshue compound. The two men withdrew to the officer’s home.

They had initially been inclined to use the radio when they spotted the vehicles, to get the word out quickly but agreed its use was unwise. If the sect members were monitoring the police frequencies this would only serve to alert them. They might even be able to locate Jack and Gary before they could put out the alarm or get away. It would also put the family at risk. It was better to wait and place a phone call. Jack picked up the phone in Gary’s home and called county control when they returned. He identified himself and passed on the information they had gleaned. While he was doing this Gary was busy putting his family in the car. He pointed his wife east with the car, instructed her to go to the fire hall about six miles east, park the car behind the building and see if she could open it as a shelter. He gave her his spare radio. She should use it only in an emergency. She should use the phone for any contact with County Control. He warned her to not give her position on the radio, no matter what. He would give that to county control and instruct them to give it only on the phone. In the meantime he and the chief would begin moving families out and sending them east to the fire hall. She would be the person to keep the people together till help arrived. Jack called the dispatcher, asked that his men be alerted by phone and told not to use the radios unless directly threatened. They would each be given areas around the compound to begin to clear the civilians out of the area as quietly as possible. If any of them were needed the dispatcher would call using that unit’s number plus five — this would signal to call dispatch by phone. They shouldn’t use the radio unless they were actively threatened. A call to unit eleven would be a call for all units to call in. He reminded them they had nothing to stop the vehicles, saving lives meant keeping them from attacking till help arrived.

The Handshue Sect 1

The Handshue Sect Chapter 28

The Handshue Sect Chapter 30