Wasteland Rules: Die Fighting (The World After Book 4) by J.G. Martin

now.” Rora replied quickly.
“Let’s go. We don’t want to give anyone else an opportunity to pick up the
core.”
       “All we need are the GPS coordinates.” Lieutenant
Daniels told Rora as he gestured for his men to mount up.
       “Head west out into the desert, I’ll give you the
exact coordinates as we get closer.” Rora answered coolly.
       “Okay, have it your way.” The lieutenant chuckled
as they climbed into the SUV. “We have a deal; I’m not going to screw you
over.”
       “Rule #24, don’t share anything you don’t need to.”
Rora quoted to him.
       “Whose rules are those?” The young lieutenant asked
inquiringly.

Chapter 6
    El Paso, Texas
    September 12, 2029
       The convoy exited El Paso and headed through the no
man’s land that surrounded the N.R.T. The N.R.T. maintained a buffer that was
kept clear of brush and obstacles and constantly patrolled. Sensors marked the
border and warned of anyone entering without permission. Beyond that was the de
facto demilitarized zone between Aztlan and Texas. But everyone knew that the
Rangers and the Aztlan paramilitaries operated in that area all the time.
       The lieutenant and Rora spent the next hour or so
of the drive debating the rules and their merits. The young man seemed
particularly opposed to most of them on the basis that they wouldn’t work in an
organization, especially if everyone seemed in it for themselves. Derek knew he
was right, but the rules were for survival in the dog eat dog world of the
wasteland. Not the civilized confines of the N.R.T. But they were young and it
meant he didn’t have to talk, so he tuned them out and focused on the task at
hand.
       They were very likely heading into a trap. The
trick was to spring the trap without warning the would-be trappers that you
were on to them. Then you could capture a few and find out who sent them and
why. Maybe it would help him get a handle on who the traitor was inside NASA.
Someone seemed to be one step ahead of them in revealing where they were going
to be and why.
       While the other two were talking, Derek quietly
asked the Voice to scan the area they were approaching. He instructed the Voice
to look for any activity like tire tracks or disturbed dirt or sand. It was
pretty remote, so the odds of someone else being out their randomly were very,
very slim. The Voice also checked for communications or electronic signals in
the vicinity.
       “No communication signals on any frequency Major.
But I did find an impact crater and tire tracks to and from it.” The Voice
informed him. “It looks like someone else got there first.”
       “How many vehicles?” Derek mumbled.
       “Looks like just one.” The Voice replied. “The
tracks lead into Deming, I lost them once they hit hardtop.”
       “Thanks. Check out Deming for any activity.” Derek
requested quietly.
       “Did you have something to add Major Storm?” The
lieutenant asked.
       “No, just talking to myself.” Derek replied calmly
and pretended to go to sleep.
        They arrived at the impact site roughly twenty
minutes later and it was exactly as the Voice had said. Everyone got out to
inspect the site and the Rangers fanned out to search the area. The lieutenant
carried a USAS-12 CQ automatic shotgun, but the rest carried M-16s or M-249
SAWs. They operated in teams of four with every fourth man carrying the SAW.
The Rangers took up defensive positions around the SUVs and the crash site
without needing instructions.
       It quickly became obvious that the core wasn’t
there. Only an empty impact crater that looked entirely too large to be caused
by something as small as a computer core. Derek pointed out the tire tracks
heading north northwest. The tracks looked like they had been made by a single four
wheel drive vehicle with oversized tires.
       “Looks like someone was here first.” Derek
ventured.
       “How is that possible?” The lieutenant asked.
“Nobody