Operation Phoenix: MAUL's Road Trip, Part II

        by Most Holy, mostholy@nextsrv.cas.muohio.edu

        The G-Team was now completely assembled and on the road again. It was 
a bit cramped in the G-Team van, what with Most Holy's Harley being lost 
in the explosion, but they were making good time and hadn't had an incident 
in the two hours since they left. Apparently the only member of this group 
with any strategic sense had been Half Holy, who had taken to the treeline 
behind the station and fired off several RPGs. The other Holys had mourned 
his loss while he had snuck up behind them, subsequently pickpocketted 
each of them, stole Most Holy's tobacco and lighter and rolled himself a 
smoke. At the sound of the lighter, Quite Holy had turned around and 
screamed. The others had dropped down and drawn weapons. Most Holy, the 
git, had drawn, aimed and chambered a round before he hit the ground. 
Half Holy was musing about his over-sentimental companions when Most Holy 
pulled off the the road and into the woods, stopping about 50 feet from 
the road. Getting inquisitive looks, Most Holy only replied "all out!" 
and exitted.

        The rest of the G-Team piled out, grabbing what weapons they 
could, and Most Holy began covering the van with a camo tarp. He then 
explained what was up.

        "For the last eight kilometers we have been followed by a blue 
sedan with plate numbers B4RN3Y. We may then assume that our enemy knows 
our approximate position. From here out we go on foot; It's guerilla 
warfare now folks, so I hope you've read your Mao."

        "If they know where we are, Most, why haven't they attacked?" 
questioned Quite Holy.

        "I'm not concerned right now with why, I'm concerned with how. As in 
how we're going to do this.

        "When we get out of this Forrest Preserve, we head towards Lafayette. 
Our destination is Chicago. My plan is to get to Lafayette and find 
transportation. This means that we have about a one-hour hike to the edge 
of the forest and..."



        The G-Team was now resting in an '83 Chevy Impala- all except 
Most Holy who was driving. He was thinking about how easy this was; they 
had crept into Lafayette, Indiana and hotwired a car; No disturbances 
whatsoever, No X'hirjq around. They were about a half-hour from Cook 
County, the Greater Chicago area. And there was no resistence.

        Having entered the city, Half Holy awoke and turned on the radio- 
appropriately, AM only- to 780, one of the news stations. The commentator 
was going over safety precautions and repeating US-Gov't party line:

        "The alleged invasion by quote monster lizard men unquote is as 
of yet unconfirmed by the UN, although the nation was brought up to 
defcon 2 today. All citizens are encouraged to remain in their homes and 
not to travel outside unless absolutely necesary. Again, the alleged 
invasion by..."

        "Great," mumbled Half Holy at the commentator, "The powers that 
be aren't even telling these people what's up. Typical."

        "Okay, we need to set up a base of Operations. Ideas?" asked Most
Holy.

        "If everyone is supposed to be staying in their homes, I suggest 
we take to the Merchandise Mart. It's big, it's on the El tracks, and its 
by a major thouroughfare. They'll never find us in there," Posited Un 
Holy, having just woke up.

        "Good idea. It's also by the River, so we have multiple escape routes.
Good thinking," commended Most Holy as he turned off Lake Shore Drive 
onto the expressway.

        There, in the middle of the road, was a X'hirjq soldier, about 
8'5" and not looking pleased. It wheeled around to face the oncomming 
Impala; Most Holy considered swerving but that was impossible; he 
accelerated and the masive vehicle plowed into the X'hirjq, lifting it 
off the ground and throwing it about 20 feet. The car, still running but 
sufficiently trashed, tore to the right, going airborne, and dealt the 
X'hirjq a fatal blow with it's rear end. The car hit the ground hard and 
skidded, throwing up sparks and screeching.

        The G-Team slowly crawled out of the wrecked car, their survival 
a testament to it's makers. The dying X'hirjq lay crushed on the road, 
clutching some sort of device to it's neck. It made contact and the 
X'hirjq was incinerated, nothing but dust spread into the wind.

        This was a new development, thought Most Holy, as he and the 
G-Team unloaded the car and made their way to the Mart. There was no 
further resistence and Half Holy could not shake the feeling that 
something was wrong with this, that the last battle had been too easy.

        They arrived at the Mart unceremoniously, loading what weapons 
they had and just walking in the front door. They decided to head for the 
7th floor, which was the headquarters for the Chicago Transit Authority. 
The group figured correctly that the floor would be empty, as at the 
first sign of danger the, uh, workers had fled. They had access to CB, 
shortwave radio and of course AM/FM/TV. Half Holy began to search the 
frequencies for info as the rest of the group prepared the area, 
remodelling it into a suitable base of operations. Most Holy was speaking:

        "Im thinking that due to the nature of the X'hirjq attack, 
guerilla warfare would be quite effective. If we can figure out their 
commuinications and disrupt their supply lines, we can lay the foundation 
for victory. But we need info. Half Holy, do you have anything yet?"

        "Not yet, oh wait- heeeere we go. Listen:"

        "...denial by the government is not only amoral but potentially 
deadly. I have seen these creatures! They're preparing something big, I 
could sense that. I noticed that they have disagreememts alot. Like uh, 
down on Belmont street, this ugly one went up to attack this punk right, 
and the guy was so obviously trashed outta his skull on something, I 
dunno, anyways this group of lizard dudes comes up and tears the crap 
outta the first lizard dude. Man. Something is not right here..."

        "Interesting. Okay, we're done setting up, let's start kickin 
some ass. First we isolate this building," began Most Holy, to be cut off 
by Half Holy: "No, man, there are people out there dying from these scum. 
We start in the city, in the heart of the city. We walked in here, man. 
If they were gonna kill us they would've by now. And Im sick of waiting. 
Let's go. Now. That last encounter was luck; it was too damn easy. Let's 
move."

        Half Holy started moving towards the stairs, Not and Quite Holy 
following. Most and Un Holy had nothing else to do, Half Holy was being 
his usual insubordinate self. So they followed.

        Outside, the wind was picking up and blowing trash through the 
empty streets; Not entirely empty, for looters were about, but no real 
traffic. The heavily armed group began down one street and up another, 
hoping to find some sign of this invasion. Half Holy began stopping every 
now and then, looking around. Quite Holy noticed this, and figured 
(correctly) that his senses were picking up something she, and the rest of 
the G-Team, was missing. She was looking under a pickup truck when it 
happened.

        "What the fuck?" was all Un Holy could say as twenty X'hirjq 
dropped down from the side of the building they had been clinging to. The 
largest came forward as the others surrounded the Jihaddi and glared down 
at Most Holy.

        A thought entered Most Holy's mind, he knew not from where:

        [Today is your day to die.]

To be Continued...


All material copyrighted by the original author.