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“Sir, my name is Aidyn Dunbar, Bridget and Axel Dunbar are my parents. My specialty is sharpshooter and recon.”
“Nice to meet you, Aidyn.”
Tate nodded to Maya. “Sir, my name is Maya Sager. My parents are Jax and Dodge Sager. My specialty is recon and rescue.”
Casper laughed on the other end of the line. “Ah yes, the indomitable Jax Sager. She’s a spitfire for sure.”
“Yes sir. Still is.”
Casper chuckled again. “Nice to meet you, Maya.”
Tate glanced at Spencer. “Spencer Lawson here, sir. My parents are Wyatt and Yvette Lawson. I specialize in security, recon, and recovery.”
“Nice to meet you, Spencer.”
“Adelaide Masters here. My parents are Josh and Isabella Masters. I’m the team’s medic.”
“Just like your mom.”
“Yes, sir.”
Tate grinned at Henry. “Last but not least...”
Henry gave him the finger but spoke to Casper. “Henry Delany, sir. Hawk and Roxanne Delany are my parents. My specialties are recon, recovery, and anything that requires size.”
His comrades around the table laughed, and Casper chuckled. “Built like your father?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Nice to have you all aboard and ready to help us here in Glen Hollow. I’ll begin with what we’re dealing with here. There is a group of people living up in the hills just south of Glen Hollow. They’ve dubbed their encampment Hickory Hills. They call themselves the Black Road Resistance and they believe themselves to be sovereign of the United States government and our laws. Back around sixty years ago when they defected and moved up into the hills, there was an all-out war. Over one hundred people perished during that time. To stop the bloodshed, the Mayor of Glen Hollow at the time entered into a truce with the president of the Black Road Resistance. This truce stated that the Black Road Resistance could live up in Hickory Hills without interference from the citizens of Glen Hollow, as long as they left the citizens alone. Mostly, it’s been a truce that both parties have obeyed.”
Tate looked around the table at his team, some typing into their computers, some staring at the speaker, and Henry looking out the window behind Maya.
Henry then asked, “What’s changed, sir?”
“A few things. The new mayor in Glen Hollow has decided enough is enough. The Black Road Resistance distills an elixir every fall. This is the only type of currency they have. They will trade it for supplies for the next batch. Sugar is the biggest component they need that they don’t have up there. They distill it down to make their elixir. The mayor has put a stop to that, telling the townspeople if they trade with the Black Road Resistance, there will be large fines.”
Maya leaned forward. “Why do the townspeople trade for the elixir?”
“Apparently it’s a potent drug that will help with breathing issues, even a heart malady or so, and you can also get quite high from it. But, in moderation, it has great benefits. We have scientists testing this elixir and applying it to a myriad of experiments to explore its benefits and its drawbacks. The BRR needs the money this year because their extension on the sixty-year deferment for the taxes on the land they’re on has been denied by the town council at the mayor’s urging. This means they can lose their land if they don’t pay the taxes.”
Tate’s team nodded their heads.
Casper continued. “Also, as you know, we’ve begun building the new military installation on the southeast side of town. The Resistance has thwarted or tried to thwart our construction company’s efforts. Currently, communication lines are being installed. The night before last, the Resistance blew up the connector box with homemade Molotov cocktails. Our workers don’t feel safe there and they’re hampering our ability to get the base built on time. We need your expertise in managing the damage and keeping the BRR from hampering our progress. The base must be built. We are making plans to move troops onto the facility by spring next year.”
Tate glanced at his teammates once again and saw them nodding in agreement. “Yes sir. We understand and will do what’s needed to accomplish this.”
“You work for me. Not the mayor, no matter how he may try to make you think otherwise. Personally, I wish he hadn’t stirred up this mess with the Resistance, but it’s been done and now we have to clean up the fallout.”
“Yes sir. We understand. If the treaty was working, why is the mayor taking a hard stance on the BRR?”
“All we’ve been told was he lost family members in the war with them sixty years ago. He’s harbored a hatred of the treaty and the BRR since then. You’ll find the town divided. Half say let them be, as long as they’re good, the other half wants to chase them off the land and get them out of there.” Casper cleared his throat and finished the meeting with, “I know you’ll do a great job. Call me if you need anything.”
The line went dead, and they stared at it for a moment, then looked at each other.
Tate heaved out a breath. “So that bakery robbery yesterday was for the sugar. I’m going to go see if Lara had refused to trade with them, and that further angered them.”
Aidyn stood and pulled his cap up on his head, “Is that why you’re going over there?”
