Stranded

Texas Star Rises

De: Dino J. Gutierrez

Narrado por: John B. Jenkins

It was an Armageddon scenario for America.

In a coordinated series of attacks, terrorists exploded an EMP device from a high-altitude weather balloon over Omaha, Nebraska. The electromagnetic pulse destroyed electronic devices throughout North America, leaving survivors without power, communication, or transportation. This was the day the lights went out for millions and, for many, a death sentence. Simultaneously, terrorists exploded dirty car bombs in more than 350 large cities worldwide, killing millions of people, destroying whole city blocks, and poisoning many square miles with nuclear poison.

The EMP and the car bomb attacks put America on her knees. Then, the chaos began. The story follows the lives of two men: Paul Sanchez, a retired army veteran, and Nic, his 19-year-old son, who are stranded far from their home in Southeast Texas. They were vacationing in Yellowstone Park when their wilderness tour transformed from a relaxing vacation to a survival quest. Paul and Nic began a long, isolated, dangerous journey, mostly on foot, to Paul's remote property northwest of Houston. They were hoping first to survive and then protect his property.

The two terrorists who exploded the EMP device over Omaha, Nebraska, also made their way toward Texas, seeking eventually to escape through Mexico back to the Middle East. Ibrahim is a tall, thinly built man with haunted eyes, and Wali is average. His subservient co-conspirator stole horses and food, skirting cities to avoid American survivors and not hesitating to murder as they stole for food and shelter.

With America struggling to survive, the Mexican cartel seized the opportunity to make raids into Texas, Arizona, and New Mexico. They find quick success and little resistance in Texas, and link up with cartel members already in America and biker gangs. Having sacked Waco, Texas, they live off the spoils of their success. The cartel did try to attack Fort Worth, but the Fort Worth militia repulsed them.

Paul Sanchez and his son Nic join the offense to free Waco from the cartel, eager to participate in the fight. While in Fort Worth, they are introduced to a team of Special Forces and Navy SEALs, a force he calls Team Texas. A team of special operators led by LCDR O'Grady have executed an audacious recon of the Waco area, which was vital to discovering the array of cartel forces in the crucial battle plan to clear Waco. Paul leads a militia brigade consisting of Fort Worth and Dallas battalions to clear Waco. Linking up with the Dallas battalion took convincing, because Dallas did not assist Fort Worth when the Cartel tried to occupy them.

General Gerald Hobbs is a crusty, cigar-chewing general who commanded Fort Hood when the terrorists struck. Hobbs takes a liking to Paul, seeing him as a trustworthy ally and his team as an effective combat tool. Likewise, Paul sees General Hobbs as a mentor. Half of Team Texas volunteers to stay with Paul at his bunker, becoming Team Bayonet.

The cartel and local wolves are now rare to extinct in the Republic of Texas. Justice is being served. Ibrahim and Wali were hung, and motorcycle gang members who enslaved Texans in Galveston County now live in fear. Some met the hangman's noose in the Midwest, and many were sent back to Europe. Now, it falls to Paul to cleanse the Northeast of UN occupiers. The militia will assist in removing the Northeast with the assistance of the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions. Meanwhile, Mexico is blessed with foreign intervention by Team Bayonet, who launch a crusade to oust the corrupt government and clear the cartel out once and for all.

Meanwhile, Paul must deal with a Russian Spetsnaz hunting him down in Texas, as retaliation for the destruction of the Russian forces in the battle of Edwardsville, IL.

Paul discovers more family members in Mexico: the governor and his grandmother. Nic and Natalie prove that love and hope are alive in this new world.

©2023 Dino J. Gutierrez (P)2023 Dino J. Gutierrez