G Hopf - The End

“I’m cool with it, it makes sense. Let’s get back to Cali and take care of everyone’s family.”

“I was cool with it too until Diego Garcia. I mean, what’s next; we’re going to attack Hawaii? I’m not feeling too comfortable about it all.”

“I trust the colonel, so I’ve got his back. Why you asking, anyway?”

Sebastian looked around again before answering, “As soon as we hit California soil, I’m gone.”

“Why?”

“I just don’t like this anymore. If our country is gone, then I don’t want part of all of this.” Sebastian said and gestured with his arms pointing to everything around him.

“You’re fucking crazy, Corporal Van Zandt. I always knew you were,” Tomlinson responded, he shook his head and went back to picking at his food.

“I’m serious, shithead, this isn’t a joke. I’m asking you if you want to come with me.”

“No, way man, if you want to take off and go UA that’s your choice. My family lives back east and I don’t much like them anyways. The Corps is my family, so I won’t be going with you. Hey, I’m not hungry so I’m going to take off,” Tomlinson stood up, grabbed his tray and left.

Sebastian watched as he walked away. He then caught Gunny looking at him from an adjacent table. Gunny was just staring at him. Sebastian looked at him briefly, nodded and broke his gaze. He picked up his tray and started to head for the exit when Gunny called out.

“Corporal Van Zandt, you gotta minute?”

“Ah, yeah.” Sebastian answered nervously.

“Sit down corporal,” Gunny said, motioning toward the seat across from him.

Sebastian took a seat. “Yes Gunny?”

“You okay, corporal?”

“Yeah, Gunny, I’m fine.”

“You don’t seem fine. It looked like you and your spotter were having a lover’s quarrel over there,” Gunny was talking with food in his mouth.

“Ah, no Gunny, we are 5 by 5, all good.”

“This new mission should make you happy. Now you get to go home and check on your big brother,” Gunny taking another fork full of food and stuffing it into his mouth.

“Yes Gunny, going back to California is exactly what I wanted.”

Gunny stopped chewing and looked at Sebastian. He stared into his eyes. Sebastian forced himself not to look away.

“You sure you’re alright corporal?”

Sebastian paused, he wondered if he should open up to Gunny about his reservations about what took place on Diego Garcia and his uneasiness with the direction the new mission might be going.

“Gunny, I’m fine. Just tired.”

Gunny Smith stared again for a few seconds, then said; “Okay, corporal, that’s all. Go hit the rack and get some shut eye.”

Sebastian said goodbye and got up. His instincts told him Gunny knew something was up. Sebastian walked quickly for the exit, praying that Gunny wouldn’t call him back.

San Diego, CA

Dan had gathered all the men from the scavenger teams in the central park. He was excited that Gordon had listened to him and was going to act on it.

As Gordon stood in front of them, he thought that every day he sent them out into harm’s way. This new mission would be different. They needed to have a plan, they needed to train and be prepared for this. He could not risk sending them into this situation not ready. He wasn’t dealing with highly trained Marines, he was dealing with attorneys, accountants, shop owners, sales people, realtors; many of them had never picked up a gun before the attacks, much less trained in close quarters battle.

“Here is the situation. Dan located what appears to be some type of operating base of the Villistas. They have occupied the Lowes on Mira Mesa Boulevard and I-15. Now we don’t have much more information than that. We know they have cars going in and out. More than likely they have stores of food and other supplies there which we need desperately now. We need this to go well, gentlemen. With what happened last night we need this.”

All eyes and ears were on Gordon. They all knew the gravity of the situation. They weren’t just scavenging; this was to be an assault.

“I know this mission could result in us having armed conflict with these Villistas, and by what we’ve all found on the roads; these people are not nice. However, this is the world we now live in. If we don’t do something soon to find a large cache of food then our nice little community will soon turn on itself. I’m not ordering you all to go, I am asking. If we conduct this raid there is a chance that some of us will not come back. What I am asking now is for you to think about it, after today’s runs I want us all to meet up again here and you tell me if you’re in or not. For those that are in, we will begin to train. I will personally go to their location and recon the area. I will not send you into something unless I feel we can accomplish it. Does anyone have any questions?”

Jerrod raised his hand and asked, “If this mission becomes a green light, when do you estimate we’ll go in?”

“I plan on going out there today with three teams to start the recon. I would like to conduct this raid in three days. That should give us enough time to get a feel for the lay of the land and to train. Anyone else have any questions?”

“What happens if we don’t volunteer for this mission?” a member of one of the teams asked.

“Nothing; I don’t want you unless you’re fully committed. I appreciate what you all do now and it’s risky, but what I’m asking now is for you all to become soldiers.”

“You can sign me up for anything. I’m in!” said a familiar voice from the back of the room.

Gordon looked back and saw his good friend Jimmy.

Gordon smiled and responded to Jimmy, “Good, because you and I are going out there today.”

“Well the truck is fueled up and ready,” Jimmy said, he walked up to Gordon and gave him a big hug.

“Good to see you buddy, really good to see you,” Gordon replied.

“I’m ready to get back in the saddle, as they say.”

“Does anyone else have any questions?” Gordon asked again.

He paused to see if anyone did, but their silence provided the answer he was looking for.

“Okay, good. I need a team to volunteer to go with us,” he asked the group.

Jerrod raised his hand, “Count me and Eric in.”

“Sounds good, Dan you’re coming too, get your team ready. Everyone else, go out there and do your runs today. We’ll meet up afterwards.”

All the men got up and left the room.

Gordon turned to Jimmy and said, “Damn glad to see you.”

“Same here, buddy; sorry I took so long,” Jimmy said.

“No problem at all, you needed the time,” Gordon replied.

“After last night, I thought you could use the help.”

“You’re right. I need you out there with me today.”

“I missed what’s happening,” Jimmy queried.

“I’ll fill you in on the way there.”

Gordon briefed the teams on how the recon would go. He wanted Dan to lead them there. Once on site; he would split the teams up so they could go set up and gather information from all sides of the Villistas location.

With everyone knowing their responsibilities, the three teams headed out. All were nervous but all were equally determined to provide for their people no matter the personal cost to them.

The drive took them south along Interstate 15, which had become a graveyard for cars and a migration route for starving San Diegans. As they approached the exit Gordon could see the smoke plumes coming from the vicinity of the Lowes. He wondered what they were burning.

Dan put his arm out the window and pointed to the exit for Mercy Road. He wanted to approach the Villista hideout carefully. They drove down Mercy Road and took a left onto Black Mountain Road and headed south. As they drew closer he saw more and more Villistas graffiti spray painted on the sides of buildings, houses and retaining walls. They definitely were in the Villista territory now.