THE TOCABAGA CHRONICLES: (BOX SET - PART I - BOOKS #1-5)

by Thomas H. Ward

  I trusted the men going with me; we are a band of brothers forged under battle. We would all give our lives for each other, but the only member not tested was Rahim.

  At 1600 hours I got a call on the hot line from Captain Sessions,”Jack, the Colonel told me to call you after we cleared the church. He said you wanted to come and search for al-Qaida funds hidden here.”

  “Yes, Captain, that is correct. We think there may be some kind of money hidden there. Did you guys find anything?”

  “We killed eight al-Qaida and found a lot of information including phones and computer tablets. We have an organizational chart and the headman was Aamir not Abdul Aalee.”

  “Wow, that is a surprise!”

  “Yes, a big surprise. If you want to come here I cannot offer any protection because this area is still hot. Al-Qaida could be anywhere around here. I will call you back when I think is safe for your group.

  “Jack, we have the road cleared all the way here. I will tell my men at the check points to let you pass. We have cleared all the buildings between the island and here except for the college. I repeat do not come now wait until I call you back in a few hours.”

  “Roger that Captain, we will wait for your call. We will be driving a blue ford truck and a black ford truck.”

  “Okay, Jack, talk to you later. We are encountering heavy gunfire, got to go.”

  I could hear in the background heavy gunfire and someone yell RPG! I told everyone the church is too hot right now and Sessions will call us back when it is safe. I also told them about Aamir being the headman in the al-Qaida organization.

  Eddie said, “See, you cannot trust anyone. You still want to bring Rahim with us?”

  “Yes I do Eddie, Rahim is harmless. Now we wait for Sessions to call us back. I hope it is soon because in a few hours it will be dark and we are not going there at night. Everyone double check all the gear.”

  When Captain Sessions called us it was 1600 hours, checking my watch it was now 1800 hours, and no call back yet. It will be dark in another two hours so I think we will wait until tomorrow for the search.

  It is now 2100 hours and no phone call so I called him but no one answered. I tried again, no answer again. Now I was worried about Captain Sessions so I called Colonel Turner and received no answer. What the hell is going on? I got on the military radio given to me by Colonel Turner but no reply.

  It was dark now and we could not see them but only heard the old Black Hawk helicopters flying back to the Fort. I thought maybe I should drive to the Fort and see what is going on.

  All of a sudden my phone rang,”Hello, Jack here.”

  I put on the speaker so everyone could hear the call.

  “Jack, this is Turner, I got bad news. Captain Sessions is missing. Sessions was in a gun battle with the enemy at the church and that is the last time I spoke to him. They were out gunned, by the time we got there four of his men were killed, and he is missing. I think you were right the church is al-Qaida HQ as they are really fighting to protect that church for some reason.”

  “Colonel, what can we do to help?”

  “Jack double check your security and protect Camp Tocabaga. Stay alert keep on your toes these guys are tricky. We will not give up our search for Captain Sessions. Bye for now.”

  The phone call ended just as it started to rain again. Another thunderstorm was coming in and the wind kicked up to about 40mph making everyone chilly for a change as the temperature dropped to about 60 degrees.

  It was too late and too dangerous to go search the church for al-Qaida funds. I worried about Captain Sessions but I couldn’t do anything about that right now. I prayed for all the Rangers.

  Should we go to the church anyway tomorrow to help find Sessions and search for the hidden funds or stay here and be safe? Being safe was not my style so if the others agree we would go tomorrow.

  ]

  As I pledged it was now my mission to save as many kids as I can and bring them here to Tocabaga to live in safety. If they have no parents then someone here will take them into their family. We have good generous people living here; we help each other stay alive.

  These past five days have worn me out I need some rest. I need a vacation. I need to go somewhere away from all this madness. The stress is getting to me. I wonder what ever happened to Disney World. I went there years ago when my kids were little; it was a fun time. Now there are no more fun times, just dangerous times.

  I am too tried to write any more now.

  That is all for now.

  God Bless America,

  Jack Gunn

  ARTICLE: GUN SELECTION

  When al-Qaida comes for you and your loved ones you better have a gun. This article will cover gun selection based on what is the most popular ammunition. The gun is your most important asset. Without ammunition however, your gun is worthless. What kind of guns should one own? Based on my 40 years of gun experience the type of gun and caliber is very important for your protection. Guns have only two main purposes which are hunting and self protection. Of course any of the guns mentioned in this article can be used for hunting as well as self defense. The question is which gun is the best tool for the job.

  For people new to guns I try to explain the differences in a simple manner. When purchasing your first gun it is a confusing matter to choose the correct gun with the large selection in the market. I have had many people ask me, what type of gun should I purchase? Where do you go to learn to shoot?

  GUNS FOR HUNTING

  The most popular ammunition is the .22 long and the 12 gauge shot gun round. This ammo is easy to obtain and that is what is important. The more popular the ammo is the easier it is to find when you run out of ammunition.

  I break down guns into two categories which are hunting guns and tactical guns or combat weapons. There may come a time when you will need to hunt for food. There are two types of hunting guns that can dispatch most animals and that is a 12 gauge shot gun and a .22 caliber rifle or pistol. These two guns allow you good flexibility. The shot gun you can use bird shot for hunting birds or rabbits and slugs for hunting deer or larger animals. In addition a 12 gauge with slugs or buck shot is a great weapon to use for protection at close range.

  The one drawback is that shot gun shells are expensive and heavy to carry and too large to store many of them. Shot guns come mostly in semi automatic and pump type. They hold 5 to 8 rounds. The difference is the semi auto you just load and pull the trigger. The faster you pull the trigger the faster it shoots. The pump needs to be pumped or cocked each time to shoot it. I prefer the semi auto type because it is faster, easier to clean and use. Double barrel or single shot shotguns are not worth owning since you have to reload every time you fire it.

  Do not under estimate the .22 rifle or long barrel pistol as it can be used on birds and or small rodents as well as be a tool for self defense. A .22 with hollow point bullets is an easy weapon to use and you can carry a lot of ammunition since the bullets are so small. You can store 5,000 rounds of this ammo in a desk due to its small size. A .22 rifle has a 200 yard range and 6 inch barrel pistol has a 50 yard range.

  The 12 gauge shot gun and a .22caliber rifle are a must to own. A .22 rifle also comes in pump or semi auto types. The choice is up to you. As for 22 pistols there is only one that I will mention and that is the Ruger target model as it is the best you can buy.

  My selection for a shotgun is a Remington semi auto model that handles 2 ¾ inch shells. Purchase a shotgun that has a stock and forearm that is made of modern plastic as it can stand up better to the elements.

  GUNS FOR SELF DEFENSE

  There are many types of combat pistol and rifle ammunition. The selection of the ammunition is critical to the type of combat rifle or combat pistol you will select for protection. The shotgun and .22 rifle mentioned above are dual purpose weapons but are mainly for hunting. The pistols and rifles mentioned below are really the weapons you need for total protection. These are guns that contain high capacity
magazines.

  What other types of guns do you need to survive? Well let us first look at what is the most popular type of ammunition used to make our selection. Having enough ammo will be your biggest problem. The fact is most police and military hand guns are 9 mm. The 45 caliber and 40 calibers are also popular but not as common as 9mm luger ammo. The 9mm ammo is also less expensive to purchase.

  For rifles there are only three major types of calibers that are widely used by the police and military. One is the .223 Winchester also known as the 5.56mm NATO round. The other is the AK 47 round 7.62 x39, a round used by the military and some police around the world. This is the most popular ammo used by terrorists and gangs because the AK 47 is an inexpensive weapon or rifle. The last is the .308 Winchester round or 7.62x51 NATO.

  The .223 ammo is used by the famous Colt AR15 or the M16 which is now named the M4 carbine, widely used by our military. There are many different manufactures of the so called AR15 design. Some of these AR designs also shoot 7.62x51 NATO which is the basically the same as the .308 Winchester and are called AR10 rifles.

  The 7.62x39 and 7.62x51 are not to be confused as they are totally different rounds. The drawback of the 7.62x51round is the cost is higher than the .223 and when you are hauling around 300 rounds they are also heavier. The 7.62 x 51 is a long range round and can exceed 800 yards. The .223 round has an effective range of up to 500 yards.

  You can also purchase an AR type rifle that will fire the AK 47 7.62x39mm round. Bushmaster is one of the best manufactures for AR type designs which can be purchased in many different calibers. Several companies also make a .22 caliber AR rifle such as Colt and the Smith and Wesson M&P 15-22.

  The most popular type ammunition for a pistol is the 9mm luger round. The most common type for a rifle is the .223 Winchester also known as the 5.56mmNATO round. Knowing this we can select a number of different pistols, rifles, or carbines to use. For this selection we need to keep in mind durability, ease of cleaning, interchangeability, and ease of use by men or women.

  Knowing that we want a hand gun that shoots 9mm luger rounds you can note that all 9mm are semi auto design and are not revolvers. Semi auto means it has a magazine that holds the bullets and some can hold up to 18 rounds before reloading. There are two hand guns that I recommend which are a Glock and a Springfield Armory model XD. I own both and they are the best dependable hand guns on the market. This is not to say there are not other good brands but based on my shooting experience buying one of these handguns you cannot go wrong.

  My favorite however is the Glock Model 17 because it is dependable and very easy to clean and repair. Yes, sometimes guns break so you should have some extra parts or a backup gun or two if possible. Each gun comes with an assembly manual and the Glock can be taken apart by just removing the slide and one pin which is pushed out. I have shot thousands of rounds and only had my Glock break one time. The trigger return spring broke and I replaced in 10 minutes with a new one. It is so simple that anyone can work on it. The Glock can be dropped in the mud, run over by a truck and still shoot. It can be fired under water and the barrel life is 350,000 rounds which is more than you will ever shoot in your life time.

  Basically all AR15 type rifles are the same design and are easy to take apart for cleaning. The models may have different names from different manufactures such as Armalite SPR Mod 1 which is basically the same as a Colt CAR15 or carbine model of the AR 15 rifle.

  It pays to buy a good quality rifle from a well known manufacturer even if it may cost a little more. Remember your life may depend on this weapon. If you buy an AR type rifle then find out what parts you may need to replace by asking the manufacture. I recommend buying two weapons of the same type this way you have a back up and you do not have to learn about different weapons and the assemblies. Parts between different manufactures’ are not necessarily interchangeable. The AR15 can be cleaned in about 10 minutes just by pushing out a pin which opens the rifle up. It is also light weight so men and women can use it. The recoil is very low which is important for accurate firing. I recommend the Colt brand AR15 .223 as this is a dependable weapon which has been on the market many years.

  Some manufactures such as Colt have also made CAR15 carbines that use the pistol 9mm luger round. This is an excellent weapon that has very little recoil but has a limited range of about 100 yards. It is made for close quarter combat situations. Having a CAR15 9mm is a good choice since you can use the same ammo as your 9mm hand gun.

  To summarize the guns needed are; a 12 gauge shotgun semi automatic type, a .22 rifle or target pistol, a 9mm luger Glock hand gun, and a .223 ( 5.56 NATO ) AR15 design rifle or a CAR15 9mm carbine. I would choose to have two guns of each type so you have a backup. How much ammo do you need? It is up to you to decide, but the more the better as the gun is worthless without ammunition. If you can only own one or two guns then the AR15 rifle and the 9mm Glock are my choices.

  Everyone in your family should know how to shoot each type of gun. I suggest one gun for each family member. Gun selection should be made by what each member of the family likes best to shoot. One may like a .22 caliber and one may like a 9mm Glock. Remember your family is also your Army to help protect each other. So proper training is very important. Do not spare any expense on training. Do not buy cheap unreliable guns.

  GUN SAFETY

  If you have no experience with guns then it is suggested that you learn by going to your local gun store or shooting range and take lessons from a good instructor. If you have a friend who shoots go with him to the range. The National Rifle Association or NRA is a valuable resource to use for this learning process.

  NRA has safety rules which you can find listed on line. The worst thing you can do is buy a gun and not know how to use it or even load it. If you are faced with a threat to your life or that of your family then you better know how to use the weapon with some degree of skill. The more skillful you are the better your chance of survival will be. We are talking life and death situations that require split second decisions on your part so shooting practice is a very necessary. Join a local shooting club.

  I stress do not buy a gun just to have one. Do not buy a gun if you will never practice or shoot it. How much practice do you need? Based on my experience I think shooting your weapon at least one to two hours per week is necessary to become a good shot and learn to know everything about your gun. I know many people who shoot two hours a week. I also stress go take combat shooting lessons at a gun school such as Gun Sight or Front Sight. They will train you in Home Defense, Vehicle Defense, Tactical Rifle, Pistol, and Shotgun use. Be the best you can be as learning to shoot is more than just going to the range and pulling the trigger.

  Above all be a safe shooter and follow the safety rules. When not in use keep you guns locked up so kids cannot access them and they cannot be stolen from you. I strongly suggest a gun safe to store your guns and ammo as it will give you peace of mind. You can also keep other valuables in the safe. Shooting can be a great hobby providing much enjoyment and fun for the whole family. Learning how to shoot can save your life. Shoot safe and shoot straight.

  DRAMATIS PERSONAE

  The Tocabaga Chronicles

  Aamir – A Muslim friend who became a traitor and al-Qaida fighter

  Abdullah – A member of al-Qaida

  Abdul Aalee – Brother in law of Aamir and member of al-Qaida

  Abdul Hakeem – A member of al-Qaida

  Amy – Jack’s daughter

  Bok Lam – A Chinese man and close friend of Jack’s since high school

  Colonel Turner – Commanding Officer of the Army Rangers based at Fort Desoto

  Corporal Phillips – In charge of the communications office at Fort Desoto

  Captain Sessions – Combat officer, commands and controls combat operations in the field

  Captain Riley – Lady tank commander, girl friend of Captain Sessions

  Chris – Member of security team and handy man on Tocabaga

  Dave
– aka Dancing Dave member of Tocabaga security

  Dr. Carl Urban – The inventor of the RCCD Units and friend of Jack’s

  Dr. Carl Urban, Jr. – Son of Dr. Urban

  Dr. Alvin Sinclair – Robot inventor and Commie killed by Jack

  Eddie – Member of Tocabaga security and friend of Jack

  First Lt. Fisher – TALOS Warrior, Platoon commander

  First Sergeant Smith – Army Ranger and body guard for Jack

  Farmer John – An old farmer saved by Jack now living on Tocabaga

  Guy Allen or GA – Suspected spy living on Tocabaga along with Scott, Chase, Ellen, Johnny, and Troy

  General Harper – Commander of the Rangers located at SOCOM

  George Taylor – A nice kid who was bullied in school by Nick

  Hemmi – Wife of Jack Gunn

  Joe – RCCD tech. Supervisor a tough guy killed by Jack

  Jim Bo – Husband to Amy and Son-in Law of Jack

  Jimmy Smith – A bully from years ago

  Kendra – Tommy’s daughter

  Leroy – The man who killed Jack’s little brother Mike

  Mike – Jack Gunn’s little brother killed by a doper