Ralph and Toni were talking with a disheveled, I think it is a man. What ever, it was dirty. Ralph came over... Moe this dirt pile says her name is JuJu. You almost rode in on their camp there are three adults and 5 kids all one family. They have been hiding out ever since this mess started. The Blue hats have a detachment at the entrance of Timber ridge. We can get past them but not with our ATVs, they would hear them. Oh and Juju says she is sorry for shooting you. It was her last bullet.
I told them to spread out and to set up a tent for the young ones. This is going to take some scouting and planning. We fed all the kids and our new additions, who had nothing but water from a spring Which I told them to make use of to wash themselves. I did not want any sickness from filthy conditions.
I had been evaluating my original bunch, watching how they moved and found another of Toni's attributes... she was a natural in the bush. After Juju was cleaned up I discovered she was fourteen and she too was a natural and the most experienced out of all the kids. None of the adults could be depended upon. Juju says they are in denial. Plus the two women, Mother and Grand mother had been repeatedly raped by the Blue Hats. When the father objected, they beat him senseless.
Juju was the bread winner the brains the heart and soul of her family. Juju had hidden and avoided the blue hats and later that night managed to slip her family out of town . The Blue Hats didn't care. All this bunch was interested in was robbing and raping.
Juju led our first scout, she pointed out many things to Toni and even a few to me. The Blue Hats of Timber Ridge Detachment were slovenly and lazy. It was obvious Juju was right it was easy to avoid them.
We were not in a real big hurry...We decided to harass them . With Juju leading our scouting party we evaded the Blue Hats. The whole idea was to pick them apart from the South. Since this bunch thought it was party time. They were raiding liquor stores and crashed where ever they happened to be at the time.
We had a few crossbows available and a few knives. I had a home made .Bowie knife which was razor sharp. The first night I accounted for 7 slit throats. The others took out four more with the bows. We drug the bodies aside and hid them the best we could. We were hoping the officers would think they deserted.
We would allow a few days for the hubbub to taper off then do it again. About a week later we set fire to the enlisted men's barracks. Only three got out . Most were too drunk to even get out of bed.
I decided I needed a bit of intel. Our last little soiree yielded a couple of Blue Hat uniforms. The only one that would fit me was a Sergeants uniform. I chukled this should give me a bit more moving room. I bypassed the out posts and entered the area from the South.
No-one seemed to question my right to be there. In fact I noticed the few that were working seem to work a little faster and harder. I stood and watched for awhile but didn't sy anything. Occasionally I would frown or nod my head in the negative. Then I walked away.
I had found a note pad and pencil in one of the uniform pockets. I opened it and discovered it was written in English. I had read the SSGT's notes. He wasn't too happy with the way the outfit was ran. He called them Civilian soldiers.
I noticed that when I pulled out the notebook...The men seemed to work faster. I had turned to go deeper into the camp when on Officer... a Major I think, called out to me.
“SSGT Parks, the Colonel Wishes to speak with you.” I nodded and Saluted and fell in behind him.
I glanced to my right Jacket pocket there was a name tag 'SSGT Parks' Hmm I wonder why I wasn't recognized as fake.. I followed the Major in to a white building with two Privates standing guard out front. They came to attention and saluted the Major.
Sitting at a desk across the room was a Sgt. , Admin type. He stood and opened a door to the left of his desk and ushered the Major and I into the Colonels presence. . Also in the room was Two 2nd Lts neither looked over 18.
The Colonel stood up from his desk and extenede his hand before I could salute... I shook his hand and introduced hm self. Col. Mason, the Major Afton and the Lts as Peters and Bracelton.
Things were beginning to make sense... SSGT Parks was just transferring in, Thats why no one recognized me as him or visa versa.
“Although you are new orders have changed and they affect you.”
“How so Sir?”
“Timber Ridge has been deemed to be of no strategic Value. We are being sent to back up the detachment at Mount Holyoke which is twice the size of Timber Ridge and has been under attack from rebels.”
“How is that to affect me? “
“ Well SSGT Parks your reputation has preceded you. We have to leave a token force here and since you are the most experienced soldier here I have chosen you to be in charge of the 5 man Team. Any problem with that?”
I smiled “No sir none at all.” I will draw what gear we will need.”
“Excellent! We leave in 48 hours.
*****************************
Moe was shocked, nothing like having everything handed to him on a silver platter. He laughed to himself. He could almost bet the five men left to him would be the worst of them all. Probably thieves, malingerers. The low of the low... Oh well they could die all the same.
Ralph had been with me on this scout. He was waiting outside for me. “Ralph get back to camp and tell Joann what is going on. She is to plan our attack. We will move into town in 72 hours.” I laugh, “We will only have to deal with five men not a Company.”
Moe looked at the five men he was to be left with. He smiled he had been right they were the degs of society, Slovenly and drunks to boot. “The rest of the company are moving out in about 48 hours. You five have been picked to defend this town. Until they leave just stay out of sight. Out sight out of mind.” If(I laughed) you need me I will be in the Company office.”
My five stood at attention as the rest of the Company began loading up the trucks. As they pulled out I gave the command hand salute. We held the salute till the trucks were out of sight'. “Two, “ we broke the salute.
My five were surprised to look around and find rifles pointing at themselves. We stripped them and planned to locked them in the City Jail.
One of them was enraged and attacked one of our people, grabbing their rifle and firing...one shot before all five hit the ground... The Jail cell would not be needed...
The last paragraph and this was written by Joann.
At first it was a boisterous time, we had won with only one shot fired at us... then the excitement turned to remorse... The sudden realization... We were on our own... The one shot, had hit our leader, Moe... he died instantly.
We would have to learn and question everything always asking “How would Moe have done it?
We knew not what to do other than occupy the town of Timber Ridge and make it ours.
Wolfen1Report
Anonymous readerReport
-Ghost