patrols, we’ll take them out. What we’re not going to do is allow anyone to get through to Fort-T. Dad…you, Bill, Chris, and I will do the recon. Highlander and Sean will remain here to guard Fort-T. Let’s pack for a full assault in case things go south. Does anyone have any questions or suggestions?”
There were none.
“All right, they’re going to miss that patrol in about twelve hours. If we hustle, we can get there before they send out another one. Dad, I’ll fill in Highlander and Sean. You brief the women. Say your goodbyes, load up, and be ready to go in thirty.”
Randal told Highlander and Sean to man the forward OP, four on and four off. In case of another assault, they had the Claymores and C4 already in place, and if necessary, the women could join in the defense. “I think it’s highly unlikely, but just in case, you guys keep the women and kids safe even if that means abandoning Fort-T. Got it?”
Sean and Highlander said, “Got it.”
Wade gathered the women and informed them of the operation. He told them the likelihood of another assault was remote but if there was, they were to join in the defense, and if it looked like they were going to be over-run, they were to abandon the fort and get the kids to safety through the crow’s nest.
Adam, who was standing behind his mom, peeked around her and said, “Dad, I want to go with you.”
Wade looked at his youngest son, put his arm around him, and said, “I know you do, Son, but I need you to stay here and protect your mom and April. Can you do that for me? I’m counting on you.”
Adam was not a happy camper, but he never argued with his father. “Okay, Daddy, if that’s what you need me to do, I’ll do it.”
Looking at the apprehensive face of his youngest son, Wade realized that in spite of all his bravado, Adam was simply a brave but frightened little ten-year-old boy, and tousling his hair, said, “You take care of your mom and April. I’ll be back soon.”
Maggie and Wade embraced, and Maggie said simply, “I love you more than life itself, Wade. Make sure you come back to me.”
The four shooters were packed and back at the mess tent within twenty minutes. After performing a radio check, they headed toward Robbinsville in a late afternoon drizzle. The women and kids stood in the rain and watched until they disappeared.
Linda said, “Four against eight hundred.”
“Yeah,” said Carol. “I feel sorry for The Light.”
When they hit the blacktop thirty minutes later, they stopped, suppressed their weapons, and Bill took point.
By 9 pm, they’d covered twenty miles of the distance to Robbinsville and were just five miles from their objective. Calling a brief halt, Randal brought Bill back in.
“You should be able to see the school from the spot we enter the woods to get to the hide. Hold there and watch for patrols leaving from the school. When we get there, you continue. We’ll remain at the cutoff until we’re sure we didn’t miss a patrol. We should all be in the hide no later than 2330 hours.”
At 2315, Randal, Wade, and Chris joined Bill in the hide.
Bill said, “There’s a lot of movement between the buildings above the field. There’re three men on watch there and there,” he indicated positions at opposite ends of the building complex, “and there,” he pointed to a makeshift stage on the west side of the football field. “There’s a bonfire in the middle of the field, and there’re about a hundred of them partying down. Since I can’t see the front of the school, I don’t know what’s there.”
Randal said, “Okay, we need to check the front. Dad, you recon the right and right front, and I’ll take the left and left front. Chris, you have over-watch. We re-group here at 0200. Bill, grab some Zs.”
At 0200, Wade and Randal returned from their recon and woke up Bill. Chris reported there was no significant change in activity, but the revelers had packed it in and disappeared into the
There were none.
“All right, they’re going to miss that patrol in about twelve hours. If we hustle, we can get there before they send out another one. Dad, I’ll fill in Highlander and Sean. You brief the women. Say your goodbyes, load up, and be ready to go in thirty.”
Randal told Highlander and Sean to man the forward OP, four on and four off. In case of another assault, they had the Claymores and C4 already in place, and if necessary, the women could join in the defense. “I think it’s highly unlikely, but just in case, you guys keep the women and kids safe even if that means abandoning Fort-T. Got it?”
Sean and Highlander said, “Got it.”
Wade gathered the women and informed them of the operation. He told them the likelihood of another assault was remote but if there was, they were to join in the defense, and if it looked like they were going to be over-run, they were to abandon the fort and get the kids to safety through the crow’s nest.
Adam, who was standing behind his mom, peeked around her and said, “Dad, I want to go with you.”
Wade looked at his youngest son, put his arm around him, and said, “I know you do, Son, but I need you to stay here and protect your mom and April. Can you do that for me? I’m counting on you.”
Adam was not a happy camper, but he never argued with his father. “Okay, Daddy, if that’s what you need me to do, I’ll do it.”
Looking at the apprehensive face of his youngest son, Wade realized that in spite of all his bravado, Adam was simply a brave but frightened little ten-year-old boy, and tousling his hair, said, “You take care of your mom and April. I’ll be back soon.”
Maggie and Wade embraced, and Maggie said simply, “I love you more than life itself, Wade. Make sure you come back to me.”
The four shooters were packed and back at the mess tent within twenty minutes. After performing a radio check, they headed toward Robbinsville in a late afternoon drizzle. The women and kids stood in the rain and watched until they disappeared.
Linda said, “Four against eight hundred.”
“Yeah,” said Carol. “I feel sorry for The Light.”
When they hit the blacktop thirty minutes later, they stopped, suppressed their weapons, and Bill took point.
By 9 pm, they’d covered twenty miles of the distance to Robbinsville and were just five miles from their objective. Calling a brief halt, Randal brought Bill back in.
“You should be able to see the school from the spot we enter the woods to get to the hide. Hold there and watch for patrols leaving from the school. When we get there, you continue. We’ll remain at the cutoff until we’re sure we didn’t miss a patrol. We should all be in the hide no later than 2330 hours.”
At 2315, Randal, Wade, and Chris joined Bill in the hide.
Bill said, “There’s a lot of movement between the buildings above the field. There’re three men on watch there and there,” he indicated positions at opposite ends of the building complex, “and there,” he pointed to a makeshift stage on the west side of the football field. “There’s a bonfire in the middle of the field, and there’re about a hundred of them partying down. Since I can’t see the front of the school, I don’t know what’s there.”
Randal said, “Okay, we need to check the front. Dad, you recon the right and right front, and I’ll take the left and left front. Chris, you have over-watch. We re-group here at 0200. Bill, grab some Zs.”
At 0200, Wade and Randal returned from their recon and woke up Bill. Chris reported there was no significant change in activity, but the revelers had packed it in and disappeared into the
Similar Books
