by Cliff Deane
“Damn, I hate to lose that truck and cargo. Any suggestions Sgt Major?”
“Sir, the only thing I can think to do is call the boss and find out if he wants to send out the wrecker to recover it. If he does, we could leave a couple of the LAV IIIs and a squad to secure it. You might also ask if Mr. Ramos could come out to get these two wreckers running.””
“Yeah, I guess that is our only real option at this point. Come on let’s get the radio fired up and see what Colonel E wants to do.”
The atmospherics had cleared up nicely, and commo was excellent. Colonel Levins said that he would send out the wrecker along with a five-ton to bring back the cargo if the truck was not recoverable. He agreed with the plan to secure the truck and ordered the remaining vehicles return to Defiance. Mr. Adan Ramos however, was not available for this kind of house call. The bottom line; he needs to stay within the confines of the ROA, at least for now.”
“Okay, Sgt Major, you heard the man, let’s get the security detail on the road back to the truck and aim everyone else home.” Both groups departed at o800 hours.
*
13 October
TOC,
Defiance, ROA
Ralph dropped by Levi’s office to discuss Tarboro, and the missing Mercenary Mechanized Battalion of Black Knights. Levi asked Sergeant Jones if he would track down some fresh coffee.
“Of course, sir, and I’ll check to see if the bakers have any fresh muffins.”
“Thanks Jonesy, good idea, and grab one for yourself while you’re at it.”
Jonesy said with a smile, “Why thank you sir. I wouldn’t have thought of that myself, yes sir, it’s mighty nice of you.”
After Sgt Jones was on his way, Ralph began chuckling and said, “Levi, you do know that Sgt Jones always gets one or two for himself, right?”
Levi laughed and told Ralph that it was just a little game they played. He also told Ralph that Sgt Jonesy was also one danged fine Regimental Office Manager, saying, “Mr. President, I would like for you to consider approving the promotion of Sgt Jones to Warrant Officer, and add a little more responsibility to his plate.”
“Of course, Levi, I think that is a fine idea, and you are right, he is one fine Office Manager. Let’s plan on making all of the projected promotions at the Christmas Party.”
Levi liked that idea and agreed completely.
Within a few minutes Sgt Jones returned with coffee and blueberry muffins.
When they were again alone, Ralph said, “Now, old friend, I would like to discuss the Black Knight. Have you received any reports at all as to their whereabouts?”
“No sir, we have not. It’s like the Earth opened up and swallowed them whole.”
“Yeah, well that would be nice, but I’m not holding my breath.”
Levi sighed and agreed that was probably not what happened to them. He admitted that privately he thought that they have moved on well to the south, and probably west to Texas.
“Yes,” said Ralph, “that does sound reasonable, and I surely hope it is what happened.
Do you think the attempt to seal in the mercs at the Bunker will actually work?”
Levi took on a worried expression and said, “Ralph, I do hope so, but there is no way to know, for now anyway.
What I do know if I was the Head Kahuna of that outfit, after I’d tried everything else, I would consider trying to blast the hinges off one of those twenty-five ton doors. If that works without killing everyone in the Bunker with the blast pressure, I’d hook chains to the door and using my most powerful vehicle attempt to cause the door to fall inward. If they can do that, then no, our plan will not work.”
“Oh, shit, do you think they can really do that?”
“Ralph, I just don’t know if it would work, I just know that as a last resort I would give it a try.”
“Well crap, do you think we should send a permenent detail up there?”
Levi told him that he had considered just that, but in retrospect the Bunker was just too far away to expend the resources necessary. “No, Ralph, I think this a case where we just have to hope for the best.”
Ralph said, “Well thank you very much, now I won’t sleep tonight, worrying about them killing us all in the middle of the night.”
“Come on, relax. They are over three hundred miles away and on foot. I don’t think they will want to come down here and get all rowdy with the 1st Cavalry Regiment of the ROA, I mean, would you?”
Ralph had to admit that they would probably try to avoid crossing ROA borders. “Okay, I guess I’ll sleep tonight.”
“Well, that just makes my day, and speaking of day, Kate and I will be driving over to Tarboro tomorrow to see how things are shaping up there. We’ll be back before nightfall.”
Levi and Kate did go to Tarboro the next day and found that things were shaping up very nicely. The only downside was that the Mayor had run off because he was worried his ties to prostitution and drug kickbacks would come to light. Levi guessed that he must like his neck to be just the length it is.
The Deputy Mayor had taken over and was busy cleaning up his town. Following a sweep of the bad boy streets and hanging a few very high for all the people to see, the rest had decided to move on.
The training of Troop D was on the planning board for just as soon as Troop C was up and running in about two more weeks.
*
25 December
Christmas in the ROA
Christmas in the ROA was indeed a special time. There was mulled wine, decorations, and a huge sense of both relief and pride. The relief was from the fact that in the ROA, life was good; simple, but good. The horrors of the world outside seemed far removed. The pride was natural as the accomplishments that came from this speck of humanity were proof that the human spirit was worth saving.
Carols were sung, causing Ralph to send out a team to find a piano, whew. The piano turned off-tune songs into things of beauty.
Two couples were married on Christmas Day, Mary Collins to Adan Ramos, and Cynthia Summer to Major Ben Smith, to the enjoyment of all, and on that wonderful day, President Ralph Basset became engaged to Eileen Dawson.
Gifts were exchanged, but an odd twist was that no one wanted to go to Walmart to pick thru the vast quantity of gifts still on the shelves. Gifts were simple, mostly cookies and hand carved toys for the children. On this Christmas, gifts came from the heart and the spirit of the season, not the wallet.
Jordan Daniels, the leader of The Widows Sons motorcycle club, was also a beekeeper, and over the course of the summer he had captured several hives and swarms around his farm, and to the delight of all, he brought fifty, half pint jars of honey to be given as door prizes at the Christmas Eve gathering.
It was true that things were certainly not at all like Mayberry, but things were so much better in the ROA than on the outside that people counted their blessings. They still had to deal with the mud and dust and flies and well, irritants, but to a family, life was better in the ROA than it had ever been in the old USA.
The goal to provide electricity to everyone in the ROA was still at the end of a long dark tunnel, but many swore they could see the light at the end of that tunnel. They were also sure that the light was not from an oncoming train.
New Year’s Day, was changed to the day of the Winter Solstice, Levi was promoted to General of the Army. Levi had argued that it was a bit much, especially since he was still planning to leave in the spring.
Privately Ralph told him that he was absolutely right about it being a bit much, but he had to think of future generations that must learn the humble beginnings of the ROA. He said, “Levi, I want history to remember you as the father of this new nation. Now don’t start whinin’ and bitchin’, you deserve to be remembered as such.
My friend, without your foresight, our little redoubt of Defiance would never have survived the tribulations of the early months. You deserve it, and by God, I’m going to see to it that you are.”
Levi was too
humbled to say anything more than, “Thank you, Ralph, it is a great honor, and I do not take it lightly, but you know that guy you just described ain’t me.”
“The hell it ain’t! Come on let’s get some of that wine before it’s all gone.”
***
Chapter 16
The Road Less Traveled
1 April
Defiance, ROA,
Sitting in his office, General Levins looked back on the past year with both nostalgia and a sense of accomplishment in the growth of the ROA. The new nation seemed to be secure, at least by current world standards. Nearly every day outlying areas sent legations to request admittance into the new Republic.
Crimes, within the borders of the ROA, were nearly non-existent, and those that did occur were mostly all petty in nature and committed by teenagers coming of age. These youngsters were turned over to the families and were dealt with by dad.
Manuel (Manny) Perez, a former U.S. Federal Marshall, had applied for admittance into the ROA last October and became so well liked that Levi and Scott recommended that he head up the Federal Marshall program in the ROA. He now had a staff of two; himself and a clerk. For the most part, his time was spent on the road, in those areas newly admitted into the ROA, and accompanied by seven troopers of the 1st Cavalry Regiment.
Just beyond the ROA frontier, which now stretched nearly one hundred miles from the center of Defiance were the areas most in need of a serious law enforcement presence. It was there that crime had to be rooted out. Anyone involved in a nonlethal crime was simply escorted to the border and ordered to hit the road. Returning to the ROA meant being hanged. Drugs and violent crimes were two examples of capital offenses.
Ben was now back in full swing and sporting his combat scar with some pride. He was also seen sporting Cynthia Summers around Defiance.
Promotions in the military had been rapid for those who sought responsibility. Levi could not think of a single trooper of the original Defiance Militia who had not been promoted well beyond their entry grade, yet never beyond their ability.
The new Coin of the Realm, the Patriot Dollar had gone into distribution. This single move had greatly increased the wealth of the ROA. New businesses were springing up throughout the ROA.
Life inside the borders of the ROA was what one made of it. Success in business was readily available for anyone willing to put in the long hours and hard work to become a going concern. Most people, however, just liked the simple life of working for wages and raising a family.
Of course, there was much yet to do; Mud was a huge problem as it rained on average one out of five days, and dust when it was dry. Still, it seemed that no one wanted a return to the asphalt culture of the before times, besides, the ability to lay asphalt was, at least for now, a thing of the past.
A year had come and gone; diseases had run wild outside of the ROA. Bones were now being cleared and were being crushed into a powder to be used in fertilizer. At first many thought this was a failure to show the proper respect for the dead. It soon became apparent that neither burial, nor cremation of some three hundred million skeletons across the old U.S. was feasible, and returning the bones of those lost souls to the Earth actually was a sign of respect. In this way, those who died were making a contribution to the renewal of the Earth.
On New Year’s Day of year 01, it was noted that there were forty-three pregnancies in Defiance. It was also noted in March of year 01 that the citizenry of the ROA began calling the year ought one.
Levi’s year was up, and he knew it was time to move on. He no longer felt the need for revenge. Sarah had been the prime mover in quelling his need to seek the path of vengeance. Last January Sarah had come to him for the last time, telling Levi that he must move on in his life and that she was very happy that he had lost his desire for vengeance. She had kissed him in his dream and the time for goodbye had finally arrived. He shed his last tears for Sarah as she faded from his vision and his life.
The idea of sitting in a rocking chair and playing checkers in retirement was not on Levi’s bucket list, at least not yet. He knew that there were people all across this land who needed help in ridding their communities of the criminal anarchy that now called the shots outside of the Republic of America.
Levi, Gus, and the kids decided to take a 1975 Ford Ranger F-100, four wheel drive 3/4 ton pickup, along with Levi’s Jeep and see what lay outside of Defiance via the road less traveled.
Ralph, Scott and the Sgt Major were furious and wanted to, at least attach a squad of trooper volunteers, of which there were many to accompany Levi’s little band. The idea of them aimlessly wandering around the countryside, especially this close to D.C. was crazy.
Levi smiled and reminded his dearest friends that they would be leaving on 10 April.
Scott was nearly speechless, but he did manage to say “Danged fools, shit.”
Scott and the Sgt Major decided to send a two-man team to follow and save their asses when they found the trouble they were apparently looking for, “Danged fools, shit,” repeated Scott.
The two trooper volunteers for the job were SSgt Tim Carter and Sgt Kevin Simms. They were supplied, in addition to personal equipment, a Jeep and trailer, four weeks of rations, cold weather gear, side arms, extra ammunition and a Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW).
Both Carter and Simms knew that Colonel Levins would discover, and confront them fairly quickly. They also knew that Levi would order them to go back. For them, however, returning was not an option as Colonel Eldridge ordered them not to return until Colonel Levins, and party returned home...Rock and a hard place.
The days leading up to 10 April, and Levi’s departure went without incident. Levi backed off all command controls, deferring all decisions to Scott.
*
10 April 0830
Dining Facility,
Defiance, ROA
“Levi,” asked Scott, “are you sure this is something you want to do? It just seems like you are making such a reckless decision to go off courting trouble.”
Levi smiled at Scott and said, “That is the second time you have called me Levi. I like it.
The decision was not mine alone, I spoke with my little band of hunter-gatherers, and none were willing to be left behind, so yeah, I’m sure this is something I want, no make that, need to do.
Scott, we have a radio set, and I promise to keep you informed as to our adventures. Colonel, let me make something clear to you, take care of the Republic of America. It may be the only hope. Train hard to win easy. Aw, hell, I don’t need to tell you this. Scott, you and Bradley Cobb are the two best soldiers I have ever met, and with whom I have had the privilege of service. I am very proud of both of you.
You twice asked if I thought you were ready for the mission I assigned to you, so without asking I am telling you, you are ready. You need me around here like a boar hog needs tits.
Oh, one final thing, please ask Leon to take good care of Tugboat. I guess that’s about it,” and Levi grabbed both Scott and the Sgt Major in hugs, before turning to President Ralph Bassett. Ralph, ya’ old fart, it has been one hell of a ride, and I am so happy that you asked me to be a part of it. The two men embraced one last time as Ralph said, “Levi, should I play the I’m in trouble, and you promised to help me card?” Both men laughed heartily, but through this false levity, there was an underlining sadness in saying goodbye.
The hug between Levi and Ralph had just a touch more meaning as both were thinking of March 29th, the day they met and began to forge a new nation.
As they exited the restaurant, Levi was taken aback when he saw the entire Defiance contingent, along with the horse cavalry troopers of the 1st Cavalry Regiment in formation standing strictly at attention.
First Sergeant Tomas Torre stood ramrod straight facing Levi, who walked to within three steps of Tomas. The 1st Sgt saluted sharply and said, “Colonel Levins, the 1st Cavalry Regiment wishes to say goodbye, and would like to hear some parting words, Sir.”
Levi returned the salute, even though dressed in civilian clothes. “Thank you, 1st Sergeant, I am most honored,” said Levi in a quavering voice.
Tomas winked and whispered, “Thank you, sir, now the formation is yours. He then performed a parade ground right face and placed himself to the left and slightly behind Levi.
As Levi looked out at the formation, he came to attention and shouted, “Stand, at ease.”
“Oh, my,” said Levi as he struggled to maintain his emotional gyroscope spinning. “I guess I will reminisce a bit. On 29 March, of last year I think it was 29 March, I met Ralph Bassett who convinced me to join a small enclave of preppers who just wanted to ride out the horrors he knew were coming.
Wow, on that day we formed Troop A of the Defiance Militia and the very first member is your Command Sergeant Major, Bradley Cobb, a soldier I have been so blessed to serve with. He led the mission to secure a Walmart Superstore, Home Depot, and several other stores, all in one day.
I remember an old man coming up to me at the Walmart who said, “You know son, if you are wrong, it’ll go bad for you. He then said that he would try to be on the jury at my trial and asked God to Bless me.
Our intervention, on that day, prevented these businesses from being looted, and as a result, we were able to dispense much-needed supplies in a fair and equitable manner which resulted in the preservation of many lives.
Oh yes, God did Bless me in many ways on that day. Many knew of Levi’s loss of his wife Sarah the day before and that their Commander could find reason to know of God’s blessing made them love him even more.
On this day fate led a young man to me who was the Walmart Store Manager. He told me he had been a sergeant in the 75th Ranger Battalion in Berzerkistan, and that he would like to join our little band of miscreants.” This brought a chuckle from the formation as all forty members of the original militia who had been there on that day were present in the formation.