“For now.” Alex backed away from the headless giant which was snatching at things that came within its grasp. “We need to get to that escape tunnel that Hammerson found to take us out to the Kashaf-Roud area in the desert. Jabir ibn Hayyan has hundreds of IRG waiting up top for us. We’ll need to go down. Where are you now?”

Sam snorted. “Just outside. Where else would we be?”

Alex grinned; there was obeying orders, and there was obeying orders. “This isn’t over yet. You start down, I have one more thing to do. Be with you in a few minutes.”

“You got it, see you soon.” He heard Sam issuing orders as the connection was broken.

Alex then weaved his way around the lumbering thing that had been Eli, its stained smock sticking to its huge lumpen body as sticky fluids leaked from the stump on its shoulders. At the door, he turned back, trying to see into the small alcove where the goblin-like creature had scurried. There was nothing there to see, but he knew the evil thing watched him from somewhere.

“See you in hell.” He smiled, and then raced to the stairway, taking five steps at a time, until he felt the familiar tingle of radiation in his gut behind a nearby door. Pushing it open, he crossed quickly to one of the bombs, and ripped the lid from its top. Each device had a different kiloton setting and a timer. The one he selected was ten kilotons, and he set it to sixty minutes.

His hand hovered over the initiator button. They needed to be at least five miles away, and if the exit tunnel was what, and where, he expected it to be, they had a chance. He almost laughed out loud. It also needed to be open, and unguarded. And if there was a vehicle waiting, then it’d be a piece of cake, and they had a chance.

Better than having zero options, he thought, and punched the button. He ran to the door, locking it, and then ripping the handle free – if anyone needed to enter, they’d need to bring a blowtorch or battering ram.

Seconds mattered as Alex flew down the steps, an entire flight at a time. In a few minutes he had caught up with his team.

“Let’s go, people. Gonna be one helluva fire in the hole.”

“Yo.” Casey clapped her hands and screamed her delight, immediately putting a hand up to her temple. “Ow, that hurts my brain.”

“There’s a brain?” Sam nudged her. “Let’s go, soldier.”

At the bottom of the steps was a pair of formidable looking silver doors that were sealed. Sam didn’t hesitate, lifting the M203 grenade launcher and firing two M433 high-explosive rounds. The plugs could easily penetrate two inches of armored steel.

“Hit the deck!”