by TW Powell
“Neither Team will have horses, so Team #1 will have to hike 50 miles from Indian Springs down to Nellis. It’s late June. That sun is going to be vicious. Be prepared to hike at night.
“Tommy and Adam will be operating the Pumas. Tom, I want you to be with Team #2, the Mountain Pass Team, you know mining operations better than anyone else. John, you’re in damn good shape and Tom tells me you’re one hell of a mountaineer. You go with Team #1. I’ll drop some food and water off at a spot close to Nellis so you don’t need to carry it all with you.
“In three days, I’ll pick up both Teams and their Pumas right here at the National Cafe. Roughly three days after that, the recons will be completed, and I’ll be back here with both Teams.
“Junior, you must hold Kingston until we complete our recon.”
Delvin was interrupted by Porter, “Delvin, we have to take out the forces gathering at Carver’s, don’t we?”
“Yes, eventually.”
“I think Tom’s first instinct is correct. Time is not on our side. We need to eliminate that force ASAP. That will actually draw attention away from Operation Daisy. As we speak, the Salt Lake Squadron of Helaman’s 2,000 is on the trail to Ely. ETA, day after tomorrow. 5 days after that, the Salt Lake Squadron can be just south of Round Mountain. 8 days from today, we will be in position to attack Round Mountain, liberate the Debtors, liquidate any Peoples’ Militia, and cut off the flow of Round Mountain gold and silver to The Collective and their Chinese masters.
“We will not attack Round Mountain until your recon of both Indian Springs and Nellis is complete. Once Collective air assets have been identified and neutralized, we can attack Round Mountain. Then, we will attack Carver’s from the south while the Kingston forces block their line of retreat. It will be a battle of annihilation.
“After that, Salt Lake Squadron and the Kingston forces will march south and rendezvous with other elements of the 2,000 in Ash Meadows, down by Death Valley.
“Meanwhile, the Zion Squadron has reported to St. George, Utah. They will be on the trail to Mesquite, NV tomorrow. Mesquite is Deseret’s southwestern gateway, only 80 miles northeast of Las Vegas.
“Let’s discuss Las Vegas. Once The Collective shut down the casinos and reduced the availability of water and electricity, the population cratered. Our intel assets in Vegas estimate the population has dropped from over 2,000,000 down to around 200,000. The Collective is attempting to resettle Sub-Saharan African immigrants in Las Vegas, but without water and air conditioning, who wants to live there?
“Unfortunately, 200,000 Members still reside in Las Vegas. Vegas is smack dab in the middle of our route to Mountain Pass.” Porter unrolled a map of Southern Nevada.
Delvin perused the map, “We can’t go around Vegas to the south, Lake Mead and the Colorado River are insurmountable obstacles.”
Porter agreed, “Yes, I suggest we by-pass Vegas to the north. We’ll ride by night and hide by day. The three Squadrons of the 2,000 will make a right hook around Sin City. We’ll reach Nellis first. It’s located on the extreme northeast edge of Vegas. We can take out Nellis quickly, perhaps take out both Nellis and Indian Springs with simultaneous dawn assaults. To confuse The Collective, maybe we’ll leave some forces behind to demonstrate on the east side of Vegas, out by Lake Mead.
“From Indian Springs, we’ll ride 40 miles due west to Amargosa Valley. There are scores of warm springs out there in Ash Meadows and plenty of grass. That’s where our forces will rendezvous.
“From Ash Meadows, we’ll follow the Amargosa River, such as it is, all the way down to Tecopa, California. We’ll be just skirting the eastern edge of Death Valley. It will be at least 105F every day and could be over 115F. China Ranch Date Farm in Tecopa will be our last oasis. From there, we turn southeast. The area down around Dumont Dunes is 50 miles of desert every bit as brutal as Death Valley and it must be crossed.
“We’ll hit Mountain Pass from the west. Demolition teams should blow the bridges along I-15 to the southwest of Mountain Pass, cutting off reinforcements from LA. Mountain Pass will be well secured, but they will be expecting an attack from I-15, not a large force from the desert.
“If we take Mountain Pass and hold it, The Collective’s position in Las Vegas becomes untenable. I-15 and the adjacent rail line will be cut, severing Vegas from LA. Deseret will almost certainly commit more forces. The Arizona Rangers, down in Kingman are standing by. They will advance up US 93 and occupy Hoover Dam.”
Delvin was now grasping the strategic importance of this operation, “What we’re talking about is denying The Collective the gold and silver from Round Mountain, taking out their air power at Indian Springs and Nellis, and either destroying or capturing the Mountain Pass Racial Reparations Mining Camp. Perhaps, even denying Las Vegas both water and electricity from Hoover Dam and Lake Meade.”
Porter continued, “Yes, the details of our plan will undoubtably change and will depend upon the results of our recons, but, if we succeed, Las Vegas will become untenable and the Resistance will be right on Southern California’s doorstep.”
Hey Diddle-Diddle
‘Ol Max was securely harnessed in, as were all the other passengers onboard the Super Huey as it lifted off from Paw Paw Town Park. As the chopper climbed up above the treetops, without navigation lights, The Keeper reflected upon Operation Roosevelt and his other early morning chopper flight back in March ’26. Although Jo and Apache would be flying the Huey over friendly territory, stealth was once again paramount.
Jo carefully avoided towns and major highways as her extended range Huey headed almost due west, with just a little deviation to the south. Off to her right, she saw the lights and flickering flare stacks of the chemical plants and other heavy industry in and around Charleston, West Virginia. The Kanawha Valley was not an energy starved, impoverished, hell hole as were so many of The Collective’s “liberated” cities. Charlestown was powered by West Virginia coal and its petrochemical industry converted West Virginia shale oil and natural gas into all those products that modern societies so easily take for granted.
Charleston was growing by leaps and bounds. Thousands of refugees were flocking to the Kanawha Valley, but many of these refugees were not White, nor were they Resistance.
Post-Revolution, tens of millions of third world refugees had poured into the Peoples’ United States. These refugees were not villains, they were just people seeking a better life for themselves and their children. Virtually all the new arrivals carried the same image in their minds. America was a special place of peace, prosperity, and opportunity. A person could think, speak, and pray however they saw fit. Needless to say, most were deeply disappointed.
What began as a trickle, had gradually increased to a torrent, as the disenchanted poured into the Kanawha Valley. America had historically welcomed immigrants. America was a nation of immigrants. The Resistance welcomed anyone who wanted to be an American.
In order to be an American, a new arrival must be prepared for success. Unlike The Collective, the Resistance controlled immigration. New immigrants were required to learn English. They were assigned work. They didn’t have to work, but no work meant no pay. Due to the lack of lawyers, bureaucrats, and academicians, justice was swift. Most importantly, immigrants were taught American history and not the revisionist crap spewed out by The Collective. Any immigrant who didn’t like those requirements could freely return to The Collective, but none did.
Jo pointed down at the empty four-lane highway below, “Apache, that there is I-64. We’ll just follow 64 over to Lexington, then we’ll veer just a little more to the southwest and head towards Hodgenville, from there we’ll sweep around west of E-town and land in Vine Grove.”
About an hour later, Jo pointed out the lights to their front, “See those lights? That’s Lexington. We just cleaned those bastards out of there last month. I’m guessing we’re just about over Winchester.”
Max raised his head and began whining, which soon became a low, mour
nful howl. Jo reached round and patted her friend on the head.
Jo’s eyes watered as she whispered to Max, “I know old boy, I loved that old bastard too.”
In another half hour the Huey was skirting the treetops around Hodgenville.
“You know, back in the real world, they said that Illinois was the Land of Lincoln. Hate to bust their bubble, but old Honest Abe was born right here, in Hodgenville. This is where we start our hook around E-town. ETA 15 minutes.”
Just to the northwest of Vine Grove, Apache spotted five flares laid out in a circle in the middle of a cow pasture.
Apache alerted Jo in his Philly accent, “Yo Jo, they’re waving us in.”
Apache pointed down at two large green glow sticks motioning for the Huey to land amid the circle of flares.
As the rotor blades slowed, Jo and her Fab Five emerged from the Huey, “We need to see Jimmy, pronto!”
Odd Man Out
The following morning, on the ride back to Kingston, Junior lamented not being invited on the recon missions, “Tom, I know that my bum leg makes Vet the logical choice for Team #1, the recon of Indian Springs and Nellis. I also realize that your mining experience makes you the logical choice for Team #2, the recon of Mountain Pass. I just feel sort of useless sitting around Kingston.”
“Hell Junior, if you’re just sitting around Kingston, you’re not doing your job.”
“What do you mean?”
“Damn it Junior, while me, Vet, and the boys are out flying toy planes, you have to get these people ready. The Peoples’ Militia might just attack Kingston tomorrow. We assume they won’t, but you know what assume will do for you.”
“Yeah, it makes an ass out of you and me.”
“That’s right. You have to meld The Skippers, Ben, and Carlos into a team, just in case, by some miracle, we actually capture Mountain Pass.
“Although our Mormon friends believe the 2,000 will not take casualties, I wouldn’t bet on it. Doctor J, The Phams, Nurse Beth, and Pastor Williams must be ready to move on a moment’s notice. A regular MASH unit.
“While you’re doing all that, you must get ready to repel that force gathered down in Carver’s. If they don’t move on Kingston, our forces must be ready to move on them when the Salt Lake Squadron attacks from the south. Our forces in Kingston must block their retreat and act as the anvil for the Mormon’s hammer.
“Then we march on Mountain Pass. That will really be something to see.”
“Man, Tom, I hadn’t really thought about it like that. Someday, my tall tales may be bigger than Pop-Pop’s stories.”
“You hadn’t thought about it because you are a soldier, but now you must become a commander. Many lives are at stake, including the life of our country, my friend.”
Junior replied, “Sempre Fi!”
Tom nodded, “Oorah!”
Shortly after noon, Tom, Junior, and Vet arrived back at Kingston. Their first stop was the gravel pit out on NV 376, the site of the battle back in April. Tommy, Adam, and Bobby Ray now had Puma up and patrolling the highway for several klicks both north and south of Kingston. Bobby Lee had salvaged a generator from an old hand cranked emergency radio and rigged up a quick hand crank charging system for Puma.
Tom knew Puma was a game changer, “Boys, has Puma seen anything interesting?”
Tommy was in charge of Puma’s recon, “No, absolutely nothing has moved along 376, nothing.”
“That, in and of itself, is quite interesting. I mean, even back in the real world, this road was pretty quiet, but to have absolutely no traffic?” Tom’s curiosity was aroused.
Junior agreed, “Maybe the quiet before the storm?”
“Bobby Ray, are you getting the hang of operating Puma?”
“Yes, Sergeant Jackson, Puma is really cool.
Tom was satisfied with the boys’ progress, “Carry on men, we’re heading back to town.”
“Hang on Dad, Puma is at the extreme southern end of her circuit. I think I saw something.”
“Bobby Ray, replay the last minute, or so, of video on your laptop.”
“Yes. Sergeant Jackson.”
“Men, what do you make of that?”
Junior took a stab at it, “Looks like a shadow just came right up the road from the south.”
Vet concurred, “That’s a pretty big shadow.”
Tom threw Adam his binoculars, “Ok, Eagle Eye. Do you see anything?”
Adam was looking southward down the highway, “Nope, don’t see a thing.”
“Not on the road Adam, scan the sky.”
Adam snickered and started scanning the sky to the south.
“Hold it, there’s something a few klicks south and way up in the sky.”
“Everyone hit the deck! What is it son?”
“Don’t know. It’s not flying like a bird. It’s flying along the highway, sort of like we fly Puma.”
“Tommy, how high can Puma fly?”
“She can reach 10,000 feet, but here in Kingston we’re at 6,000 feet, so her operating ceiling is only about 4,000 feet off the deck.”
“Take her south as far as we dare and take her up to 10,000. Once she’s at altitude, put her into a banking circular holding pattern and gimbal her eyes skyward. Maximum zoom.”
After close to 20 minutes, Tom saw a faint spec moving on Puma’s video feed.
“Tommy, is she on maximum zoom?”
“Yep. Max zoom.”
“Junior, Vet, what do you think?”
Vet spoke up, “That ain’t no bird. That’s an aircraft.”
Junior was shaking his head in agreement, “Yeah, but that ain’t no Puma. It’s up real high and as big as a small airliner.”
“Boys bring Puma home, then head back to town. Use the creek beds and follow evasive protocols. I think they’ve got eyes in the sky too.”
Fiddling Up a Plan
For Jimmy Haycraft and the officers of 1st Brigade, 4 a.m. was one hell of an early officer’s call.
“Lieutenant Parker, I hope that whatever you have to say is important enough to rouse everyone before sunup.”
“Jimmy, I mean Colonel, hell yes it’s important. I just came from The Bunker. Here are our written orders.”
Josephine handed Colonel Haycraft his written orders from the National Command Authority, signed by Colonel Cooper. The gist of those orders was that 1st Brigade would attack the Bullion Depository at Fort Knox at its earliest opportunity. All HEU and DU at the Depository was to be rendered unusable. Prior to taking any action against the HEU and DU, 1st Brigade would offer any and all assistance to Lieutenant Josephine Parker and her Team in their efforts to secure and remove unspecified items from the Depository. Lieutenant Parker’s mission was to be given top priority.
“Damn it Jo, there’s no gold in the Depository. Just what in the hell are you supposed to pilfer from that vault?”
Jo pointed at The Keeper, “Jimmy, that’s for me and him to know.”
The Depository
Throughout 1936, the United States Treasury Department was building something substantial about 30 miles, as the crow flies, south of Louisville, Kentucky. The military had transferred a large tract of land from the Fort Knox Army base over to the Treasury Department.
At that time, most of the nation’s gold reserves were held at the New York Assay Office, the Philadelphia Mint, the San Francisco Mint, and the Denver Mint. With war clouds gathering over Europe and the Far East, the Treasury Department decided that the nation’s gold reserves should not be stored in coastal locations. The gold in the San Francisco Mint was transferred to Denver. The gold in Philadelphia and New York was bound for the Bluegrass State.
OK, almost everyone’s seen depictions of The Vault on the silver screen. We’ve all watched as 007 battles it out with Oddjob in a multi-level, cavernous, subterranean fortress. In reality, The Vault comprises an area less than 4,000 square feet (That’s 370 square meters for you blokes across the pond.) Gold is heavy, and so is Uranium, so you can sto
re a whole bunch of either, in a relatively small area.
The Vault is subterranean, buried beneath the Depository building. It is a very secure two-story piggy bank. This piggy has steel walls encased in concrete. The vault door is 21 inches thick and weighs 21 tons. That door is crafted from torch-and-drill-resistant steel and secured by a 100-hour time lock. It can only be opened during a brief time window every 100 hours. Treasury protocols required two members of the Depository staff to simultaneously enter two secret passcodes during this brief window to open The Vault. That’s what the Treasury protocols specified.
The above ground Depository structure measures 105 feet by 121 feet and rises 42 feet above ground. That structure is composed of thick concrete walls reinforced with steel and the exterior is clad in North Carolina granite. Sentry boxes are located at all four corners of the building.
The Depository is surrounded by two concentric fences topped with concertina wire. There are two strongpoints at the entrance to the Depository through the inner fence. It is rumored that the area between those fences is mined. Two concentric perimeter fences form the outer line of defense. Two guard posts stand at the entrance in the outer perimeter fence out onto Bullion Boulevard. A rail line runs just a few hundred feet east of the Depository.
Just Like Old Times
That evening, Bobby Ray and Junior camped out in a small canyon not too far up Kingston Creek. Junior was heeding the advice given to Pop-Pops by Sergeant Miller and kept his rifle close by his side. It was a warm, clear, still, midsummer evening and Junior had picked a nice, sheltered campsite. Bobby Ray quickly threw together a small stone hearth and soon had a low fire crackling.