Female Snipers: Towards oblivion

By Greg Pius

This is the third book in the SNIPER saga! It is now over six years since the civil war had started in Australia. Many people had died including the young and innocent. Freya Hill and Doctor Roman Ruffe were now dead and buried. Also not so young but still innocent bystanders have died in many atrocities during this civil war. Mary Feelgood was killed along with many other in a train bombing. One of Australia's greatest ever sporting heroes was shot dead for his defiance of state terrorism. But still the government side was slowly winning the battles that mattered. After six years of military actions against rebel forces the government of President Dent now controlled all the major towns and cities of Australia. Only the vastness of the Australian bush land had saved the remaining rebel forces from total annihilation. The rebel forces could really only provide small pockets of effective resistance. Protected in certain country areas by a local population that was permanently anti government these pockets of rebel fighters were protected by their snipers. But they were up against the latest advanced military weaponry. President Dent had done a deal with one of the world's superpowers. By giving this superpower unfettered use of Australia's ports and bases on the mainland, Dent got the use of advanced drone aircraft and top cyber intelligence. As long as he lived the rebel alliance was going to lose this civil war. Already three commando snipers were beginning to take out top rebel commanders almost at will. The rebels had no other choice they had to kill President Dent if they wanted to survive in their own country.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tablo Publishing
• Release date: May 1, 2018
• ISBN: 9781925819021

Book preview

Equality

Over in Australia Hera, Hannah, Mossy and Colonel Hutch Matterson were facing up to their own  disappointments.  Hera was fighting against religious prejudice. There was a desperate need to immunize all the young children but anti vaccine fanatics are turning mothers off this vital maternal action. It was frustrating for Hera to keep treating preventable diseases, particularly among the children. Everyone was packed tightly into the United Nations refugee camp. Local townspeople did not encourage refugees to leave this camp. Yet local farmers were more than willing to use their cheap labor at harvest times. It was this hypocrisy that made Hera mad with disappointment in her fellow Australians. 

                    Hannah was fighting another form of disappointment. Mothers were not sending their children to school during harvest periods. Hannah knew that her young students were being exploited for their child labor.  Small hands were better at picking certain crops. Little feet were better at crushing the grapes. Small children were expert at catching small pests like field mice. It made Hannah angry at the mothers who did this but also sad for her lovely students who had such an eagerness for learning new things. She had a nickname with her students. It came from her favorite literacy lesson. Hannah had only herself to blame for telling the story of her greatest ever lesson. So her students called her Miss 'Phoneme' Feelgood.  When she found out Hannah laughed loudly. Serves you right for bragging she told herself.

                    Mossy had the disappointments common to most eleven year old girls. No adult would treat her like a teenager. She was been called by all the subtle put downs. 'Preteen' (her pet hate); 'teenybopper' (whatever that meant); 'prepubescent' (what the harry did that mean?  was her constant thought); and 'still such a sweet young girl' (which made her scream inside every time she heard it said behind her back). Just because she loved all the animals at the refugee camp, just because she could tell their names just by looking at them, just because she spent more time with animals than with her peers, did not make her a little child as far as Mossy was concerned. Was it her fault that animals just followed her everywhere? Well if she was being honest with herself that was her fault. Mossy always carried various pet snacks that she doled out every day.  Mossy was going to a play date with the girls from her class. They would be the top primary students  in one months time. Her girlfriends had plans to make. They were going to be very proactive Grade Six girls. No make that proactive teenagers thought Mossy.

                    Colonel Hutch Matterson was staring once again at the email he had from Major-General Mackenzie. Once more he had missed out on promotion. Hutch had been Commanding Office of his battalion for six years now. Officers who went through officer training well after he graduated were being given the best appointments. Hutch was being told to stay where he was and continue 'your fine work up north' as Major-General Mackenzie always put it in these emails.   Most of the time they did not even come directly from the Armed Forces Chief. A Major Chantel seemed to be in charge of these refusal emails. Not that Hutch missed the sarcastic emails he used to get from Major no it was now Colonel Lee.  But these emails were cold and very impersonal. Only one thing stopped Hutch from resigning in frustration at this denial of promotion appointments. Part of his responsibilities was the inspection and security surrounding the northern United Nations Refugee camp. At that camp was the love of Hutch's life. Hera Feelgood had been a widower for six years now and was finding companionship with an old boyfriend. Hutch could not be happier than when he was with Hera. True she did not love him in the same way but they were both prepared to overlook that so they could fully enjoy each others company.

                    Back in New Zealand Nahid had put aside her heartbreak at losing Zaheer  to her father. fighting in Australia. She was going to speak with the refugee women who had been resettled in New Zealand. Going to the capital city Nahid got a taxi to the large meeting hall where this event was being held. There were now hundreds of thousands of refugees resettled in New Zealand. So much so that New Zealand simply could not take in any more civil war refugees from Australia. This meant that some family reunions were being put on hold by the New Zealand Immigration Minister. Nahid knew that this event was going to be highly charged and very emotional. Still she never walked away from danger. So Nahid walked into the meeting hall and went up onto the stage.

                The event organizer started the meeting then wasted no time in introducing Nahid. In a cautionary tone of voice she announced to the assembled women,

                Ladies of the Rebel Alliance let me introduce a woman well known to some from days in the Eastern Australian Refugee Camp. I give you Nahid Fitzgerald once known as Nahid Ahaheed. Please give her a big rebel welcome.

               There was loud applause but largely from the older women who recognized their one time leader from back in the Australian refugee camp. But a lot of younger women did not clap. Nahid noticed the mixed reception she was being awarded on her name only but still walked to the podium with her head held high.  In a firm tone of voice she said,

                Fellow rebel women I come not seeking your praise but your words of wisdom. We are all separated from loved ones who are even now risking their lives for the rebel alliance. But we are the strong ones because we support our husbands, brothers, sons, daughters, nieces and nephews every way we can by our untiring efforts. We are an integral part of the rebel alliance!

                The applause this time was louder and more spontaneous but it still was not universal. In fact one woman raised her hand to ask a question. Nahid sensed trouble from the look on this woman's face but still allowed the question. This middle aged woman then said in a hard tone of voice,

                    That's all well and good for political fundraising rallies but what does all that have to do with you? We all have husbands, daughters, sons, nephews, nieces, brothers and even sisters fighting with rebel bands. But you are now divorced from your rebel husband. So how do you get to be one of us?

                Some older women tried to shout down this woman but Nahid raised her had for silence. Then in an ice cold calm tone of voice she said,

                    Yes I divorced my husband but we were having marital problems long before the civil was began. In Australia as you know rebel women have not been able to get divorced for over six years. But I remarried a former rebel commander's assistant. He is Irish and fought in their civil war. Then he came to Australia as an immigrant. When the civil war started he joined the rebel alliance. And he is still training rebel snipers over here for active duty in Australia. But that is him as for me I now have my eighteen year old daughter over fighting among my ex-husband's rebel  band. I not only miss her every day but fear for her every minute of the day.

                As tears came unbidden to Nahid's eyes many women who were not sure about her now made up their minds. A new mood swept the assembled refugee women. Spontaneous shout of support rang out from all parts of the hall.

                The woman who asked the question now got to her feet. This time her tone of voice was apologetic when she said

                    Look I humbly apologise. What you just said touched the hearts of every mother in this room. My Emily has been gone only three months but I still cry myself to sleep every night worrying about if she is still alive. Like you I miss her so much. So welcome to our band of rebel women you are more than welcome.

               Now thunderous applause resounded around the hall. Every mother, wife, aunt, grandmother and even great aunt in the room knew exactly how these two women felt and the pain they bore every single day. 

               Eventually Nahid could see through her tears so she raised her arm to indicate she would like to speak. As the women settled into their chairs many faces were wet but there was a general sense that a communal benefit had been obtained. Nahid now said in a determined tone of voice,

                As you can see ladies of the Rebel Alliance. We are all in this and will support each other no matter what happens. I reciprocate your applause as I believe that everyone in this room shares the pain of  absent loved ones. Now lets use this time to help each other with our own insights. Does anyone wish to get our discussion started?

            A young woman raised her hand. She was given a portable microphone to voice her opinion. In a shattered tone of voice she said,

            My husband and I were married just before the civil war started. He went off with his mates to fight for the rebels. Over the last six years I have only seen him on one or two days most months. Some months I never see him. I am worried he will no longer love me when this war stops. What if he falls out of love with me? I still love him so much it hurts to be parted from him.

           A sad silence followed this young woman's words of sorrow. Many wives knew this pain of separation from their husbands.  One such woman had the courage to offer this advice

                I try to imagine my husband is by my side in the difficult moments. I keep him alive in my children's minds by pretending that he will walk into our home at any time. I play a game with my kids by saying things like, 'Just wait till your father gets home young man. He wont like to hear that you used that word. Now would he? They miss him so they play along. But its the nights that are the worse for me."

         Large sounds of agreement followed this last statement. Then the discussion started to get into full swing as women shared their pains and their coping strategies. The meeting went well over time, but eventually kids bath times, meal times and the refugee curfew brought this meeting to a halt. Everyone applauded as the convener reluctantly called the meeting to an end. As the women filed out of the hall the first woman to raise a question sought out Nahid Fitzgerald. Sheepishly she offered Nahid her hand in friendship. Nahid readily accepted this offer and smiled warmly as the woman said,

                I wanted to apologize face to face. Some of the older women  have put me straight. You are one of the early heroes of the women's rebel cause. I am the security officer for refugee women in this district. Some of the older women said you held down a similar post at the Eastern Australian refugee camp. Can I pick your brains about some women's safety issues?

            Nahid said in a friendly tone of voice, 

                Of course you can but we can't break curfew. Why don't you come to lunch at my place at midday tomorrow. That will  give us the whole afternoon to chat together.   

            The woman smiled back before saying in a relieved tone of voice,

                "My name is Florence Schutz.   My parents were Greek. Yes I would love to have lunch at your house. Can I bring some Greek coffee and sweets?'

            Nahid replied in a happy tone of voice,

                That is great that you can come on such short notice. Yes please about the coffee and sweets. I cannot get good coffee where I live. Greek coffee is the best!

            The two women walked out of the hall together smiling all the way. 

Tyrany

President Phillip James Dent was relishing the prospect of being a big celebrity on the world media stage. He had bribed many people to get the vote to go in favor of Australia at the meeting of sporting nation delegates. Now he was the head of state of the next great world sporting event. It had cost billions to build new stadiums up to world's best practice level. These state of the art stadiums, velodromes and water sports facilities had been built in record time but at excessive cost to the Treasury. President Dent had to sack one Federal Treasurer because she objected to the blow out in Australia's National Debt. But the Australian president rammed through all the necessary approvals. Of course the construction contracts were awarded to his cronies who paid him secretly for the privilege of ripping off Australian taxpayers. But by making sure that all the rich and powerful , well those that supported him politically anyway, were included President Dent got what he wanted. Australia had a harbor city brimming with new sporting facilities that were the envy of the world.

         Calling in Nova Kaufman to check up on last minute minor hitches, President Dent was in no mood for anything less than perfection. He said in a firm strong tone of voice,

            "Have we settled that demarcation dispute about the unloading of cargo for the big event?'

       Knowing that her boss hated any opposition to his will Kaufman replied in a nervous tone of voice,

            The large unions at loggerheads are still holding out for their members to get the overtime up for grabs.

          As Kaufman expected he would, President Dent exploded using a very angry tone of voice as he commanded,

                Get those union leaders here today. I will not put up with their games of wounded pride. They will make a settlement of that dispute today or they will all feel the inside of a federal prison.  They will learn the hard way who is running this country. If I have to I will deregister both their unions. Lets see how they cope without all those members fees flowing in regularly. How are we with the special guest list? 

         Swallowing hard to hide her surprise at this display of raw power, Kaufman replied to the last question in a more positive tone of voice, 

                All confirmed except the French President. His aides are still holding out for preference in ranking ahead of the British Prime Minister. They also want all announcements to be in English and French.

        The reaction this time was less violent but no less angry. President Dent did not like being dictated to and he certainly resented the use of political blackmail by the French. Still his tone of voice was only mildly irritable when he said,

            Damn them. I suppose we will have to bump the British Prime Minister. Serves her right for what she said about me in that Security Council meeting. 'Tin pot dictator' am I? Well she is now seated at the end seat on the podium. As for the language thing we will just have to concede with good grace. After all it is the custom in that other great sporting event. So lets agree to their terms but get our own back by giving them some traditional Aussie food for their first lunch. That will be damper, iced cold cheese, a pie floater and some Australian sparkling wine. Can't wait to see their diplomatic faces when they have to sit through that lunch. Ha! Ha! Old baguette face will be seething but have to politely eat it all up. Make sure she gets a double helping of everything and have the wine waiter top up her glass all the time. No one gets the better of me without paying a high price.

         Not for the first time Nova Kaufman was impressed with her boss's ability to turn any diplomatic defeat into a secret victory.   Australia may be a small country way out in the powerless Pacific region but it was punching above its weight thanks largely to Dent's political cunning.

         Trying to take personal advantage of the President's current good mood Nova Kaufman now played her card against a political opponent. She said in a worried tone of voice,

            The Finance Minister is objecting to the high level of the security budget requested by the National Security Director. In particular she objects to the high number of commando snipers being deployed on unlimited overtime. It seems a valid objection. Particularly as Leopold absolutely refuses to compromise by reducing the size of her security team.

         President Dent was aware of the animosity that existed between his aide and his National Security Director. Usually he manipulated this to his own advantage. But this time he was not going to let their personal squabbles upset his big day. Still he did not want to antagonize either woman. Both were central to his plans to completely reorganize the military senior ranks. As a former Major-General and armed forces chief ,Dent was a perfectionist where military performances were involved. Too many of the senior officers in his armed forces were not pulling their weight . Some thought the civil war was over. Dent knew otherwise. He had selected the senior officers that were to be forced into retirement. But some had powerful friends and loyal troops. Dent needed Leopold's cyber team to dig up enough dirt to justify his purge. As for Nova Kaufman she had a detailed knowledge of the military partners of his possible replacements. There could be no mistakes arising after Dent installed his