Chapter 21
Wrapping it Up
Their invisible observer of the moment summed up the facts in his mind. ‘We have guys with guns in the main house. We have guys with guns in the smaller house. We have guys with guns in the barracks. And we have an army that is just waiting to take control of this mess. No one really wants blood. No one wants to kill. But the Oath Keepers are up against a wall. Their patrons cannot feed them or keep them safe.
John Carpenter thought, ‘We cain’t no longer help Donald Trump which is what we came here to do. An invisible army is spiriting us away two by two. We are the most desperate. We have the fewest moves. That invisible army does not seem bent on killing Donald or any of his family.
Justin Harkney is thinking, ‘out of the frying pan, into the fire.’
John Carpenter says, “Men, I am so sorry. This was a trap. We didn’t get a clear picture of the forces against us. We thought we were 17 against 6, but we could be up against far worse numbers. I ain’t planning that we should die here. Surrender. Take your punishment. Being a tree hugger ain’t looking so bad at the moment. Better than dead.
Of course John Carpenter did not realize that the environmentalist option was off the table for now. He did not know that they would be taken to occupy cells at the Detention Center. Had he known he might have given his men different advice. These men had done terrible things to other humans, but they still did not feel that they had done wrong. They still did not see minority humans as worthy of equal justice, or in fact any justice. Perhaps meditating in hot cells among terrorists from around the world would change thinking that years of white entitlement had programmed in them.
But who would they surrender to. Those guys at the officer’s houses had no power here either. They were almost as vulnerable with only their fame to keep them somewhat safe. They had a bit more food and water but it was going fast.’
In the officer’s houses too, everyone was stressed. Figuring out who would be on sentry duty, who would cook, who would do chores was proving to be a problem again since none of the five in the main house thought that any chores should fall to them. They wanted the same four lower echelon crew members to take on all the tasks. Mutiny would soon be afoot. It would only take one hostile act to turn logistics into a free for all.
Each side in the main house and the barracks faced the other a couple of times during the day and fired off a shot that was aimed at nothing. So far that was the extent of the hostilities. No one wanted to move out into the compound. Everyone stayed hunkered down.
In the bunker Rockefeller was keeping track of the two camps. He sincerely wished that Trump’s buddies had never brought those Oath Keepers into this compound. Facing hunger and thirst brought out all their worst defensive behaviors and although dumb enough to be racists, they were smart enough to understand that they had been used. The army would have to come up with some plans to defuse this stand-off, and fast. In fact Colonel Masters had indicated that the planning group was on the way.
“I’ve been in touch with President Harris and VP Cobb in DC and have described the situation here. We have the OK to begin the mop up. There is a chinook on the way to pick up all the Trump crew and their stuff. We are left with the job of rooting out those Oath Keepers and installing them in cells in the Detention Center without losing any actual army troops. President Harris assures me that she just wants to scare the bejesus out of these guys and then they will be sent back to the states to become good little environmentalists. That wildlife corridor should look pretty good after those detention cells and the other prisoners,” Colonel Masters told his bunker crew.
“How many of our guys are coming in,” asked Rockefeller.
“We are planning a night op, Colonel Masters said, we’ll take in some prepared food and leave it as close as we can get. Someone is sure to see or smell it. It will be laced with a mild sedative. When everyone is asleep we will send in a gurney and two men for each of the remaining Oath Keepers. They will have orders to tie their hands and feet before they wheel them away.”
He continued, “If anyone is still conscious, we may have to get physical. Two more will secure whatever guns they can find but someone still may get off a shot. Five armed guards will accompany the clean up party and all the soldiers will be armed. Keep casualties at a minimum. If anyone comes out of the officers houses tell them you will shoot to kill. I bet they will retreat. If not, do what you must, unless the busy body is a Trump. Then do what you must short of putting a bullet in him or her.
We’re not bringing in the chinook until the Oath Keepers are dealt with. Everybody got that,” Masters eyed his men.
“Yes sir,” they said in chorus.
“ I want you all on duty until further notice,” he added.
This elicited another “yes sir.”
Chapter 22: Hot Mess