On the other side of Thomas sat Cooper Wyse, a man long called by those who knew him as simply Coop. A highly regarded horse trainer who the locals had for years affectionately called the “Irish Cowboy”, his family had come to Alaska from Ireland two generations ago. The fifty year old Cooper resided on a sprawling ranch some ten miles outside Juneau. True to the description of being a man of very few words, Coop sat motionless at the table, his eyes fixated downward at his folded and heavily calloused hands in front of him.
Franklin Thomas was the first to initiate the conversation among the eclectic group gathered around the conference room table, stroking his salt and pepper beard as he gathered his thoughts in advance of his words.
“So, you folks intend to make your way across Canada to meet up with this priest? Do I have that right?”
Mac’s voice cut across the table in response.
“That’s exactly right. If there’s a weapon there that can help bring down the New United Nations, and they need our help to get it to the Texas Resistance, then that’s what we’ll do – or die tryin’.”
Sally Emerich cleared her throat.
“You are aware that is a journey of well over a thousand miles, Mr. Walker? From Juneau to Churchill, Manitoba, that is quite a trip. And with all due respect, a man your age…”
Sally’s statement trailed off, leaving Mac to stare back at her with cold indifference.
“Actually, Ms. Emerich, it’s over two thousand miles give or take. As for my age, need I remind you it was me, along with some others, who helped free up this same city you are now helping to run with that newly elected boss of yours? So don’t you go worrying yourself over how old I am – thank you very much.”
Sally couldn’t help but smile at the older man’s determination.
“My apologies, Mr. Walker. I certainly didn’t mean to offend you. And I am also very aware and grateful for what you’ve done to help free Alaska from the New United Nations. It’s just that resources are rather limited, and the threat of a counter attack by N.U.N. forces remains a serious consideration that we have to prepare for. So, this trip of yours, we have to weigh potential benefit against known cost.”
Reese Neeson leaned forward, his eyes glancing from Mac and then to Sally Emerich as he did so.
“I don’t see a whole lot of cost involved with this Ms. Emerich. Just help us get across the border, some supplies, ammunition, and we’ll take it from there.”
Sally Emerich gave another brief smile while shaking her head.
“Actually it’s a lot more complicated than that, Mr. Neeson. You want ammunition, right? We need to keep as much of that here as possible. We don’t have an unlimited supply. Far from it. You want us to help you get into Canada. Now while Canada is something of a New United Nations free zone, each of the territories is a bit different from each other and there’s not nearly the compliance presence as we have had in the United States – the former United States, if we start sending people from here to there it could raise concerns in the Lower 48 and give them enough motivation to attempt an attack on us. An attack that we are simply unprepared for right now.”
Reese quickly answered back.
“That’s exactly the point, Ms. Emerich. We’re attempting to secure a weapon that will remove that fear and break apart the New United Nations. Return the United States to its own people just like we’ve done in Alaska. That reward far outweighs the risk, or the resources involved, don’t you think?”
“I’m not here to prevent your mission, Mr. Neeson. I’m here to make certain it is a mission that offers justifiable risk in relation to justifiable resources.”
Bear’s hand crashed down onto the table, causing everyone but Mac to jump backward in their seats.
“Now what the hell does all that even mean? Justifiable this and justifiable that? Look lady, you can take all that kind of talk and shove it up your uptight ass. If we want to head out to Manitoba then that’s what we will do. You got no say in the matter. We didn’t fight for freedom up here just so some government bureaucrat can tell us how to use that freedom. That’s exactly the kind of thing I thought we were all fighting against!”
Sally Emerich remained undeterred from voicing her concerns.
“I assure you we are all on the same side here, Mr. Tedlow. That said, we each have a responsibility to everyone else. If we aren’t very careful in how we proceed, all of what you helped fight for could be lost, and lost rather quickly.”
Mac hissed a brief response.
“Lady – it looks like it’s been lost already.”
Franklin Thomas attempted to intervene between the former residents of Dominatus and the representative from the newly reformed Juneau mayor’s office.
“Uh…look, I’m all for helping locate a weapon that can defeat the globalists. Want to make that very clear here. I also, uh, understand what Ms. Emerich is trying to say. I’m not much of a politician. For some reason, people seem to think I’m somewhat of a better soldier. Hell, never thought of myself much of anything to tell you all the truth. I do have a question for you, Mac, on this. Now I have to think a guy like you, all your experience with this kind of stuff, that this whole thing could be some kind of trap. That has to have crossed your mind – right?”
Sally Emerich nodded in agreement.
“Exactly.”
Mac gave a brief smile, before shrugging, coughing briefly as he did so.
“Sure – maybe it’s a trap. Maybe not. We don’t know for sure until we get there. If it is a trap, then getting across the border won’t be a problem because that’s what the compliance officers or whoever will want, right? If it’s not a trap, then it sure as hell is worth the risk. Without question. So either way, I’m making the trip, and there’s not a damn thing any of you can do to change that fact. And I’m thinking my friends here are probably feeling the same way I am on that.”
Dublin spoke up for the first time.
“I’m with Mac on this. If there really is a weapon, we have to try and get it to the Texas Resistance. Reese has been in communication with them and I have no reason to believe they’re lying. We can’t just stay up here hoping they will leave us alone. We tried that already in Dominatus. Eventually the New United Nations will be back. The drones will be back. We have to keep fighting. We have to help out all of those people in the Lower 48 who are finally taking a stand. This is our time. It’s what my grandfather would have wanted. It’s what he said is happening – a second American Revolution.”
Silence descended upon the conference room as both sides stared back at each other before Franklin Thomas attempted to restart the conversation.
“I won’t do anything to try and stop any of you from taking on this mission. Do I think it’s a wise move? That’s another thing, but it’s your call. At least from where I’m sitting, you’re free to do what you want with this. I’ll supply you with some weapons and ammunition…some supplies. No men though. I can’t afford to do that. We are preparing our defenses and I can’t have people running off on every hair-brained plan that comes their way.”
Sally Emerich again shook her head in protest.
“No. Speaking on behalf of the mayor, this plan is unwise. It is a waste of resources. Resources we desperately need at this time. The risk of getting across the border, that alone makes this utterly foolish and potentially very dangerous. It would be an act of provocation. You mentioned the drones, Ms. Meyer, and you’re right to do so. By attempting to sneak across the border, that’s exactly what you could be bringing down on all of us here. Now if I had assurances you could cross the border without being seen, that would be different – but I don’t think you could make that assurance now could you? Not honestly anyways.”
Mac’s voice rose in unmistakable anger, his eyes flashing his own approaching storm.
“You know damn well the security on the border between here and the province is less than half what it used to be. The New United Nations has its hands full in the Lower 48. They don’t got time to be botherin’ with us right now. So your little suggestion there is total and complete bullshit from the get-go. That entire area of Canada is almost wide open. We just avoid the urban areas and we’ll be fine. And if we ain’t fine, then so be it. This is a war we got going on here right now, lady. You get that? A damn war! This ain’t no time to be politicking. This is a time for every one of us to fight and fight hard. That’s what we are doing with this trip. Is it crazy? Sure. Am I a tired old man who should know better? Hell, they’ve been telling me that for as long as you’ve been dressing yourself. We’re going across that border. We’re making this trip. Franklin just said he’s stepping back from it. He ain’t giving his blessing, but he ain’t going to try and stop us either. That leaves you, Ms. Emerich – you and your mayor’s office. You really think you can do anything about this one way or the other? C’mon now, young lady…you best get wise here real quick.”
Sally Emerich began to protest Mac’s insistence, but was cut off by the slow and deliberate words of Cooper Wyse, his voice a barely audible, deep low whisper that somehow managed to drown out the higher-pitched pleas of the mayor’s office representative.
“I’ll get ‘em across. No worries there. Got horses. Guns. Mac’s right. Can’t be sitting around waiting for the globalists to come back. And they will be coming back. We all know that.”
Sally’s voice rose even higher, attempting to dissuade Cooper from participating.
“No Mr. Wyse, the risk to our community here is just too great. While I’m sure you know that area well, it’s too dangerous.”
Cooper Wyse slowly rose from his chair, rising to his full height of just over six feet, looking directly into the eyes of Sally Emerich.
“Ma’am, I’m done talking here. My mind is made up. If these folks want my help crossing the border, then that’s what I’m doing. I was invited by Mac to this meeting here – he told me I could listen in and decide for myself if I wanted to be involved in this trip they’re taking. I’ve decided.
“Mac – I’ll be waiting at my place. You know the way. Soon as you’re ready, we can be off.”
Cooper Wyse walked out of the conference room.
Mac and the others rose from their seats as well, looking down at Sally Emerich, who in turn glanced over at Franklin Thomas for support that did not materialize.
“Ms. Emerich, if these people want to chase some hope of a weapon to fight back against the New United Nations, I’m not stopping them. And without me, you or the mayor can’t stop them. If they have Coop helping them across the border, that’s about as good a chance as anyone can have at doing it without being seen. So…just let this one go.”
Sally Emerich looked at each of the Dominatus survivors who stood across the table from her, before finally sighing in resignation.
“Fine. Go off and get yourselves killed. Put our city at risk. If you think it’s worth it and I can’t convince you otherwise, and Mr. Thomas and his militia won’t prevent you from doing so…then Mr. Thomas is right. The mayor’s office doesn’t have the power to stop you.”
Mac smiled broadly while winking at Sally, extending both of his arms outward on either side of him.
“Well now, why didn’t you just come out and say that in the first place and save all of us poor folk here the trouble of sitting around this stupid table?”
Sally Emerich did not appear amused.
Franklin shook the hands of the Dominatus residents and wished them luck, before stopping in front of Mackenzie Walker.
“You’re not getting any younger, Mac. This kind of trip…you sure you really want to attempt it? We can send someone else in your place. Keep you here – we could use you. What you know. You’d still be of value to us around here.”
Mac leaned into the left ear of the Alaskan Militia leader and whispered his response.
“Kiss my ass, Franklin. This old man is off to save the world.”
III.