The Journal: Martial Law

by Deborah D. Moore

  Tom reopened the office door and led them to the conference room. “I’ve been hearing that those soldiers are causing trouble. Is that what this is about, Allex?”

  “Yes, and I’ve been in contact with Major Kopley. It seems these guys aren’t really soldiers at all and they’ve been ransacking small towns, mostly on the west side of the U.P. Kopley is sending us reinforcements in about two hours and it could get ugly. We need a way to get all the town people off the streets and out of sight by then. Suggestions?”

  “When that storm hit, the one that took out your house, Allex, I used the siren to alert everyone. I can do that again,” Tom offered.

  “How will the people know what to do?”

  “I can help with that,” the priest said. “The sisters and I can let everyone know there is to be a drill, and everyone, no exceptions, is to go home and stay inside when they hear it. If we don’t tell them why, then no one can slip up and warn this bunch.”

  “Great. Let’s do it. I’m not completely sure when our help will arrive and we need to be ready. I’ll inform Eric, Rayn, Tony, and Frank. ”

  ***

  “Rayn?” Emilee called out. She tugged on Jacob’s hand as they went in the front door. “Nahna told me to find Uncle Art and to bring these two with me. What do you want us to do now?”

  Rayn took a deep breath. “Okay, Alan is down for a nap so he won’t be a problem. You three need to stay in the house and lock the doors. Do not open the doors for anyone except me, your dad, Nahna, or Uncle Jason and Amanda. In fact, I’m going over to the laundromat and ask Amanda to come here and stay with you. I don’t know yet what’s going on, but we need to trust it if Nahna is worried.”

  “Can we play with the board games? I love playing Scrabble,” Jacob asked.

  “Of course, and there are fresh sugar cookies on the table and orange drink in the refrigerator,” Rayn said, adding her gun belt to the BDUs she already had on.

  ***

  “Mom, you need to stay with the Hummer in case the major calls,” Eric said when Allexa started to get on her ATV.

  “You’re right. I’m a bit flustered. Go check in with Rayn and the kids. I’ll be at the office if you need me. What are your plans?”

  “The four of us are going to circulate around town. You said some troops will be landing a Blackhawk on the ballfield? Maybe one of us should hang out around there to direct them to the Inn. I’ll make that Tony, since he has the least combat experience,” Eric replied. “Rayn is too good of a shot to waste giving directions, and let’s hope we don’t need her.”

  “I’ll let the major know one of us will be waiting at the landing site and to not shoot him.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  Major Steve Kopley met his fellow officer on the tarmac when his Blackhawk landed. “Dan, good to see you again. When you’re refueled we’ll get this show on the road. In the meantime, I’ve got an update from Colonel Smeth.” He paused. “Still feels odd to call her that but it is what it is and it came down from a four star.”

  “I know what you mean,” Major Hogan said. “So what’s the latest?”

  “Allex said there’s a ballfield on the north side of town for your landing zone and one of her people will be there to direct you to the location where these guys are holed up. They aren’t true military and seem pretty sloppy, but that could be an act. The brass wants prisoners so try not to kill too many.”

  Dan laughed. “I’ll tell my men that they will get their ice cream ration cut if they kill anyone.”

  “With the new bridge it should take us maybe forty five minutes to get in place. After you refuel, time your arrival so we can hit them from both sides at the same time.”

  “Sounds textbook,” Major Hogan noted.

  “It does, doesn’t it?” Major Kopley said with a grin. “Oh, and I hope you’re not superstitious. Your LZ is also a mass gravesite.”

  ***

  Major Kopley stood next to his personal Humvee looking at his attack force. “Damn, I’ve always dreamed of going into battle with my own army,” he mumbled to himself. “Captain Mesic!”

  “Yes, sir?” the young officer replied, taking three long strides to reach the major.

  “Take point with your two Humvees.”

  “Yes, sir! Thank you sir!” he said with a toothy boyish grin.

  “Captain, do not get too far ahead, and do not engage unless fired upon. Remember, I want prisoners. Live prisoners.”

  The young officer saluted and left in his Hummer. The convoy moved out and an Apache gunship lifted off to provide air cover. Another gunship waited with the Blackhawk to provide cover when it was their time to lift off. Kopley felt that although it really wasn’t necessary, it was good practice for the men.

  ***

  Captain Mesic stopped yet again and scanned the area with his binoculars. “Apache One, do you have a visual?” he radioed to his eye in the sky.

  “Negative, sir, too many trees. I can see a road intersecting with the one you’re on about two klicks ahead.”

  “Roger that.”

  ***

  A Humvee with modified jerry can racks slowed as it approached the blockade. The driver pulled close to the pickup trucks blocking the road.

  “Any activity?” the passenger asked.

  “Not a peep, Adam. Gabe would have been back if he was facing any trouble. This is going to be one of the easiest towns to take yet!” the young man said, tugging at the ill-fitting hunter camouflage uniform he’d stolen a month earlier.

  “Stay alert anyway, and don’t call me by name.” The Humvee turned north on county road 695 and started onto the last five miles to Moose Creek.

  “Stay alert?” the kid laughed. “It’s time for a nap.”

  ***

  Allexa paced between the Hummer and Tom’s aging sedan. The car was big and bulky and mostly concealed her from the road. She heard a vehicle coming from the south and stopped. As the Humvee sped past her, she spotted the customized jerry can racks on the side and the stranger sitting in the passenger seat.

  Climbing into her Hummer, she keyed the mike to raise Major Kopley.

  “Steve, how far out are you? A Hummer just went by in town… it was Colonel Andrews’ vehicle, but he wasn’t in it.”

  “You’re sure it was his?”

  “I’d know that vehicle anywhere! I’ve got a very bad feeling.” She turned to Tom. “Hit the siren!”

  ***

  Captain Ron Mesic stopped again a half klick from the intersection, just around a curve in the road and still concealed, and brought up his glasses.

  “I would have expected an ambush by now,” he mumbled to himself. They edged a little closer and saw the blockade, two pickup trucks nose to nose. “Ah, gotcha!” He adjusted the binoculars for a more close up look. “What the hell?”

  The guard was stretched across the hood, fast asleep.

  Mesic keyed his mike to get the attention of Major Kopley and relayed his findings.

  “We’re two minutes behind, Captain, hold fast until I get there,” the major ordered.

  As the entire convoy quietly approached the makeshift barricade, all orders were given by silent hand-signals, and the fifty soldiers surrounded the sleeping guards.

  Major Steve Kopley nudged the guard and said, “Hey you, wake up.”

  The young man opened his sleepy eyes to the barrel of a 9mm Beretta handgun. He looked around and saw a sea rifles pointed at him and his still sleeping companion. He slowly raised his hands and slid off the rusty hood of the old truck. Once on the pavement he assumed an apparently familiar position: on his knees, ankles crossed, hands on his head.

  Kopley sneered at him. “You’ve obviously had experience with being captured. Captain Mesic, cuff him, and the other one too.”

  With both guards restrained, Kopley started th
e questions. “How many of you are there? Where are the rest? Where is your base camp? And you better not lie to me son, I’m not in a very good mood.”

  The young man gulped. “There are fourteen in the town now, and maybe six more down this road at an old mining camp. That’s all! Honest!”

  “Maybe six more?”

  “We keep losing guys and sometimes adding a few; it’s hard to keep track.”

  “Any hostages at this camp?” Kopley asked.

  “Uh, no. We had a few girls but the last place we got run out of took them in. I think O’Brian was hoping to get a few more here.”

  “This O’Brian is your leader?”

  “Sort of, even though no one likes him much.”

  “I see.” Kopley turned to Lt. Jackson. “I’m leaving three squads with you and two of the 50 caliber mounted guns. I don’t want any surprises from down this road while we’re in town cleaning up.” He nodded toward the 150 road. “And send one squad to this base camp of theirs, clean it out, and shut it down.”

  “Yes, sir.” Mesic placed the Hummers with the mounted guns facing west 150 and south on 695.

  ***

  As Major Kopley’s driver led the rest of the convoy toward town, Steve called the other officer. “Dan, we’re at the outskirts of town. It’s time to land your Blackhawk, and don’t be quiet about it!”

  “Understood,” Major Hogan said, knowing he was the distraction to bait and draw the outlaws outside.

  ***

  When the helicopter landed in the ballfield, Corporal Tony Rodrigues stepped out from the tree that was sheltering him from view. He snapped a salute as Major Hogan jumped down.

  “You must be our guide,” Hogan said.

  “Yes, sir!” Tony replied. “There are three routes to the location; all connect to the street behind us.” He produced a crude map of the town layout. Hogan examined the map briefly and divided his men into two groups, with the largest going down the middle to come up behind the location.

  “Now hustle! We have only two short blocks to go and I don’t want Major Kopley having all the fun. We’ll be going through a residential area so keep your fingers off the triggers.”

  The men left, jogging at a quick and steady pace.

  ***

  At the Inn, O’Brian’s men greeted the two new arrivals, who joined in the jovial group. There was more food than they had seen in quite a while. Unknown to them, Allexa had instructed Marsha to keep them occupied eating. They had hoped for some women, but all the pretty ones seemed to have gone into hiding. It didn’t matter, they would draw out the females later when the town became theirs.

  “What’s that ruckus?” Captain O’Brian said. Loud and heavy noises permeated through the thick walls and seemed to be coming from every direction, including overhead. “Mark, you and another go check out that noise.”

  “I’m still eating,” Mark said, biting into his third sandwich, ignoring O’Brian’s command.

  “Now!” O’Brian slapped his .45 on the table and glared at the reluctant lackey.

  “Fine,” Mark muttered, picking up his unfinished sandwich and leaving his rifle at the table. The two took their time getting out the back door…and stepped into the hands of the troops from the Blackhawk.

  In the parking lot, the men from the convoy stealthily moved to the sides of the building and behind the parked vehicles. A few well-placed flash grenades lobbed in the front door sent the rest of the renegades streaming into the parking lot, coughing and hacking.

  It was over in five minutes without a shot being fired.

  ***

  “What is the meaning of this?” demanded the latest arrival, standing beside the Humvee with the modified racks.

  “Who are you?” Major Kopley returned, just as Allexa arrived at his side.

  “I’m Colonel James Andrews, the ranking officer here, and I demand you stand down!”

  Allexa went still at the name, yet recovered quickly. “I don’t care what your uniform says, you’re not Jim Andrews.”

  “I assure you, ma’am, I am indeed Col. James Andrews,” he answered smoothly.

  “Where is your driver?” she asked.

  A scared young man who was wearing Cpl. Perkins’ uniform, was pushed to the front of the group. She glared at the boy.

  “Major Hogan, good to see you again,” Allexa said when the major joined them in the parking lot. “You and Major Kopley take these two into custody for interrogation. I want them kept separate. In fact, take all of these…I detest calling them soldiers…take them all to Camp Tamarack for now. Sergeant Rush will show you the way,” Allexa barked out commands while maintaining eye contact with the fake Colonel Andrews.

  Hogan grinned. “Yes, ma’am!”

  The fake colonel stood his ground. “I must protest!”

  “Protest all you want, you’re going to give us answers. The easy way, or the hard way, it’s your call.” Hogan’s blue eyes sparkled.

  ***

  “Remind me not to cross you, Allex,” Major Kopley said, smiling. They followed Major Hogan’s Hummer in Allexa’s vehicle as Eric directed them to Camp Tamarack. A dark cloud passed across her mind, raining painful memories of all the death the camp had seen.

  “I doubt you will ever get to the level this asshole has gotten, so you’re safe,” she snarled.

  “I know you’re angry right now. I am too. That can be good and bad. May I make a suggestion for the interrogation?”

  “Sure,” Allexa said. She knew she had never done this kind of questioning before and her emotions could get the better of her.

  “We absolutely need to keep those two apart, but in adjacent rooms where they both can hear some of what the other is going through,” Kopley suggested. “It might soften them up a bit.”

  “Sounds good to me. I want to start with this colonel first. That might help disperse some of my rage.”

  “Good choice.” Major Kopley gave her a sideways glance and took a deep breath. She wouldn’t need him to beat the truth out of their prisoner.

  ***

  While the dozen fake soldiers were sequestered in one of the dorm styled housing units and put under heavy guard, the other two were taken to a smaller building that had at one time long ago been used for physical therapy. It was not a comfortable place and silent screams of pain seeped from the cracks in the walls.

  Two chairs were placed in each room and the prisoners were seated in the center of the room they were led to. Zip-tied to the armed chair, their legs were also bound to the chair’s legs. They could barely move and there was no chance of escape.

  “Let’s give them a few minutes of discomfort,” Allexa suggested. “I’ve found it helps to get straighter answers if they worry a bit.” She thought of the few times she had to get difficult childhood confessions out of her sons.

  “What tipped you off these guys were fakes, Allex?” Major Hogan asked.

  She sat on the outside bench between the two majors. “The one in charge, this Captain O’Brian, didn’t show any military courtesy at all to my rank, and when I caught him hitting on two barely-teenaged girls, I knew no officer would do that. There was also general and widespread disrespect in his men. I don’t care how rough they’ve been living, that’s not acceptable,” she detailed. “Besides, some of them are wearing hunter camouflage, not military.” She stood. “So, which one of you wants to go in with me to see this colonel?”

  “I would be honored, ma’am,” Dan Hogan was the first to respond.

  “Let’s do it.”

  The major opened the door for her and Allexa stepped into the room, emanating authority. She took the old wooden chair and turned it backward to straddle it, resting her arms on the top bar.

  “Let’s start with your name,” she said pleasantly. “Your real name.”

  “Colonel James Andrews, Unit
ed States Army,” he said, jutting his chin high. “You’re making a big mistake here.”

  “It’s not good to start with a lie.” Allexa shook her head. “See, you made the big mistake. You came here. Here, where we all know the real Colonel Andrews.” She stood, pushing the chair aside and facing the prisoner. She turned away then quickly turned back with her fist balled and slugged him. “Ow!” she screamed between clenched teeth, “That hurt!” She shook her hand, flexing her fingers.

  “Yeah, but it felt good, didn’t it?” Dan said with a grin. “Can I give it a try?”

  “Be my guest.” She stepped aside.

  Dan landed only two punches before the prisoner blacked out.

  ***

  Outside, Allexa motioned for Kopley to join her. As they walked inside the second room, she said, “He didn’t last very long.” She shook her hand again, trying to loosen the cramps. The young man’s eyes went wide.

  “Now, son, you cooperate and we’ll go easy on you,” Steve said, taking the lead as prearranged. “Let’s start with your name. Your real name. We know you aren’t Perky.”

  “Perky?” the boy said.

  “Yes. You see, he was stationed here, we all knew him. Did you know Perky was a nice kid who loved dogs and playing Frisbee?” Allexa chimed in, using her sweetest mom voice. “He played with my dog whenever he had time off. When he left with the colonel back in November, I remember him saying he was going to miss Chevas the most.”

  “Chevas?” the boy squeaked.

  “My dog! Pay attention!” she yelled at him. The boy slunk down in the chair, visibly cringing from her.

  Steve laid his hand on Allexa’s shoulder. “Calm down, Colonel. I know how much you liked Perky.” He turned back to the prisoner. “Now, what is your name?”