“Where are they now?” asked Bill—“I mean Baker’s group.”
“They are held up on I-25, south of Loveland, at a place called St. Vrain State Park. The place off the highway with all of the ponds.”
“I know it,” said Bill.
“Me too,” added John, “but what do you mean ‘held up’?”
“Their first base of operations was to be in Fort Collins—Horsetooth Lake, exactly—and it’s possible there was an accident at their camp, delaying the arrival of such a large group. It’s both good and bad for you, as it delays them long enough for Lance and his group to arrive first, but it also might just drive the whole Baker camp straight here, bypassing Horsetooth Lake altogether… I have to head out in a few minutes,” said the Colonel, checking his watch, “but the bottom line is you will need to fight to keep the Valley. And as Lance can tell you, we will support you in your defense. My men can’t just take them out before they get here, for reasons already discussed, but we can assist in your defense as long as they attack first.”
“Sir,” said Mac. “It’s off-topic, I know, but your choppers out there look like the same ones I’ve seen chasing the metal discs around here for years.”
“Is that so?” he replied. “Do you think ETs are real, Mac?”
“Yes. Yes, I do.”
“They are,” replied the Colonel. “Ask Samuel about the ones we know of.”
“How do we keep in touch?” asked John.
“I’ll get hold of you, so keep radio channels monitored at all times, if you don’t already. I talk with my friend Vlad on a semi-regular basis, and rest assured when Baker’s group is on the move again, you will hear from me!”
The Colonel spent a few more minutes talking with Samuel in another room before flying out. “Are you going to tell me the truth?” asked Samuel, once they were alone.
“You and only you,” he replied. “The short of it is that North Korea dropped the EMP on us officially but not off of a satellite, as reported. It was launched from a tanker ship off the coast of southwest Louisiana, sold to them by China only weeks before the day. China runs them and many others in the region, besides South Korea and a few select more that are helping us behind the scenes.
“The Baker guy is not a plant, but he is somehow in direct communication with Beijing. The working theory is they are using him, and others like him, to amass large groups of people who will eventually farm this great land of ours. China has a population problem, and has for a long time. This ensures more food for their citizens, and according to my intel they will be dropping ten thousand workers a day in our ports to work the land that Baker’s group has already left vacant. Think of it as a soft takeover, where Chinese farmers face no conflicts, only virgin land for plowing. And the kicker is, all the equipment to farm is still on-site; it just needs some electrical work, and they have teams for that also. They aren’t pouring seasoned combat troops inside our borders looking for a fight, but instead families—men, women and children only striving for a new and better life, as we once did moving here from England. We can’t just wipe them out.”
“You’re right,” replied Samuel. “They should have a chance to work the jobs and become families known in the community, to prosper for years to come. And at the same time, they have been planted by a tyrannical government whose only desire is to take down our great country and pillage it from within. I can see how your hands are tied. It’s good that you have Ronna, a man you can trust, following just behind the Baker fellow.”
Once the Colonel left, Samuel rejoined the rest of the group. “I propose we all sleep on this and discuss it at length tomorrow, to include your Council, of course, John. Let’s say noon at your Pavilion for lunch? I can send Patty up to help Rico prepare.”
“Sure, that’s fine by me. Noon tomorrow it is,” said John. Sarah hung back, asking her father if everything would turn out okay.
“We have God and the United States Military, led by a man I trust unconditionally. So yes, my dear, we will be okay in the end,” answered Samuel.
* * * *
Mac woke early, wanting to bring Sarah breakfast. Drake would be released this afternoon but would be on modified duty for a few weeks.
“You can go home today, but take it easy,” Dr. Melton told him.
“Long as I can ride my four-wheeler and feed my dogs. I just hope I can keep my job,” he said, as Mac walked in carrying breakfast for them both.
“What did I miss?” Mac asked.
“Drake will be discharged this afternoon, and I think you should modify his four-wheeler so he can ride it up to his house. I don’t want him using that right arm yet.”
“Sure thing, I’ll figure something out.”
“I also want him on light duty for two to three weeks, and I told him his job was safe,” Sarah added.
“Of course. You did good up there, Drake—real good. You are becoming a trusted part of the team. Now, I brought breakfast for you both, and it is getting cold. I’ll check back on you later,” said Mac, kissing Sarah on the forehead.
* * * *
The meeting was held at noon, as planned, in the Pavilion basement. Rico and Patty would not disappoint today, serving a charcuterie board with various meats, cheeses, pickles, crackers, fruits and jams, all originating in the Valley. Besides one council member calling in sick, all
