The Great War: 1861: Introduction:

[c96plusMauserpuppy]

Beginning in 1680, interchangeable parts, lithography, and experimental steam engines emerged. By the 1740s. railroads, gas, and electric lighting were developed. In Europe, these developments spurred an industrial, social, medical, transportation, economic, and military revolutions in KriegGlorian, Britannia, and Francor. The containment of the Tsarviet Eastern Empire and menacing of both Asia and Europe.   Western cooperation likewise a Cold-style War had raged for over a century.  

In the United States, the disastrous war of 1812 with Britannia ended up with the United States fragmenting into multiple nation states. While the Republic of Kentucky[ROK] thrived due to wise policies and innovations, but the United States and Confederate States of America became reactionary, ossified states.  The Confederacy was somewhat more practical and due to its trade with the Republic of Kentucky, also.  

An example; in 1861, the USA combat rifle was a muzzle-loading Springfield rifle-musket which used black powder. The Confederate combat rifle was a single shot breechloading smokeless powder rifle-musket carbine, The Raleigh 45  caliber.  The  Kentuckian army carbine was a 7x57mm Mauser bolt action that used both smokeless powder and stripper clips. Of KriegGlorian design, but it also used a 20 inch barrel, Hooded front ramp sight and gripping groove stock. It proved such a popular that it was produced by military, police, and civilian arsenals. Albeit the most popular repeating rifles sold were the lever  action Winchester 1892 smokeless powder .44-40, and with the simpler and cheaper 1894 Marlin of both the same caliber and action-type, too.

Motor vehicles, mech-suits, and robots are hyper common in Britannia, KriegGlorian, and Francor. They are very common in the Republic of Kentucky. But rare in the CSA and  virtually non-existent in the USA.. The Slavery League had provoked riots over the private usage of robot workers because it crashed the prices at the slave markets. The mass hangings of October 7th, 1857, was the 'The Darkest Day' of the CSA. Ten thousand Slavery league  rioters hanged in a 12 hour period. The CSA has internal security issues royally.  ROK pretty much has aerial kraken attacks, tornadoes, deadly wild life.  river pirates, horse bandits and the like usual steampunk security issues.

ROK consists of Kentucky, Indiana, Missouri, Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, and Florida. Florida was purchased from the CSA in 1830 and has been developed to facilitate  shipping trade with overseas nations. Many CSA citizens trade, work, vacation in  Florida, but the resultant importation of semiautomatic pistols, submachineguns, and energy weapons are an ongoing security issue in border regions of the CSA.  

The CSA is Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, Arkansas, Tennessee, the Carolinas, Virginia, Maryland and Delaware. The USA is from Pennsylvania to Maine. The neutral states: Ohio, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Iowa.  The rest of North America is the same makeup.  

[c96plusMauserpuppy]

March 27, 1861
London, Britannia
Whitehall.

The American diplomatic crisis, Lord Thaddeus Curzon. The senior Britannian diplomat was gravely concerned about the situation developing in North America. The United States of America had demanded the Confederate states all  but surrender to them. Furthermore, they had further agitated things by demanding that ROK be their ally, also,  The third diplomatic conference to end this had failed. The mad man, Abraham Lincoln, openly preached the next war would be horses, sabers, muskets and revolvers.  

The Yankee leader was all but oblivious to things like motorcars, automatic pistols, airships, radio, robots, mech  suits, and energy weapons. While no army could afford to mass issue laser or plasma small arms, but they were getting popular on the civilian market. Tesla, Daimler-Benz,  Telefunken, Lebel, and  Chrysler were mass producing as high-end weapons,  Even the Tsarviet empire was mass importing them, too.  The  'Black Guard'  Russian secret  police used plasma pistols as their sidearms. The rest of Tsarviet forces used smokeless powder rifles, revolvers, pistols.   and submachineguns. But the matter at hand remained.

He went to the radio communications room. Fifteen minutes later, the message went out "WAR IMMINENT BETWEEN ROK, USA , CSA. Airship and naval forces  are being sent to evacuate diplomats, their  families  and staff.  All Britannia citizens whom need  evacuation should  report  to the nearest consulate by  6:00 p.m. local time today." A likewise  bulletin was  sent  to   all nations and news  agency. '" WHAT WOULD LINCOLN DO NEXT?"' was  on  the  collective mind of the world.

In Berlin, Paris, St. Petersburg,Peking, and Tokyo. Leaders  and emergency conferences convened. The American Cris potentially  threatened the world. But in St. Petersburg and Berlin, the conference took a bad.turn.  

The Grand Palace
St. Petersburg
Tsarviet Empire.

Tsar Nikolai The XV loaded at his advisers. "How may we use this to our advantage."  General Pavel Orloff replied. ". "We should only send economic aid to  the United States. No modern Weaponry. This  way, we can bleed the United States slowly to weaken it.  And we can then increase our influence in the Republic of California."  The consensus  was unanimous.  General Orloff's plan would proceed because it  was the least risky, too.

But a tiny robot recorded all. The Gestapo had bugged the room. When it emptied, but the robot crawled out. The size of a  4 week old kitten, the rectangular machine crawled  on four  legs out the door.  It  ultimately crawled to the embassy of KriegGlorian. An  agent retrieved it. Within half hour its data  was sent to Gestapo headquarters in Berlin. From there, to the Abwehr and  the Imperial palace were alerted.  

Imperial palace
Berlin
KriegGlorian Empire

Kaiser Wilhelm IV looked to Field Marshal Erwin Rommel. "What do you make of this?" "Donot directly intervene, but send economic and humanitarian aid  to ROK. Advisers and embassy  personnel  may  fight in defensive actions, too."  Admiral Erich Raeder spoke next. "I propose we reinforce our Asian colonies of  Hawaii. and Burma but take no further direct military action." "Agreed."

The shortage of tanks and mech suits in the colonies had been an issue. In Burma, it was partly alleviated by United Rubber Company{URCO]and both it's mass development and deployment of  Sturm-bots.  But, Hawaii had no tanks and only twenty mech suits to defend the Island chain, too.  While on cordial relation with the Imperial Nipponese Empire, but the recent Tsarviet acquisition  of Midway  Island was a matter of concern. U-boats had  reported  increased  naval activity in Vladivostok and other Tsarviet Asian holdings.

The action was agreed upon and implemented. Other nations agreed and implemented their plans and so the die  was cast...

[c96plusMauserpuppy]

Brian Irwin's home near Louisville, Kentucky.
March 28, 1861.
3:15 p.m.

Ten year old Brian walked inside, his Ford Robot-worker clanking obediently behind him. The robot stopped.  
Little Brian first had a drink. "Robot, are you at capacity for further work?" "Yes, Brian"  They went to the woodshed. The Robot split logs with an axe while Brian stacked firewood.  Because Mommy had asked him.

Brian worked 7-2 with his robot at Louisville Firewood Company.  The robot split and Brian stacked. By 4:20, they were done. Inside the house, Mom was cooking supper.  The radio played. "Our exclusive WXKR Ragtime Cyclone Alert weather. No Chance of Aerial krakens for the next 72 hours Hi  today, 88 and hot and sunny. Tonight,  a clear  night  with low of 52. light and variable winds. Tomorrow, warm and windy in the morning with a noon time high of 90. Severe Thunderstorms are expected in the area after one p.m. with a tornado watch expected after 1:00 p.m.  THIS  JUST IN. The Government will have a special news bulletin broad cast  for all citizens at 6:00 p.m. today."  "Brian, I think your Dad should call a family conference."  "Can I do maintenance on my bot?"  "Yes."

The boy had the robot go to a bay,  Brian put the robot's  Elektronium power crystal in a solar charger.  He oiled the robot and checked it s gauges. "Good."  He topped off both the oil and transmission fluids.  His brothers and sisters came in from their various job. Brian washed up for the supper.  The Republic of Kentucky's public health bureau had achieved 95% flush toilet and shower compliance among its citizens. Cholera was largely eradicated and typhoid was rare. Randy Irwin had installed such things after his aunt  had been fatally mauled by a panther on  a night outhouse trip.  Everybody over ten years old had a rifle, and everybody over 13 had a revolver or an automatic. But Randy did approve of Brian's interest in energy weapons, too.  The boy liked visiting the Tesla, Chrysler, and Telefunken energy weapons local stores.  

But Brian also liked kittens, puppies, church, video games, takeout, hunting,  Project-O-Dramas, frisbee,  horses, swimming, and toys."  Dinner Time!  Mandy, Candy, Bobby, and Billy joined them.  Dinner was ham,  corn on the cob, wheat bread, and strawberry ice cream.  Chrysler's electric appliances powered  Electro grill and bake, the freezer, and the  FRIDGE-X.  They were license-built copies of Tesla appliances.  

After supper, Brian helped wash the dishes.  He went to his room. and checked his money jars.  His vet fund was $2,000 and his general fund was $3,000. Tomorrow was payday, and he'd  hit the bank after work.  He secured them and showered and brushed his teeth.  He began playing a videogame.  "Grand Theft Tricycle:  Pensacola."  was fun.  His Dad interrupted his fun. "Brian, we need to talk."  

Brian saved his game and followed his Dad. "They announced on the radio that Lincoln gave our government an ultimatum. Help them to attack the CSA, or we will be at war with the USA.  Mandy got called up for naval militia duty. and if our government doesn't respond by 4:00 p.m Thursday, we'll be at war with the USA."  "Dad, my birthday  is  Friday and it's shame Mandy will miss it. Yes, she is to report by  6:00 p.m. Thursday. But I want to do something for her and Mom, too."  "What is it?"   "I'd like to buy a Telefunken plasma pistol for the both of them. Mandy needs a gun when she's off duty, because she can only carry her issue Mauser c96 pistol and Mom loves her Marlin, but she needs a handgun for when she  off duty, too."   He looked the boy's main money jar.  "And you need to buy yourself one, too."  "I liked when I got to shoot Mandy's  Smith & Wesson .44-40 double action. But I'd like get at least a Mauser pistol, too."  

"After you get work tomorrow, meet me at the Telefunken store. I will, Daddy."  Brian then said a prayer, and they called it a night.  Next morning,  Brian got up and read his Bible. The radio said there would be bad storms today, and Molly  told him. "If you hear the siren, get in a cellar or basement.  Come right home afterwards."  She kissed him after  they  ate breakfast.  Brian packed lunch and left with his robot.  

The walk to work was uneventful.  Brian checked in and went to his station.  Robot  helped  with stacking firewood while Brian ran the Ford kerosene log splitter. The day flew by.  12 noon.  "LUNCH TIME!" bellowed the boss.  Brian said a prayer while Robot shut down.  Fruit pellets. Peanut butter and chocolate sandwich, Water. A visit to a flush
toilet.  Brian washed his hands. 12:20.  It was warm and windy, with bright sunshine.  But towards the horizon jet black clouds gathered.  Brian was  back at work.   2:00 p.m. "QUITTIN' TIME!" bellowed the boss. Pay day.  Brian cashed his check at  the bank and headed to his meeting.  He donated  at  the Animal Rescue Society before meeting dad at Telefunken. Dad and Mandy were there.

Together, they shopped.   Brian walked past the Lightning Guns and Laser weapons. Plasma.  "Awwww....  Brian smiled at the weapon as his Dad and Mandy arrived.  The pistol looked a Mauser 1896  semiauto. But it had a detachable  box magazine fuel cell. Cooling fins circled the barrel.   it had regular, fixed pistol sights, albeit the front elevated sight was painted bright orange.  

A salesman noticed the family.  Brian beamed as he approached. "Telefunken T-50 plasma semiautomatic. Effective to 30 meters accurately.   Fifty shot magazine that can be recharged indefinitely and it uses a solar  fuel cell charger. It has a hinged action which push opens and snaps shut for both cleaning and maintenance."  "And they're on sale today $150.00 each. We also furnish three fully charged power cells."  "We'll  take three."  They then were then lead to the basement firing range.  Lasers purred, Lightning crackled, and plasma went pew.  All three qualified.  They left.  They had ice cream and walked to the naval depot. Mandy hugged Brian. "If an attack come, promise  you'll to safety.": "Yes." She kissed  him on the forehead and she checked in.  Her T50 was hidden in her kit bag, and she was issued an MP-34 submachinegun and a Mauser c96 pistol. She saluted her  officer as they left.

Brian and his Dad returned home on horse back  as Robot walked behind them.  The sky was now dark gray, angry
and rolling sounds from it were continuous.  People, horses, bicycles, tricycles, mech suits, robots, cars, buses, and trucks seemed to increase their activity.  A police patrol jet ski patrolled the river side. It's  loud speaker blared. "ATTENTION-THE TORNADO WATCH HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO A PARTICULARLY DANGEROUS{PDW]TORNADO WATCH!  BE PREPARED TO TAKE COVER AS NEEDED!"

They hurried home. It was sunny over head, but the dark clouds were rolling towards them and the wind was starting to pick up. Dad let all the horses loose and said a prayer for them.  "ROBOT?"  "Yes, Brian?" I'm giving you a fresh, fully-charged Elektronium  crystal. You are free to save yourself." "Yes, Brian".  The robot ran down the road.  Suddenly...

"What that?" noticed Molly.  In the still yet sunlit part of the field adjacent the house, a tiny puppy played. It was obliviously to the approaching storm. Brian ran out and grabbed it. It rested in his arms as he raced back. All Mandy joined him in the storm cellar. In the distance, a siren wailed.  Dad turned on a battery light and they waited.

                                       

[von Corax]

Two thoughts:

• Could benefit from a good editing and proofreading
• How does Her Imperial Britannic Majesty feel about the unrest on Her North American Colony's southern frontier?

[c96plusMauserpuppy]

Two thoughts:

• Could benefit from a good editing and proofreading
• How does Her Imperial Britannic Majesty feel about the unrest on Her North American Colony's southern frontier?

America was simply abandoned by Britannia  after it was divided. My eyesight is very bad[no blindness danger]and yes, I do edit my work.

[c96plusMauserpuppy]

Mandy waited with  her fellow  sailors in the base's storm bunker.  Her uniform was a chin strap pancake sailor's hat, a jumper knee length dress and a  pair of  ankle  walking/riding  Brahma boots. Her clothing  was white. A  gladius sword  for melee work was slung at  her side. A waist strap-secured side pouch held  a water bottle  and first aid supplies.  

When the radio sounded the all clear, Mandy and her comrades  reported  to torpedo boat 'TB-173'.  Powdered by a Chrysler kerosene turbine engine, she was the fastest thing on the Ohio River.  Her firepower had twin  37mm Maxim pom-poms swivel  mounted atop the ship, along with three light weight Maxims. Four torpedoes completed her armament. A  Tesla Radar set gave her  the ability to track things at night and  in bad weather. A Telefunken sonar  set alerted  her to  underwater obstacles. A radio room kept  them in contact with the base.

Mandy manned the radio. "Captain Robertson, urgent bulletin from headquarters. Piping it through." "All river naval vessels, proceed to  the downed bridge five miles North of Louisville. Twister hit bridge packed with wagons, horse, and buggies.  Terrible loss of life is reported. Give what aid you can."  

VROOOMMM! The engine  went throttle and the siren was hit. They were soon there.  The wailing  of both people and horses filled the  air.  Firemen, corpsmen, search and rescue, and robots helped pull the wounded from the wreckage. The most desperately wounded were  loaded into motorized  ambulances and rushed to hospitals.  THe dead were loaded  into  horse drawn  wagons.  While  wounded  horses  were humanely euthanized but  veterinary ambulances  helped  any wounded  dogs and cats  likewise.

TB-173 was loaded with walking wounded. They were  rushed  to hospital in Louisville.  Five trips likewise occurred. By  the  last trip, mech suits  and  cranes  had  arrived and  they were removing large  debris  pieces  from the river. Mandy saw a basket floating alongside the TB-173.  Meow, Meow!   Captain Robertson saw a box  with a mother cat and four kittens floating in the  water.  They were retrieved and taken back to Louisville.

Amazingly, a veterinarian had heard radio reports and greeted them at the dock.  He was a handsome young man, Dr. Ronny West Mandy immediately was charmed by him. Dr. West took  the mommy and examined  both her  and the kittens. "They'll need  to  stay overnight for observation, but they should able to be homed  with their Mom tomorrow."  "Thank you doctor." said Captain Robertson.  "Break time!  Report back in 20 minutes."  Everybody got a drink and bathroom break.  Mandy telephoned her parents. They were overjoyed she was safe  and  agreed  to  home both  the Mother cat and her litter.

Then the  weather report was received,  "More bad news, people.  A chance of  tornadoes until three  a.m. after  which  the weather  will rapidly improve."  They did routine maintenance  on the  boat's engine  and called it a night, sleeping  the in storm bunker. They arose the next morning. They hit the base gym, doing stretching exercises,  and then doing ten miles on the exercise bike.  Shower.   Breakfast was chunky sausage gravy with peas, cream style corn, and a  sweet potato brown sugar flavored bar.

Afterwards they did weapons maintenance. Followed by sword practice.  Followed by swimming practice.  Shower. Lunch: 12-1.  Turkey with gravy  and stuffing and baked beans.  A patrol that lasted that lasted until 5 p.m. No Yankee infiltrators but they did  arrest two boat thieves.  'They joined the army, so perhaps it would work out' thought Mandy. The  alternative  was  three  years in the county jail.

Irwin family  farm near Louisville, Kentucky.
March 30, 1861

The twister had missed the farm  Brian's robot had  returned unhurt. Brian did  hose  him down  and  spray  anti-rust  treatment, thought.  The little puppy was a teacup chihuahua  A call to the  sheriff's substation confirmed the best. "No  reports of  a  lost puppy of that description." say the deputy.  "Can we keep it?" said Brian hopefully. "Yes."  said Molly.  The  mother  cat rested with her kittens on the porch.  

Dr. Ronny  West's  animal hospital was their next stop. "A healthy little girl, 1.1lbs, Reddish brown  hair, brown eyes. friendly disposition." "What shall we name you?"  "Honey Bun!" said Brian. And so Honey Bun joined the Brian Irwin family. She  even liked the harness they  got her.  And so Brian got his birthday present. But another one was waiting for Brian.  "Marlin 1894 .44-40? Oh, Thank you Daddy."  The Marlin .44-40 WCF smokeless powder 1894  lever action rifle was cheapest quality repeating rifle. While Project-O drama westerns gloried the Winchester, but the Marlin was simpler  and more reliable, too.  As such, it  was the standard rifle of the Irwin family. Although Candy did have a Telefunken Elektro-storm rifle which she truly liked. too.

While Mandy, Randy, and  Candy like their S&W 1891 double  action revolvers, but Billy and Bobby had adopted  the c96 Mauser pistol that was  standard service pistol of both ROK and KriegGlorian, too.  It  was a popular  civilian sidearm at  $25.00  each. Anyway, with war soon to come but Randy thought it indeed  wisest  to be  armed as  a family, too.
                                                                                   

[c96plusMauserpuppy]

Presidential Mansion
Louisville, Kentucky
March 29th, 1861
1:30 p.m.

President Alexandria von Bergmann had won by a landslide the 1860 ROK election by opposing all forms of
gun control. A series of  decisions, including a  federal anti-domestic pet cruelty law, but  these things had
made her wildly popular, too. She was the president of  her nation until 1870, also.  She read the report the
KriegGlorian embassy had sent.  She acted. The joint war council of the Navy, Air Force, and Army agreed with
the congress.  

The radio announced a special news bulletin. "At 1:35 p.m. In answer to the United State's Ultimatum, the Republic
of Kentucky had declared war of the United States of America. Please remain calm. There will be no draft but volunteer centers will be open until  10 P.M. rather than 4:00 p.m. for those  whom wish to enlist."  That evening, fifty  motor truck loads of volunteers left for the railroad stations, airports, bus stations, and shipping lines. They were sent to various training centers all over ROK.

Brian Irwin's Farm
Louisville, Kentucky
March 29th, 1861
7:00 p.m.

"Thinking of enlisting, Dad." said Billy. "Which branch of the service do you think I join?" Randy Irwin looked with slight apprehension. "Son, I don't know, honestly."  Little Brian smiled. "Mech suit corps."  "And why is that, Brian?"  "The  Yankees are using low-velocity, muzzle-loading black powder cannon. With that 37mm Pom-Pom and rocket launcher, but you can decimate them, too. You're in an armored vehicle that will protect you from small arms and shrapnel.  If you have to bail, you've got a pistol and submachinegun  and you'll have a better chance of survival that way, too."

"Better than infantry or cavalry and a bit above the tank corps, eh Brian?" smiled Billy. "Or you could join the air force. Strafing Yankees from biplane or gyrocopter is better than ground pounding." said Candy. Her face set. "I'm joining the Gyro Copter corps.  Besides, Mandy lucked out with torpedo boat duty, and a gyrocopter can do hit and run. less chance of getting shot that way." "God bless you, my daughter." smiled Molly  although  inwardly she was nervous.

Bobby said. "I'm going talk to the sheriff tomorrow. I know I'm a deputy but I'm going to see about the state police job he's been bugging me to take. But I'm going to avoid the Virginia border detachments, because a trooper told me that was a   career killer, too." "Wise advice. Only sign up if they agree in writing not to station you there, Bobby." said Randy.  "Yes, Daddy." They said a prayer and called it a night.  

The next day, Billy, Candy, and Bobby said goodbye and left after breakfast. Brian and Robot helped with the chores. At 11:00 a.m. Randy looked at the clock.  "It's Brian's birthday. I know he loves playing with his brothers and sisters but I'm going to give the rest of the  day off if he wants it."  

Randy went to  talk to Brian. "Daddy, can we wait until they come home on leave?" "Why that's very nice of you, son!" Brian and Robot continued with his chores At 1:00 p.m. his Mom called him inside.  They had lunch and Molly excused him for the day. He secured Robot.  The kittens were too young play with, so he played with Honey Bun, the puppy's antics delighting the both of them.

At three p.m. the puppy got sleepy, so Brian carried her inside. "If you want to, you can go to town."  "Do you think I should take Robot? "Is he fully charged?"  Brian checked the gauges. And some more cash from his money jar.  He'd hit the video game store along with the  'Projecto-drama store' and the toy store. He even got toys for Honey Bun and the Kittens, too. But things were changing around him.  Brian noticed more police activity. Even the DNR[Department of Natural  Resources]men were out. All business had longer hours. Military  trucks  and at least five mech suits passed by.

Brian went to the river first before his spree. He waved at Mandy whom waved back.  Meanwhile, Billy stood in the army recruiting office. "Son, go in line 7." "Yes sir." "Mech suit volunteer?" asked a recruiting sergeant "Yes, sir."  "You'll be headed to Fort Knox."  He was given a physical and passed.   They then went to the courtyard and were taken truck to a bus. They hit Fort Knox Billy found that army life suited him.

After six weeks of training.  Training class 7 was sent to the Mech Training Center.  There, he traded his Mauser bolt action short rifle for an MP-35  along with a Mauser pistol.   He was then placed in a mech simulator. His corporal told him. "Remember: a mech is a tank that walks. Turn your head both ways." "Yes, Corporal."  "Pass." marked the Corporal on Billy's record.  "Now, Practice walking to the end of your field." "Yes , Corporal." Billy again passed. He worked the levers back and forth and swiveled both ways to turn on command. He then returned to the starting. "Full pass. Report to mech driving zone."

Billy passed that, too. The next day was the firing  range, and Billy liked that. His training went well. In the meantime, Brian had returned, Robot  carrying a box of stuff. Mom and Dad had fixed  cajun fried chicken, spicy tater logs, and peanut butter and chocolate ice cream. The fact Brian added a LASAGNA HUT bacon, sausage, pepperoni and mushroom cheesy Lasagna square along with an order of old world pepperoni garlic cheesy bread with marinara sauce was a  pleasant surprise. Mom didn't have to cook until at least Monday and with enough frozen left overs for next weekend, too.

Brian played with Honey Bun.  She loved the throw squeaky duck. and the little ball that jingled. But she really liked Brian's tiny radio remote control mech suit. She chased it all over the room and everybody laughed until she qot sleepy again. She slept in her tiny bed as her human family watched the  PROJECT-O-DRAMA  cartridge.  'The Baby army Tank's Big Adventure' .and the western action drama .'DESTRUCTIVE DEVICE'. in which a borderline cop was assigned to an older deputy sheriff.  The protagonist used a Mauser c96 like Mel Gibson used a Beretta 9mm. They then called it a night and slept.

[c96plusMauserpuppy]

Republic of  Kentucky Air Force Base One,
Louisville, Kentucky
May 21, 1861.

Candy Irwin smiled proudly as her pilot's wings were pinned on her chest. "Congratulation, Trainee, you are now a gyrocopter pilot in the Republic of Kentucky's gyrocopter corps." The air force colonel then announced. "You are on leave until 09:00 Monday morning.  Report back here and you'll get your assignments." They left.  

Candy returned to the barracks and loaded her kit bag. Her Mauser pistol was belted around her waist. All ROK  military personnel were  required to have a sidearm on them off duty. She walked until she  came to bus stop. The kerosene powered bus cost her 10 cents, but she didn't want to risk getting dirty, because the laundry service was closed from 9 p.m.Sunday Night until 7 a.m. Monday morning.

The bus was surprisingly empty at 9:45 a.m. "5-8, 11-2  and 4-6  are biggest times for passengers." explained The driver. He drove her uneventfully home.  10:25 a.m. The bus let her off at the Irwin family.  "Candy!" smiled  her Mom as she hugged her daughter. "I  have leave until 9:00 a.m. Monday morning."  "Good. Brian works  out today, so you'll be a pleasant surprise.  Mandy and Billy are on active duty, and  Bobby is working the Louisville State Police detachment so he heads home every day. Your Dad is selling horses downriver and won't be  back until Saturday afternoon late."  

Candy kissed her Mom. "I'll change."  She hung up her uniform in her room and changed into her usual clothes. Barking meant  that Honey Bun had awakened from her nap. Wagging  her tail like a  gyro copter's rear  propeller, Smiling, She picked the puppy up and hugged her. "Missed you, baby dog."  She clipped  a leash on her harness. "I'll take her for a walk.  Mom."  "Thank you!" Mom returned to her chores.  Ragtime played on the radio followed by lost and found pet announcements.  Mom finished sweeping the floor with a push vacuum. 10:56 a.m. She drank a glass of iced lemonade mixed with saccharin.

Meanwhile. Candy had walked Honey Bun in a big loop around the horse farm. She took her in the field to play with her. As  she  knelt to unclip her. She heard sirens wailing from Louisville.  She said "Let's go inside, Honey Bun."  She  carried the  puppy towards. the house.  Molly, her mother, and  she ran out  the  porch.  "Candy!  Aerial Kraken warning just on the radio!"  Candy walked inside holding Honey Bun. Molly  locked  doors. "So she or the cat doesn't  dart outside."  The mother cat dutifully stayed by the kittens  as they all listened to the radio for further updates. In Louisville, buses  stagecoaches, taxis, motorists, wagon drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians all took cover.  Gyrocopters were scrambled, and Flak cannon and POM-POMs readied.  

Bobby  helped  civilians  into the state police detachment's shelter. He wouldn't go on the roof unless ordered. At his job, Brian looked around, Everybody was scrambling for cover. Work had clearly ceased. Brian shut down all the machines. in his work section. He  called Robot, whom obediently came to  him. "We better take cover."  They went to the street  but it was now largely deserted. The public shelter was now shuttered.   They kept walking rapidly to the naval yard. Mandy saw them approaching from her position.  Captain Robertson looked at her.. "Take your brother to safety." Mandy obeyed and they all went inside the naval base's shelter.

"I was just  at the woodyard  running  the motorized  log splitter when the sirens sounded."  "Why didn't you take cover nearer?" asked Mandy. "Because Robot and myself were alone, I shut the power off and we went to the public shelter but  was shuttered, so I figured I should come here." "Wise choice, Lad." said Captain Robertson.  The radio bore coverage of the carnage. Three Aerial Krakens menaced the city..  One was descending upon the stockyards. Tanks and mech suits rolled out to engage it.

One aerial kraken had landed and was crawling  towards the pig pens. Their  squeals filled the air as Marlin lever action riflle-armed security guards  raced towards the scene.  A storm of .44-40 WCF bullets tore into the beast.  It then turned on the guards and had them corned against  a cattle car.  A  dog handler  freed  his  two  Rottweilers  so they  could escape, which they did.   closer and closer the tentacles came. But the  guards kept firing.  Just as the tip of a tentacle's club touched a  guard's foot, it recoiled. Shrieking, the aerial kraken was engulfed in a horror of flames.  A thirty foot tall ROK army mech suit was roasting the monster with a turret-mounted flamethrower!

An army truck rolled up. "Get in!" yelled a captain. They obeyed.  The dog handler happily was reunited with his two Rotties. They drove to a safe  place where  the stock yard boss. "Why weren't  your crew  in a shelter?"  "Company won't put shelters in here." he said. "State labor commission will hear of it."  vowed the captain.  By now, this same  aerial kraken was a corpse. Infantry and tanks arrived. They swept the stockyards and found a small nest of aerial kraken eggs, which were all destroyed by  MP34 submachinegun, pistol, revolver, and rifle fire.  The remains were burned to avoid attracting rattle-cobras.  The Eastern Hooded Rattle-Cobra was the  deadliest poisonous animal from Virginia to Florida and from ROK to Eastern Colorado, too. They fed on  Aerial Kraken eggs and flesh, too.

The second aerial kraken was chased by gyrocopters into the target zone of combination of rocket batteries  and Flak cannons which downed it with out  any human or animal casualties. The third aerial kraken? It was radar-tracked as it headed northeast. Towards the rural areas. Towards main family farms and ranches. Towards the Irwin family horse farm.

Molly Irwin's blood turned cold as she saw  the  aerial kraken approaching from inside her house. CUK-CUK-CUK!  It clicked as it sailed overhead.  She put Honey Bun in a room and closed the door so she couldn't dart outside. She  grabbed her Marlin 1894 rifle. "Mom, you're  better  off  with the plasma pistol Brian got you. Even belt-fed  machineguns  have  issues in killing Aerial Krakens."  Candy said.  She  held her  prized Telefunken Elekro-Storm rifle. with four extra fully charged power cells in a pouch.

Molly retrieved the plasma pistol and its ammo.  She remembered a radio documentary about energy weapons. Laser pistols burned baseball-sized holes in targets. Laser rifles burned large apple-sized holes in targets. Lightning pistols blasted softball-sized holes in targets. Lightning rifles blasted grapefruit-sized holes in their targets. Plasma pistols.. If you got chest shot with a bright green plasma bolt, but you'd be a pool of bright green liquid  above the waist. Plasma rifles simply left your man-sized target a pool of bright green liquid.

The Aerial Kraken began descending above the horse pen.  Horses were neighing and panicking inside it, raising a dust cloud. Molly and Candy ran outside.   Candy flung the Telefunken Electro-storm rifle to her shoulder. The spider web front sight centered on the  Kraken's left eye.  ZORCH!  

Artificial lightning, it's jagged  bolt striking the creature's  left  eye. BOOM! SKREEE!  The aerial kraken shrieked in pain as its eye exploded.  Molly squeezed off a shot  which  dissolved a tentacle in two.   SKREEE! It spun around  to attack the two women. But the storm of plasma and lightning fire literally ripped it to pieces. CRASH! It hit and died.
"Come on, we've got to check it for eggs." said Molly as she got both their Marlin rifles to save energy fire.  Bang! Bang! Bang!  The eggs were all exploded.

Just then, a vehicle's siren was heard.  Five tanks rolled up, followed by three truckloads of soldiers.  A flame thrower mech followed.  But before the flamethrower mech  arrived,  Brian and Robot jumped off the truck and cut the aerial kraken's clubs off.  "Mommy, there a $1,000 gold bounty for what you just done." "It's true'.  Said a lieutenant. "Just take them to the DNR[Department of Natural Resources]and you  get paid."  

The flame mech did the clean up as a veterinarian checked the horses. "Unhurt. But a female horse has gone into labor.  Call animal emergency or a regular vet if she has trouble." "Thank you."  "You're welcome."  The vet and two vet techs had moved the mother horse into a stall.  Suddenly....  "Dr., it's  a dead raccoon and she's a girl." "Oh, no!" Four orphan raccoon cubs looked at them. And  everybody wanted a raccoon. "It's because they kill rattle cobras and eat  both aerial kraken eggs and rattle-cobra eggs, too." explained  Dr. West. "Just have them fixed and inoculated."

ROK's war on rabies was largely  won by  urging mass vaccination of pets. The vet radioed Dr. Ronny West. and he'd be  in until 9:00 p.m. tonight., also.  The baby coons  were  all  adopted. Molly took one, too. Candy hitched team  and they all went to town.  True to their word, the DNR. paid  $1,000 gold  coin certificate. Candy took it in the bank to be cashed   She donated 10% each to both the  Branch Road Freewill Methodist Church and the Animal Rescue Society.  She kept  two hundred but put  the rest  in her parent's bank account. Vet time!

Dr. West weighed the little raccoon cub.  "Boy, 0.85 lbs. He'll  need bottle fed or put on a nursing  dog or cat."  He popped a bottle in the cub's mouth  and it  guzzled the formula. "Remember.  He'll die without proper care."  They went home after stopping at 'Hotdog Planet'  Fried hotdogs with ketchup and side order of 'KRITOES'. crispy bacon cheddar cheese wraps. Brian got his paycheck and it wasn't docked, too. He cashed it.

They arrived home.  After  securing both the  wagon and its horses,  Candy checked the mother horse.  "She's had a healthy baby!"  They went inside and cleaned up. Mom their  take out.  Brian held up a Krito and pointed at the swaddled infant raccoon. "His name is Krito'. They laughed and Krito cried. Brian took Krito over to the mother cat after removing the raccoon cub's swaddling. The mother cat instantly began nursing Krito alongside her kittens. Brian, Robot, and Candy got on the chores after lunch. They cleaned the horse pens.  The manure was dumped in a nearby creek to prevent insect-borne diseases.  

Other chores were done. But  with Robot's help, they were done both well and rapidly, too. Robot got a maintenance job and was allowed to rest. Brian refilled his money jar and  Honey Bun and Candy joined  him in play. After supper, Brian played video games and called it a night.

[c96plusMauserpuppy]

Confederate States of America
Pennsylvania-Virginia Border
June 1, 1861.

The barking of Raleigh breechloading carbine-muskets responded to the crackle of Yankee rifle-muskets. The Yankees were simply coming in waves.  Only trench warfare by the Confederates barely held the line.  From horseback atop a nearby knoll, General Robert E. Lee was gravely concerned. The Yankee offensive had smashed two Confederate armies and He saw no reason they could continue  to hold here.  

The Confederate General silently cursed. If we had modernized on the Britannic or KriegGlorian, model, automatic Spandau or Vickers machineguns and rapid fire artillery with be mass slaughtering the Yankee hordes. Even rattle boxes, a popular rapid fire gun, would help. And  KriegGlorian Stahlhelm would have saved many whom were being lost.  Suddenly,  "Look, overhead!" yelled a major.  It's diesel turbines humming, a Republic of Kentucky Zeppelin hovered overhead  As they gaped overhead, a gyro-copter landed nearby.  It's pilot stayed with the vehicle, but a passenger dismounted.  It walked towards them.  The Confederates stared in awe of this emissary of technological progress.

It wore light tan cargo shorts and  short pull on walking/riding boots. A light tan multi pocketed long sleeve tunic.  It wore an KriegGlorian pattern steel helmet and had an automatic pistol holstered on a belt around its waist. It had an MP35 submachinegun slung over its shoulder.   It faced General Lee and heel-clicked to attention and saluted in the Roman fashion.

"Pistol-Corporal Barbara Mayes reporting, sir."  General Lee returned the formality.  "Sir, we are monitoring the Yankee progress.  Here are aerial recon photos of Yankee troop, cavalry, train, and river boat movements. "These were taken about 45 minutes ago."  Lee's officers nodded in approval as they studied the intelligence.  "We can delay the enemy by hitting the small bridge over this creek. That will allow us time to reinforce the lines facing it." "General, could a gyro copter strike do this thing?" "It would be a great help if could be so done." Mayes  saluted and rapidly walked towards the gyro copter. A radio message  let to multiple armed gyro copters departing from the zeppelin-carrier  above them.  

Mayes and the gyro copter stayed.  Meanwhile, six gyrocopters buzzed  atop the trees.  "Viper Leader, to Cobra flight. Enemy bridge sighted. Vipers One and Two follow my lead. The rest of you hover where you until I call for you." "Roger, Viper Leader."   He dove on the enemy bridge.  Crowded with both Yankee Infantry and supply wagons. The Yankees stared from below at the oncoming machines.  Viper One fired a 77mm rocket  before pulling up. KABOOOMMMM!  A wagon filled with cannon ammunition exploded and it crashed the bridge into the creek below. Men, horses, and wagon were blown up or fell to their fate.   The Yankees were now scrambling as Viper Two strafed them with machinegun fire.  Viper Leader saw it. A Yankee troop train chugging down a track.  The blue clad enemy soldiers rode in open top cargo cars.

Furthermore,  a Yankee Steamboat pulled a  barge filled with cannons and ammunition. "Viper Leader to all squadron members, Engage enemy train and steamboat!" The Yankees were in full panic mode. Some ran for nearby buildings, and ditches. A few shot back ineffectively.  A lone Yankee soldiers made it to a nearby farm. He saw a cyclone cellar and dove inside it. He alone would bring word to the Yankee high command.  The Yankees on the train  were horrified  at was approaching.   Some Yankee jumped off and others began screaming and praying. The train's engineer  threw  the  throttle wide open as the train roared onto a large bridge .

The steamboat had already  passed with it's cargo beneath the same bridge.   Four rockets took out the train, its cargo and the whole bridge.   Viper  Six now hovered in front of the Steamboat. A deck hand laid his revolver on the deck. Rifle-muskets, breech loading carbines, and blunderbusses clattered to the deck. Viper  5 landed nearby.  Submachinegun  aimed at the Yankee vessel, the dismounted pilot walked towards it and boarded it. The captain handed his revolver belt to him.  The Yankee flag was lowered.

Viper Six radioed Viper Leader.  "There's a Confederate town down river.  Go there and obey  its authorities."  "Yes."
The ship obeyed. While the Confederates used breech loading black powder. cannons. But the captured muzzle loading cannon could be melted for cartridge casings and the black powder ammunition used  otherwise against the Yankees, And the river boat itself could serve the CSA, too.

Viper Five's pilot stayed with the Steamboat. A spare pilot flew Viper 5  back to the ROK Zeppelin alongside the other gyrocopters. Armed sheriff's deputies arrested the crew.  A troop of Stonewall Jackson's cavalry took charge. The Steamboat's cargo barge was unloaded into wagons. Viper 5's pilot helped and rode back to the Confederate command position.  To say that General Lee's staff was impressed was an understatement.

[c96plusMauserpuppy]

Pennsylvania
Yankee Command Post
June 4th, 1861.

The lone non-prisoner soldier stood before General McClellan. General U.S. Grant been openly gang-jumped and murdered by a mob of Mauser c96 -armed Tennesseans. 'Most probably, they had acquired by a visit to a ROK gun store'. He mused as he heard the private's report.  The minimum wage laws in ROK, KriegGlorian, Francor, Britannic, and the California Free State neutralized labor tensions.  Even the CSA had a bill pending for such things.

The boy spoke of the Gyrocopter strike and its outcome. McClellan considered him to be no coward. "Report to  quarter master, lad." "Yes Sir!."  He obeyed. General McClellan considered his oath to the Union. Lincoln and his disciples were doing questionable things. Newer  officers were required to swear allegiance to Lincoln alone.  Even worse were the youth groups he'd started. While voluntary, they  were  used to crush peaceful dissent to the Yankee War effort.  The Hartford  massacre in which the Children of Lincoln had fired upon peaceful demonstrators opposed to the ongoing war.

Even worse, breech loading carbines and double-action revolvers were issued to them. Lincoln had paid for these weapon by mandating his wages  be  paid  by one penny of each Postal Stamp sold. This prevented congressional oversight by not involving tax monies. Lincoln also could hypnotize with his speech, too. A devil in human form. thought McClellan.  Nonetheless, his loyalty  to  the constitution of the  United States of America remained. But he vowed to himself.  if Lincoln demanded  he do anything contrary to his morals, he  would surrender himself for internment in a neutral nation.  

General McClellan's report was sent to Washington. The next day, Lincoln issued his 'DOOM DECREE'  Anybody fighting the United States with advanced technology was to be put to death and no surrenders  accepted.  The Children of Lincoln were deployed at the Congress building. The message was clear. No dissent allowed.  A newspaper editor whom an editorial against these trend disappeared.  His family and businesses both disappeared in mysterious fires.  The official verdict was insurance got hot. Unofficially,  'Don't  toy  with Lincoln'  was the real message sent.

June 2, 1861
Confederate position
Virginia-Pennsylvania Border.  

Wagons loaded with soldiers and supplies arrived to reinforce the lines. Even better, The ROK 3rd  engineering corps had assembled a miniature railroad  A member of the ROK Landsturm had a bolt action rifle slung over his shoulder and a Mauser c96 pistol at his side.  Save for a chip strap brim hat, but his uniform was the same as Corporal Barbara Mayes's  too.  He alertly patrolled his length of the railroad. The rail had increased the flow of men and supplies.  It's kerosene engine chugged steadily in said  task.

A girl dog handler with an MP35 submachinegun and a Mauser pistol  patrolled near a brushy area.  Her Doberman Pinscher was alert as she was.  Jeb Stuart nodded approvingly at her conduct path. Suddenly the dog pointed. "What is it, Diesel?" A lone figure clutching a hissing bundle was racing toward the miniature railroad line! "SIC' EM!" she yelled and loosed Diesel, whom lunged  at  the evil doer.  Virginia unslung her submachinegun and rapidly followed him.  The dog knocked the evil-doer to the ground,  whose hissing bundle fell into a nearby  ditch  and  detonated harmlessly. The figure whipped out a bowie knife, but  Diesel ripped his leg off and the Yankee died as  he  lived, as nothing of value.

"PRAISE LINCOLN!"  At least twenty Yankees emerged  from the brush,  The steady popping of  Confederate cavalry revolvers combined with  multiple bursts of submachinegun fire  ended the fight without any ROK or Confederate casualties.  The Yankees  were  all dead.  Virginia called Diesel to her and  checked him. "SECURING UP!" As she both reloaded and slung her submachinegun.  She watered Diesel whom greedily drank from a canteen cup. She leashed her dog  again and drank some water herself.

"You'll get the  Order of the Confederacy for this action, soldier." smiled  Stuart.  She noticed his puzzlement at her insignia. "I'm a Technical Sgt.." She explained. "When you graduate  a guard  dog handling course, you're  a technical sgt.  That's   because it's  a skill  the  army needs."  "A most wise policy." Stuart made a mental note to alert the High Command of this tool.  The Confederacy was in a fight for it's life and it needed all the technical help it could get, too.

Amazing, a Chrysler 4 wheeler rolled up.  A one star general dismounted. "Technical Sgt. Terry, you'll be getting the Iron Cross for this!" Virginia Terry thanked him. "Hopefully, Diesel gets the  Animal Merit cross. too." "Count on it."
Soon, the two  would be rewarded for their valor, also.

[c96plusMauserpuppy]

Pennsylvania
Yankee Command Post
June 4th, 1861.

The lone non-prisoner soldier stood before General McClellan. General U.S. Grant been openly gang-jumped and murdered by a mob of Mauser c96 -armed Tennesseans. 'Most probably, they had acquired by a visit to a ROK gun store'. He mused as he heard the private's report.  The minimum wage laws in ROK, KriegGlorian, Francor, Britannic, and the California Free State neutralized labor tensions.  Even the CSA had a bill pending for such things.

The boy spoke of the Gyrocopter strike and its outcome. McClellan considered him to be no coward. "Report to  quarter master, lad." "Yes Sir!."  He obeyed. General McClellan considered his oath to the Union. Lincoln and his disciples were doing questionable things. Newer  officers were required to swear allegiance to Lincoln alone.  Even worse were the youth groups he'd started. While voluntary, they  were  used to crush peaceful dissent to the Yankee War effort.  The Hartford  massacre in which the Children of Lincoln had fired upon peaceful demonstrators opposed to the ongoing war.

Even worse, breech loading carbines and double-action revolvers were issued to them. Lincoln had paid for these weapon by mandating his wages  be  paid  by one penny of each Postal Stamp sold. This prevented congressional oversight by not involving tax monies. Lincoln also could hypnotize with his speech, too. A devil in human form. thought McClellan.  Nonetheless, his loyalty  to  the constitution of the  United States of America remained. But he vowed to himself.  if Lincoln demanded  he do anything contrary to his morals, he  would surrender himself for internment in a neutral nation.  

General McClellan's report was sent to Washington. The next day, Lincoln issued his 'DOOM DECREE'  Anybody fighting the United States with advanced technology was to be put to death and no surrenders  accepted.  The Children of Lincoln were deployed at the Congress building. The message was clear. No dissent was allowed.  A newspaper editor whom an editorial against these trends disappeared.  His family and businesses both disappeared in mysterious fires.  The official verdict was  the  insurance got hot. Unofficially,  'Don't  toy  with Lincoln'  was the real message sent.

June 2, 1861
Confederate position
Virginia-Pennsylvania Border.  

Wagons loaded with soldiers and supplies arrived to reinforce the lines. Even better, The ROK 3rd  engineering corps had assembled a miniature railroad  A member of the ROK Landsturm had a bolt action rifle slung over his shoulder and a Mauser c96 pistol at his side.  Save for a chip strap brim hat, but his uniform was the same as Corporal Barbara Mayes's  too.  He alertly patrolled his length of the railroad. The rail had increased the flow of men and supplies.  It's kerosene engine chugged steadily in said  task.

A girl dog handler with an MP34 submachinegun and a Mauser pistol  patrolled near a brushy area.  Her Doberman Pinscher was alert as she was.  Jeb Stuart nodded approvingly at her conduct path. Suddenly the dog pointed. "What is it, Diesel?" A lone figure clutching a hissing bundle was racing toward the miniature railroad line! "SIC' EM!" she yelled and loosed Diesel, whom lunged  at  the evil doer.  Virginia unslung her submachinegun and rapidly followed him.  The dog knocked the evil-doer to the ground,  whose hissing bundle fell into a nearby  ditch  and  detonated harmlessly. The figure whipped out a bowie knife, but  Diesel ripped his leg off and the Yankee died as  he  lived, as nothing of value.

"PRAISE LINCOLN!"  At least twenty Yankees emerged  from the brush,  The steady popping of  Confederate cavalry revolvers combined with  multiple bursts of submachinegun fire  ended the fight without any ROK or Confederate casualties.  The Yankees  were  all dead.  Virginia called Diesel to her and  checked him. "SECURING UP!" As she both reloaded and slung her submachinegun.  She watered Diesel whom greedily drank from a canteen cup. She leashed her dog  again and drank some water herself.

"You'll get the  Order of the Confederacy for this action, soldier." smiled  Stuart.  She noticed his puzzlement at her insignia. "I'm a Technical Sgt.." She explained. "When you graduate  a guard  dog handling course, you're  a technical Sgt.  That's   because it's  a skill  the  army needs."  "A most wise policy." Stuart made a mental note to alert the High Command of this tool.  The Confederacy was in a fight for it's life and it needed all the technical help it could get, too.

Amazing, a Chrysler 4 wheeler rolled up.  A one star general dismounted. "Technical Sgt. Terry, you'll be getting the Iron Cross for this!" Virginia Terry thanked him. "Hopefully, Diesel gets the  Animal Merit cross. too." "Count on it."
Soon, the two  would be rewarded for their valor, also.

[c96plusMauserpuppy]

Fort Knox Kentucky
Mech Suit Training School
June 6, 1861.

"Gentlemen and Ladies, you are now technical sergeants in the ROK Mech Suit Corps. You're to report  back here by 0800 Monday Morning. DISMISSED!" said a colonel.  Billy Irwin went to the pay master and get his check.  He then rode the bus to Louisville. With the war with the USA heating up, but he thought it best some extra fire power to increase his odds for survival. He loved both the c96 pistol and MP35 submachinegun that rode with him in his mech suit. But more fire power was good, too.

His dismounted the bus in Louisville. He went and looked around. He cashed his check and deposited 10% each in both his  regular and Christmas clubs. He donated to both his church and the animal rescue society. He then visited the various energy stores.  Tesla, Telefunken, and Chrysler had some competition in the form of  Marlin, Savage, and  Ruger. The checked the prices and entered Ruger's newest store. "$75.00 for a plasma pistol?!" "That's right and $90.00 for a plasma rifle from now next Monday." smiled the stores sales lady.

Billy bought one each plus extra ammo and tactical gear.  "Dad?" He noticed at the checkout.  "I figured I'd buy at least a Mauser pistol since my next horse delivery contract will be Oklahoma."  "I've got leave until  8:00 a.m. Monday Morning."  "Good."  "I'll put my stuff inside the wagon and help you pick your choice." "It'll be lightning or plasma."  "Lasers are O.K. but you need better than O.K, too." Said  Billy as fulfilled his task.  

Billy returned inside the store. His Dad needed a new pistol instead of S&W .44-40 double-action revolver. Laser pistols were $35.00.  Lightning pistols were were $55.00.  Then... "Ah..." Randy Irwin spied his dream. "Ruger Tornado Storm Plasma pistol. 50 shots per power cell." He smiled. "'Guns and Energy Weapons Magazine' tested  this and it's just as good as the other plasma pistols, too. Besides, the other stores are sold out of Mauser pistols, too." He purchased The Tornado Storm and holster and five extra fully charged power cells. They left for home.

Bicycle, Trikes, quadricycles, 4wheelers, horses, trucks, cars, and a bus passed their wagon. "I'm glad for all  this change, Billy." "Why is it, Dad?" "More ways of getting around means more people at work and less thieving, too."  Billy remembered his late Grandma's tales of having grown up in the Tug Fork valley. She'd lost three of her brothers as collateral damage shooting victims in the Hatcoy-McFields feud in the 1820s. The death toll  was nearly 541, of whom 496 were innocent bystanders.  May 14, 1826. Peaceful Paths Pendrake went with  her dead brothers' money to a nearby town and saw two new-fangled KriegGlorian Mauser c96 semiautomatic pistols in a gun shop's window.

She purchased them both  plus three hundred rounds of 7.63x25mm Mauser soft nosed ammunition loaded of stripper clips.  What ensued next was an Anders Brevik-style shooting rampage against both the Hatcoys and McFields. She killed 37 Hatcoys and 64 Mcfields. Of course, she was tried for capital murder x91 But the  local jury was so mad at both families but they refused to convict her.  So, she beat the electric chair. But the Hatcoy-McFields feud was ended by her attack. She later became a Christian and never again was violent. 'Mama Bear syndrome'. a KriegGlorian psychiatrist said in her evaluation. Both she and her husband lived in Louisville near a pet park. The aged woman liked watching the puppies and kittens alongside her husband.

Of course, they stopped off at Hotdog Planet on the way and got takeout. After lunch, they helped with the chores. It then got brutally  hot  by 2:45 p.m. dark clouds on the horizon. "Brian." she asked him. "It's too hot to cook supper. Want to get take out?" "Yes!" The boy got his money jar. "What do you want?"  "CHICKEN KING!"  "And I'll get some Kritoes to go with it." "Yes, do that, please."  The boy took Robot with him. They rode the three p.m. bus to Louisville, due to the potential of bad weather threat.

They got off at Hotdog Planet. Lasagna Hut, Chicken King and Planet Ice Cream. Little Brian got Cajun Fried Chicken, Kritoes, Old World Pepporoni Cheesy Garlic bread, Spicy tater logs and  both Peanut butter  flavored and chocolate/vanilla  swirl ice creams.  Robot helped him carry it  home on the 3:45 P.M. bus.  They got home and Brian came inside  followed by Robot. He put the stuff on the table. Robot returned his bay. "Mom, it's looking really bad outside. Do you think we should check the radio?"


CLICK!  Mom turned on the radio.  "-and that was the new roll and rock sensation, Adolf Hitler and the Nazis  with 'Blitzkrieg Me, please, Girl!'.  THIS JUST IN FROM OUR EXCLISIVE WXKR CYCLONE ALERT WEATHER:  "SEVERE HAIL STORM  WARNING LOUISVILLE AND SURROUNDING AREAS. WHILE TORNADOES ARE NOT COMING, BUT SOFT BALL-SIZE HAIL IS AN IMMINENT THREAT TO BOTH HUMAN AND ANIMAL LIFE. NOW GET UNDER COVER!"  Billy was playing with Honey Bun outside. but he could hear. sirens from Louisville. Molly Irwin ran outside as her husband and came running. She shouted of the danger.  Billy picked Honey Bun up and carried her inside. The mother cat and Krito and the kittens were inside.  Randy herded the horses inside the barn.

Meanwhile,  Brian and his Mom closed the outside steel shutters over the windows. They then bolted inside followed Randy.  They said grace and had supper.  The hail rattled outside, but it disturbed them not.  "Oh, this is a great meal." "Anything for my family." smiled Brian.   Afterwards, Brian did maintenance on Robot and helped Mom wash the dishes. Honey Bun napped as Billy petted the mommy  cat. "Look, smiled Randy. "The kittens and Krito are both trying to walk." Like jerky, mechanical toys, they wobbled around the kitchen floor. All humans present laughed at this same activity

Just then the radio announced the all clear and  they went  outside. The dark clouds were dissipating and the birds chirped again. "No damage, but it's like a snowstorm outside!"  Brian filled a bowl with hail stones and put them in the freezer.  They  had dessert and called it a night.

[c96plusMauserpuppy]

Fort Knox Kentucky
June 9, 1861
Mech Suit Training School
7:20 a.m.

Billy Irwin checked his mech suit's  interior. He placed his plasma guns in the slide out panels underneath the cot. Toilet shower, sink,  electric. refrigerator.  In the weapons cabinet,  he found an MP34 and two extra Mauser c96 pistols along with ammunition and accessories, too. The first aid and hygiene kits were fully stocked, too.  A trip to the PX had the refrigerator stocked  with food and drinks.

The Training Sergeant handed them their orders.  "You're to proceed overland to Tulsa Oklahoma. The Indians have been raiding farms and hit two settlements and a railroad terminus near there. Your have 5 days to report to the army base there."  The sergeant paused. "You'll be on your initiative until then. Mech repair units will follow you in case of a breakdown. If you have trouble, go to nearest law enforcement agency and they have orders to help you. Also, hospitals have been likewise advised, too.  Good luck and Godspeed!"  They left.

Already it was hot and humid. Billy turned on the A/C inside his mech suit. He put the radio to WXKR and left his orders.  To avoid traffic. he simply walked overland.  He crossed the river  and began walking on the dirt path, alongside which a paved road ran.  Army trucks with a tank escort  and gyrocopter air cover  was  the order of the day. A gyrocopter pulled up.  Candy waved at him and he waved back smiling.  She peeled off to  return to her duties.

WXKR soon faded out.  He fiddled with the radio and found a roll and rock station. He stopped at noon and had a lunch and went to the bathroom. He was making good progress and at 5 p.m, a radio call came to laager for the night. Billy left his vehicle and a mobile field kitchen fed them supper.  SOS with chopped wheat bread.  Billy had just said grace and Candy  sat down next to him. "Hey, Billy how's  Honey Bun?" "I played with her last night and she was asleep when I left." "She's probably chasing butterflies today." "She sure is a playing machine and Krito will soon be joining her, too." "Both of them are growing like weeds."  After supper, they attended church at a mobile field chapel.  Candy said goodbye and they called it a night.

Because they were on war alert, armed guards and K9 officers were on duty.  Mechanics  had already serviced their vehicles.  Candy slept in a tent.  and Billy slept in his mech after showering. The next morning, they woke to a minor rebellion.  "What do  you mean, the mess unit doesn't open until 5:00 p.m?" somebody asked. "Yeah, there's no restaurants  until we hit St. Louis, Missouri."  The major glared at the master sergeant in charge of the mess tent. "Would you like to be spending your military career in Harlan, Kentucky?"  "We were only issued food for one meal
per day." He showed the the manifest to the Major. "This is a snafu."   "Gentlemen and Ladies,  If we leave now we can hit St. Louisville by noonish. Besides, it would take at two hours to start  cooking now. We hit St Louis, and I'll give you leave until the day after tomorrow."  Everybody raced to their vehicles and the convoy commenced again."

It was literally a thunder run to St. Louis. The major radioed ahead. At 10:57 a.m. They were parked in 'ARMY PARK 17' next to the river. fresh mechanics and guards took charge of things.  The 11:08 city bus was jam-packed with soldiers. Candy and Billy were among them. Lasagna Hut, Planet Hotdog, and Chicken King were literally swarmed with customers. Candy ate bacon, sausage, mushroom, and pepperoni lasagna. Billy had some old world style pepperoni cheesy garlic bread. They had sugar free root beer and used the bathroom.  

An animal rescue society was next door.  They visited and donated.  and then they caught the 1:00 p.m. matinee.
A news cartridge. "NEWS FROM THE VIRGINIA FRONT. Our gyrocopter strikes have delayed significantly the Yankee advance into  Virginia.  And Valor is won." "Technical Sergeant Virginia Terry won both the Cross of Diana and the Order of the Confederacy, too. Her Dog, Diesel, has also gotten the Animal Merit Cross.  Both were honored for prevent Yankee Sabotage near  the front lines."  "Turning now to sports,   The 3rd annual Himmler Cup trophy jet ski race will be tomorrow at one p.m. on the Mississippi River in St. Louis.  Legalized sports betting plazas will be open at three p.m. today." "The video game  'Grand Theft Tricycle: Pensacola Stories II'  was released this morning.  Already, Game Spot, Elektro-mart, and Video Game are reporting record sales."   "And that concludes this news cartridge, for today, June 10th, 1861."

Then, a  Tikky Tak cartoon came on.  Billy and Candy laughed as a kitten driving a tank chased an evil wizard.  Then came "Chapter 3 of the Range Boys in the Silver Creek Mystery."  The feature film was "Diana Danger in the  Dragon's Den." It was about a  girl adventurer and her scientist mother. They had an adopted  Indian princess, Nandi, and a secret agent named  Speed Baron guarding them. They had a pug named Robber and  they travelled in a Rocket Zeppelin all over the world solving mysteries.  

Their arch-enemy, Dr. Minh, was using radiation to  create fire breathing dragons.  They were captured, but escaped an armory.  A machinegun battle ensued between Minh's Guards and  Team Danger.  The climax was when a giant dragon  got loose and attacked Louisville.  After both  a failed gyrocopter strike  and a naval barrage, The dragon was killed by tank fire on Churchill Downs.  Dr. Minh escaped by jet ski vowing revenge on Team Danger.  

They left the theater and a went to the zoo.  They both got to  bottle feed a baby tiger and have their pictures taken in doing so. Afterwards, they went to the sports plaza. They simply went to the vending machine and bet  on each one. They got takeout at Chicken King and Planet Ice Cream. They returned to base and called it a night. The next day was the big race.

[c96plusMauserpuppy]

The plains of Oklahoma
June 10, 1861.
Miller Cattle Farm

She despised the choices her husband made. She preferred back East to be honest. Sherry Miller patted the Mauser belted around her waist. "At least you won't fail me." she mused aloud. But with Indian trouble, her husband, Tom, and he acted all oblivious to it, too. Oklahoma had not been kind to their children. Baby Tara got mauled to death by coyotes. Three more of her children had been killed by a tornado walking home from school. She had kept them home because the STORM-O-GUIDE barometer next to her window said  'Tornado Conditions'. The local radio had announced a tornado watch. She  had told her kids to stay home that day.  

But the teacher came and paddle-marched the three to school.  Never mind the school had no storm cellar. Never mind their county had no rural warning sirens.  When the sky  got bad, the schoolmarm jumped on her 4 wheeler and roared home. The kids left under their own initiative.  Tom had taken their Buick car in his business dealings. With no time to hitch a team, Sherry had the two youngest  go to the cyclone cellar and had Melvin stay with them and their dogs and cats. Robert, Leon, and Diana rode with her on horseback.  They got 22  children home safely.

She remembered that day so tragically. They finally had to take shelter in another family's storm cellar when soft ball size hail started falling.  They had  to let their horses run to safety, too.   Of  the 102 children that day, 33 were killed and forty wounded.  But Bella, Cindy, and Penny had  been killed by the tornado.  Tom had returned home to
find  his family planning three funerals. Sherry had cried herself to the point a doctor had to sedate her to avoid eye damage. But Tom went back to work  immediately after the funeral.  

The schoolmarm was not legally charged, being fifteen years old.  A lynch mob chased her on horseback and only her four wheeler saved her by getting her to a Federal Police garrison  where the sight of MP-35 armed cops dissuaded further violence. She went to work as a four wheeler saleslady in Texas. Sherry pulled her kids from school. When a new schoolmarm tried to her kids back in school, but was run off at gun point. Her kids took their lessons at home and their grades were better, too.

But some progress was made. Diana had started a gun shop and it was thriving.  Leon was working small engine repair. But Robert  had passed pre-veterinary and would soon be going to medical school in Oklahoma City.  Sherry approved of the growing trend of veterinarians in Oklahoma. She had gladly left home after a Georgia slave revolt had killed her parents. She moved to Pensacola, Florida where she had gotten a job with  a Tesla energy weapons
store as a saleslady. She met Tom at a church picnic and she even liked his farm in Indiana, too.  

But. a relative left him some land in Oklahoma and Tom loved the frontier. Bingo! They were there.  And Tom began making unwise frontier decisions, too.  When the Indian trouble flared up again, Sherry had gotten a Mauser c/96. Tom's attitude? '"True frontier folk don't need semiautos or energy weapons."  However, at least three times her automatic pistol had kept their position from overrun.  So, Tom grudgingly accepted it. Diana, however, had really raised eyebrows.  The Coleman family of horse bandits tried to rob her gun store. She remembered that day vividly. She had ridden to  Diana's store to check on her because the radio had said horse bandits were active in that zone.

Tom had opposed putting a telephone there. Hence the horse ride. She arrived. "Hi, Mom."  Diana said. "You ok with these bandits?" "State police said they'd checking on us twice a day."  "Good.  Need anything?"  "No, we're good here." Sherry began looking around. She looked around at the various stuff sale. ':Pimp Popper."' She looked at the small double action revolver.  In .44-40 WCF[winchester centerfire].  It has six shots with a three-inch barrel. $6.95 read the price.  "Diana, are these any good?" "Yes, they are, Mom. It's a very popular model."  She shopped some more.

"Ahhh,,, Energy weapons.  Chrysler, Telefunken, Tesla, and Ruger brands."  "Laser's good, but lightning and plasma are better choices." "But they're sold out."  "Mom, we're expecting a shipment of Ruger plasma pistols and rifles after 3:00 p.m. today. Lightning and plasma fly off the shelves like candy at a  project-o-drama theater."  "Truth". Suddenly, a little boy ran inside.  "the Coleman's are coming in a big bunch!"  Diana asked Mom. "Got your c96,  Mom? Loan me your gun, please."  She looked at the little boy.  "Go to the back room and hide in the bathroom and lock it I'll come for when its safe, too."  Franky obeyed her. Diana closed the door behind her.

Heading towards his position, Franky passed through a micro-apartment. and through the armorer's shop and through the storage area. Racks of rifles, revolvers, shotguns, and submachineguns. He heard voices from behind the shop. Evil voices. "Pa done said we kin take this here shop if we  attack from both sides at once." "Yeah, Jedediah." "Zebulon, we got it made." Frankie knew he had to modify his plans.  He looked around. Lever action. Not enough firepower. Submachinegun. Didn't know how to work. Shotguns...  Not enough firepower.  Revolvers... But they might not enough firepower.  Suddenly, Bingo!  

A KriegGlorian 'Sturm 99', faced him. But it was an oddly-shaped carbine. He grabbed both it and its accessories and locked himself in the bathroom.  Its comic book of instructions told how to  both load and fire the weapon, too. Franky loaded its detachable box magazines. Its stock was grooved like an MP-35's and it had a hooded front ramp sight, too. While it had the MP-35's  muzzle brake but it lacked the barrel shroud, too. Same caliber at the c96 pistol. Thirty round double box magazine  beneath the barrel rather than side-mounted MP-35's magazine.

Franky defecated in the toilet. He buttoned his trousers He said a prayer. He could hear the Coleman's both picking the lock and entering the building.... Diana, meanwhile, handed Sherry a spare c96 with spare stripper clips and ammo. Both of them now covered the front door. Diana held a Ruger Plasma rifle with it's business end covering the door.  Outside, horses neighed and there was not long to wait, too.   The door blew and a man wielding a sawed off shotgun entered. "Reach for the-". PEW!  Solomon Coleman was instantly vaporized into a glowing green puddle. "You done a' kilt muh brother!" yelled Mary Coleman as she swung her Marlin .44-40 lever action rifle to bear.

PEW! She was melted, too.  A revolver now aimed at Diana's head.  CRACK! Sherry fired her Mauser at its wielder's head, and the 7.63x25mm Mauser soft point round demolished the same head.  PEW! Another shotgunner got melted.  Meanwhile, Jotham reached the door facing the cash register manned by Diana. Just as his hand touched the door knob,

Franky opened up with the Sturm 99 and cut all ten of them down ruthlessly.  Ten Colemans lie  dead or dying or seriously wounded.  In a nearby house, a neighbor heard the gunfire. He had a Ford Emergency Two Way radio and called the Federal Police  Unit ten miles nearby.  Soon  at least five federal and state police cars were racing to the scene. Their sirens could be heard in the distance.

"Daddy, we'd best git." Sarah said.  "SPLIT UP!" yelled Luke Coleman.  "Head for the nearest border."  The remaining 30 Colemans split off road in different directions. They were out of sight by the time the cops came.  "Six dead, eight wounded." A State trooper called for ambulances. They took the report and telephoned the magistrate. "Relax, you don't have to go to court."  One more Coleman died  while  being prepped for surgery. The  others survived but risked the electric chair for their various crimes, too.

She helped Diana clean the shop, as did Franky. A Locksmith was sent for and she repaired the door. They unloaded the shipment of energy weapons and she sent word to the local radio station she'd be closing early tonight. As the Sturm 99 was a demonstration model but Franky wasn't charged for using it, too.

[c96plusMauserpuppy]

Under Oklahoma Law, it was legal to loot outlaw dead. 14  revolvers, ten lever action Marlin rifles, and six shotguns had been looted by Diana and Sherry. The beauty of plasma weaponry was it spared inanimate  objects at the expense of life and limb. They also achieved boots, overalls, shirts, undergarments, hats, dresses, and socks. Diana and Sherry rode their horses home and caught the county bus to Tulsa.

They dumped their haul at a second hand store and then report  to  bounty office. Because the Colemans were notorious outlaws, and they got fifteen thousand dollars tax free, too. Diana gave Sherry four thousand dollars, She opened her a bank account of her own separate from Tom's.  They stopped by a  Chrysler Store and purchased two Robot  workers. One was sent with a notice to the home of Franky Ross. His dirt poor family was overjoyed to get the extra help, too. Carl and Polly loved it as the Robot assembled both its charging bay and its solar Elektronium crystal recharger. "It's not good Frankie has to work harder than most adults at eight years old. too." admitted Carl. "Even the convicts get off at noon Friday."

A series of Indian raids and animal attacks had left Franky as the sole survivor of six children. The only gun the family had was a Raleigh carbine-musket.  It used a low grade smokeless powder and used cartridges. These same rimfire fired a Minie-ball followed by 20 #4 buck shot pellets.  Ok for back east but lousy on the firepower-happy frontier, too.   The Raleigh Carbine-musket was one of the few exports the Confederate States of America was selling as factory built product to ROK.  Else, it was mainly raw materials for finished products. Slavery itself threatened the CSA's economic survival.  But the League of Slavery and  Bible-twisting preachers both formed a stonewall against mass abolition of slavery could not occur.

The League of Redemption tried admirably. It bought the freedom of slaves and retrained them as technological workers in the newer trades emerging from both science and technology. But the southern mindset saw blacks as only slaves, too. Even freemen were barred from owning both firearms and energy weapons. As a result. slavers from the Oztoman Empire  raided black towns on the coasts of South Carolina and Georgia. The Confederacy had no air force and few telephones and fewer radios.  

Its army was cavalry and infantry, and paddle wheel oceanic steamer naval vessels weren't fast enough to intercept sloops with auxiliary kerosene propeller engines, too. It was indeed a new world and the CSA was struggling to survive, much less thrive, too.  ROK  Florida-based motor-torpedo boats, gyro copters, and U-boats regularly sank Oztoman Empire vessels. In the  Oztoman-ROK war ten years earlier, but the Oztoman navy had suffered a humiliating defeat at the ROK military in the Battle of Miami. ROK U-boats sunk had the entire gyrocopter carrier portion of the fleet in a series of  underwater torpedo attacks in the Atlantic, beginning off the coast of Tunisia.  

The U-boats lost none while Oztomans lost many. But Islamic Supremacy meant that they continued onwards, too. As both battlecruisers and motor torpedo boats battled the Oztoman navy at sea, Three hundred gyrocopters took off  from Miami Zeppelin Port. There, they strafed and rocketed the Oztoman fleet. For the loss of ten ROK torpedo boats.  The Oztomans lost five gyrocopter carriers, ten battleships, eight battle cruisers, and numerous transport and supply vessels. As a result, the area from the Florida-Georgia border line south was de facto accepted as a ROK lake.

[c96plusMauserpuppy]

Los Angeles
Capitol
Republic of California
Los Angeles Zeppelin Port.

The Tsarviet Black Guard  operatives boarded the 'Colombia'.  They relaxed as the massive Zeppelin became airborne. Their mission was to help the Indian uprising in Oklahoma draw the Republic of Kentucky's resources away from its war effort in support of Virginia. The gold money to help the uprising  was in their luggage.  A week earlier, a Tsarviet submarine has deposited them on a beach in a remote part of California. A waiting pair of  Buick 1912 motorcars had taken them to a safehouse in Palo Alto.

At the safe house, they lived in the basement while they showered and changed into fresh clothes.   On the day the trip, they rode a bus to the zeppelin port while a Buick 1912 pickup carried nothing but luggage packed with gold coins. The Tsarviets were unarmed for now.  There were no items to tie them to their homeland. The flight was uneventful and they landed in Pueblo.  They rented a wagon and went to the Money Exchange Office.  There, they traded all their gold for both Coloradan and  ROK paper money. They then rode a bus to the plains of Colorado. At a Buick dealership, they purchased two trucks and simply drove to Bond City.  Amazingly, no police or landsturm stopped them.

They stopped at a gun shop in Boise City. To avoid suspicion,  one truck's crew made one purchase at one time.  The desk clerk simply told Col. Vladimir Petrovitch. "You must be buying guns to protect your workers or something." "Yes." 20 cases of Marlin 1894 .44-40 Winchesters were purchased along with ammunition. Cash was paid and the truck left. The next truck walked in and asked to see the energy weapons. "Oh, we're sold out and that goes for their semiautomatics, too."  They left.  

A Chrysler Store was down the block. Sgt. Mikhail  Tarakovsky, purchased  both plasma pistols and rifles for them all. Colonel Petrovitch approved of his initiative. They stopped at  a rural farmhouse. Another Tsarviet safehouse. Per  Tsarviet doctrine it had a basement.  An Elektronium crystal-powered  generator  provided light and power.  That night, they slept until three a.m. Horse hooves awoke them with a clattering noise. The Indians had arrived. Chief Bloody Axe met with Colonel Petrovitch. "You have rifles and ammunition for us?" "Yes." The Indians armed themselves and loaded up a wagon with the rest of the arms.  They left to sow chaos all over Oklahoma. The next morning, Col Petrovitch rode a county bus to Boise, where he rented a private hotel room with a private telephone. He closed the windows and locked the doors.

Happily, the telephone was a dial model.  He telephoned straight to Palo Alto with a coded message. The message was transcribed and taken to a Tsarviet consulate in Bakersfield. The Republic of California's  PSA[Police Security Agency]had been observed actively monitoring its embassy in Los Angeles. But the consulate had a retractable radio antenna-equipped station in it's basement. After dark, it transmitted coded messages. A Tsarviet yacht in Los Angeles harbor relayed the message  to Midway Island. In turn, It was radioed to Vladivostok.  From there, a dedicated Black Guard telephone system had the message in St. Petersburg. The Tsar met with his advisors.

"General Orloff, you new plan is working quite well." smiled Tsar Nikolai "Yes, your majesty. our monitoring of ROK new agencies indicates significant reinforcement  of Oklahoma. "Obviously,  the Indian uprising is taking resources that would be fighting the United States."  "Excellent." But we must do nothing overt that could reveal our hand too soon."  The  Tsarviet annexation of the Oztoman Empire had both Asia and Europe in an Uproar. But giving tariff free trade  to Francor, KriegGlorian, Britannia, and Nippon along with trade concessions pretty much  ended any chance fighting over this matter, too."

[c96plusMauserpuppy]

St.Louis, Missouri
June 11, 1861

Candy and Billy Irwin both were astonished at the betting that went on at the Himmler Cup Trophy Jetski races. The Kentucky Lotto was nothing compared to this. Fortunes would be made and lost today.  All the big time jetski racers were there. Terry Boscombe of California. Juan Valdez of Mexico. Hector and Akillia Spicoli from the New Amazonian Empire.  Karl von Panzer from KriegGlorian Empire. These and 15 other racers were racing from St. Louis, Missouri to Cairo, Illinois and back.

Four hours later. the race was over. Candy and Billy Irwin had won so much that the betting machine gave them a ticket and  it  told them to go to a bank. "Each of you has 2.5 million dollars." the banker began. "Under The Curing of Poverty Act, you will pay a total of $400.000 each  taxes one time on your winnings. How you will invest it?"  "Can you pay our taxes here?" "Yes, and it's a totally free service." Accomplished.

"How do your CDs work, are they insured?" asked Candy. "Under the 1818 Kentucky Federal Banking Protection Act, all bank investments under one point one million dollars are insured by the Republic of Kentucky. This includes certified deposits, too."  "How much will we be getting each month?" "$20,000 after taxes."  Candy and Billy smiled. "We'll do a million dollar CD for each us."  "Splendid!" 

They each put $ 30,000 into separate checking and  transfer accounts  They each sent home ten thousand dollars each to Molly, Randy, Brian, Bobby, and Candy.  But they each kept 20,000 dollars out because they were in war setting, too. They might have unexpected expenses.  Upon returning to 'Army Park 17'.  Both went to the  paymaster's office and put thirteen thousand dollars each on two debit cards. Billy and Candy hid the rest. They ate supper at Long John Gold's seafood palace and went back to the base

The next morning, they were up at 0500.  Inside a  gym, they did 10 miles on an exercise bike and a Cuttlefish weight machine session. Hygiene in the form of a shower combined with bathroom, shave, and teeth brushing. Breakfast consisted of thick sausage gravy mixed with peas, sweet potato shavings, corn, and chopped up wheat bread. Milk and water.  Again, the bathroom. "Remember." Their briefer told all the soldiers and airmen assembled. There will be no mobile field kitchen until tomorrow.  Take your rations with you. Water will be provided, however."

Billy smiled as he entered his mech suit. He had visited Chicken King and loaded up with enough Cajun fried chicken, peanut butter milkshakes, bottled water, and Cajun spicy tater logs  to feed both himself and Candy for the next two meals. His refrigerator was indeed well-stocked. They left at 0800 and continued heading to  Oklahoma. overhead, Candy and the other pilots flew air support overhead in their gyrocopters.

By noon, he was feeling hungry.  The convoy leader radioed to stop  at a nearby clearing. Gyrocopters landed. trucks, tanks, and mech suits parked.  Billy had lunch with his sister. "Oh, thank you."  Her brother's foresight had them eating hot meals rather than cold rations. "It feels good get the dust of out of my face." said Candy after washing in a field sanitation station.  ROK gyrocopters looked exactly like the F.A.N.G.s of Cobra in GI Joe Cartoons.

They ate, chattered and went to the bathroom.  The convoy left at one p.m.  No major incidents occurred. They bedded down in a tent city for the night. Candy slept in a sleeping bag inside Billy's mech suit. They were nearing the Oklahoma border and she had no desire to emulate the ambush in  'Zulu Dawn'. The next morning, they left.