The Plan: Level III: Peace Never Lasts

By Dan L. Woods

In the third book of The Plan series, peace only lasted a short time. Gabe’s leg wound healed and the weeks of recuperation were accompanied by a desire to get back into the fight. After their location is discovered by the agency, the group must flee their cabin retreat. Their escape is not free of dangers. Kill squads are in the area and soon engage them with elimination being the only option.
Through superior tactics and a lot of luck, Gabe, Hanna, JJ, and Sophi escape the clutches of a kill squad once more, but it wouldn’t be the last encounter. The agency is determined to remove the antagonistic group.
Mr. Williams continues his spy duties where he obtains information to fight against the agency more effectively. His life is endangered when he is taken captive by the agency. Gabe’s group must join forces with others to rescue Mr. Williams. Alliances are formed with citizens that are awakening to the invisible threat against the nation.
Battles rage often in the fight to keep the nation free of the agency’s grasp. Not only is the agency a threat, but circumstances created by the agency begin to cause chaos. The agency leader responsible for the incidents that create the chaos is captured.
Under difficult circumstances, Gabe and his group must discover innovative ways to accomplish their missions. Death surrounds them. Hope is all that pushes the group onward. The stakes are getting higher. The risks are growing greater. The nation is in peril. What sacrifices will need to be made after peace is shattered? Only time will tell.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Dan L. Woods
• Release date: Jun 18, 2016
• ISBN: 9781310284861

Dan L. Woods

I was born in the great state of Idaho. I've lived in Idaho most of my life with a short "vacation" of seven years spent in Arizona and New Mexico during my teen years. I had to move back to the mountains I love.I am an outdoor enthusiast. Hunting, fishing, biking, and other physical activities keep me healthy and active. Although I enjoy being with people I know, at times I embrace periods of time where I can be alone out in the wilds.I am a single parent of four-- three sons (grown and moved on) and one teenaged daughter.I graduated from Mesa High School, Mesa, AZ. I recieved a Bachelor Degree in English from Idaho State University. I enjoy reading, writing, and teaching. A full time Language Arts teacher of sixth grade students keeps me very busy. My life has had many roads. Life experiences have taught me to be strong and resiliant. I have been writing for some time, but never had the desire to publish. My students, after hearing some of my work, suggested that I write a book.I love to make people happy. I have a fun-loving personality. I hope to reflect these things in my work and writing. Each day, I try to enjoy life. Each day, I try to help others enjoy life too.

Book preview

The Plan

Level III: Peace Never Lasts

Dan L. Woods

Copyright © 2016 by Dan L. Woods

Smashwords Edition

All rights reserved.

DEDICATION

For my parents, Leon and Joy Woods—

Yours have been the voices that have

always stood out in the world,

have been my guides, and

are still my comfort.

I love you.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

CHAPTER 1

CHAPTER 2

CHAPTER 3

CHAPTER 4

CHAPTER 5

CHAPTER 6

CHAPTER 7

CHAPTER 8

CHAPTER 9

CHAPTER 10

CHAPTER 11

CHAPTER 12

CHAPTER 13

CHAPTER 14

CHAPTER 15

CHAPTER 16

CHAPTER 17

CHAPTER 18

CHAPTER 19

CHAPTER 20

CHAPTER 21

CHAPTER 22

CHAPTER 23

CHAPTER 24

CHAPTER 25

CHAPTER 26

CHAPTER 27

About the Author

Books by Dan Woods

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

I would again like to acknowledge all of those from whom I’ve received my inspiration, knowledge, and ideas from: my parents, siblings, children, my incredible students—past, present, and future—colleagues, mentors, friends, and all of my teachers. I would also like to thank my newest readers that have selected this and the other books that I have written. You are the greatest.

Chapter 1

When we make a conscious choice to ignore following wise advice, we agree to our potential failure. –Dan Woods

Time flies when you’re having fun, Gabe thought as he lay prostrate on the sofa. Fun was really not what he would call the long days he spent cooped up within the walls of the cabin hideaway situated beneath the impressive mountain. The dormant volcano, Mt. Rainier, loomed above the cabin as a constant reminder of something else that loomed outside—the agency—a dangerous force with a sinister agenda to remove those citizens who would challenge its plan. Imprisoned seemed more fitting.

Gabe missed the outdoors. He could look at nature through the large cabin windows, but it took several weeks for his stab wound in his thigh to heal sufficiently enough to allow significant walks through the forest. Those healing days were spent worrying about being discovered. The healing nights were spent worrying about nightmares that would constantly invade his peace and keep him at war within himself. Stress induced the invisible, night warriors that invaded his sleep to make regular incursions into his subconscious thoughts.

Hanna had been taking very good care of Gabe. His self-prescribed, affection medication from Hanna was having an effective result on his injury—at least he claimed it did in order to encourage his nurse to continue sending ample doses his way. Hourly kisses administered by the one he had fallen in love with were better than any medications a pharmacist could produce, and it was safer.

Gabe and Hanna had grown much closer as the walls held them within their isolated confinement. Hanna spent many hours visiting with Gabe about her dreams for her future.

Gabe listened intently and learned a great deal about the person Hanna was on the inside. He learned she was as beautiful within her heart and soul as she was on the skin-deep surface. Secrets she had kept from most people, he learned and swore an oath to keep them safe for as long as he lived as a token of their love.

Gabe had admitted it to himself. He didn’t just love Hanna; he was in love with her. He shared with her his dreams for the future—their future. Now, they had a dream of their own that was an intertwined dream—a shared dream of an uncertain future that prompted them to seek, more conscientiously, a solution to the secret war being waged against them. They felt they had no future without an end to the agency. The fight against the agency had consumed them. The war had stolen from them. They had lost much. If only it could end peacefully and allow them the fairy tale ending of living happily ever after.

War—it was no fairy tale. It was real. The idea of the peace lasting was shattered as they sat comfortably inside the cabin during a late August evening. They had been watching for news feeds that had been altered from the truth by the agency, intercepted, and corrected with closed captions through the successful programming JJ and Mr. Jamison had created. Weeks of intercepted agency propaganda had been playing over the television. Each time that the agency tried to modify the news reports, the uploaded programming software kicked in and notified the viewing audience of the fabrications being used to cover up the true facts.

The agency-altered story was detected and the truthful and revealing programming message followed. It identified the story as a modification of the true facts by scrolling the closed caption message along the bottom of the broadcasts. A picture-in-picture screen would pop up and play damaging video of the truth concerning the reported incident or of the agency. The invisible war was raging—even as Gabe and his small group rested, recuperated, and regained their focus on what their mission should be.

Gabe’s mouth hung open as he watched the newscast of a man enter a bus and detonate a bomb strapped to his body underneath his jacket. The explosion ripped through the bus, blowing the windows out and shooting flames throughout the interior that licked their fiery tongues out the shattered window openings.

A picture of the bomber was shown on the television screen. The awestruck face Gabe had displayed was a result of the picture, not the closed caption scrolling along the bottom. The picture revealed who the bomber had been. Gabe’s recognition was clearly apparent.

That’s the guy from the warehouse where we met Sophi’s dad, Gabe excitedly uttered when his speech returned to him.

It is! Hanna responded. She had recognized him too. The bomber had been freed by Gabe’s group from the agency, and he had decided to try and save his family. His efforts had been in vain. His actions, being broadcast as prime time news, were obviously not the actions of his own choosing. The man’s actions were surely the dictated orders of the agency who had taken him captive once before when Gabe had received the unfortunate stab wound to his leg from Victor.

The poor, unfortunate soul had been unable to stay hidden from the very powerful agency that had sought him out. The result of his discovery was an exploded bus, multiple victims of a peaceful community, and a high profile news story that would have the blinded citizens crying for more security from the government.

We need to stop this insanity, Gabe suggested. I can’t keep sitting here with innocent people being sacrificed because of the agency’s wicked desires to influence people. This is so, so wrong. Guys, we’ve been out of this war long enough. It’s time to bring the fight back to the agency, and we need to do it now!

Gabe’s emotions were beginning to intensify as he watched the footage of burnt people being removed from the charred bus in the bombing’s grizzly aftermath. He was enraged at the thought of the agency’s lack of respect for the sanctity of human life. They didn’t care who they hurt or killed. They wanted news footage. They wanted to instill fear. They wanted citizens to flee to the politicians crying for more and more laws to protect them from the ‘terroristic’ attacks of the reported ‘crazed’ men and women. Their ignorance was leading them to tyranny, but they couldn’t see it. They couldn’t see past the present.

You’re right, JJ said. She had been watching the broadcast as it unfolded. Something bothered her about this broadcast that the others had not mentioned; there was no closed captioning on it. No picture in picture screen popped out. I wonder why there was no interception on this report? she said as she drew the others’ attention to the fact.

Oh yeah, I never noticed that. Do you think the agency figured out a way to block it? Hanna asked.

They couldn’t have, unless they’re not changing the news reports. Something else has happened. I’ll need to figure it out later. Right now, I think we need to strategize our next move. This kind of thing can’t happen in the U.S. and go unanswered, JJ uttered.

We need to get a message to Sophi’s dad and see what he knows or can find out about this bombing. We need some intelligence. The only way we’re going to be able to fight the agency effectively is to hit them harder than they hit us or the citizens, Gabe said with anger bubbling from his words. His intensity was unnerving to Hanna.

Gabe, you seem bothered more than usual by this. What’s wrong? Hanna asked in a calming voice.

They just tick me off, he answered. I can’t believe they can do this kind of thing. They aren’t human. They’re lower than that. They’re filthy and cruel animals. They’re wolves slaughtering the sheep, and I want to kill every last one of them! The anger he was feeling was a culmination of long days healing, endless thoughts about the cause of his injury, and—strangely enough—thoughts about the stupidity of the citizens who stood by as their friends, families, and neighbors were being used as sacrificial lambs.

Gabe had had many hours to reflect on those citizens who marched on Washington, and in the streets of larger cities, protesting the right to have private gun ownership and demanding gun control. He had watched the campaigning of liberal politicians that drew large numbers of carefully groomed and selected ‘supporters’ as they spewed out venomous language about the constitutionally protected rights of citizens being ‘outdated’ and ‘flawed’ because of the passage of time; their claims that terrorists could be fought with ‘love and kindness’ or that the duty of the U.S. citizens is to provide jobs to the radical sects that were using beheading tactics against their Christian enemies; the insane ideas posited by the ‘leaders’ of the U.S. that ‘climate change’ is causing the terrorists to be terrorists—as if religious differences had nothing to do with it.

The politicians’ purposeful lies were rallying mindless citizens around them to raise the cries for change and the destruction of the Constitution. People ignored the truth—that the desert has been the desert longer than the past few years of ‘global warming,’ or its new political title, ‘climate change’—that term had to change when global warming was shown to be fabricated illusions of special interest groups looking for government funding. However, the terrorists’ religious points of conflict have been around for thousands of years; their terroristic attacks—their war—has been around just as long. Why were the leaders so ignorant to this? It frustrated and infuriated him.

Gabe had arrived at a conclusion after he weighed the facts. He had concluded that the leaders were helping ‘the agency’ by pushing their ridiculous ideas out to the politically hypnotized citizens who would support whatever idea their politicians brought up as a duty to their political party—no thoughts; no consideration; no research; and, most often, no idea. The political party ideology baptism had become as influential as a religion. Citizens were mindlessly following an old ideal each political party had stood for before they had morphed into what they were at the present time.

Gabe felt the problem existed because many citizens did not keep up with the political scene. They were still living on their political ideals that they had developed earlier. Some had no idea what political parties stood for. They just voted the way their parent, friend, or professor voted without researching or gaining updated knowledge. The party system was failing. Gabe saw it.

To the politicians, political ignorance by the people was their strength. Ignorance is weakness, which they capitalized on. Knowledge is power, which they discouraged by blinding their followers with lies, lies, and more lies sprinkled with just enough truth to give it a little touch of honesty flavor. Their followers would often eat it up and eagerly ask for more.

We feel the same way, Gabe, but you seem like you’re taking this a little too personal. That could lead to mistakes. Mistakes can lead to getting you or all of us killed. Are you willing to risk that? JJ questioned. Her wisdom from her years was being revealed. She was not condemning him. She wanted this war to end with their victory as much as he did, but she wasn’t willing to run out in a desperate and angry charge. That would be nothing but foolishness.

Gabe admired JJ’s words. He had allowed his emotions to control him. He had learned through his martial arts training that one must control their emotions. He knew that control of one’s emotions is the battle. Emotion controlled everything. He had seen how the agency leveraged emotions to control people through the media. Gabe knew that he could channel his emotions to assist him in accomplishing difficult tasks. It was then that he could be greater, more powerful, and wiser. Self-control—he needed to focus.

You’re right, he acknowledged. I’m sorry. I feel like I’ve been holding so much in for so long that it just exploded out of me. I’ve had a lot on my mind.

That’s understandable. We all have. Let’s try to focus on what we need to do. I think it’s time we take some action against the agency. It’s time to turn up the heat, JJ suggested. Let’s get that message to Mr. Williams.

Sophi, do you want to send your dad the request for information and leave him a personal note? JJ invited.

Yeah! I want to tell him about my fat chipmunk, she eagerly replied. Sophi had spent many days feeding her friendly chipmunks on the front porch. One had become the tyrant over the others. It ruled the porch and kept the others at bay. If there was food to be had, Stripes got it first. He always ate his fill before allowing any other chipmunks on the porch. The result was a mighty plump chipmunk that easily threw his weight around, and all others obeyed.

Ask your dad if he can give us any information about the bus bombing in San Diego that was just reported on the news. Let him know we’re ready to get back into the fight, and we wonder if he has any suggestions or cautions for us, JJ instructed.

Sophi went to work drafting the email. When it was finished, she named and saved the draft, but she did not send it. This method of communication had been devised with Mr. Williams to keep it from being discovered easily. It had been working well. Their communication with him had been regular and had allowed them to remain undetected for some time.

The group knew that the message may not be answered for a long time. Nobody knew when the other sent a message. It had to be checked for periodically. The waiting was always the most difficult part of the process, but it gave Gabe time to calm down his angry thoughts.

The remainder of the evening was spent making plans for the next attack on the agency. They had three names of powerful leaders, and they needed to seek out one of them. Weighing their options, the group decided that it would be the best strategic advancement to go after the leader in Los Angeles. She was the closest.

Sherry Hanson was an agency, high-level leader that was reportedly over the nation’s power grid. She would be an important person to remove from the hierarchy.

The planning covered many areas of concern, including the implementation of martial law that could result from civil unrest after the bombing. The group discussed the different areas of concerns as a way of preparing for eventualities. Gabe was embarrassed to admit that he didn’t know much about martial law.

JJ explained, What most citizens don’t know is that martial law would allow the sitting president of the U.S. to have extremely dangerous powers, if used for improper purposes. He could suspend some or all civil rights protected by the Constitution. He could even suspend the elections.

The president could do that? Why would he be able to do that? Gabe inquired.

"The president declares martial law, the congress would approve it, and it’s up to him to end it. Few power-hungry people would be willing to let go of that kind of power. They would have to be honest and acting for the best interest of the people of the country. Unfortunately, we know that many presidents are not the president to help people. They are there for the power and financial gain. It’s a status thing for many. For others, they’re put there by the agency to accomplish their goal of turning the government into a dictatorship.

History has revealed that in many countries where a dictator was placed, it came after the military had been used during the implementation of martial law. Dictators don’t like to leave. They don’t like to lose their powers over the people. They feel similar to royalty and look condescendingly upon the lower citizens. We need to make sure that isn’t going to happen, JJ pledged.

How do we keep a president from declaring martial law? You’ve seen how the agency is whipping up chaos. The uninformed citizen gets most of their education from the television or internet propaganda. How do we combat that better? Hanna asked. Bombing buses—that’s a Middle Eastern tactic. Now it’s happening here. The agency is going to make this war rage on until the president can declare martial law with the support of the blinded citizens. Then what do we do?

Most citizens will fall in line like sheep. People like us—or other patriots who fight for the Constitution—will be rounded up and placed into the FEMA relocation camps or eliminated. Under martial law, that would be possible. Do you see why we can’t let that happen? JJ asked.

Sophi, who had been sitting by quietly listening, interrupted. I’ve seen how the agency treated my mom and brother. I’ll fight them. I’m with Gabe. I want to kill them all. They deserve it. Sophi winked at Gabe who returned her support with a smile and a nod of his head.

My little, Amazon warrior, Gabe said. "We need to get the bad apples out of the barrel. The bad politicians that the agency has placed within the government, and all the other agents we can find, need to be removed. This will let the good, government leaders do their job for the people. That’s the way it was set up to work. It’s like Mr. Jamison told us; there are a lot of good, honest people working within the government. We need to get them on our side and hope that they aren’t swayed by the agency—or, to coin a phrase—keep them from joining the dark side," Gabe said as he did his best to mimic Darth Vader.

JJ had been periodically checking the email draft. He’s answered, she said as she looked at the email draft on the screen. It was choppy and rushed looking.

‘Not much time to send this. Bombing was set up by the agency. Many more like it are scheduled. Agency looking for you diligently. Kill squads are still after you. Working toward mass panic. Not sure of methods yet. Will keep in touch. Love to Sophi.’

That figures. We need to get out of here and find Hanson. She’s probably over the agents responsible for the bus bombing. Maybe we can prevent others if we get to her first, Gabe suggested. When do we leave?

Let’s go early in the morning. I would like to do some research on her and the reason the news report wasn’t intercepted, JJ suggested.

The group spent what little time they had left preparing to leave. They packed their weapons, food, clothes, and any other items they may need into the van. Once that was finished, they each slept restlessly, except for JJ. She patiently worked late into the night on the computer searching and researching. Finally, she had what she needed, and she was able to get her own restless sleep.

Chapter 2

If we complain about something WE could have changed but didn’t, do we really have a complaint? –Dan Woods

The morning light was still some time away when the last of the sleepers had awakened. It was JJ who held onto the night the longest. She rubbed her eyes and cleared out the restless thoughts that had closed in on her like the walls of the cabin had been doing to them all.

I want to let Mr. Williams know what our plans are, JJ said as she entered the dining room where Gabe, Hanna, and Sophi were all eating a huge breakfast. The spread included cereal, pancakes, eggs, hash browns, juice, fruit, and any other perishable items they wouldn’t be able to leave in the cabin. They decided it would be better to eat it up than to waste it. They also knew it would be difficult to get good meals when you’re in the uncertainties of battle.

JJ opened the laptop email and let out an audible groan. Oh no! she said as she looked anxiously at the others. Mr. Williams sent a warning that Dr. Sorenson’s wife has been compromised and to get out before the kill squads reach the cabin!

When was it edited? Gabe asked.

Ten minutes ago, JJ replied.

Grab some food and your gear! We need to go! If they come by air, they’ll be here quickly! Gabe warned excitedly and with rapidity.

A mad, panicked scramble ensued. Every person was grabbing breakfast and shoving it in bags. They grabbed their remaining gear that had