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

by Thomas H. Ward

  I thought about this and told everyone my conclusion, “This is al-Qaida work. They’re here to get my head and collect the reward of $100,000 in gold coins. There must be at least two of them to kill our men like this and I know how they got here.”

  Ron asked, “How did they get past our security?”

  “That’s easy they came in those oil drums that have been washing up and floating by.”

  I phoned Cain the Drone Master and asked him, “Sergeant did you ever find out where the drums were coming from?”

  “I was just going to call you about that. The drums are being put in the water in Tampa at the old oil storage area. Based on Drone pictures it looks like the guys doing it are al-Qaida.”

  “Ok thanks for the information.”

  “Men, Cain just confirmed the oil drums are being put in the water by al-Qaida. We need to shoot the shit out of each drum. Sink them and fill them full of holes in case someone is hiding in them. I want every drum to look like Swiss cheese.

  “Tommy take the east side of the island and Jim Bo take the west. Ron and I will check at each bridge. We will meet at the main bridge in 3 hours. First let’s put Eddy and Kane into body bags and get them out of the heat so no more ants or birds eat them.

  “We’ll have a funeral service later after we kill the men who did this.”

  I have a plan to locate and kill the fighters that are already here. I’ll be the bait. They are here for me so I need to let them find me. I will tell Tommy and the others the full details of my plan later. We need to kill these bad guys today.

  Then I thought maybe they know where I live so I called SGM Willis telling him, “Willis go to my house with Smith and guard it because al-Qaida is here on Tocabaga.”

  “Al-Qaida here on Tocabaga, how is that possible? How many are here?”

  “We don’t know how many are here but we found Eddy and Kane dead their throats were cut and we found an Arabic al-Qaida style head scarf. I think they came here in those oil drums we have seen floating around.

  “By the way have the guards at the main bridge shoot holes in all the drums that have washed up or are floating around.”

  “Ok Roger that Jack. We will get over to your house ASAP.”

  My cell rang, it was my wife, “Jack, Johnny was outside and he came running inside telling me he saw a man with a towel on his head. Johnny is scared … you better come home right away.”

  “Listen to me Willis and Smith are coming over right now and I will be there in five minutes. Stay inside, lock the doors, and keep your gun handy. Have everyone keep their guns handy, Bye”

  “Ron lets go to the house Johnny saw a towel head outside while he was playing. Everyone is inside now but we need to check it out.”

  “Let’s go Bro.”

  Willis and Smith were all ready there when we arrived at the house; I jumped out of the Humvee and asked, “Did you guys see anyone?”

  “No we haven’t seen anyone,” Smith replied.

  I yelled, “I am home,” and ran inside to find Johnny.

  Everyone was sitting in the living room with all the shutters closed.

  “Johnny, where did you see the men with towels on their heads?”

  “I saw them by the bushes near the water. I only saw their heads. They didn’t see me.”

  “Good boy Johnny, don’t worry we’re all safe.”

  I radioed Tommy and told him, “You and Jim Bo come to the house when you’re finished. Johnny saw a fighter in the bushes here. I have a plan to get these guys.”

  “Ok see you in about an hour.”

  I got on the phone to the Drone Master, “Cain this is Gunn I need you to put a drone up watching the Bayway from my house to the bar. If possible put up two drones. We have some al-Qaida guys here and we have to find them quickly. They have already killed two of our men.”

  “Ok Jack, you got it; the drones will be over head in a few minutes. I will call you when we see them and give you their location.”

  My Plan was to use myself as bait. I would go to the bar and pretend to get drunk and stumble home in the street by myself. Tommy, Jim Bo, Tony, Ron, Rick, and Chris would be my back up snipers. They would be located 300 feet apart going down the main road with the exception of Tommy who would follow behind me out of site covering my back.

  I knew the fighters were watching me, waiting for a chance to kill me. I could feel it, my sixth sense was strong. As soon as it was dark I would walk to the bar. I got ready checking and double checking my guns and gear.

  I would carry my trusty Colt CAR 15 9 mm carbine with a 20 round magazine and 4x low light scope. As always I pack my Glock 17 and Cold Steel Black Bear fighting knife. As an added protection I also carried a Glock 19 with a laser sight. I wanted a back up hand gun just in case something went wrong. My sixth sense told me to bring this gun because it had a laser which is very useful in the dark. All you do is just put the red dot laser on the target and fire, you can’t miss.

  I told my plan to the assembled group and Tommy looking in my eyes said, “Dad don’t do this it’s too dangerous. We’ll get them somehow.”

  “I need to do this because they want me and the longer we wait more people could be killed. No one is safe on Tocabaga. So it’s a done deal. I got you, the best shooter, to back me up, so I am not worried.”

  Deep down inside I was worried because anything could go wrong.

  “Ok everyone get in your positions now. Remember you guys are also covering each other as well as me. When it’s dusk I will go to the bar and I will leave there at 10:30 pm sharp. I am counting on everyone to kill these dorks.

  “Remember I am going to stumble down the road like I am drunk and I will fall down a few times and lay there hoping the jerks attack me then. I want them to think I’m passed out drunk, being the cowards they are, that’s when they’ll attack me.”

  It was 8 pm and the sun was setting. I told my wife and family not to worry I will be home by mid night. I left the house telling Smith and Willis to keep their guard up. They knew my plan and wished me good luck.

  It was only a half mile away but it was a long walk. I took my time staying on the east side of the divided highway, paying attention to every detail. Thinking if I were an al-Qaida fighter where would I hide to kill Jack Gunn.

  They would need to kill me and cut off my head. They would have to do it in a place that was dark with a lot of cover. Maybe they have a rifle or pistol with a silencer on it so a shot could not be heard. Yes that’s it they will use a gun with a silencer to kill me and then drag me into the bushes and cut off my head.

  My cell phone rang, answering I said, “Gunn here, what’s up?”

  “This is Willis. We saw two men following you down the road they are off in the bushes on the west side of the road, about 300 feet behind you.”

  “Thanks Willis they took the bait so far. If they come back toward you kill the bastards, Bye.”

  I got on the radio to my sniper team, “Willis saw two men following me to the bar on the west side of the road about 300 feet behind me. They were sneaking threw the bushes. If anyone can get a shot at them take it, but don’t miss either of them.”

  Everyone replied, “Roger that Jack.”

  I phoned Cain, “Hey Drone Master can you see two men on the west side of the road sneaking in the bushes?”

  “Yes Jack we got them on screen. What do you want me to do?”

  “Just follow them and keep me posted as to their location. Let me know when they are within 100 feet of me.”

  “Yes Sir I will follow them like a hawk.”

  “I am going to the bar and will leave there at 10:30 pretending to be drunk. I am the bait they are after me, so don’t let me down.”

  “Roger that Jack, don’t worry.”

  The problem was my men were all on the east side of the divided highway so it would be hard to get a clear shot. The once manicured lawns and bushes were now an over grown jungle. In the old days you would hear lawn mowers everyday tryi
ng to keep the jungle at bay.

  The road, officially named Bayway South, is a divided four lane state road with a large center strip or median. There are all kinds of plants and bushes growing wild due to neglect over the last few years. It is all most impossible to see from one side of the road to the other. The Bayway is lined with townhomes and condos on each side of the road most of which are empty now.

  I finally arrived at the bar and there were three Rangers there along with Captain Riley to my surprise. I advised them what was going on and they watched the two bar doors in case the fighters decided to come in shooting.

  Two hours went by and it was 10:30 time to leave so I radioed my team, “I am coming out now.”

  Captain Riley and the three Rangers watched me leave and wished me good luck. I did have two shots of JD to take the edge off. Walking out the main door I fell down the last step landing on my knees and slowly got up.

  I headed for the east side of the road knowing Tommy was down the road about 200 feet away. To judge distance we use the light poles which are 100 feet apart. My men are hopefully out of sight and ready to kill these scum bags.

  I walked close to the curb, as far away from the median as I could get. My thinking is they would hide in the over grown bushes and attack me at one of the U turn locations.

  I called Cain, “Where are the bad guys at now?”

  “They are at the Sterling Condo hiding behind a wall near the sidewalk.”

  “Cain stay on the line with me from now on, let me know when and where they move.”

  I got on the radio and told my team where the fighters were at. I was walking on the east side of the road parallel to the Sterling; I faked a stumble and fell to the ground. I laid there for a minute, got up, and started to walk again, weaving like a drunk.

  Cain spoke, “Jack they are now moving north on the west side and … wait … they are crossing the road to the median. They are now at the next U Turn hiding in the bushes right near the road. Be careful they … are … pointing a gun at you right now, it’s a hand gun of some kind.

  “Jack you are within 75 feet of them watch out!”

  I heard a slight … POP … POP … POP … it was a hand gun with a silencer. I felt three bullets hit me and I fell down in the grass. I thought shit I am hit. I heard them running toward me and I turned my head to see them. I could see both of them coming up fast to finish killing me; one had a big ass machete in his hand.

  I pulled my Glock 19 out with the laser sight getting ready to fire and then I heard … BAM … the unmistakable sound of a .308 rifle. Tommy had shot the one jerk and he fell 20 feet away from me. I carefully aimed the Glock 19 putting the red laser dot on his head and squeezed the trigger. My 9 mm hollow point round blew a big hole in the side of his head, he was dead.

  The other dork began to run north trying to get away but he ran right to Ricks’ location. I heard a burst of automatic gun fire from an M 4 carbine. The fighter dropped in the road about 150 feet away. I saw Tony run out of the bushes and shoot him in the head. Just like the “Walking Dead” you need to shoot Zombies in the head to make sure they don’t wake up from Never - Never land.

  Tommy ran up to me and asked, “Dad are you hit?”

  “Yes, but I don’t know how serious.”

  I just laid there and didn’t move trying to feel if a bullet got past my bullet proof vest. Sometimes when you are hit by a bullet you don’t feel it right away. Tommy bent down shinning his flash light on me.

  Tommy said, “Dad your left arm is bleeding a lot. Sit up I’ll put a tourniquet on your arm and take you to Doc. Scott.”

  When I looked at the blood and the hole in my arm it started to hurt. It felt like I got punched in the arm with an ice pick. I needed a shot of Jack Daniels.

  Tommy and Ron took me to the Clinic and Doc. Scott removed a .22 caliber hollow point bullet from my left shoulder where it hit the bone. The little bullet did a lot of damage but it could have been a lot worst if it was a 7.62 round or a .45 caliber round. Those big rounds can blow your arm off. If the fighter had been a better shooter he could have shot me in the head in which case I would not be writing this, but I was lucky or God was watching over me. In any case it was a close call.

  Doc. Scott gave me a shot of something to kill the pain and he dug out the bullet and told me, “You’ll lose use of this arm for a few weeks. Your bone is fractured but not fully broken. Keep it in a sling as much as possible but don’t baby it, try to move your arm every day. You have a lot of muscle damage. Here is some pain killer.”

  He handed me some kind of pain pills.

  Arriving home around midnight my wife was not happy about me getting shot. Lying in bed I thought how many more fighters are going to come to try and kill me. Are there any more on Tocagaba in hiding? We will need regular Drone patrols to watch for any fighters for the next week.

  I need guards posted 24-7 to protect my family. Smith and Willis can stand guard during the day. Tommy, Ron, Jim Bo, and I will take turns guarding at night for the next week. Someone must be watching the children at all times.

  How can we stop this? Then it occurred to me. Post it on the internet; post a picture of me dead, killed by al-Qaida fighters who were also killed during the raid. Yes that is the answer to stop these attacks. I will phone Colonel Turner in the morning and ask him to post it on the net.

  JUNE 11, 2025

  THREE WEEKS LATER

  Colonel Turner had my picture taken showing my dead body complete with bullet holes in my head and fake blood. He had it posted on the Net and now we just need to wait and see what happens.

  We have not found any more fighters on Tocabaga but the Drones will keep flying just in case for another few weeks, until we are sure the news of my death gets out. The Rangers have killed off and eliminated al-Qaida in our area and for now we are safe. If it wasn’t for the Rangers the al-Qaida Army may have taken over Tocabaga. Life is more or less returning back to normal. Our people are back to doing normal everyday tasks of farming, fishing, just trying to live a normal life.

  My arm is healing well and I can move it but it is a little stiff. The main thing I am concerned about is getting an infection so I need to keep the wound clean. My broken fingers are healing well but I have lost some movement. My ribs still hurt but only when I laugh and I now have bad headaches almost every day.

  Our Tocabaga security team is back to doing most of the guard details. The Rangers are flying out all the time on patrol up and down the west coast of Florida. Rumor is that the Special Forces along with the Marines have moved on Washington DC and there is fighting taking place. The Marines have orders not to use cannons or bombs in the Capital area, to protect the national monuments from any damage, if at all possible.

  The other day Colonel Turner had a medal ceremony, giving Johnny and Jimmy the Army Ranger Challenge Coin, which are only given to someone who has performed a superior act of merit. They also received a framed letter making them honorary Army Rangers. Everyone on Tocabaga was there as well as over one hundred Rangers. Captain Sessions flew in for the ceremony and I am pleased to say he is walking already. He was discharged from the clinic, but is not cleared for active duty. Afterward there was a celebration and the Rangers supplied hot dogs for the whole group. We haven’t had real hot dog in years, they were great.

  The Army gave us 400 solar generators to use so there is no need to purchase them. They are small and only generate 1 KW but it is enough to run the refrigerator, lights and microwave oven. We hooked them up to each house that is occupied.

  Four days ago our little dog Blackie got killed by a rattle snake while playing with the kids. Shanda and Kendra told us that Blackie saved them from the snake by biting it in the head. We dug a hole and buried the brave little dog. I will miss Blackie; the whole family will miss her.

  Hemmi, my wife, heard the kids scream, and ran outside with her Ruger .22 shooting the snake ten times. It was a big six foot long diamond back which are hard to kill. I am thankful n
o one was bit by that big monster.

  Maggie found a John Deere tractor for sale on the internet. I don’t know anything about tractors but she does and advised me it comes with a tiller, loader, and mower, which is perfect because we can also cut down the weeds and grass. The farmer selling it is just over the Skyway Bridge in Ellenton about 45 miles away. He claims he has other equipment he will sell cheap.

  Maggie is pushing for me to go and buy the tractor and asked me, “Jack can we go tomorrow and check out the tractor? It is the only one I found that is close to Tocabaga. I want to come along and get off the island for a day.”

  “Maggie ok I’ll make a plan where is this tractor located?”

  “It is at a farm off Route 301 about 5 miles past the old Ellenton Outlet Mall, about 50 miles away.”

  “Ok Maggie I’ll put together a team. It is still dangerous in the outside world so this is not going to be a Sunday drive out in the countryside.”

  We haven’t been across the Skyway Bridge in years. The Rangers now guard it and limit travel coming to this area. No one comes across the bridge unless you have a good reason. The word is that Ellenton area is not safe.

  My thinking was we would need the two Hummers, two big pickup trucks and 16 people for security reasons. There would be four people in each vehicle. The convoy would have one Humvee in the lead and one at the rear. We have two F 350 trucks to use for towing.

  I plan to take Rangers Willis and Smith, for my security. I need my trustworthy team of Ron, Tommy, Jim Bo, Chris, Rick and Tony. I would bring Maggie and Amy as they are both good shooters and they would ride in one of the Humvees for added protection. Amy would come along to keep Maggie company. I still needed five more men who can shoot.

  I called Colonel Turner, “Colonel we are going over the Skyway to buy a tractor to enable us to produce more food. I want to have 16 men go on this expedition but I am five men short. Can you assign me five Rangers to go along for security?”

  “Are you taking Willis and Smith along?”