Forgotten Forbidden America: Rise of Tyranny

by Thomas A. Watson

  Pulling out several more hand grenades and laying them on the table, Matt reached back in the case. “Jesus Christ, Matt, how much more shit is in there?” Nelson cried out.

  Stopping, Matt looked up. “You should’ve seen the stuff I left,” he declared.

  “And your buddies on the force were okay with the feds having this kind of shit?” Nelson said, waving his hand across the table.

  Stepping back from the table, Matt said, “No, they aren’t, but the chief isn’t going to say anything. They had four AT-4 rocket launchers and two sniper rifles set up better than yours, not including the claymore mines.”

  Jumping off his stool with wide eyes, Nelson started panting, and Matt jumped back, startled by the sudden move. “They are getting ready to start a war, placing supplies at strategic locations before anyone suspects it,” Nelson gasped.

  “That’s what I think,” Matt agreed.

  Nelson looked up at Matt. “How did you get this, and does anyone know?” he asked, wanting to grab the shit and pack everyone up right now.

  “I helped another officer empty the room, and my squad car was parked by the evidence van. I could only get a few loads because someone was usually beside the van. No one saw me throw the stuff in my car if that’s what you’re asking. The stuff in the room wasn’t inventoried before being taken out; they were going to do that down at the station, and you’re the only one that knows I took it,” Matt said.

  “Okay,” Nelson said, relived. “We need Nancy to look at the computer and let Gerald see this.”

  Matt jumped toward him, getting in Nelson’s face. “Are you fucking insane?”

  “Matt, the computer could have a tracker on it, and Gerald needs to see what was here in Springfield,” Nelson tried to explain using a calm voice, hoping to calm Matt down.

  “We’ll burn the computer, and we can tell Gerald at the farm,” Matt snapped, shaking his head. “Dude, I stole evidence from the government, and all this shit is so illegal I’m heading for a firing squad.”

  “Matt—”

  Matt pushed Nelson’s hands out of the way. “Dude, don’t even try to justify letting others know while we are still here. The shit you stole from the store doesn’t mean shit compared to this stuff, Nelson. They will kill me and my family. Hell, just because you know, you’re just as dead as I am, and you want the others to know,” he said, agitated, frothing at the mouth.

  “Calm down,” Nelson said, sitting back down on his stool. Matt took a breath to start. “Matt, calm down. This isn’t helping, and if you don’t want to say anything, we won’t, but calm down and listen please,” Nelson begged.

  Taking a few deep breaths, Matt nodded. “Okay,” he said in a calmer voice.

  “First, we can’t destroy the computer till we know what’s on it. What if it has their plans on how they are going to do this and what areas are their priorities? Hell, it may have information we can’t even think of,” Nelson said, pointing at the laptop.

  “It’s turned off,” Matt said with hope.

  “Yeah, like that makes a difference,” Nelson said. “Look, we may be able to use a computer, but we are by no means experts, and Nancy is.”

  Giving a snort, Matt said, “Yeah, like she can tell us.”

  “Oh, she can,” Nelson said. “She does shit like look in the defense department databases for malware and hacks into computers for fun. I can guarantee you that most of the information Gerald got, she got it for him. Hell, he’s even admitted she hacked the NSA.”

  “Yeah, he did say that,” Matt agreed. “But man, if we are stopped and someone gets nervous and squeals, we are dead.”

  “Matt, if we get stopped, we’re dead anyway. When they look in my truck, they will kill us.”

  Closing his eyes, Matt shook his head. “Nelson, it’s easy for you, man. You didn’t steal this shit.”

  “Like you said, I’m just as guilty for knowing, and you did an excellent job getting this,” Nelson said.

  “Man, I haven’t even told Ashley,” Matt said.

  “Matt, sit down,” Nelson said, pointing at a stool.

  “I can stand,” he said, looking at the stuff on the table.

  “Please, Matt, sit down,” Nelson said, still pointing at the stool. With a long sigh, Matt climbed on the stool and looked at Nelson. “You’re not the only one doing shit to protect us. I have, and so has Gerald.”

  “You two didn’t steal federal equipment that would label you as a terrorist,” he answered.

  “You’re right. I didn’t, but I stole tons of stuff literally from the store, and you swore you would never say anything,” Nelson said.

  “And I never will because I did it for the same reason you did; we need this stuff,” Matt said.

  “Yes we do,” Nelson said. “What would it take for you to turn one of our group in to the authorities?”

  With a chuckle, Matt slapped his leg. “Dude, there is no way I would do that. Even when we start fighting back, racking up body counts,” he smiled, chuckling, but saw Nelson’s face set in stone.

  “I’m serious; what would it take?” Nelson asked.

  The laughter left Matt’s face. “I would say the life of my family, but if it was down to that, we would already be dead because as soon as I gave them what they wanted, my family would die,” Matt admitted in a low voice, looking down. “To answer your question, nothing because I know if they had me, all of you would keep my family safe. I can’t tell you I could last forever under torture, but I would try.”

  “That’s what the others feel, Matt,” Nelson said, glad at his answer. “What I tell you and you tell me stays between us unless we—and that means both of us—agree to tell the others. Agreed?”

  “Yeah, man,” Matt said, looking up. “That’s a given.”

  “I killed those federal agents last night,” Nelson said in a calm voice.

  Laughter erupted from Matt’s mouth as he slapped his leg again. “Oh man, that was a good one,” he howled then looked at Nelson and saw his face was serious, and Matt froze in mid-laugh and sat up straight. “You’re serious and not fucking with me?”

  Nelson cleared his throat. “I shot off the top of a semi-trailer across the street just over three hundred yards. Their SUV parked, facing me, and all of them got out at the same time and walked in a box toward the hotel. The female agent was on the left back corner and was the second one shot. I didn’t know they had super body armor, but I figured they had body armor. I just kept shooting till I saw blood and their movements started getting weaker. There were no cameras on my side of the street, but I counted four overlooking the hotel parking lot and two at the door. Only one pulled his gun, and it was the agent walking in front of the female, but he never got a chance to use it. When I hit him in the chest, he dropped it,” Nelson said with a calm face set in stone.

  Matt’s breathing started getting rapid as his face paled. “Holy shit,” he whispered.

  “You’re not the only one doing illegal shit, Matt. I’m still way ahead of you,” Nelson said calmly. “Now, whose life is in whose hands?”

  “Nelson,” Matt said, getting off the stool and stepping toward him. “I would never say anything, and if I would’ve known, I would’ve helped. They were going to start arresting the owners of the smaller gun stores and pawn shops and ship them to detention camps. I was briefed on it.”

  “I didn’t tell you because like you. I didn’t want you to have knowledge that could implicate you,” Nelson said.

  “Have you told anyone else?” Matt asked.

  “Yeah, Michelle knows,” Nelson said.

  “And she didn’t beat you?” Matt asked, amazed.

  “Nah,” Nelson said. “She understood, and even if she didn’t, she would never say anything. Remember, we may be the only married couple in America that has been in combat together.”

  He shook his head. “She’s really been in combat?” he asked. “Not just in a combat zone but under fire?”

  “She has eleven confir
med kills, but I can tell you it’s a lot more,” Nelson said, looking away. “You can ask her about them, but she may not say much.”

  Feeling awkward, Matt asked, “You two see the faces off the people you’ve killed?”

  “No,” Nelson said truthfully. “You see the friends who died beside you.”

  The answer seemed to calm Matt. “I know Gerald was Army, and I like him and trust him, but are you sure?”

  “Only one way to find out,” Nelson said, getting off the stool. “Let’s tell him.”

  After thinking about it, Matt got off the stool and nodded. “Okay.”

  “Can I give you a piece of advice?” Nelson said, heading for the door.

  “Sure,” Matt said.

  “Let’s get the wives in here as well.”

  Matt stopped. “Are you going to say anything about the agents?”

  “If you want me to,” Nelson offered.

  Matt nodded. “If you wouldn’t mind. I’ve tried to tell Ashley we were going to have to kill before this was over to protect ourselves.”

  “You think she can handle this?” Nelson asked.

  “Oh, I’m sure she can handle it, but I want her to know this isn’t going to end in a few days,” Matt said. “Thank you for letting me and my wife sleep in your bed.”

  “Welcome, and I don’t even care what you did because I won’t be sleeping in it again.” Nelson smiled and walked out.

  In the house, Nelson asked Nellie if she would watch the kids for a minute so they could go outside, and when it was over, Michelle would tell her what was talked about. True to nature, Nellie shooed all the adults out.

  When Nelson led them into the shop, Gerald froze, looking at the table, and Michelle stepped up to it. “Nelson, I swear to God, if you hit an armory before we are even in our safe zone or telling me about it, I’m shooting you in the kneecaps,” she said, turning and dropping her hand to her pistol.

  Instinctively, Nelson backed up and held his hands up, seeing the look in Michelle’s eyes. “Hey, hold on—”

  “HEY!” Matt yelled.

  Michelle jumped and looked at Matt. “He’s already cut me out of the loop once, so butt out,” she snapped at him.

  “Michelle, I took this!” Matt yelled, and her hand fell off her pistol in shock.

  “Matt!” Ashley yelled. “What are you doing?”

  “Everyone hold on,” Matt said, holding up his hands for quiet. He then gave a run-down version of how he took the stuff, and Ashley got paler than normal. “Baby, we have no choice. You read the action reports that those agents were going to run today. This came from them, and they had way more than this. They are here for a war, baby.”

  “Shit—” Gerald started and Nelson threw up a hand.

  “Hold on there, buckaroo. I’m next,” Nelson said, stepping up to the table. He leaned over, looking at Ashley. “Remember last night when you came here you were certain every person in town was out to kill you and your family because Matt had helped them?” Nelson asked, and Ashley nodded.

  “Nelson,” Michelle said, stepping up to the table.

  “Michelle,” Nelson said, looking at her. “If this group can’t trust one another, then we won’t make it. We are going to face combat, and you know if you don’t trust the one beside you, more of your people die.”

  Not liking it but agreeing with what he said, Michelle nodded, and Nelson looked back at Ashley. “Remember I told you that you had nothing to worry about?” Nelson asked, and she nodded. “You didn’t need to worry because I’m the one that shot those feds.”

  Ashley turned white as Gerald chuckled. “Damn, I’m glad I agreed with Bernard about you two. What you two are doing is what it’s going to take to survive this,” he said.

  Not knowing how to respond, Nelson looked over at Nancy, who was just looking at the stuff on the table. Her expression was one of boredom. “Nancy, are you okay with what’s been said?” Nelson asked.

  “Yeah, I know what they’re planning and what they’re going to do to people. If you think giving a few feds a dirt nap and stealing some federal stuff is going to shock me, you’re forgetting who my brother is,” she said nonchalantly.

  “Gerald, your sister rocks,” Matt grinned and walked over to Ashley, who wasn’t sheet-white anymore but still pale. “Baby, are you okay?” he asked, holding her.

  “Yeah, I understand now that it won’t be over soon, but the sooner people fight, the sooner it will be over,” she said in a soft voice, and Matt hugged her tighter for understanding.

  Glad everyone was onboard, Nelson asked, “Nancy, can you check out that computer? I’m sure it has a locater in it.”

  “Of course it’s got a locater and I’m sure a sleeper locater,” she said like he was stupid. “Before you ask, I built many of those for the government, and I don’t need the password.”

  “Hey, I was just asking. No need to get snippy,” Nelson said, and Gerald turned to her.

  “You were very rude, sis,” he told her in a gruff voice.

  “Sorry, I didn’t mean to be,” Nancy said with a sigh and a slight blush creeping up on her cheeks. “The locator will be an actual radio transmitter, but it only has a limited range, around thirty miles, but it’s very accurate. The sleeper program actually waits till the computer is in use and tries to call home. It will use the net, cell towers, blue tooth, and I see that one has a satellite card, so it will try to use that as well.”

  “But you can make those go away?” Nelson asked.

  “Easily,” she said confidently.

  “Not doubting you, but can you do it here so if by chance they have something extra they don’t find the farm?” Nelson asked.

  “I’ll just take the hard drive then hack it and do a program search,” she said.

  “Okay,” Nelson said, not really understanding what she meant. “Gerald, Matt, and I think the stuff the agents had was to start a war. Any groups that fought back would’ve been dealt with.”

  “Close enough, but some of those agents were contractors with this equipment. I’m sure they will be staging raids and blaming them on people that got their savings taken,” he said.

  “We leave at dark,” Nelson stated because it wasn’t open to discussion.

  “I’ll take lead, and you bring up the rear,” Gerald said, looking at Nelson.

  “No,” Nelson said. “I’ll let you lead, but I’ll be second with Michelle behind me then Nellie in my Blazer with Matt bringing up the rear.” Gerald looked confused, so Nelson clarified. “I know your background, but I know I’ll shoot if there’s a road block, and I know for a fact Michelle will as well. The most likely place to attack a convoy is at the head. If for some reason they do come from behind, Matt and Ashley can deal with them.”

  Gerald gave a hurt expression.

  “Believe me, my brother won’t hesitate to squeeze the trigger,” Nancy stated. “He shot two U.N. officers on the way here.”

  “Okay, you can stay in the front,” Nelson said.

  “Let’s pack up Matt’s toys,” Gerald said, moving to the table.

  “Hold on,” Matt said, walking up. He handed Nelson and Gerald each one of the dragon skin tactical vests. Then, he handed each of the women the concealable body armor, explaining how advanced it was.

  Then, Matt zipped up one of the gun cases and handed it to Nelson. “Here,” he said.

  “You’re serious?” Nelson asked, grinning.

  “Dude, you’ve given me rifles, pistols, bows, hunting gear, and lots of other stuff. Not including helping Ashley and I out with money. I’m giving you some of the weapons I stole,” he said with a grin.

  “Thanks,” Nelson said, taking the bag.

  “You mind if I take the explosive?” Gerald asked.

  “Shit if I want it, you can have it.” Matt said, making Gerald grin.

  “I don’t have any wireless detonators,” Gerald said, packing the stuff then stopped and pulled out a spool of yellow cord. “You do know what this is, right?”
he asked Matt. Michelle and Nelson wanted to answer. Matt shook his head. “It’s det-cord, several hundred feet.”

  Matt shrugged. “Thought it was fancy rope,” he admitted.

  They went back in the house, and Ashley gathered the kids as Michelle told Nellie what was said. Nellie was glad Nelson had killed those agents and told Michelle so, which really shocked her.

  The others were in the living room and kitchen as the men adjusted the dragon skin tactical vests. Nelson had a tactical vest with ceramic plates, but it wasn’t dragon skin. He took all his pouches off and put them on the dragon skin. When he finished, he put the old one back in his bag.

  He inspected the new weapons as he had never shot a UMP. Grabbing the suppressor, he threaded it on and opened the stock. An EoTech sight rested on the top, and a fore grip was attached under the barrel with a flashlight and laser on the side rails. Liking the weight of the weapon, he went over the workings then put it back.

  When he pulled out the M-4 carbine to inspect it, Gavin came over. “Dad, are those machine guns?” he asked in wonder.

  “Yes they are, son,” he said, showing Gavin the selector switches. Gavin watched his dad inspect the rifle, which was set up just like the one he was carrying only shorter and was fully automatic. The other difference was the M-4 had a swivel magnifier in front of the EoTech sight. Nelson pulled out the suppressor and threaded it on the barrel. He liked the M-4 from his time in the service, especially when getting in and out of vehicles, but had grown accustomed to his AR-15’s sixteen-inch barrel. Those two inches did a lot for accuracy.

  Putting the M-4 up, Nelson grabbed his rifle and headed for the door. “Want to help Daddy?” he asked, looking at Gavin.

  “Yes, sir,” he said with a smile and followed. They headed for Nelson’s truck, and he unlocked the door and opened up the back. Gavin gasped, seeing all the stuff. “Wow,” he said.

  Not able to help it, Nelson smiled as he dug out eight NV monoculars, three thermal monoculars, and the thermal binoculars. Then, he stacked as many as he could in Gavin’s arms and carried the rest. Everyone looked at them when they entered and carried the boxes to the kitchen.