The Resolution
Authors: Steven Bird
The Resolution
The New Homefront, Volume 4
By Steven C. Bird
The Resolution: The New Homefront, Volume 4
Copyright 2015 by Steven C. Bird
All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced, copied, or shared without expressed consent and prior authorization from the author.
Written and published by Steven C. Bird at Homefront Books
Edited by Sara Jones at
www.torchbeareredits.com
Final review by Carol Madding at
[email protected]
Illustrated by Keri Knutson at
www.alchemybookcovers.com
Kindle Edition (6.11)
ISBN: 978-1-4951-6321-0
www.stevencbird.com
Table of Contents
Chapter Seven: Unavoidable Conflict
Chapter Eight: Power and Persuasion
Chapter Eleven: Mutual Acquaintances
Chapter Sixteen: Keeping the Faith
Chapter Seventeen: A Shared Struggle
Chapter Eighteen: Angels from Below
Chapter Nineteen: A Weakened State
Chapter Twenty-One: Steps of Desperation
Chapter Twenty-Two: Happiness, Worry, and Regrets
Chapter Twenty-Three: Building Faith
Chapter Twenty-Four: A Community’s Plan
Chapter Twenty-Five: The Rats and the Cheese
Chapter Twenty-Six: Link in the Chain
Chapter Twenty-Seven: New Beginnings
Chapter Twenty-Eight: The Imminent Threat
Chapter Twenty-Nine: Provocation
Chapter Thirty: A Helping Hand
Chapter Thirty-One: The Escalating Threat
Chapter Thirty-Two: Rally Point
Chapter Thirty-Three: Preparing for War
Chapter Thirty-Four: The Waiting Game
Chapter Thirty-Five: The Snake
Chapter Thirty-Six: No Challenge Too Great
The characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any similarities to real events or persons, past or present, living or dead, are purely coincidental and are not intended by the author. Although this book is based on real places and some real events and trends, it is a work of fiction for entertainment purposes only. None of the activities in this book are intended to replace legal activities and your own good judgment.
Some items in this series have been changed from their actual likenesses to avoid any accidental sharing of Sensitive Security Information (SSI).
The replacement values serve the same narrative purpose without exposing any potential SSI.
To my loving wife and children:
Monica, Seth, Olivia, and Sophia
From the beginning of my writing career you have been my motivation and my inspiration. To this day, you still inspire me and drive me to accomplish all I can. It is my constant desire to protect you and provide for you that drives my imagination in ways that allowed me to create this story, and to continue it into a series. Not only has this series come a long way since The Last Layover, we too, have as a family, as well as with our own desires and goals to be more self-sufficient, just like the characters in the book. With your continued love and support, we will continue on this journey together as a family, and someday, our hard work and investments in ourselves will pay off big.
~~~~
Additionally, I would also like to thank all of my friends and colleagues who have helped me get this far. One of the things I love the most about the writing community, at least in the post-apocalyptic/SHTF/dystopian/prepper genres, is how close-knit fellow authors, editors, and designers are, and how willing everyone is to promote and help each other along. It truly is a “rising tide lifts all boats” type of community and I’m proud to be a part of it. Thanks to everyone and I hope and pray we all continue to see success in our present and future ventures.
Continued from (Chapter 30)
The Blue Ridge Resistance: The New Homefront, Volume 3
As the country continued to struggle amidst the fallout from the orchestrated collapse, the United Nations and other foreign entities continued to increase their influence, taking advantage of a nation desperate for order. Introduced as “peacekeepers” by the current administration, armed foreign troops occupied U.S. territory for the first time since the Japanese invaded the Aleutian Islands in Alaska, occupying the islands of Kiska and Attu in 1942-43.
Initially, the UN established itself in major metropolitan areas such as Atlanta, New York, Seattle, and Los Angeles; once seen as a legitimate government presence, they began to venture out into rural areas to quell any potential resistance to their true intentions—enjoying the spoils of a war they did not even have to fight. America and its valuable resources were ripe for the picking, or so it seemed.
The one thing the occupiers did not count on was the will of the American people, a people born into a freedom that was handed down to them since the founders pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honors to resist the tyranny they faced under King George III. The patriots of today may face a different foe, but the struggle to hold on to their natural, God-given rights is the same as their forefathers. Human nature will always go in one of two directions: those who will give up freedom for security, and those who will give their lives in the struggle for freedom.
The stormy weather of the previous day had completely given way to a beautiful East Tennessee morning and provided them a gorgeous view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. For the next few miles, things were relatively quiet. They stayed on their guard, but enjoyed the scenery of the new life the spring season always brings. Their only distractions were the occasional abandoned car on the side of the road. As they approached, they would slow down to take a cursory look, but from what they saw, most simply seemed to have been abandoned there, as if they had run out of fuel trying to cross the mountains.
As Ed looked out one of the openings on the side of the livestock trailer, he turned to Nate and said, “Welcome to North Carolina.”
“Really?” Nate replied.
“That’s what the sign says, at least,” responded Ed.
Nate stood up, hanging on to the side of the moving trailer next to Ed, and said, “Hopefully, we’ll make good time the rest of the way to Hot Springs. We’ve been away for long enough. I can’t help but feel like it was a bad idea to leave the homesteads as short-handed as they are without us.”
“Yeah, I’ve been thinking the same thing. On the bright side, though, Charlie and Jimmy should be home by now. That gives them better coverage.”
“True,” Nate said as he stared longingly out the window, wishing he was back home with Peggy.
“Besides,” added Ed, “I can’t help but think we were meant to find the Gibbs family and make our way to Sabrina. We needed each and every one of us to pull that off. I honestly think at times the bigger picture steers us in the direction we need to go.”
“You mean God?”
“If that’s how you want to look at it,” replied Ed as he looked up at the sky. “What the
hell
?”
“What is it?” asked Nate as he followed Ed’s gaze, attempting to see what he was focusing on. Once he caught a glimpse, he said, “Crap. I wonder if that’s the helicopter from the bridge last night.”
“Nate…”
“What?”
“Either I’m losing it, or that’s a Hind.”
“No, Ed… you’re not losing it. That’s an Mi-24, alright.”
As the helicopter arced back around as if to get a better look at them, Ed said, “Man, that thing has UN markings on it.”
“What the hell…” Nate began to say as the tractor came to an abrupt stop, throwing Ed and Nate forward against the gear packed into the front section of the trailer.
Dazed, but uninjured, Ed and Nate scrambled to their feet, looking out of the back of the trailer to see a Humvee pull across the road behind them, blocking their retreat.
Several armed soldiers got out of the Humvee armed with AK-74M Russian service rifles. The AK-74M is the modern Russian service rifle for its ground forces. It is an updated version of the famous AK-47/AKM platform, but chambered in the 5.45x39 Russian cartridge with a synthetic stock and handguards, instead of the traditional wood of the previous models. The helicopter landed in the clearing off to the right of the tractor and they could now see that another Humvee was blocking the road in front of the tractor, explaining their sudden stop.
Just then, they heard a message from Jason come over the handheld radio.
“Just comply. Only fight if you must.”
As the tractor’s diesel engine shuddered to a stop, the soldiers in the rear of the trailer took aim at the back doors, while several other soldiers gathered alongside the tractor to deal with Evan and Jason up front.
One of the soldiers, focusing his attention on Ed and Nate, said in a choppy East European accent, “Slowly open door and exit vehicle with hands on head.”
Ed opened the door and, doing as instructed, he and Nate stepped out onto the ground with their hands on top of their heads.
“Three steps forward and drop to knees,” the soldier then said.
Complying with the request, Ed and Nate knelt down while another soldier came from behind, stripped them of their handguns and knives, then pushed them down onto the ground, their faces hitting the hard blacktop surface.
Ed attempted to pay attention to what was happening with Evan and Jason. He couldn’t turn to see what was transpiring, but he could hear that Evan’s defiant tone wasn’t getting him anywhere.
In perfect English, with a standard American accent, one of the soldiers gave Evan and Jason the order, “Place your hands on your heads and climb down.”
Evan replied, “But I can’t climb down with my hands on my head; I need them.”
“Would you rather stumble and fall with your hands on your head or be shot for non-compliance?” asked the soldier.
“Damn it,” Evan mumbled.
“What was that?” the soldier demanded.
“I said ‘damn it,' damn it!” Evan said in an angry tone. “Who the hell are you, anyway, and why the hell are you pointing guns at us? This is a public road. We have every right to use it as U.S. citizens.”
“I’ll determine what your rights are,” the soldier replied. “Right now, you are suspected domestic terrorists and insurgents. You will be treated as such, in accordance with the Insurrection Act, until cleared. Is that understood?”
Biting his tongue, Evan reluctantly muttered, “Yes.”
Hearing several of the other soldiers talk with a thick accent amongst themselves in the background, Evan asked, “You sound American, but who the hell are those guys, and why are you working together doing this?”
“We are here under the direction of the President of the United States, in accordance with his orders and at the direction of the United Nations. We are operating as peacekeepers to quell the violence and instability caused by right wing extremist insurgents,” he answered. “That’s all you need to know for now. Your compliance is mandatory. Resistance will be treated as hostile intent. Do you understand?”
“Very much so… traitor,” answered Evan with contempt.
The next sound Ed heard was a deep thud and that of Evan’s body dropping to the ground. Flinching out of reflex, wanting to help his friend, Ed was quickly reminded not to intervene, as the muzzle break of an AK-74 was shoved forcefully into his face by one of the soldiers standing watch over him.
Searching the trailer’s contents, one of the soldiers shouted something in what sounded to Ed like Russian. The soldier who appeared to be in charge responded by joining him inside the trailer.
Ah, hell,
Ed thought.
We’ve got those damn guns in there.
After a brief conversation that he could not understand, Ed heard scuffling coming from Evan and Jason’s direction, as the soldiers in the rear began to zip-tie his and Nate’s hands behind their backs. They were then forced to their feet and marched to the waiting Mi-24 helicopter that was parked in the clearing. Ushered aboard at gunpoint, they were joined by two of the soldiers. The door was closed and the whining sound of the helicopter’s two
Klimov TV3-117 turboshaf
t
engines began to bring the rotors to life.
