Director Ives gave his problem long and careful thought. He couldn't keep the master pleased, or at least not angry with him, much longer. The Chinese had stalled out in their drive into the mountains, just short of the continental divide. He had to come up with a way to disrupt the American forces from behind. The thought also occurred to him that he would also have another chance at that town.

The question was how. What could he do to cause such disruption, that while the Americans were trying to get it sorted out, The Chinese could take advantage of the situation. Something nagged at the back of his mind. Then he remembered. Claire had an idea. Find an excuse to call up the civilians, arm them, and send them to the front. Of course, what Claire had done was his ruination. What he had to do was get the people moving, without arming them, and still cause trouble.

Slowly a new idea began to form. What if he sent the civilians to the front, to be trained by the American forces? And what if he reminded them about the rewards for capturing or killing Christians? Especially if he suggested where they might be hiding out. He began working on the announcement.

---

"Captain, Can I talk to you for a moment?"

"Anytime, Bob. You're the Boss."

"That's still hard to get used to. I feel like I should look over my shoulder to see who you are talking to. Anyway, I was thinking. It's been awhile since we've been attacked from the west. From what we've been picking up on the radio, the American forces seem to be holding their own. but our enemy isn't limited to just Chinese soldiers. We have to remember that being a Christian is illegal now. And I've been praying and thinking about it. What if anti-Christian forces come at us from the east?"

"It would certainly put us between a rock and a hard place. Have you come up with any ideas?"

"A few. First of all, we have about fifty men capable of fighting. But I'd like to avoid that if possible. If we subtract you and your men, we are down to a little over forty. I'd you to divide your men into teams of two. Each team will take a group of men, and train them well enough to impersonate actual soldiers."

"Bob, it would be easier to make them into soldiers, than trying to just fake it. We would also have the advantage of an actual force we can work with. Anyone can be a great soldier in the barracks, but it's another matter when the bullets start to fly."

"When you put it that way, it makes a lot of sense. I admit having a force like that would make me feel better. The point is that we could start doing some real patrols around here, and with your men leading each of these squads, we'll have a much better chance of pulling this off. The way I see it, we can't use the old 'Bio-Hazard' routine any more since the main road is blocked off. We need another dodge. That is where I'm coming up short. A new idea I mean."

"Let me think about it. Largely it depends on the situation. If we run into another unit, we'd better have soldiers to use. If it is a bunch of civilians, we'll have trained men to deal with it. One thing though. What about the women. I know there are some that are willing to do whatever it takes. Your wife for example. You aren't thinking of keeping them out of it are you? I don't think they'll take kindly to that."

"No. We won't leave them out, but from what I've seen and heard, women aren't sent out on patrol. We'll use them to guard the town, and a reserve force, if it comes to that." Bob was thoughtful for a moment, then spoke again. "Captain, this is totally under your control, and I wouldn't think of telling you your business, but wouldn't it make things better if you had an officer as your second in command?"

Ferguson smiled, "It would, and I've been thinking that Busby would make a fine lieutenant. But if possible, it looks better if civilian authority recommends the promotion. Officers are appointed by the president you know."

"We don't have a president anymore, as far as I know."

"True. However we do have a civilian authority in this town, don't we? As far as I'm concerned, you have the power to do anything from testing and then to promote, right up to battlefield commissions."

It was Bob's turn to smile. "Very well, MAJOR. See to it."

Ferguson saluted and responded. "Yes Sir. And thank you."

"You've earned it."

---

It took a month before Ives was ready. When he was, he made sure that everyone would know about it. The notice from Director Ives was posted publicly and spread by word of mouth all over the western portion of the former United States.

NOTICE:

The Director of the western region hereby declares, and makes it known;

The American forces engaged in the mountains have stopped the advance of our enemy. These brave men and women have put up a valiant fight to preserve our lives, peace, and safety. In the face of overwhelming odds, they have prevented the Chinese forces from moving inland any further, and continue to fight to regain the land we have lost in this war. I know that all the people of this land wish to offer them our thanks, and whatever support that we can give.

But this victory has come at a high price. Many of our finest have been wounded, and even killed in this fight for freedom. Their numbers have been reduced to the point that new soldiers must be trained, and brought into the fight against the aggressor, if we are to win.

I know that you, the people of this great land, have given much to preserve this land of freedom and opportunity. Now, I must ask for you to give one more time. Not food, money, or possessions, but to give yourselves for the future welfare of your families. Your wives, and children. The enemy has been stopped, but to drive them from this land, we must have more soldiers.

Therefore, I'm asking all who have any military experience, and any others willing to join in the final push to rid this land of these aggressors to come to the city of Fort Carson, Colorado, for training and deployment. Even if you are in poor health, you can use a typewriter, and be a clerk, thus freeing a trained soldier for duty on the front. Everyone can do something to further the war effort. We need cooks, truck drivers, and persons of every type to refill our ranks.

Will you step forward and be a patriot? Or will you choose to be like those cowardly Christians? Those who hid and let others do the hard work of freeing this land. If you know any of these people, you know what the true creators, our brothers from space, have said about them. Let them give up their religion and join us, or let them be destroyed. They are the ones at fault for all of these troubles. If they hadn't clung to their false ways, the enemy would have never invaded, because we would have been too strong for them. We would have been contacted sooner, and would have had the means of defending this land from all enemies.

I remind you of this, because it has come to my attention that many of them have sought refuge in the mountains of the western states. As you come to Colorado, let no town or village go unsearched. Root them out, so that we know the only enemy will be in front of us.

By Order of Director Ives,

Director of the Western Region.

---

Bob turned off the radio after the announcement had been read.

"If anyone had any doubts before this, I'm sure they are gone now. Ives has pulled out all the stops in an effort to get us, and any other Christians in the mountains, just like Claire did back east." He shook his head. "Major, how long before your men are ready for what's coming?"

"If it is just civilians, we're ready now. Thank The Lord, most of our men are vets. So for them it was really a refresher course in being a soldier, and getting them back in shape. And with a little extra training from those of us in the S.F. they pulled it off in quick time. And the gillie suits help a lot as well. By the way, I've been meaning to ask you. Where did you learn to make one? You said you ere just a regular grunt."

"Truthfully, I wanted one for years, but they were kind of pricey. So, I studied up on how they were made and did it myself." Bob smiled at the memory. "Nancy thought I was a little crazy for doing it, but I got it done. Now I'm glad I did."

Bobs' mind drifted back on the making of the suit. He had taken an old pair of pants, and a shirt, then sewed lines around them, with embroidery thread, making the stitches about four to six inches apart. Then he had bought a couple of burlap turkey blinds, and unraveled them, thread by thread. Once that was done, he cut the threads to lengths of eighteen to twenty-four inches long, and died about have of them. Then came the long part. He took each thread, folded it in half, then pushed the loop under the stitching, and brought the loose ends up through the loop, and pulled it tight. All told, it took him about three weeks working in the evenings and at nights to get it done, including the hood he wore over his hat. But it had been worth it. He remembered how one time while hunting, two other men walked up close enough to him, without seeing him, that they almost jumped out of their skins when he greeted them.

"What about regular military forces you might run into?" Bob asked.

"Honestly, I don't think that will be much of a problem. They are at the front, and they'll have their hands full between the Chinese and their new 'recruits'. And I even have an idea of how to make them look the other way."

"How's that?"

"Why, we tell them the truth. We're looking for Christians."


BW, Vietnam Vet