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

by Thomas H. Ward

  Bok said to me, “Jack you don’t need to protect me anymore. I will protect you from now on. I got your back.” Needless to say no one picked on Bok anymore. Bok took me to Kung Fu lessons with him twice a week for the next 5 years which really improved my fighting skills. He was like a brother to me.

  I was a senior in High School, my brother Ron was in 11th grade, and my little brother Mike was in 9th grade. I always wore a brown leather jacket that my Grandpa gave me. I liked it because it cut the wind and it was warm in the winter, but the best part was it had six zipper pockets. I carried a knife, a pair of brass knuckles, a small bicycle chain, and an old .22 caliber hand gun, which I found on the street. My brother and I were always armed to the teeth and everyone knew it so not many people messed with us.

  Ron and I worked in a car wash and earned enough money to buy an old 1953 Chevy for fifty bucks. We would take little Mike to school and then we would drive 10 miles to high school. Before buying the car we walked to high school threw dangerous gang infested neighborhoods. We would pack the car with a few friends like Bok and two or three others. We were a select band of brothers because I was picky about whom I called a friend. Everyone chipped in to pay for gas once a week.

  Mike just turned fifteen years old and was at a local fast food place for lunch waiting in line to buy a burger. A guy came in, cut in line in front of Mike, and a fight broke out. The guy pulled out a gun and killed my little brother for a better spot in the line.

  At the trial witnesses said the man cut into line and shoved Mike out of line. When Mike objected and returned the shove the crack head pulled a gun and shot Mike three times. Much to our surprise the court ruled it to be 3rd degree involuntary manslaughter and he got off with 6 years. He received six stinking years for killing my harmless little brother. Six years is not justice for cold blooded murder. This doper had a record as long as my arm for using and selling drugs. Mike was the brains of the family and he didn’t get into fights like Ron and I namely because we protected him.

  Six years went by and I was in the Army and received a call from Ron that Mike’s killer was getting out of jail any day. I took a leave of absence when Ron confirmed he was out of jail. Ron and I plotted how to kill this guy … an eye for an eye is my code. Up to this time I had never killed anyone but did break a lot of bones and smashed a lot of heads. I was never going to let Mike’s killer get away with six years and walk around free. My Dad and Grandpa knew we were up to something but they never said a word to us.

  We found out where he lived and followed him around for a week. I purchased a hot 12 gauge semi auto shot gun and a box of slugs. One night a few days later we sat in Ron’s car waiting for him to come out of a local bar down town. We had purchased tickets to a movie we had already seen and made sure the manager who was a friend of ours saw us going in. We snuck out the back door. This was part of our alibi.

  He came out of the bar around 11 pm drunk and staggered to his car. We followed his car and at a stop light with no other cars around, we pulled up next to him. It was summer time, his car windows were down and I yelled his name, “Leroy you piece of shit, remember me.”

  He looked at me and reached for a gun, as he raised it to the window his face turned white as a ghost and his jaw dropped as I pointed my big shot gun at his head from about 6 feet away. I pulled the trigger three times, hitting him directly in the head and neck. I watched his head explode into pieces. Blood and brains flew everywhere covering the inside of his windshield. He was dead on the first shot.

  Then we drove away like nothing happened and went as fast as we could to our local bar. On the way we wiped off all finger prints and dumped the gun and ammo into the Chicago River. We read about his death in the paper, “Ex con Killed by Gun Fire on the Streets of Chicago.” It happens every day in Chicago.

  I chose a shot gun because slugs and pellets cannot be traced like rifles or hand guns. You just need to make sure not to leave any shells lying around. Shot guns are excellent killing weapons at close range.

  Of course the cops came to our house asking if we knew anything about his death. They asked where we were last night so we told them and showed our movie tickets. The detective asked me, “Did anyone see you at the movies?”

  After a long pause I replied, “Yes I think Mr. Keller the Manager saw us when we purchased tickets on the way in.”

  “What time did the movie end?”

  “About 10:30 I think.”

  This was the key point because the movie theater and Bok’s Tavern were both an hour away from where Leroy was killed.

  “Where did you go after the movies?”

  “We went to Bok’s Tavern, down the street, had a few drinks and played pool.”

  “What time did you arrive at the Tavern?”

  “I think we got there about 11 pm.”

  “Until what time did you play pool?”

  “I can’t recall exactly when we left but it was about 1 am.”

  “Did anyone see you at the bar?”

  We had all kinds of friends who would say we were there between 11 pm and 1 am. I gave him a few names including the bar owner Bok Lam whom I could trust with my life. We were never charged with any type of crime but everyone in the neighborhood knew who killed Leroy. My Dad never said a word to us but Grandpa told us, “Good job boys, eye for an eye.” We didn’t reply to Grandpa but just gave him a hug.

  Funny thing is I never felt any remorse for killing that dirt bag. It actually made me feel better knowing my brother Mike could now rest in peace since justice had been served. Sometimes blind justice makes a mistake which needs to be corrected.

  Anyway that’s why I hate bullies and gangs.

  JUNE 21, 2025

  BACK TO CURRENT TIMES

  Approaching the mall area on our way back to Tocabaga Victor said, “The Feds are here with the monsters. You don’t want to run into them monsters.”

  We sat on the side of the road looking down the street for any monsters. I didn’t want to get into a gun battle with the two old men along. I noticed our radios were not working correctly. They just made a static noise which seemed to be getting louder and louder. We were all standing on the side of the road except for Farmer John and Victor who were sitting in the truck.

  Tommy was looking threw his .308 rifle scope trying to see off in the distance. Suddenly he said, “There it is, there’s the monster about 400 yards away by that far building.” Picking up the binoculars I took a look. Yes there it was and it was coming our way. It was big, very big and it was coming directly towards us.

  I watched it approach step by giant step. You could hear … thump … thump with each step. It felt like the ground was shaking. I am not afraid of any man or much of anything but this huge machine scared the shit out of me. It looked scary because it was faceless and didn’t look human. It had a head that was small compared to the body size. It didn’t have a neck and it seemed the head was just mounted onto its huge shoulders. The monster was dark grey in color but it was almost black. The armor on it seemed to overlap, and it appeared to have some type of skin covering its body.

  It was within 300 yards and started to walk faster toward us. Slowly it started to speed up and then suddenly it broke into a run, thump, thump, and thump. The thing was closing distance fast so I shouted, “Mount up let’s go!” Everyone jumped in and we started to pull away as we heard gun fire and bullets zipping around us with some hitting the vehicles.

  As we sped away I watched the thing, the monster running toward us at what seemed a much faster speed than a human could run. What the hell is that thing? The Humvee was too slow and it was keeping up with us at 30 mph.

  I yelled to Willis, “Faster, floor it,” while waving to the other trucks to speed up.

  Willis was laughing and said in his best Scottish accent, “I am giving her all she got Captain Kirk. If I give her any more she’s going to blow,” a joke from Star Trek which I didn’t see the humor in at the time.

  I told Tommy, �
��Get on the fifty and shoot that thing.”

  Tommy yelled to it, “Hello Mr. Roboto, meet Mr. Fifty caliber,” as he fired away. I kind of laughed at that comment mostly out of fear.

  I watched as the 50 caliber machine gun hit the big monster time and time again. It finally got knocked down but stood back up, standing there as if dazed for a second or two then it started after us again. I thought this thing takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

  A fifty caliber machine gun is a powerful weapon. It can shoot thru one side of a car to the other. It can blow holes in concrete walls. It takes a lot of armor to stop a .50 caliber round. The M 2 BMG or Browning Machine Gun has a muzzle velocity of 1,900 miles per hour or 2, 800 feet per second. The BMG bullet is ½ inch in diameter. I call it the Superman Bullet.

  The monster was still shooting at us as we slowly pulled out of range. Looking back it was still chasing us. I looked at it again thinking this must be some kind of new TALOS suit or a robot. The robot followed us on to Route 75 and then stopped as we sped away at 55 mph.

  We reached the south Skyway Bridge check point and stopped to tell the six Ranges what we had found. They laughed when I told them we saw a robot.

  Our radios and phones were working now so I got on the cell phone and called Captain Sessions, “Captain, Jack here. We just ran into a new type of TALOS suit or a robot at Ellenton area. We found an old man who says these things killed everyone and stacked the bodies in the empty stores like cord wood.

  “Captain this thing is big about 7 or 8 feet tall and can run at about 30 mph. Do you know anything about them?”

  “No Jack, I have never heard anything about robots.”

  “Well I think it is still coming this way and your men here may need reinforcements.”

  “I think six Rangers with a 50 caliber machine gun can handle one so called robot. You head back to Tocabaga and let my men take care of it.”

  “Roger that Captain but our fifty rounds just bounced off this thing. I want to take some pictures of it before we return. I think this robot is jamming the radios and phones. Maybe this is why your drones are having problems.”

  “Ok try to get a picture then come back here but don’t take any chances. Let me talk to Sergeant Dale,” I handed the phone to Dale.

  I told my men, “Everyone stay here while Willis, Tommy and I go back to take some pictures of the monster.”

  Willis was driving, Tommy was on the fifty, and I had the camera, an old Sony with 20 mega pixels with a 12x zoom lens. Tommy yelled, “There it is about 600 yards away, standing right in the middle of the road.”

  I replied, “This’s too far away to get a good picture so drive a little closer Willis.”

  Tommy commented, “Any closer and we will be in firing range.”

  “Right that is the main idea. When it fires at us you fire back with the fifty and try to hit it in the head. Willis take us within 300 yards and make a U turn to head back. Don’t slow down or stop for any reason. I want to see what this thing can do.”

  Willis drove up to within 300 yards then made a U turn and the monster started to fire at us. Tommy let loose with the fifty hitting the thing in the head which knocked it down but it got right back up and started to move forward toward us. It was unbelievable the fifty caliber rounds were bouncing off that thing. It was scary looking and a chill ran down my spine as I started to take pictures and video.

  Willis yelled over the gun fire, “Hey we have a MK153 rocket launcher and one rocket do you want to use it?”

  The MK153 SMAW means Shoulder-launched, Muti-purpose Assault Weapon. This is a hand held shoulder fired missile system used to blow up vehicles and buildings. A very powerful weapon that is reusable. You fire a missile and put in a new one.

  I replied, “Good idea, let’s blow this thing up.”

  Willis slammed on the brakes jumped out of the Humvee while using it for cover and loaded the rocket. The robot kept coming and firing at us, it was within 100 yards and the bullets were getting to close for comfort.

  Taking aim Willis fired the rocket leaving a big cloud of smoke while making a loud jet roar. I was shooting pictures and Tommy was firing the machine gun while we watched the rocket head for the target. Time slowed down like the rocket was in slow motion.

  The rocket was right on target it was going to hit the monster but just before impact the robot quickly side stepped and dodged the lethal rocket like it was a toy.

  I thought this thing has fast reflexes and excellent vision to dodge a rocket, we are in deep shit.

  Willis jumped back in the truck and blurted out, “Did you see that the dam thing dodge the rocket!”

  “I saw it Willis and got it on video, let’s get the hell out of here.”

  Willis punched it to the floor while Tommy was still firing the big gun and soon we were out of range. I yelled over the wind noise, “We have to get these pictures back to Captain Sessions ASAP!”

  Tommy said, “It stopped chasing us.”

  Reaching the check point we told everyone what happen. The fifty just knocked it down and it got back up. The robot dodged the MK153 rocket.

  Sergeant Dale commented, “How the hell could it dodge a rocket?”

  I told the Rangers, “You are going to need a Bradley or Abrams to stop that thing.”

  Victor commented, “There are a bunch of those monsters.”

  I asked him, “How many do you think?”

  “I saw eight of them and maybe there are more.”

  “Ok Rangers good luck we have to get this information and pictures back to Captain Session, be careful.”

  I phoned Captain Sessions, “We got pictures of this thing. Willis fired a MK153 rocket at it to see what would happen. It just stepped aside and dodged the rocket.”

  “Wow that is incredible. Bring the pictures back asap.”

  “We are on the way now but your men here may need a Bradley here to stop these things if they come this way.”

  “You said things … how many are there?”

  “Victor an old man we found here told me he counted eight of them but there could be more.”

  “Ok see you soon, over.”

  Arriving back on Tocabaga John wanted Victor to move in with him. That was good as John could show Victor the ropes and the two old men could help each other. Since Victor was also a farmer he will be a great asset to help us grow more food with the new seeds.

  Willis, Tommy, and I went to the Fort to give the pictures to Captain Sessions. We down loaded the camera into his computer, watched the video, and looked at the pictures. Now we were able to zoom in on the display screen and look at this monster close up.

  As we looked at the pictures it was clear the armor on this machine appeared to be the same as that used on the TALOS suits. There seemed to be a small radar antenna and some other type of antennas sticking out of the head and body in various places. The head had one eye about the size of a base ball and another somewhat smaller eye.

  Sessions commented, “This thing looks like a TALOS suit except for the head and the overall size of it.”

  Sessions saw the thing dodge the rocket on the video and commented, “It must have radar tied in with a thermal image device to be able to dodge a rocket. It also seems to sense the machine gun fire as every now and then it moves the left arm up to block bullets that would have hit it in the head.

  “I am going to send this to SOCOM Intel and see what they think. They need to tell us how to kill ‘em. I’ll call you in the morning Jack and we can discuss these so called monsters after we get some more info.”

  I looked at my watch it was all ready 8 pm and I needed a drink and some food. I told Tommy and Willis, “Let’s go to the bar for a drink and get some food.”

  Willis replied, “Sounds good to me.”

  “Me too,” said Tommy

  “See you tomorrow Captain, good night,” we shook hands and left.

  We arrived home around 10 pm and my wife Hemmi was happy that I was home even if I was
late. The kids were all in bed and I was dead tried. We didn’t say anything about the monsters to our wives. There’s no need to scare them.

  I had never seen anything like the robot. I knew we could be in deep shit if there was an Army of them. We could all be in the fight of our lives. We’ll see what Sessions finds out tomorrow.

  JUNE 22, 2025

  I woke up early because I couldn’t sleep. I dreamed that fire breathing monsters were invading Tocabaga and I woke up in a cold sweat. I was glad it was only a dream. I took a shower and went down for a cup of coffee. Tommy, Jim Bo, and Ron were already up. Tommy poured me a cup of mud and said, “I had nightmares last night.”

  I replied, “I did too, the monsters attacked Tocabaga.”

  We basically had the same dream. Tocabaga was in danger. I believe dreams can come true so we needed to be very careful.

  The phone rang; I looked at my watch it was 6 am. Picking up the phone, “Hello, Jack here.”

  “Jack this is Sessions come and meet me at the Fort asap to see the Intel report.”

  “Ok Captain we’ll be there in 30 minutes.”

  I told my family Sessions wants to see us now to go over the intel. Drink your coffee and let’s go. We walked into Sessions office and he told us to sit down and read the Intel report.

  SOCOM INTEL REPORT JUNE 22, 2025 … SUBJECT: ROBOTS

  CLASSIFIED REPORT NO. 1223452

  The pictures you sent are the first ones we have received of these robots in action. These machines have been in development over the past five years. Secretly the Federal Government has been working with the NSA (National Security Agency) to develop this new and even more dangerous combat weapon.

  They are manufacturing an Army of Robots called RCCDs’ or REMOTE CONTROLLED COMBAT DROIDS operated like drones by a controller or droid master sitting in a room far away from the dangers of battle field. In fact they are walking robots that have no brain, no sense of right and wrong, only that of the master controlling this monster.