“Intelligence,” Grant added. “That’s another thing we’ll get. We’ll know way in advance of what’s coming into our area and across the state. We’ll be days ahead of the curve of other communities. That alone could save all of us.”
“Oh,” Grant said with a big smile. “Supplies. Food for the fighters and equipment. We’ll be in the Patriot system. The support system. If we need resources from the wider area, we’ll have them.”
Grant had no idea if that was true. Sometimes a leader has to do or say those sorts of things on a whim, and then has to figure out how to make the promises come true. Grant figured this was a safe promise and that Pierce Point would get supplies from being the Patriot system. Probably. Hopefully.
“It’s the beach I’m worried about,” Rich said, switching the topic and keeping the conversation going, which was a good sign.
“And the skies,” Dan said. “Air cover is a bitch. Grant, you need to quit thinking about this as a small-arms, police-type situation. What you’re suggesting is a full-on military situation. Bombs. Rockets, helicopters. Massive civilian deaths. Maybe even your own family.”
That stung. Grant realized he had never thought of any of this affecting his family. He had been thinking of himself: any impact on his family would be from him being gone for a while. In fact, Grant had only thought about the impact on his family as being that his wife would be pissed at him. Not that a bomb would demolish his cabin and those around it. Or level the Grange and everyone in it. Grant was terrified. He had not considered what a real military fight was all about.
You will win. Faith.
Grant got goose bumps. Actual bumps on his arms followed by that unexplainable calm feeling. Was it really the outside thought or was Grant just trying to comfort himself? There was no way to explain the calm. It was not a human thing. Grant relaxed and became confident again.
“We will win,” Grant said, not really sure what he was going to say next. The words were just flowing like he had no control over what was coming out of his mouth.
“Look at how weak the government is,” Grant said so persuasively that he surprised himself. “We’re finishing them off. They can’t mount offensive operations. Maybe in Seattle or DC or wherever, but not out here in the sticks. They don’t give a shit about Frederickson, let alone Pierce Point. They’ve left this territory to hacks, like Winters. He’s just a corrupt politician running some rackets, with a couple dozen Blue Ribbon Boys who are not exactly top-notch fighters. Rich, you saw them.”
Rich nodded slightly.
“If the government was so strong,” Grant said, once again wondering what would come out of his mouth next, “why haven’t they attacked us yet? If they had any strength, they should have stormed in here and looked for that semi of food. You know what that thing is worth?”
Grant pointed in the direction of the gate, which was a few miles away. “What did they do to go get their extremely valuable semi-truck full of food? They sent two cops and Rich bribed them with a bottle of booze. That’s all they got. Two cops who can be easily bribed. That’s what we are supposed to be afraid of?”
Grant looked at Dan and, wanting to puff up his ego a bit, asked, “Why didn’t the authorities come into Pierce Point, Dan? Your guards and those dogs. Did you see the look on Bennington’s face when he saw the dogs? We have a unique position here, guys. We have an extremely defensible position. And assets. Dogs, guards, snipers, beach patrol. We’re not some typical subdivision of unarmed and scared suburbanites—those are the only people the government has the strength to push around.”
Grant shook his head. “That ain’t us, gentlemen. We have a functioning system out here. We’re feeding our people; they’re standing in lines for sacks of flour back in town. It’s a natural fit for us to work with these SF guys and get things back.”
Returning to a time of decency was his best argument, so Grant pressed it.
“You like things the way they are?” He asked Dan and Rich. “You like having to guard your community full time? How long can we keep that up? A year? A decade? Are you kidding me? You know, and I know, that in a few months or a year, tops, the super gangs will be roaming.” He said, referencing when separate gangs united and started massive raping, pillaging, and killing sprees. “They’ll come out here,” Grant said. “You know what that means.”
Dan and Rich started to acknowledge to themselves that the current situation could not last. Something long term needed to be done. If the Loyalists won, they would roll into places that had food and resources and pick the place clean. Places just like Pierce Point. Or maybe the super gangs would get there before the Loyalists did. Pierce Point had no choice.
“I’m an Oath Keeper,” Dan said after a long pause. “I will honor my oath. And that means doing whatever I can to stop what’s happening and fix things.” Dan dreaded saying that, because he knew exactly how painful that would be. He’d seen it at Bagram.
“Me, too,” Rich said. “I don’t want to do this. But what are the options? You and the Team will just leave to join the Patriots. Then we’re screwed.”
Grant had never even thought about leaving Pierce Point in order to join up with Ted. He would never leave his family and friends, but if Rich thought Grant was threatening to leave with the Team, and that would be a reason for Rich to agree to let Ted come in, then Grant would roll with it.
“I have no intention of leaving,” Grant said, which was true, “but I can’t control my guys, who definitely want to join up with Ted. They already have.” Grant let that sink in.
He decided to switch from mildly threatening Dan and Rich to focusing on the positive aspects of them getting behind the Ted project. “We’re in a much stronger position,” Grant said, “with a bunch of well-trained, well-equipped, well-led fighters who are tapped into a much larger network than our little community.”
He looked Rich and Dan in the eye again and said, “In the situation we’re in out here, more is better. More fighters, more guns, more supplies. We will get that with the Patriots. Or, by doing nothing, we will get slow attrition and eventual death.”
Rich and Dan just stared at Grant. They were thinking.
Then Rich started nodding slightly.
“Ask yourselves this,” Grant said, suddenly thinking of a great argument. “Which would Winters and the gangs rather see: Pierce Point having a big and well-trained fighting unit or just guarding the gate and beach with volunteers?”
That sealed the deal. Rich and Dan both were nodding solidly now.
“OK,” Rich said, “I agree that we should explore a relationship with this Ted guy and the Patriots.”
Rich turned to Dan and said, “Dan, what you think?”
“I don’t want to do it,” Dan said, shaking his head.
Grant’s heart sank.
Dan looked at Grant and said, “However, I can see how we might be better off. But I have some questions. Like, about air cover and what kind of assets the Loyalists can throw at us. I also want to know how many other places will be like Pierce Point. Are we the only place training fighters or are we one of a hundred in this part of the state? That would have a huge impact on the odds of some F-15s flying overhead or some helicopters coming to call.”
Dan pointed his finger at Grant and said, “I’m serious, Grant. I want answers before I’m OK with this. If I am ever OK with this. I want a military plan presented to me. A detailed and professional military plan.”
Then Dan’s demeanor softened up and he said, “I’m open to hearing the facts, but they need to be facts and not hopes.”
Grant couldn’t ask for more than that.
“Sure,” Grant said. “I’ll arrange for Ted to talk to you guys. He just pops by whenever.” Actually, Sap left a radio with Scotty so they could get a hold of them, but Rich and Dan didn’t need to know that. Grant felt bad keeping secrets from his friends, even little ones like the radio.