by Robert Boren
A cheer erupted from the crowd.
“What are we doing now, pencil neck?” Curt asked.
“Get a good night’s sleep. We’re heading for Dallas in the morning. More enemy fighters are heading there as we speak. We’re gonna ruin their day.” He turned to Chuck. “Chuck, let’s talk about that caterer that Jean mentioned. We could use a good meal.”
“Sounds good,” Chuck said. “Let’s go to the office. Coffee’s brewing, everybody.”
Jason left with Chuck and a few others.
Chapter 29 – Galveston Bay
Lita eyed the armed barge as the launch took them through the waters of Trinity Bay.
“We’re going right towards the opening into Galveston Bay,” Harley said. “Wish we had more than one of these damn barges.”
“It’ll be enough, I think,” Richardson said. “Remember that the US Navy is free to get involved now.”
“Yeah, dude, but will they?” Juan Carlos asked. “There’s a lot going on, from what I’m reading on the message boards. The damn EU Navy is working with the enemies now.”
“That’s nothing new, but our main battle is gonna be with the crappy ships of the Venezuelan Navy,” Richardson said.
“They’re liable to light off one of their nukes outside the bay if they can’t get in,” Madison said. “We’ll be dead either way.”
“We’ll kill them before they can do that,” Brendan said.
“Or die trying,” Juan Carlos quipped, laughing nervously.
“Thanks,” Madison said.
The launch pulled up along the port side docks, and the group got off.
“Thanks,” Richardson said to the young man at the wheel. He nodded and went back towards the Galveston docks.
“We’ve got two patrol boats and a hovercraft again,” Brendan said as he looked at the deck.
“Maybe it’s standard issue,” Juan Carlos quipped.
“There’s nothing standard about these barges,” Harley said. “Kinda miss blasting around in the patrol boats, though. I feel safer when we can move.”
“I hear you,” Richardson said. “Somebody check the apps for the enemy positions, while we get the guns loaded.”
“I’ll do that,” Lita said, taking out her phone as they walked into the stern room, sitting on a couch. Brendan and Juan Carlos were at the front ammo locker, joined by Harley after a moment. They put belts of .50 cal rounds and grenades over their shoulders and climbed onto the roof.
“I feel like our butts are hanging out in the wind,” Brendan said. “I think we ought to check out the patrol boats and the hovercraft, just to make sure they’re ready to go. We should load their weapons, too.”
“The main gun on the big patrol boat was loaded already,” Juan Carlos said. “Saw it.”
“The small one too,” Harley said, “but you can’t outrun a nuke.”
“It’s possible there’s no nukes aboard any of these Venezuelan boats,” Brendan said.
“You know that and I know that, but we’d better assume that they’re packing,” Harley said.
“Yeah,” Juan Carlos said. “What he said.”
“Okay, okay, I get it,” Brendan said.
“Check out the artillery,” Harley said, pointing to the rows of massive guns on Galveston and Goat Island, pointing into the gulf. “That’s old stuff. Gonna be hard to hit boats with it.”
“Hopefully the US Navy will get here before the EU Navy does, dude,” Juan Carlos said. “My guns are loaded.”
“Check the apps,” Brendan said as he finished loading his.
Juan Carlos nodded, pulling his phone out.
“How’s it going up there?” Richardson shouted from the stern deck.
“Almost loaded,” Brendan said.
“Check out the patrol boats,” Harley said.
“Great minds think alike,” Richardson said as he was walking towards them. He climbed into each, got the engines running, and checked the guns to make sure they were loaded. Then he shut them down.
“Dude,” Juan Carlos said, staring at the phone.
“What, man?” Brendan asked, rushing to his side.
“They’re only a few miles out, and closing. This is gonna happen fast.”
“How many?”
“At least twenty small boats, judging from the icons I’m seeing,” Juan Carlos said.
“We can’t even see the damn EU ships,” Harley said.
“Yeah we can,” Brendan said, eyes squinting as he looked out over the water. “I have visual contact right now.”
“Son of a bitch,” Harley shouted. “Hey, Richardson, we got incoming already.”
“We’re gonna have company,” Lita shouted from inside the stern room. “We’d better get to the bridge.”
“Yeah,” Harley said. “That’s where the better optics are. I think I’ll stay up here, where we can see better.”
There were a series of ear-splitting booms.
“Whoa, the artillery sees those EU Destroyers,” Brendan shouted.
“Well I hope they get them,” Richardson shouted. “One shot from a destroyer will splatter this tub all over Galveston Bay.”
“I’ve got visual contact of small boats, heading towards the mouth of the bay,” Harley shouted.
“Fire at will,” Richardson shouted. “We’ve got enough range to hit anything near that opening. I’m going to the bridge.”
“Hey, boss, there’s intercoms up here,” Brendan shouted. “You mention that to somebody?”
“Really?” Richardson shouted, on his way to the bridge. “Yeah, I did. Surprised they got them so fast. Turn them all on.”
“You got it,” Brendan shouted, rushing to them and flipping the switches.
Juan Carlos fired several grenades towards a pair of boats making for the mouth of the bay, hitting one, missing the other. Harley fired with his mini gun, splitting the hull of the small craft. It sank in a few seconds.
There was a whistling sound in the air, followed by a boom in the distance, and a large explosion on Goat Island, taking out several of the artillery, the others still firing at the boat.
“Dammit,” Harley shouted. “Look, now there’s a third big boat out there!”
“Don’t worry about those, concentrate on the little guys,” Juan Carlos shouted, firing grenades at another group of approaching small craft, who were firing machine guns at them now. Bullets pelted the wall around the roof and the shields on Juan Carlos’s gun.
“Watch it, man!” Brendan shouted, firing the mini gun, taking out the boat that was firing on them, as Harley and Juan Carlos filled the air with grenades, some hitting pay dirt, others exploding in the water. The artillery was still firing, not hitting any of the EU Navy ships yet, the water churning around them.
“Hear that?” Harley shouted. “Choppers!”
There was a scratch on the intercom speakers. “If those choppers get close, get the hell off the roof,” Richardson said.
“Hey, guys, Madison and I brought a bunch more ammo to the spiral staircases inside the stern room,” Hannah said. “We’ll carry it up when you need it.”
“Thanks,” Brendan shouted. “Stay inside while this is going on!”
There was a huge explosion and fire on one of the destroyers, hit with a round from one of the artillery pieces. A cheer came up from Goat Island.
“Yes!” shouted Harley.
“Here come the choppers,” Brendan said.
“Get down here,” Hannah said.
“No, they’re not coming here, they’re going to try for the remaining artillery on Goat Island.” He was cut off by Harley’s mini gun, firing at the chopper, hitting it broadside, wreckage hitting the water a hundred yards from the artillery line.
“That got their attention,” Juan Carlos shouted, moving from the grenade launcher to the mini gun as Brendan took out too more small boats with grenades.
“Get ready,” Harley shouted, the chopper heading their way, firing their machine guns. Both mini guns f
ired, cutting the chopper almost in half, pieces of it landing not quite twenty yards from the starboard side of the barge.
“Juan Carlos!” Madison shouted.
“I’m okay,” he said. “I don’t think we could hit the choppers from inside, and they can blow us up if they get close. I’m staying out here to fight them.”
There were several more whistles, cannon rounds from the un-damaged destroyer slamming into both Goat Island and Galveston Island as the ground artillery continued to return fire.
“Shit, they’re going to nail all of our artillery,” Harley shouted.
“Concentrate on those small boats,” Richardson shouted. “I see more of them coming, from two different directions.”
“Yeah, I see them,” yelled Brendan, firing grenades, Harley and Juan Carlos joining in as more bullets hit the sides of the barge.
“Glad we got good armor, dude,” Juan Carlos said, watching another group of small boats come in. “Look, that bigger one has something in the back. You don’t think that’s a nuke, do you?”
“Shit, I don’t know,” Harley shouted.
“Sink that bastard!” shouted Richardson over the intercom. All three men fired, two with grenades, one with a mini gun, sinking the boat about forty yards from the mouth of the bay, the other two boats with it turning around to retreat, rushing out to meet another of the larger boats, Juan Carlos landing a grenade right onto the rear deck of one, blowing it sky high.
“Nice shooting, man!” Brendan shouted.
More cannon rounds whistled over their heads, slamming into Texas City behind them, blowing up fuel storage tanks. The remaining artillery pieces fired back, but there were only three of them left.
“More choppers,” Harley shouted.
“Shit, we’ve got boats coming at the same time. How do we pick?”
“You two get the boats,” Harley said. “I’ll use the mini gun on the choppers.”
“We’re gonna get nailed if we don’t watch out!” Brendan shouted, firing the mini gun, hitting one of the smaller boats, Juan Carlos concentrating on the bigger one.
“There’s one of those things in the back again,” Juan Carlos shouted, firing like mad with the grenade launcher, as Harley fired at the choppers.
“Sink that thing,” Brendan said, firing his mini gun at it while the second chopper approached, Harley’s mini gun firing. They heard bullets rip into the deck, and Harley’s gun stopped, just as Brendan hit the larger boat.
“We just lost Harley,” Juan Carlos shouted, seeing his bloody body on the deck behind the mini gun.
“I’m gonna control that gun from inside,” Richardson shouted. “Stay sharp!”
“I’ve got you, asshole,” Brendan said, firing his mini gun, hitting the chopper right through the front windshield as it approached, pieces of it landing on the bow, still on fire.
“Son of a bitch, dude,” Juan Carlos said. The destroyer’s cannon fired three more times, one round coming at them but missing, the other two slamming into Galveston Island, destroying the last couple of artillery pieces.
Brendan went into a rage, firing a volley of grenades at the big ship, which wasn’t far away now, all of them pelting the deck, starting a small fire.
“Don’t waste grenades,” Richardson shouted. “Stay on those small boats. Remember the mission.”
“Roger that,” Brendan said, seeing another set of three small boats coming in, the big one being protected by the little ones. He and Juan Carlos fired, hitting both before they got close to the mouth, none of them even getting off a shot. Then a large gun fired, rounds hitting the side of the barge, breaking through the armor. Madison screamed, and fire erupted from the port side.
“Oh no!” Juan Carlos shouted. “What was that?”
“Something on that destroyer,” Brendan shouted, firing more grenades at it, hitting something that set off an explosion.
“You guys okay down there?” Juan Carlos shouted into the intercom. No reply.
“Son of a bitch,” Brendan said. “More of those damn little boats. Get them!”
Both fired, hitting the small boats, the bigger one slipping past the mouth of the bay, Juan Carlos following it with the mini gun when another shot hit the side of the barge, exploding big, fire coming off the port side again, the boat shuddering beneath them.
“Let’s grab the girls and get away from this thing!” shouted Brendan. Then there was a large flash out in the gulf. Brendan froze, looking at Juan Carlos, his eyes wide with terror.
To be continued in Bug Out! Texas Book 11 – Available Now!
Cast Of Characters
Texas Hill Country Group
Jason – Austin PD. Young man with family. Brave, trustworthy, great in a fight, loyal. Six foot four and handsome with thick sable hair. Considered to be a high-potential employee by Austin PD. Responsible. Mid 30s.
Carrie – Jason’s wife. Strong, brave, witty, smart. Short dark hair and delicate, pretty face. Girl next-door type. Has calming effect on Jason and others. Good in a fight, brave to a fault. Pregnant. Mid 30s.
Chelsea – toddler, daughter of Jason and Carrie. Cute, rambunctious.
Kyle – Austin PD. Partner of Jason. Large man, built like a linebacker, with sandy blonde hair and a sly grin. Cheerful, funny, great in a fight, puts on front of being player, but really a romantic. Worships girlfriend Kate. Mid 30s.
Kate – strong, beautiful, emotional, witty. Former news reporter for a local Texas TV station. Fell hard for Kyle, carrying his baby. Temper. Early 30s.
Kelly – leader of Rednecks. Huge man with long brown hair and a beard. Tough, gruff, smart, great judge of character. Strategic thinker. Man’s man. In love with Brenda. Mid 50s
Brenda – half-owner of Texas Mary’s Bar and Grill in Dripping Springs. Voluptuous with bleach blonde hair and a slightly wild look. Deeply in love with Kelly. Extremely intelligent. Runs business side of Texas Mary’s. Strong but worries about Kelly constantly. Good in a fight. Mid 50s.
Junior – Kelly’s best friend. A tall rail of a man with a thick beard, usually wearing a battered cowboy hat. Funny, crazy, smarter than most people realize, good in a fight, strong, loyal to the death. In love with Rachel. Early 50s.
Rachel – picked up on the road. Black hair and brown eyes, short and thin, with a face of delicate beauty. Former drug abuser with difficult past. Lost only child to SIDS, which broke up her first marriage and led to the drug abuse. Leans on Junior, needs strong man in her life. Late 30s.
Nate – co-leader of Rednecks. A small man with hawkish eyes. Shrewd, brave, temper, known to get into trouble, extremely loyal to friends. Always thinking. Mid 50s.
Fritz – member of Rednecks. Tall and thin, long hair. Questionable past, can be cruel, loyal to his friends. Not as smart as Kelly, Junior, or Nate, but brave in a fight with good skills. Not one to tangle with. In trouble with the law more often than the other Rednecks due to temper. Early 60s.
Chris – Brenda’s ex-husband and co-owner of Texas Mary’s. A large, heavyset man with a shaved head and goatee, giving him the look of a biker. Still loves Brenda, but the relationship has been over for years. Brave, careful, measured, good at business, good host, liked by everybody. Not as smart as Brenda or Kelly. Mid 50s.
Curt – former police officer in Austin, and most recently San Antonio. Large man with a military haircut, clean shaven. Punched superior officer in San Antonio. Genius. Renaissance man. Understands many technical disciplines, creative, skilled. Has temper but with heart of gold. Likes to tease his friends. Would die for them. Skilled fighter who can turn the tide of a battle on his own. Sense of humor can be very crude but funny. Mid 40s.
Simon Orr – dangerous leader of militia movement, trying to take over Kelly’s group. Large man wearing cowboy garb. Shadowy, cruel. Crossover character from original Bug Out! Series. Wants to become warlord. Playing against every side except his own. Mid 40s.
Sydney – one of the Merchant girls living outside of Fredericksburg, next
to Jason’s family homestead. Grew up with Jason and his brother Eric. Former teenage girlfriend of Eric. Beautiful, smart, funny, avid hunter and tracker, runs family moonshine business with her sister Amanda. Raven hair and stunning bright blue eyes. Mid 30s.
Amanda – Sydney’s older sister. Raunchy, wild, aggressive, knows what she wants and goes for it hard. Beautiful, deep blue eyes like Sydney, hair bleached blond, contrasts with jet-black eyebrows. Tattoos. Smart, good negotiator, runs family moonshine business with Sydney, more technically savvy. Early 40s.
Gray – leader of the bikers, originally from southwest Texas. A large man with black hair and a black beard. Brave and resourceful, suspicious of strangers, but loyal once he’s gained respect. Late 40s.
Cindy – Gray’s wife. Nervous, small dainty blonde with tattoos and piercings. Pretty face ravaged by a hard life. Early 40s.
Moe – owner of the Fort Stockton RV Park. Overweight and balding with a gray and brown beard, shrewd and strong, strategic thinker, protective, kind. Mid 60s.
Clancy – Moe’s nephew. Scraggly thin man with a wicked grin and long stringy brown hair. Works at the Fort Stockton RV Park. Smart as a whip with good intuition. Outdoorsman. Protective of the group, good with technology, good at organizing and getting things done. Mid-30s.
Brushy – owner of an RV Park overrun early in the story. He’s been missing for a while. Small man with a huge beard and long hair, about sixty years old. Good in a fight, fearless, crazy, funny.
Pat – Brushy’s sister, owner of the Amarillo Oasis RV Park. She’s a couple years younger than Brushy, with a similar look. Short, robust, friendly, smart. Brave, angry at the invaders.
Jake – owner of a farm house north of Lamesa. Joins the group at that point. Small thin man with a folksy way and a lot of heart.