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  “What the heck is the delay?” Gus asked the pilot.

  Gus was impatient and was getting grouchier by the minute.

  Roger, the pilot, replied, “Just performing my preflight checks.”

  Maria came out of the hanger with Steve; both were laughing and carrying on like old friends. She had a tank top, short shorts and a figure that women die for and men kill for.

  John thought aloud, “Damn, she is good looking.”

  They could tell that Steve was using all of his charm on Maria. They heard him invite her down to Mobile.

  She laughed and said, “I’d love to, but we are busy. I can’t get away now, but maybe later in the year.”

  Maria tried to flirt with Gus just to cheer him up and get his mind off the delay. It didn’t work.

  Gus had flown many planes over the years and was sure that the pilot was just in a delay mode. This really pissed him off.

  Gus came over to John and said,” I think he’s pulling our chain, let’s get this flight in the air.”

  John gruffly replied,” Gus, don’t get your panties in a wad this early in our trip.”

  John was also wondering what the delay was himself when a pickup pulled up and Roger and a ground crewman started loading up several boxes in to the cargo bay. One fell and broke open. Scott and Jim tried to help Roger pick up the contents, but the crewman ran them off.

  Scott whispered to Jim, “Drugs?”

  Jim said, “That’s what I thought I saw.”

  They weren’t sure and said nothing to the rest of their friends. The crewman saw them whispering and did not appear to be pleased. He caught another Mexican off to the side and they talked for a few minutes. It was obvious that the Mexican was pissed at the crewman and gave him hell.

  Roger walked over to the group and said, “Let’s get this plane loaded and in the air!”

  They loaded up and took off. Maria stood beside the lake, smiled and waved to them as the plane took off.

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  Chapter 5

  Back at the Home Front

  Mobile, Alabama

  May 17, 2020

  JoAnne had called Ann and set up a lunch date at the club. John would die if he knew that the business was paying for a membership for JoAnne as well as Buddy and Ann. They met at 1:00 p.m. with a hug and a kiss. They were much closer than John had dreamed.

  Ann started the conversation laughing as she said, “So you finally made a pass at John this morning! Why didn’t you get him in bed like we planned?”

  JoAnne replied, “Oh My God Ann, you make me blush. I can’t wait to get him in bed.”

  “He apparently has more self-control than you thought or the bastard is gay! I’ve never failed to get a guy in bed before. I even took my halter top loose and shoved my bosom in his face.”

  Ann laughed and said, “John is still in love with me and wants me and only me. That is why I want you to seduce him and give him a taste of another woman so he will stop coming after me.”

  JoAnne smiled and replied, “I may have to tie him down and rape him!”

  Ann said, “He likes margaritas, get him drunk and then lay him.”

  Ann asked, “What is going on with this new secret lover of yours? You usually tell me everything about your men down to the last detail. Will you still go after John? Inquiring minds want to know!”

  JoAnne grinned and said, “I still want John, but I need some loving until John comes around. I am dying to tell you all about him, but he swore me to secrecy. I can tell you that he works for the government and is good in bed.”

  Ann replied, “I thought Buddy was the best at sex. We are heading towards the gutter quickly.”

  “Buddy was the best, but my new guy has raised the bar. Of course Buddy still gives it all he has”

  “Joanne, you are still screwing Buddy?” Ann asked. “Yes, as long as he pays the bills, he expects me to deliver,” said JoAnne.

  Ann asked, “But isn’t John paying the bills now, even though he doesn’t know it?”

  "Yes, but Buddy hints at telling John if I don’t deliver. Thank God he is in Florida most of the time,” replied JoAnne.

  They carried on the banter for over an hour then JoAnne excused herself and went to the hotel to meet Robert.

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  Chapter 1

  25th ISA Independence Day

  Nashville, TN ISA

  Dec 20, 2048

  Fireworks had been going off for several days in the country’s capital and for that matter throughout the whole country. The people of the Independent States of America took their freedom very seriously and celebrated vigorously with each state conducting ceremonies tailored to their contribution to the overall victory over the USA and Mexican Drug Lords. Josh Logan was driving from Nashville on Hwy 24 East about 20 miles to Smyrna, Tennessee to interview the daughter of one of ISA’s founding fathers. He really wanted to interview John, her father, but John had not talked to any news reporter since ’43 when a “Northern” reporter printed an article that twisted the truth and made John out to be a mad man.

  Josh was a rather good-looking 30-year-old, 6’1” with black hair. He had the looks and personality to be a star in the news business. He worked for the Conservative News Group and was based out of Indianapolis. He and his company had promised on live TV that they would only broadcast Jenn Harris’ words without any analysis. CNG was the only News Organization based in both countries and they had broadcast just the facts throughout the entire war and ongoing Cold War between the two countries. They said that they would let the viewer form their own opinions.

  He had taken a train in from the border crossing at Fort Louisville yesterday. He spent the day in the ISA’s capitol doing a little sightseeing and trying to interview the nation’s leaders. He caught a few congressmen, but no one noteworthy.

  He was travelling on a News Reporter’s seven-day visa and knew that he was being followed. The Big War had been over for six years between the USA and the ISA there were still major differences and a Small War had been fought just two years ago. The ISA was prosperous while the USA wallowed in debt and had large ghettoes. The ISA was based on “You work, You Eat,” while the USA had extremely high taxes and over 60% of the population either worked for the Government or was on welfare. In the ISA, military service was mandatory and anyone who did not fight for their country was not allowed to vote. The USA was a socialist country with a strong central government while the ISA had a president and congress, but the power was based in the states.

  The USA was made up of the Northeastern and upper Midwestern states. Wisconsin and Illinois were the westernmost states while Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Maryland the southern states. The border between the two was heavily fortified and the ISA had a mile wide strip on their side that had fences, landmines and machineguns that were wired to sensors and would fire automatically. Just the hundreds of thousands of claymore mines discouraged any uninvited incursions.

  The ISA was made up of 16 southern states stretching from Virginia to Arizona. Missouri, Kansas and Iowa wanted to join, but were still occupied on one side by the USA and the other by the Mexican Drug Cartels.

  The Pacific States of America was made up of all of the West Coast states plus Alaska and Nevada. With LA, San Francisco and Seattle nuked they became very conservative, but did not want to join the ISA. They enjoyed the protection of the ISA’s Pacific fleet, which was based in Hawaii. The ISA kept control of the San Diego Naval base and 10 miles around it in payment for the protection. The ISA also took the top 10 miles of Mexico below San Diego to help protect the base. The PSA was not as prosperous as the ISA, but was doing very well. While they did not totally embrace the strict conservative philosophy, they were far more conservative than the old USA and made sure that everyone worked that could and every one paid taxes. The PSA was continuously fighting small border wars with the Drug Cartels that had taken over Mexico after the TSHTF (the shit hit the fan). The ISA had been a big help with Intel and air c
over for the major battles. The ISA also funded the ongoing battle along the entire length of the old USA border that was the main line of defense between the ISA and PSA with the lawless Mexican Cartels.

  The USA was particularly upset about four major issues. The first was that the ISA had deported its entire poor and disadvantaged people to the USA and Mexico. The ISA always countered that they were offered work and refused. The story goes that John Harris gave them a choice of where to go, but they could not stay in the ISA unless they worked and contributed. Several thousand were shot when they rioted and burned a town to the ground. The USA took their case to the UN, but the ISA sent a note to the UN saying, “We do not recognize the UN and any attempt to meddle in the ISA’s affairs will be considered an act of war.”

  The second issue was that most of the old USA’s military had defected and joined the ISA making it the major power in the world. They defected because the President would not retaliate against the perpetrators of the nuclear attack by our friends and enemies. He wanted to negotiate with our enemies, but bombed and killed thousands in the breakaway states led by Harris. Most of the remaining Navy battle groups were now stationed in Hawaii, San Diego and the Gulf or at Charleston protecting the ISA and making it the only major nuclear power.

  The third issue was that the ISA had helped the far western states to secede from the USA and become the Pacific States of America.

  The fourth was that the ISA was blamed for the deaths of two USA Presidents and over 3,000 Liberal leaders in 2024. The truth was that the Presidents and 3,000 of the ringleaders were tried in a court of law, found guilty of high crimes and treason and legally executed. Both Presidents and one VP were directly responsible for the deaths of over 50 million Americans and at least 100 million Europeans.

  The UN tried to take advantage of the now weakened USA and thought they could become the dominate power. The UN was then made up of mainly Middle Eastern and African countries that hated the West and wanted to dominate the world. They saw the chance to use the UN to push their radical Islamic agenda. They backed down when the carrier Kennedy and USS Texas took out Cairo, Tripoli, Jakarta, Mogadishu and 15o other major Muslim cities with nukes. Those were the homes of the largest concentrations of radical Islamists and their countries funneled money into the cause. That was the beginning of what the ISA named, “The 2nd Purge.” Most outside of the ISA called it the 2nd Crusades and publicly denounced the ISA, but in private, they were thankful that the radicals had been dealt with.

  The ISA’s military was constantly bombing radical Muslim strong holds as fast as they were identified. The European allies were assisting as much as they could. It was a constant battle to keep the radicals knocked off their feet.

  Josh pulled up in front of the Harris house and quickly noted the massive fence and guards. He parked and walked up to the guardhouse and was quickly searched and told to wait. After a few minutes, a beautiful young lady came down to meet him. He immediately recognized her as Captain Jennifer Elizabeth Harris, John Harris’ daughter and a Captain in the ISA’s Army. She greeted him with a big smile and a handshake then took him to the front porch where there were a couple of chairs, a table and a pitcher of lemonade with glasses.

  Jenn said, “Josh would you like something to drink? We have sweet tea, beer or lemonade.” Josh indicated that the lemonade would be nice.

  Jenn Harris was 27, worked with the National Defense Agency as a Field Agent and still lived with John and Beth Harris in their home in Smyrna. She had been born during the time between the SHTF and the start of the breakup of the USA.

  Jenn smiled at Josh and said, “I guess we need to get started, don’t we?”

  Josh replied, “Let’s get started by telling me about yourself, then we will go back to the time before the war.”

  Jenn started from just before she was born. Her Mom, Beth and John had been together for a year and had met while camping in Montana. She was the youngest of four children and the only one from Beth and John. Her older brothers, along with her father, were considered heroes in the ISA and terrorists in the USA. Beth had fought in the last war and had been wounded several times during the battle for Northern KY. Both sides disagreed on who started it, but the ISA finished it and kicked the USA out of KY and south of the Ohio River all the way to Pittsburgh.

  She told about the treason by the ex CIA Agents and Foreign Governments and jumped into the first war.

  Josh interrupted her and said, “You’re skipping over the “Trip.” Is that intentional?”

  Beth replied, “Dad wrote a whole book about it and there is a movie, what could I possible add that you don’t already know?”

  Josh smiled and said, “You can add some of the colorful quotes from your Dad and leave out the less than accurate parts. What about the love story between your Mom and Dad? The book and movie down played those. You demanded that we only tell the story you tell us and we only demand the truth and the whole story.”

  She started the story by telling Josh about John and The Trip.

  • • •

  Jenn had been talking about the early years for about an hour when an older man walked into the room with a gun in his hand, pointed it at Josh and said, “If you publish any of my sex life I will personally hunt you down and shoot you myself.”

  Just as Josh recognized the man, the man pulled the trigger. A stream of water hit Josh in the face.

  Jenn yelled, “Daddy stop, he’ll piss his pants.”

  Josh looked up and was staring John Harris in the face.

  Jenn said, “Daddy, this is Josh and I think that you will like him. John sat down and joined them.

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  Chapter 8

  Back in Mobile

  Mobile, Alabama

  May 17, 2020

  Robert was a nice looking man about 40 with slightly graying black hair and was 6’ 1” with a muscular body. He was sitting on the bed in a Holiday Inn in Mobile wondering how he got this assignment and what it had to do with DHS. The phone rang and he knew his contact was on the other end.

  The voice on the phone said, “Are you making any headway with the secretary? I mean besides screwing her brains out?”

  Robert replied, “You really think I like screwing her? Yes, she is starting to trust me. I have most of the names and info on all of the shop’s employees and a lot of info on Gus and John.”

  The voice said, “Good, now gain her confidence and gather the entire story about John and Gus, we also need more Intel about guns, ammo and anything that will help our cause. You have been working on her for about two months; it’s time to drop the “L” word and continue buying her expensive gifts. Hell, take her on a trip while the guys are out of town.”

  About an hour later, there was a knock on the door. Robert opened the door, grabbed JoAnne and kissed her passionately while telling her how much he missed her. He kicked the door to close it while continuing to kiss her.

  He said, “I missed you so much, I want you to be mine forever. I think I love you baby.”

  JoAnne was confused at first because she thought this was just a booty call while she tried to land John.

  She replied, “Robert, I had no idea that you cared so much.”

  He said, “Close your eyes and hold your right arm out.” She did and he placed a very expensive diamond tennis bracelet on it.

  He said, “Open your eyes baby!” She looked at her wrist and got very excited because there was a $10,000 bracelet on her wrist.

  “Robert, I am so surprised, I know you like me, but this is so personal and so over the top,” she said.

  Robert replied, “I hope that I am not going too fast for you, but I love being with you and our sex is so great that I can’t bear to be away from you.

  JoAnne replied, “I care for you, but we need to get to know each other before we push this too far.”

  Robert looked annoyed for a minute then recovered. He said, “JoAnne, you are a very special woman and I don’t want to miss out on
the love of my life.”

  She put her arms around him and started taking his clothes off. She did not trust love at first sight, but she knew expensive jewelry when she saw it. He was a very happy man that night.

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  Chapter 9

  The Crash

  Iowa

  May 17, 2020

  As the plane cleared the end of the lake, the guard went into the hanger and called his boss Manny. He told him about the dropped box and how clumsy Roger was. He told him that one of the boxes of drugs had broken open and that at least one of the young men had to have noticed. He then mentioned the tattoo.

  Manny cut him short and told him, “Not to worry, Karl will know what to do."

  The plane was a twin-engine six passenger with Roger and Steve up front, Gus and John in the middle with Scott and Jim bringing up the rear. They flew directly over the Great Salt Lake, and then headed out over some very desolate country. Steve chatted with Roger who had calmed down a bit since the takeoff. Gus and John slept while Jim and Scott were in awe of the terrain below them.

  After a while, Scott whispered to Jim, “I’m sure that box was full of drugs, it looked like how they wrap cocaine in the movies.”

  Jim replied, “Are you sure? What the frick was that much drugs doing on a bush plane going to Idaho?”

  Scott said, “As soon as Dad wakes up, we had better tell him; he’ll know what to do.”

  The plane droned on, the sky was clear and the sun was bright. The weather forecast was excellent for the next two weeks with no rain for at least a week. Steve and Roger kept each other company while Gus and John continued to sleep with Jim and Scott uncharacteristically quiet in the back. They were still heading towards Sun Valley as planned, when Roger got a transmission over the radio that appeared to be giving him instructions.