Drone Wars 1: The Beginning

by Mike Whitworth

  "I hadn't thought of it quite like that," Leon said. "I can see your point though. I think part of the problem was when the federal government legalized lobbying. It is just legalized bribery, nothing more. If you or I did a fraction of what our congressmen do, we would go to jail.”

  "You are correct again," I replied. "Our elected representatives, our employees if you will, have used our money to remove themselves from our control. What's worse, the Department of Interior Security has purchased several billion hollow point bullets. The United States of America has not been invaded on their watch; nor have terrorists attacked in any manner that requires the use of firearms by the DIS. The only thing that most of us can figure is that they plan on using all those bullets, and all the firearms they recently purchased, on Americans who disagree with the current administration."

  "I hadn't heard about that before," Peggy said.

  "I'm afraid there will be a revolution upon us, and we will not even be required to fire the first shot," Leon said.

  "There are preparations underway by a significant number of people in this country for just such an eventuality," I said. "The problem right now is the people have little organization."

  "I look for the first overt moves against people who openly disagree with the current administration's policies to begin within a few weeks of the government seizing complete control of the Internet. I don't think this administration will be content to use only secret assassinations. I think they want complete tyranny."

  "That makes sense," Leon said. "Without the ability to communicate, developing an organized resistance will be difficult. If the government manages to take our guns, the people who oppose the current regime, the majority of the working citizens of this country, will be massacred.”

  "What I don't understand," Peggy said, "is why the American people are not already up in arms about the drone strikes by our government in countries like Pakistan? These strikes don't just kill enemies of the state; they kill innocent civilians, men, women, and children. If it were our children being killed, I think we, as Americans, would march on Washington, D.C. and hang the people who killed our children.”

  Peggy looked at me, "John, I have been thinking about this for some time now. I understand why you want to kill the people that murdered your wife. What I am having trouble understanding is why, before all this happened, I was able to put most of what I read about the overseas drone strikes completely out of my mind. I guess I thought it was just someone else's problem. Now, I realize that it's everyone's problem."

  "Evil is every decent person's problem no matter where they live, no matter in which country they reside. If evil wins, the good people of the world lose. Our government is evil. No matter how many times we have been told what they do is for the good of our country, no matter how many times we've been told that they know best what is good for us, no matter how many times they tell us that they're looking out for us, we should never believe their lies."

  "I believe that she has woken up," Leon said.

  "Yes," I said, "waking up for most of us has been much slower process than what Peggy was forced to go through. The problem that we currently face in this country is, even if we, as individuals, are awake, we are not well enough organized to remove the evil from our government."

  "I hope that will change soon," Leon said.

  "Some of us are working on it right now," I replied. "We have suffered a bit of a setback. That's why we knocked on your door. But, I believe that we will ultimately be successful at removing the evil from our country, or die trying.”

  "You have my support," Leon said. "What can I do to help?"

  "We don't want to put you in any danger," I replied.

  "Let me worry about that, John. Like I said, I'm 76 years old. My wife passed away five years ago, and we don't have much in the way of family. I haven't heard from our son for 11 years. He lives out in California somewhere."

  "Okay, Leon," I said, "We need some help getting back to a safe location. I am afraid that if you simply drive us to that location, that the federal surveillance analysts will, sooner or later, identify you. That will put you in danger. I think the feds want Peggy and me so badly that they would torture you to find out anything that you might know."

  Peggy said, "It would not be fair if anything happens to you, Leon."

  "You said there will be people searching for you and Peggy. You think they will expand their search from the beach."

  "Yes, I do."

  "Then, we are wasting time," Leon said. "Let's get out of here."

  Leon quickly packed a small suitcase, mostly with pictures, and we went to his car. Leon carefully checked the street for observers and the sky for drones before we got in the car. Peggy got into the drivers seat. Leon got in the front passenger seat. I lay down on the back seat with the shotgun. Apparently, the shotgun was the only firearm Leon had. He said his prepping budget was not big enough for an arsenal.

  Peggy backed out of the driveway, and we headed deeper into the neighborhood. Leon showed her the way. He said he knew a back way that would take us all the way to Highway 49 and keep us out of Gulfport. Highway 49 ran north through Hattiesburg close to where we needed to go. Leon also said that there were unlikely to be many surveillance cameras along the route because of the low population. Leon had lived in the area all of his life and told interesting stories of how the landscape had changed since he was a boy hunting in the local fields and swamps that were now covered by subdivisions.

  Once we were on Highway 49, we made good time. Peggy kept the car about five miles an hour below the speed limit. There was almost no traffic. It wasn't quite daylight yet. I was worried about possible roadblocks, since Highway 49 was a major route in the area. I asked Peggy to be alert for anything like that ahead. I was particularly worried because Highway 49 N. passes right past a large National Guard training site, Camp Shelby, just south of Hattiesburg. I thought that would be a good place to set up a roadblock. It turned out I was right.

  We topped the hill and saw the flashing lights in the road ahead of us. It appeared to be just two police cars. I figured that meant that the feds had no idea where we really were, and this was a just in case roadblock.

  "Should we try to go through the roadblock?” Peggy asked.

  "Leon, is there a way around the roadblock?” I asked.

  "I don't think so, John," Leon said. "I don't think there's any way for us to get off the highway now without them seeing us turn off."

  "I guess we go through them," I said. "Here is what we are going to do."

  We stopped briefly alongside the road. I took the shotgun and got into the trunk. We left the trunk lid open, and I held it down with one hand. Then, we drove toward the roadblock again. Peggy stopped the car and leaned out as one of the officers approached. "What's the problem, officers?” She asked. When the officers got close to the car, Leon started coughing very loudly and choking. That drew both officers’ attention and I slipped out of the trunk as Peggy said, "Dad, what's wrong?"

  That's when I pointed the shotgun at the officers who were standing about two feet apart on Peggy's side of the car. They were both Mississippi State Highway Patrol. They were not feds. "Just who are you boys looking for?” I asked as I raised the shotgun and pointed it at their heads.

  The one on the right started to reach for his pistol. I said, "Please don't do that. I will kill both of you if you do."

  "You can't get away," The other officer said as they both raised their hands above their heads.

  "Don't you worry about that," I smiled.

  Leon stopped coughing and got out of the car. He walked behind the two officers and, one by one, took their pistols.

  "Please check for backup pieces.” I said. Leon smiled and put the pistols in his back pockets. Then, Leon frisked both officers. Neither was carrying a backup piece.

  Leon walked around the car and stood beside me. He now had a gun in each hand. They were pointed at the highway patrol officers.

&nbs
p; Peggy slid over, and got out on the passenger side of Leon's car and walked towards the patrol cars. She got into each one in turn and turned off the radios and the cameras. She then walked around beside the two officers, out of the line of fire, and said. "Hand me your lapel cams, please boys, one at a time.” They did as she asked. Peggy then turned the lapel cams off and tossed them onto the seat of one of the patrol cars.

  "There's more cars headed our way," Leon said, pointing to the lights flashing in the distance along the highway to the south.

  "OK, Officers," I said gesturing at the officers. "Please get into our car.” They both got into the back seat. Peggy got behind the wheel, and Leon got in the front seat after handing me one of the pistols and turned and pointed a pistol at the officers. I squeezed in the back with the officers after putting the shotgun in the trunk. Peggy then drove us out of there. We made it past Camp Shelby and then took a side road out into the woods just south of Hattiesburg. Peggy stopped the car, and I asked the two officers to get out. They got out with their hands in the air. Leon was already out of the car and covering them. I got out and did the same.

  "Do you know who you were looking for?” I asked.

  "The feds said we are supposed to be on the lookout for five people. Two of you fit the descriptions we were given."

  "What did the feds tell you about why we are wanted?” I asked.

  "They said you were terrorists who are plotting to kill the president," the taller of the two said.

  "Well, I'll be," I said. "They got that right about wanting to kill the president, in my case anyway."

  "Then you guys are terrorists?” The other officer asked.

  "Only to the evil bastards in our government," I said. "We do not want to harm any citizens."

  "Why?” The taller of the two asked. I was surprised by these two. They were more intelligent than most of the cops I knew, especially the taller one.

  Leon spoke up, "I was 16 when my father let me enlist in the military. I fought in Korea. I was wounded and awarded a Purple Heart. I was promoted to Captain before I retired. I swore to uphold the United States Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic. That is what I am doing now. The current administration is decimating our Constitution and our civil rights. They are also murdering American citizens right here on U.S. soil."

  "No way," the shorter of the two highway patrol officers said. "There is no way our government would kill Americans here at home."

  "Yes they are," Peggy said. She quickly summarized her story, and mine, and described how the feds tried to kill us with hellfire missiles just yesterday afternoon out on the Gulf.

  "Gentlemen," I said when Peggy had finished, "we are going to leave you here. We have no beef against you, and I hope you hold no hard feelings."

  "I don't know how we will explain this," the shorter one said. "It might get us fired."

  "If you want to stay safe," I suggested, "don't repeat any of what we told you to the feds. Other than that, feel free to tell it any way you like."

  The taller officer said, "We heard reports of explosions out in the Gulf yesterday afternoon. No one seems to know what caused them. The feds have the entire area cordoned off right now.” He looked at me, "Do you give me your word that what you have told me is true?"

  "Yes, I do," I said.

  "I believe you," he said. "I don't want to, but I do."

  "I don't," the other officer said.

  "I wouldn't have believed it either just a week ago," Peggy said. "Then, the feds tried to kill me with a drone and ground hounds."

  "I have heard rumors of those ground hounds. I thought it was just conspiracy theory bullshit," the taller cop said.

  "They were news to me just this morning," Leon said.

  The shorter officer looked at the other officer, "Fred, do you really believe these folks?” He asked.

  "I am afraid I do," Fred said, "and that scares me."

  "It scares me too," I said. "More than you could know."

  Fred stepped forward and offered me his hand. I shifted the pistol to my left hand and shook his hand. He had a strong, honest grip. "Good luck," he said. "And I can't believe I said that. I feel like I am being disloyal to my country."

  "No, Son," Leon said. "You are a loyal American. It is the evil men and women in Washington who are not loyal to America."

  "This is crazy, just fucking crazy," The other officer said.

  "I agree," Peggy replied. "You have no idea how much I wish everything was back to normal."

  We left them standing there beside the road as dawn began to break over the trees. Fred waved. Leon waved back. Peggy was driving and didn't notice. I tossed their pistols out of the rear window about fifty yards from them. We were out of sight around a bend in the road before they got to them.

  "Leon," I said, "I am afraid it will be too dangerous for you to go home now.

  "That's OK, John. This is the most fun I have had in years. Besides, the doctor diagnosed me with colon cancer a while back and he said I don't have very much time left. It is stage III, and I don't want chemo or an operation. I guess I am still prepping just from habit."

  Peggy looked shocked.

  "Well then, I will enjoy your company," I said.

  "Me too," Peggy agreed. "And we will look after you, too."

  "Aw, I don't need no lookin' after. I am a tough old codger, you know."

  I could see the tears start flowing down Peggy's cheek. For some reason I was delighted that she cared. Far too few people did these days.

  We made our way back to Hattiesburg by back roads and guess. We found Hattiesburg as much by luck, as by good direction. I knew we needed another vehicle, but I had no way of arranging one. It was too dangerous to drive the one we were in, and it was too far to walk, especially since Peggy and I were still barefoot. It made me think about ways to avoid this problem in the future—at least, if we could get to safety without being caught.

  For once we were lucky. We stopped at a big box store on the south side of town, and Leon bought some spray paint. He said that he didn't think anyone would be looking for him because he didn't think the two highway patrol officers would identify us to the feds. Outside of town, we sprayed Leon's old car with rust preventing paint, the dirty-looking red kind. When we were done, it looked like a ratty old car instead of a well-maintained classic. Once the paint job was done, Leon took a tire iron out of the trunk and started smashing in one of the fenders. I caught his hand after the first blow.

  "Leon, we can get your car repainted. This isn't necessary."

  "Yes, it is, John," he replied. "This old car needs to look completely different.” I backed off and let him continue. Soon, at Leon's request, Peggy took over. When they were done, the car looked nothing like it had before. We even covered the tag and much of the car with mud.

  "Leon," I said, "you kept that car like it was your pride and joy."

  "Yes, it was," Leon said, "but liberty is far more important. I am an old man who most likely won't live to see this battle through. Please let me do what I can."

  Peggy hugged Leon, and I shook his hand.

  "Yes Sir," I said.

  We drove back to Lorne's place with no problems. When we got there, I drove the car into one of the sheds and shut the shed door behind us as we walked to the house. Myrtle was there and he looked worried. He perked up considerably when he saw us.

  "John, Peggy," Myrtle almost shouted. "It is good to see you. We thought you were killed by the drones offshore."

  "What about Lorne, Toni and Doc?” I asked.

  "They are on their way. I expect them in about ten hours or so."

  I was relieved. I had worried about Lorne, Toni, and Doc since we had been separated. I was afraid to think about what might have happened to them. I had grown closer to those three, and Myrtle and Peggy as well, more quickly than anyone I had ever known, except Susan. For Susan and I, it had been love at first touch, if not first sight. I remembered shaking her hand when we were first
introduced all those years ago. Her touch was electric. The surprise in my eyes was reflected by the surprise in hers.

  "Myrtle," I said, "this is Leon."

  "Pleased to meet you," Myrtle smiled. "Welcome!” Myrtle led Leon away as they both talked. I think Myrtle could tell that Leon was tired, and was most likely taking him for some refreshments before showing him to a room to rest. I wasn't sure how many bedrooms Lorne's place had in that basement, but I suspected there were quite a few.

  I fell asleep in an overstuffed chair in the living room. Peggy fell asleep in another chair. I woke when Lorne came into the room, followed by Toni and Doc. Lorne strode over to me and shook my hand before I could even get out of the chair. Toni hugged me and kissed my cheek and then hugged Peggy. Doc said, that unlike Toni, he would be satisfied to just shake my hand, and did so as Lorne shook Peggy's hand. Doc then shook Peggy's hand too. Myrtle appeared and said, "OK, folks, there is a meal on the table in the kitchen. It is time to eat.

  We all filed into the kitchen. Leon was there and apparently had been helping Myrtle. I introduced him to Lorne, Doc, and Toni. We all spent the next two hours around the table catching up. When I heard about how Lorne and Doc had saved Toni, I was even more impressed with these two guys.

  I also felt confused. I knew I would have been very upset if Toni had not survived, but I couldn't figure out what was going on. I knew I was starting to like both Toni and Peggy more than I should. I felt like I was being disloyal to Susan, who had passed away less than two weeks ago. All the years I had been married to Susan, the thought of another woman never even entered my mind. Oh, I had 'opportunities' tossed my way from time to time, but I never even thought about taking advantage of any of them, no matter how insistent the hints were. Yet, now there were two women on my mind. I wasn't used to that. It made me feel guilty.