So here's something I wrote back in 2005 it only went up to chapter 10 so I've added a lot to it since then because I thought it could have gone a lot further.  So, I'll post updates when I can. Thanks for reading this rambling.
Jon


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Northern Eclipse
Copyright 2008 by Jeber431/ Tonto Ohio


Chapter 1


Thursday February 21st, 2008 11:34 AM

He’d have to call his boss about firing Franklin, the college kid who usually did deliveries and general labor around the office for the last year. Last Monday he was told to reorganize the back section of the warehouse and it was still a mess over a week later. As he looked around the loading dock, it was apparent nothing had been done. He’d have to do some rearranging before he was to meet with the new area representative for the line of commercial water filter systems his company sold and installed this afternoon . They were expecting a truckload of ice machines Friday afternoon.  He had to plug in the electric fork truck since wasn’t charged, it barely loaded the two ice machine heads and bins that Franklin never put up into the dock he was told to put up there along with straightening up the warehouse.  

Franklin. Shaking his head in wonder. The flake once again called off sick and Jason was stuck doing his own job plus now Franklin’s while they were short handed.  One of his service guys had recently quit going to a different company and the salesman had been out of the office on calls all day. Then his boss (who had semi-retired leaving Jason to run the day to day operation) and wife were off on another vacation with friends in Las Vegas this week. It had turned into a very busy week quickly and would be glad when the weekend was finally here. All of the service guys were on calls so it was just him and the part time secretary there. One good aspect was that his boss agreed for Sarah to get some additional hours in for the week as opposed to her usual two days a week. Sarah, the daughter of the boss’s friend who was going to the University of Toledo worked here on her non-school days and as a waitress at one of the pancake houses on the weekends. He still as of yet figured out which one she worked at but Franklin had said she worked at a place near the University.  She did quite well for herself for being a second year college co-ed, living just off campus with roommates and studying accounting.

Even on day’s like today he didn’t really mind getting out of the office just for a little bit. Even though today was going to be a cool one, maybe in the low 40’s with a chance of rain/snow mixture tonight, the rest of the week was to be low to upper 20’s with lows into the teens and a snow flurry or two on the weekend. Glancing at his watch he saw that it was almost lunch time, but he wasn’t that hungry today especially after coming in to find that Franklin called in sick just irked him. The kid was becoming more and more irresponsible for some reason.  Two months ago, he started showing up late, leaving as early as possible and then not even coming in at times.  It should of cheered him up that he had also received a email from his former unit buddy who’s leaving for home today for a few weeks. He had been working as a civilian security contractor in Afghanistan and Iraq since 2004 but now was stationed in Iraq. His emails from both Afghanistan and Iraq were usually detailing how their base was mortared the night before, the occurrences at the main gate or on patrol and the bazaar sexiness of female MP’s carrying M249 SAW’s and M4 Carbines with M203 grenade launchers attached to them. He kept referring to his base in Iraq as "The bar scene in Star Wars". It was just that messed up at times. On previous contracts, while the military forces are armed to the teeth in country, he’s normally only allowed to carry a M9 pistol for personal protection while out at a roadblock with the MPs. While out ‘in the field’ he carried either a AK or a folding stocked shotgun as a primary firearm with whatever ammo he could acquire. It just didn’t make sense to Jason. If he had taken the job, he’d be armed with at least a M4 carbine (even though the guys on various message boards would be moaning and groaning about carrying a Mattel produced poodle popper of a assault rifle and not a big heavy manly .308 MBR - sorry guys!) or a AKS74 with a dozen magazines. Now, in his newest assignment he no longer dealt with the same firearm restrictions and carry a M4A3 all the time then he finally was able to get one of the newer commercial styled Body Armored vests called ‘Dragon Scale’. The body armor was lighter, more effective in stopping rifle and pistol rounds and best of all - a LOT more cooler in the heat. Heck, Jason wished HE had one of the Gen 1 Interceptor vests (IBA) to use with the State Volunteer Reserves he was involved with at the moment. The best they could provide were old 80’s kevlar flak vests but he had bought to the displeasure of his ex-fiancée , a PACA concealable level 3A vest to wear beneath his uniform while pulling gate duty or on a foot patrol.

As he stood in the open warehouses door he watched people within eyesight doing their daily thing. There was a Pepsi driver carting in a ungodly amount of regular and diet colas and juices to the caterer across the street, women going into the hair styling salon across the street and one of the caterer workers throwing trash into the dumpster - same old thing. ‘Well, back to work’ he said smacking the button to close the overhead door Jason closed his eyes rubbing them. He had stayed up late last night watching some movies and was starting to regret he had.

"CLICK"….." Jason snapped open his eyes to find the receiving bay dark. "Power’s out?" At least the overhead door had fully closed before it had went out, otherwise it would of been a pain in the butt to get it down. He began to make his way back to the office.

Sarah met him halfway, with flashlight in hand saying. "Power’s out Jason, but the computers aren’t. Do those have a battery backup thingy that’s supposed to keep them running for a while?"

"Yes, It has a battery backup pack for about thirty minutes. Kind of freaky how it works when you‘re not expecting it." He replied walking over and taking the flashlight she offered. Glancing at it, it was one of the little AA-sized promotional flashlights they handed out at the last service school. Good idea to have not given them all away.

"Give it a few minutes, might just be a glitch in the grid." He shrugged. "Were you working on the accounts or receivables when it went out?"

"Well, kind of neither. I was surfing over on Ebay® checking out things I had bids on. There was this really sweet raincoat I think my dad would like when he plays golf this spring and a couple other things."

"Slacking on the job I see."

"No I wasn't, just taking a break. I swear" She said defensivly.

"Just messing with you. Just finish closing out what you were doing and save to a CD". They entered the office but Jason heard a few car horns honking outside and decided to go to the door to look and see what was going on. . "Looks like it’s all over. The traffic lights are out too." He watched as cars sped through the darkened intersection, several cars stopping before gunning their engines through it. Two lines on the telephone began ringing, then three nearly at once. Well, at least the phones are working still he thought, the battery backup on that was working too he noted. Sarah answered one line while he reached to answer the second line, now the forth line started ringing. For a nearly a hour they were taking calls from customers that their ice machines weren’t working or their walk in coolers or freezers weren’t working.  Many were just questions of what to do, if the power outage would effect their compressors and then several didn’t realize there was a power outage that caused their equipment to go down.  

"Jason, its someone from Lauren’s work. There’s been a accident and you’re listed as a emergency contact person. She fell down the stairs and was taken to St. Luke’s hospital.  They need you there right away.". . . .

Jason stopped reaching for the ringing phone and looked at her.  Eventually he stood to get his coat. “Aww crap. I‘ll be back in a while.  Call one of the service guys on his cell and have him come back to give you a hand, if not lock the door and close early for the day.”

* * * * * * *

"Damnit!", David Nagelsen said as he crumpled up a sheet of paper then threw into the trash can - in near perfect form. "Sweet! Three points" It was only 8 feet away but still it was a good shot he thought for a middle-aged forty something. He came into the office this morning to find several pages of faxes outlining changes to three jobs scheduled to be started in April of 2008. That was a good sign to already having decent sized jobs requiring at least three two man teams to install water systems. Some of them beginning to start in late March when hopefully the ground will be thawed enough not to cause too much wear and tear on the trenching machines.

Right now his crews were busy out working mostly on repair projects and more snow removal from last weeks snowfall while the weather was decent. Business was good last year, he actually had to hire on two more crews for the winter shutdowns giving him a total of seven two man crews. What he didn’t enjoy was the laying off of half his employees just before Christmas for January thru March. Those that stayed on, worked part-time doing maintenance on their equipment, repair, office work and snow removal jobs.

He was working on his sixth revision to the lawn sprinkler system for the mini-mall when the office phone rang, then his cell phone began to vibrate in his pants pocket. "Hello?" he asked digging next for his cell phone.

"David, are you watching it? Man, they gassed them good down south!", a excited Marie Carnell nearly shouted into his ear.

"What? What are you talking about Marie? Who did what where?" David finally fished out his cell phone seeing it the caller ID was from one of his crews.. "Hang on a second Marie."

"Yes Jeff what’s up?" David listened as Jeff began to explain how he needed to leave the job and go pick up his kids from school because of the attack down south and power outages. David walked over to the office TV turning it onto CNN seeing the scene before him on the screen. There were numerous ambulances, fire fighters running around in the distance with rescue equipment everywhere outside of a mall. The video feed must of been from a tower camera because it was bouncing around in the wind. He then told him to clean up and take care of what he had to do and he’ll see him in the morning. Hanging up the cell phone he got back with Marie

"Sorry Marie, still there?" David asked watching in awe at the messages rolling past on the bottom of the screen.

A agitated Marie replied. "Sure, it’s the end of the world and you freaking put me on hold."

"Hey, I said I was sorry. So what’s going on? I’m reading CNN is saying a chemical agent was released at a couple malls down south…and spotted power outages throughout the region?" David’s cell phone began vibrating again. It was another one of his crews. With one phone to either ear he listened to both trying to listen. Finally he had to tell Marie to hold on again. "Marie it’s Chad. Hang on another minute. Chad, you and Dana call it quits for the day and get back here ASAP. We’ll see what happens and go from there. Okay Bye."

David turned his attention back to Marie’s call. Apparently she didn’t hear him and was rambling on. "…. looks like Atlanta and Miami malls were hit with a chlorine gas and they shot at the people running out of exits. Homeland Security has put Georgia and Florida on Red Alert. Oh God! They even gassed a college!"

Shouting into the receiver for Marie to calm down he said. "Let’s move the MAG to Orange alert. I’m waiting for Chad and Dana to get back here and the other guys to call in saying they’re going home."

"Okay David, I’m heading out the door right now to get the kids. The power’s out and I heard on the radio the schools are letting out for the day. I’ll give you a call when I get home. Frank already called me, he’s getting let out early also and heading home.”


"Really? The lights never even flickered here.” he said absently. “Okay Marie, I’ll make the calls. If this goes to hell we’ll meet here and head down to the cabin. Later." He hung up the receiver just as his cell phone began ringing again, it was his wife. Sighing he though, "it’s going to be one of those days…"

He picked up the phone and that’s when he noticed the slight rumbling of the backup generator running outside.  He didn’t even notice the transfer switch had tripped.


* * * * * * * *


Frank Carnell hung up his cell phone after calling his wife again and gathered his things from his locker. His wife was a mess after hearing the news of what happened down south.  She was on her way to get the kids from school when he had called her back to see if she was alright. He was glad he had his little Inova flashlight. He needed to use it to help illuminate his way from his work station to the locker room since the emergency backup lights sucked and the generators didn’t run anything but the auxiliary heaters and refrigeration units so product wouldn’t go bad.  To everyone’s surprise the factory managers decided to shut down first shift early. Second shift was still to report to work but since first shift was actually ahead of month end production and a half day off wouldn’t hurt them.  Absently, he should hit the discount store and pick up a few cases of the products they make.  The kids loved it when he brought home mostly puddings and snack goods but decided against it when he saw the line getting into the store.  He’d best just get home and walked quickly to the exit.

While waiting his turn to clock out on a manual time clock at the security gate, he struck up conversations with a few co-workers about today’s events as they left the building wondering if it was related. "Are we going to be paid for a full day or just a half day? It better be for a full day or the shop steward will get a ass chewing!" , a co-worker of his who he couldn’t recall his name said to him as they waited. Frank just shrugged his shoulders saying nothing. Another said to anyone who would listen. "Is this another September 11th? I hope it isn’t, the last one was such a inconvenience. I lost three days of vacation pay." Ignoring her, turning his attention to up ahead Frank saw more then several actually running to their cars and trucks once they cleared the revolving gate. While he watched, many co-workers were saying we need to go bomb the fuckin’ rag heads for doing this and if John Kerry was elected this wouldn’t of happened. It’s all Bush’s fault.” Frank just shook his head. Even though he was in the union and was ‘told’ to vote for the Democrat ticket he kept his political beliefs quiet, he saw what the die hard union guys did to a over a dozen cars with BUSH/CHENEY or W2 stickers on them before the election. The people who HAD stickers on their cars after the election took them off right after three vehicles were found with punctured tires and broken windows.

He finally was able to clock out after his ID card was checked and logged out on a legal pad by the security guard.  The manual time clock wasn’t working properly as usual.  He cautiously walked to his Suburban, a custom dark green painted 1987 ¾ ton mammoth of a machine. If it wasn’t for the fact his old neighbor had helped him install the newer 6.5 liter turbo diesel engine he probably should of sold it long ago with gas prices the way they are.  $3.76 for diesel and unleaded regular was $3.19/gallon mark. It fired up with a turn of the key, barely a hint of smoke from the exhaust, he let it warm up for a minute or so and let the more panicked people leave. Looking around the parking lot he climbed back out and reached under the drivers seat. Pushing his fingers into the grooves of the mini-vault secured there, the spring loaded door popped open and he extracted a .45 caliber Hi Point pistol placing it into his waistband after working back the slide to chamber a round. The Hi Point pistol was his vehicle piece. It was inexpensive, reliable when it fired the big 230gr FMJ bullet and to make it more durable, given a coat of flat black Rustoleum high temperature paint and lithium grease applied to the inside for lubrication. If the vehicle would get stolen, or broken into and somehow the piece of scum had taken it, he wouldn’t be out the $300-500 for one of his other pistols.

Being paranoid of someone seeing him, he took a around again to see if anyone noticed him doing that, he climbed back into the Suburban seeing it was sufficiently warmed. He fastened his seat belt then put it into drive and made his way towards the back gate, learning from experience going out the front gate was a nightmare even in good times. In his mind he began to prioritize what he was going to do once he arrived home. Would Marie be there with the boys by the time he gets home? Should he make a run to the grocery store? Is this really the beginning of TSHTF? He began to reach for his cell phone to call David when a screech of tires and a car horn shook him from his thoughts as he waited his turn to exit. A bright red Dodge crew cab pickup truck had came up along side of him in the incoming lane at a high rate of speed trying to get out of the lot before everyone else.

"ASSHOLE!" Frank shouted at the man who just smiled and flipped him the finger as he squealed his tires shooting past Frank into the street. The bumper sticker on the shiny chrome said it all. ‘If you don’t like my driving… FUCK OFF!’.

"SO many Idiots…so few bullets." He hissed as he pulled into the street for his journey home. If the stores weren’t to busy, he’d stop by and pick up a few things - just in case. Checking his fuel tank he cursed silently. He was on the auxiliary tank, number one priority was to fill both tanks even if it hurt the credit card. Turning on the radio he wish he didn’t. "…. Total so far for today’s chemical attacks in the south are over a hundred dead and up to three times that many injured." Frank shut off the radio and began looking for the nearest gas station that sold diesel fuel.

* * * * * * * * *



After nearly avoiding several car crashes due to drivers running through darkened traffic lights instead of slowing down or stopping - a silly idea to do for sure - Jason finally arrived at the hospital to find the Emergency room beginning to get busy. It too was running on backup generators. He was hard not to hear them running as he pulled into the back parking lot. Outside, several ambulances were running and one just arriving. As he walked into the lobby a nurse or somebody was shouting into the doors for the drivers to move their rigs so other ’rigs’ can arrive. After taking a quick look around the waiting room for her, he went up to the admittance desk. A frantic secretary just shoved a clipboard his way saying, "If it’s not life threatening we can’t treat you today. We’re swamped right now."

"Excuse me, I was called that a Lauren Sherman was brought here about a half hour ago by ambulance…"

"You’ll have to wait sir, we’re getting swamped at the moment." She turned her back on him and moved out of eyesight to help with another car accident victim to be admitted into the emergency room.

"Jason?" He heard his name and turned around to see one of Lauren’s co-workers who’s name he couldn’t recall behind him. "Is it true? Is the power really out all over the place? Are we under attack again?"

"I guess so. I didn’t see any traffic lights working while getting over here. People are just going nuts out there. Under attack? What are you talking about."

"You haven’t heard then? They attacked us again. A bunch of people are dead in Miami and Atlanta.".  Curious at the look of the frown her face she gave him she pointed to the TV in the waiting room and turned towards it. Several people urged to have the volume turned up, he stopped to listen.

". . . . . of Homeland Security has raised the National Threat Level to RED for those areas effected by today’s events and hinted that it was not inconceivable the nation might go to a full Red alert for the first time since the Alert system was instituted. Nationally as this news is being released, many grocery and hardware stores are reporting selling out of batteries, bottled water, duct tape, plastic sheeting, and other supplies. Homeland Security Director Chertoff gave a press briefing that ended just minutes ago. [Director Chertoff’s voice] ‘While it would be prudent at this time to review your emergency preparations please allow me to make it quite clear we are still collecting information on today’s occurrences. To the people of these United States, we are NOT presently under attack. For those of you in the effected areas, Emergency Services are doing their best to work through this situation. I would like to ask all citizens to make prudent preparations for up to the next seventy-two hours, but panicking is not doing anyone any good. Your government asks that you remain calm, act rationally, stay abreast of the news and help your nation get through this time of crisis by being a part of the solution rather than making yourself a part of the problem.’"

{Back to announcer} "We are not alone in this attack on our nation. Power outage in the northeast and Midwest. Numerous blackouts across the nation have been reported. Many cities are completely shut down due to the effects of the chemical releases earlier today".

"What the hell happened?" Jason looked at her open mouthed. He still couldn’t remembered her name.

"I don’t know, I don’t know" she began to sob, "I need to get home. I didn’t want to leave Lauren here alone, they said they contacted her emergency contact person but I need to get home now!"

It wasn’t the answer he wanted to his question, but it would have to do. Jason gave her a hug saying he understood and telling her to get home safely. She nearly ran out of the waiting room. He watched the TV as they showed numerous EMS vehicles and some military vehicles at one of the incident sites in Miami. It was some huge mall. As it was turned up even more. "U.S. Markets are currently closed and a further sell off is expected tomorrow if the markets open at all. European markets are slightly up as liquid capital seeks a safe haven. Precious metals are up and oil futures have spiked sharply. It is unknown how this latest development will effect the crude oil prices once markets open tomorrow. We have reports coming in that gas stations have raised their prices as much as four to five dollars a gallon in areas of the country."
<silence>
"Ladies and gentlemen we have just been informed that the President will be speaking this evening and we will be giving you a update on the situation currently unfolding later in this broadcast." Jason turned away from the TV and made his way towards a man holding a clipboard behind the counter. "Is there ANYONE who can tell me where my fiancée is at? She came in a hour ago by ambulance…."

The man behind the admittance desk looked annoyed. He glanced at the clipboard and nodded, flipping back the charts. "What’s her name?"

"Sherman, Lauren Sherman. I‘m listed as her work‘s emergency contact person too if it matters." The man adjusted his glasses and said. "May I see some form of Identification?" Amazed by the question he produced his ID and the man nodded saying ‘Right this way Sir’ after he had written down something on the clipboard.  The man took him into the exam area where upon entering, his former fiancée was on the exam table, her left foot heavily bandaged , a bandage on her forehead and her left arm in a sling. She said, "Before you ask. Yes, I tripped at work while going down the stairs. Now why are YOU here of all people?"

He forced a smile and said, “Nice to see you too. Apparently you forgot to change the emergency contact number at your work and stupid me showed up.“ She shot back with, "Don’t even start with me Mister! I’m NOT IN THE MOOD!"

The guy who showed Jason to the exam area looked at him muttering, “Good luck” and disappeared.

* * * * *

Chad Greenidge and Dana Masson had finished up their job purging the irrigation system in a well to do section of the suburbs one drove back to the office as quickly as possible after calling David. There were always people who would turn on their water systems either by accident or thinking that winter was over to early damaging heads or cracking their feed lines.  Along the way Dana noticed the sporadic power outages. At a open gas station, they stopped to fill up both tanks in the truck, two five-gallon fuel cans and then topping off the diesel powered air compressor they were pulling before the prices rose even more. That was one item they did that David never minded. It appeared only they took in account what the fuel prices were. The rest of his employees would just stop anywhere and fill it up no matter the cost. David nearly hit the roof when one of the crews came back with a nearly $100 dollar charge card receipt when gas was at $3.09 a gallon. For ten minutes he chewed them out for not just filling up a half a tank until the prices go lower. One of the guys told him to ‘Fuck off! No one talks to me like that!" and walked out of the office not to return. That following Monday, David found three out of four vehicles tires slashed, surprisingly the truck the ex co-worker used was untouched. So David’s insurance paid to replace three sets of heavy duty tires on three early to mid 90’s Chevy 2500 pickup trucks and the police gladly took the property damage reports.  The former employee was arrested after David showed him the surveillance tape of him puncturing the tires.  He was arrested for trespassing and destruction of property.

Chad and Dana had met while working a overtime shift two years ago Chrysler Corp. and had been together ever since. Not three months later they moved in together, Chad was laid off along with Dana shortly there after due to a contract conflict agreement. Instead of raising the co-pay, the union agreed into letting go those picked from a lottery of two years or less seniority. After working a couple part time jobs stocking shelves at local grocery stores, their luck changed slightly and were hired on by David Naglesen after they attended a C.E.R.T. training class for Lucas County. David was in their class along with them. After making a comment that they were recently laid off and looking for better employment that maybe having the CERT training would help them. It wasn’t long after taking the class they met David again while getting their county Ids, CERT packs and phone numbers of area residents who were to be ‘teamed up’ in case of a emergency. David asked how the employment status was going. After hearing they were still stocking shelves he said he was looking for a couple strong backs for the fall season to be paid $12.50 per hour. They both quickly agreed and asked when they’d be starting.

That’s also where they met a guy named Jason Hallard. Jason was a newly certified County CERT instructor, volunteered as a Military Police Officer for the State of Ohio and helped run a commercial equipment repair business in Toledo. Apparently Jason and David knew each other and were speaking when they arrived to sign out their bags. After the introductions, Jason led them to the 2nd floor where the Ids were being issued. Along the way he just made small talk and upon arriving to the door he excused himself to get more people waiting downstairs. That was the last time they saw them until one night at David’s after a month of working for him where they met him, his wife, and another couple named Frank and Marie Carnell.

After those introductions and they filled their plates with assorted crackers, dips, and finger foods, that the ladies and men had fussed over. Apparently one of the Carnell’s was excited about some recipe for a one dish dinner on a website she found. Chad had to agree the small bowl of peas and rice was good although a little bland. It was the meat-like substance that had him guessing what it was. He later found out as everyone gathered in the Nagelsen’s Great Room, the mystery meat was chicken flavored TVP. Jason got a nod from David who started a meeting of sorts with, "Okay, it seems your story jives with what David has to say about you two. Let me ask you this. Would you be interested in joining a little mutual assistance group David, Frank and I are putting together?"

Chad looked at Dana with suspicion. "What do you mean mutual assistance group?"

"It’s just that. If you haven’t noticed David has been kind of pumping you two for information and likes what he sees. You took the CERT class and know how a CERT Team is organized. Basically, it’s a CERT team on a more personal level. We get together on occasion and provide assistance to other group members."

"I might not be the brightest bulb in the box Jason, but it sounds kind of strange to me. Like, what kind of group is this? It’s not one of those swingers groups? Because I want NOTHING to do with that."

"No no no," Lauren reassured the young couple. Laughing as did a few others she continued. "It’s nothing like that. After the 9-11 we all knew about taking basic precautions then after a few instances we realized maybe we need to do more to help provide us with a better chance of getting through hard times if the worst happens. Look at the power blackout last year. Now, we long lost power for a few minutes, but friends north of us lost it for a couple days, and in some places east of us, they lost it for several days."

Dana looked at Chad with questionable eyes. "Hon, lets hear them out. We could always use some good friends if things go to hell."

Arriving back to the office they saw that several trucks sat scattered in the lot and their co-workers vehicles were gone except for David’s big black Ford Excursion, their old Kia Sportage and three other employee’s vehicles who hadn’t made it back yet. Knocking on the glass door because it was locked, David came to it within seconds opening it. Chad right off noticed that David had a pistol in his hand semi concealed behind his back. It didn’t look like one of the ones he usually carried. "Hey guys, good to see you. Isn’t the news something?"


"Sure is." Dana replied looking at Chad strangely as he stopped in mid stride instead of entering. What has him acting strange all of a sudden? Chad saw her looking at him and nodded towards David and she saw the pistol being placed into his waistband. "Ahh, are you expecting trouble David?"

"Hugh? No, but one can’t ever be to sure. People are freaking out. Tony just called to say someone stopped along the street while they were at a job site and they grabbed the two fuel cans in the back of their truck and took off."

"You’ve got to be kidding me?"

"Nope, they took one diesel and one gasoline can."

"Didn’t get much then." Dana said. "Knowing Tony, he probably stole them."

Chad gave her a look of ‘it wasn’t funny’ and asked, "Are we gearing up to hunker down here or what David. If so, we need to get back to the apartment and grab our gear."

David looked sternly at Chad, "What do you mean ‘get your gear’? Don’t you have your bug out bags in the Kia? That should be able to get you through at least the next 72 hours easily."

"That’s not what I insinuated David. What I should of said was, ‘We need to get back to the apartment to grab the rest of our gear’. It would suck to leave all of that behind if we’re moving out and apparently there’s time to retrieve it. Although I don’t see rioting in the streets."

He pondered the thought for a moment before replying. "No, you’re right. If the situation was worse, I’d say stay here and don’t go anywhere, but it appears it’s just down south that’s on Red Alert. Might as well go home but keep a TV or radio on in case of any more attacks. If we go to Red locally, use your CERT ID’s to get your butts here. Okay?"

Chad looked out the office window towards the hastily parked vehicles saying, "Maybe we should bring the trucks and trailers inside the garage tonight. Or at least the trucks."

"Good idea." David slapped him on the shoulder. "I knew I hired you for some reason. The trucks will fit, no problem. The trailers though will have to be kept outside." He turned to Dana, "Would you mind manning the telephones, Nancy didn’t come into work today because of her kids being sick so would you mind doing it?" Dana shook her head ‘no’. "Okay, Let’s get to it. By the way, if your power is out at home, come to my place or you’re welcome to come back here and stay. I’m going to turn off the generator when I leave if the power is still off.  Looks like it’s going to be cold tonight with single digits by the end of the weekend."


Dana waked to the desk and sat down, propping her feet up. "No problem David, I can play boss for a while. Come on you slackers, get to work!" Chad and David laughed as they walked out into the garage to start making room for the trailers. Dana began to notice David walking at a faster pace then normal as if he was anxious to get this done and get out of here. She called out to David if he had heard from the rest of the MAG.  David stopped and turned around. "Oh, I forgot to tell you, Jason called saying he was on his way to the hospital." he said.

“Why what happened? Did he get hurt?”

David shook his head no, “Nope, I guess Lauren was taken there and he was her emergency contact person and he went.”

Chad and Dana said in unison. "HE DID WHAT?"


Chapter 2
8:33PM February 21, 2008

Jason went to check on Lauren for the 4th time since taking her home. While at the hospital, he was alternating between watching the news broadcasts in the waiting room and checking to see if Lauren needed anything which she said no every time. He had already spoken with Frank Carnell, and David Nagelsen via cell phone while they were at the hospital about the day’s events and Lauren’s condition. Both David and Frank yelled at him for being there along with one of the Hospital staff for being on the cell phone while in the lobby - pointing to a sign saying "NO CELLULAR PHONE USE".  Linda, David’s wife, picked up Kyle at school along with their daughter Samantha from Jr. High school, keeping him with her at their place and dropped him off when they came home. Immediately Kyle had a hundred questions about Lauren’s cast. ‘Did it hurt, was it gross, how did it happen, did she hear it break…’

David was the first person he called about Laruen’s accident while at the hospital. It was when he heard the MAG was on Orange alert (there were three alerts - Yellow, Orange and Red) but to watch the news carefully. He had called Chad and Dana just before Lauren was released and if things changed, to give him a call ASAP so he could meet them at the staging area. Their staging area was at David’s Lawn Irrigation business located south of Toledo and just outside the county limits along a side road off of SR795 in Lake township. It was to be one of their ‘bug out’ areas, in case TSHTF locally occurred. It was a good location, since it was within a quarter mile of the state route and the only other major structures around him were a abandoned light manufacturing factory to the north and several farms/ houses to the west and south. It was far from perfect, but it was after all just a place to go temporary if their homes became to dangerous.

The entire property was surrounded with a eight foot fence topped with concertina wire, containing a prefabricated hanger-like garage with a pair of double overhand doors and room inside big enough to pull up to three of his pickup trucks to work on out of the weather if need be. A attached office at the front was a prefabricated structure also that contained a small kitchenette, reception area, two offices, file room and a bathroom complete with a small shower. He had also installed a smallish 6.5K watt backup generator after several power outages that shut his business down for several days in the past and it all ran off of a pair of 500lb propane tanks inside the parking area towards the back. It had it’s own power, a 500gal water tank behind the garage that was filled from the rain runoff they used on job sites, a 250gallon gasoline and 300gallon diesel fuel tank for the various power tools, ditch witch, bobcat and vehicles, lots of parking and it’s own septic system. Except for having city supplied water they could be self sufficient there.

If the situation didn’t calm down or blow over after 72hrs, they then would convoy as a group to their cabin in Southwestern Michigan as one group. It was while Jason was speaking with David about plans when the electricity had came back on at the hospital. Just before hanging up, the nurse approached, informing him that due to the swelling Lauren would have to come back in two days to get her hard cast on and to see if there was any other damage to ligaments. For right now they’ll just put a soft cast on and release her.

Thankfully, the electricity came back on and the prescription the ER doctor gave them was dropped off at the pharmacy before going home. The doctor had prescribed the usual twenty Vicodin tablets with no refils. Since the pharmacy was on the way home they stopped there to find the parking lot pretty full of people. Just like before a major winter storm, people were ‘stocking up’ on the basics - bread, chips, soda pop, coffee, milk and beer. Jason noticed several carts with at least one twelve pack of beer inside and laughed.

Once he finally made it to the Pharmacy counter instead of waiting, the tech said it would be better if he came back in about a hour or so to pick it up or better yet, to pick it up tomorrow. He was going to love telling her she would have to send someone to pick up her prescription tomorrow. The two Vicodin tablets the ER gave her pretty much had her knocked out by the time they arrived home. Lauren was the kind of person who very rarely took medications and certain pills react more potent then others with her - Vicodin was one of them. He stopped after hearing voices coming from the spare bedroom turned den, Kyle was on the bed playing with a MP3 player. Seeing him in the doorway he removed his earphones. "What’s up Jase?".

"Nothing, just checking in on your aunt." Motioning to the radio he asked. "Geez, I can hear that from here, you’ll blow your eardrums out if you keep it that loud."

"Eh, ya whatever."

"I’m not kidding. It’s really nasty really, all that liquid and goo running down your ears." Smiling he leaned against the door frame to see Kyle’s reaction. There was none. He then asked. "Is AOL still down?"

"Yeah it is. Sucks too. I’m so bored and nothing to do." He put the earphones back on as a signal to end the conversation. Jason just shrugged, fifteen year olds, and checked on Lauren. She was asleep with her left leg slightly elevated in bed. Walking up to her, he thought about arraigning the covers better but didn‘t.  He needed to get going and went back into Kyles room.  “Hey Kyle, I‘m taking off. You going to be okay?”

“Yeah” he replied, “Adam called saying he was a hour or so away and should be here in a little bit.  He wasn’t too happy you were here.”

Jason laughed, “I bet. Your aunt wasn’t happy about me being here either.”

“So why did you go to the hospital then?”  Kyle sat up on the bed. “you know Adam is a total tool, dude just works all the time.”

Leaning against the door jamb he just shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know, just did it automatically I guess.  It’s not even been six months since we called things off.”

“But she dumped you and pretty much treated you like shit and hooking up with Beemer dude.”

He smiled broadly, “Well,  I guess I got the last laugh then.  You know if you need anything to call me right?”

“Yeah, I know Jase.  Just sucks you two aren’t getting married.  I really hate Adam.”

“Just make the best of it bud.  Hey, seriously, I need to get going.  If you need anything give me a call. I really don’t want to be here when her sugar daddy shows up. Lock the doors when I leave okay?”

Kyle walked Jason to the door and said thanks for helping them out.  He walked to his Jeep and sat there for a few minutes as it warmed up looking at the front of Lauren’s apartment building. The temps were beginning to really cool off, tonight was to be in the 20’s, if the power had stayed off longer he would of had to either lit the kerosene heater or put a fire in the fireplace if the power was out at home. It still could be out since he hasn’t been home since he left this morning.

The drive home was pretty uneventful.  The roads seemed empty but the gas stations were packed as he drove past them.  He also noticed the 24hr grocery stores parking lots were very full also.  He was tempted to stop in and grab a few items but instead went home.  As he turned into the subdivision he was happy to see the power was still on and pulled into his driveway pulling it into the garage.  Jason immediately went to the kitchen and made himself a sandwich from the leftover roast he had made a couple nights ago, he realized he hadn’t eaten anything all day and was famished. After making two sandwiches, he sat in his recliner watching the latest news on FOX about the attack down south and why the power went out locally. There were no reports of any other similar attacks although there were several dozen ‘false attacks’ from idiots releasing pepper spray in other public places. At one mall in Charleston, S.C., a Hispanic gang banger held up a can of pepper spray beginning to discharge it shouting "For Allah". A off duty police officer shopping there drew his pistol and shot him seven times to the horror of a bystander video taping it. The city was on a riot alert due to the shooting as several groups took to the streets in protest of a ‘racially motivated killing‘.

His thoughts went back to Lauren’s accident and work and laughed slightly.  She’s going to be pissed for days that he was the one who came and took her home from the hospital instead of her new boyfriend Adam.  Sarah had stayed till closing since the power came back on shortly after he left and called him on his cell to update him on what went on later.  It was going to be a busy day tomorrow from the sound of it. Since the company he worked for dealt with commercial restaurant and connivance store equipment, blackouts or brownouts wreaked havoc on compressors, refrigeration, coffee and cooking equipment program boards. At least it would be keeping the service guys busy. Business was really slow at the moment. It was just this morning that Jason wondered how long that would last before they’d have to lay someone off due to the slow down in work. He still couldn’t believe his ex-fiancée had tripped over a purse someone dropped in the darkened stairwell while the power was out. He smiled until he saw what was being replayed on the TV. . .

He watched the news in silence. Reports of milk at $6 a gallon - IF they had it at all, gasoline was higher after being this morning $3.16 now at $3.45 to 4.59 per gallon. On his way home he saw it at $3.40’s/gallon at most spots.  The Government came out this evening and said they were clamping down on panic raising of prices (sure you will) in any areas. One gas station in Georgia was burnt down by a crowd for charging $6.99/gal for regular unleaded only fifteen minutes after the gas attack in Atlanta. So far Fox and CNN were reporting causality lists were at approximately 132 dead with nearly 500 wounded in the two incidents. By morning the injured and dead would surely rise a somber looking anchormen and women kept reminding their viewers almost constantly.

It was barely 9pm and the temperature was still holding steady in the middle 20’s, the weather forecasters were wrong again. Snow was not projected for the evening now, and tomorrow a high of upper 30’s with possible rain/sleet mix to be expected. The weekend was looking to be cold and gloomy. Snow showers possible Saturday and Sunday, temperatures in the low to mid 20s with chance of upper 30’s by Monday. What caught his attention was a major winter storm that was supposed to hit the area on Tuesday.  Weather terrorists (what he called them since as soon as a major storm was forecasted people went into a panic) are projecting eight to ten inches of snow and a possibility of up to sixteen to twenty inches in the Columbus, Ohio area. Better get some firewood brought into the garage, maybe even get some more kerosene too he thought. Maybe he should check the groceries. He needed was low on several items. Bread, milk, Coke, granola bars - beer, can’t forget the beer, even though he brewed his own amber wheat ale named "Y2k brew" it never hurt to have a few bottles of that commercial stuff lying around in case friends showed up. He was trying to get with another Sgt. he knew to start making his own wine, he preferred the Rieslings, Lauren had liked anything red except extra dry wines.

Heck with this, he began to grab for the pad of paper and pen he always kept on the table next to his recliner to begin making notes, the doorbell rang and Jason went to answer it. To his amazement a man who he’s seen before on the other block was there carrying a flashlight and bundled up against the approaching cold.

"Hello.. name is Bruce Philips from up the block. Pretty cold evening isn’t it?"

"Naw, it’s great out. I’m actually thinking about going for a walk myself. What can I do for you Mr. Philips?"

Phillips shifted his stance and looked over his shoulder before speaking, motioning to Jasons Cherokee parked in the garage. "Well sorry to be so blunt but I heard from one of the neighbors you are with the police department, But I see by the sticker on your Jeep you’re Military Police. I know I recognize you from somewhere else, but I can’t put my finger on it. Anyway, one of the neighbors said they heard looting going on in the inner city. Do you know if the police doing anything so it doesn’t spill into the suburbs? I’ve called the Police Department on it and they just say everything is under control and there’s nothing to worry about."

Jason just loved people who got right to the point. He was being pumped for information. It wasn’t bad but this guy was up to something. "Actually I’m in the State Reserves, it is a voluntary Military Police unit under state control. I really don’t know much other then what I’m told. I’m just watching the news and getting my information that way."

"You must know something, you’re Military Police after all, aren’t they like the Police for the city but for the Army?"

"First off, why would ‘they’ assume it’s just in the inner city? Have you ever seen a BMW driving yuppie not be able to get their favorite three dollar hot cappuccino in the Morning? Talking about riots in the streets! I haven’t heard that bit of news. Second, MP’s mostly have a support role within the whole scheme of things. But lately, they’re being used more as a combat arms branch like we’re seeing in Iraq and Afghanistan. They don’t tell us anything. Otherwise I'm just like everyone else, middle management suburbanite."

Phillips obviously looked disappointed. "Okay, I guess that clears up that rumor. I’ve not heard the gunfire coming from that area anyway. Also, two other things.  One wanted to let you know your garage door was open and two, I'd like to know if you and your wife would be interested in joining us for a block watch meeting later. We scheduled a special meeting tonight."

Jason leaned back. "I’ve lived here for 3 years and I didn’t know we had a block watch. I tried a couple months ago to organize a CERT team in the area but only a few people showed up.

"Ahhh, that’s where I recognize you from. You spoke at the school about what was that a rescue team or something for the neighborhood?"

"Yes, that was me. I thought I recognized you too." He lied. He knew exactly who he was. He was the guy who kept asking questions about what resources and authority they’d have if he would join the organization. "I don’t think I’ll be making it tonight Mr. Phillips, it‘s been a very long day and my fiancée no longer lives here."

"Oh? I’m sorry to hear that. I wish you would reconsider. The meeting starts at nine o'clock sharp. Its just down the block on the other side of Sherwood, third house on the left. If you change your mind. The one with the dark blue shutters is it."

"All right Mr. Phillips. Is there anything I can bring if I decide to come?"

"Just bring anyone else you want to bring. I’ll supply the refreshments, no alcohol though, we don’t drink. Well, I better get going. I do hope you could come." He replied turning away and beginning to walk down the driveway.

"I’ll try." Jason looked at his watch noticing it was only a half hour until the meeting began.

Phillips nodded and went next door, Jason checked his mailbox to find a new catalog from Emergency Essentials and a couple more bills. He smiled when he heard Phillips using his rehearsed line and the overly friendly neighbor saying "No thank you, we’re not interested." And the door closing somewhat forcefully.

Jason closed the door and went to finish his sandwich. The firewood will have to wait. Standing at his chair, he thought about what transpired today. Chemical attacks on two major cities, David activating their MAG (Mutual Assistance Group) to Orange status and now the block watch meeting up the street. Are there more attacks to come? Shouldn’t I be freaking out more then what I currently am? Or was the whole deal about Lauren’s accident taking more of a immediate concern over what was going on nationally?

He thought it to be mildly strange and looked at his watch, 8:53pm.  What the hell.  He’ll go check out the block watch meeting and see what the Sheeple have to say.  He went to the closet and took his Glock 23 off the top shelf checking to see if the chamber was still unloaded. He had the little .380ACP Kel-tec in his back pocket but felt a bigger firearm was more prudent. From the light of the closet, he noticed he didn’t switch back to the .40cal barrel instead keeping the LoneWolf® 9mm replacement barrel in place. It was two weeks ago he and some friends went to the pistol range by the airport then to Loma Linda’s Mexican restaurant across the street. It was a early Xmas present from one of his well to do shooting buddies. He had become sick of Jason commenting that he was going to buy a 9mm barrel for his Glock and never did. Jason really liked the logo they had on the polished stainless barrel anyway- it gave it character. Next he removed the magazine making sure it was still loaded with 9mm bullets instead of .40cal bullets, he then placed it into his waistband behind his right hipbone after donning the Blade Tech IWB holster. He shook his head as he got his jacket and climbed into the cold Cherokee. He really should have closed the garage door.  While waiting for it to warm up a little bit he checked the gas gauge. Half full or was it half empty, he pondered realizing whatever the case he was going to get it filled up before returning home.

Backing out of the driveway he started up the street. Reaching into the center console, he extracted his cell phone hitting speed dial for Frank. Marie answered on the 4th ring. "Hi there Marie, is Frank there by chance? Oh It’s Jason."

"Hi there Jason, How’s Lauren doing?" Marie covered the mouthpiece and yelled. "Frank, Jason’s on the phone!."

"Don‘t know.  Dropped her off at their apartment a while ago.  It’s not a bad break, but they have to wait a couple days for the swelling to go down so they can put a hard cast on it. There’s a soft one on it now. Thank you again for picking up Kyle for me."

"Well, I’m glad to do it, especially with times like these. I can‘t believe you went though - did you go temporary insane? Don’t you remember what that bitch did to you?  Here’s Frank. Bye Jason." Before he could say ‘bye’ Frank was on the phone. "Ya Jase, what’s up?"

"Hey there Frank,  I guess Marie isn‘t too happy with me."

Frank chuckled. "Oh ya buddy, I’d watch yourself if you come over any time soon.  I’ve not heard her curse like this in a while - what were you thinking? Did you go insane?”

"I guess I did." Jason turned on his blinker at the stop sign watching as a Ford Expedition drove past at a high rate of speed. The passenger, a dark haired woman was busy looking at a road map and talking into a cell phone at the same time. Obviously, they were in a hurry to get somewhere. "So what else is new?”

"David is all worked up, Marie is looking at our inventory sheets to see what we need in case there are attacks this far north. I spoke to Chad earlier and we‘re going to have a intervention next week, just so you don‘t get any ideas of trying to get that bitch back."

Jason laughed. "That wouldn’t be a good idea. Remember, there’s nothing up inside my head according to many.” He drove past Phillips house and saw several cars there, no one he recognized but all the lights were turned on.  He kept on driving.  “I’m going to fill up the Jeep and head back home, who know‘s what the gas prices will be tomorrow morning."

"I hear you there.  Was wondering where you were calling from.  We all filled up earlier, paid a damn $3.81 for diesel.  I don’t want to see my credit card next month.  At least I’ll get a 5% return on it.  Gotta go buddy, wife is calling. Call if you need me."

"Thanks Frank, C’ya".

Next stop was the gas station. Traffic was just as it was on his trip home from the apartment. He slightly expected people to be acting more strange, like they did during 9-11. With the sudden influx of gas stations in the area installing three to four islands of four to five pumps each it almost appeared there were more gas pumps to handle the vehicles in the area? Nawww… he thought. Everyone was at the grocery stores stocking up. He drove past Kroger and saw the parking lot was nearly filled to capacity, people coming out with carts of those terrible white plastic bags and a line at the gas station three cars deep, mostly just so they can save .03 cents a gallon. Jason pulled the Cherokee into the BP station that wasn’t as busy as Kroger Fuel Island. He would of liked to of gone to the Speedway across the street was closed so he could use one of his four $20 dollar gas cards he’d accumulated except it had a tanker truck blocking most of the pumps getting it’s weekly delivery apparently. He didn’t refuel at anyplace who had a tanker truck refueling the tanks, just being superstitious - and that’s okay with him!

Pulling up a pump he turned off the engine and after making sure his coat was pulled down all the way, he exited the Jeep to see a handwritten sign on the pump. Looking around he noticed handwritten notes on all pumps. "PRE-PAY ONLY NO EXCEPTIONS". He reached for his wallet to use his credit card to fill up his tank so he didn’t have to interrupt the cashier inside who was chatting on the telephone. He was watching the animated conversation not paying particular attention to the Honda Civic that pulled up on the opposite side of his pump. The darkly tinted drivers window lowered and a voice said, "Hey dude, got a few bucks I can borrow to fill up so we can make it back home?"

Jason shook his head. "Sorry, don’t have any cash on me, had to use my credit card." DOH, Why did he say that! Sometimes he needs to just keep his mouth shut!

"Hey, just swipe your card in the reader then, what’s the problem." The Civics door began to open on the opposite side, a husky Hispanic twenty-something emerging along with another similar sized twenty-something. "Yea Esse`, just swipe your card in the pump, whats da matta."

"Don’t think so guys, sorry." Jason turned his back on them but kept watching them in the reflection of his Cherokee’s own tinted back windows. He saw the first passenger moving to his right motioning the other one to go to his left. Jason let go of the gas handle to stop the gas pumping, reaching to unzip his jacket and move just in case this was going bad. "Hey what? You ignoring me now Esse`?" He made his move, pivoting on his right foot, reaching to his waistband to start drawing his Glock, he swiped back his jacket flap while beginning to retreat behind the SUV - just like he trained. "Back off and everyone goes home!"

Apparently the one nearest him knew the move and started back pedaling immediately with his hands up moving back towards the car. "Hey dude.. it’s cool… it’s cool." The other passenger who was just rounding the gas pump saw his buddy suddenly stopped and moving backwards. "Que mosa te pico?" he called out. The passenger with hands still held up in front of him shouted, "GET IN THE CAR NOW!"

Another car pulled into the gas station oblivious as to what was going on, pulling right behind the pimped out Civic. As the 20-somethings climbed into the car and sped away, Jason kept his hand on the textured grip of his Glock watching as it left. It would only take a second to draw and fire from his position. When the car passed out on the street, the driver held his hand up in a gun fashion to his head pretending to pull the trigger and gave him the middle finger. It was then Jason began to breathe, trying to calm the shakes beginning to rise from the adrenaline rush. WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED? a voice screamed inside his head, walking with shaky legs to finish gassing up, he stopped and bent over throwing up behind his Jeep. The driver of the car just pulling in asked, "Hey, are you okay?" Jason could hear voices in the car saying ‘Eww, how gross.’.

Waving his hand, he replied. "Ya, sorry about that. Have the flu and I shouldn’t be out but needed gas." Wiping his hand across his mouth spitting the taste out of it, he hurriedly finished pumping the gas, took his receipt and climbed into the Jeep. Starting it up he sat there for a minute trying to calm himself, then he started laughing reaching for his cell phone speed dialing Frank. "Frank, hey, you’re NOT going to believe what just happened…."

* * * * * * * * *

They were exhausted by the time they arrived back to their apartment and glad the electricity was on. The last thing they wanted to do was to drive back to work or over to David’s for the night. It had taken them most of the afternoon to rearrange the garage to get the trucks inside with many of the more expensive hand tools the guys had just left in the bed of the trucks as ususal. There had been a problem starting the Bobcat that was sitting in the middle of the floor, so that took additional time to get running and move. Scott and John were the last ones to show up to return the truck and get their own vehicles. It didn’t take a genius to see that they had been drinking and offered no help to David and Chad - mainly to keep away from them. They just parked the cube van in it’s usual spot said ‘hello’ or ‘goodnight’ and climbed into their respective cars and left in a hurry. Dana watched all of this from the window as she answered the telephones and surfed the Inter Net for information on today’s attacks. She took copious amounts of notes instead of wasting paper printing out a page at a time, she also worked on a grocery and supply list in case this was a TSHTF situation. Should they go to the grocery store on the way home and pickup a few things? She still wanted to go to Walmart, Kroger, Aldi, and Sam’s Club. Reminded of some of the stories on various websites of many of the characters getting ambushed or having trouble while at one of the stores she finally decided to just only go if they absolutely required it.  She was reminded at how some of the posts of “if this would happen..” they would max out their credit cards and head for the hills.  She wondered just how many of those people are just doing that today.

Chad was in the shower as soon as they entered the apartment leaving Dana to start dinner. Going to their small closet turned pantry she elected to make up something quick and easy. Even with their higher paying jobs then stocking shelves, she would of rather just ordered pizza or Chinese take out but it wasn’t in the budget this month, not with Christmas just around the corner and them looking to get a newer vehicle to replace their aging Kia. Jason knew a guy who worked at a car lot and would give them a good deal on a used Cherokee like Jason and Lauren’s. She finally found after ten minutes of searching something that looked appetizing. Hamburger Helper triple cheese. With some fresh onions, mushrooms and a dash of garlic it would fill the belly nicely. Most times they wouldn’t add meat to it and just eat it plain, tonight she’d brown some hamburger up.

Dana looked at their pantry. While it dwarfed everyone else’s they were making good headway in getting their food storage together. That first night upon agreeing to be part of the M.A.G., the others had donated several five gallon buckets of corn, flour, rice, beans, and Jason donated a case of 2001 packaged M.R.E.’s to help them start out. Since that night in August, Chad had built shelves in the closet, made a raised platform for their bed giving them the ability to put 5gallon buckets underneath and storing some of their preparedness items in plastic tote boxes. He had even included a ‘hidden’ section to store their ammunition and firearms that was semi accessible if need be. As for firearms, under the bed were a pair of Chinese Type 56 SKS’s and a pair of Norinco M213 ‘Tokorev-type’ 9mm pistols that Frank had ‘loaned them’ until they were well on their feet and able to buy the group standard. Chad did however have a well used 12 gauge Winchester Ranger pump shotgun in the closet someone gave him in trade for doing side work before getting hired on with David. Everyone else in the group had standardized with AR15 type rifles and 9mm Glock pistols.  Dana never fired a gun before joining the MAG, but with help from David and Frank, both Chad and herself had become proficient in their use.  Just if they had some more money to buy the group standard.  

Was this the start of TSHTF? Should they be loading up and heading over to their staging area? She thought watching as Chad emerged from the bathroom with a towel wrapped around himself. A minute later he emerged from their bedroom with a armful of clothing stopping as he noticed her looking at him with a box of Hamburger Helper in her hand.

"What’s wrong?" He asked pulling on a green sweatshirt.

"Nothing I guess, just thinking is all." She replied turning to head into the even smaller kitchen. If it was the beginning of TSHTF, they were woefully under prepared, and would end up mooching off of the other families if it lasted for longer then a month.

From the bathroom Chad said, "I was thinking, maybe we should pull little more then half of our money out of the bank tomorrow and see if one of the guys will take us to Sam’s Club."

Dana smiled reaching into the junk drawer for a pad of paper and pen to begin taking notes on what they should buy. I knew I loved him for something other then his great hair and body!

Nice start, can't wait to read more. Just don't leave us hanging by not posting more. Because we will hold you to the every Friday post that you promised.

Toad

Thanks... boy, only one comment? It sucks that bad??

no not looking for pity posts, just curious as to what you think? Suggestions? Should I continue to post revised edition?

Good job.  Keep up the good work.



Ron

Don't worry about the lack of response, keep writing and posting. I like it.

Toad

I'm hooked keep it coming.

Fine, I will read it.         Only if you keep going.

I read your story tonight, I think its great. Keep up the good work

Great read so far, more please.

Chapter 3
Sunday February 24th, 2008

"Beep Beep beep beep beep beep!"
Awaking with a shock to the sound of the alarm going off atop the TV, Jason threw back the heavy denim material quilt on his bed for the night and shivered. It was cold inside the house and he knew he turned the thermostat to 60 before going to bed, but damn was it cold! The good comfy sofa was a godsend and glad he paid the extra money for a wider then normal sized one. These days it seemed as if the couches and everything else was getting smaller but the people were getting bigger. It just didn’t make sense. Was it a way to subconsciously force people to start slimming down? Naw, it couldn’t be.  Heck, he himself had dropped nearly twenty-five pounds since Lauren moved out back in September, that’s about the only good thing that came out of the breakup and he was able to keep 90% of his things including the denim quilt her mother gave him a Christmas ago.  Lauren had given her Mother all of his old ripped up jeans he’d saved over the years when they moved in.  She had pieced them together, inserted two layers of fleece and backed it with a checkered red and white flannel fabric - the thing must have weighed eight to ten pounds, but covered their queen sized bed nicely.  It was almost too heavy to use as a blanket.

Walking across the family room to turn off the annoying alarm atop the TV he stretched wondering how the world was treating itself today. Since there was electricity, that had to be a good sign at least. Whatever the case, he was still tired. Friday was physically draining with arraigning service calls, being on hold forever ordering parts or trying to find a dealer who had the parts in stock, calling to check up on family members around the country, unloading two trailers of equipment (again Franklin didn’t show up to work). One containing a pallet of coffee makers and ice tea brewers for a retro fit job down at a BGSU cafeteria over their upcoming spring break. The surprise truck delivering a pair of Everest ® reach in coolers to be delivered next Monday the salesman never told him about.

Franklin. It was the final straw. After speaking to his boss, Ronnie Dunningan, who had to wait till Monday for a flight home, he agreed that Franklin wasn’t to be employed there anymore as of Friday. Jason had called Franklin’s cell phone three times only getting his voice mail and finally left the message he wasn’t to come into work anymore because he was fired. His last check will be mailed to him. Then there was the constant keeping up to date on any more information from the little VCR/TV, radio and AOL keeping him abreast of Thursday’s attacks down south, many more ‘experts‘ were expecting more to occur on Friday, but they didn‘t.  The stock market although took a pounding - 405 point pounding.  Gold, silver and oil were drastically up too.

Along with several other fellow preparedness buddies down south, they had sent nearly two dozen emails back and forth on the attacks, their theories, their guesses. As soon as it occurred not more then a half hour later by the time stamp on the email ‘It was time to head for the hills’, later in the afternoon ‘Lock and load’, finally in the evening ‘Maybe it wasn’t time to head for the hills,’ ‘How the price of gold is going to skyrocket even more’, ‘How the Bush Administration knew about it and did nothing to prevent it since Congress wanted to cut D.H.S. budget next year just like during the Katrina fiasco in 2005’. It was mind boggling at times where under what rock some of this information came from. Items that did come true were the Stock Markets closed lower, oil and gold futures rose sharply, gas prices climbed up into the $3.71 range by mid morning Friday in some places of the city, then there was the gas shortages in the effected areas down south. But the nation as a whole appeared to be holding itself steady. D.H.S (Department of Homeland Security) ‘appeared’ to have everything under control and had lifted the Red Alert for Florida and Georgia by early Saturday evening. FEMA and the remaining National Guard units were sending Decon equipment into the effected areas, Red Cross and the Salvation Army among dozens of other organizations were sending people and equipment to the neighborhoods. Local news reports from the areas only mentioned isolated problems with car accidents due to people fleeing the city, gas and grocery price gouging, then the reports of local populace setting up road blocks to stop people from coming through their neighborhoods.

This last piece of news never made national news except on FOX late Saturday night around 1am. Jason was flipping through the stations after watching some stupid movie off of sci-fi and settled on a blonde bombshell reporter reporting just outside of Atlanta where a neighborhood watch group was manning a roadblock to their subdivision. The cameraman turned his camera towards the right to show approaching unarmored HMMVs. Shouts could be heard in the background as a pair of Georgia State Guard HMMVs with a 5-ton cargo truck loaded with troops stopped and began to order the roadblock be taken down. More shouting was heard and the news reporter tried getting closer. Above the shouts you could hear the Guardsman saying, "THANKS FOR THE HELP, BUT YOU CAN GO HOME NOW!". He couldn’t be sure but swore there was a what sounded like a shotgun blast followed by a long burst of automatic fire before the live feed was terminated, cutting back to a open mouthed Fox anchorman who’s golden brown tan had paled. They immediately went into a commercial and the rest of the night no mention other then on various Patriot/Preparedness/Survival newsgroups was there information of just what occurred around 1:30am. Several newsgroups he surfed regularly had claimed the Guardsmen had opened fire on the roadblock resulting in over a dozen dead and wounded, one post was calling for the Patriots in Georgia to self activate and wage war against this cowardly act. That had puzzled Jason, it appeared no one else in the media had covered it, or had caught the footage either. He could of sworn he heard a shotgun being fired before the automatic weapons fire. He finally went to bed at 4am after finding nothing but hearsay on the internet.

Reaching to manually turn on the TV, it was still running footage of Thursdays attacks, repeats of speeches by various law enforcement and government employees, the President’s speech and endless slew of so called experts on the various chemical and bio-terrorism tactics. He hated the media during times like these. No real information was getting to the sheeple. Mostly it was conspiracy theories, guess’s and worst of all - they were looking for a way to blame Bush and who dropped the ball on this attack. Since no other attacks had occurred and no one had claimed responsibility for them, the FBI and Department of Homeland Security kept saying, "They are following strong reliable leads on the individuals who perpetrated this crime".

Meaning - they had no idea! Shaking his head in disgust he switched to a local channel. Unlike their regular programming, this time they had a message crawler across the bottom listing latest news of the hour. "HOLY CRAP!" he exclaimed seeing the crawler saying that we were looking down the barrel of a major winter storm that might dump up to 10 inches of snow by Wednesday morning. He grunted and finally turned off the TV when one of the breaking news headlines read, "Brittany Spears to…".

Breaking news my ass.

* * * * *

He spent a long time in the shower, letting the warmth seep in, not bothering with a shave, then washed his hair and finally shut it off and dried himself. All the while he made more mental notes of what should be the priorities today. One, get more kerosene for the heater, he still had two empty five gallon cans out in the shed.  He’d have to stop by Walmart and buy a couple more to add to his storage.  If the electricity was out for a longer time the kerosene heaters would be invaluable. Two, refill the empty propane tank for the grill. Three, check to see how much on hand firewood is left under the tarps in back, maybe he should just get a half a cord. The Jeep was about due for a oil change and tune-up he added to the mental list as he emerged from the bathroom dressed in a heavy over sized sweat shirt, faded blue jeans, and boot-like slippers with warm thermal socks he thought about calling Kyle to see how Lauren was doing then chastised himself for thinking it. Maybe Chad could give him a hand with that later in the week on the jeep. That kid knew how to turn a wrench on most things and made it look pretty effortless.  They could do it either in the garage or at David’s building depending on the weather.

It had been two days and he still felt strange about the whole gas station incident. Still didn’t know if he should have called the police or not.  Frank told him to shut up and go home or he’d probably be charged with displaying a weapon in public.  Even though he had his concealed carry permit since October of ‘04 and has carried on a regular basis since then, there were more laws about where and how he couldn’t carry it then where he could he never had anything close to actually feel threatened enough to want to pull his pistol. Nearly everyone in the MAG had their CCW permits. Frank and David received their permits a couple days after Jason and have both been carrying on a regular basis also. He, David and Frank all took the training course together and applied the same week but on different days. Lauren and Marie of the ladies had taken the course on their own and after passing it went down the following day to apply for their CCW permits, they just received theirs at the beginning of December.

He entered the bedroom turned den to check his email. Just the usual junk mail, a few ‘alerts‘ to websites he belongs to, Monday or Tuesday, a buddy he went to New Orleans with doing security after Katrina was coming into work to see him. Hopefully he’ll be able to get there before he had to leave for his dentist appointment in the afternoon on Tuesday. Sarah was going to come in at one o’clock and close along with the salesman. It had been over eight months since he saw his buddy last. He’d taken several jobs overseas after they left N.O. area and between hating it and loving it, he found a happy medium between the two. He finally was able to get his two week vacation after getting it put back for the last three months due to lack of replacements. His email said that he was bringing him a gift too. Now he didn’t have to figure out some way to send him the two bottles of ‘Ever Clear’ grain alcohol he had requested in a previous email about what he‘d like as a Christmas present.  He’d have to ask if he had run across his other friend from the reserves who’s been working in Iraq.

After shutting down the computer, he next descended into the basement where he began cleaning up the mess he caused. Yesterday afternoon, he had torn apart many of the shelves going through the gear he had accumulated over the years that Lauren always bitched about him having. His two Coleman camp stoves, both dual fuel lanterns and had plenty of spare mantles, several oil lamps, cast iron cook set, several tents - a complete military surplus shelter half, ultra lite tarp, 3 person dome and a 3 season 8 person dome tent bought from Wally world, a little 3000BTU ‘BlackCat’ portable propane heater, several water filters including a Katadyne Combi and a PUR Scout water purifier they used for the four or five weekend camping trips to a different state park in Ohio or Michigan these last couple of years. He found it interesting that he used the stove, heater, lantern and ice coolers more within the Reserves then he did recreational camping. He looked over to the stacks of plastic 5 gallon buckets of hard winter wheat, misc. dried navy, pinto, great northern and lentil beans, white rice, powdered milk, pasta and other storage foods were always something Lauren just couldn’t understand why they had so much of it. Sometimes neither did he.

When he met Lauren was relatively new to the preparedness mentality, even though they’ve been dating for two and half years before getting engaged. She still thought of it as a waste of time and wish Jason would get a different hobby. For Jason it had started in his early years, not really realizing why his parents always had on hand a lot of canned foods, oil lamps, charcoal for the grill, always had a garden in the backyard. Until he one day while sitting down with his Dad several months before he succumbed to cancer and asked why they always bought in bulk. His Dad explained during the years when he was a kid, just how rough it had been to get a decent meal. Sandwiches of homemade bread with bacon grease or lard and a sprinkle of sugar (when available) on them as a breakfast or as a lunch time main entree, how the Government gave out basic rations to those out of work, how his parents always had a large garden and traded with neighbors for various items that weren't available. Then if he (Jason) had remembered the two long months his father was on strike with the railroad and how we were able to get by easily while others had to use other means to feed their families. Yet, his brother was just the opposite. Every time Jason tried to get him to put together a emergency kit, him and his wife avoided it and anything to do with it like the plague. All they said if society goes into the crapper they’ll just come to his house, why should they waste their money on stuff that’ll never happen.

He had really put the items away during the "Y2K" craze that put him into a little bit of a credit card nightmare - which was all for nothing. Lauren teased him when they come across some item he had bought thinking it might not be available later if the computers crash. What she didn’t know was just how many of those five gallon buckets he had stashed underneath the family room in the crawl space. If she would of known, he truly would of been sleeping on the couch for a long time.  He had moved all the things that wouldn’t fit in his apartment he kept in a storage locker while she was gone - she never even poked her head into the crawl space the time they lived there.

"Geez, what’s inside this?", He asked himself placing down a Rubbermaid container with "Batteries, recharger, bulbs" labeled on the backside. Turning it around he placed it back onto a lower shelf after taking a quick peek inside. The container, one of many on the shelves in the basement that semi neatly organized their camping and preparedness equipment nearly lined the back portion of the basement. The half finished basement contained a bar, bumper pool table, TV, fold out sleeper sofa, and a pair of back seats taken from a old Jeep that were recovered to match the game room motif. This was his room also was behind it where the other ‘stuff’, the house mechanicals and his work bench was at. Hopefully if they had to bug out, he’d be able to throw 50% of it into their two vehicles and the folding trailer up in the garage and leave. If not, they’d just take everything with the Red line of duct tape around the bottom of each bin - that was about 10% of their priority equipment. If there was time, he’d drive into work and ‘borrow’ the Ford extended cargo van, that would give them plenty of room to load nearly everything on the shelves and crawl space. At least that was his plan, with her gone, everything had changed.

After spending a couple hours doing that task, he next unlocked then opened the double door firearm locker containing his firearms and some on hand ammunition. The gun locker he had found at a garage sale for half it’s going retail price. He bought it instantly then asked if by chance there were any firearms the owner wanted to part with. A man about his age said, "No sir there isn’t. After my father died we had the police department remove all his guns but they left the gun cabinet behind." Jason just replied. "That was pretty stupid. Even if you didn’t want them you could of at least made a few hundred dollars selling them to a gun shop." The man just stuck out his chin placing his hands on his hips spouted back, "I don’t believe people should own or make money off of things that were made to kill people."

The dozen other metal ammunition cans were in the crawl space also. He only owned a ‘few’ firearms compared to Frank or David. Those two were the gun nuts of the group. Also since Lauren still wasn't really comfortable with guns in the home she didn’t want him to have a ‘arsenal’ of weapons around with her fifteen year old nephew could get to them. It was only a year ago not long after they were engaged, they took custody of Kyle after his mother (Lauren’s sister) had just dropped him off at their house one evening with a duffel bag of clothing and said she didn’t want him anymore. She had sold everything including many of Kyle’s things so she could move in with a scumbag she met at a bar. Three and a half months later a Children’s Services Bureau worker called informing them Lauren’s sister was arrested trying to sell a substantial amount of cocaine to a undercover narcotics officer. She was currently in jail for up to three years. It couldn’t of happened to a nicer female.

Don’t get him wrong, it’s not that she didn’t like firearms, Lauren had gone to the range and enjoyed the occasional clay trap shooting with him while dating and shot with the group occasionally but never really ‘enjoyed’ shooting. Kyle on the other hand, loved going with his Jason to trap shoot and target shoot. His old but new looking Winchester 120 Ranger 12ga pump shotgun, a very old Crossman pellet rifle and a scoped Marlin Model 60 .22 rifle. He had always enjoyed firearms, just never could afford a lot of them. He had a heavily greased Russian SKS put away under the crawl space he’d bought back before Y2k to use as his MBR if the computers crashed. Then there were the firearms he convinced Lauren he ‘needed’ for the volunteer State M.P. reserve unit he was part of, which had taken a good two weeks to convince her into letting him buy but she stood fast. Since they were not married at the time and just dating, he went out and bought them anyway, putting off buying a newer vehicle for a year. For nearly a month he didn’t hear from Lauren. She didn’t return his phone calls or answer his emails. Apparently she was ignoring him after he went ahead and bought the firearms under her protests. Until one day, Marie arranged Frank to bring him to the same restaurant she brought Lauren to. They made up and it was love ever since - at least until eight months ago when she started dating a fellow co-worker behind his back and their bad breakup.  Marie still regrets bringing her to the restaurant.

He looked at these now. Maybe he should suggest they go to the range just to make sure they still functioned and sighted in correctly, he did have his carbine club shoot he belonged to coming up next weekend, only David had been coming regularly to them. These included a  AR15A2 rifle he built from a parts kit (with Franks help) to save money, a parts kit M4A3 style carbine with Aimpoint dot scope that was Lauren’s, and a well used Ruger 10/22. There was also a S&W L-Frame .357mag revolver that he had bought while going to college in his early 20’s for a degree in Law Enforcement that never panned out, a 9mm Beretta 92F, a Glock 19 that was Lauren’s, the .40caliber Glock 23 he had been normally carrying, he won at a gun show raffle years ago (best $20 in tickets he’s ever spent) and a beat-up 12 gauge Remington 870 Express garage-modfied into a riot shotgun complete with a spare barrel to shoot clay pigeons with up in the closet, All the firearms had a trigger locks attached as a secondary means of keeping from unauthorized hands, the keys tagged and kept up in the fire safe. He closed the cabinet without making any notes on those items. He checked his always loaded LBV harness hanging on a hook inside the locker and checked the second rig that was Lauren's but never tore it apart or sold it. He’d do that later. He already knew the status of his ammunition. He had plenty of it, if not Frank or David would let him borrow or trade for more, they had a metric ton crap-load stored away.

For the rest of Sunday afternoon, Jason spent it rearranging everything back onto the shelves, walking the several blocks to get the Sunday paper, reading the paper, checking out grocery and department store adds then the latest news online - there wasn’t any - which almost appeared to it being a news blackout was in progress if you were into the conspiracy side of things. Was the after shocks of the attack starting to settle down already? When 9-11 hit ripples were felt through the economic center for up to a week and in some places a month later. Planes shut down, business’s closed, schools closed. Had the Government actually had a working plan to deal with terrorist incidents to get the citizens back on their feet as quickly as possible? He settled down to do some reading on various sites until dinner time and finally bed but he couldn‘t sleep, not the couch tonight, but his real bed. The feast of the evening was from  his favorite pizza joint. Mediterranean style from Cottage Inn Pizza …. But it wasn’t sitting well tonight for some reason.

For the next several days life was back to normal it seemed, no new attacks or incidents other then the occasional ‘prank’ and a major winter snowstorm hit the area on the 26th. Eight inches of snow fell in the Toledo area where a swath from Cincinnati to Cleveland received a city stopping 21 inches of snow in spots. Then on the 27th, the FBI had caught up with a group of homegrown Eco-terrorists who they blamed for the gas releases in Miami and Atlanta. It was a worker from a chemical storage warehouse in Georgia that had taken several canisters of chlorine gas instead of delivering them to a medical research facility. That led them to the suspects. During a fast paced North Hollywood style standoff at a hotel in Hammond, Louisiana, several of the Eco-terrorists calling themselves "T.F.L" or "Trees For Life" were killed and the rest arrested. A camera crew brought along by the FBI filmed the entire three hour running gun battle from air and ground. Losing three of their own and several seriously wounded, the leader of the group was killed as they tried to make a escape. Those several who survived apparently claimed responsibility for the gas attacks to avoid being sent to Gitmo Bay. In their possession were several canisters of Chlorine and Phosgene gas, several completed pipe bombs - several had been thrown at the FBI HRT, and DHS SWAT teams with good effect, construction grade dynamite, detonators, and a cache of AK-74 and AK47 assault rifles. Even after the President came on TV and applauded the work of the FBI and D.H.S, the terror alert status was raised to Orange on the 27th for several hours then brought back down to Yellow without any reason why. Once again, the newsgroups and patriot noteboards were buzzing with ideas and "I heard it from…", but no real information other then one poster by the name of "[email protected]" who did a net-wide spam type posting on hundreds of newsgroups and websites with only the headline of.. "Do you REALLY feel safe now?". When one had opened the rest of text, the text said two words. "I wouldn’t".

On March 8th the M.A.G. enjoyed a mid afternoon birthday party hosted by the Naglesens and everyone brought their favorite dish. Against Marie’s protests, Frank even brought his uncle’s famous homemade peach wine that several of the guests drank too much of and regretted it the following morning. Even though it was agreed that no presents were to be given, it was Dana who made out like a bandit this year. David and Susan gave her a M-3 medical bag filled with kerlix, gauze pads, Ace bandages, tape, and a dozen other items, Frank and Marie gave them both their own Surefire G2 flashlights with several sets of batteries and Jason presented them with a dozen foil packaged Freeze dried meals from Mountain House. It was also the introduction of a possible new member by the name of Cheryl Brychez. A old friend of Dana’s who was relatively new in town and after getting permission by the M.A.G. brought her and her daughter along. Cheryl was a slightly overweight brunette, short of stature twenty-eight year old single mother of a six year old girl and worked as a Registered Veterinary assistant.

After the kids disappeared downstairs to play with their various toys and become lost in front of David’s 62" TV playing "Halo 2" with help from Frank and Marie’s oldest daughter the group sat around the upstairs fireplace and began a informal interview of Cheryl. Jason started it off with, "I don’t know what Chad and Dana told you about us, but I’d like to first start off with. We’re not a swinger or wife swap group."

Over the following days, Chad and Frank made a food run to Sam’s Club, Costco and Super Walmart earlier that day and each had bought over two hundred dollars of groceries and other household items. Two hundred dollars didn’t buy as much as it did six months ago.  Frank had a list of items he bought six months ago and there was a roughly 35% increase on many of them.  It was a good thing they had taken Franks Suburban, otherwise it wouldn’t of all fit into Chad‘s little SUV.  When he had arrived to their apartment, Dana was shocked at the two fifty pound bags of white rice, forty pound bag of pinto beans (which she hated), big bottles of salsa, powdered milk, oatmeal, soups, a flat each of canned meats- chicken, corned beef, roast beef, tuna fish and salmon, maxi pads, tampons, toilet paper, four cases of bottled water, and Tang breakfast drink mix. Their small living room floor was covered with boxes of items including a dozen white plastic buckets and mylar bags that made their place smell like a bakery that Frank had given them. One of their nosy neighbors, sixty-three year old Mrs. Valentine, had come out of her apartment and asked why they were brining in so many boxes of food. Dana just smiled, "We received a Christmas bonus early this year and thought we’d put away some stuff for just in case the prices rise." . Mrs. Valentine said. "Oh my goodness, that’s such a good idea. Well, I know where I’ll be going if I ever run out of food."  Dana and Chad looked at each other and smiled politely.

After the birthday party, the meeting topics for conversation were mainly of Jason’s incident at the gas station, how people were lined up at the doors Saturday for Costco and Sam‘s club, the two bags per person limits on flour, sugar, rice and vegetable oil and the price increases. Another topic of the meeting that Dana brought up was, ‘How does everyone keep their preparations quiet from others?’. Even though the situation down south had settled down quickly - “too quickly” Marie said aloud, they needed to keep their preparations very low-key and to think about what to do if TSHTF during the remaining winter.

David answered saying, “Even if there was a neighborhood soup line set up, you’re better off standing in line and bitch to anyone who will listen how hungry you are, then go home afterwards and make up a pot of stew or sandwich from your own stocks to stretch them out.”.  

Most if not all of their planning had been made during the spring, summer, fall seasons. Would they have time to bug out if the roads were impassable due to snow or ice? Could they hold out over the winter until spring in their homes or at the staging area if the electricity went out? Chad and Dana would have to find alternate housing if they lost power for any length of time. The apartment just wasn’t set up for decent alternative heating.  The Carnells, Nagelsens and Jason had kerosene heaters and fireplaces or woodstoves for their homes but fuel storage was the current problem. How much do you store, where do you store it, can they even AFFORD it with current prices.

"Can’t we just go over to Camp Snoopy and hang out there until the power comes back on?" Dana asked referring to the nickname they gave David’s business/staging area. She sat with her back to the fireplace hogging the warmth it emitted, it was already beginning to get cold outside as the wind picked up. Maybe the weather forecasters would be right for once about the Arctic cold front hitting the NW Ohio area on Sunday.

David walked in from the kitchen and began to refill the coffee mugs everyone had except for Chad, he hated the stuff. He sat content in a rocking chair sipping a beer - one of David‘s favorite Fallen Timbers Red Ale from a local micro brewery. "Sure we can, that’s why we all have keys to get in there. If your home isn’t safe, go to my shop, if that’s not safe we head up to Camp David." He smiled at that. Referring to their ‘cabin’ north of Ann Arbor. "But first, I think we should think of other alternatives to just running to the hills if the stuff hits the fan during the winter especially for you two kids."

"Like, ah, what do you mean like, Daddy." Dana said in perfect Valley girl fashion and tone that received a laugh from the assembled group.

Frank jumped in to get things back on track, "For instance, you can’t really run a propane or Coleman stove safely inside your apartment but you can run a alcohol stove inside it. They’re lightweight, barely any smell and can heat up foods pretty quick. Don’t expect to cook a meal on them though.  Hang on a minute." Frank disappeared into the basement coming back a few minutes later with several items in his hands. "This here," motioning to a shiny brass object in his left hand, "is a Turbo 1 alcohol stove from Brasslite.com ®. It’s a great little stove for boiling water with a burn time for up to 30 minutes. I have a soda can alcohol stove I made and take with me on any camping trips, David and Jason have similar stoves too." Frank tossed Dana the ‘stove’, "Here, Merry Christmas."

"Thanks Frank, but what do we do about heating our place? It’s against our contract to use a kerosene or propane heater, they even bitch about having candles. I know we can get the mattresses and couch cushions then make a igloo of sorts out of them, then there’s the -10 degree sleeping bags we bought, but how do we heat the place?"

David stood back up. "Frank’s not kidding about using that alcohol stove Dana. Those little things really put out the heat and they’re not hard to make at all. Jason on the other hand, just can’t seem to make one to save his life with without starting a bonfire to get it going. All those are, are just little torches so you have to watch out what’s near them."

"Maybe we should not just sit around and talk about it but go do a winter camp out.", Chad said from his chair. That’s one thing about Chad, he doesn’t say much, but when he does, it’s normally well thought out and right to the point.

"I’ll look around and see what we can do with you two other then bugging out. I’ll give you my Coleman BlackCat ® portable heater and some fuel canisters. You‘ll have to pick up a CO detector though." Turning to Frank and Jason, "I was also thinking about calling a buddy of mine about buying a load or two of firewood. Would you two knuckle heads be interested in splitting the cost of it?"

Frank looked at his wife. Everyone else laughed, Dana commenting. "We know who controls their checkbook now don’t we?".

After the laughter died down, Susan, David’s wife asked. "Jason, have you heard how Lauren is doing?”.  The group let out a collective groan. Jason looked slightly uncomfortable at the question and said, “I heard there might be a preemptive strike so I don’t do anything stupid like trying to get her back, but don’t worry, it won’t happen.“ He looked over at Frank who laughed out loud.  “I don’t know.  Last I heard/saw was Thursday when it happened.“. That topic ended right there - it was obvious to them it was still a sore subject.  While the night wore on they began making plans to meet a weekend in March to go up to the cabin except for Marie.  She just didn’t care to go up there during the winter. As they said their good byes, Marie and Susan were discussing someone’s upcoming birthday party in secret while Chad and Dana were in a heated discussion with David about moving the majority of their ‘home supplies’ to Camp Snoopy’s spare office storeroom.  He wanted them to have it at a more secure location, while they wanted it within reach if stuck in the apartment for a while.  Jason stepped in before leaving and a quick conclusion was reached.  Half the supplies would be kept at Camp Snoopy, he had told them, “Never keep your eggs in one basket”.  He had told them about his sixty day stash at Camp Snoopy along with the Carnells.  The stashes, Jason began to describe, are two thirty day caches that contain three easy to prepare meals per day for 30 days, clothing for a week that includes warm and cold weather items, toiletries, sleeping bag and cot and a complete sets of important documents.  Just the basics.

Cheryl sat bewildered at the group as they discussed various topics.  She was  completely lost at times with the terms they used until Marie leaned over and whispered, “Don’t worry, I’ll get you a little cheat sheet of the words we’re using.”  She laughed nervously, wondering secretly if it was a right choice to have come tonight.

Chapter 4
March 19th 2008

He was a whole hour behind schedule and his lungs felt as if they were about to explode, but he kept running anyway. He was thankful for the snow falling at a moderate pace actually making it feel warmer then the bitter cold it was when he started setting the charges on the first of two transmission towers leading from the Davis-Bessie nuclear power plant more then a mile away. "What’s time when you’re making history?" he laughed, wondering how he would be rewarded this time by Meghan. She always had good rewards for him when he completed a job Tim wanted him to do. Hopefully it would have something to do with Meghan’s roommate Julie, the three of them had a great time after he broke into those houses stealing their jewelry, guns and money over the last few weeks. How Meghan and Julie knew exactly where to find the items were still amazed him.

It was fate that he was here tonight. He had always cared about the environment and even with his campaigning, protest marches and all the money he could give to the cause it still wasn’t enough. Once he met Meghan, that all changed. She introduced him to a group of college kids (who really didn’t look like college students) and professors (who also he never saw teach there) who were soon to make the government take notice. He had even traveled down to Virginia to attend a meeting along with nine other students from the University. The speakers showed them if it they didn’t do major actions now, George Bush and his administration will kill our children and grandchildren. After attending that meeting, now he finally felt worth while and had the motivation to help this group make a change. He stopped going into work last month to help out his environmental action group full time, that Fuck Jason calling his cell phone saying he was fired. Screw him. Who’s he to fire me! Tonight, Tim (their cell leader) gave him a mission to help the environment and eventually help save his children and grand children. Where his other teammates were he didn’t know but Franklin had the all their supplies loaded into his Grand Prix and waited for a hour before leaving to take down the high tension towers assigned to them.

He had emplaced the last set of PVC piped ANFO charges on two of the towers support legs, smaller packages of a iron oxide mixture in a coke can were duct taped onto opposite side anchor cables. Tim said the cables had to go first before the towers would come down. Patting down his pockets for his lighter then doing the same to a book bag he used to transport the charges, he realized he had forgot something to light them with. Running back to his car, he noticed a car pass by on the road and slow down about a hundred yards away, he hit the ground just like he was taught. It’s brake lights went off and continued along its way as Franklin stood up and brushed off the snow caking his clothing. "That was stupid, now I’m going to be soaking wet.", he continued to his car to look for his lighter. He absently wondered if he left it at Meghan’s apartment, he chuckled, they sure did smoke a bunch of dope last night while rehearsing tonight’s plans.

Other then using the cars cigarette lighter he found a road flare from the trunk, he took several steps towards the guy lines but stopped to retrieve his flashlight. Then he proceeded back to the first package strapped to the guy line. After spending another ten minutes figuring out how to light the flare, he finally lit it holding it to the nearly 20 foot long cannon fuse, it started to hiss and he began running again to the next one keeping the road flare low to the ground so nobody would see him. Boy did that road flare give off the light, even keeping it low to the ground. They had warned him if he was too close to the bombs when they went off he’d be killed, so Franklin being no dummy added additional waterproofed cannon fuse to all of the devices on top of the ten foot fuses.

Cha-chink! "SHERIFF’S DEPARMENT… STOP WHERE YOU ARE AND RAISE YOUR HANDS." A bright light blinded him from the direction of the road, but not from the road. He instantly started to put his hands up. "DROP IT.! DROP IT NOW!" the speaker enhanced voice shouted. Franklin dropped the road flare but the hand with the unlit flashlight kept raising up..

"BOOM", cha-chink, "BOOM", cha-chink, "BOOM!". Echoed in the darkness.....

Several miles away where the REAL Davis-Bessie transmission towers were, three members of TFL awaited the arrival of the person who had the explosives to bring down the towers. "Where’s that idiot Franklin at?" said one of the Eco-Terrorists to the cell members.  In the distance they heard five muffled explosions several minutes later…

* * * * * * * *

Sitting straight up in bed as his cell phone continued ringing the utterly annoying tone.  He swore he heard the emergency alert tone as he awoke. "Oh geeze, it’s cold in here.” He reached for the vibrating and wailing creature on his night stand and nearly wanted to throw it across the room but answered it instead.  “Hello?”.

“Hey Jason, it’s Sarah”

“Hi Sarah, what’s up?”  He looked over at the LCD alarm clock, it was a little after 6am.

“Do you want me to come into work today?  They said there is a massive power outage and asking people to stay home if they absolutely don’t need to go into work today.”

“Hugh, hang on a minute.”  He leaned over and turned on the clock radio and heard nothing.  1370AM wasn’t broadcasting.  “Where did you hear this at?”  

“My neighbor has one of those emergency radios that gives severe weather alerts, he said it went off just before six with the news."

He had one of those radios somewhere in the kitchen - that‘s what must have heard. “No if they’re saying to stay home, stay home. But if the power comes back on before noon. I’d like you to come in.  There’s a lot to do."

“Okay Jason.  Sorry for waking you. Goodbye”.

“No problem” he muttered and tossed it back onto the nightstand.  He crawled from the bed, quickly reaching for his fleece hooded sweatshirt he used as a bathrobe. He headed out the bedroom door to see what was going on with the heat. The hallway thermometer read just about fifty degrees F. The house had baseboard hydronic radiant heating throughout, it gave a even moist heat during the winter which he loved.  Grabbing the Mag-Lite flashlight from underneath his bed he made his way to the basement and stopped after hearing the emergency tone on the kitchen radio.  He went to turn it up glad it was on battery backup like his bedroom alarm clock.  “....  necessary for work. Please contact your employers before reporting to work. Authorities are responding to numerous emergencies throughout the city and county and are asking people to keep off the roads for emergency vehicles.  This is a emergency update for the counties of Ottawa, Lucas, Fulton, Hancock, Williams, Wood….”  He turned up the sound then descended into the basement. He first checked the main breaker finding that was still on, turning it off then back on did nothing. Next he checked the reset switch for the boiler, still nothing, That’s it, the power is out. Just to be safe he flipped off the main circuit breaker so as to not damage any of his own electrical appliances when the electricity came back on. Next, was to get some heat into the house, that he’d have to do by going back upstairs into the attached garage where he kept the kerosene heater or put a fire into the woodburner.  The kerosene heater would heat up the great room quicker, at least until he could get a fire going.  Jason went back upstairs and heard the emergency alert tone again, repeating its automated message.

* * * * * * * * * *

Frank was awakened by two bodies with really cold feet coming into his bed. They were that of his twin six year old boys Alex and Andrew. "OH Man, those feet are cold!" he exclaimed moving as far to his side of the bed as possible as the two tried to fight for room between their parents. Marie quieted them down. "What’s wrong boys?"

"Its really cold in our rooms", Alex said, and Andy added, "It’s really dark too."

Sitting up in bed Frank noticed right away the temperature must of dropped twenty degrees at least. The power must of been out for a few hours. Hitting the button on his Timex Ironman the LED showed it was just past 6am - he was late for work! Then quickly reminded himself they were on mandatory shutdown these next two weeks until March 31st. "Stay here, I’ll get something going." Shivering as he wrapped his bathrobe around himself and finding his LED flashlight on his dresser, he walked through the cold house, he could almost hear the pipes pinging from the cold setting in. "Just what I need are frozen pipes." As he went to the kitchen to turn on the cold side spigot to a slow drip something caught his eye. Looking out the back kitchen window he whistled at what he saw. The whole area was without power, it must of snowed overnight by the fresh 2" accumulation on the deck. His subdivision was totally dark from his advantage point, no streetlights, no gas burning yard lights normally seen on the street between the houses behind him, nothing. He saw a flashlight beam in the neighbors house directly behind him being flashed about a room. It had to of been Mr. Woerner, a Toledo native who retired from the Jeep plant three years ago at 54 having worked there since he had been the age of 18 and one of the best neighbors one could have. He and Frank got along great ever since Frank found out Mr. Woerner was a WW 2 re-enactor who always played the part of a German paratrooper or that of a enlisted German infantry grunt, since he was of German descent especially with the last name of Woerner.. first name of Karl it was only fitting. He had this really sweet…

"IS THE POWER REALLY OUT?", Marie called out from the back bedroom.

So he could be heard and not misunderstood he shouted back, "YES, I’M GOING TO LIGHT A FIRE IN THE WOODBURNER WHILE THE KEROSENE HEATER HEATS UP IN THE GARAGE. SO WE DON'T GET THE SMELL INSIDE."

"YOU DON'T HAVE TO YELL!" Marie sharply replied.

Grumbling something unintelligible, Frank began gathering newspaper from the stack sitting beside it. They saved all their newspaper making them into paper logs which burned quite nicely in their fireplace and augmenting his large wood supply. As he lit the first match, his sleepy 13 year old daughter Ashlee shuffled into the kitchen totally wrapped up in a fleece blanket. "Hey there sleepy head, good morning."

She just leaned against the wall looking at him through half opened eyes. "Dad, it’s cold in here, could you turn up the heat?", then turned hearing her bump into something as she made her way down the hallway.

"Good morning to you too Zombie Queen." He muttered to her retreating form. He watched as the papers caught and begin to burn, he fed smaller pieces of wood shavings into it feeling the warmth on his face. Within several minutes he had a good fire going enough to put one of the larger split logs onto it and call it good while he thought about lighting the Kerosene heater to warm the place up faster. Maybe he’ll just wait on lighting that to see how the wood burner does.  He’d have to break out the Zodi hot water heater, ever since Marie used David‘s while camping last year he had to buy one to keep the savages happy.  Besides, he wasn’t looking forward to taking a cold shower this morning if the power would be out for long.

"FRANK, COME HERE AND LISTEN TO THIS!", Marie shouted from the bedroom.

* * * * * * * * * *

Dana awoke to a persistent knocking at their door, nudging Chad to wake up. He kind of opened one eye. "Hugh?".

"Someone’s knocking at the door, go answer it."

"ME go answer it? Is that all I’m good for when its dark out?"

"No, I can think of a few other things but right now you go answer the door."

The knocking continued and then Dana heard Mrs. Valentines voice. "Dana honey, are you awake?"

"Geeez," Chad moaned. "What does she want?" Throwing back the covers he instantly woke up.. "Whoa, It’s COLD in here!" He pulled on a pair of sweat pants he normally kept by the bed.

Dana sat up in bed too, pulling the covers up around her neck. "Brrrrr. The power is out?". She looked over to the nightstand and saw the alarm clock dark.

"Looks like it, hang on a minute I’ll be right back." Chad said as he pulled on a sweatshirt then headed out the bedroom to answer the door. From the bedroom she could hear the conversation slightly and listened.

"Hi Mrs. Valentine, what can I do for you?"

"Oh I was just wanting to let you kids know that the power is out and it’s after six am. I normally hear you two up and moving about by now and didn’t want to see you be late for work."

"Thank you Mrs. Valentine, that’s very kind of you. Are you going to be warm enough in your apartment if the power doesn’t come back on soon? It’s mighty cold at the moment."

Dana couldn’t make out what she said exactly but it sounded like she was going to go over to a friends in the next apartment building. She heard Chad say, "If you need anything, just let us know. Thank you again for the wake up call." Hearing the door close, she pulled a blanket off of the bed, wrapping it around herself then walked out into the main room. Chad was already digging in the closet for something and emerged with the Coleman BlackCat portable heater. "You know that’s not allowed inside here." She replied with a smile.

Without saying a word, Chad just sat it on the kitchenette table and began assembling it as Frank showed him. After lighting, the hissing ceramic heater began to glow orange quickly. She could feel the warmth it was emitting and moved closer to it then thought about making her morning quart of coffee. She went back into their bedroom pulling a medium-sized Alice backpack out of her closet and removed a German surplus cook kit after digging into it for a bit. She skipped back to the kitchen where saw that Chad had put on his garage sale special North Face down parka he bought for $10 last year, she had a similar one from Columbia but had to pay $25 for hers. "What are you doing?" he asked.

Removing the Turbo 1® alcohol stove Frank had given them from her mess kit, she placed it atop a overturned cast iron fry pan, she then filled it with a measured half ounce of denatured alcohol, arraigned a stand from the mess kit around it, primed the base with a couple drops of alcohol and lit it with a disposable lighter. After about 30 seconds it began to flame nicely and she then filled a small pan of water to place on top to heat. "Well if you can do that, I’m doing this. Even though it’s going to be instant, I WANT MY COFFEE!"

Chad walked over to her wrapping his arms around her saying, "I knew you weren’t as blonde as you claimed to be." Another urgent knock at the door made them both jump. "What does she want NOW?" he turned to go open the door, realizing he didn’t throw the dead bolt like they normally do while home. Opening it slightly he smiled, then opened it all the way. Standing in the doorway was Cheryl and her daughter, both carrying their recently completed B.O.B. backpacks and sleeping bags.

"Would you like some company?" She asked then covered her daughters eyes as Dana’s blanket slipped off her shoulders exposing what God gave her as she went to the door.

Dana quickly gathered the blanket around her as she shuffled towards the bedroom… Chad began to howl with laughter after Cheryl’s daughter asked, “Mommy, why doesn’t Dana have clothes on?”

* * * * * * *

What had awakened him he thought lying there motionless in his bed. It couldn’t of been one of the kids, they were at their mothers house in Florida. The cat? No, that wasn’t it. Did a garbage can get loose and blowing around in the yard again? No, it wasn’t that either. It sounded like a lawn mower. Who was the idiot running a lawn mower at this time of the morning? Finally he realized the sound. It was his backup generator running. The electricity must of gone out during the night. The 10K watt generator had been installed just prior to Y2k and the end of his first marriage. It was somewhat of a blessing. Their marriage had been going downhill since he quit work in computers and started the lawn irrigation business. Tracie was his college sweetheart who had been together since their junior year in college. She had asked for a divorce on the grounds she just wasn’t happy anymore and wasn’t fair to either of them to continue this facade of being married now that the kids were 18 and 16. She had found someone else on a online dating service and was leaving David for him. Tracie wanted him to keep the kids and house but asked for shared parenting even though she was moving to Florida. It was a messed up situation but he made the best of it as a recently divorced dad could do until a car ran into him in the parking lot of the Meijer store four years ago. Not thinking anything of it, he had not thought of her except for when her insurance company will be paying the repair bill when he had to go pay a speeding ticket downtown, while waiting in the line he noticed the attractive redhead ahead of him. When she finished at the window she recognized him saying, "Funny seeing you again, I see we have at least one thing in common." The woman’s name was Susan McCory and she changed his life from that day on.

His alarm clock was blinking 12:00…12:01…12:00…12:01 and just watched it for a few minutes. He should get up and see what’s going on with the power. Trying to see where his slippers were before uncovering proved to be useless so he just climbed out of bed to see what was going on. Wrapping his terry cloth robe around him he reached into his night stand drawer removing his latest ‘toy’. It was a surplus Israeli Police issue Sig Sauer P228 compact 9mm. He bought it for himself as a Christmas present after seeing it on special in Shotgun News a couple years ago, a FFL holding buddy who opened a pawn shop just before Y2k in Dayton had ordered it for him. He already had a full sized P226, but always wanted the compact model, just didn’t want to pay $500-600 for one. It just required night sights and maybe a new recoil spring.

Another "toy" of his he loved was his generator, the bad side was that it made noise and drew attention. During the Blackout of ’03, neighbors without power were gravitated towards his house with it’s security lights on, and air conditioning running. About the only good aspect was he wasn’t alone in having one. Several other of his neighbors in the winding cul-de-sac laced subdivision in Sylvania had one also. Many of those who had them installed them during the late 90’s Y2k scare, so at least some of the neighbors took some kind of preparedness precautions. What seemed odd to him was that while he asked around his neighborhood about their preparations many just said ‘it was to comfort the wife’ or ‘as soon as it passes, I’m selling all the crap.’ When Y2k was a non-event, he cleaned up on the bi-annual community garage sales in 2000. MRE’s, kerosene heaters, blankets, cook kits, packaged freeze-dried camping meals, sleeping bags, grain grinders, you name it he bought it, he even bought in the fall a six-month pre-packaged supply of freeze dried food for half the normal cost. After filling his shelves in the basement, he was able to sell a lot of it on Ebay - many times outside of Ebay knowing and not using Paypal®, he even sat up a table with his pawn shop buddy’s help at gun shows making some big time tax free income that went directly into his emergency/hobby money fund.

Because of local ordinances, the generators were run off of the natural gas lines supplied to the houses, no visible outside storage fuel supply was allowed. It wasn’t a worry to David though. His generator was a tri-fuel model, so it ran either off of propane, natural gas or gasoline if need be. He also had the fireplace insert in the great room and the house was well insulated in case the generator wasn‘t working.. Since part of the ‘agreement’ for the subdivision stated, ‘no woodpiles larger then 4’Lx4’Hx3’W’, so he kept the majority of it at the business and a good stack of it inside the garage out of view. A guy he knew who trimmed and removed trees in the area had delivered a big load of firewood to his business on the Monday morning after Christmas, dumping the truck load of firewood towards the back fence line. Usually a 8’ long by 4’ high rack went for $85 dollars, Marie estimated they paid maybe $43 a rack. When his guys smaller dump truck had broke down, David let him on occasion use his old diesel dump truck to make wood deliveries during their off season. All he asked for was to refill the fuel and repair any damage to it. As he watched the large bed tipped he estimated there must off been at least four cords of wood in that truck. I guess being decent had it’s benefits every now and then. That following Tuesday, he had a couple of his laid-off guys plus Chad and Dana come in and loaded some into his dump truck to drop off at Jason’s, Frank’s and his own house, tossing the contents onto their driveways. What they did with it was up to them. Besides, if the natural gas supply ran out, it was time to move to Camp Snoopy where he knew the LP tanks were nearly full and could run for a long time before requiring refilling if they used it wisely. If that ran out, they could bring out the two portable wood stoves he had in storage there. One was Franks, a M1941 tent stove, the other his, a compact "Sheep Herder" from Cabella’s. They both used them in their hunting tents during deer season in Michigan and southern Ohio, Frank had even taken it to the U.P. on occasion and spent a week hunting various game with guys he works with. Or they could always make up a wood burning stove out of a 55gallon barrel and some piping, there were several at the shop after all. With all that firewood he just had delivered there, it should last a long time. He groaned at the thought of it, his back was still aching. Even before walking into the kitchen area, he could smell and hear coffee brewing from the automatic drip. Walking past this, he paused to look outside through their patio doors, noticing that it had snowed a couple inches overnight covering his deck and propane grill, a couple of rabbits were back by the small garden looking for scraps apparently. He’d have to remember to put out some food for the birds, rabbits and squirrels this afternoon.

After filling his coffee mug he finally made it to the basement where the TV room was at. Susan wasn’t much of a TV person, opting to open up a thick book about anything and read it cover to cover. He on the other hand, loved watching the old and new Sci-Fi movies and war movies on his big screen TV in surround sound. Grabbing the NASA engineered remote with fifty buttons, he pushed "ON". Dropping his coffee mug at what he saw.

Slipping on linoleum tile floor made slick from the spilled coffee he sprinted for the nearest telephone. In the background a CNN Anchorman spoke in urgent tones, "under a RED ALERT until further notice, I repeat, Numerous explosions have toppled transmission lines carrying electrical and telephone services through out the east coast and Midwest. Also, several fuel storage facilities in Pennsylvania, Ohio, North Carolina, West Virginia, Virginia and New York have fallen victim to saboteurs. A little more then two hours ago under direct authority of he President of the United States, the Entire East Coast, southeastern Seaboard and Great Lakes regions are under a RED ALERT until further notice." A pause then, "This just being handed to me, President Bush and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Chertoff are asking EVERYONE to stay where they are until further notice. Unless it‘s a emergency, authorities are asking everyone to stay at their homes unless you are unable to due to the cold.  Shelters are being set up in many cities at this hour and please check…"

* * * * * * * * * * * * *

At a farmhouse outside Richmond Virginia 24hrs earlier.

Turning from the small 19 inch color TV with CNN on, Marina Savelador smiled wickedly. She was considered a Eco-freak among the Conservative right that tried to hurt her acting career. It only did so slightly. The teenage and twenty-something males didn’t care what her political beliefs were, they just wanted to see her action movies shooting guns, kicking bad guy butt and hopefully see her breasts bouncing across the big screen more then once during it. Her biggest hit was "Terminal Threat". Where she played a ex-government agent working unofficially for the US Government trying to stop a terrorist from releasing a airborne toxin that made wheat inedible. During that movie she had two scenes where she had liaisons with women to get her deeper into the terrorists hideout. She really enjoyed her work and after shooting the movie, spent several months in the Caribbean with two of the female extras.

Even though the conservative right was against her political beliefs, asking theaters to not run her movies, those Hollywood friends of hers understood and supported her ecological and political beliefs where she tried to teach a lesson about the environment in many of her dozen movies. That was to change starting today. She was going to take a more pro-active role and make them listen. Before the election, she had spent hundreds of thousands of her own money to help get Bush Defeated. Once again, ‘they’ stole the election, those damned Christian Conservatives stole it and they weren’t going to take it lightly, now they had a plan.

Around the room was gathered leaders of her East Coast cells who were about to carry out their next mission. "Go forth and teach them how enslaved they became to technology." She commanded then laughed. It was so B-movieish but she didn’t care. After the death of her girlfriend and her other friends of "Trees for Life" or "TFL" in it only brought the rest of the members closer together and speed up their time table. She had nothing to lose now. She sold her two homes, liquefied her assets and nearly disappeared from the face of the earth four months ago. The last time she saw any news about her was that she had moved down to the Caribbean in self imposed exile for Bush being elected. In reality, she died her platinum blonde hair almost black, stopped wearing makeup and moved down to Miami living near the campus of University of Miami where the core group began to make their plans to change the future of America.

They wanted to do start their third phase of the operation on Easter day in hopes of ruining the economy by stores closing and everyone canceling celebrations but they were still in mourning for their fellow members who died, this also caused some of their financial backers to tell TFL to wait before attacking again. At last, their long awaited push against the technologically enslaved nation was finally beginning. Maybe now they’ll stop polluting the environment with fossil fuels and begin to use alternative energy. She watched as the men and women left to report back to their own individual cells to pass on stage two of their plan. Phase two was to attack anyone trying to repair the damage they inflicted on the high tension transmission wires overnight. She laughed some more. It was to be cold the entire week, snow was projected in the Great Lakes and north eastern  region with below average temperatures.

It wasn’t forgotten that if it wasn’t for the funding by several of her movie star friends and their recreational drug supplying allies south of the border, none of this could of occurred. They would be rewarded one day by bringing about a new age for their children. One of no pollution caused by the mega corporations, the raping of the sea and land for oil and the indiscriminate burning of fossil fuels. Taking a deep breath so she wouldn’t pass out at the sudden intoxicating buzz of the power she now held. Walking over to the map of the USA where numerous pins of various colors marked locations of different types of locations. High Tension relay nodes, telecommunications nodes, low security fuel storage facilities, and the red pins marked locations where they’d hit the soft targets. Mostly schools where no doubt shelters would be set up to house people without heat - it was going to be too easy.

She laughed at the comment from Chertoff, ‘The borders are currently closed.’ It was easy to get the equipment they needed to begin the operation. The Sarin and phosgene gas were smuggled in via Mexico with the chlorine gas being obtained locally in Georgia. Unless stolen out of stores or households quality US firearms where hard to get and easily traceable even if serial numbers were removed. It also gave the authorities a starting point on where the weapons were stolen from. So instead the AK47s and AK74s with Russian, Iraqi, Iranian, and Yugoslavian markings they used were also brought in from Mexico, bought from Central America drug dealers, loaded aboard semi tractor trailers hauling goods thanks to the NAFTA Free trade agreement. Alija, may the blessed Mother Earth bless her soul, had lived in Russia where her father worked for the Soviet KGB as a analyst. When the wall fell due to that bastard Regan, he was out of a job and forced to work in a street market until his death just months after Bill Clinton, the greatest President who ever served was sworn into office.

She met Alija on a movie set in the Ukraine a year and a half ago, where she was a extra playing one of a dozen Miss World beauty pageant contestants being held by a terrorist. They had hit it off the first week of shooting spending every spare moment together. Now it was all taken away from her by the FBI and George W. Bush in Louisiana. While trying to escape the hotel to a awaiting car with her security team Marina hired providing cover, FBI assassins shot her legs out from under her and kept firing bullets into her after she tried to surrender. Marina Savelador opened the front door watching as more of the vehicles drove off the property. Her personal security team surrounded her as she stepped out onto the porch where one of them handed her a ‘Krinkov’ AK. Since firing one in "Nigerian Heat", she’d became very familiar with it, second only to a MP5 and it became her "badge" of sorts. Turning towards Washington DC she raised the Krinkov in the air shaking it. "SCREW YOU BUSH, YOU’LL PAY FOR TAKING MY ALIJA! DAMN YOU TO HELL!"

Wow, This story just got a whole lot more interesting. Thanks, and keep up the good work.

Tag for more

Ahhhhh!

Finally, a new SHTF read.  Didn't realize how badly I needed a fix.  Thanks and keep 'er coming!

And just where is our Friday addition???????

Chapter 5

They counted seven utility trucks with their yellow caution lights blinking brightly coming up the I-64 Interstate between Lexington and Buena Vista Virginia. Someone commented how pretty it was to see just those trucks on the nearly empty interstate as they came closer. The five member TFL cell waited until the trucks came in range. The leader, clad in a bed sheet with green splotches of homemade winter camouflage like the others peered through binoculars was alternating between the broken down Chevy Corsica by the side of the road and the utility trucks. As the convoy neared the car,  he said “Blow it” to the figure next to him who hit the switch to detonate the remote control I.E.D. contained inside the trunk below. The first truck took the brunt of the explosion, it was blown on it’s side, the second was following too closely and also was caught in the initial blast tossing it like a toy across the Interstate, the third truck veered off the road impacting into what was left of the Corsica sending that into a tumble, only the forth and remaining truck slammed on their breaks skidding to a stop amid the chaos. Three figures jumped out of the forth truck and started to go to the vehicles to help.

Setting down his binoculars the cell leader picked up his Remington 700 deer rifle and sighted in on a running figure. "FIRE" he said listening to the chatter of fully automatic AK47s and AK74s rain down on the carnage.

* * * * * * * *

Working to erect a temporary transmission tower was the easy part, the hard part was connecting the transmission wires to the low structure so this section of blown line would be able to transfer at least a 50% load later. The field supervisor walked around the site, making sure everything was going along as planned. There was about fifteen men and women at just this site tying up valuable resources though out the Cleveland area. The positioning of the downed lines and towers were so spread out, it would take a long time to get individual crews to each site. He had four crews to supervise at the moment. He’d just came from one crew who was nearly finished replacing the blown sections of a relay junction after the Cleveland PD Bomb Squad cleared it. He had heard that several devices didn’t detonate around the area and needed to be removed. It was amazing how fast they were getting people into the areas hit and this only started at midnight.  Many more utility workers were being shipped in via plane, train and automobile to help in the restoration of power to the millions without it. Hopefully if the weather holds out, most of the people would have power restored by the weekend, with some isolated towers and lines being down for a couple weeks at the most.

"Whoever these fuckers are I hope they fry!" called out one worker with several American Flag stickers on his helmet to another co-worker on the ground. Apparently in some sort of discussion. The field supervisor heard a car horn honk and turned to see a white utility van with their company logo on it’s sides coming towards him. Waving for it to come to him it continued towards the men assembling the massive portable relays and stopping too close to it.

Waving his arms shouting.. "HEY DUMBASS, WHAT DO YOU THINK…." Is all that came out as several men and women carrying AK’s leaped from the open doors, flames spitting from the muzzles as people began to fall.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Their primary mission was a failure, but their secondary missions to harass the utility and relief workers won’t be a failure. Franklin had never showed up to deliver the explosives so the TFL group of Toledo started to make plans to ambush any utility worker convoys along the 80/90 Turnpike near the Maumee river. While one part of her cell did that, her and one of the cell members had another mission. Tim always rewarded his people if they came up with ingenious ways to make the group operate more efficiently, sometimes it was with drugs, other times it was with large sums of cash - she preferred the cash.

The Ohio contingent of the TFL had groups in all the major cities - Toledo, Dayton, Columbus, Cleveland, Marietta and Cincinnati who also had similar missions but who and what they were, were kept secret from everyone else.  Meghan smiled at that. She had met several of the cell members at a party in Dayton and Columbus when Tim and her had gone there to pickup what she found out to be rifles and ammunition to supply their small group here for when the party started. She had a hell of a good time with the others. Hopefully, she’d impress the Ohio leader enough that she could get a transfer down to Columbus - that’s where all the awesome looking guys were. For now she had Franklin, dumb as a box of rocks, but good enough in bed and did whatever she wanted. She gave her passenger Michael a wink as they spied two telephone repair utility trucks sitting in a Meijer parking lot and pulled into the lot when the overhead lights on a police vehicle pulled up behind them lit up and the continued siren squawks ordering them to pull over immediately. "Just keep cool." Michael said tucking the AK-styled pistol under his thigh as Tim showed them to do. Meghan did the same with her pistol. . So far using false Red Cross Disaster Relief ID’s and emblems on their white Jeep Liberty, they were able to just bypass all police cars driving around the city until now. She had even pulled into the parking lot of a couple shelters Tim wanted her to ‘scope out’ to see what was going on, how many people and how many cops were there.  He said with a huge smile, “easy pickings”.

She watched as the utility truck men opened up their doors to watch what was going on before them.  In her rearview mirror she saw the shadow of the police officer approaching. "Miss could you turn off the vehicle?" She hit the power window button and then turned off the engine, keeping the key inside the ignition.

"Is there a problem officer?" She asked in a sweet seductive voice that always made the guys melt.

"Miss, sorry to bother you, but all vehicles are to be off the road for the time being, including disaster relief personnel until noon." The flashlight he was carrying was being flashed into the back seats through the tinted windows, into her eyes, into where Michael was sitting, keeping the flashlight on him a little longer then normal.

Michael spoke from the passengers seat. "We’re sorry Officer, we were just heading back to the high school shelter but thought about going to see if the guys in the trucks needed anything."

"Sorry but all vehicles except for utility personnel are to be out. I’ll follow you to the shelter since that’s where I’m going.".

Meghan shot a look over to Michael who nodded his head, he was making ever so gentle movements with his hand… "Okay officer, we’ll follow you."

Bending down to look into the drivers window the officer who couldn’t be more then twenty five said, "Hey, don’t I know you?" referring to Meghan. Meghan looked over at Michael who had a astonished look on his face. She turned back to the officer.
"OH, I don’t think so officer." She said in a girlish voice. "People tell me that all the time."

"I’m sure of it, but, I don’t mean to offend you but don’t you work at that strip club on Alexis Road?"

Michael shouted from beside her.. "LEAN BACK!" Meghan pulled the seat recliner and leaned back as far as she could as three loud blasts erupted from beside her, she could feel the heat of the pistol being fired on her face each time a blast occurred. Suddenly, she couldn’t hear anything because of the close confined gunfire, but feeling it get very cold. As if in slow motion, Michael was running around the front of the car to her side firing the pistol in his hands two more times towards the ground. She watched as the utility truck drivers began to scramble for cover by their trucks. Michael was beside her screaming to ‘give me your gun’. She panicked and couldn’t move, she felt Michael reach down and rip the pistol from beneath her thigh and started running towards the utility truck workers, before she passed out she watched again in slow motion as Michael fired the stubby AK pistol in one hand and hers in the other advancing on the workers who were beginning to fall.

8:25AM

Knocking snow from the tarp covering his woodpile, he began running a checklist through his mind of what to do next. He wasn’t happy at all about this. Not one bit. Terrorists blowing up towers, telephone lines, multiple fuel storage facilities in the Tenn, Ga, Florida, North and South Carolinas, Virginia, Pa, and southern Ohio. Expect the power to be down for a day or two at the most, the weather reporters telling everyone how cold it’s going to be for the next several days - temps in the upper teens to low twenties with lows in the single digits or lower, plus more snow on Friday of up to four inches. Earlier he used his cell phone, since the regular phone lines were down, and tried calling the MAG members along with several of his friends and family to see how they were doing - ones he could reach were staying put unless something more drastic happened locally. He couldn’t reach is brother in Minnesota but was able to reach his Mom and Step Father in Florida - they weren’t effected at all by this they claimed.  Jason urged them to make sure the gas tanks were filled, plenty of non perishable food on the shelf and a means to keep warm, his mother told him ’they’ll be fine’.  His on again off again buddy Brandon Seiller, whom he worked with down south for several months, was already at work and told to stop his route and return to the bank until tomorrow.  Brandon worked for a armored car company that Jason also worked for a short time after coming back from New Orleans.  Jason loved doing the job, there just was a certain feeling of joy driving around in a armored car all day.  After he was laid off from that job he ran into his former boss while grocery shopping and asked back temporary to co-manage the office, that temporary position has been over a year now.  He wished he could now go back to the armored car company even if it was a cut in pay.  

He wanted to load up the Jeep and head to Camp Snoopy ASAP but David had flatly stated that until the Red alert was lifted everyone should stay off the streets. Mostly because the last thing he wanted to do was have anyone arrested and end up in some jail cell for being on the road. So they undemocratically elected to hunker down at their houses and try to keep warm. It was 19 degrees outside and not looking to get much warmer for the next several days.

After the morning news stating what had occurred, the obligatory "Oh Shit’s", argument of staying or leaving, he got into survival mode after dressing warmly. His first jobs were to get the two dozen 2 liter plastic bottles he’d saved and start filling them to set outside and freeze to use inside ice coolers when his frozen foods started to thaw. Once he was done with those, he was to put the bathroom faucet on a slow drip catching the drips in a pan that just fit beneath the indoor faucets so as to not waste any water, once full he’d place that into the five gallon buckets beside the toilets to flush or bathe with if he lost water pressure and hopefully keep the pipes from freezing.  If those were full, he was to place it into the fifty-five gallon plastic barrel inside the garage. One of the two were already filled and treated with a oxygen stabilizer, he had previously only treated them with unscented bleach but found that the oxygen stabilizer worked better and didn’t give it the stale taste like bleach did after a year of storage.

Next he closed the heavy drapes in the living and dining room and put blankets over the remaining windows, doors and sliding patio door for two reasons.  One to keep in the warmth and two, when it gets dark out his place wouldn’t be lit up like a Christmas tree once he turned on his lanterns or backup 12v system for light.  He was proud of his little light system he cobbled together.  Using a pair of older car batteries from their diesel delivery van, two 400w, and two 100w inverters found at flea markets cheap, he was able to run several lamps utilizing 13w and 20w compact fluorescent bulbs, the DVD or VCR player and TV - it was just a pain in the butt to move around the battery/inverter contraption.  To recharge it, there was always the generator he brought back from down south.  While he worked, he thought about making up a big batch of pancakes and summer sausage on the kitchen’s gas range, he just had to manually light it first.  

Jason then made his way outside via the garages side door not to disturb the blanket barriers to bring more firewood into the garage to have on hand and check his shed. Even though there was a rack of it just outside the backdoor, he wanted some inside the garage so he didn’t have to keep opening up a outside door. It didn’t make sense really, but it was something to occupy his time to think.

"Sucks doesn’t it?" a voice called out beside him, making him jump, nearly dropping the armload of wood. It was his neighbor Doug Jaffee who was also coming to gather firewood from the opposite side of his pile, Jason had noticed a set of footprints and disturbed snow already there in his neighbors yard when he threw back the tarp.

"Hey there Doug, yeah it really does suck. How are you guys doing?"

"Ann is complaining about the smoke smell from the fireplace, no hot water, can’t watch the TV and only able to listen to a radio running back to back news broadcasts, it’s heaven inside there." Jason laughed as Doug rolled his eyes as he spoke.

"I understand." Lauren was the same way at times when they had lost power on those rare occasions. He loved it, but she hated it.  It was one of the things he didn’t miss one bit about her.

Doug kicked at the small waist high single row woodpile, "If this keeps up for more then a couple of days, we’re either going to the shelter they’re setting up at the High School or doubling up with her parents out in Mansfield once the road travel is allowed. What about you?"

"I’ll stick it out here as long as I can. There’s no way I’ll take my family to a shelter if I had one. I’ll probably have to work there if my CERT Team is activated anyway, but I refuse to allow my family to end up in a shelter. To many people go in there thinking they can leave when ever they want. That's not true. You leave when you’re told you can leave.  People don’t know that once you “sign in” you’ve given up your decision to choose.  They’re responsible for you”.

The look on his face was of total shock. “You’re kidding me right?“.

“Nope.  Check it out sometime. Hell, I’m surprised that neither my Reserve unit or CERT Team has been activated." He noticed he was rambling, "Otherwise, I have some friends I can stay with outside of town." Jason noticed how Doug was picking at the pile for choice pieces of wood. That won’t last more then a couple days. "Hey, I have plenty of firewood here, if you run out just come over and get some."

Picking up several pieces of wood Doug replied sheepishly, "Thanks, I don’t think our pile will last more then a day even if we conserve it. It’s keeping the back room and kitchen pretty bearable, just not the rest of the house. Well, better be getting back inside. Keep warm I guess."

"Thanks. Hey Doug? Put spare blankets up over the doorway‘s into rooms you‘re not using and over the windows, especially the north facing ones. That‘ll keep a lot more of the heat in. How‘s your freezer doing? Is it thawing yet?"

“Yeah it is.  I Ann just went shopping a couple days ago and would hate to lose the meat she bought.”

Jason thought a minute about it then acted, “Do you have any ice coolers or empty plastic soda bottles or beer cans?”

“Yes why?”  Doug replied wondering why he was being asked that.

“Take the stuff from the freezer and put it into the coolers and cover with a heavy insulated blanket then put it out on the back porch.  Then fill up all the containers you can and set outside to freeze into ice today and tonight.  Add that to the coolers as needed, or if you have a chest freezer, wrap that in a old insulated blanket and add the ice to it as it melts.”

Doug’s mouth dropped, then a broad smile broke across his face. “I never thought about doing that. Thanks for the tips Jason. I‘ll get on it right now.”  He watched as his neighbor quickly walked back inside, wondering if he should have just kept his mouth shut.  Jason began tossing pieces of wood over the fence near his neighbors woodpile, maybe that would encourage him to stay put, he was one of the few neighbors that actually spoke to him in their subdivision. He could always get over to David’s place and restock from the pile there.

It was only a little after eight-thirty A.M. after getting fed, and completing a few jobs, it still left the rest of the day to complete his other items easily, he wasn't planning on going anywhere for the moment. One thing he wished for was a better communication set up with the rest of the M.A.G. without it, it had put a big crimp into their plans. If it was a TSHTF situation they’d go right to Camp Snoopy. Was this a TSHTF? Or was it too early to consider it that. To him, TSHTF would be a nuke or multiple nukes going off, comet strike, a socio-economic collapse causing rioting in the streets like seen during the LA Riots of 92.  A regional power outage was discussed, but wasn’t considered a TSHTF situation. The early morning Eco-terrorist attacks did bring down infrastructure, but it appeared people weren’t going nuts, and taking to the streets in some below average post-TSHTF novel or movie.

Communications, this was a glaring flaw in their plan. They had the FRS two-way radios, CB radios in the vehicles, Frank and David had shortwave radio licenses, always thought they’d at least be able to contact each other by their cell phone texting feature.  With a load of firewood in his arms he walked quickly back to the house and depositing it onto the floor in front of where Lauren use to park her Lexus he thought he heard his cellphone ringing. Running inside he found it on the kitchen counter, chastising himself for not carrying it with him.

Opening it, he noticed there were over ten voice mails and ignored them as he saw a signal strength reading. A hour ago there was no signal strength when he checked it last. Dialing David first he received a busy signal, next Frank, ‘all circuits busy’, then Dana, getting her voice mailbox. Finally he dialed Cheryl’s cell phone and she answered. "Hello?"

"CHERYL!" he yelled, "Where are you? Are you guys Okay? Are you heading to Snoopy?"

"We’re okay, we’re fine, geez, I never thought these would be working if the power is out." In the background a voice asked.. "Who are you talking to?" She replied, "It’s Jason, his cell phone works too." Chad was suddenly on the telephone. "Hey Jason."

"Hi there Chad, are you guys at Cheryl’s?". Apparently the local cell towers were back up or running on back up generators, ever since the blackout a few years ago most commercial cell towers installed them for emergencies.

"Cheryl and Cyndi are here with us. We are holed up in the bedroom with that heater Frank gave us and doing okay. Got a question though, how long do those canisters last?"

"On low I think mine lasted about six to eight hours. How many canisters do you have?"

"I have a three pack of them, so technically we have enough fuel to run this thing for at least eighteen hours, that’s not a long time if they’re saying what’s on the radio is true."

"What’s that? I‘ve heard some but not the whole picture."

"They're hitting us good buddy, now the news is reporting that utility crews are being attacked along with I.E.D's being blown along major highways in a bunch of states.  Numerous power lines are down and with the weather and the severity of this, it might be at least three to five days before power is restored in many parts. There’s a special news broadcast at noon on all channels if you haven’t heard, the Red Cross will be listing shelters being set up for those without means to heat their homes, one’s at the High School and at the new Coy Elementary in your area."

Jason heard Dana call out, "Looks like they activated CERT! All off duty police and fire along with all active and reserve military personnel are to report to their duty stations. CERT is activated to report to the nearest shelter to help the Red Cross or head to the 9-1-1 training center on Jefferson for job assignments."

"We’re not going to Snoopy just yet, going to wait a while and see what happens." Chad said over the cell phone and began to ramble on with what they were doing in the meantime.

Damn. The last thing he wanted to do was try to decide which duty he reported to. Did he go to the Armory first, then to the Shelter? "Thanks Chad, if you talk to David or Frank, tell them what’s going on, I can’t get through to either of them. I'll probably be heading to the Armory in a little while."

"Okay, we’re trying to debate whether to load up our gear and head over to David’s or stay here. Talk at ya’ later." Chad broke the connection before he could say "Bye". Setting down the cell phone he walked into the great room. It actually felt warm in the room, looking over his shoulder at the thermostat mounted there the room read sixty degrees. While the kerosene heater burned in the kitchen, it was downright comfy in the two rooms. The kerosene heater was at low, it consumed 2.8 gallons per 18hrs and he had roughly 30 gallons stored. He’d have to shut it down before he went to bed, just to be careful. Or should he just shut it off now, refill it, so he can run it all night so he didn’t have to stay up to keep stoking the wood burner? Decisions, decisions…

He decided to shut off the kerosene heater. "You knew this might happen dummy.” he said to himself. With that he left to head into the basement to check his always loaded rucksack, MP Web Gear, and winter gear. His CERT bag as it always was, inside his Jeep pre-loaded and ready to go along with his get home bag.  Just as he took a step onto the basement step when a pounding on the front door stopped him.

Looking through the peep hole he saw it was his neighbor Doug Jaffee and Ron Lucttka, the neighbor directly across the street from Doug. He opened the door slightly. “Hey there Jase, we were wondering if you had any more ideas you could share…”

"... along with some firewood.” Ron quickly added with a broad smile.

“Crap”. he thought quickly how to get out of this. “Guys, I have to go report to my guard station but I’ll stop by when I get home.  Basically what I told Doug was to fill up any empty container with water and set it outside to freeze - Doug can fill you in Ron on the rest.  As to the firewood, sure take only as much as needed but don’t wipe me out okay?”

They looked at each other, “You don‘t think we‘d take all of it? Because we‘d leave you some.” Ron told him as matter of factly.

Jason didn’t know what to say to the two neighbors.  

* * * * * * * * * * * *
Chapter 6

9:20 AM

Smiling as his door opened to see four bundled up figures standing on his front porch he ushered them inside quickly, Susan was turning the corner and beamed at the sight of the guests, "Come on, hurry up and get in here, you all must be freezing." She loved having people over no matter what the reason was.  His wife could probably make a half dozen friends within ten minutes while among a riot.

Chad didn’t come in right away, "The apartment was turning into a freezer fast. I hope the offer is still open, we’ll have no problem heading to Snoopy or a shelter if you’d like us to."

"Don’t be stupid, you know you’re welcomed here. Hell, I was expecting you to show up sooner. Susan was starting to drive me nuts with the ‘Are so and so coming or not,’ question every fifteen minutes."

"Should we move our stuff inside then?" David looked past him to see that Cheryl’s Station wagon and Chad’s Kia were packed to the top with items.

"Looks like you all loaded the kitchen sink and then some.  I don’t think this will hurt to bad to leave most of it out there for the time being, I do think we’ll have to wait a few days to see if the situation is deteriorating or not.  It would suck to reload everything if we need to bug out."

"Dude, It’s not going to be back to normal for a while. There’s nearly no one on the streets, those that are, are being pulled over. We were pulled over and told to get off the streets or be arrested. Dana just leaned over showed our CERT ID’s and that placard the EMA gave us then told him we and the car behind of us were heading to a shelter to help out because we were activated. Then just before pulling in here, I heard on a AM station out of the Cleveland area that a Rep. with the Power company said in some places it may be up a week to two weeks before power can be restored."

He nodded in response to it, "You’re right, it may take that long, but I doubt it would take that long here. How about we unload the stuff that will freeze and some clothing into the garage and see what happens. This just sounds like a little hiccup. Now get your ass inside here, I’m not heating the entire neighborhood."

Chad stomped his feet and entered, feeling the warmth hit his face. Susan and Dana were talking about making lunch as Cheryl and Britney sat by the fireplace getting out of their heavy winter clothing. It was good to get out of the cold apartment. Before leaving they checked on Mrs. Valentine to make sure she was all right. She had left a note on her door saying where she was if anyone was looking for her. With that off of their minds they began loading their vehicles. As he entered the house, he saw David and Susan’s BOB backpacks sitting against the wall by the door compete with their Gen 2 Gore-tex ECWCS clothing atop. He was instantly secretly jealous of their equipment since the first day he met them. David and Susan didn’t flaunt the fact that they had money but you knew they were well to do. Noticing the pistol holstered at his side as his jacket opened, Chad commented on it. "I saw you carrying that pistol the day when those tree huggers gassed people down south, what is it?"

Holding open his zippered fleece jacket exposing it. "It was this years Christmas present to myself for being a good boy. (Chad groaned) It’s a Israeli Police surplus Sig Sauer P228, little brother to the P226 I already have. It shoots awesome, looks as if it’s been shot a lot but it’s still tight as it ever was. Let‘s get some of your stuff in here."

Shaking his head as he followed David around to the garage where he unlatched the garage door opener and helped him raise the door behind Susan’s Lexus. There was absolutely no room behind David’s big Excursion - it barely fit the garage itself." Before I forget, I spoke with Jason, he’s hunkering down at home but his unit was activated so he‘ll probably go do that."

"You did? How? The phones are out and cell phones are all busy, I’ve been trying to call them, Cheryl and yourself all morning long."

"I guess we got lucky. Maybe it was early enough before people started waking up and slammed the cell towers once they realized they were still working?"

"That sounds possible." He replied walking out towards Chad’s Kia Sportage. Across the street, he saw his neighbor Scott Lafferty loading his bundled up family into their Navigator. Waving as he passed, Scott just gave David a look of sheer panic and didn’t wave back, he just gunned the Navigators engine more down the street sliding slightly in the unplowed street.

* * * * * * * * * *

9:30-ish AM
Now he had to go report for duty as the radio news broadcast had said. Last time they were put on alert was during 9-11. One of the reasons he joined the volunteer State Reserves and later CERT was to help out his community in times of distress another was to get some much needed ‘field’ training along the para-military line. Over the last four years, he had learned a lot from the various units he had the pleasure to train with, some he questioned what real world use that some of it would provide and other like small unit tactics, convoy defense, base defense would surely come in handy if TSHTF. He had been involved with the Reserves before meeting Lauren and she knew he was involved with it, just didn’t realize how much time it took up, many of the guys joined it knowing their wives wouldn’t join so it gave them a chance to get away for a few hours a month.

It all began while surfing the Internet one night, he stumbled upon the State’s website (1) and sent a email for more information on the organization, it was David who was a recruiter for the local unit and after several emails and meeting in person had actually convinced him to join. Once he had joined, David took on the role of Platoon Sgt., and he was assigned to a squad led by a real jerk who thankfully didn’t last more then a couple months before being kicked out for abuse of authority and theft. It was only a year after Jason joined that David resigned from his position due to his business becoming so busy, he did remain as a honorary member of the unit and helped with maintaining the unit’s personal website, allow them to store their pre-loaded deployment ¼ ton trailer inside his garage at work, and let Jason to use his personal military surplus Chevy M1008 CCUV 1 1/4ton pickup truck. Their unit also had access to a pair of privately owned M998-series HMMV’s belonging to a Colonel who use to be part of their Battalion but now was on the Generals staff. One was a lightly armored weapons carrier assigned to his MP battalion, and a soft top squad vehicle assigned to Brigade headquarters. He loved driving either HMMV’s to unit drills, training or recruiting events and always a big hit at annual training out at Camp Perry, he wished he was driving the armored HMMV now.

He pulled into David’s work driveway where he saw that no one had been there by the undisturbed snow in his parking lot. Getting out of his Jeep to unlock the gate, a State Trooper slid slightly to a stop and called out from his vehicle, "What are you doing? Are you reporting for duty?"

"Yes," Jason called back, "Our unit stores one of our trucks here to use since it’s a pain in the ass to get a key to open the armory’s gates. I was asked to retrieve it before reporting. You want to see my ID?" He then pointed to the snow covered woodland camouflage painted pickup truck by the other service trucks.

"That’s okay about the ID.  Good thing you’re reporting because I was just going to arrest you for being out during this Alert. Good luck soldier!" He waved rolling up his window as he sped off down the road.

Jason stood there a minute watching as the State Trooper continued down the road, now activating his lights for some reason. After pushing the gate aside, he drove in but closing it without relocking it, he’ll do that once he leaves and parked the Cherokee beside the Chevy CCUV. Once he was able to coax the diesel engine to start and let it warm up, it took only ten minutes to transfer his rucksack, personal cooler, flight bag, cot, his M3 medical bag, twelve pack of Coca-a-Cola (even though he didn‘t drink colas anymore), a 5gal water can, and finally a case of MRE’s into the pickups bed covering it with a OD green tarp kept behind the drivers seat. Beside him on the seat was his PASGT Flak Vest, Kevlar helmet, and LBV. One item he tried to justify in taking was his Beretta. Even though he had a CCW permit, the carrying of personal firearms was forbidden on duty, unless specifically instructed to do so by the Adj. General or Governor of Ohio. After several minutes of pacing in the cold, he had opted to not carry it, instead locking it inside, via a cable locked lockbox with it’s two magazines. With the CCUV being sufficiently warmed up he climbed in and drove out the gate, securing it behind him. Using his blinker, he turned onto the road and drove the six miles to his home Armory to report for duty

* * * * * * * * * * *

11:25 AM
Thrusting the shovel into the snow bank, Frank took a break from shoveling. It was around eleven AM when Marie finally convinced him to do something other then sit by the radio listening to the latest news as he ran about the house like a madman between commercial breaks. Check the water, put the pipes on a slow drip, is the sump pump filling up, where’s their Evac bags, do they have cold weather gear in them, call the M.A.G., Try to raise the MAG on the CB, listen to the latest update at the top of the hour. She said it was more nerve racking to just watch him running about then just take it as it comes. They’ve planned for power outages and just to follow the plan. "Keep it simple stupid!", She said with a smile.

With the President set to speak at noon, there really wasn’t anything more they could do until the Red Terror Alert lifted, they had enough food and water to last several months, Marie had both of their solar showers hanging by the kitchens patio doors to heat water for showers later, after blocking off the great room with blankets over the doorways leading to the bedroom, den and dining room, the wood burning stove was giving off a tremendous amount of heat once it got going, raising the temperature quickly even with the vaulted ceiling. They were warm, fed, and secure, although he was a bit shaken by the news of last nights events.

As he shoveled the snow, he noticed more then several neighbors loading up their cars with suit cases and boxes. His next door neighbor stopped long enough to say they were going to the shelter at the High School until the power came back on and if they wanted to save them a spot next to them. No thanks he had replied. There was only a couple other neighbors outside shoveling the snow, he noticed from the thin line of smoke coming from their houses they also had fireplaces so at least not everyone was freezing or leaving for a friends house or shelter. While watching the neighborhood, he notice the smell of wood burning was starting to hang thick in the cold winter air.

What more can he do? Work was shut down until the power was restored, their BOB bags were loaded inside the Suburban, along with the two pre-packed 50 gallon trash cans labeled "EVAC KIT", maybe he should start loading up additional magazines for his and Marie’s CAR-15s? He did only have three loaded that he rotated out every Christmas eve for his rifle. His thoughts were interrupted by the sound of a helicopter from the east. At first he thought it was just a Life Flight helicopter, but as the noise grew he could tell it was more then just one helo. As they roared overhead, anyone who was outside stopped and watched skyward as they passed. Normally, you wouldn’t be able to see the faces of the pilots or the door gunner with a M240 MAG attached - today you could see them in all three UH-60 Helicopters.

* * * * * * * * * * *

12:00 Noon EST

ABC’s Susan Vargas interrupted the local broadcast of shelters being opened to help those without power to shelter from the cold. "…. Momentarily we’ll be bringing you the Presidents speech about today’s events. We’ve been told he’s running a little behind schedule and should be with us shortly. While we wait, hang on a second. Okay, we’ve been informed he’s walking into the press room, we’re going there live. . ."

"Ladies and Gentlemen, the President of the United States", the shutter of cameras could be heard exploding from the radio….. "Ladies and Gentlemen, I’d like to begin by saying this is only a statement, there will be NO questions asked." President Bush cleared his throat and began. "Today at approximately 4AM Eastern Standard Time, a organization calling itself ‘Trees for Life’ attacked infrastructure within the Eastern Seaboard and Midwest of the United States of America. The loss of life has been minimal as they went after mostly unmanned transmission towers, telephone relay stations, fuel storage facilities and several water treatment plants. These are the same people who orchestrated the Phosgene, Chlorine, and Sarian gas attacks in Miami and Atlanta last month. The FBI, Department of Homeland Security, various local and state law enforcement agencies are actively following leads on the locations of the individuals responsible for these acts. Many have been caught due to alert law enforcement officers working in the areas where these heinous acts were committed. We are asking everyone to please be patient as crews try to restore power and utilities in the effected areas. FEMA, the Red Cross and National Guard units are being dispatched to set up shelters within the communities effected as I speak. If you are cold, go to a shelter, they will assist you. Please follow all instructions the shelter workers give you, it’s for your own safety. If you have means to keep warm, do it safely and welcome in a neighbor or two to your home until this emergency passes." Clears his throat again.


"I am currently imposing a dusk to dawn curfew in the effected areas and keeping the RED TERROR Alert in place for the next twenty-four to thirty-six hours. Only emergency personnel, Law Enforcement, and military forces should be on the road. Please stay home and do not go out unless you’re going to a open shelter or seeking medical care. This is for your safety. As stated earlier, I ask all police, fire, active and reserve military forces to report to their duty stations as soon as possible. We’re here to help you get through this as smoothly as possible. Numerous states not effected by these acts of terrorism are at this moment sending people and equipment to assist in our recovery. I am not instituting martial law or evoking any Executive orders other then shutting down the civilian accessible side of the Global Positioning Satellites or GPS network so these terrorists cannot use it to locate specific targets they may have targeted using that system.  I ask for your patience and understanding. Let me make one thing clear, We will find those responsible and bring them to justice. Thank you and God Bless America."

"Well, we see the President stuck to his word and didn’t answer any questions from the assembled media. I'm sure he could have shed a little more light on some of his statements but we won't know now." Vargas began. "Let’s review what he had just said, joining me is…" David reached over to turn off the TV via it's remote, not wanting to hear the Presidents speech rephrased and knit picked over by people who were obviously bias in their media reporting. Turning to see the looks on their faces he smiled, "So, that clears up a little. Looks like we’re going to be in the dark for a few days. Does anyone want to load up and head to a shelter?"

The assembled adults gathered around the fireplace replied with a resounding "NO!".

(1) Note: References to a organization and specific items used in this section are only for informational/fictional enhancement. Some of it is true, some isn’t. Here’s the State website address just in case… http://ohmr.ohio.gov/

Great story,keep it coming.

Less posting, more time spent giving us more chapters N.E.  


Since you were late last week, I think we should get ch 6 early this week.

<Bump> for ch 6
comments? suggestions?

seriously... you won't hurt my feelings if you think it's terrible, lame, slow, anything.

Good to go so far!!! More more more!!!!!  

I like the story but there are many instances of you using the word 'of' in place of the word 'have'.

Example:It should of have cheered him up that he had also received a email from his former unit buddy who’s leaving for home today for a few weeks.

come on tanto!  Don't leave us hanging!

Sorry, life kind of got in the way and forgot to post Friday before taking off.

Try to get it posted tonight or tomorrow... oh heck. how about Thursday night?

******************************
Chapter 7

(Now) Approximately 7 P.M.

Tossing his flight bag and LBE into the back of the now enclosed CCUV pickup’s bed, Jason closed the tailgate and turned to his Platoon Sergeant shaking his head in disgust. "Tell me this isn’t happening?"

Leaning against the pickup’s bed SSG Tim Pryzbee replied, "It sure is, that’s our orders and we’re released from duty. What can we do about it? We were ordered to go home by the Major. So, go home Jase.". . . .

(Earlier this morning)
He had been the first to arrive to the armory from his unit, immediately he was put to work manning the front desk checking ID’s and signing in personnel arriving. After a hour or so of doing that, he was relieved by a pair of Privates by a Lieutenant he knew from his time there and asked if he would like to be tasked with helping in the kitchen or driving a officer around.  Jason jumped at being the chauffer.  Their job was to deliver and gather information in the area along with exchanging frequencies and setting up lines of communications since the cell phone service was spotty, land line telephone and Internet service were now not available in most places with the local villages, cities and townships. Because he wasn’t authorized to drive one of the National Guards HMMV’s (yet he had passed the qualification test last summer) he drove his unit’s pickup instead with the promise of refilling it’s fuel tank when they returned and any repairs required.

Since the Armory’s property was now at Charlie enhanced (one half step below Delta where the building and property were off limits to anyone entering or exiting), the N.G. Captain had signed out a Motorola Saber 3 portable radio and a sidearm.  The Captain had also tried to get Jason issued a M9, M16 or shotgun.  Even after showing his qualification card and the Captain running it up the COC,  it was eventually denied because he wasn‘t a actual Guardsman, but a volunteer state reserve soldier, only the Governor could authorize him carrying a weapon .  He was able however, to get him authorized to sign out a used woodland camouflage Interceptor vest with the SAPI plates, throat, groin and bicep guards. He pleaded the case since Jason was driving him in the maximum terror alert status and unarmed, he should at least be offered some kind of protection if they run into trouble. The XO of the Armory agreed and authorized the issuance solely on the fact Jason was a familiar face over the last couple of years to the X.O. and the young Lieutenant and Captain personally vouched for him. Every time he saw that particular Major during their drills, Jason was always asked if he was certified nuts yet for volunteering so much time and not getting paid for it.

Through out the afternoon, Jason shuttled the N.G. Captain around to various police and fire station command posts including several Red Cross shelters that were just overflowing with people. During more then one of their stops, they ferried shelter workers, several officers and deputies to other buildings so he had to assemble the metal bows and attach the fabric cover to provide some shelter to them while driving. They even stopped back at the armory to exchange radios since Capt. Kurminck’s radio died suddenly and had Jason load up a dozen cases of MRE’s after he signed for them to distribute to the police stations.  During the drive from place to place, the two spoke about the situation, how Jason became involved in the State Reserves, what kind of training they supplied, what kind of equipment is issued, their families, hobbies, etc. At every place they went, they were asked for help from the National Guard and what assistance they’d be providing. He took note of the tone of many of those in charge of the shelters were just on the verge of being frantic. They were asking for food, cots, generators, fuel trucks, field kitchens, security personnel and medical personnel. Some requests the National Guard engineering unit could provide, but since 50% of the armory was overseas, they only had so many people and equipment to provide. The N.G. Captain (a very skilled civil affairs officer he came to notice) took notes in his binder, excusing himself numerous times to answer the portable radio or make calls in the hallways. He basically told them, "We’re stretched pretty thin but I’ll see what we can do for you.". 90% of the time Jason just stood off to the side, out of the way yet kept a watch on the Captain. More then once a person came up to him asking what the Army was doing to help them. He just replied, "We’re doing the best we can."  He received more then one “Thanks a lot” that was heavily laced with sarcasm.

At one stop to the Perrysburg Municipal building, Jason had broken open his case of MRE’s handing them out after hearing the officers and staff there haven’t had anything to eat besides raiding vending machines for junk food since they had shown up last night. He made instant friends with a few Sheriff’s deputies as they pulled in to refuel their cruisers giving them a cold Coke.  He even ran into the trooper who stopped him earlier who after pulling his vehicle out of line to be fueled he walked into the building to use the restroom and saw Jason handing the deputies the food as he was walking out with a relieved look on his face.

“Hey, I didn’t expect to be seeing you so soon.  What are you doing here?” the trooper asked after taking a drink of the Coke he was just handed.

“Neither did I. I’m just playing chauffer and food delivery for the National Guard. How’s things going out there?“

The Trooper shrugged his shoulders.  “It’s bad. Utility crews are being ambushed, very few survivors, we’re chasing ghosts at the moment.”  His radio squawked and he answered it saying, “Another fight, got to go. Here take this.”  Trooper gave him one of his business cards with his Cell phone number on the back. “Thanks for the meal mostly rejected by everyone.” Ran out to his car and tore out of the parking lot without filling up his vehicle.  Jason then left two cases of the A-Pak MRE’s in the dispatchers office.

While finishing up his own MRE from his personal bag (having given away his case) waiting for Captain Kurminck to exit a meeting, Jason unintentionally assisted the officers in a drunken individual who tried to escape by standing in front of his path knocking him down as he ran into him. The officers couldn’t help but laugh as the intoxicated man started blabbering something about running into a brick wall that came out of nowhere. While Jason was only 5’ 10ish" and weighing in at 185lbs, he was far from being a brick wall. It was the Interceptor vest with SAPI plates that really stopped the drunk cold. Normally when one tries to run with cuffs on, they either have their head way up in the air, or down looking at the floor. The intoxicated man caught out driving had his head down and just ran into Jason. Not long after that incident, they returned to the armory, only the engine and radio noise was able to be heard until Captain Kurminck spoke. He was leafing through his binder, writing down additional notes he’d just remembered here and there. "Mind if I ask you a question Sergeant?"

"No Sir, go right ahead."

Closing the notebook he turned in the bench seat. "You said earlier you have family. From the information I’m gathering today, it appears this might take up to a week to get the power restored. Those wack jobs did a number on the grid. Are they going to be able to take care of themselves in this weather if it’s out for that long and you’re not around?"

Jason looked over at him, "I don’t know Sir.  I’m single at the moment but I’m worried about my brother and his family in Minnesota. They have a fireplace but over the years I’ve fought tooth and nail with them to get prepared for anything more then a couple hours without power. Me, I’m okay.  I have plenty of cold weather camping gear and a woodburning stove. If that isn’t enough, I’ll just head over to a friends place who has a generator and fireplace too."

"Okay. Well, I shouldn’t be saying this, but," Capt. Kurminck opened his notebook and found the page he was looking for. "Shelters are filling up as fast as they’re opened with people looking to stay warm. They’re running out of everything and it’s not even been twenty-four hours yet. FEMA is sending in personnel to help manage the shelters along with equipment from strategic stockpiles but there‘s just too much. Control of the counties will be handed over to FEMA personnel if the county EMA directors, cannot maintain control."

Jason turned the corner heading to the Armory wide. He didn’t like what he was just told.  “Just that simple? What do you mean maintain control?”

“That’s not been completely defined yet.” he replied looking through his notes.

As they approached the armory, he saw more vehicles in the lot, several being familiar. "That almost sounds like a briefing you’ll be giving once we get back. What does that have to do with me Sir?

"Very astute of you to notice." He laughed, "I’m just trying to tell you to watch your ass, don’t believe everything the media is going to be saying. Weather forecast is expecting snow and temps down into the teens by the weekend, if we don’t have at least 50% of the power restored, we’re in deep shit." Jason turned into the parking lot to find a makeshift guard post set up at the entrance with Jersey barriers and a prefab kiosk. Once they showed their ID’s under the watch full eye of a M16A2 armed Specialist, they were waved to enter. As Jason drove around the heavy equipment beginning to place additional concrete Jersey barriers around the parking lot and building, he found over a dozen of his unit members gathered around his Commanders Jeep Liberty by the front of the building. Dropping off the Captain at the door Jason was motioned over to the assembled group. After parking several spaces away, he exited the pickup and began walking towards them. As he approached, he heard several say to each other, "he’s wearing that new body armor" That really drew a harsh look from his Commander.

"What are you DOING Sergeant?" His Commander yelled from his drivers seat. It appeared as the Red Sea was parting as unit members moved out of the line of fire.

"Sir, I was asked to escort the Captain around to various locations since they didn’t have the personnel at the time to do it. I did leave a note with the troop manning the desk to inform anyone from our unit of my whereabouts."

"That’s not what I meant, but we’ll get back to that. WHERE did you get that bulletproof vest from?"

"Sir, Since I am unable to carry a firearm while on duty, the Captain thought it would be prudent to offer me some protection in case we’re attacked. He also was wearing body armor as per their SOP, at this threat con level, body armor IS to be worn."

"I do believe you were issued a flak vest Sergeant. What you are wearing is Federal property, You know that you are NOT to be using Federal property or material. And DON’T Lecture me on threat con levels Sergeant. I know what they are! How long have you been here?"

Checking his watch, it read a little after six P.M and getting darker by the minute. "Since about ten AM, Sir. I was also activated by CERT…." .

"YOU’VE BEEN DRIVING AROUND FOR MOST OF THE DAY AS A ESCORT FOR A NATIONAL GUARD CAPTAIN?" he shouted, drawing the attention of several officers assembled at the Armories front door who were taking a smoke break at the moment.

Surprised at the sudden outburst Jason replied, "Yes Sir,". He could feel his face getting red, he was getting angry for the ass chewing in front of his unit members.

"Sergeant, You’re relieved of duty as of right now. You were NOT authorized to report to duty, yet alone to drive a Army officer around town. You’re dismissed."

Jason was pissed and began to open his mouth when his Platoon Sgt stepped in front of him and spoke. "Sir, the President said all active and reserve components of the military to report for duty, since we are a reserve component of the National Guard, he was just following the President’s orders."

"LET ME TELL YOU ONE THING SARGENT, First off, we do NOT self activate, we only activate under the Governors direct authority, he hasn’t given that order yet to my knowledge. The Governor is OUR Commander in Chief, NOT the President. I’ve been listening to the radio - have YOU? Second, either I or the XO gives the orders for this unit. No one else. Did anyone personally call you from this unit to say you were activated? I don’t think so. IS that crystal CLEAR?.

"Sir, are you saying we’re to just ignore the Presidents order, go home and wait until we get a notice only by you that we’re activated?" Jason asked in a tone he shouldn’t of been using. Anyone who heard it would of recognized he was laying on the sarcasm pretty thick.

"That’s EXACTLY what I’m saying Sergeant. Now go return that vehicle after you’ve gassed it up with your OWN money to our motor pool. We’ll discuss this further at drill next weekend. "Go home, curfew is already in effect. Don’t get yourselves arrested. Dismissed!"

Jason turned and headed towards the armory, saluting the officers standing there taking a smoking break in astonishment of what just occurred. "Looks like you got your ass handed to you for doing your job Sergeant." A full bird colonel, Commander of one of the Unit’s stationed at the Armory, remarked as he opened the door. Looking over his shoulder he saw his Platoon Sgt. leaning over speaking to the Major about something when he just rolled up his window and drove off. "Yes Sir, I did Sir."

"Well, next time I see him, I’m going to chew his ass apart. That’s NOT the way you do that in front of troops, especially to a NCO."

"Thank you Sir, but I doubt it would do any good. Now if you excuse me Sir, I need to return this vest to supply, retrieve my gear and head home before I get into any more trouble."

The Colonel just nodded saying as Jason entered. "Thanks for the help today sergeant. It‘s much appreciated."……

********
(Now)
After returning the body armor, making some small talk with several other’s who heard about the ass chewing of what he did today, (it was strange how fast a ass chewing spread in the military), he said ‘good luck’ to his Platoon Sgt who was waiting at the CCUV replied, "Hey Jase.. Semper Gumby" (Our former unit’s unofficial motto) as he walked away getting into his pickup and left. Walking around to the drivers door Jason started up the engine, it was still warm enough not to have to wait for the ‘wait to start’ light to go off. Checking the fuel gauge it read a little more then a ¼ tank.  How was he to get diesel for it when gas stations are closed? He could always toss the two Septer jerry cans into it or refuel it from Davids diesel tank or just wait until the stations open. Maybe he’ll go inside and talk to the Captain who did agree in filling up the fuel tank.  He exited the truck and as he was walking back to the building he noticed the tie down straps loose on the back cover.  He started to retighten them when a voice called out behind him. "Sgt. Hallard, hold up a minute!". Turning he saw the young Captain Kurminck jogging up to him with a duffel bag in his hand. Raising it slightly he said, "You forgot your duffel bag."

Saluting as he came near, the Captain returned it half hearted but he put his finger up to his lips and mouthed.. "Shhhh". He came closer walking over to the pickups covered bed and placing it inside with a ‘thud’. "I’m glad I caught you before you left. Don’t know when I might see you again, would hate to see you leave without your bag." He came closer, in almost a whisper. "I heard what happened, and screw him. I’ll file a formal complaint against his butt with my C.O. I do believe he’s going to be filing something too, he’s definitely pissed about it and told me he’ll say something next time on the Sat Phone with the brass down in Columbus. Even he said we really can use your unit’s help right now."

"Thank you Sir. But, that’s not my duffel bag Captain." Jason nodded towards the pickup’s bed.

"Yes it is Sergeant, don’t open it until you get home. I appreciated your assistance today and your professionalism even though you don’t get paid to do this. Hell, if I wasn’t getting paid and benefits, I wouldn’t be doing what you’re doing, but I sure as hell want you on my team any day of the week. If you guys get activated, which I know the Colonel will be asking you to be, I’m going to request that you be put on my security team if that’s okay." Motioning with his head towards the back, "You’re not going to believe this, but it’s a token of appreciation and I did promise you to fill the fuel tank once we came back here so pull it around the back to the fuel pump ASAP. I’ll meet you there. Is there anything else you need at the moment?"

Smiling, he said, "Well Sir. Now that you mention it."

* * * * * * * * * * *

Across town...

Stoking the wood burner was becoming a endless job Frank thought placing another log into it and closing the glass doors. Marie and Samantha were in the kitchen making dinner while the boys were downstairs causing some kind of trouble. They were being way to quiet and he’d have to check on them as soon as he was done. It was a little past seven PM and he was exhausted. It seemed as if he did nothing but haul wood closer to the house, shovel the snow, put up and take down blankets to regulate how to heat the parts of the house to be occupied, inventoried their on hand gasoline, kerosene, propane and Coleman fuel. The trial runs they did previously never were this tiring.

He had spoke with several neighbors after the helicopters flew so low overhead, many had concerns that more was going on then what they were being told. More families as darkness fell were loading up their SUVs and mini Vans heading most likely to a Red Cross Shelter.  He'd have to get in touch with the other members of the MAG to let them in on what was going on.  David hadn't called yet on his 2m radio, he had tried reaching him but didn't get ahold of him.  He did talk to several other hams in the area and their situations were similar.

Samantha was all excited to try out a oven she made out of cardboard box and aluminum foil she found in a book called "Roughing it Easy". Frank elected to help her with the coals from the fire to heat the improvised oven. She was making up a pie pan of corn bread for the stew simmering on the stove. Even though they had a couple loaves of store bought bread atop the refrigerator, he didn’t mind, at least it occupied her time and felt like she was doing something to help. If the power isn’t back by the weekend, she’ll be having a lot of time occupied by washing the clothing manually. That reminded him of a item he hadn’t thought of. How were they going to wash their clothing? They could use the sealed bucket method, or a plunger in a big tub, or just wait until the power comes on. They all had a over abundance of clothing in their closets. Standing up from in front of the fireplace he walked towards the basement where he kept all his reference material or as Marie calls it, "his junk". Maybe he’ll find something in there. Downstairs he heard a ‘crash’ and thought of the boys, he better go investigate that before anything else.

* * * * * * * *

Chad and David went into the basement to get away from the women upstairs, they were positively driving the guys nuts. Dinner wouldn’t be in another hour, so instead of listening to stories of vacations, how to knit a afghan or a hat, what to make for dinner, the guys decided to go into the basement and sort through some of the emergency items. Chad always loved David’s basement, it was decked out to the max. 62" TV, surround sound, a wall of assorted books, movies - VHS and DVD’s. With the cable now not broadcasting and unable to even get the fuzziest of local stations due to the lack of a antennae, they searched the movie section for something to occupy their time. David found one he wanted to watch, Chad found one he wanted to watch within minutes of searching. "Panic in the year Zero" for David and "The Postman" for Chad. A toss of a coin decided what to watch first. Chad won the toss and as they sat down in the recliners after going upstairs to retrieve a couple snacks and soft drinks. The women were by the fireplace talking about what they brought with them and Dana commenting how Chad insisted on bringing their guns and ammo. David had mentioned to him about wanting to get something for him out of the ‘gun room’ just as they sat down.

David’s ‘gun room’ was behind the wall containing the TV and cabinets. Before moving in, it had been built away from the original basement wall after the contractors left by him and his son. If you didn’t see what the basement looked like before the project, you would never know it was any different. Walking over to the far bookshelf he watched as David removed a couple of books and using a dime turned two screws. He made a big dramatic gesture saying. "I command thee to open" and pulled on a section of bookshelf containing many of his science fiction movies. A 3’ by 5’ section of bookcase containing the movies first slightly popped "out" then swung outward silently and he reached inside to turn on a overhead light. The area behind the TV was only about five feet wide but it ran the entire length of the basement wall, giving him plenty of ‘secret’ storage space. Chad followed David into the opening nearly smacking his head as he ducked lower to clear it.

Straightening up he looked around the room. David was a big time military gear collector. Even more so then Jason or Frank were. He could afford to buy most of this stuff brand new, but always looked for the best possible deal. He had been told it started when he had belonged to some volunteer military organization and ‘hated the crap they were issued when all the other Army units were getting the newer equipment’. It just grew from there. Frank and Jason had some of the newer equipment too, Jason using it more often while doing field training in the organization David had belonged to. Frank just had it to keep up with the two of them. Combined, Frank and Jason’s gear would about equal David’s accumulated collection.

At the far end was the massive gunsafe, to the right was his little reloading bench, plastic carry totes of assorted military surplus field equipment and various camouflaged BDU uniforms of British, German, US, and commercial camo pattern clothing, flak vests, helmets and gas masks on overhead shelves. Behind him, turning to look at it now was at least waist high stacks of ammunition in wooden and cardboard crates and metal military ammunition cans, all neatly labeled of their contents. "Damn."

"I decided to spend some of my emergency money right before the election to get more ammo, you never know how those liberals would act if GW was re-elected."

Chad looked back at David who was leaning into his gun safe rummaging around for something. That guy had probably thirty firearms shoved into every nook and cranny in there. "Ahh, David, GW WAS re-elected and nothing happened."

"I know that but, look at what’s happening now. Maybe they have just waited until the recounts have been finalized? Or maybe I’ll be wrong. If that’s the case I guess we’ll just have to hit the range a little more this year if that’s okay with you."

Laughing he replied, "Not a problem Mr. Money bags. Hey, while you do that, I’m going to start the movie, so hurry up." Chad walked out of the gun room after glancing over the items located on the assorted pegs, and shelves. David was defiantly a gear head, but at least he was their gear head. Out in the other room he heard him rummaging through something finally a "ahh" and moments later he emerged from the opening with a rifle in his one hand, a shoulder bag in the other. "What’s that? Another Christmas present to yourself?"

"Nope, it’s for you." Holding up the rifle Chad recognized it as a AR variant, but it looked old. "Those SKS’s you two have are still decent rifles, but you may need this if things turn to shit quick." David handed Chad the full-sized AR15. "It’s a unaltered AR15 rifle that‘s called a SP-1 these days. It’s the first rifle I ever bought. It’s just like Jason’s you fired up at the cabin last fall but his has a heavier barrel. Grab six of those thirty round magazines on that shelf over there, we can load up while watching the movie."

"Thanks David." Chad began to lay the AR down on the sofa when David said. "Don’t lay that down on the sofa or Susan will skin us alive with a butter knife. Go grab a ammo can that has M193 .223cal on it while I pop in a movie".

"Whatever you say Mr. Money bags." Chad said with a broad grin.

Nice story keep posting.

Chapter 8

"How are you feeling?" David asked from his seat in front of the paused Halo 2 video game.  After dinner the guys elected to go into the basement and play Halo 2 for a while before bed since they really didn‘t have anything else to do. News on the TV was basically repeated from earlier in the day, lists of more shelters opening within the county and now asking homeowners who have generators and fireplaces to open up their homes to neighbors.  Halfway through it Chad had sat down his controller and walked quickly to the bathroom for a second time. After a few minutes he emerged looking a little pale.

"Ahh.. okay I guess. I can’t play anymore." He replied.

"Can’t play anymore, think you’re coming down with something?"

He took a seat in the recliner taking a drink from his can of Mountain Dew. "No, earlier when I played this I felt woozy and stopped. I thought it was dinner and stuff. But the game makes me sick."

"It makes you sick? C’mon, it’s not that gory. Well, it is in parts but not that bad."

"It’s not THAT, it’s ahh, all that motion, gives me motion sickness."

He stood there for a moment not saying anything before bursting out laughing. "I’m sorry Chad, but, motion sickness from a video game?"

Chad stood up and walked upstairs without saying a word.

*  *  *  *  *  *  *  *

As he drove home in the CCUV pickup, he passed numerous EMS, utility repair, police and other civilian vehicles on the road he received several waves and from one vehicle loaded with teenagers, several middle fingers. He took note that the phone and Edison electric vehicles had either a police or military vehicle with them now as opposed to what he saw earlier in the day.

Out of curiosity he also drove past the two nearest shelters that the Red Cross had set up throughout the day. One was over at the new elementary school off of Pickle, the other at the YMCA off of Brown.  He knew that both places had emergency generators from his working with CERT. As he drove past waving to the sheriffs deputy directing traffic, he saw their parking lots were nearly full.  Shaking his head in amazement he continued to drive home and nearly rear ended a yellow Dodge neon as it pulled out in front of him due to being distracted.  He was staring at the Jr. High School near his subdivision when the Neon pulled out in front of him. There were so many vehicles at the Jr. High school, people were beginning to park on the snow covered front grass with the help of a couple unfortunate souls directing the way. A police cruiser was sitting at the driveway entrance and the officer stepped out starting to motioning him to turn into the lot. Jason shook his head ‘No’ pointing that he’s going straight but the officer kept motioning him to turn into the Jr. High School. Jason kept going straight at a very slow speed when the officer walked further away from his patrol car shouting, " JASON, STOP!"

He finally recognized who the officer was and turned into the driveway pulling onto the snow covered grass hoping he wouldn‘t get stuck but not blocking the entrance as another vehicle was following close behind his pickup. The officer was the younger brother of a guy he hung out with during high school, Brad Daniels. "Hey there Brad, how’s it going?"  

Shaking his head back and forth, "Not good at all, everyone and their mother is coming to this shelter since the other two are nearly filled. They’re planning on setting up a few more in the area if this fills up- which it will by the looks of it. When I showed up, I was looking for you and Lauren. Why aren’t you and the family here now?"

"Ahh, there’s no Lauren.  She split a few months ago.“

“No shit? Thought you two were getting married this year?“

“Yeah, that’s not going to happen anyway, I’ll probably go there in the morning to see what I can do to help through CERT."

He took a step back and scanned from front to back of the CCUV pickup, "Are you telling me you’re NOT on duty at the moment and went out joy riding."

Laughing slightly. "Nope, I spent the entire day driving a Captain with the National Guard around, came back and got my ass chewed off for doing it. So I’ve been released from duty until further notice. I just decided to drive this home and avoid any more hassle, since I know the guy who owns it and he wouldn’t mind if I did it. I do have travel papers if you care to see them?"  He started reaching into his jacket for them.

Honking horns drew Brad's attraction away.  “No bother. Hey, I gotta get back to work." and turned back to directing several more cars behind Jason who were starting to bunch up trying to get into the growing mess of cars, trucks, SUVs, and mini vans.

Jason called out as Brad walked away. "Do you need anything? Luke warm coffee, coke, food, ammo?"

Stopping in stride he laughed. "Ammo? AMMO?!? I’m fine there." He laughed again adding, "But if you have a couple of Pepsi’s that would be great. The car‘s open, just toss them inside."

Reaching over to the cooler, he extracted the two remaining Cokes from earlier in the day, climbed out of his pickup and walked them over to Brad’s cruiser putting them inside. He noticed the additional cold weather parka, black kevlar helmet with face shield, a riot baton, and a zippered black nylon case with magazine pouches on it’s outside about the size of a SMG in the back seat with a heavier raid vest beneath it. He closed the drivers door and walked back to his truck watching a H2 SUV turn into the driveway. Brad called out to Jason, "Hey, I need some help. Can you help me direct traffic for a little bit?"

"Shit," Jason muttered.

*  *   *   *   *   *   *  *

Today had been a busy day with just trying to keep occupied and out of everyone’s hair. Without electricity to power computers, VCR’s TV’s and the travel ban, it forced everyone to interact with each other. Some of it was good, some not so good.  

As soon as evening fell, it all slowed down to a crawl. Sam’s oven worked great, tomorrow she wanted to make more corn bread even if the power came back on by using ‘her oven’. The boys broke into a box of board games he and Marie had bought that sat on the basement shelves once the kids discovered video games and computers.  After dinner and baths with water heated over the stove, several games of checkers were played - Alex being the overall winner of the night. Finally everyone went to bed, usually it was impossible to see everyone in bed by nine P.M., but they were all asleep except for him.

Frank sat at his kitchen table, staring into the family room where his family slept. The boys were on the floor by the wood stove in sleeping bags, Samantha was on one couch and Marie was asleep on another. Here he sat with a mug of lukewarm hot chocolate, pen and notepad jotting down ideas on items to improve on and do tomorrow. He was dog tired but couldn’t sleep, something bothered him and he couldn’t figure out what it was. He knew they were warm, safe and well prepared, but he couldn’t shake the anxiety starting to rising again within him. Even the Glock 19 with a tactical light installed sitting on the table and his ever trustfull Mossberg M590 riot shotgun for anything that might go bump in the night leaning up against the wall nearby didn’t give him any more confidence. This is what he’s been preparing for, he felt it in his gut and he wasn’t ready for it to begin. If the boys were a couple years older, if Samantha was a couple years older, if he would have just bought a bigger generator, how long would his gas supply last, if this, if that… too many ifs.

The evening news they listened to during dinner was all about the attacks, repairs and news about the winter storm approaching. If they get the now 8-14" of snow they’re expecting, that wouldn’t really put a crimp into their plans but it could. Did they have enough of food and water - sure. Was there enough kerosene and wood to keep them warm - sure was. The wood stove he thought was the best investment they had made and would hate to leave it behind if they had to leave. It’s glass door gave off enough light to bathe the family room in a nice orange glow most of the time. His off brand Petromax lantern he’d picked up at a garage sale for $10 was too bright to burn at the moment, that had lit up both the kitchen and family room earlier in the evening. Only the glow of a LED lantern was his light at the moment. Hopefully tomorrow the travel ban would be lifted and he could go see Jason or David. They needed a way to communicate in a better way. Short range they were fine, each having a CB and FRS/GMRS radios to use, long range they were S.O.L. He had his tech license, just never bought a radio yet.  David had two 2m radios so he'll try to borrow one from him so they could at least keep in touch.  

Frank stood up after turning off the little lantern, picked up the pistol and made sure all the doors and windows were locked before settling down in his favorite recliner. Pushing it back and covering himself with a blanket. Making sure the Glock was within easy reach he finally closed his eyes after staring at the lazy fire for what seemed like hours.  

Tomorrow was another day.

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nice  thanks  

Nice jpb. I  like the story.

Really great story, please keep it coming!

and............

Just got caught up on the story its a good read thanks.

Originally Posted By Drake: and............

.... They all lived happily ever after once the socialists were elected that November....  

CH 9 is coming this friday, sorry for delay but yanno, that stupid thing called life occured.

Chapter 9

Approx. 7am

"What do you think is going on over there?" Chad said to David as they crouched beside the house's foundation watching the scene unfolding before them. David had been awakened by the sounds of vehicles driving past the house and looked out the window to investigate. The vehicles weren’t familiar to this area, especially the low riding Lincoln Navigator that really would stand out in this upper scale neighborhood. In all there were five SUVs and cars and a sixth cargo van obviously fully loaded looking for something or someone. David retrieved his carbine then went to wake Chad who he was surprised to see standing at the downstairs picture window looking outside also. "They wake you too?"

Shaking his head, "Nope, had to pee. This is the third time they’ve been by here. I was just going to go get you. Wonder what they’re looking for?"

David smiled, "Want to go take a look? It looks like they turned just a couple streets away and stopped. Probably got confused with all the turns in this area."…

Twenty minutes later, the two watched as people obviously not from the neighborhood were unloading their vehicles into a brick two story house that obviously had a generator running. Chad nudged David as one of them, then a second walked from behind the side of the garage carrying the unmistakable outline of a AK, the other had something small but still needed two hands to carry it - maybe a sawed off shotgun? Whoever they were, they were well armed and knew the homeowners for they were alternating standing in the garage shaking hands and helping to unload the vehicles. Two of them walked across the yard to the house next door, peeking into the windows and trying the front door. After a few minutes the apparent homeowner to the house the visitors were at appeared with a set of keys that he handed to a female who walked over gaining entrance to the house. They watched for another fifteen minutes in the cold, watching. Not long after, three men unloaded a generator from the cargo van and started it giving power to the now occupied house. David had also noticed smoke was now coming from the chimney. Whoever they were, they were moving in for a while.

Patting Chad on the back he motioned for them to back up. "Better get out of here before they see us." He hissed as they pulled behind the house. He nodded in agreement and started moving back slowly. With the amount of noise the visitors were making and being roughly a hundred yards away, the crunch of snow wouldn’t give away their position. Behind the cover of the vacant house David stood up to stretch his back. "How many did you count?"

"Eleven adults, but I could be wrong. I didn’t see any kids though."

Removing a small notebook he began writing and checking the time. "Same here, but I saw kids inside the house to the left when the door kept opening. Don’t know who they are, but it’s really ballsy too move into someone’s house while they’re gone.  Hell, It‘s only been a couple of days."

Chad walked to the edge of the house peeking around the corner. "Maybe they know them or something. I don’t know but I’m cold. Let’s get going and figure it out later."

While walking back to his house taking roughly the same route, David had found it utterly amazing how many people had left to stay with friends, family, or at the shelters even though the Red terror alert was still in effect. It was as if they didn’t care what so ever about the warnings of being arrested if caught on the roads. As they moved through the backyards of his neighbors, they found it eerie how many people were not home, of if they were just keeping themselves well hidden. While listening to the eleven o’clock news last night, the reporter had stated that local emergency management personnel had the situation well in hand, no major reports of disturbances or crime being reported and generally people were taking the blackout in stride. There was also the recommendation for citizens to go to the shelters to keep warm and get a hot meal twice during the program with a list of shelters that were open, then there was the chance of a winter storm coming their way by the late afternoon.

"What are you thinking about?" Chad asked hopping over a fence now two houses away from David’s.

"One, how stupid we were for going to see what was going on with just a couple of pistols. Two, we shouldn’t of made tracks straight from the house. Three, I can’t believe…"

"Wait," Chad turned around, "You were carrying a gun?"

David stopped as he started swinging a leg over the fence astonished at Chad’s question. "What do you mean ‘was I carrying a gun?’ weren’t you too?"

"Ah. No. Should I have?" he replied.

*  *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *

He awoke fully now to the pounding at the front door.  At first he thought it was just part of the dream he was having until the second series of poundings brought him from his exhaustion induced coma.  He threw back the quilt and felt for his slippers beside the couch…

It was well after midnight when he made it home after helping Brad direct traffic for several hours until he was relieved by an auxiliary deputy sheriff. He had redressed into his cold weather gear and added a orange reflective safety vest with "Military Police" stenciled on its front and back, he once again broke orders this time by assisting civil law enforcement in directing traffic while in uniform. He didn’t hear it but apparently a special news broadcast stating that the winter storm was going to hit earlier then expected.  Forecasters said it would possibly be hitting the area by tomorrow (today) evening and local power still might not be restored by then brought more people out seeking a warm shelter. More vehicles began showing up not long after the broadcast to get their choice spot. Brad had told him during one of their lulls that he had cleared Jason‘s assistance through his Chief of Police and any problems he had with his Major if he found out, were to be directed to him. It was finally decided that the parking lot at the Elementary school several hundred yards away would have to be used for parking, that’s where Jason was asked to go set up and help as school buses were being rounded up to provide shuttle service.

Before entering home, he thought about walking around the house to check out how much firewood was taken but decided he was more exhausted then anything and just wanted to go to sleep. He’d park the pickup in the garage tomorrow morning once he removed the fabric bed cover and frame, or just drive it back to Davids place.  Tonight he was just too tired. After he entered he couldn’t help but notice how cold it had become while he was gone and making a bee-line to the kerosene heater he left in the kitchen and lit it. He sat down and started taking off his combat boots but elected to keep them on for the moment mainly to catch his breath. Immediately he began running the checklist inside his head for what he had to do tomorrow. He’ll have to get the rest of his gear from the pickup, return the pickup, check in with the County CERT coordinator to see where he‘s needed, then maybe go see Phillips about this damned neighborhood watch program.  He looked at the inkjet printed notice in his hands, it read : “Notice - due to the extended nature of the power outage, the neighborhood watch of The Vineyard will keep vigilant watch over your property while you are gone.  Anyone remaining please see me to help with the watch schedule or if you need any assistance.”  It then listed his address and phone number.  Jason laughed, if the phones were working he’d call him and … he didn’t know what he’d say honestly.  The hand written note below the message is what really bugged him.  “Please see me ASAP - I really would like your input and help on several matters.  Thanks”

After refueling the pickups tank in addition to the empty five gallon MFC already strapped into the bed he was told to go inside and get something to eat while the CUCCV was being refueled.  After eating, Jason then disobeyed orders along with his platoon sergeant and had hung around the Armory helping out with signing in soldiers who were reporting for duty and some of their family members who they brought with them to get out of the cold. The back classrooms were being cleared out for the troops, the open bay floor was being converted into a shelter for the families with cots being set up in neat rows, their kitchen was up and running providing whomever a hot meal. Before he knew it, it was nearly ten thirty p.m. and being asked by a Specialist if he’d like a cot to use for the night. Electing to drive home instead, he hunted down Captain Kurminck who was able to get him travel orders from the OIC. While waiting for the travel permit outside the Operations office, Jason could hear the radio transmissions coming from within. There were reports of several gang shootings, a officer being shot along with telephone repair crew, a minor riot at one of the new Jr. High Schools turned shelter not far from downtown and numerous other attacks on utility workers through out Ohio. What bothered him the most was all military posts were to go to Threat Con Delta by no later then 2330hrs. If that happened, he wouldn’t be allowed off the property until it was lifted.  The Major would surely file charges against him if that happened.

After receiving the paperwork he quickly said his good-byes and asking the officers and other soldiers to confirm he was never there for the additional hours, he left just as the NCOIC was calling out names to be issued rifles for base security measures. As he was exiting the building he saw that the majority of cement barricades had been erected around the building and a portable guard post at the parking lot entrance had a addition. A M60 GPMG mounted M998 armored HMMWV sat pointing towards the guard shack to stop any unauthorized entries. The guards at the gate waved him through as he quickly gunned the pickup’s diesel engine out of the lot passing a Sheriff’s car who just waved at him as he himself pulled into the armory, he thought maybe it would be a good idea to drive the CCUV home to use ‘just in case’, David wouldn’t mind anyway, he‘d have to stop by David‘s and retrieve a few things from his jeep.

Retrieving his pistol from the jeep lockbox along with several other items - the GHB bag, fire extinguisher and CERT bag. He thought about hitching their unit’s trailer up to the pintel hitch and taking the unit’s preloaded gear home or loading more firewood into the bed, but it was late and he was exhausted. All he did additionally was remove the M12 drop leg holster from his backpack and attach it to his BDU belt, securing the straps and inserting the Beretta after making sure it was chamber loaded…..

Walking to the door to another series of pounds he opened it slightly.  Standing there were Phillips and another man he didn’t recognize.  “What can I do for you Mr. Phillips?”

“I see you saw my note. I was just checking out to see if that was really your truck.  I heard it drive past last night and one of the guys keeping watch said it stopped at your place.  I take it by the truck you’re active status?”

Looking at his watch and sighed.  Eight fifteen am.  He was hoping to sleep in till at least nine.  “Just the opposite, we aren’t active so instead I just drove this home.  I need to return it later then probably check in with CERT since they‘re activated. Why?”

Both men looked at each other.  “Oh, well we’ve heard that people are breaking into houses in the next neighborhood and decided to keep watch. Since most of the neighborhood is empty, we just wanted to keep track of who‘s here and who isn‘t.”

“That’s not a good idea walking around checking on places you think are occupied by people who may not be the owners. What if someone had a gun?”.

The other guy spoke up this time.  “That’s why we have Eddie over there,” he turned and waved giving the ‘OK’ signal to someone across the street unseen, “even if half the neighborhood is empty we‘re not taking any chances.”

“I believe in taking pro-active measures Jason… it’s Jason isn’t it?” Phillips quickly added before Jason could reply.

“Yes it’s Jason.” He wanted to get them off his porch, feeling really uncomfortable now that he saw ‘Eddie‘ popping up behind a parked Sable in the driveway a couple houses away from the Lucttka's trying now to be inconspicuous. He blinked to make sure what he saw.  'Eddie' surely had a scoped deer rifle in his hands as he tried to keep it low.  “How many people are left in the neighborhood?”

They gave each other a look Jason found strange then Phillips glanced down at the clipboard he was carrying that Jason didn’t notice at first.  “Only about ¼ are left.  On your block, your neighbor across the street over there, (he pointed to the Lucttka's) your next door neighbor plus two others down the street. Young couple by the name of Breckham and the Revels”.

“Only the ones with fireplaces or generators I bet?”

“That’s right, how did you know?”

“It only makes sense, either them or someone with a generator that runs off of natural gas.” he muttered not caring if they heard or not.  “Look guys, is that it? Because I could really use some more sleep since I was up pretty late and looks as if won’t be going anywhere today.”

“At noon we’re having a neighborhood meeting for those who are still here at my place that I would really like you to come to.  You did say you have nothing else to do today…” Phillips let it hang there.

“Damn” Jason muttered, knowing he was caught. “Okay  Mr. Phillips…“

“Please call me Bruce” He interrupted.

“Okay Bruce.  I’ll be there around noon.  Should I bring anything?”

Once again the two men looked at each other then Phillips spoke. “I spoke to your two neighbors yesterday and they said you had some good ideas like the blankets over the windows and doors.  Could you share them with us and anything else that might help?”

Jason looked down at his feet and muttered.  “Damn”.  He should have just kept his mouth shut. "Sure, I'll see what I can do."

Bruce Phillips smiled broadly. “Great!  I’d like it wrapped up before the storm hits this afternoon.  I wish I could get onto the internet to see where the storm is, guess we’re a bit spoiled aren’t we?”

“That’s true, okay Mister... Bruce, I better let you two go.  It’s pretty cold out and I know you have things to do.”

“Thanks Jason.  We’ll see you at noon.”

Jason closed the door, peeking through the peep hole as the two men walked down his driveway. The other man patted Phillips on his back as if congratulating him. Leaning against the door he rubbed his eyes and stretched.  He should have grabbed a shower at the Armory before coming home, he hadn’t had one in a couple of days and was feeling mighty grungy. He could always warm up water on the kerosene heater and use the solar shower from his camping box for a shower.  He thought about the armory, and the duffel bag came to mind. Jason retrieved his hooded Carhart jacket and headed for the garage. Just why did the Captain say "don’t open it till you get home"?  As soon as he walked into the attached garage he punched the garage door opener and laughed.  “dumbass” he muttered then went to release the door and opened it manually.

Throwing back the flap to the enclosure he saw more then just his personal equipment left inside - which he forgot to bring in early this morning. In the bed, in addition to the duffel bag were four cases of MRE’s and two additional plastic fuel cans. “Son of a bitch.“ After handing out his own MRE’s, he had commented to the Captain how nice it would be to get a couple fresh cases to replace the 4 year old ones he currently had. Lifting up the duffel bag, feeling it’s weight, he wondered what else that sneaky civil affairs officer took notes on during their afternoon of visiting shelters and police stations he began to unload the truck.

Chapter 10

Knocking a little harder this time, Frank Carnell waited patiently for his neighbor to answer the door. Assuming that they might still be asleep so it might take a few minutes for them to realize someone was there before he knocked again. He turned to look around the neighborhood on the street behind his. This one had around a dozen houses with smoke rising from chimneys including the house he was at, he heard no generators running, no signs of tire tracks or foot prints on this side, his street had several new tire tracks when he went outside to shovel the driveway.  It appeared that nearly everyone was gone or probably holed up at one of the local Red Cross shelters or just staying inside their homes with this ‘big storm’ approaching, the weather forecasters were still expecting 10-12“ of snow starting this afternoon.  Hope they would be wrong about it.

"What do you want?" a voice demanded behind him. Frank turned to see Karl Woerner pointing a Walther P38/P-1 type pistol at him from behind a half opened door.  Frank never even heard the door open.

"Whoa Mr. Woerner. It’s Frank Carnell your neighbor behind you." Frank reached up and pulled off his wool hat hopefully making him more recognizable to the older gentleman.

Woerner lowered the pistol slightly, but kept it still pointing at Frank. "Like I said, what do you want?"

So this is how it’s going to be played Frank thought. "First off I’m not looking for anything. Since it seems as if there are only a few people left in the development I just came over to see how you’re doing and if you need anything.  I’ve spoken with several families on my street but most are about to go to one of the shelters."

"Three families left last night before curfew. I’ve had a few idiots coming around looking into the neighbors windows and shit. Ran a few off the other night after showing them the business end of my shotgun."

Frank looked around the front yard for foot prints, but the snow must have covered them up.  "Nothing like that happened over at my place, you must of scared them out of here. “Or they live within the subdivision..." Frank saw him lower the pistol placing it into a holster beneath his coat  and open the door the rest of the way. "Might as well come in. No sense standing out there letting the cold in."

Before entering the house, he knocked off his boots of as much snow as possible. Upon entering, he noticed that heavy dark drapes were up tacked up against the windows and when Woerner closed the door, he put a cut 2x4 under the door handle wedging it against the tile entryway in a effort to defeat a forced entry.

"You’re not taking any chances are you Mr. Woerner.  I see you even have blackout curtains in place.".  

"Nope, bastards will steal you blind if they know you have something worth stealing. I’ve researched what happened during WW two in England and the US of A. You have something of value, the vultures will try and take it. My parents lived through the depression and all that crap. We’re looking at some dark days son, some mighty dark days.  This is only the beginning I‘m afraid."

At that moment he felt it slightly comforting the Glock was in his shoulder holster. His wife gave him that ‘is that really necessary‘ look when he put it on before leaving the house and actually thought he was going a little overboard since he was just hopping the fence to chat with a neighbor.  Now he felt a bit under gunned and vulnerable.

Mr. Woerner motioned to a open doorway off the kitchen.  Frank walked towards it seeing that a staircase lead into the basement.  Woerner called out, “It’s okay Beth, it’s our neighbor behind us.”  Descending into the basement Frank was surprised how warm it was downstairs, it was all due to a partially finished basement that in it’s center held a actual open wood burning fireplace. “I LOVE that fireplace, I installed a wood burner in the family room and it‘s keeping the house mostly warm.” He said to Woerner, then noticing a pudgy older woman come out from behind a wet bar holding a small revolver in her hand.  She said to Frank, “That’s the main reason why we bought this place…”   Frank just kept staring at the revolver in one hand and a glass of orange juice in the other.  “Would you care for some coffee or orange juice honey?”

*  *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *  

"I told you someone’s been watching us Josh.", a heavily clothed non-descript man nearly whined, the FAL he carried in his hands appeared way to big for him to carry effectively. "I thought I saw someone over here last night again but thought it was just snow pile."

With the couple of inch snowfall overnight it covered up the majority of tracks that were left behind but it was obvious someone had been here. How one of the groups members found it was out of sheer luck. One of the vacant neighbors trash cans had started blowing around the yard and a member who was walking out to the van took it back to the house who’s address was stenciled onto it noticing the observation area between where the garbage cans sat and the foundation wall. Now kicking at the snow where someone obviously had been laying there, Josh looked to see where the barely visible footprints led. Whoever it was, they were trying to keep it a secret where they came from by the way numerous still visible foot prints lead into different directions. Two of their guys had followed the tracts until they lead back to the same yard across the street from the two houses they occupied. Another set circled around two houses before being lost in tire tracks in the street in front of them. "We’ll have to keep a eye on this situation."

"That’s it? Shouldn’t we find out who it is, maybe they’re looter zombies looking to get our stuff?"

Josh turned to the three men around him, "We’re not here to cause trouble guys. If I lived in the neighborhood I’d be curious as to any new people coming into the area. Hashmir didn’t have to let us into his home, we could of just went to our hidey hole and hole up there until this blows over."

"Still we should at least find out who it is who’s watching us. Maybe they’re those eco freaks blowing things up."

"Phil, just shut up. Everyone is a terrorist to you." Josh said to a barrel chested man that outweighed him by at least thirty pounds and a good five inches. "Hashmir and his family for God sakes got their neighbors permission for us to use their house. We’ve joined together to survive anything thrown our way, not to make war with anyone who’s doing some snooping and pooping. Let’s get back and work out a better sentry schedule, we have things to do okay?". Josh Alastair, walked back to the house beside Hashmir Talic’s they were borrowing planning their next move. If it hadn’t been for the travel ban, they would of been to their Retreat days ago. This was only the best option other then going to a abandoned factory one of their members wives had keys for and hole up without heat or electricity. With the storm hitting them, they’d have to ride out a few more days here in semi comfort until the roads were better cleared then they were gone. It was cramped but was workable. He’d talk to Hashmir at this evenings dinner and see who he thought the snoopers could be. Hopefully, they were just curious neighbors. If not, his group had enough firepower to blow their asses to kingdom come if they tried anything. Turning around he told Phil and the skinny guy Kevin to grab the propane tanks from the house here and next door. He’ll make a note in his notebook of the address where they came from so they can be returned if not used.

*  *   *   *   *    *    *    *    *

While waiting for the canning kettle of water to warm atop the kerosene heater, Jason sat at the kitchen table with the items from ‘his’ duffel bag spread out along atop it while he picked at a bowl of frosted flakes.  So the good Captain WAS taking notes during their conversations after all. Apparently he took note of what kind of communications equipment his unit used, how they were equipped and who paid for it, what the supply channel consists of and a dozen other questions he couldn’t remember. To Jason, the Captain was just making idle conversation to pass the time between stops.

Inside the garage door were the four cases of 2007 packaged MREs, but atop the table were five individual M.R.E.s pouches, a enhanced LBV-88 vest with mesh panels still in its plastic bag, a new three point replacement chin strap harness for his K-pot, a OD green flapped holster for a M9, four batteries for the PRC-127 portable radios in the unit’s 1¼ ton trailer at David’s, a white parachute flare, one of the new M295 decon mitts, and a half dozen of the new M291 personal decon packets. These charcoal impregnated wipes were vastly better then the two part M258A1 decon kits and far less caustic on the exposed skin. The note inside the bag had read, "Sgt. Hallard, Here’s a little something I hope you can put to good use, return the items if they’re not needed. The batteries just keep, we have the new portables now so these are just taking up space I was told. If your unit needs more, we’ll try to supply you with what we have left. Just some see me. The other items, well, they were also taking up space in my locker and I was always told I’m a slob and need to clean it out. Keep safe. Capt. Kurminck".

The only other item inside the bag Jason couldn’t believe he included was the faded used Interceptor OTV vest he wore earlier but without the SAPI plates, but had the collar, yoke and groin protector still attached - he came to find out that it was the Captain‘s old vest before getting issued the new ACU patterned one. They just never asked for it back. Not having the SAPI plates wasn’t a big issue, for he and David had bought off of Ebay last summer a set of Craig Int. CBI07 NJI-type 4 ceramic ballistic plates. David had acquired a Interceptor OTV without the plates from his Pawn Shop friend in Dayton during the previous summer and that had prompted them into buying the ceramic plates since getting the original SAPI ones were borderline criminal (along with the vest they found out later). Since Jason wasn’t going to be issued anything better then a early 80’s PASGT flak vest, he had bought a woodland camouflage patterned PACA overvest plate carrier to enhance the flak vests protection. Another item he bought using his tax refund a couple of springs ago was an apparently barely used police turn in Second Chance ® Level 3A soft armored vest to wear beneath his BDU shirt while on gate duty. If the threat level increased, he could always throw on the plate harness for upgraded protection or even over the flak vest (after taking off the soft kevlar vest first). What was great about the harness is that the camo pattern matched that of his PASGT Flak vest and could add Molle-type pouches also. If he would wear the flak vest, plate carrier and his LBV, he would look like a turtle standing up, especially if he was wearing the k-pot.

Standing up from the table stretching, Jason took his dish to the sink and quickly cleaned it using the sink since he still had water pressure thinking about what his plans for today were.  The travel ban was lifted until approximately 2pm when the storm was to start hitting the area but he really didn‘t need to go anywhere.  After the block watch meeting, run the generator for a couple hours to cool down the deep freezer if it needed it, fill up more water containers in case he loses water pressure, let the overnight fire burn out then clean out the ashes in the woodburner before relighting it, or take a chance to drive over to David’s and return the CUCCV and Frank’s to see how they’re doing or maybe see about checking on the office and if it’s still standing or not OR volunteer for a few hours at the nearest shelter since the news broadcast at nine a.m. asked for all CERT members to make their way to the nearest shelter again.  Too many things to do.  Rubbing his eyes he walked to the bathroom carrying the container of warm water like a zombie, knowing it would be very cold in the bathroom without heat but still wanted the comfort of a shower before doing anything else.  He cursed as he sat down the container atop the toilet seat.  He forgot the solar shower in the basement.  He went to retrieve it when halfway down the stairs a pounding at the front door startled him.  “What the hell now!” he said aloud wondering who it was this time.  Before he went to the door he scooped up his Glock from the kitchen table and kept it by his thigh walking towards the door.  He reminded himself to put on a holster and keep it on his side 24/7.

Looking out the peephole, he grimaced at what he saw.  There was his buddy Brandon Seiller looking nervously around on the front porch.  Opening the door, Jason saw why he was acting nervous.  Parked along the street were a small convoy of vehicles.  Brandon’s Isuzu Trooper with a covered cargo trailer was at the front followed by a Dodge Dakota crew cab pickup, a pair of Chevy mini-vans, then a large orange and white U-Haul moving truck, a Ford crew cab F150 and finally a yellow H2 Hummer that was pulling its own trailer holding a pair of snowmobiles, a ATV and other items covered with tarps.  Every vehicle appeared to be heavily loaded.  He noticed his neighbor Ron across the street was standing outside his garage door shoveling the overnight snowfall with his mouth open and looking over at Jason in awe.  

“Dude! C’mon let’s get moving.” Brandon said holding open the storm door.  “We’ve got plenty of room in the U-haul, what gets loaded first?”.

“I’m not going anywhere Brandon,” He looked over the convoy as a couple guys stepped out from a mini van and Dodge pickup both carrying AK-style rifles in their hands to pull security. “Don’t tell me you guys are bugging out.” Brandon was obviously agitated. When he was really worked up, he couldn’t stand still and spoke very fast with a lot of foul language mixed in.  It was one of many little quirks Jason learned about his friend from their time down in New Orleans after Katrina. Another one of them were the constant saying of “Dude”, that Jason found utterly annoying.

Brandon expression was one of disbelief.  “Dude, this is IT.  Did you get any mail since this started? No? Neither did anyone else.  You know they didn’t open the markets again today and the dollar is tanking overseas, gold is at eleven hundred a fucking ounce.  Shit, we’re going down the toilet fast, we saw at least a half dozen places on fire coming over the VMS (Veterans Memorial Skyway - a ‘new’ suspension bridge over the Maumee River).  “Davey back there” pointing to the yellow H2 and the guy standing beside the open drivers door looking around as if expecting to be attacked at any moment, “barely got out of his neighborhood with the shit going on and he lives in a GOOD neighborhood!”

Jason didn‘t want to get him more excited, “Look, there’s no way I can Bug out right now. Where are you guys heading to?”  He had a loose agreement with Brandon that if TSHTF he’d hook up to bug out with but it was before joining his current MAG and kept Brandon‘s option just that a option.  It turned out Brandon’s friends were mainly guys he worked with or knew from the internet - whom he didn’t know anything about other then they would mainly would go shoot their guns at someone’s property and drink beer afterwards. Their preparedness mindset wasn’t well thought out though other then loading everything up and heading to the hills - there are no “hills“ in NW Ohio...

Brandon kept shuffling around on the porch, “Look Jase, c’mon last chance, we can really use you.  It might look like things are going to work themselves out, but I’m telling you it’s going downhill fast.  We’re hearing all sorts of stuff on the ham radio of looting and feds forcing people into shelters and not letting them leave.  No one is talking about all the other shit that’s going on because of the media blackout. Dude, we’re on the verge of martial law and if we don‘t get out now, we won‘t be able to get out!”

“Come on Brandon,”  Jason rolled his eyes at his ’martial law’ bit. “are you serious?”

“Dude, this IS it!”  He looked at his watch and shouted behind him, “Okay, load up!  We’re heading out!  Sorry Jase, but we gotta get moving before the storm hits.”

“Where are you guys going? IF things get bad maybe I’ll hook up with you later.”

Brandon ran his hands through his shaggy head of hair.. “Man, Jase… I shouldn’t do it, but damnit… get me a piece of paper.”  As Jason turned he caught the glimpse of a very short barreled AR15 beneath Brandon’s Charhart Chore coat in a one point sling as he rummaged around for a pen or pencil to write with.

Now this is interesting… Jason thought snatching up a envelope from the table where he normally tossed the mail upon entering the house.  He heard crunching and looked over to see his neighbor Doug cutting through the yard with a coffee mug in his hand.  “Hey there Jason.”

Brandon snatched at the envelope while giving Doug a once over shaking his head in disappointment.  Doug stepped onto the porch as Brandon scribbled away on the envelop finally shoving it into Jason‘s hand. “This is for you - only you.  Got it?  First place is off of Wales and Tracey, has a for rent sign out front.  If we’re not there, look for us down at the campground in Van Buren, we‘ve got friends there. Here‘s the frequency we‘re using with two meter and four-forty, the call signs with authentications.”  He held out his hand.  “Wish you’d come with us dude.”

Jason shook his friends hand, “Don’t worry about it Brandon, it’s only a glitch that should be back to normal in a couple more days.  I think you’re over reacting.”

He just shook his head, “Dude, need to wake up.  This is IT. Later…”  and he walked off the porch jogging to his still idling Trooper at the curb.  Jason could see that there was someone else in the passenger seat but couldn’t make out exactly who it could be, but probably was his newest girlfriend a name he couldn‘t remember, there were so many rotating girlfriends it was making him jealous now he was single.  Brandon always wanted to introduce him to some of his girlfriends friends, but they were mostly bar flys or too young to deal with.   Doug turned to look out at the convoy as it made it way up the street.  “Who were the bad b-movie actors if you don’t mind me asking?”

“Buddy I worked with down in New Orleans.  Him and some friends are bugging out of the city to hole up somewhere safe.  They think this is the end of the world.”

“With the way that trucks running I doubt he’s going to get out of the subdivision.”

“That Trooper is probably better mechanically running then that Hummer.  Brandon bought it off of a guy before we left down south.  Guy who retro fitted it, knocked up his girlfriend and his girlfriend didn’t like the fact he was still married.“

Doug slightly choked on his sip of coffee.  “You’re joking right?“

“Nope.  Dead serious.  It sounds bad because it has a turbo diesel engine. The body is in great shape too for a ‘91.” As the Hummer rounded the corner out of sight to the east Jason turned to Doug.  “What can I do for you? First Phillips, then Brandon, now you. I was trying to take a shower..”  He probably shouldn’t have used the tone he was currently using to the only neighbor he liked.

He just shrugged his shoulders under his coat while sipping at his mug.  “Nothing really, I was just being nosey on who the guests were and wondering if I could buy some firewood off of you before we go to the meeting.”

Jason stretched, rubbing the stubble on his face. “Tell you what.  Just take what you need and keep a rough track of it, then when after the storm you can help me restack it and pay for it then.”

Doug grinned.  “That’s it?”

He looked at the messages and address’s scribbled on the envelope and placed it into his pocket noting one of the authentication words - ‘Whiplash‘. It was a duress code they used down in New Orleans.  “Well… there may be a time in the future that I ask for a favor…”  They both got a good laugh out of that for a minute.

“Are you going over for the neighborhood meeting?” Doug asked draining the last of his coffee mug then looking at it hoping it will magically refill itself.  It didn't.

Jason thought a couple of seconds over it watching as Ron Lucttka started walking over to his place, “Yeah, probably so.  I have no idea what it’s going to be about, but I’m guessing it’s going to be a ’ban together’ speech.”  
   
“Ban together speech?” Ron questioned as he approached, “What are you guys talking about and who the heck were those people Jason?”

He sighed, “Guy in the Trooper is a guy I worked with in New Orleans after Katrina…”

“YOU Were down there working? What were you doing?”

“I was between jobs and another friend knew someone who got me in to do private security.  Spent six months the first time and did five months before the company went belly up.”

“Why’d they go belly up?” If Ron would have been sitting down, he would have been on the edge of his seat.

“Owners ‘forgot’ to pay social security taxes on it’s employees, ‘forgot’ to pay for some equipment they bought to do the job… long story short, turns out the other partner was embezzling.”

“So are you and the wifey coming to the neighborhood meeting?” Doug asked Ron changing subjects knowing that Jason was irritated and growing more irritated by Rons questions.  

“What neighborhood meeting? Who‘s doing it, where‘s it at?”

Doug and Jason exchanged similar quizzical looks…

Really enjoying the story.  Keep up the good work!

Waiting for the next chpter

shameless bump

GG26 said "Rock On" and I will now excuse you for not answering my e-mail.  

Great story so far, Glad you climbed out of whatever hole you were hiding in

ahem

Originally Posted By Glockgirl26: ahem

What?? Have a furball or something stuck in your throat???  

Chapter 11

"Now that we have introductions out of the way, I want to jump straight to security issues.  Up until now, myself, Gene, Eddie and the Jackson’s have been keeping a eye on things in the neighborhood.  We could use a few more eyes so we can get some sleep." Phillips paused to take a sip of coffee. "Any volunteers?"  He waited for anyone to speak up.  Reluctantly Jason then Doug raised their hands, Phillips was obviously disappointed with the number of volunteers.

"Why do we need that? It‘s not like this is the end of the world or we’re being overrun by zombies." Mike Kelly said loudly to those gathered.

"Yeah, it’s just a power outage like back a few years. So it’s winter, big freaking deal." the Phillips oldest daughter, Kerri commented in a heavy sarcastic tone from her spot at the kitchen table. She wasn't happy because she couldn't go out partying with her college friends and made it known.  Both parents gave her a ’shut up’ look.  She went back to listening to her Ipod and flipping through a checkout lane tabloid magazine.

"I just think it would be a good idea, especially since the Jr high school is a shelter and I‘ve been told by a police officer just last night that he’s taken more then two dozen burglary reports from just the subdivisions to the west of us." Bruce replied to those with questioning looks on their faces, "Look, Gene and myself just this morning chased out people who weren’t from the area. They were obviously scouting the neighborhood."

"Who were they Bruce?" Amy Jaffee asked as she accepted a refill of hot cider from Bruce Phillips wife. "Thank you Marsha".

He shrugged his shoulders, "Said they were looking for their cousins but didn’t know their address. I know for a fact there aren’t any Hispanic families living in the subdivision and these four dudes were Hispanic."

"Hope you put a couple bullets into their asses, teach them fucks a lesson." Mike Kelly snorted. His wife along with everyone else there gave him a uncomfortable look that he just brushed off.

"How are you going to do this?" Jason began as all heads turned towards him, thinking he should have just kept his mouth shut but needed a change of topic due to Mike‘s comments. "Are you suggesting we have patrols or are we just going to keep watch though our windows at certain hours of the day or night? That leads up to communications, how do we contact each other if there is any problems, how do we contact the police, does the police know we‘ll be upgrading the neighborhood watch to a more proactive stance?"

Phillips smiled broadly. "See Jason, that’s why we wanted you to this meeting.  With your background as military police I would have never thought about this.  Everyone, if you don’t know Jason here is part of the State Reserves where he’s a Military Policeman and he’s also part of the county’s Community Emergency Response Team, or CERT for short."

"La dee dah", Mike said turning to Jason. "So what’s this CERTS doing for us?"

Jason wanted to tell him Certs were a breath mint which he should have taken to cover the smell of his bad breath but instead replied with, "Mike, I really don’t have a clue but I may later when I go in to check things out."

"Like I said, La dee dah. Just another cog to fuck things up."  Everyone present just stared at  Mike not saying anything, mainly not to anger him more, he was already obviously on a short fuse.

"Now that you know my story let me add this. I’m not activated for State military service at this moment, I should be at the local shelter helping out and that’s where I’ll be going as soon as this meeting is over.  My CERT team has been activated since the other day and I know they‘ll be wondering where I am since I normally show up to such things. So Bruce, what’s the plan so we can all get on our way."

"As you all know, the subdivision is shaped like a H with cul-de-sac’s at each top so that gives us an advantage many neighborhoods don‘t have.  We also have a wood lot to the north, some fields to our east and south with a creek running through it before the church’s property so we are kind of isolated. There is also the chain link fencing around the entire subdivision lining everyone’s backyard. I was thinking since most of us remaining live here on Cabaret we could block off Chardonnay and leave Cabaret open as a way to get in and out."

"What are you going to use to block that street?" asked Ron Lacttka.  Only he had came to the meeting leaving his wife and kids at home to stay warm since the kids were down with colds.  Both Doug and Amy Jaffee were in attendance as were most of the remaining neighbors and children who were playing downstairs somewhat quietly.  Two other families living on Cabaret refused to come to the meeting, one in the cul de sac the other near the front of the subdivision. Bruce said both said ’they weren’t interested’.

"I was thinking of using a couple of cars to do it or if anyone else has a better idea I‘m open for suggestions.  Since both entrances have those decorative stone walls lining the sidewalks, we’d just have to block the streets and sidewalks between them so people can’t just walk or drive into our neighborhood from that side."  

"Put army boy’s truck out there" Mike gestured to Jason, "It‘s not doing anyone any good sitting in his driveway."

"Isn’t that illegal to do? It’s a city street after all." Natalie spoke up, being prodded on by her fiancé Jason noticed next to her.  Natalie Kealty  and Allen Vasco were the young couple who just moved in during the fall, the only other people remaining on the street beside Jason, the Lucttka’s and Jaffee’s. Out of eight condos at the front of the ‘Vineyards’ and  forty-one houses in the subdivision they have ten families including Jason plus Ed Stafford’s family who were Gene’s brother in law staying with them since their mobile home didn’t have water, heat or electric.

"Actually no it isn’t." Pat Doggett spoke up for the first time since Jason, Ron and Doug arrived, he had been downstairs with the kids occupying their time until the meeting started. "You see we’re kind of considered a gated community since this development was built as such.  We have a ‘no solicitation’ standing with the city, we have a neighborhood watch committee, everyone pays five dollars a year for upkeep of the cul de sac lawn, the double lot off of Cabaret where the kids play,  and street storm drain runoff pond, everyone here I hope gets the neighborhood newsletter…"

Mike Kelly once again opened his big mouth, "Yeah, what high quality stuff. All it’s missing is the who’s screwing who section."  Jason saw as Doug began to say something then didn’t after seeing several glances to not encourage the idiot Mike Kelly.  He was defiantly one of those people who you just loved to hate.  
 
"How do you know this is legal?" Natalie asked again.

Patrick Doggett smiled, "Because, that‘s the reason I bought a place here.  There were plans to only have one entrance with a gate and a little kiosk guard shack and a small clubhouse that we could rent out. The club house was supposed to go where the two empty lots are on Merlot. "

"Why didn’t they ever go in?"

"Because the owner of the home next to it, might add one who declined coming to our meeting tonight, filed a lawsuit against the developer and builder saying something silly that it would put down their property value, yet they knew full well that a clubhouse with pool was going to go in there when they built the place.  After that, the builder and developer just made their money and moved on, never finishing it."

Natalie looked at Allen then back to Patrick.. “Oh, okay. I’ve always wondered why there were empty lots there.”

"Well, anyone else have ideas?“ He waited for anyone to speak but everyone just looked at each other.  After a minute or so he sighed and said, “I’d like to open the floor to anything else.  Concerns, ideas, anything really."

"This has been a big waste of time," Mike Kelly said in disgust.  Jason looked over at  Doug who gave him a frown in return. The meeting had started out on a bad note after Ron confronted Phillips on why he wasn’t invited to the meeting.  Phillips played it off perfectly saying ‘he thought it was mentioned yesterday when they had spoke’ then had his sidekick who they learned later named Gene Martin, back him up.  Ron settled down shortly after the exchange accepting that he probably didn’t hear it with all the commotion occurring in his house at the time.  Then the Kelly’s arrived, Mike made a big deal out of the fact there wasn’t any beer or snacks laid out in a ‘proper’ get together fashion.  He had to settle for a cup of coffee instead of his usual beer.

"Fine, if no one wants to say anything I will." Mike began,  "We lost everything in our freezer and refrigerator, a whole shit load of expensive steaks and hamburgers. Gone."

“Do you have enough to get by for a couple more days?” Aleena asked glancing over to where Marsha sat near her daughter mainly in case she opened her mouth again.

Debbie spoke before her husband could, "I guess so. At least they’re going to open up some stores when this storm blows through so we can get more food.  Otherwise we may be heading to a shelter or one of those churches for their free dinners because of it."   Debbie Kellys face then shot downward after the nasty look her husband had given her.

"Are you low on food Debbie? If so we can spare some things until you can get to the store." said Bruce looking over to his wife who stood up and started walking towards the kitchen. “What do you need?”

Mike Kelly stood upright quickly and motioned for his wife and called out for his sons to follow.  "We don’t need any handouts from you. We’re not welfare trash.  This was a fucking waste of time! You people can’t do anything for me. YOU (pointing to Bruce) or YOU, (pointing at Patrick Doggett, neighbor of the Phillips two houses away) could have let us use your generator so it wouldn’t all spoil."

Pat shook his head.  "I can’t just pick up and move my generator Mike.  It’s on a slab that’s hard wired into the house.  I told you the day after the power went out the first time…."

"YOU COULD of offered to keep our stuff cold then.  How many people did you go and see about storing their food so it wouldn’t spoil?"

Patrick stood up holding his hands up. "Hey, settle down Mike.  Look, how did I know it was going to last this long? And since when is it MY job to do that? Why didn‘t you think to come over and ask.  Hell, why not put it outside to keep your stuff cold in coolers like everyone else is doing? I know you have plenty of coolers with all the parties you throw."

"How many neighbors did you go and see?"  Mike demanded his face beginning to turn red.

"No one except for the Jacksons, (who lived next door to the Doggetts), it just came up in conversation and I offered what space I had left.  I’m sorry if I didn’t personally come to your house and beg you to use my freezer."

"Well, You should have come to our place, I thought we were neighbors!  When things get back to normal I’m going to sue you! I lost a lot of money because of you!"

"ON WHAT!" Patrick yelled leaping from his chair, Doug stood up to block Patrick from getting any where near Mike. “You think that you‘re going to sue me over not letting you use MY generator?”

“EXACTLY, now I have witnesses that you purposely refused to let me use your generator! HA! Got you!”

"Never mind, get out of my face! You're just being a jackass now." He demanded.  Phillips stepped in to try and calm things down when Mike just pushed him away and ushered his family to the door and left yelling "You people are going to pay for this, I swear to God you‘ll pay for it." as he slammed the door closed, rattling the pictures on the wall near it.  

Bruce walked to the door to watch his neighbor cross the street and enter their dark house.  A flashlight could be seen flashing about the living room and then a brighter light, probably from a camping lantern came on.  He stood there just shaking his head and finally turned back to the others. "Can you believe that?"

"I guess the meeting is adjourned?" Doug said with a smile, trying to lighten the mood. It didn’t bring one single laugh or smirk from those remaining.  Jason thought it was slightly funny but didn’t let it show.

"Hey, I have a idea. You know those ‘road closed‘ signs my buddy from the street department let us use to block off Merlot for the block party last summer? I have some saw horses and plywood we could paint up like those and put them out. Does anyone have orange paint? I have plenty of white and black in the garage." Gene Martin chimed in from across the room hopefully to change the topic and mood.  He and his wife Aleena had been part of the neighborhood since its inception, almost 10 years ago along with Dogget family. The Martins were in their early 50’s, their kids were away at college, one was in her last year at OSU, their youngest was at Eastern Michigan while their middle child was currently serving over in Iraq with the air force.  They hadn’t heard from their stateside children on how they were doing since it began.  Aleena’s brother Ed ‘Eddie’ Stafford, his wife Jackie and their three kids were staying with Gene and Aleena.  Eddie, was a quiet man who sat off by himself.  The wife and kids stayed back at the Martin’s place to stay out of the weather.

"That‘s a good idea." replied Ron.  "With Jason’s army truck we shouldn’t have any problems with people messing with us."

"Sorry, but the truck isn’t mine and I’m getting it back to my buddy’s place as soon as I can.  My Jeep’s there now and would like to have it home."

"Oh, well it was just a thought." Ron said with a frown.

Doug cleared his throat as everyone looked at him offering his suggestion, "How about this. Why not fill up some empty garbage cans placing them along the street then put up the road closed saw horses between them?  Hell, we could even burry the garbage cans under snow to make anyone trying to blast through them a little surprise."

"Almost like those water barrels at the interchanges.  Once they set up and freeze, it’ll almost be like a solid brick of ice. Good idea." Bruce clapped his hands together, "okay, now just to find some empty garbage cans.  Any ideas?"  No one had any by the blank looks on their faces.  Jason kept his mouth tight even though Doug was really staring him down.

"How is everyone going to keep warm with this cold spell coming up?" Marsha asked bringing in another pot of coffee from the kitchen, they were on their third pot of the afternoon. A couple had chosen hot cider while most drank coffee. "You heard the noon update that there will most likely be problems until they can get everything fixed.  Since we have the generator, we’re good to go.  I wonder how bad our natural gas bill will be since Bruce is currently running it off that.  What is that called honey?"

"Tri-fuel.  I can run it off of gasoline, propane or natural gas.  A friend of mine tee’d off the gas line and I can run it straight from the house’s natural gas line. Jason, how are you doing?"

"I’m not worried about that at all, at least for right now.   My woodstove throws off a good amount of heat to keep the living area around 60.  Just as long as some neighbors don‘t hog my wood pile."  Doug gave him a fake surprised look, Ron at that moment just decided to look into his cup of coffee and avoid eye contact.

"We‘re doing okay too. It‘s a smaller ranch so the wood burner insert that came with it keeps most of it in the low 60‘s also. Heck, I think we only used it a dozen times since moving in." began Gene getting up to walk over a kitchen cabinet and removed a bottle then adding a healthy dose of it to his coffee mug as everyone watched on. The Phillips and Martin’s were good friends and knew each others house well Jason noted.  Returning he took a sip and said, "Ahhh, just what the doctor ordered."

"Eugene, you best not be doing that anymore this evening, you still have to walk home." Aleena Martin scolded from her spot on the sofa. "Don’t hog it either, bring me a nip of it too." Everyone laughed at it, especially as Gene walked over and poured a shot or so into her coffee mug.  

"We’re probably the worst off besides the Kelly’s"  Allen Vasco spoke.  "We’ve been using the gas fireplace and a old kerosene heater my parents gave us to use for emergencies when we moved in.  That’s about it."

Jason looked over to Ron and Doug who were in a conversation, "How much kerosene do you have left?"

"Less then a gallon or so.  I only had a five gallon jug and what was in the thing thinking I’d never have to use it.  Used most of it during the last outage but never refilled it."

"I can probably get a can down to you after the meeting.  Just promise to replace it when you can."

Both Allen and Natalie exchanged a cautious look. "Are you sure, I’ll pay you for it now, if you don’t mind a check.". Jason shook his head ’no’. "Thanks Mr. Hallard, I was thinking of heading to the shelter tonight before the storm hits but Natalie doesn’t want to go to one."

Marsha being the excellent hostess refilled their coffee cups once again with that pot of coffee, "How are you two kids doing on food?"

The two gave each other a dubious look and Natalie spoke.  "We’re okay there.  We have some tuna fish, Mac N cheese, and a few other things left on the shelves.  I was supposed to go shopping a few days ago but forgot to."

Marsha smiled, walking over and gently lifting the girl by the arm, "Come with me dear, we’ll get you set up with a few days of food. You can cook can‘t you?"  

Jason looked around at the neighbors inside Phillips house, many were in conversations with each other.  Maybe he misjudged Bruce and his intentions after all.  They spent the next hour working out how Jason and Doug then eventually both Natalie and Allen could help with the security.  Security mainly being one person on Cabernet and Chardonnay staying awake for three hours just looking out their window for anything strange.  Since nearly everyone had a FRS/GMRS radio they would call into another person on the other side of the block if something strange were to occur.  The rest they’d have to make up as they go.  He spoke on tips of filling containers and putting them outside to act as ice bottles once frozen, how to wrap spare quilts or blankets around the coolers or freezers and even way’s of putting the ice coolers or just sturdy boxes outside to keep things cold.  He then reminded everyone about the hazards of carbon monoxide poisoning, if anyone had the CO detectors and where they were located.  He noticed that Aleena was busy taking notes on a legal pad, leaning over to her husband asking him a question then writing it down as he answered.  

Eventually the meeting broke up around three pm, as they left the beginning of the snow storm starting to fall lightly, Doug, Jason and Ron were at the corner of Merlot and Chardonnay making small talk and watched as Natalie and Allen took their two plastic grocery bags each of items the Phillips provided to their house. Ron finally said ‘see you later’ and walked to his house when Jason and Doug tried to convince him to be part of the ‘security’ detail.  He wanted no part of it.  Doug and Jason finally walked across the street to their respected houses once the ’kids’ went into their house. Doug promising Jason he’ll help him once the storm ends to clean off his driveway and sidewalks with his snow blower as he disappeared into his house via the back door.

Jason just opened the side door of his garage to get the kerosene when a loud “BOOM” echoed in the stillness, it was followed seconds later by four sharper cracks… it sounded like fireworks going off but the direction it came from was just down the street. The screaming that followed turned his blood into ice water…

h

nice!

Double Nice

Next installment plz.

Good stuff.... awaiting more...

Need .....nnnnnneeeeeeeeeeddddd..... aaaahhhhhh..... fix....