The Great Satan Falls Chap 1-3, 4-6

[Jeepcats 3]

Please take care of yourself!
Do have it checked out by a doctor!
Numbness is not always caused by a pinched nerve!

Jeepcats3

[223shootersc]

hope you get well soon

[BigRuss]

definitely see a doctor about this. I periodically have a similar condition and in my case it's caused by a combination of issues, with arthritis in my neck as the major cause of trouble. All the time the docs/therapists spent on my arm only to discover the real problem was higher up.

good luck
Russ

[Jeepcats 3]

I hope you got your shoulder checked out!
I'm not as worried about the story as I am that you are okay?
Please let us know how you are doing!

Jeepcats3

[wab54]

Was hoping for more!! Did you see a doctor? Hope everything work out ok.



WAB

[stjwelding]

whtdragn;
WOW!!! what can I say that has't already been said by the other readers, this is one great story. I started reading it last week and could not stop, you are truly a gifted writer. Many times through out the story I was going to post my thoughts and thanks to you but after looking at the dates thought you had finished it long ago and decided to wait until I finished reading it. I just caught up, I hope that you recover soon from the problem with the pain in your shoulder and numbness in you hand. Again thanks for sharing your story with us hope to see more soon.
Wayne

[Vulture45-70]

Great Story--Are you sure you didn't take this out of the daily news. It is so Realistic and True.

[Lone_Hawk]

This story isn't over, please finsih it. You can't leave it here. I appreciate your fine work.

[bagpiper]

Does anybody know the status of whtdragon?

To just leave this hanging like this is a travesty... I hope he's ok..

[whtdragn]

Dear Friends;

I am sorry for my lengthy absence. Suffice it to say thinks have been a tad crazy around my house for the last few months.

We were evacuated due to a train derailment and a couple of computer rebuilds a wife in the hospital all seem to take some serious time away. However I was let know that if I did not pass my exam on the 20 of December well I might now be working. I made a decision to make sure that did not happen. Unfortunately that made it difficult to work on my writings. I hated to leave everyone hanging and should have posted but honestly until the test was passed I was unsure what was going to happen. Now the test is done and I have passed it. I am a certified sleep technician (RPSGT). I am back writing. Please give me a day or so to read up and see where I was going and hopefully I will have the final chapter posted Christmas Night if at all possible.

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and thanks to all the people that have posted asking about how I was doing. I am sorry that I felt the need to be away completely so as not to be tempted to steal any more time away from studying, than I did.

I want to thank everyone who has read and liked this story. There will be more.

Tony

[Rabbit]

That is very good news about you passing the test, congratulations. It sounds like your plate has been plenty full and I hope your wife is doing well. Glad to know you will get back to this great story as time allows. Have a Merry Christmas.

[wab54]

Hope you and yours have a Merry Christmas!!


WAB

[bagpiper]

@whtdragn,
As long as you're OK!... and congratulations on your test... I remember when I took the state qualifications for the electrical license... whew... 6 months of pure hell... never studied for anything like that before, but it is a wonderful feeling when you pass... isn't it?

Will await your efforts with patience.. and MERRY CHRISTMAS!

[BigRuss]

happy to hear you succeeded on the test, sorry about the rest of the news. Glad to have you back with us!

Merry Christmas!
Russ

[223shootersc]

thanks for the info, glad you passed your test, now back to the hard work of moar writing and Merry Christmas

[whtdragn]

Thanks for hanging with me. Hope you like it.

JT was 20 minutes away from the meeting site. They had left home a little more than an hour ago. Tim had already made the decision that he was going to go to Lexington. JT did not argue. He dressed in silence, hugged, and kissed his wife. He walked down the stairs and out the front door to the jeep. Tim was already waiting with the AK from the fight up in Minnesota and what JT assumed what was his own AR. JT nodded and climbed into the driver’s side as Tim stowed the guns in the back seat. JT had brought his Security Six and one of the Springfield XDM’s. He made sure to have plenty of ammo for each. He found an old pair of BDU’s in the closet and filled a pocket with speed loaders for the Ruger and he had four magazines for the XDM. He looked over into the backseat before starting the car. It looked like Tim had secured a couple AK magazines and loaded them up and several magazines for the AR. He smiled if they were stopped it would look like they were going to some war zone, he thought. He turned back, started the engine, and drove down the road in the predawn darkness. In the end he mused, that is precisely where they were going. No matter what the old horse farm had been, it would be a battlefield in a few hours. He drove down Interstate 64 and turned off before getting to Lexington. The farm sat about 30 miles outside the city back a gravel road and then onto another dirt road. The small house was down the dirt road and about 2 miles from the main house. That is where they would meet the rest of the team. He had spoken with Jeanie as soon as he woke up at 4 am. She and her father were already down in Lexington and on the way to the meeting point. They had brought a few friends along. JT thanked her and promised to see her soon. It was odd that he did not feel some sense of anxiety or apprehension. He could very well die today and never see his wife or kids. No matter how well prepared that was a possibility. This of course made him sad for but he was calm as he drove on. His eyes scanned the sides of the road for deer. It was still about an hour before sunrise and you had to be careful in the country, the deer would eat and then dart out into the roadway. He somehow felt at peace with this whole thing. Maybe Tim was right. It many ways he felt more at home in the role of the predator. He had found a few news stories as he was eating a bowl of cold cereal. It looked like the night had been successful. Dan had sent an email. Almost none of the phones were transmitting. It might serve their purposes in the end if a very few men had escaped. Fear was a great motivator and could work in their favor. He was now on the gravel road and slowed down. He was trying to keep his dust cloud as low as possible. In the end, he was sure the compound had lookouts or maybe they had pulled back and hunkered down waiting for the fight to come to them. It a short time they would get their wish. JT intended to do just that. He would take the fight to them.

Jeanie saw the subdued dust cloud coming up on their location. She, her father and the two other men melded back into the darkness next to the old building and waited. She saw the lights of the car and then they were gone. JT was being cautious with the headlights she thought. She reached behind her back and pulled a chemlight stick from her waist. She bent it until she felt the inner vial break and then intensely shook it back and forth. The orange light began to glow from the tube.

JT saw the faint glow of the chemlight and pulled the jeep up close to the old building. He stopped the vehicle and both he and Tim climbed out into the darkness. They walked towards the light letting their eyes adjust to the darkness. Trevor turned on a flashlight with a red cone over the lens. Everyone was now able to look around at the group members. JT and Jeanie reached for each other at the same time. They embraced pulling their bodies into each other. Their embrace much less like comrades and more like that of lovers. They kissed each other on the cheek and JT leaned down to whisper something into her ear before they parted. Trevor made introductions to the other two men in the group and then pointed to JT and Tim naming them. Only first names were exchanged. JT smiled and wondered if that was for security. A noise off to the right made JT turn with his hand on the security six to confront whatever was coming. Trevor laid his hand and JTs and mouthed that all was well. JT relaxed as he saw another smaller man come around the back of the building wearing the same black battle dress uniform that the others wore. He was surprised when the man turned out to be a woman. She came around the corner and towards the group with her MP5 lowered.

“We can talk. There is no one around until you get to the front gate. They have pulled back into the compound, waiting for us no doubt.” She said quietly.

Trevor nodded and motioned for everyone to get closer around the hood of JT’s jeep. The young woman pulled a map from inside her jacket and laid it out flat. He took the flashlight and held it up so the red light illuminated the map. Trevor introduced Madeline as the team member who had just arrived. She reached out to shake JT hand and then Tim’s. It seemed odd to JT since the others had not made any move to engage in introductions but then this was not a normal gathering. Madeline looked back at the map after the introduction and pointed to where groups of members were in the compound. She was apparently a reconnaissance specialist. The map was marked with locations of wires and people along with escapes routes.

“What does it look like around the main house Madeline?” JT asked.

She looked up into his face. “The Imam is in the back office area. From the blueprints, it is straight down the main hall and to the right. There are two men at the front doors and then I got heat signatures on four more in the main house besides the Imam.” She explained.

JT looked around the group. “I am here for the Imam. I do not care who else, if any, we have to kill but he dies today.” JT said before looking over to Trevor. “Do you have a plan or any idea how we are going to do this?” He asked.

Trevor bowed his head hiding a smile. “Well from our last meeting I would have assumed you were going to kick in the main door and kill anyone who tried to stop you.” He said as he raised his face back to the group. He could see smiles spread across all their faces. This was a dangerous and deadly thing there were doing. They all welcomed the brief moment of levity.

JT smiled. “Yes that did seem to be the way it happened last time. Maybe I am growing into this role as predator and as such know that sometimes stealth and cunning might be a better tactic.” He proclaimed.

Jeanie’s smile faded from her face for a moment and then she forced it back. JT was a good man dragged into this hellish fight. She loved her father and Gael but they were warriors and hard men. She had hoped that JT would be able to keep that innocence about him. She looked into his face and for a moment, his faced morphed into that of a large black and white tiger. His eyes scanned the horizon for prey. She shivered. She cursed all the people who had caused this and who had brought this war to America’s shores.

Trevor began to speak “I think the way to do this is to try and get them looking one direction, then let JT head for the main house. He pointed down to the map and identified two locations that had men stationed there. If we attack both of these places then maybe you will have a clear shot to get into the house and then back out again. Once you are out we can let the explosives do the trick.”

JT was listening intently and watching the plan unfold on the map before him. He was startled when Trevor brought up the possibility of explosives. He was not sure how he felt about that. He was here to kill and man and any who protected that man but the wholesale killing with bombs. Maybe he was not as comfortable as he considered about this role as warrior. “Trevor I am not sure how I feel about using explosives. That might be a line I would not want to cross unless absolutely necessary.” JT said in a pained low tone.

Trevor looked up and started into JT’s eyes before speaking. JT thought he saw a hint of sadness for a brief moment. Trevor bowed his head. “Actually JT we have not brought any of that kind of fire power. I would not have done so without discussing it with you first. According to Madeline, they have the compound wired to a charge in the main house. Once the main house blows so does the rest of the compound and I am assuming us with it, is what they hope.” He explained.

JT shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “I’m sorry; I should have known it was them.” JT said in an apologetic tone. He looked down and thought for a moment. “Do we have someone that can unhook the rest of the buildings and set the main house to explode on a timer?” JT asked.

Madeline coughed. “That would be me. I am the demolitions expert for tonight.” She said.

“How dangerous of a task is it?” JT asked.

“I think I can handle it. However, I have to tell you it worries me about using the timer. I would hate to have you blown all to pieces, walking out the front door.” She said with a hint of sarcasm.

JT looked up. “If I am not out in 30 minutes then I will be dragging that old man to hell with me.” He countered looking her in the eyes.

“I will take care of it.” She answered back, suddenly sounding very serious.

JT looked around at all the faces and wondered in the back of his mind, would this be the end of it. If they succeeded, would this end the attacks? He said a silent prayer it that it would. “We have about an hour before sunrise. If we break into four groups and attack them from different points, it has to create some confusion. Madeline will get into the main house and disconnect the explosives they have wired and reset the ones in the main building to blow after thirty minutes.” JT said looking at Trevor. “I propose we hit them all at once. That will give her cover and the needed time to make the changes.” JT pointed on the map and laid out a plan were each group would attack and draw some fire. He was going to start shooting at the main house with Tim and then Jeanie and her Dad would attack down on the right side of the compound. The other two men would attack on the left, guard positions.

“If we can draw some fire then she can make the needed change to the explosives and then Tim will go back with Madeline and attack the men’s barracks with Jeanie and Trevor.” JT explained. “Trevor, jump in on any of this please.” he added.

Trevor looked down towards the map, shook his head, and said, “That looks like a good plan. As good as, any I could have laid out. If we get them looking in all directions then we have a chance that they will get confused. These men are not trained soldiers, it may rattle them.”

“We have about an hour to get into position. Tim and I will start firing...” JT paused and looked down at his watch. It was now 6:50 am. Sunrise is around 8 so they could draw fire while Madeline gets into the basement and does her deed. “If we hit them right at 8:15 it will come as somewhat of a surprise and still have some darkness for Madeline to get in and out.” JT ended and then looked around to all of the faces. Everyone appeared to agree.

Jeanie walked back towards the small building. JT was worried for a moment something might be wrong. She came back with two bulletproof vests and a small headgear communications unit. Tim donned the items quickly, as he had worn similar equipment. JT ended up needing some help. Jeanie helped with the vest and then showing him how to wear the neck microphone and adjust the mouthpiece. It was agreed they would keep the chatter low unless absolutely necessary. Two clicks in his ear would mean that Madeline had done her job and they would move into the next phase.

JT moved the Security Six to the tactical vest along with the speed loaders. He reached into the widow of the Jeep, pulled out a Ruger 22/45, and secured it inside bulletproof chest protection. The XDm was in a drop leg holster and he had 4 magazines on his belt. JT looked around to the other members who were busy making final preparations. There was more to say as always but what he thought. He bowed his head for a silent prayer and as the others took note they in turned lower their heads. JT raised his head back and reached out to each person and shook their hands thanking them for their help in this awful but needed task. One more item, “We need to be off this land by 10:30 am no later.” JT stood in silence and let the information sink in. The returning stares let him know that the time constraint was a complete surprise. “I understand this might make this more difficult but after that time I cannot assure our safe retreat. The President is making a speech at 10 am and no one from the federal government will be down this way before that time. I cannot guarantee anything after that.”

The members of the group looked around to one another. It seemed they all wanted to ask questions but in the end Jeanie spoke up. “JT, do you know what the President is going to say?”

“I know what he has told me he is planning and that he will give us cover. I am just not sure how much I will count on that.” He answered back quickly.

All the heads nodded in the group and then there was silence. There was nothing more to do. It was time for this to end. Trevor spoke up and asked everyone to bow their heads. He took the time to ask God for guidance. Everyone seemed to take the time to say a silent prayer. He ended with a quiet Amen. The rest of the team followed suit and then they all looked up and scanned around the group. It was time.

Madeline made the first move away. “Give me ten minutes and then start firing. It will take me about 30 minutes to make the changes.” She left them with the quick statement and then disappeared into the darkness.

The other teams moved away with no more words needing to be said. JT and Tim walked directly down the road. There seemed to be no reason for stealth at this point. The people inside the compound had to know they would be coming. Also if they were watching JT, then they were not watching for Madeline. JT looked to his left and right and could just make out the movements of the other two teams. It took only a few minutes to walk down the main road and get to the gate. There was a large tree across from the main gate. JT looked around and did not see much else that would act as cover. JT pulled the handle on the AK with a loud clanking sound in the quiet early darkness. He looked over to Tim who was checking over his AR again and then checked his sidearm. Tim nodded. JT looked at his watch; it had been nine minutes since the group walked away. “Tim I need you to take care of my family as best you can if I do not come out of this.” JT said softly.

Tim stood in silence, not knowing what to say. “I will do all I can, I promise.” He finally replied.

JT stuck out his hand, “I am glad to have met you.”

Tim reached out and took JT’s hand and shook it. “It has been my honor to have known you” He said slowly.

JT pulled his hand back nodded and smiled at the young agent. “Then let us show these fools why the British left.” He said with a wide smile. “Take the tree I am going for one of the pillars.” JT said before he turned and ran across the small drive to one of the large stone pillars holding the gates.

Tim watched as JT pulled up against the stone structure. He worried that someone might be on the porch, less than fifty feet from the gate. If they were there they had decided not to take the first shots.

JT pulled up close to the pillar and looked down at his watch again. It was more reflex then needing to check the time again. It was time. He peered into the darkness scanning the front porch. He did not detect any movement but somehow knew men were there. He raised the AK from his side, steadying himself against the stone monolith and squeezed the trigger. The shrill report of the AK pierced the morning darkness. The flash from the shots lit up ten feet in front of JT. He could see some of the rounds bouncing off the brick and mortar, sending sparks flying. He fired the quick burst and then stopped. He ducked back around the stone pillar in expectation of the return fire. There was none. Tim fired several shots into the stone face of the old house. There was not return fire. JT was worried. Were they not covering the front of the house, or were they trying to let the two intruders get closer. JT scanned right and then left. He did not see anything that would let him believe that he was running into some kind of trap. Trevor had brought Madeleine, which was enough for JT to believe that she was good at her job. There should be six men in the house not counting the Imam. JT was not a patient man by nature and this situation was not helping him control his natural urges. He looked to Tim, and shrugged his shoulder. Tim made a face that JT could not completely make out but then with a Shrug of Tim shoulders, JT decided he was also confused at the lack of response. JT looked back at the house and the darkened porch. The bottom hand rail was set into a stone square. There block structure was about four feet height and wide enough for a man to stand behind and be concealed. JT took off at a sprint and ran to the structure, striking the column with more force then he wanted. He caught his breath and looked back over to Tim. JT could see up the 15 steps and saw no one at the top. If there were people on the steps they were back against the walls. He fired a volley of three rounds and then slowly made his way up the steps, crouching as he took each step. Finally as he made his way up to the third step he could raise his head and see the main porch area. It was empty. He could see the door from his vantage point. JT looked intently as if he were trying to peer through the wood fibers themselves. He began to retreat down a step when a small glint of light caught his eye. He could just make out a thin translucent line stretched across the top of the steps. He was motionless. They had booby trapped the porch, but how? Were there explosives or is this why there was no welcoming committee? There were waiting for him to trip the wire and be a sitting duck while they fired from inside the door. JT had to think for a moment. He carefully reached into his pocket and produced a small flashlight attached to his keychain. He focused the light on the porch, following the line from right to left where it disappeared under the door. JT secured the light back into his pocket and waved at Tim. He gave a thumbs up signal before he stood and ran forward being sure to miss the trip line. He gave the door a mighty kick turning to his right and taking cover against the stone wall. A second later a barrage of gun fire tore the door to pieces as it swung back closed. JT let them fire and stayed against the wall. The firing subsided; he took a quick look down the hallway. Both men were trying to reload their weapons in darkness. He smiled as he thought of the times he had closed his eyes and practiced reloading. He shook his head. This was not the time for recrimination or speculation on how these men were trained. There were the enemy and they stood between him and his prey. He ran quickly across the tattered from door and fired as he ran past the opening. He did this two more times; sneaking quick looks as he stopped on the opposite side of the door. He glanced down the hallway and both men were down. He slung the AK down to is side and pulled the 9 mm and fire two headshots. If there were not dead before they were now. JT held the pistol out and looked down the hallway. He could make out two doors on the right side of the hallway and then it came to another hallway on the left. To the right past those doors was the man he came there to kill. He looked down at his watch. It was just past 9:00, he let out a worried sigh. Had something gone wrong? Madeline should have made the signal by now. He could not worry about that. He waved back to Tim and pointed to the basement.

Tim gave a wave and headed around the house. He moved from the tree and closed in on the basement windows. He had also notice that time had passed and no signal from Madeline. The large windows sat at ground level like many older homes had them. Tim looked in the window and could not make out any movement. He walked towards the back of the house looking in each window as he made his way to the back. Tim was taking the corner to the back of the house when he saw the barrel of the gun pointed at his head. He let go of the AR and blocked the gun just as it was fired. He swung a back fist into the face of the young dark-skinned man, who was holding the gun. Tim spun away and was able to grab the gun hand before the man could regain a clear sight picture. He pinned him against the wall, holding his right wrist and using his weight to push his shoulder into the stone. Tim smashed the assailants hand against the wall again and again. The gun finally dropped, Tim pushed off and quickly drew his service weapon and shot the young man in the forehead. He stood immobile as he watched the body slump to the ground. A shot rang out, Tim turned to the sound and another man was shooting at him, with a rifle. He raised the pistol in his right hand and fired at his attacker, before stumbling seeking shelter around the corner of the building. Tim made it to the corner and fired blindly as he looked down as to why he could not bear weight on his right leg. The leg wound was covered with blood. This time the attacker was able to hit him and damn it hurt. Tim Cursed. How could he be that stupid? He fired several shots blindly around the corner before holstering the handgun and pulling the AR back into service. Tim took a quick cautious look around the corner. Just as he pulled his head back rounds ripped into the stone. There was no way for Tim to retreat or to try and run for better cover. He needed to out think this guy and get it done quickly. He worried these men may be the reason Madeline had not checked in. Tim shook the thoughts from his mind. Tim peaked around again. He could make out just a bit of the man as he was securely hidden in some kind of stairwell. He fire off a few rounds just to let the man know he was still there. He did not want him running around that corner until Tim had a plan. As Tim pulled back, ducking around the corner, several rounds hit the wall where he had poked his head out. If it were not so serious it would be comical, he thought. Two men not twenty feet apart leaning out and alternately shooting at each other. Tim was not in the mood to see the amusement of the situation. He had to foment a plan and he had to do it quickly. This was not going to be a safe place after Madeline had made her changes.

Madeline was finding the changes she needed to make to the setup more complicated then she had anticipated. She had gutted the system so any charge was only going to take out the main house but whatever idiot wired this monstrosity was no fan of “how things were done”. Sure you did not want to make it easy for someone to change but you also did not want to blow yourself up by wiring it wrong. She suspected this was some bomb make that although they could wire a suicide vest, they had no formal training. She was done. It was wired with their timer and if anyone messed with it, well then they would not be long for this world. She grabbed her maglite and gear from the small furnace that she had used as a table and started to walk for the door. Madeline stopped and flattened herself against the wall; she heard steps from outside the small room. Her hand slowly dropped to the pistol in her thigh holster but then she removed it. If she caused too much commotion they would surly come to investigate. She had already heard some rounds from outside. If she could take whoever this was out quietly they might just chalk him up as a casualty. She stood motionless next to the door opening the maglite had allowed her to see what she needed to. The red filter was enough to make her changes but if this person came in the room he was going to reach for the light switch, she thought. The one that was just inches away from her left hand. She reached up with her right hand and quietly unsnapped the knife on her vest. She could see his foot enter the room and then his hand. She peered into darkness as his hand came closer and closer to hers, and then she struck. She grabbed his right hand with her left and pulled him forward. The knife made a direct stab for his throat. She could feel it penetrate and his only sound was a pig like squeal in fear as she had grabbed his hand and pulled him forward, into the darkness. She allowed his momentum to take him to the ground, grabbing the AK from around his neck before standing back up to leave. She walked into the hallway and was surprised to see another guard, who was standing motionless in shock, at seeing his comrade pulled into a dark room. So much for plans, he was too far to engage hand to hand. She raised the AK and fired at him, sending him scrambling back around the corner. There was a door to her left, down a hallway that led outside. Since she had been discovered that would have to be her means of escape. She took a small canister device and pulled the soda can like tab. Madeline always liked to carry a smoke canister. She threw it after the retreating guard. She touched her microphone twice and she could hear in her earpiece two quick clicks. It was set; she turned and ran for the back door.

The short gun burst from inside the house startled Tim. It sounded like it was close to the back of the house. He peeked around the corner and fired a short burst and then looked down through the windows as his nemesis was busy ducking. He could not see much but he had heard the double click in his ear. Madeline had finished her task, he thought. He quickly looked up to check that he was not being walked up onto and then back to the window. The room had a door open to a hallway. He could make out smoke. He was unsure what that meant. Had Madeline started a fire? He doubted that, however she could have been caught. He was worried. A few rounds had hit the wall again and now it was quiet. Tim had deiced that he was not going to wait longer. He would fire and then run to try and surprise the guard and shot him. It was risky. If the guard was fast and came out with the gun at the ready, Tim would be dead. He fired a few rounds and then a few more. If he could keep the guard off balance, maybe he had a chance. He took off as quick as he could with the leg wound, keeping his eye on the corner. He had the gun up but was having difficulty keeping it pointed towards the spot he hoped the guard would show his face. His leg was making it difficult to move forward. He stumbled and went down to the ground with a thud. He rolled over in time to see the dark shadow come out of the hiding spot aiming a gun down at him. Tim focused on the guard’s finger, closing around the trigger. He was trying to raise his own gun to at least take the man when he was shot. The finger touched the trigger.

Madeline was at the back door and could see someone on the other side and just as she thought she was going to have to shoot him he moved from the door. There were shots from outside that sounded like a .223 and then the man moved out from the door slowly. She opened the door and walked of the lone step to see the man standing over Tim with his gun aimed at his midsection and raising. There was no choice she fired the AK, hitting the man several times before he fell face first down next to the young agent.

Tim flinched as he heard the weapon fire and saw the big man fall. From the darkness he could see a smaller figure and knew that he had been saved by the demolition expert. “Nice timing.” He said, as he tried to stand.

Madeline smiled and walked over. She leaned down helping him to his feet. They both made their way back to the front of the house and over to the tree he had taken refuge behind. She let him rest his weight on her until he could lean against the tree. “I am going to go and help the other teams. You stay here and make sure no one goes in the front door.”

Tim nodded, out of breath from the walk compounded with the gunshot wound.

She was gone into the night.

JT was making his way down the hall when the sound of heavy footsteps off to his left alerted him to a threat. It looked like there was a stairwell going to a basement. The man came into view paying no attention to where he was running or to whom he might run in to. JT raised the revolver and shot him. With a look of surprise on his face he turned the man fell to the floor. JT could smell the smoke and assumed that the man had met Melanie. The clicks to alert the 30 minute window had been a few minutes back, so more than likely she had survived the meeting with the now dead guard. JT moved down the hall and towards his destination. He looked down at the timer on his watch. There were 25 minutes left before the building was destroyed. He turned down the last hall and looked around the corner. There were two men standing guard outside an ornate door at the end of the hall. He did not have time to make this some type of shooting match he raised the AK and let loose several bursts. The two men fell forward. JT knew better then to run down the hall. There was sure to be more guards. He had not made it this far to get killed being stupid. He turned down the hallway and hugged the right wall. There did not appear to be any other rooms than the main one at the end. He was now within reach of the door. He reached out and touched the round doorknob, the smooth metal felt cool to the touch. He turned the knob half expecting it to be locked but the latch moved and he pulled the door open.

Jeanie and Trevor had crossed paths with five men who seemed to be roaming guards. They were walking around the campus, not being very quiet, when Jeanie and her dad spotted them and waited. The sounds of gun fire from the main house made them all turn and begin to move towards the large residence. Trevor had motioned for his daughter to take cover behind an out building while he took cover on a small dirt rise. The men where twenty feet in front of them, now Jeanie and her father would have them in a cross fire. They let the group move ten more feet and then opened fire. The rounds were fired at an angle so there was no chance of friendly fire. The five men were cut down before they could return fire. The heard more gunfire from off to their left and knew that the other members of their team had found guards. Jeanie looked back to the main house; she was worried about her friend. She shook her head and turned back towards her father. JT would take care of himself. They needed to make sure no one surprised him.

JT opened the door quietly. He could see two men near the window and another man on a run at the other end of the room. He pushed the door open quickly and fired two rounds, striking each man in the chest. They went down and did not move. He quickly kicked the door closed and pointed the gun at the old man on the rug as he walked over to the downed guards. JT took no chances and shot both men in the head. He turned his full attention to the man knelling on the rug. JT considered simply shooting the man and being done with it. The old man was no threat but he had caused all that had happened. JT opened the cylinder of the security six and loaded six fresh rounds. He had not kept count. He closed the cylinder with his hand and raised the gun.

The old man watched him intently. His eyes filled with hatred. He was prepared to die but he would take this dog with him, one of his brothers would carry on with the destruction of this decadent country. He held the switch for the explosives tightly in his hand, his finger on the trigger.

JT stood there with the gun trained on the Imams forehead, his finger on the trigger. He released come of the pressure on the trigger. “Why?” He said with anger in his voice. “All of this and you will die here in this house. You might have put us in a depression but you will not have destroyed us.” JT said the words worried that he might be proven wrong. The United States was teetering on the brink.

[whtdragn]

The old man sat with his legs folded under him, his weight on his calf muscles. He said nothing for the longest time. Then in a low tone he started, “the world must come under the control of Islam and in time it will.” He paused. “You were but the first, we will bring down all the worlds nations and bring them into a new caliphate. All will fall before Islam, bowing to our rule.” The old man was now screaming at JT. He pointed an accusing finger at JT. “You and yours are dogs, you will be destroyed.” The Imam opened his hand to show the small metal cylinder with the black button on top.

JT knew what it was. The Imam had made his statement and had given JT his reasons and now was going to blow the place up. JT waited.

“I go to paradise and I send you to hell.” The Imam shouted and pushed the button. He closed his eyes waiting for the explosion that would kill him and send this man to his fate.

JT stood before the old man with a knowing smile. Madeline had done her job. He looked down at his watch. The Imam was correct he would die, in 12 minutes if not before. JT watched as the Imam opened his eyes wide and then pressed the button again and again. “The explosives are not under you control. We changed them.” He said victoriously.

The old man sneered at JT. “I would have preferred to kill you myself but die you will.” The old man spat out.

JT watched his face; the anger visible with ever fiber of the Imam’s being displayed for all to see. JT looked into the dark eyes and for a brief second they looked past JT. The face changed and now the old man wore a triumphant grin. JT was too slow. He knew that someone had entered the room and was now behind him. He started to make the turn and was knocked off his feet with a thunderous blow. JT was sprawled on the floor and looking back to where he once stood. The man who stood there was a giant. JT looked him over, guessing he was six foot five maybe an inch or two more; he was well over three hundred pounds. His barreled chest gave wave to a massive neck. It was not that he was necessarily muscled, he was just huge. JT’s gun had flown from his hand and he could not find see it from his vantage. The AK was under him and unavailable.

“Hassan Kill Him!” The old man yelled at the top of his lungs.

The walking mountain of a man grabbed JT and hoisted him up by his shoulders and flung him across the room. JT landed with a heavy thud, landing on the AK. His back felt wet and he was sure he was bleeding. He rolled away from the gun and pulled it over his head. The barrel was broken along with the wooden furniture and there was blood on the end close to the receiver, his blood. JT threw the gun to the side and reached for the Springfield XDm that was in the thigh holster. He pulled it quickly, feeling pain as he grabbed it from the holster. He fired a single shot before Hassan was on him again. JT was unsure if he had hit the giant but then it did not matter now. Hassan pulled him up into a bear hug and squeezed. He felt the rigidity of the mans huge arms around his chest. JT tried to take a breath and could not get enough air into his lungs. His arms were pinned at his side, no matter how much he pulled he could not free them. JT could feel the arms tighten around his chest. He felt a small crack and knew one of his ribs had given way. JT pulled his head back and slammed his forehead into Hassan’s nose. He pulled back and could see the nose was broken, blood flowed freely from it but other than that there was no change in his circumstance. He was starting to feel dizzy, he was going to loose consciousness and then the old man was going to step in and finish him off, of that JT had no doubt and it made him angry. He pulled his head back and slammed into the broken nose repeatedly until he felt Hassan’s knees buckle and the embrace weaken. JT pulled back, dizzy from the strikes and the lack of oxygen, Hassan’s face was a bloody mess. JT pulled and pulled on his right hand and was finally able to free it. He balled his fist and hit his attacker in the throat with all his might. He pulled back for another strike, and then another. Hassan was coughing and spitting blood. JT continued to hammer on the throat and then he was able to get his other hand free. Hassan tightened his grip, JT screamed in pain as the cracked rib broke. JT was now hitting him with both hands. He was using all his anger and pain to stroke the man’s throat and nose alternately. If he could cut off the big mans air supply, he would have a chance. Hassan regained his feet and stood up, he changed his grip. He grabbed JT around the shoulder and the crotch walked him over to the ornate desk and ferociously slammed him down on top of it. JT cried out in pain as he rolled off the desk. Hassan wiped the blood from his face as he walked over to the wall and pulled down a large sword. He pulled the scabbard away and threw it to the side. JT crawled from behind the desk and lay on the cool wooden floor, his body wracked with pain. He was able to roll over and get to his hands and feet as Hassan unsheathed the blade. JT raised his head and looked at the hulking man, as he slowly walked towards JT. Hassan swung the blade back and forth as if to get the weight and feel of the weapon. JT waited. The huge man was now mere feet away and JT had to act. Hassan had brought the weapon up above his head, brining it down for a fatal blow. JT rolled forward on his shoulder escaping the blow and landing on his back. The pain was terrible but he could not stop now, he pulled both feet up and kicked the knees of the giant as hard as he could. The giant of a man screamed as he fell to his knees. JT quickly stood, so as not to be crushed if Hassan fell forward. JT pulled the Cold Steel spike from the sheath and stabbed down into the back of the knee. He went behind the kneeling man and stabbed several blows to each side of his chest with the knife. Hassan fell forward holding himself up with his hands. JT staggered over to the fallen sword and hefted it up. Hassan could not move his legs and chest poured blood onto the floor, it pooled under him. JT lifted the sword and laid the weight of the blade across the huge neck. Hassan turned his head and looked into his killers eyes. JT looked back never blinking as he raised the sword and struck the blow. The large body collapsed forward as the head rolled away. JT stood holding the sword and then let it fall to the ground with a loud clattering sound. He looked down at his watch. He had only minutes to get this done. JT looked back towards the Imam for the first time since he had been attacked. He had remained on the prayer rug. JT stood there wanting to tell the old man that he was not at war with America or the West he was at war with time itself. That even if he could stop America, Russia or China would be next and they would not submit. Time was not on his side. The world was changing; the women of the Muslim world were not going to be second class citizens forever. They would demand freedom and in the end they would get it. Many would die but in the end it would happen. There was now way this would end in some global caliphate. In the end there were too many weapons, to many bombs and too many people that would not submit. He wanted to say all these things and more. He looked into the old mans eyes and knew it was pointless. JT pulled the Ruger and shot him through his right eye. The body collapsed back onto the floor. JT fell to his knees. A sense of relief coursed through him. He grabbed for the edge of the desk and fell forward. His body ached. He was tired. He could not just lay there and let the bomb go off, he had made a promise. He pulled himself up on the side of the desk and tried to stand. JT was able to get his feet under him and support his weight; however he knew he was not going to be able to make it back to the front door. There were two minutes left and he could barely walk. He saw a window behind the desk and could make out the branches of a tree close by. JT walked behind the desk and tried to open the window, it would not budge. He grabbed the heavy chair behind the desk and heaved it through the window, sending it crashing to the ground, a story below. The tree limbs were about five feet out and were blocked by a square of brick, maybe a fire place in another room. He had no choice; he had to make the jump down or into the tree. He climbed into the window and jumped. His shoulder hit the bricks but he was able to grab onto the tree limbs and tumbled into the tree. The limbs snagged and cut his tortured body and he feel through them but they slowed his momentum, before he hit the ground hard. Slamming into the earth knocked the breath from his body and for many seconds he was not sure he could move. JT rolled onto his stomach and began to crawl.

Tim had made it back to his original place of concealment. He watched the front door. Time was getting short. The last gun fire was from a small round, maybe the 22 Ruger JT took with him. If that were so why was JT not coming out? Tim was brought out of his contemplation by the smashing of the window with the chair. Then to his amazement someone jump out of the window. He saw the body falling through the cedar tree and land with a loud impact. It had to be JT. Tim hobbled over to the body. He had the pistol at the ready just in case he was wrong. The body rolled over and he could tell it was JT, but he looked to be in bad shape. Tim dropped the gun and grabbed one of JT’s arms and began to drag him from the house. Tim was grunting against the pain as he tugged harder and harder trying to get as much distance as possible between them and the house before it went up.

Trevor and Jeanie had moved back towards the house. They had engaged two groups and taken both groups out quickly. They had run across Madeline as they made their way back to the house. Time was close the bomb was suppose to go off just after 10:15. The other two associates had waved from a distance when time went lower then five minutes. There was no reason for everyone to be around when the house went up and they could find their own ways out. They were specialist, they disappeared for a living. The three were at the house as they saw Tim come out of concealment and run for the house. They had to stop him from going in. JT had made it clear no one was to try and come in the house, no matter what. Tim was not going towards the steps; he was running for the side of the house. Trevor pointed out the chair on the ground and the body not far from it. The three ran towards their fallen friend.

Tim was pulling with all his might but was making little headway. Someone grabbed him from behind, turning him. He came face to face with Madeline. She grabbed his arm and draped it over her shoulder. The two began a quick pace, to the tress where he had been waiting. Trevor and Jeanie each grabbed an arm and pulled JT quickly over to the trees. JT was pulled over the small dirt mound with a grunt as everyone ducked down, for whatever cover there was to have.

The explosion was thunderous. It rocked the small group as Trevor tried to shield the others from the flying debris. Large chunks of flaming wood and timber fell all around the five prone bodies. JT began to come to as the last of the flying debris was falling. He quickly looked at his watch; it was not 10:20. They needed to leave. “Trevor I know we would like to stay and enjoy this but we must leave now, can you and Jeanie get the cars and get us off this property.”

Trevor simply nodded and he and Jeanie took off to get both vehicles. They were back quickly. Madeline climbed in with Trevor after they helped get JT and Tim in the old Jeep. The two cars quickly sped away. As they turned out the gate and headed for the regional medical center Trevor spied a long line of black SUV’s. The black cars where headed back down the road they had just been on. Trevor looked at his watch. It was now 10:30.

JT reached forward and turned on the local news station. The pain in his back and side was tremendous as he moved. He coughed as he sat back against the seat, blood splattered on the console in front of him. He was bleeding internally. Jeanie saw the blood and was about to pull over.

“No! Go onto the hospital, do not stop.” JT spat out, blood drooling from his mouth.

Jeanie did not know what to do. Should she listen to him and maybe let him bleed to death in the car. “Ok.” She sighed.

The Jeep proceeded on. The radio announcer was yelling, it as hard to make out what he was saying. Finally someone in the control booth adjusted the volume. They finally hear the announcement. “Ladies and gentlemen, The President has just resigned. He held a press conference that we are going to replay as soon as we can. He had resigned his office effective at 10:30 EST. Are we ready, is the speech ready. Dammit! Get the speech ready. I am sorry for the confusion but this is an unprecedented occasion. All right roll the speech.”

My fellow Americans, I come to you with a heavy heart. I find that I have been placed in an untenable situation by the former director of the FBI and the former Attorney General. I wanted a discussion of a different America; they wanted to force it on the American people. I asked for their resignations and they refused. They have now taken the brazen step of bringing the UN into a situation that it does not belong and will not be welcomed. We have been under a dark cloud that as I have come to find out may have been in part the responsibility of these two men. I asked them to look into this IDG group and later asked that the IDG be treated as a terrorist group. It was not done. It was left to a small group of patriots to flush out and destroy these heinous terrorist’s. I have been left with no other choice but to resign. Since at the time this is being heard a new president is in place, the two treasonous have no rights to speak at the UN. My understanding is the speaker has already called the UN and petitioned the counsel. I also understand it has been made clear that if the speech goes on as planned the US will pull out of the UN. If that happens the US will declare all dues null and void, all fines for UN diplomats will be immediately due and the New York building will be closed and sold off. One more Item; I have ask the director of the FBI, Harold Dawes, who the Speaker said he would keep as the FBI director, to immediately arrest the former Attorney General and FBI director on charges of sedition. As last I have been told they are in the Venezuelan embassy. May God bless you and keep you and may God bless these United States.

After this speech the ex- President walked off the podium and out to a waiting helicopter to where his family was waiting. We have been informed that security has been enhanced for the ex- President by the new President although we have been given no details.”

JT passed out. When he awoke he was being pulled into the medical center on a gurney. JT was prepped for emergency surgery. The doctors reported that he suffered a gunshot wound, a stab wound to the back, 3 broken ribs, a punctured lung and various cuts and bruises. Tim’s leg was treated and by the time he was sewn up the Lexington police arrived. Madeline had gotten out of the vehicle and left before she was noticed. The trio Tim included declined to answer any questions. They were not sure how this was going to pan out but hoped that Harold being the FBI director was a good sign. The guns from the trucks were confiscated and it was decided to have Tim stay in the hospital overnight. It was no matter Jeanie and her dad were in the waiting room when the rest of JT’s family arrived. Nora immediately went to see how Tim was doing. Her mother told her to go; she would come and get her with any news. It was hours before any news and then more hours until JT was out of recovery. He was in a private room. His body was mostly covered in bandages. He had a drain hooked up for his lung to help re-inflate it. What parts that were not bandaged were horrible bruised. The doctors explained they were hopeful but it would take several days before they would know how the surgery went. The police continued to ask questions and get no answers. After the second day they seemed to loose interest. Tim was released. The whole group had been notified that two suites had been made available for their use, free of charge. They all looked around the waiting room at each other; no one seemed to know anything about it. Jeanie asked her father as he walked back in from getting coffee. He just shook his head, no. They all headed to the hotel except for Anne, she wanted to stay for awhile but insisted that the kids and others get some rest. She sat alone in the waiting room and watched the television. The world had changed in the last forty eight hours. The two traitors as she called them were in the Venezuelan embassy and were virtual prisoners. The speech did go on as planned but the results were not what they had hoped for. Every ambassador stood and walked out save one, the Iranian ambassador stayed. Earlier today the only refinery in Iran was hit with a cruise missile and completely destroyed. It was unclear who launched it. The senate was debating a package with aide for Egypt. It was blocked by thirty senators who wrote a letter saying as long as there were tariffs on oil there would be no aide. Protests immediately erupted in Egypt, the military refused to stop them. The IDG was under investigation as well as any politician who took money from them. The FBI was going through all correspondence, since it somehow showed up in their emails the day the President resigned. As a matter of fact they had al the emails every sent in and out of many groups associated with the IDG. Of course it was odd the IDG website and all the sites within its sphere were down and were unable to be brought back up. The news droned on and on. Stores were now getting supplies; many trucks were escorted by armed convoys. There was a rumor that if China put up to much of a commotion that they had been promised the printing presses would run day and night. The money they held would be worthless. They were also informed that a five hundred percent tariff would go on even the smallest items. In the end China was not interested in having a money war with its best customer. Anne got up and walked into JT’s room and sat down beside his bed. She held his hand and laid her head down on the bed and fell asleep.

JT was unsure how long he had been out. His body was in deep pain but the medications helped. They also kept him knocked out. He had come to and felt his hand in something soft, he looked down and could see his wife had laid her head down on his hand. He could feel her breath on his hand as he moved it. He placed it on the back of her head and stroked her hair.

Anne was asleep dreaming of how JT loved to stroke her hair. When they made love he touched her face and kissed her. His hands were always in her hair touching it. She opened her eyes. She was not asleep anymore and she could still feel his hands on her hair. Anne turned her face to see his hand near her cheek. She looked at his face and smiled at his open eyes. She leaned her cheek into his hand and felt the warmth. He hand came up and cradled his as he stroked her face. Tears began to stream down her face as she held his hand close to her. After a few days JT was allowed to sit up in the chair. The doctors were happy with his recovery. Everyone rotated in to see how he was doing. Jeanie and her father stayed a few more days and when they were satisfied he was out of the woods they said their goodbyes. They had their own wounded to tend to. They had a quiet conversation before they left. Tim, JT and the father and daughter, they had been through a war together and survived and just maybe saved a nation. Anne watched on as Jeanie bent down and kissed JT on the cheek, a twinge of jealousy flared for a brief moment. Nora and Tim went back to the tanner household. Ethan and Anne stayed until JT could be released to a rehab facility in Louisville. He was in Frazier rehab for a week and then released home. Nurses visited daily and he had physical therapy 3 days a week. After a month he was out of most of the bandages. He still had to wear a guard for his ribs and he was walking with a cane from the broken leg. The living room had been turned into a modest man cave for him since stairs were out of the question for the time being. Nora and Tim were spending a lot of time together. Tim had asked her to marry him they planned a May wedding. Dan and Beth Ann had sent out invitations for a small shindig in Phoenix in February.

JT sat in the recliner looking out the window. It had now been almost two months since his injuries and he was healing well. The elections were a few weeks away. There had been a lot of back and forth on that issue. Finally both side put up new people. There was a huge push for JT to accept the nomination for the open Kentucky Senate seat. When the Republican Party chose not to allow him to run he had been asked by the Libertarian party and he accepted. He really had no interest but he did it just to piss off the republican big wigs. The day was cold but the sun was warm coming through the window. Anne was working; Nora was in class as was Dan. Tim had went back to work with the FBI as a Special Agent in Charge of the Louisville field office. JT sat in front of the window and waited for the nurse to come and change the bandage on his leg. The compound fracture, probably from the fall, still required a few pins to stabilize. A car turned into the lower driveway and headed towards the house. It was a dark sedan. JT did not recognize the vehicle and he was not expecting company. He grabbed hold of the ram’s horn cane and steadies himself as he stands. The Rossi Ranch hand sat on the table inside the front door. JT opened the door and placed his left hand in the lever. There was a bullet already chambered. JT removed his hand and smiled as Harold Dawes walked out of the backseat of the sedan. Two agents stood beside the car as he walked over towards JT. He left the door open for the Director and sat back down.

“You will forgive me but standing is not something I can do for very long.” JT said waving for Agent Dawes to sit.

“I am glad you are looking well JT, you had us worried for a time there. I wanted to come and check on you and to give you something.” Agent Dawes said softly.

“I am doing well, it will take time but eventually even the cane will go.” JT said smiling.

Agent Dawes reached into his breast pocket and pulled out a sheet of paper and handed it to JT. “Someone asked me to give you that so you never had to look over your shoulder. You did a brave and selfless act and it will not be forgotten, by anyone.” Agent Dawes said as he watched JT read the letter.


To whom it may concern;

I President Nathanial Sloan do hereby pardon Jerome Tanner and any and all persons who helped him during this difficult time of terrorist activities. I hereby sign this on this day at 10:30 AM.

Signed

Nathanial Sloan.

It was dated at the top with a time stamp.

JT read it several time and looked back at Agent Dawes. “So I have been pardoned?” He asked.

“Yes, you and any who acted in concert with you.” Agent Dawes said standing up smiling.

“Thanks.” JT said reaching out his hand.

Agent Dawes shook his hand and nodded. “don’t bother yourself I will get the door.”

JT thanked him again. “Oh let the president know, we will be watching.” JT said in a serious tone.

“Yes we will” Agent Dawes agreed “Yes we will.”

JT watched as the car turned and pulled back down the drive. He laid the letter down and slowly stood up and made his way to the kitchen. He stopped beside the table next to the door. There was a square box. He took a step towards it, reaching down and carrying it to the kitchen counter. He opened the box and inside was a stainless 357 Ruger, on the note sitting on the revolver.

If you need anything call.

Director FBI Harold Dawes.

JT smiled and closed the box. He would have to wait a few more weeks before testing out the trigger.

[Jeepcats 3]

It is amazing how you have combined the headlines to make a riveting story!
Thanks

Jeepcats3

[223shootersc]

great,great stuff, can't wait for the sequel, thanks for your hard wotk

[methos]

Excellent conclusion. I loved the line about the terrorists fighting time. What an interesting perspective, I hadn't thought of that before.

[Sully]

I just finished this story..I loved it. You are a very good story teller and I was hooked all the way through it. Thank you.

Sully

[bagpiper]

whtdrgn,
Now THAT was worth the wait...

God bless

[DustMusher]

Thanks for the ride --- worth every F5 to read the ending. Very realistic amd well written story maybe a tad too realistic.

DM

[sssarawolf]

thank u so much, i enjoyed it very much

[teedee]

I just finished this wonderful story. Thank you for all the hard work. It is much appreciated, I could not put it down!

[whtdragn]

Ok, I need feedback on the editing of this part of the book. I have finally got someone to edit the darn thing and I want to see how people like it. When the editing is done if I get positive feedback, the book will be on eulu, smashwords etc, I am looking at maybe 2.99 or 3.99 for it. I hope you all will get it. Once this is done I will be working on some of the other stories I have on here.

Chapter 1
“A well-regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained in arms, is the best most natural defense of a free country.”
James Madison



Jerome Tanner, JT as he was called by friends, pulled into the parking spot, stepping down out of his lovingly restored 1978 Chevy Blazer. The Ruger Security Six rested in the leather holster, the gun's wooden grips digging into his middle-aged love handles as his feet touched the pavement. Every time the collision happened, he swore once again that he needed to lose some weight. He'd wanted to drop off his handgun at home, before going to the mall, but he was running out of time today. Concealed carry was illegal in the mall but if anyone noticed and complained, he would leave; besides, the windbreaker covered the gun and holster. Someone keenly observant might take notice, but he doubted it. Kentucky is generally considered a gun friendly state, some parts being less agreeable to guns than others. It was a simple trespass violation if he refused to leave. He had no intention of causing a scene. He wanted to get in and out quietly so he could get home. Of course, he forgot to get her the Godiva teddy bear a day earlier so his being here today was his own fault. Going home without the bear and some chocolates for his wife’s birthday was out of the question. He slowly walked towards the mall and took notice as a van pulled up and four men quickly exited. Three men came out of the sliding side door and another out the passenger door. The van quickly pulled away squealing tires as it made a sharp left turn heading towards the back of the mall. The scene seemed off beat but then his wife reminded him often he was very paranoid. She would simply sigh and look away as she said once again not everyone is a criminal. He laughed to himself; maybe he was a tad bit paranoid.

As he was moving towards the same entrance, he noticed the four men all were around six feet, maybe a little shorter and had full dark beards. They were each wearing long black duster style coats. He had not gotten a look at their faces but if they had been wearing straw hats, he would have placed them as the Amish that were seen often around town. Someone walked out one of the doors and as it closed, he saw a reflection in the window that turned his blood to ice. He could have sworn that he saw the reflection of a rifle under one of the long coats. He was caught in-between steps and had to concentrate to continue walking normally. He did not want to draw attention to himself and hoped he had not gasped aloud. He looked closer and just maybe he could make out the impression of a gun against another coat. His thoughts were in maelstrom. What should he do? What could he do? He had six rounds against who knows how many, what if he was wrong. He could try to call 911 but they would not get here in time. This must not be allowed to happen. How many times had he harped that if only one honest gun owner was somewhere at the right time they could stop a crime from happening. They were closer to the doors now and he had to make a choice; follow them in or peel off and call the authorities. He reached back for the feel of the target grip and felt the firm wood and the familiar steel. Defensive pistol matches and plinking with his son felt nothing like this. He could feel his heart pounding in his chest. Could he shoot someone, would he hit them if he did? If he drew down on these men and they all had AK-47s he would be at a serious disadvantage. He would have to make the shots count. He had a good size knife and six rounds of .357 golden saber. The rounds would take them down but he had to hit center mass or… should he try for a head shots? No! He shook his head, same as practice, center mass and one shot for each terrorist, then see who is left standing. He was starting to understand how Conan, felt, as he and his two comrades stood against an army. He knew that any numbers of 7.62x39 were far deadlier than his six rounds of .357 magnum. They entered the outer doors and then the inner doors; he had moved to one side so he would come in two doorways down from them to slip in unannounced if possible. He had stayed back and could see them standing just inside the doors; his hand trying not to squeeze the grip too tight. If this happens these shots need to count or this will be for nothing; he will be dead and they will go on a killing spree not seen before in the United States. He saw they were speaking to each other and then it seemed time was slowed. The first man closest to him allowed his coat to open and there was no denying they were armed. The men all seemed to produce guns at once and leveled them at the crowds in front of them going about their daily lives. The next sounds rang in his ears as he pushed through the inner door.

“Allāhu Akbar”…

He smoothly pulled the revolver from the holster with his right hand leveling the gun on the closest terrorist. The thunderous shot rang out in the enclosed building making it that much louder. The .357 traversed the distance and tore through the chest from side to side, in the process tearing through the aorta. The first terrorist was dead before he hit the ground; the other men were startled by the shot and they all turned to stare at him, the rifles pointing now his direction. The loud commotion in the mall of people running and screaming almost covered the second shot from the revolver. It hit a second man and he fell backwards. As the men began to return fire; he got one more shot off, another hit but this man remained standing. He ducked behind one of the pillars as rounds began to shred the fake stone and shatter the glass storefront behind him. He could see their reflections in what remained of the glass as one man turned to fire on the mobs of people. The other man dropped his magazine and reached into his jacket pocket for another. JT stood up, took aim, and pulled the trigger. It broke as it always did with two pounds of pressure and the bullet was away. The tall dark man with an unkempt beard was beginning to pull the trigger on the AK. His finger never received the rest of the command. The bullet struck just below the hairline above the ear, leaving a neat clean hole, and tore most of the left side of his head off.

What was one of the most important rules to remember in a gunfight?

Never stand still!

As he felt the searing pain, he looked down. The second man he had shot had produced a small revolver and was firing at him. The bullet JT fired must have glanced off the AK and torn through his right shoulder but the terrorist seemed capable with his left hand.

JT cursed as he slid back to the limited security of the pillar. Great job; stand like a deer caught in the headlights and now you are shot in the side. It looked like a clean through and through wound. It was somewhat a mute point: two terrorists, three bullets and now he was shot. He could see the man on the floor was able to get up and the other terrorist was still fiddling with the AK magazine. Something was said quickly between them in Arabic and the last standing terrorist moved to grab one of his downed comrades’ guns. A quick glace around the pole and more bullets ripped the pillar to smaller rubble. Then the terrorist’s attention turned towards the civilians: there were crowds behind benches and trashcans. They were there and he was going towards them. It was now a matter of how many he was going to kill. The blood drooled out of the wound in JT’s side as he stood tight against the pillar. He saw the last standing terrorist moving further into the mall to complete his mission. With three bullets, he made a decision and accepted this was likely going to be his last act. He came from behind the pillar, fired at the terrorist on the ground, and hit him again in the chest but as a second round was fired he was spun around and missed. His left shoulder hurt and he was feeling intense pain as he squeezed his last shot. It caught the man above the collar and tore through his neck. He was no longer a concern but now he was out of bullets. He walked to the man who he had shot in the head and rummaged through his pockets for a handgun. He found nothing. He walked over to the man who had just shot him for the second time and pried the small .38 from his tight grip. He turned and fired hitting the walking terrorist in the middle of the back, causing him to collapse. As more and more blood flowed from his shoulder and side, he made his way towards the last terrorist who was trying desperately to get the AK that had fallen just out of reach. With his remaining strength, he pushed the man over onto his back with his boot.

The pain from the back injury made the bearded man grimace. “We are but the first. The Great Satan shall fall,” he gasped out.

Jerome Tanner stood on unsteady legs over the prone terrorist and remembered a line from a movie he could not place right now, his mind growing fuzzy from shock and loss of blood. “Not in your lifetime.” The gun bucked as he fired the last shot into the middle of the terrorist’s forehead and then collapsed.


Chapter 2


The scene was one of chaos; after securing the area the police and paramedics attended to the fallen. There was little to do for the four men in long coats with beards and a Koran tucked the front pocket of their jackets. Jerome Tanner had done the job well and all of them were dead. JT was not ready to pass over that threshold. He was stat flighted to the regional medical center, University of Louisville Hospital. Room 7 was always ready for a trauma victim and with the blood loss and the two bullet wounds he was a prime candidate. He was going in and out of consciousness as the doctors started to work on him. A guard was stationed nearby and looked out of place in the sea of masks and scrubs but there was still many questions on just who everyone was at the mall.

“A little stick.” The pretty blond nurse said through her mask. The pain of the IV being inserted seemed very far away as he lapsed back to unconsciousness. He wondered if his family would make it to him before he went to surgery or if he would come back from the darkness this time. A crackle from the radio on the officer brought him back up from the depths once again.

The doctor was not pleased with the noise… “Turn that thing off we are trying to save a mans life” he growled.

The officer was just reaching up for the microphone when…

“Be advised this is not a drill... We are on High Alert... Terrorist attacks have been reported across the United States. The Mall of America was attacked as well as several other malls. All personnel are to contact shift commanders immediately.” The pronouncement from the police radio was meet with an eery silence that left everyone in the emergency room casting worried glances around the group.

The darkness came and washed over him like a warm flood. The nurse had gotten the IV started, the anesthesiologist began a push of the milky drug, and he was out.

The surgery went on for several hours. The holes in his side were easy enough but the one in the shoulder had nicked a small artery that proved to be tricky to find and sew up. After that and four pints of blood he was wheeled into recovery and the doctors informed his wife and kids that the next few hours would tell. They cautioned he might lose the use of the left arm or it might show some stiffness. It was hard to tell at this time. Anne and his two children waited as the time passed. At some point, the police and FBI arrived. Since this looked like a part of a grand attack the Feds were involved. When they started asking Anne questions, she had few answers for them. She was unsure why he was there. Yes, he had a CCW but he rarely carried except on their farm outside of the city. Only half way through the conversation, she suddenly remembered that tomorrow was her birthday. He would have been getting her Godiva chocolates and maybe a bear? She sobbed as she told the officer that was likely the reason for the trip. He was not one to head to a mall without good reason. He did not like the crowds and frankly, well, he was not a people person. The two kids smiled. Ethan, 21, and Nora, 23, thought yeah, not really a people person. Anne felt she should explain that although he was not violent or mean he just preferred his time with family and a few close friends.

“I have to ask was he involved in some religious … well you know”

She smiled. “He was but did not attend church often. He was raised Baptist.”

The officer who was taking notes asked slowly “Could he have been involved with these… terrorists?”

Ethan took exception and stood up his 6' 2'' wiry frame next to his mother. “My father just did your ****ing job and you have the balls to ask if he was involved?”, the young man said, his voice elevated.

Nora grabbed her brother and pulled him away before more than harsh words were exchanged. Her brother was not on the road to ingratiating himself to the local police.

His mother took over … “No, he would not have been, he was not a fan of Radical Islam or the Political Correctness crap that allowed it to flourish unchecked in the United States.” she said with more than a touch of bitterness.

The officer said he was sorry if he offended and had to pursue all lines of questions before he stood up and walked away.

Anne called her mother and told her of the prognosis; she also told of the questions and asked if they could come out there to rotate from the hospital instead of home.

Her mom responded “Do not say another word to those jack offs, call a lawyer and tell them to talk to him.”

Anne did not feel the need for counsel but knew her mom was taking the same tactic her husband would. What was it he always chided “can be used against you, not for you, not to clear you, not to show you did nothing wrong, but can be used against you”. She smirked as she heard his voice in her head, his pitch always raising a bit when he would get on a role with talking about the government. He was not really against the government but then he was not really a fan of it either. The scariest phrase known to man. “We are from the government and we are here to help.” A soft giggle escaped her lips as she sobbed and waited.

The phone rang in the home of Louisville Assistant Commonwealth Attorney Arthur Kurn. He was an up and comer in the district attorney’s office. He bent down and picked up the phone.

“Brother” …a hushed voice whispered.

Kurn looked around to make sure his wife was not close by. “I told you not to call this number”.

“It has started brother, but a dog of a man stopped our brothers in your city. Only the driver escaped after he heard the commotion. This man has to be punished. There can be no one that stands in the way of the Jihad.”

“It will not be easy,” Kurn replied. “I have been under suspicions since I fostered and won the right to use sharia law during divorces. The County Attorney has made it clear I am not going to be retained. It was only with the help of our friends in the Mayor’s office I am still here. If I pursue this I could be risking my cover.”

“Allah will protect us. We have begun the downfall of this decadent country and by Allah’s will we shall see it fall and a new caliphate will arise with sharia governing the land. He must be charged, brother, and convicted; we must use their own laws against them. Any who stand against us must be destroyed.” The voice whispered before the line went dead.

The wheels had already started to turn in his head. He could charge the trespass and then charge with four counts of murder. The men Jerome Tanner had murdered never actually shot anyone, he had heard through the grape vine that one of the men was even shot in the back. Yes, he thought nodding his head, he could charge and convict this dog. He opened his home office door, stepped in slowly, closed, and locked the door. He unrolled the rug handed down from his mother’s grandfather and placed the prayer cap on his head. Facing Mecca, he prayed for strength and for the day when he would let these swine know his true self.

“Mohammed Salem” he whispered, “Allah protect your humble servant.”


Chapter 3


As he came from the depths of the drugged sleep in the recovery room, JT was greeted by a pretty nurse with a soft voice asking him to wake up. He looked up with eyes still dulled from the medications. With green eyes like those, he would do his best for her, he thought to himself. He tried to focus and come out of the drug induced fog. His left arm ached and he could not move it, mostly because of the neural block they administered but also it was heavily bandaged. He spent several more confused minutes coming out of the stupor. At some point the nurse asked if he wanted some ice chips and he gladly accepted and enjoyed the cool feeling on his parched throat. As he slipped into consciousness, he noticed no other patients in the recovery room. What time of day was it, he wondered? The shooting had happened around 1 PM but he had no idea what time it was now. The nurse asked if he wanted an ice chip and he slowly nodded. His eyes adjusted and he looked around and asked if his family was nearby. His nurse motioned to one of the other nurses sitting at their station and as he watched her walk to the door, he caught a glimpse of a clock above the door. It was now 2300, 11 PM. What else had happened? His mind was clearing and he vaguely remembered the radio message before he went out?

The nurse gathered the Tanner family and took them back to see Jerome. He was more awake as his wife and kids came through the door. They hugged and wept and he held back tears knowing what could have been lost today. He asked his wife what had happened today and told her of the message he had over heard as he was going out. She looked over her shoulder as if expecting an officer to have followed her into the recovery room. His eyes meet hers as she came back to his face and touched his check with her finger. “They do not want us to go into detail but the same attack was carried out in twenty malls across the country at almost the same time. The death toll was upwards of a thousand and untold injured.”

Ethan spoke up and said “It is a bunch of PC crap. They are not even calling it a terrorist action and some like the MSNBC stooges are saying it could have been a domestic attack from rightwing militia. They even suggested you killed innocent Arabs going shopping.” His mother touched Ethan’s hand and he calmed some but the anger simmered below the surface.

JT had wondered how it would play out, but the time to worry about that was long past.

The nurse informed they were going to move him now and everyone left with kisses to his cheek and a squeeze of the hand from his wife as they unhooked the bags of fluids and began to move the bed out of recovery. They came and took him to room 315. It was at the end of a hallway, and he noticed a chair already in place and a security guard outside the door, as they wheeled him into the room. He wondered if the guard was posted to protect him or to make sure he did not go anywhere. He thought back to what his son had said that they were already claiming that he over reacted.

As soon as he settled in, he reached for the phone and began to dial…the phone was dead. He pushed the button for the nurse. A bubbly young aide walked thru the door. He asked why the phone was not working. She went on to explain the FBI thought he would need rest and had asked them to disconnect it. They had said they were sure JT would want some peace and quiet and confided in her that all sorts of people might try to call to get a story.

It made him feel so warm and fuzzy; those men looking out for his best interests and peace and quiet or more likely, they did not want him to call anyone before they were able question him. Maybe they thought he was Ron White, “I had the right to remain silent but not the ability”

No more redneck humor; he thought. He was in no mood to be bullied by the Feds but then again he thought it might be advantageous for them to come and interrogate a man a couple of hours out of surgery. If this went down badly he would need all the sympathy he could get. He dismissed the aide with a polite smiling thank you and laid back into the bed feeling the need to rest. The medications and trauma overtook his body and he drifted to sleep.

[mikealv77]

just finished the story. This one was great reading from start to finish. Thank you very much.

[kittyluvr]

whtdragn, your story is absolutely great!!! I would certainly buy it if it came in pdf or for kindle. Thank you.

[whtdragn]

Editor has it I am hoping they will be done with it before the end of June and it will be out for sale on smashwords and amazon. I am thinking 4.99.

I will keep everyone up to date.

[goinpostal]

Couple of typos:
During the mall gunfight"blood drooled",should be dribbled,or trickled.
Later in the hospital she touched his "check",should be"cheek".
You cant depend on editors.It should still get a good proof reading before publishing.
The story is excellent,and the errors dont bother me,but to be published for public consumption they can hurt the bottom line($$$).
I'll read it again,and pm any typo's I find to you.
Matt

[whtdragn]

The book is finally up on smashwords, due to the length it is now a book one and two. book one is up for 2.95 hope you like the cleaned up version. Book 2 will be up in a few weeks and will have at least one more chapter to tie it into the now third book of the set that I hope to finish before the end of the year.

Thank you for all the encouragement.

Tony

[Sneaker 11]

Thanks for the heads up Whtdragn. This book is a great read and looking forward to reading 1 & 2 and will be looking forward to book three.

Sneaker

[helunnjr]

Seems like this story should be re-read by many. Hopefully not in a newspaper or documentary sometime in our future.

Henry in 29 Palms

[stjwelding]

Whtdragn, I just finished rereading your fantastic story thanks for sharing it with us. It was just as good as the first time.
Wayne

[Mysty]

I just read your story straight through. Its 4:16 am.. need I say more? Thanks so much!