Cold Slog

Ben Mason Survival Series - Book I

Ben Mason was a man who marched to the beat of his own drum. A quiet prepper who had cast off the shackles of a corporate life, he had transformed his hobby into a career, and business was good. Unfortunately for everyone, Ben’s customers were being driven by societal unrest and infrastructure degradation: systemic failures which had only worsened in the autumn days leading up to a volatile election.

He had always been on the alert, taking care to stay ahead of trouble. Now, as trouble was spreading throughout the nation, Ben prided himself on acting as others sat idle – although his focus was misdirected. While he and everyone else was distracted by the news on the ground, a crippling electromagnetic event came from above without warning. Whether from nature with indifference or from mankind with malice, the result was the same, and he was hundreds of miles away from where he needed to be.

He had prepared his house. He had prepared his family. He had prepared his vehicle. He had prepared his business. Ben had planned for every contingency, even this one.

But no plan survives contact with the enemy.