“Gerald’s here,” he said, opening the door.
Gerald had driven past the house to the cul-de-sac, came back to the house, and pulled off the road onto the yard. His Bronco was pulling a packed trailer and pointed down the road in case he had to leave fast.
Closing the door behind him, Nelson walked across the yard as Gerald got out, followed by a Rottweiler. “Duke, sit,” Gerald said softly. The Rott looked up at him as he sat down. Duke was big but was still smaller than Zeus. Like Zeus and Hera, Duke was a trained attack dog.
Walking toward Gerald, Nelson saw someone get out the other side of the Bronco. When they walked around the front of the Bronco, he saw it was Gerald’s sister, Nancy. She was still slim with long, soft, black hair and her nerdy black glasses.
Slinging his rifle across his chest, Nelson stopped and held out his hand. “Have trouble? We were expecting you before noon,” Nelson asked as Gerald shook his hand.
“Nope, had to stop and get something,” Gerald said, looking at the AR across Nelson’s chest. “You had problems?”
Shaking his head, Nelson said, “Not really.”
Gerald looked at the driveway with the loaded trucks and trailers. “May want to think about hauling around the iron in plain sight.”
Like a switch had been thrown, the smile and happiness left Nelson’s face. “Nobody’s going to tell me I can’t be an American,” Nelson told him in a flat voice.
Gerald held up his hands. “I understand, but we aren’t in a place to have a battle yet,” he said, stressing “yet.”
“Best to stay on my feet and not act like I’m bowing down. I’ve noticed those that act like they accept a boot on their neck eventually live with it there,” Nelson said as Nancy walked over and hugged him.
“Just thinking of the others,” Gerald said, grinning.
“So am I,” Nelson said and looked down at Nancy. “Girl, it’s good to see you,” he said as she let him go.
“You too.” She smiled. “Michelle inside?”
“Yeah, go on in and get some food. Lunch is still on the table,” he told her. Nancy smiled and headed to the house.
Walking toward the driveway, Gerald snapped his fingers, and Duke jumped up and walked beside him. “I don’t recognize the stuff on your truck or that trailer on your truck. Just where did you get that monster? That thing looks almost thirty foot long and is sitting mighty low,” he noted, stopping beside Nelson’s truck.
“Just got it,” Nelson said and moved really close and whispered what all was on the truck and trailer. Gerald’s eyes slowly started getting wide as the tale continued. When Nelson was finished, Gerald was almost speechless.
Clearing his throat, he slowly turned to Nelson. “You’re right; we leave tonight,” he croaked.
“Glad you see why I’m so insistent,” Nelson smiled.
Lifting his arm, Gerald patted Nelson’s truck. “I thought I was getting some nice stuff. With this, we can really make a difference.”
“My thinking exactly,” Nelson said. “You hungry?”
Nodding, he said, “Yes I am,” and Nelson turned, heading to the house. Gerald followed with Duke beside him. “Hera isn’t in heat, is she?”
“No,” Nelson answered. That was the only time the dogs didn’t get along. Walking in, Duke moved over to the dogs as they touched noses in greeting.
When Gerald sat down next to Nancy, Nellie passed him a plate. “Thank you,” he said and started eating. “I trust you saw the idiot talk?”
“Yeah,” Nelson said glumly as Nellie and Michelle nodded.
Getting up, Michelle put Devin in his swing. “Gerald, you told me almost the whole speech when you called,” she said, sitting back down.
“It was circulated among the troops, and a major I know gave me a copy,” he said between bites.
“What is going on at the base?” Nelson asked.
“The base is almost empty,” Gerald told him as he grabbed his glass. “They almost didn’t let me leave. Wanted me to join the private contractors again.”
Letting out a groan, Nelson asked, “Are they going to be a problem?”
Putting his glass down, Gerald looked around the table at the kids then at Nelson, choosing his words carefully. “Yes,” he said. “There are over half a million contractors in the U.S. alone under Homeland now and double that of ones who have worked with them. Homeland picked up almost a quarter of a million of them. Those not picked by other alphabet agencies are operating under them. A lot of those guys are in it for the money and don’t care what they have to do. Now, take into account Homeland is flying in another quarter of a million private contractors from overseas, and they care nothing for America’s way of life. They will be the thorn in America’s side. When push comes to shove, I believe half of the military will balk and turn. I know the SOCOM boys are getting real antsy about taking on Americans. The same is true in all the elite forces from Green Berets, SEALs, Rangers, and Recon. They aren’t going to follow for long,” he said in a low voice.
“Any word if all the states are going to follow the drumbeat of Washington?” Nelson asked.
“Texas, Wyoming, Utah, and Montana are already talking secession. Word is Montana called up their guard and sent them along with a ton of cops and seized military bases. They let any troops go that wanted to leave and told the president the government could have the equipment back once Montana got back its gold reserve and all the money its citizens lost,” he chuckled.
“Any word how that went over?” Nelson asked.
“Government can’t really do much since the governor of Montana now has control of nuclear weapons and aircraft. It’s also rumored the governor of Texas is doing the same thing. Mutual destruction is a very big deterrent,” Gerald told him.
Nelson looked over at Michelle, who looked at ease. “How much trouble do you think we’ll have at the farm?” Nelson asked.
“For a few months, I don’t expect much, but trouble will eventually leak out of the cities. Food is about to become a big issue, and that’s how they are going to control the masses. They want the population to become totally dependent on them and report people who aren’t marching to the drumbeat of Washington,” Gerald said.
“What of the world?” Michelle asked.
Gerald gave a huff. “Hell, they have already laid down for their governments. America was the last bastion for any form of freedom. Granted, it was getting limited, but we had some. Those in other countries only have the illusion of freedom. But to answer your question, they don’t care,” he told her. “The European market crashed, and have you noticed you can’t get news on our market?” he asked, looking around.
All of them nodded, and Gerald’s face became remorseful. “Yesterday, the market took off, almost doubling before noon. Then, all of it was gone, and when it dropped twenty percent from opening before two, the government shut it down. This morning, the market was open for thirty minutes before it lost twenty percent, and the government closed it down. It didn’t matter how much gold they dumped on the market; it wouldn’t rebound. Nancy pulled it up on her computer before we got here, and gold is down to a hundred dollars an ounce,” he told them.
“Well, the twenty trillion they took from America’s savings really didn’t do much,” Nelson said.
“It brought down the house of cards,” Michelle said.
With a soft chuckle, Nelson said, “Yes, it did do that.” He looked up to see Ashley walk in. “You look like you slept hard,” Nelson grinned. Ashley’s hair was flat and tangled on one side with the other puffed out and tangled.
“Didn’t know where I was when I woke up,” she said, walking over to the baby bouncer and rubbed a sleeping Mike’s head. Moving over, she hugged Brittany. “Had to check Matt’s pulse to make sure he was still here.”
“You can use the shower,” Nelson told her.
“I would have, but I need to get some clothes,” she said and looked up at him. “Why, do I stink?”
Nelson shook
his head. “No, but I’m fighting not to laugh at your hair,” Nelson admitted with a grin creeping up on his face.
“I like it,” Gerald declared. “She looks like a wild beast.”
Ashley spun around. “I’m going to get some clothes.” Ashley giggled as she headed for the door.
Gerald stood up. “I’m going to get my maps so we can lay out a really back road route out of here to the farm,” he announced.
“Why?” Michelle asked.
“Less chance of running into trouble,” Gerald answered.
Giving Gerald a look like he was the biggest dumbass ever, she said, “No, why are you going to map it out? We have nineteen routes to the farm and have driven all of them.”
Sitting back down with a wiry smile, he said, “Seems I’m out of my league here. Can I see them?”
Getting up, Michelle walked into the living room and opened Nelson’s tactical bag and pulled out an atlas and clipboard. “They’re not marked all the way, but I’m sure you will be able to understand,” she said, handing over the stuff.
“Very good to not mark it,” he said, taking it.
“We were both in the Army, Gerald, and we both have a brain,” she said as she got Devin out of his swing.
Setting the stuff on the table, Gerald shook his head. “I’m shutting up now before I get my ass kicked,” he announced.
The others laughed as Michelle took Devin to the living room. “Well, you have a brain as well,” she called back.
Nelson moved over and showed Gerald the routes, and they sat and discussed which would be the best. Both were still looking at the routes an hour later when they heard shuffling footsteps enter the kitchen. “You two have a homework assignment due,” Matt said, entering the kitchen.
Not even looking up, Nelson popped off, “Dude, don’t even start.”
Heading to the fridge, Matt opened it and pulled out the pitcher of tea. “What has you spinning?” he asked, grabbing a glass from a cabinet.
“First, your daughter joined my daughter beating me in my sleep,” Nelson announced, finally looking up. “Then, your wife sleeps in my bed, and if that’s not weird enough, my wife helps strip you so you can sleep in my bed,” he said in disbelief. “I never believed I would ever say something like that.”
In the act of pouring a glass of tea, Matt froze then started chuckling. “Yeah, I have to admit that sounds next-level kinky,” he admitted, cutting his eyes at Nelson.
“You better?” Nelson asked, being serious.
After draining one glass of tea, Matt poured another. “I don’t even remember getting here,” he said, draining another glass.
Pushing his chair back, Nelson got up and went over to stand beside Matt. “Fifty hours without sleep will do that,” Nelson informed him.
With a sideways glance and a low voice, Matt asked, “Did you clear out the car?”
“Yeah,” Nelson said and saw relief wash over Matt.
“Any cops show up yet?” Matt asked.
“Should we be expecting company?” Nelson asked, getting a little worried.
Putting the tea back, Matt said, “I was supposed to be at work an hour ago. I tried to quit, but the chief wouldn’t take my resignation and said I had to come in, and I had no choice but to stay. Said it was part of my oath, and if we were ordered to do stuff by the feds, it was our job.”
“He’s from New York; what do you expect?” Nelson asked. “I put all the stuff from the car in a bag. It’s in the garage. Come on; I’ll show you.”
Following Nelson to the garage, Matt stopped by Ashley in the living room and kissed her. Waking into the garage and moving beside the gun safe, Nelson pointed at the plastic garbage bag. “Title and every piece of paper that was in the car are there along with the plates,” Nelson said as he punched in the code to the safe. Opening the door, he pointed at the two soft gun cases. “I trust these are what you were looking for?”
“Shit,” Matt said, getting scared and looking around.
“What, man?” Nelson said, seeing his reaction.
“My suitcase, and I had a large gear bag,” Matt said in a panic.
Nelson raised his hands and held them open in front of Matt. “Hey, calm down, man. They’re here,” Nelson said, and Matt sighed with relief. “Your suitcase is beside the door with the gear bag you carried in last night. The suitcase was in the trunk, and I carried it inside and put it there.”
“I carried the gear bag?”
Nelson shrugged. “Well, not really. You pulled it out of the trunk but couldn’t lift it, so I carried it and guided you inside.”
Leaning back against the trailer, Matt reached up and ran his hands over his head. “Man, I’ve never been so tired in my life,” he said.
“Matt, can I ask where you got those gun bags?” Nelson asked, and Matt looked up. “Hey man, don’t get mad. They were gun bags, and I just checked them out. If they had been yours, I wouldn’t have, but I didn’t recognize them.”
Giving Nelson a grin, Matt explained, “I’m not mad, brother. I just didn’t want you to know what was in them till we were away from here. It’s called aiding and abetting.”
“Trust me; that’s the least thing I can be charged with,” Nelson smirked.
Thinking of Nelson’s truck and trailer outside, Matt said, “Yeah, but still, brother.” But Nelson wasn’t thinking about the stuff from the store.
“From your reaction, I trust the gear bag and suitcase hold more shit you aren’t supposed to have?” Nelson asked.
Matt pushed off the trailer. “I’ll get them, and you get these, and I’ll meet you in the shop,” he said, pointing at the two soft gun cases. Curious, Nelson nodded and grabbed the two cases as Matt headed back inside.
Using the side door on the garage, Nelson carried the cases to the shop. He put them on the work bench and pulled the blinds on the windows as Matt came in carrying the suitcase and gear bag. “Matt, not meaning to be a nag, but where did you get them?” Nelson asked.
“I figured you would know,” Matt said, lifting the bags and putting them on the work bench. “From the dead feds. This is some of the stuff that was in their rooms.”
“Some of the stuff?” Nelson asked, shocked, looking at the two gun cases.
“You’ve looked in the gun cases, right?”
Nelson nodded. “Yeah, in one, it had an M-4A3 and a UMP-45.”
“Then you didn’t really look in it,” Matt said and stepped over to open one up. “They both have M-4s and UMP-45s. But they also have suppressors for each, three hand grenades, and six flash bangs,” Matt said, pulling out the stuff then grabbing more. “These magazines for the M-4 are API, the real armor-piercing incendiary ammunition, and the UMP magazines are loaded with hollow points. Then, each bag has the quad-eye night vision.”
Sucking in a breath as Matt pulled out the four-lens night vision system, Nelson’s heart started pounding. “Matt, that’s the latest generation. Only SOCOM are supposed to have those,” he said, feeling lightheaded. Then, he looked at the grenades and the API ammo. “What the hell do cops need with this shit?”
“Wait, son,” Matt said and opened the gear bag. Reaching in, he pulled out a dragon skin tactical vest. “If those boys would’ve been wearing these, that sniper wouldn’t have got them,” Matt said. “Whoever took them out knew what they were doing,” he added, laying down the dragon skin vest and pulling out a concealable vest.
“It’s a bulletproof vest,” Nelson said, looking at it.
“Yes, but this is the next generation. It uses the same principle as the dragon skin but with a new carbon polymer base. It will stop a 308, but whoever took them out kept hitting them. This is what the secret service and president wears,” he said.
Still feeling lightheaded, Nelson asked, “How many times were they hit?”
“All of them were hit more than three times. It looks like on the first shot the sniper got one right at the base of the neck, and the bullet passed through, hitting the agent in front
of him in the hip. The female agent was hit three times, but only one bullet actually penetrated at the top of her vest. It hit right above the top of the vest on her back and blew out her front, but the vest stopped the bullet from exiting. The fourth man was hit three times: once in his thigh, severing his femoral artery, and in the side where the vest curves in for arm movement. We think the sniper hung around and kept sending shots in till he found weak points. We found twenty empty shell cases,” Matt said, passing over the vest. “You don’t look good, dude.”
“Why in the hell would cops need this?” he asked again.
Not having an answer, Matt said, “I don’t know, but I have four dragon tactical vests and four of these concealable vests.” He reached in the bag. Nelson pulled up a stool as Matt laid out four radios with throat mics with a recharging station, a small laptop, and a waterproof case. He opened the case and pulled out a thermal spotting scope.
Turning from the stuff Matt laid out, Nelson looked at the four vests and started feeling his heart beat faster. It was only luck I had killed them, he thought. “Those vests do much to absorb the impact power?” he asked.
Matt pulled the suitcase over. “Yeah, but the detective said the female’s spine was broke, and the man next to her had his sternum shattered. I don’t know why the sniper just didn’t shoot them in the head,” Matt told him, opening the suitcase. “If you think this shit is wild, look at this.”
Laying four weird-looking grenades on the table, Nelson thought they were some type of smoke grenade, and then he remembered seeing pictures of them in the Army. “Holy shit, Matt, those are thermite grenades,” he said, jumping back.
“Yep,” Matt said, pulling out small, rectangular blocks and stacking them up. Stunned as Matt kept pulling them out, Nelson knew the damn case was heavy as hell. “You know what this is?” Matt asked.
Just staring at the stacked blocks, Nelson had to find his voice. “Yeah, C-4.”
“Each block is two pounds, and there are twenty blocks,” Matt said and pulled out a plastic box several inches thick and a foot wide by a foot long. “These are blasting caps with a remote detonator,” Matt said, putting the box down.
Forgotten Forbidden America: Rise of Tyranny Page 14