C 26 - C 31

(C-26)

I love my Country

But not the rulers

‘A patriot’s duty sometimes requires him or her to protect his country from its leaders.’

Anon

‘To sin by silence when one should protest makes a coward of a man.’

- Abraham Lincoln

Charlotte Ling knew she was sitting on a wealth of information, top-secret information. The latest figures showing the large number of reserve forces being trained and retained for the Army to use in any so called emergency was beyond belief, well over fifteen million soldiers. All divided into Divisions, Armies and Corps completely equipped some with the newest rifles, machine-guns, and tanks.

Then today a report that the Governor himself should have locked away in his safe was handed to her with other reports to file. It stated that the Peoples Air force, and Commercial airlines were to be doubled in size, this report had been in the Governors hands since last year.

The Peoples Air force was to be expanded the same way the reserve Army had been handled, with the utmost secrecy and its equipment warehoused and stored with some ready to be shipped by container an astounding three thousand by December of 2005. Some of the fighter aircraft were to be dispersed to remote bases and hidden in hangers and rotated in and out of active units for routine flying and maintenance, but by only the reserve pilots and ground crews, very puzzling in that restriction. Why?

The new commercial aircraft would be purchased and used for international flights, the older units to be used for shorter domestic runs. All to be maintained at the highest level and ready at a moments notice for theater operations. Again why?

The Navy had been mentioned that they were to continue with the current plan, but that plan hadn’t been part of the files she had been given.

After she quickly read the document, and committed the important facts to memory Charlotte had taken the file back to the Governor and told him he had given her a folder she wasn’t cleared to have. With out even looking up from his computer screen he said, “You didn’t read it did you?”

“No sir, it is clearly marked for Standing Committee Members only, it is your father who serves as a member not me.” Charlotte replied with some sarcasm, as she thought you should not have this report either, but it was my good luck to see it.

Still with out taking his eyes form the computer he said, “Good then, you may leave it on my desk, you’re dismissed.”

She might have been a fly he had absently brushed away for all the attention he had paid her. But this was to her benefit, he would never recall that a capital offense had been committed by her having the report in her hands even for a little while.

Charlotte knew that the military is secretly building toward a war, maybe? No not a maybe anymore, but with Whom, What for, When, Where, and Why? She didn’t know!

Russia maybe? We have millions of workers in their provinces just to the north of China, rich in the raw materials needed to make us a major commercial power. But why go to war when we already control the region in all but name.

Taiwan maybe? If only to show the world that we can. To defeat the last hold out of the former forces of Chiang Kai-shek and the Nationalists, to destroy a free Chinese culture this she knew was at the heart of every communist dream. But not a reality as long as the United States considered them an Ally.

And the United States, she couldn’t see how? We may outnumber them six to one in population and our military eight to one but we can’t project our power as they do. And the rest of the world would surely back the freedom loving Americans not the communist dictatorship of China?

She did know the current leaders of China were not paying attention to the ambition of a few within their ranks. These few had an intensity of their drive and considerable ability to cajole appointments for like-minded subordinates, all with one goal, power and control of the country. Hard work and a cold pragmatic compulsion to go along until the right moment cloaked their subterfuge. She knew this, she still had the recording of Xo, and all of the follow up material that had crossed her desk; they are planning something and not just for China?

She also knew that she must tell some one soon, but whom? Maybe there was someone at her church she could talk to?

(C-27)

Terrorist Summer

‘Nothing is particularly hard if you divide it into small jobs.’

Mark Twain-

“Kalida, we must do something,” Ali Jazer voiced in frustration.

“Everyday it’s the same in the newspapers action by others, and at night on the TV news, we see their results. The Chechens last winter, where they seized hundreds of hostages; today they do another bombing in Russia! The Talabin are reforming in Afghanistan and tying down a large force of Americans, the same is going on in Iraq. The bombings in Israel, Indonesia and India, all being carried out by our brothers in arms, and what do we do?” He paused with a pained look on his face, then continued this time with venom in his voice. “We do nothing, nothing. We make plans, we talk, we pass on information, we tell others to do plan 34 and plan 115, or to hold off for a little while, to let the heat pass.”

Standing up he looks at each of his friends as he said, “I’m tired of letting others act, I want to do something direct. Me, Ali Jizer I want to hit the infidels to let them know that trouble is here in the middle of their homeland.” He made a fist and then tapped himself in the center of his chest to emphasize his point.

The silence that followed could be felt, all eyes had turned to Kalida after Ali finished, but he was taking his time to answer. He looked into the eyes one by one of his trusted friends pausing only for a moment, when he got to Ali he paused for a second longer.

Ali only looked for a second then he lowered his gaze to the table and set down, he knew his friend and now he regretted his outburst.

Kalida still without saying a word pushed his chair back got up and walked over to the coffee service. With his back to them he finished preparing five cups of the thick Turkish coffee they all liked and placing them on a tray. When he had completed his task he turned to his three friends with the tray, he went around to where Ali was setting with his head down, angered by his own outburst. Kalida served him first, showing that he was not upset with his lieutenant’s words, he then served Aynam and Howard, he then placed his cup by his papers and took the last one and set it in the center of the table then he set back down.

Doing this ritual Kalida had calmed everyone down, and was allowing tradition to set the pace for what was to follow. “I served the last cup to all of our friends who have passed on before us. They set in the great hall with Allah and smile down upon us and in our missions in life, they await us and have saved a chosen spot when it is our time to join them, all Praise is to Allah, the most merciful.” With that said they all picked up their cups and took a sip. The coffee was bitter not sweetened and weak Kalida had watered it down, they knew he was going to make a point they must listen too, the same, as they must drink the offered coffee.

The cups replaced on the table Kalida said. “As in all great undertakings, some people have to get their hands dirty, and others must play a supporting role. And a few have to be the leaders that make decisions that result in life or death. Not just kaffirs that will die, but sometimes making the decisions knowing that our brothers of the faith will die too. All men can be soldiers, but not all men are leaders.”

“We have other way's to strike at our enemies, as it doesn’t always have to be by Jihad Qital, for those of us who doesn’t speak Arabic, Jihad Qital simply means physical Jihad,”

He paused briefly looking at each man present then continued. “In every army all men are soldiers, put only a small part of those men are the ones who pull the trigger, some must cook, and other men drive the trucks and unload them. While others man the radios, treat the wounded, and if it’s necessary still others bury the dead.”

“The Chechens pulled off a daring and almost successful attack in Moscow last winter,” his three friends nodded there heads in agreement. “I said almost successful, because all of the Chechens were killed, including some of their best planners and commanders.”

“It would have been better if the ones who had planned and set up the attack, had watched and coordinate from a safe distance. Instead they died and their death has hurt their cause by dying, fighters can be recruited, but with the lose of so many of the leaders, the cause can be slowed or worse, eventually defeated.”

“The ones pulling the trigger, depend on all the rest to do their job’s, so he can do his.” Picking up the newspaper and holding it so the others could see the headlines, ‘American Forces in Iraq capture Saddam’s Defense Minister.’ “As much as we want to go and kill Americans in Iraq or in Afghanistan it is not to be, our time will come. For now we must continue our plans of making them sick on cruise ships, and cyber attacks on some of their software and computer systems.”

Pausing to gather his thoughts he said, “Last year is a good example of hurting our enemies, when we sent the team to Australia and set off the wild fires around Canberra, the Aussies still aren’t sure if they were attacked or not. Well four of the infidel’s are dead and many dozens were hurt, hundreds of homes destroyed, millions of dollars literally burnt up. And because they suspect it might have been an attack, they now have to spread their money and security forces a little thinner.

They fear us an know not where we will strike next, always worried that we can be anywhere at any time, waiting on our next move.”

“Our team was lucky and not captured, free to do another attack later. We the leaders weren’t involved and can continuing make new plans, as that is our purpose as directed by Allah.”

“And now we have several more attacks planned, and soon to be carried out against the west, this will show them just how weak and helpless they are against us. The first will be even more spectacular then 9/11, affect even more people and really hit the Americans where it hurts the most? In their homes and in their pockets,” Kalida quit talking and let his statement soak in, these were smart men he was working with, all had graduate degrees and one held a doctorate in mathematics. Reason and thought would win the day, passions and blood lust must wait.

Kalida said, “We wait for a while then we will hit the Americans on several fronts spacing out our attacks, but always costing them more and more. Then we wait awhile and attack some here some there, then we wait again.”

Howard spoke first, “I suspect you want us to ask questions, and if we guess correctly you will reward us with a yes or no?”

Kalida laughed, and answered, “I was thinking about that but no. I will tell you, I just wanted you all to realize we are leaders for our cause. Leaders must think, to plan; weighing all the options and then have others act out the plan. We must see the big picture and make the details fit, if we are to have success!”

“Will there be more deaths then 9/11,” Ali asked in a subdued and chastised voice, his head bowed as if in shame.

Kalida looking at Ali said, “Don’t give me that whipped puppy act Ali, I would never shame you, we are best friends, besides we have been through too much together. Some Americans might die but only a few at the most; no we are going to hit them and hard. As I said to get their attention by attacking them in their homes and where they work. The first team assigned will wait for a really hot August summer day when the temperature is about Forty degrees Celsius; a simple program will be entered into a computer at a mid-west power plant that we have hacked into before. The second team will find a good place to make an accident happen,” he said with a smirk.

“To make it simple, a large old tree will fall onto some main power lines causing a small section to short out and because of our planted program, causing a cascading effect forcing a large part of there power system to black out.”

“Add these two minor problems together and the results should shut down part if not almost the entire American power grid.”

“People will be at home with out power, offices will have to close sending workers into the streets. No traffic lights, no subway trains, schools closing early, parents trying to get to their children. The last time a major power outage happened in New York City, there was rioting and fires, we can expect no less from all the major cities that will be with out power, this should bring about chaos and fear. Just what we want from the Americans, to fear us.”

“The second series of attacks will be similarly to the ones we did in Australia. This time we will set the American West on fire, as our people there have reported that the last few years have been very dry, so the wild fires will be impressive. They should cause havoc with the economy and if we are lucky cause suspicion that maybe just maybe it was an attack, to make sure of that we will leave some evidence.”

With a smile he added, “I can see from the looks you are sharing that you think these are good plans.”

“All right then, this is how we will divide the jobs so as to accomplish the most…

(C-28)

Working in America?

‘Destiny is not a mater of chance, it is a matter of choice.

It is not a thing to be waited for; it is a thing to be achieved.’

Ronald E. Osborn

“Jobs are plentiful if you’re willing to work nights and weekends,” Al-Abdul mentioned to his co-pilot. “I’ve worked my way up from co-pilot, to pilot in nine months with out any trouble,” he added glancing over to his second co-pilot in three days.

“That’s easy for you to say you don’t have a young wife and a newborn baby at home,” answered Larson with a wiry smile, without taking his eyes off the instruments.

“That would be a nice problem, but you still get to see them most day’s and with Tuesday, Wednesdays and Thursdays off you can still do a lot of things together,” Al-Abdul replied. He had to remind himself not to appear concerned, Larson had the hours and his records from flight school showed he was qualified for I.F.R. (instrument flight rated) flying. But this was his first time flying with him and you could see that Larson was a bit nervous.

“I do like three days off in a row, but my wife hasn’t gotten use to them in the middle of the week, she says there isn’t as much to do like on a weekend.” Larson checking the Altimeter and heading called the FAA control center, and said, “This is Western Freight flight 27 we have changed our heading and altitude as requested over.”

“Roger, Western Freight 27, flight center out.”

Both pilots laughed, “That ladies voice does sound like the computer voice from the original Star Trek, I wonder if she even knows it,” Larson said. “I’m sure someone has mentioned it to her, well if not, I’m not going to say a thing. With all the P.C. thinking I don’t want any smears on my record.”

Al-Abdul shook his head, what a dilemma, the Americans talk about Freedom of speech but were afraid to say things because someone might be offended. Even worse, that there job could be terminated just because some one took offense. What ever happened to being thick skinned and tough, able to take a barb with out being upset. Maybe Americans aren’t as tough as they once were; that’s not something he wanted to think about. But still he said, “I’ve noticed that about Americans they don’t say the things on their mind. It’s like they are afraid some one will be upset, even when what they speak is the truth. This isn’t the way it was shown in the movies I use to watch as a child.”

Larson sighed as he replied, “You’re right there, its not like it used to be, not even like it was ten years ago. If you say something that offends someone, they say you’re insensitive, say it often enough, watch out for trouble. Some puck, a wimpy bureaucrat hears the whining, he has to show people his job is important, and he takes you to court. Out goes the job in comes the attorneys, and the judge, if your lucky no jail time just a big ass fine. But you’re labeled as outspoken and maybe a troublemaker, until your re-educated at a sensitivities class.”

“Then you might be allowed to continue with your life, sorry I didn’t mean to get on a soap box.” Larson apologized, and changed the subject, “enough said, what about you Al-Abdul, what made you come to America,” he asked.

Looking Larson in the eye, Al-Abdul said, “Let me tell you about how my country used too be. Those who knew better then you, ones like your lawyers and your liberals. Once in power they changed, at first they controlled the speech of everyone. Then they started to tell you how to live and then they wanted to control your life down to the smallest detail. They called themselves the Talabin, then people started to disappear the ones who disagreed with them, it was to late for us then. We had lost all, until you the freedom loving Americans came; now we have a chance… You must stand up to these people who wish most of all to control, now not later! I say this because when they are in power all will be lost. That is until some one comes along and uses force to make them change. That is the way of life, I think most Americans have forgotten that if your rights are violated, you don’t have to apologize when you defend them.”

Larson couldn’t look Alsayhaya in the eye because he was speaking the truth, so he looked at the instruments instead. He knew his pilot was speaking the truth born of experience, and he felt ashamed because he was doing nothing to stop the attack on his own freedoms, by a homegrown Talabin.

Al-Abdul knew he was making his co-pilot uncomfortable, good. Maybe by challenging one man to take a stand into doing something he could help America. He continued, “They controlled us so much, we had people in our neighborhoods who would turn in their own family members to curry favor. At football games, you call it soccer; there were enforcers from the Talabin who went around with short multi-tailed whips. With these they would beat anyone who would clap or voice any joy to support the two teams, this is true. I saw it happen and it’s been shown on your TV.”

“The people who wish to control others are in every society, you must be vigilante to stop them! I know I have lived under their control once, I won’t live that way again.” He paused for a second the added, “Larson I don’t think you would want your child to live in fear the way I did growing up.”

“Thank you Al-Abdul, and no I don’t want my child to grow up fearing the government, I will teach them that the government should fear them, as they and all the rest of us the Americans are the boss of this country.”

(C-29)

Winter

Just a few years ago

‘The spider spins its web, knowing the fly will come.’

Chinese Proverb

“You have made excellent progress in increasing the production of our new tanks, especially the WZ123 or as the Americans call it the type 98 Main Battle tank, Lieutenant General Dim.” Xo said as he was shaking the hand of his old friend, then motioned for him to take a seat as he himself sat down. Their aids stood back quietly listening as two of the most powerful men in their world enjoyed a rare moment of relaxation.

“Ha, you are wrong. I won’t officially be a Lt. General until the President has signed off on the paper work.” Dim smiled as he replied, “but let me congratulate you on your new promotion. As special assistant to the Premier, you were the number one person he listens too. And now you have replaced the Party Secretary with one of our people and that makes you second behind him in power, especially since we control the military and most of the province Governors.”

Taking a breath Dim continued, “As for the new tanks we are almost a year ahead of production schedule.”

“With two factories working around the clock we are able to deliver eight tanks of the type 98 each week, and nine of the type 96 with out any problems. In six months we will slow production of the type 96 to five per week, and increase the 98’s by three.”

“We could produce twelve per week of the type 96 but that would take all the needed spare parts from the combat units inventory for both tanks. I talked to the logistical supply officers for the Armor Divisions and they tell me that if spare parts are not there when needed one or two tanks per unit would be striped of the needed parts. This is not acceptable or in line with the high standards I have demanded, beside the assistant General of the Army concurs with me.”

Xo answered with a smile, “And why shouldn’t he, I hand picked my successor from our very talented and growing ranks. Admiral Luosan Ju wanted me to place you in that position, you should feel honored, but I said no it would arouse suspicion in our still powerful enemies, the party isn’t ready to see it’s end.”

“If they were to discover our plans even now, and in their determination to stop us we would loose all in our quest to be the one world power. We don’t want the west looking to close, they might see more then they could imagine in their worst dreams.”

Dim replied with a sly smile, “And to think that the Americans still just see only the proto-type new tank and think that we might start production next year, if we can sort out the electronics. Our deception works for us and to their demises, such fools.”

“Not really fools my friend, more like wishful thinkers, hoping for the best. It’s hard to believe that this present generation of American Leaders. The few old World War Two vets and now with the spoiled, over pampered children, are the descendents of that great manufacturing dynamo that survived the world wide depression of the 1930’s and went on to defeat the Axis powers a few years later. And now at most they are a hallow shell that maybe produces 40 percent of their basic needs, and even less of their consumer products they use up daily. They are so shortsighted, too busy worshiping at the alter of the once mighty dollar. Or assuming that they are able to buy off trouble, to appease everyone and forget that the world is a very dangerous place. Even when their enemies outnumber their friends, they still make feeble attempts to follow the so called rules of civilized countries.”

“So true sir, they are still asleep, dream walking and wishing. I must thank Admiral Luosan for the confidence he has in me, more importantly I thank you Xo and defer to you wisdom. I have been caught up in ensuring that there are no technology problems in our production and in training the instructors to train the crews for the new tanks. I must confess that I couldn’t see myself being the Assistant Army commander, maybe some day but not today.” He answered with a mental sigh, He wasn’t overwhelmed in his duties, but he did sometimes wonder if they were moving to fast.

To fast for a country that had never moved at more than a slow pace, one that maybe wasn’t ready to assume the role as a world leader. China was an old country; in fact it was an ancient country. If the communist had allowed the education of the people to progress as they had promised, maybe we would be ready. But an educated people they couldn’t have controlled, look what happened to the Russians in Eastern Europe. He hoped Xo and our people are right in the appeal of an Asian Empire to sway the hearts and minds of the people.

“Take heart General Dim,’ Xo said. “You are very good with paper work and administration details, but that is not your best skill. You have worked miracles with our Main Battle Tank program, because you motivate the people to give their all and it has shown in this project, and also in the planning and set up work you accomplished for our take over of the Russian Russijskaja province. In all that you do, you get people to believe in themselves and in you, a very special talent, one that will be taxed in your next assignment.”

Dim couldn’t stop the perplexed look that flashed across his face and then just as suddenly it was hidden behind his normally calm demeanor. He replied with a dry smile, “Then my promotion to Lt. General is more then a reward for hard work and dedication,” as he arched his left eyebrow.

Xo answered with a look as if he was seeing the future written in a history book. “No one knows our new weapon systems better then you do. That our new tanks are as good if not better then the Americans, our new jet fighters on a par with theirs, and the rest of our war machine catching up. Our equipment is new the latest leading edge electronics and material, it’s not being worn out as the Americans equipment is in Iraq. Or abused and neglected like most of the other western powers are presently doing. And our cyber units are already at work checking for chinks in the mighty western information networks.”

“Russia is a hallow shell, their atomic submarine fleet rots in harbor, and they can’t even put down a rebellion by the Chechens who number less they five million in a small splinter of a country. Our people are taking the Maritime province from them with out a shot being fired and they suspect nothing. We win election after election there Mayors, city council seats, housing authority chairmanships and the Russians are slowly pushed aside. Even now we buy up their homes and business, and they are happy to leave and go back to Europe, thinking with all this money they are rich in a pauper nation. Our north-eastern front will be secure, safe from attack soon very soon.”

“And as for the other so called world powers, the British are tied up with the Americans in Iraq with almost half of their Army, the rest is scattered in Europe doing useless peacekeeping duties, or on small post in Germany. ”

“Japan depends on the good will of others, too re-arm it would take two or three years to double their pathetic small force. South Korea is balanced by North Korea, so they are tied up and when we move the North will to.”

“India has a substantial force, but they are tied down looking at Pakistan, who are looking at India, they cancel each other out.”

Dim knew that Xo must have rehearsed his plans and this discourse many times, he hardly paused and he didn’t use any hand gestures to emphasis any points he just set their and talked. “Germany and France have less then half the forces they had five years ago, the rest of the European countries defensive forces are as weak, if not in worse shape. The old Warsaw pack countries are changing over from the Russian weapon systems to ones similar to NATO’s, they will be caught between stride.”

“And the Americans when they rotate their forces in Iraq, they will go back home and allow the units to be at less then 80% combat ready, they say this is to take the strain off of training personnel and repairing worn equipment. They are fools, that is like putting a weapon up with out proper cleaning and care, how do they expect it to be ready at a moments notice. They have had one Pearl Harbor and will repeat the same mistake again, but this time once the attack begins it won’t stop until they are defeated.”

“As you can see we have a window of opportunity that we didn’t expect for at least another two or three years is almost at hand. We had planned for the year 2012, but with a weak American President, a conflict in the Middle East that saps their military strength. With their mid-term elections next year, and their so called peace movement gathering strength our time is almost at hand.”

Xo’s next words though spoken in a normal voice sounded like a thunderclap over head. “So we move in the fall of 2006, and as we speak some of our special units are moving into place now. To be joined by more special units a few months before action begins.”

Dim one never to question the wisdom of a superior, and being a good solider couldn’t keep his mind from racing through a thousand what ifs. Are we going to have enough trained soldiers, arms, ammunition, and helicopters, radios, ships? The most important question will we have enough of everything for our ambition and the ability to achieve it? Now the die is cast we will see what we make from the results, win or lose when ordered we have to try our best.

What Xo said next shocked Dim even though he was use to surprises from his friend, “As of today, you are in charge of the training of our combined Arms at Army group and Corp. level.”

Dim just sat there not able to answer, he was stunned but his mind was racing with the possibilities of such a command. He would set the standards and tactics that all Chinese units would start the next war with. If he taught them right it would ensure victory and establish them as the true world power, such an honor to be asked.

“The tactics I taught you when I was your Battalion commander and you were my youngest company commander, you later taught them to your battalion then your Brigade. They work because the best commanders have used these same tactics down through the centuries; the latest use was against our own people by the American General McArthur in Korea. He didn’t have room to maneuver so he used deception and boldness to fix superior numbers and cause the communists to waste manpower and resources in useless frontal assaults.”

“Our leaders learned nothing and repeated the same mistakes in our attack on Vietnam and India a few years later. We will not make those mistakes again, you will see to that.”

“Have no fear Xo, I learned from you that one must be as fast as a kick boxer and yet as cleared headed as a Kung Fu priest, force with thought will win. If we are to set China on it’s true path, and the rest of the world in its proper role toward us, we must re-establish our position as the center of the earth. The Middle Kingdom will be reborn and take its rightful place on in the world.”

“I must add one more task for your staff to check in to and see that it’s complete no later then the summer of 05’ General,” Xo said. “We must insure that the railway expansion plans in Xinjiang province are complete including the shipping terminal at Huocheng. That will quiet the separatist sentiment that has developed among the Muslim population by providing more jobs. By linking them with the railroad at Alma-Ata we will have opened a door into that region and when our armies sweep in we can resupply them with minimal effort. For now we will use it for trade, and transporting spies.”

“From last weeks report there was less then sixty miles of track to finish laying and the last tunnel will be completed by the end of the month. The last six storage tunnels will be started this week, and finished no later then spring of next year. That will give us enough capacity to house over 300,000 men and equipment safely away from any spying satellites be they American or Russian,” Dim answered.

Speaking as an after thought Xo said, “In the next few days all of the overseas deploying units will have received at least a quarter of the shipping containers for personnel. I have directed the commanders to rotate their troops in and out for a twenty-day test cycle. If anyone in those units is claustrophobic we must know, and transfer them to one of the ground attacking units and have someone replace them; and then, test the replacements.”

“It wouldn’t be good for a harbor pilot in America to hear one of our men screaming his lungs out from inside a container as he boarded one of our ships, now would it. To be discovered just before we were to spring our surprise, because some poor man couldn’t take the stress of confinement,” Xo shuddered at the thought?

Dim had shuddered too at the thought that was conjured in his mind. Shacking his head yes as he replied, “Sir one of the things that has always inspired my loyalty to you is the concern for your troops. Even know as we plan on sending hundreds of thousands, maybe even millions of people to their deaths as we set the world upside down, changing it forever. You’re worried about just one man out of millions would not be able to cope with being shut in a container with his fellow soldiers. I wouldn’t have even given a thought to that sir, but you have and I’m sure even many more thoughts for the troops well being. That is why I and the rest in our movement would follow you in any command you would give. I do know China will be better off with you as its leader, and soon the time will be ripe for us to take power,” General Dim exclaimed proudly, the emotion showing in his normally calm eyes.

Xo felt pride in knowing he had the following of such dedicated men. Still he could not take the credit for another’s imparted wisdom and he said so, “You give me to much credit General Dim, this was pointed out to me by Admiral Ju, he said it is standard practice for any new crewmembers on our submarines. I told him that makes sense and is necessary for the continued secrecy of our operations. To be truthful I personally would hate to find out that I couldn’t take being cooped up for twenty to twenty-four days, just put yourself in the shoes of a private and imagine the fear.” Xo shuddered again at the thought as he continued, “No thank you, I will spare myself that thought, and I will not subject any man I command to that fear if they are so afflicted.”

Dim was truly amazed at his friends concern for people and his soldiers whom he didn’t know, China will win with a man like this in control! And he said so, “A good leader, always leads by example, and good soldiers willingly follow good leaders.”

Xo said as an afterthought, “Admiral Ju is also looking into your idea concerning the live export carrier Al Shuwaikh, and its sister ship each can carry ten to fifteen thousand fanatical Muslims, all bent on jihad. Now that would make an excellent deception if caught. If not they will make a very useful terror weapon for controlling a rebellious population. If you have any more ideas, we will need them soon, so they can be worked into our plans.”

“Two more ideas, we need to increase the wages of all factory workers, when war starts we will lose our source of income from the west. If the workers have more money they buy more products and this generates a new source of income for us. That is why the west is so strong, their economies are strong and they have more people with money to tax.”

“That is not a very communist thought Dim! “Xo laughed then added, “Marx, Stalin and Mao will be rolling in their graves if we do that.”

Both men laughed at that thought as Xo shook his head in agreement, “Yes that is a good idea, then more people will be working making the country stronger. We will do it and I want to double the amount of foods we import especially wheat and beans and place them in storage, enough to cover five years of poor crops from our farmers. You said you had two ideas?”

“Yes the last idea, have you may not know or have heard of the term ‘El Asata’ it stands for a immigrant group in the American Southwest.”

Xo said, “No go ahead I’m curious what about them.”

“They wish to take a sizable portion of land from at least six American states and then form a new country, most of the leaders are communist and would make useful fodder. After the USSR fell the North Korea’s took over funding of this group so we have access to them.”

“Typical communist they will betray their own country just to gain power, it has been the same in every country the whole world over for almost one hundred years.” When Xo used the word communist you could tell by his voice the hate he felt for them. “Soon, very soon we will show them the real use of power. Dim look into using this group they will be a useful disposable weapon, is there anything else that I need to know General Dim.”

“I was going to send you a detailed briefing on our problems in dealing with the French. It seems they want to back out of our arraignment to provide us with the programs and equipment they were paid for.” The way Dim said the word French, you could tell he had no respect for them.

Xo snorted, “Ha the French, yes you might expect them to be a little apprehensive, and one can see why. After the Americans invaded Iraq and found all that equipment that the French companies sold in violation of the UN sanctions, it would make one pull back a little.”

“They can’t or won’t help themselves or their allies; they’re French,” all the men smiled politely at the joke there Kahn made. “I’ll have our people contact and remind them that if they back out now, we could show the world a record of their back door deals. An embarrassment is to mild of a word to use.”

“This exposure would cause the French government to fall, no socialist would purposely allow himself to be booted from office, in this we will reminded them of such, and then the contract will be honored. The only time you can trust the French is when you hold them by the balls, and squeeze every so often to remind them who is in control.” Both men laughed, France was an international disgrace not just to its so-called allies or a potential enemy but also to themselves.

Xo stood up indicating the meeting was ended pleased with his friend attention to detail, and anticipation for the coming conflict.

Dim followed suit wishing for more time with his friend, but also knowing that as time was passing China was getting ready for World War and very few people suspected how soon. When that happened there would be no time to spend in pleasant conversation, until they won and or if both men were still alive.

*French Weapons in China

‘France has also come under fire for supplying advanced arms to other potential U.S. adversaries such as China. In fact, the Chinese navy currently employs a version of the French Tavitac, a modified version of the U.S. NTDS (Naval Tactical Data Systems) Link 11. The Link W system employed by China is an unlicensed copy of the U.S. Link 11 supplied to the People’s Liberation Army Navy (PLAN) by France.

France also has supplied surface-to-air missiles and anti-aircraft radars to China. A recent Pentagon report to Congress on Chinese military modernization concluded that France is assisting the PLAN in building advanced submarines.

“A new version of the Song-class conventional submarine is expected to incorporate advanced Air Independent Propulsion. This report details other Song innovations: a skewed seven-blade propeller, submerged antiship cruise missile launch capability, and flank array sonar’s of French design,” noted the U.S. military report.’ (worldnetdaily.com)

A Piece here, a Piece there,

The wealth of information coming into her office was truly amazing.

Charlotte had made up her mind to tell someone over three months ago of what she suspected. And a trusted friend from school whom she thought might be a Christian had been the right choice. After making that first contact and voicing her concern she was sent to see her friends father and her brother an electrical engineer.

The father Woe Chu-yu, had been a semi-retired Colonel in the Peoples Army Reserve and a veteran from several Africa conflicts and the Vietnamese War’s. He was also a Christian that had been forcefully recruited to fight and to die when Chairman Mao invaded Korea. Instead he had fought and lived and became a highly decorated hero. Lucky for him it was at a time when the party couldn’t do without heroes. The father accepting his fate, so during the day he had to live as a communist spouting the party line. But at night he renounced his lie in silent prayer and was a lay minister to his family and a very small group of close nit friends.

His military background helped correlate and make sense with all that Charlotte had to tell. And recently he had been recalled back to the reserve forces and was able to verify some of the facts she provided.

The brother Lu, and his wife worked for Norinco, the largest military equipment provider in China. Because of their jobs they saw, more then Charlotte suspected the scope and magnitude of the current buildup of the whole armed forces, was astounding. From fast small attack ships, to electronics, to tanks, and almost half of the small arms and artillery being produced, with all of the companies working three shifts producing more then could be used by the current size of the Army China now possessed.

Lu’s job was to install the new electronics on the latest series of tanks* under production. The Army bragged that this new system would make their tank the most lethal the world had ever seen. It had the capability to detect when a laser beam hit the tank and where it came from. It would then automatically aim and use the laser protective system. This system used a very powerful laser beam of it’s own, that would either burn out the opposing unit emitter or blind the man who operated it. A very good idea but he told his wife that it has several weaknesses, one that a near miss would scramble its circuits as none of the wiring was properly secured. Plus it could be overloaded with multiple hits and had several other hardware problems, he and many other technicians had pointed out these problems, but to no avail, the current party experts in charge wouldn’t listen.

In fact the party political officer in charge of moral at the factory had told them they complained to much and nit-picked, if they knew what was best for them, to just shut up and do the job assigned to them. With no engineering background and the only reason for his job being that he was a political relic, it didn’t matter because the party official knew what was best, and he told them so in no uncertain terms too. With people like that in charge Lu knew that China wasn’t getting the best system that he and others like him could deliver. To keep his job he had to keep quiet and just do what he was told, it didn’t matter if you have ideas on improving the product. The party knows what is best, so stop making waves.

Part of the Intel they were developing came from his wife’s position; she worked in the transportation and shipping department and knew where most of the material and weapons were being sent. So far it had been sent to depots and bases all over the country, again in quantities that exceeded the regular military requirements by a factor of almost ten to one. They suspected much more, because they knew that what they saw was just the tip of the Ice Berg where nine/ tenths of the mass is below the water line. China was preparing a major build up in weapons and necessary ammunition, but for what?

The information in plans that Charlotte brought to them even if not complete helped to fill out part of the picture, and her position as the head secretary for the Governor insured a continued flow.

Also as the secretary of the Governor she made regular trips into Hong Kong for him, mostly to deposit money he was being bribed with. Once her official/ un-official business was complete she would drop off the information, at places where Chu-yu had established contacts to Christian organizations that he passed this information on to.

Now if they just passed this information to their countries intelligent service maybe they could make better sense of what was happening in the Chinese military and political sphere? And that war was being contemplated for the end of 2007 or the first few months in 2008, war with Taiwan. They would use that Island nations independence as the main issue to justify a war with the rest of the world.

*Chinese tank designs… the WZ-123 MBT or Type 98, defense system includes what appears to be a laser-warning receiver (LWR - the dome-shaped device on the turret roof behind the commander's position), which warns the crew that their tank is being illuminated by an enemy range finding or weapon-guidance laser. The turret of the tank can then be traversed to face the direction of the enemy threat, and the laser self-defence weapon (LSDW - the box-shaped device on the turret roof behind the gunner's position), can be employed against the source of the enemy laser.

The procedure of the laser weapon would first use a low-powered beam to locate the optics of the enemy weapon. Once the enemy weapon was located, the power level of the laser would be immediately and dramatically increased. Such an attack would disable the guidance optics of the enemy weapon and/or damage the eyesight of the enemy gunner.

The available photos of the Type 98 have also confirmed that the laser weapon can be elevated to a higher angle than the tank's main gun, indicating that the engagement of attack helicopters is possible. In addition, the laser device could also be used for communications between friendly tanks.

(C-30)

Fort Riley

(Army nickname for the armpit)

Summer

The truth does not change, regardless of the opinion.

Either from a politician, a judge or the boss.

JN

“Major Dix, I hope you are up to the task, normally the Army would send a senior Lt. Colonel of Armor to be in charge of the National Guard Armor tactics and training school here at Ft. Riley,” Colonel Dubois said. “You just finished the CAS3 course at Ft. Leavenworth; my, my your branch is really doing things backward. This must be a mistake, are you sure your orders are correct, this is quite irregular?” He looked up from the paper work and gave a very puzzled look. The way the Col. Held his right hand you couldn’t help but see the WP ring, oh boy, the I’m superior to you attitude because of where I got my commission, was showing.

Dix had the greatest respect for most of the guys and girls who spent four years at the academy it was a tough but a well-earned education. But the Col. Didn’t have to give me this attitude that his shit doesn’t stink, just because he has a ring.

As for his assignment it was irregular, Major Dix knew that, even his Brigade Commander had said so himself, as he pinned on the shiny gold leaf of a Major when Dix was promoted years ahead of is piers, but it wasn’t unheard of. If I had been in Iraq maybe it wouldn’t seem so odd, what with the war going on and all. But Dix hadn’t seen any combat a all, even though he had requested a transfer to one of the units there, it sure looked like the West Point buddy system worked to get them most of the current combat assignments, or so it seemed.

And now this Military Police Colonel who was acting as the base adjutant was questioning his orders, it would make you wonder what was going on. “Sir, my orders are correct, I was ordered to not take leave and to report directly to my next assignment.” That’s after almost twenty months in Korea, with less then two weeks leave during my tour there. Then straight to Ft. Leavenworth for the intense nine-week course, followed by a month out in the Army’s sandbox at Ft. Irwin in California. Quick paced training to learn the skills needed as an observer controller with local Reserve and National Guard units.

Then assignment to here, who was he to question orders and he said so. “Sir I have less then a month to go completely through my new command, to correct any deficiencies before my first class of National Guard Officers and NCO’s arrive. So if you would be so kind as to let me see the Post Commander or his Second in Command; I’ll get out of your hair and be on my way sir.” Dix was trying hard not to show irritation but it had been a long drive back from California, and he was a bit frayed at the edges.

Just as the Col. Was about put a junior officer in his place, they both heard an, “Aa, hem,” as someone cleared his throat at the open door, Col. Dubois stood up and Maj. Dix turned to look.

Standing in the door was Colonel Greene, correction, Major General Greene, as Dix noted the two stars on his shirt collar. So his first Brigade Commander when he had been stationed at Ft. Lewis Washington, had been promoted, twice. Dissipate having on his record a reputation of being outspoken on the downsizing of the Army, and the stupid political correctness that seemed to be running amok in it.

Maj. Dix snapped to attention and saluted the General, who returned the salute, and with a smile the General said, “Well, well, a brand new Major I see. It hasn’t been four years since you were promoted to Captain has it? And now a Major, what did you do; go to a big frat party, and knock up one of the Presidents daughters? And to keep you quite they promoted you and sent you to the arm pit of the Army.” With that said the General smiled as he entered the office and offered his hand in greeting.

Dix smiled in return, turning red with a bit of embarrassment, “The Colonel, I’m sorry sir the General must have me confused with a young Lieutenant who used to party hearty sir. I’d like to think that I left that man before I went to Korea sir, or at least lost that once he arrived there.” Dix shook the offered hand and said, “Good to see you again sir,” meaning ever word, as he was a good man to work for and now he was a General, things always seem to work out for the best he thought.

General Greene’s reply was a knowledgeable one, “Korea has that way of sobering up a good mans outlook and weeding out the riff-raff. So you’re my Armor School Commander, good. You will find that you have a very experienced staff; two new Captains just back from Iraq, and another good experienced Captain as your executive. And one of the best Sergeant Majors I have had the honor to work with, as your senior noncom. And with and a lot of other senior and experienced Sergeants that makes the rest of your staff just as good.”

“You will also find out that your training wings tanks and Bradley’s are older but well maintained and you have lots of ammunition, main gun and machine-gun rounds for each course. This use to be the 1^st Infantry Divisions base before Clinton sent them to Germany, so that means you’ll have lots of room for maneuvers, to do proper training and conduct operations; you’ll have to watch your fuel consumption though. As we suck hind tit when it comes to POL, there just isn’t any extra to be had.”

“If your real good you might talk some of the National Guard units into using some of their fuel allocation when they come in for training, again that depends on the various states, and their commanders. If they flatly refuse to help and your running short, come see the Post Sergeant Major, or me, some times we can sweet talk the NG units into some horse-trading, if not you’ll just have to do a lot of map FTX training, and do even more extensive simulator time, not quiet as realistic.” The General shrugged and continued, “Other then that welcome to Ft. Riley James, I’ll see you at my morning briefing at 0800 hrs. tomorrow.” With that Gen. Greene turned and walked out of the office.

Maj. Dix was amazed, and so was Col. Dubois who said, “Consider yourself lucky Major, he is headed to a meeting with some civic groups asking for training on civil defense matters, and won’t be available for the rest of the day.”

There was some sarcasm in the Colonels voice as he said. “Good thing he also knows you otherwise you would have had to wait to talk to him, and that meeting would have been later in the day. I’ll have the duty Sergeant take you to your unit, where’s your luggage?”

You could feel the tension in the air, the Colonel wasn’t telling Dix the whole story, he could sense that the Colonel didn’t agree with the General on something, or a lot of things, take your pick. Oh well he would find out soon enough, gossip about personalities and what was going on around a military base was easy to pick up on, just ask any sergeant who trusted you, he would tell you more then you ever wanted to know.

“I left my travel bags in my car, its parked out side sir,” Dix answered.

Picking up the phone on his desk and punching the three number code for the duty desk you could hear the phone ringing over the line, after the second ring a voice answered, “Duty Desk Staff Sergeant Roberts speaking.”

Col. Dubois ordered, “Sergeant this is the Adjutant, I have a Major Dix in my office, would you send a driver over to show him to his unit.” He hung up not waiting for a reply, “Now if you will excuse me Major, I have paper work to complete,” he was summarily dismissed, just like that!

Dix sensed the tension the Colonel openly displayed, the way he was dismissed said, get out of my office end of story, his reply was a simple, “Yes Sir,” as he saluted. “I’ll wait outside the headquarters it’s a very nice fall day.” As he walked out the door and into the outer office he said to the clerk at her desk “I’ll be outside the west door if the duty driver ask for me.”

“I’ll be sure to tell him Sir, they shouldn’t be to long getting here there office is over in the next building,” she answered back.

Dix walked the few meters to the west side door, opened it and stepped out, it sure was a pretty afternoon, lots of sun shine and around sixty degrees, not to bad for fall even if most of the leaves were off the few trees, still a nice day.

A HumVee had just pulled up and out stepped a lanky Staff Sergeant, Dix looked at him thinking there was something familiar about him. The Sergeant saluted and Dix returned it, then he recognized his gunner from his early Ft. Lewis days as a second Lieutenant.

“Staff Sergeant Roberts, the last time I saw you, you were a newly promoted E-5 and had orders for Germany, it is a small world running into you in the middle of Kansas,” Dix said in greeting him, holding out his hand.

“Major Dix,” Roberts declared, “The people at Personal said you would report today, that’s why I rushed over instead of sending a driver,” as he shook hands. “Good to see you Sir, and a Major who would of thought and so soon too. The last I heard you were a Captain when you left for Yakima, that would be three, four years ago or so. Your not one of the perfumed hero’s from the Baghdad races are you Sir.”

“No I didn’t get to go to Iraq, they had me stuck deep in Korea, its good to see you to Staff,” Dix’s reply was genuine and his smile showed it. “I’ve only been a Major for a few months now, I had asked for an assignment to Kuwait before we went in but it got turned down. And no, I don’t have any special connections, I got promoted early from hard work and doing the job. At least that’s what my Battalion commander in Korea told me.”

“No disrespect respect Sir, but we have a couple of those officers who served in Iraq on base and… I’ve said enough sorry Sir.” Staff Roberts wanted to say more but he was too good of an NCO to complain, he would just shut up and solider on.

Dix knew exactly what Sgt. Roberts had been about to say, and he was glad that he was more then professional enough to keep it bottled up. Hell the whole Army knew, and anyone in the world who had served in the Armed forces knew, Ranking officers taking the glory for what their soldiers did, giving themselves the best medals for bravery even if they weren’t at the front, and letters of accommodation and such.

And the soldiers who had achieved the victory and had done the hard and dirty work got short sheeted. A few Bronze and Silver Stars, and of course the Purple Hearts, unfortunately several of those had to be delivered to wives and parents. And a few who would get decorated for stupidity like being taken prisoner because they didn’t know how to clean their weapons for a desert environment, he had been told that the same had happened in Nam, nothing really ever changes.

“That’s OK Staff, I’ve been here less then a half hour and I can feel the undercurrent on base already, something is brewing and I’m not sure I’ll like the smell. You can tell me later if you want, or I’m sure one of my NCO instructors will.” Dix would leave the offer out on the table, if Officers and Sergeants couldn’t talk over things that affected moral or working conditions, a unit would cease to function at its best.

Staff Roberts knowing he could talk to his former LT said, “Sir if you would take a seat in the HumVee I’ll give you the lowdown. Or we can get into your car I don’t want to say anything out here in the open by the HQ building.”

“We’ll get into the car, it’s my POV, the Army isn’t paying for it, should be private enough.” Dix walked over to the drivers door unlocked it and as he got in hit the auto-unlock button for the other front door, so the Sgt. could get in.

Both men made themselves comfortable and before Dix could say anything Roberts started in, “we have an ongoing fuss between the post Commander General Greene and Col. Dubois the Adjutant. It started over a month ago just before General Greene arrived. Several former NCO’s that had been retired for years came back to talk to some friends here asking for some old training materials, and manuals that were to be thrown away. They didn’t and wouldn’t ask for any classified information or such, just for any old manuals or training material that was left over from classes we had given. Oh I forgot to ask Sir, you are taking over as the Officer in charge of the Armor tactics and training course for the Reserve and National Guards units?”

“You assumed right Staff,” Dix answered with a smile, “ sergeants on a small unit base know everything.”

Jumping right back into his story Roberts said with a smile, “That’s what I heard Sir, anyway, well your unit is involved and it’s a real mess. Your Sgt. Major has been charged along with several other NCO’s in giving information to a terrorist group.”

With a look of disbelief on his face the Major blurted, “what the hell, when did this happen. I called the training school right after I arrived on post and talked to the Sgt. Major, to make sure he would be in when I arrived so I could get a look see at the place.”

Roberts replied, “oh don’t worry Sgt. Major Plummer is there now, he’s not locked up, just confined to base until the Court Martial, he and the others were charged almost a month ago. They let him go to work and back home, he just has to check in with the MP’s every morning and night.”

“To become a Sgt. Major in the army takes about what, fifteen, or sixteen years,” Dix asked rhetorically? “I know he has had to have two if not three security background checks. I’ve had my second just before I was promoted to major,” answering his own question. “This has got to be a bunch of bull, who in the military would give information to some Muslim terrorist organization knowingly?”

Sgt. Roberts answered “Sir, I said a terrorist group, not a Muslim one, but supposedly a known domestic terrorist group, the local Militia to be exact.”

“What, what the hell, who would push ridicules charges like that Sarge,” Dix asked?

“It was Col. Dubois sir, he filled charges the day before Gen. Greene arrived, the last day General Knight was in charge. Knight was a good man, but he was hurt in a vehicle accident and was forced to take a medical retirement. Because of his injuries and the rehabilitation necessary he let Col. Dubois pretty much run the show for the last few months. I guess the Colonel thought he was the MMWC, that’s the Main Manna Want Counts. General Greene has shortened his leash some and he resents that.”

Dix with a frown showing said, “the what?”

“Main Manna What Counts, you know the man who makes things happen its slang, I guess I picked that up from hanging around the Militia rifle range. They use it sometimes when they refer to their Colonel.”

Dix interjected, “You have now used the word Militia twice, I thought most of that movement died off, right after Bill Clinton tried to tar them with the same brush he used in the cover up of the Oklahoma City bombing.”

“Tried is a good word for the hatchet job he did to them, but not the local commander. He refused to back down, in fact since then the local unit has grown because of the core leadership’s drive and determination.”

“They help with civil defense, tornado clean up and rescue, food bank drives, CPR training for anyone, and they have two very nice rifle and pistol ranges open to the public. They buy ammunition in bulk and militia members or those of us on active duty can buy it at the discount price. Before 9/11, we only qualified once every eighteen months, so most of us who like to shoot take advantage of the Militia offer to buy cheap ammo and use their ranges.”

“But I’m getting away from the main problem, Col. Dubois wants his Star and he figures that if he can prove a terrorist threat is real or some scandal involving the Militia he’ll get it. And by sucking up to the liberals in congress he’ll try his damnedest to, no matter whose head gets chopped. He doesn’t care the least about ruining others careers or of forcing early retirement on several senior Sgt.’s.” Roberts finished with some dejection in his voice, as if he already knew the outcome and didn’t like it.

Major Dix asked the obvious, “Where does General Greene stand on this issue?”

“Rumor has it the General asked Col. Dubois to drop all charges, or at the most to give the Sgts. involved an administrative dressing down. But not the good Colonel, he will ruin several other people’s careers just to advance his own, excuse me sir but he’s just a typical Remf sir. I was hoping with the change of administrations that was all behind us, and especially since 9/11 Sir.”

“That will be enough of that Sgt. Robert’s, you don’t have to respect the man, but you have to respect the rank,” Major Dix said. He knew the Sergeant was only stating the truth, if you had been willing to rat on others and show how much you admired the previous President, you got the promotion. Look at Ft. Hood and the Waco incident, ignore the law, do what you were told with no questions asked. You’re rewarded by being appointed as head of NATO command for your loyalty, and keeping your mouth shut. Now that same kiss ass bastard was running for President, instead he should be in jail for murder, one day justice will be done maybe not on this earth, but it would be done, he was sure of that.

Roberts answered, “Sorry sir but it’s the truth.”

“Truth or not, keep it to yourself, as I said respect the rank, OK Now how many NCO’s have been charged,” Dix asked?

“Seven with giving information and support. Another four with having ties to or associating with the Militia.”

“You’re not one of them are you staff?”

“No Sir, hell if they want to charge every NCO on base with using their range or talking to them at gun shows, well over half of the NCO’s and several officers on post would be involved. I know most of the people charged and they didn’t do anything wrong or illegal. It’s a damn witch-hunt pure and simple; the people in the Militia are all very patriotic and loyal Americans. Not at all like the picture the Clinton’s tried to paint. If you didn’t vote for them meaning the Clinton’s ‘why in the world would you believe any thing they said,’ is my motto.”

Major Dix nodded his head in agreement and smiled, as he thought not a bad motto either.

“Sir, I know several people in the local Militia including one former Sgt. that I served with. Not a single one of them is a threat to the U.S. of A., some have even fought for the military overseas, and most if not all would be an asset in an emergency. It’s a slap in the face to decent people and to a bunch of good NCO’s Major, and if the court martial succeeds a lot of good junior Sgts. on post will resign or not re-up, and General Greene knows that.”

Shaking his head in disbelief Dix said out loud, “I haven’t been on base an hour, if what your telling me is true, and I’m not doubting you, it’s a mess. I won’t make any promises, but I will look into the matter. Really I have no choice since it involves my command. OK Staff hop out and I’ll follow your HumVee to my unit, that way I can see my Sgt. Major and find out first hand just what he did give to the Militia folks. OK,” Major Dix asked?

“Good enough for me Sir, I just think the truth needs to come out, and then the General will dismiss the charges entirely, or order Col. Dubois to, ” Roberts said as he got out of the car.

As he started the car’s engine Dix couldn’t help but think the Militia was probable a bunch of want-a-be’s, a lot of old fat guys running around playing at soldiering? Dix knew his history; the Militia had saved the countries bacon more times then they were given credit for. They were mentioned in the US Constitution and Bill of Rights, but that was history and the concept of the Militia seemed outdated. At least he thought so, even if the Swiss and the Israeli armies depended on the system to back up their regular forces. Besides he had to get to his command and figure out if he could clear up the mess he had walked into, and still be ready to train, man-o-man when it rains it pours.

The following Week

“An honest man’s word is as good as his bond’

Henry David Thoreau

“With all due respects Colonel Dubois, the charges are bogus and we all know that,” Major Dix said trying to keep his composure. “The Militia is charted under the Kansas and US Constitutions, and they have been registered with the Kansas Sec. Of State since August 1997. They have been mentioned in over a dozen separate Kansas County Commissioners meetings numerous times for the last three years, all favorable. I could find only two times unfavorable, and both of those were later amended to being misunderstandings on the part of the counties. Maybe there are more unfavorable articles but I had a very limited time to investigate and research. Besides reporters and bureaucrats don’t like to admit their mistakes, and since some of them did, that makes the issue as favoring the Militia more noteworthy, Sir.” Dix took a deep breath now why did I say bureaucrats, hope the Colonel doesn’t take offense on that.

“Enough Major.” Now Col Dubois was angry and he didn’t care if it showed, “the previous US administration labeled all Militias as subversive and a danger to the country, to be watched and reported on.”

“And I might add the previous post commander ordered that all contact with them to be avoided. That was to keep the military from violating any of the laws passed in the Patriot Act.” Col. Dubois didn’t care if he stretched the truth, he was going to finish what he had started come hell or high water.

“Colonel, you know I rescinded that order after I took command. Besides that orders origin was dubious at best, it was never signed by the General, or posted to the units,” General Greene knew that Col. Dubois had issued that order, he just couldn’t prove it yet.

“We also have to respect the State of Kansas and its laws regarding the state Militia. Besides there are several other states that have recognized their Militia, I know from first hand experience that North Carolina is one of them,” General Price said adding that fact to the conservation, it was public knowledge that Kansas, however reluctant, had recognized the Militia. No matter what this meeting turned up as evidence or in favor for the NCO’s in question, he knew he would have to order his adjutant to drop the charges. Being a good commander he just wasn’t going to chastise the Colonel it in front of others

Col. Dubois realized he had lost this battle when the General spoke; still he couldn’t help but say, “You do know that the plan to blow up the Government building in Oklahoma City was completed and acted upon, around here don’t you!” Let them brew on that one for a while he thought.

General Greene shot back, “Do not go near that one gentlemen if you please. The so called bomber and his helper had both served in the Active Army not the militia.”

Thinking to himself, Gen. Greene knew there are too many unanswered questions there. Retired Air Force Gen. Partain who knew his explosives, said it was brought down from inside with shaped charges; why the Government had ignored that information was beyond him? And the people he knew in the Intel field had said there was a mid-east connection involved that time would prove. He didn’t believe in any conspiracy, but he did know that all the facts hadn’t been made known to the public.

Why tell the whole truth when we can destroy those who disagree with us by using half-truths and lies, the motto of the previous administration, and the creed of a lot of bad officers they had promoted too. Col. Dubois was the perfect example of that administrations desire and goal to destroy the US military from the inside. Well not on my watch no sir, no way.

“Major Dix would you and the rest of the gentlemen present please excuse me and the Colonel for a minuet,” the General asked?

As Dix and the others got up to leave the General said, “Thank you, Major please shut the door.”

As the door closed and not waiting for more then a second to pass, Col. Dubois spoke first, “General I guess you want me to drop the charges and clear the records of any misconduct as reported?” You could hear the sharp edge to his voice, but he wasn’t going to back down with out protest.

“It would be best, I don’t see how you can win the case since they, the Militia are registered with the state of Kansas,” Gen. Greene answered. “Also as I said there are several other states that have set up a volunteer defense force, Virginia, Alaska, Tennessee, New York and Georgia to name a few. Most of that funding comes out of language in the Homeland Defense bill, and those dollars will flow to the states, to be used at their discretion. These volunteers are to be used only within the respective state, and are called to duty by the Governor as needed. It seems a bit redundant to me in setting up something new, when every state has with in its own Constitution, a Militia clause, but that’s politics.” Greene ended his statement looking directly at Col. Dubois with his hands held in a what ever gesture, “It’s your call John do the right thing, I would prefer not to make it an order.”

“Yes sir, understood,” Dubois answered with a hard edge to his voice. “I’m just not sure how the Judge Advocate will react, he will ask if there was any pressure in making my decision to drop the charges.”

“Present Maj. Dix’s research and the Kansas law showing the Militia’s legal standing, he will see that there isn’t any violation to prosecute, that should be the end of this mess.” The General answered, weary of his Adjutant’s political posturing and implied threat; it’s time to think about a change if this continues. Backstabbing and death by association are two things that Gen. Greene would never be accused of, and or allow to happen while he was in command.

That issue settled general Greene then pushed the intercom button and said, to his Aide-de-camp, “Lt. Jones please have Maj. Dix and the others come back in, thank you.” He then wrote a quick note to himself, ‘find out more about the personalities of the local Militia commanders,’ thinking there has to be something there to cause this much trouble within my command?

(C-31)

Arizona Border Region

Fall

‘To expect for government to protect you, is to be a bystander in your own fate.’

Anon?

‘One ought never to turn one’s back on a threatened danger

And try to run away from it. If you do that, you will double the danger.

But if you meet it promptly and without flinching, you will reduce the danger by half.’

Winston Churchill

D sure hoped this wasn’t going to be another wild goose chase, even if his boss had sent him. And even more so since he had asked Eli to accompany him as a tracker under contract. The Arizona offices of the Border Patrol had requested the assistance of an agent who was fluent in Chinese, and his boss had been good enough to grant their request.

It seemed that several groups of oriental looking men, possible Chinese, had crossed the border and had been seen by some of the ranchers. Give me a break D thought, most people couldn’t tell the difference between Asians, be they Vietnamese or Koreans let alone some one from China. And what good would his language skills do without some one to interrogate or written material that had been discarded and our people found.

That’s why he had asked Eli along if by chance they came across some new tracks they would have a chance to chase them down. D could track well but Eli was the best he had ever seen, jokingly D once told him he could track an ant across a table. And he meant it to, twice he had used Eli to follow tracks of drug smugglers, once from horse back and the other hanging out the window of a pick up. Both times they had caught up with the criminals, and apprehending every one of the drug couriers. Then working up the chain the local DEA guys quickly rounded up the first drug contacts above the mules and coyote level then they started working higher and higher. In less then a week they were able to arrest over forth-five people and to break up two major rings one in Detroit and the other in Portland.

Eli had received money for the Tips from both cases, and with the money he bought some land he had his eye on He was now the owner of 90 acres of shut in land up by Bridgeport. He had invited D and his family up several weekends, to meet some friends and to enjoy the outdoors and to lend a hand fixing up the place.

Without a four-wheel drive and knowing where to turn off the county road you would never have found the place. It was just a path when you first left the road but after a hundred yards or so it turned onto an old abandoned railway grade, one that was left over from the old west mining rush.

You then drove for almost a mile winding up and around some hills to a nice mountain retreat with lots of trees and a small fishing lake, almost like something you would see out of a 1940’s postcard. Just plain beautiful were the words Eli used to explain what his home looked like, and it was to.

D had asked Eli how he found out that a place like this was for sale? The reply was a simple “A friend that is a real-estate agent has been looking for several years and the reward money on the table really helped.” The place had two large cabins and a bunkhouse all nestled under large trees with a small patch of open ground for a farmer’s garden and a small corral and shed for four or five horses, this made up the total human impact as the rest of the land was covered in old growth wilderness. Quit the change to the desert they were use to working in. Eli would rent out the smaller cabin and bunkhouse to friends, he said there was some one there every day, year round. So he wasn’t worried about the place being vandalized with him gone most of the time.

“I talked over your offer with the wife and kids. I was wrong; she didn’t call you a survivalist or even an extreme nut case. She said the laying in of a few supplies and extra cloths at you place is a great excuse to spend more time there. If it’s OK she said we could take the first trip, I mean load up the first weekend in October?”

Now it was Eli’s turn to laugh, “I told you before, you guys don’t need an excuse to visit the place. Just call Tom Jennings or me, you met him he’s the last house on the road before my turn off. That’s so he’ll know its you guys or a friend heading up.”

The trip to Douglas had been a long drive, taking up most of the night, with a stop at the local Border Patrol office for directions. Then grabbing a quick breakfast, the two then headed back west to the mountains near Forrest to see the rancher and look at the location ask some questions and get the information first hand.

D asked Eli, “Back home in Rhodesia how did you guy’s deal with the long borders and the influx of terrorists during the war?”

“At first it was mostly by covering the ground with scattered foot patrols, picking up spoor and following. In the early days the police got a lot of information that was willingly supplied by the locals. Later on when the terrorist started cutting up and killing the headsmen and their families as intimidation and to control the people, that information slowed and finally stopped. The terrorist would then set up the puppets they wanted in control, and with most of our source of information dried up, we had to switch to more drastic measures.” Eli’s tone was if he was reading ancient history, not something he had lived through.

“Remember we were at war, people were being killed daily, so action had to be taken.” Eli said emphasizing on the ‘at war’.

“At first the Government tried using signs that read ‘mine field’ right on the border, these had to be backed up by some mines, then more and more. I read somewhere that they had planted over three and half million mines before the war was over, what a waste in money that could have been spent on a couple thousand troops. Any way almost all the mines were along the northeast and eastern borders they helped slow down the crossings, but it was from the informers in communists controlled Mozambique that helped the most. Sort of like your paid help south of the border, they help you to catch a few, not the majority that comes across but a few.”

Point taken D bobbed his head in agreement and asked, “If someone asked you how you would stop the illegal crossing what would your answer would be?”

Eli answered with out hesitation, as he had pondered this subject on his many hours spent guarding ranchers land. “First off, very few politicians are going to ask for an opinion. I have written letters and called my local officials, like most of the people who live near the border are doing. And no I didn’t say to put in a mine field, no one wants a bunch of innocent people who are fleeing desperate economic conditions to be killed,” he added as he continued.

“Two fences one right on the border with warning signs, if you cross and are caught you will be deported without a chance of ever entering the US legally. The second fence, a good strong fence or better a twenty foot high wall, like the Israelis are building with a hundred meters or so of clear open ground on both sides. With hidden sensors planted on the south side of the second fence, and every mile or so a high watchtower with one way glass to survey the points in between. By using one way glass, people on the south side of the border won’t know which tower is manned.”

“But all of this must be backed with a policy of dealing harshly with the people and businesses who hire the illegal aliens, hefty fines and if necessary jail terms. For those who are caught coming across, you deport them within 24 hours, no ‘ifs or buts’ about it. If a women has a baby within that 24 hours no automatic citizenship. We’re not sorry that’s the law, if you wanted to become an American citizen you should have done it legally, like the ones who are following the law.”

“This might seem harsh to a bleeding heart, but laws are made to be obeyed, if you allow someone to break the law as their first act upon crossing to American soil, they will have little regard to other laws they don’t like. Same with the people who hire them, they know they are breaking laws, so which ones will they ignore next?”

D shook his head in agreement again.

“I and hundreds of thousands of others like me immigrated legally, so can they. It’s not right for some to think they are above the law, or to ignore the one’s they want to. That leads to anarchy, and heads you down the path most third world countries have gone. I know that having experienced it first hand, just look at Zimbabwe now.”

“I know what you mean,” D said.

“I’m not trying to make any predictions; but until we get some back bone in our elected officials you can expect another 9/11 incident or worse. And then and only then will the average Joe wake up and see that the politicians he helped elect are only that, politicians not leaders. I just hope that the death toll is bearable.”

D glanced at his friend with a puzzled look then back at the road, “You scare me, what do you mean by bearable?”

“If the al-Quada, or some such group gets their hands on a biological or a nuke they will use it no doubt about it, maybe not in America but they will use it. When I say bearable I’m hoping for a couple hundred or less. If it happens here and we have a president like the last bubba, you can kiss off a big portion of our rights, followed by a major crack down on his opponents, and the people he doesn’t like. And with a push for more of our sovereignty to be handed over to the UN, exactly what the nine dwarfs, that’s the democrats, who are running for President believe in. That’s so we can be more like the rest of the world, a socialist utopia, but then that’s just my opinion.”

D gave a dry laugh, “I know how you feel, I have the same worries.”

D slowing down the pick up and said, “Not to change the subject but that’s our turn off here, if I’m correct?”

On a sign above the gate leading onto the property was the name ‘Gods Acres’, “Great, they gave us good directions for once, would you mind opening the gate my friend?”

Before Eli could get out of the pickup the gate started to open, you could see that it had a hydraulic system powered by solar panels mounted high on a pole. Pretty cool, and it could be controlled from the house, which was on a low rise less then two hundred yards away. As they drove up the driveway a tall weathered man who looked a lot like the Marlboro man, wearing a cowboy hat and boots with a pistol in a hip holster opened the gate leading into the enclosed yard and machine workshop area. He pointed to a spot for them to park.

Pulling up past the man, D stopped the pickup and shut off the engine, getting out he introduced themselves, “Hello sir I’m D Salvador, with the border patrol, and this is my friend Ellis Maritz,” as he shook the offered hand, followed by Eli.

“Glad to meet you boys, I’m David Perishing, your friends from the Douglas headquarters called and said I could expect you.”

Looking at Eli, David said with a laugh, “Your size doesn’t lead one to believe the reputation that proceeds you sir!”

With his usual humorous chuckle and the mischievous twinkle in his eyes, Eli had to look up to answer the tall rancher. “Dynamite comes in small packages, and besides it’s easier to hide or track when you’re closer to the ground.”

David and D both laughed as David retorted back, “I guess that’s why I’m not very good at either. Do you two want some coffee, before we check out where I saw the Chinese 10 days ago. And the last group two days ago, on Tuesday.”

“No thanks on the coffee,” Eli and D answered together.

“No one said anything about the sighting ten days ago, my boss told me yesterday about the ones you saw Tuesday,” D added.

“I only told a few people about the first ones last week, but after the second group I wanted to let someone know there was or is a coming problem.” You could see the concern in David’s face, after 9/11 everyone needed to be aware, to help prevent another attack since no one knew from which direction it might be coming.

“David I’m not trying to be critical or pick your story apart, but how sure are you that these are Chinese, to a lot of people one oriental looks just the same as another?” D had to ask even if he made the tall rancher mad.

“That’s OK, I understand why you would ask. During the early seventies I got an expense paid vacation to a small country in Indo-China, courtesy of Uncle Sam. I spent one year in Vietnam and asked for one more, after that tour I spent the next six months in Thailand. Being young and dumb, and not caring too much but I was enjoying the money, and I allowed the Marines to talk me into re-upping for another three years. This time I asked for Taiwan, got it and soon got married to a local girl. Her family had escaped from the main land about a year before Mao drove out the nationalist forces, so you see I do know the facial differences. And my wife was with me last week when we saw the first group, she said they were Chinese, period.”

“If she hadn’t left for Tucson on Sunday to see our grandchildren she could confirm what we saw.”

“I’m not questioning what you saw,” D replied. “I had to ask because there are questions in my mind, we have to be sure before it becomes part of an official report.”

“That’s OK I know how much paper work has to be done, my youngest son works out of the Patrols, El Paso office, and he tells me of the stuff he has to put up with.” David said with a humorless snort in reply.

“OK if you don’t want any coffee follow me or better yet lets take my pick up it’s got the crew size cab and we can all ride in style.”

D answered, “Sounds like a deal to me, Eli and I have to get a couple of things first,” as he opened the drivers door and took his M16 rifle from behind the seat. He then loaded a magazine in the rifle, picking up a small canvas bag of extra magazines he placed the shoulder strap over his head.

Eli at the same time took his FN out of a gun case from behind the seat and inserted a load magazine, picking up a plain LBE harness and belt with four magazine pouches and a canteen attached he asked D, “Shotgun or drivers side?”

Without missing a beat D said, “Your left handed, take shotgun, I’ll ride behind David.”

Raising one eyebrow and with a grin on his face David chuckled, “Kind of bad ain’t it that you have to ready for a shoot out here in America. If I hadn’t live here my whole life and watched it go down hill and having a military background too, I’d wonder what you two are up to. But when you live in bear country it’s best to be ready to meet a bear.”

“Don’t let our appearance scare you David,” Eli answered as the two-armed men climbed into his truck. “We’ve both been shot at recently, D at least twice in the last three months. An me by a couple of armed drug runners just last week, so where ever we go we go well dressed.”

D with a smile on his face and holding up his rifle said, “Never leave home without it. I also have a pistol on me with extra magazines every time I set out from the house.”

David starting the pick up replied, “In the last three years I’ve taken to wearing my pistol every where I go even when I leave the ranch. The wife does the same, I guess that doesn’t speak well of the condition our country is head in does it?”

No one answered the rhetorical question but D couldn’t help but think of the statement by Thomas Paine. ‘The supposed quietude of a good man allures the ruffian: while on the other hand, arms, like laws, discourage and keep the invader and the plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property.’

Driving out the open gate of the homestead David stopped and D quickly jumped out to shut the gate, once he got back in the trio headed north and east on a dirt and gravel track.

Eli had the passenger window down with his rifle barrel resting on his arm asked David, “It’s nice country around here, if you don’t mind how many acres you got?”

David shrugged and said, “It is nice that’s why my family made it home, and no I don’t mind you asking. We own over 1500 acres on this property and have grazing rights to another 7,000 on BLM land. We also have another six hundred acres in the bottoms that’s separate from the main ranch. We irrigate those and use it to cut and bale hay for the winter feed.”

“Your next question would more then likely be, how many head of cattle we are running? We have at any one time around eight hundred head, with a good two dozen or so wild mustangs running free too.”

“Sounds like you have good grazing ground.”

“Were lucky we have several large valleys on the place that has good water at least eight months of the year. That gives us enough grass so we can run one cow to around ten acres or so, but we don’t push that.”

“I have some friends that need over 20 acres to each head, with less grass they have larger ranches but smaller herds.”

D asked, “Water for cattle has always been the limiting factor world wide; how long has you family lived around here?”

“Almost 150 years, since the 1860’s right at the start of the civil war. The six hundred acres was the original ranch, the family acquired the 1500 acres we are on right now by marriage in the early 1900’s.”

“Your roots go pretty deep then,” D committed.

“Yea, they do, and we have watched the tide of illegal aliens grow each year, but recently it’s really starting to get dangerous. I’m not blaming you D, or the other border agents for the problems we are having. It’s just the elitists in Washington and their policies; and the average American for not paying attention to what the folks down here are saying. We’re the ones who are suffering under this tidal wave of law breakers.”

“Our hands are tied with stupid rules and nuisance lawsuits by these elite’s as you call them, we use a lot stronger words to describe them,” D answered.

“People who have lived on the same land for several generations like us ranchers, the soil it’s in our blood. We take care of it, improve what we can, make it better not just for our cattle but for the wild things too.” David continued, “I can’t for the life of me understand how some one who lives in an apartment, a town home or a quarter acre plot with a small yard and home, how can they even think they know better then the ranchers and farmers. Those people live hundreds or even thousands of miles away, they don’t know a thing about the land, or the everyday problems around here. How the hell can they know what is best for me and my family?”

David didn’t pause to let the other two answer. “Hell I read an article by some leftist S.O.B. He said since we the ranchers here on the border, lived in the way of this illegal flood, that we should sell out and move, to buy new land somewhere else. To get out of the way, I say, the hell with him. That’s not the answer to stopping this invasion, that’s a cowards attitude, the give up and do nothing approach to enforcing the law.”

D laughed, “If the money came out of their pocket I’ll bet their tune would change, and fast too. And who said anything about obeying the law, to the leftist it’s not black and white it’s all gray and fuzzy.”

“I know they can invent all types of new things but I haven’t heard of a way to invent new land.” Eli added, “besides their solution doesn’t effect them, it’s only the average American problem whom the elite consider not worthy, and besides they have no respect for us in the first place.”

D continued. “And once the land and property has been sold to these leftist elite, would they still allow the unlimited trespassing and the destruction of the infrastructure to continue? I don’t think so; they would be yelling loud and mad as hell too. Demanding help form the Government in the form of troops on the border and prosecution of those who dared to mess with their property.”

David snorted, “And if they owed the property would they willing take care of it? Putting in the wells irrigating the fields, to actually get there hands blistered and dirty? Toiling long hours to work the soil, sowing the crops, to nurture them to maturity. Then the long work days that stretch into the night of getting the crops in and to market or up for the winter-feed?”

“On top of that the daily chore of taking care of the cattle and horses I also have to watch out for trouble from drug runners. Hell I’ll bet most leftist don’t know what fresh droppings even smell like, or how to curry a horse? And they would be completely lost when a heifer needs help by having to pull the calf, I guess they think that cattle don’t take any time or effort to rise. If one in a hundred have any idea or even care about the amount of work ranchers or farmers do I’d be surprised.”

“I learned about hard work with my own hands and the satisfaction it fills you with, from my dad by doing chores when I was just barely knee high,” David gestured with his right hand.

By the tone of his voice D knew David was frustrated by the entire situation, just like most people who lived near the border were. It’s all because the dully-elected representatives of the people weren’t enforcing the laws and that sooner or later something had to give. Laws are made for everyone to obey, not to be selectively enforced because someone wanted to gain a political advantage.

“My dad taught me well, I went on to college after my time in the Marines and got a degree majoring in Agriculture science.” David continued, “I then came back to help work the ranch, and my dad left the land to me in his will. As I hope to do for one of my children. Ha, you wouldn’t believe the amount I had to pay in inheritance tax for our family property. And then some élitist says to sell it and move on, they have no idea of the bond a family makes with the land when it’s your living! Some folks will never learn?”

“They don’t want the bother of knowing,” Eli said as he scanned the ground rolling by out of his window.

“But its not that what makes me so mad, it’s their indifference to the constant trespassing and trashing of my property that goes on almost nightly, do that in New York and see what happens. And the cost; twice in the last few months I’ve had to buy and install new pipe on the east-side wells. And I’ve spent even more money and time repairing fences, and cleaning up the trash they leave behind.”

“The trash problem got so bad that two weeks ago I took one of my ranch hands from another job, and we spent a day cleaning up the arroyo above the east well.”

“I’ve got one ditch that smells worse then any rice patty I remember smelling in Nam, they don’t cover up the crap after they take a dump either. No manners and no respect even for each other let alone me, my property or the U.S. of A. So I say send them back home and let them dump on their own governments for being so corrupt, force them to fix the problems that makes them leave their native country in the first place.” Just by the tone in his voice you could tell that David was mad and not trying to be funny.

D and Eli would have laughed but neither wanted to offend David, besides he was correct.

“What’s got me worried though is the number of armed drug runners that I know are coming across; and now these new groups of Chinese. The head of the local office said you were the best local expert they had without going through Washington that’s why he called you boss and here we are. But what really got me about these groups were the way they moved a scout or two out ahead and one or two flankers on the side just like I was trained to move as part of my recon team. Their careful movement is what caught my eye more then any thing else.”

D asked, “Don’t know if I’m an expert but I do what I can. You weren’t seen by the groups and were any of them armed?”

“No we stayed out of sight and we didn’t see any firearms but they used some type of radios to communicate with and were real good with hand signals, I could see one of the scouts talking into his lapel and using my binos, I could see an ear bud in his ear.”

Pulling up by a working windmill that was pumping water, David stopped the truck, switching off the motor as he said, “We’re here, and we have to walk about fifty to sixty yards into the brush to reach the dry wash then close to another four hundred yards.” The three opened their doors getting out.

Eli asked them to stay next to the pick up for a minuet as he walked past the front of the truck ten meters or so and then walked in a wide circle around them staying the distance, casting for spoor.

D standing by the pick up as security glanced at David who was watching Eli, and committed with a chuckle, “Can’t take him anywhere. He’s always eyeing the ground, I think he’s hoping to find some money or a diamond so he can say he’s rich.”

Eli’s reply was in a low voiced chuckle that the two could just barley hear, “Worked twice lately partner.” With out looking up as he worked his way back around to about where he started he pointed to the ground and said, “Some one approached the windmill from the east last night.” He pointed to some track marks on the ground, “here and here, they tried to hide the shoe print by covering his or her feet with cloth.”

David asked with a frown on his face, “How do you know it was last night?”

Eli pointing to the ground just ahead of where he stood, “You have some mice tracks across two of these prints.”

David walked over and knelled down to where Eli had pointed, “You say they covered their shoes, that’s a new trick this far in country, most illegal’s don’t give a damn about leaving tracks around here. I would never have noticed these slight marks and depressions they made.” Looking closer he said, “I can see why you said last night, there are mice tracks going across the depression of this one print, you are good. The slightest wind will wipe out the mice tracks in the next couple of hours,” as he stood pushing up the brim of his hat, he looked at Eli with a little awe in his eyes.

Eli pointing to the east and said in a low voice, “Follow me but stay back ten to fifteen meters, walk on the right side of the trail and you’ll stay off the tracks, I’ll be moving slow and quiet so watch my back. I’m sure we won’t see anyone as the noise from driving the truck here will have made them leave the area, pronto, but I want to play it safe, OK?”

D nodded his head as David said, “Hold it just a second I’ll grab my rifle from the pickup.”

David walking back past D, who said, “More then likely we’ll see nothing, but just to let you know, I don’t doubt what you said you saw.”

D added, “The covering up of the prints is not an uncommon tactic when a coyote first crosses the border, but as you said to do so this far in country that’s a new one. I’ll bet you wish you had taken a picture the last time you saw that group of Orientals?”

Getting his mini-14 and a extra magazine, David answered with a smile, “We didn’t have any good cameras, but after I saw the first group I called my brother and told him, he also served a tour in Nam, and knows all about having proof since he’s an attorney now. And he does a lot of hunting, any way he got a couple of special cameras made for us. I didn’t have them until yesterday when I set them up, if we’re lucky we might have some pictures to look at. You follow Eli, and I’ll bring up the rear, that way I’ll see what you do and can follow suit.”

D said, “That works for me,” as he stayed back the distance Eli had asked him to. It took only a few minuets following Eli to the beginning of the gully, which was only two-foot deep or so and varied from four to ten feet wide, but by walking in it someone could go to ground fast. With all the mesquite trees and dry grass around if you were to walk past at twenty yards away you wouldn’t see them.

Eli motioned for them to halt as he studied the ground for another minuet or so, as he walked up and down beside the worn path. Laying his FN down beside the trail he counted only the right shoe mark that fell within the area from the rifle’s pistol grip to the end of the barrel. He then picked up his rifle walked another ten paces and repeated the process. Then he motioned for both men to close up to him, as all three knelt down looking at the tracks he said in almost a whisper, “It looks like you had two or three separate groups come through here last night. That’s the normal method used by the drug runners over in California, first ones the bait, the second and third have the goods.”

“The first group I suspect, consisted of maybe four or five, a small family group you can see the worn shoes of a small child and at least one set of prints from a women, their tracks are almost completely covered by the following groups.”

“The second group is the one of interest and I suspect the one that had at least one persons feet covered to hide his side scouting.” Pointing to the two sides of the small dry water way and then in the direction of Mexico, “When their scout checked out the wind mill eleven others took up positions in a herringbone pattern on either side facing out. All eleven wore the same type hiking-boots all brand new; they then headed north into the hills. I’ll bet they are following this dry bed all the way.”

“The third group of around twelve to fifteen has on a normal mix of worn shoes, tennis shoes, sandals and the coyote. I’ll bet he’s the one wearing the new pair of cowboy boots, you can see his print here,” pointing to a very sharp outline in the dust. “They came behind the second group to cover their tracts, which means some connection to a drug cartel, it’s a standard way to hide the steps of its human mules. The first group if caught would draw the border patrol in with lights flashing and would warn the other two groups to look for a different trail. Also the third group has at least two men carrying heavy packs, you can see the depth in each step is different from the rest of the group.”

D asked, “Any idea about what time they come through?”

Eli’s grimace said a lot but he answered with, “Several hours ago, maybe late evening? Hard to tell as I don’t know the wind conditions from last night.”

“I’d say around midnight for the last group at the latest,” David added, “the road you drove in on ends at the next ranch. There are two more ranches with homes and the ranch hands housing between my place and the main road, we all watch for traffic at night and any thing out of the normal, we call the sheriff or border patrol. It takes about three hours of hard walking at night to clear the properties and make the next county road past our lands, especially going through the low hills here at the edge of my property.”

Eli nodding his head said, “I’d like to follow this path for a while, how far to the property line?”

“Half a mile maybe less if you don’t follow the winding dry bed, I was telling D about a couple of cameras that I placed out yesterday up by the dry arroyo as it comes off my neighbors property. We can check them out and see if they worked, and they’ll have the time each picture was taken.”

D standing up as the other two followed said, “Eli lead on, David you follow him that way you can tell him when he gets near the cameras.”

The three men walked in silence spaced out as if on a combat patrol, and that’s exactly what they were doing. If they met a coyote returning they needed to be spaced out, more then one rancher or border patrol agent has been shot at in the last few months. Eli is still tracking up the well-worn path past scattered empty water bottles, one old dirty diaper that had been tossed to the side of the trail, old cloths and lots of other trash.

David said, “The trash you see here is all less then two months old, we cleaned it all up from the windmill to the property line just before school reopened for the year. Damn them to hell these illegal trespasser’s and their lack of caring about trashing someone else’s home.”

Getting into the low hills Eli stopped and pointed to a fence line he could see through the mesquite brush.

David then pointed to a small pile of branches on Eli’s right, he walked over and moved a couple of branches and then picked up a brownish colored rock that was about ten inches tall, it looked like any number of rocks scattered about. Taking his key ring from his pocket he used a small bent wire shaped key to open the hidden lock and reviled the back of a digital camera. He said, “It has an sonic beam that comes out the front, it works as a sensor and when you come within range it will automatically focus and take the picture. The manual said it can store up to sixty picture at its best resolution and over twice that many at the last setting. I set it at the highest as I wanted to enlarge them on my computer for the best detail.”

Eli shaking his head told D, “The wonder of new toys, but I like it. I glanced at that rock and would have never suspected it for any thing else. I need to get a couple or so of them with that ultra sonic sound field and able to use starlight for picture taking. That way if the coyote is using some type of night vision he won’t see any inferred beam or flash. You guys go ahead and take a look, I’ll walk on another five or six meters and pull security, I can always take a look later.” As Eli walked up the trail he pulled out his ‘Ear Shot’ hearing amplifiers and placed them on his head.

D looking at the camera LED screen and saw the last picture, it was Eli as he had stepped into the camera’s field of focus. He asked David, “Where did your brother get these, I’ve seen security cameras that look like trash and pieces of wood, but they were still cameras. This material that looks like rock, is molded right onto the housing and I didn’t see any glint of light off the lens.”

“My brother has a lot of hunting buddies who use game cameras to check on the best hunting areas. Two months ago he had me come out here and pick up half a dozen ordinary colored rocks and then take them to his house, he said they wanted them for comparison and color. The material his friend used was a resin compound that is both waterproof and shockproof. He’s in some detective agency or such that makes special equipment, well to make a long story short he got a rush job on these but you have to look at them in reverse order as they were taken. I guess he’ll take a better camera next time with fancier controls but for now this will do.”

Scrolling back to the next picture they saw two nice young javelina, both with reddish brown fur and a black stripe down their backs. The next fourteen pictures were of illegal Hispanics walking by, two of the men had on large backpacks that looked heavy, D commented, “Eli was right, I’ll bet you those two are carrying drugs, marijuana or meth.”

But it was the next eleven photos that made the hairs on the back of their necks stand up. These showed them something was going on, but what? All eleven men were dressed similar, hiking boots, blue jeans, dark colored jackets, with dark watch caps on their heads and all carried a dark colored, civilian backpack. All eleven were young oriental men and in top physical shape, you could tell by the look on their faces and the stride each man was taking, relaxed and with easy determination showing on their faces, to reach the objective.

David said, “I should have brought my lab top, by plugging in the connector cable we could have seen more detail. I’ll get the next camera and we’ll head back to the pickup then we can take a closer look see.” Walking up the path he stops about ten feet away from the fence then he stepped a couple of paces to the left this time and picked up another ordinary looking rock. As he started to turn back Eli had moved back from the fence and whispered for him to take cover. D was already down and almost impossible to see as he had taken cover next to a brush pile, Eli got down behind some grass-covered rocks.

David moved behind a small mesquite tree with clumps of grass at its base and waited, but not for long. On the other side of the fence, further up the draw, a man in BDU clothing and wearing a face veil appeared from around the bend. Eli could see that he was armed with a FN rifle and from his looking at the ground and movement it was obvious he was backtracking and scanning the surrounding bush. Whoever he was, he’s cautious and taking his time, not just looking at the ground but also for any possible sign of ambush. As he got closer and saw the fence he stopped about thirty meters back from it, using hand singles to alert the people following him and then knelt down, listening and observing. After scanning the scrub for any movement he spoke into a headset he was wearing over the veil. He was too far away for Eli to hear what he said so the three waited to see what the stranger would do next.

Another figure wearing BDU’s and camouflage face paint appeared on the low rise to the right of the first man, he was about thirty meters away from the point man, acting as a flanker and in a position to spoil an ambush. Eli thought, these guys know some basic tactics, he could see that this second man was also armed with an FN to, and as he got down and took up an over watch position you could see he had on a head set radio too.

A third man in BDU battle dress appeared, this time armed with a scooped H&K rifle and he walked down the draw to the first man taking a position on the other side of the trail to cover him. The first man then got up and walked to within a couple of meters of the fence, seeing that the tracks continued onto another mans property, he stopped again using his head set radio Eli heard him this time say, “Team this is two-five the tracks cross the fence line. I’m going to call base to see if we can get permission to continue our back track, out.”

He then took another radio off his hip, depressing the switch he said, and “Alpha Zulu one-zero, this is Kilo Mike two-five over.”

The reply came back, “This is one-zero go ahead, over.”

“We are at green, heading is south-south-west we have back tracked on spoor, it leads onto God’s Acres do we have permission to follow over?”

“Two-five you are to hold position, we have tried to phone several times, no one is answering, wait, out!”

Replacing the radio on his belt the first man then spoke into his headset as he turned to walk back up the path, “Team, two-five here, we are on hold. I’m returning to sierra-one loc., buddy up and take twenty, coffee and smokes if you want, fifty-percent alert by sticks out.” As he walked back the thirty meters or so to the man with the H&K Eli could see another man join the one on the hill, then two more walked up to them and set down each faced out covering the 360. Two more men also dressed in BDU’s and carrying FN’s have now joined the first man and his sniper, and Eli could hear at least one more group on their left, but the bush was to thick to see them.

Eli thought to himself, not bad, these guys use good bush tactics; there are at least three sticks to cover a wide front, radios for internal patrol comms. These guys had decent training and seemed to work well as a team, professionals no, but still good.

Then it hit Eli like a rock to the head, the obvious leader and point man had used the word stick, not fire team as most yanks would do, some one from home maybe? Well we can’t wait here all day it’s at least worth checking out. Turning to David he said in a low voice, “These are friends I’m sure of it, I’ll call out to them and then when were sure they aren’t jumpy and going to shoot I’ll stand up, OK?”

D was close enough to hear and said, “No, I’ve got my border patrol jacket and cap on, I’ll call out and stand up, less chance of any misunderstanding. You both stay down and cover me.”

David and Eli both looked in D’s direction and nodded their heads ok.

Just as D was about to call out the men on the other side of the fence they all went to ground as one, several were facing in there direction with weapons at the ready. In very poor Spanish one of them called out, “Estra de pie, manos arriba! Uno no voluntad retono! Then in English, “Stand up, hands up, no one wants to shoot you.”

Standing up and walking toward the fence D shouted, “Alto,” as he laughed then said in English, “I’m with the border patrol, and that’s mighty poor Spanish your trying to use,” as he continued to laugh.

“OK, your border patrol but what about the other one or two with you, have them stand up too, please,” came back the reply.

D could see the first man who had spoken laying down his rifle as he stood up, D was surprised, how did he know there were their others with him said; “There are two others with me? One’s the property owner David Perishing, the other is a friend,” as David and Eli stood up.

The leader said into his headset, “Stand down, thanks for the warning Charlie-Mike.” He then took off his face veil as he walked to the fence and said, “Mr. Perishing, Agent, we were back tracking a large group of illegal’s, that stumbled into one of our stop groups last night and we were able to keep six of them from running away, but the rest scattered. After first light we then did a three-sixty, and found two large packs full of meth. We called the sheriff, he is sending out a car for the drugs and the illegal’s, we started our tracking before they arrived hoping to catch some more.”

D asked, “I’ve got two questions for you, first one, who are you guys, and what are you doing? Second question, did you notice anything different about the six people you caught?”

“Sorry sir, my name is Jeff Green of the Kansas Militia. We’re down here helping Ranch Rescue to try and help secure these folks property, do some fence mending, trash clean up and help with any other problem we can sort out. And as to the second part of your question, I didn’t see any thing that looked different, just six Hispanics two of them children and one woman. I think she was the mother but not real sure. As you could tell when I called out to you, I don’t speak any Spanish, was their something we missed?”

“No, not really we were on the tracks of several groups that crossed David’s property last night I just thought you might have seen more. Excuse me for a minuet” D turned to Eli and whispered, “Don’t let on to our reason for being here, just talk to them while I tell David.”

As D walked over to David he heard Jeff calling his base informing them of running into David and the Border Patrol, he didn’t hear what base said in return.

D said to David, “Less step back a few feet from the fence.”

Both men did so and before D could talk, David asked “If your not wanting me to say anything about my seeing the Chinese, you’re a bit late? I told all my neighbors last Tuesday night because what happens around here is of concern to all of us ranchers.”

D sighed and replied, “OK what’s done is done, but don’t say anything else to these militia guys. And I mean especially about the Chinese last night looking and moving like military personnel or the pictures we have OK.”

David agreed, “OK.”

D getting the response he wanted explained. “My boss will have my ass if he finds out that they know before Washington does. The militia are person-non-gratis with the big wigs there; it doesn’t matter what you or I think, but it will keep the heat from coming down on me. Did you know these guys would be here?”

The expression on D’s face was asking for his cooperation so David said, “My neighbor T.C. Paige said he had asked for help from Ranch Rescue, but he didn’t say when they would get here. Don’t worry, I won’t say anything about the pictures, but those so called big wigs in Washington with there do nothing attitude about the border problems, has caused the local people to start acting and asking for help. We will do everything within the law but we won’t stand by ideally and be driven off our land.”

Eli meanwhile was talking to Jeff, as he held out his hand. “My names Eli, how did you know we were over here, you couldn’t have seen us?”

Jeff shook the offered hand, “Naw we didn’t see you guys. The stick on our right flank, the lead man is wearing a set ‘of Hot Shots’ like yours, and its attached to a small parabolic dish. It’s our standard SOP when we are on break for him to be sweeping the ground ahead of us. That’s when he radio me and said he heard you guys talking and for all of us to hit the ground.

Eli shacking his head in agreement, “I looked at the dish setup, but it was too bulky for most of my one man solo jobs. Say where did you pick up the slang, stick, stop group and sort out, those aren’t normal phrases most Americas use?

“Our Battalion Commander has used them so much when we train, I guess I picked them up with out even thinking. He saw combat in Rhodesia, he must of learned them there, and when he’s leading the training classes he passed it on to the rest of us. I noticed your accent, it sounds a bit like his wife’s and her family, you from there too,” he asked raising one eyebrow?

“Yea I’m a Rhodie too, are you guys going to be around here very long,” Eli asked smiling?

“We got here yesterday and will stay for a week, we’re set up over at the Paige ranch.” Both turned to look at D as he walked back to them.

“Since you guys followed the tracks back down to here, and caught some of the illegal’s we don’t need to continue our tracking. We’ll head back to our wheels, then back over to David’s place, I’ll call the BP’s office and have one of their wagons talk to the sheriff and arrange to pick up the illegals, after that we’ll head over to your base then.”

Jeff sensing that this meeting was over said, “OK, maybe we’ll see you guys later?”

“Later,” D turned and said to David and Eli, “less go.” As he headed back to the truck with out waiting for a reply.

Eli said over his shoulder as he walked away, “By the way I like you choice of firearms,” referring to the FN’s he saw with in the group.

Pointing back to his rifle, which his team buddy had picked up and laid the barrel against the fork of a small tree Jeff with a smile said, “Thanks, I’ve fired a lot of good weapons, its not the best but close, and it is the most affordable of the best. I’d say well over half of the unit carry’s one, I guess we’ll see you guys in a bit?”

Eli had to hurry to catch up with D and David as they weren’t wasting any time walking back to the truck. Out of ear shout of the militia Eli said to D, “Those guys heard us talking just as they were taking their break, they are using Ear Shot’s with a parabolic dish. I hope you and David didn’t say anything that would be considered sensitive?”

D’s reply was a “Damn, that’s how they knew we were there in cover, and what’s said is done, oh well that can’t be helped now. David as soon as we get to the pickup, I want you to download the pictures from the cameras to your laptop. Less hurry guys I’ve got to make a phone call,” D increased his stride and the pace as they hurried back to the pickup.

As the Militia watched the three walking away, the fire-team Cpl. on Jeff’s left flank called on the radio, “Two-five this is sierra-mike, I need to come over and talk to you, it’s urgent over.”

“Sierra-mike meet you half way, out.”

After the fire-team leader told what he had overheard, Jeff made the decision to call base he had info for Dan that needed a face-to-face. The information was too sensitive, even for them to tell the others in the patrol for now. He cautioned the stick leader not to tell anyone else in the group, this was news that had to be told in person to the intelligence chief, and the Col. before anyone else knew. Calling on his head set radio he told the patrol, “We move out in two gentlemen, repack everything on the double, it’s a speed march back to base, two-five out. Then using the other radio he called base, telling them they were returning to base, ASAP.

Walking the rest of the way in silence, Eli was curious as to what could be bugging D. At the pace he set they covered the distance in a few minuets. David got there first and pulled out his Lap top computer as Eli pulled security, D had walked a few feet away and pulled out his regular cell phone, calling his boss back in San Diego. You could hear him talking about the Chinese, and then of the militia’s presence on the adjoining ranch. Not able to hear the full conversation but seeing D’s was emphatic in his delivery, Eli could tell that someone up the chain of command wasn’t going to be happy. He just shrugged, it had been the same way back home, with no control of what happens out in the field the Brass and the politicians had to live with their soldiers on the spot decisions: good or bad, life went on. But the brass didn’t always see it that way.

As D finished and put his cell phone back in his jacket, David called him over to look on the screen of the laptop. “Take a look at these, the detail is so much better, they sure do look like Chinese.”

D looking at the flat screen committed, “That’s some resolution, you can even see that they haven’t shaved for a day or two.

As David brought up each picture to look at, D said, “That makes eight, keep going we might as well see how many there are…hold that one,” his voice cut off sharply.

D knew this guy, he had trained in China with him, a pretty good NCO and one tough cookie, why would he leave the Chinese Army especially since their Special Forces were very well paid? D couldn’t say anything his mind was racing, so he motioned for David to go to the next picture.

D was stunned, just like he had been hit by a two-by-four, he also knew this guy too. And that made his blood ran cold, this couldn’t be. What the hell was going on, the picture they were looking at was of Major Ji Yan, one of the better Chinese Special Forces officers he had trained with, a very professional and dedicated soldier?

This didn’t make any sense! That two Chinese Special Forces soldiers that he knew, an officer and a top NCO together, sneaking into the US with what now looked to be a team of SF. David had told him of the two previous sightings, and now positive proof of a third incursion in the photos, what, what, WHAT is going on, What is about to happen?

Eli looking at D’s expression, knew something was amiss, they had played poker too many times, for D to be stunned and show it, something wrong is going on, what ever it was, it’s not going to be good either.

D told David, “Drive us back to our vehicle please, and what you have seen or heard or will hear I’m sure will be classified. All three of us have been in the military and we all know that any thing we might say to anyone can and will get us into trouble. Eli you take shot gun, when we get back I need to use my Satellite phone I left it in the truck and I need to call a boss.., I mean a friend of mine, he needs this info, I’m afraid something bad is going to happen, maybe soon.”

As the three piled into the truck, Eli handed the satellite phone D had given him some time back as he said, “It looks just like yours, I’ve kept the batteries charged.”

“I did say to carry it on you, in case of an emergency, thanks, I guess I should follow my own advice.” D used his regular cell phone first and called his superior in the border patrol and appraised him of the changed situation. He was told that it would be passed immediately on to Washington.

D felt uneasy, the Border Patrol at the top was way too political and they would gloss this over or even bury it if they thought they could get away with it. D knew this was something that was way too important to be whitewashed over by some appointed pencil neck.

D thought for just a second knowing that it might be his job on the line if his present employer found out he was doing an end run on them. Shit that doesn’t matter, he made up his mind, he would pass this information on to people who would look into the why, and attempt to get results, he had no choice.

D made the second call, this time using the satellite phone, to Fort Bragg, getting a hold of his former Special Forces commander was easier then he expected? The Duty Officer informed him that Col. Puckett was now a Brigadier General and he happened to be in charge of the SF training wing, he then transferred the call.

Gen. Puckett picked up the phone and with a welcome smile in his voice said. “Well, well Sgt. D if you’re calling to get your old job back it would be easily arranged. And I’m sure you would be off to sunny Afghanistan with in 48 hours, what can I do to help you son?”

“No thanks sir I’m happy where I’m at, but I do appreciate the offer.” Then the tone of voice D was using changed, “Sir I’m using a secure Satellite scramble phone, can we talk?”

The General perplexed by the question looked down to his phone pushed a button, as D heard the tone he pushed a button on his phone to. The General heard the return tone then said, “Set, what do you have D?”

“Sir, I’m with a rancher and a real close friend, the three of us tracked eleven PLA Special Forces soldiers on a ranch here in southern Arizona, we have the pictures to back it up. Then infiltrated last night, I know the names of two of them an Officer and a NCO I trained with, while I was in China, sir. The rancher says this is the third group of eleven he has seen on his property in the last ten, twelve days. I don’t know if it’s a reason for alarm but I wanted you to know, I’m afraid my agency might bury this information. To be honest sir, I want to let you know it spooked me seeing them here sneaking into the US.”

There was a brief pause, then the General said, “Spooked or just being alarmed is a good word for it D, something is brewing down there, this is the first news I’ve heard about any SF PLA coming in disguised as illegal aliens. How many people know about this?”

“I just called my boss in San Diego, I told him we had confirmation they were Chinese. I didn’t think anyone out side the five of us know right now that they are Special Forces sir. My Boss said he was calling Washington to pass the word up. The rancher also told his neighbors last week about the Chinese, and there is a group of militia down here assisting the one neighbor along with the Ranch Rescue people, I don’t think they know that they are SF sir.”

General Puckett set silently thinking for few seconds. Then said, “I hate to sound like I want to cover this up D, and I don’t. But until we get some more information it must be kept quiet. I want you to do a PR job and work with the Militia. Keep the information about the photos quiet, don’t let any one see them, and the people who already know, lead them into thinking its some renegade group working with the smugglers like the Mexican Zetas are doing. Get over to the neighbors ranch and see if you can work with the militia.” He remembered one of the Militia’s a few years ago had made public the BATF’S raciest roundup, with the SOB’s over there having to eat some humble pie. Somehow the Militia always smells these things out, which means they have good INTEL.

“Give me your bosses number I’ll have someone from Homeland Security in DC call him, and tell him to keep you in that area, we’ll use your language skills as the excuse, especially if one of the PLA is apprehended.”

Phasing for a second Gen. Puckett then said, “D I know you don’t work for the military anymore, but that could change, I don’t want to make it an order, do you understand me son?”

“Go ahead sir, I understand!” D knew it wasn’t a threat, under the present security conditions anything could happen.

“Since 9/11, and especially since the Department of Homeland Security has been established, a lot of agencies have come under their control, yours being one. The borders are a big open sore issue and this would really add fuel to the fire, do your best to keep this under control. What ever happens I’ll take the heat if necessary and not let the professional bureaucrats hang you with any blame for calling me or doing your job. Damn-it I just wish the militia wasn’t involved, a lot of them have big mouths and blow smoke when there’s no fire. But this time it looks there might be a fire, do you best to keep them quiet. I’ve got your number and you can call me if you need help. I need to pass this on up, is there anything else D?”

“No sir, I’ll keep you informed.”

“Good enough, Sgt. thanks for giving me the heads up and warning, I’ll talk to you later, out.”

After the conversation with Gen. Puckett, D told David and Eli most of what had been discussed. They remained quiet most of the way back to the ranch house.

As they pulled up by The Border Patrol pickup D said, “Well if we’re not careful guys, we will be called back to active duty.”

“Sounds good for me,” David laughed, “they would own me thirty years back wages with interest, I’ll be able to pay for a new truck, and buy the misses an H2, of all things she wants a yellow one, and to me that’s an ugly color. Then the two of us could go on a nice vacation to Hawaii, what about you Eli.”

“As long as they don’t pay me in Zimbabwe dollars I’ll be fine, it now cost 14 million Zim. dollars just to buy two rolls of toilet paper there,” Eli said as the three of them laughed.

D said, “David down load these pictures to your hard drive for back up, I want to do the same on my lap top.”

“Already did when we first were viewing them, if you want I’ll drive you over to the Paige ranch and you can down load them on to yours on the way over. If you’re needing a place to stay we have three extra bed rooms available.”

“Thanks for the offer, and that’s a good idea let me get my laptop and the ISBC cable.” D got out, unlocked the door of his truck then he picked up the bag with his computer in it. He then re-locked the door and got back into David’s truck, “all set less go.”

Eli made a comment as they drove, “In a way I wish they had been Arabs instead of Chinese, the US military has more on its plate them it can handle right now, the Reserves and National Guard aren’t maxed out but close to it. Now add in this new problem, I’ll bet the Generals wish they had the sixteen divisions they had only ten years ago.”

Not liking the way this talk was going D had to ask, “How did you guys in Rhodesia last so long Eli ?”

“Our RR’s that’s Rhodesian Regiments were part of the TA’s that was the Territorial Army. Kind of like the National Guard and Reserves mixed but these were an integral part of our Army. They did call up’s of at least one month a year, toward the last of the war some more often, just depended on the situation. They were allowed to take their weapons, ammo, grenades and such home with them and use them when needed.”

“And they were needed especially the farmers and the blokes that lived in the smaller towns, a lot of them did something active at least once a week. I don’t want to salt the wound but I really liked running into those militia types, and I’d like a chance to talk to them some more. It seems some Americans are waking up and are trying to be of help down here.”

David added, “The Militia, they are mentioned in the Federal and State Constitutions but they aren’t recognized or even wanted by the present elected officials. To bad too, I have a bad feeling after seeing those pictures and what you said about them D. I’ll bet you even money, we’ll wish that time and effort had been invested in training those guys, and sooner then we think.”

The last sentence was foreboding in its tone, and the rest of the drive was in silence except at the last when D said, “Finally: it took my computer five minuets to down load what yours did in just seconds David.”

“My laptop probable cost a lot more then what the government would want to spend on a field agent, but then my brother only buys the best. I better call him tonight and let him know I’ll need two more of those cameras. Your buddy the General I’m sure will want these, and the pictures stored in them. Do you think he’ll ask about my laptop too?”

“If you don’t tell him you have one I won’t. I think having back up information might be good for the three of us, who knows how this is going to play out,” D replied.

David agreed, “Thanks, that sounds like a good idea. The gate is just ahead, and the ranch house is about two hundred yards in. That should give you time to pack your computer away?”

As David pulled into the gate he noticed that the Ranch Rescue people had been busy, the old water tower had been converted into a covered observation tower with its attended observer in place. The large machine covered parking area was now an open sided mess hall complete with a half dozen large tables and at least thirty or more folding chairs. It must be about lunchtime, as people were carrying food from a large kitchen tent on the side to a serving line in one corner of the open shed.

The old bunkhouse about thirty yards from the mess hall had been cleaned up, with clear plastic sheeting over the empty window frames, and a canvas awning stretched over the exposed porch to provide shade. Next to the bunkhouse a shower area had been set up, there was a fifty-five gallon drum on stilts about fifteen feet in the air. This was connected by metal pipe to two other drums lying on their sides on a metal rack above a small fire. These in turn had metal pipe leading to a screened in shower facility, just like they would have made in Nam, pretty cool he thought.

Eli looking at the same thing exclaimed, “A Rhodesian shower good, these owns have their stuff together.”

D said to himself, ‘owns,’ and just shook his head, Eli may speak English but the Rhodesian in him sure had a different way of talking it.

The Paige’s oldest boy Randy was just coming out of the gate up by the house he waved and ran to open the main gate to let them in. He pointed to a spot next to the family car and said, “Hello Mr. Perishing, you can park next to mom’s car.” After they drove in he closed the gate and walked over to their pickup as the three men got out.

As David, D and Eli got out leaving their rifles, and shutting the trucks doors David introduced the three, “Randy this is D with the border patrol and his friend Eli.”

The three shook hands and Randy said, “I’ll bet you guys want to see my Dad, he’s over at the operations center with the Colonel, follow me I’ll show you.” As he lead them toward a small building behind the bunkhouse he blurted out, “The Militia guys stopped six Mexicans last night and found two large back packs full of drugs after first light. And you just missed the Sheriff; he arrested the whole lot and took the drugs with him as evidence. He was a little pissed off, said we would get in trouble if anyone got mistreated or was being forcible detained, my Dad told him that won’t happen. He also told him, that an election is coming up and he better start enforcing the law and to protect the legal residents of the county. He emphasized ‘We’re the ones who vote, and pay the taxes.’ The Sheriff wasn’t too happy to hear that from my Dad. ”

“I’ll betcha damn right the Sheriff wasn’t pleased to hear that,” David chuckled. Then added, “If not for the Ranchers Association which your dad heads, they got him elected by getting out the vote and giving a lot of campaign money and time. If he won’t start doing his job, he’ll be looking for a new one next year.”

As they walked Randy continued talking, “The German news crew filmed the whole thing, from start to finish. And the militia has it’s own guys with camcorders doing the same. They offered the Sheriff a copy but he said no, but to hang on to them just in case. With all that going on it’s getting pretty exciting around here,” he finished saying with a big grin on his face.

Just then they all heard the high whining noise of a small engine coming their way. Looking up toward the source of the sound they saw a fairly large model bi-plane descending in a slow circle. As it got closer you could see that it had a ball mounted turret underneath the center of the wings.

Randy pointing up at the radio controlled model saying, “Unmanned aerial reconnaissance,” if it was possible his grin was even bigger. “Old Sarge Ski, that’s what the guys call him, has three planes he brought down. And boy is he good, yesterday he flew this one down to the border and back, he’s mounted a video camera in it and it has a live feed back to his computer. You wouldn’t believe the detail he can pick up from over 4000 feet up.”

The four stopped walking, to watch the model RC plane land on the dirt road by the house. It taxied over to a man that was standing by a pickup with a large pop-up camper in its bed. “That’s their mobile ACC, that stands for air control center, at least that’s what Sgt. Ski calls it, I’ll introduce him to you later, he’s a blast. He said he would help me get started in RC if I want to, and he has let me practice using some of his stuff. Talk about having fun, come on,” he said with some satisfaction as he motioned for them to follow as he led the way.

Eli said, “I’m impressed, if that’s an example of some of these guys equipment D, you and your border patrol people wouldn’t do bad linking up with them?”

“You’re not telling me something new. Most of us in the border patrol know that the American people want our borders secure, and that a lot of folks are willing to chip in and help. But as it is, it all comes down to politics, and we stay clear of that as much as we can.”

Walking around the bunkhouse they saw a large military tent between it and the old adobe brick chicken coop, a fairly large coop too, which now served as the operation center. The tent was a GP medium with the sides rolled up, one end was set up for briefings complete with easel, map boards and seating for a dozen or so. The other end had a couple of old sofas, a ping-ball table, and another table with checkers and chess games set up.

Behind the coop was a vehicle park with a medium size bus two duce-an-half’s and a couple of four-by-four pickup trucks, four camouflage painted ATV’s. A camera crew doing an interview with a couple of men over by the two parked duce-an-half’s.

D thinking to himself, these guys aren’t a military unit, but they had some equipment and it looks like they are organized, wonder what else I’ll see or hear about?

The door to the coop was open to let in the warm winter air, Randy stopped to knock and said, “Dad, Colonel; Mr. Perishing is here with a couple of Border Patrol Agents.”

“Send them in,” came the reply.

Randy stepped aside and said, “Go on in I’ve got a chore to finish, hope to see ya guys at lunch,” with that he headed back toward the house.

David lead the way followed by D and Eli, a short man with a cowboy hat on, who was obviously of Hispanic descent greeted David with a grin and a hearty handshake. “Just heard a little while ago on the radio that the patrol met you guys. Before then I had been trying to raise you on the phone David. I hope the Colonel’s boys didn’t give you too much of a fright earlier. Maybe not as good as us old Marines David, but still impressive eay.”

He nodded his head to D and Eli, then turned and indicated to a middle age man setting behind a table, “David I’d like you to meet Dan Marion, his guys all call him Colonel.”

Dan stood up and walking around the table he held out his hand to shake David’s, “I’d rather be called Dan, but the Sgt. Major tagged me with Colonel, and it stuck. You can call me what ever you like, just don’t call me late for dinner.”

After they all gave a polite laugh, David introduced D and Eli, to Dan and Manuel (T.C.) Paige the landowner, as all four men shook hands. Dan then introduced the other man in the room, Tom Whiley with Ranch Rescue. He had on a head set to a radio and was busy behind a computer, but told them, “You guys go ahead and talk, I’ll listen, I need to finishing posting last nights events to the web page.”

Dan offered chairs and every one set down as he said, “Jeff called right after you guys met in the field, he’s bringing his patrol back and should be here, within a few minuets,” as he glanced at his watch. “He said you guys surprised him, he didn’t expect to see anyone out there.”

D nodding his head in agreement said, “I think we surprised each other. Dan if you don’t mind I need to speak to you alone, I think your guys over heard David and I talking about something sensitive. Something that needs to be kept under wraps,” he indicated in the direction of the news crew outside. “I’m serious when I say that it has to be kept away from any news media or being posted on the web. That’s until I get the OK from a, a boss of mine.” He messed up on that one, how do you describe taking orders from an Army General while working for the Border Patrol. D would be lucky if he kept his job if any of this leaked to the press or worse to some bureau-rat back in DC.

Dan’s answer was a matter of fact, “D I can’t speak for our host or for Ranch rescue. I’m not even sure of what you’re getting at. All Jeff said after he ran into you guys was that he was returning to base ASAP, nothing more. If he has something important he wouldn’t broadcast it over the air, he’s too security conscious to do that, no one knows whom might be listening. I’m sure that’s why he’s hurrying back to tell us in person,.”

“All right, I need to talk to Jeff before anyone else does. Can you call him on your radio and let me talk to him? I’d really appreciate it,” D didn’t want to sound like he was asking a favor, but he didn’t want to give anymore information away then he had to.

With a look of, what ever, Dan looked at Manuel and Tom, both shrugged their shoulders. “David do you know what this is about?” T.C. whispered but all heard him.

“You’re going to have to trust him and me on this one,” David said.

T.C. shrugged his shoulders as he said “OK.”

“I’ll get a hold of Jeff and you can talk to him D.” Dan said as he picked up a hand held radio from the table. Pressing the talk button he said, “Kilo Sierra two-five, this is Kilo Sierra one-zero, over.”

The reply came back over the radio, “Kilo two-five I’m within two hundred meters of your loc. Can it wait, over.”

Dan raised a eyebrow in question and offered the radio to D.

D reached out for the radio took it, and keyed the mike to talk. “Two-five I don’t have a call sign but you met me by the fence earlier. Please have your men stay separate from the rest of the camp until I can talk to you, over.”

“This is two-five, I know what’s on your mind, I’ll come directly to the HQ with the man who over heard what you said, no one else in our patrol knows. I’ll have the rest of the men cool their heals in the briefing tent, over.”

D answered, “Roger, out,” then handed the radio back to Dan.

Before anyone else could speak T.C. stood up and said, “If David knows, but it might not be in my best interest to know for now, it’s OK by me. I trust my friends so I’ll trust Dan and Tom with this one, but if it affects my family or my ranch’s well being?” He looked at David, who shook his head, No.

“All right then, I’ll wait to find out. Someone will have to tell me what is going on later; even then I have a feeling I may not want to know! David come on out to the tent I’ll introduce you to some of these guys, the militia showed up with twenty-six men and Ranch Rescue had another dozen. So we’ve got a good size group of men to help us with repairs, cleanup the trash these illegals leave behind on my property and yours too. But more important to intercept some of these damn drug smugglers and get them behind bars. Hey they even brought a first class cook along, he’s an emigrant from Nam, a regular guy, and in the evening he tells some pretty funny tales. A good man to meet…”

With that he headed out the door and David followed, you could hear T.C. say to some one out side, “Go on in.”

Before the door completely closed a hand caught it and a man wearing camo-face paint came in followed by Jeff.

Jeff took off his hat and face vale then told Dan, “Sir, I told the patrol to wait in the tent, and we’ll be out to debrief them as soon as we finish here, if that’s OK with you?”

“That will be all right. Jeff you met D and Eli early, they have something to ask you about, maybe something you may have overheard. I’ll excuse myself just as T.C. did, but I think that Tom should stay as it is his operation, but that’s up to Tom.”

As Dan stood up to leave Jeff said, “I’d feel more at ease if you’d stay Colonel. With what we overheard D said it has to affects us all especially our tactical operations sir.”

Tom had quiet typing and shut his computer down added, “Colonel I placed you in charge of field operations, and I’d handle the media, this sounds important so we both better stay.”

D shacking his head then said, “OK enough, Dan is everyone present prior service, if so what rank.”

“Tom was a Captain before he got out, Sgt. O’Kieth was a corporal, Jeff holds the rank as a Militia Captain but has no prior service, as for myself I was a Captain. Why would that have any bearing on what was overheard,” Dan asked?

“What I’m about to tell you is classified, it can’t leave this room understand.” Man how I hate to stretch the truth, D thought, but here goes. “We have intelligence that several groups of ex-Chinese soldiers are crossing the border into the US. Last night we confirmed that; the rumor has it they were hired by a local gang lord to help him take over the area’s Drug trade.” By the look in everyone’s eye’s D knew he had made his point, there was some surprise when he mentioned ex-Chinese military but not fear, good they’ll keep quiet but be even more alert.

“Your people almost ran into one group last night, we don’t know if they are armed, but an ugly incident could happen and you might have some of your people hurt or killed.” After saying this he rubbed his hand together slightly, the half-truth, half-lie wasn’t to his likening.

Tom injected, “I already briefed them about the rogue elite group of Mexican army deserters called the Zetas who carry U.S. visas and serve as the paramilitary arm helping the drug gangs south of the border, everyone present working this operation knows the risk. That’s why we have everyone that goes on a patrol do so with a battle rifle, not a pistol. If any patrol has trouble we have a stand by group of eight people ready to move out in a minuet or less by vehicle as a response team. But I want to know, what does having prior service have to do with this?”

Eli smiled to himself, whatever the average American thought about the Militia they didn’t know the half, these guys were quick on the up take. That showed they were intelligent, more important then that; no fear or emotion showed that meant good training and discipline. D may not tell them the whole truth but he had to give them the reason why, they wouldn’t settle for less.

D took a breath then said, “9/11 and the Patriotic Act changed the status of all former Military personnel, no matter when you got out. The President was authorized by congress to call up anyone he deems necessary. I’ve seen friends from my Special Forces days with the needed language skills being called back, one had been out of service for ten years, then he got reactivated. Another one recalled was a Doctor with a small family practice, it all most went bust with out their main Doctor, and that’s just one of many such hardships.”

“You two, having been officers,” as he pointed at Dan and Tom, “know that in time of national emergency even before 9/11, the President can ask congress and I’m sure they would concur that he needed you both for special jobs. Say for selected Officers to supervise the detail as KP inspectors on Johnson Island, or in Nome.”

Tom and Dan both got a grim look on their face, and shook their heads in silence but both knew it was the truth. Sgt. O’Keith seeing them frown looked away as he said “Shit!”

Jeff seeing and hearing the mood change, and with some anger in his voice, said in disbelief, “Just how would that affect me I’m a civilian, if I wanted to say something I would. But I don’t, so I won’t, you guys can’t touch me anyway.”

D said, “I’m just passing on the implied warning that I got earlier, I don’t know what the boys in Washington would do if anything? My opinion is this, we have an on going investigation and they want to keep this away from general knowledge, until they have enough evidence to bust all of those involved. The same way we did on that last tunnel found near El Paso, and following the drug trail to that gang in Southern California, and then up to Chicago. It’s important to get all the gang members that are involved either up in Chicago or in China town, the bosses and financiers not just the little guys, the mules.”

D let that sink in and then added, “If this is part of an ongoing police or DEA operation, anything that was said might be considered as hindering a police investigation, so that’s how it affects you Jeff. And there might be an undercover cop or agent involved, if he was found out and killed none of us would want that on our hands.” D knew he was laying it on a little thick so he stooped there, he would let them stew a little.

A loud clanging noise started up outside, then you could hear some one shouting, “Lunch is served, come and get it.”

Jeff said, “Excuse me sir, I need to tell my men to stand bye!”

Dan holding up his hand for Jeff to wait, said, “Let them go, we can debrief them after they eat lunch. Besides I agree with D, not because of the implied threats, though I think they are unnecessary.”

“But if there’s and on going investigation, and since they sent D out, I’m positive there is something going on, for now we just tell the troops to be extra careful and to stay alert. Though after last night that might be redundant.”

Turning and looking at D he said, “I’ll tell my guys there might be other nationals encountered, I’ve already mentioned the possibilities of Muslims, and Manuel already told us there might be Chinese. We based that on what David told Manuel, about the sighting last week and again from Tuesday. We haven’t mentioned any thing to the press a thing about either one and we won’t, but I have to keep my troops informed, having been in the Military D you know that. The men on the ground have to be briefed on the latest Intel, and the threat situation right?”

Having got what he wanted D nodded his head yes.

“All right then its’ agreed, we won’t mention anything to the press,” Tom asked looking at the faces of the Militia members involved? They all nodded their heads in agreement, “OK good, and I’ll not post it to our web site, for now, I’ll wait for the OK, Is there’s nothing else D?”

D shook his head no but said, “As I said its’ classified, I really don’t want this to leak to the press and then to public to know that started here. Especially with a German news crew present, that would really cause a ton of trouble, if you know what I mean. Besides the information is now in Washington and once there it’s not confidential anymore, I’ll bet it will be on the news tomorrow at the latest.”

Tom replied with a snicker, “If it is, then I’m going to enter it on our web site.”

They all agreed again not to talk about it for now, Dan asked Jeff, “Would you mind taking D and Eli to the mess for lunch?’

“No problem Sir,” Jeff said as they all stood up to leave.

Dan continued, “I’ve got to finish my orders for tonight’s patrols and issue the warning order to Lyle’s team in less then a hour. Also ask Cookie to fix me a plate and have one of the kp’s bring it over?”

“D and Eli I’d like to talk to you guys some more later if that’s all right? Maybe after I finish the warning order say around three, three-thirty would be the next free time for me.”

D said, “Sounds good, I’ll call my office and see if I can stay awhile, after your success last night maybe they’ll let us stay to help handle anymore illegal’s you guys come across. My pickups over at David’s place and I should be back before three.”

As they filed out the door Tom asked Jeff, “Can you have a plate brought for me to, I’m in the same boat as Dan, I’ve got a lot of work to finish and not enough time to do it in, thanks.”

As the four left and Tom watched them walking past the tent and around to the mess hall, he then turned to Dan and said. “You finished writing your orders and gave Lyle’s people their warning this morning when they came in off the stop groups, what gives?”

“If D can lie so can I, though I really hate to start a working relationship like that, at least I know I didn’t start it.”

“How do you know he lied,” Tom asked as he walked over to his computer and turned it back on?

“We’ll maybe not a complete lie, but he didn’t tell us the whole story either, either that or he changed parts of it. Anyway it’s easy to tell when you have two friends together, I watched his friend Eli, he set their relaxed until D started talking about the Chinese, he didn’t look around or at anyone and he held his breath for a second when D mentioned the drug lord and gangs. I’ll bet that’s the first half-truth D has told in his presence and it didn’t go over to well with either of them. D probable doesn’t lie often, he wasn’t very happy with himself either, his hands got sticky and he rubbed them together to get rid of the clammy feeling. I’ll bet his boss either implied or ordered him not to tell us the whole truth, a situation D was uncomfortable with. It’s was real apparent because you could see that he really likes the ranchers and others especially here on the border, to him this is home.”

Tom had a smirk on this face as he said, “Dan you know a lot about peoples body language. Where did you pick that up, the CIA?”

Smiling Dan answered, “Remember I owned my own business for several years, and after a while you could pick out the people who have lied to you in their interviews. I’ll bet the part about the Chinese being ex-military and the reason they are coming across is where the lie is. How much more, I can only guess.”

Dan looking at Tom could see the concern in his face so he said, “Don’t worry, we’ve got a large enough group and were very well armed, I don’t think any one will mess with us at least not on purpose. With our night vision equipment we used last night, and the ground radar unit arriving this afternoon we’ll be in a lot better shape just in case. I just wish I had thought to pack our ground intrusion sets instead of leaving them back home, but then that would be just more equipment to look after, oh well hind sight is 20-20.”

Tom said, “I’ve worked with a couple of other Militia groups before, your men are a lot more professional, they have done a lot of training together and work well as teams, your also very well equipped. But it’s not this week that you’re here that worries me, it’s the weeks after your gone. I don’t know anything about the group from Ohio that’s due to arrive after Thanksgiving?”

Dan laughed, “You didn’t know anything about us until after we arrived yesterday morning?”

“True but you guys are OK, when you called and asked if it was all right to bring twenty-six volunteers trained to work as a team I said OK. You have no idea how I was relieved when you arrived with the twenty-six, and you have another six coming this afternoon. Your people are good to their word, most of the previous large groups would call and say ten or twelve were coming then when they showed up they only had only five or six people. A few of them hadn’t worked out their small team tactics either. Of the twelve people from ranch Rescue I got to come along this time, only two have ever met before, so it will take a day of training just to make them safe.”

“Tom, you’ve got two ex-Army Rangers, several other ex-army people, one Marine, and a former Navy corp-men, sounds like the ideal base to have a start from. And with the two LA cops here on their own vacation time, you’re not in too bad of shape my friend.”

Tom replied with a laugh, and said, “Ok then it’s the other equipment you asked to bring along, that I’m envious of. Two six by sixes, four ATV’s, an aerial reconnaissance team, and last but not least two good cooks with a mess tent and a complete field kitchen, if nothing else we are going to eat good for a week.” Both men laughed as Tom added, “I’m glad to know Dan that your guys are a serious group and I say thank you for that.”

Dan was uncomfortable, so he altered the line of talk, “If it wasn’t a twenty-four hour drive by bus and POV straight through, or almost two days for the pair of duce-an-halves to drive down, we would definitely send another group to help you guys. Maybe after Christmas, I can try and talk ten or so of the guys into coming for a week, but we’ll have to see how the vacation schedules work out? Either that or I might be able to talk some of our construction guys or roofers into coming down. Their work won’t start up again until the end of February or so, as I said we’ll just have to wait and see.”

“Hey here’s Cookie bringing us a covered tray, how did we rate such special service. Wait a sec I’ll get the door for you Boa….”

As the four walked out of the Operations-Center a few steps, Jeff turned to D and said, “My brothers a deputy sheriff back home. So I understand if there’s an ongoing investigation I don’t want to mess it up for you, that’s why I agreed to keep quiet. But before you mentioned that, I was getting ticked off on being told what I could say to my men. I’m not mad now and I apologize for showing it, but D you could work some on how you communicate to people, were all friends here. No need for that I’m from the government, I know best shit.”

D laughed as he said, “Sorry Jeff, I didn’t mean to come across as a hard ass. All of the agents here on the border, me included, are a bit up tight, we’re trying to do a difficult job and getting it from both sides doesn’t help our disposition. We want to enforce the law of the land, we see the trouble the ranchers and property owners have to deal with every day, and none of us are happy.”

“Since we have to take orders from people in Washington who want to please everyone, Business groups, open border groups, humanitarian organizations and such. People who don’t see what’s going on out here, or worse don’t even care. It’s not their property so why take the side of the people who have to live day in and day out down here,” D said.

“Don’t forget most of this mess is based on greed, good old political greed,” Eli muttered out load.

With a smile Jeff answered, “I see you don’t like politicians any more then the rest of us.”

“Chicken thieves, horse thieves and pick pockets they just take your meal, you ride, or your watch and money. Politicians will take your property or even someone else’s country away from them, just to get a vote,” Eli said, with a hard tone to his voice. “Your founding fathers were right to never trust a politician, most of whom don’t care about tomorrow or what problems the next generation has to face because of the dumb decisions they made.”

“Their attitude is hey, look at me I’m doing something, it doesn’t matter what I’m doing, I’m just doing something. Oh sorry it’s against the Constitution but that’s OK, I’m a politician and I know best. Oh don’t worry you can live with in the rules we set for you. As for us the politicians, don’t worry we’re above the law, because we’re the elected elite.” Eli finished the last sentence with sarcasm as they all laughed at the sad truth they all knew was real.

That evening just after twilight the last four man stop group left the camp to take up its position for the night. Dan made his first check on the two camp guards then walked over to the mess area for a cup of coffee. Eli and D were sitting with the property owner T.C and talking to several of the off duty Militiamen.

As Dan enters the tent and picks up a cup Eli looks over and says, “The pot on the left is tea, I asked cookie to brew up. So far I’m the only one who has had a cup, help yourself.”

“Thanks I think I will, now if we just had a plate with a few samoosa’s, Cornish pasties and some sausage rolls, but oh well, that was a different life.”

Eli chuckled; just the thought of an evening tea with a few pastries brought back a lot of good memories.

“Would you like another cup of tea too?’ Dan asked knowing the ritual of a friend wanting to talk.

“That would be kind,” Eli said as he got up and walked over.

Dan takes a second cup and pours the tea into both until they are almost three quarters full. He then adds milk to both cups and asks, “one or two sugars?”

“Two please, do you now what today is Dan,” Eli asks?

“UDI, right.”

“That’s right,” Eli answers back, feeling a small lump forming in his throat, he knows now that Dan is genuine, one that had been there, at home. So he asks, “Did you see much of the elephant?”

“Two and a half years worth, lost some good friends too, some damn good troopies and a land that I wanted to call home. For you I’m sure even more so.”

The rest of the people in the mess have fallen silent watching and listening to Dan and Eli.

Dan stirs both cups then hands one to Eli and picks up his, standing facing each other Dan starts the toast, he raises his cup and says, “Cheers.”

“Cheers,” Eli replied.

Dan then says, “Once it was.”

“But never will be again,” Eli answers.

Both men say in unison, “ Rhodesia was super,” then they drink their cups dry.

As Dan sets his cup back down one can see a glint in his eye along with a pained expression as he turns and walks out of the tent. Walking away you can hear him reciting Psalms 23 “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want; he makes me lie down …”

D whom is the closest to the two men watches Dan leave then looks back at Eli who is also looking away from the others in the tent. He just barely hears Eli saying. “In green pastures. He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.” They he just gets quiet and pours another cup of tea adds the milk and sugar, stirs then takes a sip.

T.C. looks at D who shrugs his shoulders and with a look of ‘I don’t know’, gets up and walks over to his friend. He quires “You guys OK? What was that all about?” Then he quickly wishes he hadn’t said a thing as he catches just a quick momentary glimpse of deep sorrow in Eli’s eyes.

Eli takes a long drink of tea swallows then a small cough to clear his throat as he answers, “When you lose something precious it hurts, especially when you know you will never get it back.”

D say’s, “Sorry. But I’m not sure of what you’re saying?”

Eli coughs again to clear his throat, “That’s alright, I’ll tell you sometime.” He then sets his cup down and tells the militiamen present, “Dan is a good man. Anyone who would study and know another lands history, then fight in its war for survival is a man worth knowing, and a man of honor. Let me tell you, he will stick by his friends come what may, you guys are lucky.” He then turns and walks out of the tent and back over to the barracks.

D turns back to T.C., Jeff and the others, shacks his head slightly and sets down again.

Jeff says to no one in particular, “I’ll bet it has to do something with Rhodesia!”

“Rhodesia, wasn’t that a small country in Africa? And the colonists lost the war or something,” T.C. asks?

D answers, “Wouldn’t call them colonist, Eli’s family was third generation, and his nephew and niece would have been forth. I’m not saying this because Eli is my best friend, but he’s one of the toughest men I know; no if, and, or doubts about it. I served twenty years as an SF; Eli would leave most of those men I know in the dust, just walking away.”

“Then why didn’t they stick around and fight and win the war,” T.C. asks?

“Well the U.N. and most of the world declared sanctions against them and denied them access to arms to defend their country, but they did hold out for fifteen or so years. Numbers and time worn them down, after many years of fighting they had to settle on a brokered peace,” Jeff answered.

“I hope our country is never in the same situation as mine or Rhodesia was, you have no idea of the heart ach or sorrow that comes from the lose.” Cookie said to no one in particular.

“So your friend Eli and the Colonel are from Rhodesia, small world ain’t it,” T.C. retorted.

David turned his head to spit some chewing tobacco juice into a cup, “U.N. huh. Just hearing those two letters leaves a bad taste in my mouth. Those Son-of-a-bitches will stab America in the back given half the chance. And some of our politicians are just like them, doesn’t say much for some of our elected leaders now does it.”

The men present all shook their heads in agreement, what David had said was an understatement.

Dan had to leave the tent, the angst of remembrance was still very strong after all these years, as he recites,

“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want;

he makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters; he restores my soul.

He leads me in the paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I fear no evil; for thou art with me;

Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies;

Thou anointest my head with oil, my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me, all the days of my life;

And I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

But it wasn’t the sorrow in the loss of his adoptive home that bothered Dan so much, it was the premonition he was seeing again that was stronger this time and in more detail. Standing there with Eli and the other men setting in the tent had faded and was replaced with a lot of men gathering, a few tanks and artillery parked to one side and he with a few others going into a small white church to pray. The men knew something was going to happen, and were preparing for it. All of them could here the distant rumble of thunder, but it wasn’t thunder. Then the premonition ended just as it had on the two other occasions Dan had this feeling, he didn’t know what or when this might happen but it was important, his sixth sense told him that. ‘Oh Lord, I don’t know why you have let me see this future possibility again, I pray for the strength and guidance and of hope from you to allow me to see this through, as in all things your will be done, AMEN.’ Dan knew that he must keep training his friends, to make ready. For when we will be needed, we’ll be ready, but for what?

*‘Justin Yu is a reporter in New York City for the World Journal, one of the largest Chinese language daily newspapers in the United States. For years he has written about and warned of the massive campaign of espionage, penetration, and subversion by the Peoples Republic of China (PRC) against the United States. "The PRC has been sending thousands of agents here for years, both as legal and illegal immigrants," Yu told THE NEW AMERICAN. "They come as students, diplomats, researchers, visiting scientists, businessmen, refugees, or are smuggled in" through numerous land or sea routes used to penetrate our porous and under-protected borders.

And over the past decade more than half a million Chinese have emigrated to the U.S. from the PRC mainland. How many thousands more have come illegally is anyone's guess. But the permanent immigrants and illegals are not the only source of concern; thousands of Chinese visitors are constantly visiting some of our most sensitive defense installations. The December 1994 Reader's Digest revealed just one of our many tragic security losses as a result of these disastrous policies: In September 1988, China exploded a "neutron" bomb whose intense radiation can kill even the crews of heavily armored tanks. Western observers had considered the weapon beyond the reach of Chinese technology. They were right. The FBI confirmed that the Chinese government had obtained the crucial data about the weapon from the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, a nuclear-weapons facility outside San Francisco.

The Department of Energy had permitted more than 100 Chinese scientists to visit U.S. weapons laboratories in the previous two years.

In 1973, A.H. Stanton Candlin revealed in his massively documented opus, Psycho-Chemical Warfare, the enormous Chinese communist drug offensive against the West which had begun even earlier than the Soviet effort. But America's foreign policy elites were not going to let a minor thing like that stand in the way of U.S.-Sino rapprochement. They still prefer to cover up these unpleasant facts. "Nobody [in Washington] wants to hear about this," Dr. Joseph Douglass told THE NEW AMERICAN Magazine.

‘As we enjoy Thanksgiving, there are 150 million former rural Chinese citizens between jobs in the cities and about 200 million with no work at all. But this is only a drop in the bucket when we realize that China’s population is more than 1.3 billion with 450 million working in manufacturing industries.

The FBI has identified about 3,000 Chinese-owned companies in the U.S. actively engaged in good, old-fashioned spying on American companies from Los Angeles to New York.

Many of us who are veterans of the Cold War remember the choke points of the international trade routes. The Chinese were well aware of their significance. Now they control the east and west entry points to the Panama Canal, both ends of the Suez Canal, the huge port of Rotterdam in Holland, Bremen in Germany and East London in South Africa. Currently, their port people are bidding to run services in the Port of New York.

In Africa, a Chinese military mission is selling aircraft and armored cars to the Kenyan government while another team is completing sales of rifles and small arms in Tanzania. Access to inexpensive weapons brings Africa’s resources and raw materials to China instead of to the West.

There is a Chinese medical team coping with an outbreak of the Ebola virus in the Congo. In the Central African Republic, as usual near-bankrupt, Beijing has been paying the civil service payroll since April. This comes to about $1 million a month (as an interest-free loan). And as an extra, Beijing sent a large number of construction workers to build a football stadium in the capital. China’s President Hu Jintao, himself initialed a deal for a 170-acre Sino-Zambian industrial park in Zambia, which would make inexpensive clothes for us in America, all these step are to make us weaker and leave us unable to make our weapons and materials needed for our own defense.’ These are all facts; the leaders of China are after one thing, world control by them, answerable to no one! (WorldnetDaily.com)

‘Let us speak courteously, deal fairly, and keep ourselves armed and ready.’

---Teddy Roosevelt