The Charge of the Lost Brigade: The Deck Const, #2

BOOK 2

THE CHARGE OF THE LOST BRIGADE

Chapter 6

I wasn't really excited about leaving the safety of what was left of Old Francisco, but I did know that it was dangerous for a soldier to remain in an area that openly declared all soldiers found would be killed.  After the prison camps of Oakland were opened and the prisoners set free, the people flocked back into the abandoned city of Old Francisco and as their numbers increased, began hunting down and killing any soldiers they could find.  The soldiers were quickly overwhelmed and without support.  Responses from Boulder were few and not enough.  What the patrolling soldiers quickly discovered is that an angry mob makes for a formidable enemy.

Of course, I couldn't really blame the citizens for wanting to take revenge on the soldiers.  They were the face of the enemy that enacted Order Seven, which resulted in the complete removal of every civilian from the city and subsequent relocation to prison camps in Oakland.  Many others were slaughtered for resisting the relocation, so I don’t think there were a lot of tears shed for the soldiers who were captured before they could make their own escape.

This all happened after I resigned from the military and became a rogue soldier.  A lie from one of my corporals made it appear I was dead, but I would always be a traitor to my government.  Even if I desired it, I could never go home to Boulder.  Even after the government fell I could never return to my home territory.  Whatever new government replaced the old one would still consider me an enemy of the state.

That was fine by me.  I had no intentions of returning home.

Greg Johnson, the former police gang member who became my companion on my trip to Angel City, kept a close eye on the map as we drove towards San Jose on Highway 101.  I wish we could have found a way to Highway 5, he said after a long time.

I smiled.  Highway 5 is too dangerous for us to travel.  The local military commanders keep control of the highway to insure no one else gets through their territory without paying proper tribute.  Once they scanned me, they would know I was a soldier, and we would probably both be killed on the spot.

Why in the world would your own government inject you with something that could be so easily detected?

That wasn't the purpose of it when they did it.  The injection was a stabilizer that made it difficult for military scanners to find us on local and satellite systems.  It was to save us in battle while enemy surveillance units ran checks on areas we were traveling through.  Of course, I don't think our government leaders expected the scanners to be used against us by our enemies.

Greg hesitated before speaking again.  I spoke to that border guard back there on the South San Francisco border.  He wanted to know why I was traveling with a soldier when soldiers were supposed to be our enemy.  He thought you were keeping me prisoner and was willing to liberate me if it came down to it.

I smiled at him.  I hope the two of you came to an understanding.

I explained that you were a deserter and someone our side has befriended.

A deserter, I said after a couple of seconds.  I can't help thinking how much I dislike that word.  It makes me feel like I did something really wrong.

He stared at me for a long time.  Well, you did turn against your own government.

Yeah, I said, but that government probably doesn't exist any more.

Does it really matter? he said.  I don't think your own people will welcome you back with open arms in the near future.

I nodded.  "In any future."

We kept silent for a long time after that.  Then Greg stopped the car and pointed at the road before us.  "San Jose is straight ahead of us.  I understand the area beyond the next check point is considered the open lands."

I took a deep breath and let it out.  What do we know about the open lands?

Not much, he said.  I kept the computer files from our police databases, but even those reports are badly outdated.  I don't think there's been an update in over five years.

Well, what do you think we can expect up ahead?

There was never much of a government in this area to begin with, he said.  When California became three separate nations, the open lands became disputed territory.

I've heard this, I said.  Angel City controlled the majority of the territory up to the San Luis Obispo line and then the northern and eastern coalitions kept the area to themselves.

The open lands were a sort of neutral zone between the three governments until the eastern coalition disappeared and erected its radiation border.  It is suicide to cross.  The eastern coalition feared an attack from the north and realized only a nuclear defense could save them from being enslaved.  There was a lot of hate between the north and east back then.

So what happened to the open lands?

They were disputed by both the north and south after the east dropped out of the picture.  Of course, that was when the Oregonians first started flexing their muscles.  After that, the north concentrated their forces on the Oregonians.

But what about Angel City? I asked.  It really bothered me that my own education lacked so much critical information.  I was a soldier, a very highly trained one, too, and I felt like I was some school boy who couldn’t remember who was the first council minister.

Angel City went to war against the Baja government back then.  After Baja took Mexico City, they tried to annex Southern California.  It was rumored that California had no control over their nukes back then, so the Baja leaders feared little retaliation from Angel City.  That’s around when Sector Government stepped in and wiped out both the Baja Government and the Nevada Coalition Army.

I know that part of the story, I said.  It just bothers me that so much of the rest of it seems so vague to me.

Certain governments are only satisfied with certain pieces of history, he said.  I'm sure there are many pieces of the puzzle that I've been lacking.

Still, it would be nice to know more about what’s been happening.

Like what?

Well, the truth, for instance.

What’s the truth anyway, he said.  One man's truth is another man's fantasy.

Quite philosophical for so early in the morning.

He smiled.  I treat every moment as my last.  For all I know we could both be dead in the next hour.

We could be dead in the next five minutes, I said as I pointed to the check point that was starting to grow in the frame of our windshield.

Chapter 7

The check point was the quintessential definition of the word overkill.  There were several armored personnel carriers blocking the road, and there were soldiers occupying positions around these carriers.  Behind the APCs were two M1 Abrams tanks, placed side by side to keep someone from getting through them if able to make it past the first set of APCs and soldiers.  Aside from an equally equipped army, no one was getting past the first barricade.

My tactical training immediately went into overdrive, analyzing the scene for possible mistakes by the other soldiers.  They appeared unusually thorough.  And then I saw it.  The tanks were positioned side by side.  Any trained armor commander would have kept his or her tanks away from each other, and that commander would make sure that the tanks were silhouetted with as little bulk presented to an approaching, potential adversary. 

The people maintaining this check point obviously had very little military experience.  This might be an advantage if things went sour.

What do you think? said Greg after a couple of seconds.  He was not a trained soldier, so his voice crackled with nervousness.

No sweat.  They're amateurs, I said.  Just follow my lead, and we'll get through this okay.

He nodded.  You're the soldier.  You lead, I’ll follow.

Do that, I said as he pulled up to the first border guard who carried a loaded M-16 A3 rifle, a model I hadn’t seen since basic training and only because the trainees get the old stuff.

Roll down the window all the way, said the guard as he kept his hand tight on his rifle.  He stared at us suspiciously, keeping some distance from us on the driver's side of the car.

Greg rolled down the window and stared at the guard, a young man of no more than twenty years.  We're heading for Angel City.

I'll ask the questions here, said the guard.  Answer those, and I don't want to hear anything else.

Greg forced a smile.  Sure enough, sir.  Ask away.

Who are you? said the guard.

My name is Greg Johnson, he said.  Then he turned to me to introduce myself.  I just now realized.  I’ve never asked you your name.

I smiled.  I rarely used a name any way.  Burke, Brian Burke, I said.

The guard stared at me for a couple of seconds, obviously not impressed with the fact that he was now in possession of my name.  What do you want here?

Greg spoke up again.  Here, nothing.  We're traveling to Angel City.  We need to pass through your border in order to do that.

The guard's face changed to display agitation.  So, our lands are only important to you because you need to get through them?

I took over for Greg and then back at the guard.  We don’t really have time for this.  How about letting us in so we can pay a visit to your great lands?  Obviously, he thought he was guarding some place significant.

The guard stared hard at me.  And what makes you think we'd be willing to let you visit our lands?

We come in peace, I said.

The guard laughed.  Look around you.  Do you see the firepower we possess?  Do you think we're peaceful people?

I took a deep breath and let it out.  Are you at war with anyone?

We're soldiers, he said.  We're always at war.

I smiled.  So, you're soldiers.  Where were you trained?

The man stared at me for a long time.  What do you mean?

You don't just strap on a gun and then declare you are a soldier.  Or don't you know that?

I've been trained, said the guard, almost defensively.  I've been well trained.

Greg actually started to laugh.  Who are you trying to convince?  Us or you?

What are you laughing at? said the guard, his rifle rising again, almost as if he believed he was going to have to use it to get Greg to stop laughing at him.

Greg turned to me, almost asking me a question with his eyes.  I nodded.  He turned back to the guard.  My friend here is a soldier, a real one.  Fresh from Boulder.

The guard turned and glared at me.  He stared in through the window for a few moments before he lowered his rifle.  I’m not sure what it is that convinced him, but the look on his face told me all I needed to know.  He was convinced.

He took a quick look around, obviously looking to see if anyone else in his chain of command was in sight.  Convinced it was safe, he spoke softly.  May I ask why you’re going to Angel City?

It’s a military thing, I responded.

The man took one more look around and then spoke again.  I know I have no reason for you to even consider this but please let me come with you.  Train me to be a real soldier.  Please!

Greg stared at me for a long time and then turned back to the guard.  We are in a hurry.  We can’t afford to waste time.

Your time would not be wasted, he said.  I would be a great addition to you and whatever mission you’re on.  Please don't leave me here at this border check point where I can only pretend to be a real soldier.

Coming with us isn’t going to make you a real soldier either, I said.  I wasn’t sure I really wanted another person joining our quest.

He swallowed hard and then spoke.  You could train me.  I would do whatever you asked of me.  I promise.

I shook my head.  My days of training are over.

He stared at me.  I don’t believe that.  Then it looked like he was gathering his courage to say one brave thing.  Sir, I don’t think you believe that.

He was right.  I didn’t believe that.  I then sighed.  I would require complete loyalty.

Greg stared at me and then back at the guard.  We don't have time for this.  Let him train with someone else.

The man begged again.  You're the first soldier I've come across.  Up until now, your people have only been legends to people like me.

What is your name? I said to him.

David Jenkins, he said.

Well, would you be willing to offer complete loyalty to me and my friend here?

Is he a soldier, too?

I shook my head no.  He's a police officer.  I would require complete loyalty to him, too.  I’m sure you would learn a lot from him as well.

He nodded quickly.  I pledge to give complete loyalty to both of you, he said, but to you first.

Good enough, I said.

He stared at me, afraid to make the wrong move now that he was my faithful vassal.  What would you have me do for you, sir?

Well, I said with a smile.  You could start by lifting that damn gate so we can continue through these lands.

He did it, almost as if it was his only