“Some,” Nancy said, opening her folder. “In northern Arkansas, radio traffic has been talking about fed scouting parties. The thing is, they aren’t scouting any further than a few miles from the border.”
Bringing his hand up and keeping his elbows on the table, Nelson rested his chin on his hands, thinking as Nancy shuffled papers.
“Just to let you know, the Republic pushed into McDonald, Barry, and Newton counties this afternoon after some Russian jets tried to hit Fayetteville. That’s what Adam called me back down for, the Republic stopped their advance,” Nancy said.
“Where are those counties?” Jana asked with hope.
“Southwest corner of the state,” Gerald said, looking at Nelson in deep thought. “You have any idea what’s going on in Thayer?” Gerald asked Nancy.
“I had their encryption broken for a while, but then they changed,” Nancy said, digging through her papers. “Several VIPs were hit in an artillery strike. It seems their counter battery radar was taken out in the first strike.”
With a big grin, Curtis looked around the table. “Like a team observing from that hilltop Nelson didn’t want us on and making detailed list of where stuff was at.”
“You’re so cool,” Kenny said, looking over at Nelson.
“They can get that from satellites and drones,” Nancy said.
“No, they can’t,” Justin said. “They had tanks pulled into houses and we saw-,” he stopped and looked over at Kenny.
“MT-LBu Zoopark counter battery radar,” Kenny said.
“Yeah, they had a Zoopark pulled inside a barn with just the radar dish sticking out the door. I was there and almost didn’t find it,” Justin said. “Not to mention the stuff they had in the hills around the town in the forest.”
Listening and raising her eyebrows, Nancy slowly nodded, “Seems they have learned from their lessons and aren’t relying on the air to protect them any longer.”
“What else did you get about VIPs?” Gerald asked, never looking away from Nelson.
“Only that they flew in heavy gunships and extracted them,” Nancy said.
“Yeah,” Sean scoffed. “Hinds.”
Turning to Sean, “That would make sense of the radar signals I got,” she said. “They had to be flying low because we only got a brief signal here.”
Leaning back in his chair, “I’m sure they will have to pull branches from the underside. When we saw them, they came over at treetop height and dropped to about twenty feet over a field, then rose back up barely clearing the trees,” Sean said.
“What have you gathered intel-wise about the feds wanting troops?” Gerald asked.
“Indonesia instituted a program that if you join the army, they will pay your family in food. Since this started, food prices around the globe have skyrocketed. Projections are Indonesia’s army will have a million plus in six months. Pakistan and India are duking it out now, so Pakistan and India have recalled all their troops from the US. I got reports that a company of each got in a firefight in Atlanta. How they are keeping their military together, I don’t know because people are dying in droves over there. Reports are that China won’t send any more troops here because of the war between India and Pakistan. But also, China is starting to experience riots with the food shortage there. Riots into the tens of millions.”
“I sure hope we didn’t kill the Prime Minister, then,” Nelson finally said. “That would just ignite the fire for Indonesia to send troops.”
“Nelson, the more foreign powers they bring onto our soil, the more Americans there will be to fight them,” Gerald said, still watching Nelson.
“Gerald, we still have to get them out of here. The feds could just surrender, but now with this many troops, from this many countries, it will only end in genocide for one side.”
“So, what do you think now?” Gerald asked.
“They were putting a dog and pony show on, trying to get more troops. Even if the Prime Minister isn’t dead, I’m sure he’s pissed off, so it worked either way,” Nelson said, lifting his chin off his hands and letting his hands fall to the table.
“I don’t want you taking your patrol to Springfield now. The battle lines are being drawn around us and we need to know what’s to our south in detail,” Nelson said and Gerald grinned.
“That’s what I was waiting on,” Gerald said. “You put our risk against the greatest threat.”
Slapping the table hard, “Bitch, you are supposed to be running battle operations!” Nelson shouted.
Gerald raised his hands. “Nelson, you have the knack to view the big picture and know where and what’s worth our risk. Now, in the actual battle, you do tend to lose focus,” Gerald said, lowering his hands. “That is where I can say, I’m better.”
Taking a deep breath, Nelson prepared to unload as Michelle grabbed his arm. “I’d let that one pass, babe. Don’t push your luck,” Michelle said and Nelson exhaled in a puff.
Looking around the table, then around the room, “Anyone here disagree with me?” Gerald asked and nobody said anything.
When Gerald turned back to Nelson, he leaned back in his chair, trying to get away from the evil glare Nelson was giving him. “Now that that’s settled, what else do you think we need to do to make sure a party isn’t started around here?” Gerald asked, glancing at the back door. He was sure he could make it to the door before Nelson got near him.
“You really want to know?” Nelson asked and Gerald hesitated for a few seconds before nodding. “Hang whatever is left of those we killed along the highways, advertising the fact that if you act bad around here, we’ll kill you,” Nelson said.
Squeezing his wrist, Michelle looked at him. “Nelson, those bodies have been exposed to the elements for several months,” she said with a shiver.
“Adds to the effect,” he said, looking around the table. “And any more we kill, we do the same.”
Glancing at Nelson, “Okay, but the ones that handle the bodies will be wearing protection and will follow guidelines that I draw up or I’ll take it out on you,” she said with a grim expression.
“Can I show them now?” Justin asked grinning and Nelson nodded. Curtis pulled out the map they’d marked and Rick pulled out a notebook with some intricate sketches. For an hour, the group stood behind Justin as he showed everyone pictures on the laptop and Curtis pointed the spots out on the map while Rick held up the sketches.
Sitting across the table, Nelson just sat and listened. When they were done, “So, Gerald, what do you think?” Nelson asked.
“I’m glad I didn’t go because I would’ve gotten a lot closer,” Gerald said.
“About how they were set up?” Nelson chuckled.
“I think they were set up for display. You don’t put that much equipment in such a small area. You’re just begging for someone to drop stuff on you,” he said and then nodded. “Which is just what the Republic did.”
“What do we do if the feds start to mass troops around here?” Bernard asked, standing behind Justin and everyone turned to Nelson.
“Easy,” Nelson said with a shrug. “Kill ‘em.”
End of Book Three
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