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

by Thomas H. Ward

  They have radar, thermal imaging, and GPS systems that are the best in the world. These android soldiers along with flying drones could be a formidable force even for Army Rangers wearing TALOS suits. The only draw backs are they need to do daily maintenance and someone needs to reload their weapons when necessary.

  These machines are big standing 8 feet tall at about 1000 pounds. They can carry all most any type of weapon, machine guns, rockets, and even a 25 mm cannon. They have the same armor as the TALOS units and it maybe even stronger. They can carry more weight and guns since there is no man inside. They are fast and reportedly can run at 30 mph for an undetermined distance. They don’t need to eat or sleep. They are dangerous, very dangerous and offer only death to those who oppose them.

  The official Army name for these androids is the “THE HEPHAESTUS ARMY” or “BOTs” for short. We warn you do not to take any chances and use maximum fire power to destroy them on sight. If you can locate the manufacturing location advise us ASAP.

  END OF CLASSIFIED REPORT NO. 1223452.

  After reading the report we all just looked at each other and were speechless. We were up against a very dangerous weapon that none of us had ever seen before. The question is how do we fight these things, how do we kill these things. The report didn’t tell us how to kill these monsters. We need to figure out how to kill them before they come to Tocabaga.

  We sat in Sessions office and looked at the pictures again. The droid had a SAW mounted on its right arm. That could be a good target because if you knock out the gun then it can’t shoot. The only weak spot appeared to be if you shoot it in the head. We know it can be knocked down. What about shooting it directly in the eye, what would that do to the machine?

  The only other problem is someone needs to reload the monster with ammo and do repairs as needed. We have to do a test before the “BOTs” come here. We need to shoot one in the eye to see what happens. We need to find out where are the people who are doing the reloading.

  I told Captain Sessions, “Why don’t Willis, Tommy and I go back to Ellenton and try to shoot one in the eye to see what happens. Tommy is the best sniper we have so let’s make a plan and do it. Tommy could shoot the monster from a Hummer.”

  Tommy replied, “Negative, shooting this thing in the eye is a hard shot. I need to be on the ground. I can’t be in a moving truck with machine guns firing at the same time I am trying to make a long distance shot. Besides that you need to get within 300 or 400 yards before it will chase you. I don’t want it to even know I am out there trying to kill it.”

  “What about this, we go back to Route 75 where the BOT stopped chasing us. If it’s not there we’ll drop off Tommy in a ghillie suit on the side of the road. He digs in to cover his heat signature. When he is hidden Willis and I will go and find a BOT and get it to chase us to a kill location.”

  A ghillie suit is a type of camouflage clothing designed to resemble heavy foliage. Typically, it is a net or cloth garment covered in loose strips of burlap or cloth made to look like leaves and bushes. Snipers wear a ghillie suit to blend into their surroundings and conceal themselves from enemies. The suit makes the wearer's outline a three dimensional profile. A ghillie suit done correctly makes it impossible to detect the sniper.

  Sessions asked, “What if the BOT detects Tommy? He could get killed. What if the BOT is still there?”

  “If the BOT is still there we will set up a kill zone further down the road closer to the check point. Captain have a drone fly over there to see if the BOT is still around.”

  Tommy answered, “No man or any robot can find me in the bush. The critical part will be covering my body heat. I need to cover my heat signature. I’ll need to use mud. A lot of mud painted all over my body and the ghillie suit. We can do a practice run here using a thermal imaging camera to find me. Do you have one Captain?”

  “Yes we have a thermal imaging camera and infrared scopes we can use.”

  Thermal imagers are altogether different from infrared. Heat is called infrared or thermal energy. Thermal image cameras detect more than just heat; they detect tiny differences in heat as small as 0.01°C. Infrared devices only detect heat and not small differences in heat.

  Everything we encounter gives off thermal energy, even ice. The hotter something is the more thermal energy it emits. This emitted thermal energy is called a “heat signature.” Every item gives off a unique heat signature. It is suspected that the BOT has both infrared and thermal image capability.

  “Ok let’s do one test today and one tonight. I will get ready and hide at Fort Desoto within 20 feet of the roadside. When I am ready I will radio the Captain. Then have two or three men drive down the road and try to spot me.”

  “All right please proceed and make ready for the test in two hours.”

  “Roger that Captain. Dad you can help me put on the mud.”

  I have my own backup plan to protect Tommy in case something goes wrong. Willis and I will have two rocket systems and fire two at one time. Let’s see if Mr. BOT can dodge two rockets at once. Of course my last plan is to sacrifice myself if needed to save my sons life but I hope it don’t come to that.

  The day and night time tests went as planned. The Rangers could not locate Tommy with the thermal or infrared device. There was only one problem which I mentioned to Tommy, “Once you fire the Cobb 50 the barrel will heat up and make a very visible heat signature.”

  Tommy said, “I’ll wrap the barrel with fiber glass insulation and put mud on the barrel to reduce the heat. I hope it only takes one or two shots to shoot the eye.”

  The drone master called me, “Jack the robot is gone so it is clear right now. I had to keep the drones pretty far away from Ellenton because of the signal jamming.”

  “Ok thanks for the information. Please check again tomorrow at 8:00 am and let me know.”

  “Tommy what is your plan? The drone master just told me the BOT is gone so that means we will plant you somewhere in the bush and then we’ll lure one to chase us to your specified kill zone.”

  “My plan is you will drop me off a about a half mile from the 301 entrance ramp. There is some high ground in that area and I will have a clear shot straight down Route 75. I will take my first shot from 500 yards away. If I don’t kill it after five rounds you guys pick me up and we get the hell out of there.”

  “Ok good plan but if you do kill it I want to bring the thing back to Captain Sessions so we can figure out how it operates. If you miss or can’t kill it then we will fire two rockets at it at the same time. Willis and Smith will handle the rockets. The BOT maybe able to dodge one rocket but not two at the same time. We’ll bring a pickup truck with a trailer to carry back the body. Well it sounds like we have a good plan. Let’s get a night cap and hit the hay. Tomorrow is going to be a long day.”

  Tommy replied, “No drinks for me tonight. I want to wake up early and do a few practice shots at 500 yards just to make sure the rifle is scoped in ok. I’ll wake you at 5 am, good night.”

  As Tommy walked away I told the group, “This is a very dangerous mission especially for Tommy. I want to watch the video again in slow motion to see how that BOT dodged the rocket. Let’s watch the whole thing in slow motion, maybe we’ll see something we missed.”

  We went back to Captain Sessions office and watched the video again in slow motion. It seemed every time the BOT was hit in the head by the 50 caliber it stopped as if dazed just for a second or two. When it got knocked down it layed there for a second or two and got up. On getting up it seemed to be dazed trying to find the target. The BOT would turn its head right and then left, then it would look straight ahead and proceed forward. This only took two or three seconds.

  Sitting there with Willis, Smith, Ron, and Jim Bo I commented, “Here is my analysis of the video. The BOT becomes dazed when hit in the head by the fifty. When it falls down and is getting back up it is still dazed. The head moves to the right and to the left. Then it looks straight ahead before proceeding. Granted
it is just for a second or so but this could be a good time for Tommy to take a shot because it’s not moving. I’ll tell Tommy about this tomorrow.

  “If you noticed this thing moved to the right when it dodged the rocket. I think it’s programmed to do that or the guy operating the BOT is right handed and moves that way without thinking.”

  Willis asked, “So what does that mean Jack?”

  “Simple, if you and Smith fire the rockets at the BOT we know it’ll side step and turn to the right or we hope so. That means Willis fires first and Smith fires his rocket as soon as the first one takes off. Smith you fire just split seconds apart not at the same time.”

  Smith asked, “So you mean I fire just one second later?”

  “Yes one second or as soon as you see it move to dodge the first rocket.”

  Everyone agreed it was a good back up idea in case Tommy doesn’t shoot the eye out and kill the monster.

  “Ok if nothing else let’s get a night cap.”

  I thought over and over again, running our plans in my head trying to think what could go wrong. My Sons’ life is on the line so I needed to be extra careful. This is probably one of the most important missions we have done.

  Most of the Ranges have been redeployed so we don’t have the full force of the Ranges when we need them the most. It made me wonder, why they pulled out at the same time the BOTs showed up, leaving us at a disadvantage in man power.

  It seems we have a spy or someone leaking information in order to take over Tocabaga. It would have to be someone who does not believe in freedom, limited small government, and the Constitution.

  What a screwed up mess. Everyone’s life on Tocabaga depends on this mission. We need to bring back a dead BOT.

  JUNE 23, 2025

  It was 5 am so we went to the gun range at the Fort to make sure the Cobb 50 was zeroed in and functioning correctly. While shooting I advised Tommy what was discussed last night after we watched the video and my idea about the two rockets.

  I advised Tommy, “We’ll Shoot the BOT in the head and knock him down. When he gets up he’ll stand there for a second looking to the right, to the left, and then straight ahead before proceeding forward. That is the time to shoot him in the eye because he is not moving. This only takes a second or two.”

  “I agree with you Dad, that was good thinking and analysis on your part. I’ll wait for him to stand up after being knocked down and then I’ll blow his brains out. If he has any brains.”

  “Tommy these BOTs scares the shit out of me. We really need to kill one and bring the body back here for testing to find out exactly how it operates.”

  “Who can figure out how it operates?”

  “I think the Ranger drone master is the best person to do that or send it to SOCOM.”

  Tommy finished target practice and we want to the shallow water to get a couple buckets of mud. Then we went home for some breakfast. It was 8 am and everyone was scheduled to meet at 10 am at the bridge.

  We had three trucks, two Hummers and one F 250 Ford with a trailer to haul the body back. Jim Bo and Ron would be in the F 250. Smith and Tony were in one Humvee and Willis, Tommy and I in the other. Smith and Willis would operate the big 50 caliber guns mounted on the bullet proof Hummers and also fire the rockets if necessary.

  The drone master phoned and advised no robots were on Route 75 near the Ellenton exit. So our plan was going to be hatched. We drove across the Tocabaga Bridge as our family waved good bye. The wives had no idea how dangerous this mission was or how important it was for the safety of Tocabaga. On the way out I phoned Captain Sessions telling him we were on the way. He wished us good luck.

  We stopped at the Skyway Bridge north check point advising our plan on drove on to the south check point. The Rangers at this check point wanted to help us. SFC Dale jumped in my Humvee with Willis and I to operate the big 50 caliber. He assured me he was a better shot than Willis. Willis confirmed he was the best fifty gunner in the Rangers. That made me feel better as hitting this thing in the head was critical to our plan.

  We reached the high ground where Tommy wanted to be dropped off. We got out and I covered him with mud. Next he put on his ghillie suit. I poured some mud on top of the suit. Not one of us said a word to each other.

  Tommy picked a spot with high grass and bushes about 40 feet off the side of the road. Laying down he looked threw his rifle scope. Then he took out his laser range finder and found the 500 yard mark.

  Tommy said, “Ok Dad cover me up with some bushes and put some mud on the gun barrel. The 500 yard mark is the Ellenton exit sign hanging over the highway. You try to knock the BOT down there. Be sure it is facing in my direction.”

  I hacked off some shrubs placing them on top of him so no part of his body was exposed and told him, “I think you’re all set. Don’t take any chances. Remember when the metal man gets up he will move his head to the right and then left. Then he will look straight … shoot him then.”

  “Got it Dad don’t worry this is a piece of cake. One shot … one kill is our motto.”

  “Ok good luck,” I choked up a little as I walked away.

  Getting back to the trucks I said, “Ron move the pickup truck about 800 yards away out of sight. Smith and Tony your position is 300 yards before the Route 301 exit sign. The exit sign is the 500 yard mark and Tommy will take his first shot there after we knock this thing down.

  “When you see us speeding onto the entrance ramp the BOT will be right behind us. As soon as the BOT reaches the sign start to fire. Remember head shots only. Everyone got it?”

  All replied, “Yes Sir.”

  I told Willis, “Let’s go to the bridge and take a quick look. Maybe we can see something that would be useful.”

  When you exit Interstate 75 at Route 301 you make a left turn taking you under the Interstate 75 Bridge. From the top of the bridge you can see a good deal of route 301 all the way to the mall.

  Willis replied, “Good idea, we can walk up on the bridge and take a peek.”

  We drove up to the bridge Willis and I got out while Dale waited in the truck covering us with the machine gun. Smith and Tony stopped 300 yards before the exit sign waiting there.

  We looked over the guard rail on the bridge and saw robots in the road about a half a mile away. They were lining up in columns of two on route 301 as if getting ready to march somewhere. There were so many we couldn’t count them all but I estimated there were at least 400 of them. We saw an estimated twenty men doing maintenance on the BOTs. They had several trucks to carry the necessary equipment and supplies.

  Then looking down over the edge of the guard rail there it stood. One lone BOT standing there apparently doing guard duty. The question is can we get just one BOT to follow us or will the others also come after us. If we have a group of BOTs chasing us it would ruin our whole plan and it could ruin our whole day.

  I asked Willis, “What do you think?”

  “I think we are in deep shit look at all those bastards. We have to tell Captain Sessions about this.”

  “I agree but we need to kill a BOT and find out how they work. Here’s an idea, rather than us driving down there and run the risk of being spotted by all of them, let’s fire one or two shots at this one from here. When he starts coming we’ll jump in the truck.”

  “Sounds good to me, let’s do it.”

  Willis taking aim with his M 4 fired one shot hitting the BOT in the head. It looked in our direction but didn’t move. Maybe it didn’t see us so he fired one more round. This time when it looked in our direction we stood up and waved at it. That got its attention and the monster started moving toward our location.

  Willis and I were laughing as we ran back to the Humvee and Dale asked, “What the heck you guys laughing at?”

  Willis said, “We just shot a BOT in the head and waved to it. It seemed funny when we did it.”

  “It isn’t funny because here it comes now.”

  I started the motor, Willis jumped in, and we he
aded for the other Humvee. The BOT like a good little dog, was following us and gaining speed. Willis fired another M 4 round hitting it in the head but the bullet just bounced off.

  We reached the 300 yard spot and both trucks opened fire with the 50 caliber machine guns as it went under the exit sign. I was thinking I hope the other BOTs don’t hear the gun fire.

  All of a sudden after twenty or thirty rounds the BOT fell down and we stopped firing. It got up moved its head to the right, then to the left, and then straight. We could hear the bullet whiz by us as it smashed into the baseball sized eye. Tommy made a direct hit on the first shot.

  The BOT fell down on its back and began shooting into the air. The robot’s legs and arms where flailing around. It was still alive but couldn’t stand up. It was flopping around like a fish out of water. It was clear the eye was a camera and also had something to do with the gyroscope that enabled this thing to walk and keep its balance.

  A gyroscope is a device for maintaining orientation. There are many types of Gyroscopes such as the electronic, microchip-packaged MEMS found in consumer electronic devices, fiber optic and the extremely sensitive quantum gyroscopes.

  Willis commented, “Shit what do we do now?

  “Smith tell Ron to bring up the trailer. We need to get some rope or cable and tie this thing’s arms and legs. Anyone have any rope?”

  Willis had about 50 feet of half inch rope in the Hummer, picking it up we walked over to the BOT who had now ran out of ammo. As Willis, Dale, and I approached it we stood near the big round head and saw the eye was gone. It still had one more eye but we didn’t know what that was for. We made it a point to stay away from its left arm which contained a taser like device.