THE ALEX FLETCHER BOXSET: Books 1-5
Page 153
“Friends help friends,” said Sean.
“Then I should be glad some things haven’t changed,” she said, extending her hand. “Square?”
“Unless you need something,” said Grady, shaking her hand. “I mean it. It’ll be easier for us to get around the state now.”
“I’d give you a hug, but I’m done hugging rifle magazines and body armor. I’ll let the two of you catch up,” she said.
“See you in a few minutes,” said Alex, giving her a kiss.
Alex and Grady stepped onto the deck, basking in the warmth.
“Not a bad place up here,” said Grady. “Now I can see why they call Maine vacationland. I never understood why people flocked to the southern coast. Same with Cape Cod. The last thing I want to deal with on vacation are crowds of people. This is nice.”
“I never understood why people wanted to vacation in the summer. I know the kids are out of school, but for shit’s sake, why go from one warm place to another?”
“I never understood ski vacations either,” said Grady.
“Don’t even get me started. Going from cold to cold makes no sense either,” Alex replied.
“I wonder how long it will be before any of us takes a vacation again,” said Grady.
“I was on my way to warmer climates, maybe Europe, until my boat was taken by the state,” said Alex.
“You don’t want to go to Europe,” Grady said gravely. “Things are falling apart quickly. The Russians have swept through half of their former satellite states, stopping at the Polish and Romanian borders. There’s nothing in place to stop them if they want to drive further.”
“I was thinking Argentina or Brazil,” said Alex.
“Not a bad idea, though it’s only a matter of time before the economic ripple effect starts to tear things apart down there. Mexico is essentially a no-man’s-land, along with most of Central America. The Caribbean islands are folding one by one as the supplies from South America slow.”
“Sounds like you’re trying to sell me on staying in the U.S.”
“Frankly, it’s starting to look more and more like the best bet,” said Grady.
“I was hoping to subsist on more than MREs and B-rations for the rest of my life,” said Alex.
“I was going to surprise you on the walk back, but I might as well break the news over the best cup of coffee I’ve had since last August. Harrison Campbell gave me a small cooler filled with heirloom seeds. Said he thought your garden might need a boost. Sounds like he was right,” said Grady.
“He really did that?”
“He was adamant about it,” said Grady. “Made me wait while he put it together.”
“The RRZ relocation thing was bullshit, right? You still went out to visit him?”
“Medina did plan on moving the RRZ once the state government was neutralized. I knew that wasn’t going to happen, but I promised you I’d talk to Harrison. He was touched by your generosity, and very happy to learn that the RRZ security zone wasn’t moving north.”
“I bet he was,” said Alex.
“Well, I better get moving,” said Grady. “I’ll leave one MTVR, with a squad of volunteers to help you dig up the garden beds. Harrison led me to believe that you might need some help with that as well.”
“Harrison must have been worried all winter about us,” said Alex, leading him into the house.
“We were all worried about you. Like it or not, you’re somewhat of a celebrity back at the MOB. Even more so now. I’d never say this around Kate, but if you’re interested in a job with the RRZ, I’ll make it happen. Just say the word,” said Grady.
“I think I’m done with all of that, Sean,” said Alex. “I just want to start over and enjoy what I still have.”
“I don’t blame you, Alex,” said Grady, cracking a smile. “You have more than most up here. “If you change your mind, you know how to get in touch.”
Alex swiped the ROTAC from the kitchen table on the way past, stopping to hand it to Grady.
“I’ll drive down and let you know personally,” said Alex. “Maybe after everything settles.”
Grady accepted the ROTAC, nodding. “Hopefully, I’ll be back with my family by then.”
“I’ll drink to that,” said Alex, clinking Grady’s coffee mug.
****
If you enjoyed The Alex Fletcher Books, I have NO DOUBT that you will love my new FRACTURED STATE series. Set in the year 2035, FRACTURED STATE follows Nathan Fisher, the unwitting target of a black ops conspiracy, in a cat and mouse chase across a frighteningly recognizable, high-tech, dystopian southwest United States. ORDER NOW FROM AMAZON.
OR
Check out HOT ZONE, book one in the ZULU VIRUS CHRONICLES, an action-packed, conspiracy/survival thriller series.
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Work by Steven Konkoly
The Black Flagged Series—Black Ops/Political /Conspiracy/Action thrillers
“Daniel Petrovich, the most lethal operative created by the Department of Defense’s Black Flag Program, protects a secret buried in the deepest vaults of the Pentagon. A secret that is about to unravel his life.”
ALPHA: A Black Ops Thriller (Book 1)
REDUX: A Black Ops Thriller (Book 2)
APEX: A Black Ops Thriller (Book 3)
VEKTOR: A Black Ops Thriller (Book 4)
OMEGA: A Black Ops Thriller (Book 5)
COVENANT: A Black Ops Thriller (Book 4.5) — Novella
The Alex Fletcher Books—Suspense/Action/Adventure/Conspiracy thrillers
“Alex Fletcher, Iraq War veteran, has read the signs for years. With his family and home prepared to endure an extended disaster, Alex thinks he's ready for anything. He's not even close.
The Jakarta Pandemic (Book 1)
The Perseid Collapse (Book 2)
Event Horizon (Book 3)
Point of Crisis (Book 4)
Dispatches (Book 5)
The Zulu Virus Chronicles—Bioweapons/Conspiracy/Action thrillers
“Something sinister has arrived in America’s heartland. Within 24 hours, complete strangers, from different walks of life will be forced to join together to survive the living nightmare that has been unleashed.”
Hot Zone (Book 1)
Kill Box (Book 2)
Fire Storm (Book 3)
Fractured State Series—Near-future Black ops/Conspiracy/Action thrillers
“2035. A sinister conspiracy unravels. A state on the verge of secession. A man on the run with his family.”
Fractured State (Book 1)
Rogue State (Book 2)
Dedication
To my family for their tireless support and love.
Acknowledgments
To the usual suspects. You know exactly who you are. Thank you!
About the Author
Steven graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1993, receiving a bachelor of science in English literature. He served the next eight years on active duty, traveling the world as a naval officer assigned to various Navy and Marine Corps units. His extensive journey spanned the globe, including a two-year tour of duty in Japan and travel to more than twenty countries throughout Asia and the Middle East.
From enforcing United Nations sanctions against Iraq as a maritime boarding officer in the Arabian Gulf, to directing aircraft bombing runs and naval gunfire strikes as a Forward Air Controller (FAC) assigned to a specialized Marine Corps unit, Steven’s “in-house” experience with a wide range of regular and elite military units brings a unique authenticity to his thrillers.
He lives with his family in central Indiana, where he still wakes up at “zero dark thirty” to write for most of the day. When “off duty,” he spends as much time as possible outdoors or travelling with his family—and dog.
&
nbsp; Steven is the bestselling author of nearly twenty novels. His canon of work includes the popular Black Flagged Series, a gritty, no-holds barred covert operations and espionage saga; The Alex Fletcher Books, an action-adventure thriller epic chronicling the events surrounding an inconceivable attack on the United States; The Fractured State series, a near future, dystopian thriller trilogy set in the drought ravaged southwest; and THE RESCUE, a heart-pumping thriller of betrayal, revenge, and conspiracy.
He is an active member of the International Thriller Writers (ITW) and Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America (SFWA) organizations.
You can contact Steven directly by email (stevekonkoly@striblingmedia.com) or through his blog: StevenKonkoly.com.
Acronyms and Terminology Used in The Alex Fletcher Books
ACOG – Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight. A telescopic scope commonly issued to troops in the field.
ACU – Army Combat Uniform
AFES – Automated Fire Extinguishing System
AFV Stryker – Armored Fighting Vehicle used by U.S. Army
AN/VRC-110 – Vehicle based VHF/UHF capable radio system used by U.S. Marine Corps.
AR-10 – 7.62mm NATO/.308 caliber, military style rifle
AR-15 – 5.56mm/.223 caliber military style rifle
BCT – Brigade Combat Team, U.S. Army
Black Hawk – UH-60, Medium Lift, Utility Helicopter
CISA – Critical Infrastructure Skills Assembly
CQB – Close Quarters Battle, urban combat
CH-47 Chinook – Twin engine, tandem rotor, heavy lift helicopter
CIC – Combat Information Center
CONEX – Intermodal Shipping Container. Large metal crates typically seen stacked on merchant ships or in shipping yards.
C-130 – Propeller driven, heavy lift fixed wind aircraft capable of short landings and takeoffs.
C-17B Globemaster – Heavy Lift, fixed wing aircraft
C2BMC – Command, Control, Battle Management and Communications
DRASH – Deployable, Rapid Assembly Shelter
DTCS – Distributed Tactical Communication System (satellite based network)
EMP – Electromagnetic Pulse
ETA – Estimated Time of Arrival
FEMA – Federal Emergency Management Agency
FOB – Forward Operating Base
GPS – Global Positioning System, satellite based
GPNVG-18 – Panoramic night vision goggles, wide field of vision.
HAM radio – Term used to describe the Amateur Radio network
HBMD – Homeland Ballistic Missile Defense
HESCO – Rapidly deployable earth filled defensive barrier
HK416 – 5.56mm Assault rifle/carbine designed by Hechler & Koch.
Humvee – Nickname for High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicle (HMMWV).
IED – Improvised Explosive Device
KIA – Killed in Action
L-ATV – Light Combat Tactical All Terrain Vehicle
LP/OP – Listening Post/Observation Post
MARPAT – Marine Pattern, digital camouflage used by U.S. Marine Corps
M-ATV – Medium Combat Tactical All Terrain Vehicle. MRAP
Medevac – Medical Evacuation
MOB – Main Operating Base
MP – Military Police
MP-7 – Personal Defense Weapon designed by Heckler and Koch, submachine gun firing armor penetrating ammunition
MRAP – Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle
MRE – Meals Ready to Eat, self-contained field rations used by U.S. military
MR556SD – 5.56mm assault rifle/carbine with integrated suppressor.
MTV M1078 – Medium Tactical Vehicle used by U.S. Army, 5 ton capacity
MTVR Mk23 – Medium Tactical Vehicle Replacement used by U.S. Marine Corps, 7 ton capacity
M1919A6 – .30 caliber, belt fed medium machine gun fielded during WWII and the Korean War. Fully automatic.
M240G – Modern 7.62mm, belt fed medium machine gun used by U.S Army and U.S. Marine Corps
M27 IAR – Heavier barrel version of the HK416 used by U.S. Marine Corps. Replaced the M249 belt fed machine gun. Issued to one member of each fire team.
M320 – Rifle-mounted, detachable 40mm grenade launcher.
NCO – Non-Commissioned Officer (Corporal and Sergeant)
NEO – Near Earth Object (asteroid or meteorite)
NVD – Night Vision Device (used interchangeable with NVG)
NVG – Night Vision Goggles
PRC-153 ISR – Intra-squad radio. Motorola style radio (usually strapped to tactical vest) for squad communication.
ROTAC – Tactical Satellite Radio
RTB – Return to Base
Satphone – Satellite Phone
SNCO – Staff Non-Commissioned Officer (Staff Sergeant E-6 and above)
SUV – Sport Utility Vehicle
Two-Forty – M240 machine gun. See M240G
UH-60 Black Hawk – Medium Lift, Utility Helicopter
YCRB – York County Readiness Brigade. Harrison Campbell’s group.
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