The Siege of New Hampshire

4 Novelettes: Susan's Raid, Chapter 1

The story opens with Susan and Paul carrying food and water to some livestock hidden in a high woods. They are circumventing a new law that limits how much livestock people can own. Susan tells of discovering that the mysterious regular white van is carrying gasoline. She deduces that the gas is for an equally mysterious airplane the Feds are operating nearby. Back at home, they are visited by a Food Equity Inspector, eager to ensure that no one has more (or better) food than everyone else.  Later, Paul mentions that the Coalition is sending someone to deal with the airplane.

You can show your appreciation for these ongoing stories in the Siege universe, by buying a virtual coffee on Buy Me A Coffee. Monthly supporters on Patreon and BMAC are getting advanced chapters of Susan's Raid to read. Become a member. Read ahead!

 

Prepper Fiction: Arctic (2019 movie)

As a nod to winter, Mic, Jeff, and Brian, all watched the 2018 movie, Arctic, starring Mads Mikkelsen. He is the pilot of an airplane that crash-landed somewhere in the arctic. His survival skills have kept him alive for several weeks. When a rescue helicopter arrives, it too crashes due to storm gusts. Only the copilot — a young woman — survived, though gravely injured. He then tries to get her to medical care. The boys key off of this movie to discuss winter preparedness in general.

Links:

Movie, Arctic — (YouTube free version. What little is said, is dubbed in Portuguese)

IMDb Page for Arctic -- Writer, Director, star list. Reviews.

WinterReady tips from Ready.gov

f you are appreciating these topical episodes, consider becoming a Patron on Patreon, or a monthly member at Buy Me A Coffee, You can also buy Mic a one-time coffee at Buy Me A Coffee too. All support appreciated.

4 Novelettes: Susan's Raid, Chapter 2

Susan and Paul prepare a night landing spot for the Coalition operative. He arrives in a not-quite-dignified landing. It's Charon. They gather up his paraglider gear and return to Paul's house. While Charon urges them to destroy the glider gear so it can't be discovered, Susan feels the gear is too valuable as a resource. She and Paul must figure out ways to hide the gear.

 

Enjoying Susan's Raid? Show your support by buying a virtual coffee on Buy Me A Coffee. Monthly supporters on Patreon and BMAC are getting advanced chapters of Susan's Raid to read. Become a member. Read ahead!

Extra: Grid-Down Fire Dangers, with Brian Duff

In a grid-down situation, people will turn to alternate means to cook, for lighting, and to heat their homes. These alternates often involve fire — propane stoves, candles, propane heaters. These pose a higher risk of starting a fire in your home. And, at a time when the fire department probably isn't coming. What can you do?

Mic's special guest for this episode is Brian Duff, a prepper and former fire fighter. He, Mic and Jeff discuss grid-down fire dangers.

Links:

Brian Duff's Mind4Survival.com website.

Brian's Book Mind 4 Survival on Amazon.

If you are appreciating these topical episodes, consider becoming a Patron on Patreon, or a monthly member at Buy Me A Coffee, You can also buy Mic a one-time coffee at Buy Me A Coffee too. All support appreciated.

4 Novelettes: Susan's Raid, Chapter 3

Charon's presence is almost discovered by a surprise inspection of area homes following reports of strange sounds over the village of Marlboro. Charon is hidden just in time and inspectors search for clues. After they leave, Charon outlines his mission -- to find and neutralize the small plane that has been hindering Coalition efforts in the backcountry of upstate New York.

 

Enjoying Susan's Raid? Help keep the stories coming by buying a virtual coffee on Buy Me A Coffee. Monthly supporters on Patreon and BMAC are getting advanced chapters of Susan's Raid to read. Become a member. Read ahead!

Prepper Fiction: Volcanic Doom

The eruption of the Yellowstone supervolcano is one of those mega-disasters that some preppers worry about. Mic, Brian, and Jeff discuss two movies, one with the irresistable title of Volcanic Doom. The second is Supervolcano. The latter actually being about the catastrophic eruption of the Yellowstone volcano. They use those movies as jumping off points to discuss some of the realities of a huge volcanic eruption. 

Links:

Movie: Volcanic Doom — Free YouTube version. (original title: Magma: Volcanic Disaster (2006)

Movie: Supervolcano (2005) BBC/Discovery faux-documentary about the Yellowstone volcano erupting catastrophically.

Movie review: Crack in the World (1965) — a similar global crisis as in Volcanic Doom, with a similar solution. (Nukes)

Article about 1816: The Year Without a Summer.

USGS Page about predicted Yellowstone ash fallout.

If you are enjoying these "doom" episodes, show your appreciation by buying MIc a coffee at Buy Me A Coffee, or becoming a Patron on Patreon, or a BMAC monthly member.

4 Novelettes: Susan's Raid, Chapter 4

Susan, Paul, and Charon set out to a farm near West Dover, VT with a load of manure. That, as cover for them checking out the small plane that the Coalition sent Charon to deal with. En route, they encounter checkpoint guards and a skeptical farmer who had no idea why they were there.

Enjoying Susan's Raid? Help keep the stories coming by keeping Mic awake and at the keyboard, by buying him a virtual coffee on Buy Me A Coffee. Monthly supporters on Patreon and BMAC are getting advanced chapters of Susan's Raid to read. Become a member. Read ahead!

 

 

Extra: Preppers on a Plane

Mic, Brian, and Jeff discuss the challenges of staying prepared when traveling long distances. They share a few of their travel "horror" stories too. With TSA's restrictions on what can be brought as carry-on, a prepper is more limited in their travel EDC. The guys discuss what they have done to stay as prepped as they can while traveling.

Links:

Official TSA page: What's allowed and not allowed in baggage.

If you are finding value in these topical episodes, consider buying Mic a one-time cup of virtual coffee at Buy Me A Coffee, You can also become a monthly supporter at Buy Me A Coffee, or. a Patron on Patreon.

 

4 Novelettes: Susan's Raid, Chapter 5

Susan sneaks out of Boyd's Farm in the dark of night. She meets Charon in the woods outside of the little Deerfield airport. They make their way to the plane without being detected. Charon plants his explosive under the wing, but people start coming from the house. He has to cut the fuse very short and run for cover. The plane explodes just as the people arrive. They put out the subsequent fires quickly. There was no detonation of the Feds' explosive cargo. It was not aboard the plane yet. The airport boss tells the pilot and two helpers that they will have to carry the explosive package in on foot and blow up a bridge themselves.

BE the person people ask, "And then what happens?"

Monthly members at Buy Me A Coffee or Patreon  get to read many chapters ahead. You can be that person-in-the-know. But, if you're okay with suspense, you can still help keep the stories coming by buying a virtual coffee at BMAC 

Extra: Preppers and AI

Brian, Mic, and Jeff take another look at AI. This time, not in the fictional (and tyrannical) form of Skynet or Colossus, but as a here-and-now influence in our lives. Will AI replace humans for many jobs? Will AI tend to isolate people from each other? For preppers, is AI a good thing, or a bad thing?

Links:

CNBC: Bill Gates says humans won't be needed for most things (after AI)

CNN Business: Tech experts worry we'll rely on AI too much

Psychology Today: How AI could shape our relationships and social interaction

The Stepford Wives: Movie Review

If you are appreciating these topical episodes, consider becoming a Patron on Patreon, or a monthly member at Buy Me A Coffee,

One-time coffee at Buy Me A Coffee are great too! All support appreciated.