For the next ten minutes, silence filled the convoy, broken only by the satcom’s periodic updates streaming in from around the country. Then, Ben’s satcom beeped sharply. He grabbed it and answered, “Echo-1 here. Let’s hear something positive.”
A murmur responded on the other end, muffled to those around him. After about twenty seconds, Ben replied, “Roger that. Rally Point Bravo confirmed. Got the grid reference here—three blocks from Mahonia Hall. Once we hit your mark, we’ll breach without delay. ETA to target is five to ten mikes, assuming no hostiles. Out.”
He turned to the others, his face tense. “Slight change in plans, gentlemen. Our Oregon Petty Tyrant, Tina Kotek, and her First Lady, Aimee Kotek Wilson, have locked down at Mahonia Hall after retreating from a crowd of patriots earlier. That’s the good news. The bad? Intel reports the mansion is locked down tight. We’re looking at forty-plus National Guard and another thirty or forty local LEOs. Our allies in Oregon had an insertion plan long in place; they’re saying it’ll still work. It’s straightforward.”
Pat grimaced. “Not gonna be a cakewalk. The men guarding that Commie aren’t about to fold like at the roadblock. We’ll do what we need to, but let’s be clear—this sends a message to every governor in the country. They either stand with freedom, or we’ll replace them, like Paxton did in Texas. And like Arizona patriots did. But there’s no sugarcoating this—it has to be brutal.”
Pat added, “The father of that girl Kotek pushed into that trans surgery is with our Oregon allies. He’s itching for payback. They even locked him up when he protested. The people are done with this heavy-handed tyranny.”
Luke nodded grimly. “Looks like he’ll get his chance. I just hope he knows what he’s doing and doesn’t get reckless.” He looked over at Ben. “Spread the word to the other vehicles, in case anyone hasn’t caught up. They follow our lead, no exceptions. We’re ready for anything.”
Pat glanced over at Luke, then quickly back. “Luke, I gotta get something off my chest before we hit the target.”
Luke looked over, curious. “Now? Alright…”
Pat shifted awkwardly, a brief flicker of humor in his tense expression. “Remember that board game we used to play as kids? The space colony one? The one with that star system—Nunki, and the aliens?”
Luke raised an eyebrow, then laughed. “Yeah, I remember it.”
Pat shrugged, almost sheepishly. “I cheated, man. Every time. I was stacking factories and running the board. Been meaning to tell you for years.”
Luke chuckled despite the tension. “Of all the things to confess now…”
Ben smirked. “You two…never a dull moment. I always hated those games.”
Luke shot back, “Well, this was before the internet, Ben. Pat and I used to skip gym class every day and hit up every board game in existence at Richmond Hill High.”
Just then, Pat’s expression changed as he scanned the road. His voice dropped. “Red alert. Lights up ahead, could be hostiles. Signal the others—pull over. We might need to blast through this last blockade to reach Mahonia Hall.”
Just as they spotted the flashing lights up ahead, a sudden, thunderous explosion rocked the nearby street. The blast was close—close enough that they could feel the shockwave and hear the shouts as the National Guard and police scrambled. Within seconds, the officers and guardsmen blocking the road pivoted, abandoning their post to investigate the source of the explosion.
Luke glanced at Pat and Ben, eyes wide. “That might be our opening.”
Pat nodded, motioning for them to follow. “Let’s move. While they’re distracted.”
They kept low, slipping past the now-cleared roadblock and heading further into the fray.
The convoy had made it to within a block of Mahonia Hall when they saw the aftermath of a full-scale assault. The Oregon militia had launched a fierce attack just before they arrived, and the street bore the evidence: vehicles were overturned, bodies lay scattered, and the smell of gunpowder hung thick in the air. The militia’s forces were overwhelming, their numbers surging to at least forty to one against those guarding the mansion.
Yet, the defense around the mansion held, as reinforcements poured in from the Oregon National Guard, struggling to close off the advancing crowd. The militia pressed hard, encircling the mansion on three sides, the firefight turning the once-quiet Salem neighborhood into a warzone. More reinforcements joined the militia every few minutes, arriving from side streets and alleyways, shouting orders and scrambling for cover.
Ben, Luke, and Pat crouched low, weaving through the chaos. They could hear the thunderous pops of gunfire all around them, the sharp ping of bullets ricocheting off metal, the shouts of commands and cries of the wounded. They exchanged tense glances, knowing that their best chance was to get close, find cover, and regroup.
“Looks like the Oregon boys softened them up,” Luke said, his voice barely audible over the noise.
“But not enough to break through,” Pat replied, scanning the area for their next move.
They slipped around a battered police car, inching forward under cover as they approached the mansion’s final perimeter. They were within sight of the Governor’s residence now, just one block away, but the defense had concentrated around the building’s core. National Guard and police had fortified themselves, with sharpshooters positioned along the roofline.
Ben’s expression grew tense as he spotted the setup. “This close, they’re going to pin us down in seconds if we move any further.”
“Agreed,” Pat said, his eyes tracking the rooftop. “We’re not getting through without a fight. They’re dug in and not about to let us just waltz in.”
Gunfire erupted again from the militia’s position, drawing the defenders’ attention momentarily. Using the distraction, they ducked behind an old sedan, assessing the next step as a sharp ping hit the metal beside them.
“We’re one block out,” Ben said, catching his breath. “We’ll have to move fast.”
Pat nodded, gripping his weapon as they prepared for the next dash—and the moment of truth that lay just ahead.
The sound of gunfire and shouts echoed through the street as Ben, Luke, and Pat huddled behind the burnt-out shell of an old sedan. Bullets clanged against the car’s metal frame, each shot forcing them lower. Ahead, Mahonia Hall loomed, but their route was cut off. Across the open street, the mansion was guarded by a perimeter of National Guard troops, who had reinforced the area just as the team arrived. More troops swarmed in, moving with military precision, and positioned themselves to keep the governor locked down and untouchable. Most of the men with them were scattered around the mansion now, many with the Oregon boys.
Ben peeked over the edge of the car, quickly ducking back as a sharpshooter’s bullet chipped the metal above his head. “Damn, they’ve got a spotter on the roof across the street, northeast corner. Can’t move an inch without him zeroing in on us.”
Luke’s eyes scanned the surroundings, assessing their slim options. “They’re moving to flank us,” he said, his voice tight. About ten National Guard soldiers were closing in from their left, taking up positions to box them in. “If we don’t break out in the next five minutes, they’ll have us surrounded.”
Pat exhaled, his face set with grim determination. He thought of Beth’s dream, the one that had been haunting him ever since he left for this mission. Turning to Ben and Luke, he managed a tight smile. “It’s been an honor serving with you both. Remember, never give up.”
“What are you talking about?” Ben’s eyes widened as Pat’s intention became clear.
“I’m going to roll out over to that car,” Pat nodded toward a wrecked SUV about fifteen yards ahead, just on the edge of the sharpshooter’s line of sight. “Ben, when he takes a shot at me, that’s your opening. You take him out.”
Ben’s face was tense. “Pat, that’s a suicide move. You’re giving that guy a clean shot.”
Pat glanced between his two friends. “If I don’t, we’re all dead. Someone’s gotta draw his fire.” He gripped their shoulders, meeting their eyes one last time. “Remember this: Never. Give. Up.”
Luke swallowed hard, his voice barely a whisper. “Pat…”
Pat cut him off, crouching low and bracing himself. He drew a deep breath. “On my mark.”
The three men steeled themselves, gripping their weapons tighter, muscles tense with anticipation. Each second stretched, the world seeming to slow around them as the reality of Pat’s decision settled in. A glint of the sharpshooter’s scope flashed in the distance, locked on their position.
Pat closed his eyes for a split second, then shouted, “Three, two, one—mark!”
He launched forward in a rolling dive, breaking from cover as he sprinted toward the SUV. The sharpshooter’s rifle cracked twice, a bullet whizzing just inches from Pat’s head as he rolled. Ben sprang into action, raising his own rifle with precision and calm forged in the heat of combat. He squeezed the trigger, landing a clean shot that sent the sharpshooter sprawling off the roof.
Pat reached the SUV, skidding behind it and taking cover, breathing hard. The troops around Mahonia Hall shouted orders, realizing the group was still advancing, even as the flanking Guard closed in.
“Move! Now!” Pat yelled, signaling Ben and Luke to sprint toward him. They dashed through the open ground, sliding in behind the SUV just as another round of gunfire erupted from the mansion’s defenders. The gunfire intensified, but they were moving forward, inching closer to Mahonia Hall.
Pat, chest heaving, grinned at his friends. “Told you. Never give up.”
Chapter 1 page 1
Chapter 1 Page 2
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6 page 1
Chater 6 page 2
Chapter 6 page 3
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9 page 1
Chapter 9 page 2
Chapter 10
Chapter 11 page 1
Chapter 11 page 2
Chapter 11 page 3
Hey, Sgt. K here—also known as CK Sheldon. I’ve got one book published on Amazon as part of a trilogy, though only the first is currently available due to editing challenges. I’m working on bringing the other two books back, using ChatGPT to refine them, and I’ll likely add this new book there, too, if there’s interest. Since this isn’t about profit for me, you can always read it here on Whatfinger News for free, complete with the original links.
For anyone interested, my Amazon book is Allfather Saga. Fair warning: it’s a mix of science fiction, politics, and a bit of mature content. And yes, Trump makes an appearance in Book 3, though the story is set far into the future.
Untraceable phone – you need to see this Glenn Beck Vid with Erik Prince – See You Have a TRACKER in Your Pocket Sending Data to the Deep State – might be the MOST important vid you see this year – might save your life folks – your kids too – you’ll get it and the details will freak you out. It did me. … Sgt Pat
https://unplugged.com/ is Prince’s company.
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