by T W Powell
Tom was impressed, sad, and proud. He was impressed with his son’s attention to detail. He was sad that his 16-year-old son was preparing to kill his fellow human beings. But he was proud that his son was fighting for his country.
“Carry on, Adam. Let me know if you need any help.”
“Dad, I’ll handle the Ma Deuce. You handle that Apache, or I’ll be dead.”
Tom knew Adam was right. Once Adam fired that sniper rifle, the Apache would come for him. Tom ran back to the gravel pit. Jill was crouched down in a hole with a Type 91 heat seeker.
“Jill, after you fire, you’ve got to displace quickly. If you miss, that Apache will come for you real quick.”
Junior was hunkered down in another hole just a few yards away with the other Type 91, “Don’t you worry, Cowboy Tom. Me and Miss Jill are going to scalp that Apache.”
The inoculations were continuing at Round Mountain’s cafeteria with Dr. Ho methodically calling the roll, “Bobby Lee Skipper and Sidney Joe Skipper, step forward.”
A thin, balding White man stepped forward along with a 6’4” burly young man with a curly red beard, maybe in his early 30s.
“Yes sir, I’m Bobby Lee and this big fella here is my son, Sidney Joe, but he just goes by Big Sid.”
Sid gave Dr. Ho the very slightest of nods.
Dr. Pham spoke very loudly, “Mr. Skipper, I need you and your son to step to one side please.”
Dr. Pham motioned for the Peoples’ Militia to physically restrain Bobby Lee and Big Sid. Two Militiamen had no trouble subduing Bobby Lee, but Big Sid was another matter. Four Militiamen were getting the worst of the encounter until their commander tased Big Sid. Bobby Lee and Big Sid were then cuffed and escorted by four Peoples’ Militia to a small office adjoining the Cafeteria. Dr Ho and Delvin followed them into the office, leaving Dr. Yen and Nurse Beth to continue the inoculations.
“What is this? We was told we was going home.” Bobby Lee was pissed off.
A groggy Sid shouted, “Don’t beg ‘em Daddy.”
“Hey, Chinaman Doctor why don’t you haul your scrawny yellow ass over here. I’ll snap your neck like a cheap chopstick.” Big Sid was snickering, but deadly serious.
“Mr. Bobby Skipper. I see that you are from Macon, Georgia.”
“Yes, Mr. China Doc.”
“Do you have any other children besides Mr. Sid?”
“You filthy Commies killed my whole family except for my boy Sid.”
“Do you have another son?”
“Isn’t all that on your fucking computer? Yes, I have a younger boy, Bobby Ray, but I don’t know if he’s even alive.”
“Mr. Skipper, before you can go home you must be vaccinated as protection from a new virus. This vaccination will also prevent you from unknowingly carrying this new virus back to your hometown. We have determined that you and your family may carry a genetic trait that interferes with the vaccine. You and your son will be transferred to our Operations Center in the Bay Area for further evaluation.”
“All you Chinamen must have rocks in your head. First, you haul me and my boy all the way across the country because you can’t keep your mining equipment running. Now you’re telling me you can’t run a vaccination program.”
Grandpa John, call sign – Sniper, alerted the gravel pit, “Sniper to Jarhead, we have one of those tour busses heading north on NV 376.”
“Empty or Full?”
“It’s full Tom. No other vehicles. No convoy.”
“Those busses must be full of the Debtors. Let them pass. You copy that Abrams?”
“10-4”
The last Debtor was loaded onto the last bus. The TV crew loaded up their OB van. Bobby Lee and Big Sid were loaded into the back of Delvin’s box truck. The Peoples’ Militia escorts boarded the school bus and Hummer. The Medical Team slid back into the electric limo.
“Daughter, I have a gummy pill that will help prevent belly aches from motion sickness.” Dr. Ho handed Yasmin an orange flavored gummy.
“Oh, I like orange, thank you Father.”
The Apache departed Round Mountain in a cloud of dust and headed north along NV 376.
“Sniper to Jarhead, Apache heading your way.”
“Jarhead to all units. It’s showtime.”
“Sniper to Jarhead, we have a convoy heading your way. Hummer with Ma Deuce bringing up the rear.”
Adam took off his Stetson. He was lying prone just behind the crest of a small gravel pile. The .50 caliber sniper rifle was steadied by its’ bipod. There was no wind, which was unusual, but welcomed.
Adam saw the convoy at a distance of two miles, “Dad, convoy two miles out!”
No sooner than Adam sounded the alarm, the Apache passed low over the gravel pit. No one moved. No one fired.
Moments later, a single shot rang out from the gravel pit. The Militiaman sitting behind the Ma Deuce was struck right between the eyes by Adam’s kill shot. His head exploded like a ripe watermelon. Before the Hummer driver could react, Adam’s second shot hit him in the chest, another kill shot. Adam’s third shot shredded the right front tire of the Hummer, sending the vehicle skidding and rolling off the road.
“Abrams, Sniper, close the road.”
“Ray, move that CAT.”
Ray fired up the dozer and blocked the highway. Before Ray could jump off, the Apache fired a Hellfire missile that incinerated the CAT. Thomas fired his BAR at the Apache with no effect. Adam was trying to get a clean shot at the cockpit, but the Apache pilot was experienced and could not be easily targeted.
Junior fired his Type 91 heat seeker, but the Apache was equipped with directional infrared countermeasures. This was a laser-based system that interfered with the Type 91’s infrared seeker. Junior’s missile missed.
The convoy stopped when it reached the burning wreckage of the CAT. The Peoples’ Militia poured out of the school bus and engaged the Resistance.
Delvin pulled a 9 mm Glock from his pocket and shot his Militia chaperon in the temple at point blank range. He then hung a sharp left, went off the road, and headed for the gravel pit.
Tom screamed, “Don’t shoot the green truck. He’s one of us.”
Junior was now firing the other BAR. The two BARs were laying withering fire down upon the school bus.
Doc Pham’s doped gummy had put Yasmin out like a light. The Medical Team dropped to the limo’s floorboard.
“Adam, take out the limo.” Tom noticed the limo driver was turning the vehicle back toward Round Mountain.
Adam took out the limo driver and the other guy up front with two quick shots. Then he took out the engine block and front tires. The limo rolled to a stop. Nurse Beth and the Phams were lying in the floorboard, praying and crying.
Meanwhile, the southern blocking force had moved the junk cars and trucks out onto the roadway.
Grandpa John spotted a Land Cruiser from about a mile away, “We’ve got a Land Cruiser heading this way.”
Four Peoples’ Militia in the Land Cruiser were heading north to reinforce the convoy. They were greeted by a hail of semi-auto fire from the roadblock. Not one of the Militia escaped.
“Junior, that Type 91 was decoyed by a laser on the tail of that Apache. Do you see that ‘eyeball’ on the Apache’s ass end?”
“Damn, you’re right.” Darius targeted the laser countermeasure with his BAR.
Tom was also concentrating his BAR fire on the laser pod. The Apache pilot began maneuvering to protect his countermeasures. His front seat gunner targeted Jill as she stood to launch the second Type 91. Jill fired the Type 91 missile just as 30 mm high explosive rounds cut her down. Jill’s missile was also neutralized by the laser countermeasures.
The Apache gunner paid a high price for his actions. While the gunner was engaging Jill, Adam got off two clean shots in rapid succession. The first .50 caliber round impacted the Apache’s front windshield cracking the bullet-proof glass, but not penetrating into the cockpit. Adam’s second shot hit the windshield in ex
actly the same spot, then continued straight through the cracked glass and the gunner’s throat.
Tom realized they were out of missiles, but they still had to take out the Apache, “Junior, forget the laser, we’re out of missiles. Concentrate on that broken windshield.”
The Apache’s cockpit is actually two separate cockpits. .30 caliber BAR rounds were now ricocheting around inside the dead gunner’s cockpit. Wiring was smoldering and sparks were flying. The Apache pilot decided it was time to beat a hasty retreat back to Top Gun.
Adam now began shooting and displacing. Earlier that morning, Adam had prepared several firing positions scattered about the gravel pit. The Peoples’ Militia around the school bus were now being savaged by Junior and Tom’s BAR fire and Adam’s .50 caliber kill shots.
Unbelievably, the OB van had stopped, and the Peoples’ News Network was broadcasting the raid live on national television. The scene was surreal.
“Time to sprinkle our blood around the limo.” The Medical Team began pouring their blood on the floor mats and seats. They had the presence of mind to also pour blood on their clothing.
Delvin pulled his truck behind a large gravel pile and opened the cargo door.
“Whatcha going to do now, you Black son of a bitch? You going to shoot me and my boy out here in the middle of the nowhere with our hands cuffed?” Bobby Lee was angry and scared.
Big Sid was not talking. He charged Delvin with murder in his eyes but froze in his tracks when Delvin pulled his 9mm.
Then Delvin threw Bobby Lee the keys to the cuffs, “You’re free. We’re Resistance.”
Bobby Lee unlocked his cuffs and then unlocked Big Sid’s.
“You men keep under cover, we’re right in the middle of one hellacious firefight.”
Big Sid growled, “Who in the hell are you?” The Skippers were totally confused.
Then Delvin shook hands with Bobby Lee and Big Sid, “Lieutenant Delvin Smith, United States Marines.”
Both BARs were out of ammo, but they had reaped a grim harvest. Half the Peoples’ Militia were dead. Adam was targeting Militia, even as they took cover behind the school bus, such was the penetrating power of his rifle from this range.
Then there was silence from the bus. A white flag was waived.
“Cover your faces, we’re on TV.” Tom did not want any of his people to be identifiable.
Over 20 Peoples’ Militia were bound, gagged, and taken prisoner.
Delvin gritted his teeth, and grimaced, “OK, Tom do it!”
Tom grazed Delvin’s right buttock with a 9mm round.
“No, damn it, that’s not enough!” Delvin held out his right hand.
Tom grabbed a .22 revolver and shot Delvin between his right thumb and index finger.
“What do I do with all that trash?” Tom was pointing at the Militia prisoners.
In between waves of searing pain Delvin moaned, “Change of plans, the more witnesses the better.”
Then Tom escorted a bound, gagged, and bloodied Delvin Smith at gunpoint over to the OB van, “Here you go, you Fake News bastards, take this Black asshole back where he belongs.”
The OB van was then sent on its’ way making certain that the bloody interior of the electric limo was caught on camera. Ever the Paparazzi, the news team zoomed in on the motionless, bloody bodies of the Medical Team, lingering on little Yasmin, now covered in blood.
“Jarhead to blocking forces, disperse!” With that, both the northern and southern forces dispersed.
The sun was setting. The Peoples’ Militia prisoners were told to march northward to Austin, they would not be harmed. Then the Kingston assault force headed east away from town and they made certain that the Peoples’ Militia prisoners saw them heading east. Once darkness fell and the prisoners were out of sight, the assault force doubled back to Kingston Canyon.
Doc Williams quickly removed the RFID chips from Nurse Beth and The Phams. He collected their Peoples’ Phones and smashed the chips and phones to bits in the middle of NV 376.
Hero of the Collective
Within an hour the OB van was back in Austin and the Peoples’ News Network was interviewing Member Delvin Smith as he was loaded onto a medivac chopper bound for Peoples’ General Hospital Reno. By the time Delvin came out of the operating room, Member California Coordinator had just arrived on her official helicopter.
As Delvin was gurneyed to his private room, he knew something odd was happening. The Paparazzi were everywhere. He was being escorted by Peoples’ Militia bodyguards. As Delvin entered his room, Alex was already there waiting.
Alex directed the bodyguards to remain outside, “Please allow me a few moments to personally congratulate Member Smith on his daring escape.”
Alex and Delvin were now alone, “Delvin, Honey, are you OK?”
Delvin was a little groggy from the pain medication, “Is that you Alex, or am I dreaming?”
“Yes, I’m here. You had a very close call today. How’s the hand?”
“Just a flesh wound.”
“How about your butt?”
“Another flesh wound, no damage to the family jewels.”
“Delvin, you always make a joke. But this is serious. We had the good luck of capturing that entire Resistance attack on film. The Peoples’ News Network is putting together a carefully edited documentary and you are the hero. You drove your truck into a hail of bullets attempting to eliminate that sniper.”
“Babe, I just did what I had to do. I always do my job. I just wish I could have saved the Medical Team.”
“Don’t be so hard on yourself. The loss of the Pham family and that White Nurse was regrettable, but those pictures of the bloody bodies, especially the dead little girl, are priceless. This is a public relations nightmare for the Resistance and quite a coup for Member Smith.”
“I just couldn’t save them.”
“But you did accomplish your mission. All those Debtors at Round Mountain were vaccinated before their release. Correct?”
“I heard Dr. Ho Pham call the roll and I saw the Debtors as they were inoculated then loaded onto the motor coaches. I saw it.”
“Then in a few weeks the Resistance will be history. You will be a Hero of the Collective and we will be on our way to Peoples’ City.
“Now you need your rest because your entire day tomorrow will be filled with interviews and photo shoots. Just turn on that Delvin Smith charm.”
Member Alexis Jones was at least partially right. Within days, Member Delvin Smith was a celebrity. He was all over the Peoples’ News Network talk shows and propaganda posters bearing his smiling face were plastered all over buildings across the PUS. But there was a downside. For the next few weeks, The Black Patriot was conspicuously absent from Voice of America’s short-wave service.
Cleaning Up
Later that night, after the smoke cleared, Tom and Junior returned to the gravel pit along with a burial detail. Tom and Junior fell to their knees and openly wept when they located Jill’s mutilated body. There really wasn’t much left of Ray after the Hellfire missile incinerated the CAT dozer. Five more members of the assault force had been killed by small arms and 30 mm cannon fire. Doc Williams was tending to several wounded, but none of those were critical,
The dead Militia bodies were burned in a large bonfire. The Ma Deuce was salvaged from the wrecked Hummer along with several hundred rounds of ammo.
The Medical Team and little Yasmin were hidden away at Stonewall Ranch. None of them had ever rode a horse, but Yasmin was a natural. Speaking of horses, Junior told Adam that John had made a last request. In the event of his death, John wanted Adam to care for Vlad. Adam and Vlad quickly became inseparable.
The loss of Ray left Kingston without a jack-of-all-trades. That role was quickly filled by Bobby Lee and Big Sid. After the CVX dissipated, the Skippers began rebuilding a more fortified and survivable Kingston.
Speaking of the Skippers, Bobby Ray thought he was hallucinating when his Daddy and Big Sid showed up
at the Aid Station after the assault. The Skippers had a joyous reunion and Bobby Ray enjoyed his family time in Kingston.
The legend of Rambro and The Skipper continued to grow. Seldom a week went by that they weren’t spotted in some far-flung corner of the country performing some heroic deed. Quite an accomplishment considering they hadn’t left the Valley.
Josephine Parker had never been to The City, but she had things to do and orders were orders. Now she had a fearless friend and protector in Max. Springtime was a wonderful time to hike the Appalachian Trail up to New York.
The 3rd Kentucky Volunteers resumed their offensive and drove the Collective out of Lexington thereby threatening all the Collective farms in the Bluegrass.
One week after the assault on the convoy, a joint press conference was held at the United Nations in New York City. The governments of India, Japan, Russia, and the British Commonwealth Nations jointly announced that all travel to and from China was immediately prohibited. This quarantine would be strictly enforced. Naval units of the Unites States government in exile blockaded the American West Coast, actually shooting down a Chinese airliner attempting to run the blockade.
In the following days and weeks, a plague of biblical proportions struck China. The Chinese Military and Government hierarchies were decimated. Chinese State Security was particularly hard hit, practically wiped out. As Dr. Ho predicted, Chinese epidemiologists were totally confused by the spread. They dared not treat high ranking officials with a vaccine that was, at best, somewhat ineffective and, at worst, could be fatal.
Madame Kim was not seen in public for several weeks prior to the announcement of her untimely death from the mystery virus.
The Round Mountain Debtors returned to their hometowns and, on a regular basis, visited Resistance medical facilities to donate plasma. That convalescent plasma was processed and given to others who, in turn, donated plasma to treat others. The Phams and Nurse Beth used their plasma to start their own “Chain of Life” in Nevada.