(Matt) We spent most of the day having Keith lay out the inside of the fort for us to show what we would be facing, and a perspective in distances and safe approaches.
Keith told us that there were probably 8 to 10 militia men left and that they had all been with a National Guard unit. The unit had been whittled down over time until the unit’s sergeant took over, that was Womack.
Originally there had been a Lieutenant with the soldiers, but he snapped and shot himself in the head, or at least that was what the civilians had been told. As events in the fort unfolded after that, Keith said that it seemed more likely that the Lieutenant was murdered.
“Do you think that any of his force is still loyal to the uniform and not him?” asked Major Barkley.
“There were maybe four that didn’t like the way things were going, but it was Womack’s rules or you went outside. I don’t know who is left of them, or if they would turn against him.” answered Keith.
“I see”, I could see the Major was thinking about something, but exactly what I didn’t know.
Ron, who had been quiet up until now spoke up. “I have a question, what do we plan to do with Womack. Are we going to capture him and turn him over to the civilians, or do we kill him first chance we get?”
Silence.
After a couple of minutes, “I think that the best case would be to turn him over to the civilians, the people in the fort. Let them decide what to do with him,” said the Major.
“Maybe, but I think that after the horrors that he and his men have heaped on them, they are going to tie him to the pole and let the dead get him” Responded Keith, rather matter of fact.
“Good point”, replied Ron, “He is a walking dead man either way.”
“Pretty much”, said Keith, there was a little touch of anger in his voice. “But I think having the folks in the fort decide might help them in the long run, regaining a little control, you all understand right?”
We all agreed pretty much with that thought.
“Okay, let’s get this map set up and see what we have,” The Major was back in charge.
We went on into the evening and finally broke up at about 8:30; I was beat and just went to bed. There are some ideas, and some options that we will need to weigh tomorrow.
May 26th
(Lance) The four of us were on the road early to try to get the items that were left in the warehouse in Hinsdale. Margo drove the Coyote so we had plenty of room. She suggested that we keep an eye out for diesel sources along the way, always looking to fuel up whenever the chance came along.
We went through the warehouse and the smoke grenades, two cases of 12, were right where the Major remembered. We poked around a little more and found a case of MRE’s that we had missed and also, a couple boxes of belted 50 cal shells that would work in the Hummer’s top mounted gun. Those could be a very nice game changer if we need to use them. We had used most of the belted stuff back when we were dealing with the Hunters.
I looked around a little more in the place, we all did, but there was nothing that jumped out at us. We loaded up and were back at the camp by noon.
Just a side note, it’s interesting, we have changed, evolved or become so desensitized to the Zoms that even though we encountered and killed about 5 of them, it was hardly even considered news worthy. I guess if a horde or 20 or more showed up it would be a different situation, but for now, no big deal.
The afternoon was quiet, the planners were at it. I slipped in briefly to give them the inventory of what we found. The news of the 50 cal shells was good, they liked that.
I spent time training with Master Nick this afternoon, it was hard work.
(Matt) We started early on the planning again today. It was still considered that the best case was to get Womack out of the fort and deal with him outside the walls. But we’re not sure how to do it. We had a couple of ideas tossed out.
The first was from the Major, “If I got all done up in uniform, it is likely that I could use the Hummer and just drive right up. I can give them a story that we, I’ll take Ron and Stephen with me, were from Fort Drum and on our way to interrogate a couple of people that showed up at the Arsenal. We would be picking them up and returning to Drum with them. We had heard that that there were a couple of small units in the area and wanted to check to confirm their status and see if we could resupply them.”
“Okay, but think about that a little, Womack is suspected of killing his CO, that could be a problem. And think even further, what if he suspects that the people you’re picking up are Keith or Pam and that they are going to tell about his behavior. If I were Womack, Major or not, you would not be leaving.” countered Fred.
That created a ruffling in the crowd with discussion among the planners.
“The advantage to my plan is that I may be able to get into the fort, but I see the problem with the idea of the prisoners. We could cut that part of the story out” offered the Major.
“That is an option,” said Matt, “but we really need to get some people into the fort before we go knocking at the door. How can we do that?”
Keith stepped up here, “Well, that might be workable. We may be able to get a few people in, what we had done some time ago was to create a couple of big gardens for growing food. Each day some people would have to go out and tend to them, weeding, and such. Could we try to mingle a few of our folks into the field and get them inside, maybe a day or two before?”
“Wouldn’t they know who was out there?” someone raised the question.
“No, not really, it was not really a case where they were the same people assigned every day. And they are not really checked, it was a more leisurely effort than that. The only issue would be if you try to wander away, then the wall guards might take a shot at you but even that was unlikely because to wander off from the fort was almost certain death.”
“But how could we get them to the garden with the guys on the wall?” Asked the Major.
That would be easy, see, here look at the map, there is a tree line to the rear of the fort, and it’s fairly close to the gardens. A lot of times the workers would wander off into the woods to take a pee. We get our people into the woods and then in the course of the day have them join the workers,” added Keith.
It might work I thought, “But can we get them in armed?”
Keith looked at me for a moment, “Well, while I was still there they never checked anyone for guns; they had taken them all a while ago so the figured they had no reason to keep checking.”
The discussions continued for the rest of the morning and we decided that we would try to get some people into the fort. We wanted innocent looking people, those who would fit in, and not attract attention, Delaney and Lance were good choices, Delaney was a firebrand and not to be messed with. Lance, well, I am not so sure about in a battle, but he looks pretty harmless. Mom is a solid choice and she could hold her own. That gave us three.
“What about Langley? Said LJ, “she is police trained, and a tough girl.”
We all felt the choices were good and now we had to see if they will go for the gig. After lunch we approached each and they all agreed. Delaney was a little unhappy with the suggestion that we use Lance, but in the end, we had our four hiders.
That took care of the first part of the plan. Now we need to talk about fire support. With the two big sniper rifles we could cover a lot of the area. Margo and Cody on one and I will have the other with Mark as my spotter. We can set up in the area overlooking the front of the fort, where the entry way is.
LJ suggested, and I think he is right, that we have someone in the woods behind the fort just in case someone jumps the wall or there is a secret exit that we don’t know about. He and Fred will cover that area.
That leaves the final issue, how to get Womack to come out, or do we have to go in. That will need some thinking. I have a couple ideas, but we shall see where this goes. It is late and time to adjourn for the night.
May 27th
(Matt) I have added
a map of Fort Stanwix below, it is not a great map and certainly not to scale, but we needed something to work off of. We have set out the logistics to much of the plan, where we will hide the snipers, me, Margo, and LJ. (S1, S2, S3) and we have determined who will go inside and how they can get to the crop fields. It will require the inside folks to be in place the day before we actually show up. The thought being it will give them a little time to scout the place out and maybe if Keith can give us some trusted names they can make contact.
I am not so sure I like the idea of them making contact. I am concerned that since Keith had left the group even the most trusted of friends and allies might have been turned. But that’s not my call.
Now all we have to do is make the plan of how the main force will get to the fort and face down Womack and his men. And this is where the debate rages.
The Major has already suggested that he approach the fort as a military commander. Maybe a plan, but it would need to be thought through. If Womack is as evil as he seems to have shown I am afraid the Major would be at deadly risk. Granted he would take along some others with him, who would improve the odds, and add to the legitimacy of his story, also the Hummer with the machine gun on top, now that would be a nice prize for Womack. He would certainly want to get that into his fort, and his hands.
The second option would be to make a last run with the helo, and do an aerial raid, but as was said before, that would be a really risky one and perhaps we are wiser to save the helo for a different use, and day. Even at that there is the question of fuel. We are not doing well with diesel and the chopper is a guzzler.
We talked about trying to find some heavier armored vehicles at the Waterviet Arsenal, and use them for a full frontal assault. It is unlikely that Womack had anything that could stop them. The problem with that is fuel. Stephen and the Major both pointed out that they get like 3 miles to a gallon of fuel, it would require a huge fuel supply to get them to the fort and it would be likely that even if we could get them there the chances of getting them back home were slim.
We debated this for hours twisting and turning the options and then finally, Keith spoke up. “Look, I think that this is all good, and we have a basic plan to cover ‘the once he is out of the fort’ angle, but we need to get him out of the fort. I think that the Major might do it, but let me toss this out. Part because I think it will work, and part because I don’t want to put anyone in more risk that we have to. This is kind of my fight and I think that I need to step up a little.”
We all kind of looked around a little and finally Ron asked, “What do you have in mind?”
“There are two things that we know about Womack, first he is kind of a control freak, he wants everything his way, and will do just about anything to get it. The other is that he is a vindictive bastard who loves to make people pay, and pay a very high price.”
“Yeah, okay” said someone, I am not even sure who.
“Think about it, Marcus crossed him and what did he do, he put him out to be eaten by undead. That’s a little over the top.” Keith continued.
“Yeah, he is a sick motherfucker, so?” said Ron, kind of confused.
I think I know where this is going I thought to myself.
“Well, what are two things that he would like to do? One is to kill me, for running out on him, make me a lesson. But he is not going to just walk up and shoot me, or kill me from afar, no; he is going to want to make an example of me. He will want me to feel the pain, and suffer every inch of the way.” There was a level of passionate hatred in his voice.
The Major looked at him, and said, “You are probably right; he would not just shoot you down.”
“But what is the other thing, you said there were two things?” asked Fred.
“Pam, he would want to torment Pam, in ways…well, it wouldn’t be good.” He added quietly.
“So what are you suggesting?” I asked, but I already knew.
“It’s simple, Pam and I walk up to the gate and try to get back in, well, actually stop about 100 feet before the gate and wait.”
The room burst into buzz and ruffle, ruffle, ruffle, everyone talking at once. “No”, “Insane”, “That’s crazy” were comments I heard. Only the Major and I sat quiet. I am not sure about Major Barkley, but I think Keith was right, this would be the best plan, at least the first step of it. If it went down, where do we go from there? And that would be the wild card.
“Look, it is lunch time,” said the Major, “let’s take a break and get back together in an hour or so. Keith, let’s talk a little.”
As we all started to shuffle out of the room, “Matt, could you stay?” asked Keith.
The Three of us sat, and it was quiet, finally Keith said, “I know you want to know where Pam is on this. I talked with her about it and she knows and agrees. Womack hurt her, broke her, and she wants her life back. She is willing; no one wants to do this more than her.”
“Matt, your thoughts?” asked the Major.
“I saw what Womack is about, I have heard the stories from Keith, and Pam and I think that it is most likely the best way to go. It is dangerous, but this whole thing is dangerous.”
“Okay, we go with this part of it. Now we just have to figure out how to play the trump card and send in the cavalry. Let’s grab some food.” said the Major, there was a cool control in his voice, it was both reassuring, and yet to a degree kind of scary, it kind of reminded me of Tom when he talked to me back at Otis that first night we were on the run.
We reconvened after lunch and developed the rest of the plan, but right now it is late, and I don’t want to write anymore, so I will save it for tomorrow.
(Margo) Hurry up and wait, hurry up and wait, I hate this, the pow-wow continues and I have no idea what they’re planning. They all broke out at lunch, and we were able to hear bits and pieces of conversation. It didn’t make me feel good, hearing things like ‘crazy’, ‘suicide mission’, ‘won’t work’. Matt, Keith and the Major showed up, they were smiling, but there was a grimness that seemed to be at the edge of those smiles.
At the end of the day, I have no more knowledge of what is going on than I did this morning, I hate it. Hurry up and wait.
(Lance) Del and I talked today, she is not crazy about me going inside, but then, I am not crazy about her doing it either. But we are the best choices. Langley spent a lot of time showing Teckla and me how to conceal our guns, and close action fighting.
“Del, let’s take a walk”.
“Okay, where to?”
“Somewhere open, but without too many eyes around.” I said picking up our practice swords.
We found a little space behind one of the cabins and I tossed her one of the wooden sword. “Here is the deal, you beat me, I stay, that simple.” I said.
She fought well, and hard, but it was over in about 3 minutes, she never even got close to hitting me.
“How, when,” she gasped.
“Feel better about me going now?” I asked with a grin.
She looked at me confused, and a little awed, “Yes, yes I do, but how?” she asked.
I just smiled, “Master said I should not say, yet.”
We are just waiting for the detail of the plan.
May 28th
(Margo) We are still in wait mode; there has been no final announcement of what is going to happen and who is doing what. I am sure that I will be doing some kind of sniper observer, but the where and what my target will be is unknown. I could be given a specific target or I may just have the duties of suppressing fire. Time will tell and I am curious, hurry up and wait.
I have not written much about Vespers over the last few days, and there is a reason. We have still had them, sort of, but it has been more a “wonder what is going on” session with speculation running all over the place. If it wasn’t so serious, it would be fun.
Code and I talked last night, we will probably be assigned to the same post, and really, we will be out of the line of fire for the most part, but we talked ab
out what would happen if one of us….. Don’t want to think about that; don’t want to be alone again.
(Lance) Del and I did a run this morning, she pushed me hard. I know it is because she is worried about me, and what might happen with the raid. I am worried about it too, and I am worried about her. I know her, she is one of those people who will be in the deepest part of the shit if she can get there, and she will find a way to get there.
Everything is still on hold, we are all on pins and needles wondering, and in the planning room, the band played on. Soon I hope, I just want to know, I need to know. I can deal with what I have to do, Master has taught me that, but this waiting is crazy.
Teckla and I did some room entries and sweeps this morning under the watchful eye of Langley and Del. We were actually pretty good at it. But I can’t help but remember from my on-line combat gaming days, you don’t want to be the second person through the door. They are usually the one to get shot.
(Matt) The final outline has been assembled and we have the plan. I think it will work and it creates the minimum risk for all involved. The greatest challenge will for Keith and Pam, they will have to stare down the devil and hope that he just doesn’t shoot first.
The time table is as following:
We move out day after tomorrow (5/30), which will allow us the time to get our gear together, load up the trucks, and most importantly, practice a few things.
The people that are assigned (volunteered) are:
Sniper Team 1 S1 Matt / Mark
Sniper Team 2 S2 Margo / Cody
Sniper Team 3 S3 LJ / Chelsea
Intruder Team Teckla, Delany, Lance, Langley
Bait Keith / Pam
Assault Team 1 (Hummer) Ron, Fred
Assault Team 2 (Coyote) Barkley / Bernie
Rescue / Medical (Zoidberg Prius)) Charlene / Tanya
That means that we are leaving the camp pretty empty, we will have Nick, Grace, Stephen, Heather, Taylor, Karen, Michelle, Paula and Jan defending our camp. Stephen will be in charge based upon his military experience but he will be on standby with the helicopter if we need it.
On the morning of the 30th, the intruder team will move into the woods and infiltrate the fort. That will give them time to look around and get a sense for what is on the inside. Besides their handguns tucked away on their person they will each have a back pack that will contain some snacks and water, some zip ties (handcuffs) spare ammunition, a disassembled M16 and two smoke grenades. Once the situation begins to unfold they have about 2 minutes to get their M16s assembled and ready to fire.
The Event Trilogy (Book 2): The Gospel According to Matthew, Margo & Lance Page 22
