by Robert Boren
“Here’s where the fun begins,” Quincy shouted, starting to slalom as all of the machine guns were firing. Jesse got a bead on the bridge and fired, bullets smashing through the front windows, the large fishing boat turning too fast as the dead pilot fell over the wheel, other enemy boats coming towards Quincy’s boat now, guns blazing. Two men on the bow got killed, hit in the face and neck, Sax firing like mad, hitting one of the smaller boats, trying to hold his gun steady as Quincy weaved back and forth, other boats joining the fray.
Two more sport fishing boats were hit, one exploding big, taking out a boat next to it, the other losing it’s pilot up on the fly bridge and going out of control, hitting two other citizen boats.
“Dammit,” Quincy shouted as one of the boats was now coming for them. “Shoot that son of a bitch.”
Jesse was on them, firing full auto, hitting the bridge, but not slowing the boat as another man pulled the dead pilots body out of the way and resumed. They were only about forty yards apart now. Quincy tried to maneuver out of the way.
“If they hit us, they’ll sink us,” Quincy cried, struggling to keep control. Jesse fired again, hitting the new pilot, then trying to hit the engine compartment, the boat starting to smoke now, slowing, then dead in the water, the men on the bow continuing to fire on it as the enemy crew panicked.
“Hey, look out!” shouted a man on the back deck. “Broadside run!”
The men on the bow heard him, turning in that direction, firing at the old fishing trawler, hitting men on the deck, who were replaced by new men in a flash. Machine gun fire hit the side of Quincy’s boat, killing the man who’d warned them, and hitting two men on the rear deck. Then fire hit the flybridge on that side, bullets ripping into Quincy’s side, killing him instantly.
“No!” shouted Dusty, frozen in his horrified expression.
“C’mon, take over or we’re all dead!” shouted Jesse, pulling Quincy’s massive body out of the way with one hand. Dusty got behind the wheel, tears in his eyes, feet resting on Quincy’s body, turning towards the boat and going full bore.
“Don’t try to ram that boat,” Jesse shouted. He fired again, hitting the pilot of the boat through the bridge window, strafing to kill the others near him, as Dusty turned, just in the nick of time, one of them men on the bow tossing a grenade on the enemy boat’s deck as they went by, a big hole blowing in the side, fire starting in the cabin.
“Nailed that bastard!” Sax shouted as other enemy boats were trying to follow them.
“What the hell are those things?” somebody shouted from the rear deck. Jesse turned, looking as three large Navy ships flew out of San Diego Bay, looking like something out of a science fiction movie with their slanted sides and triple hulls.
“Yes!” one of the men on the bow shouted. “LCS. Independence Class. Exactly what we need.”
The strange looking boats were going much faster than any of the other boats, heading right into the enemy armada with deck guns blazing.
“Wow, the enemy machine guns aren’t even touching those monsters,” Dusty yelled.
“Let’s go get us some,” Jesse said. “Look at that one, trying to flee the Navy ships. Let’s nail him.”
“You got it,” Dusty said, doing a quick turn, the boat banking, everybody holding on for dear life. Then Dusty shoved the throttles all the way forward as Jesse and the others fired, blowing out the windows on the bridge of the rusty old enemy boat, hitting the men on the deck who were trying frantically to stop them.
“Getting pretty close,” Jesse said after firing another salvo, glancing at Dusty.
“It’s my dive-bomber strategy,” Dusty said, turning at the last minute, one of the men on the bow tossing another grenade, which blew up on the deck, hitting gasoline, starting the craft on fire. The man who tossed the grenade showed a thumbs up sign to Dusty.
“That’s a good strategy, let’s try it again,” Jesse yelled.
“Yeah, there’s another boat trying to run from those Navy ships.”
“Get more grenades ready, men!” shouted Jesse. Several of the men on the bow turned towards him, nodding in agreement as Dusty drove straight for the fleeing enemy boat, the machine guns blazing now, hitting the bridge and men on deck, the fishing boat turning at the last minute again, several grenades flying onto the deck and blowing up.
“My God, look at those enemy boats burn!” Sax shouted, pointing the burning armada, the LCS ships still firing on them, flying through the mass of them at more than forty knots.
“Oh, shit, what’s that?” Dusty yelled, pointing to a massive dark shape rising out of the water about two hundred yards to the west. “Is that a frigging submarine?”
“Uh oh,” Jesse shouted. “That’s a French sub. Suffren Class. What’s it doing here?”
Suddenly a missile flew from the sub, hitting one of the LCS ships, blowing a big hole in the side.
“Well, guys, what now?” Dusty yelled.
To be continued, in Bug Out! California Book 12, available now in the Kindle Store and Kindle Unlimited!
Cast of Characters
Note: some of these characters are not in the first book. They will show up later in the story.
Dulzura RV Park Group – Mostly retired people, but mixed. Full-timers.
John – Older man, drinking problem, but fighting it. Brave and strong.
Sarah – John’s wife. Doesn’t his like drinking, but loyal any-way. Good heart.
Clem – Old widower. Shrewd with sense of humor, and technically savvy.
Sid – Indian, capable, good man in fight, loyal, cunning.
Yvonne – Sid’s wife. Resourceful and brave. Younger than him by ten years
Harry – Older man, heavy, doesn’t move well, good negotiator and strategist.
Nancy – Harry’s wife, retired school teacher. Smart but has problems with stress.
Sam – Owner of RV Park. Middle aged, strong, wily, cautious. Former Navy Seal with some PTSD issues, which he has mostly under control. Good in a fight, knows modern military tactics and weapons systems.
Connie – Wife of Sam. Thinks one step ahead. Keeps park running. Deeply in love with Sam.
CHP Officer Ryan – Older officer. Brave, sense of humor, borderline redneck, good in fight, but has temper.
CHP Officer Patrick – Just past rookie status. Extremely good with guns. A little green. A little hapless. Good in fight. Brave to a fault.
Jack, aka One Eye – Barona Indian, friend of Sid’s who helps at the battle of Fernbrook.
Hank – police officer in the town of Julian. Older man, gray hair, feisty. Joins group after they destroy the enemy checkpoint in his town. Works with Jason.
Jason – police officer in town of Julian. Younger, fast with a gun, smart as a whip. Aggressive. Joins group after they destroy the enemy checkpoint in his town. Works with Hank.
Kaitlyn aka Still Pool – young woman in Barona Tribe. Curvy, pretty face, strong personality. Goes after what she wants, loyal and passionate, smart. Natural warrior, one of the best on the team, as good as most Special Forces veterans.
Megan aka Sage Flower – young woman in Barona Tribe. Tiny, delicate beauty, feisty, loud, aggressive, brave, smart. Wicked sense of humor.
Zac aka Sandy Creek - young Indian warrior. Brave and hand-some, cunning.
James aka Crossbow – young Indian warrior, expert with weapons, especially crossbows. Brave, funny sense of humor, loved by the tribe.
Ryan aka Touchdown – young Indian warrior, brave, fast, CIF MVP in High School, great in a fight.
Tyler aka Quiet Fox – young Indian Warrior, smart, thinks a couple levels deep, quiet, reserved, observes and thinks before acting, usually makes right choice. Future Chief.
Nurse Grace – Emergency room nurse, taking care of Sam and Connie at the hospital in La Quinta. Pretty middle-aged woman, tough as nails and smart as a whip.
Kenny – warrior with the Barona Tribe.
Bradley – warrior with the Barona Tri
be.
Ed – aka Silver Wolf – overall chief of the Barona Tribe. Older man, medium build, looks younger than his years. Total tech nut, very talented and inventive.
Kerry aka Yellow Bird – young warrior. Fast, too emotional. Unpredictable.
Shane aka Red Snake – warrior, a little older, family man but also great fighter.
Will aka Swimming Bear – warrior, early thirties, negotiator, helps Silver Wolf with technology.
Mia – wife of Tyler. Strong, beautiful, smart. Delicate features, hair-trigger emotions.
Riley – wife of Ryan. Very small, below five feet tall. Beautiful face. Has Ryan wrapped around her finger.
Abby – wife of James – heavy set larger woman with an infectious smile and a gentle, kind way about her. Beautiful face.
Elmer – handy man and construction expert, part of the Dodge City group which merged with the Dulzura Group. Smart, inventive, funny.
Garrett – Leader of the Dodge City group. Old west buff, brave, great leader, strong tactician. Holds Dulzura Group together.
Anna – mother of Kaitlyn. Beautiful older woman, love interest of Garrett.
Willard – Proprietor of the Dodge City Saloon. Old west buff, leader of the cannon team, always making jokes, wanting people to drink. Looks like he walked off a Civil War battle.
Erica – member of Barona Tribe. In love with Sam. Cunning warrior, trained Kaitlyn and others. Brave, emotional, giving woman.
Young Mia – orphaned girl of six, rescued and adopted by Sam and Erica.
Redondo Condo group – Thirty-something
Robbie – Thirty-something son of Frank and Jane from original series. Brave, thoughtful, writer, shy, cynical
Morgan – neighbor of Robbie, love interest. Strong, more out-going and aggressive than Robbie, pretty, transplant from Utah, good with guns.
Gil – Robbie’s best friend from High School. Hispanic. Good with guns, brave, sense of humor, cautious, protective.
Steve – Robbie’s friend from college. Smart but not serious, surfer, scrappy, good in fight
Justin – Robbie’s friend from high school and college. Sparks with others, temper, suspicious nature but good heart
Killer – Pit Bull – from Justin’s family. Strong, protective, dangerous to evil-doers.
Colleen – girlfriend of Steve. Beautiful redhead. Flighty, aggressive, but loyal and loving.
Katie – Steve’s sister. Strong, rebellious, great in a fight, beautiful. Justin adores her. She brings out his courage.
Cody – neighbor who lives across the street from Frank and Jane’s Condo. Friends with them. Tough reserve police officer and early resistance fighter. Large muscular man in his early thirties with a military style haircut, light brown hair, and a goatee.
Sparky – Morgan’s boss at the card club. Big, dangerous man with a shady past but a good heart. Protects his employees to a fault. Has underworld connections. Not a good person to mess with.
Ivan the Butcher – mob boss. Most people assume he’s from Russia, but he’s actually an American who built his organization in Russia and Europe, before being hounded back home by the EU authorities. Dangerous and unpredictable, but a strategic thinker. Childhood friend of Sparky.
Jules – right hand man of Ivan the Butcher. Belgian national, good in a fight, a little crazy but very calculating.
Mr. White and Mr. Black – Bulgarian assassins working for Ivan. Large, scary, ruthless men.
Ben Dover – campus radical and resistance leader, joined Ivan’s core team. Social media and internet research expert, important part of Ivan’s intel team.
Tex – Friend of Sparky and Jules. Crazy with wicked sense of humor, great in a fight, brave to a fault.
Ted – Robbie’s boss at the restaurant. Former Navy Seal, tricked into joining the battle by Sparky. Old friends with Ivan the Butcher.
Bryan – cook in Ted’s restaurant, acquaintance of Robbie’s. Heavy-set large man, good in a fight, not the brightest but loyal and brave to a fault.
Jordan – black man, former Army Ranger. Near genius tactical expert. Brave and cunning, trusts nobody until he’s sure, then as loyal as the day is long. Wicked sense of humor.
Dana – beautiful girl who was kidnapped by the UN to use as a sex slave. Rescued by Jules’s team after the battle at Torrance Civic Center.
Karen – beautiful redhead, daughter of Gil’s boss. Captured and held at the Torrance Police Station with the other girls. Not sure where she fits in the group.
Tisha – wild young woman, former captive. Small, tattooed and pierced, fiery, hard to handle, brave and loyal but prickly. Passionate.
Alexis - a brunette with a hauntingly beautiful face and a thin build. Tough and loyal but with a sadness in her that she battles constantly. Valuable member of the team.
Brooke - tall, dark haired beauty with a strong build and a defensive demeanor. Lesbian. Protective of her woman. Fierce, loyal fighter. Touchy but with a good heart. Smart.
Audrey – Doctor. Lesbian, close to Brooke. A small waif with ginger hair and freckles.
Lily – a small blonde, willowy, with a delicate face. Has emotional issues. Bipolar. Suicidal. Barely survived captivity.
Shelly – short, perky blonde with a beautiful face and a way with organization. Valuable member of the team.
Ashley - Curly-haired brunette with a dancer’s body and grace, with a quiet demeanor. Not sure she’s up to the fight, but feels it’s her duty. Likes Jordan, because they both have the theater bug.
Brianna - a young-looking girl with an innocent face and curly light brown hair. Not very confident. Frightened by the war. Bryan is pursuing her, and she’s okay with it, but not passionate.
Haley - an ice blond with a curvy figure and a lot of self-confidence. Good fighter.
Allison - a redhead of medium build. She has a country look to her, innocent but with a touch of mischief. Expert hunter and backpacker, champion level shooter. Ready for anything. Will become a principle in the group over time.
South Torrance Group – Ages from 19 to 24. Well-to-do parents. Some recently on their own, some live with parents. Gun hobbyists. Immature but with enthusiasm.
Seth – defacto leader of group due to calm, easy going nature mixed with charisma. Gets along with everybody in group. Slightly more mature than the others. Has serious girlfriend, centers his life around her, in love.
Emma – Seth’s girlfriend. Beautiful, was popular in high school, aggressive, controlling, but nice, loyal. Needs Seth when she gets scared or upset. Doesn’t like Matt or Trevor much. Feeling is mutual. Likes Angel.
Trevor – talented, brilliant, great with guns, nutty, good sense of humor. Aggressive with temper. Likes to argue. Younger than the others by a year. Came into group as Seth’s friend, closest to him.
Angel – cynical sense of humor, honest and trustworthy. His-panic. Lives with family, but inching out. Good in fight. Seth’s best friend. Pivotal member of group, head for business and practicality. Slightly more mature than the others.
Matt – Angel’s oldest friend. Funny, problems with drinking, emotional, secondary leader who sparks with Seth sometimes, but they are close in ways the others aren’t. Good in fight, image is important to him, womanizer. Has serious girlfriend but cheats on her.
Kaylee – Matt’s girlfriend. Nice, talented, good friend of Em-ma, clueless about Matt’s infidelity, doesn’t like him drinking, get-ting tired of his childish behavior. Beautiful in an exotic way, Korean.
Ji-Ho – Kaylee’s rich uncle, lives in compound on north-west side of Palos Verdes, overlooking ocean. Brave and smart, loyal, understands what it’s like when government gets too much control. Can relate well to younger people, even though his English isn’t great.
Gus – combat tactics trainer, met group at gun range. Great organizer and leader. Serious. Destined for greatness if he lives long enough.
Government/Authorities
Governor Sable – fourth-term governor of Californ
ia. Old-style liberal – coming to the conclusion that there really is something wrong with the Administration. Knows how to do the right thing, and usually does after fits and starts. Watch out when he gets angry.
Jennifer – Sable’s black secretary. They were lovers years ago, now friends, but Nancy keeps her distance because Sable still loves her. Competent and smart – Sable’s underground advisor.
Saladin – evil Islamic leader, trying to move the US towards martial law with terror attacks. Acting in collusion with the President and others. Kills without mercy or regard for innocent by-standers. Pretends to be pious, but only uses his religion to gain power. Human trash.
Commissioner Frawley – head of CHP for California. Currently in prison after going against the Governor and the Administration. Strong character, brave, will make difference.
Deputy Commissioner Katz – second in command at CHP – al-so in prison. Hates Jihadists. Dangerous man to his enemies. Near-genius intelligence.