Chapter 7

Our first attack against governments on Gleffen that sponsored raiders was against the city-state of Virka. It went off with only one of our men wounded. That wound was an arrow in the ankle where his pants leg had pulled up. Three of our five portals were used for the raid and the wounded man was immediately evacuated and sent to be treated by one of our now ten doctors.

The elder Dr. Medina was now the supervising doctor, responsible for scheduling the doctors and ordering equipment and supplies.

We had first dropped troops into Virka’s palace in the middle of the night and quietly secured both it and the King. Once the palace was secure, an armored vehicle was sent through a portal just outside each of the city’s three gates. One 40 mm cannon round in each gate quickly had the attention of the city’s defenders.

Other troops were inserted aboard every ship in the harbor and those ships were searched. Empty ships had the slave crews released through a portal and the ship was burned to the waterline, partially blocking the city’s harbor. Ships with cargo were sailed through a portal by a prize crew to our docks at Sanctuary where they were emptied and either sold or destroyed.

Inside the city, it didn’t take long for the city’s troops to surrender, terrified, once they realized that our weapons were far more powerful than anything they had. We spent three days going house to house, making sure that all slaves were offered their freedom. We had the city’s slaves help us loot the city, taking anything valuable from the government buildings and homes of the wealthy or anyone who had owned a slave.

Aside from coins and jewels, most of the loot was of little use to us other than providing us with items to sell, which we didn’t really need, so, we gave most of it to the slaves. The bad news is that most of those slaves wanted to move to Sanctuary. That meant more work for our already overwhelmed construction crews, and the addition of a large number of people with only a Bronze Age knowledge level who only spoke Rekka. I was relieved that they spoke Rekka, and not one of the other languages spoken on Gleffen.

I warned the commander of the palace troops that we would return and level the city, taking everyone as slaves if we heard of the city sending raiders anywhere in the future. As it was, we took all the men who were raiders and made them slaves, starting with building cabins at the limestone quarry and then building a wall. Like I had done with the others, I explained that the walls would be what kept the four-legged predators out when we removed the temporary fencing.

We searched the inland sea and captured four more of their raider ships that had already left to go on a raid when we struck their home. Their boats had a very distinctive sail, white with a black border and a red bull in the center. Three had been on their way to make raids. One was on the way home. We took their raiders’ captives back to their homes, took the ship to our docks, and split the raiders between our mines.

Aside from our one injured man, I was happy with the way the raid had gone. My only complaint was that we’d tied up three of our portals for the raid.

“I have a suggestion,” Sheila said to me.

“I know of four new supercomputers that are nearly complete. The Chinese hacked LKAB and stole the new changes you gave them. They have four of their newest versions of the supercomputer almost ready to ship. They are scheduled to be shipped in nine days to the military’s computer center where they will be used for more hacking. Right now, the Chinese military has twice as many supercomputers as your country does, and they use most of those to hack other computers worldwide.”

“What are you saying?” I asked.

I swear that I could hear a smile in Sheila’s voice. “I think you should steal the new computers,” she stated.

“You always say that you’re not allowed to introduce new weapons into our world. I took that to mean that you didn’t approve of fighting.”

“Not at all. I’m simply not allowed to introduce new technologies that can become weapons capable of killing massive numbers of people or giving one side a vast technological advantage. In this case, the Chinese are already attacking your country, even if they aren’t killing people. I’m merely suggesting an appropriate response to their attacks while also acquiring more supercomputers,” she replied.

We spent the next eight days researching and spying on the Chinese. Larry even contacted someone he knew in the DoD. He came back from that meeting with a huge grin and an even bigger stack of papers and photos in a briefcase handcuffed to his wrist.

While not exactly sure what we planned to do, the DoD had been quite eager to assist us. What they gave us was information that wasn’t classified. Much of it we already knew since Sheila had already searched the internet, including areas nobody else could search, especially the Chinese military’s and government’s computers.

The raid was simple and straightforward. Four of our men and two of the technicians from LKAB entered each of the twenty semi-trailers carrying parts of the four computers. A lengthy procession of military vehicles preceded the trucks and a similar one followed it.

The military presence had little effect on our people since we were already inside the trailers once they began moving. When the technicians signaled that they were ready, a portal was opened inside the trailer near the back end and then moved forward, transporting the cargo and the pallets it was on to the inside of one of our warehouses in Sanctuary.

When we finished, we celebrated for about two minutes, and then began phase two of our attack. Fires were started in six places at the factory that produced the supercomputers. We watched as the last of the employees evacuated the building and then set off explosives. The explosives were set so they caused the building to collapse in on itself. You’ve probably seen similar events on the news where a building implodes.

More explosions rocked the route the procession was following, causing the defenders to stop and assume defensive positions around the semis.

While that scenario was playing out several minutes before the convoy with the now empty semis arrived, more fires started at the Chinese military’s “secret” computer center. Several small explosions inside the building helped convince the personnel to evacuate quickly.

As people evacuated the military’s computer center, our people began grabbing computers, papers, and equipment, filling large plastic bins on wheels, which were normally used by hotels for dirty linens. Once a bin was filled, it was shoved through a portal to people at our end. None of these computers were anything special. File cabinets were removed from offices and wheeled through a portal. The only thing the papers and computers would do is give our military a better idea of what the Chinese were up to.

As the clock ticked down to zero, the time when our troops would leave the building, explosive charges were rigged to collapse the building, and also on every supercomputer in the building but four. Those were the older models being replaced and they’d been prepared to be loaded aboard the trailers once the new computers were unloaded. I had no idea what we’d use them for, but we grabbed them, too.

By the time the explosives went off, we were watching from far above. Flames were already erupting from the building when it imploded and collapsed.

Two days later, Larry rode shotgun in the cab of a semi loaded with the Chinese papers, file cabinets, and desktop and laptop computers that we’d grabbed, delivering it to MacDill AFB and his stunned contact.

He told me later that the General he contacted had asked, “How the hell did your people accomplish that? You managed to enter and exit China undetected and have severely crippled the Chinese hackers.”

Larry just smiled at him and replied, “Sorry, I’m not at liberty to say.”

Over the next few weeks, the Chinese suffered serious malfunctions at several more facilities resulting in the destruction of even more of their best supercomputers. They also suffered crippling fires and explosions at several manufacturing facilities where their newest weapons were being built and at their top-secret research facilities.

We even managed to do a bit of looting, taking hundreds of valuable antiques from government buildings and museums. I took those antiques about five years into the past and sold them in foreign markets. By doing it that way, I got a lower price than I would have received in my time, but it was paid in gold and silver, which had a much lower value back then, so I got more of it than I would have by selling the antiques in my time. Besides, the Chinese weren’t looking for the stolen antiques five years ago.

Dan found another jeweler who would convert the jewels into cash and precious metals for us, so I began unloading any that I hadn’t sold at my Medieval auctions.

Ten weeks later, General Weisch, the general Larry had dealt with at the DoD before our China raid, showed up at our compound in the morning with a proposition for us. Larry called me, and I had to return from Gleffen to meet with him.

Not that everyone with at least a double-digit IQ didn’t already know it, although that might leave out most politicians, General Weisch explained that anarchy was threatening the country as violent gangs and organized crime competed with law enforcement for control of the territories they claimed.

“We have a government-sponsored civilian paramilitary group made up of veterans who are helping with the worst areas. They’re currently adding more people, hiring many of them from troops being released early. They call themselves the Nobles Group because they use titles of nobility instead of military ranks,” he began, and then explained a bit more about them. I was impressed; while we had hundreds of former troops, they had thousands.

“A second, independent, group operates near the Texas/Mexico border, and we call them the Texas Militia. They’re also retired military and even have tanks and other armor. Aside from coming up with so many unique new ideas that you patent, your group seems to have an uncanny ability to gain information about and infiltrate an outside group. We’re hoping that you’ll consider helping us by dealing with gangs and organized crime in Florida, and by keeping an eye on the Caribbean and the Gulf Coast. With the increasing lawlessness here, South American groups are smuggling even more drugs and arms into the country.”

“That sounds like a rather expensive request, and I know the government can’t afford to help us pay for it,” I countered.

“True, but we expect you to claim any assets that you seize. All we want are computers and paperwork that we can search for intel or use to convict any criminals you capture. We’ll even return the computers when we’re done,” he offered.

“We’ll give it a try,” I agreed. “If you have any men being released from the elite forces who have families, this would be a good place for them to come. Also, can we buy a few UAVs and have them reworked so they run on alcohol, either 95% or 100% alcohol? What we distill is 95%, but we can dehydrate it easily enough.

“I’ll try it and watch how much we spend versus how much we seize. If I’m spending far more than we’re confiscating, I’ll let you know that I intend to stop. Any of the troops we hired to help will be given a chance to work for one of the other two groups.” I warned.

“I’ve got a rough idea how much money you have and know that you have some sort of gold mine that’s producing well. Surely you can afford to help, even if you’re not recouping what you spend,” he replied.

“I could, but the money I have now and what I’m earning is already earmarked for building a place where all of our people will be safe,” I replied.

“Doing this will just help keep them safer,” he countered.

“It would if we were staying here. The place we’re building isn’t in this country. Like I said, we’ll try it and see what happens. If you really want to put the arm on someone for money for this, round up all the living current and former elected federal officials. They’ve let the country go to hell because they didn’t have the balls to deal with the problems. They were too busy taking bribes, gifts, and campaign contributions from people who didn’t want the real issues dealt with. That’s why we’re leaving the country. I don’t foresee the problem being decisively dealt with until after the civil war that’s coming,” I warned.

“Fine, at least you’re willing to try. You’ll probably get most of the money you spend by confiscating it from the cartels. You’ve got a couple of supercomputers. Do what the Chinese did and hack with them. Track down the drug cartels’ bank accounts and drain them. Make sure you catch the people buying from the cartels and confiscate the money they’re using to buy the drugs and weapons. I’m not sure how much of a market there is right now for the vehicles and boats you will confiscate, but you should be able to get something for them,” he suggested.

“We’ll give it a try. Give Larry a number so he can contact someone about hiring any elite forces troops that have already retired and that will be coming home. He and I can discuss this tonight and decide how we want to go about it, as well as deciding how many people we think we’ll need. Unless it’s a huge money pit, we’ll give it our best shot for at least six months. I’ll give you plenty of warning if it’s not working out. Personally, I hope it does work out.”

“That’s all I can ask, thanks,” the General said as he stood and shook Larry’s and my hands. One of the security guards escorted the General back to the gate.

“You didn’t sound too interested in helping,” Larry commented.

I explained, “I didn’t want him to think I was going to bankroll the entire operation. I have no problem with helping so long as it doesn’t slow our progress in building up Sanctuary. This visit just points out how quickly things are going to shit here. I want Sanctuary complete and our people safely there before it gets much worse. I think that, if we work this right, we can actually make money, or at least come close to breaking even.

“I like his suggestion about hacking, or at least tracking, the accounts of drug cartels and smugglers. My main concern is what do we do with any criminals we capture? We’ve already got almost too much help at the landfill. I’m just glad that word has gotten out that thieves who try to break in here don’t get released by the cops the next morning.”

Larry laughed and told me, “A couple of our people have heard rumors that we shoot all trespassers because they don’t show up back on the streets. We’re down to catching only one a week, and they’re usually new to the area, usually chased out of other parts of the state after getting caught there too many times. The marina north of us asked where we got our signs. They had identical ones made and posted and have hired armed guards. They pay us to outfit and arm them so they look like our security and even turn over anyone they catch to us for trial.”

“Still, I have no idea what to do with as many criminals as we’re likely to catch doing this. It sounds like these are far too violent for us to safely use for manual labor, and we can’t just turn them loose,” I sighed.

“That only leaves one option,” Larry said calmly.

“You saw how I reacted after shooting that chief who robbed everyone,” I reminded him.

“The first thing we should do is give the military the instructions for that new truth serum Sheila gave us. We’ve got a good reason to need it now. Have the military manufacture it. They can sell or give it to the other two groups in addition to supplying us,” Larry suggested.

“Better idea,” I said, grinning. I took the General’s business card and called his cell phone.

“General Weisch,” he answered.

“General, this is Kevin Ross. Could I get you to liaise with the University of South Florida for us? We have a formula for a new truth serum that should be far more effective than the ones currently available. We’ve never attempted to manufacture it because we had no reason to use it before this. Now, we can use it to get all the information we want from the people we capture. The other two groups can buy it from them, too. From what I’ve seen of the instructions, the university should be able to start full-scale production within a week or two of successfully testing the first batch.”

“I can do that. I’ll give them a call and see if I can stop there before returning to MacDill,” he agreed.