The Journal: Martial Law

by Deborah D. Moore

  “Oh yeah, that’s right, Captain, you like yours younger. A lot younger,” one of the men laughed.

  “Shut up or I’ll kill you myself.” Although O’Brian whispered his threat, everyone at the table heard him and went back to eating the thin, hot soup.

  ***

  Allexa sat at her kitchen table and unfolded the battered pink paper from her sister. From the number of postal cancellation stamps on the front, it had taken a slow and circuitous route getting to her. She carefully opened the one sheet and read:

  She read the rest of the letter with a smile, since it was filled with idle chatter and family news. She pulled out a sheet of computer paper and quickly penned a reply. Folding it several times to create a self-envelope she set it aside, wondering when she might get to Sawyer next to mail it.

  ***

  Allexa set the bowl of homemade pasta on the table in front of Tom, who eagerly scooped some out onto his plate.

  “What’s the sauce?” he asked. “It smells good.”

  “A cream sauce made with powdered milk, flour, and chicken bouillon, plus a can of salad shrimp, and a couple of fresh green beans,” she replied, spearing one of the inch long pieces of beans. There had only been four, and cutting them small made them look like more.

  Tom looked up from his plate. “Harvesting beans already?”

  “Eric and Jason salvaged most of the plants from the greenhouse and split them between the three of us. I’ve got more planted, though it will be awhile before there’s anything worth picking.”

  They ate in silence for a few minutes. When Tom reached for another freshly baked and still warm roll, Allexa put her fork down.

  “I’d need to tell you about a few things that went on at Sawyer this last trip,” she began.

  “I figured there was something going on. What’s up?”

  “You know that during the trip Jim and I took last spring, he made me a lieutenant to protect me while on the military bases. My geeks created a classified file so my service looked kosher, and I accidently made myself a lieutenant colonel.”

  “Yes, it was an amusing story for the most part.”

  “This trip, for some reason, someone at the Pentagon issued orders and promoted me…to a full colonel,” Allexa paused while Tom coughed. “It certainly wasn’t my idea, Tom. I had to play along at that point to protect Eric. Sometime in the future, Major Kopley may show up here, and I will need to play the part.” She sighed, cradling her head in her hands.

  “Maybe you being a colonel now will help us with the military bunch that showed up this afternoon.”

  “What military bunch?” Allexa was alarmed. She had told, no, ordered Kopley to leave Moose Creek alone.

  “Shortly after you left the office they showed up, declaring martial law. I told them we were already under martial law, and set them up at the Inn.”

  “Why at the Inn? Most units travel with their own accommodations.”

  “With the current storm almost on top of us, they needed quick protection from the rain, Allex. And they were asking to be fed and I thought it was the polite thing to do.”

  “I suppose.” She chewed thoughtfully on her lower lip. “I’ll meet up with them in the morning, after they’re rested.

  After Tom left, Allexa got in her car and drove the short distance to Eric’s house. The rain pounded heavily on the windshield, and she was soaked from the short dash from her car to the covered porch.

  “What brings you out in this downpour, Mom?” Eric asked, handing her a fluffy green towel he’d taken from the McMansion.

  “We apparently have new military in town. I need you to round up our remaining staff, Sanders and Ramirez, and of course Rayn, for a meeting. My house, at 0900 hours.”

  “You must be worried about this. You said 0900 hours, not nine o’clock.”

  “I am. Does Rayn know about my ‘promotion?’” Allexa asked.

  “Of course, Mom, she’s my wife. I don’t keep things from her.”

  “Okay, good. We’ll have to let Frank and Tony in on the deception so they can back me up if I have to pull rank. We know the only other colonel in the region is Jim.” She slipped her wet jacket back on. “Have you discussed a code with Emilee? Things could get messy in town if these new arrivals don’t accept us as being in control.”

  “Yes. She knows that if any of us mention Uncle Art, there is trouble, and she knows what to do from there.”

  ***

  Allexa made a large pot of coffee for the four that were showing up. Four, she thought. Five counting me.

  That was not going to be enough if this new troop had orders to take control. She paced the kitchen waiting for the coffee to finish brewing.

  Precisely at nine o’clock, Eric, Rayne, Frank, and Tony filed into the house and found places at the dining room table.

  “So that’s the situation,” she said, after explaining how she got to be a colonel. “We’ll have to fake it somehow.”

  “Excuse me, Mom, I disagree with you,” Eric said, standing to face her. “I was there and witnessed Major Kopley pin the silver eagle of a colonel to your collar, ordered to do so by a two star general. They may not know you never went through basic training or didn’t work your way up the ranks, but they had good reason to make you an officer and believe you to now be a colonel in the United States Army. So you are a colonel, ma’am.” He came to attention and saluted her. The other three stood also, and followed suit.

  Allexa was stunned.

  “We just might be able to pull this off.”

  She retreated to her bedroom and added the silver eagle she’d been presented with to the right collar of her BDUs, plus the insignia of her AOS of Public Affairs, the sword and scroll crossed over a torch, on the other side.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

  The group of uniformed soldiers followed Allexa to the Inn and they all went in the second entrance.

  “I think I would like to observe them before making our presence known,” she explained, and led them down a carpeted hall where they watched the dozen men eating and laughing through a glass window in the swinging door.

  “Allex, I sure am glad you’re here,” Marsha said in a loud whisper when she saw them. “Those guys are eating everything in sight and demanding more. Who are they anyway?”

  “I don’t know, but I’ll find out, and if they’re eating that much, you better lock up the food distribution room.” She angrily pushed open the double wooden doors that led from the lobby to the dining hall, with enough force to make themselves known.

  Allexa walked up to the table, flanked by her four trained soldiers. “Who’s in charge of this group?” she demanded.

  “I am. Captain O’Brian, what’s it to ya?”

  Marsha approached the table with another platter of toast.

  “Marsha, take that back to the kitchen. These men are finished,” Allexa said, locking eyes with the captain. “I hear you have arrived to enforce martial law. I’m here to tell you we don’t need your help, so you can go back and tell Major Kopley I have things under control.”

  O’Brian went still. Who the hell is Kopley?

  The panic he felt never reached his face. He stood slowly, taking time to figure out his next move. He sneered. “Under control? With only four men–make that three boys and a little girl?”

  Allexa cracked a grin, knowing Rayne, that “little girl,” could take down any one of these men before they knew what hit them. “The rest of my men are on patrol,” she fibbed. “What are you doing here, Captain?”

  “I told the mayor yesterday, you’re under martial law now. My martial law,” he spat out.

  “And just what is your martial law?”

  “I’m glad you asked.” O’Brian clasped his hands behind his back and started to pace as though he were giving a rehearsed lecture. “First thing will be t
o confiscate all weapons from the citizens.”

  She wasn’t going to tell him the citizens weren’t armed, thinking it best for him to worry who did and who didn’t have a gun.

  “The next will be for everyone to bring all of their food here so we can do an inventory. Then we will disperse it on an as-need basis.”

  “These people have worked hard for their food. They grew gardens under adverse conditions and then canned that produce under worse conditions. It belongs to them.”

  “And they will get their share of it,” he replied condescendingly.

  “I see.” Allexa gave him her sternest look. “Martial law is the temporary rule of the highest-ranking military officer as the head of government, for the sole purpose of maintaining order and security and providing essential services. That is exactly what we have here in Moose Creek. The military has found it best in this situation to work with the people, not subjugate them.”

  “Well now, little lady, you said yourself it’s the rule of the highest-ranking officer, and that’s me,” Captain O’Brian said with a smirk.

  “Excuse me, Colonel?” Eric interrupted.

  “I’m a captain, boy,” O’Brian grinned, “not a—”

  “He wasn’t talking to you, Captain, he was talking to me,” Allexa said in a low voice.

  When he realized his error and that he may soon be deposed, O’Brian smiled and raised his hands in submission. “Of course, Colonel, my error. We will be happy to work with you.”

  “You have six hours to get your men together and get out of my town.”

  “Let’s not be hasty here,” O’Brian said with a strained smile.

  “Six hours,” Allexa repeated, turned her back to the stunned captain, and stormed out. Eric backed up a few paces and turned also. The others backed up slowly and left, one at a time.

  ***

  “What are we going to do?” one of the men asked O’Brian.

  “Nothing. We will take what we want and leave when we’re damn well ready. There are only five of them and we have a dozen behind us.”

  “Those are real soldiers, Gabe!”

  “So what?” he snarled. “Go take a walk around town and see what might be worth taking while I think about this. And go in pairs.”

  ***

  Allexa, Rayne, and Eric walked back to her house, while Frank and Tony went on their usual rounds after being told to watch these guys but not to engage.

  “Show me how to use this radio,” Allexa said, picking up the heavy yet portable MBMMR. Eric took it from her and set it on the table.

  “It’s a Multi-Band Multi Mission Radio, and it’s already preprogrammed to reach Sawyer and Major Kopley in particular. He has a SINCGARS in his office, just like the one that’s mounted in the Hummer,” he said. “You turn it on here,” he depressed a green button, “and talk with the handset much like you would a phone, after pressing this button.”

  “Thanks. Why don’t you two go on home so Emi can get to class?” Allexa said. “Besides, this needs to be private.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-FIVE

  The SINCGAR radio mounted to a second desk squawked behind Major Kopley. He frowned.

  “Kopley here.”

  “Major Kopley, I ordered you to stay away from Moose Creek!” Allexa snarled into the handset.

  “Good morning, Colonel Smeth,” he said, recognizing her voice. “Yes, I recall that order, ma’am, and I’ve complied.”

  “Then what are Captain O’Brian and his men doing here?”

  “Who?”

  “Captain Gabriel O’Brian, and so far almost a dozen soldiers, are here and trying to take control of Moose Creek,” Allexa snapped, still fuming but a bit calmer due to his confusion.

  “I’m sorry, Colonel Smeth, I don’t know a Captain O’Brian and he’s definitely not one of my men,” Kopley reassured her.

  “Well, he’s here and they’re eating everything in sight,” she groused. “With Jim and Perkins missing, there are only five of us. Even though I do have access to some civilian backup, this isn’t their fight. We’re outnumbered if it gets dicey.”

  Kopley was silent long enough that Allexa thought they lost the signal. “Steve?”

  “Still here, Colonel. I need to check on something. Can I get back to you within the hour?”

  ***

  “Major Hogan.”

  “Dan, it’s Steve Kopley. I just had a very angry call from Colonel Smeth. Is Captain Gabriel O’Brian one of your men?”

  “O’Brian? No, however, that name rings a bell. Hold on.” Kopley could hear papers being shuffled. “Word hit yesterday that there is an O’Brian leading a group of men that has been ransacking small towns in the western U.P. Seems there was a Private O’Brian that went AWOL right after the quake that hit here. Could be the same one. Why?”

  “This O’Brian is now in Moose Creek and causing major problems. He could be jeopardizing Operation Boy Scout,” Kopley said. “You still got that Blackhawk?”

  “Yeah,” he drew the word out, a smile lacing his voice.

  “Get it ready. I’ll get back to you as soon as the colonel gives her go-ahead.”

  “We’ll be ready and on the flight line in thirty minutes,” Major Hogan said.

  ***

  Allexa paced for a short time, and then headed to the nun’s store to kill some time.

  “Oh, thank the Lord you’re here, Allex!” Sister Margaret sighed, crossing herself out of habit. “Those soldiers are taking everything!”

  Allexa looked in the next room and saw two of O’Brian’s men stuffing their pockets with toothbrushes, toothpaste, soap, and everything else they saw.

  “Stop it right now!” she commanded. “And put all of that back!” They looked up from the shelves they were clearing out and laughed.

  As they walked past one of them shoved her against the wall and said, “We’ll take whatever we want, ma’am.” They both started laughing again as they made their way down the street.

  “Sister Margaret, please don’t worry, I will get to the bottom of this,” Allexa promised.

  She made a beeline to the Inn to confront Captain O’Brian. What she didn’t expect was school had already let out early and he was out in the parking lot talking to Emilee and Alden, Emi’s new best friend. The girls were giggling over something the captain said and the lusty gleam in his eye raised the hair on the back of Allexa’s neck.

  Allexa walked up to the three and put on a blank face. “Emilee, why don’t you and Alden find your Uncle Art and tell him there is a town meeting tonight at six o’clock. And take Jacob with you.”

  Emilee went still. “Yes, ma’am.” She grabbed Alden’s hand and quickly made her way up the street looking for her cousin Jacob.

  “Hmmmm, they sure are pretty,” O’Brian said, breathing hard, his eyes following the girls.

  “You touch either one of them and you will have a choice to face a firing squad or to face me,” Allexa snarled. “Either way, you die.” The captain took a step backward at the threat. He knew she meant every word and he paled. Turning on his heel, he huffed and went back into the Inn, shaking inside, wondering how he was going to deal with this obstacle of a woman.

  ***

  Allexa was simmering with anger by the time she made it back to her house. As soon as she opened the door she heard the radio squawk.

  “Colonel?” Major Kopley’s voice filled the room.

  “Yes, Steve, I’m here.”

  “Word is this O’Brian is an AWOL private and he and his band of merry men have been ransacking small towns for months now.”

  “Crap,” she said.

  “Permission to send reinforcements, Colonel?”

  “Permission granted, Major. How soon?”

  “It will take an hour to get the Blackhawk from the Soo,” he said. “Is there some
where open enough to land?”

  “On the northwest edge of town there’s an open ballfield. Land gently, Major. It’s also a mass grave.”

  “Will do, Colonel.” He paused. “Permission to speak freely, ma’am?”

  “Yes, of course, Steve. What’s on your mind?”

  “Although it might not be appropriate, the troops are excited about seeing some action. Literally everyone has volunteered for this mission, both here and in the Soo. Keep these guys off balance for as long as you can.”

  “You’re coming by air?”

  “And up 695.”.

  “With the bridge out in Marquette, how can you make it in less than two hours?”

  “I think that was one of the surprises Jim had for you. The corps of engineers put in a combat bridge several weeks ago, upstream from the old bridge,” he told her.

  “That’s good to know.”

  “Get word to your people as quietly as possible to stay indoors. This could get messy.”

  “I will be sure to do that. And Steve? Good hunting!”

  “Thank you, ma’am. See you soon.”

  ***

  Allexa got in her Hummer intent on talking with Tom. Passing by the Nuns Shoppe store she spotted the priest and stopped.

  “Father Constantine, can you spare a few minutes?”

  “Of course, Allex, what’s on your mind?” he asked, climbing into the big vehicle. “Oh, it’s been a long time since I’ve ridden in one of these. Back in Africa I think…”

  “I’d rather go over this once, so please be patient.” She pulled into the township offices a few minutes later as Tom was preparing to leave. “Hold up, Tom, we need a quick conference.”