Into the Darkness (Book 1): Vigilante

by Deane, Cliff

  “Sir, I have come from General Chalmers, Commander of Camp Lejeune. He would like me to speak to you concerning both supplying and equipping your militia.

  May I reach into my wallet to retrieve my ID Card?”

  “You may.”

  After Levi had looked over the ID Card, he ordered the guard to open the gate, pat down the visitor and guide him to Levi’s office. The truck and driver were brought into Defiance. The driver was fed and questioned about conditions across the country.

  Levi was seated behind a new wooden desk. It was a gift from Mayor Ralph who had it brought in from a local furniture store. His First Sergeant and XO were also in attendance.

  Levi rose and offered his hand to Lt. Colonel Murtaugh. “Colonel Murtaugh I am Levi Levins, commander of this merry band of miscreants.”

  As they shook hands, Murtaugh said, “I am Gus Murtaugh, G-2 for Camp Lejeune. Sir, It is a real pleasure to meet you.”

  Levi directed him to a chair and said, “Please, have a seat and tell me why you have made this dangerous trip all the way from Camp Lejeune.”

  “Yes sir, it may well be dangerous, but the traffic is murder, hence the dozer blade on my ride.

  We, at Lejeune, have heard good things about your militia, serving and protecting the community. Sharing resources and the like. Because of this General Chalmers would like to assist you in upgrading your equipment and general supplies…”

  A knock on Levi’s office door interrupted Murtaugh.

  Levi had sent a runner to get Ralph to attend the meeting. “Come on in Mr. Mayor, may I introduce Lt. Colonel Gus Murtaugh of the United States Marine Corps?”

  Ralph shook hands and asked, “Are you bringing government help, or taking over?”

  Murtaugh smiled and said, “Mr. Mayor I have come to offer assistance in the form of supply items which may help you and the community at large. Sadly, this is a one time offer as no further assistance will be available after 1000 hours the day after tomorrow. At that time we will be destroying weapons and munitions.”

  Without thinking Ralph blurted out, but why, why would you do that?”

  Murtaugh looked at both men and asked, “How long could you hold your Troop together if you had no food? Sorry, that was a rhetorical question. Anyway, we will be unable to maintain a viable force beyond the next few days. As a result, we will be dissolving the Marine Corps in North Carolina, and soon, everywhere else. Gentlemen, America no longer exists as a nation. Therefore we cannot maintain or resupply even the basic foodstuffs to support an active military.

  We intend to lock everything up two days hence, knowing that our facilities may soon be looted. Therefore, in an effort to assist those worth saving I am offering a supply of Marine issue weapons, ammunition of all calibers suitable for your use, uniforms, and we may even have a very small number of vehicles for you.

  Are you interested?”

  Levi looked past Murtaugh and said, “How do we know this is not a ruse to attack and destroy Defiance and its militia?”

  “Sir, I can only ask that you trust me. Ultimately it comes down to wanting what the General offers or going on as you are. But please keep in mind that time is of the essence. If you want it, we have to get going, right now, tonight. So, what’s it to be?”

  Ralph started to speak, but Levi raised a finger to let him speak first. Levi looked to Ralph who was nodding his head and said, “All right, we accept, First Sergeant, please get a thirty man contingent ready to move out in twenty minutes.”

  “Yes sir,” said 1Sgt Cobb who rose and left the room to get the detail.

  Murtaugh looked at Levi and said, “Nice…are all your people that motivated?”

  “Who? Top? That slacker?” laughed Levi and Ralph.

  *

  Front Gate

  Camp Lejeune, NC

  Levi and Lt. Col. Murtaugh arrived at the Camp Lejeune Marine Base front gate at 0130 hrs.

  “Sir, I’m sorry, but the Base is closed. Is there some other way I can assist you?” asked the Marine Guard at the gate.

  Lt. Col. Murtaugh leaned over Levi and handed his ID card to the guard, “Marine, I am the Camp G2. We’re here to see the Commanding General. Please call his office and tell him Colonel Levins and Lt. Colonel Murtaugh are here and would like a moment of his time.

  Please call his office. I’m sure he will make an exception and open the Base to us,” replied Murtaugh.

  The Guard saluted and then turned to another MP who entered the gatehouse to call the General’s office.

  The guard returned, saluted again, and opened the barricade.

  *

  April 11th 0200

  Commanding Officer’s Conference Room

  Camp Lejeune, NC

  Upon entering the Headquarters Building, they were met by a Marine Corporal who again asked for their ID Card.

  “Yes, sir, one moment please.” The Marine picked up a phone and called to verify their claim.

  After what seemed an eternity the Marine replaced the phone in its cradle and said, “I’m sorry, sir, for the delay. Please go right up these stairs and proceed down the hallway to your right. You’ll be met there by the General’s Aide.”

  They climbed the stairs to the second floor, which held the Commanding General’s Office. Upon entering the hallway, Levi saw a young Captain exit an office and turn toward him with his hand extended in greeting.

  Colonel Levins? I’m Captain Wainwright, the General’s Aide. The General said I was to be very nice to you. I will add this small caveat, however; please don’t keep the General long. I have been trying to get him to his quarters since midnight last night.”

  “I understand Captain, and I sincerely hope that our meeting will not take long. In fact, I would be willing to wait until the morning to allow him to be rested.”

  “I am also sorry Colonel, but that would not leave sufficient time to accomplish your mission. We are on a very tight schedule.”

  “Roger that, Captain. I’ll try to keep it short and sweet. Then I’ll try to help push him to his rack.”

  “Thank you, sir. Right this way, please,” said Captain Wainwright, who turned on his heel and led Colonel Levins into the Commanding General’s Office.

  Marine Lieutenant General Paul Chalmers was pouring his own coffee and looking very tired. He did, however; manage a warm and welcoming smile.

  General Chalmers offered his hand to Levi saying, “Lt. Colonel Murtaugh, before we get fully engrossed here I would like to be briefed on what you saw in Colonel Levins’ community of Defiance.”

  “Certainly General, but to begin, I must relate that it is not Colonel Levins who is the Head Man. Overall command and control are provided through a Mayoral system of civilian government. The Mayor, Mr. Ralph Bassett has final say on most issues; both he and Colonel Levins collaborate when areas of policy overlap. It seemed plain to me that Colonel Levins is most definitely not the head of a Military Junta, nor is Mayor Bassett a King.

  Sir, I found their growing township to be full of healthy and happy citizens. Everyone has a job to do and, well, I guess if I did not have plans for myself and my family I’d apply for citizenship in Defiance. The building program itself is most impressive.

  My impression is that if civilization is to survive, then it is small communities like Defiance. I encourage you, sir, to approve assisting this community.”

  “Thank you, Colonel. Well, Colonel Levins, that was quite an impressive briefing on your little township, and since I have tremendous faith in Lt. Colonel Murtaugh’s judgment, I do authorize this plan.

  “Colonel Levins it is a great pleasure to meet a man who is willing to give the last full measure and to place the safety of his community above himself.”

  Levi looked a bit off balance, but replied, “Yes sir, thank you sir, but isn’t that exactly what you have been doing your whole life in the Marines? I mean, even though I was Army I know full well that the Marine Corps is America’s 9-1-1.”

  “Yes, and t
hank you, Levi, oh, may I call you Levi?”

  “Of course sir, I would be honored.”

  Sitting down and accepting a cup of coffee from the General’s Aide, Levi began, “Sir, I am humbled that you find the Defiance Township and Militia worthy of so great a gift.”

  “Levi, the United States of America no longer exists, so by helping you to hold onto one small shaded corner of civilization the United States Marine Corps final action is one of honor. A pity that it will never be recorded in the Marine Corps history.”

  “Levi said, “But General it will be recorded in the history of Defiance. If we stand strong our, as you said, little shaded corner of the world will one day begin the expansion of civilization across America and the world. That simple task shouldn’t take more than three or four hundred years.

  General Chalmers interrupted, “Just a moment, please, Colonel.

  Captain, please escort everyone but Colonel Levins out of the room. Send everyone but yourself home to get some rest. They all know what needs to be done tomorrow.”

  After the room was cleared, General Chalmers moved to the office sofa and leaned back onto the cushion, sighed deeply and said in a more relaxed and cordial tone, “Please go on Colonel. I’d like to hear more of your thoughts on this subject.”

  “Of course, sir, thank you,” answered Colonel Levins, who did not fail to notice a not so subtle change in General Chalmers’ demeanor. “The CME or EMP, whatever it was…”

  General Chalmers interrupted and said, “Levi, we found out yesterday beyond a shadow of a doubt that the entire world’s electronics infrastructure was fried by a monstrous CME that just missed a direct hit. Sorry for the interruption, please continue.”

  “Yes sir, thank you, I’m pleased to know that we were not attacked.

  As I was saying, the CME will throw the world into a New Dark Age. The year might as well be 1850. Within a few years, we’ll all be riding horses again.

  The sole mission of Defiance is to hold onto a desire to progress with civility along with a modicum of our culture and civilization. In so doing the first objective is to secure our immediate border which we have established out to twenty miles from the center of Defiance.”

  “Interesting concept Levi, may I ask how you came to decide on this particular sized perimeter?”

  “General, twenty miles around Defiance is pretty much all we can expect to protect. Unfortunately, we are not quite there yet.

  In my career, the Army taught me to think, to extrapolate, and to postulate possible outcomes. The answers are there for anyone prepared to see the obvious, sir.”

  “Yes, I suppose that is true.

  I also understand that you were able to rescue quite a few refugees in the early going.”

  Levi looked a bit embarrassed and said, “General we did save perhaps a hundred total. We have spent sleepless nights wishing we could have done more.”

  “Yes Levi, it is sad, but very few were saved anywhere along the line. We saved none.

  Enough crying over that sadness, you must face the future, and your plan is solid. So…what do you need?”

  “Sir, we need everything military. Weapons, ammo, explosives, rations, uniforms, transportation you name it.”

  “Wow, that’s a tall order. Levi, if I weren't evacuating this Base, I would be staggered by your preposterous request. However, I am evacuating and will have to abandon hundreds of tons of gear,” sighed the General.

  “Does that mean that you can help, sir?”

  “Yes, oh yes, we must, my friend, because small settlements like yours are the only hope we have, so yes, we’ll help with everything except we cannot spare rations.”

  Jumping to his feet, the General called to his Aide, “Wainwright! Get in here!”

  “Yes, sir,” answered the Aide as he immediately stepped into the room.

  “Captain, recall all the senior staff that just left. I need them all, and right now,” snapped the General.

  Smiling, Captain Wainwright said, “No problem, sir, the staff decided they weren’t quite finished, yet. Frankly, I think that none of them wanted to leave before you.”

  “Well met. Please, bring them in here so we can change their direction. Damn, I feel just like Patton when he pulled out of a winter battle and moved the 3rd Army to Bastogne back in ’44.”

  As the primary staff entered, the General made introductions all around.

  “Gentlemen, I have a new task for you, and I want it to be your number ONE priority. Remember, I did say priority ONE!”

  “Now pay attention. Colonel Levins here needs supplies from each of you to equip 500 personnel. Any questions?”

  “Class V,” asked the General, “Where do we stand on ammo?”

  “Sir, we’ve got millions of rounds for whatever he needs, from an ammo perspective, we can give him all he needs as long as he can transport it. I have no more Tran’s assets. They’re all up at Cherry Point,” answered the Class V Lt. Colonel.

  The General then turned to his Transportation Officer and asked, “John, do we have any assets left on the Base?”

  “Actually, sir, we had planned to abandon the training vehicles in their motor pool. It’s all stuff from the 60’s and 70’s, but they’re in good condition. I am sorry that I didn’t think of them for our own use. They should run just fine. The paint scheme is Iraqi, though,” smiled the Transportation Officer.

  Turning to Levi, the smiling General asked, “Well, Levi, we’ll find you some paint, but between now and then people are going to think Iraq has invaded us.

  I assume that you do want those assets?”

  Levi, also smiling, said, “Oh, yes sir, and happy to have them, sir. But sadly, I’m not sure I have the human assets in place to drive everything. I have a detail of thirty with me.”

  “Levi, could you find a use for another fifty or so Marines in your little militia?”

  Levi smiled and said, “No sir, but we could surely use some former Marines who want to be Troopers in the Defiance Militia. Seriously, sir, we could use some mechanics and grunts in the lower grades with only two or three corporals and maybe two E-5s. We just aren’t ready for a larger influx of personnel to house and feed…”

  General Chalmers broke out laughing and said, “Fair enough. Personnel?” snapped General Chalmers.

  “Yes, sir, I will arrange the transfer of sufficient top notch personnel to drive his trucks.”

  “Great, now, let’s hear from the rest of you.”

  One by one, the Senior Staff laid out the available assets. Levi had his supplies, and fifty Marine mechanics and grunts to go along with them.

  “Now gentlemen comes the fly in the ointment. I want this convoy prepared to move out no later than 1000 hours. I know it’s only a little over seven hours from now, so let’s not waste our precious time bitching, and just git er done. I mean it, seven hours. Dismissed.”

  With that his officer’s, still stunned, began to file out.

  “John,” said the Ammo Officer, “I’ll have my trans requirements to you in about an hour and it’s gonna’ be big.”

  “General, how large an ammo issue, sir?”

  “Say, two hundred thousand rounds each for the M-4A1s and M-249 SAW. Use that as a guideline for the rest.”

  “Roger that, sir,” replied Class V (Ammo).

  “Sir, Class VI here. Do you wish an issue from liquor stores, also?”

  Few men had ever seen the veins stand out on the General’s neck. They saw it now, “Dammit, Claude, I said I wanted issuance from ALL Classes. Do I have to do it for you?” snapped the General.

  “No sir, sorry sir. I understand.”

  “No, I’m sorry, Claude, we’re all tired. Please, just find a way to get er done.”

  “Oh, Colonel Levins, do you have any preferences?” asked the Class VI Officer.

  “Colonel, I am a traditionalist, so make the issue heavy on rum and a few cases of Rebel Yell Whiskey thrown in. I suspicion that a daily rum ration will go a long
way for morale. I’d say half an ounce per day for 400 troops for a year. They’ll be making their own by then, I reckon.”

  “Colonel Levins, that’s a lot of rum, but we’ll do our best.”

  “Damn, why can’t I get through to you people,” shouted the General, “I said give him what he wants. I don’t care if you have to take an armed team and rob a liquor store. GET IT DONE! That’s the phrase for this mission. Please do not make me say it again,” growled General Chalmers.

  “No, sir,” answered his staff officers almost in unison as they scuttled out of the room.

  “Now, for you, Colonel Levins, I want you to get at least six hours sleep. Captain Wainwright will wake you in time for a shower.

  Oh, Colonel Levins, do you have any of those fancy Dan Army gizmos, you know like jump wings, CIB, that sort of thing?”

  “Why yes, sir I do. Jump wings, CIB and 25th Infantry combat patch.”

  “Cpt. Wainwright, find this man a uniform that fits, complete with jump wings, C.I.B., and the 25th Infantry Division patch.”

  “Of course, sir, I’ll get it done,” replied Cpt. Wainwright.

  “One other thing, Colonel Levins, I would prefer not to issue regulation Marine BDUs (Battle Dress Uniforms), should some fall into the hands of a Warlord. I don’t want people thinking the Marine’s had turned into bad guys.

  Do you mind if we issue Iraqi uniforms to you? We have probably sixty thousand of them in storage.”

  “Not at all sir, new beginnings, new uniforms, and I do agree with your logic.”

  As Levi slept Cpt. Wainwright was very busy, as were all of the senior staff officers who were dedicated to this mission.

  Initially, it appeared that the vehicle requirement could be limited to around six to ten, but with the addition of the Training Battalion Vehicles, the final tally came out to thirty-six serviceable deuce and a half and eighteen five tons. We’ve also got some old jeeps from the 60’s if you want them.