Chapter 10

Stanley Richmond was a hometown boy of Jericho through and through. He had grown up there and took over the family farm and looked after his younger sister. And in these times he was determined to protect what he had and those he cared about, including his friends. He was loyal.

The night before he had been woken up when he heard someone trying to gain access to his gas tank. He grabbed his rifle, prepared to shoot at thieves and demanded who it was that was at his pump. The guy told him that they were with the US government and while that sounded like welcome news, something told Stanley that there was something not right about the situation. It was further confirmed when the guy said that Eric Green was a friend.

Stanley knew that Eric was friends with most everyone in town and being the kind of people they were, they introduced people to each other. And he didn't recognize this guy that was dressed in military gear. Being loyal, he denied anything but he was going to take it a step further and warn Jake and Eric as well as Sari since she was the sheriff.

As soon as they were gone, he got dressed, got Bonnie and Mimi dressed and headed to town. First he had to get a hold of Sari and went to her house. There was no one there after he knocked and nothing happened. At least Ryan would have been up. Since there was no one, there was only one place to go and Stanley made a beeline to the Green house and knocked on the door.

It was a bit of a surprise to find Jake and Sari with guns and ready to use them but he got the feeling that they were on the same page. Something was going on and it more than likely had something to do with that guy that came around the farm last night. He looked at Eric as he came in and then at Jake and Sari and said, "Sorry to come by so early."

"We were awake," Jake replied a bit tired as he watched Bonnie, Mimi and Stanley enter the house. He felt tired but it seemed that he wasn't going to be able to rest. "What's up?"

"Some guys showed up at the farm last night," Stanley began without preamble, "Couple Humvees, guns… They knew Eric's name." He looked at Sari and added, "Thought I'd tell you since…"

"Ravenwood," Eric muttered as he looked at his brother and Sari.

"Who?" Stanley looked at the group, not liking where this was going. He hoped that someone was going to explain what was going on.

"Mercenaries," Sari explained as she shifted to stretch. "We ran into them in Rogue River."

Jake took a breath and went to peek out the window in the door. He was hoping this wouldn't happen but it just wasn't in the cards. After what they did in Rogue River… it was only a matter of time before Ravenwood would head this way.

Stanley looked at Jake and then Sari before asking, "Okay, well, what the hell do they want?"

Jake looked out the window, not sure how to answer that. Finally he said, "Everything." That was the truth of the matter. Payton told them as much; they would take everything if it wasn't bolted or nailed down.

Sari knew that now was a time to prepare. As much as she could spew a liturgy on the sins of Ravenwood, the first order of business was to organize the town's defenses and inform her deputies. She glanced over at the couch where Ryan was still sleeping and sighed. Just another day at the office and it was a problem she brought back. She turned towards the group, "Okay, we need to get organized. Stanley, Eric, Jake, come with me to the sheriff's station. If we're going to do anything, we need to bring our deputies on board."

Jake glanced back at Sari as she stood there with a serious expression in her eye. He held onto his gun and nodded, "Okay."

Sari nodded and then looked at the other two men and got their responses. She turned to look at Bonnie and Mimi and said, "You two should stay here for now." She then signed something to Bonnie and received a nod in return. She turned and walked over to where her other guns were and gestured, "Come on."

If someone were to tell Stanley or Jake five years ago that they were going to be ordered about by Sari, they would have laughed at that and claimed that she asked them to do it. Now, it was clear that she was issuing an order and would brook no disobedience. It was stupid anyway since she had been appointed to legal authority and given the state of things… So no word was said as the three men followed her out the door and headed towards the sheriff's station.

Even though it was early, Jimmy and Bill were already there. Sari greeted them with a tired smile and asked them to get the other deputies here. She didn't include Gray since that man just liked to but his way into things and she wasn't in a mood to deal with him. But if he stepped on her toes, she would let him have it. She still was upset that he would risk civilians like he did with the Mitch Cafferty incident. It made her clamp down on vigilantism and made it clear that taking the law into their own hands was not to be tolerated.

It didn't take long for Gray or Hawkins to join them. Sari glanced at Hawkins and made eye contact with him. She didn't trust him fully but she was wary. The man knew things and he was willing to help but she suspected that he had a hidden agenda. And she didn't like the fact that he seemed to know a few things about her. She brushed it aside and turned her attention to the group, "Alright, we have a situation. Stanley?"

Stanley reiterated what happened the night before and gave the name of the group that was coming. It had Bill ask, "Ravenwood? What the hell is that?"

Jake explained, "A private security firm. They hire thugs and army dropouts. They give them big guns and send them out to play soldier." It was a lot simpler than what he had told Eric but they didn't need to know that.

"What are they doing in Kansas?" Jimmy looked at Jake and then at Sari who was standing there with a firm.

Sari spoke, "FEMA hired them to evacuate Rogue River. But now they're in business for themselves and they are going to use the premise that the federal government hired them to get what they want." She crossed her arms over her chest and looked at the group.

"Thy stripped the town of all their supplies. They killed police and civilians," Eric added. It was still a lot to digest what he had seen and what happened.

Sari watched the group and noted their expressions. She was just as scared as they were but she couldn't allow it to show. If she was going to lead these people in defense of Jericho, she needed to be strong. She watched as Gray leaned over and asked Hawkins if he had heard of the mercenary group. She stared at Hawkins as he listened. She didn't divert her attention from the other conversation and said, "More likely the guys at the Richmond farm were scouts."

Jake nodded since that was the more likely, "More likely to know if we are worth a hit." He knew though that they would come to Jericho because it was still standing and had things considered useful.

"We should fortify just in case," Hawkins interjected. "Shore up our borders at the most vulnerable points."

"Already there," Gray clarified, "I ordered armed checkpoints." He glanced at Sari almost apologetically since he technically did overstep and may have trampled on her authority. "On Cherry Valley Road and Route 660."

"Checkpoints?" Eric looked at Gray.

"Yeah, keep track of who's coming into town," Gray replied. He glanced at the three looking at him. Sari's was the most condemning if it could be that. "The mayor was sick, you were gone, the sheriff," he gestured at Sari, "I figured it shouldn't wait."

"Unfortunately that was going to be a plan," Sari replied, "No point in going into an argument. We need to think about other points of access and make appropriations there."

Jake thought about it and offered, "They will probably come from the easy across the Tacoma Bridge. I think we should block it."

Sari looked at Jake the same time as Stanley did. Stanley was the one that protested, "My farm is on the other side of that bridge. And so is thirty other families."

"Everyone on that side will have to come into town," Jake countered, "It's not safe to stay over there."

"You want me to abandon my farm?" Stanley looked at Jake like he had lost it. That farm was his livelihood and the only means he had of getting it back from the IRS. "Jake, you've got to be kidding me."

"Just for now Stanley," Eric tried to calm the situation down.

Stanley looked at the Green brothers and then at Sari. He would go with her lead since if she determined if something was good or bad, that determined if they followed through on the idea. "Sari?"

Sari studied the group as she silently thought about what to do. Jake was more than likely right in that they would come from the east. They had already been to the Richmond farm. And they would go with what was known. That was the whole point of scouts. The thing was that there were the thirty or so families that were on the other side of that bridge. There was an option that was logical in a military sense but she was not going to go there. "Spread the word to the families on the other side of that bridge. Anyone who can hold a gun and fight will meet at the bridge to shore up and dig in. All civilians will be moved to town until this is over." She looked at Stanley.

It was basically what Jake said but it sounded better when Sari explained it to him. He was willing to go along with it and gave a slight nod. Eric took the opportunity to tell Bill to collect all the ammo they could, whatever people are willing to part with to stockpile.

"I still have some explosives at the mine," Gray offered.

"We'll take whatever you got," Jake replied.

Sari wasn't so sure about that. True they needed whatever they had but she got an uneasy feeling at the mention of explosives. She just hoped it wasn't to do anything that would give real consequences later. She pursed her lips as everyone separated to go do their jobs. She remained in the office deep in thought.

"Seems like everyone has got a head start."

Sari shifted to see Hawkins looking at her with a polite smile. Her expression didn't change as she replied, "I am not liking this situation at all."

"Most folks don't. Especially those that have seen combat like you," Hawkins offered. It was a risk to reveal that much but he got the feeling that Jake and Sari would prove useful in his mission. He just had to be sure when to reveal his true purpose to them.

"And there are those who have seen it that don't think twice," Sari replied giving Hawkins a firm look.

"But you're not like that," Hawkins asserted. He shifted to look at her in the eye. "You're different. The kind that would look for more than the obvious if it meant the greater amount of security and success." He leaned in close and whispered, "You were more than just recovery for schoolteachers, Sari. Or should I say, Captain Hassan?"

Sari narrowed her eyes slightly as she stepped back to look at Hawkins. He had stepped back and looked at her with a slight smile that could be mistaken for smugness. Yet she suspected that wasn't the case. This was more revealing a little bit of what his hand was. She gave a slow smile and replied, "I don't know what you are talking about Hawkins. I was spec ops but I only recovered missionary teachers and built rapport with the occasional mop up of engagements."

Hawkins couldn't help but smile in return. She was good and he couldn't help but admire that. If she wasn't military, she would have made a good field agent. Probably work out better on his team with this. Knowing that he wasn't going to get anything more out of her, he stepped back and with a polite smile he replied, "I'm going to gather some ammo. I know a few of my neighbors that might have some."

Sari watched as he started to leave the office. She halted him but calling out to him. "Hawkins." When he turned to look at her, she added, "It took skill to get the missionary teachers out."

Hawkins nodded at that. It was the only response he was going to get but he realized that she was revealing a little more of her hand as he had his. It was another step forward as he left the sheriff's station to collect what they were going to need. He may be a newcomer but he liked Jericho and he was going to protect it like everyone else.

~0~0~0~0~0~

"They're here!"

Sari looked up and locked and loaded her rifle. She stood up and saw the Humvees coming down the road. She slung the rifle over her shoulders and checked to make sure that her badge and pistol were in view. She gestured for the men advancing to get behind the barrier. She had to agree with Hawkins that it wasn't going to do much but she was in agreement with Jake; that it was better than nothing. She moved and waited for the convoy to get closer. She called out, "Be at the ready but no one fires unless I say so. You got me?"

There were murmurs of agreement and the clicks of guns and rifles being pulled into position. Sari took that as a yes and gestured to get the last of the men behind the barrier and gestured to Jimmy and moved into position just as the Humvees pulled up to a stop. She put her hands on her hips and stood there, surveying the Ravenwood operatives get out of their vehicles.

"Check your positions, check your clips, safeties off," Hawkins called out, "And wait for orders." He wasn't going to step on Sari's toes though he wasn't sure what she was intending as she stood there to greet Ravenwood. It brought to mind when he asked Jake if the man knew when he was in over his head. He could've asked Sari the same question.

"Nobody fires unless Sari gives the word," Jake reminded them.

"Remember the most important thing to do is breathe and squeeze," Hawkins added. He glanced at Jake before bringing his own rifle up and ready to shoot.

Sari stood in front of the barrier with her hands on her hips well aware she was probably causing everyone to think she was crazy but… She was as scared shitless as they were. She prayed that at least they could stall. She eyed the Ravenwood operatives as they got out. She saw the leader get out and narrowed her eyes ever so slightly. She thought she recognized him and now she was certain. All the more reason for her not to let his kind into Jericho.

"Somebody here want to talk to me?"

Sari looked at the man as he looked at her. She kept her hand on her hips and in plain view also making it clear that her badge was showing. She studied the man as he stood there. She glanced at the other operatives but didn't say anything.

"Whoever's in charge, this road needs to be cleared."

Finally Sari spoke up, "I'm the sheriff of this town. I'm in charge." She took a couple of steps forward, her gaze not leaving the man in charge of Ravenwood.

Jake felt his breath hitch the moment Sari took her sew steps forward. He hadn't failed to notice the movement of the Ravenwood guys. He knew that she knew that they had itchy trigger fingers. He didn't understand why she was doing this. It made sense that yes she'd talk to them since she was in charge of the sheriff's station even though she only carried a deputy's badge but he thought this was needless. But he knew he had to trust her and he had her back. She was trusting him with that.

"This road needs to be cleared," the leader of Ravenwood repeated. "We're under government orders to collect supplies."

Sari looked at the leader and then turned to look at the barricade. She spoke in a slow drawl, "Well forgive us but we are not the kind to take things at face value. With everything that has been happening, we've been careful at who we let in. Dangerous times and all."

"And we're under government orders…"

"I heard you but… I just don't quite believe you." Sari made a slight face as she looked at the leader. "Considering that you didn't bother knocking to ask for gas from one of my citizens and claim to know another and since I pretty much know everyone in town… I don't know you so forgive me if I'm not inclined to take you for your word." She gave a smile. It was the one that Jake said was her polite and deadly one. She never understood what he meant by that but it worked when she needed it to.

The leader looked at her and replied, "We are in a state of emergency and local law enforcement is to cooperate and give us what we have been ordered to collect."

Sari nodded to acknowledge that she heard him. She crossed her arms in front of her and held her left wrist with her right hand. "You say that and I hear you but I am telling you that unless we have some proof from our government such as an order directly from the bae of operations then I suggest that you pass us by." She knew she was treading on light ice with this as she adjusted her stance and she noticed Ravenwood shifting. She held up a hand and continued, "Now if you just need supplies, we can see what we can do so that both sides would be happy but you would have to follow our laws."

"And you realize by government authority that I can commandeer supplies as I see fit?"

"I do," Sari acknowledged as she shifted on her feet. "But you see here, there are some stories going around about people pretending to be from the government and have been causing trouble. So I'm sure you can understand why we are suspicious." She looked at the leader with a raised brow. "And I am doubly suspicious of you and your band of miscreants."

Sari knew that would spark recognition. She watched as the leader's eyes open slightly and his head move. She didn't flinch as she stood there with her brow raised. The veil was lifted so to speak. Now it was a matter of whether or not Ravenwood was going to back down or not. She stood there expectantly and quietly, not once indicating that she was going for her weapon. She stared at the leader of Ravenwood.

All of a sudden a shot went off. That set up a chain reaction. Sari saw the rifles come up and dropped to the ground. She was well aware that she was vulnerable and in danger of being hit. She kept her head down and prayed that the men behind the barrier were okay. She was going to have to give them a talking to later but first things first. She stayed low and didn't move.

"Cease fire. Cease fire!"

Sari looked up and could see shell casings all over the ground. She could see that she wasn't hit. Another close call and she was probably going to hear it from Jake later. She took in a few deep breaths and pressed her hands on the pavement but didn't get up. She didn't want to give them an excuse to shoot again and possibly kill her. The leader would probably want to do that.

"Listen up," the leader shouted, "We're here on government orders to collect supplies. Your cooperation is mandatory."

Sari knew she was taking a risk and slowly got to her feet. She held her hands out in the open and away from her body so there was no reason to shoot her. She stood there looking at Ravenwood and said, "You say it is government orders but you have nothing but your word vouching for who you are. I apologize for that. We're only farmers and small town folk."

There was a tense silence on both sides but Sari wasn't going to back down. She stood there looking at Ravenwood, giving the impression that she was not going to back down. She did add, "And you do realize that if you do anything that would be taken out of context, anything you hope to gain will not happen."

More silence followed until the leader said, "As I said, your cooperation is mandatory."

"If you can provide proof that you are here on government orders."

"You really want to push me?"

Sari knew that she was risking open war if she continued to be an antagonist and provoke them. Yet she had to make it clear that Jericho was not another town that they could loot and pillage. She didn't want to get into conflict if she could avoid it but in this case she was willing to make an exception. She wasn't going to back down. She replied, "Careful there. You are talking to another representative of the US government."

It almost seemed like it was going to be a standoff that would end in a shootout. Sari stood her ground and looked at the Ravenwood leader until he finally said, "You will comply. When I get back here, this bridge better be cleared or I'll clear it myself." He glared at Sari and pointed at her, "You've got four hours. Understood?"

Sari looked at the leader with and slightly rolled her eyes. "Make sure that you come back with some verification. We are still American citizens with rights here."

The leader looked like he wanted to say something to her but instead reminded her, "Four hours." He then turned to his men and called out, "Let's roll out."

Sari lowered her hands and stood there, her hands balling slightly into fists as she watched the Ravenwood operatives pile back into their Humvees. She watched as they turned around and went back down the road they came. She took a deep breath once they were on the road but she knew that it wasn't over yet. Not with that deadline hanging over them.

"What the hell are we going to do?"

That was the question of the moment and Sari wracked her brain to come up with a solution. She knew that they would be coming back this way. And if it wasn't cleared, they would do it and that would mean bulldozing their way through and firing upon her men.

"There's no way that we're going to be able to hold this bridge," Gray said as he panted from the adrenaline rush.

"We're going to have to take it out," Jake said as he looked past Sari at the departing Humvees. "There can't be a bridge." He looked at Gray and Hawkins, "We're going to have to blow it up."

Sari widened her eyes as she turned at Jake's assessment. She looked at him and demanded, "What?"

A/N: And we get our first appearance of Ravenwood and Sari is out to protect the town. Jake too but at what cost? See ya next time on Forces Banding Together...