The Revolution Begins (Molon Labe) (5 page)

We needed to start working on guerilla warfare tactics with the locals and start thinning out the UN troop numbers.  If the local
s could start harassing the UN troops with sporadic hit-and-run tactics, it would start to shake the morale of the invaders and make them less willing to fight.  We needed to remind the locals that they are still in a country of free men and women.

Using back roads we were able to arrive at our dismount point and walk the last two miles to base.  We had quite a haul from the supplies we had taken from my home and from the troops we had neutralized.  No sense in le
aving it all behind.  It would all be useful in our war.  Each bullet, each gun, each piece of body armor would be put to use.  We had thought enough to borrow a wagon from my children and placed as much gear on it as we could. The rest we carried.

Chapter 13

"Those who hammer their guns into plowshares will plow for those who do not."
Thomas Jefferson
Third President of the United States

We made it back to base to find that the Army Engineers had been very busy in our absence.  Being from West Virginia, a large number of the engineers had been coal miners in their private lives.  They had used the available mining equipment and widened rooms and raised the roof level.  They improved the lighting and had already installed better ventilation to keep air moving. They also installed gas meters to keep a check on the levels of gasses in the mines.  We now had training areas, a large armory area, sleeping quarters, a mess hall, and a larger hospital area. They had installed a makeshift water supply from a nearby stream.  It was fitted to PCV-piping that supplied water to the mess hall, latrines, a church, and hospital.  They were currently working on a system for laundry. 

The communications (c
ommo) guys had been busy in our absence as well.  They had figured out how to use handheld Citizen-Band (CB) radios with a Digital Message Device Group (DMAG in military slang).  This provided teams with a small device that could be used securely with low transmission output.  Low transmission power meant less of a chance to be tracked by enemy triangulation efforts.   After commending their efforts, Captain John ordered the commo gurus to install radio banks in the TOC and he was listening to a report when we entered.

“We are down by one third of our force at this time” he said. “Your team was the hardest hit.  Three of your guys were ambushed while trying to pick up their families.
It seems like the government was specifically targeting the families of soldiers with Special Operations training. My guess is that sniper trained patriots scare them.”

We told him of our own experience and of the gear we were able to bring back.  We asked about his daughter and Kyle.

“Kyle is recovering from some wounds he got while rescuing his family.  We went together to get his sons and my daughter.  When we got to his house, the boys were being loaded into one vehicle and his ex-wife into another. We followed the boys.  We waited until we could take down the suburban outside of town.  Kyle was driving.  We pitted the Suburban and rolled our vehicle in the process.  Kyle’s left collar bone broke and he had to cut himself out of his seatbelt while we were taking fire from the bad guys.  They were all just spray and pray soldiers.  They made easy targets and after two minutes they were all dead.  His boys were fine. They were unconscious, but fine.  Seems they had been tranquilized.  Kyle got some scrapes and bruises with his broken collar bone.  Doc Martin says he’ll be fine in a few weeks.  Till then he’ll be helping to train some of the new recruits. He likes to talk a lot, so it’ll suit him well. “

I asked the Captain
about his daughter.

“She’s
in a secure location. A few friends of mine (read former SEALs) happened to be in the neighborhood when the Boys in Blue Beanies showed up to snatch her.  SEALs can be very persuasive and not only did the bad guys not take her, but I too was able to bring back a haul of extra gear.  Kyle’s boys and my daughter are with my pals.  They are good men with families deep in Appalachia.  They will be safe.”

“On a more somber note, Kyle and I stopped by to deliver the bodies of Mitch and Jason to their
wives.” He looked past me and stared for a few seconds looking at ghosts and trying to find words.

“
We told them what we knew of the government plans and they agreed to leave and head for the safety of friends and family.  We watched them pack and leave while we provided security. I can only hope they understand the sacrifice their husbands made.  The bravery it took to warn the rest of us.  I might not be here if it wasn’t for them.  I’m ashamed that all I could offer them was my condolences.  When this is over, their husbands will be honored publicly for their actions. Their children will know how brave their fathers were and how much they believed in a free America.”

He was clearly grieving the loss of our brothers in arms and the others who died in that
battle.  I have never been an officer tasked with sending men into battle.  I have had soldiers in my squad die in battle, but the order always came from above.  The man issuing the order has to have a heavy heart knowing men and women he personally knows and trains may not make it back.  I don’t envy the command seat.  I have enough responsibility where I sit.

Captain John changed the su
bject quickly. “I trust you have seen the new layout.  I know it’s rough, but it has what I believe to be all the necessary features we will need in this base.  You will notice that we have a church.  I know that not all of us are religious, but enough of us are, and I believe that if we are going to be fighting for our constitution, we need to do as our fore-fathers did, and include God.  We will if at all possible make a service and prayer time available for each soldier and volunteer who wishes to attend.  I would recommend some quality time on your knees before each operation.  I am a firm believer that if God is for us, none can stand against us.”

“On a lighter note, Mac
k and Doc Martin are setting up training sessions for combat lifesaver certification.  The training will be done in two phases.  The first will be for new recruits and will last half a day. The second will be a refresher for everyone else.  We aren’t trying to make doctors out of anyone, but we all need to make sure we can handle basic things on the battlefield.  Doc Martin and Nancy made a run into town and “appropriated” medical supplies from the local hospital and their own home stash.  They are set up in our new hospital right now drawing blood for our own supply.  Each of you WILL donate what they ask for and then come back to the TOC. We have some work to do.”

It sounded like an order to me, so we found directions to the new hospital and went there.

Chapter 14

"The constitutions of most of our States assert that all power is inherent in the people; that … it is their right and duty to be at all times armed; … "
Thomas Jefferson
letter to Justice John Cartwright, June 5, 1824. ME 16:45.

When we arrived at the hospital we were pleasantly surprised to find that despite being a large mine shaft, the place actually looked like a hospital.  It had white walls, gurneys, wash basins, and beds arranged much like an emergency room at any given hospital.  There were even curtains that could be pulled for privacy.  Neil and I said hi to Mack and Doctor Martin.  Nancy was drawing blood from a new recruit and nodded a quick (but not impolite) hello. Mack said, “Have a seat on an empty bed and roll up your sleeves gentlemen.  Nurse Allison will be by to do what she does best.”

We qu
ickly found out just who Allison was. “I’m no nurse Jack-Ass.  For the record I’m a Physician’s Assistant, and as far as what I do best, the last time we were at a range together should have taught you better than to run your mouth” she said.

Allison was a 5’8” fireball with blonde hair and blue eyes.  To say she was a knockout was no exaggeration.  I introduced myself and Neil mumbled something that sounded like hello.
He was still knocked down a rung over the loss of Andrea.  He probably didn’t even notice Allison.

Allison was quick with wit
and our banter became comfortable like soldiers in the field.  The gallows humor started to roll out without effort.  We were discussing the possibility of using UN helmets for bed pans when a curtain was yanked back and Kyle added his two cents to the discussion.  “The only helmets I’ve seen lying around have holes in them thanks to a couple of snipers I know.”

I almost jumped off the table to embrace my
friend and would have had Allison not firmly blocked my effort and put me in my place with a look that would have made a child apologize for something they hadn’t done. 

“Don’t get to
o cozy with my girl there” Kyle said as Allison rolled her eyes. “As soon as Facebook is back up I’m planning to change my relationship status.”

“Why
? Did West Virginia decide to allow Gay Marriage?” Allison asked/accused.

I damned near fell off my bed, IV and all
, already expertly attached.

Kyle took it
all in stride being the ladies-man we all knew him to be.  Allison however was stealing glances at Neil and he didn’t seem to even notice.

“
Soldier, can you speak, or should I just call you Sgt Mumbles?” she asked.

Neil blushed and apologized for his shortness with her.  He introduced himself and they began to talk
casually. “I’ve just got a lot on my mind, I’m sorry. I’ll try to be friendlier.” 

“I hope you’
re thinking about ruining some more blue bed pans”, she joked.

We all laughed and Neil asked her about herself (something Kyle had obviously forgotten to do).

“Well, with all the testosterone around here, I wondered when someone would be interested in me” Allison said.  Neil blushed and said, “I’m sorry… I didn’t mean it that way… I just wanted…”

“Relax sniper.  I’m busting your stones.
If we are going to have any kind of relationship you’re going to have to learn to lighten up.  As far as my experience, I served six years as a medic attached to the 82
nd
Airborne. After that I finished enough medical school to be a Physician’s Assistant.  I spend my free time shooting things and hunting, and I have always had a thing for brooding snipers!” “

Neil was sitting straight up with his eyes wide and his mouth open.  Allison flashed him a devilish smile and walked away with her pony
tail swishing in the breeze. I looked at Kyle and we both cracked up laughing. When we left the hospital Neil was back to sulking, but it was great to see he could still be stirred by a classy chick!

Chapter 15

"The best we can help for concerning the people at large is that they be properly armed."
Alexander Hamilton
The Federalist Papers at 184-8

Over the next few days, our orders were to prepare mission plans for guerilla strikes against UN troops in the surrounding area.  It was known by local area informants that the UN was planning to conduct patrols in the small towns nearby.  This type of troop presence was taking place all over rural America.  With a revolution in full swing, the UN was now acting as the de-facto US military for the president.  It was suspected that the UN would be taking over major military installations in the United States.  The kind of weaponry and technology previously available only the Unites States military would now be used against its citizens by foreign troops. 

While major planning for assaults of
high value targets was being conducted, we were going out to raise hell and demoralize the enemy.  Neil and I liked that idea.  Top on our list was to ambush and eliminate UN soldiers.  High value targets included any UN Officers. Working our way down the list in priority, we would then target Non-Commissioned Officers (sergeants) and then grunts (anyone else wearing a blue helmet).  All of our strikes would be from inside city limits if at all possible. We would use hit and run tactics.  We didn’t want to sit and trade volleys with the enemy.  We would be using hide sites in patriot’s homes and businesses.  No one wanted to be receiving return fire in a patriot’s home.

We spent two days running over contingencies and plans with our team.  We now had a squad
of ten snipers.  This included two new recruits who had served as designated marksmen in the National Guard, but with no combat experience.  They were fresh from training though, so they were welcome in our ranks as spotters for now.  We would hone their skills and make them snipers in time.  That gave us five sniper/spotter teams to work with.  Each team was given a list of streets in town to cover and a list of patriot loyalist homes that would welcome them. Maps were studied to provide ingress and egress routes. 

Sniper teams were instructed to set up in a primary residence or business and after
the initial engagement (first shot) they would move to a secondary location and reacquire targets. Simultaneous shots were authorized for teams with two sniper qualified shooters.  Each team would stay in town for three days, moving from hide site to hide site. Each rifle used would be outfitted with a silencer and concealment was paramount.  No one could afford to be detected.  This would be a valuable lesson in sniper hide development for our two newbies.  The rifles were all .308 caliber and we would be using sub-sonic loads which would further lessen our noise signature. If the operation was conducted successfully, the only notice to the enemy that anything was amiss would be sudden death for one or two members of a squad.