Last Stand:
Turning the Tide
Copyright © 2015 William H. Weber
Cover design by Keri Knutson
All rights reserved, including the right to reproduce this book or portions thereof in any form whatsoever.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events, or locales is entirely coincidental.
Table of Contents
Quick Reference
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
Chapter 47
Chapter 48
Chapter 49
Chapter 50
Chapter 51
Chapter 52
Chapter 53
Chapter 54
Chapter 55
Chapter 56
Chapter 57
Chapter 58
Chapter 59
Chapter 60
Chapter 61
Chapter 62
Some Final Thoughts
Dedication
First, a thank you to the early readers who were kind enough to comment on early drafts of the manuscript. In no particular order, John Alex Groff, H. Rossi, Stephen Myers and Gary Stevens. Each of you was invaluable in helping to shape this book.
To my wife and family for always being there. And finally to the fans who make it all worthwhile.
Last Stand: Turning the Tide
In spite of Oneida’s heroic stand against the Chinese, foreign armies are poised along the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, preparing for the final assault. America’s defeat is inevitable. For John, turning the tide will mean going deep behind enemy lines and organizing the sort of insurgency he fought so hard against in Iraq. But more than that, it’ll mean coming to terms with the brutality of war and the realization that sometimes the deepest scars are the ones that can’t be seen.
Recap of Last Stand Books 1-3
When an EMP plunges the country into darkness, John Mack decides to use his military training to help his neighbors deal with the crisis. Their difficulties soon worsen when they become targeted by a ruthless gang of criminals, leaving John to prepare those around him to fight a battle they can’t possibly win. The resulting carnage leaves the streets of Willow Creek devastated.
After fleeing to his cabin in northern Tennessee, John discovers that a tyrant named The Chairman has taken hold of the local town of Oneida. His home goes up in flames and his loved ones are kidnapped.
His path of vengeance leads him to a group of Patriots, many of whom have also suffered at the hands of The Chairman. Together they storm Oneida and end The Chairman’s reign of terror.
Everything they thought they knew changes when they learn that the EMP was only the opening salvo of a larger invasion plan and that the armies of Russia, China and North Korea are poised to push across the Mississippi River in order to complete their conquest.
Standing in their way is the tiny town of Oneida. Together with the help of disparate elements of surviving US forces, they just manage to hold on. Bypassed by a frustrated enemy, Oneida becomes a symbol of resistance as the stage becomes set for the final battle which will decide whether America will remain forever free or live in tyranny.
From the Author
The late bestselling author Elmore Leonard once said: “When you write, try to leave out all the parts readers skip.” Dutch’s words rang loudly in my ears as I sat down to tackle the Last Stand series. My goal was always to tell an educational and entertaining tale. To say that I’ve been surprised by the reception the series has received would be a massive understatement. Even more astonishing has been the support and well-wishes from readers all over the world. It’s been a great ride so far. Thank you again for joining me. And know that although the Last Stand series is coming to an end, this is only the beginning.
William H. Weber
Quick Reference
Abbreviations
APC: Armored Personnel Carrier
GPS: Global Positioning System
HE: High Explosive
IED: Improvised Explosive Device
IFV: Infantry Fighting Vehicle
KIA: Killed in Action
JTAC: Joint Terminal Attack Controller
MBT: Main Battle Tank
Characters
Colonel Higgs: Frontline commander
Colonel Guo Fenghui: Aide to General Liang
Colonel Li Keqiang: Head of Chinese Military Intelligence
Devon: Young security guy
David Newbury: Concentration camp survivor
Dixon: Soldier at the front
General Brooks: Head of forces in Oneida
General Dempsey: Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
General Wei Liang: The supreme commander of all Chinese and North Korean forces
Heller: Explosives expert
Henry: Ham radio operator
Huan Wei: Chinese prisoner of war
Jang Yong-ho: Camp Commandant
Jerry Fowler: Former employee at Y-12
Moss: Head of security
Ray Gruber: Vice Mayor of Oneida
Robert Rodriguez: Electronics specialist/radio operator
Zhang Shuhong: Chinese special forces commander
Vehicles and Weapons
American:
A-10 Warthog: Tank-destroying plane
Ac-130: Ground attack aircraft
Abrams M1A2: Main battle tank
AH-64 Apache: Attack helicopter
AT-4: Disposable anti-tank weapon
Barrett M82: .50 cal sniper rifle
Bradley: M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle
F-22 Raptor: Fighter jet
Javelin: Fire-and-forget anti-tank missile
Remington 700: Sniper rifle used by Reese
M249: Light machine gun
M4 Carbine: Assault rifle
SAW: Squad automatic weapon (light machine gun)
Chinese:
QBZ-03: Assault rifle
Type 77: Officers pistol
ZBD-08: Infantry fighting vehicle
Russian:
AK-47/74: Assault rifle
BTR-T: Infantry fighting vehicle
Mil Mi-28 Havoc: Attack helicopter
RPG: Rocket-propelled grenade
Sukhoi Su-27: Fighter jet
T-90: Russian main battle tank
TOS-1: Mobile rocket artillery
Chapter 1
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The early-morning sun warmed John’s face as he listened to the caged pigeons cooing next to him. He was trying to process a million jumbled thoughts at once.
Oneida’s streets and buildings still bore the deep scars of battle. Burned-out vehicles and piles of rubble clogged the entire length of Alberta Street. The enemy dead had been thrown unceremoniously into a mass grave, weapons and equipment salvaged for later use. Even though the Chinese troops had backed away, the loose ring around the town served as a constant reminder that another attack could happen at any time. Next to him Wilbur Powel was talking, his words muffled and distant.
“They’ve been used for at least a couple thousand years,” Wilbur was saying. An older man with wire-rimmed glasses and a bad combover, he’d once run a small insurance company in Oneida. That was, before the EMP.
“What’s been used?” John asked.
“Carrier pigeons. I was saying they’ve been used for centuries. Way back to the ancient Persians.”
Oneida was observing strict radio silence before the mission to the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge. Any information going to or from the town would either need to be sent over land by messenger―a risk that was far too great given that PLA troops still encircled the city—or by carrier pigeons. That was where Wilbur came in.
“Used ’em in both World Wars. Fact, when the Germans caught on, they sent hawks up to hunt ’em down.”
“What’s this?” John asked, referring to a wire in the cage.
Wilbur glared in with his one good eye. “That’s the signal wire, which rings a bell when a bird arrives with a message.”
John smiled. “Sorta like email.”
“I wouldn’t know nothing about that,” Wilbur spat. “Rotary phone and a typewriter were all I ever needed. Only good thing that came from that pulse bomb I suppose was that it fried the cell phones those teenagers are always staring at like zombies.”
“You’ve got a point there,” John said, unable to keep from thinking about Gregory, nor feeling the sting that came along with not having freed his son. “So where can we send them?” John asked.
Wilbur stared up at the sky and pursed his lips. “Least half my birds were killed when a Chinese shell landed nearby. I do got one group that can travel as far as Greensboro.”
“That’s too far. We need something closer to the front lines.”
“Then it’ll have to be Boone, North Carolina. Just a stone’s throw from the Appalachians. I got five birds who used to make that trip on a regular basis.”
John nodded, folding his arms. “That should do. But it’ll mean including instructions to deliver the message to General Dempsey.” He was mostly talking to himself. “All right, once we’ve returned, either Henry or Rodriguez will come by with the message.”
“What’s it gonna say?” Wilbur asked, although the doubtful expression on his face made it clear he didn’t expect to be told.
“I wish I could tell you,” John said apologetically. “But with Phoenix on the loose, we can’t take any chances. Until we can figure the traitor is, we’ll be making quite a bit of use out of these birds of yours.”
“Then you’ll need to post guards near them cages,” Wilbur said.
John nodded. The old man was right. If Phoenix was on the lookout for targets of opportunity, cutting off their communication with the outside world would be a major setback.
Although John couldn’t divulge the details to Wilbur, the message they’d eventually send to General Dempsey would detail the success or failure of the mission to Y-12. The former would hopefully signal a green light to begin preparations for a large-scale counterattack. The latter would likely mean that John was dead.
Moss arrived a moment later driving an old, beat-up golf cart. He pulled to a stop and nodded at Wilbur. “Hate to break up your fun, boss, but they’re ready for you.”
He was referring to the team going to Y-12 and the plane that would get them there. John climbed on board the golf cart, not entirely able to squash that sinking feeling that he might never return.
Chapter 2
Cutting through the back roads, which weren’t nearly so cluttered with debris, they arrived in the center of town within minutes. There they met up with Jerry Fowler, Reese and the armed escort that would bring them to Scott Municipal Airport. Located a couple miles southwest of town, the airport was well within Oneida’s zone of control and because of its short runway had largely been ignored by the Chinese during their failed attempt to overrun the town. Still, in spite of its good luck, the airport hadn’t gone completely unscathed. At one point during the battle, a shell had landed near the hangar, destroying two small planes and damaging another. But the decades-old four-seat Cessna 172 Skyhawk designated to fly them south to Oak Ridge was undamaged.
“Aren’t you gonna say goodbye to Diane and Emma?” Moss asked, still sporting the woodland fatigues and multicolored mohawk he’d worn during the battle. He hadn’t changed in days, and by the odor wafting off of him, he hadn’t washed either.
“The only thing it’ll do is worry them more,” John replied. His gear was waiting for him at the rendezvous point and he began to put it on. “When she asks where I am, you tell her I’ve gone away on business.”
“Oh, yeah,” Moss cackled. “She’s gonna love that. In case you’ve forgotten, she and I aren’t on the best terms right now.”
Dimples formed as he gave his head of security a wink. “I thought you were a glutton for punishment, Moss? Besides, it’ll be a good opportunity to work on your diplomacy skills. You do intend to be mayor someday, don’t you?”
“I don’t intend to live that long.”
Once he was geared up, John went to greet Jerry and Reese. Jerry was decked out in a green aviator’s jumpsuit, his belly showing prominently. He looked nervous and rightly so. When they’d first met, Jerry had survived a vicious assault in the Home Depot where he’d been tied to a shower and left for dead. From there he’d been thrust into probably the most intense urban combat John had seen since his days in Iraq. So much for bad luck.
Reese stood casually beside him, puffing on a Chinese cigarette he’d likely taken off a dead Commie soldier. John waved his hand in front of his face. “Put that thing out before we all die of cancer.”
Smiling, Reese complied, stubbing it out with the toe of his boot. Slung over his back was a new gift he’d received from General Brooks—a Barrett M82 .50 caliber sniper rifle—and hanging from a two-point sling was an M4.
Reese motioned with the assault rifle. “She belonged to Captain Bishop,” he said solemnly. “After he got chewed up by that Commie AA gun, I figured I’d bring her along and see if I couldn’t win him a little payback.”
“Quick in and quick out,” John told the sniper. “I don’t need to tell you the best missions are the ones where you never fire a shot.”
“That may be,” Reese replied. “But they sure aren’t the most gratifying.”
This kind of talk was making Jerry look about as white as a sheet. John was quick to change the subject. “You have everything you need, Jerry?”
Jerry nodded. His beard had crumbs in it.
“You eat this morning?” John asked.
“A little,” Jerry said, glancing down at his belly self-consciously.
“Well, just make sure you keep it down when we’re in the air.” John glanced around. “Speaking of air, where’s the pilot?”
“At the airport, getting the plane ready,” Reese told him as he pulled out another cigarette and clamped it between his teeth. He was barely done when he caught the change in John’s expression. “Don’t worry, Colonel. I won’t light it up. I’m saving it that for when we get back.”
If they ever got back, John thought, but didn’t say.
They’d briefed the mission late into the previous night, going over every eventuality and working in fail-safes and redundancies at every turn. When embarking on a mission, it wasn’t good enough to have a single plan. You needed options
for when things inevitably went wrong. General Dempsey had assured them that once they reached Oak Ridge soldiers from the 3rd Infantry Division as well as scientists from the research facility would greet them. After that it was a question of rigging the warhead to a balloon and sending it high into the atmosphere.
And with that they clambered into the Humvees and headed for the airport. Despite the short distance, two Bradley Fighting Vehicles were assigned to escort them. John peered out at Moss from the passenger window as they pulled away, watching his head of security standing at attention.
Chapter 3
When they arrived minutes later, John exited the Humvee to the sound of distant gunfire.
“Sounds like a skirmish north of town,” Reese said.
Ever since the recent Chinese push into the area, small skirmishes had been going on along most of the perimeter as the Communists looked for weak spots. At least that was what the Chinese wanted them to think. The truth was the bulk of their forces had moved east as part of the buildup against the American position along the Appalachian Mountains. What had been left behind was intended to keep the units defending Oneida contained. A reality which was going to make the pilot’s job a tricky one.
John spotted the pilot by the plane, tinkering with the engine. But it was the paint job on the aircraft that really caught his attention. A red stripe and Communist star ran along the fuselage. It had been redone to look like something from the Chinese Air Force. The hope was any foreign troops would hesitate a few precious seconds before firing. General Dempsey had also been informed so they weren’t shot down by the American soldiers protecting Oak Ridge.
John and the other two members of the team headed in that direction while the soldiers protecting them fanned out to guard the perimeter.
“You the pilot?” John asked.
Last Stand: Turning the Tide (Book 4) Page 1
