Part 30 (1/2)
Not answering right away, Dennis pointed out in the field at the kids and Jasmine riding around. ”Are you willing to risk their safety?”
”I don't know where you've been. Their safety is already at risk. I just want more info to be better prepared,” Nathan said.
”Fair enough,” Dennis said. ”First, how did you find out about t.i.tan?”
”Got several e-mails before the crash, some were internal government memos. One said Operation Dark t.i.tian was set to run,” Nathan answered.
”I pray they don't know you received those memos. There was a hack into the NSA storage facility two days before the flare. The contents were thrown up on the web, and I know for a fact the hackers are dead. It doesn't matter that they were in Canada. I don't know how far they got in tracing the info that leaked or if they can still trace it but I do know they are looking for anyone with that information. Two independent alternative news sites' entire staffs were killed in apparent robberies',” Dennis told him.
”It sounds to me like they knew the CME was coming,” Nathan observed.
”It does, doesn't it?” Dennis told him smiling.
”That's impossible. We don't have the understanding of the sun or the computing power to run simulations if we did,” Nathan said.
”There you're wrong. The NSA has more computing power than you can imagine. They had a probable window of four days for the flare and it fell on the first. They have had some monkey wrenches thrown in but for the most part they are rather happy,” Dennis said with a pained face. ”Operation Dark t.i.tan was launched over a year ago.”
”Do you know who they' are?” Nathan asked ”Money men, the alphabet agencies, but only those at the very top and I don't think it was just those here. Most every senior member of the U.N. was brought in,” Dennis said.
Nathan sighed. ”I know it doesn't matter but why?”
”Money. We were broke. The government gets capital and we need new stuff. Now they can take what they want without word really getting out,” Dennis said.
Feeling utterly helpless, Nathan just wanted to lie down and die. This was way over him. ”How will the military play in this?”
Impressed, Dennis chuckled. ”That's the game changer. If they take the control slowly then it will be a few years before a revolt. If they take control fast, it will just happen sooner. From what I've read, less than forty percent of military forces will become hostile to Americans.”
”Well, that's a relief,” Nathan said.
”It is until you realize that as of today there are a quarter of a million U.N. troops on U.S. soil and a hundred thousand of our troops are s.h.i.+pped out to their countries,” Dennis said.
”We suppress them and their troops suppress us,” Nathan said.
”Yep,” Dennis said nodding.
”When will the gun confiscation start?” Nathan asked.
Dennis shook his head. ”It started ten hours after the flare. The ATF may not have kept a national registry but Homeland did with the NSA's help. Then they sent the good ole ATF to do what they always wanted, take the guns.”
”What are you going to do in all this?” Nathan asked.
”I took an oath to a piece of paper and the United States of America. That's why I'm bringing my wife here,” Dennis said.
Nathan fought the urge to look around for an attack. ”How long do I have to get home?”
”You were too late when the flare hit,” Dennis said sadly.
”I mean before the military starts fighting?” Nathan asked.
”There are already. Oath Keepers are attacking now. I would say three, four months tops before full-scale military battles take place,” Dennis said.
”I can do that,” Nathan said, feeling a tad better.
”Can your camp be seen from the air?” Dennis asked.
”One little shack, the rest are built into the hillside. We didn't do that to hide from big brother, it was purely an insulation issue. Not being seen easily is an added bonus,” Nathan explained.
”I wish you would stay, we could use you here,” Dennis admitted.
”I gave my word,” Nathan said.
”Then I must say it has been an honor to meet you,” Dennis said. ”What are you going to do when you get home?”
Nathan smiled. ”Be a big pain in the a.s.s.”
Dennis laughed. ”I would lay my money on you ripping the a.s.s off.”
”Thank you, I owe you now,” Nathan said, holding out his hand.
Dennis shook his head. ”Let's just consider us even.”
”You will be with your brothers tonight right?” Nathan asked.
Dennis nodded. ”Yeah they told me you needed to talk to all of us so I'll be there after supper.” Nathan watched Dennis walk back to the house then headed for the barn to start getting gear ready.
After supper the three brothers followed Nathan to the barn and he led them to the small room he had stored the supplies in. Nathan lit three lanterns, filling the room with light. ”You trying to blind the old men?” Rodger asked.
”You are blind,” Bob said.
”This coming from the man who misses the first deer every year,” Rodger snapped.
”I have to let some live,” Bob said sincerely.
”Nathan, what did you want to talk to us about?” Dennis asked, knowing those two would keep going for hours.
”What I'm about to show and give you, I want two promises. The first is, if something happens and the kids have to return here, you give them a place to live. Next, you can't tell anyone about this until I'm gone. I would really advise not telling anyone,” Nathan said, standing between two piles on the floor.
”I hope you know we would take care of them without the oath,” Rodger said, his brothers nodding.
”Call it peace of mind,” Nathan said.
”Well you have it,” Rodger said.
Nathan opened on of the boxes and grabbed two rolls of double eagles. He opened the containers and poured them on the table in the center of the room. The three men moved over looking at the gold pieces. ”Now you see why I wouldn't tell many. If you don't think the person can keep their mouth shut I'd advise not telling them,” Nathan said as each one picked up a one-ounce coin.
Dennis looked at his brothers. ”We tell no one unless the other two agree.”