Forgotten Forbidden America:: Patriots Reborn (29 page)

Ronald snorted, “Yep, why I left the infantry.”

Sitting back down, Gerald shook his head. “How many vehicles parked in front of the lodge?”

“You want to know what vehicles they have? Because they move them around fairly regular.” Nelson asked, and Gerald nodded. “Nineteen Humvees in various configurations, but all have roof-mounted weapons. One has an Mk-19 automatic grenade launcher like you wouldn’t let me get,” Nelson said, looking up with narrowed eyes.

“The goddamn thing weighs a ton, Nelson, and we don’t have anything to mount it to,” Gerald said, throwing up his hands.

Giving a snort, Nelson looked back at his notes. “Two have M134 mini guns, three have Ma Deuce, and the others have M240s. They have two FLYER 72s, one with an M134 and the other a Ma Deuce. Two Suburbans, but I couldn’t get close enough to see if one had a mini gun. And they have one five-ton transport truck.”

Gerald looked down at his list, realizing he missed six of the Humvees and one of the Suburbans. “Okay, Nelson, you are the Jedi,” he sighed, putting down his notebook.

“Shit, you swam across that river in full battle rattle with a full ruck and ghillie suit; why the hell you think I went over the damn bridge?” Nelson said, putting his notes down.

Feeling good about that, Gerald smiled. “So, think we should make any changes?”

Letting out a long breath, Nelson looked away. “Is there any way you can think of to get those women out of the restaurant before we blow the building?”

Reaching over, Gerald took the drawings of the lodge from Nelson’s stack. He looked at them then down at his map. “It’s risky as hell, and we could only get the ones in the restaurant. The ones in the hotel rooms we can’t get unless we assault, and that, we can’t do period. They would stomp a mud hole in our ass and walk it dry.”

“Think it’s worth the risk?” Ronald said, not liking the fact that he asked.

Nelson looked over at Gerald. “I don’t think I could pull it off.”

“I have my doubts on that,” Gerald coughed.

“Gerald, I saw those guards walk right past you tonight when you looked inside the guardhouse at the checkpoint. You eased inside; I looked in from the outside,” Nelson said.

Ronald rolled his head, looking at Gerald in shock. “You went inside?”

“I wanted to see if they had a bunk room inside because my numbers kept coming up different.”

“That’s what I mean,” Nelson huffed. “I can move around them, but you can move in with them.”

Gerald thought for a long time as he looked at the map then looked up. “After I cut a hole in the fence for the R/Cs, I can move to the river side of the lodge and try to get them out and under the bridge, but who knows how they are going to act when we blow it.”

Looking at the map, Nelson thought about that then finally said, “After you get them there, leave them, and head to my position. If they freak out, they could attack you or give away your position.”

“Guys,” Ronald said, standing up. “I hate to be the total asshole here, but you are risking our attack against a vastly superior force in men and firepower. You are risking that roughly fifty people will keep quiet as you sneak them off and will remain hidden and quiet until the attack. If only one of them make a noise, the attack is a bust. If those troops get mounted up in vehicles or God forbid the armor, we are dead, and if they get air cover in, we are dead faster.”

“Yes, very valid points,” Nelson groaned. “It just doesn’t feel right not at least trying to save them.”

“I’m willing to risk it, but when the others get here, let’s put it to a vote,” Gerald said.

Satisfied with that, Ronald sat down. “I want to try and help them. I do. But if we get killed in our first attack, not only are we screwed but those we leave behind also. We are using most of our group to do this. You two know as well as I do if we don’t knock this site out, they will move patrols closer to us and eventually find us. I prefer to deal with them now before they are stronger or attack us and wipe us off the face of the Earth. They have the equipment and manpower here now to do it.”

Everyone sat in silence, thinking about it for almost half an hour, and then Gerald stood up. “We put it to a vote when the others get here. We will let everyone have a say then vote. If the majority wishes to risk it, then we will.”

“I can live with that,” Ronald said with a nod.

“Never got to vote before an attack,” Nelson said, stretching his arms over his head.

“Shit, I can’t believe I’m the one that said it,” Gerald laughed.

“Fucked up new world,” Ronald added, and no one could argue that.

Chapter Fifteen

Lying back on his four-wheeler, Nelson looked up at the clear night sky. The three had taken turns watching the camp and prison through the day, and after the lookout changed guard, they left the house, moving to the ATVs. Riding slowly, they moved back to the fording spot they had scouted south of town. 

“Think they will get here in enough time that we can go over the attack and move out and set up?” Ronald asked, sitting on the grass next to his four-wheeler. Bernard, Matt, Ashley, and Michelle with Josh and Kevin were the ones coming for the attack.

“All depends on us getting the damn buggies across,” Gerald said, walking around a picnic table that was part of the primitive campground they were in. “I figure they should be here in a few. We scouted the way for them, and they can move faster.”

Sitting up, Nelson looked back at Gerald. “You really went to look at the operational command house for this area?”

“Yes, Nelson,” Gerald sighed. “It’s just on the other side of the river. It’s not like I went to St. Louis to check it out.”

“That was really stupid,” Nelson said, shaking his head as he lay back down.

“So you’ve said a hundred times,” Gerald mumbled.

Ronald laughed at the two. “I have to agree, again, with Nelson. That was stupid.”

“Hey, we have the location of them all, and I wanted to make sure the rest of the team for this area wasn’t there. It would really suck to attack and have thirty or more contractors roll up on our flank.”

“Not saying it didn’t need doing.” Nelson paused, watching a falling star. “But you could’ve mentioned that the OP/Com was nearby, and
we
could’ve gone together.”

“Well, the house was empty, so can we let it lie that I went and checked on it?” Gerald said, throwing up his hands.

“You whine like a bitch,” Nelson chuckled.

“Hey,” Gerald snapped. “You owe me one, but don’t push it, buddy.”

“Oh, we’ll settle up when we get home. You can count on it,” Nelson said, watching another falling star.

Sorry he even brought it up, Gerald rubbed the swollen left side of his face. He had a dark bruise over his cheek that radiated out. “Sometimes, you’re worse than a wife,” Gerald sighed, climbing up on the picnic table and lying down.

“How the hell would you know? You’ve never been married,” Nelson chuckled.

“I’ve been around wives enough to know,” Gerald said.

They all sat watching the night sky for almost an hour when Duke and Zeus sat up, growling. They all sat up and grabbed their night vision. A few minutes later, they heard the low rumble of the buggies. Coming toward them were both the FLYERs.

“Shit, we didn’t hear them until they were a hundred yards away,” Ronald said, getting up and grabbing his AR.

“Not much good for covert operations if they are loud,” Gerald said, jumping off the picnic table.

Ronald looked over at Gerald. “You’re sounding like a wife now.”

“Not in the mood,” Gerald said, walking over and patting Duke.

The two buggies pulled over and shut down. As everyone started climbing out of the buggies, Nelson gasped, “What the fuck,” as he slid off his four-wheeler, hitting the ground hard with his ass. He jumped up as a small form with a helmet and night vision goggles attached ran over to him.

“Hey, Dad,” Gavin said, wrapping his arms around Nelson.

Shaking the shock off for a second, Nelson hugged Gavin back as Michelle walked up, letting her AR hang across her chest. “Yes, I brought him,” she said in a low voice.

“After you almost broke my jaw for suggesting it?” Nelson gasped, letting Gavin go.

Michelle took a deep breath. “I admit, I overreacted,” she said. “But I asked Gavin who was better at driving those remote controlled cars, and he said you haven’t beaten him in a year.”

“I told you that,” Nelson said, throwing up his hands as everyone watched the two.

“What’s the problem?” Michelle snapped. “You were right, and I brought him. Now if you get him hurt, I’ll break it off and kick it around in the dirt.”

Gerald moved over to Bernard, smiling. “You have to love marriage,” he said, elbowing Bernard. Michelle and Nelson turned, looking at Gerald with flat expressions. “I need to recheck my gear,” Gerald said, heading to his four-wheeler.

“Ronald, will you take Bernard and Matt down to the river and show them the fording spot?” Nelson asked, turning back to Michelle.

“Sure,” Ronald said, walking off with Bernard and Matt following.

“Gavin, you can go with them, but please don’t get in the river; it’s got a nice current,” Nelson said, patting Gavin’s head. Gavin looked up with a wide grin and ran over, grabbing Bernard’s hand. When they were near the river, Nelson looked back at Michelle.

“I didn’t set up for Gavin to be with me,” he snapped, making her jump back. “I’m set up on the close side of the hill right under their noses. I wanted to be closer because I can’t drive the damn R/Cs like Gavin can.”

Michelle’s jaw hit her chest. “Well,” she stuttered. “Make another position farther back.”

“In broad daylight with my son beside me? Are you fucking insane?”

“Well, I’ll just take him with me then,” Michelle said, feeling her heart rate speeding up.

“Hello,” Nelson sang out. “You’re going to be with our heavy guns. If we get return fire, it will be directed at you.”

Michelle turned to the others and looked at Josh and Kevin, who were Hank’s group contribution to the attack. “Then he can go with Josh and Kevin,” she said.

“Bullshit,” Nelson snapped. “He’s either going to be up your ass or mine. Nobody else is going to be responsible for him because if he got hurt under someone else, I’d kill them. I don’t care if it was a freak accident.”

Slumping her shoulders, Michelle looked down. “Okay, I fucked up and didn’t think about you changing your position for the attack without Gavin. Why on Earth did you dig in on the near side of the hill?”

“I was always going to be on the near side to cover targets of opportunity,” Nelson said, shaking his head. “Since I didn’t have to dig Gavin a hole to hide in on the far side, I dug one for myself.”

“He can hide away from the area?” Michelle offered.

Putting his hands on his hips, Nelson shook his head. “What part of ‘up one of our asses’ did you not understand? I’ll take him with me.”

Michelle looked up with sad eyes. “I’m sorry. After thinking about it and talking with Gavin, I understood why you wanted him.”

“Yeah, why do you think I suggested it?”

“You didn’t even ask him?” Michelle said with a sigh. “He freaked and started cheering when I asked if he thought he was big enough to come.”

“After all the shit you’ve jumped my ass for, telling the kids what they could or couldn’t do. You thought I would’ve talked to him about this before clearing it with you?” Nelson said, stepping back.

“Nellie almost passed out,” Michelle said, looking off. “She said I’m getting a spanking when we get back.”

“Maybe more than one,” Nelson said, reaching out and pulling Michelle into a hug.

“You sure he’ll be okay with you?”

“As safe as he can be,” Nelson said. “I’m going to set up away from him in case I draw attention.”

Gerald walked up, shaking his head. “Just to let both of you know, I was never that crazy about letting Gavin come. Is he really that good driving those damn cars?”

“Yes he is, and it was never your decision to make,” Nelson said. “With him driving those cars, we can rest assured they will get there.”

Michelle stepped back and looked over at Gerald and jumped back, seeing his swollen face. “What the hell happened to you?”

“Got taught a lesson,” Gerald said, rubbing his face gently and heading over to the others.

“That was the beginning of the lesson, my friend,” Nelson said, letting Michelle go.

“I don’t even want to know,” Michelle said as Ronald led the others back from the river.

They gathered around the picnic table as Gerald pointed out the changes of the attack and what they had found out. Next, he told them about the women held in the restaurant and told them of the plan they had to rescue them before the attack. “All those in favor of rescuing them, raise your hand,” Gerald said and counted five hands.

“Gavin, that includes you,” Nelson said, patting Gavin on the back.

Gavin looked up at him then back at the group. “I think we should at least try,” he said and shyly raised his hand.

“Well, Gavin is the swing vote. Six to four,” Gerald said. “We try to rescue them.” After going over the attack again and not getting questions, Gerald looked around. “Let’s move out.”

Matt and Bernard climbed in the FLYERs and started them up as Michelle came over, kissing Nelson and Gavin. “You listen to your dad now; you promised,” she said, squeezing Gavin tight.

“I will, Mom, and you be real careful,” he said, hugging her back.

Michelle let him go and ran back, climbing up on the FLYER Bernard was driving with the mini gun. Climbing in the turret, Michelle tapped Bernard on the shoulder with her foot as Gerald climbed in the passenger side. Ashley climbed up behind Matt in the other FLYER, getting behind the GAU 19. She got that one because Matt could lift the heavy cans of ammo up by himself.

“Gavin, get on,” Nelson said, pointing at his four-wheeler then turned to Josh and Kevin. “You two will ride Gerald’s to the rally point.”

“Thank you,” Josh said, lifting up a Barrett M82 fifty caliber rifle. “I don’t like carrying this long ass forty pound fucker for long distances unless I have to.”

Nelson grinned as Josh lifted the rifle up, walking over to Gerald’s four-wheeler. As Kevin walked past, Nelson saw the huge suppressor for the M82 strapped to his backpack. With his AR across his chest, Josh fought to get on the four-wheeler and hold the massive M82. Out of everyone at Hank’s farm, Josh and Kevin were the best shots. After working out the attack, Gerald agreed that they were going to cover the area from the observation post with the M82.

Looking over at Ronald, Nelson gave a nod, and Ronald pulled out to the river to make sure the buggies got over. They pulled up and stopped as Bernard was coming out the other side and Matt was entering the river.

Not able to help it, Nelson laughed as Matt hit the middle of the river, and only his head was out of the water. Sitting up in the turret, Ashley lifted her feet up, holding them out of the water. Matt rolled out the other side and followed Bernard up the bank.

With Gavin sitting in front of him, Nelson waved at Ronald to move out. It was bright out with the clear sky, but Nelson still lowered his night vision goggles. Instead of moving back to where they left the four-wheelers last time, Ronald drove all the way to the house they were using for an observation post.

Stopping well inside the forest before the road, Ronald turned off his four-wheeler as the others pulled up beside him. Nelson looked over at Josh and Kevin as he climbed off. “When you set that big bitch out, don’t forget to turn it on,” he said, pointing at the switches on the massive R/C in Gerald’s trailer.

“I will,” Kevin said then looked at the blue, thirty-gallon plastic drum strapped to a long trailer for the R/C truck. “You’re absolutely positive when I arm the bomb it won’t go off?”

“It shouldn’t,” Nelson shrugged, and Kevin looked at him in horror. “If it does, I can guarantee you, Kevin. You’ll never know it. A hundred and fifty pound fuel air bomb has a large kill zone.”

Kevin looked down at the barrel strapped to the trailer Nelson had made for the R/C truck then over at the R/C truck. “If that thing can’t pull it, be damned if I’m going to put it where it needs to go.”

“It pulled it all over the farm,” Nelson said. “Remember, don’t give away your position unless you have to. You’re here to cover our withdrawal, not get in the fight.”

“We will,” Josh said, grabbing his gear.

Starting the four-wheeler, Nelson leaned down to Gavin’s ear. “Keep an eye out. It’s just us from here on out,” he said and eased up to the road then darted across and around the house. Slowing as he entered the backyard, Nelson eased into the trees then slowed more, looking back to make sure Zeus was still with them. Seeing Zeus behind them, Nelson picked his way through the trees down the ravine.

When he saw the highway through the trees, Nelson got off. “Gavin, I’m going to the road, and when I wave at you, I want you to follow me across. I’m going to be running, but don’t run over me, okay?”

“Okay, Dad,” Gavin said, reaching up and grabbing the handlebars. Nelson grinned at Gavin’s small frame stretching out to grab the handlebars.

“Zeus,” Nelson said, tapping his leg and easing up to the highway. Coming out at the dip in the road, Nelson couldn’t see but a few hundred yards either way before a rise blocked his view, but it was clear. He turned to see Gavin grinning at him twenty feet away, and the only reason Nelson could hear the four-wheeler was because of his hunter’s ear.

Waving Gavin forward, Nelson took off, bursting out of the tree line and running across the road with Zeus beside him. Clearing the eastbound lanes, Nelson saw a larger gap between two trees on the other side of the westbound lanes, and he angled toward it.