by Robert Boren
“You’d better back off, sir,” UN man said.
“Drop those weapons or I’m going to shoot,” Jerry said, walking in the back with Jasmine, guns pointed.
The head UN man sighed, and nodded to his men. They put down their weapons, and Jerry picked them up and put them behind the counter.
“I’ll take one of those,” Clint said, picking up a rifle and pointing it at the lead UN peacekeeper.
“What the hell do you guys think you’re doing in my country?” Frank asked. “You have no authority over the population here. I don’t care what some corrupt government official might have told you. We’re a free people. We don’t stand for this kind of nonsense here.”
“The UN has been given jurisdiction over all countries,” the lead UN peacekeeper said. “National governments no longer have power.”
Frank laughed out loud. “Yeah, right. You know what that’ll get you?”
“What?” he asked.
“A whole lot of dead UN peacekeepers,” Frank said. “Didn’t you guys see what happened here when the Islamic cretins tried to take us over? It wasn’t just the army that won that battle.”
Suddenly there was the sound of several vehicles racing through the front gate of the park, and car doors opening. Lucy growled. Frank noticed a smile on Clint’s face, and then heard pops and hissing noises coming from the parking lot.
Chapter 10 – Outlaw Agencies
“You know who that is?” Frank asked quietly.
“Yeah, that’d be my kids and one of their friends,” Clint said proudly. He glared at the UN Peacekeeper. “Party’s over, you euro trash hoodlum.”
“Pa, you in there?” a voice called from outside. “We knifed their tires.”
“Yeah, Jason, we’re in here,” he said. “Got the UN guys covered. We have their guns.”
“You guys can’t win,” the head UN Peacekeeper said.
“I beg to differ,” Jerry said. “We stomped on several hundred thousand enemy fighters, in case you didn’t notice.”
“Your army is on our side now,” he replied.
Frank laughed out loud. “Like hell they are. The only people on your side are in Washington. We’ll take out that trash soon enough.”
Four young men came in the door cautiously, eyeballing everybody. They all had rifles.
“I brought zip-ties,” Jason said, holding out a bag. He was tall and lanky, with a buzz cut, wearing jeans and a t-shirt.
“Good,” Clint said. “Let’s tie their hands behind their backs.”
“Who are these guys?” another of the young men asked.
“We haven’t been formally introduced,” Clint said.
“I’m Frank, and this is my wife Jane,” Frank said. “That’s Jerry next to you, and his wife Jasmine.”
Clint’s mouth dropped open, his eyes turning glassy. “You aren’t the Frank and Jane of the resistance, are you?”
Jane looked at him, shocked.
“Yeah,” Frank said. “You heard of us?”
“You’re the guy who came up with those apps, aren’t you?” Clint asked. He came around the counter. “I don’t have the words.” He shook Frank’s hand, and then hugged him.
“How do you know about that?” Jane asked.
“Let’s just say I heard it through the grapevine,” Clint said.
“We got them all tied up,” Jason said. He and the other men moved them over to the bench against the outside wall and sat them down.
“Back to introductions,” Clint said. “That’s my oldest son Jason. The kid with the long hair and sideburns there is son number two, John. The one next to him with red hair is his best friend Louis. Next to him, with the short blonde hair, is my youngest, Angus.”
“Great to meet you all,” Frank said. “What are we gonna do with these guys?”
“I need to make some phone calls. I heard about other incidents like this. That’s why I called my boys when they showed up.”
“You will regret that,” the UN Peacekeeper said, struggling against the zip tie.
“Please get loose,” Jason said, aiming his rifle at him.
“Don’t just blast him,” Clint said. “Remember what General Walker taught us. Get the info first if you can.”
“General Walker?” Jerry asked. “You knew him?”
“Yeah, he helped us organize,” Clint said. “Until he got betrayed.”
“He helped us too,” Frank said. “We’ve got another with us now.”
“Don’t mention his name in front of these slimes,” Clint said. “Let’s wander outside and talk. Boys, if any of these idiots try anything, shoot them.”
“You got it, Pa,” Angus said. “I’ll keep an eye out down the road just in case they have any friends coming.”
“You can count on that,” the lead Peacekeeper said.
“Shut up,” Jason snarled at him.
Clint left the office through the back door. The others followed him. They went to the clubhouse, a hundred yards to the right.
“Still have some coffee, if you want some,” Clint said.
“Sounds good,” Frank said. They went to a counter along the back wall that had a big coffee pot and condiments sitting on it. After they got cups, they sat at a long table.
“You guys working with General Hogan?” Clint asked.
“Yeah,” Frank said.
“He’s the leader of the resistance,” Clint said. “And an old friend. I’ve got you guys to thank for springing him from that base.”
“Do you still have a group together?” Jerry asked.
“Yeah, but we disbursed after the big victories,” Clint said. “Looks like I need to call my folks up again.”
“How many?” Jasmine asked.
“We’ve got about forty seasoned fighters, give or take,” Clint said. “How many left in your group?”
“We’ve got eighteen core members,” Frank said, “plus General Hogan and three privates. We also have four guests who have been very helpful.”
“How many you lose?” Clint asked. His eyes teared up again. “We lost quite a few. Used to be almost eighty.”
“Only one,” Jasmine said.
“Chester,” Frank said. “Happened quite a while ago, back in the town near Capitol Reef.”
“We almost lost Jeb,” Jerry said. “We’re on our way to pick him and Jasmine’s mom up. That’s why we’re here.”
“Jeb?” Clint asked. “Heard of him. He’s a legend.”
“How are all these stories getting around?” Jane asked.
“I think General Walker started it. You guys were his poster team. He used you to recruit and to inspire.”
“He got killed at Hilda’s park,” Jane said. “Along with several other valuable folks.”
“I saw those videos,” Clint said. “Bastards.”
“So what the hell is going on with the UN?” Jerry said. “Do you guys know who invited them in?”
“Don’t know. These the first you’ve seen?” Clint asked.
“No, there was a roadblock east of here,” Frank said. “They were giving out small pox vaccine, but they were also trying to search vehicles. We told them to stuff it.”
“They’re trying to get control of groups like ours,” Clint said. “They think disarming a few key teams will lead to victory.”
Jerry laughed. “There’s over 300 million guns in private hands here. These folks are beyond stupid.”
“They think the population is tired of war,” Clint said. “They don’t understand the American character. You’d think what happened here over the last several months would have taught them something.”
“So what now?” Jane said.
“We should get General Hogan on a conference call,” Jerry said. “We need to chat with him about this.”
“Good idea,” Frank said. He pulled out his cellphone, hit General Hogan’s contact, and put it on speaker. It rang a few times.
“Frank?” General Hogan asked.
“Yeah, General,�
� Frank said. “You’re on speaker. We’re at Clint’s RV Park in Grand Junction.”
“Oh, you guys found each other, eh?” General Hogan asked. “How?”
“Accident,” Frank said. “We stopped at his RV Park. Wouldn’t have made contact, but the UN showed up.”
“Dammit,” General Hogan said. “The joint chiefs are lying to me. They either got turned or they’re being forced to submit.”
“Should I call my group back together?” Clint asked.
“Yeah. What did the UN do there?” General Hogan asked.
“They showed up at my office, demanding that I let them in to search the resident’s vehicles,” Clint said.
“How many?” General Hogan asked.
“Just four, in two of those blue vehicles.”
“Where are they now?”
“My boys are holding them in the office. We’ve got their hands zip tied behind their backs.”
“You got a secure place to lock them up?” General Hogan asked.
“Yeah, still have that setup we used a few months back. How much trouble are we in?”
“I don’t know for sure yet,” General Hogan said.
“We’ve still got the watch going at our park, right?” Jerry asked.
“Yeah,” General Hogan said. “And the sensors.”
“We gonna blast anybody who comes down the road?” Frank asked.
“If they’re coming in open vehicles with blue insignia, I say we let them come in and throw them in the dungeon,” General Hogan said. “Pump them for info.”
“They on the side of the Islamists we’re seeing in New Mexico?” Jerry asked.
“That’d be my guess,” General Hogan said. “They need to be treated like enemy. They have no jurisdiction over American citizens. If they’re acting like they do, we need to hit them hard.”
“They’re pretty defiant,” Clint said. “They told us that the UN has taken power over all national governments.”
“Total hogwash. Europe is in a big battle as we speak. Both Germany and England have kicked UN peacekeepers out of their countries, after they attacked citizens for taking out Islamic extremists. In the other countries, there’s open warfare between the UN and the citizens, but it’s not going well. Citizens over there aren’t armed.”
There was yelling and shots fired from near the office.
“Dammit!” Clint shouted, getting up.
“That what I think it is?” General Hogan asked.
“Yeah, gunfire,” Frank said. “We got to go.”
“Frank!” General Hogan shouted.
“What?” Frank asked as he picked up his phone.
“Kill them,” he said. “I’ll let everybody on your team know what’s going on, including the other away team.”
“Okay, General,” Frank said. He ended the call, and they all ran towards the office, guns drawn.
“Need help, Clint?” shouted a man from one of the RVs parked nearby.
“Yeah, round everybody up, Franklin. We got a fight brewing!”
***
Gabe was driving the rental car, following Dobie’s rig on I-70 when his phone rang. He picked it up.
“Gabe?”
“This Charlie?” Gabe asked.
“Yeah,” he said. “Where are you guys?”
“On I-70, about twenty miles east of Indianapolis, heading west.”
“Malcolm and Ted with you?”
“No, they’re with the FBI in a suburb on the west side of Indianapolis. We’ll link up with them pretty soon.”
“They in trouble?” Charlie asked.
“No, not as of the last time we talked,” Gabe said. “What’s going on?”
“General Hogan wanted me to get word out to everybody. There are UN peacekeepers here, and they’re trying to disarm citizens. Look out for them. They have no authority. Shoot them if they get aggressive.”
“Son of a bitch,” Gabe said. “What brought that on?”
“We’ll get to that later. Frank, Jane, Jerry, and Jasmine are in a battle with them now, at the RV Park of one of our sister groups.”
“Sister Groups?”
“Yeah, one of the other groups organized by General Walker before he got killed.”
“Oh,” Gabe said. “This ain’t over, is it?”
“Nope,” Charlie said. “Gotta go. I’ll try to call Malcolm. Watch yourselves.”
“Will do,” Gabe said. He ended the call, and then called Dobie.
“What’s the matter?” Dobie asked.
“Charlie just called,” he said. “We’ve got UN Peacekeepers in our country trying to disarm American citizens.”
“Seriously?” he asked. “That ain’t gonna fly.”
“Charlie said treat them like the enemy,” Gabe said.
“In other words, blast them if they come after us.”
“Exactly,” Gabe said. “We’re close to Indianapolis. How’s your gas?”
“I could use a stop,” Dobie said. “There’s an off-ramp coming up. Let’s stop there. Duchess needs a break anyway.”
“Okay, I’ll follow you. See you soon.”
“Later,” Dobie said.
Gabe’s heart was pounding as they got off the interstate and headed to the truck stop. It was busy. Gabe pulled into line for a pump. Dobie did the same, his long rig hanging slightly into the street. They got up to their pumps in about ten minutes. Dobie got the fuel running and took Duchess out, walking over to Gabe.
“Why so many people around?” Dobie asked. “Everybody seems nervous.”
“Maybe word is getting around,” Gabe said. “Never trusted the UN. They’re going to be sorry they showed up.”
“You know who’s gonna be more sorry?” Dobie asked.
“Who?”
“The hack politicians who invited them in,” Dobie said. “They think this crisis we’ve had going here is their big chance. It’s not gonna turn out the way they think.”
“You got that right,” Gabe said. “The car’s full. I’ll pull over next to the store. Need to hit the restroom.”
“Okay, I’ll pull in back when I’m done. Maybe we can get a bite to eat.”
“Okay,” Gabe said. “I’ll find us a place to spend the night.”
Dobie finished filling up and drove to the back parking lot, then put Duchess back in the trailer. Afterwards he met Gabe in front of the store.
“Found a place,” Gabe said. “Southwest of Indianapolis. We get on Route 36 from I-70.”
“Another place you know of from the Association?” Dobie asked.
“Yeah, but I’m pretty sure the original owner of this one has been dead for years,” Gabe said. “I made reservations. The person at the desk didn’t even recognize the old owner’s name.”
“How long to get there?”
“According to the map app, less than an hour,” Gabe said. “We should wait till we get there to eat.”
“I’m good with that,” Dobie said. “This place is a little scary. Reminds me of when people were fleeing during the early attacks.”
“I know, I feel it too. Seen any UN vehicles anywhere? In the back?”
“Nope, not a one,” Dobie said. “I was thinking about that. I’ll bet they’re trying to disarm citizens around the southwest states. Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Utah. Then they’ll link up with the Islamists and attempt to take that region over again.”
“Wouldn’t surprise me,” Gabe said. “I guess I should listen to the radio when we’re cruising.”
“I turned mine on right after you called. Not a word about the UN being here. When we get to the RV Park I’ll get on the internet message boards and see what’s going on.”
“Good, then let’s blow this joint,” Gabe said. They both walked out, and got back to their vehicles, heading onto I-70. Traffic was heavy, but it was mostly eastbound.
***
Chief Hanson had Malcolm, Ted, and Agent Williams set up in an empty office. Agents Simone and Weiss had left to get them some take out.
Malcolm’s phone rang. It was Charlie.
“Hey, Charlie, what’s going on?” Malcolm asked.
“General Hogan asked me to call. There’s trouble out on the roads.”
“What roads?” Malcolm asked.
“So far, it appears to be Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. Probably Utah also.”
“The cretins at Carlsbad Caverns?” Malcolm asked.
“No, UN peacekeepers.”
“What?” Malcolm asked, looking at the others in the room. “What are they doing here?”
“Trying to disarm people. Dragging them in with the ruse of small pox vaccinations.”
“Son of a bitch. Any of our folks in harm’s way?”
“Yeah, Frank, Jane, Jerry, and Jasmine ran into them, on the way back to get Jeb. They’re in Grand Junction right now. There’s a small battle starting.”
“Shit. You need us to high-tail it over there?”
“No, we just want you to be aware. Treat these folks like enemy.”
“Okay, we’ll watch out.”
“How’s it going with you guys?” Charlie asked.
“We found Agent Keith, Howard, and some parolee in a freezer at Scott’s house.”
“Holy shit,” Charlie said. “What are you doing now?”
“We’ve teamed up with the FBI, waiting for somebody who might be able to get into Scott’s storage locker. We’ll get back with Gabe and Dobie after this. They’re on their way to Indianapolis now.”
“Good,” Charlie said. “Watch yourselves.”
“You too,” Malcolm said. He shut off the call and put his phone in his pocket.
“Okay, what’s going on?” Agent Williams asked.
“That was somebody from our group back in Kansas,” Malcolm said. “Hear anything about the UN coming in here, throwing their weight around?”
Agent Williams got a pained look on his face, and plopped himself down on a chair. “Dammit.”
“You do know something,” Malcolm said.
“Scuttlebutt,” he said. “There’s still some bad people in our government. Heard that the radicals running the Health and Human Services and Homeland Security agencies are bringing in UN Peacekeepers in to administer the small pox vaccine effort.”
“Why would they do that?” Ted asked.
“Because of the UN’s extensive experience with that kind of operation in Africa,” Agent Williams said. “But it’s really a bunch of crap. The UN wanted strings attached. One of them was that the citizenry where they’d be operating had to be disarmed. Congress said no friggin way. Passed a law forbidding it. The idiot in the White House vetoed it, but it was overridden. And by the way, this was kept out of the press. Reminds me of that Iranian Nuke deal that helped start this whole mess in the first place. They’re treating the whole thing like one of those side deals.”