The Rangers Are Coming (5 page)

“What about the heavy stuff,” asked the President?

“I think we can get by with a single battery of six 105 mm, artillery pieces.  They’re easy to move and have an effective range of about 7 miles.  We want to make sure that in addition to the normal high explosive rounds, they have the controlled fragmentation anti-personnel rounds.  We’ll start with Bradley Fighting Vehicles as our principal armor.  They’ll be powerful enough to handle anything they run into and they are smaller and easy to move on narrow roads and across open territory.  Add about two dozen Humvees, along with 20 deuce and a half’s.”

“We also need overwhelming air support.  I would say about 20 Black Hawks, a dozen or so heavy Huey’s, about 20 big Chinooks, each equipped with front mounted mini-guns and rocket launchers, 10 four-man observation helicopters, at least a hundred drones, of all sizes.  I also want at least one 787 jetliner in mothballs, a few single engine planes, and one, big C-130.  We won’t need those right away, but we need a model or two to reverse engineer when the time comes.

The President shook his head, “It sounds so strange to hear a 22 year old woman rattling off the personnel and armaments for a military unit.  However, I don’t doubt or question anything you say, Arcadia.  I know you’ve been working 20 hours a day in planning the full scope of this whole operation.”

Arcadia shrugged, “It’s true I didn’t know any of these things a week ago.  The trick is to keep the technology low enough not to overwhelm the capacity to learn and operate all this equipment by young men who think a single shot musket is state of the art.  However, they must do the heavy lifting on their own.  They have to feel they’re the reasons they’ve won their freedom, no matter what kind of weapons they have.”

“Well, you’re doing a great job and we’re proud of you.”

“It’s like playing three dimensional chess simultaneously on six different boards,” groaned Arcadia.

“I have a suggestion for you,” said the President.  “We’ve got our communications system back up and running for the most part.  I’m able to speak to the nation whenever it seems necessary.  I’ve confined all my messages to repairing the damage and directing relief efforts for the unaffected parts of country.  What I have not done is to tell them anything about the bigger mission.  I wonder if you think it would be helpful to hear some of that from you.”

“Absolutely not,” said Arcadia.  “What can you possibly say?  We certainly can’t tell them a divine mission is underway and that everything is going to hunky-dory.  Frankly, I’ve no idea how this is going to work.  It’s possible that everyone’s memories will be readjusted to the new realities. 

“I would rather rely on that, and say nothing or deceive them in anyway,” said Sampson.

5

Mains Neck, Virginia

A helicopter dropped down onto a landing pad in the air center away from the center of Fort Independence.  Arcadia, stepped out of the helicopter, flanked by several high-ranking military officers.  The chopper made a couple of circuits of the facility before landing to let Arcadia see the layout of the Fort.  A tall fence surrounded the five square mile installation.  A solid chain link fence filled with long aluminum strips to conceal the contents of the interior from the outside.  A row of razor barbed wire covered the top of the 12-foot high fence.  Guard towers dotted the perimeter.

In the center of the Fort was a large building.  It was both an assembly hall and could be divided into sections to make classrooms by moving walls.  It was built to hold 7,000 people.  Flanking the Assembly building were two more buildings at each end.  One was the Administration Center, and the other was a huge cafeteria and recreation center.

Surrounding the core buildings were wide, paved streets that led to a complex of two story barracks.  Each barrack would house two hundred men and there were 35 such structures in rows around the Assembly building.  Beyond the barracks were fields for training areas, a shooting range, workshops for all the equipment and more classrooms. 

At the far end, in the center was the airfield with a dozen helicopters, large and small.  In one corner was a building that housed the power plant of the fort, with electrical lines fanning out to the camp.  Outside the walls water poured from a tall waterfall that had been diverted in two places and linked to massive generators.

  All the power lines were buried.  The military engineers assured Arcadia that there was more than enough power to supply every conceivable need for the Fort.

In the other corner, huge tanks, holding diesel fuel were buried and an efficient refinery built on top.  It would turn crude oil into fuel in a future time.  For now, there was enough fuel stored to run all the engines of all the vehicles for more than a year.

Along the sides of the Fort were the garages for the Humvees, the Bradley light tanks and the battery of 105 mm artillery howitzers.  The armory for all the ammunition for everything was in a reinforced concrete building near the big artillery guns.

All in all, it was a very compact and efficient fort.  Arcadia was very satisfied to see the real thing from the plans she had approved.

“This way, ma’am” said one of the officers.  He led her into the Admin Center and to the big conference room in the center of the building.  It was full.  No less than three dozen men and a few women were waiting for Arcadia.  The codename that was used to refer to her, in communications, was “Lady Hawk.”

She took her place at the head of the big table, flanked by her senior officers.  She waved everybody to their seats and said, “Let’s make it a practice to not stand for me when I come into a room, OK?”

“Sorry ma’am,” said the Senior General Manny Compton, “We will obey every order you give us, except that one.  Allow us to render the respect and honor all of us hold for you.”

“All right, but let’s keep the ma’am’s down to about one a day.  I’m Arcadia.”

General Compton got to his feet, picked up a pointer, and activated the big screen at the front of the room.  “As you can see, Arcadia, Fort Independence is complete.  Everything we need to train and equip a Brigade is here.  Our permanent party consists of a senior staff of five, 200 training officers, who will become the officers in the field for the men they train.  This includes 60 combat teams, an artillery battery, a mechanized arm of 12 Bradley tanks, 20 Humvees, and 60 helicopters that include 20 Blackhawks, 10 Super Huey’s, plus  10 reconnaissance choppers and 20 Chinook ships that will hold 35 men or 15,000 pounds of equipment or supplies.”

“The men who we’ve selected as trainers are from the Army, Navy, and Marines.  They represent the most qualified men in the service, and are trained as instructors in weapons, martial arts, the humanities, and social counselors.  Believe me when I say they are the best of the best.  Additionally, we have a medical unit of 50 doctors and nurses, and a complete medical facility.  We also have political experts, technology, and engineering personnel for all our equipment.  We have spare parts for every piece of equipment at the Fort.”

“Sounds to me that you’re already, raring to go, and wondering when I’m going to get off my butt and start doing a little politicking,” said Arcadia with a smile.

“We await you’re orders, ma’am,” said the General.

“All right, the next part of the plan is to have a meeting with George Washington over at Mount Vernon.  You do realize when we initiate that part of the plan the gate to our time today will transport everything here to 1770 and we’ll really be on our own.  We’ll live or die by our planning and wits.”

  “We’ve decided that the biggest shock value for my entrance will be by one of the scout choppers setting down right in front of the main house, and then flying away quickly, leaving me alone.  Our research shows that Washington is in residence now at Mt. Vernon and is expected to be there for a while.  My job is to enlist him as a co-conspirator of the plan, and then bring in Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, and Madison.  Once that’s done, and I’m satisfied they’ll stay with the plan for the rest of their lives, I’ll bring them all here for a look at the Fort.  You have all my gear ready to go?”

“The techs and directors have assembled the best history lesson you’ve ever seen.  It’s all on disc and ready to play from the laptop we are sending with you.  We are also giving you a big plasma screen to show it on.  We’ll drop that off, along with your luggage when we take you in.”

“If I need anything, or want to do something new to help me along, I’ll call you on my IPhone.”  Arcadia took a deep breath.  “All right everybody.  We’re going tomorrow.”

When Arcadia woke the following morning, she knew she was no longer in the 21
^st
Century.  She thought there would be more of a noticeable shift, but it was just a surety in her own mind.  She knew time had changed.  The quest had begun.

   
6

Mount Vernon, Virginia

George Washington had just completed breakfast and given orders for the day’s work to his staff, when he heard a strange sound.  It was like a thumping, and it was getting louder.  He got up from his desk and walked to the front door of his home. 

As he opened the door and stepped out onto the veranda, he followed the noise and looked up.  He saw a silver craft 200 feet up and coming straight down for the big circle that faced his home.  Others came running out to see what was going on.  All stood rooted to their spot as the silver craft with a clear glass covering the top of it and a whirling blur above the craft, sat down on the wide walkway and a door on the side opened.  A man stepped out of the craft and put a suitcase, a large shoulder bag, and a very large rectangular bag on the ground.  Then the man turned and put his hand out to help a young woman step out of the craft.  As soon as he’d done this, he jumped back into the craft and with a whoosh; the strange object sprang from the ground and disappeared over the top of the mansion and out of sight.  In seconds, it was quiet once more.

Washington looked at the woman.  She was dressed in a shimmering silver/white dress, which covered her from neck to the ground.  There was a silver belt around her slim waist.  She was very tall, quite attractive, had long flowing blond hair, and the most penetrating blue eyes he could ever remember seeing.

As he stepped forward toward the woman, he was surprised to see her slip to her knees and hold her hands in prayer.  She said, “Most gracious Heavenly Father, I ask you in the name of my Savior Jesus Christ to bless the mission you’ve given me and allow me to speak with the honorable Mr. Washington here at his home at Mount Vernon.  Amen.”

Then the woman smiled and strode forward with a pleasant smile, “Good Morning, Mr. Washington, my name is Arcadia.  God has sent me on an important mission to speak privately with you.  Will you allow me to come into your home?”  She put out her hand, and Washington took it.  Arcadia shook his hand firmly.

“What was that strange and mysterious craft in which you arrived,” asked Washington?

“It’s called a helicopter, Mr. Washington.  It’s only a tiny part of the wonders I’ve brought to show you.  However, my message to you is vital to the cause of Liberty in these Colonies.”

“Is that right?” said Washington.  “In that case I suppose you should come in and tell me more.  Can I help you with your luggage?”

“Only the large, rectangular bag, it’s quite fragile.  Please don’t drop it or allow it to hit your door frame.”

Washington picked up the bag that held the plasma screen by its strap and carefully carried it into the house, bowing as Arcadia went through the doorway first.

“You may set it against the wall.  It will stand up and won’t fall.  Many thanks to you Mr. Washington, I was very much afraid you would not see me or allow me to explain my arrival and my purpose for being here.”

“You seem to know me,” said Washington, “Yet you have only said you are called Arcadia.  Is that your Christian or Family name?”

“It is my only name, and I hope you will use it.”

“Very well, Arcadia,” said Washington, “Perhaps you can explain your business here.”

“You are George Washington, born February 22, 1732, in the new Gregorian calendar, implemented by the British this year.  You were born into the provincial gentry of Colonial Virginia; your wealthy planter family owned tobacco plantations and slaves.  Both your father and older brother died when you were young.  However, you were attached to the powerful William Fairfax, both personally and professionally who promoted your career as a surveyor and soldier.  Because of your leadership and intelligence, you quickly became a senior officer in the colonial forces during the first stages of the French and Indian War.  Currently you live here at Mount Vernon with your wife, Martha.  You are deeply troubled by relations and injustices by the English Crown and have been engaged for some time in ways that British rule of the 13 colonies can be modified or actually dissolved.  I am not a British Agent, Mr. Washington, and please note my first action was to pray to God that he bless my mission he’s assigned me to accomplish”

Washington was surprised, frightened, and impressed with the straightforward behavior of this strange woman.  He said,” You not only seem to know a great deal, but you also speak of matters that are seldom spoken in public.”