Prepper's Betrayal: post-apocalyptic survival action and adventure thriller

by AJ Newman

  Roy said, “Have you thought about shooting down the planes full of skinheads before they land?”

  Tom blushed. “Err…no. That’s a great idea, but we never know when they’re arriving, and we only have one .50 Cal Ma Deuce. The SAWS and M60s don’t have the range to shoot them down unless they’re on their approach to land. We’re experimenting using drones to blow them up, but would have to sacrifice the drones in Kamikaze attacks.”

  Roy smiled and said, “Yes, use small drones with a half-pound of C4 wrapped in ball bearings or nuts and bolts. Catch the plane about five hundred feet up and detonate the bomb close to the plane. Maybe we can make a shaped charge to direct the shrapnel in one direction. Maybe like a Claymore mine.”

  Tom nodded and then turned to Gill. “Can you help Jerry with the design? That concept would also work as an anti-personnel weapon from the air or ground. We could mount one on one of our large RC cars and run it into a group of the gang members.”

  Roy laughed and slapped Tom on the back. “Now, you’re using your pea-picking brain.”

  Gil, Krista, and Tom were invited to join Eddy’s team for lunch. Eddy started the meeting by saying a blessing and then said, “We’re going to meet while we eat. I’ll do most of the talking between bites. Dig in! I’ll take a couple of bites and then begin.”

  Tom looked around the table and saw two men and two women he didn’t know, in addition to the three men that knew Gil. “Eddy, could you introduce us to the people at the table? There are a few folks we haven’t met yet.”

  Eddy chuckled. “Damn, my CRS disease is kicking in today.” Eddy pointed at each person and introduced them. “That’s Mark, the skinny one is Ted, and that’s Tony. They’re from one of our outposts that we plan to send back north with you to stay until you secure the area.”

  Jackie asked, “What’s CRS disease?”

  Eddy said, “Can’t remember shit! Old people get it,” Eddy then pointed to the two women and two men across from Tom. “That’s Rob, Edith, Mary, and her husband, Tim. Their group of twenty men and women plus a dozen kids of all ages wants to join your group permanently. Before you worry, I know all them and will vouch for them.”

  Tom nodded and then said, “They will be welcome. Our group has enough food for our current group and the new ones. When we get the crops in, there will be more food than we can possibly consume. Then we’ll help other groups like us by trading with them for supplies we need. I will warn you that regardless of your rank or status, everyone takes their turn at guard duty, farming, and fighting.”

  Rob replied to Tom. “We expect no less than to work hard, share the chores, and fight when needed. We only expect to be treated as equals and part of the team.”

  Tom reached out, and they shook hands. Tom said, “You’ll fit into our team. I mean it when I say our team. We started with only seven people and have grown to around sixty. Two large groups joined us, and they have assimilated into the rest of the group.”

  Eddy took over the discussion, gave an overview of his team’s current status, and then asked Tom to give his group a summary. Tom learned both groups had similar problems. The difference was that Eddy’s team was fighting against small gangs that tried to get away from the large cities south of Redding.

  Eddy’s most significant problem was his success at reaching out to his ex-military buddies and associates using short wave radio. A dozen families showed up every week to join his team and the safety of the large well trained force. This had stretched his food supply to the max. He’d had his people put in crops and gather pigs, chickens, and cattle, but his group had grown to over two hundred mouths to feed.

  At the end of the meeting, Tom said, “We can take another twenty people if it helps you. Come this fall, we can take about fifty more. I’ll check back in when we get the crops harvested and safely stored. We have a huge cave that half our people live in, and we have built large grain storage bins into side chambers. We also are adding more rooms for families as time and lumber are available. Once we defeat the Aryan Sons and the Cartel, we can start living above ground again. The cave is relatively warm in the winter and safe from human and animal danger.”

  Tom didn’t mention the snake issue. He fielded some questions, and then Eddy took over the meeting again. “Tom, could you provide drone training to some of my guys and gals? We’ll find plenty of drones and will probably fetch every remote controlled device that we can scavenge. Your team has surprised us with the excellent use of drones.”

  Tom looked at Jackie, and Jackie said, “I’ll give a class today and leave one of our best drones for you to have your crew practice with until I can get a couple of trainers down here.”

  *

  Chapter 32

  Eddy’s compound

  Eddy’s team had a large maintenance hut complete with everything a machine shop would need. The machine shop installed quarter-inch-thick steel sheets all over the two busses and five dump trucks. The vehicles looked like they’d be at home in a Mad Max movie. The tires were filled with liquid rubber, so there wouldn’t be any flat tires. Two of the dump trucks had a top made of the quarter-inch-thick steel, and two armored machine gun turrets were added.

  The third dump truck had thick steel hatches added to the top of the dump bed and armor on all sides and the cab. The bed was filled with drums of Ammonium Nitrate fertilizer to enable Jerry to make some larger explosives. The other two dump trucks were filled with supplies, ammunition, and a few rifles and pistols. Only enough food for the trip was loaded since it was the scarce item in Eddy’s camp.

  Kendra and Jackie finished the drone training on the third day by bombing the headquarters of a drug-pushing motorcycle gang. They watched while one trainee performed surveillance of the target. The other dropped bombs on the headquarters and a few men trying to escape. Eddy was impressed and started his men making the crude bombs. A team was sent out to scavenge for drones and other radio controlled planes and cars.

  Tom and the others were ready to head home that night. He had his now larger team load everything, check, and recheck the vehicles and weapons. While this occurred, Tom noticed that Rob, the man he had worried about offending earlier in the week, appeared cold toward him.

  Tom took Rob off to the side and asked, “Rob have I offended you in some way. I’m sorry if I have.”

  Rob squinted and replied, “No. I’m just not sure how reporting to a civilian will work out.”

  Tom said, “All military reports into civilians. You will report to Gil, and Gil will report to me. Gil is in charge of all military and security for the group. I’ll get involved in long range planning but will not micromanage Gil.”

  Rob smiled as he nodded. “That should work.”

  Rob went on about loading and was now much more friendly and outgoing around Tom and his original team.

  Before leaving, Tom contacted Rick on Eddy’s short wave radio. Tom said, “All is well down here. Bringing a couple dozen back with us.”

  Rick keyed his mic. “Things are getting hot up here. The newcomers are getting stronger, and the old group has attacked three parties.”

  Tom shook his head and interpreted what Rick was trying to tell him. “Message understood. Sticking with schedule. I’m out.”

  Four hours later, the convoy pulled out of the compound and headed north. They’d decided there was no way to sneak back to the ranch, so they planned to drive home as fast as possible and shoot their way through if needed. The lead truck was one of the dump trucks with a homemade cowcatcher welded to the frame. The truck would be able to push any vehicle or roadblock out of the way. Jackie and Kendra kept drones in the air in front and over the convoy loaded with bombs to use if needed.

  Ten miles north of Mount Shasta, a small group of thugs had the road blocked with two old pickups. They saw the large dump truck barreling along at them and quickly backed their vehicles out of the way. Gil ordered his lady manning the SAW on the last vehicle to take out the outlaws. She opened up with a stream
of 5.56 bullets, decimated the thugs, and left their trucks burning.

  No more issues occurred until they crossed the Oregon border on Highway 5. Kendra reported a large group had blocked the overpass where old Highway 99 joined Highway 5. Tom had them pull off the road about a mile from the overpass.

  Kendra said, “This group appears to be the Aryans. They have a couple of large machine guns and two of the SAWs. The road is blocked by an old bus and a dump truck.”

  Jackie sat beside Tom in his pickup. “Will the radio signal for the drones from the cave or ranch reach this far?”

  Jackie said, “Kate has two or three that will. I see where you’re going with this. I’ll call Kate and have her bring some fully loaded drones. Maybe you should have one of Gil’s team chat with them in Spanish. We might as well blame the Cartel for attacking this outpost.

  Tom keyed his mic. “Gil, do you have anyone who speaks Spanish?”

  Gil replied, “Si! Senor! I can speak the lingo enough to fake my way through a short conversation with the Aryans up ahead.”

  Tom laughed, “Give it a try. Tell them to remove their roadblock, or we’ll remove it for them.”

  Gil replied, “The Cartel asshats wouldn’t ask. They’d shoot the Sons. I’ll lob a few .50 rounds into their party and have Kendra drop a bomb. Then I’ll ask them to surrender or die.”

  Tom agreed. “That’s much better. I’ve sent a message to Kate to send several drones loaded with bombs. Hold off until they arrive. Then we tell them to surrender and bomb their asses when they don’t surrender.”

  Gil asked, “If they do surrender would you take prisoners?”

  Tom said, “No. No mercy, no quarter given.”

  Gil said, “That was the right response. We can’t change their thinking, nor can we afford to feed them.”

  Gil radioed the Aryans on the channel they used. He received a cussing for his effort.

  Thirty minutes later, Kate’s voice came over the radio. “We’re here for the party!”

  Tom said, “Have fun and let’s begin in ten minutes so Gil can add his fifty cents into the problem.”

  The two dump trucks and two pickups moved forward and stopped about five hundred yards away from the roadblock. A minute later, the bombs fell. The bus was blown to bits from two direct hits and the two .50 Caliber machine guns were silenced by three bombs. Gil had his men open fire, and the outcome was never in question.

  Gil and Krista’s men and women mopped up the survivors and quickly gathered all weapons and what was left of the machine guns.

  Tom waved at Gil. “Why take the destroyed machine guns?”

  Gil said, “There are many parts that aren’t damaged, and we might need spare parts one day. Both barrels are good, and that one might be placed back in service with a little welding and machining.”

  ***

  Rick had a crew begin building more rooms at the cave. Granny B opened up several unused overseas shipping containers built onto the bunker to house the new folks. Granny B didn’t like adding that many people but knew their security would depend on them to defeat the Cartel and Aryans.

  Granny B caught Doris, Greta, and Rick. “We already have a bunch of kids here, and I hear a dozen or more are on the way. We need a nursery and a school built ASAP. We need all the moms and dads working, not babysitting. Rick, please build suitable rooms at the cave, and I’ll make a couple of rooms at the bunker available. Let’s try to have them ready when they get here.”

  Rick balked and said, “But Granny B we ….”

  Granny B said, “You’ll figure it out,” and left the room.

  Rick said, “Well, we have our marching orders.”

  ***

  The convoy rolled up to the ranch first. Everyone was divided between spending the night at the cabin or bunker until they could be moved to the cave. They would get some sleep while Rick and Bill supervised unloading the supplies and weapons that went into the bunker. They’d loaded the bunker's items in one truck and the things meant for the cave in the other.

  Bill unloaded several drums of the Ammonium Nitrate into the barn and then drove the truck behind the barn. He placed several empty drums in the back of the dump truck and filled them with diesel fuel in preparation to make more bombs for the drones. Bill told Tom and Gil that he wanted to use the truck to put the bombs together. That way, he could park the truck away from the others.

  Tom and Jackie helped unload and then joined Granny B, Rick, and Kate at a picnic table by the barn. The sun had risen above the mountains to the east, but it was still cool in the shadow of the barn. Granny B had brought a pitcher of sweet tea and poured everyone a glass.

  Granny B said, “I hope these are good people that we’ve taken into our home and group.”

  Tom replied, “Gil trusts Eddy’s judgment, and I trust Gil. I don’t know if they are likable or nice, but I do know they are trustworthy, according to Gil and Eddy.”

  Rick said, “Things are progressing faster each day. I think the war between the skinheads and Mendoza’s group will start any day now.”

  Tom looked at Kate and Jackie. “Keep some surveillance on both groups as much as possible. I’ll get Jerry and Bill started on building more bombs and some larger bombs. I want every viable delivery possibility to be put in play on short notice—drones, planes, cars, or anything that can deliver a bomb.

  Kate, I want all the smaller drones outfitted to carry a bomb. We plan to sacrifice them by crashing them into planes and anything else that can’t be bombed from above.”

  Granny B said, “It’s almost nut cutting time. Tom, you know we’re bound to have some casualties in any major fight.”

  Tom cringed. “I know, but I also want to do all the damage we can with remote bombing and sniper fire before confronting either group. I’m trying to gear us up for an intensive bombing and sniping campaign that includes drone bombing, RC cars with bombs, and whatever else we can think up in the next few days.”

  ***

  Lou watched Bill as he crashed down into the chair beside her. Bill was usually attentive and very talkative around her, but not for several days. She’d noticed he seemed to be in pain but fussed at her when she mentioned it to him. Lou said, “Bill, are you upset because I mentioned marriage the other day?”

  Bill turned and took Lou’s hand. “No, darling. That’s not it at all.”

  Lou took a deep breath and clenched her fists. “Is it another woman? If it is, I’ll move over to the cave.”

  Bill turned in his chair to face his sweetheart. “Lou, I was diagnosed with cancer almost a year ago. I tried to ignore it and make as much money as possible before the crap hit the fan to help my daughter. That’s why I took the assignment to spy on the Cartel. Lou, they only gave me six months to live. I’ve been getting by taking pain pills. Now, the pain is so bad I have to take so many pills that I pass out. I can’t stand the pain anymore and have to do something ugly.”

  Tears rolled down Lou’s face. “I wish you’d told me. I could have helped more.”

  Bill shook his head and said, “No! You are the only thing that’s kept me going this long. Please don’t tell the others. I don’t want sympathy or people hovering over me.”

  Lou held her man tight. “What can I do?”

  Bill said, “Just be with me until it’s over. That will be in a few days, not weeks. I have to live long enough to help Jerry build more bombs and prepare some larger explosives to kill all the punks around here.”

  *

  Chapter 33

  The Ranch or Cave

  Tom had put everyone on full alert and had every drone that would fly in the air. Two were above the gang’s main force, and two were above the Aryan’s. Mendoza had assembled every fighting man he could muster to counter the sizeable Aryan army approaching Ashland from the south. Tom estimated Mendoza had over a hundred armed men. The Aryans had an equal number of armed men and women and had vehicles with mounted machine guns. Tom was excited about this being the end of both gr
oups. He was also pleased that none of the helicopters had arrived.

  All the drones had their full array of fire, fragmentation, and high explosive bombs. Jerry’s new Napalm bombs would be held in reserve to finish off any survivors. The large drones carried a dozen two-pound bombs. The smaller drones carried from two bombs to six of the two-pound bombs. Tom wanted to make sure the survivors didn’t live after the battle.

  Paul and Colt had been assigned to take six radio controlled model cars into Ashland to pinpoint a few targets if the opportunity presented itself. Jackie and Kate had twelve drones to bomb the enemy and fourteen small drones that could only carry a two-pound bomb. The small ones would be Kamikaze bombs.

  Tom watched Kate’s monitor as she flew above the Aryans. He flitted between Kate’s monitor and Jackie’s, which covered Mendoza’s headquarters. He had most of the drone operators close by so he and Rick could manage their efforts to pit one enemy against the other.

  Lou approached Tom and said, “Bill left an hour ago to do some scouting. He took a radio with him.”

  Tom’s head snapped around. “Did he say why?”

  Lou replied, “No. He just said he knew the battle would be tough, and we might not win unless he helped.”

  Tom clenched his fists and snapped at Lou. “I don’t know what he’s doing and don’t have time for distractions. Thanks, Lou.”

  Tom was still pissed, and then his head shook side to side when he saw the first Aryan vehicles pass by the Cartel’s first checkpoint. “Rick, did you see what I saw?”

  Rick replied, “Maybe Mendoza is drawing them into a kill zone.”

  Kate yelled, “Tom, you ain’t going to believe this shit. Come here quick.”