Fatal Domain by Steven James

Author:Steven James [James, Steven]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: FICTION / Christian / Suspense, Fiction / Thrillers / Technological
ISBN: 9781496473387
Published: 2024-04-09T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 36

Installing this shooting range last year was a bit of a challenge because the engineers needed to create an indoor range that had enough insulation around it to dampen the noise so it wouldn’t disturb any nearby offices on this level, and also install a ventilation system strong enough to take care of the smoke from the burning gunpowder.

Without that ventilation, on this sublevel, the range would get cloudy, and the air would become raw to breathe. I wouldn’t call the range an engineering marvel, but pulling something like that off in the Pentagon was at the very least an engineering challenge.

“Is something up?” Adira asked me. “You seem distracted.”

“Couple things on my mind,” I said a bit evasively, trying to figure out the best way to do this. I figured I needed a few more minutes to sort out what to say.

“Well, focus,” she said amiably. “I want to see if your shooting has improved since last time.”

The targets on the range were electronically controlled so we could move them forward or backward depending on how far away we wanted them to be. Hash marks on the floor and the walls indicated the distance in five-yard increments.

“I’m ready,” I said.

She pressed a button on the panel in front of us and the electronic target in our lane zoomed toward us, coming to a floating stop just outside the booth we were standing in.

“Today we’ll be shooting at silhouette targets that a friend of mine in Homeland designed. They’re called Transtar IV Law Enforcement Targets. They were used at the main FLETC campus down in Georgia when I went through the program there, back in my Secret Service days.”

Unlike many of the silhouette targets I’d seen before, this one showed an outline of a person down to, and including, the hips.

“Three guesses as to why this is a better target than most,” she said. “And the first two don’t count.”

“Well,” I said, “when you consider gunshot wound incapacitation, you’re targeting one of three areas: mediastinum, brainstem, and lateral pelvis. This target has all three clearly delineated.”

“Nicely done,” she said. “Chest, head, and hip area. Tell me about the lateral pelvis.”

“By targeting that region, you can stop the threat from bipedal movement. Also, there are lots of vascular elements running through your pelvis, so it’s a good place to target if you’re trying to stop an aggressor from advancing.”

“With the goal being . . . ?”

“Stopping the threat.” I was careful not to talk about killing a person. The goal is never to shoot to kill. Although, admittedly, it might in some cases be the product of the aggressor’s choices. “Once he’s no longer a threat, you don’t need to shoot anymore. Until then, take the necessary action.”

“Good.”

“So, why don’t more silhouette targets include all three areas of incapacitation?” I asked.

“That, Travis, is a good question.”

We put our ear protection on.

Nearby, in the next station over, Clarke started firing and the sharp report of his weapon echoed across the range.

Gunnar followed suit.

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