Drone Threat Read Online Free

wolves. But instead of rounding them up, they were killing them. A half dozen bodies already lay scattered on the ground as the rest fell in a dead run, one by one.
    The captain’s grin grew wider.
    Pearce grunted with rage and launched at the captain, aiming his skull at the Turk’s jaw. But the captain saw it coming and clocked Pearce across his ear with the butt of his pistol and Pearce crumbled to the steel floor, knocked out cold.

3
    Pearce awoke when Luckett dropped him into the plush leather seat. His head throbbed with a splitting headache, and his eyes blinked in the harsh cabin lights of the Bombardier 5000.
    â€œHe’s back with us,” Luckett said over his shoulder, a worried look on his unshaven face. The turbines whined as the engine power increased.
    Rowley dashed over. He lifted each of Pearce’s eyelids, checking for dilation. “You better get that noggin checked when we land, but I think you’re okay for now.”
    Pearce stood up on wobbly legs. The plane was already rocketing down the tarmac.
    â€œWhoa, boss. We’re taking off. Better sit down and buckle up,” Luckett said as he plopped into his own seat and strapped in. Rowley did the same.
    Pearce pushed past both of them, steadying himself with the leather headrests as the plane angled steeply into its climb. He made it to the front of the cabin and fell into a chair facing an open console attached to the bulkhead. It was a remote-control station. He pulled on the headphones and dialed up Ian.
    â€œIan, you still there?” Pearce powered up the computer monitor and pulled out the sliding keyboard and joystick.
    â€œTroy! Thank heavens. It’s good to hear your voice. I was getting worried. Your men filled me in. I’m sorry for what happened. I didn’t know what to do.”
    â€œThere wasn’t anything you could’ve done. Please tell me you tracked those dickheads back to their rat hole.”
    â€œAre you at the console yet?”
    â€œJust opened it.” The computer monitor flicked on. Another ghosted image appeared, but this time it was a small village. A crosshair was fixed on a large building. Several trucks were parked outside, still glowing from the engine heat.
    â€œWhat am I looking at?”
    â€œThat’s where they all ran to ground. The whole stinking lot of them.”
    â€œAny civilians inside?”
    â€œNone that I’m aware of.”
    Pearce flipped a few more switches. Seized the joystick.
    â€œIan, I need you to log off.”
    â€œTroy, I don’t think that’s a good idea—”
    â€œNot asking your permission. Sign the fuck off now.”
    â€œTroy—”
    â€œI’m trying to protect you. Now do as I say or I’ll fire your ass.”
    There was a brief silence as Pearce armed one of the two Hellfire missiles slung under the Heron’s wings.
    â€œLogging off, under protest,” Ian said. His line went dead.
    â€œDuly noted,” Pearce said.
    He pressed the trigger. A moment later, the screen flared with a blinding white light. When it faded, it revealed a heap of hot, smoldering ruins where the building and trucks had stood.
    Pearce stared at the screen. Armed the other missile. Fired. It struck the flaming wreckage and the screen flared again.
    Pearce wished he had another one.
    He fought the urge to scream.
    He dialed up Ian and turned the control of the Heron back over to him, then powered off his console. He leaned back in his chair, the horrific images of the night flashing in his brain like a strobe light. He covered his face with both heavy hands.
    And wept.
    â€”
    THE SUN ROSE pink in the early dawn.
    The Turkish special forces captain stood in the midst of the ruins of the church, a pile of smashed rubble and smoldering wood. His men were fanned out, turning over splintered pews and shattered brick, searching for human remains.
    The captain glanced up at the pink-gray sky. The blast shattered