Lima one reports back in less than a minute. “This is not a hunting party. This a well-armed outpost. Four men are heading your way. All are armed with assault style weapons and dressed in BDU’s. I have their leader in my sights. Permission to fire requested.”
The major knows his men have all been hamstrung overseas by rules of engagement. But these are Americans that his men are facing. He tells lima one to hold. His well-trained team can take care of four hostiles.
Major Jeffers is on a steep hillside with Carl Chaffe, his wife, one of their daughters and two staff members. He urges his group along as he grabs Carl with one hand and his wife with the other. A hand chain is quickly formed and they all move forward as quickly as they can on the steep terrain. It takes them ten minutes to reach the distraught women who had lost her six year old girl. By this time the little girl has been found and the whole group is moving forward and up the mountain as quickly as possible.
Through his night vision scope he can see the break in the tree line from the road only a hundred yards away. Over his com set the Major gets bad news. The whole camp of hostiles is in movement and are heading up the mountain towards the road that his people need to take to reach Bakersville. “Keep an eye on them, and see if Red can contact that outpost on Hickory Flats road to send us help,” the major orders.
The major knows he and his men can handle themselves. But he has over one hundred civilians to see to safety. That added responsibility tells him he needs to call for help, if any is available. Just then he hears gunfire no more than a quarter mile away.
His trained ear deciphers the chain of events. Two shots were fired at his men, followed by six shots fired from his men. Experience tells him the brief fire fight is over. He waits for a report from his men. Meanwhile the one hundred members of the Chaffe household rest along the side of the road, his men watching the perimeter as the dark blue sky of pre-dawn begins to bring shapes to the trees and mountains around them.
The major’s com set crackles to life. “We had to take out three of the bogeys. One retreated and is assumed reporting back to their crew. This road needs to be classified as hostile. We must clear the road as we move.”
“Confirmed,” the major responds. “We’ll move our group to your location, then move forward with flanking scouts, priority to the west. They fired at you first, please confirm.”
“Confirmed,” is the reply.
“All units, weapons are free at your discretion. We have been fired on. Our primary mission is the safe evacuation of our dependents.” A series of double clicks lets him know his men are alert and on board.
Warm pancakes, maple syrup and fresh sausage roam through the major’s head as he thinks they may make it to Bakersville soon. He walks along the quarter mile stretch of road and rallies his men and their people. The sooner they get moving the better. He doesn’t want to let the hostiles have time to set up an ambush or gather reinforcements.
Many in the group complain, and want to rest more, but they will now be walking on a real road, not a logging road, no more briars ripping their skin. It takes them fifteen minutes to get the whole convoy up and moving including the last few horses carrying their most valued possessions; the ciphered satellite system and other working communications and electronic systems as well as military hardware.
The convoy moves along with scouts out ahead of them. They travel less than one mile when the lead scout, calls them to a halt. “There are a dozen bogeys in ambush position about two hundred yards ahead of me,” Lima one reports over the com set.
Red is walking with the major now, as they try to work out their link up with the Hickory Flats Road outpost. “Red, where are the outpost people? Could this be a liaison group?” The major asks.
“No,” Red says. “They have been told to stay put. We need to get to them. Once we make it there, they will provide us with security. And their folks are expecting us, but they don’t want to move this way. I can’t convince them otherwise. We are on our own till we hit their roadblock.”
“We can’t go off road again. These people are at their limits of endurance. We need to take out this ambush site,” the major says wearily. He knows he is ordering his men to take out fellow Americans. But they shot at his people first. And he has a mission.
“I’ll keep control of our package. You take six people and meet up with Lima one,” the major tells Red. “Weapons free, take out this ambush site. We will start moving as soon as you start the take down. We have innocents to move and hostiles that want to stop us. Consider it black and white, no gray areas, understood?”
“We all know of your concern about taking down American citizens, sir. But these are now anarchist. They know no law except survival, king of the jungle. They are combatants who want to kill us and take what we have. Our people will do what they need to do. I give you my word.”
The major looks at Red and smiles. “I know you will, my friend.” His smile turns to a frown. “I just don’t like the idea of firing on my fellow citizens, even if they want to kill me. It turns my gut. One of the greatest civilizations in the world turned to chaos in such a short period of time. I want to help those people, but they want to kill us. How do we stop the killing, Red? The killing has to stop.”
“We can’t stop the killing until the chaos is stopped. Where we are going, the chaos has stopped. We need to complete our mission, then we can look for ways to stop the chaos. We’ll take care of the hostiles, you get these people moving when you hear the takedown start.” Red turns and runs in an easy gait towards the ambush site. The major shakes his head in amazement, not for the first time, as he watches a brave man run towards danger, eager to take out the threat they face.
He now has five men to control over a hundred tired civilians in what is sure to be a fast forced march of several miles. He organizes his men and lets Carl Chaffe and his leaders know what is up. They are a bit shaken that they are to run towards the ambush site, but the major assures them that the hostiles will be taken down by the time they get there. After hearing that the other option is five miles of cross terrain travel, Carl buys into the plan.
Chapter 36 New Sunrise
Jennerstown
10/17
The light from the mid October sun rises over the eastern ridge, illuminating the brilliant fall foliage. Bright oranges and deep reds begin to glow on the mountain tops while the valleys are still filled with a thick fog. It is a beautiful autumn morning.
But everyone knows things have changed. Work crews are already in fields harvesting the last of the crops, security details roaming to keep them safe. Butchers are putting up meat to be dried or smoked. Laborers are digging root cellars. Others are scavenging for anything of value that may get a car, tractor or truck running. Other work crews are cutting fire wood, or moving coal to help keep homes heated through the coming winter.
Even the clerical folk are already at work. They have been tasked with basically doing a census and figuring out which homes can be heated through the winter, and how many people they have that need good housing. Without a plan, the community could face the same hardships of their ancestors in Valley Forge.
Captain Regis shakes Uncle Jimmy’s hand. “Good to do business with you, Jimmy. Make sure those claymores I told you about get into your nephew’s hands. He will know how to use them. I am glad you guys are doing well. I do my best on your requests.”
“See you in two days. But like I said, Davey and his communist crew are hurting, keep an eye on them. I think they may get desperate,” Uncle Jimmy replies.
With that, Jimmy and his convoy head away from their remote mountaintop rendezvous and down into the thick valley fog. Captain Regis leads his small crew back towards the Old Coal Miners Café. He will be treated well for bringing in food to keep the restaurant running.
His smile fades as he hears distant gunfire. Not a couple of random pops that happens now and then, but fast, consistent fire. His combat instincts kick in as he hears the gunfire continue
for over a minute. He gets on his CB and has a twelve man fast reaction force heading south. He also has his radio man relay a report back to Central City and the Militia Headquarters. Within fifteen minutes of the captain hearing the first gunshots, over a hundred people in farm trucks, technicals and vintage cars are swarming towards the crest of Laurel Mountain to prearranged rally points. Even more militia are being rallied to stop any incursion into their valley. At the same time, food trucks and medical teams begin to prepare to move out. General Mays and the civilian leadership team have drilled everyone on what to do if an armed incursion starts to come over the mountain and invade their peaceful valley.
Chapter 37 Ambush
Laurel Mountain Ridge
10/17
Red and his twelve man team move into position around the would-be ambushes. The Lima scout team leader, with her three people are behind the locals, ready to cut off their retreat. He has two snipers set up on a ridge two hundred meters behind him, their worst obstacles being the brilliant leaves that have not yet fallen. He and six men have crawled to within fifty yards of the ambush site. It has taken longer than expected, the crisp new fallen leaves slowing his team’s advance. But they are now in position to decimate the ambush site.
Peaking over a large fallen log, Red can see three of the hostiles lying in wait. One moves slightly and offers his companion some coffee from a thermos bottle.
Thinking of the major’s desire to stop the killing, Red makes a decision. He knows he is diverting from the mission plan, but he also knows his people will adapt to the situation. Keeping his head down, peering between two fallen logs, he hollers loudly. “Hello fellow travelers! We wish to negotiate a peaceful passage with you.”
Red watches as the man with the thermos bottle drops his cup of joe and raise his riffle towards his position. All three men scurry for cover as they train their weapons toward him. They move like trained soldiers. Probably guardsman or short term soldiers with six years of active duty before mustering out. They are vets, with some kind of deployment history, maybe even some combat experience. But they don’t display any high level skills. He is still confident in his teams’ plan. He lays quietly in his hidden and secure position, waiting for a response.
He watches the men closely. Just a moment ago, they were confident because they were the hunters. Now the hunters have become the hunted. For a full minute Red watches them as they react to this new situation.
Finally, one of them hollers back. “We’re just hunting deer friend. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“And you have twelve rifles aimed at the road because the deer around here walk down the road, waiting to be shot,” Red hollers back in his Indian English accent. “Be truthful and we can talk. My men have you surrounded, so lets’ work this out.”
Red sees glimpses of the men talking. He thinks he is gaining the upper hand. He goes for one more try at peace. “If we wanted to kill you, we would have. Let’s talk peace. Too many have died already.”
“Show yourself, friend and maybe we can talk.”
“If you drop your weapons, I will stand so you can see me.” Red replies. He has taken chances like this before, this is not new to him.
As expected, he watches an animated conversation. He can only catch glimpses of those involved so he does not know where the coin falls. He watches as the three men stand and lay there weapons aside.
“We have laid down our arms, friend, as asked. Show yourself, let’s be friends.”
Red is not buying any of it, but he knows tribal rituals. They have met his first demand. He needs to respond in good faith. Unfortunately, he had more faith in the tribal leaders of the Kashmir region than he has in this gang of thugs.
Duty bound, Red stands, startling the three men at how close he is. “We seek peaceful passage…..” A loud riffle cracks from less than a hundred yards away and Red feels a searing pain along the back side of his ribcage. His eyes open wide in wonder. He has on full body armor and has been shot at before. But he has never felt the intense searing pain he is feeling now. He drops to the ground as the woods around him explode in gunfire. He rolls to his left, ignoring the pain, and starts acquiring targets. Thermos guy comes into view and he squeezes the trigger. He searches the area for another target and fires again. He pulls himself up on the log to acquire another target but does not see any clear shots. He slumps back down and tries to roll to his right, but he can’t. His vision begins to blur as he sees familiar faces come before him. The searing pain in his back becomes numb as blackness closes in around him.
* * *
The Lima team leader urges her people forward as the firing diminishes. Red’s team, with their two snipers and SAW team have killed or pinned down the would-be ambushers. Now her team moves in, killing three more who continue to fight and capturing the last three hold outs. Their medic is already at Red’s side, having watched him be shot. It is too late. The round entered just under his armpit and exited out the middle of his back. It entered at a small seam in his body armor and caused major damage to his lungs. Even the most modern medical help would not have saved him.
The major’s team and the Chaffe refugees arrive within minutes, while the attack team is still securing the site and bringing in the three captives. He knows the brief but intense firefight had to have been heard for miles around, and he hastens along his refugee column while the rest of his unit polices the area. Rifles, ammunition and other usable supplies are gathered. A travois is quickly rigged behind one of the horses to carry Red’s body and the guns and supplies worth taking.
Their communication’s specialist makes contact with the Laurel Highlands Militia outpost and updates them on the situation.
“Well, you got our attention now!” the radio man exclaims. “We have a full blown movement going on to secure this ridge.”
“That is probably a wise move,” the major has his man respond. “Within an hour this ridge could be a very hot zone.”
He stays at the ambush site with the cleanup team while the rest of his column continues forward. Just as his unit is about to pull out, he receives word over the CB that his people have made contact with the remote outpost and are being received into safe zone.
He looks around at the area where the firefight occurred. Useless loss of life, he thinks. Nine civilians and one of his men died. It could have been avoided, should have been avoided. From what he has heard already, he knows Red tried to avoid senseless killing. He tries not to shed a tear for a man who had survived the tribal wars of the Kashmir only to die in the remote hills of Appalachia.
Twenty minutes later he is the last man of his team to clear the outpost. He helps load Red’s body into the rear of an old beat up truck, then wearily climbs into the front seat. Without a word, the driver hits the clutch and puts the old truck in motion.
Chapter 38, Destruction
Chaffe Property
10/17
Mac Johnson has over a thousand people around him. In some ways he finds that annoying. He has no desire to be a leader, he just wants to survive. He was a good electrical contractor in the eastern suburbs of Pittsburgh before the attack. He was also a prepper with food supplies, firearms and an old GMC scout. When he realized his comfortable suburban home was going to be overrun by his neighbors, he bugged out with his wife, teenaged daughter and ten year old son, taking with them what they could in the old scout with a small trailer.
He eventually ran in to an old contracting friend that had worked on the Chaffe mansion. His friend convinced him that they could take the Chaffe mansion. Mac figured what comes around goes around. He was run off his supplies, he’ll help run someone else of their supplies. As his friend detailed the work they did, taking the Chaffe mansion becomes almost an obsession to Mac. His old friend even had some of the original plans of the work he did.
He and his old friend slowly moved on the Chaffe estate while they gathered more people around them. Finally they took the main house and were ready to be
gin breaking into the hidden tunnels and store rooms. Mac was just an organizer and planner during the early stages, rarely involved in the actual fights to take the mansion.
But then the Chaffe’s fought back. They retook control of the main house and took a heavy toll on the encampment were he and his family were staying. During that raid, Mac’s friend got killed. So did Mac’s wife. And his daughter died the next day from wounds received during that raid.
Mac was shaken to the core. He wanted to take his young son and just melt away into the mountains, become a survivalist and live off the land. But he had already become known as a man who knew the layout and how to organize people. Against his own desires, he was elected the new leader of the Chaffe homestead siege party. Word spread of what they were doing, and Mac came to be in charge of a small army.
The people around him were angry, and that rage spreads to him. He has lost a wife and daughter. He had placed that blame on himself for trying to take someone else’s property. Now he places that blame directly on the Chaffe’s and the people helping them. In the back of his mind, he knows he is wrong, but his people want revenge and continue to espouse that the Chaffe mansion needs to be taken back.
So in the pre-dawn darkness, they move over three-hundred people into position to retake the mansion. From there, they will break into the vast storerooms of the underground bunker and live like kings. Just as the final preparations are being made, a distant gunfight is heard, high up on the mountain. What is that all about? Mac wonders as he issues the orders for the assault to begin. It is the beginning of the worst day of his life, and the last day of his life.
Snipers begin firing on the mansion, shooting out windows and peppering known fighting positions. The response from the mansion is minimal, so Mac orders the main assault to begin. His men start to move in on the mansion. Things start to go downhill at this point. Sporadic but well aimed fire hits his people as they move on the mansion. His snipers fire at where the shooting is coming from, and his men continue to move ahead, only to be shot at from a new, hidden location. It takes his crew two hours to move within a hundred yards of the massive structure, and at the loss of many men. He talks of calling off the assault, but the men around him urge him on.
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