“Understood, Out.”
~~~
It took the F29s no time to get off the ground and within minutes they were at the President’s location. While three of them circled the site, the fourth destroyed the tractor-trailer rig. The F29 was designed for rough, short field landings, and two minutes after the truck was ripped apart by a missile, all four planes followed one another to the hard ground, taxiing right up to the concrete blockhouse. They emptied their load of techs and Rangers, then immediately took off.
The blockhouse contained alternate controls for the systems below. It had a heavily, reinforced steel door, but that proved no match for the shape charge placed by the Army Ranger. With only one hour to go, the computer technicians worked feverishly topside. When they finally established a contact, one of the technicians flipped a switch and asked, “Hello! Are you receiving?”
A voice answered, “Yes. Who are you?”
“Let’s say we’re the Cavalry to your rescue, working topside in the blockhouse to restore your computer systems.”
“That can’t be done,” a voice answered from deep below. “They’re fried. However you can switch control of our safety network to the computer up there. It will temporarily operate lights and elevators. We have fifty-eight minutes.”
By the time the operating system was working, they had used up twenty-five of those fifty-eight minutes.
~~~
In the compound, everyone moved to the corridors outside six elevators and divided into the group size that could be accommodated on each trip to the surface. President Lawson, the First Lady, and their daughter stood outside the huge freight elevator with twelve heavily armed Marines and three secret service agents armed with M 16s.
Suddenly, the door to the freight elevator opened, and the Secret Service hurriedly moved the Presidential party into the elevator, along with all the Marine guards. As the last of their group stepped through the doors, the button was pressed for the concrete blockhouse above. The thought hit the President that if the conspirators were dead set on eliminating him, why wouldn’t they plant a bomb under or above the elevator, just in case someone figured out how to get it working. He grabbed the telephone hanging on the wall and said, “Can anyone hear me?”
A voice answered, “This is Sergeant Davis. Who’s this?”
“President Lawson. Davis, is it possible to stop the elevator before it reaches floor level? Like maybe three feet below?”
“Yes Sir, but why?”
“I had a thought. There might be explosives planted to be set off by the elevator reaching the top.”
“Holy Shit! Sir, I’m going to stop your elevator now for just a sec.” As he spoke, the huge freight elevator jarred to a stop.
Minutes elapsed before Davis gave them the news.
“Sir. You were right. There was a shape charge set. I pulled the fuse out, and removed the charge off the guide rail, Sir. I’m going to bring you on up.”
Again, the car jarred into motion, and President Lawson felt a strange weakness in his knees. He trembled at the thought that he had almost killed not only himself, but his wife, his daughter, and everyone aboard. Thank God, the thought someone might have sabotaged the elevator came to mind. Never in his life had he known real, actual numbing fear, but now he felt a terror that he could not understand, and he wanted more than anything to get to the surface and out of this oversized coffin.
The second to the last Marine stepped off the elevator. Tony typed a command that sent it back to the bottom. Rangers were busy operating the elevators at other spots around the compound, and people were emerging through steel doors set at ground level. These doors opened from a stairway that rose from the last elevator stop some twenty feet below the surface. One of the other techs yelled. “Tony! Got one of the steel doors that didn’t open! Also, elevator five is half way up, but hit the blast door.”
“Send them back down! Get on the radio, and tell them to go to elevators four and two. We got exactly thirteen minutes, man! Tell them to run!”
The Marine guards had urged the President to run westward, even though he wanted to stay until all the people were safely out. Major Hayes ran alongside the President and his wife. “Mr. President, I can’t pick up the signal from Barry’s phone, because I don’t have the detector. General Parker would have sent a detector with his people, and they should be arriving shortly.”
The F29s swooped by overhead and circled them as air cover, flying slowly. It seemed the group had run an eternity when Major Hayes called a halt at the edge of a small dry creek bed, one of the few spots to afford any protection from the coming explosion. They’d dropped down into the creek bed a mere two minutes when a tremendous blast shook the ground under their feet. Peeking over the low embankment and through a small grove of spindly trees, they could see a huge cloud of smoke, dirt, and debris fill the air in the direction from which they ran.
Even as the President stood looking back toward the now destroyed compound, silently praying that everyone had gotten out okay, three military transport planes swooped by. The large planes turned and settled to the ground, bumped roughly back into the air several times, finally settling into a rough taxi toward their group. The secret service men and Marines surrounded the President with weapons at the ready. Major Hayes said, “It’s okay. They’re friendly.”
The Colonel bustled over. “Major, glad to see you’re all okay. That was quite a large explosion.” Then he noticed the President, stopped at attention and saluted.
Major Hayes motioned to the President, “Sir, I’d like for you to meet Colonel Johnson.”
As President Lawson reached out to shake the Colonel’s hand, Colonel Johnson said, “Mister President, you have a truly brave little boy. Is he here, Sir?”
Major Hayes answered, “We were waiting for you to get here with the locator. He should be close by.”
The Lieutenant who had followed along behind the Colonel said, “Sir, I have the tracking device, but it isn’t picking anything up.”
Colonel Johnson grabbed the small black device, turned if off, then back on. He walked to the highest point on the edge of the creek bank and slowly moved around in a circle. He retraced his steps. “I’m afraid the receiver was somehow damaged or disengaged. If Barry is within ten miles, we would pick up the signal.”
Then a radio crackled, “Colonel! We have subjects about fourteen miles up the dry creek bed from your position. Armed and in camouflage, Sir.”
“Not ours?”
“No, Sir.”
“Do they have a small boy with them?”
“Let me make another pass, Sir.”
The next couple of minutes seemed like an eternity to President Lawson. Then, the helicopter pilot, who had arrived about the time the transports showed, came back on the radio. “Sir, there is a small boy with them, and they have a man in uniform tied hand and foot.”
“You keep them from moving. We’re on our way. Have they fired at you?”
“No, Sir. In fact, they waved.”
Colonel Johnson barked orders at the Lieutenant, and he and fifteen men piled back aboard one of the transport planes; it rumbled along the rough terrain and climbed into the air. Some five minutes later, the lieutenant called on the radio. “Sir, they are a Montana Militia group. They have General Walker tied up like a hog. Inform the President the boy is okay.”
“Bring them all back here.”
When the transport plane landed, and Barry jumped out of the door, the President and the First Lady ran to him, his sister trailing behind. After bear hugs and tears of joy, the President finally returned, holding Barry’s hand.
“Major, it seems our little home away from home has been totally destroyed. Any suggestions where we might safely go to from here?” the President asked.
“We’ll go to a place few people know of, Sir. General Parker’s compound. You’ll be able to control things from there. We have a huge com center and connections to most parts of the world.”
�
�How is it that I knew nothing of it?”
“Sir, there are many things of which you might be unaware. There were people who weren’t sure they could trust anyone in government. If you’ll forgive the language, they’ll sure as hell know they can trust you now, Mister President. I’d like to talk to General Walker if you don’t mind, Sir. I mean alone, Sir.”
President Lawson stared him in the eyes for a moment, and then he understood and slowly nodded. “I’m going to meet with those good ole Montana boys and thank them for their help while you take care of business.”
Major Hayes and the President walked over to where the Montana Freemen, as they called themselves, sat on the ground by the plane, their various weapons laying across their laps. General Walker sat in a sling type seat on the side of the cargo bay, his feet and hands securely bound. The Major asked two of the Rangers guarding Walker to free his feet and bring him outside. “General, let’s take a walk.” His hand rested on the nine-millimeter weapon in its OD canvas holster. General Walker looked from Haye’s eyes down to his holster and back again but strode ahead of Hayes, knowing what was about to happen at the ravine.
After they’d cleared ear shot of the group around the planes, Major Hayes asked, “You want to tell me why you turned traitor?”
Walker didn’t answer.
“You are going to give me names.”
“I only had one name to contact. Senator Sharp. That son-of-a-bitch told me I’d completed my job and to go to hell. After all I’d done for the bastard he left me out here on my own.” Walker turned and looked at Hayes. “I don’t know where he is. Here take my phone and track that bastard down,” he spit out. “Hayes, let’s get this over with.” Walker turned and walked farther away from the group.
It was some ten minutes before the group heard two shots. Then another ten minutes until Major Hayes walked up the side of the ravine and back to the President. “Sir, I believe we should be on our way.”
President Lawson smiled slightly and said, “Yes. I agree. We took a roll call, and it seems everyone made it okay. I assume General Walker preferred to stay?”
Major Hayes only answer was a grin as they made their way to the waiting transport.
Once in the air, Barry chatted like a magpie. “I ran a good mile and made the call to General Parker, and then General Walker pulled up real fast in the pickup. I tried to run but tripped and fell and he grabbed me. I’d dropped the phone when I fell and Walker saw it and shot a hole through it. He tied my hands and put me in the truck and drove off. Walker had a phone and talked to someone and told them he had me with him. I don’t think they were happy to hear that because he cussed at them and said he had plans for me. A few miles away I saw some men on horses, and I screamed for help. The General looked to see who I was shouting at and drove off into a gully and got stuck. He started shooting at the militia. I jumped out of the truck and ran down the gully, because I didn’t want to get shot. Soon the firing stopped and a man rode up on a horse and told me I was safe. I told the Montana leader who General Walker was, and what all he’d done. The Montana men were bringing me back to the compound when all the airplanes started arriving.”
Major Hayes took it all in, and when Barry finished his story, he said, “You know, Barry, when this is all over, I think the President should award you some kind of hero’s medal. If there ever was a hero, you are it.”
Barry smiled and answered, “Heck, Major, the President’s my dad. Wouldn’t people think that was silly if he gave his own son a medal?” Barry giggled at the thought.
The President had tears in his eyes. He wrapped his arm around his son . . . proud of him, as if Barry had won a large battle single-handed. In fact, he had.
~ 13 ~
At General Parker’s headquarters in Washington State:
The compound was quite spacious, but sparse, created with the idea in mind of housing military personnel. At noon, nearly three hundred troops on the Cincinnati train had arrived, along with all their weapons and gear. The transports bringing the military from Montana arrived at last light. Even without the additional personnel from the Presidential compound, they were nearly filled to capacity. When word spread that the President’s entourage was moving inside the headquarters. The regular military and troops from the train volunteered to camp outside, joining a sizable perimeter guard camp already there. A large sea of military tents could be seen from the entrance of the old mine. A plan for winter housing of the troops was to start immediately.
The President was supremely happy to see General Parker. He grabbed Parker’s hand and shook it vigorously. “General, Thank God you were in contact with Major Hayes. We’d all be dead right now if it hadn’t been for you sending help so fast. We were down to minutes to live.”
“On the contrary, Sir. I cannot take the credit. Your son saved your lives. How in the world did he get outside to make the call?
“Barry climbed hundreds of feet up a fresh air vent pipe to get outside. He is quite the little soldier. He used his head when kidnapped by General Walker and got help from the Montana Militia.”
“That is amazing. By the way, where is your son, Sir? I’d like to shake his hand. He’s a brave young man.”
They turned toward the crowded room and spotted the First Lady and the President’s children, who were talking to the General’s wife and his two daughters. When the President finally caught Barry’s eye, he waved him over.
“Barry, I’d like for you to meet Major General Parker, the man you spoke to on the phone.” The President’s pride was obvious as he looked at his son.
The boy smiled and extended his hand to General Parker. “It’s good to meet you in person, Sir, although I did see you at the White House some months ago. I was sure glad to hear your voice on that phone. I was so afraid I couldn’t get you and the compound would blow up.”
“Son, I hope your father has a medal reserved for you. You certainly deserve it. That was a very brave thing you did. I don’t think many kids your age would have the guts and courage to do what you did. I’m proud to know you. Barry I think you have what it takes to become a great military man.”
Barry glanced over at the General’s younger daughter and said rather shyly, “I did what needed to be done, Sir. I was scared to death, but please don’t tell anyone.” He grinned at this admission and ducked his head.
The General lowered his voice. “Well then it will stay our secret. Barry, go over and tell my wife I said to set you and your sister up with a room. It won’t be fancy but you’ll have a place to sleep.” When Barry skipped off, General Parker turned to the President. “Sir, would you like to join me in our control center? I’ll brief you on everything we have available and what contacts we have around the country. We are still waiting for word from several units.”
The two men walked down a long hallway made out of solid rock and the President asked, “How could all of this have been done without my knowledge or anyone’s knowledge for that matter? I mean these headquarters you have here. I’m impressed to say the least. The amount of planning must have taken awhile and you’ve spent a lot of time and money on this place. I’m surprised the press hadn’t got a leak and splashed it as headlines in the morning papers. Did the previous President know about any of this?”
“Mister President, there are a number of Military Units all around the country that have created safe places on their own and . . .” he chuckled softly, then continued,“. . . and I must confess, with help from government supplies. I’ll have to admit that your predecessor had no knowledge of this headquarters or any of the units scattered across the county. We are a select few thousand solders and well vetted. Looks like all our planning has paid off. Not one leak in all this time. I’d say we have a bunch of very dedicated soldiers working for us.”
“Well, however it was done . . . I’m grateful.” Lawson glanced around, then asked, “Do you have any idea who might be behind this overthrow or take over?”
“As a matter of fact, yes I do
. Some of our jets on patrol forced a chopper down about ten miles out. The passengers were brought here, and you’ll be interested in what they have to say. Believe it or not we lucked out. This one lady has a handle on who, what, and why to all of this. Her story is interesting to say the least. I’ll get them in here right now, if you’d like.”
“Call them in . . . because I’m anxious to know what’s going on and what to expect. Ever who their master mind is, is one damn intelligent person.”
Five minutes later, a Marine escorted the group from the helicopter into the control center. “Mister President, these folks are, among other things, an airline pilot, co-pilot, a Major in the Army, and a few of their friends. They can introduce themselves, but I’d especially like to introduce you to Ms. Marcia Lane. I think you’ll be quite interested in what she can tell you.”
Marcia stood behind some of the others, so the President had taken no special notice of her. But when she stepped to the front, he had to force himself not to gulp. My God, was a woman that good looking safe around some eleven or twelve hundred soldiers? The jumpsuit she wore fit every curve and crevice of her slim body and left absolutely nothing to the imagination.
Marcia wasn’t nervous, or didn’t show it, as she shook President Lawson’s hand. “What an honor to meet you, Sir.” Her smile could have melted concrete at a hundred yards.
General Parker did his best to hide his smile at the President’s reaction. He’d had the same reaction himself. “Sir, you and Miss Lane can use the adjoining office and talk in private. It’s this way.” He ushered them into the small room. “I’ll have some drinks brought in,” he said as he closed the door.
Patriots Awakening Page 17