“Nelson, quit thinking like a person, and think like those fascist pigs,” Gerald said, folding the blanket up and covering the window again, tucking in the edges.
“Um,” Nelson hummed as he looked off, trying to think of a reason, any reason. “I’m at a loss, they have huge stores to rely on and are being resupplied. They don’t need to stockpile.”
“Nelson, if they remove the fuel people can get to easily, they stop movement. When people are out of fuel, they will have to go to the government to get more or move by foot,” Gerald said, inspecting his work on the window. “They have manpower. Granted it’s forced labor, but they have manpower for that medial task, and they are doing it. For every gallon they take away, someone has to look harder for more. They aren’t taking it to use it, they are taking so we can’t.”
Slumping his shoulders with a sigh, Nelson looked at the window he had covered. “This devious thinking shit gives me a headache,” he groaned.
After they covered the windows, Gerald headed outside to make sure no light escaped. Satisfied, he headed back in and found Nelson and Ronald sitting at the card table with an electric lantern hanging off the overhead light. They were laying out notebooks.
“Hold on, guys, I have to get out of this cooking suit,” Gerald said, stripping off his ghillie suit.
Jumping up, Nelson started pulling off his. “Yes, that is a great idea.” Nelson dropped his suit then pulled off his tactical vest, tossing it on a coffee table. Nelson didn’t stop until he was barefoot, wearing a tank top and his multicam pants.
“There is a lot of glass around here, Nelson,” Ronald said, looking at Nelson’s feet. Smiling, Nelson dug in his rucksack and pulled out a pair of flip flops. “And I used to yell at my troops when they packed more than one book. Shit, you pack for a vacation.”
“Girly man has to have comforts,” Gerald laughed, sitting down and looking at the drawings Ronald and Nelson had made. “Holy shit guys, we just needed sketches, not works of art.”
Looking over at the sheets in front of Gerald, Nelson smiled at the squares and rectangles labeled with lines for fences and circles for trees. “I don’t like labeling my work; I like others to see what the hell it is,” Nelson grinned.
“Eat me, punk,” Gerald snapped as Nelson looked over, furrowing his eyebrows.
“Those trailers are loaded with stuff from the patrols?” Nelson asked.
“Hell yeah, and you wouldn’t believe the shit,” Gerald said and explained what he found in the trailers. “I know they are collecting cash, but I didn’t see any,” he finished, pointing at the empty safe on the wall.
“Oh, they are burning the money and playing poker with it in the guardhouse by the checkpoint and the tent beside the prison,” Nelson said, and they looked up at him in shock. “I wanted to know why in the hell they needed a burning barrel going. It isn’t cold.”
Ronald looked down at Nelson’s drawings and noticed several of the camp, prison, and guardhouse all from different angles. “You left the hill you were on?”
“Well, how else can I do recon if I don’t move my ass?” Nelson asked, shaking his head.
“I had thermal on that site all night last night and again after the relief passed by tonight until Gerald got here at ten. How did you cross over without me seeing you? Did you go under the bridge?”
“Hell no, I went over it,” Nelson said, grabbing a picture from the stack that showed a view of the prison from the bridge and another of the camp from the bridge.
“Your hands and face aren’t covered by that thermal blocking shit, and that handheld thermal can pick up a human target at three thousand meters. That’s almost three miles. That bridge is only a mile away,” Ronald said in wonder. “I saw something on the bridge around 3 a.m. last night, but it didn’t look like a human shape, just a blob that was almost the same heat as the bridge.”
“Oh, I have mittens for my hands,” Nelson said. “I just make sure my hood is pulled over really well, and that’s about the time I was on there. I was moving real slow, so I’m sure the heat off the road covered me pretty good.”
“Nelson,” Gerald asked, pinching the bridge of his nose as he squinted his eyes closed tight. “Why in the hell did you leave your spot?”
“Hello,” Nelson said, raising his hands. “Recon and I can’t recon unless I move around to get the entire picture.”
“That’s why there are three of us,” Gerald said, releasing his nose and opening his eyes.
“Hey, I didn’t go into your area much,” Nelson said. “I really wanted to know what they were laughing about as they threw stuff in that barrel. Then I realized there weren’t many young females in the prison area and only a few pretty MILFs. I heard screaming from the lodge, so after the camp, I eased over the bridge and went over the fence. I found forty-three chained up in what looks like a restaurant for the lodge. I know there’s more because of how many screams I heard coming from the rooms.”
Gerald and Ronald just stared at him with wide open mouths as Nelson dug out a drawing of the lodge from the back, showing all three landings with the doors leading to rooms. Like all his others, it was in exquisite detail. Gerald really wanted to frame the drawings. “The doors that I have a red X on I know are occupied. I tried getting a count of the women when they brought them out in the morning, but the guards that were on that night were pulling more out. My best guess is seventy to eighty.”
Shaking his head to clear the shock, Gerald looked down at his notes. “How many troops did you count?”
“Oh, that was an easy one,” Nelson said, pulling out a sheet of paper. “Seventy-eight troops and eight Homeland contractors.”
Gerald raised out of his chair, looking at the sheet of paper, and noticed columns of names with rank and unit patches. At the far bottom corner was a description of the eight agents. “You wrote down names and rank?”
“Well yeah, it lets me know how much experience is there,” Nelson said, looking up. “That isn’t one unit. It’s just a group of soldiers from regular Army, Reserve, and National Guard units from three different states. Hell, they even have three airmen with them. I don’t know Air Force patches,” Nelson said, showing Gerald the list.
“I saw a second lieutenant. Did you see anyone higher ranking?” Gerald asked.
“Yeah, a captain,” Nelson said, looking at his list. “Captain Woodrow from the 1st Infantry Division.”
“You know all the unit patches?” Ronald asked, taking the list.
“Hey buddy, as an MP, you better know unit patches when you bust up a fight,” Nelson snapped.
“How many prisoners inside the prison wire?” Gerald asked.
“Three hundred and forty-four. Two hundred and fifty-three were removed for that reclamation patrol,” Nelson said, looking down at another sheet of paper. “As far as guards go, they drive a Humvee east at seven the same time one heads here for the lookout down the road, so I’m thinking they have a lookout to the east as well. That’s twenty troops for both lookouts for both twelve-hour shifts. The checkpoint guardhouse has five for both shifts as well but also two Homeland agents. During the day at the prison, there are three guards and at night, six. That’s thirty-nine total. When they roll out with the reclamation patrol, thirty-two troops move out with them along with three agents. I have no idea what the seven troops left over do unless they rotate out with the others. The other agent just moves around the camp. He’s seems to be in charge. Black hair, six-foot-six, about two forty.”
Jumping up out of his chair, Gerald glared at Nelson. “Why in the hell didn’t you join the teams?”
“Ah, I wasn’t re upping for another six years, dog,” Nelson said. “I saw which way the wind was blowing and didn’t want to be a part of it anymore. Going on missions only to turn the ground gained back over. Getting yelled at by Washington for returning fire and killing bad guys or worse, having to radio back to get permission to fire when people were shooting at your ass.”
Ronald snorted
, “Yep, why I left the infantry.”
Sitting back down, Gerald shook his head. “How many vehicles parked in front of the lodge?”
“You want to know what vehicles they have? Because they move them around fairly regular.” Nelson asked, and Gerald nodded. “Nineteen Humvees in various configurations, but all have roof-mounted weapons. One has an Mk-19 automatic grenade launcher like you wouldn’t let me get,” Nelson said, looking up with narrowed eyes.
“The goddamn thing weighs a ton, Nelson, and we don’t have anything to mount it to,” Gerald said, throwing up his hands.
Giving a snort, Nelson looked back at his notes. “Two have M134 mini guns, three have Ma Deuce, and the others have M240s. They have two FLYER 72s, one with an M134 and the other a Ma Deuce. Two Suburbans, but I couldn’t get close enough to see if one had a mini gun. And they have one five-ton transport truck.”
Gerald looked down at his list, realizing he missed six of the Humvees and one of the Suburbans. “Okay, Nelson, you are the Jedi,” he sighed, putting down his notebook.
“Shit, you swam across that river in full battle rattle with a full ruck and ghillie suit; why the hell you think I went over the damn bridge?” Nelson said, putting his notes down.
Feeling good about that, Gerald smiled. “So, think we should make any changes?”
Letting out a long breath, Nelson looked away. “Is there any way you can think of to get those women out of the restaurant before we blow the building?”
Reaching over, Gerald took the drawings of the lodge from Nelson’s stack. He looked at them then down at his map. “It’s risky as hell, and we could only get the ones in the restaurant. The ones in the hotel rooms we can’t get unless we assault, and that, we can’t do period. They would stomp a mud hole in our ass and walk it dry.”
“Think it’s worth the risk?” Ronald said, not liking the fact that he asked.
Nelson looked over at Gerald. “I don’t think I could pull it off.”
“I have my doubts on that,” Gerald coughed.
“Gerald, I saw those guards walk right past you tonight when you looked inside the guardhouse at the checkpoint. You eased inside; I looked in from the outside,” Nelson said.
Ronald rolled his head, looking at Gerald in shock. “You went inside?”
“I wanted to see if they had a bunk room inside because my numbers kept coming up different.”
“That’s what I mean,” Nelson huffed. “I can move around them, but you can move in with them.”
Gerald thought for a long time as he looked at the map then looked up. “After I cut a hole in the fence for the R/Cs, I can move to the river side of the lodge and try to get them out and under the bridge, but who knows how they are going to act when we blow it.”
Looking at the map, Nelson thought about that then finally said, “After you get them there, leave them, and head to my position. If they freak out, they could attack you or give away your position.”
“Guys,” Ronald said, standing up. “I hate to be the total asshole here, but you are risking our attack against a vastly superior force in men and firepower. You are risking that roughly fifty people will keep quiet as you sneak them off and will remain hidden and quiet until the attack. If only one of them make a noise, the attack is a bust. If those troops get mounted up in vehicles or God forbid the armor, we are dead, and if they get air cover in, we are dead faster.”
“Yes, very valid points,” Nelson groaned. “It just doesn’t feel right not at least trying to save them.”
“I’m willing to risk it, but when the others get here, let’s put it to a vote,” Gerald said.
Satisfied with that, Ronald sat down. “I want to try and help them. I do. But if we get killed in our first attack, not only are we screwed but those we leave behind also. We are using most of our group to do this. You two know as well as I do if we don’t knock this site out, they will move patrols closer to us and eventually find us. I prefer to deal with them now before they are stronger or attack us and wipe us off the face of the Earth. They have the equipment and manpower here now to do it.”
Everyone sat in silence, thinking about it for almost half an hour, and then Gerald stood up. “We put it to a vote when the others get here. We will let everyone have a say then vote. If the majority wishes to risk it, then we will.”
“I can live with that,” Ronald said with a nod.
“Never got to vote before an attack,” Nelson said, stretching his arms over his head.
“Shit, I can’t believe I’m the one that said it,” Gerald laughed.
“Fucked up new world,” Ronald added, and no one could argue that.
Chapter Fifteen
Lying back on his four-wheeler, Nelson looked up at the clear night sky. The three had taken turns watching the camp and prison through the day, and after the lookout changed guard, they left the house, moving to the ATVs. Riding slowly, they moved back to the fording spot they had scouted south of town.
“Think they will get here in enough time that we can go over the attack and move out and set up?” Ronald asked, sitting on the grass next to his four-wheeler. Bernard, Matt, Ashley, and Michelle with Josh and Kevin were the ones coming for the attack.
“All depends on us getting the damn buggies across,” Gerald said, walking around a picnic table that was part of the primitive campground they were in. “I figure they should be here in a few. We scouted the way for them, and they can move faster.”
Sitting up, Nelson looked back at Gerald. “You really went to look at the operational command house for this area?”
“Yes, Nelson,” Gerald sighed. “It’s just on the other side of the river. It’s not like I went to St. Louis to check it out.”
“That was really stupid,” Nelson said, shaking his head as he lay back down.
“So you’ve said a hundred times,” Gerald mumbled.
Ronald laughed at the two. “I have to agree, again, with Nelson. That was stupid.”
“Hey, we have the location of them all, and I wanted to make sure the rest of the team for this area wasn’t there. It would really suck to attack and have thirty or more contractors roll up on our flank.”
“Not saying it didn’t need doing.” Nelson paused, watching a falling star. “But you could’ve mentioned that the OP/Com was nearby, and we could’ve gone together.”
“Well, the house was empty, so can we let it lie that I went and checked on it?” Gerald said, throwing up his hands.
“You whine like a bitch,” Nelson chuckled.
“Hey,” Gerald snapped. “You owe me one, but don’t push it, buddy.”
“Oh, we’ll settle up when we get home. You can count on it,” Nelson said, watching another falling star.
Sorry he even brought it up, Gerald rubbed the swollen left side of his face. He had a dark bruise over his cheek that radiated out. “Sometimes, you’re worse than a wife,” Gerald sighed, climbing up on the picnic table and lying down.
“How the hell would you know? You’ve never been married,” Nelson chuckled.
“I’ve been around wives enough to know,” Gerald said.
They all sat watching the night sky for almost an hour when Duke and Zeus sat up, growling. They all sat up and grabbed their night vision. A few minutes later, they heard the low rumble of the buggies. Coming toward them were both the FLYERs.
“Shit, we didn’t hear them until they were a hundred yards away,” Ronald said, getting up and grabbing his AR.
“Not much good for covert operations if they are loud,” Gerald said, jumping off the picnic table.
Ronald looked over at Gerald. “You’re sounding like a wife now.”
“Not in the mood,” Gerald said, walking over and patting Duke.
The two buggies pulled over and shut down. As everyone started climbing out of the buggies, Nelson gasped, “What the fuck,” as he slid off his four-wheeler, hitting the ground hard with his ass. He jumped up as a small form with a helmet and night vision goggles att
ached ran over to him.
“Hey, Dad,” Gavin said, wrapping his arms around Nelson.
Shaking the shock off for a second, Nelson hugged Gavin back as Michelle walked up, letting her AR hang across her chest. “Yes, I brought him,” she said in a low voice.
“After you almost broke my jaw for suggesting it?” Nelson gasped, letting Gavin go.
Michelle took a deep breath. “I admit, I overreacted,” she said. “But I asked Gavin who was better at driving those remote controlled cars, and he said you haven’t beaten him in a year.”
“I told you that,” Nelson said, throwing up his hands as everyone watched the two.
“What’s the problem?” Michelle snapped. “You were right, and I brought him. Now if you get him hurt, I’ll break it off and kick it around in the dirt.”
Gerald moved over to Bernard, smiling. “You have to love marriage,” he said, elbowing Bernard. Michelle and Nelson turned, looking at Gerald with flat expressions. “I need to recheck my gear,” Gerald said, heading to his four-wheeler.
“Ronald, will you take Bernard and Matt down to the river and show them the fording spot?” Nelson asked, turning back to Michelle.
“Sure,” Ronald said, walking off with Bernard and Matt following.
“Gavin, you can go with them, but please don’t get in the river; it’s got a nice current,” Nelson said, patting Gavin’s head. Gavin looked up with a wide grin and ran over, grabbing Bernard’s hand. When they were near the river, Nelson looked back at Michelle.
“I didn’t set up for Gavin to be with me,” he snapped, making her jump back. “I’m set up on the close side of the hill right under their noses. I wanted to be closer because I can’t drive the damn R/Cs like Gavin can.”
Michelle’s jaw hit her chest. “Well,” she stuttered. “Make another position farther back.”
“In broad daylight with my son beside me? Are you fucking insane?”
“Well, I’ll just take him with me then,” Michelle said, feeling her heart rate speeding up.
Forgotten Forbidden America:: Patriots Reborn Page 27
