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outskirts of Byram, Mississippi. Jackson still had some gang activity and he wanted to stop long enough to clean out the gangs and meet with the local townpeople.
    Scott met with Lieutenant Cates of the 82 nd and Lieutenant Pope with rangers to set up a plan for defenses for the night and recon of Jackson. The rangers would handle the recon and the 82 nd would set up guards around the convoy. They also discussed sending a scout group ahead of the convoy for the rest of the trip. Three Humvees and 12 soldiers should be adequate. Once they were North of Dallas, the Apaches would join them and they would have constant air cover. They also had a small scout helicopter to spot trouble along their path. It was on a flatbed trailer and could take off and land from the trailer.
     
    Joan looked over the convoy and said, “Scott, we look like an invading force with 12 Humvees, 13 trucks, a mobile hospital and 140 troops. We will attract quite a bit of attention form the locals.”
    “Yes, Gus and I discussed the question of go big or go small and big won out. We wanted to be able to protect ourselves, but also wanted the locals that we meet to feel safe and feel we can protect them. Remember, we double in size when we get to Albuquerque. How is the morale?”
    “The ranger’s morale is always great. Mine would be better if I was sleeping with you instead of with a bunch of smelly rangers. I’ll bet your cot is more comfortable than my piece of ground.”
    “Darling I’d rather be on the ground with you, but then all of the women rangers and 82 nd would want to sleep with me. I have to sacrifice.”
    She punched him in the gut just as Sonny and Jim came around the corner.
    They turned to walk away and Sonny said, “I saw nothing, but if I did, I would spank her.”
    Scott replied, “Then she would kill me and there would be a big stink and Gus would get pissed and when Gus gets pissed all hell breaks loose.”
    Joan replied, “Good choice,” and walked away.
    Scott came up from behind and pinched her butt saying, “I didn’t say that there’d be no consequences.”
    She turned, kissed him and then caught up with Sonny who was still laughing.
     
    The night was interrupted several times by small arms fire in the distance towards Jackson, but was otherwise peaceful.
    Scott was eating breakfast when Lt. Cates joined him with a Sit Rep.
    “We took out several small groups of gangs and one small time drug lord last night. Sorry about disturbing your sleep.”
    “Just doing your job. Anything big enough to worry Gus or me?
    “No, but we learned that on the west side of Jackson a self-styled dictator has Highway 20 blocked and is demanding payment to pass.”
    “Will he take lead in payment?”
    “I guess he won’t get a choice. Pope sent Sonny with a team of snipers around to their backside to harass them and I have several squads moved into position during the night. Sonny’s team will open up on them just before we use our mortars to rain hell down on them. We have all avenues of escape covered and should totally wipe them out. They won’t know what hit them. They also have several hundred prisoners that do all of the work for them. They have several fairly sophisticated drug labs and farms in operation and use the prisoners to man them.”
    “Can we free them without loss of life?”
    “I can’t promise that, but I’m confident that any loss will be minimal.”
    “Not to the ones killed. Proceed and keep me informed.”
    “Sorry, I didn’t mean to sound callous like I don’t care…”
    “Barry, that’s just something that Gus said to me during the operation to free the prisoners in Mobile. All lives matter. It stuck with me.”
    “Sir, I will keep it in mind.”
    “Lighten up and go kill some bad guys.”
     
    ***
     
    “Bo, I just got a message from our guys in Mississippi. It appears that the ISA has a large convoy headed north on Highway 55. They are made up of 82 nd Airborne and ISA Rangers and are