One of the tank commanders asked, “Sir, are you sure we’ll be able to maintain 45 Mph?”
“It may be a little rough going in a few spots, but the Marines have been driving plows up and down the Interstate all the time. The road surface is most likely crappy and falling apart, but the SUVs’ suspension should have no trouble making it. We put run-flat tires on the SUVs so even if they get a flat they’ll be able to continue. Keep your eyes open and have your thermal sensors working all the time.”
“Sir, what are our ROE?”
“Protect the convoy.”
The one of the tank commanders smiled at the captain, yes, sir.”
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Trinity discovered while almost every other vehicle was packed with people, hers and Frank’s only passenger was Ariden who shook her head every time Frank and Trinity kissed each other, “Knock it off you two. We’ve got a long ride ahead of us and I don’t want to be watching you two make out the entire trip.”
Trinity leaned over to look at her younger sister, “Just look out of the window or read the eBook you picked up at the base and leave us alone, we’re in love.”
“What do you know about love? You’re only 16.”
“Things are different today. If you’re going to be a pain, then I’m going to ask to have you be put in another vehicle.”
“Okay, I’ll mind my own business, but you better not get touchy or I’m going to tell mom and dad.”
“What did I just tell you? Want to ride in one of the army trucks?”
“I’ll be good.”
Frank leaned over and kissed Trinity who kept one eye on her sister. When she kept her head down, Trinity smiled. Frank said. “Keep your rifle ready. We have a long ride ahead of us and we have no idea what we’re going to find. The convoy leader told us he wanted to make it one push. It’s going to be a really long trip so get comfortable.”
“All the way? Without stopping?”
“That’s what they told the drivers.”
“What about stops?”
“To refuel from our extra fuel cans…”
“What about using the bathroom?”
“Remember the travel thing they gave us?”
“Ugh, that’s disgusting. I hate that.”
“I hope you went before we left and don’t drink any water. Here we go, they’re moving.”
The vehicles honked their horns as they left the base. Each was filled with people or food and extra fuel cans. They had a 475-mile trip ahead of them. The two tank commanders had the governors removed from their engines allowing the massive tanks to travel at up to 60 Mph. The lead tank used the clear roads to raise the large plow and accelerate to 55 Mph. The four people inside the two tanks were bounced around. The tank was designed to kill other tanks and not for comfortable travel. The turret had its own stabilization system so, in a war, the M1 series tanks could lock onto a target while moving. The tank could be moving across rough fields while the main cannon stayed locked on the target.
As soon as they left the base, the gunner kept his face glued to the thermal sensor monitor. The tank commander told him, “Yell out if you see anything on that monitor, but whatever you do, don’t let it go down. That monitor is the only way we’ll know if there’s people out there.”
“I’m on it.”
“Hold on, I’ve told our driver to go as quickly as he can.” The 70-ton tank jerked forward and began leading the convoy south. Frank was surprised the tanks could really move as quickly as they were. He was glad he wasn’t in the vehicles directly behind them as they shot out snow and debris behind them. The debris would have cracked his windshield had they been behind them. The two LAVs behind the tanks kept their distance so the debris didn’t crack the glass in them or damage the sensors and weapons mounted on top of them.
The convoy commander thought if they could continue to ‘fly’ down the freeway quick enough they could outrun any ambush. The captain counted on the convoy’s thermal sensors to tell him if there were any threats waiting for them. What worried the captain was that the thermal blooms his sensors ‘saw’ were scouts for a large ambush. He decided to stop at an abandoned rest stop to give new orders. “I believe we’re going to be attacked within the next mile or two. Most likely when we pass under a bridge or when we come on series of sharp turns. I want us to make sure we don’t get caught with our pants down. Usually I’d order a drone launched, but these winds will tear the drone apart before it found anything. I think the best way to handle an ambush is to ambush the ambushers.
“I want the tanks to blast the bridges before we reach them, the tanks can push the debris away so the rest of the convoy can pass through. As for any ambushes in the ‘S’ curves, we’ll begin firing into the snow along the sides of the road before we reach the curves. We have lots of ammo and can restock when we reach the next base. I’d rather fire the ammo then lose a vehicle or person. Our new ROE are, fire first and don’t ask questions. I’m not interested in prisoners or
