The Mechanic

by Jerry D. Young

  Sterling smiled. “Oh. That does make more sense.”

  “There are many more subjects to cover, but all can wait until you get started on the ones we discussed just now. Keep reading the forums and suppliers’ websites for information. If you would like to speak again, you can contact me through one of the forums I’m on.”

  “Okay. Thank you, Nate.” Sterling stood when Nate put some money on the table and then struggled to his feet. The two men shook hands again. Sterling and Jennie watched him make his way out of the restaurant. He seemed to be having difficulty maintaining his balance.

  “He has a lot of trouble getting around, doesn’t he?” Sterling asked Jennie when he sat back down.

  “Ever since I’ve known him,” Jennie replied. They were interrupted when the server brought the check. There was enough money from Nate to pay his portion and leave a good tip. Sterling settled the bill, against Jennie’s protests that she would pay for her own.

  “I owe you this one. I got a ton of info. Of course I should let you pay. The information is going to cost me a bundle.”

  They both laughed as Sterling put the money on the tray and stood up. The two made their way out of the casino and then went their separate ways.

  Sterling was on the internet until late in the evening. When he finally went to bed, it took some time before he fell asleep. He was mulling over the things Nate had said, plus what he found on the internet.

  Over the next few days, Sterling spent almost every free minute on the internet, reading and researching prep topics. He put in his first prep order. He bought the Personal Protective Equipment from Approved Gas Masks that Triple Seven had recommended. Though he wasn’t sure where he’d use the items, he also ordered and received KI4U’s ‘The Package’ plus the CD V-717 remote reading survey meter.

  While looking at the American Safe Rooms site, to see what they had available for a retreat air filter system, he discovered their vehicle system and ordered one for his truck. He’d wait on the shelter filter until he knew more about what he was going to do.

  The food and water situations weren’t too difficult. He ate relatively simply. Basically, he was a meat and potatoes man. He liked and ate vegetables and fruits, and had pasta regularly, but he wanted meat every day, almost every meal. He simply went to Sam’s Club and bought the same kinds of things he ate every day, except large quantities.

  For water, he bought several cases of bottled water plus four seven-gallon Reliance water containers. To purify water, if it came to that, Sterling chose the Crown Berkey with five full sets of the black filters, and a Katadyn Pocket filter with charcoal after filter. The amounts of food and water were enough to fill most of the empty space in the apartment.

  The gold and silver was easy, too. There were several coin shops in Reno, along with plenty of pawn shops. He hit them one after the other, with a pocket full of cash, and then, over the next several months, did it again and again. It cleaned out one of his retirement accounts, but the more he watched the news, especially the financial news, the more he became sure he was doing the right thing.

  Over those same months, with Jennie’s expert tutelage, he went to a firing range and rented a dozen different kinds of firearms before he decided on what he wanted. He’d based his trials of the weapons on what he’d read on the internet. One thing he found out was that, unlike Triple Seven’s stories, a large number of preppers went with the 5.56 x 45 round or the 7.62 x 39 round, both mid power cartridges. There were a lot more choices in weapons for them, but Sterling decided on the more powerful 7.62 x 51 round.

  One of the few things that differed from Triple Seven’s stores was that Sterling chose the Springfield Armory M1A rather than the HK-91/PTR-91 that Triple Seven seemed to favor. He picked up a Super Match with McMillan black polymer stock, from a dealer, but managed to find two ‘loaded series’ rifles from an individual.

  A wood stocked blue steel barreled model and a stainless model with ‘railed’ polymer stock. The Super Match he considered his primary gun, and the stainless model with the tricked out stock he kept in a locked box in the truck. The wooden stocked model was essentially a spare.

  Another of the different choices from Triple Seven’s usual armaments for his characters was a Para-Ordinance P-14 .45ACP hi-cap pistol versus the Glock 21. Sterling liked the Colt 1911 platform, but wanted a high capacity magazine model that Springfield Armory didn’t offer. He bought four of the P-14’s and numerous magazines. Two for carry, one for the bedside table, and one in the truck. One from a dealer and three from private individuals.

  His back-up pistol, hide-out pistol, and shotgun choices were about the same as Triple Seven’s characters. A Walther PPK .380 ACP for back up, and a Beretta Model 21 .25 ACP for hideout, both from individuals. The shotgun was a full house Remington 11-87P with ghost ring sights, magazine extension, combat bolt handle, large safety button, larger carrier release ramp, Poly Choke, and bayonet lug. Three of 11-87P’s, all three private sales from a collector that he accessorized himself. Again a house gun, carry gun, and truck gun.

  With the probability that he would be hunting mule deer and elk in the future, possibly even brown bear, Sterling invested in a Remington 798 bolt action rifle in .375 H&H Magnum with a Bushnell Elite 4200 2.5-10x40 scope. It would also do for anti-material sniping if it ever became necessary.

  Another Remington Rifle, the model 799 in .22 Hornet would take care of small game. Everything in between the M1A could handle with appropriate ammunition.

  Sterling bought maintenance and repair kits for all the weapons, plus a huge amount of ammunition, most of which he had to store at the shop for lack of room in the apartment.

  After the several months long buying jag, Sterling emotionally stepped back and reviewed what he’d done. He still had a retirement annuity he was paying into, and he’d switched the IRA over to fifty-percent gold coins, with the rest in the late Harry Browne’s Permanent Portfolio Fund.

  He still had two Bank CD’s. Both were nearing their renewal dates. Sterling thought long and hard about whether or not to put the money into preps the way he had the last several over the last several months. He was pretty well set up, prep wise, now, except for a good CBRN shelter.

  He didn’t have enough money to build something suitable in Reno. Land prices were just too high, and getting around the building codes would probably be a problem. A dozen independent events came together to help Sterling make a decision.

  First: At one of their bi-monthly Peppermill meetings, Nate announced that his long-estranged sister had died, and surprisingly, had left her modest legacy to him.

  Second: Joe made an offer on the shop. He’d seen Sterling’s interest seem to wane in the rather mundane, but currently money making, repair services that were now the main business of the shop.

  Third: Jennie announced that she was marrying her long time boyfriend, Jocko Martinelli, a local entrepreneur with fingers in a dozen different business endeavors.

  Fourth: Within just a few days of one another, Japan, Germany, Brazil, South Africa, North Korea, Iran, and Venezuela completed successful tests of nuclear devices in the one hundred to two-hundred-fifty kilo ton range, or announced their entry into the nuclear club without detectable tests.

  Fifth: China shot down three target drone satellites, at altitudes just out of the atmosphere to the altitude geo-synchronous satellites fly. The detonation at 22,300 miles up was a nuclear detonation, the first nuclear warhead used in space, opening the nuclear weaponization of space can of worms.

  Sixth: Taiwan announced an upcoming vote on Independence to be held within three years.

  Seventh: There were brutal and bloody coups by Communist led military troops in three of the former Soviet Republics. Russia immediately recognized them, setting the stage for civil war within Russia.

  Eighth: Spain, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Japan, China, Russia, the UK, Brazil, and Venezuela individually announced that they would begin colonization plans in Africa and South Ame
rica. This was after France made their announcement of the proposal to colonize an unnamed country, in an effort to combat global warming in the region and ensure a reliable source of animal protein and grains in the future.

  Ninth: Russia warned all nations bordering the Arctic Ocean that all resources in the region outside a twelve-mile limit in the Arctic was theirs to exploit. An active military response was possible in the event that any nation failed to respect the claim. Special emphasis was given to possible retaliation against Canada and United States if they intervened in any way.

  Tenth: Despite the SCOTUS decision overturning the New York City handgun ban, the newly elected Democratic President, with a Democratic majority in both houses of Congress, declared that extreme measures would be used to override the decision in all ways possible to bring about a weaponless US civilian population by the year 2017.

  Eleventh: A massive tax plan was announced to alleviate the housing, banking, investment, and energy woes of the country, refinance Social Security, redress ‘ethnic injustices’ and fund programs to combat global warming.

  Twelfth: The implementation of a North American Union was scheduled to begin in less than five years, with full implementation by 2017. The Amero was to be the single common currency, to be converted on a sliding scale to redistribute the wealth of the three nations more evenly and correct ‘social injustices.’

  Sterling made the decision he’d been thinking about at the next meeting with Triple Seven. It was the first meeting that included Jocko. Like Sterling, he was relatively new to preps, but Jennie had brought him around quickly and he’d taken to the concept much like Sterling. The discussion was on retreats. All four were worried more than ever about a shooting war, probably with nukes, civil unrest, and total economic chaos.

  They were all pretty much in agreement about what would make a good retreat with post apocalypse living features. The thought suddenly popped into Sterling’s head that if they pooled their money, they could buy or build a very good retreat. He broached the subject.

  “You know, if we weren’t all so independent minded, we could go in together and do a great retreat for all of us.”

  “I don’t know, Sterling,” Nate said. “You know I’m not much of one to be tied up with a group.”

  “Take it from me, cooperative operations among friends isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I’ve lost friends due to business, and lost business due to friends,” Jocko added.

  “Isn’t there a way to do it independently, but together?” Jennie asked.

  She turned a bit red and said, “You know what I mean!” when the three men looked at her askance.

  Nate looked thoughtful. “Though… separate lots, side by side…”

  “If we each did a major element…” Jennie said.

  “It might be doable, with good paperwork.” That was the businessman in Jocko speaking.

  Sterling nodded. “But the structure would need to be on just one of the properties, so it could be large enough for all, at the least expense.”

  “Nate’s place,” Jennie said. Jocko seconded the thought.

  Sterling nodded again. “Yes. To get things ready fast, which I really think we should, it would need to be on Nate’s property. As we were able, the rest of us could build what we wanted independently on our own property.”

  “You guys sure about this?” Nate asked. “What if something happens to me, or I change my mind?”

  “Wouldn’t matter. My lawyer can write up the agreement that would take into account what we’ve just discussed and penalties for not following through.” Jocko looked very confident.

  “I don’t know. I don’t really like paperwork like that,” Nate said. “I’d rather just trust the three of you.”

  “I do trust you guys,” Jennie said. “I’d be willing to do it that way.

  “Gee, I don’t know…” Jocko was used to iron clad agreements in today’s business climate. They were needed.

  “I’m in on that basis, too.” Sterling said. “The major elements… The land, the shelter, a well, a septic system, off-grid power, stocking the shelter…”

  “The land would be individual purchases,” Nate said, getting more into the idea. “The shelter a cooperative effort on the center property. A septic system on the property on one side, the well on the property on the other side, the off-grid power on the center property, stocking the shelter would be an individual effort for each person’s section. As time passes and nothing happens, each does their own individual systems for water, power, and septic. We would all help on building each shelter, but not any regular housing.”

  Jocko was nodding. “Yeah. Yeah. I think that would work on a handshake deal. I’m in if Jennie is.” He looked at his bride to be.

  “I’m in.” She held out her hand and everyone shook everyone else’s hand.

  “I’ll get on acquiring the land. What should I look for?”

  Nate quickly said, “I’ll work on that with you, if that’s okay.”

  “Oh. Well sure. You probably know more about what we need than any of the rest of us,” Jocko replied.

  Nate eased slightly in his seat. “Now. Do we want to buy or build the shelter?”

  “It’s a toss-up for me,” Sterling said. “I’ve looked at some of the commercial ones. Some I like. Some are a rip off. And I’m not sure we could get one on fairly short notice.”

  Jocko was smiling. “Hey. Don’t forget, I have an interest in a construction company. I can get it done to your specifications, with more features, cheaper than you can buy. The labor part of the construction could be mine and Jennie’s contribution to the shelter element, if the two of you buy the concrete and other materials.”

  “Of just the construction of the shelter,” Nate said. “The mutual equipment would be a cooperative effort apart from that?”

  “That’s fair,” Jocko said.

  “I’ll start looking for well drillers and septic system installers… I’m assuming this will be in Winnemucca…” Sterling said.

  “That’s where I was thinking,” Nate and Jennie said almost simultaneously.

  “Oh. I thought Reno…” Jocko said. “But for a retreat… I’m kind of new to this. Winnemucca is obviously a much better choice.”

  “Will that affect your ability to do the construction?” Nate asked.

  Jocko winced, but said, “No. It won’t. I’m in for the long haul.”

  With the decisions made, Sterling and the others went ahead at full speed. Sterling had a few tense minutes with Joe when they discussed the sale of the shop. Joe had been assuming, very hopefully, that Sterling would finance the purchase for him. But Sterling wanted the full value of the shop now, to invest in the retreat. Joe was a little miffed, but he managed to get the financing without too much trouble when Sterling opened his accounting books for the bank to take a look at.

  It took a month, but Sterling had the full price he’d asked for in the bank and was now an unemployed prepper, with a standing offer of a job at the shop. But Sterling’s plans were to actually move to Winnemucca and open up another small shop to have something to do. The others in the group would continue to live and work there in Reno and come to the retreat if necessary. He moved his preps from the apartment to a climate controlled storage unit in Reno for the duration of the construction phase of the retreat.

  Jocko and Nate had almost immediate success in finding the kind of property they were wanting. It was remote, with an easily closed off access road, suitable for four-wheel-drive vehicles only. There was good southern exposure.

  While the four worked on the shelter layout, Sterling contracted one of the local well drillers and a septic system specialist. With the location of the shelter pinned down, if not the final design, Sterling had the oversize septic system installed on Jennie and Jocko’s property, which they paid for, and a deep well installed on his, which he paid for. The well system included a solar powered pump to keep a large water tank filled. The water tank would have a pressure p
ump pulling from it to provide pressurized water in the shelter.

  Sterling made sure a line was run to the new orchards and berry patches that were already being planted on each property, based on the advice of a local nursery as to what fruits, nuts, and berries would grow in the area.

  Though they didn’t own the land north of them, Sterling and Triple Seven went in together and rented first a dozer to clear the sage brush from a large area, and then a tractor and seeder to plant pastureland for future use. It was very doubtful if the land owner would complain, if he even learned about the activity. It would make the land easier to sell.

  Nate was already having the elements of the off-grid power system ordered, as some of them were getting hard to find. At his request, Sterling, and Jennie and Jocko, each bought an identical diesel powered generator to set up a triple station back up power system to the solar powered system. If the time ever came, each could move their generator to their own property.

  A ten thousand gallon tank was installed on each property and plumbed to the power house on Triple Seven’s property. Each would provide a share of the fuel, and have fuel for their own generators if they installed them.

  A design for the underground shelter was finalized. There was a common section and three individual sections, one for each of the three families, with space for ten people each. Jocko got started on the construction. Nate checked on the construction every few days, and Sterling every day. He was living in a small travel trailer he’d moved to his property.

  As the shelter was built in the big hole that had been excavated, Sterling cut a private deal with Jocko to have the construction crews build his workshop and garage, with full basement and second story living quarters, while they were on site. Sterling would pay full price for that work. He had his own septic system installed to handle the needs of the shop and the living quarters.

  The roof of the building was made of photovoltaic panels, which provided double the power he needed for normal operations in the shop and the living quarters, since everything was triple insulated.