He shot me a wry smile. “Both.” Then he motioned for me to follow him out of earshot of the men and women who were busy fixing the main entrance to the Town Hall—ripped apart by Randall’s invading forces.
“Well…” I said, coming up beside him out near the shuttered post office.
“Well, it seems that Randall is just the tip of the iceberg. He’s a part of a larger group of crazies who want to take over the state. Make it their own territory.”
“You’re kidding…”
“I wish I was, but there’s more. Apparently, when the EMP hit, he was cut off from this group, and that’s when he made a move on Ellis Woods to retrieve the rest of his weapons. Gather others who were a part of this same group. I believe they were instructed to travel south after acquiring those weapons, to a base somewhere north of Lansing. They were just biding their time here, waiting for any last stragglers to meet up before heading off as one unified force, not to mention, trying to locate the other half of the weapons we’d taken.”
“Well, that messed up their plans quite a bit… But I’m wondering, what base were they planning on going to?”
Marlon wore a serious look. “That’s where your mission comes into play, John.”
“Okay, spill it out, Marlon. What did you hear from your higher-ups?” I leaned forward. This was the moment I’d been waiting for. Though it still sounded crazy, I couldn’t help but believe that what I would learn next had something to do with the bigger picture of what was going on in not only our state, but our country as a whole. “Did you hear about what my mission is?”
Marlon nodded. “As I said, this group… they want to take over a large part of the state, if not the whole damn thing.”
Suddenly, what Randall had said during our showdown echoed through my mind—“You have no idea how deep you’re in, boy. No idea who you’re up against.” My curiosity was piqued. He’d never told me who he’d been talking about.
“Who’s this group’s leader?” I asked.
“That’s one thing I couldn’t get out of Randall—yet. But regardless, them causing a ruckus in their attempt at taking over the whole state would threaten our chances of getting aid to the people who really need it, including the people of Ellis Woods.”
“Why doesn’t the National Guard take care of this?”
“They already have their hands full in the cities, John. Cities have become unlivable. And any outlying areas have been overrun with refugees. Besides, it’ll be a while until they can do anything, and by then, it’ll be too late.”
I felt my stomach turn. “What do you mean?”
Marlon let out a frustrated huff. “The mole within their group has been exposed. Executed, in fact. He’d gotten his message out just in time, but then he was found out. Which means—”
“—They know their plot has been exposed.”
“Exactly. And so they are going full steam ahead with the next phase of their plan. Which might make them unstoppable without the government having to use up valuable resources that are much-needed elsewhere. Which is where you come in, John. Your success at this mission will not only save the state, but also help relieve suffering in other parts of the country.”
I considered everything he’d said. It all seemed so far-fetched, I almost laughed. Some of what he’d said might have made sense, but a part of me didn’t believe him. Yes, I know that he’d surprised me in so many ways, not only with his huge compound complete with military-level armory, but also his knowledge of the underground tunnel and the communication device. Still, a secret mission to essentially save the state? Or, at least, a mission to keep precious government resources where they were needed the most by having me run a mission to take down whoever was behind this plot to rule Michigan…
“We don’t have much time, John.” His voice cut into my thoughts.
“Do you think Randall’s main group will be coming for him?”
“It’s possible, but something tells me that Randall and his men are expendable. Of course, there is the chance that they’ll send reinforcements…”
“That’s what worries me. What about Angie and Sarah? And the rest of the people here? Will it be safe to relocate them back here?”
He blinked twice, and I noticed his clenched jaw—he was getting even more frustrated with all of my questions. “Listen, here’s the deal,” he said. “There aren’t enough resources at my compound, and it would be better if we’d bring them all back here.”
“There aren’t many resources here…”
“A few old cargo trucks are en route with supplies to keep the town afloat until local and state-level infrastructure gets back online. But that won’t happen as quickly without your help. We’ll leave in a few days. You’ll get confirmation from the convoy that brings those supplies. By then, your family will be back in town, and we’ll get this place buttoned up before we leave—not to mention, there will be a steady flow of supplies. And Randall and his men will be carted off to a detention facility until they can be put on trial, though that could be a while since I’m sure the circuit courts will be tied up for months. But at least those goons will be out of here, and the town will be secure. Rest assured, they’ll be fine, John.”
He allowed a smile to form, and I considered everything.
Sure, it made sense to bring everyone back to Ellis Woods, but I couldn’t help but wonder why the supplies couldn’t be transported to his compound. Then I remembered the arduous journey we had taken. There weren’t any main roads leading to his compound, and a cargo truck would have a hell of a time navigating to Marlon’s place.
No, bringing everyone back here would be the best option.
The only option.
We’d have to ensure the town was “buttoned up,” as Marlon had put it, but if my family was safe and well-fed, then I’d be on board.
I let out a long breath and nodded. “All right, fill me in on the rest, then.”
“Time to put your training back into full use,” he said, clapping me on the back, and he led the way back to Town Hall.
As we walked, I scanned the street and saw our people working feverishly on clean-up tasks. Soon, the town would be fully secure, we’d have fresh supplies and a promise of more in the near future. We’d bury our dead and hold a memorial service for those brave souls who’d fought so hard to protect the town of Ellis Woods. The town we all loved and cherished.
We entered Town Hall, and I got to work assisting my fellow townsfolk in the clean-up process, burying any doubts I had lingering in my mind. But whatever my feelings, I knew the die was cast. Soon, I’d be embarking on a mission that would weigh heavily on the fates of many people in Michigan. Using my skills to take down the thugs who sought to control the state was the only viable option I had.
It was my duty.
And time was quickly running out.
TO BE CONTINUED IN BOOK 3… COMING SOON!
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T.W. CONNOR READER CLUB
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
T.W. Connor enjoys spending time in the wilderness, as well as reading and writing books of adventure and survival.