Vigilante: Into the Fray : American Post Apocalyptic EMP Thriller

by Cliff Deane

  Fortunately, with the harvests nearly completed, our Reserve Force that will have the freedom to obtain the necessary training. They will also be issued our basic gray uniform.

  I wish I could say that this relieves my stress, but sadly, it does not. The cadre remaining in our Republic will consist of only thirty combat effectives. We cannot build a Great Wall around our nation, so we must become lethal in defense. Fortunately, we have the military hardware, several months to prepare our defenses and train the defenders. In this case, lethality does decrease my stomach acid.”

  This brought a chuckle from the Mayors.

  “Still we will have no Reaction Force, so each community needs to take these preparations to heart. Oh, and pray for a cold, wet winter. That will help as much as our trained Reserve and defenses.

  The volunteers will begin training one week from today.

  Thank you, Mr. President.”

  At this point, Ralph pointed to the paper and pens positioned at each chair. He turned around a chalkboard which held the Broadside each Mayor needed to copy to take back to his community and post. The message read:

  The length of the Broadside caused some groans of disgruntlement, but soon all were using their best printing skills to copy the missive.

  Ralph stood and walked the chalkboard and turned it back around. Then taking a piece of chalk; he wrote:

  Citizens of the Republic of America:

  A small portion of the U.S. government has survived, and they intend to retake power.

  The elected President of the U.S. and his Vice, have both died under mysterious circumstance. We believe a coup has taken place and that a rogue Senator has seized the reins of power.

  Ultimately, whether this is true or not is immaterial. We will not return to the disastrous governance of the past.

  Our military is more than capable of defeating the small force led by this would be Dictator.

  They are bottled up in a Bunker, and there they shall remain until we have defeated them in combat, or they surrender.

  We will not become slaves.

  We will remain free to choose our own destiny.

  Our nation is under threat, but not attack.

  We will contain and defeat this threat.

  God Bless our Republic of America.

  Ralph Bassett

  President, Republic of America

  Turning back to the meeting group Ralph said, “Look at what we have done in only six months. The R.O.A. is not a joke. We are a new nation that believes in individual freedom and personal responsibility.

  We work hard and take care of our own. We have no ill will toward anyone who follows one simple premise; Do the right thing! We will defend what we have earned, and no one will take that away from us.

  Yes, we believe in small government, but we also realize that this government must grow from its current level unless we are to have a King and that my friends, is not in the cards.

  Our government will allow no one to serve for more than eight years. Please mark my words, anyone who gets rich by being in government will not last long and will likely have a stretched neck. Lobbyists are outlawed in the R.O.A. Those of us who choose to seek government office will earn the grand sum of one Patriot Dollar per day when, and only when Congress is in session.

  Well, there is much more to be said, but we are all tired of hearing me prattle on. So, unless there are any questions, we are adjourned.

  *

  Following the meeting, Levi met with his officers. “Gentlemen, tomorrow you return to Camp Lejeune. I beg you to work together to have a successful trip. Remember, the road is still a dangerous place, so remain vigilant.

  Is there anything any of you need from me?”

  No one spoke up, and Levi said, “Well, again I see that I may as well just go take a nap, or better yet, go and watch my daughter’s karate class. He then shook each man’s hand and wished them luck.

  ***

  Chapter 11

  Operation Deny Egress

  20 September, 0750

  Defiance, Republic of America (ROA)

  A convoy of eighty vehicles and three hundred men was lined up at the Defiance Line of Departure (LOD). At 0800 the convoy would cross the LOD and travel to Camp Lejeune.

  Upon arrival, the convoy would split up into sections to find and load specific items.

  Lt. Colonel Scott Eldridge did not expect any real trouble but was still very relieved when the convoy arrived at Camp Lejeune at 1400 hours.

  Scott and Gus Murtaugh rode to the main gate and found the gate secured. Relief rushed through both men as Gus guided his key into the big lock, only to discover that it did not fit.

  Both men took a defensive posture but relaxed a bit when no one hiding inside the Camp challenged them.

  Scott then tried the key, with the same result. The lock remained unopened. Scott told Gus to stand back as he drew his sidearm to attempt to break the stubborn lock.

  Just as he began to take aim, a voice called to them from a hidden location within shouting distance of the gate. “Stop right there. Do not destroy the lock. This Base is closed, by order of the Base Commander. State your business or turn around and return to your vehicle.”

  Gus called back, “My name is Lt. Colonel Gus Murtaugh, I am the G-2 for Major General Paul Chalmers, Commander of Camp Lejeune. Would you please be kind enough to call your commander and tell him that I am here with an eighty vehicle supply convoy?”

  “Hold one.”

  Gus turned to Scott and said, “Get back to the trucks and tell the troopers to lock and load, lay low and be quiet until I yell FIRE or they hear gunfire. Roger?”

  “Yeah, Gus, Roger that. I’m on it,” and Scott turned to go back to the convoy and get everyone ready for combat.”

  Gus had to wait for fifteen minutes before a man wearing a Marine uniform with the two stars of a Major General arrived at the gate, on foot. He said, “Good afternoon, I understand you have a supply convoy for us. May I ask what supplies the convoy brings?”

  Gus looked at the man’s nametag and saw it said, Cutler. Gus saluted and said, “Of course, General Cutler. Our convoy carries food along with health and welfare items.

  I guess you don’t yet have a working radio. Don’t worry, we brought one for you, just in case.

  Sir, may I bring the convoy onto the Base?”

  “Oh, yes, of course, Connors, open the gate. Colonel, was it? Yes, may I ride in your jeep to our Motor Park?”

  Gus smiled and said, “Of course, General, it would be my honor to offer you not only a ride, but I have brought nearly all of these vehicles for you. There is much to be done, but now that Washington is back in business, things will be getting back to normal in a few months.”

  Connors opened the gate, and the General sat in the passenger seat of the jeep. He guided them to a Motor Pool of the 2–2 (2nd Tank Bn, 2nd Marine Division).

  Scott had the vehicles form a circle before General Cutler and Gus arrived. As they strode up to the trucks, Gus asked the General about his assignment to Camp Lejeune.

  Cutler said, “Um, well, about two months after the collapse the General of the Marine Corps ordered me here to take command and sort of hold down the fort, so to speak.”

  “I see,” said Gus, as he turned to call Scott over to join them. “Tell me, General Cutler, how many soldiers do you have under your command?”

  “Well, let’s see now, there’s, yes, I’d say around fifty.”

  “Wonderful,” said Gus, “Oh, General, this is Lt. Colonel Eldridge. He works for me as my assistant.”

  “Good, good, Eldridge, you are lucky to have such a fine boss.”

  “Oh, yes sir, I’m very lucky,” said Scott.

  Gus interrupted, saying, “As, of course, you know when a convoy of this size arrives at a Fort, it is customary to call out the troops into a formation to assist with the offloading of the supplies.”

  “Oh, yes, of course, but they are scattered all over the Fort right n
ow.”

  “…all over the Fort, huh, I’m sorry to hear that, sir, you mean there’s not even one nearby to help us unload?”

  Looking very ill at ease, Cutler said, “No, I’m afraid not, everyone is, um, very busy, you know?”

  Gus asked Cutler to look over the trucks, and together they walked to the back of the first truck in the circle. Gus let down the tailgate of the deuce and a half, and the first thing Cutler saw were ten men pointing rifles directly at him. He nearly fainted before regaining his composure enough to ask, “What is it you want here?”

  Gus said, “I am so glad you asked, but first you will tell me who you are, and how many personnel you actually have with you.”

  “Okay, yes, all right, uh, well, we are twenty families. We had no place to go, and when we found this place the guard you met shot off the lock, and we moved in. We moved into a couple of barracks then started searching the Fort…”

  “Stop right there for just a second. What is your name?”

  “Arnie Stoneman. I found this uniform hanging in a closet and added the stars to get people to move along. Honest, we meant no harm or disrespect, but we were starving, and when we found a container full of those ration things, well, we decided to stay as long as we could. Our children are healthy now, and they’ve even started to play again. We’ve all gained some weight. I guess you are going to make us leave now, huh?”

  “Arnie, how many able-bodied men do you have in your group?”

  “Oh, twenty men, and some of our kids are nearly seventeen. Please, we’ll starve if you make us leave. We won’t cause any trouble, can’t we stay, at least for awhile?”

  “Do you know anything about farming?”

  “Oh, heavens no, but all of us had nice gardens, back home. We’d be growing gardens now, but no seeds.”

  “Okay, Arnie, where are all of your people? We need to speak with them. How many weapons do you have?”

  Arnie looked embarrassed as he said, “One, and it only has three bullets. Robbers took the rest, but we were able to hide this one. We thought maybe we could find some weapons here, but so far, no luck.”

  Gus told Arnie to wait right there while he and Scott spoke privately.

  Walking to the center of the circle Gus looked at Scott and said, “Sir, I suggest we leave four men here as a training cadre to teach these folks how to at least defend the gates. Then we give them weapons and let them stay on as caretakers. Maybe they can pull off making others think the Base is occupied. So, my recommendation is, let ‘em stay.”

  “Gus, you took the words right out of my mouth. I’ll have Sergeant Carter, and Sergeant Simms each choose two men and let the four of them have the job of training these wimps. No wait, maybe wimp is the wrong term, I mean, he did try to con us. Shoot, he didn’t fold up until he found himself staring down the barrels of ten M4’s. I know, he almost fainted, but he didn’t, so yeah, let’s give it a shot.

  Have the NCOs get a formation together, and let Arnie see it. Then he can show us where the rest of this little tribe is hiding.”

  If anxiety were a liquid, Arnie would have drowned as he watched these two men approach.

  Gus shouted, “Sergeant Burgess, get a formation.”

  “Sir, yes sir!” shouted Sergeant Burgess as he began getting the NCOs to form ‘em up.”

  “Arnie,” said Gus, “watch, and learn.”

  Within two minutes the formation was standing at attention and waiting for Gus’ orders. “Sergeant Burgess, fall the men out and get some rest. We’ll begin our tasks in two hours.”

  “Roger sir,” shouted Burgess who fell the formation out to the shaded area for some rest after a very long and rough ride.

  Gus looked at Arnie who said, “Wow, I am impressed.”

  “Well, that’s good because we have decided to let you stay, on one condition…”

  “Stay? Really? Anything, just name it.”

  “Easy, old son, slow down. We will be leaving six Troopers here to train your people in the art of defense, military courtesy, and bearing. If your trainers say you did well after eight weeks of military training, then you may stay. If you fail, you hit the road. Fair enough?”

  Arnie began shaking his head yes, he looked like a bobble head doll.

  Arnie took them to where the rest of his clan was waiting and told them the good news.

  Gus turned them over to Sergeants Carter and Simms. He then returned to the Motor Pool and saw that the troops were being formed up and preparing to see what was what.”

  Captain Leon Pickett came over and informed Scott and Gus that he and his LAV III detail were ready, and waited for Major Murtaugh to show them where the wiring and the hardened circuit boards were stored.

  While the details were busy loading the vehicles, Gus made his trek to the Headquarters Building to pay his respects to General Chalmers.

  He walked up the five steps and inserted his key giving him access to the gloomy, dusty interior. The windows were very dusty, but enough light was streaming through to allow him to walk normally up the steps to the second floor.

  Standing in front of the General’s door, Gus; in a display of respect knocked on the General’s door before entering.

  There sat the skeletal remains, encased in his uniform, of his general. Gus had truly liked this dedicated man and Marine. His emotions ran high as he approached the remains of General Chalmers. Seeing the spattered coat hanging on the rack behind the general, he went to the rack and put it in its proper place. He then adjusted the remains of the general’s skull to a more upright position before sitting across from the Base Commander and telling him about Defiance, and the Republic of America. This rather bizarre briefing may seem silly to future generations, but somehow it seemed appropriate, perhaps even cathartic to Marine Corps Lt. Colonel Murtaugh.

  He also said, “General, you did a wonderful thing for civilization and the people of the Republic of America. Because of your kindness, I think they are going to make it.

  I also spoke with Levi and the Mayor, who is now the President of the ROA, and they both agree that not only will your flags be preserved, but this very building will become a museum.

  We have found some caretakers for the Main Base Area, and they will keep the HQ lawn clipped. They will also be instructed not to enter your office.

  We now face a new threat that is going to test the mettle of every man of the ROA Cavalry Regiment, and I am confident they will emerge victoriously,” and with that, a Marine named Lt. Colonel Gus Murtaugh stood and said his final farewell to Major General Chalmers with a salute.

  Gus remembered Levi telling him that he felt that if he turned quickly enough, he would see the ghosts of those who had worked here. Now Gus truly understood. He felt it, too.

  *

  23 September 1000

  Motor Pool, 2 -2

  Camp Lejeune, Republic of America

  The last two and a half days were highly productive, although arduous. The working forklifts were universally loved by the troopers who were saved from a lot of difficult humping of many very heavy boxes.

  The wiring and computer plug and play components were exactly where the note from Major General Chalmers had indicated.

  The biggest disappointment in vehicles was the sad fact that no Abram’s Tanks were able to be taken. Not because they would not run, but simply because no one knew how to drive them. Gus told Scott that it was good to know that they were safely here for a later time when they could find some Tankers who knew what the hell they were doing.

  Large storage tanks of diesel were found, along with several fuel tankers that had been waiting to fill up when the lights went out.

  This morning those fuel tanks would be disconnected and hooked to the new semis for transfer to Defiance.

  Taking it upon themselves, Lt. Colonel Eldridge and Major Murtaugh decided to announce to the world that Camp Lejeune was now under the protection of the 1st. Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment of the Republic of America. A warning sign
was posted at all gates to the main Lejeune areas.

  On the road home, at around seventy miles from Defiance, the convoy came upon a newly constructed barrier. An Infra-Red recon of the area showed a force of twenty-five men properly positioned to provide overwatch for the roadblock, and an additional five well armed, and uniformed men manning the barrier.

  When the convoy caught up to the scout jeep, Scott and Gus dismounted and received a situation report (sitrep) from the Scout Commander.

  “Sir, we have a roadblock ahead at the one half mile mark. We have, using I-R found twenty-five men well positioned to provide effective fire upon anyone approaching the barrier. There are also five men positioned at the actual barrier.

  These men are regulars, sir; they know what they are doing.”

  “Excellent sitrep Sergeant,” and turning to Gus, Scott said, “Well, Gus, I see only two ways to find out what to do about this. One is to dismount the troops and bring up a couple of the LAV IIIs to make a statement, or under a flag of truce mosey on down and try to talk our way out of this.”

  “There is,” added Gus, “one other option and that would be to turn around and follow a different route. However, I don’t like the message that sends to any potential enemy. In this world, that would be a huge sign of weakness. No sir, I do not like that option at all, so, why don’t I just traipse on over there and introduce myself?”

  “Yeah, Gus I think that is the best plan, but please, try not to get yourself shot in the process, okay?”

  “Good plan, sir, I would appreciate it if you would also inform our people that I would prefer they not shoot me either if the negotiations go south.” As he turned away from Scott, he said, “Sergeant, dismount your driver and lets you and I take a run up the hill.”

  “Yes sir,” said Sergeant Boone. The driver looking disappointed as he dismounted the jeep and walked over beside Lt. Colonel Eldridge to await the return of his jeep.