“You are right, and I already have.” said Jon.
As Jon finished with the first carcass, he prepared to take it to hang it in the cooler when out of the back-door Chris came out with the Doc in tow.
“Dad, Doc has news and it is not good.”
Jon looked at Doc and the concern on his face was showing as he began to speak.
“We got word that a force is leaving the urban world tomorrow to come up and remove us. It looks like about twenty vehicles and one hundred and fifty-armed security troops. And Jon, our source says they will be armed with machine pistols.” said Doc.
Jon looked at Chris and Doc and turned toward Catherine. The news was not good but he had put together a plan that he thought could nullify even a well-armed group such as this. He turned to Doc and began to lay out what needed to be done.
“Chris, Doc, get as many men as you can and tell them to bring axes and come down to the main entry road at the two mile in point. That is a great point because there is a steep ridge to the left of the road and thick cover down to the right. What we are going to do is drop trees on the side of the road toward the ridge and then build a barricade in front. That should stop the vehicles and make any maneuvering impossible. We can set up positions in front, up on the ridge and down below that should provide good cover for our men and with hunting rifles we should inflict a lot of damage on them.” said Jon.
“So, I guess it comes to this?” said Doc.
“Well it does and if it does then we are going to win and do it with as few causalities on both sides as possible. But I will tell you we will make them leave and make them remember what it would be like if they came back. Well let’s get to it.” said Jon.
Doc and Chris headed out in the valley and began to muster the men. Jon loaded the truck with axes, saws and every gun and round of ammunition he had. He was still dressed in his hunting clothes and felt this was appropriate for what was going to happen. Shortly he got down to the two-mile point and was soon joined by about seventy other men. He shared his plan with the group and then stood back and spoke.
“Guys, I asked you if you were up to this a few days ago and you all said yes. Well now with reality just hours away are you still in for this. Do all of you still want to fight this fight, knowing you will have to kill and maybe be killed?” asked Jon.
The group took a moment and then to a man nodded in the affirmative. Riley was the only one to speak and his comments were the sentiment of all.
“We came to this valley for freedom. Oppression comes in many forms and my ancestors can attest to that. Angus and I have no intention of going back to a world that we are slaves again but in another way. We will fight and we will live.”
The entire group again showed agreement and seemed ready to do what they must. Jon then instructed the group to get busy cutting trees. About an hour later there was a strong barricade up in front of the road and logs set vertically to the upward facing side of the hills. The group also ventured about forty yards from the stop point to set up barricades and positions that they could occupy and be away from fire and also have good vision into the target. Contented that the position was ready Jon gathered six of the young men around him and directed them to their mission. They were to go to the opening of the cutoff and take up an observation position. Jon knew from that point he could get a thirty-minute heads up on the movement of the troopers. The men took a radio and Jon had the other.
Jon then pulled Doc aside for a brief conversation.
“Doc, they are going to be here in the morning and I believe that it is going to get messy. I want you back at your place and make preparations for casualties. I am going to bring Catherine and Amanda there to help out.” said Jon.
“Well I am a doctor and I have treated some wounds like this before. You know I was in Gulf One. We didn’t have to many gunshot wounds but I am ready.” said Doc.
“Gulf One, seems so long ago and so much has changed. It is funny in some way that we have devolved from what was such a proud moment in the country. You know they don’t even mention that time in schools anymore. Well the now is the now so let’s be ready” said Jon.
“We will be ready Jon and don’t worry, it will all be ok.” said Doc.
Jon shook his hand and put his supplies back in the truck. He and Chris and the other men headed for home, knowing that tomorrow was going to be one serious as hell day.
Upon returning home Jon and Chris headed back to the back porch as they still had another elk to prepare. Jon was skinning the carcass as Chris posed an interesting question.
“Dad, have you ever killed a man before?”
Jon looked at Chris with a solemn look on his face.
“No son I haven’t. I was never in the military as it just wasn’t the thing that good young southern boys out of college did in my day. As it certainly was a noble thing to do; it just wasn’t part of the agenda. I look back on that time and regret however that I did not. Your Grandfather and your Great Grandfather were all in the army and in many ways, I think it would have done me some good. Well I didn’t and I guess tomorrow we just might find out what it is to kill another man.” said Jon.
Jon looked at Chris for any signs of concern.
“Chris, are you ready to do what must be done?”
“Dad, I am ready.”
“Well ok then come over here and help me haul this elk to the cooler to finish out. Man, I am looking forward to having some of this fresh meat. Speaking of that what is for dinner?” said Jon.
“You know I don’t know but I thought I heard Amanda and Mom talking about what they would make for us.” said Chris.
“Well let’s get cleaned up and go in and find out. Fact is I am not certain they can cook.” said Jon.
“I guess we are about to find out.” said Chris.
“Yes we are.”
Chapter 17
Jon was sitting out on the front porch in a rocking chair, drinking some coffee and thinking about the day to come. He had no notice yet from the forward scouts and as such was taking this time to gather his thoughts. Courage was something he had never lacked. His life had been filled with many adventures and many tough acts but he had never faced what he might that day and still had concerns about having to kill another man. He was deep in thought when the front door opened and Catherine came out.
“It is getting cold and gray. The heavy snow will be here before too long.” said Catherine.
“Today I want you and Amanda to go down to Doc’s house, I let him know yesterday. I hope you don’t mind but I sort of volunteered you and Amanda to be nurses. That ok with you?”
“Nurses, well I guess it might be needed. Jon do you really think it will come to that?” asked Catherine.
“Yes I do and we may have guys that need patching up.” said Jon.
“Amanda and I will do the best we can.”
“I know you will honey, that is why I volunteered you. Now let’s get the kids up and some food in us as we better get going.”
The family was soon at the table munching on sausage biscuits and drinking coffee. The conversation was short and brief and breakfast was over. Jon and Chris put on their hunting camouflage and prepared themselves for the day to come. The truck made its way to Doc’s house and pulled up his short driveway. Doc stepped out and opened the truck door to help Catherine and Amanda out.
“I understand you are to be my nurses for the day.” said Doc.
“Well we are going to do the best we can, but hope we won’t be needed.” said Amanda.
“I hope not either my child.” said Doc.
“Well Chris and I have to get to the rally point.” said Jon.
“Doc, take care of my girls. And ladies, I hope Chris and I don’t have to come see you for business.” said Jon.
With that comment Catherine came up and gave Chris a kiss and hug as did Amand
a. Amanda then hugged her father and wished him luck. Catherine came up to Jon with a tear and looked up into his eyes.
“I just came back to you all so don’t you go leaving me.”
“We won’t, we will be home for dinner.” said Jon.
He then kissed his wife and away the two men went. The truck drove down the road to the rally point in silence.
Meanwhile a column of some twenty vehicles were making their way up toward the high country. The men inside were smug and confident in their abilities and in their state as they were armed with weapons they felt were more than adequate for the coming fight. They had no pretense that this would be easy but being adorned in armor padding, pith helmets and their machine pistols they felt ready for the brawl. Captain Schumacher was in charge of one platoon and he was ready to get back and make amends for what had happened earlier.
The overall commander was Major Brown. The Major was trained in police and riot tactics but had no military experience as his success in rising to the rank of major was mostly due to his political keenness and being in the right place at the right time. He was confident that his fine troop could handle what was to come.
Jon and Chris came to the rally point and joined the rest of the men, all armed and ready for the conflict. Many were dressed in camouflage hunting clothes and were armed with hunting rifles and knives.
“Everybody have enough ammunition?” asked Jon.
The men shook their heads in the affirmative and looked at Jon for the next set of commands.
“Ok, well the scouts report the urban column about five miles away, so here is the plan. I want twenty-five of you up the ridge and another twenty-five on the other side of the road down in positions. Twenty are to move about thirty yards in front beyond the barricade. Riley, you are the captain on the ridge, Mort you take the group in the ravine and I will take the front position. Stay on the radios and wait for my command. I am going to see if they will leave on their own but when they start shooting, we will return fire. Stay safe guys.”
The groups moved out and took positions. The shooters were in good safe cover but had a clear field of fire into the point where the vehicles would have to stop for the barricade. All was ready as the tenseness of the air was thick.
The column of vehicles was making their way down the dirt road that entered the valley. There was a light cover of snow but this in no way impeded the vehicles. A week or so from now the snow might be a few feet deep and that would present a different issue. A few moments later the lead vehicle came to a stop and soon each vehicle was forced to do so as well. The barricade of logs made travel further impossible and required the troop to disembark and begin removing the barricade. Major Brown ordered the first platoon to get to work clearing the barricade.
“Do these people think that this is really going to stop us?” said Brown.
As all three platoons disembarked, they stood getting ready to watch the first platoon go at the barricade. At once there was a voice from the woods and they all stood at attention.
“Troopers, lay down your arms, get back into your vehicles and head back where you came from.” yelled Jon.
The troops looked at each other and then at the Major for orders. Major Brown had a perplexed look on his face but at once began to surmise the situation.
Jon again yelled down to the troopers.
“Lay down your arms and leave this valley and leave us in peace. We do not want to have to kill you all.”
Major Brown had a slight smirk on his face and yelled back.
“Kill us; I think you overestimate your abilities. You are to lay down your arms, bring forth your families and return with us to the city. I come on the authority of the regional governor and thus the New World Order.” said Major Brown.
“We won’t do that and we do not recognize your authority as to us it is illegitimate here.” yelled Jon.
“Then you leave us no choice. Platoons one two and three fall into phalanx.”
The three platoons took up positions in a kind of triangle. The troopers had their machine pistol’s drawn and were ready for action. The machine pistols were basically small sub machine guns that fired a 223-pistol round. It was not very accurate and the bullet was not powerful but the weapon could spray a lot of rounds out. The pistol was the standard weapon for the Urban Security Troopers and was adequate for their role in protecting the order. In more active theatres such as Asia and Africa, the troops there were Storm Troopers, well armored and armed with much more powerful weapons.
The tactics of the troopers left something to be desired as they bunched up in their formations and moved forward. This of course would make them easy targets for the trained marksman of the valley.
“On command commence firing into the forward position” barked Brown.
The troopers aimed toward the barricade and beyond. As they saw no targets their plan was to fill the area with a spray of bullets in the hope that they would hit their hidden targets.
“Open fire.” shouted Brown
Taking haphazard aim the troopers squeezed of rounds into the woods. Hitting trees rocks and anything they thought of importance. Jon had his group down and unexposed to fire. The sound of bullets hitting was terrific and he hoped none of his group was hit. Jon then spoke into his radio and yelled to Riley and Mort to open fire. From the ridge and the ravine heavy and powerful rifles opened up on either side of the troopers. Well aimed shots found their mark and as the bullets penetrated the padded armor of the troopers the damage was intense. Within minutes some twenty troopers were down and the rest were trying to get behind vehicles and any other cover they could find. Then Jon’s group rose up and poured fire into the troop finding more marks that took down another ten men.
Major Brown, seeing the exposure of his Troops and watching them falling, yelled out orders.
“Get down and take cover.”
With the order some of the Troopers ran back toward their vehicles for cover while others lay flat on the ground. The noise of the heavy rifles firing and the bullets hitting all around began to unnerve the troop and almost had them at the point of breaking. At that point Major Brown pulled his commanders together.
“We have to hold if we are to have any chance of winning this fight.”
“Winning, I think at this point we should be concerned about surviving.” said one of the commanders.
Brown gave him a stern look at which point the man dropped his eyes.
“We have to find a way to win this.” said Brown.
With the fire from the troopers halted and many of them lying dead and wounded on the ground Jon signaled his force to cease fire and then called down to the troopers.
“As I said, lay down your arms and leave. You see we can destroy you at will and have every intention of doing so.”
Major Brown was incensed. He was losing this fight to what he thought were a bunch of scare crows and he could not go back and face his superiors with this outcome. He looked toward his men and shouted a command.
“On my word get up and rush the forward position. We will overwhelm them and win the day.”
The troopers made ready even as they looked at the bodies of their fallen comrades lying about. They still had fight and thought the Major’s plan would win the day.
Major Brown yelled the order and the troopers at once got up and rushed forward firing their pistols. The fire was intense and Jon’s forward group had to take cover. Then at once the valley force again laid heavy fire into the advancing troopers dropping another ten. Jon and his group then raised and fired taking out five more and the urban troopers charge was broken. As the troopers fell back Jon told Riley and Mort to have his men shoot at the vehicles. They shot out windows and blew holes in the sides, being careful to not hit tires.
After a few minutes Jon issued the order to cease fire.
“Now are you ready to leav
e? Lay down your weapons and get into what is left of your vehicles and leave.” yelled Jon.
Upon the words from Jon and surmising the failed mission many of the troopers began to comply. They felt that the battle was over as some fifty of their comrades lay on the ground dead or dying. The powerful hunting rifles had blown huge holes in the corpses and in some cases had almost knocked off arms, legs and heads. The carnage and blood were everywhere.
Major Brown was livid and was watching his troop disarm when he decided that a rush again alone would be worth the consequence. Jon seeing his intention took careful aim and as the Major drew forth his weapon Jon fired off a shot that sent the weapon careening out of the Major’s hand. The battle was over.
The urban troopers had dropped their machine pistols in a pile and were now attending to their wounded and dead. As they piled the corpses of their comrades into the vehicles their faces still marked a bit of anger but also consternation. The exuberance they had in coming into the valley was gone being replaced by the same feelings that marked their countenance.
As the last of the wounded or dead troopers were loaded up the count was very clear. Thirty of the Troopers had been killed and another fifteen wounded. Two more of those would die on the trip back into the city. The troop then got into the vehicles and prepared to depart. Major Brown still stood outside his vehicle looking into the woods hoping for a glimpse of his enemy. Seeing that there was little risk, Jon stepped out from his firing position and walked toward the Major.
Major Brown saw the tall broad man advancing toward him and began to wonder what would transpire. While Major Brown was still angry at the results of the day, he still was apprehensive as to what would happen next. Jon stopped about ten feet from the Major, still holding his rifle ready just in case.
“Sir, I regret what has transpired here today. All we wanted was to be left alone, to live a life free and the way we wanted. I don’t know what drove your superiors to make you do this but I implore you to go back and tell them that we just want to be left alone.” said Jon
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