“Ok, Ok”
The next morning Colonel James awoke before the rest of the house. He dressed, gathered a few things in his bag and kissed his wife goodbye. He looked in on his daughter and kissed her on the forehead. Turning his vehicle toward the out roads the city was left behind as the road went through a brief swath of open country. James looked on the open land and began to dream of his New Mexico Ranch. Thirty minutes later he passed the gates of the Regiment bivouac and pulled up to what would be his quarters. He entered the office and saluted the staff. A room to the right held his bed and areas for clothes and personal items. He closed the door behind him and changed into a set of battle fatigues. He belted on a side arm 9 mm and placed the black beret on his head. The Colonels eagle on the crest was polished and ready. Looking at himself in the mirror he was again the soldier, ready to lead his men into battle.
He walked out and into the command center where Major Jeffers was pouring over the three dimensional map of the valley. They each saluted and passed courtesies.
“So Major, are we all here and ready?”
“Yes sir. We have about twelve hundred men here and another five hundred deployed out on road blocks.”
“Yes I have seen that those road blocks are quite effective. We have the men very well trained.” said James
“Yes we do.”
“Well in a couple of weeks we head out to hit the three areas of outliers. The smaller two I am not as concerned about as the larger valley.” said James.
“Well I think we have a significant battle plan that will take care of them.”
“I would hope that we can achieve the victory quickly so that the rest will surrender and we can end this thing with as little blood shed as possible.” said James
“Agreed sir but we better have a good knock out punch.” said Jeffers.
“Well let’s assemble the commanders and go through the plan.”
“Yes Sir.”
A few hours later the briefing room was filled with the Company commanders and their seconds. It was important that at least two levels of command understood the overall plan.
“Major, please start the review.” said James.
“Men, there are three areas that we will engage. Each has its own problems and I will cover them. The small settlements to the North and South have about one hundred people in each. We have no evidence that they are ready for engagement and as such we are going to hit them with a minimal force. We will deploy two companies at each, making an attack force of about two hundred men for each settlement. We will send in two Bradley’s and Six APCs. That should take care of them.”
The company commanders shook their heads in agreement of the plan.
“The middle settlement is where the real battle will be. We plan on deploying five companies that should be about five hundred men. Four companies will deploy down the main road, three in front and one in reserve. We will stagger in the vehicles, two Bradley’s up front two in the middle and two in the rear. In between will be the APCs. Now here is the trick to this. When last the Order sent in troops the outliers manned a very good position for ambush and we believe that there is no reason that they will not use the same area for our battle. We imagine they will put up a road block and then try to hit us with fire from three sides. To stop this we need to take out the fire line on the flanks and then we can overrun their front position. We are going to chopper in one hundred men about a mile to either side of the ambush spot. Fifty men will approach from each side and take out the flanks. This should be the decisive blow.”
Jeffers stood back with a smile as he looked at the company commanders. They all were excited about the mission and felt the plan was sound. Colonel James stood back with a pensive thought as he was more skeptical. He held his thoughts as they were details that he felt best addressing to the Major after the commanders were gone. The final assignments were given and the commanders prepared to leave. Just before they left one of the commanders stopped and turned toward the Major.
“Major, it is a good plan but when do we go?”
Major Jeffers smiled as this was a question he loved answering.
“Ah the date is April fifteenth. Yes we are the tax man and we arrive April fifteenth.”
The commanders were satisfied and left the briefing room.
Colonel James turned toward Jeffers and then looked toward the map.
“The only thing that bothers me about this we are surmising that the force we are going to meet is the same as defeated the Urban police.” said James.
“Sir, why should we think any differently? Yes they took the machine pistols from the Urban Security forces but those and hunting rifles will have little effect against armor.”
“Yes, I guess you are right. In the end it will all come down to firepower and they do not have enough to overcome us.”
Major Jeffers shook his head and smiled.
“Sir, are you planning on staying back or going in with us?”
“Major, I will be going with you all on the main attack. I see no need to remain behind and I think it beneficial for the morale of the men.” said James.
“Excellent sir, I will make sure that one of the APCs is fit for your needs.”
“Good, I guess we are all set to go in a few weeks.”
Colonel James left the briefing room and headed outside. The late March air was still cool and as he looked toward the mountains he noted that they were still covered with snow. It was always possible that a heavy snow could fall prior to the middle of next month and could delay the mission. Delay would not matter because the mission was on whether it was the fifteenth or a week later.
The New Order could no longer tolerate groups of people that had not joined in the social experiment and as such needed to end any hope for these people. While many in the government thought that these outliers could be brought in and changed to believe in the New Order, there were some that knew this would never be the case. To that point most of the plans and secondary plans mainly called for elimination. Colonel James knew this also and it is what was bothering him the most about the mission. He knew a man like Jon Smith could never be changed; no more than a wild animal could be tamed. That is the reason that the Colonel held such a high view of Jon and the others of that valley. But in the end he knew that the fire power of his Regiment of Storm Troopers would win in the end.
Chapter 15
The library in Jon’s house had served many purposes since its creation. It was the soul of Jon, a place to study, a place to relax, and a place to gather. However it had never been used as a makeshift command center where battle plans were discussed. JT had spread out a topographical forests service map and had drawn in pen the point that the valley troops would set up the ambush. Doc, Jon, JT, Riley, and Mort had all gathered to finalize the plans and set timetables.
“They will still have to come up this road to get at us but this time they will have armor in the front and rear. I would also bet that they deploy some tanks in the middle.” said JT.
“JT, when you say tanks what do you mean? They can’t get sixty ton heavy tanks up here.” said Doc.
“No, they can’t, but they will bring Bradley’s up and those Bradley’s can be armed with missiles, chain guns, or seventy six millimeter cannons. I will tell you that those cannons will blow holes in our lines.”
“JT, will the RPGs stop them?” asked Jon.
“Yea, if we can hit them in the tracks or the rear. Maybe even a side hit might concussion them out.”
“How many troops do you figure they will have?” said Mort.
JT scratched across his rough beard and thought.
“Well I would say about five hundred, which does not include any logistics troops they might have.”
“Five hundred and we have about seventy five. Those odds just don’t sound good.” said Riley.
“No they aren’t but we
have a few things going for us. We have terrain and knowledge of our ground, we have men that have spent the last few years hunting and are trained marksman, and we have an element of surprise.” said JT.
“Surprise, what surprise?” asked Riley.
“I don’t believe that our opposition knows that we have up armed with AR15s and RPGs.” said Jon.
“Exactly, they are going to think that all we have are our hunting rifles and the machine pistols we took from the security force. And don’t think that we won’t put those to good use as well. A well placed 30-06 shot is a snipers dream.” said JT.
JT went back to the map and pointed toward the interception zone.
“I think we will have to build a much stronger barricade this time to really slow the Bradley’s. Also if they have to climb over it will give us a much better shot at their tracks. We can deploy like we did last time with a force to the left right and middle, but we will need to re-enforce those positions as well. I believe we have some construction work to do men.”
“Well I think we should get on it soon. There is one thing that bothers me though. Since we will be using the same tactics don’t you think the Troopers will think that as well and do something different?” asked Jon.
JT looked at the map as he had already been thinking the same thing.
“Yes, they will. What they will do is try to bring in men behind the rear of our left and right position. They will probably drop twenty five troopers behind each and try to flank us.”
“So what do we do?” asked Riley.
“We flank the flankers. We will pull about ten men back behind each area and we will lay down some claymores. It looks like these areas would be great ambush points.” said JT as he pointed to the two areas on the map.
“We put three claymores here and three here so that when the first go off they fall back and then we set the second group off. Then it is just a matter of us finishing them and then joining up with the attack groups.”
“Now, why would they come through those two areas?” asked Riley.
“Because they are natural funnels that would lead to the easiest point of attack at our rear and they won’t be taking a lot of caution because they will not suspect that we are looking in that direction.” said JT.
“The key to the entire thing will be knocking out the forward tanks and the rear tanks. When we do that we have them blocked on the road and we can then take them out one by one.”
Jon looked over the plan and for the most part thought it was sound. What he knew though was that this force that they would be facing would be better armed and trained.
“Doc, I would suspect you better be ready for more casualties this time. Chances are that they are going to be here ready to fight.”
“I agree Jon and I will be ready.”
“So now what?” asked Mort.
“Well I think that tomorrow we get all the men together to go down to the ambush point and start getting it prepared. It is late March and I don’t want to get caught by surprise.” said JT.
“Ok so tomorrow we call the meeting there and have everybody show up with axes, picks and shovels.” said Jon.
With that the group broke up and put on coats and prepared to head home. Jon bid JT, Mort, and Riley good evening but stopped Doc for a moment.
“A word with you?”
“Yea Jon, what is it?”
Jon took Doc back in the library and the two sat at the table.
“Doc, it is still not too late for us all to leave here. Fact is I am ready for this and you, JT, Mort, and Riley are, but what about the rest of the valley folk. I don’t think they understand what is about to happen.”
“Oh Jon, I think you are wrong. I think these people do know and are ready. They don’t want to run and they want to make a statement. They want to let the Order know that they will not go quietly into the night. They still believe in their land and country and believe in exceptionalism.”
Jon shook his head.
“Doc, I must be rubbing off on you because I could not have put that any better myself.”
Doc laughed and looked back at Jon.
“Yea I get it from you. Jon Smith, you have made us all better folk and deep thinkers.”
With that Doc got up and walked across to the hall. He put on his coat and hat and placed a hand on the door. Looking back at Jon standing there he shook his head again.
“Jon, everything is going to work out. Yep everything is going to work out.”
Doc opened and closed the door and was gone.
Jon walked back to the kitchen and opened the wine cellar and grabbed a bottle of red wine. He poured a glass and walked back to the library where he sat in his leather chair. It was dark out now and the lanterns were lit providing ample light. He glanced over toward the red leather bound book.
“Well I already finished you so I will see you again in three years.”
He walked over to the shelves and began to look for another book to provide a little reading before dinner. Amanda and Chris were in their rooms and Catherine had been napping so he figured he had about thirty minutes for it. Walking down the shelves he decided it was time to read a little bit of history. He found what he was looking for, a book about the American Civil War. Jon took the book to the leather chair and sat back. He took a deep drink of wine and found the chapter he was wanting, The Battle of Fredericksburg. He had read through several pages when Catherine came in and saw him there.
“Well you look comfortable, what have all you Generals finished with your battle plans for the evening?”
“Why Miss Catherine, don’t you know that we are planning to defend our fine Southern women from those Yankee invaders.”
“Oh my you must be reading something about the Civil War. Don’t forget dear that I am a Yankee as I was born and am from the North.”
“Details my dear details.”
Jon put the book down and grabbed Catherine’s hand and pulled her to sit on his lap.
“Careful honey.” said Catherine.
Jon brushed back her hair. He noted how light she felt as she had lost weight. In fact he began to think she was as light as an angel, a thought that did not make him happy.
She looked at him and saw the concern in his face.
“Don’t worry Jon it is all going to be alright. It is all going to work out.”
Jon thought how strange as that is exactly what Doc had said before he left.
“Sweetheart, I am not worried just concerned. But at the end of it all I will still be here standing as I always have.”
He gave Catherine a deep kiss and sat back.
“Well I guess I better get dinner started.”
The next morning Chris and Jon were up early getting coffee and biscuits. After breakfast they loaded up the truck with tools, bid the women goodbye and were off to the ambush point. When they arrived the area was busy with the men of the valley hard at work. They were cutting down trees, digging trenches, and preparing post holes. The plan was to create a front barricade about four feet high. They would set posts in the ground to create a slot that they could then drop double tree trunks in. Then they would flange out the sides to prevent the enemy tanks from trying to go around.
To the areas on the right and left, about 20 yards from the road, the men dug trenches and then laid rocks and trees in front in order to create a fire barricade. They knew that they would be protected from bullets but they also knew enemy rockets and cannons would play hell with them. The work was not as hard because the ground had begun to warm and as such they were not digging into ice. This was both good news and bad as it meant that the time for conflict was near. The last emplacement to be built was a trench line some 20 yards behind the forward barricade. This would be the most important because it was the defense that needed to ultimately stop the column.
“Well
Riley, Mort, you two are in command of the flanking trench lines. It is important to keep the fire up and not let them get troops down toward you.” said JT.
“Well looks like I have the front emplacement.” said Jon.
“Well Jon, you also have overall command. You are the leader and as such much direct this assault.” said JT.
“But JT, you know what we need to do, it should be you we follow.” said Jon.
“No you are the strategic leader and our motivation, I will be tactics, how about that?”
Jon shook his head and laughed.
“Well I just hope we win. I couldn’t stand being captain of a losing team.”
“Don’t you worry, we are going to whup their butts.” said Mort.
“You got that right.” said Riley.
The men worked through the day and into the evening. The sun was low in the sky as they finished up and they gathered to see their handy work.
“Not bad, not bad at all.” said JT.
“Well fellas lets build a fire and break out some brew.” said Mort.
“Who has the drinks?” asked Jon.
“Doc and I thought we should have a break afterward so we have beer and wine for you Jon.” said Mort.
“Well I am glad that you guys are thinking about my well being.” said Jon.
Old man Johnson had joined in with the detail and grabbed the first drink. When all the men had full glasses he raised his and spoke.
“Here is to us. For our land, for our sweethearts, for our children, and for our wives we stand as one to defend our freedom.”
Jon looked at Royce and the rest of the men and felt proud.
“We are all brothers in this and we stand together. Guys, freedom will win in the end.” said Jon.
The men drank, and then drank some more. The after work party went on until dark as the men then headed for home, for food, and bed. Jon and Chris pulled up and went to the front porch. Jon turned back and looked toward the sky. He saw his old friend Orion there and took comfort in his soul.
“It is all going to work out.”
Jon Smith Page 26