by Cliff Deane
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Vigilante:
The Way West
Book 5 of
An E.M.P. Apocalypse in America
by
Cliff Deane
Books by Cliff Deane
Vigilante: Into the Darkness
Book one
A Post-Apocalyptic Series
Vigilante: Into the Fray
Book two
A Post-Apocalyptic Series
Vigilante: The Pale Horse
Book three
A Post-Apocalyptic Series
Vigilante: No Quarter
Book four
A Post-Apocalyptic Series
Vigilante: The Way West
Book five
A Post-Apocalyptic Series
Vigilante: Indian Territory
Book six
A Post-Apocalyptic Series
Coming in January 2018
Books Co-Authored by A J Newman and Cliff Deane
Virus: Strain of Islam
These books are available at Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/-/e/B06XGPG7YZ
Please visit my FaceBook page:
https://www.facebook.com/mustangpublishingllc
Hello, I would like to thank you for purchasing my book:
Vigilante: The Way West
I hope you enjoy reading it,
as much as I enjoyed writing it.
If you have not read books 1 – 4 of the
Vigilante Series
Please stop right here and read them first.
Please check out my friend, Mr. AJ Newman.
His apocalyptic thrillers always give a great ride.
You can find him on FaceBook at:
https://www.facebook.com/newmananthonyj/
I would also like to thank my faithful Medical Alert Dog Katie Deane for never finding complaint with my musings. She sleeps curled in my arm as I type.
Please visit my Author’s Webpage page at:
https://www.facebook.com/mustangpublishingllc/
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Copyright © 2017 Cliff Deane. All rights reserved.
This book is a work of fiction. All events, characters, and most place names are all purely from this author’s imagination. Places used are for geographic reference only to fit my fictitious events.
Clarification: While a Coronal Mass Ejection striking the Earth is at some point an absolute certainty, other than The Carrington Event, we’re doing well, so far. Just remember that not a bit of this story is true…yet, but it will happen…js.
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A Few Notes to My Readers
Just a few notes;
In an apocalyptic environment, only the lucky one in ten will survive. Our hero does have a bit of luck and puts it to good use. I guess it is just a matter of being in the right place at the right time. Don’t forget the adage “You have to be lucky to’ be good.” If he were unlucky, I would have no story to tell…
The science behind the premise of this book is solid.
The research was funded by the United States Government.
***
Cast of Characters on page 217.
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Vigilante:
The Way West
Book 5
An EMP Apocalypse in America
By Cliff Deane
***
Forward
Plato is the first to have recorded that “Only the dead know the end of war.”
Even after three thousand years his words ring down through the history of man with a clarity and truism that sadly cannot be denied.
Synchronicity and fate mirror the words of Plato as they play a monumental role in the struggles of man.
Our history of our species is riddled with opposing forces converging blindly through the fog of war without even knowing the other was in their path. These clashes define the often-tragic state of the human condition.
Book 5 in the Vigilante Series; Vigilante: The Way West takes us from North Carolina, across the old Gulf Coast states to East Texas, as the remnants of the Republic of America, both search for their own Promised Land, and attempt to catch and destroy a merciless Mercenary Light Armored Battalion which has always managed to remain just out of reach. Each day brings them closer, on a collision course that is as unavoidable as the undeniable truth that only the dead know the end of war.
If you enjoy this novel, please leave a kind review on Amazon.
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Prelude
31 August 0800
Convoy Helicopter Pad
100 Miles from Defiance
Even a beautiful, yet cool, late summer day could not penetrate the depression that loomed over every member of, what was, only yesterday, the First Brigade of the Army of the Republic of America. Now, many were calling themselves the lost Brigade; and lost they were, too.
Standing on the cab of an M-85, five-ton-truck, General Levi Levins, and Colonel Gus Murtaugh held a mass formation, and using a megaphone, asked the First Armored Brigade of the Republic of America to remain faithful to the principles of the ROA. He told them that, like the Phoenix of legend, the ROA would arise from the ashes and begin again. This was only a setback; an opportunity to excel.
He told his troopers that, “The hurricane of Aught one which utterly devastated the Republic of America will be remember for its ferocity, and destructive power. We lost many friends and comrades, and yes, our losses have been severe, but our grit and determination to make this land safe, coupled with the will to create a new America must not die here.
I make you this promise; I will never quit until I am dead. This quest you have signed on for was never a guarantee of success. We have overcome incalculable odds and suffered horrible losses, but we have also had many victories.
We must now find another home, just as the Israelites did when they left a life of bondage in Egypt. We must have their faith, their courage, coupled to our own.
Now that I have given you my rah-rah speech, which I truly believe, I also give you this option. If you no longer wish to continue on this epic journey toward a new Promised Land, where we can start yet again, then you have my release from your commitment. Should you decide to strike out on your own; then you may turn-in your uniforms, keep your individual weapon, a basic load of ammunition, and a one-week supply of food.
I will not beg you to stay, for this ploy might keep many of you, but I do not want those who are not totally committed to the rebirth of the Republic Of America.
Please take no more than 24 hours to make your decision. Simply pass the word through the chain of command, accompanied by a signed note to say that you will be leaving.”
A lone voice shouted out, “I’m with ya’, Genrul, and to hell with anyone who ain’t.” This lone voice quickly turned into a chorus of nearly one thousand troopers shouting, “WE’RE WITH YOU, ALL THE WAY!”
Levi had not expected such an enthusiastic response; in fact, he had expected a quiet, reflective reaction. He was so moved that he became unable to speak for several seconds, as his throat closed and his eyes threatened to turn to glass.
Gus, realizing how moved Levi was, stepped forward and taking the megaphone, said, “Men and women of the Army of the Republic of America; do you support the ROA?”
The din grew deafening as the trooper’s shouted, “YES!” and began stomping their feet. “ROA-ROA-ROA!”
Gus shouted, “Do you support your General?”
This time the response was indeed deafening, as shouts of YES and OOH-RAH” filled the air, and continued for a couple of minutes. This was an Army dedicated to an idea; a new nation based on the principles of the U.S. Founding Fathers; a new Republic of America.
From one lone voice, came a roar
shouting, “Levi’s Legion! -Levi’s Legion! - Levi’s Legion!”
The formation was soon returned to the Sergeant. Major, who smiled at Levi and as he saluted and mouthed “You da man!” then winked at Levi.
Following the formation, Levi and Gus were flown to Defiance on an inspection tour, and a meeting with Adan Reyes, and his committee leaders. They also brought two HAM Radios.
The troopers at Lejeune were being ferried to Defiance with the last lift scheduled for that afternoon
In the meeting with Adan, the Skonk Works genius turned community leader, Levi learned that there was little to find, much less to save. People were trying to salvage whatever was left, but it wasn’t much. Although one very important thing did survive; the Treasury of the Republic of America.
Levi turned to Gus and said, “Let’s get some of the Assistant Drivers from the convoy and shuttle them, a few mechanics, and these folks down to Ft. Jackson. We’ll get some trucks running, and they can start scavenging for supplies from there; and don’t forget the houses. There may be treasures there, too.
You should go with them to Jackson to keep everything organized, and I’ll return to the convoy and ride on down with them,” said Levi.
Gus countered with, “Why don’t we both go to Jackson and put Lt. Colonel Guyardo in charge of the convoy. I also think we need to promote him to full Colonel.”
“Done,” said Levi, “I like it.”
Levi then, somewhat nervously asked about the Marine Corps’ and Major General’s Flags given to Levi by Major General Charles Chalmers. These two items were given to Levi as a parting gift from the last Marine Commander of Camp Lejeune. Levi had promised to place them in some future museum.
The Marine Corps at Camp Lejeune had been instrumental in helping make the ROA secure, just before all US Military Forces were finally disbanded because there was simply no way to provide the thousands of tons of food required to feed the military of the United States. Camp Lejeune, alone required in excess of two hundred tons of food each day, just to feed the Marines at Lejeune, and the Corps would never abandon the dependents and civilians; nor would they steal their food supplies, which would probably last for only one meal anyway.
Napoleon was correct in saying, “An Army travels on its stomach;” no food, no Army.
Adan told Levi that the two flags had been placed in the hands of the ROA Historian and that they were safe with her.
Levi saw her smile while giving a thumbs-up gesture.
As the meeting was being adjourned, the unmistakable sound of helicopters was heard. Levi and Gus went out to meet them.
Six Huey 1Js landed, spilling the last survivors from Lejeune. Lt. Colonel Guyardo saw Levi and ran up to him. He saluted and said, “General, I don’t know what’s going on, but the Atlantic Ocean is rising, and rapidly. If it continues, by this time tomorrow, the shoreline will be at the Base Exchange.”
“What? Why? Mike, do you have any idea why this is happening?”
“No, sir, not a clue, but we’d better get the convoy moving faster; if that is at all possible.”
“Oh, shit,” said Levi, who rarely used such language, “they’re on the road now, so no commo.
Major Turner, who had also come to welcome the flight in, said, “Sir, I can lift off in ten minutes. I’ll fly to the convoy and tell them to kick the tires and light the fires. Do you know how far out they are?”
“Yes, Major, good idea, and they should be about eighty-five miles from Defiance. If they kick it, they may be able to make it sometime tonight. Go ahead, and tell them to get a move on, and not to worry about bending any fenders.”
Gus called for one of the Huey drivers to get it topped off and ready for a recon flight to check the ocean levels.
Gus pulled Levi away from the crowd and moved to where they could speak privately. “Levi, I think I may know what’s happening. I remember reading a book several years back called, “The Coming Global Superstorm.” It was predicated on historical evidence that about every six-thousand years there has been a global storm that has either kicked the Earth into a mini, or a full blown Ice Age, depending on the time of year it started.
The book predicted a cooling of temperatures, caused by the collapse of the North Sea Current. In the short term, the oceans will deliver a tsunami the size of the Statue of Liberty as far south as New York. It will get so cold, so fast that in New York, the water will freeze before it can ebb back out to sea. It will probably be snowing in DC by next week.
Buddy, if this is what’s happening, then we can expect Arkansas to have the climate the Mid-Atlantic States, and a glacier possibly as far south as Washington, DC, in a worst-case scenario. Again, if this is that superstorm, then everyone north of an east-west line from the Northern Virginia border is going to die within a matter of a few weeks.
We need to think about moving all the way to Southern Texas or possibly Central Mexico if we’re even going to have a fair chance to start again. Let’s work on Mexico as a backup plan.”
“Wait a minute, Gus was that a Science Fiction book?”
Gus just said, “No, it was not.”
Levi’s eyes took on the steel gray usually only reserved for his anger. He said, “Just for a second there I had almost decided just to give up and slip off into the sunset; until I remembered the promise I just made to the entire First Brigade, that I would not stop trying until I was dead. Okay, screw the fates, we are going to be successful, we are not giving up, Gus; we can’t quit, we won’t quit, we will die first. Roger that?”
Gus managed a hard smile and said, “Of course, I got nuthin’ planned for the rest of my life; and you’re right, Levi, we can do this; fuckin’ A we can do this!”
“Atta’ boy, Gus.”
Gus took a deep breath and said, “Oh, crap, Levi, we’ve placed six, forty-man outposts in areas that are about to become death traps. We have to rescue them and warn those communities that they need to leave.
I wish we could do the same for the survivors in Findley, Ohio, but I fear that the only thing we could do is to warn them, and recommend that they join up with us along the Gulf States, assuming they have the time to make it, of course. There are near a thousand souls there, and I don’t much like their odds.”
“Yeah,” agreed Levi, “I’m afraid you’re right.”
Levi then shouted for his Sergeant. Major.
“Yes sir, what’cha need?”
“Send a runner to round up Colonel Smith and Major Turner. We need to see them immediately.”
“Yes sir, on the way. Jonesy!”
Turning back to Gus, Levi said, “Gus, you did it again; you saved me from failing to get our people back from the outposts and to warn Captain Smith in Findley.
May I presume that you have already made the preps for both of these missions?”
Gus chuckled and said, “Yes sir, may I proceed?”
Levi said, “Gus, don’t be a smartass, get ‘er done; skosh!”
“Yes sir, and the two people I need to get moving are now on the way over here. Thank you, pard,” said Gus.
Major Turner had been contacted at the helipad and had sent another bird in her place.
When Ben and Susan arrived, the four began planning the movement. With all twelve Hueys in the Brigade, it was decided to send six Hueys to each of the Outposts in three lifts. The troopers would depart with only their personal gear. All personal weapons and ammo would be distributed to the locals, along with the noncombat vehicles. Combat vehicles would be disabled, along with their weapons systems.
The Outposts were notified by the Sergeant. Major to be ready to evacuate within the next twenty-four hours.
These Fort Apaches were, in fact, evacuated in less than eighteen hours. The local communities were pleased to have the trucks, but two of the small inland farming communities did not believe the situation would get as bad as they were told; two weeks later, they lay frozen in their homes.
Immediately following the Outpost evacuations,
the civilians began their flights to Fort Jackson.
Three days later the convoy departed Defiance and was one-third of the way to Ft. Jackson, when a Trooper’s committee asked to see the General about changing the name from First Armored Brigade, to Levi’s Legion.
His response was, “My friends, I am honored beyond my ability to express, but I must deny your request. This small change of just two words could put us on the road to my becoming a Caesar. Gentlemen, I am no Caesar, and to become such would be anathema to everything I believe. Thank you, so very much, but I must say no to your request.”
Put in those terms, the committee had to agree with Levi, but among the troopers of his command, they would, from that day forward, unofficially call themselves, Levi’s Legion.
Levi had made it clear that he would never agree to make it official, but he could not stop the spread.
Gus and Levi were discussing the future when Gus asked, “Levi, I have a few concerns that I think we should address.”
