World War III

by Heath Jannusch

  “Or all of them,” added Mason, thinking of the flash drive full of secret information that he’d stolen from the Palace of Nations in Switzerland, only three short weeks ago. He really needed to set aside some time to inspect the contents of the drive more thoroughly.

  “That could very well be the case,” agreed Major Conrad.

  “When are you and your men pulling out?” asked Lex.

  “First thing in the morning,” replied the Major.

  “I’d like to go with you,” continued Lex. “My mom lives in San Diego. I was on my way to find her when all hell broke loose, what with the meteor strike and the vanishing and all.”

  “I can’t vouch for your safety,” warned Major Conrad. “We’ll most assuredly see combat.”

  “I understand,” said Lex, more determined.

  “Fine,” agreed the Major, “be ready to move out at first light. But I’m warning you now; if you slow us down I’ll have to leave you behind.”

  “Agreed,” smiled Lex, who was used to being on his own anyway.

  “I’m going too mate,” chimed in Cleo.

  “No!” exclaimed Lex. “It’s too dangerous.”

  “If it’s not too dangerous for you love, than it’s not too dangerous for me,” pointed out Cleo. “Besides, I’d love to meet your mum.”

  “I don’t really care who comes with us,” declared Major Conrad. “I’ve seen armed citizens beat back the enemy too often to think of them as a hindrance. But if you’re coming with us, then be ready at dawn and bring a gun with you. I can pretty much guarantee your gonna need it!”

  *******

  Lex woke up the following morning an hour before sunrise. When he opened his eyes he instantly realized that he was alone in bed. Cleo had already risen and was busy packing them each a travel bag.

  “So you’ve still got your heart set on going?” asked Lex, rolling over onto his side. He had a big grin on his face as he looked longingly at the curves of Cleo’s body. “Come back to bed baby.” He coaxed, lifting the blanket so that Cleo could slide in beneath the covers with him.

  “Oh stop,” giggled Cleo. “We don’t have time for that right now.”

  “I’ll always have time for you,” countered Lex, with a wink of his eye. “Besides, I still don’t think you should come.”

  “Wherever you go, I go,” replied Cleo, matter of fact.

  “It’s gonna be very dangerous and I’m not thrilled with the idea of you coming along,” smiled Lex, still hoping for Cleo to join him. “However, I do know that my mom will be excited to meet you.”

  “Well see there ya go,” Cleo returned the smile. “I’m almost finished packing love and I made us some breakfast if you’re hungry.”

  “Oh I’m hungry,” Lex said grinning, as he reached up and pulled Cleo under the cover. “In fact I’m ravenous!”

  “Good morning,” greeted Shiloh, as he entered the room.

  “Oh hello,” said Cleo, embarrassed. She quickly climbed back out from under the covers and went back to packing.

  “Thanks,” said Lex, giving Shiloh a frustrated look as he stood up. He playfully smacked Cleo’s butt as he walked passed her into the kitchen. They’d both been staying with Shiloh on his ranch ever since they’d arrived in town.

  Shiloh followed Lex into the kitchen and joined him at the kitchen table. Without a word both men began to enjoy the meal that Cleo had prepared.

  “So, you’re still set on leaving?” asked Shiloh, before filling his mouth with a bite of eggs and crispy bacon.

  “She’s my mom,” said Lex, the corners of his mouth curled into a frown. “What would you do if it was someone that you loved?”

  “If it was someone that I loved, than nothing on earth could stop me,” agreed Shiloh. “How’s your wound healing?” he asked, pointing at the shoulder where Lex had been shot during the battle with the Enlightened Ones, only a few days prior.

  “Oh that,” scoffed Lex, “that’s nothing, just a flesh wound. Doc says it went clean through. I’m sure I’ll be back to a hundred percent in no time. Ya know, if you’re bored you can always come with us,” suggested Lex, already knowing the answer.

  “A part of me wants to go with you,” admitted Shiloh, with a longing look. “But my place is here with the people of Clearview. They may need me now more than ever.”

  “That’s true,” agreed Lex. “Besides ya never know, this could be a one way trip.”

  “I’ll be praying for you every day,” replied Shiloh, as he sipped his coffee.

  “Well I appreciate that,” smiled Lex. “Although I’m not sure that it will do any good.”

  “He believes in you, even if you don’t believe in Him,” said Shiloh, returning the smile.

  “Well I hope he likes me,” Lex grinned. “Cause we’re gonna need all the help we can get.”

  “What are you blokes talking about?” asked Cleo, entering the room with two duffle bags.

  “The All Mighty Lord,” answered Shiloh. “I was just telling Lex that I’ll be praying for you both.”

  “Thanks mate,” smiled Cleo, dropping the duffle bags on the hardwood floor. “We could definitely use the extra help.” Cleo pulled out a chair from the kitchen table and sat down, as Shiloh handed her a plate of food.

  When they’d all finished eating, Shiloh walked outside with the couple and followed them to the barn where Lex’s dune buggy was parked. Lex dropped the duffle bags into the backseat along with a small arsenal of guns. When Kassie saw Lex was getting ready to leave, she began to bark excitedly. She quickly ran over to where Lex was standing and jumped up, with her paws on his stomach, and licked his face.

  “Not this time,” Lex chuckled, rubbing her behind the ears. “Don’t worry girl, I’ll be back. Can you watch her for me till we return?” he asked Shiloh. “I couldn’t bear to bring her along and see her get hurt.”

  “Of course,” replied Shiloh, “I’ll care for her as though she were my own. We’ll both be waiting here for you when you return.”

  “Thanks!”

  Shiloh shook Lex’s hand and gave Cleo a hug before watching them climb into the dune buggy. As they sped off towards town, Shiloh stood there alone waving goodbye. When they were gone and out of sight, he bowed his head in prayer.

  “Dear Lord, thank you for everything that you’ve provided. Thank you for keeping our town safe and healthy during this time of peril, and please continue to do so in the days ahead. Please watch out for Lex and Cleo Lord, keep them safe and always in your embrace, as they embark upon this dangerous journey. Help them to find Mrs. Mancini alive and well. Please protect America from her foreign enemies and help our troops to drive the invading armies from our homeland, in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.”

  When Lex and Cleo drove into town they found the Marine convoy already in formation. Major Conrad and Lieutenant Sawyer were standing with Ian by the lead Humvee.

  “Good morning,” greeted Ian, as Lex and Cleo dismounted from the dune buggy. “It’s gonna be a beautiful day!” The sun was beginning to creep over the mountains to the east and the warmth of its light felt good on their skin.

  “Good morning mate,” greeted Cleo.

  “Gentlemen,” said Lex, with a nod.

  “Are you both ready?” asked Major Conrad.

  “We are,” replied Lex.

  “Good, then let’s mount up. We’ve got some miles to put behind us.”

  “Where are you headed first?” asked Ian, mildly curious.

  “Our orders are to cross the Sierra Nevada Mountains and then swing southeast towards the coast. We’ll continue west until we come in contact with the enemy at which time we’ll engage them and attempt to push them back towards the coast and out of our country.”

  “Good luck,” said Ian, shaking Lieutenant Sawyers hand, “you’re gonna need it.” Ian turned to face Major Conrad and added, “Thanks for all of your help.”

  “No problem,” replied the Major, before he turned and climbed into the Humvee, follo
wed by Lieutenant Sawyer.

  “Give them hell,” Ian called after the soldiers, “and try to come back alive!”

  “Oh we intend to!” laughed Lieutenant Sawyer.

  After a quick embrace with Lex and Cleo, Ian stepped back off the street and watched as the convoy drove away.

  Urban Warfare

  World War III – Day Five

  San Diego, California

  After two solid days of fighting, Captain Yuri Petrov and Lieutenant Sasha Razin, along with thousands of Russian and Chinese troops, were finally able to secure the beaches surrounding San Diego. Both sides had taken heavy casualties in the battle, leaving the bodies of the dead littered along the sandy beach. American fighters occasionally passed by strafing the area, but most of the ground troops had already pulled back to secondary defense positions.

  “That wasn’t so bad, was it?” asked Major General Putin, as he approached Yuri and Sasha, followed by an entourage of junior officers. Of course the Major General had not been directly involved in the battle. He and his officers had watched the fighting from the safety of a battleship off the coast.

  Yuri glanced around at all of the dead and wounded soldiers strewn about and then his eyes turned skeptically back to Major General Putin. He struggled with the urge to express criticism towards the Major General and his staff, as a flood of anger and frustration coursed through his veins. But caution prevailed. Criticizing his superior’s courage and tactics would only end with Yuri relieved of his command, and most likely a one way trip to the gulag prisons of Siberia. Yuri’s grandfather had died in a gulag camp for expressing his opinions and Yuri had no intention of following in his footsteps.

  “It could have been better,” mumbled Yuri, as another American fighter jet flew by, strafing the beach with cannon fire. Major General Putin and his entourage of officers immediately ducked for cover, even though the bullets sprayed the sand over a hundred yards away. Both Captain Petrov and Lieutenant Razin stood there, unaffected by the flyby, looking down with disgust at the cowering, superior officers.

  “Nonsense,” said the Major General, as he stood up brushing sand from his uniform. “We’ve taken the beachhead and pushed the enemy back. What more could you ask for?”

  “Perhaps less men lost in battle,” replied Yuri, apprehensively.

  “Ah, yes,” smiled Major General Putin, “a necessary inconvenience of war and conquest. Just be thankful Captain that you and the Lieutenant here are not laying among the corpses of your fallen comrades. Now that we have secured the beachhead are you ready to complete your mission?”

  “You know of my orders sir?” asked Yuri, surprised. He’d been informed that only a select handful of high ranking individuals were aware of the top secret mission. The fact that this incompetent, Major General was also aware, was unsettling to say the least.

  “Of course,” said Major General Putin grinning, “there is not much that I am unaware of. Now, where are the rest of your men? I was told you had a squad.”

  “They’re all dead,” answered Yuri. Apparently the Major General was not aware of everything.

  “Dead, what do you mean dead?”

  “I mean that they are no longer alive,” replied Yuri, with a hint of sarcasm. From the corner of his eye he noticed Sasha’s smirk. “All that remain of the squad are Lieutenant Razin and I. The rest of our men were killed in the assault.”

  “Ah, I see,” said the Major General, “well then, we shall have to endure without them. I will personally select some men from another squad to accompany you.”

  “Major General Sir,” began Yuri, “I handpicked those men specifically for this mission. With all due respect, I’d rather not take men with me that I don’t know firsthand. Lieutenant Sasha Razin and I will complete the mission alone.”

  “That is preposterous,” exclaimed Major General Putin, “two men are simply not enough to accomplish such a task!”

  “Sir,” continued Yuri, respectfully, “if you are aware of the details of our mission then surely you realize it will be easier for two highly trained soldiers to sneak behind enemy lines, then it will be with a squad of men who are unprepared.”

  “I suppose I see your point,” agreed the Major General. “Very well, it will just be the two of you then. But I warn you Captain Petrov, if you should fail, it will be you personally who is held responsible. Do you understand?”

  “Yes sir,” acknowledge Yuri, saluting the senior officer before turning stiffly and walking away toward the supply depot. Lieutenant Razin followed close behind.

  The two men grabbed extra magazines of ammunition and put them into their backpacks, along with several sticks of C-4 explosives. They also grabbed some extra food and water, but not much. Yuri intended to live off the land as much as possible and didn’t want to be burdened with the extra weight. Instead, he chose to carry as much ammo as possible.

  “Should I bring a radio sir?” asked Lieutenant Razin.

  “No,” answered Yuri, “this is strictly a black ops mission with no radio contact. We’ll either make it in and out on our own, or we won’t, but there will be no calling for help.”

  “What if we need an extraction, sir?” asked Sasha, a little concerned.

  “We’re on our own,” replied Yuri, not wanting to scare the Lieutenant, but not wanting to lie either. He was of the firm belief that people performed better when they knew what options were available to them at any given moment. “Let’s go!”

  Both men slung their AK-47’s over their shoulders, before heading off towards San Diego. The American’s had been pushed back into the city and random shots could be heard coming from that direction. Yuri and Sasha would have to travel through the city, heavy with combat, to reach their destination.

  “I never did like urban warfare,” mumbled Sasha. “It’s too hard to see the enemy, and far too easy to get killed.”

  “We’ll be fine,” said Yuri. “Just remember your training and stay close to me. Watch the infantry,” he advised, “Allow them to cross streets and enter buildings before venturing out into the open yourself. We’ve fought foreign battles like this before and this will be the same.”

  “Yes sir,” observed Sasha, “but many of those countries did not allow their citizens to own and carry firearms. I’ve seen the Hollywood movies and in them the American’s always have guns.”

  “Not always,” pointed out Yuri. “Some of their States allow more freedoms than others. That is why the High Command chose California as a staging point for the western invasion. This State has more gun restrictions then most other States. With any luck, the entire western coastline will be under our control by the end of the week.”

  They heard a loud whistle begin to blow and watched as hundreds of soldiers, both Russian and Chinese, slowly advanced in formation toward San Diego. The city appeared to be virtually deserted and conquered, but Yuri knew all too well that appearances can be deceiving. Sasha stepped forward with the intention of joining the soldiers, when Yuri suddenly reached out and put his hand on Sasha’s shoulder, pulling him back.

  “Shouldn’t we advance with the rest of the men?” asked Sasha, believing in the concept of safety in numbers.

  “Not yet,” said Yuri, shading his eyes from the morning sun. “Never be one of the first to engage,” he instructed, “for those are usually the first to die. Better to wait and watch.”

  Yuri’s advice was not only good, but it may have saved Sasha’s life. The advancing soldiers were inside the city limits when suddenly all hell broke loose around them. Artillery shells began to light up the sky with one explosion after another, followed by a wave of deadly gunfire. The men at the front of the formation were gunned down instantly.

  “You see,” replied Yuri, “the Americans will not forfeit their cities and homes without a fight. Would you? Whatever ground we take away from the enemy, must be paid for in blood.”

  Then just as suddenly, the artillery barrage and gunfire ceased. Using a pair of binoculars from his bac
kpack, Yuri began to slowly scan the city streets. He could see civilians fleeing from their homes and joining the American soldiers, as they pulled back, abandoning their defensive positions. Troops from the combined forces of the Communist Muslim Coalition continued marching towards the city. As they drew near the first outcroppings of buildings, they began to fan out.

  “Alright Lieutenant, let’s go,” commanded Yuri, returning the binoculars to his pack. With their guns held ready, the two Russian officers set off towards the shelled and burning city of San Diego. “Stay close,” Yuri reminded Sasha, “but not to close. We don’t want to provide a sniper with the opportunity to kill us both at the same time.”

  Upon entering the city, they found the charred bodies of both soldiers and civilians alike. The streets were littered with the dead and dying. Russian and Chinese infantry units were slowly working their way east, entering and clearing buildings and houses, one by one. Two blocks ahead, Yuri watched in disgust as several Chinese soldiers, using rifles with bayonets, walked up and down the street plunging their bayonets into the wounded. The soldiers were indiscriminant as to whom they killed, soldier or civilian, man or woman, adult or child; it made little difference to them. The Chinese were notorious for not taking prisoners.

  “It’s a good thing they’re on our side,” commented Sasha dryly, when he noticed the direction Yuri was looking.

  “Perhaps,” replied Yuri, “it’s hard for me to respect men who have no respect for life. It’s one thing to kill a soldier who’d kill you given the opportunity. It is quite another to kill unarmed women and children.”

  All of a sudden, a civilian armed with a 12 gauge pump-shotgun, emerged from his house, wearing a tank-top with board shorts and sandals. He looked like he may have intended to go surfing today, that is until the invasion changed his mind. Regardless of any previous plans, the man had no intention of giving up without a fight.