Tyranny in the Homeland (2 page)

              “Dad doesn’t have much patience with me when it comes to cars and men stuff. You are always so good to me and I really like you because you are honest, kind and gentle.”

              Gus blushed and said, “You need to hang out with people closer to your own age. I like being around you, but don’t you think I’m a bit old to be hanging out with?”

              “No. I really like you and I like the way you show me respect and treat me like an equal. You were good to me when I got shot at the battle for the compound. You kissed me and I liked it.”

George’s daughter, Ginny, was flirting with Gus every chance she got and even though Gus was somewhat embarrassed, he really liked being courted by a lady half his age.

Ginny had decided that Gus was going to be her husband and help her raise her two small children. She would chase Gus until he caught her.

              A kid who had been paying attention spoke up and said, “Nothing.”

              “That was easy to say after Forrest paved the way, but back up your statements.”

              “Those amendments to the Constitution abolished slavery, gave everyone but women the right to vote and then the 19
th
gave women the right to vote. The problem is that our Congress and President can choose not to enforce the laws as Obama did during his administration. Nixon broke many laws and so have most presidents. That is why “We the People,” have to enforce all laws or change the laws.”

              “Great answers. Now, how do ordinary people enforce laws?”

              “Sir, our new country, the ISA, requires that every citizen vote in every election, serve in the military and carry their weapons at all times. No dictator stands a chance against an educated and motivated citizenship. They key is that everyone must stand up for what is right and pull their weight.”

***

              Jim looked at Scott and saw that his best friend was nervous and somewhat distracted. He waved to get Jim’s attention and said, “You know that you are just moving in with Joan, not marrying her, don’t you?”

              “I know, but it’s still a big commitment and a lot of responsibility. I have been in love with Joan for five years and don’t ever want to hurt her.”

              “Scott, you haven’t been with another woman since you started going steady with Joan. You don’t even flirt with any of the young women. Hell, they all want you to court them. You are the most wanted man in the southeast.”

              Jim thought that was funny and was laughing hard when Scott thumped him on the back of the head.

              “I’ll just tell Imelda what you said and see if she doesn’t finish thumping your head.”

              Imelda and Joan came around the corner of the living room just in time to hear the end of Scott’s comment.

              “Why would I want to thump my baby’s head? I love his head, but if my boss says thump, I thump.”

              With that said, she gently slapped the back of Jim’s head then fell into his lap and kissed him.

              Joan said, “I don’t think I will let that last comment get pushed under the rug. Jim, were you making fun of Scott for moving in with me? I might cut your balls off if you are trying to give him cold feet.”

              “Joan, you know me too well to think that I would say anything negative about y’all moving in together. I think it’s a great idea.”

              “If it’s so great, why don’t you and Imelda live together? You two are together every minute that you are off duty and look at the apartment you get. It has at least two more square feet than the area around your bunk in the bachelor’s quarters.”

They all laughed and went back to helping get Joan and Scott’s belongings unpacked.

***

              "Now, class, this is probably the most difficult question of the day. Which is more important, the First Amendment or the Second Amendment to the Constitution?”

              He saw several hands go up in a knee jerk reaction and said, “Take your time. This could be the most important question that you will ever be asked.”

✺ ✺ ✺ ✺ ✺ 
✺

The Department of Homeland Security had set up camp just across the river from Decatur in a little town named Peets Corner. There were over two hundred DHS, three companies of Kentucky National Guard and a regular Army artillery company making up the force. Only the DHS officers knew that the President of the USA wanted to make an example of Decatur. Their orders were to kill every man, woman and child and then destroy the town. The President was worried that the National Guard may not carry out their part of the massacre if they knew the whole story about the attack. Their officers had been told that a biker gang had taken over the town and had already killed all of the citizens.

“Sergeant Davies, what did your scouts find on the other side of the river? Did the DHS or anyone see your team?”

“Sir, no one saw the team. Those biker gang members apparently brought women and children with them. They also have farmers and some policemen. Sir, there are about forty five hundred civilians across the river.”

“Thanks for the update. Tell your men to keep this to themselves. Dismissed.”

“Alex, gather the scouts and meet me behind the mess truck in ten minutes.”

“Will do.”

Sergeant Ted Davies knew that he could not be a part of the attack on Decatur, but wanted to make sure that the biker gangs didn’t fool the scouts. Even if the gangs controlled the city, it made no sense to shell the women and children.

“Team, give me more detail. How many kids and what ages? How many women and were they armed?”

“Ted, I saw over a hundred kids of all ages in schools and playing in the park.”

“I saw that plus most of the women were unarmed and the ones that were appeared to be part of a group that was guarding the city. They have guards at all entrances to the city. These were well-dressed and clean people. I never saw any greasy bikers. We can’t kill these people.”

“Okay, keep this to yourselves. I told the Major and he is thinking about the situation.”

“Damn, he’d better think quickly. The artillery starts in two days and I’m not joining in on the attack.”

All of the men said that they would not attack innocent civilians.

“I’ll talk with the Major again, but don’t talk out loud about this. The DHS will shoot us for insubordination if they catch wind of these comments.”

“We just want to go back home to Madisonville and see our families. This is bullshit.”

***

              “In thirty four hours we will begin moving troops across the river and an hour later we will begin shelling the enemy. Another hour after that the attack helicopters will finish off any remaining enemy troops. This will send a message to this rebel group that they can’t fuck with Uncle Sam. Colonel Bates will go over your assignments with you and then you will get back to your commands.”

“Sir, what about civilian casualties?”

“Good question. There are a few innocents that we hope to save, but there are very few and yes, some may be killed. A few women and children are located in a school on the west side of town that the artillery and choppers will avoid. Major Mill’s NG unit has been selected to free them from the gangs. I have faith that the Kentuckians will not shoot innocent women and children.”

***

“Major Mills, please come here. We need to talk.”

“Ted, what can I do for you?

“Jack, I double checked with the scouts and Decatur has no gangs at all. They are innocent civilians. The men won’t join the attack.”

“Sergeant Davies, shut up and come with me.”

The Major led him to a spot in the woods about a hundred yards from the camp.

“If the DHS hears you spouting off; we’ll all get shot. I agree with what you are saying and I know I can trust you, but we cannot trust everyone with this situation. Do you trust the ones that know about the civilians?”

“Jack, we went to high school with all of them. They hate the DHS and don’t trust those bastards. They are going to massacre thousands of civilians just to make a point to the ISA rebels.”

“Okay, I have a plan and I need you and your most trusted men to do what I tell you to do. I have four other groups that will do their part and we may get out of this alive. We can’t stop the attack, but we can lessen its impact. We have to escape and get our families to safety. I have also sent word of the attack to the ISA; perhaps they can help those poor souls.”

***

“John, the DHS and some Army troops have massed just above Decatur and plan to kill everyone as a message to us. We want to stop them, but this is happening at dawn. We are sending some F-18s and Apaches, but need boots on the ground. If y’all go full speed, you should get there before the battle is over. I am sending fifty Rangers and Seals by chopper, but they can only harass the enemy until you get there. I hope we can save the town, but time is not on our side.”

Scott’s scout team was on the road in an hour going as fast as the roads would permit. John had cleared the roads north of Mobile for about fifty miles. However, after that there were cars and trucks stalled on all of the highways from the EMP attack last year. They were weaving between cars and driving on the shoulder trying to go as fast as possible. They had three hundred and sixty miles to travel in ten hours to save thousands of lives.

“Damn, Jim, we have to clear these roads before we go through this shit again. It never dawned on me that we’d have to move an army overnight.”

“Scott, we’ll do the best we can and fight like hell when we get there.”

“John, you can’t go. PERIOD! Beth is about to deliver any day now and your baby needs a father. I’ll lead the fight for Decatur and that’s that.”

“Okay, Gus, but keep me informed on your progress and may God go with you and our men and women. It’s very hard to send my men into harm’s way and not go with them. I feel like I am betraying them.”

“John, you have to trust your men. You trained them and taught them all you know about defeating the enemy, now turn them loose and have faith in them.”

***

Major Mills put his plans into motion at 2:00 a.m. starting with killing the seven men that the DHS had planted in his group. That team had the most distasteful job, but it was the key to their success.

Ted slipped up behind the two DHS plants and tapped them on the shoulder. He stabbed one in the kidney while he held his hand over the guy’s mouth. Another slit the throat of the second man. They let them drop to the ground and then slid into the tent and killed two more of the bastards. Another team killed the remaining three DHS moles.

The NG vehicles were searched for explosives and GPS tracking devices. Mills had them removed and placed on DHS Humvees.

Next, several teams snuck into the artillery emplacements and shoved 105mm rounds down the barrels of the 155mm cannons. Then they poured sand down the barrels of the 105mm cannons. They sabotaged about half of the cannons before they heard the crews starting to wake up for the morning.

The whole camp was stirring now and most would be crossing the bridges to head into Decatur. Mills planned to head west instead of crossing the river and go over to Elgin and cross the river at Wheeler Dam and hide out east of Florence until they could head back north to get their families.

The NG units peeled off the road went through a field and cut across country in the pitch-black night. They were undetected and soon made it to Highway 24 and headed east until they joined Highway 72 and drove over to Elgin and crossed the river.

About half an hour later, they heard several explosions and artillery fire at the same time. Then they heard explosions across the river in Decatur. Eighty men were killed and dozens more were wounded when the cannons exploded. There was a half hour lull while the crews checked their cannons for sabotage.

“Head over to the Robert Trent Jones Golf Course. We’ll hide there until the coast is clear.”

They drove back roads and gravel paths to get close to the golf course and were not spotted by the DHS. They drove up to the clubhouse and Major Mills got out and walked up the front steps.

“This place is beautiful and will make a great command center.

“Sergeant, hide as many of the vehicles under the clubhouse as possible. Hide the rest under the trees and no golfing.”

The Fighting Joe was Major Mill’s favorite golf course. The course had reverted to weeds and tall grass; deer and rabbits were everywhere.

“Ted, we used to come here every spring for our buddies golf tournament. Do you think anyone will ever play here again?”

“Jack, I hope so because that will mean everything is back to normal. I don’t think we will see it in our lifetime.”

✺ ✺ ✺ ✺ ✺ 
✺