JAA Ch. 01: Aftermath

"That's too bad. I hope she made it. They say Atlanta is nice I've never been there. The weather there should be like Chicago once things settle into a pattern."

"That's what she was hoping, said she could deal with Chicago-like weather."

"Well, time to make the rounds. See you later Len," Linda said getting up and grabbing her rifle and heading out to the circle of buses and truck.

"Yep, see you later," Seacrest mumbled.

The trucks, buses, and humvees were rolling down the road. The road ahead was clear for now. As they topped each rise, they expected to see obstructions to slow their progress. For six hours, they drove without seeing another soul. Halfway into the seventh hour, they rolled into hell.

"Back, back, back those vehicles up over the hill," Linda shouted into the radio, bullets whizzing past her head.

Phil was in the turret, fifty chattering away at the barricade just below the next rise in the road. Small arms fire was coming from the barricade along with some small arms fire from the woods on the right. Two more humvees pulled up on either side of Linda's and opened fire with their fifties.

"Falcon team, clear those woods," Seacrest yelled. "Eagle team put some mortars on the barricade, now."

Within seconds the dull thud of the mortar fire and the whistle as the shells screamed overhead was heard by Linda and Len. The explosions in and around the barricade caused the small arms fire to diminish greatly. Three marines ran between the humvee's carrying shoulder-launched weapons. Within second three smoke trails led to three powerful explosions in the barricade.

As Linda watched, more men came running over the rise of the road behind the barricade. Phil's fifty chattered and the men running to the barricade went down in the explosions that ripped through them. A thunderous increase in small arms fire stopped all fire from the woods as Falcon team hit those hidden there. Men came running out of the woods, cut down by fire from the fifties on the humvees.

Three smoke trails came from behind the barricade as Linda watched the action from her humvee. The trail arched up and across the valley in the road. Opening her door Linda fell more than jumped out of her hummer. Len and Phil were close behind her. As she lay there, three pops followed by three roars beyond belief washed over her prone body. The back of her legs were pinpricked with fire. Screams from some of the men assaulted Linda's ears. Three more rockets roared across the chasm striking the point from which the grenades came from.

Getting to her knees, fire bathing her calves, Linda looked back at her hummer in horror. It was ablaze as was the one to the left of hers. The one to the right was unscathed and the fifty was still chattering its anger. Looking down at the back of her calves Linda saw the tiny pieces of shrapnel sticking out from her pant legs. Within seconds, Len was by her side, pulling the tiny pieces from her skin.

"Shit that hurts," Linda cried, tears streaming down her cheeks.

"I know, I know but, you'll feel better once they're out."

"Just do it quickly, Len."

Within minutes, Seacrest had all the shards out of Linda's legs.

"Lean forward you have a few in your backside."

"Damn I don't even feel those," Linda retorted through clenched teeth.

Len started to pluck the metal splinters from Linda's ass as she groaned in pain. It was good that the metal pieces were so small, big chunks could have killed. As it was, Linda would not be sitting for a little while. Once he was finished Linda performed the same service for Len, as his backside was full of shrapnel too. Phil was lying at the front wheel of the only hummer, not on fire and shooting at targets at the barricade. His backside was also a pincushion. Linda crawled to him and pulled the slivers of metal from him.

"Any chance the ammo in those two hummers will go off in the fire?" Linda asked Len.

"That's what we've been pulling out of each other, so no worries."

"Oh."

Linda was looking at the barricade as three white flags popped up waving.

"Cease firing," Linda called out. Then over the radio, "Cease firing, all units cease fire, cease fire."

Peace returned to the area. Except for the smoke and the crackle of the fires, all was quiet. Three men rose from behind the barricade with their hands in the air empty of weapons. Linda climbed to her feet, as did Seacrest. Eagle team appeared along the rise behind Linda and started forward down the road toward the barricade.

Linda and Seacrest fell in step with the team as they advanced. The group from the barricade stopped at the lowest point of the road and waited. One man stood out in front of the others as Linda and Eagle team approached. Stopping five feet from the group waiting for them Linda took one pace closer.

"What the fuck is wrong with you people? Everyone, I mean everyone has been shooting at us as we move down the road, what the fuck?" Linda yelled.

Seacrest stepped forward placing a hand on her shoulder. She spun instantly, shaking him off and glaring at him. Turning back to the group of men from the barricade, she waited, with fire in her eyes, for their answer. The seconds passed, Linda became angrier.

"I would answer the lady if you want to live," Seacrest said aloud.

"What was the question?" The man across from them sneered.

Linda hit him in the face with the butt of her rifle so fast he did not have time to flinch. He hit the ground like a sack of potatoes and lay still, unconscious.

"Who's next?" Linda screamed on the verge of hysteria.

"Ma'am, our village is over the next rise, we thought you were raiders."

"Have many raiders come down this road?" Linda asked looking around.

"No. None in fact."

"So, instead of a friendly greeting and a "Who are you and where are you going?" you decide to shoot at the first people you see?"

"Ah, yes that's about it, I guess. We were just defending ourselves."

"From who? You fired first."

"I don't know what to say... we, I... "

"Figures, shoot first, figure it out later. Well, you better think of some kind words for the families of those who died."

The man's eyes grew wide at that thought and they could all see the sadness in the eyes of those who knew someone who had died all because they had fired first.

"How many of yours were hurt?" the man asked Linda.

"Two wounded."

"That's all? Is all that... "

"And six dead. That humvee left of the center one, it had six of my friends in it when you blew it up," Linda said softly.

"Oh, my god. Oh god."

A woman came running down the hill to stand next to the man addressing Linda. The man dropped to his knees holding his head. The woman turned to the rest of the men.

"There are twenty-five dead and thirty-six wounded," she too then broke down, tears streaming from her eyes. Turning to Linda, "Who are you?"

"We are people just like you trying to make it to Texas to join the rest of our group. We are fortunate enough to have a large number of marines, army and navy seals with us. And if you all hadn't started shooting we would have calmly been on our way without bothering you."

The woman dropped to her knees, weeping. Linda turned and walked back up the hill. Seacrest followed. Eagle team stayed.

"Dave, I need some med teams down to help with their wounded as soon as possible," Linda called over her radio.

"That will be nice," Len said.

"I was going to just leave without helping them. They don't deserve help," Linda shouted, tears streaming down her face as she turned to face Len.

Len gathered her in his arms and held her as she wept. He did until Jeremy showed up to take his wife in his arms. Len smiled at him return to Eagle team and the group of people from the barricade. There was a mess to clean up and then they would have to make camp. However, not here, the other side of the village would be better.

It had taken twelve long days to get to the compound in Texas. On the trip, south they had lost eight good men. Eight men who had fought for their country and now died because their country had abandoned them. No, that was not right, the man, the leader of their country had abandoned them. The country was the people, not its leaders. The people were still here and most respected and honored those who had fought for our freedoms.

On the twelfth day the column of humvee's, buses and trucks pulled into the compound to a different sort of honor. The twenty-five people who had preceded them had grown as fifty greeted those in the convoy. Linda was smiling as she saw Cappy, Michelle, and Susan standing in front of everyone else.

"Glad to see you gorgeous."

"Glad to see you too handsome." Linda smiled as Cappy kissed her cheek.

It took the next two days to get the trucks and buses unloaded and everyone settled. The buses and trucks went further back into the valley where a motor pool had been set up. Those humvee's needing service also went back. All weapons were cleaned, stripped and oiled. Those not put to use went into storage in the building designated as the armory.

Within a week, everyone was settled into their new quarters and plans were drawn up for further expansion of the tiny village.

"Cappy!" an out of breath youngster came running into his office.

"Take it, easy son, take it easy."

"He said to hurry."

"Who!"

"The General, he's at the gate waiting for you."

"The General?"

"He said to tell you General TEE is here to see you."

"Tom, Tom is here, at our gate?"

"Yes, sir."

Cappy went running out of his office door and jumped into his hummer. He raced down the dirt path that led to the gate they had erected. Skidding to a halt he jumped out of the hummer and threw the gate open. Standing before him was General Elfing with ten men standing behind him and a column of ten hummers.

"Tom, you sly dog, how did you find us?" Cappy called out smiling.

"It wasn't hard. Just asked around about some good looking doctors and they pointed us right here."

"Well come on in. Have a cup of coffee, your men too."

"We can't stay. Cappy, I need a favor."

"What?"

"The Chinese are kicking our butts out there, I was wondering if you and your marines could give us a hand. And we could use some of your doctors to patch up the men."

"Gee, Tom I don't know. I could ask them if they want to help but as you know they aren't in the military anymore."

"I know and I wouldn't ask, but there can't be many Chinese left and we really would like to wrap this up as quickly as possible."

"I'll ask and let you know. Still at Lackland?"

"Yes. The first eight hummers are for you. The first four have extra parts the last four are filled with weapons and ammo."

"That's right kind of you General, you'll hear from us in two days."

"That's all I ask. Good luck."

"You too Tom."

Chapter 22

"Hey, General I thought you were ordered to Mexico?" Cappy yelled over the roar of artillery.

"I was, but I promised the Governor support. So until the Chinese either give up or are all killed or captured I'm stuck here." The General smiled as another artillery shell exploded outside the makeshift aid station they were in.

Not ten feet away, Michelle and Susan worked feverishly to save the life of an airman under General Elfing's command. Three feet beyond them Waylon, along with several of Cappy's men stood guard to keep the doctors and their patients safe.

"How are my men doing Cappy?"

"Good General. Not too many critical cases yet. Most went back to their units. I have two doctors out in the field running the line right now, patching up those minor scrapes and such before infection can set in."

"Cappy, you and your doctors are a lifesaver."

"What else can I do for you, sir?" Cappy yelled attempting to raise his voice above the explosions of artillery shells.

"It seems that I have been hit," the General said turning to show Cappy his shoulder.

Cappy looked over his wound, blood was seeping out and soaking into his uniform. Cappy turned looking over to Michelle and Susan. Michelle was stripping off her gloves as Susan worked to close the wounds on the young man before her. Cappy waved Michelle over.

"It would appear the General has gotten himself hurt, Chelle."

"Let me see," Michelle said pulling the General around so she could see his back. "Alright come with me General and we'll try to get you patched up." Michelle smiled at him.

"Yes Ma'am," the General said as he followed her over to a chair.

Cappy smiled at how well Susan and Michelle were handling the shelling that continued to pound the Texas lines. Linda and Dave along with four of Waylon's toughest ex-Marines were out in the thick of things. Linda was the surprise of all the doctors. She relished the close combat position and helping those who needed it immediately.

Sue and Michelle would sometimes giggle at the little notes Linda wrote them on the tags that accompanied each wounded soldier back to the aid station. As Cappy mused about the wonderful people he knew, he suddenly realized that the shelling had stopped. His ears still rang but the concussion waves had stopped.

Waylon and the rest of his men became alert, a posture Cappy emulated. The halt in shelling meant one of two things. Either they had run out of shells, a distinct possibility or they were preparing an advance. One of the General's aides came running into the makeshift aid station, looked around and hurried over to where Michelle was stitching up the General.

"Sir," the aide said, saluting the General, "there is a group of Chinese, under a white flag, approaching our lines to the west."

"What?"

"There..."

"I heard you, Captain, I heard you..."

"Cappy, six Chinese officers approaching from the north to our position, they are carrying a white flag," Silva, one of Waylon's Marines called over the radio.

"Affirmative," Cappy responded.

"Are you through Doctor?"

"Yes, General, I'm through but, no rough stuff for at least twenty-four hours."

"Sure, sweetheart," the General told her as he walked to the door.

"Waylon, you're with me," Cappy yelled as he followed the General and his aide.

Waylon hurried to catch up, keying his radio as he did.

"Silva, has anyone contacted the Chinese delegation?"

"No. You want me to take care of that?"

"What do you say Cappy?"

"Have him do it but, tell him to be careful. General!" Cappy ran to catch up to the General and tell him to hang back a moment.

"Silva, make contact...see what they want and report back. If they asked to see someone in authority, tell them we are on the way."

"Affirmative."

Waylon then hurried to catch up to Cappy.

"General, one of my men is going to contact the Chinese to see what they want. We might want to hold back until we hear from him."

"All right Cappy," the General said as he slowed his pace.

A humvee roared up alongside them. They all climbed in and it slowly drove away.

"Halt," Silva called out to the Chinese. He slowly advanced, knowing death could occur at any time.

The Chinese officers had stopped, showing that they at least understood a little English. Silva was not conversant in Chinese and he hoped one of the officers spoke English.

"What can I do for you, gentlemen?" Silva asked.

The officer in the lead, a Lieutenant by his insignia, smiled and spoke to the rest of the delegation in Mandarin. At least Silva thought it was Mandarin. He then turned back to Silva, still smiling.

"We have come for surrender."

"Oh. You know I'm probably not the one you should surrender too. I'm not even in the military." Silva gave the officers a confused look.

"No, not our surrender, your surrender," the lieutenant said.

"Oh. I'm sorry, I beg your pardon. I'm still not the one to talk to about that, though."

"Well then take me to who is."

"I'm sorry, what is your name, Lieutenant?"

"My name is...wait how do you know my rank if you are not military?"

"I was military, now I'm not." Silva shrugged as he answered the Lieutenant.

"I see, I am Lieutenant Ping Chung."

"Are you the only one who speaks English?"

"Yes. This is Captain Yang Lau Sing. This is Major Feng Pae Chilung. The rest are mere Lieutenants like me, but none of them speak English."

"Then I assume the Major is in charge?"

"Yes. And he wishes for me to tell you to surrender now or die."

"Don't tell them this but, that's probably not going to happen."

"I see."

"But we can wait for my boss and the General to show up to make that decision."

"You have a General in charge?"

"Yes, and I think I hear their humvee coming now. Let me go brief them and I'll be right back."

Silva turned and walked back behind the hillock the humvee was approaching. The Chinese Lieutenant turned and started talking to his Major.

Silva waved to the corporal driving the vehicle and it swerved to come up beside him. Cappy and then Waylon following the General closely climbed out of the vehicle. Silva stood waiting for them to gather around.

"They say they want our surrender."

"What, they have to be kidding?"

"I don't think so except the Lieutenant delivering the message didn't seem too surprised by my candid aside."

"Which was?" the General asked.

"That it would never happen," Silva smiled.

"And it won't that's for damn sure."

As the four talked a squad of soldiers, a mixed bag of Marines, Army and Air Force led by an Army Major, came running up to the humvee. The Major snapped to attention at the sight of the General's stars. Cappy reached out and smacked the Major upside the head. Waylon just laughed.

"Who the fuck do you think you are hitting, soldier?" the Major yelled.

"The idiot that is going to get the General killed, dumbass," Cappy answered.

"Stand down Major," the General said sourly. "He's right you are an idiot. And Cappy I would appreciate you not calling my people idiots, that's my prerogative."

"You got it, General," Cappy smiled at the General.

"All right let's go talk to these other idiots. Cappy, you and Waylon can come. Major, do you think you can behave yourself? You can come too. You three Marines, you're with me. The rest of you cover us. Silva, is it? You're in charge back here."

The General turned and started walking around the hill. Those who were going with him scrambled to catch up. Waylon and the three marines rushed ahead to flank the General and the others.

Silva signaled the rest to follow him up the hill. Just before the crest, he flopped down on his belly, then he crawled the rest of the way up the hill. The rest of the men did the same. As they peeked over the top of the rise, they saw the General and his group reach the Chinese.

"General," the Chinese Lieutenant saluted stiffly along with the rest of the delegation.

"Son, if you don't want a slap upside the head I suggest you and your friends stop that immediately," Cappy said softly.

"Right," the Lieutenant said then turned to his officers and said something in Mandarin to them. They all relaxed. "General we, they, are here to get your surrender."

"None of them speak English?" the General asked.

"No. You may speak freely. I will only translate what I think is appropriate."

"That could lead to trouble for you Lieutenant."

"A chance I am willing to take General."

"Very well. What makes your superiors believe we would surrender?"

"Nothing, it is...how you say...buff?"

"Bluff son, bluff. What would you suggest our response should be my young Lieutenant?"

"Refusal. Tell them no. Then demand their surrender."

"I see. Lieutenant, you may inform your superiors of my refusal to surrender and that I demand their surrender. They are outnumbered and outgunned."