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

“What is it, son?” Mac asked again.

“Uh, sir…they’re here!”

* * * *

They met up with Drake and his small group on the top of the ridge, looking out over the valley with binoculars to every set of eyes. Trucks in a single file line drove up the next valley over, from the south. Mac and Cory watched intently, without speaking a word. One by one, they headed into the middle of the valley. Some were filled with gear, a few trailers carried what looked to be food supplies, and more pulled heavy machinery, tractors and backhoes.

“This isn’t good,” said Mac aloud, turning to shield the wind and get hold of John and Bill. He spoke with them for only a few minutes before being distracted by Cory waving him over.

“Can it wait a minute?” Mac called out.

“No. No, it can’t,” replied Cory.

Gazing down the valley, it didn’t take but a few seconds to understand. Ten trucks, maybe more, carried long trailers with large tarps over the top, like one might have seen heading into a boat store parking lot.

“Those aren’t boats,” said Mac, almost forgetting what Mike had told him about the airplanes and helicopters.

“No, they are not,” replied Cory, “and I’ve got money on them starting to carve a runway right down the center of the fields down there before day’s end.”

“What about the road?” asked one of Drake’s crew. “It’s pretty straight, I mean.”

“That it is,” replied Mac, “but it has power lines on both sides, and it’s only a two-way road. Even if they cut the lines, they still have the telephone poles to worry about. Of course, the helos don’t need anything special, just a basic clearing of the wheat and they are ready to go. Keep a close eye on them,” he told Drake, “and radio me every 30 minutes so that I’ll be up-to-date with any progress.”

* * * *

Mac and Cory returned to the Ranch and found Mike and Sergio talking in front of the Pavilion.

“The machines—they are here, right?” asked Mike casually.

“Yes, how did you know?” asked Mac.

“They are the intimidators and the most important part of their offense,” continued Mike. “I’m not at all surprised they would arrive first; besides, they need a runway to make everything but the helicopters effective.”

“All right, we’ll talk later,” said Mac. “I’ve got some meetings to take care of.”

Sergio looked at Mike, with a nod.

“What?” he asked.

“No big deal,” replied Sergio, adding, “it’s just our first training session for bigger things to come. Anyone—man, woman, or teen, for that matter—can fire a gun, but very few can take out weapons of destruction, essentially leveling the playing field. This will be your first test for our most important work. Take out the advantage and fight like hell to the end. Make sense?”

“Yes, it makes perfect sense,” replied Mike. “It’s right up my alley, in case you had second thoughts about me.”

Sergio laughed. “Mike, you’re a rare find, and everyone around you knows that. My job is to take you out of here after declaring victory and not overstay our welcome.”

“Okay, that makes sense, but this here is my family—at least since the day.”

“Mark my word,” continued Sergio. “What you will be doing with me will help your family, as you call them, a thousand-fold over staying here with them, and they will never know it, but you will. That’s the difference.”

“Yeah, okay. I understand. What’s next?”

Mike never was much of a planner, but Sergio was, down to the last details. He, of course, as the number four guy in Baker’s detail, knew about the flying machines and the plans for the Valley—at least as much as the other inner circle—barring, of course, Baker himself.

“What’s next,” said Sergio, “is you and me taking out as many things that can fly as possible and trying to level the playing field before Ronna or the Colonel need to get involved. In case you were wondering, this is your interview, and I don’t get the last say.”

“I understand,” replied Mike, not worried about making the right impression. “We will see what happens,” he added, like they were talking about the next Denver Broncos’ home football game.

As most would label them, the two “outcasts” pitched their own camp on the Rimrock, maybe a few hundred yards from Drake’s. Mac told his group they would be in the area and to ignore them completely.

Sergio and Mike kept a vantage point of the entire Valley on both sides, from the highest point they could find on the ridge. Most on the Ranch, or even in Lance’s group, didn’t know they were gone. He noticed, though, as did Joy, Lonnie, Vlad, Nancy and Jake—and, of course, little Javi.

* * * *

“Look at that,” Mike said to Sergio, as he pointed across the Valley.

“Let me get my binos,” he replied, after canvassing the area on top of the Rimrock for obvious breach locations.

“See them?” asked Mike. “They are showing each other the river and don’t look too happy about it.”

“Do you think Hanson already got it dammed?” asked Sergio.

“Looks like it to me,” replied Mike.

“The thing is,” Sergio continued, “how long before they head upriver looking for the problem?”

“Unfortunately for Hanson, not long at all,” replied Mike. “It is getting late in the afternoon, though, and I doubt these guys want to trample around in the dark.”

“That gives us a couple of hours to get over to his place, and tonight we can head downstream and get a closer look at the arsenal,” said Sergio. “By tomorrow or the next day, the valley will be flooded, with those who walked from the last camp pretty surprised!”

“What are you thinking for the equipment?”