The General shrugged and replied, “He told me to ask for that,” and motioned toward Josh.
“Why on earth do we need bridging equipment?” Sam asked.
Josh put down the knife he had been holding with a death grip and flexed his hand. “I’ll show you why. Come with me.”
The group exited the kitchen and followed Josh to the dining room table. He opened a drawer on the hutch and removed a handful of maps for the local area. “Please, have a seat,” he said as he slid copies of the map to different seats.
“Why would you –,” Samantha began to say. “Never mind, I don’t want to know.”
As each was unfolded, Josh worked his way around and circled a spot on each map in pencil.
“What’s a ‘Moonville Tunnel’ and why is my bridging equipment headed there?” Hoplite asked.
“That’s an old railroad line about thirty minutes east of here, as the crow flies. The tracks were torn up decades ago, but the passageway is still there. We’re gonna stick as much of that bullion in there as possible and then blow each end.”
“If they only pulled the rails, then we can’t just drive right up and unload? We shouldn’t need bridging equipment for that?” the Captain said.
“I wish it were that simple,” Josh started to reply. “If you’ll consult the map, you’ll see that Raccoon Creek runs just west of the tunnel. Unfortunately, the trestle washed out years ago. The stone pillars are there though.”
“Can we come at it from the other side,” Hoplite questioned as he reviewed the old DOT map in more detail.
“If we enter from the east, we need to cross Hewlett Fork Creek about a half dozen times as the tracks and waterway intersect continuously,” Josh answered knowingly.
“What are we talking about,” Juan said as he announced himself and Scott’s presence upon entering the cabin. “Found this kid on the front porch. He yours?”
Before Josh could answer, Hoplite quickly exited his seat and responded, “Sir, this is a military matter. I’m going to have to ask you and your companion to leave the room.”
Chester exited Josh’s room showered and in a fresh pair of clothes. He glanced over and saw the suitcase sitting in a chair open. “Hey, where did you guys get the portable EMP?” he said as he removed the device and began inspecting it.
“Put that down!” he barked. “They’re coming out of the woodwork around here,” the man said as he looked at Josh exacerbated.
Scott turned and saw what Chester was fondling and said, “Shut up! No way! How’d you get this? Hey, I bet it was something like this that brought that plane down on Katherine’s mom’s house. Neato!”
“Scott? What are you doing here?” Josh said quizzically.
“I have a date with Katherine, or had, until the big one over there threw me on the porch and ruined my suit.”
Josh’s eyes just about popped out of his head.
Samantha grabbed his hand and mouthed the word ‘breathe’.
Chester, always the inclusive type, motioned to Scott and said, “Come on over and have a look. You know about things like this?”
“Oh yeah,” Scott answered excitedly. “I was President of the Science Club in high school. Our advisor had us do research projects as part of our graduation packet. I did mine on EMP style events. You know, solar flares, the Carrington Event, atmospheric detonation... stuff like that. I’ve read just about everything out there. The Critical National Infrastructures Report and its corresponding Executive Report where huge time savers in terms of generating a solid knowledge base. Of course, I dug into all of your papers too, Mr. Daniels, and by your friend Reginald. I’m very sorry to hear he is no longer with us.”
Chester nodded his acceptance of the young man’s condolences.
“Can we stop for a minute, please. How can you possibly know anything about that plane in Columbus?” the President asked. “And how do you know about that device? That’s classified,” Tom replied as he turned back and glared at the former Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and the now retired SpecOps shooter.
“Don’t look at us, sir,” Gregg said quickly.
Brent added, “They had most of this stuff figured out before I even got here. And if you haven’t noticed, ‘Classified’ doesn’t seem to mean much to these people.”
Scott and Chester examined the wiring and circuitry as the Tin Hatter provided his answer, “I think you know exactly how and why I’m familiar with this device.”
“Mr. President,” Josh interjected. “It took about thirty seconds for my electrical engineering friend to figure it out once we climbed in what was left of the cockpit. Well, to be fair, he said it could have been two things. Lightning could have fried that much gear... maybe. Unfortunately, it was a clear day, no thunder snow, nothing. The only other explanation he could fathom was an EMP.”
Sam added, “I’ll bet this is what Rayburn was about to mention when they lost transmission.”
“President? What?” Chester asked.
“Everyone have a seat. It’s time to put all of the cards on the table. Are Lily and Alysin ready?” Josh said as tried to restore some order to the discussion.
“Yeah, they’ll be out in a few minutes,” the Tin Hatter replied without taking his eyes off of the captured equipment.
“Scott,” Josh called out and distracted him from his inspection. “Your ‘date’ with my daughter will have to wait. Take the General’s cell phone into the kitchen and call your uncle. Tell him he is needed out here ASAP. Then I need you to go home. As fast as you can.”
Dejected, the young man said, “Yes, sir.”
“Sam, would you please head over and collect our daughters? Grab Evan, and his wife, as well as the rest of the Martinez family. They need to be here,” Josh asked.
Samantha beamed broadly at the proclamation of the girls being their daughters. As she stood, she kissed him on the cheek and collected her coat.
“Hoplite, Agent Monahan,” Josh said as he turned to Captain Rayna and Ed. “We’ve got about twenty minutes until the Sheriff can get here. I’d like you and your men to head out to the haulers and make sure they are ready to roll shortly after lunch. We’ll go scout out the creek bed and tunnel before the engineers arrive.”
“That’d be fine, but this isn’t your Op buddy. Last time I checked this was still under Secret Service jurisdiction,” Ed interjected. “We appreciate the accommodations, but if you don’t mind, we can handle the strategic planning. You seem to have a rudimentary grasp of tactics, but I think it’s best if we leave the rest of it to the professionals from here on out. Okay?”
Gregg laughed a quick, “Ha,” but then opted to stay out of this fight.
“Uh, Agent Monahan,” the President started to say.
“How old are you Agent?” Brent asked Ed tersely.
“I’m thirty one, sir. I don’t see how that’s relevant,” he replied.
“Because, Lt. Col. Simmons here was leading troops through Khafji and coordinating a multinational multibranch assault on that city while directing air assets overhead before you were even friggin’ born... so I’d say it’s relevant! So how about you go out there and do what he says and keep the jurisdiction bullshit to yourself,” the retired General thundered.
As if flipping a switch back to calm and rational, Brent turned to Tom and said, “I’m sorry, Mr. President. You were saying?”
“Oh, nothing. I was going to say something similar... albeit a little more tactfully.”
“Mr. Simmons,” Scott said as he reentered the dining room.
“Yes,” he replied.
“My uncle says he can’t come right now.”
“And why’s that, son,” the President asked.
“He’s on crowd control. He says everyone’s trying to break into the banks.”
* * *
“What the hell just happened?” President Rayburn boomed through the darkened Oval Office.
The cameraman stooped down and began inspecting his gear wondering if it was
his connection when the President’s Secret Service detail hurriedly approached him.
“We need to move Mr. President, now,” the Senior Agent said.
“Why? Where are we going? It’s just a power outage. It’ll be back on in a minute,” Rayburn declared.
“No it wasn’t and no it won’t, sir. Let’s go,” the man replied as he started lifting the POTUS out of his seat.
“Be advised, we have ‘Gardener’,” another Agent reflexively stated into his comm unit referring to the President by his codename.
When no confirmation came back, he bemoaned the lack of communication. “Damn it! These things are fried too!”
The Senior Agent opened a concealed door along the wall and he and the President’s team entered the private office.
When it was shut and locked behind them, Rayburn said, “Will someone tell me what the hell just happened, please.”
“Sir, the ‘Castle’ is under attack from one of those directional EMP devices. We don’t know if they targeted just this structure of any of the substations nearby as well. All backup generators, comms, and vehicles are neutralized. The sentries on the roof can’t report in so we have no idea what is going on. We’re blind and deaf.”
“Call Marine I and let’s get out of here,” the man said not fully grasping the gravity of the situation.
“Mr. President, forgive me, but you’re not getting it. There are no phone calls, emails, or texts. Anything with a chip in it is toast. Besides, flying wouldn’t exactly be the brightest idea right now,” the Agent replied.
Rayburn paused and thought for a moment before offering, “I need to get a message to the PEOC (Presidential Emergency Operation Center) in the bunker under the East Wing. I have to reset the DEFCON and Continuity of Government Condition levels. We need to get essential personnel out of D.C. and into their assigned alternative sites.”
The Agent’s contemplated the request for half a second and knew the man was right. The Senior Agent handed the President a notepad and said, “Write down your message.”
When the runner departed, Jim said, “What if we used Johnson’s tunnels and just walked out and commandeered a vehicle? Hell, we could walk to the metro from here. We need to get to Andrews.” Exacerbated, he then commanded, “Think gentlemen!”
Chapter 21
Emily got up and placed another log on the dwindling fire as they waited for everyone else to arrive. Scott was sent on his way with a promise from Chester that they would examine the suitcase closely whenever he returned.
The Tin Hatters continued to tinker with the device and quietly wished their friends were still here to see the groups fears realized.
“At least Reginald would have taken solace in knowing he was right after all,” Lily said as she placed it back in the case.
Ed sat at the table with his arms crossed stewing over the tongue-lashing he received from Brent. Josh and Samantha were holding hands and reviewing various routes to the Moonville Tunnel when Brent approached.
James and Dallas entered with a racket and immediately took off their boots. Sawdust and woodchips flew everywhere. Samantha’s dismay was written all over her face.
“Don’t worry, Sam. We’ll clean this up before we leave,” Dallas said as he strode over to the table. “So what’s up chief,” he said as he grabbed Samantha’s other hand and began reviewing the map. “So why are we headed to the old Moonville Tunnel. Ya’ll gonna bury those shiny baubles, or what?”
“Something like that,” Josh answered as he stood up.
“Before we get to the execution of that though, I think it best if we have a quick debrief. Can everyone come to the table and have a seat.”
Josh waited for the assembled group to find seats or stand nearby before beginning.
“Here’s what we know. The British have used our agricultural misstep as a launching pad for their financial coup d'état. Foreign countries wagered big after President Sarkes authorized the Keystone Pipeline construction and now they want to collect when our country is at its weakest. The Brits have conspired with all of the major debt holders to make a run at our nation’s tangible assets. By that, I am referring to materials in the form of gold, silver, nickel, and copper. If we refuse, UN forces will attempt to do something that hasn’t occurred on American soil in over two hundred years, which is invade. Somewhere along the way, they linked up with Iranian jihadists who have managed to build and utilize portable EMP devices, like the one Chester’s been examining, to wreak havoc indiscriminately for several months.
“As a counter measure, President Rayburn authorized the movement and consolidation of our countries assets not currently on military bases to two key locations, Omaha and Cleveland. The Secret Service, President Sarkes, and some of Gregg’s old unit have been tasked with the last shipment from Denver. We know some of the convoys have been attacked by an unknown number of assailants toting these suitcase devices. Once immobilized, clandestine forces then attack and loot the haulers. The cargo laden trucks parked in our west paddock were stalked and eventually ambushed about an hour from this location.”
“Whoa!” Chester said breaking up Josh’s monologue.
“Something to add, Chester,” Josh said.
“Yeah, that explains why it took us a month to get here from Portland. We must have been right behind you guys the entire way. Every city we approached on I-70 was off limits. There were DHS personnel crawling everywhere redirecting traffic around the cities.”
“That certainly fits within the timeline, but what do you mean? Alysin said Reggie and Al were blown up,” Josh answered.
“The Governor called in the National Guard to assist in the distribution of food and for crowd control,” Lily started. “According to the police officer that helped us get here, it seems one of the Guardsmen ‘accidentally’ fired his weapon while they were offloading the trucks. The city went nuts. Shops and stores were looted, people were mugged and beaten, and then the firebugs started doing their thing.”
“I’m sorry. The what?” Hoplite asked.
“She means arsonists, Capt. Rayna,” Chester offered as the conversation stole his attention away from the EMP device.
“Then the fourth angel poured out his bowl,” Alysin mumbled to herself.
“Alysin, that’s not helping, hun,” Lily quietly admonished her.
Alysin sat more upright in her chair, collected herself, and said, “First they started with abandoned warehouses, but then they became brazen and started in on the housing and brewing districts. Next thing you know, idiots are chucking Molotov cocktails at the police and National Guard vehicles. That’s when all hell broke loose.”
“So how did our friends get ‘blown up’,” Josh asked.
“Some jackass graduated from the firebombs to the pressure cooker variety,” Lily answered. “They put one of those damn things under our gas tank. We were loading the last of our stuff to head back here when the timer hit zero. Reginald and Algernon were waiting in the van when it blew,” she concluded.
“And your month long journey?” Sam asked.
“Officer Vic found us on the knoll overlooking the city after the burial service. He took pity on us and gave us a lift to St. Louis where he had family. He lost his brother in the explosion,” Alysin offered.
Chester chimed in and said, “We decided to take the scenic route and hit Southern California, Vegas, and the Grand Canyon on the way. You know, to clear our heads and mourn our friends. They loved a good adventure. When we neared San Francisco, we were rerouted up to Sacramento. We eventually made it to the Pacific Coast Highway near Monterey.”
“Of course, speculation and theory engulfed the vehicle as we tried to figure out why Homeland officers sent us a hundred and fifty miles out of our way,” Lily added.
“I can answer that,” President Sarkes said. “You were routed away from the Bay area because of the U.S. Mint facility there.”
“Figures,” Lily said to Chester.
“We eventually made i
t over the San Gabriel mountain range and took in the sights and sounds of Las Vegas for a couple of days. When we tried to visit Hoover Dam, DHS personnel thwarted us again. Needless to say we went round and round about the significance of the structure to the United States electrical grid. The North Rim of the Grand Canyon was accessible and awe inspiring though.”
Lily took over the conversation and interjected, “When we neared Grand Junction, Colorado there was signage stating that I-70 was closed due to an avalanche. This only incited our paranoia more. Vic thought we were funny as hell. We were on back roads from there until well into Kansas.”
“But not long after we passed Lawrence and started approaching Kansas City, we started seeing smoke rising on the horizon,” Chester said. “We never saw the city proper. We were routed north to St. Joseph when we hit the outer loop of I-435. The eastbound trip to Hannibal was uneventful.”
“We made it as far as St. Charles before the gridlock on I-70 stopped our progress entirely. Victor got out in the median of the interstate. He strapped everything he could to his pack and then tossed the keys to Alysin. After that, we stuck to back roads and skipped Indy and Dayton,” Lily concluded.
“That has to have been what Rayburn was about to say when he got cut off. They chased you guys all the way from Denver firing this thing at anything that moved,” Chester said as he gestured toward the suitcase. “It wouldn’t be hard to imagine the White House being hit while the President was giving his speech,” he added.
“True,” Josh began to reply. “For right now though, let’s deal in what we do know. That brings me to my next point. It is entirely possible that a jihadist has infiltrated one of the two missile defense bases. From there he may attempt to launch a Minuteman III. To what end we are still unsure. Lastly, the countries coming to collect have already started recalling their ambassadors. That, we believe, is a key indicator that the invasion is imminent. President Sarkes,” he said as he turned to address the former leader of the free world. “Is there anything I’ve left out?”
The President was stunned. He just sat there trying to figure out how a farmer in the middle of nowhere Ohio had gotten his hands on so much accurate intel.
Hannibal is at the Gates Page 21
