The destruction doubled every twenty-four hours, spreading outward from numerous zero-points, and the loss of human life was staggering. Only four weeks in and already Portland and San Diego had been lost, with Los Angeles wavering on the brink along with other cities. Seattle was one of them. Yet there remained lives to be saved, people trapped inside the urban centers, desperately needing relief and rescue. They needed heroes. They needed salvation from above. “Tacoma, this is Bluetail. Drop was on-target, preparing for next run.” “Roger, Bluetail. Be advised, Rodeo King is inbound to your location.” Jake Fowler nodded and consulted the small clipboard strapped to his right thigh, holding a map of metropolitan and suburban Seattle, covered in pencil markings. “Tacoma, suggest that Rodeo King make his run up I-5 into downtown, heavy concentration. Tell him not to clip the Needle.” A chuckle in his headset. “Will pass it on, Bluetail.” The weather report called for scattered cloud cover and overnight temps dropping into the fifties as this part of the Pacific Northwest eased deeper into fall.
