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Post by gipsy on Apr 21, 2022 11:15:31 GMT -6
Thanks for getting us off the cliff. Want to bet they were after Gil?
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Post by texican on Apr 21, 2022 15:12:22 GMT -6
She leaned over and kissed him on the cheek. "Keep your hands on the stick, buster. We'll have plenty of time for that.
Billy has him a smart and capable young lady in Carrie.
Texican....
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Post by biggkidd on Apr 21, 2022 17:54:29 GMT -6
The odds of a hit on a fuel line on a moving craft at distance are astronomical. More likely a dumb a__ shooting in the air. Most people have no idea how far a bullet can fly if it doesn't hit anything.
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Post by ncsfsgm on Apr 23, 2022 20:27:00 GMT -6
Chapter 106
Gil and Brad off loaded the plane and pushed it into the hanger. Gil thanked Brad for his help and went to the house.
"What happened? Grace asked, panic in her eyes.
"Somebody put a bullet into Billy's engine and severed the fuel line."
"WHAT! WHO WOULD DO SUCH A THING?"
Gil shrugged. "Could have been a moonshiner thinking it was someone looking for his still, it could have been just some idiot taking a shot to see if he could hit the plane. We'll probably never know. Even if someone was actually trying to hit the plane it was a one in a million shot. It's just one of those random acts life hands to us to keep us on our toes."
"Well, right now, my toes are hurting." Grace said.
"Everything's fine Honey. Quit worrying. Billy and Carrie are in Nashville now probably buying rings as we speak."
"WHAT!"
"Oops! I guess I shouldn't have said anything." Gil grinned.
"What? What's going on?"
"Billy took Carrie off on a quiet little weekend to ask her to marry him."
"Oh God!" Grace groaned. "I hope they don't elope."
"No, I don't think so. They've already gotten the preliminaries over with."
Puzzled, Grace looked at Gil, suddenly realizing what Gil was talking about and turned to the sink. "They shouldn't be having babies yet."
"Well, I think they have their plans made and it doesn't include kids for a little while, at least."
Grace's phone rang and she picked it up.
Grace! Carrie just called me and said Billy had asked her to marry him!" Sarah said.
"Well, we knew it was coming sometime." Grace said.
"We've got to start planning!" Sarah panted.
"Hold on, let's see what those two want to do before we start running their lives again. They've done pretty good at making their own decisions so far." Grace said.
"Well, okay. When are they coming back?"
"Sunday afternoon. I'm not sure what time."
"Okay, I'll talk to you later."
"For sure, bye."
"Ah, the voice of reason." Gil grinned.
"Hush. You want a sandwich?"
They got their milkshakes and sat down at a café table.
"Where are we going to live?" Carrie asked.
"I've been thinking on that. I've got a place picked out that is secluded, but nice. We just have to drill a well and put up a house." Billy replied.
"Is it far?"
"It's at the north end of Harmony Hollow, but off the farm."
"Okay, that's not that far from Mom's."
"What time are we going home tomorrow?" Carrie asked.
"I thought we'd leave here in time to arrive around two. That will give everyone time to be home from church. You probably should call your mom and tell her what time we are arriving. That way the parental units won't be in such a big scramble. I'll guarantee they'll all be at the airstrip when we land."
Carrie giggled. I'll bet Mom is busting a gut to plan the wedding."
"What are you going to do?"
"I'll let her plan. I don't care. The important thing is to be married to you. I'm not going to worry about everything being just right. I think we should let our mothers plan whatever they want. The only part I care about is when we say, 'I Do' and place the rings on each other's fingers. Let them have their joy in putting everything together."
"Fine with me." Billy said." We need to go get changed. The show starts in an hour and a half."
As Billy was lining up on the airstrip at Bluff View, Carrie saw the Gators next to the hangar.
"Well, the gang's all here." Carrie said.
Billy slowed his airspeed and lifted the nose a bit and glided in, touching down and coming to a slow roll to the hangar.
As soon as he shut the engine down, Sarah came running over to the plane. Billy and Carrie got out, he getting the baggage while Carrie was involved with her excited mother. Gil took the bags from Billy and put them in the cargo box of a Gator.
"Everything go all right? Gil asked.
"Just fine, except for getting shot down."
"Well, you handled it fine. We've already replaced the fuel line and it's good as new. Help me fold the wings and get the plane into the hangar. I'll check it out and refuel it tomorrow."
After getting the plane put away, they all returned to Gil and Grace's and opened the bottle of chilled champagne. Sarah and Grace had Carrie corralled, talking about wedding plans.
"I hope the interference of Sarah and your mother don't grate on you two too much." Gil said.
"Dad, Carrie and I have already talked about it. The planning is for the mothers. We'll let them run with it because it is more for them than it is for us."
"Billy, how did you feel about getting back into the air?"
"Dad, at first I was nervous, then I got to thinking about that shot. It had to be a one in a million or even a billion shot. A half inch off and the round would have ricocheted off the engine block. It was just a very lucky for whoever fired the shot, and lucky I was flying the STOL. If I'd taken the time to turn completely into the wind, I could have landed on a tree stump. I took the easy way so as not to scare Carrie."
"How did she feel about going back up so soon?"
"She was nervous, but Carrie is a trooper. She calmed down in a few minutes after she realized it was a fluke shot."
"That's great! She is a great girl. Your mother and I are proud to have her in the family."
Gil went and got a couple of bottles of mead and poured them in mugs for he and Billy. Champagne did nothing for them. The women, now including Mollie, were hunkered down in an intense conversation.
"Billy, where do you want your house?" Gil asked.
"Well, I was thinking. There's about a three acre plot at the end of Harmony Hollow I'd like to put a house on."
"Yeah, I know where you're talking about. There is an old farmhouse there. Well, it won't take a lot to remove it and build. You and Carrie pick out what you want built and I'll get the well driller out to get the well done."
Billy grinned. "It's just as well we're letting our mother's plan the wedding. We've got some planning to do of our own."
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Post by gipsy on Apr 23, 2022 21:04:41 GMT -6
Thanks for the update.
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Post by udwe on Apr 23, 2022 21:25:14 GMT -6
Love good news! Those two are so perfect together!
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Post by ncsfsgm on Apr 25, 2022 2:26:23 GMT -6
Chapter 107
"Progress" in Washington had come to a standstill. Arguments flew back and forth due to the uncertainty and fear that permeated the left-wing and RINO politicians. Then a bi-partisan group got together and sponsored a bill to bring a halt to all commercial timber harvesting within the contiguous United States. The rest of the members of the House of Representatives sat back and waited to see what would hit the fan. The bill failed to pass and no one died or disappeared so another congressman put forward a bill for full federal funding of safe injection sites throughout the country. Congressman Elias Black (D) New York, was found dead five days later in Stanton Park, his mouth full of fentanyl capsules, was taped shut. The Democratic Whip's DNA was found on the duct tape.
Gil went to the Haven and found Margo conferring with Joe in C2.
"Good morning"
"Oh, hi Gil. DO you know what these 2000 decontamination suits are for?" Margo said.
"Decontamination." Gil said with a straight face.
"I know that you ass. When would you use them and why so many?"
Well, in the off chance Yellowstone caldera blew, we would have protection to go outside and clear ash away. In the case of a nuclear war, it would allow people to go outside and clear fallout away. As you see, the suits are disposable."
"Oh, you're covering the bases then?"
"Of course. If we are to survive any disaster we need to be prepared."
"Okay. Joe got notification of another large shipment coming in, Do you know what it might be?"
"Probably the masks to go along with the suits."
"Okay, just wondering."
"Relax Margo. Let the stuff come in and after Joe updates the inventory, read it and if you have questions, I tell you how they fit in with the scheme of things."
"Okay, I guess I was just being nosy."
"No, you have a right to know what pieces go where and why. Listen, I was about to go pick up Grace for lunch. The diner has a special today on liver and onions. Would you like to eat with us?"
"Oh golly, I haven't had liver and onions in ages. Yes, I'll go. Let me get my purse."
The two picked up Grace and arrived at the diner at 11:45. They went in and got a booth, all ordered iced tea, liver and onions, mashed potatoes and turnip greens. They had just gotten their tea when a man came through the door and came over to stop next to the booth.
"Ah, Senator Bunson, I'm surprised to see you sitting here."
Can I help you?" Gil asked.
"Mr. Conner, I'm Carl Donner with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. I'm writing about the white supremacist compound you've set up on land near here."
"Well Mr. Donner, I don't give interviews to yellow journalism rags, especially when I am trying to have a peaceful lunch with my wife and friend. Before you say another word, let me tell you how this is going to go down.
You're going to say the 'people' have a right to know and me not giving you information you can twist around to misconstrue is an attack on free speech, but people like you don't understand what free speech is. You believe that it is free speech to print fabrications to get a rise out of someone and when they prove you're a liar, you'll counter with the attitude of, "I'm going to destroy you and your way of life" and cry that you are a victim and claim that this is a violation of your rights. Around here, you don't make threats against people and then expect them to do nothing about it. You left-wing nut jobs in this world are going to learn this lesson one way or another. Now, let's just bypass all the bad feelings and heartburn and you take yourself back to that criminal controlled pesthole called Atlanta and leave decent people to their meals and lives." The diner, quiet up to that point, suddenly burst out in applause. The red-faced reporter turned on his heels and quickly left the little restaurant.
"Do you get much of that around here?" Margo asked.
"Occasionally, then they tuck their tails between their legs and stay out of the way for a while. Mostly, they just blow hot air and print spurious theories and it goes away. Gary has a reading service checking anything that's written about us so we can threaten litigation if things get too far over the line."
They finished their lunch and returned Margo to the Haven. Gil went through the gate and turned onto Haven road so no one could follow them directly from 344. It probably wouldn't do much good but it would slow them down and keep them guessing. When Gil and Grace got back to the house, Grace showed him her list of things she was getting ready to reorder to rotate their food.
"This company sells 550# parachute cord on rolls. Order me six of them, black or OD." Gil said.
"Anything else?"
"Yeah, see if you can find Hoppes No 9 Synthetic Blend Gun Bore Cleaner and get three gallons. Make sure it's synthetic or it has to be shipped as hazmat."
"What are you doing bout Billy and Carrie's house?"
"I'm not doing anything. The well driller is scheduled for next week. They have to pick out the design and floor plan. Why?"
"Well, the wedding kind of hinges on when the house is ready."
"Well, just leave the house up to them. You and Sarah can do the planning for the wedding. Don't you remember how much fun we had with this house. Give them that, at least."
"Well, maybe we can talk Carrie into going down to Florida and picking out furniture."
"If that's the style she wants. If it is, maybe you should have them send you a catalog and she can pick things out of it. She's just starting to work at the hospital and they won't take kindly to her taking a vacation so soon."
"Okay, we'll talk to her then."
"That's fine, and point out those things you say will effect getting the house ready and ask if she would like for you to do some of the leg work. She makes her choices and you carry them out."
Gil went out and threw a Frisbee with Alan and Alana for a while before dinner. When Grace called them to dinner the two kids argued who would get to ride piggy-back into the house. Gil finally made them Indian Leg Wrestle for the privilege. Alana won, but she cheated by tickling Alan so Alan got to ride on Gil's back into the house, followed by a pouting Alana. She was soon back into her high spirits and ran ahead to wash up for dinner and locked the bathroom door on Alan.
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Post by gipsy on Apr 25, 2022 7:39:02 GMT -6
Thanks for the update.
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Post by texican on Apr 25, 2022 12:59:51 GMT -6
Just how soon till the next boulder drops? n? Texican....
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Post by ncsfsgm on Apr 26, 2022 10:07:01 GMT -6
Chapter 108
Gil was coming out of the bank when Glen Wells pulled up.
"Hey Gil! Been a while. I haven't seen you around in a coon's age."
"I've been really busy, just getting into town now and again."
"People giving you a lot of crap about that white supremacist stupidity?"
"Not for long. I just turn them away."
"What's that about anyway?"
"Glen, when things get really bad, it doesn't take very long for the veneer of civilization to wear very thin. It will probably be worse these days because our government has mesmerized people into an entitlement society. If they don't have what they want, they will take all measures to obtain their perceived needs, whether it is food, riches or retribution. We built River Haven on Foundation lands it legally owns so the residents of those lands have a safe place to go whether it is during bad weather, mutant zombie biker raids or rampaging individuals who didn't prepare for survival and want to take from others. The Castle Doctrine prevails here in Tennessee and we aren't reluctant to take lives in the defense of the people and their property. When the ignorant don't understand something, they tend to call it white supremacy."
"Well, at least someone is doing something. The government quit being proactive when they watered down the Civil Defense Act and finally ended it by being absorbed into Homeland Security. Those bastards only show up to sift through the rubble. Well, I won't have to deal with it much longer. I'll have my 22 years in the Department and I'll be putting in my paperwork."
"So what are you planning to do?" Gil asked.
"I'm going to find a little place that I don't have to do much maintenance on and catch up on my fishing."
"Glen, we could use someone of your technical and organizational skills. When you've got time, why don't you come out and I'll show you around. Let me remind you, we've got a pretty good river and a lake that is filled with fish."
"Yeah, I'd like to take a look at what you've been doing." Glen said.
"Give me a call when you are ready."
"I will Gil. Take care."
Eric made eye contact with Jacinta and she signed she would take the deer on the right. They each nocked an arrow and silently drew back and released. Both arrows were on target and the deer ran a few dozen yards but went down.
"Nice buck." Jacinta said."
"Yeah, a nice ten pointer. That doe isn't too shabby either. I think Gil feeding them the nutritional supplements are making a difference."
"The antlers are certainly thicker." Jacinta said, taking off her day pack and pulling out the deer hoist."
"We just going to field dress them here?" Eric asked.
"Yeah, let's take them back to Bluff View to skin out. I'll trade the skins and heads to Glen for some tanned hides he's died with walnut husks. Mollie is going to help me make an outfit."
"Are you going to have those cute little fringes on them too?" Eric grinned.
"Those have a purpose, you twit. They help to drain water off and dry the leather out quicker."
"I know that. What does Glen want the heads for?"
"He brain tans the hides. He does a good job. Softest buckskin you'll ever find."
The quickly gutted the deer, Eric finishing the second deer while Jacinta went to get the deer cart. Together, they pulled the cart up to the truck parked on the edge of the road and took the deer to Bluff View.
Gil stopped by the Aging Cellar before going on to the house. He drew a shot of whiskey from this "Special" barrel, closed his eyes and took a taste. He slowly nodded. He had the smokiness on the level of an Ardbeg but the hickory infused smoke mellowed the whiskey with a pleasant aftertaste. Fit for a King! He would come back after dinner and transfer the whiskey to a less charred barrel. He would only bottle this a couple of bottles at a time.
Saturday morning, Mollie and Grace would hold cooking demonstrations for the future residents of the Haven to show them how to use the LTS foods. This was a big draw and practically every family would have a representative there. Several good ideas on spices to use came out of the demonstration discussions. The people were drawing closer together as a group. Once a month they would have a pot luck dinner so they would get used to using the facility. Several asked if they could have sort of drills where they would be called in on a fake emergency and have to stay a couple of days on the weekend. The Reverend even held church services too. This gave them an inkling of what they needed to have ready at the Haven to just drop everything at the spur of the moment and occupy the facility. This brought about more landscaping and building of picnic tables outside the passage in a three acre area for people to spend some time outdoors. Several people volunteered to be the grounds keepers and planted flowers and flowering shrubs to make the area more pleasant. It was turning into a little noticed, close knit community.
Glen Wells finally called Gil and came out to take a look at things. Gil showed him Bluff View, tasted a little whiskey, then went over to the Haven. Glen was impressed, especially when they went inside.
"I had no idea you were doing something like this. You've got small village in here."
"The people are really enjoying it. Some weekends they come down to stay a night just to get away, a sort of mini-vacation." Gil said.
"What would you have me doing here?" Glen asked.
"Well, we have a quasi-administrative structure set up. Right now, Eric and Jacinta handle the security. But I'd like them to be a little more flexible. I'd like you to take over as overall head of security."
"I see. Well, it won't be any further to drive than I do now going in to Rogersville."
"Where do you live? Gil asked.
"I've got a place on Highway 11W, about 79 acres. It butts up against Foundation land. I don't do much with it. I lease the fields out for hay but it's getting a little much for me to handle."
"You interested in selling?"
"I don't know, maybe."
"Well, you could have one of the apartments here and they only upkeep you would have was keeping it clean and taking out the trash."
"Let me think on that Gil. Sounds like something I'd like."
Glen liked the E-Gators and the idea the Haven was energy independent. Gil showed him all the gates and the fuel storage area and down to where he was thinking of adding boat slips to the six that were already there near Eric and Jacinta's. Glen left that day with a lot to think about.
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Post by gipsy on Apr 26, 2022 10:50:53 GMT -6
Thanks for the update.
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Post by udwe on Apr 26, 2022 16:30:56 GMT -6
Cool, another good person!
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ydderf2
Member
"I'm from the government and here to help" hahahaha
Posts: 321
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Post by ydderf2 on Apr 27, 2022 8:45:59 GMT -6
Thanks
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Post by ncsfsgm on Apr 27, 2022 14:56:57 GMT -6
Chapter 109
"Tango Yankee Sierra, this is November six four three Alpha Papa requesting landing instructions."
After changing out the fuel line, Billy wanted the plane gone over by an FAA certified mechanic. Since he had flown it this far, there shouldn't be a problem.
"Three Alpha Papa, you are cleared for runway five Romeo. Call on final."
"Roger three alpha papa."
A few minutes later Billy called the tower.
"Tango Yankee Sierra, three Alpha Papa on final."
"Roger Three Alpha Papa. Winds 05 at 295."
"Three Alpha Papa."
Billy did the long roll after touchdown and taxied to the maintenance hangar. He'd have a while to wait.
Gil, Colt and Brad were emptying out the charcoal kiln when the box truck drove up. It was Bill Casey. Gil took off the goggles, mask and pulled back the hood on the Tyvek suit.
"I thought you might have taken a desk job." Gil said, grinning.
"Not in your lifetime. How are things going?"
We've got the Haven up and running. Want to see it?"
"Sure."
Gil took off the suite, they got into his truck and headed up the drive.
You've been doing a lot around here. This road is new."
"Yeah, I wanted to be able to access the Lands on this side of the river without having to use the main roads."
They parked in the assembly area and walked toward the passage. Gil saw Margo going from the park area into the passage and followed her in.
"Margo, I'd like you to meet Bill Casey. Bill this is Margo Bunson."
"Senator." Bill said, smiling."
"Mr. Casey, is it now?"
"You two know each other?" Gil asked.
"Only in passing." Margo said.
"This is quite some place." Bill said. "How many personnel will fit in here?"
"We have space for around 800 but we have only around 500 allotted people currently."
Gil got an E-Gator and they toured C2 and C3. Bill was impressed.
"Well, you've got a better place than Homeland Security has set up."
"They've been setting up sites?" Gil asked.
"Well, they are actually setting up alternate sites that can only handle fewer people. It like the 'don't keep all your eggs in one basket' thing. There are a lot of scared politicians in Washington today. They know the lid is about to come off and also someone is selectively eliminating them for what they consider no reason."
"Are they really that stupid?"
"I wouldn't call them stupid. They are so indoctrinated with their own socialist bull crap that believes everyone else is wrong and they are right. No one else's opinion matters and should be discarded."
"Then I guess they'll keep dying."
"That pretty much sums it up." Bill said. "Let's get back to the truck. I've got some toy's for you."
Bill flipped a switch and the hydraulic lift gate came down. He unlocked the door on the back of the truck, raised it and rode the lift gate up. Pulling one of the shipping containers from the stack, he sat it on the gate and rode it back down to the ground. Brad and Colt walked over. Bill released the latches on the shipping container and flipped the lid back. Inside were four of the strangest weapons Gil had ever seen.
"What the hell is that?" Brad asked.
Bill pulled out one of the guns.
"This, my friends, is the Fostech Origin 12 semi-automatic shotgun. It has been heralded as the fastest cycling semi-auto shotgun on the planet. Somewhere in this truck are Salvo 12 suppressors for each gun. It shoots 2 3/4" shells ONLY. They do well for aggressive crowd control. There are 40,000 rounds of rock salt rounds, 40,000 of 00 buckshot, 20,000 of full-bore slugs and 40,000 rounds of Dragon flame ammo. It will shoot all standard 2 ¾" shotgun rounds."
"How many are there?" Gil asked.
"There's forty. One warning, don't fire too many of the flame rounds at a time. It will overheat the barrel."
"Is this thing legal?"
"Yes, the barrel is 18.5? but they also make one with a 9" barrel that does require a stamp."
"What kind of mags do they use?" Brad asked.
"There are 8 each 8 and 10 round sticks, and four each 20 and 30 round drums for each shotgun."
"JESUS! You could mow down a battalion with this thing."
"Like I said, the rock salt makes for effective crowd control. Blast their legs and they become much less aggressive." Grinned Bill.
"Colt, go get the box truck. We'll take half up to the Haven."
"Bill, what's going on?"
"Some of the big wigs aren't satisfied with their allocation of assets in case of a 'bad situation.' The higher ups have hidey-holes that and their immediate families can go to but some of the lobbyists within the beltway think they are entitled to the same treatment as the politicians. Word is they are making preparations to take over where they can. Oh, I added fifty more of the encrypted radios to the load too, just in case you decide to increase your security force."
"We probably won't need all this but I appreciate it." Gil said.
Colt backed the ends of the two trucks together and started transferring the cases.
"Come on, I want you to try something." Gil told Bill.
Bill walked with Gil to the Aging Cellar and Gil drew him a shot glass of the Smokey Legend. Bill's eyes flew open when he tasted it."
"You could sell this stuff for 150 bucks a bottle!"
Gil grinned. "Not for sale." Gil got a bottle and siphoned it full and corked it up for Bill.
"I will give the occasional bottle to friends."
Bill grinned. "THIS will be only for special occasions."
As they were walking back to the trucks, Bill asked Gil if there was anything else he could use.
"I could use more NODs."
"You didn't think that truck was filled with just guns, ammo and radios did you? And don't forget. You have The CLUs for the Javelins that can be used for observation and target acquisition at night by themselves. I know I told you to store that stuff for me but use it if you need it. If you see armored vehicles coming across the 344 bridge, they won't be friendly."
Brad and Colt finished transferring the cases into the box truck and Bill was quick to shake everyone's hand. He said he was on a time schedule. When he left Gil turned to the other two.
"Brad, take the truck up to the service entrance. Colt and I will get the forklifts and pallets and bring them down and unload everything on pallets. We'll take everything down to C3 and do an inventory and divvy the guns out. I want all principle security people to be outfitted with an Origin 12. While we are at it, I need you to think of four more people we can add to the group. They will form the nucleus of the Haven security unit. I don't have to tell you what happens if they aren't clean."
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ydderf2
Member
"I'm from the government and here to help" hahahaha
Posts: 321
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Post by ydderf2 on Apr 27, 2022 15:11:36 GMT -6
Thank you
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Post by gipsy on Apr 27, 2022 18:24:15 GMT -6
Thanks for the update.
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Post by solo on Apr 28, 2022 11:03:09 GMT -6
Sounds like t r o u b l e may come looking soon. And if you look for it hard enough, you will find it!
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Post by ncsfsgm on Apr 28, 2022 14:28:26 GMT -6
Chapter 110
They stored the NODs, half of the Origin 12s and two thirds of the ammo in gun lockers at the Haven. Brad couldn't wait to fire the new gun. They all returned to Bluff View and were joined by Trace at the range. Setting up steel targets, they loaded stick magazines and each took a turn shooting.
"Da-a-a-m-m-m-m-n-n-n! This thing is hot! You could hold off a bunch of MZBs with this thing!" Colt said.
"Two fighters, using rapid volley fire, would be a complete ambush." Trace observed.
"Figure out tactics and we'll discuss them Saturday on our range day." Gil said. "Let's get what we don't need for our immediate battle load up to the Chamber."
"Tango Yankee Sierra, this is November six four three Alpha Papa requesting taxiing instructions."
"Roger Three Alpha Papa. Proceed to 23 Romeo and hold at the threshold."
"Three Alpha Papa."
"Three Alpha Papa, you are cleared for takeoff. Barometer three zero point one seven, winds zero two at two seven zero, have a good day!"
Billy advanced the throttle, did a rapid roll down the runway, and lifted quickly off, maintaining his heading until the end of the 9,000' runway, climbed to 2000' feet and took up a heading of 150 degrees for five miles then another heading of 210 then turned on a heading of 25 degrees to take him to Bluff View.
"It was not quite dusk as he lined up on the airstrip but he turned on the lights anyway, just for practice. When he touched down, he saw Carrie waiting for him by the hanger. He taxied over to the fuel tank, topped off the tanks while Carrie brought the tug over and helped him fold the wings. They returned the plane to the hangar and went to the house.
"When I left the drilling site, Sam said he thought he'd hit water tomorrow." Gil said.
"Good." Billy said. "We're going down going in the morning to arrange for the build."
"What size house are you going for? Grace asked.
"It's 2100 sq. ft., three bedrooms."
"You having a basement done?" Gil asked.
"No, they way the terrain is, we'll have the garage under the house with a storage room. We're close enough to the Haven to go to if there is a need." Billy answered.
"As soon as you get the plans for the house, you need to get with Drake and talk to him."
"We will.
"We need to talk later. I'd like to add you to the security team at the Haven."
"Yes sir."
"Where's Debbie? I haven't seen her around lately." Gil asked Grace.
"Where do you think? Playing house with Jon." Grace grinned.
"No mention of a wedding?"
"Soon. I think soon. Why?"
"I was just thinking about another use for the trailer Jon was using and she popped up in my mind. Has she moved in with him?"
"The guest cabin is clear."
"What were you thinking on the trailer?" Billy asked.
"Pulling it up to near the assembly area and using it for a security squad assembly point. We can redo the insides with Level 8 bullet resistant panels against direct attack."
"Let me handle that." Billy asked.
Gil looked at his son. "Okay, the job is yours. Take a look at making the area near the Main Passage less accessible except through the road to canalize infiltrators into areas where we can neutralize them if necessary, All we need is to slow them down. They will probably be taken care of before they get far, but I don't want to just depend on that."
When dinner was over Gil took Sandy and walked out to the furnace building to fill the firebox.
"You have no faith in the Sagartotiso's spell, Guardian?"
"Very much so, Sagartotisa. However, I don't want our security people to be mentally dependent on an incantation away from the Sacred Lands. I want them to be able to instinctively operate way from the borders also. If they do that on the Lands, then they will have no problem operating off of them."
"Very well. We are pleased with what you are doing. Is there anything we can do for you?"
"Just maintain your support Sagartotisa."
"That, you will have. We have added abilities to the men Eric and your son Billy and the woman Jacinta. They should add to your overall capabilities."
"Thank you Sagartotisa that would be helpful."
Gil waited for anything else from the Sagartotisa but he sensed she had gone.
The next morning Billy went over to Bear Head Point to talk to Jarrod.
"Jarrod, I need briars, lots of briars."
"Okay, explain." Jarrod said.
Billy explained his plan and Jarrod grinned. "I'll get right on it."
Brad, Trace, Colt, Eric and Jacinta were in the 25 meter line and ready to fire. All loaded a ten round magazine of 00 buck and at Brad's command, emptied the magazines with rapid fire.
Brad commanded "CEASE FIRE" and they safed their weapons. They then moved back to the 50 meter line and loaded a magazine of slugs. When they finished firing the steel targets were leaning back a bit from the volume of lead that were hitting them all at once.
"These EOTech Holographic Sights are pretty accurate at 50 meters." Colt said.
"These will be a real mind changer in a fire fight." Agreed Trace.
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Post by gipsy on Apr 28, 2022 15:46:25 GMT -6
Thanks for the update.
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Post by ncsfsgm on Apr 29, 2022 14:17:28 GMT -6
Chapter 111
Gil tagged two more barrels and using his notes, added the correct number of charred spirals. He wanted to duplicate the Smokey legend. Marking down the spirals insertion date, he added the date he would test the barrels. He wouldn't do any draws until that date.
Billy lifted off in the Maule and set a course for Columbus, Mississippi to refuel on his way to Waco Texas. He was making the trip to personally inspect the armored room panels they wanted to use in the construction trailer. The appointment wasn't until 10:00 AM the next morning but each of the two legs of the flight was three and a half hours. Requesting a flight level of ten thousand, he feathered the prop to get the best cruise speed and fuel efficiency then set the autopilot.
Glen Wells called Gil as Gil was leaving to go to Tractor Supply.
"Gil, I've decided to take you up on your offer to sell my land, and the job too if it's still available."
"That's good Glen. When is your next day off?"
"I'll be off Saturday." Glen replied.
"That will work. Why don't you come out Saturday morning around 10:00 and we can talk."
"I'll do that. See you then."
Gil got in his truck and headed up the drive. He stopped at Gary's and went through Gary's office door. The little bell tinkled over the door and Gary came in from the house.
"Oh, morning Gil. What's up?"
"I've got some business for you. Glen Wells has agreed to sell me his 79 acres on the other side of the river."
Gary went over to one wall and uncovered a plot map with the outline of the original Lands and was searching for the boundaries of Glen's properties.
"It's starts right here." Gil said, placing his finger on the intersection of old highway 11 and Lee Highway."
"What's he want for it?"
"I don't know yet but I believe he'll be fair. I'm offering him the job of Security Coordinator at the Haven."
"Okay, I'll go ahead and get some of the paperwork started. Are you going to read him in?"
"I'll have to." Anything going on?"
"I've been nosing around that Quarry Branch property."
"How much land is there?"
"Little over 104 acres. He owner, Clay Dennis, is in his 70's, Son lives in Nashville and doesn't want any part of rural life. Clay once raised beef cattle but after his son moved away, went to just raising and baling hay. He had to put his wife in Regency Retirement Village for nursing care down in Morristown. She's in early stages of Alzheimer's. I think he might be thinking of selling. Regency is also a retirement home and he could live there with her, but it costs $80,000 per individual per year."
"Well, see what he wants for the place. Just make sure they never run out of funds."
"I'll get on it."
Gil went on to Tractor Supply and picked up another peavy and a log jack, then headed back home.
"Are you sure?" Eric said. I thought a big wedding was every woman's dream."
"Not me. You know I don't like a lot of attention. Let's get a license, have Reverend Jim marry us, and be done with it."
"That works for me. I won't have people tying tin cans to my bumper and writing on the back glass of the truck. Do you want a honeymoon?"
"You mean go off to some sunny beach somewhere and lay around? No, I don't care what we do as long as we are together. I'll be just as happy staying here beside you." Jacinta said.
"You are DEFINITELY one in a million!" Eric said, pulling her to him.
Gil walked into the house and into the kitchen, following the good smells coming from there. Mollie was dropping strips of dough into a pot.
"Chicken and Dumplings?" Gil asked.
"Yes." Smiled Grace. "We thinned out the older hens. I thought a pot would be nice."
"You won't hear any complaints from me."
"Something smells good!" They heard as Jacinta and Eric came through the door.
"They need a few minutes, but I can do the final measurements while the dumplings are cooking."
Mollie and Grace took Jacinta over to Mollie's suite and closed the door. Gil looked at Eric with a question on his lips.
"Mollie is putting a buckskin outfit together for her." Eric explained.
Gil got out the tea pitcher and poured Eric a glass of tea.
"Glen Wells is coming in as the nominal security coordinator at the Haven." Gil said.
Eric showed signs of relief. "Thank God! I was afraid you were going to appoint one of us. We are of more use to be free to roam."
"I know. That's why I did it."
"Jarrod was up at the Haven this morning. Billy has him transplanting bamboo briars and Greenbriar shoots in a perimeter around the haven and is going to string razor wire for the stuff to grow up through. Next Spring, No one's going to be able to get through to the passage other than through the assembly area."
"I told him to figure out a way to canalize any intruders that got that far, but I really don't believe there will be. They will die like they had been bitten by a two-step snake after they cross the Rubicon."
"Well, that's better than some of us going down in a hail of bullets." Eric replied. "Did Billy go down to Waco?"
"Yeah, he should be back tomorrow. I need to get the trailer moved and start tearing the paneling out of it."
"We can help."
"Billy will appreciate it. More the hands, quicker the work."
The women came back, Grace grinning like a cat chewing tin foil.
"Gil, we're attending a wedding tomorrow afternoon."
"Whose?"
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Post by gipsy on Apr 29, 2022 15:04:45 GMT -6
Did you want to say trimmed or feathered? Just asking. Thanks for the update.
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Post by ncsfsgm on Apr 29, 2022 17:17:19 GMT -6
Did you want to say trimmed or feathered? Just asking. Thanks for the update. On that particular setup, the trim controls and the auto-feather system are tied in together. When you trim the props, you are also setting the the feather setting also. Loss of oil pressure will automatically feather the props to reduce drag and give you a better glide ratio. I've heard the terms feather and trim being used for the same thing.
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Post by gipsy on Apr 29, 2022 18:40:02 GMT -6
Thats why I asked
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Post by udwe on Apr 29, 2022 21:59:06 GMT -6
Was waiting for the announcement!
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Post by ncsfsgm on Apr 30, 2022 15:40:49 GMT -6
Chapter 112
The first "Recall Drill" they had went pretty much as Gill suspected it would. People were bringing things with them that maybe they should already have there or at least duplicates. Some vehicles failed to start and someone was sent out to retrieve the people. When they all gathered in the meeting area, they held a critique and discussion on how to improve their response time and prevent the unnecessary portage of things that weren't necessary. Others saw the wisdom of keeping copies of important papers in their apartment safes instead of lugging a lockbox with them.
The one thing many had fixed and prepared in anticipation of a pot luck dinner was their favorite dish. The folding tables were brought out and people enjoyed the food and just visiting. Before they day was over, they planned a weekend drill where they would show up on an "Alert" on Friday evening and stay through Sunday afternoon to further test the capabilities of the Haven.
Billy had returned and was satisfied with the panels. He sat down with the other members of the security team and discussed the use of the trailer. It was decided an escape tunnel would be built to allow egress from the trailer in case of attack. A location was selected for the trailer and the tunnel and work commenced.
In Washington, Progressives were screaming that democracy was under a state of siege. Those members of Congress who actually were doing things within the guidelines of the Constitution and were working for the people instead of themselves, were now getting positive feedback. Progressive members were becoming more hesitant to push forward bills for their extreme agendas. More and more Americans were liking the changes. RINO Republicans were seeing the light and either retiring or resigning, to be replaced by actual Constitutional Conservative representatives, especially after the Utah governor tried to replace a prominent RINO Senator with one of his left-leaning cronies. He had to triple his security for a while until the people of Utah threatened a recall vote. He finally put in the people's choice. Slowly, means were being taken to bring the economy back in line and talks began on overhauling the Federal Reserve act of 1913 and going back to the gold standard.
The work at River Haven continued. People were accustomed to the retreat and pitched in to help with the work that they could do. Margo had a tight rein on everything and the People had confidence they could survive most anything. Just before Christmas, Bill made another of his secretive deliveries, this time it was a forty-foot trailer.
"What do you have Bill?" Gil asked.
"A hodge-podge of everything. Guns, ammo, two secure satellite terminals, some long-range night vision scopes, more communications equipment. There are also sensor kits. I'm dropping the trailer here. Use it how you see fit."
"Well, from what I can tell reading between the lines, it looks like things are getting better." Gil said
"Yes, somewhat." Bill agreed. "We were at a tipping point for a while. The leadership of this country was so weak It was a day by day thing on whether we would have been attacked by Russia or China in our time of weakness. There were a lot of good people who died behind the scenes to protect our way of like. We both know that. That's not to say the danger still isn't there. We have to keep our guard up each day.
The average citizen doesn't see the dangers. As long as the grocery shelves are full, the gas is relatively cheap and the economy isn't in the dumps, they are happy. They don't understand that there are bad people with bad agendas out there. More talks are ongoing about going in and shutting down the drug flow into this country. Now that is going to be bloody, and I don't mean in real blood flowing. That is going to happen but the real fight is going to be political. This drug culture is embedded in this country. People don't understand and don't really care the number of laws that have been broken and the number of lives that have been lost to get them that high they desire for a few minutes or hours. CDC's National Center for Health Statistics indicate that there were an estimated 93,331 drug overdose deaths in the United States during last year, an increase of 29.4% from the 72,151 deaths predicted from the year before. Now we're looking at another 30% increase this year. This is a real war and a lot of the people in this country are helping the enemy. If it were me, I'd say flood the market and let them have all the drugs they want, let them kill themselves. But drug crimes aren't victimless crimes, more than one person is harmed when drugs are brought into the picture. We have to turn the tap off and slowly wean the people away from the habit. People are still going to die but maybe that's okay to clean out the gene pool, but drugs are costing the taxpayers trillions of dollars, money that could be used for more worthwhile things."
"Bill, it's impossible to completely turn off the tap. Drugs are still going to leak through. The drugs are going to become expensive and crime is going to increase to get those drugs." Gil said.
"Gil, if they would just enforce the laws on the books and add more to make drug use, any drug use, a mandatory stay in a treatment center or prison until they are dried out and mentally stable, it would be a start. I'm not above bringing back chain gangs as part of their rehabilitation. Put their useless lives to some good use. Most of these drug users you see on the streets should be in a mental hospital anyway. The majority of the people you see on the streets are a product of the liberals closing down the mental hospitals in the 70s. Most of these people should never be on the streets again. It would be more humane."
"So, where do you go from here?" Gil asked.
"Doing what I am doing. The Shield will stay in place. There are other people who will handle the political side. Slowly, but surely, people are being groomed to move forward through the ranks to keep the momentum going. We'll come back to being a Constitutional Republic again. It is a sad state that coercion and force have to be used to turn the tide of socialism aside, even though ignorant people voted the bastards in, but this is war. There can be only one winner."
Gil watched as Bill climbed up in the truck, start the engine and drive toward the gate.
Gil closed the blast door for the delivery passage and secured it. The work would continue.
The End
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