Families First: A Post-Apocalyptic Next-World Series Volume 6 Battle Grounds by Lance Ewing (ereader for comics .txt) 📕

red road to the very top of the Rimrock. The entire process took two hours, finding just the right vantage point and keeping the large tank as level as possible.

“He looks good,” said Drake. “Better than good! We will be sure to keep an eye on him for you.”

* * * *

John called an emergency meeting with all the usual players but included Rico, Patty, and a few from our team. I showed up with Mike, Vlad, Jake, Nancy, Joy and Lonnie, all invited for varying reasons. Rico and Patty were immediately charged with setting up the underground bunker on the Ranch and a similar one at The West, with food and water to last the groups at least one week, and nothing needing a traditional oven or frying to prepare. The rest of us were given our posts, with clear instructions to fight on this side of the ridge.

“Once they start,” said Mac, “we play offense and don’t let them on our side of the ridge. If we can’t hold them, we fall back and burn the ridge from our side, and over the top down into their valley. Understand, it’s the last resort, as it will likely end with a lot of casualties, including many who didn’t ask for this fight in the first place.”

* * * *

Without Sheila, Vlad offered to train a few Ranch volunteers on the basics of driving Bert.

“We have parked him up on the ridge. Drake and his crew can keep an eye on Bert, for now,” said Mac.

Mac lent Sergio a four-wheeler to get a message to Hanson.

The exchange was quick, less than thirty minutes, with Sergio telling him they had less time than they originally thought and to finish damming the river in the next day or two.

* * * *

Saddle Ranch and The West slowed, like an old clock in desperate need of being wound. All were updated on the timeline, and a few were scared off into the mountains, deciding to try their luck elsewhere. Smoke from the forest fire below Estes Park seeped over the hills and into the Valley, filling it top-to-bottom with a campfire haze and the smell a camper in the old-world would cherish before packing up and heading home in traffic to start another workweek grind. Many feared the end was near, quoting passages from the Bible of the end-time.

Mac, busier than he had ever been on Saddle Ranch, or anywhere else, made a point to see Sarah once a day, if even for a few minutes. He had no doubt she would have her hands full at the hospital in the coming days and wondered if she would be safe enough to set foot inside once the battle started. Mac was not much of a praying man, but he never had so much to pray for before. This was not a garden-variety ask of general health or happiness but a full-on miracle prayer for him, Sarah, their baby, and everyone else in the Valley. With hundreds or more people coming from the east, a fire to the west, and a pristine Valley between them, nothing less than a full ask would do.

“Never underestimate the power of prayer,” his mother would always tell him, “even if all you’re doing is asking.”

* * * *

Vlad made a call to his new old friend, the Colonel, with Steve’s help. He gave the information as he had heard it from Mike and Sergio about Baker’s movement, and air support now on trailers, headed to the next valley over, as well as the fire to the west.

“I am aware of both developments,” replied the Colonel. “We have planes and choppers up on the mountain as we speak, drawing water from Lake Estes and others farther up the mountain. It’s a monster, though—not like the one you all faced back on Raton Pass. It makes that one look like a campfire in an RV park. As for Baker, you’re right—he is on the move and headed straight for you. They decided apparently to skip the reservoir, and your timeline got cut to crap. My man, you know who is following close behind, and I’m here with the strength of your United States Military. As I said before, and this needs to be crystal clear, they need to engage first. They didn’t get their air support from random farmers—it’s Military. As long as you all are defending your territory, we can and will help. And what is that thing doing up on the ridge?”

“You mean Bert, the tank?” asked Vlad.

“Yes, what’s it doing up there?”

“It’s a show of force, sir,” replied Vlad, watching a drone plane fly over the Rimrock.

“Take it back down before anyone else sees it. I’m not saying to get rid of it, but don’t put it front and center. It looks like you’re the ones looking for a fight.”

“Yes, sir, Colonel. I’ll get it done,” Vlad replied. “Anything else?”

“Yes,” replied the Colonel. “You see that drone over the Valley right now? It’s going to drop a package in 3…2…1. There it goes!”

“I see it,” said Vlad.

“Good. There are three cans of spray paint. We’re switching up the friendly colors since our adversary is also some of us. Spray the areas housing your most valued possessions. Do you understand?”

“Yes, sir, I do. I’ll get right on it.”

“Last…once they engage, fight like hell. We will have your back, that’s a promise.”

“He’s offline,” announced Steve, with Vlad getting most of the information he had hoped for.

* * * *

Vlad got with the group, including Mac and Cory, to tell them about Bert and the paint he retrieved from the field.

“The Colonel says Bert has to come down. He doesn’t want it to appear that we are the ones looking for a fight. Also, this needs to be sprayed on