“We made a good twenty-five today.”
“Hmmm.”
“Couldn’t be helped, sir. Those pickups we’re running are both a treasure and a pain.”
“That they are. All sixty of ’em.”
“Well, fifty-nine, sir. We lost one today. Had to leave it on US 422 after the rear axle blew.”
“Oh yeah. Larry told me about that.”
“We might be able to recover it on our return trip.”
“Maybe. We’ll see,” said Phoenix.
“Pushing through all those traffic snarls on the interstates sucks ass.”
“Yeah, I know. That’s why we set ’em up with winches.”
“Hardly seems worth it for the time loss, maybe?”
“Hmm… did Larry tell you we lost two quads today?”
“He did, sir,” said Luke.
“It’s damn near impossible to keep those damn engines runnin’. And that high octane gas they suck up is a fuckin’ nightmare to make,” said Phoenix.
“Uh, huh.”
“I’m told we’re almost out of the boosting stabilizer.”
“You talkin’ ’bout that red crap they put in the tanks with a teaspoon?”
“Yeah, Luke, the stuff Gus made.”
“Oh.”
“So far though, not bad losses in equipment for the mission.”
“Nope.”
“See to it that we drop both quads off the trucks here at the mill. We’ll try to recover them on the return trip if our route back supports it.”
“Okay.”
Phoenix became lost in thought. After a few moments, Luke spoke up.
“Anything else, sir?”
“No, Luke.”
“Okay then.”
“Stay on task. See what else you can find about those men that were here. Let’s hope it is, in fact, this Connor MacMillen and not some wild goose chase.”
“Yeah.”
“Oh, let the Brigade commanders know we’re leaving at first light.”
“Yes, sir.”
Luke climbed from the steel.
Phoenix was alone for the first time the entire day. He assessed the men prepping the camp below and caught several stealing glances in his direction, but pretended not to notice. Instead, Phoenix beamed with satisfaction as he took in the view of the huge fighting force he had painstakingly amassed during the past five years. Always with a quick mind toward logistics and math, he double-checked the status and inventory of his army’s roadworthiness:
1: Pickups. Fifty-nine well-maintained running diesel, each with an extra thirty-gallon tank stashed in a lightly armored bed. Experienced drivers for each vehicle with a soldier riding shotgun.
2: Full quarter-inch armor plating protecting both cab and rear windows of all pickups.
3: Two spare tires per truck with a few basic replacement parts, electronics and hoses.
4: A total of forty-five working CB radios installed. Five others under repair and in recovery.
5: Breaker bars on all pickups. Three-quarter horsepower winches mounted on twelve vehicles.
6: Two fully working .50 caliber machine guns atop pickups with dummies mounted on two others for potential part salvage and intimidation.
7: A total of twenty (now eighteen) Honda and Yamaha 250cc quads with some essential spare parts and nine usable replacement tires. Highly experienced riders for each.
8: Sixteen motorcycles (Honda only) with highly experienced riders.
9: 240 cavalry separated into brigades with spare horseshoes and decently trained men to ride and care.
10: At least one experienced farrier established for each cavalry Pride Brigade.
11: Forty well-trained logistic and supply managers
12: Five full capacity Pride Brigades 200 men strong using motorcycles, four-wheelers or the truck beds for mobile transport.
13: A forty-man Log/Sup team keeping the logistics and supply line rolling forward.
14: Luke’s twenty-man Hunter/Tracker team.
Watching the organized chaos in creating a new camp, Phoenix considered the seasoned men of the Pride Brigades. They were as impressive as the machines, horsemen and equipment that supported them. To a man, each was in excellent physical condition and wore light body armor beneath urban army camo, despite the heat of the day. His search of army installations, depots, and law enforcement barracks over the years had produced a plethora of suitable equipment for his men. Well-trained and well fed, with fastidious hygiene instilled, his army was a supreme fighting force, bar none, in today’s new world order. Strict discipline was paramount.
“And I have the controls,” said Phoenix aloud.
Each man carried enough food for three days on the march and enough ammo to take on any standard military events. Of course, that was only when they didn’t have to resort to the RPGs and more powerful munitions stashed in the truck beds for those bigger ticket events. Thinking back on the development of his army, Phoenix admitted his uncle had done a fine job finding and recruiting military-minded men and then developing an excellent fighting force. On the other hand, he wouldn’t be the first to fawn over his uncle’s accomplishments. Phoenix glanced down to see a group of men walking below his seat atop the steel billet. Listening closely, he caught whispers of a few men under the command of Brigade leader Kaiden Hatch, a staunch veteran of many skirmishes during the past four years. The men proudly spoke of the time when they took down Erie, PA and how they fully enjoyed the rape and pillage that went with it. Quickly, they became quite descriptive in their stories.
“The small minds of small men,” Phoenix thought, “Why rape a few women when you can have the entire country begging on its knees.”
Used to climbing from tall heights during his days as an elevator adjuster, Phoenix descended from the stack of steel with liquid ease, strolling toward the supreme command tent the log-sups had already set up. Mildly aroused in spite of himself, he adjusted his erection for comfort and was somewhat irritated that he’d specifically ordered no young women to attend to and service the men during this expedition.
CHAPTER 7.11-A Newborn Kitten
“Hannah, I… we need to…” said Amanda. She scanned the room obviously searching for something. “Where are my clothes?” She wore an extra large T-shirt and nothing else. Easing up onto her elbows, she dared anyone to intervene. She made another concerted effort to rise further into a sitting position; forcing her legs beyond the edge of the bed. Woozy, she reluctantly let Scott and Cassie support her arms and shoulders. After a moment, she regained her bearings. “We need to get to Youngstown.”
“Youngstown?”
“She’s talking about Youngstown, Ohio, ma’am,” said Scott, “She was asking about it before I went to find you.”
“I see.”
“It’s ahh… a small town sixty-five maybe seventy miles southwest of here.”
“Thanks,” said Colonel Starkes. She turned toward Major O’Malley, but before speaking, the major placed a hand on Daubney’s shoulder.
“Captain? See to it that mission specs are drawn up for a full team transfer to Youngstown. Immediate daylight arrival near dawn.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Locate proper fuel conduits for both north and south approach landings, if possible.”
“Yes, sir.”
“And make sure the men and all supplies are fully replenished prior to departure.”
“Yes, sir.”
“That goes for the fresh water containers we were talking about, even if you have to commandeer ’em.”
“Yes, sir. Anything else, sir?”