Chapter 10 - The Battle For The Homestead
At 7:45 AM, two massive yellow bulldozers and three construction trucks pulled up to the wooden front gates of the Vance Ranch.
The lead driver, a rough-looking contractor hired by Apex Land Holdings, stepped out of his cab holding a clipboard and a cup of gas-station coffee.
He walked up to the old wooden gate, reaching out to unlatch the chain so his heavy equipment could roll onto the property.
Before his hand touched the iron link, a high-powered rifle round smashed through the truck's side mirror with a deafening crack.
The contractor yelled in shock, diving behind the front tire of his bulldozer as the echo of the gunshot rolled across the Texas hills.
Sitting on the roof of the historic two-story log homestead eight hundred yards away was Marcus, holding a suppressed sniper rifle.
Standing in the center of the gravel driveway, framed by the rising morning sun, was Caleb.
He stood with his arms folded across his chest, wearing his desert tan uniform, looking as immovable as the granite cliffs surrounding the property.
Behind him, three other veterans stepped out from the treeline, holding tactical shotguns lowered at their sides.
The contractor poked his head out from behind the bulldozer wheel, his face covered in sweat.
"Hey! We have a legal work order from Apex Land Holdings to clear this site!" the contractor shouted nervously.
Caleb stepped forward, his voice carrying clearly across the open field.
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"This is private military-reserved land, son," Caleb called back, his tone deadpan and sharp.
"And you are currently trespassing on an active tactical defense zone."
