2015 The Second American Civil War

Book 2

The Balkanization of America

4th edition 9-18-15

Copyright 2014 IJT

Ira. J. Tabankin

Sterling VA

Dedication

This book is dedicated to my wife and true love, Patricia.

The following is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual names, persons, businesses, and incidents are strictly coincidental.

Thanks

I’d like to thank the many members of the survivalistboards.com who helped me with their knowledge, comments and encouragement. Special thanks to those members who helped edit and make this published version possible.

Prologue

The conservative coalition held together long enough to increase their control of the House of Representatives and win seven seats in the Senate giving them control of both houses of Congress in the midterm elections of 2014. The pre-agreed upon cost for the Tea Party and the mainstream Republicans to work together is the impeachment of President Obsma. The President knew he had to act quickly to move his agenda forward before the new Congress was sworn in. The President issued a number of executive orders to remove all guns from the public’s hands, increased the minimum wage, and censored the press. The public is split in their support and opposition to the President. Many citizens believe the country is so divided there’s no hope of working together to make America a better country. The majority of the country pays no taxes and lives on government programs paid for by a minority. Many minorities believed that President Obsma is finally going to deliver on his campaign promises to pay back the group that twice elected him.

The “Hands-around-DC” rally surrounded Washington DC with hundreds of thousands of people opposed to President Obsma ruling via executive orders and disbanding Congress. The rally was the brainchild of the famous talk show and media owner Glen Back. Glen urged people to stand together holding hands while standing along the right-hand shoulder of the Beltway that rings Washington DC. Glen urged his listeners to be peaceful and pray for the President to see the error of his ways.

President Obsma sent his union backers to hold their own rally on the left-hand shoulder of the Beltway. Three lanes separate the two groups on I-495. Union thugs were paid to incite violence and make the peaceful protesters, Glen Back, and the Tea Party look like they instituted the violence. Thousands are injured, and a small number killed.

Congress decided to trade power and perks for time; they delay the impeachment vote until the country is ready to explode. The country is on the verge of violent exploding.

Chapter 1

The “Hands-around-DC” march became a disaster for the hundreds of thousands of peaceful protesters who came to Washington to show there is a peaceful, unified voice against President Obsma disbanding Congress. The aftermath of the battle on the Beltway between the unions and the protesters is thousands injured and ten dead. Glen wanted to show the world that hundreds of thousands of like-minded conservatives could turn out for a peaceful rally without turning to violence. The progressive media warned the public the march was bound to turn violent because the Tea Party and their friends are racist. The mainstream media reminded the public the “right” always reverts to violence when things don’t go their way. The President ensured the march turned violent by making sure union organizing thugs were mixed in with normal union members counter-protesting the peaceful protest. To ensure it looked like the Tea Party started the violence, some of the union thugs are holding Tea Party signs, this ensures the press records images of people holding Anti President Obsma signs striking people. Glen pleaded with his supporters to be peaceful and not turn to violence. The media blamed Glen and the Tea Party for the injuries and deaths. The government employee unions pay for a national advertising campaign to blame conservatives for the deaths. Glen is deeply troubled by the violence and death on both sides of the beltway. He tells his staff, “I want to go to the beltway and pray for the injured and dead.”

His longtime sidekick and friend, Paul says, “Glen, we can’t allow you to go. You’ll make it too easy for the DHS to find and arrest you. Remember you’re on the President’s top five most-wanted list.”

“Paul, I have a top rated security team that goes everywhere with me.”

“Glen, you travel with two or four people, I don’t think that’s going to be enough to save you, I suggest you contact General Brownstone and ask him for a platoon of his Marines.”

“If I can’t go, what can we do?”

“We thought we’d hold a live on-air town hall meeting to discuss what happened. We’ll pray with our listeners; we’ll financially support those who’ve lost loved ones or had loved ones injured. We can’t step foot anywhere near DC. DHS, DoJ, the FBI and the Secret Service have turned DC into a police state. There are rumors floating around that the DHS has taken over tanks from the Marines giving them mobile heavy weapon platforms. DHS has set up roadblocks at every bridge leading into DC. They’re stopping and searching every vehicle going into DC. They’re arresting anyone on their domestic terrorist list. Glen, you should be proud; you’ve made it onto the President’s top ten most-wanted political criminals list; you and Rash are in the top five.”

With tears in his eyes, Glen responds, “I never wanted this to turn violent. I begged them not to resort to violence; I asked everyone to turn the other cheek. The President used the violence to close DC. He’s closed our national treasures from the very people they were built for. How could I have been so wrong? I should have seen the problem coming; I should have known he wouldn’t let us hold a peaceful rally without turning it into a political circus.  The General tried to warn me the President wouldn’t allow us hold a peaceful march. He warned me Obsma would use the unions against us.”

“Glen, please calm down, why don’t you contact Rash on the sat phone, chat with him, get his thoughts on what to do next.”

“Paul, that’s a good idea, thanks.”

“Rash, this is Glen, do you have a minute?”

@@@@@

Ron, Kathy and I were lucky to make it to my car and across the American Legion Bridge before the DHS locked down DC. “Man we barely made it back into Virginia before the damned DHS closed all of the bridges. What the hell happened? One minute it’s peaceful, and the next all hell broke lose. Who the hell threw the first punch?”

“Brad, damn union thugs did, or at least that’s what I heard. The President sent them to stir up trouble; he wanted an excuse to ban all rallies and marches. He just issued an executive order that no more than five people can hold meetings or gather in public. He thinks outlawing all public gatherings thinking this will prevent any further uprisings.”

Kathy says, “I for one don’t care what he says, I’m telling you, if Obsma’s not stopped soon he’ll never be stopped. He’ll cancel the 2016 elections and appoint himself king or president for the duration of the emergency he caused. We’ll never be rid of him. Our founders will roll over in their graves if America has a king. We have to do something. Time isn’t on our side. The longer he rules by executive order, the harder it’s going to be to get him out of office. He can’t even be impeached because he sent Congress home.”

I respond, “Look what happened to the Chief Justice. The very night he announces he’s going to make a major announcement he gets hit by a drunk driver, who just happens to die while in the DC police holding cell. Does anyone believe a single word of that story? The White House killed the Chief Justice and arranged for the driver who hit him to be killed. I’m sure they weren’t the first people Obsma had killed, and they won’t be the last. He’ll do anything to stay in power even if it means destroying America.”

Kathy responds, “The media as usual bought every word of the story, they reported the Chief Justice’s accident with crocodile tears in their eyes. They worship the President. Anything he says they believe. If he told them to line up and jump off of the George Washington Bridge, I would bet you they would, thinking they were helping him. They don’t understand that sooner verses later he’s going to do away with all of them. He’s no different from any other nickel dictator. He has the press on his side right now, once he has total control, he’ll do away with any resemblance of a free press. He has his own black shirt army to make sure everyone toes his line. He has the DHS censors enforcing the press only reports the news his office writes. He’s censoring what people see and read; next he’ll try to monitor our use of the internet. If he ever gets full control of the web, we can kiss America goodbye.”

“Honey, you’re right, but what can we do? Where’s the damn military? Why are they allowing this to happen? Didn’t they swear an oath to defend the constitution? Shouldn’t they be stopping him?”

Ron answers, “My guess is the military is divided between following their orders and helping save the country. They know what happens when countries implode. They’ve served in countries torn apart by civil wars, once the shooting starts it’s almost impossible to stop. The country will be torn apart; we’ll never heal. The upcoming civil war is going to be much worse than the war between the North and South. Hell, we’re almost at the tipping point.”

“Ron, if we don’t first explode into a full-blown race war, we’re going to have a civil war. My gut says we’re looking at both at the same time. We’re already too divided; no one can stop the coming wars. The great unifier of a President has done more to cause a race and class war than all of the previous Presidents combined. I think he wants to have a race and/or class war so the country is broken apart. That way he can rebuild America into what he thinks it should be, he grew up outside the country; his roots aren’t the same as ours. He grew up with parents who hated America. Listen to him, he hates us; he wants to transform the country into a socialist nation. In normal times, he could never have been elected; he has no experience running anything. He got elected only for one reason.”

“Brad, the military can stop him if they get together and fulfill their duty to the country. They swore an oath; they have to fulfill their oath.”

Kathy interjects, “I don’t think the military will stop him or do anything. They’re afraid of the stigma of a military coup.”

Ron looks at Kathy, “Kath, I think you’re 100% correct. I hadn’t thought of that angle. That makes perfect sense. If they sit on the sidelines, and I think you’re right, they’re going to. We’re doomed.”

Kathy says, “There’s a special on tonight about the march, it looks like Wolf News is going to tell the truth about the march.”

I nod responding, “Obsma can’t shut them down because they’re on the internet and hosted from outside of the country. What time is it on?”

“8 PM, let’s watch, maybe they’ll show us, it’ll be our 15 minutes of fame.”

“I just hope it’s not our last 15 minutes. I worry that any minute our front door is going to be kicked in by the DHS black shirts arresting us or worse.”

@@@@@

General Brownstone’s aide is meeting with him, “General you were right, the beltway rally was a disaster, two more died this evening bringing the total to twelve with three thousand wounded. A few of the seriously wounded might not make it. We could have interceded and given the union thugs hell. We could have stopped the thugs. Why did you stop us from acting?”

“Is that what we’ve come to? Beating up union thugs? No. We have to help the people reclaim the country. We have to help them in a way that doesn’t destroy the country while they’re reclaiming it. I have an idea I want to try before we do anything we may regret later. It’s going to take guts from a number of people in order for the next step to be taken in reclaiming our country. If they do it, we’ll protect them as best we can. I want our people to hand deliver a message to 535 people who are supposed to put a stop to the current madness, maybe we can push them to do the right thing. Think you can assemble teams to deliver the messages all within a few minutes time window?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Sir, why within a few minutes?”

“I don’t want leaks or one of them to be able to call and tip off the others. Surprise is a dish best served hot.”

@@@@@

Two days after the march a front door bell rings in Ashburn Virginia, “Hello Mr. Johnson, I’m Mrs. Gray, the President of the homeowner's association. Mr. Johnson, we’re very sorry for the loss of your son. I know this is a very difficult time for you as the President of the homeowner's association it's my duty to inform you that you’re in violation of the homeowner's association’s rules concerning signs in the subdivision. We don’t allow the display of signs or flags on our properties. We’re asking you very nicely to remove the large black ribbon from the front door of your house.”

“Wait a minute, I’m not flying a flag nor have I posted a sign.”

“We consider the ribbon a sign. Your son’s funeral is tomorrow; we’re asking; we’re demanding you remove the ribbon before sundown tomorrow.”

“My son was ten years old; he was holding my hand when a bullet came out of nowhere; instantly killing him. We were peacefully protesting the President’s recent decisions when my son was murdered. The DC police told me they were not going to investigate his death. They said it was an accident. I carried his body in my arms to my car; I drove him to the hospital where they pronounced him dead on arrival. I was there when he was born; I was there when he died. His mother died last year from cancer. He was all I had left and now he’s been taken from me. I’ll keep my ribbon displayed to remember my son.”

“Mr. Johnson, under the revised homeland security rules we can have you classified as a domestic terrorist if you don’t follow the agreed-upon rules.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“The Department of Homeland Security has revised the rules and definition of domestic terrorism, anyone who upsets the domestic tranquility, which you are clearly doing by being in breach of our agreed to rule. May I remind you, you signed a copy of the association’s rules before you moved into your house? Your signature on this receipt for the association’s handbook clearly shows you’ve received the manual, as such you’re aware of the regulations that you are clearly in violation of. The new DHS rules say those who are veterans, which you are, who own firearms, which we know you do; can be classified as a domestic terrorist. It would be horrible if they had to arrest you right after the funeral of your son. Which is why we’re giving you till sundown tomorrow to remove the ribbon. Good day, Mr. Johnson.”

“Mrs. Grey I know where you live.”

“Mr. Johnson, are you threatening an elected official? That means I have no choice, but to call DHS right now.”

“Wait a minute, I didn’t mean anything, I just lost my son, come on, why don’t we start all again?”

“Good day Mr. Johnson.”

Thinking, what a bitch, he walks back into his house slamming the front door behind him. He has to prepare for his brother and sister who will arrive in the morning, to attend his son’s funeral. At 11:00 PM he goes to bed since he hasn’t been able to sleep since his son’s death he takes a sleeping pill washing it down with a beer. He falls into a deep dreamless sleep. At 3: 30 AM he's awakened by his front door being kicked in. Ten armed men dressed in all black rush into his house, they kick in his bedroom door, he sits up starting to yell, “What, who?” As he lifts his hand to block the bright flashlight beam in his eyes, five shots are fired, hitting him in the chest instantly killing him.

“Sergeant why did you fire?”

“LT, he was reaching for something, I had to protect the team. No big deal, another domestic terrorist bites the dust. Since he was on the list, the only paperwork we have to do is cross his name off.”

“Before we leave, search the house for his contacts and his computer, we’ll pick up everyone on his social network, these birds of a feather always fly together.”

Chapter 2

The next day all 535 members of Congress get a knock on their front door by three men in their mid-twenties. All are clean cut; each wears their hair cut very short, their jeans are pressed, it’s clear to the people they’re visiting these young people are members of the military. In each case, the message is the same, “Hello congressperson I’m Mr. Smith, we have a sealed message for you from General Brownstone. He asks that you read the message. We’ve been instructed to wait for your reply.”

The Congressman, woman, Senator breaks the wax seal to open the envelope. Most stand in their doorway while they read the message; some invite their visitors inside to wait, almost everyone reading the message smiles, they turn to the message carriers; the usual answer is, “Tell the General to count me in, when do we leave?”

“We’re your security detail; we’ll leave as soon as you’re packed.”

“Are you armed?”

“If you want to know, the answer is yes. We’re licensed to carry firearms as security contractors for VIPs.”

“Please give me a few minutes to pack. Where is your car?”

“We’ll call it when you’re ready; we didn’t want to park a military style vehicle in your driveway since it might excite your neighbors.”

“Please call for it, I think my neighbors need to be shaken a bit.”

Two vehicles arrive at the congressperson’s home; one’s a large black MRAP, the other is a black HUMMER, and both wear the DHS logo on their front doors.”

“DHS? I would have thought you’re military.”

“We are; the black paint and logo help keep certain undesirables away.”

Laughing, he says, “Let’s go.”

The member of Congress with their new security detail leave for the secret location provided by General Brownstone and his ex-Marines.

@@@@@

The President enters the executive conference room joining his cabinet, he announces, “Ladies and gentlemen, I’m going to sign a new revenue generation executive order, anyone who is deemed to be a domestic terrorist will have all of their personal assets confiscated by the Department of the Treasury. This will stop the right wing racists in their tracks; they fear nothing more than becoming poor. Also, it’ll provide us with additional revenue.”

The Secretary of the Treasury responds, “Mr. President, we’re having trouble borrowing additional funds. China, Russia, Japan, even the Europeans have informed us they won’t lend us any more money, none of them will buy our bonds, I offered to double the interest rate, and they still refused. I think we’re dealing with a right wing conspiracy. Somehow the Coke brothers must have something on the other world leaders. Sir, we’re having a very serious cash issue. No one is willing to lend us additional funds. Our current debt is $19.8 trillion dollars; China has said unless we pay six month's interest in advance, and in gold they’re not only not going to lend us any additional funds, in addition, they, have closed our lines of credit for any imports. Sir, we are on the verge of going bankrupt and defaulting on our payments. I don’t think you’re new plan is going to bring in enough revenue soon enough to have an impact on our liquidity issue.”

President Obsma looks concerned asking, “What happened to all of the money we saved by reducing the size of the military?”

“Sir, we spent those funds and more on our new social programs.”

“What happens if we stop making interest payments to our lenders?”

“Mr. President are you suggesting we intentionally default?”

“You just said we’re on the verge of being bankrupt, Isn’t it better if we decide which payments to make and which not to? In either case if what you’ve just reported is true do we have a choice?”

The Secretary of the Interior suggests, “Sir, maybe we can sell some assets.”

President Obsma smiles saying, “There’s an excellent idea, sell some land, we have millions of acres under federal control, we can later take it back under imminent domain.”

The Secretary of the Treasury says, “Mr. President, maybe we could delay a couple of weeks making this month’s disability and welfare payments. A short delay may allow us to sell some assets and be able to get current with the rest of our payments.”

President Obsma looks down, at the table. He picks his head up to look into the eyes of his Secretary of the Treasury, “You can start delaying disability, the military’s retirement, benefits and Social Security, those seniors won’t be here much longer, they cost us too much versus any possible return they bring us. Delay payments to doctors and hospitals under the Affordable Care Act.”

The Secretary of Health and Human Services says, “Mr. President delaying those payments might force a couple of hospitals to close, we’re already months behind in our payments. If we delay paying the doctor's many may decide to stop seeing affordable care insured people. This could cause us a major PR problem.”

“Madam Secretary, I’ll issue an executive order forbidding the hospitals from closing and stopping any doctor from dropping patients. Does this solve your issues?”

“Yes sir, it does. Sir, I’m sure the people thank you too.”

@@@@@

Three national news anchors jolt awake when their bedroom lights are turned on. They look at the clock radios next to their beds; it’s 3: 30 AM. “What’s going on, Oh no, not again. I did what you asked. It’s not my fault the censors cut me off. You saw I tried. What do you want now?”

Sitting in each of the reporter’s bedrooms are three armed men, the team leaders say, “Hello again. We have another request to make of you.”

The reporter is shaking, “No, we had a deal, if I made the report you wanted, you said we were done. I made the report you wanted. I held up my end of the deal. Why are you back?”

“We just told you; we need you to report a story for us. This one will break your heart and the hearts of your viewers. A man was killed today killed a day before he was going to bury his dead ten-year-old son who was shot at the “Hands-Around-DC” rally. The father was killed because he had a black ribbon on his front door; he had a disagreement with the President of his local homeowners association. She reported him as a domestic terrorist to the DHS, who broke into his home at 3: 30 AM killing him in his own bed. We want you to report this story, drive the point home that the government has stretched the rules on defining what a domestic terrorist is. We want you to explain to your viewers that anyone could be marked as a terrorist. Anyone classified as a domestic terrorist will lose all of their assets. We want the American people to realize any of them at any time can be classified as a terrorist.”

“How do you suggest I do this without it being censored?”

“That’s the easy part, here’s a disk, just insert it into your office computer.”

“Will it damage the network? Will our IT people be able to trace it back to me?”

“Nope, if anything it’ll point to the government censor in your office.”

“Leave the disk by my car keys, that way I won’t forget it.”

“You won’t forget it, if you do, you’ll die on air tomorrow evening.”

“What?!”

“Just do what we ask, or you’ll have the biggest rating boost in your show’s history.”

“If I do this are we done? Am I done with these middle of the night meetings?”

“We’ll see how well you handle the story. Get some rest, you need to be well-rested tomorrow.”

@@@@@

The next day, three national broadcast anchors slip a CD-ROM into their office laptops. The disk sucks data out of the network’s servers that it sends to a secret server farm. At the same time, it inserts a hydra worm into the networks’ computer networks, the worm finds its way into the DHS censor’s laptop moving into and infecting the DHS computer network. One of the worm’s tasks is to collect DHS’ information on various patriot organizations. After the worm sends the patriot’s data back to the General’s servers, it erases the data in the government servers. At 6:30 PM, the three nationally broadcast news programs lead off with a tragic story of a man who lost his son in the “Hands-around-DC” march. He was then falsely classified as a domestic terrorist and killed in his own bed. While they’re reporting the story, the embedded government censors try to cut them off, another task the worm performs is to deactivate the censors “spike” function. The entire story with the gory images gets broadcast across America.

President Obsma loses his temper watching the evening news programs, he calls his chief of staff, “I want to know how that story got on the air, who approved it, why didn’t the embedded censors catch and stop it. I want those three reporters careers killed. Get the head of DHS over here right now.”

The worm goes about its business without a thought as it moves into new networks, soon the Department of Justice and the Department of the Treasury are infected. The worm finds hidden data that it encrypts before sending to the General’s server. The worm replicates itself as it enters new networks, soon data is flowing into General Brownstone’s servers from most of the government’s networks.

The General’s aide knocks on his door, “General, have you seen the summary of the data we’re collecting? It’s simply amazing. “

“Yes, I am very pleased with the results of your efforts, I think it’s time to move to the next step, select one hundred of the most vocal posters on the various social media sites, nail them next, add every one of them to the DHS domestic terrorist lists. We’ll freeze all of their financial accounts. They’ll scream at the White House, which should be fun to watch. Remember progressivism is a religion. We’re going to fight the left at the very roots of their beliefs; we’re going to increase their pain level to a degree they’ve never experienced. Pain levels they’re used to hand out to others, none of the elites has ever experienced pain to a degree we’re going to inflict on them.”

“General, Glen is on line 1.”

“Glen, you know I both like and respect you; however your march around DC idea was very naïve. You acted like a four-year girl. Damn it, Glen, you know better, how the hell could you place all of those people in such danger? You told them to stand along the 64 miles long beltway? Glen, for Christ’s sake, you put these people in jeopardy. You put these people in harm’s way. You told them to pray, and God would save them; when you knew what was going to happen. You’re as guilty as those who pulled the trigger.”

“General, I hoped God would intercede. I had hoped…”

“Glen, either grow up or take me off your speed dial list. You made the entire situation much worse than it already was. “Hands-around-DC” what were you thinking? Why didn’t you vet your idea over here? In the future, call, vet your ideas first, we might be able to save some lives.”

“General, I’d hoped the press would see their savior as he really is.”

“Glen, I understand, but did you think the press would report anything negative about the President? They helped get him elected; they’ve covered up every negative story about him and his criminal administration. The press covered up his past; they never vetted him. Do me a favor, don’t do anything like that again.”

“General, I had such hope…”

“Glen, we in the military have a saying, “Hope isn’t a strategy.” Keep that in mind, always have a plan, always have a backup plan and always have a backup to the backup, because every plan turns to crap when the enemy in engaged. Leave the strategy planning to professionals. Next time you get a brain fart, call before you announce it.”

@@@@@

The next morning a nationally famous reporter stops on his way to work to pick up his morning coffee and bagel. He slides his credit card through the payment machine; his card is rejected. The reporter asks, “Is the machine broken?”

The cashier responds, “No it worked fine for the last customer.”

The reporter tries another card; it too is rejected. People behind him are starting to get restless, he tries his debit card, and it too is rejected. The reporter says, “Something is wrong with the payment machine.”

A woman pushes the reporter out of the way; she slides her credit card through, it’s accepted, she turns to the reporter saying; “The machine works, you’re just a deadbeat. Get a job, here’s a five to buy your lunch, you may need it today.” She walks out of the coffee shop smiling, knowing she’s performed her good deed of the day.

Five reporters and ninety-five other people discover all of their credit and debit cards are rejected; one can’t pay for the gas they’ve pumped, the station manager calls the police when he drives off without paying. The police catch and pull the thief over.

“License and registration, please. I’m stopping you because you purchased gas and left without paying that’s a misdemeanor in this state.”

“Officer, I can explain, my credit card didn’t work, I was going to return to pay for the gas.”

“I’m going to check your story out, just sit here and keep your hands on the steering wheel. “

Trying to leave the car, the reporter says, “Officer, I can explain.”

“I told you to stay in your car and keep your hands on the steering wheel where I can see them.”

“Officer, do you know who I am?”

“No, but I’m about to.”

Returning to his police cruiser, the officer enters the reporter’s driver’s license number into his laptop. His screen flashes red with a rolling banner saying, “DOMESTIC TERRORIST approach with caution. Call for backup, code three.” The officer looks at the car in front of him, thinking, I earned a bonus today. He calls for backup, which arrives within three minutes. Two additional police cars arrive with their lights flashing and sirens screaming; the new police cars block the reporter’s car from being able to move. The officers exit their cars with their weapons drawn; they open the reporter’s car door and drag him out of his car. They force him to the ground, all while he’s screaming at them. They handcuff the reporter, one officer waits with the reporter’s car for the tow truck. They plan to take the car apart to make sure there’s nothing hidden in it. The other two officers take the reporter to their station to be booked. Later that day, their chief will make the announcement his people captured a wanted domestic terrorist.

Handcuffed sitting in the back of a police car, the reporter screams, “Do you know who I am? Do you know what my network is going to do to you?”

One of the officers laughs, he prints out the reporter’s record. The officer holds it in front of the reporter saying, “Look here asshole; you’re on the list, you’re going to jail, if you’re lucky, you’ll get an all expense trip to Cuba. Now shut the fuck up.”

Across America, some of the elite going about their daily business are stopped by local and state police. Most have no idea why they are stopped; anyone stopped are arrested as domestic terrorists. Their assets are confiscated; they are taken to jail where they’re placed in solitary conferment without any visitors allowed. Their families have no idea what happened to their loved ones.

Chapter 3

“Ron, did you see the news this evening?”

“Huh? What did I miss now? Did the UFOs return and take back the President?”

“Man I wish they would return and take him, maybe we should paint a huge sign pointing to the White House, and then they won’t be able to miss him. Back to the news, the courts today said that schools have the right to stop students from wearing American flag shirts to school. Something about the flag causing violence.”

“Ron, it’s OK if kids wear Mexican flags, but not ours? Kids can’t wear NRA shirts, but Satan shirts are OK? Two kids were sent home for wearing Bible verses on their T-shirts. I don’t know what’s going on with our schools today. I’ve got an idea, why don’t we buy some upside down flag shirts, we can give them out to the kids going to school?”

“Brad, you have a sick sense of humor.”

“Thank you, but that’s not the only news. The AG said today that the state’s Attorney General doesn’t have to defend state laws that are in their opinion discriminatory. Notice I said in their opinion, not the law, just their opinion. Aren’t state Attorney Generals supposed to support the laws their people voted on? If the state’s AGs don’t defend their state’s laws then who represents the state’s people? We the people just lost our say in court, didn’t we go to war over not having representation?”

“Damn. What else can they change?”

“Anything they want to, no one’s left to stop them.”

“Our laws are being written by courts. The Constitution says laws are made by Congress, why doesn’t Congress stop the courts from writing laws. Why doesn’t Congress stop agencies like the EPA from making laws? We’re out of control.”

“I agree with you. I think Congress doesn’t do anything because they’re more concerned about getting re-elected than they are about passing laws.”

@@@@@

Texan President Lawson sends a message to the White House demanding Texas’ gold be returned. Texas has received only 30% of their gold the Federal Government held. The Federal Reserve has been telling President Lawson that they’re checking on the gold; all will be returned within 36 months. After three days of trying President Lawson finally reaches the Secretary of the Treasury, “Mr. Secretary, can you, please give me one reason it’s going to take you three years to return our gold. Surely it’s just sitting in a vault someplace.”

“Mr. President, it’s not that simple, I can’t go into it right now, I assure you, you’ll get your gold back, it’s just going to take a little longer than you want it to.”

“Three years is not a little longer, maybe we should give you an ultimatum, and either return our gold in four weeks or pay the penalty.”

“What are you going to do, charge us a late payment fee?”

“No, I’ll nuke Fort Knox, you have four weeks.”

President Lawson slams down the handset, he tells the Texas Ranger commanding General,” I don’t think we’re going to get our gold back, can you plan an attack on Fort Knox?”

“Mr. President, are you serious? Are you going to nuke Fort Knox?”

“No, but I want him to think we are. Plan the attack and make sure the American spies have access to it.”

“Sir, I’ll do that, on the other hand, I suggest we plan a bank job but not at Fort Knox. There should be a lot of gold stored in the Federal Reserve Banks in Atlanta and New York. Both are easier to hit than Fort Knox. I can have a plan for your review in two days. We have some people who used to provide security for the Federal Reserve Banks; they’re familiar with the security at the banks.”

“Excellent, prepare the plan. How’s the border project coming?”

“Mr. President, we’ve completed 75% of the wall along the Mexican border. We continued the wall the feds started and abandoned. We’ve put our prisoners to work building it. We’ve finished the border checkpoints along the main roads between Mexico and us and us and America. We’ve recently started issuing visas per your instructions. “

“General, Thank you.”

Next on President Lawson’s agenda is a meeting with the Texas Defense Minister. “Mr. President we’ve raised an army based on the National Guard troops that were based here. Once we declared our independence, most of the National Guard came over to our side. We have a current force of 35,000 people. More are joining every day, the reserve force has grown to 60,000 mostly citizens. All are being trained at Fort Hood. The additional troops will give us a force in excess of 100,000 people with the latest weapons in the American military arsenal.”

“How are the discussions with the American Army and Navy units that are stationed in Texas going?”

“Sir, General Craig the Commanding General from Fort Hood and Admiral Franks will be here tomorrow to work out a formal agreement. They have a combined force of 80,000 people, plus four hundred tanks.”

“What about the Air Force?”

“Sir, so far they haven’t responded to any of our calls.”

“Their B 1 bombers would give us the range and power projection to ensure no one ever bothers us again.”

“President Lawson, there is a rather sensitive issue we have to discuss, sir, the American’s want their nukes back.”

“Mr. Secretary, what nukes?”

“Mr. President, I understand, I’ll tell them we don’t have any idea what they’re talking about.”

“Mr. Secretary, I want you to mobilize as many of your troops as possible to protect our border with America, I think President Obsma is going to declare war on Texas and launch an invasion.”

“Sir, why would he do that? Doesn’t he have enough problems?”

“Think about it, he needs something to focus the people’s attention on, he needs a massive distraction, why not a war to force us back into the union?”

“Can he get the military to attack us?”

“I think he’ll get enough of them, Lincoln got enough to fight the South, why won’t Obsma get enough support to fight us?”

“When do you think he’ll attack?”

“Within a few weeks, he has to, the people in America are upset, he went too far when he disbanded Congress, and in addition, almost everyone thinks he’s behind the death of the Chief Justice.”

“I’ll get on the horn with the General and Admiral tonight so we’re ready when they arrive tomorrow.”

“Good, Mr. Secretary, if General Craig will accept the position, I’m going to appoint him as our commanding General over all of the Texas forces. He has the experience we need.”

“President Lawson, that’s fine with me, I hope he’ll accept.”

@@@@@

Dense fog covers Harpers Ferry West Virginia. The militia loved the fog because it helped hide them from the oncoming DHS convoy which is taking new recruits from Ohio to Washington DC. Three days ago the militia dug up their ARs and AKs. When the weather reports said dense fog, they knew this was their chance to attack and also most likely get away with their lives. The militia spent a month recording DHS convoy schedules; they knew the vehicles would be coming through Harpers Ferry along state Route 340 at 7: 30 AM. Five militia members spent most of the night digging fox holes while five others planted homemade IEDs to stop the convoy. At 6:55 AM their scouts sent three flashes from a yellow tinted flashlight to notify the main group the convoy is on time. At 7:31 AM the convoy of four buses and four black Suburbans drives past the militia’s position. Sitting on the side of state Route 340 is a disabled car that has been left on the side of the road for the last month. Except for a parking ticket, no one had touched the car; the militia turned the car into an IED packed with homemade explosives and boxes of nails. When the convoy reaches the right location, the militia explodes the abandoned car IED, three of the buses are stopped dead in their tracks, and their sides are ripped open from the IED shrapnel. The convoy slides to a stop before the DHS agents can respond the Militia opens fire from their foxholes which are in a V formation putting the DHS vehicles in a “kill zone," the militia fires 2,000 rounds killing everyone in the convoy. The militia collects ten new M4s plus ten new-9mm pistols, in addition, they, find 10,000 rounds of ammo as a bonus one of their members finds six hand grenades. The militia loads the weapons and ammo into their trucks hidden by the dense fog.

@@@@@

The midday news programs lead off with the unusual story that a number of nationally known reporters and bloggers have been arrested as domestic terrorists. The anchor on NBX news says, “We have some very unsettling news today. A few of our coworkers have been arrested as domestic terrorists, we have a very hard time believing our friends could be terrorists, if they’re not, then this leads to the question could the Department of Homeland Security have made a mistake? Could anyone now be deemed a terrorist? With the government, now taking all of the assets of a domestic terrorist, if the government makes a mistake do you still lose everything you own? Could this be the start of……..”

Before the reporter completes his sentence, he’s cut off by the embedded government censor. The censors have complete control of everything broadcast. With a tap on the censor’s keyboard, the reporter’s career is finished. This time, a small part of the story managed to get broadcast before the censor cut off the broadcast. NBX was a trusted network, so the embedded censor wasn’t paying close attention to what was being said. When the reporter wandered off the prepared and approved script, the censor had been playing angry birds on his phone vs. paying attention to the broadcast. When he heard the deviation from the approved script, the censor reached over to flip the cut-off switch cursing the reporter, whose career just ended. And might take the censor’s down too.

People begin to question why the government can put anyone who disagrees with them on the terrorist list. Once on the list you lose everything you own. Even if proven to be innocent, you return to find yourself homeless and penniless. When the government takes your assets, it’s impossible to get them returned. People sitting at lunch counters discussing the situation are concerned, everyone looks over their shoulder wondering who’s watching them, whose possibility is listening to what they say. They begin to question if their emails and texts are being read by the government? Is theirs the next name on the government’s list? Will they lose their children? What the hell happened to America?

Chapter 4

The Mexican drug cartels hold their quarterly meeting in Tijuana with their partners, the governors of the Northern Mexican states. “Carlos we have a problem. There’re too many peasants stuck on our side of the border. They’re demanding food and shelter; the Texans are almost finished building a wall along our border, they’re also building a security zone on their side of the border. I’m telling you this is totally unacceptable. They fire on everyone who tries to cross the border illegally. Too many of our excess workforce is stuck on our side that'll increase our state’s costs. The national government will start to pay special attention to the northern states; we’ll have to increase our payoffs to the military and police further cutting into our income. The Texans are chasing your mules and our peasants back across the border, to make it worse, they follow our people across, and they’re destroying your product where ever they find it. I tell you; they’re invading Mexico. It costs us all hundreds of millions every week.”

“Juan, I have an idea. First we should stop trying to cross into Texas. We’re losing too much product. They arrest our mules and destroy our product. Second, we should push the peasants across our bridge into Arizona, mix our mules in with the peasants. Third we keep the pressure up on the Texans from our side of the border; that'll keep the Texan’s focused on their border while we push a million peasants into Arizona. You Governors empty the local prisons, send them across mixed in with the peasants and mules. The American President is too weak to do anything to stop us; we’ll be able to rebuild our inventory in our major markets within a couple of weeks. Governors, you’ll be rid of your peasants and prisoners. How long will it take to get everyone into position?”

“Carlos, in two weeks we can have a million lined up to push across the bridge to the North.”

“Good, we’ll go in two weeks; we’ll arrange for the Mexican Army to provide security on our side of the border.”

Fifteen days later, hundreds of thousands of Mexicans start swarming into Arizona, five thousand harden criminals are mixed in with the peasants and drug mules crossing into America. The criminal's rape steals and murder in order to get cars, money and clothing so they can disappear in America, starting new lives of crime. The Arizona Governor pleads with the President for help. “Mr. President, thousands of Arizonans, are being murdered, raped, millions of dollars of property is being stolen or damaged. The border zone is a now an active war zone; my people have become refugees fleeing for their lives within the USA. Their only possessions are what they’re able to carry. We need help; we need military support, health care, housing and food.”

“Ms. Governor, it can’t be as bad as you’re making it out to be, these poor Latino people are simply expressing their rights, and we in America have been racist against Latinos for too long. The poor who live along the border between our two countries are coming here because they see an opportunity here. We should welcome these poor with open arms; we should provide them with their basic needs. It’s the humane thing to do. How could you request military arms to put fear into these poor, hungry people? I have to turn your request for support down, and I have to turn down your request to declare southern Arizona as a disaster area. The only disaster is how we’ve been treating these poor, hungry people for years.”

“Mr. President, these are not poor, hungry families, these are hardened criminals, as soon as they cross the border they attack Arizonian families that lived along the border. They’ve broken into homes; they’ve killed the men, raped the women and girls, they’ve stolen everything of value, and they’ve burned homes to the ground. Mr. President, we need help, we stand a chance of losing Arizona.”

“Madam Governor, you’re telling stories as a spoiled little girl who got caught with her hand in the cookie jar. You sound like one of my daughters when we catch her doing something she shouldn’t be doing, you whine just like my girls. Please Madam Governor, go see the truth for yourself. These stories of crime are phony, they’re lies pushed by the Tea Party and the Coke brothers who support the racist right wingers; which we know you’re a member of.”

“Mr. President, these are not lies. Should I send some of the raped women and hacked up men who were lucky to survive to DC so you can see for yourself?”

“Madam Governor don’t harm people to put on your little show. And don’t try to take this lie to the media; I’m going to instruct the DHS that if you take to the airwaves, you’re committing an act of treason by putting American lives in danger. Good day Governor.”

The Governor of Arizona throws the phone against the wall in anger. “That little dictator, we need help; he took the National Guard away from me, and all I have left is the state police.”

Her chief of staff says, “Madam Governor, there are many militias in the state, why not call for their help? We have plenty of arms stored to equip them with. We have many ex-military living in our state, and we can also ask Texas for assistance.”

“I like the idea of asking our own people for help. If we’re not careful, however, the President might declare our people domestic terrorists for defending their homes from people he sees as entitled to whatever we have. If we ask the Texans, they may and most likely will ask us to join them for an exchange for the help. We would be in a worse position than we are now; we’d be fighting the Mexicans on one border and the Americans on the other. Place a call for help to the militias and any of our people with military experience. We’re arm them, maybe they can slow the flood of criminals across the border.”

“Madam Governor, we can destroy the bridge they built. If we bring their bridge down, that will slow them down to a crawl.”

The Governor thinks for a minute; she shakes her head saying, “I don’t know how to bring the bridge down, can’t we do what they do in the movies, you know place some explosives on it or drop some bombs or something on the bridge, how do they do it in the movies?”

The Governor’s chief of staff answers, “I don’t know how to bring the bridge down either. I’ll find someone who knows how to destroy it.”

Before the Governor can even ask the militias for help, the militias have started fighting the Mexican criminals. The militias set up a road block to stop the flow coming across the border. Armed with hunting rifles, shotguns and a few ARs and AKs which they’d hidden, they fire on the people crossing into Arizona. Hearing the firing, the Mexican Army providing security decides to cross the border into Arizona. Ten armored vehicles cross into America; they destroy the roadblock, killing most of the militia members. The Mexican Army Captain decides to station five of his vehicles on the American side of the border to ensure his people can come and go as they please.

The President’s Secretary of Homeland Security enters the Oval Office, “Sir, the Mexican army has crossed the border, and elements of their army are on our side of the border, we should push them back; this will be viewed by our base as an invasion of America.”

“Edger, it’s not an invasion, it’s an uncontested arrival, they will return when they’re finished reviewing the area on our side of the bridge. May I remind you, that bridge that didn’t cost us anything has also provided many jobs, it helps our economy? I’m not going to do anything. “

“Sir, many people will see this as an invasion that you’re allowing to take place.”

“I’m telling you; it’s not an invasion. How can this be an invasion if we’re not opposing them?”

“Mr. President, that’s the entire point, we need to oppose the Mexican army.”

“Please leave me, you’re very confused, you don’t even know what an invasion is.”

The people of Arizona and western Texas join with the Arizona State Police and militias to fight a people’s war against the invading Mexicans. A War of Molotov Cocktails vs. Armored vehicles is won by the large numbers of American citizens who stand their ground to fight the Mexicans. Hundreds die in the fighting, when one brave American fell, another took their place pushing forward, fighting with weapons provided by the State Police, hidden arms, and homemade bombs the Americans pushed the Mexicans back across the border. Ten ex-Special Forces rig the bridge with explosive charges. At 1:00 PM, an hour after of the last Mexican returned across the bridge, the Special Forces bring the bridge down. The Mexican drug cartels place a reward of $5 million for the death of the Arizona Governor. They also sent an invoice to the Governor in the amount of $700 million to compensate for the destruction of the bridge, damaged freeway and lost profits. Upon hearing about the destruction of the bridge, the President called the AG, “I want the Governor of Arizona arrested.”

“Sir? We can’t arrest a sitting Governor.”

“Arrest her or kill her, she went against my orders; she destroyed the southern bridge; she broke federal law by arming her citizens with assault rifles. She committed an act of war against Mexico.”

“Yes sir, I’ll send a team to arrest her.”

A DHS Gulfstream IV lands at the Sky Harbor International Airport, it’s met by a line of black DHS Tahoes. Ten armed DHS agents climb into the SUVs to arrest the Governor. On entering the statehouse in Phoenix, the lead agent says, “Madam Governor, we have a warrant for your arrest.”

She looks at the agents, laughs and says, “Go home; you’re crazy if you think I’m going with you.”

The DHS agents draw their weapons getting the jump on the Arizona state police who are guarding the Governor. The DHS agents push the Governor to the floor, handcuffing her arms behind her back. The agents quickly return to their Gulfstream with the Governor before the State police can respond. Two DHS agents are providing security for the Gulfstream open fire with automatic weapons at the Arizona state police cars who try to block the plane from taking off. The citizens of Arizona rise in protest, tens of thousands jams the streets of Phoenix. The media takes the President’s side saying the Governor has independently declared war on Mexico and has to be arrested to stop the breakout of a war between America and Mexico. The media points out that only a very unbalanced person would order the killing of thousands of innocents. The people of Arizona knew better, they stormed the local media stations, burning most of them to the ground; they hang two television anchors who claimed the Governor had declared war on Mexico. Many of the citizens who had lived along to the border and were wounded or raped by the Mexican criminals post their stories on the internet. Pictures of the American dead and their burnt homes fill the web. Many people realize the President refused to provide security for the people of Arizona.

The battle of words and images moves back and forth with each side claiming victory. The majority of the country supports the actions of the Governor. Protests in support of the Governor spread across the country. Hundreds of thousands of people march in the cities protesting the Mexican attacks. Most of the media sources called the protesters anti-Latino racists; they said the damage and stories were all lies made up by the Tea Party and the Coke brothers. The Senate minority leader takes to the floor of the temporary Senate urging action against the Tea Party and the Coke brothers. The President shows images of the destroyed bridge, claiming the Governor ordered it destroyed killing hundreds of poor innocent Latinos who were on the bridge when it went down. The President claims the destruction of the bridge will be felt through the entire country’s economy. He gives fifteen speeches making the claims the Governor, an elected official of the state of Arizona has declared war with Mexico, she cost the American economy billions of dollars. The President tells the country he’s going to have to compensate the Mexican businessmen who built the bridge. This time the people of America aren’t buying it, they’ve seen the images of the damage in Arizona. They’ve heard the stories from people just like themselves. They turn on the President; they called his story a lie. The mainstream media fought back with photoshopped images of dead bodies lying in the rubble of the destroyed bridge.

Hundreds of clashes between both sides spread through the country. In many cases, local law enforcement officers stand by and do nothing as the two sides fight each other. In many cities, the battles grow from small bands of people to groups of hundreds, growing into many thousands who clashed. This becomes the largest series of battles in American since the civil war. No one knows where the firearms came from. On the fifth day of clashes in Phoenix the two sides meet on the edge of Scottsdale, only this time, both sides are armed with rifles and handguns. Molotov Cocktails and crossbows. Twenty minutes later three hundred fifty people lay dead or wounded on the streets. The streets run red with the blood from both sides. The world’s media broadcast the images. Images of men, women and children dead and wounded bleeding where they fell. Hundreds of emergency medical services people work on the wounded while the battle continues around them. Ten minutes into the rescue operation snipers on both sides start firing at the first responders forcing them to leave the wounded on the battlefield. The fighting spreads to other towns and cities in Arizona. On the seventh day fighting breaks out in Naperville Illinois. Eighty-six people on both sides are killed. On the eight day, Oakland California erupts in war, the battle swings back and forth for three days, when the fighting finally ends due to the fire department risking attacks by both sides to spray the fighters with high-pressure water. The months of built up frustration explodes across the country. The Oakland Airport terminal is torched; two terminals are gutted. An entire city block of homes is burnt to the ground, two Walmart’s are looted and burned. On the ninth day after the President arrested the Governor, smoke hangs over one hundred six American cities. The death toll reached four thousand, property damage exceeds fifteen billion dollars.

No matter how much the administration tries to spin the story and provide various distractions, Truth spreads through the country. It’s the straw that breaks the people’s belief in the President. The media tries to spin the story, they try to blame the Tea Party, and they even blame the people of Arizona for not more warmly welcoming the Mexican peasants into America. Only the hard core left still believe the President.

President Obsma knows he needs to swing the people quickly back to his side; the situation is rapidly spinning out of his control. He announces he’s going to give a major speech in downtown Chicago. The President figures he can excite his base by returning to the city that started his political career. He knows his base will take to the streets when he asks them to, given their numbers; he knows they’ll turn the tide before it spins into a true civil war. He also knows the press will eat up whatever he says, further exciting his base.

“My fellow American’s I’ve come here to Chicago where I started my political career, Mary and I started our lives together right here in Chicago. I started bringing voices to those in the inner city which for so long were ignored. It’s here in Chicago that I learned what the real American people; the hardworking people of America want and need. I’ve returned here to announce we as the strongest and most charitable country in the history of the world have not done enough to support the world’s hungry and poor. Too many children go sleep on a cold mud floor hungry, many go to sleep at night without having eaten a thing all day. The average American family throws away more food than many children get to eat in a month. If we the richest country in the world do not help these hungry children, who will? How will history treat us? How will history speak of America? Do you want your grandchildren to learn we allowed millions of children to die of starvation? Do you want your grandchildren to read we had the means but lacked the will to help the hungry? Or the sick? If your children were sick, if your children were hungry, if your children had to go to sleep hungry on a cold dirt floor and you knew there were people who could help, what would you think? How would you feel? We have the means to help the world. We should be the super power of caring, the super power of healing; we grow enough food to feed the world. We pay farmers not to grow food while millions go hungry. The world will love us. No longer will anyone call us “Ugly Americans” no longer will anyone ever want to make war on America. To pay for this massive aid program, I’m announcing I am going to dismantle our nuclear weapons.

These are weapons that cost us billions of dollars a year, weapons we all know will never be used. Weapons that are inhumane, weapons that do such terrible damage and harm, not only to any potential enemy, but to the very planet we all live on, look at the screen behind me, look at the images of the damage our two weapons did to Japan. Look at the horrible burns on the people, look at the pictures of innocent children we harmed who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. We bombed them with a weapon that was still causing harm years later. We caused mutations and a thousand fold increase in cancer rates. Are we, as Americans proud of what we did to the Japanese people? Of course not, should anyone ever use these weapons again? Of course not. Why haven’t they already been destroyed? Because as long as no one has the strength to be first no one will follow, today, America has the strength to be first. Today I’m announcing America will be nuclear free within four years. I’m also ordering the destruction of our only factory that makes nuclear weapons, never again will America cause such pain and suffering, America will provide aid to all who need it, America will lead from the heart, not from the sword. As a first step, we should welcome the peasants from Mexico, who only want to feed their families. They only want to share the American dream. Are we so selfish that we would refuse to share the American dream with those who want to share the same dream we all have? America was made into the great country it is today through immigration. We melded together; we will continue to meld to form a new stronger America. How can a free country have sealed borders? How can we share a dream if we tell others they can’t share that common dream with us? Tomorrow at 6:00 AM EDT, I’m ordering the immigration service and border patrol to cease operation, the immigration staff will be merged into the TSA and DHS. The Border Patrol will serve as an aid support organization for those who share the American dream with us. Let’s put our petty differences aside, let’s put our petty arguments aside. We’re not red or blue; we’re all Americans who share a common dream. We share a dream that our children will have a better life than ours, so do most of the world’s people, we are in a unique position of being able to enable the dream to come true. We’re going to be the light that leads the world out of darkness and into the light of charity. Thank you my fellow Americans.”

Chapter 5

The national evening news programs are interrupted in mid-word; “America we are Anonymous, the President is lying, what you heard today is a lie. Don’t believe what the networks and the government show and tells you, they are lying to you. The truth is the President wants and is moving ahead with his plans to destroy America. When he opens the borders, he hopes to overwhelm the current economic system with millions of new government assistance recipients. He plans to bankrupt the country, to default on the country’s debt so that he can rebuild the country in his own image. An image that doesn’t include many of you. The President plans to use the current unrest to create a race war so that many of you will kill each other off, leaving him with only his most loyal followers. America doesn't fall for this scam, rise and overthrow this would be king. We are Anonymous.”

President Obsma asks the chairman of the FCC, “Why can’t we block their transmissions?”

“Mr. President, they can block our communication with ease; we can’t interrupt them. We don’t know who Anonymous is or where they’re located. We’re not even sure they’re located in America.”

“Edger, I don’t care how you do it, find them and shut them down.”

“Mr. President, we’ve been trying to locate them for years all the while they’ve grown stronger, they can hack our most secure networks, and it seems that nothing we put up to block them keeps them out of our systems for very long. Most hackers attack specific computer networks; Anonymous is hacking everything, we’re surprised they haven’t hacked the electrical grid yet, or if they have we don’t know about it. Mr. President, if they want; they can shut the country down. They can turn off the country’s electric grid, jam our telecommunications networks, send trains crashing into each other, turn and lock every street light in the country red leaving traffic blocked from Maine to California. Sir, they have been slowly ramping up their attacks, if they engage us in an all-out cyber war, we’ll most likely lose control of the country.”

“That’s impossible.”

“Mr. President, it’s not only possible but also it’s very likely.”

“Then find them, find them and end their threat to the country.”

“Sir, we’re trying.”

“Try harder.”

@@@@@

President Puten of the Russian Federation smiles telling his ministers, “Obsma is very unstable; he’s most likely going to push America over the edge. If America implodes in on itself and enters a race or civil war, we should consider landing troops to take over and safeguard their strategic weapons systems.”

The Defense Minister addresses the assembled group, “Mr. President, do you think America will collapse into civil war?”

“Minister, I do. I expect the current unrest to grow until either the President steps down or the people rise and fight each other.”

The Foreign Minister says, “Mr. President, can we do anything, should we do anything to support one side of their struggle or the other?”

Puten smiles, he turns to face the Foreign Minister, “Minister, which side do you think we should support?”

“Mr. President, not President Obsma, he’s too unstable, even if we help him, he will most likely turn on us and use his strategic weapons against the motherland.”

“Minister, I agree. If we support their patriots we have to locate a leader we can work with and one we can trust. So far a national patriot leader hasn’t surfaced. If we support the so-called patriots and we continue our plan to take over Europe will the patriot leader become our friend or enemy?”

The Director of the FSB, the replacement for the old KGB, addresses the group, “Mr. President, Ministers, there is a potential leader waiting and watching. We know that ex-US Marine four-star General Brownstone is still leading the US Marines, he’s calling the shots. The FSB thinks he’s the patriot leader in waiting.”

The Defense Minister smiles saying, “Director if what you’re saying is correct, we may be able to work with the General, our General of the Army knows General Brownstone very well. They forged a working relationship over twenty years. They started as young officers, staring across the line in Germany as their careers advanced they got to know each other. They became friends. We can ask the General to contact his American friend. I would suggest we move our timetable on Germany up. We don’t want to be attacking anyone if Brownstone is in any position of power. He’ll be worse than Reagan.”

President Puten replies, “Minister, a very good idea. Ask our General to contact the American. We need to know if Obsma has control of their strategic weapons. I don’t trust the man. He’s a political animal who’s going to break America and rebuild it as a socialist nation. He’s going to run America into the trash pile of history. Once he’s done with America, he’ll turn to his real goal which is world control. Something we can not allow. If we have to destroy America to save the Rodina, I will. Defense Minister I want you to increase the alert status for our strategic forces. I want to have all of our options available if things go very poorly in America. Permission is granted to accelerate our conquest plans.”

“Yes, Mr. President.”

President Puten looks around the room before beginning, “While America is distracted this is the perfect time for us to take back our breakaway states. Crimea and Ukraine will be first. We’ll arrange civil uprisings so we can move troops in to help preserve the peace. We’ll claim we have to move in to protect Russians who are being harmed. We have to protect our own people. We’ll encourage them to vote to rejoin Mother Russia. How can the UN say anything if the people vote to rejoin the Rodina? It’ll be the people’s choice. We won’t be an invader; we’ll be seen as helping the people express their will.”

The foreign minister says, “Mr. President, there’s a clause in the international agreement signed, that if the Ukraine asks for help, both the United Kingdom and America are supposed to come to their aid, we could end up in World War 3.”

“Trust me, no we won’t, the UK is too weak to do anything without the Americans and Obsma is 100% focused internally. We can reconquer all of the breakaway states before Obsma figures out or even cares what happened.”

“Mr. President, we can start causing the civil uprising in Ukraine within two hours.”

“Minister go ahead while our General reaches out to the American; we will keep them unbalanced. If the Americans do fall into civil war, we should plan a bold move to take control of Alaska.”

Four of the ministers, look surprised, “Mr. President, Alaska? Won’t that incite and unify the Americans?”

“By the time they learn of it, we’ll be there to stay. Their only response will be to go nuclear, something President Obsma just announced to the world he will never do.”

@@@@@

Premier Xing, of the People’s Republic of China, calls the central military council together, “We've crushed the rebels on Taiwan; next I suggest we absorb Korea. The North struck the south with a nuclear weapon, we'll bomb the North's command bunkers, and since we built them for the child king, we know how to breach the bunkers. After the idiot teenager is gone we'll send three million of our troops over the border completely crushing the north, we'll tell the south we've come to offer them aid, once our people are in their positions we'll wipe out their military. We should be able to bring all of Korea under our control in less than two months. When we do, Japan will kiss our ass to keep us from attacking them. The American's are too consumed in their internal mess, even if they weren't the American President doesn't care what we do as long as we buy their worthless bonds. We'll tell them; we’re studying if we can continue to buy their bonds while we absorb all of Asia, the Americans won’t do a thing to upset us on the hope we’ll lend them money.”

General Jung replies, "Yes, Premier, we can do this, we'll present a plan to you in 24 hours."

Premier Xing replies, "We have waited two thousand years to rule the world, this is our chance."

"Premier, what about the Russians? Won't they try to stop us?"

"No, I've already spoken to President Puten, we have worked out an agreement, we’ll take Asia, and they’re going to absorb Europe."

"Premier, we understand, we'll let Russia swallow too much while we stand by and watch as they try to digest Europe, they'll be tied up in riots and civil unrest for years. In the end, we'll rule the world."

@@@@@

“Brad, Kathy, what did you think of King Obsma’s speech?”

“Ron, we’re so screwed. He’s opening the borders; millions will flood into the country, he’s going to bankrupt the country in less than a year. While at the same time disarming us, he invites the Chinese and Russians to walk in or at least dictate terms to us, they’ll have nothing to fear from us again.”

“Brad, I got a text from Joshua, he asks all of the cell leaders to meet tomorrow, the coded message means we’re close to being activated for action.”

“Ron, we’re ready.”

@@@@@

“Admiral Zander, the communications line has been set up as you requested,”

“Thank you, Captain, I’ll be right there, please take a roll call.”

Three minutes later, Admiral Zander sits down at the conference table in front of the radio speaker and microphone.  The Admiral aide connects all of the parties together. “This is Admiral Zander on the USS Lincoln, please sound off in order of commissioning.”

“Captain Smith, USS Henry M. Jackson, SSBN 730.”

“Captain Richards, USS Alabama, SSBN 731.”

“Captain, Jackson, USS Nevada, SSBN 733.”

“Captain, Randers, USS Pennsylvania, SSBN 735.”

“Captain Monroe, USS West Virginia, SSBN 736.”

“Captain Wilson, USS Maryland, SSBN 738.”

“Captain Allen, USS Maine, SSBN 741.”

“Admiral, seven boats of the nine that made it to sea under the emergency alert order have contacted us. Two boats didn’t respond to the request, they might not able to communicate or they may not have their tails out, they might not have received the coded message. None of us think we should worry about these two yet, we’ll send them another coded message requesting they contact us.”

“Thank you, Captains, if you haven’t heard, the President announced he’s planning on making America a nuclear-free country. He plans to deactivate our strategic forces.”

“Admiral, Pennsylvania actual here, Sir, he can’t, that would leave us defenseless. The Russians and Chinese will take advantage of our weakness.”

“Captain, that’s the reason for this call, unusual as it is, I’m sure you know we can’t allow the President to dry dock your boats. I’m asking you to stay at sea, not return until I give you the RTB (return to base) code. I know what I’m asking is going to be very difficult. Nevada, I know you were at the end of your tour and preparing to return to port, we’ll get a supply ship to you, lots of fresh fruit, milk and meat, we’ll even toss in a bunch of new movies.”

“Admiral, Nevada actual here, Sir, we’re staying on station for the duration, thanks very much for the food, I’m sure the crew appreciates the movies, and Sir, please try to round up our mail. Family grams are very limited in the amount of information exchanged.”

Smiling, the Admiral responds, “Captain, the mail was the first thing we loaded on the tender. All of your requested parts are also already loaded if you require anything else, please let us know we’ll get you everything you need.”

“Admiral, Maryland actual here, Sir you’re committing treason. The President will arrest you when he finds out.”

“Captain, who says he’s going to find out. He doesn’t follow our comings and goings. I’ll report to him how many boats are in port and that we’re in the process of decommissioning them. That process takes a long time with nuclear-powered boats. I think I can keep him away from the truth for a long time.”

“Admiral, that’s good to hear, what about the attack boats?”

“Captain, we’ve had a similar discussion with the attack boat captains, they’ve all signed on for the duration. Two attack boats are going to rendezvous with each of you; they are going to be your nursemaids for the duration. They’ll make sure no one gets a sniff of you.”

“Admiral, West Virginia actual, happy to hear that. We’ve had a couple of Russians sniffing for us the last four days; we were able to hide from them, it’ll be good to have some friendly company.”

“All, I don’t know how this is going to turn out, I have faith in our people. I have faith they’ve not gotten so fat and lazy they only care about which star is sleeping with the other, or the newest smartphone. We’ll transmit a code for another conference call in ten day's time, good luck to all of you. Run silent, run deep; you may be our last hope. Zander out.”

@@@@@

Miami Florida is torn apart in a multi-race war; African American youth attack the Latinos, who are just about to attack a local mostly white upper-class high school. All three groups clash a block away from the school. Knives, broken bottles, bricks and baseball bats are used to beat each other. When the police arrive they find fourteen youths dead, and thirty-six seriously wounded. The families of the young decide to get revenge for their children, they start fighting with each other. 48 hours after the first punch was thrown Forty-two people are dead one hundred, and two are seriously wounded. The emergency medical services mistakenly brought the various groups to the same hospital, which results in the fighting to continue in the emergency room. The fighting soon spreads through the hospital drawing in visitors, patients plus some medical staff. Nurses and doctors try to get away from the fighting, only to be caught up in it. One security guard uses the hospital's fire hose to break the fighting up; both sides grab the security guard, throwing him out of a second story window breaking both of his legs. The fighting continues until a fire breaks out in the hospital kitchen. The flames spread through the hospital killing 75.

Similar fights break out in Atlanta, Memphis along with twenty-eight other cities. The President is silent about the fights. He doesn’t say a word about the dead or to ask for calm.

@@@@@

“President Lawson, we can break into the Atlanta Federal Bank Branch. The gold is stored in the secure basement. We know we can break in and get the gold out. The issue we haven’t been able to answer is how we’re going to get the gold home.”

“Can we truck it back?”

“It’s 782 miles while carrying a ton of gold. We’ll attract every criminal in the country when the word gets out. We can’t afford to strip a large enough force to guard the convoy while it travels 782 miles. If we send a large enough force to provide security on our return, the Feds are sure to figure out what's happening. They’ll strengthen the defense at the bank; the Feds will surely attack us before we even arrive in Atlanta. We could end up fighting our way to Atlanta and then back.”

“I understand, what else can we do to force the feds to give us what’s ours?”

“We have to have something they want very badly, something they want more than our gold in order to make them trade with us.”

“Do you mean something like the nukes?”

“Mr. President, would you turn over the nukes after telling the feds we don’t have them.”

“I never said we would turn over the real ones. I want our gold back.”

“Look into how to create dummy nukes which they won’t be able to tell aren’t real when they quickly inspect them when we hand them over. See if you can arrange for our people to take one apart and copy it good enough to fool the Americans at the handover location. By the time, they figure out we’ve done,  we'll have our gold and be home safe and sound.”

“Mr. President, we’re going to have to seed them with weapon's grade uranium, so they give off the correct readings.”

“So get some from one of our nuclear plants.”

Chapter 6

The firearms purchased surrendered or confiscated by the government are stored in warehouses under the responsibility and guard of the DHS. After a number of attempted and a couple of successful break-ins, DHS decides to increase the security at the warehouses with eight-foot high wire fences topped with razor wire, security cameras with motion sensors that are connected to control offices manned with rapid reaction forces. DHS moved the locations of many of the warehouses to industrial areas filled with similar buildings to confuse anyone looking for the firearms. The warehouses are hidden in plain sight. Months pass without any newly attempted break-ins DHS reduces the security supporting the warehouses. They figured they got the formula correct. They reduced the number of people watching the videos and kept fewer people in rapid reaction teams in order to reduce their costs.

At 3:00 AM twenty men surround an unmarked warehouse in Stafford Virginia, “Ron, are you sure this is the right place?”

“Yes, the warehouse in front of us holds thousands of firearms.”

Looking around very confused, I ask Ron, “I would have thought that the warehouse would be ringed with heavily armed troops, maybe even a tank.”

Ron whispers, “You don’t see them, but they’re close by. You can see the warehouse is surrounded by a wire fence, check out the top of the fence, do you see the razor wire? The warehouse is under 24-hour surveillance; there are cameras mounted on the building and the fence posts, and there are motion sensors surrounding the warehouse. The sensors send their data to an office twelve miles away where the DHS keeps a rapid response team on standby. We’ve blocked the only road the rapid response team can use to get here.”

“That’s good news, but how do we defeat the sensors?

Ron laughs saying, “Haven’t you ever seen a deer run into a fence?”

“Of course, but how are you going to call a deer and get him to run into the fence at just the right spot?”

Ron says, “Look to your right, see the deer decoy?”

“Yup, from a distance it looks just like a real deer.”

“It’s mounted on an RC mobile base, from DHS’s video camera it’s going to look just like a deer. We’re going to send it against the fence, the motion sensors will pick it up; the cameras will see the top part of the deer. The response team will think it’s just a deer that came from the woods behind the warehouse. When it hits the fence, we’ll send the second decoy to the fence behind the warehouse. The deer decoys hitting the pole with the camera will bend the pole so the camera’s view will be moved creating an opening for us to slip through.”

“Ron, I get that, but how do we get in the warehouse?”

Holding up a keycard, and smiling, Ron says, “It’s good to have friends in high places. Hold this card against the scanner and enter the code 12345. The door will unlock.”

“You’ve got to be kidding me; 12345 is the code?”

“Yup, DHS never made it complicated; they were dealing with some people who would have forgotten anything more difficult to remember. I understand they thought of using 00000, but the Air Force already used it for the nuclear launch code.”

“What? Our government really is run by morons.”

Laughing Ron responds, “Whatever gave you that idea?”

Laughing we moved towards the warehouse. The two deer decoys ram the fence setting off the alarm in the response team’s office, “Hey, what was that?”

“Looks like a deer ran into the fence again. “

“Yea, I told the Captain we should light up the fence, that’s the damn fifth deer to run into the fence this season, means we’re going to have to check it out in the morning.”

“Damn deer hit the weak pole bending the pole; the camera’s view is tilted.”

“Happens every damn time a deer hits the fence, we’ll check it tomorrow, I don’t feel like going out there in the middle of the night. If everything else is quiet, there’s no reason to rush. No one knows what in the warehouses.”

“If they did, we’d have to have the army protecting it.”

“Yup, some of the firearms stored there are nice; I think we have over five thousand ARs and four thousand AKs, not counting the ten thousand shotguns, plus a few hundred thousand rounds of ammo. If any of those dumb Tea Party nuts knew what’s in the warehouses, they would try to break in every night. Let’s get a fresh cup of coffee, I just hope we don’t have to clean up another injured deer tomorrow.”

“Why don’t we leave it for the day crew to handle?”

“Great idea, last time I had to clean up a deer, I ruined a new pair of uniform pants.”

“You know it’s too bad we can’t take a couple of the firearms. I’d like to have a few of the Winchester lever action rifles.”

“Ralph don’t go there, don’t ever touch them. You’ll leave DNA and fingerprints; the bosses in DC will bust you so fast your head will spin. Before you can count to three, they’ll have you in federal prison.”

“I won’t, when are they coming to collect them?”

“Three days, the trucks will come to collect and destroy them. After that, we move to another location.”

“What a waste.”

“You got that right.”

Ten of the men with Ron and I crawl to the fence where we cut a hole large enough for us to crawl through, we reach the door, the keycard and code works, the door unlocks, we’re in! We close the door behind us. Ron says, “Don’t turn the lights on, use your flashlights.”

Shining my flashlight around the warehouse I say, “Oh my God, this is an armory; it’s loaded with the weapons and ammo they took from us.”

Ron smiles replying, “Yes, there’s over twenty thousand weapons in here plus over two hundred thousand rounds of ammo.”

I’m standing still in shock, “Ron, how are we going to get them out?”

“We’re going to do the old time bucket brigade to the fence where we’ll load the trucks. Go slowly, don’t drop anything and take only 12 gauge shotguns, ARs and 9mm pistols. We should standardize on the types of weapons we take; these are also the same types used by the local police and sheriffs.”

Jimmy says, “Man, I like AKs over the stupid Mattel AR.”

Ron responds, “Doesn’t matter what you like, it makes it easier for all of us if we all use the same weapons.”

I say, “Well then, OK, let’s get started.”

Two hours later we’ve loaded two trucks. We use gray duct tape that is close in color to the fence to hold the bent section together, two of us use tree branches to sweep the wheeled tracks the deer decoys left behind. We load the decoys in one of the trucks; the DHS security detail will figure the deer ran into the fence got dazed and ran off.

Ron says, “Next stop breakfast at the iHOP, pancakes with Joshua. Christmas gifts for all.”

@@@@@

“General, Joshua left you a message. He said there were fifteen operations last night to reacquire firearms. Thirteen went like clockwork, one’s timing just sucked, something alerted the DHS rapid reaction team, the guards showed up at the warehouse as our people were carrying the weapons out, they got caught red handed.”

“Did they put up a fight?”

“No sir, per your standing orders, they froze and allowed themselves to be captured.”

“Good, a warehouse loaded with ammo isn’t a good place for a shootout. Once we know where they’re going to be held, we’ll help break them out. Live men we can break out of jail, dead men, are hard to replace.”

“What happened to the other mission?”

“General, that’s a mystery, they checked in when they got to their target warehouse, they confirmed entry, then they disappeared.”

“Damn it, they went rouge. Ask Joshua if he needs help finding them if they think they can fight by themselves they're going to get themselves and many others killed.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Colonel, if people attack the DHS piecemeal they’re going to lose. The DHS will tear us a new one. The people have to fight on multiple fronts at the same time so the DHS can’t apply overwhelming force against any one attack. We need to win over some of the media or at least get them to broadcast the truth. Next we’re going to be fighting the President’s Citizen Defense Forces who may be untrained, but they have the numbers. We don’t want to harm innocents or damage any of our county’s infrastructure. When we attack, we’re going to do so across the country. We’ll keep the DHS black shirts unbalanced.  We need to hit them so hard we knock them back on their heels at multiple locations at the same time. I’m hoping the kick start we gave Congress finally forces them to get their shit together, so they perform their duty to the country.”

“Sir, assuming, Congress does vote for impeachment, will it be legal? The President all but disbanded the Congress when he sent them home.”

“I asked several constitutional experts, none knew where the President got the authority to send Congress home; as such they think the impeachment vote by Congress will hold up. The Speaker plans to pass a couple of meaningless bills sending them to the Senate to pass who will forward them to the President. He’ll either sign them without thinking about it, which validates Congress, or he’ll ignore the bills, in which case Congress and the Senate will vote to overturn the President’s pocket veto. “

“When are they supposed to vote on the first bill?”

“Tomorrow midday.”

@@@@@

The Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center is located on Route 601 near Bluemont Virginia. It’s the designated civilian command facility designed to shelter the civilian leadership in case of nuclear war. The House and Senate are using it to meet since they were sent home by the President who locked them out of the Capital. When Congress arrived, FEMA tried to block the Senators and Congressional people from entering the facility. The Speaker of the House told the ranking FEMA officer, “This is the designated civilian command facility, we are the 535 members of Congress, this facility was built for us. We’re here if you do not allow us entry; our private security force will force it open. Two hundred heavily armed guards including four LAV vehicles armed with heavy machine guns pull up behind the Speaker. The FEMA officer looks around, nodding, unlocking the gate, saying, “Sir, may I welcome you to Mount Weather.”

The Speaker turns to his ranking security officer saying, “Take all of the FEMA people into custody, disarm them, and lock them up. I feel much safer with your people here.”

“Sir, General Brownstone felt you might require a little-armed support.”

“I’ll thank him later; we have a vote to take ASAP.”

Congress feels right at home in the facility; the conference room was modeled on the Capital; the Speaker calls the House to order.

“Ladies and Gentlemen, I hereby call the House of Representatives to order. I’m extremely happy everyone was able to make it here. Everyone knows the plan, as such I hereby place bill HR 1782 on the docket, it’s a bill to increase funding for the Department of Homeland Security, I’m sure this will sail right past the President, which will validate us.”

The vote passes 400 to 35, 13 votes against it on the General principles of not wanting to vote an additional penny for the DHS, 22 refuse to vote for anything that will trap their hero, the President.

The Senate passes the bill 98 to two; sending it to the White House for the President’s signature.

The President’s chief of staff enters the Oval Office carrying a recently printed sheet of paper, “Mr. President, we have a very unusual situation; Congress just passed an increase to the Department of Homeland Security’s budget.”

“Well, I’m happy to see someone over there has some brains. Maybe this is the Speakers way of making up with us, give it to me, I’ll sign it. This bill makes the extra money we’re spending legal. How nice of the Speaker to legalize the money we’re already spending.”

“Sir, aren’t you a little concerned that they passed this bill after you sent them home?”

“No, I think this is very good news, it shows the House and Senate want to work with me, this will make it all but impossible for us to be stopped. Return the signed bill back with a note expressing my thanks for working with us.”

“Mr. Speaker, he fell for it, he signed the bill into law and even thanked us for it.”

“Good, let’s huddle to ensure our case for impeachment doesn’t have any holes he can use to sneak out of it. Has the press responded to the invitation to attend a special vote in support of the President?”

“Yes sir, all four of the networks are sending reporters and camera crews.”

“I want to speak with Shawn, and Glen; they need to know in advance what we’re doing, so they don’t blast us on their shows. We’re going to need their support, so they don’t get their listeners wound up against us.”

“Sir, I’ll set up a conference call with them.”

@@@@@

“General, the President, fell for it; the Speaker said the impeachment vote will take place in a couple of days.”

“Good, will our people be in position when Congress votes?”

“Yes sir, we’re worried about the Secret Service. “

“We have a plan to handle them, please get me Admiral Zander on the horn, scrambler code alpha two two.”

“Admiral, the Speaker, is going to bring the impeachment vote to the floor in a couple of days, is your side of the plan going to be ready?”

“Yes general, we’ll be ready to go, we’re altering course to be in position.”

“We’ll talk again in twelve hours.”

@@@@@

“Ron, did you have pancakes recently? I assume you have our timeline? When do we move?”

“The vote is supposed to be in a couple of days; we’ve been ordered to prepare for deployment, we move out tomorrow evening.”

“I’m glad the President rescinded the curfew. I worry about the security around our target.”

“As long as we keep to our timetable we should be OK. Let’s wrap up our personal businesses in case we don’t return. Kathy, are you sure you want to do this?”

“Yes, if something happens to you, I want to be there.”

Chapter 7

America wakes on October 14, 2015, to a bright clear Wednesday that many looked forward to. The second Wednesday of every month is when more than half of the country receives their Social Security, disability and government retirement direct deposits. Many are about to find out this Wednesday is different from other second Wednesday. People wake and check their bank accounts online before they leave to go shopping; most sat down in shock; many rebooted their computers and smartphones to see if they had made a mistake. Many called their bank wondering where their money is. People are enraged, how were they going to put food on the table, or pay their rent, or buy their drugs? The banks all said the transfers are made electronically; there's no person in the loop. Most have no idea what that meant. They kept demanding their money from the banks. The banks got tired of repeating the information, most simply changed their recorded phone greetings to inform people calling, the bank has no idea what's going on.

People vainly try to call the various government offices that provide the benefits; none answered. The one answer, no one, believed is the government simply lacked the available funds to make the payments. The Secretary of the Treasury decided to hold the deposits until China agreed to the terms of a five hundred billion dollar bond purchase or they agreed to the purchase of tens of thousands of acres of land. At 10:00 AM EDT, the Secretary of the Treasury, goes on national television to announce there will be a short delay in funding the various programs. He tries to explain it should be no more than a week before the deposits are made. At 10: 05 AM the riots begin, people walk out of Wal-Mart and other stores with full shopping carts not even pausing at the cash register, they give the finger to the workers at the door checking receipts which they simply push past. Conditions turn ugly when the police arrive to stop the looting; rocks, baseball bats, and even food is thrown at the police by the looters, who respond with tear gas and rubber bullets. Within an hour, many of the looted stores are torched; giving the looters additional motivation to speed up their looting and rioting. The fire department can’t get close enough to the stores to put the fires out due to the people rushing in and out of the stores. Many of the looters turn on the firefighters

Many of the major supermarkets and big box chain stores hire armed security guards to protect their remaining inventory, no one is allowed inside unless they can prove they have a resource to pay for their purchases. Credit and debit cards must be preapproved before people shop; they are only allowed to purchase up to their preapproved limit which is applied to the cards with a label maker. Many argue with the security guards that they have more credit than they do. People try to explain they need more credit in order to feed their families. Crowds gather in front of the stores yelling that the stores are discriminating against the poor, many start pushing the security guards who in some cases are pushed through front plate glass windows. The crowds push themselves into the stores, taking everything in sight. A couple of the security guards fire into the looters, some go down which enrages the others behind them. As the wounded go down, the crowds turn more violent; they beat most of the security guards to death. The stores are stripped bare. The scene is repeated all over the country. Governors call the state police to help protect the remaining stores from being looted and burned. While the stores are looted and set ablaze some militias arrive before the state police, the rioters turn on the militias who fire into the crowds of looters wounding and killing many. When they hear the police sirens approaching, the militias fade away, leaving dead and wounded bodies behind. The state police investigate the crime scenes; most decide not to tell the DHS what they’ve found for fear they will cause more problems than the state police already have. The dead are lined up for the coroner; ambulances arrive for the wounded. The police tell the wounded to keep their mouths shut when asked who shot them. A couple snicker thinking to themselves, they're going to blame the police.

The evening national news programs carry the story, "Hundreds killed by police as they try to buy food for their families." The protests against the state police for the killings grow out of control, many of the governors decide they have to suspend or terminate their State Police Captains in order to make a "good showing" to the people. Many in the inner cities decide suspension or job termination isn't good enough. Local radio stations broadcast and tweet the home address' of many of the state police officers, crowds gather at their homes, many of the senior police officers see their families dragged out of their homes, beaten and raped while their homes are torched. Off-duty officers retaliate by going into the inner cities beating up everyone they encounter, local militias add their man and firepower to the attacks against the gangs, usually setting entire inner city blocks on fire. The conditions in many of America's largest cities resembles a third world nation war zone.

President Obsma orders the DHS to control the cities, he orders them to disarm, everyone, even the local police officers. President Obsma demands that the DHS arrest them, or shoot them, do whatever is required to neutralize the situation; they are harming innocents who are only trying to feed their families. The President goes on national broadcast television to ask people to be patient while their government sorts out the payment issues, the government hopes to start making payments within the next two weeks.

People listening to the speech almost faint when they hear the President say two weeks, they realize most will starve if they don't have funds for two weeks. In the next four days, the number of attempted bank robberies increases 500%. People across the country are panicking.

@@@@@

The Speaker of the House calls the House of Representatives to order. "Our first order and only item of business today is the debate and vote on the articles of impeachment against President Obsma.

I'm going to limit debate to five minutes per Representative. I'm going to call on each Representative by state before we begin are there any questions?"

The Democratic Representative from a third district in New York City stands to address the members of the House, "Mr. Speaker, Representatives, since the President has put Congress into recess this entire debate, and vote are nonbinding and, in fact, very well might be illegal. I'm calling on every Representative to stand up and follow me out of this room, the Speaker can't go against the orders of the President."

The Speaker responds, "Mr. Representative, we're at this point because the President ordered the Congress into recess. He lacked the constitutional right and authority to order us into recess; this added to all of his other executive orders greatly exceed his authority."

"Mr. Speaker, may I comment?"

"Of course."

"The President acted because this body and the Senate are deadlocked in useless debate. Our debate is not helping the country move forward, while we sit in the endless debate on every issue of importance to the American people, they are hurting; they need our help, all the while we debate without coming to any conclusion. The President heard the cries of the American people; he listened to their needs; he acted when no one else in Washington would. He moved to save the nation, he single handily cut unemployment; he single handily brought 900,000 people out of poverty by increasing the minimum wage. He gave the country affordable health care; he ended the wars of conquest the previous administration started, he brought our army home; he cut our wasteful, bloated military complex; he gave the people a new retirement program. My fellow Representatives our President is the greatest President this country has ever had, we’ve been called here by the Speaker to vote on articles of impeachment because the Speaker is a racist. We shouldn’t be here; I for one am not going to stay here and debate with a racist Speaker of the House.” The Representative stands up and leaves the conference room; he’s followed by most of the Congressional Black Caucus. The Speaker’s words follow the Representatives leaving the conference room. “This President has broken his oath more than any other; this President has pushed the country in a race and class war, this President has undermined the three branches of our government, the President rules as a dictator not a President. This President called in the United Fucking Nations for Christ’s sake; UN peacekeepers here on American soil is totally unacceptable. This President pushed aside the first, second, fourth and fifth amendments. Go, return to your master, give him these words, his days of rule are coming to an end.”

The Representative from Southern Georgia stands to be recognized, “Mr. Speaker, if we succeed in impeaching the President, are we left with his sidekick, Joe Braindead?”

“Good question, I’d like us to impeach both of them together and the AG,”

A number of Representatives jump up yelling, “Wait a minute, you’re asking us to impeach the President and Vice President so you can become President? No, you can’t count on me to vote yes if you’re going to become President, frankly Mr. Speaker, you’re not cut out to be President. You’re not strong enough to hold the union together; you’ll alienate the left and the right.”

The majority in both parties agree, they don’t want the Speaker to become President. The meeting in the House slips into yelling on both sides of the aisle. The meeting resembles a mob of children more than it does the elected officials in the House of Representatives.

The Senate explodes over the same topic; they join the House in their nonsupport of the Speaker becoming President.

The majority of Representatives and Senators hold a heated debate about what they should do and who should become the next President, they agree they can’t impeach the President without a successor.

@@@@@

“Brad, I got the message we were waiting for, it’s on for tonight. We’re going to attack a DHS prisoner convoy; they’ll have two buses full of political prisoners. We’re going to free them while teaching the DHS clowns some of us have teeth that we’re willing to use.”

“Ron, what time are we leaving? Where are we going?’

“We leave at 1:00 AM, we’re going to intercept them on I-95 south. They’re taking people to Quantico. By the way, wear all black.”

@@@@@

The United Nations troops camp out in the north parking lot of the Pentagon, they’re not expecting any trouble since there hasn’t been any in weeks. They stopped stationing guards every 50 yards four days ago. Some of the local women have even paid social visits to the UN’s camp. What the UN troops didn’t know was the women are mapping the camp, some paced out the number of steps between the command tent, medical tent, and the armory. On the agreed upon evening, some of the women pour clear liquid surprise into the UN’s coffee and soup, others spread other chemicals in the restroom tents, others took over at the local dry cleaner who cleaned and pressed the UN troop’s uniforms. Their uniforms are treated with a chemical that produces chemical burns on the skin within an hour of putting on the uniforms.

At 2:30 AM hundreds of UN troops line up outside the restroom tents. Hundreds of others are reporting chemical burns on their legs, arms, chest and back, Patriots can slip into the camp unseen by the sick troopers, they loot the armory stripping it clean of weapons and ammunition. Others leave behind homemade firebombs and anti-personal IEDs. At 02:55 AM, the bombs explode setting most of the camp on fire; those trying to help put the fires out are injured when additional IEDs explode five minutes after the fires started spreading nails and BBs through the camp. The IEDs shred the tents and those trying to assist the wounded. The kitchen propane tanks explode killing hundreds more. Within an hour of the attack 400 UN troops are dead, another 300 are wounded from the IEDs, and an additional 225 have been put out of action by chemical burns, many of whom will require hospitalization.

At 2:45 AM a DHS convoy of eight vehicles transporting prisoners to a new federal prison located in Quantico Virginia traveling south on interest 95 run into trouble. When the leading HUMVEE and Suburban pull a line of construction markers abreast, the markers explode tearing apart the leading vehicles which hold most of the guards. The tail vehicle with three guards is attacked by Patriots using weapons that were stolen from the DHS secure warehouses. Ron and I are in the group responsible for taking a bus. Our orders are to tie up the driver, find his keys, unchain the prisoners and take them to where we’ve hidden our vehicles. Our orders are to take them to the iHOP where Joshua will take them to a safe location. Those with families are going to be very surprised to see their families waiting for them at the iHOP.

“Brad, we did good, we’re going to do it again in three nights along Route 7 before they reach the Beltway.”

“Ron, Route 7 is a congested road, it’s only two lanes wide on each side, the area where Route 7 and 495 merge is very close to Tysons Mall, it's busy every hour of the day, how are we going to pull it off without someone seeing us?”

“Good question, this time we’re going to use vans, we’re supposed to pull up next to their lead vehicle, we’ll use silencers to take the guards down, we stop the buses, put the prisoners into our vans and disappear. Easy.”

“Yeah, easy for you to say, I have a bad feeling about this mission.”

“Let’s chat, I’ll see if I can get us some updated intel.”

Three nights’ later two “Verizon” vans pull alongside a black painted school bus with the DHS logo painted on its doors. The passenger in each van rolls down their window when due to road construction the bus has to slow down to 20MPH. “Phatt, phatt” two silenced 9mm rounds crash through the driver's side window of the bus. The driver is wounded in his left side, he pulls the bus to the shoulder. Four men jump out of the “Verizon” vans; they board the DHS bus, one hits the driver in the head with his pistol, another slides behind the bus’ steering wheel. The bus continues on Route 7 past the beltway. Three blocks east the bus pulls into an underground office parking garage where the passengers on the bus have their leg chains unlocked, they’re transferred to waiting minivans.

Ron helps one man out of the bus, “Captain; it’s good to see you again, are you all right?”

“Ron, I am now, thank you, I’m not going to ask how.”

“Captain, we can talk later, right now we’ve got to get away from here.”

“Ron, they know about you. You were going to be picked up tonight, don’t go home, and tell your friend and his wife to disappear too.”

@@@@@

“Mr. President, the Vice President is here to see you.”

“Braindead, how are you?”

“Mr. President, everything is good, I’m here to ask you if you think Mrs. O will let me continue on as Vice President when she wins the election next year.”

“About that election, I haven’t decided if it’s going to be safe enough to hold elections next year, I might have to postpone them, in which case you’ll remain as my Vice President, just make sure you don’t say a word about this to anyone until I announce it. I’m only looking after the safety of our people. The UN troops are out of the picture; the citizen defense forces aren’t up to speed yet, the military is sitting on the sidelines doing nothing to help us, the Tea Party and their allies the militias are still causing us many problems. If we hold the elections the Tea Party will steal it by threatening our base to stay home, they’re so racist they’ll scare away many of our minority voters, plus Congress overrode my veto for a voter ID law which takes effect with the election next year. It’s a good thing I sent them home, who knows what trouble they’d cause if they were still in session. Although there is a little hope with Congress, they’ve recently passed an increase in the DHS budget. I think the Speaker is trying to play nice with us.”

Chapter 8

Commanding General Craig of the Republic of Texas briefs the President, “President Lawson we’re being probed daily on both of our borders, the Mexicans are trying to tunnel under our Southern wall. We’ve started using ground penetrating radar to locate their tunnels. The results have shocked us. We’ve found more than 100 tunnels, sir; Mexicans are flooding into the Republic.”

“General, how do we shut down the tunnels?”

“Sir, we could build another wall that goes 50 feet underground, or we could bury mines in the path of their potential tunnels, we can also turn our side of the wall into a minefield for a half mile into our territory.”

“Do it, I will not have a flood of illegals putting a stress on our system. We’re not going to make the same mistake America did. I want you and the Rangers to pick up all of the illegals you locate, deport every one you find confiscate everything the illegals have. If they want to enter the Republic, they can apply for a visa or work permit.”

“Sir, what about the Americans? They are massing along our border with Louisiana.”

“In your opinion are they preparing to invade us?”

“Mr. President, they are amassing supplies, equipment, armor and people on their side of the border, there’s no reason for them to do this unless they are going to invade.”

“What do you suggest?”

“Mr. President, I know their overall commander, General Johnson, he’s very capable and also a cautious General. He won’t make a move across the border until he has 125% of his inflated required supplies. Even then he’ll wait until everything is textbook perfect. Sir, I suggest you authorize us to cross the border and hit him with a few spoiling attacks; we’ll disrupt his plans, and we’ll target his supply depots, further delaying him. Sir, on the downside of this strategy, is if we do this, President Obsma will say we invaded America. He’ll use our attack to rally the people; he’ll use our attack to swing support to his side.”

“I assume you have high definition images of the American’s camps on the border?”

“Of course, I do, sir, here’s a DVD with the video and a thousand pictures.”

“Excellent, when you start the spoiling attack, I’m going to hold a press conference where I’ll show the videos and images to the world, I’ll beat him to the punch. When can you be ready to hit them?”

“Sir, we’re ready now, all I need is for you to give the word.”

“General, you have my permission, go in one hour.”

7: 00 PM, CST President Lawson, enters the press room in the executive office building. “Ladies and Gentlemen, thank you for coming on such short notice, I hope we haven’t ruined anyone’s dinner, if we did, food will be served in the next room right after my short remarks. I have a number of videos and images to share with you. Copies of the DVD with these and more files are available for everyone in the next room. Ladies and Gentlemen, the images above show the American military massing along our border, look at the number of armored vehicles lined up ready to cross our border. Look at a large number of their tents, the supply depots, the number of satellite dishes, this is an American force getting ready to invade the Republic. They are a tightly coiled spring just waiting for President Obsma to give the order. We all know America is having her share of problems, to distract the American people President Obsma is planning on attacking the peaceful people of the Republic. He’ll rally his base behind him when he tells them he’s saving the union. He’s going to try to stop us before we get too strong for him to stop us. He’s trying to stop us before other states decide to join us. Some states have already reached out to me because we have a better answer; we offer an alternative to the tyranny that’s taking over America. My first duty as President of the Republic is to protect our people. I’ve ordered our military to attack the American forces before they can attack us. These attacks started when I took the podium. As soon as we have information on our attack, I’ll be back to give you an update, since this might take a while, I suggest we adjourn next door to break bread together while we wait for an update from our forces. God bless our forces and the people of the Republic of Texas.”

As President Lawson walks off of the podium the room is silent, most of the reporters are shocked at the news, slowly the reporters rise and start applauding President Lawson. He walks towards the banquet room; many reach out to shake his hand and pat him on his back. A few say, “There goes a real leader.”

@@@@@

First across the Texas-American border are 48 AH 64D attack helicopters, each is armed with a 30mm chain gun and sixteen Hellfire guided anti-tank missiles. The helicopter’s first targets are the American armor which is lined up on the freeway leading into the Republic. The Americans are taken by surprise; many of the troops are in their tents or having dinner in the mess tent. The AH 64Ds fly fifty feet over the freeway; they pop up targeting the armored vehicles; each helicopter fires all  of their 16 missiles; many fire their 30mm cannon shells into the tents and any troops trying to return fire. The American camp explodes with many secondary explosions, when the helicopters turned around to rearm, 155mm and 105mm artillery shells impact the American camp, the artillery shells are mixed with missiles launched in waves from mobile launching vehicles. Hundreds of shells and missiles land in the American camp. Each missile’s warhead contains softball sized explosives. The Texan’s attack stops as quickly as it started. The surviving Americans poke their heads up to take inventory of their camp. General Johnson reviews his forces; he’s lost 72 tanks, 36 Bradly armored vehicles, and 1,756 people. The General is walking back to his underground command bunker when he pauses because he hears a freight train headed their way. Texan artillery shells, the Texans waited thirty minutes from when their last shell landed in the American camp. The Texans waited for the American’s to poke their heads out of their shelters and gather in the open, the second round of artillery is more devastating than the first, it catches most of the Americans in the open. Ten minutes after the last round of artillery lands, the AH 64Ds return having been armed with rocket pods, each helicopter fires fifty rockets adding to the destruction, this time American Stinger shoulder-fired anti-air missiles are launched, knocking down six helicopters. American F16s arrive to chase the AH64Ds away. Before the F16s can cross the border in Texas, the air is filled with patriot anti-air missiles fired from the Texan side of the border. The F16s are surprised by the anti-air missiles; all have to turn quickly and jinx to avoid the missiles, the patriot missiles claim five American fighters. The battle ends for the day.

@@@@@

In Austin, the reporters watch the battle in real time via live video feed from high-flying drones. The reporters are at first shocked by the amount of violence; the shock soon turns to cheering. The cheering stops when the F16s arrive, many of the reporters think the tide has been turned against Texas. The reporters stare at the monitors watching gray smoke trails from the anti-air missiles fill the air; none of the reporters has ever witnessed a battle in real time, when the battle ends they again cheer the victory of the Republic. A few of the American reporters say, “This wasn’t a fair fight, the Texans cheated; they surprised our forces; they should have called the American General to tell him they were going to launch an attack. There should have been a declaration of war." These reporters are verbally jumped on by the other reporters who try to educate the American reporters how war is really fought.

@@@@@

Patriots in Rochester New York take to the streets protesting the President’s policies, they’re demanding Congress impeach the President. The Patriots have a permit to assemble and hold their parade. The local chapter of the Citizen Defense Force decides the Patriots are not respecting the President. They swarm out of side streets attacking the Patriots; the swarm attack takes the Patriots by surprise, the CDF, uses rocks, metal pipes, baseball bats and a few small handguns. The Patriots suffer 60% wounded and killed before the police arrive to break up the riot. The media reports the Patriots attacked the Citizen Defense Force, injuring forty members of the CDF; not a single word is said about the CDF attacking and killing innocent patriots.

The Citizen Defense Force in New Orleans visits every restaurant and hotel demanding monthly protection payments, any that refuse has their windows broken, deliveries delayed, customers are hounded when they enter or leave the facilities. Word reaches the local militia the CDF is harming businesses in his sector. When the militia and CDF meet, it turns into a wild moving battle that covers fourteen blocks. An hour after the battle began 145 people lay dead in the French Quarter. The streets are slick with blood from the wounded and dead.

The CDF goes house to house, store to store in downtown Detroit demanding any non-Muslim owners pay a tribute or face their home and/or business being burned to the ground. Various patriot groups band together to battle the CDF, the battle rages over two days when the DHS troops arrive; both sides turn on the black shirt DHS troops. The DHS Suburbans are attacked; many are turned over before being set on fire. The battle grows in intensity and spreads outside of downtown, as it spreads it also grows; the government sends in hundreds of DHS agents, the CDF and Patriots gain support from outside groups, thousands arrive from as far away as St Louis. On the fifth day of the running battle, the President sends in the National Guard to bring an end to the battle.

The leader of the CDF and militia agree to a short truce so both groups can attack the Guard. When the President hears, the guard is under attack he orders the US Army to put the rioting down. Two-thirds of the troops refuse the order to fight US citizens, the President tries to convince the UN to send additional troops. The UN Secretary General refuses the request, informing President Obsma, the UN peacekeepers are not safe in America, unless the President can provide improved security; UN won't be sending additional troops. On the eighth day of the battle for Detroit the city explodes, burning out of control. The President goes on national television begging for peace. Anonymous interrupts the President’s speech “America; we are Anonymous. Wake up and take back your country, America has started to burn, there are fifty battles going on as we address you, fifty patriotic groups have stood up to say, “We the People” have had enough, “We the People” are no longer going to sit idly by and watch America slide into the depths of tyranny. America we’ve blocked the tyrant from addressing the country, from today onward we will block every address the tyrant tries to give, every word that comes out of his mouth is a lie. He lies even if the truth would help him. America you need to stand up and tell the tyrant to step down. America tell Congress to pass the articles of impeachment. We are Anonymous.”

@@@@@

“Mr. President as we’ve previously discussed the FCC can’t do anything to block Anonymous, we have no idea who they are, or where they’re located. They seem to be able to block access anytime they want to. I’m sorry, but I can’t guarantee you’ll be able to address the country without interruption.”

“Your answer is totally unacceptable, find a way to block them and get me back on the air. I’m not going to rely on the print media and the internet.”

“Mr. President, they can block the internet with ease.”

“Either locate them within two weeks or I want your resignation on my desk.”

“Mr. President, just accept my resignation now, we can’t block them, why don’t you ask the NSA to use their supercomputers to locate them and block their access.”

“An excellent idea, you may yet be useful.”

The Director of the NSA informs the President the NSA has been trying to locate Anonymous for years. “Sir, we can’t locate them, they bounce their signals around the world.”

“Are you telling me you can listen to anyone anywhere in the world unless they’re a member of Anonymous?”

“Mr. President, you can say that.”

“Find a way.”

@@@@@

The remaining UN peacekeepers move into the Pentagon where they find all of the computers have been wiped clean. Paper files have been burned with thermite grenades; large sections of the Pentagon have been walled off, the UN commander looks at the newly built brick walls which block access to a third of the E ring thinking, there’s no easy way to break through the new walls. The commander thinks, “I have no idea how thick this wall is. Whatever the crazy Americans are trying to hide can stay hidden for now."

“Sir, we found an envelope addressed to you on the door to the Secretary of Defense’s conference room.”

“Let me have it.”

“You haven’t won, in fact; you’ve lost big time, and if I were you I’d bend over and kiss my ass goodbye. Signed Major Grover.”

“Sir, do you believe this Major Grover?”

“Yes I do, I’m betting he’s planted many surprises for us ……” Before the commander can complete his sentence, five explosions rip through the Pentagon killing hundreds of UN troops.

“Damn it, I hate Grover.”

@@@@@

The DHS black shirts tighten their hold on the country; they set up ID roadblocks stopping everyone driving on interstate freeways. People are upset over the delays and interruption to their plans; a few motorists drive through the roadblocks, a few run over a couple of the agents, the drivers are stopped and arrested; their homes are bulldozed to their foundations; everything they own is confiscated from them. Even if released, they have nothing to come home to. Neighbors watch in shock as homes are destroyed, lives erased, some begin to wake up. Tens, hundreds, thousands take to the streets demanding the impeachment of the President and stop the DHS.

Congress is deadlocked in the impeachment process because none wants the Speaker to become the next President. The Speaker calls General Brownstone, “General; we’re in agreement to file the articles of impeachment, however, the joint members of the House and Senate can’t decide on who should replace the President.”

“Mr. Speaker, I don’t remember the constitution providing Congress with a choice, the line of succession is clearly laid out.”

“General, that’s what I’m trying to tell you. We plan to impeach the President, the VP and the AG that leaves me as next in line, the members of Congress won’t accept me, as such I’ve agreed to refuse the position, as has the Senate Whip. We’ve also agreed to impeach the Cabinet, the majority of the members don’t want any of them to become President either.”

“Let me understand this, you’ve moved from impeaching the President to impeaching all of the senior government officials?”

“General, that’s correct, once the process started; it became a snowball rolling down a mountain, it just kept growing. Name after name was added to the impeachment list. Hell, for a while my own name was on the list.”

“Mr. Speaker, what can I do for you? I’m not an elected official.”

“General, your name is the only one on a rather long list everyone agreed to, the reason I’m calling is to ask you to visit with us. Both the House and the Senate would like to meet with you.”

“Mr. Speaker, I’ll discuss the situation with my chief of security and get back to you in 24 hours, I have a lot to think about.”

“Thank you, General.”

Chapter 9

“President Lawson, our attack was successful. We caught the Americans by surprise. They’ve suffered a major loss, in fact, they didn’t expect our attack or they wouldn’t have lined up their armor in nice rows along the freeway leading to our border, we caught them with their pants down. I’d like permission to cross the border with troops and push them back five miles.”

“General, us crossing the border with boots on the ground will be seen as an invasion, it’ll help the President stir up the country. There’re many cases where cruise missiles were shot against a target or bombers bombed a target back to the Stone Age, none of these was considered an invasion, boots on the ground will be. I have to decline your request. I know you have the best intentions and want to protect the Republic. All the people and I of the Republic appreciate that I don’t want to hand President Obsma a media victory. He’ll sacrifice the lives of his military if he can figure out a way to spin the story. You have permission to keep drones over their positions, if they start to move towards the Republic, you have permission to stop them, however, I’d appreciate you stopping them without boots on American soil.”

“Yes Sir, I understand.”

“General? Don’t be disappointed, I know you want to test your troops, this just isn’t the right time for it. I can’t allow the Republic to be drawn into the two front war, one with Mexico and one with America. Don’t spread your troops too thin. Keep an eye on the Americans and stop the Mexicans from invading.”

“Yes, Sir.”

@@@@@

“General Brownstone, sir?”

“Captain? What’s up?

“Sir, Joshua is on the horn scrambler line one.”

“Joshua, you old warhorse, I figured you’d learn about the call and be ready to put your two cents in, what do you know?”

“General, calling me an old war horse in an insult to the horse. What do you think?”

“I think not, here’s why, I’ve spent my entire life in the Marines, and what do I know about government except for following their orders.”

“You couldn’t do worse than some we’ve both received orders from.”

“Old friend, I’m used to giving orders, not working on creating compromises, I don’t think military officers make good politicians.”

“Are saying Ike was a bad President or Washington?”

“OK, I understand the point you’re trying to make. Washington had to take the job, he was a natural choice; Ike had the experience holding the allies together; he was a politician. Remember Andrew Jackson or Grant, they didn’t work out so well.”

“Rod listen if you don’t do it, who will?  Who will those fools pick? One of themselves, is that what you think the country needs?

“It’s not legal for them to just reach out and pick someone; the country won’t accept it.”

“Do you think the country is going to accept them impeaching a sitting President?”

“I think the country is going to tear itself apart as soon as they announce the intent to hold a vote.”

“Yup, so who’s going to be there as a backstop?”

“You do it; you were always better at politics than I could ever be.”

“Not me, my old friend, I’m too old, plus it’s you they asked. Listen, just take the position to stabilize the country, call for new elections then you can step down.”

“My fear is once the vote is announced the country will tear itself apart; it’s on the tipping point right now, the period between the vote and the election could be fatal for the country.”

“Are you going to do anything while you decide?”

“Yes, I’m going to deploy my people to see if I can help the people hold on and fight back against the feds.”

“You’re now prepared to commit to open warfare? Aren’t you the one who said the military should stay out of the fight?”

“Yes, however, the fed’s aren’t playing fair.”

“General, you didn’t earn the four stars you wore by thinking your enemy will play fair, I call bullshit on that comment.”

“OK, you win, I was afraid we would get more people killed. The Patriots aren’t trained; they aren’t ready for all-out war.”

“Rod, if they aren’t ready, then help them. They’re trying; they don’t have a master plan. They don’t know what to do when or even where it’ll do the most damage to the feds.”

“I know, we’re starting tonight. Keep your eyes open for the results.”

@@@@@

“America we are Anonymous, do you realize that, in the thirty years, the Democrats have held Congress and or the Presidency; America’s budget rose from $900 Billion to $4.7 Trillion; the government is spending more money than exists in the entire world. It can never be repaid. America we are bankrupt; the world is bankrupt, the economic system is broken, we need a change, and you have to demand change. Your voices aren’t being heard. You need to take to the streets; you need to use force to force change.

The President has to be stopped, or America will cease to exist. If America dies so does freedom. Sitting on your couch watching TV is not acceptable, Get up, if you don’t take America back, don’t expect someone to do it for you. If you don’t care about your children’s future remain on your couches, if freedom means something to you, get up now, go outside and tell the world you’re mad as hell, and you’re not going to take it anymore, do it now. If you do it, we will know; we will support you. We will blind the President’s people; they won’t be able to see you. You are all superheroes, GET UP, GO OUTSIDE, tell the world. To make it easier for you, there will be no television tonight, you’ve all been bad, you don’t deserve special treats, you are spoiled children, you will be treated as such until you show the world your country your freedoms mean something to you. We are Anonymous,”

Television all over the country goes black. One by one, people get up and go outside; their neighbors meet them, and some never knew the people who lived next door to them. Tonight America wakes up; people start talking, and many try to understand each other. Television screens turn on; they are filled with sound bites of the President’s speeches. Every one of his lies is repeated until the sounds and the lies are burned into the viewer's memories.

The CDF is also in the streets harassing people; they’re doing whatever they can to protect the President. In some cities, the police decide it’s safer if they stay away from the two groups. Norcross Georgia turns violent when twenty ex-Marines show up, wading into a riot between the Patriots and the CDF. The Marines change the dynamics of the battle so that the CDF loses, twenty CDF members are sent to the hospital, and fourteen of them end up in intensive care. In cities across the country, ex-military people enter the fray turning the tables on the CDF.

@@@@@

“Ron, everything is off the air, the only thing being broadcast is snippets of the President’s speeches and lies, videos of recent events with the media’s reporting showing the media lied on each story. The President must be going crazy.”

“I bet he is.”

“Brad, now you know why DC was built on what used to be a swamp, the original designers must have known what a mess the Federal Government was going to turn into.”

“Ron, you’re right, by the way, what brings you over to visit us so early?”

“I have received a message; we’ve been activated again, and we’ve been assigned a mission for tonight.”

“A mission?”

“Yes, let’s go for a walk, we’ll talk about it. By the way, do you still have that box that was delivered to you?”

“Do you mean the one with the DHS uniform in it?”

“The very same.”

“Yes, by the way, it fits me nicely.”

“Good, wear it tonight; I’ll meet you at location zebra at 0200. By the way, be armed, bring the ID card that came with the uniform.”

“Are we being the feds tonight?”

“We are.”

“I like giving surprises.”

@@@@@

“Admiral, we have a mission tasking from General Brownstone; he’s planning a mission tonight, he asks if we can support with helicopter support, he’s also asked for electronic warfare.”

“Location?”

“Washington DC and the surrounding area.”

“Tell the General, yes, ask the CAG (Commander of the Air Group) to see me.”

CAG joins the Admiral on the flag bridge, “Captain, I have a mission tasking for you, read.”

“Admiral, this is an easy mission. I’ll have the F/A 18G in the air from 0100; I’ll have a refueling plane on ready five, plus a second G on standby, Admiral, I’d like to put a small attack package on standby tonight, just in case the General needs more support than he thought he might require. A few Hornets armed with smart bombs might be the deciding factor.”

“Captain, that goes beyond the support we’ve agreed to.”

“Admiral, no it doesn’t, I have a number of people in the air wing who have volunteered to fly such missions, they’ve offered to fly without rank in unmarked planes; hence five hornets have been repainted in plain dark gray without any national markings. The President can’t prove they’re ours.”

“Captain, where else could they have come from if not us?”

“Shangri-La?”

“Paint that on the aircraft, should drive the DHS crazy.” Both men break out laughing.

At 0100, the electronic warfare Hornets launch, their mission is to block any communications or alarms coming from the night’s mission against the DHS.

Chapter 10

The result of the President’s class warfare are hundreds of the wealthiest have left the country. Canada welcomes them with open arms, when the wealthy leave, they close their businesses sell their homes, leaving tens of thousands unemployed for the government to support in their wake.

President Obsma pushed the country into a race war. Anyone who disagreed with him for any reason is branded a racist, anyone who didn’t worship him is a racist, and anyone who didn’t pay their fair share, as determined by the President is a racist. Anyone who clung to their religion is a racist. He pitted minorities against whites; he formed the Citizens Defense Force made up mostly of inner city young to enforce his will against any who didn’t agree with him. Colleges across the country started banning white students from attending diversity functions, blaming the white race for all of the minority’s problems. Whites are blamed for the lack of minority high paying jobs, blamed for the lack of inexpensive homes, blamed for poor minority school test scores.

The President whipped up his cry for more than fair treatment for minorities; schools were to apply two standards of discipline one for whites and one for minorities.He said the poor minority students had been held back and discriminated against their entire lives, and their communities are different from the white students, so different sets of rules should apply. These rules led to the further separation of the races. The more the President spoke about income inequality; the more, the lower tier minorities demanded more for doing less. Many communities reached the breaking point where gangs of both whites and minorities battled each other, some minority communities saw homes owned by whites burned, and minorities who lived in white middle-class communities saw their homes burned.  A full-scale race war is boiling just under the surface, all it needed to explode and swallow the country were a few more speeches by the President, a man elected to unite the races, a man who did everything in his power to turn them against each other.

@@@@@

The Speaker takes to the floor of the conference, saying, “Fellow Representatives, I’ve spoken to the General; he has many concerns. His largest concern is there is nothing in the constitution that enables us, the Congress to select a President. He said, and he’s correct we have to follow the chain of succession, as such he’s suggested the Senate vote him to become a cabinet officer which would then place him into the line of succession, and he would then agree to assume the position until new elections are held.”

The Representative from Harlem in New York City stands, “Mr. Speaker, fellow Representatives, I don’t think the General is the right person to hold our highest office, He is very pro-gun, he’s everything we’ve had before, he’s a military man, he’ll put us into new wars, and the biggest case against the General is how can we replace the first African American President with a white man?”

The Speaker responds, “Mr. Representative shouldn’t we be selecting the best person for the job?”

“We must select an African American so that our minority population will know we understand their plight.”

The Speaker looks confused, “What plight? Even the poorest American is richer than some of the rich in the rest of the world. We’ve provided enough government benefits payments so that our people on welfare can afford large screen televisions, three meals a day, heat, air conditioning, even free transportation.  We supply them with free cell phones, high-speed internet access, healthcare paid for by the rest of the working people. And you say we don’t understand their plight? What plight?”

“Mr. Speaker, if we don’t show our African American population we’re considering their needs they will rise and take what they want.”

”Mr. Representative, what about the needs of the rest of the country? What about the needs of the other minorities? Do you only care about a single group of people? We’re supposed to represent all of the people.”

“Mr. Speaker I care about the people who elected me.”

“As you should, but not to the harm to the rest of the country.”

“Mr. Speaker do you think the people of the country will accept a military coup?”

“There won’t be a military coup; there will be a legal impeachment of elected officials who broke their oaths of office. Elected people who exceeded their authority. The Senate will vote and approve the General as the New Secretary of State who will then be line to become President, no coup, everything legal per the constitution.”

“Mr. Speaker, I’m telling you the African Community won’t accept him as their President.”

“Mr. Representative he’ll be the President of all of America, not just one group, or another. We need a leader to bring the country together; we need a unifier. Who if not the General would you propose?”

“Why not the Reverend Johnson?”

“Are you serious?”

“Yes, he ran for President before; he can unite all of the minorities, he can lead us into a new-social pack with the people who have been overlooked for so long.”

“The Reverend will cause mass uprising across the country. He won’t get the votes in the Senate. The General is our only choice to hold the country together. As far as if we can appoint a President, I had this looked into. The actual first President was appointed by Congress when the Declaration of Independence was signed; John Hancock was appointed by the delegates as the first President. Hence, Congress has appointed a President before. If we’ve done it before, we can do it again. We’re also going to have to pass new laws to make sure no President can ever get us this far down a black hole again. When the country was founded, the founders designed a country with three branches of government; they designed a system with a weak central government. The original Federal Government started off broke; they had no means to tax.

“Mr. Speaker, I’m sorry, but I can’t vote for anyone except for the good Reverend. He’s the only one who can lead us out of the dark times we’re currently in. He’ll hold the country together.”

“We can appoint him to a position within the government which is what you’re proposing to do with the General.”

“I can’t stop you; however, I don’t think you’re going to a lot of supporters for your idea.”

@@@@@

5:30 AM eighteen people wearing DHS uniforms arrive at the headquarters building of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Washington DC. All have valid DHS internal security ID cards which allow them unlimited access to the building. Once inside the eighteen split up going to different floors and offices. Four of the eighteen are IT experts, they’ve been given stolen passwords enabling them access to the entire DHS network. They sit down at the DHS terminals where they download files onto small memory sticks. The memory sticks also hold a virus that is installed into the DHS network. The others follow their instructions, completing their assigned tasks.

Their last task is to reprogram the building alarm system. Within thirty minutes all of their tasks are finished, the eighteen walk out of the building as if they belonged there. Across the country, similar break-ins are happening at other DHS office buildings. Ron and I are among a group of five people who’ve been assigned the headquarters building of the Border Patrol in Arlington VA. Entering the building is easy, our forged ID cards give us instant access as if we’re real DHS employees. We’re protecting a hacker who’s wanted by the DHS and FBI for breaking into government networks. He sits in front of one of the admin terminals in the IT department; his fingers fly over the keyboard. Smiling he says, “I’m in; this was easier than I thought. Give me the memory sticks, I’ll start transferring the files.”

Ron says, “When you’re done transferring the files, load this into their system, handing the hacker a CD-ROM.

“Do I want to know what’s on this?”

“No, just load it, and then we’ll leave.”

Frank, one of our group motions to me to follow him, he puts his finger to his lips to tell me to be as silent as possible, we slip into the Director’s office, gaining access to his computer and locked files. We have a list of files we were asked to locate; we hit the jackpot, one of the stolen keys we were given opens his file cabinet, the files we want are all there. We were given a few vials of chemical to spread around the offices with a warning to be out of the building within five minutes of opening the vials. Having completed out tasks, we meet the others and slip out of the building. I ask, “Won’t they figure out someone broke into the office and stole files?” Ron says, “In thirty minutes there won’t be enough left of their offices to worry about.”

The national morning news programs report massive fires and explosions took place overnight at fifteen DHS office buildings. The FBI claimed it was the act of domestic terrorists; the FBI Director told the New York Slimes they had a solid lead on the perpetrators. Two days latter ten people are arrested as the ringleaders. None are part of the groups that did the actual attack; the FBI simply rounded up ten people and blamed them for the attack. The FBI proudly issues a press release saying they broke up a major domestic terrorist organization which is tied to the Tea Party. The Director of the FBI calls the ten major newspapers in the country saying his organization has the Tea Party on the run, he tells the newspapers America has nothing to fear from the Tea Party as long as he’s in charge of the FBI.

The next day, a convoy of DHS vehicles is attacked with IEDs. Twelve vehicles are destroyed, two days later the Chicago O’Hare Airport main screening area is attacked with smoke bombs, hundreds of live snakes are released into the terminal adding to the panic in the main terminal. Everyone in the terminal has to be evacuated from the terminal, the Airport Fire Department arrives to find hundreds of snakes. They refuse to enter until the snakes are cleared. O’Hare is closed for 29 hours resulting in thousands of canceled flights across the country.

The fourth day after the FBI announcement, the New York Slime computer system is hacked, the front page of the paper ends up printed with a picture of the Director of the FBI sitting backwards on a donkey wearing a dunce hat. Tens of thousands of copies are printed and distributed before anyone realized what was printed on the front page. Hundreds of thousands saw the picture on the internet. The fifth day after the FBI announcement, the FBI headquarters building’s central HVAC compressor caught fire filling the building with deadly smoke forcing the FBI shut down the building. Unknown to the FBI, a few of the firemen, are patriots, they leave behind a handful of small IEDs. When the FBI reopens their building, the IEDs explodes destroying the FBI’s two server rooms. The FBI biometric lab in Clarksburg West Virginia is attacked. Millions of fingerprint files are destroyed.

The FBI responds by rounding up people who used to own firearms, these people, are brought in for questioning. The FBI becomes bogged down in the questioning, leaving the Patriots alone to continue their attacks against the Federal Government.

@@@@@

Six days into Anonymous’ imposed blackout of the airwaves, they turn control of our televisions back to us with a statement, “We are Anonymous, this was a simple demonstration of our ability. We’re turning on your televisions because of the attacks against the DHS and FBI. We see you’re trying, we’re supporting you. Continue your attacks. America time is running out.”

@@@@@

One week into the government’s failure to fund its various aid programs the number of knockdown attacks for looting increases 300%. Car jacking’s increase 400%, bank robberies increase 600% and shoplifting crimes increase over 1,000%.

President Obsma tells his Secretary of the Treasury, “Mr. Secretary; we have a major crime wave due to our inability to fund our social programs.”

“Mr. President, we’re still having problems selling bonds, all of our usual buyers have refused to purchase any more of our bonds because of our civil unrest. China has said they need another thirty days to review our offer.”

“We almost always have unrest in the summer, this year the unrest came a little later than normal.”

“Sir, it’s more than the normal summer unrest, even the United Nations have withdrawn their headquarters to Switzerland. No one wants to lend us money right now.”

“Why can’t we have the Fed lend us the money?”

“Sir, don’t you remember, the Fed Director refused to print any more money? You tried to fire her; however, she refused to leave because her term wasn’t up yet.”

“That’s unacceptable, tell the Director of the FBI to arrest her, I’ll appoint a new Fed Director this evening.”

“Sir, she still time left on her term, what are you going to charge her with?”

“Being a domestic terrorist because she is single handily killing our economy.”

Chapter 11

President Obsma ordered the NSA and DHS to launch attacks on the social media sites. Tens of thousands of government agents start making posts that are very pro-government, they respond and record any anti-government post. Any anti-administration post is sent to a central office for review. If the post came from a reporter or anyone in a position of power, the person gets a phone call warning them what will happen if they don’t remove their post. The administration works to sway public thought. Anti-government forum sites fight with the administration to stay active.

@@@@@

America’s economy slips deeper into recession. The government has agreed to hire the unemployed. The President has mandated price controls, anyone who’s ever studied economics knows when people are paid to do nothing when the profit motive is removed from the equation, when there is no incentive economies fail. People pretend to work, the government pretends to pay them. With prices, frozen producers simply cease making products they’ll lose money on. The President can mandate all he wants that companies can’t lay people off or cease production, the mandate is ignored, companies exist to make profits, not simply to hire people they can’t afford to pay. Many companies close. In many cases, the business owners simply don’t show up; their workers are locked out.

Store shelves are bare; consumers get angrier by day. Even the President begins to realize he has to kick start the economy. The President decides to announce a new series of executive orders, he announces; a 10% reduction of the government workforce, those being reduced will be eligible for newly displaced workers benefits program, the funds are going to be taken from the Social Security accounts. The President figures the old won’t be around to vote much longer, plus he may not even allow any more elections. The President has already reduced Medicare payments to a degree many doctors refuse to see patients covered by Medicare. The Affordable Care Act set up “death panels” to determine the level of treatment the ill can receive, the older and less productive a person is, the less care they receive.

The President knows taking care of the younger more productive population will provide him the support he needs to complete transforming the country. He still has to overcome the major problem of the government being bankrupt. No matter what the President promises to pay workers. No matter what new benefits programs he promises, there isn’t sufficient cash to fund the payments he promised. Workers are laid off with no income; they join the rioters who know they are entitled to what they want. Rioting across the country sharply increases. 30% of the major big box chain stores have been burnt to the ground, 25% of the country’s grocery stores have closed, and 85% of the small “Mom and Pop” stores have closed due to a lack of inventory or from being robbed.

Flash mobs attack stores to take what they feel they’re entitled to, any store owner or manager who tries to stop the mob is usually beaten to death. America’s infrastructure is falling apart. Water and electricity operate in most major cities only eight hours a day; many of the workers have walked off their jobs due to not being paid by the cities who are also bankrupt. They have not been paid; there’s also little to buy with their pay. When they can find something to purchase, they are usually mugged right outside the store. The President closed the coal mines and ordered all coal fired power generating plants to close, in the name of protecting the planet for our children’s children, this adds to the country’s lack of electricity. In the midst of the cold winter of 2014, every power generating plant ran at 100% providing power to homes and business. 25% of those power plants have been shut down due to the President’s ban on coal. Without replacement power plants, the country is short of electrical generating capacity. Generators are the newest thief item; many people have their generators enclosed in cement bunkers to protect them from thieves.

Flash mobs turn to attacking restaurants; they swarm into a restaurant, stealing the food off diner’s plates, and then clean out the kitchens before rushing out. Many high-end restaurants remove their signage; they hire armed security guards to protect their diners. Police refuse to do anything because the President signed an executive order relaxing laws for minorities. The great unifier once again drove dividers between the classes and races.

Farmers are banned from letting their cattle graze on government lands. Any cattle caught on federal lands are confiscated by the government. Ranchers are fined millions of dollars if their cattle accidently wander into unfenced government lands. Resulting in the increased cost of beef. Anyone supporting the farmers are classified as domestic terrorists. Farmers try to figure out how to comply with the latest EPA’s rules limiting the amount of cow flatulence to control global warming. Many farmers decide to reduce the number of cows vs. paying the fines. The result of the cow reduction is an increase in the cost of milk and dairy products.

Glen and Rash tell their listeners to fight back the only way they can, they tell their listeners to change their W4 forms. They tell their listeners to claim fifteen dependents bringing their withholding tax to zero. This serves to further pressure the President as much-needed revenue isn’t flowing into the treasury. Many of the ex-middle class now qualify for government programs, increasing their cash in hand while putting additional stress on the government’s limited funds. Business owners return their quarterly tax forms listing drastically reduced revenue, further reducing the amount of taxes being paid into the treasury’s coffers.

@@@@@

The Secretary of the Treasury informs the President, “Mr. President, we have a very serious situation that’s getting worse every day, our tax collections are 75% below the same period last year. Sir, frankly, the country passed over the tipping point, we’re bankrupt.”

“Mr. Secretary, isn’t there another way to get additional funding?”

“No Mr. President, we’re out of cash, we’re not taking in enough and our outgoing has increased to the point where 87% of all of our outgoing funds are earmarked for various benefit and entitlement programs.”

“Stop making interest payments.”

“Sir that will have serious repercussions. China will be very upset; they will foreclose on their debt.”

“Don’t tell me you think the Chinese are going to show up here and start taking ownership to cover their debt. They’re just going to have to wait, same as everyone else.”

“Sir, the country’s default will impact every citizen; it will push more people to be against us. It’ll give Congress even more encouragement to pass the articles of impeachment.”

“Mr. Secretary, Congress can vote for anything they want, however, since I sent them home, nothing they vote on is binding unless I want it to be binding. Let them vote, the country knows Congress is weak and useless, they stand in the path of progress, we’re stronger without them. The only way out of this is to attack Texas, we’ll take back their gold and petrochemicals; the people will come together; they always do when we go to war. I want some of our people dressed as Texan Rangers. These people will attack a few of our border towns; we’ll use the attacks to whip the people up. They’ll demand action against Texas; their focus will shift while the Army conquers Texas, I’ll tell my base we’ll share with the American population the spoils of war we capture in Texas. Once we win, we’ll force Texas to pay a higher yearly tax to the country, they should be able to fund our operations for many months. I’ve also decided to send many of the unemployed into the rural areas; they are going to work on farms helping increase food production.”

“Sir, this is a very bad idea, these people have no idea how to work on a farm; they will get in the way, in reality the production of food will slow down. Sir, please don’t do this, it’s been tried before, it’s never worked.”

“I know my history, I figured out how to make sure it’ll work this time, I’m going to send most of my Citizen Defense Force to help motivate the new farm, workers.”

“Sir, this will make it even worse, sir the country is on the verge of total collapse if you reduce the amount of food, the country will go over the edge, and there won’t be any way to bring it back.”

“You always see the worst in every plan, I’m telling you this will work, and it worked in China.”

“Mr. President, no it didn’t, Premier Mao ended up killing hundreds of millions of his own people.”

“See, I told you this will work; it’ll reduce our medical and Social Security costs, a year from now you’ll be saying what everyone already knows. I’m a genius, I’m the smartest man to every sit in this office. By the way, its 5: 00 PM, my day ends at 5. I’m leaving for a golf weekend this evening.”

“Mr. President, it’s not a good idea to continue playing golf while the country is suffering.”

“Nonsense, everyone knows all work and no play yield too much stress. I do my best thinking on the links; my base wants me to be relaxed and refreshed in order to do the work they sent me here to perform. Before I leave, I’m going to issue an attack order.”

“Mr. President, did you read the briefing report that the Texans attacked our troops that are on the border?”

“What report? Why didn’t I see this report? Why didn’t someone tell me we were attacked, my God, we’re at war! You should have told me this when you first arrived. My God, America’s been attacked. This is wonderful; I don’t have to attack Texas because they’ve attacked us. Why didn’t you say this earlier? Can we nuke Austin?”

“Mr. President, you don’t want to use weapons of mass destruction, the world will turn against us even more than they have now. You swore to destroy our nuclear weapons.”

“I know we still have some, but I understand. We have to teach them they can’t attack us, I’m not going to stand for this, I want Austin wiped off the map. Find a way to teach the Texans they can’t screw with us.”

“Mr. President, if you go ahead with this, I’m going to have to resign, I can’t agree to wipe a major American city off the map.”

“They’re not our people any longer; they left the union; they caused most of the problems we’re currently facing, and they train and support the domestic terrorists that have harmed our economy. I won’t have them go unpunished. If you’re such a coward, you may leave, I accept your resignation.”

“Mr. President, isn’t there anything I can say which will make you rethink how to respond?”

“Why are you here? You’ve resigned, leave the White House.”

As the Secretary of the Treasury leaves the Oval Office, the President motions for his senior Secret Service agent to come to him, “I don’t want the ex-secretary being able to tell anyone what took place here, please arrange he disappears.”

@@@@@

The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security is meeting with his Director of IT, “What do you mean our network is locked?”

“Sir, a virus has been installed in all of our networks, the virus was installed behind our firewalls, the worm’s locked us out of our own system, it’s either altering or destroying all of our data, we have no idea what data we can trust.”

“What about our private stealth email accounts?”

“Sir, the virus has taken over those too, every email in DHS is being used to send porn to every address all over the world. We’ve had calls from our counterparts all over the world cutting ties with us. No one is willing to share data with us.”

“Why can’t you clean the virus from our systems?”

“Sir, whoever developed this virus is very good, in fact, world class. This virus isn’t like the other viruses that got into our system we were able to clean those through our back doors. This one has blocked all of our access. Every one of our passwords, even our administrative rights, have been changed. No one can log in, after two attempts the user is locked out, the screen then shows porn. Sir, we’ve had over four thousand written complaints of workplace harassment because of the porn, it’s very graphic.”

“It’s not our fault; we didn’t publish the porn, and they can’t file complaints against the department.”

“Sir, some of the porn have our own people’s faces photoshopped onto the actor’s bodies, it looks like most of the DHS staff are the porn stars.”

“How did our faces end up in porn?”

“The virus got into our HR files. It’s using our own ID pictures. Sir, the virus, is also sending packages charged to our government credit cards.”

“Packages? Where are they being sent to? What’s in the packages?”

“Sir, we don’t know, we can see the shipping labels, we have no idea what’s in the packages.”

“Are our armories safe?”

“To be honest, I have no way to know, we can’t even use our office phones; everything runs through our networks; we have no communications inside or outside our buildings.”

“What can we do?”

“Sir, may I have permission to contact the NSA?”

“Oh my God, NO, we’ll be the laughing stock of the government if they find out. Just find a way to clean our networks, and don’t come back until it’s clean. Find out what’s in the packages the virus is sending and who they’re being sent to.”

Chapter 12

President of the Russian Federation, Puten has a full calendar of meetings scheduled for the day, the first to arrive is the commanding General of the Russian military. “Mr. Premier, we’re ready to cross the border. Many cities in Europe are experiencing civil disobedience, thanks to our agents stirring up issues between the various religious groups, the European’s are all focused internally. We should be able to roll across the border and crush our break away areas and Poland within 30 days of launching the operation's plan America can’t lift a finger to stop us, and they are embroiled in the worst uprisings since their civil war. President Obsma is powerless to do anything; their remaining military is either tied up trying to hold their country together or to get ready to invade their breakaway state Texas. Sir, I have an out of the box suggestion, why don’t we support Texas against America, we can supply them with weapons through either Cuba or Venezuela. This will weaken the Americans even more.”

“General Voldodin, I like your idea of supporting the Texans, keep it a secret, open a dialogue with them. How do you plan to launch an attack against Europe?”

“Mr. President, we plan to launch an EMP attack first. We’ll follow up the EMP with biological agents; the EMP will turn off their electricity; the bio-agents will make at least 75% of the population violently sick for ten days, and they won’t be able to lift a finger to stop us. We’ll announce we’re entering Europe to provide assistance from the terror attack their suffering from.”

“General, won’t they know the EMP attack came from us?”

Laughing, General Voldodin replies, “Mr. President, we’re going to launch the missiles from freighters in the Med. We’re going to use older missiles, most of which we sold to the black asses. We’re going to blame it on the black asses.' This will give us the pretense to move into the Middle East after we’re finished with Europe.”

“General, excellent. Please keep me informed.”

As General Voldodin leaves, the Minister of the Treasury enters the President’s office, “Minister, it’s time to dump our dollars, I’ve spoken with the Chinese, they will start dumping theirs too. Between the two of us, we will destroy the value of the dollar.”

“Have you placed the short orders on the various stock markets?”

“Of course Mr. President, once the dollar takes a permanent dump we’ll earn over four trillion from our short sell orders, all of the profits from our trades will be immediately converted into gold and silver. Within two weeks, we won’t be holding any dollars.”

“Excellent, Obsma will be the President, who oversees the complete collapse of America. The country won’t ever be able to rise again. Her economy will be totally destroyed, to further ensure America will never bother us again once their economy crashes we plan on launching an EMP attack on them. General Voldodin has four high altitude nuclear missiles targeted to explode hundreds of miles over America. The EMP will cover all of America destroying their electrical network; everything electronic will be burned out, given the collapse of the dollar, the civil unrest and the loss of their infrastructure, the end of America is right around the corner. The Chinese and we will be left to control the world. When the time is right, we’ll take care of our little yellow friends.”

@@@@@

“General, the DHS, and the FBI are going crazy looking for you. You can’t go anywhere near DC.”

“I know, I think it’s time for me to disappear, the Admiral is sending a Hornet to take me to DC, I’m going to hide right under their noses. The flight plan is filed as a Navy training flight. When we’re halfway to DC, the plane is going to disappear. We’ll turn off the transponder, cut communications and deploy the ECM pod jamming all of the electronic signals around us. We’ll simply disappear from the air traffic and military radar screens. Everyone will be baffled; most will think the plane crashed; however, there’ll be no debris, there’ll be no hole in the ground. It’ll be a total mystery; it will look like we just disappeared in mid air. We’ll make our way to a small airport in rural Virginia. From there we’ll take charge of the people’s army. Once I’m presumed dead, it’ll be easy to meet with the Speaker and Senate Whip, dead men can move around without anyone noticing. I want a standby message sent to all of our people. Congress is planning on voting on the articles of impeachment within a week when they do; the country is going to explode. We have to be ready deploy before they begin the vote.”

“General, we’ll be ready; we have another issue to keep an eye on, signals have picked up messages from the Russian military. Sir, they’re massed on the border with Eastern Europe, we think they’re going to attack while we’re focused internally. We have less than 3,000 troops left in Europe. The President’s drawdown of our forces and the disbanding of the Marines has left us in a position where we won’t be able to respond if they cross the border. Sir, we’re very concerned the Russians may use weapons of mass destruction against Europe.”

“I think it’s time for us to have a chat with the Air Force, so far they’ve been sitting on the sidelines; we may need their strategic assets. Let’s also get Admiral Zander on the horn; he has control of the missile boats. Maybe his attack subs can screw with the Russian’s schedule.”

“Yes, sir. We’ll get both on the secure line right away.”

“Captain, I think you're right; the Russians are going to do it this time.”

“Sir, without us, stopping them, the European military will be nothing more than a speed bump for Puten’s military.”

“This could get nasty very quickly, much quicker than I’d hoped. I prayed we might be able to bring order back to the country before we had to deal with a major international crisis. I’m betting the Russians and Chinese are going to cause us economic problems to keep us unbalanced while they split up the world. We really don’t need World War 3 to break out while we’re trying to save America.”

@@@@@

On board, the USS Lincoln, “Admiral the CAG is here to see you.”

“Thank you. CAG, I have a mission for you, I want you to send a couple of F/A 18Gs to jam all of the signals while General Brownstone is flying to meet with Congress.”

“Sir, how much of the spectrum do you want to be jammed?”

“Everything, I don’t want any signals in the air, can you shut down the phones too?”

“Sir, we can shut down everything, and I do mean everything. Not a single cell phone will be able to make a call, everything will be down. Do you want us to follow the General’s plane, jamming everything in his flight path?”

“I’d like to have an area from DC to the south of Richmond shut down. Don’t let anyone see your plane.”

“Admiral, I suggest two planes, we’ll be flying at 45,000 feet, we won’t be visible from the ground, we won’t be using our transponders. Most in the know will realize they’ve been jammed, we’ll catch the blame. Who else would have been able to shut down all of the systems but us?”

“We’ll deny everything; I don’t want anyone to track the Hornet we’re sending to take the General to his meeting. The flight is filed as a training flight; someone might put two and two together, and some hot-shit reporter may say we’re transporting the General. He’s planning on disappearing; I want the Gs to ensure he stays disappeared.

“We’ll make sure no one follows them; sir what if the boys in blue show up with fighters?”

“Jam them, don’t talk to them, keep them off the General’s tail, if the Air Force boys make a move to bring his plane down, you are free to fire on their fighters.”

“Sir?”

“CAG, you heard me, if the Air Force makes any hostile move against the General, stop them.”

“Sir, can I have a couple of Hornets configured for anti-air along for the ride?”

“Good idea, take four with you.”

“CAG make sure the General has a safe flight.”

“Yes, sir.”

CAG passes the Admiral’s chief of staff as he’s leaving the flag bridge.

“Commander, come in, we have to put a plan quickly together. It looks likely Russia is getting ready to conquer Europe. I think we need to have a few of our attack boats see if they can disrupt their plans.”

“Sir, how far can they go? Can they attack the Russian forces with Tomahawks? Can they sink Russian transport or troopships? What’s their ROE going to be?”

“Let’s look at the latest images. I’ll issue ROEs to the captains that will be very easy to understand. Let’s see which boats we have available that are in the area.”

“I’ll get you an update in 15 minutes.”

@@@@@

President Obsma announces he’s signed a new executive order, to lower the nation debt and enable the country to provide support for the needy, executive order, 13709 forbids the private ownership of gold and silver coins or bars. All precious metal coins and bars owned by Americans are to be turned over to the Department of the Treasury within two calendar weeks. The Federal Government will pay the amount of $12.00/ounce for silver and $500/ounce for gold. These prices reflect adjusted market prices and may not have any relation to pre-executive order 13709 market prices. Anyone who refuses to turn in their coins and bars will be fined $5,000 per coin or bar. Executive Order 13709 also orders the records of all coin and precious metal dealers and stores to be turned over to the IRS and the DHS.

@@@@@

“Brad, have you seen the latest executive order?”

“You know that man makes me ill, I try not to listen to him.”

“Brad, you better pay attention to this one, the President just outlawed private ownership of gold and silver.”

“He WHAT??”

“He ordered the records of all coin dealers turned over to the IRS; they’ll know everyone who bought coins or bars from agents and dealers. They’ll search our homes if we don’t turn in our silver and gold.”

How can they? There must be billions of coins in the market.”

“He’ll get enough of them; he’ll go after the large inventories in the stores and those whom records show purchased large quantities purchased.”

“Damn, first our guns, now our silver and gold, what next? Our teeth fillings?”

“If they’re gold or silver he might have your teeth pulled to get them.”

Chapter 13

The public reaction to the President’s order making it illegal to own precious metals quickly turns violent. People refuse to turn in their precious metals; coin stores are broken into by mobs who smash display cases so they can grab coins. The FBI and DHS start breaking into coin stores for their customer records. Some coin store owners shred and burn their customer lists, many place powerful magnets on their computer hard drives or drill holes in the drives making them unusable. DHS agents drag many store owners out of their stores taking them directly to jail for destroying evidence. People bury their coins in their yards. While the public is reeling from the order against owning precious metals, the FBI and DHS start demanding banks open their safe-deposit boxes for government inspection. Anytime the agents locate precious metals; they take them, leaving behind a script to be redeemed at a local DHS office. When a person tries to claim their payment from the script, they are arrested for hiding their assets.

This time the media tried to report the truth, many of the elites are hit by the precious metal buyback. Every time the media tries to report the truth, the DHS censors reject the report. Twice reporters are taken off the air in mid-sentence by the censors. One station provides a signer for the deaf, in reality the message sent is a warning to everyone who can understand the hand movements to hide their coins and jewelry.

The Federal Government’s firearm buyback caused an uproar; it was offset by the tax-free payments which helped many put food on their families’ tables. Many hid their firearms selling back old or broken, unusable weapons. When the EBT cards failed the lower income were most affected, with the precious metal thief the middle class and elites are the most impacted. The elites aren’t used to being touched by the government, they are used to being the pampered, they voted for President Obsma. They felt if they supported him he would return the favor and support them. They didn’t realize this man wasn’t a normal politician who could be easily manipulated by donations; he had a master plan to transform America into a socialist state, a state that torn down everything the normal elites lived for. Power and influence changed hands; the President increased government programs to reduce the upper and middle classes, to broaden the lower middle class so that there would be broad income equality.

Instead of trying to raise the lower classes, it was much easier to lower the upper, all the President had to do was increase their taxes, take away their special tax credits and seize their assets. In a single year the numbers of super-rich, the so-called 1% saw their numbers decrease by 40%. President Obsma wanted everyone to be dependent on the government, this way he would have total control over every aspect of everyone’s lives. Obsma is quickly becoming the first American dictator. He thought it would take both his two terms and his wife’s two terms to get close to his goal, he never realized he could win the poker game with a pair of deuces. He bluffed everyone else at the table to fold allowing him to win.

Not everyone folded, the few, the proud, the strong refused to walk away from the table, they knew to walk away, and fold meant America would die and never rise again. They decided to fight back. They refused to lay down and give up their personal freedoms. In secret, small groups of people planned and plotted fighting back. They knew they were out armed; they knew the Federal Government listened to every communication, having electronic eyes and ears everywhere. They met face to face in secret. They vetted every member to limit the chance of government spies being admitted to their groups.

General Brownstone met with his commanders. Most of the patriot leaders are ex-military; some are current military commanders; some are militia leaders and a couple are everyday people who’ve had enough. The General stands; walking to the front of the room to address the group, “My friends the time has come. Congress is fighting among themselves, they want to pass articles of impeachment; however, they each want to be named the next President, until they can come to an agreement no vote will be taken, every day that passes the President gets bolder, he signs numerous executive orders daily, he rules by degree. My friends if we don’t take action now we’ll lose America, the people, are beaten; they are ready to surrender their last visages of freedom for a daily meal and a roll of toilet paper. If we don’t turn the tide now, we’ll never be able to save our country. The President’s Citizen Defense Forces are growing daily; he’s arming them with military weapons. They are untrained in the arts of war, they only know terror and bullying if we wait too long they will become trained in how to fight a real war. Every day our parts situation gets worse; the factories are shut down; our logistics is becoming a problem. Therefore, I say we strike now. It’s been two months since the “Hands-Around-DC” march. A month since any serious attacks against the DHS, the virus inserted into the DHS network disabled them for weeks; we were able to change names on their most-wanted lists, we were able to divert supplies to our warehouses. We were able to download their plans and insert faulty ones into their system. The virus shipped us many of their weapons and ammo. I suggest the following course of action;

1. We need to isolate DC, to do so, we need to cut all communications in and out of DC, and we can do this by jamming their satellite communications and taking over the telecommunications offices and server farms.

2. We turn out the lights in DC, cut the electrical power for DC, taking out the three main generation stations and the five substations that supply DC with all of their electrical power.

3. To ensure they are stymied I propose we launch an EMP pulse armed cruise missile at DC, this should take down their backup generators and all of their computers.

4. We block access to the city; main battle tanks will block every bridge.

5. We fly armed UAVs to attack any convoy trying to break in or out of the city.

6. We send Special Forces to secure the national treasures like the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

7. We send Special Forces to start taking and holding the maze of tunnels that connects the various government buildings.

We’ll squeeze DC into surrendering if necessary we’ll starve them into surrender. There’s only a total of a few days food in the city.

“General, if we starve the city, we’ll be turning the people against us.”

“Colonel, most of the people in the city, will never support us, they are the worker bees of the government; they are some of the President’s strongest supporters, it’s going to be very hard on many of us to fight our own people; however, I don’t see any other choice.”

“I’m going to try a Hail Mary mission, tomorrow night we’re going to send four SEAL teams into the city to attempt to capture the President, I’m hoping some in the Secret Service will change sides if not, it’s going to be a bloodbath. If the SEALs succeed this is all over, if the Secret Service fights we may be facing a bloody civil war. The DHS is, of course, on the President’s side, his mob the CDF will fight for him to their death. Many of his base will oppose us, I don’t expect most of his base has the balls to oppose us with force. However, we should be prepared for some to fight us with any means they have. If the capture of the President fails, we’re going to end up in another civil war with American fighting American.  A second civil war is going to be much worse than the first civil war; this is going to be similar to the war for independence, where neighbor fought neighbor. Then only 3% rose up to fight the crown, today I think we’re going to be lucky to get 1% of the 300 hundred million to take up arms. Too many are used to living off of some government program. Today too many have become soft; too many don’t understand sacrifice.

238 years  ago our people knew how to live off the land, today if the power goes out for an hour they panic, almost none are prepared for the horror and cost a real battle in their neighborhoods is going to be.”

“General, do you really think the people will fight us?”

“Colonel, I’m sorry to say yes, I believe many are going to fight us, to many just want to be left alone or have the government give them everything. Remember the story of the 29-year-old in California, who spent his day's surfing. He drove a $60,000 Cadillac Escalade; he ate lobster; he didn’t want a real job, and he lived on various government programs. Our tax dollars are supported a lifestyle many of us in the military will never have. Many of our service members need EBT cards to feed their families while this young punk lives as the 1% on our tax dollars. These people don’t want their lives turned upside down. They may not take up arms against us; however, we can be sure they won’t support us, they’ll turn us into the government forces, and they won’t provide support for us in the field. These people have grown lazy on the government dole. The only way we can win is to convince them freedom, self-respect, and personal pride is more important than a government handout. We have to appeal to the people’s desire to want a better life for their children.”

“General, do you think Russia and China are going to get involved?”

“Mr. Jones, do you mean will they get involved in our internal issues? Or will they exploit our issues?”

“Sir, both.”

“Good questions, our esteemed friends have already started dumping dollars in an effort to collapse the dollar’s value and harm what left of our economy. I expect we’ll see Russia move into Europe and China take over most of Asia; it would not surprise me to see China and Japan form an allegiance. If we fail, Russia will control all of Europe and most likely much of the Middle East; China will control all of Asia and the Pacific all the way to Hawaii. It would not surprise me if China demands Hawaii be handed over to them. After Russia digests Europe and the Middle East, they will most likely attack Alaska.”

“General, that’s a formula for the world’s worst nightmare. The world will be plunged into another dark age.”

“Which is why we have to win and win quickly so America can again protect the world’s freedom. I’m happy to report I’ve been in contact with Anonymous, starting tonight we’ll have their full support.”

“General, how did you contact them and can we trust them?”

“Contacting them was easy, I called their advertised 800 number, as far as trusting them, we have to, the enemy of my enemy is my friend, or at least for today. They want some of the same things we do, today we’ll be allies, just remember what President Reagan said, “Trust but verify” we’ll keep our eyes open. For now, they can provide us with the control of the communication's networks and the internet. They’ll provide us with the ability to get out a message in front of the masses. For once we’ll be telling the full story to the people.”

“General, do you think the DHS will use deadly force against the people?”

“Mr. Sampson, does a bear crap in the woods?”

@@@@@

“General, Anonymous doesn’t want you to attack Washington with an EMP weapon. Such a weapon will damage the server farms and tens of thousands of computers. As your partner in the retaking of America, we have to request you allow us to block the government’s communications networks, or use your jamming planes. We view the use of EMP as an attack against us.”

“How shall I address you?”

“Call me John.”

“John, I believe we have to crash DC’s entire network, we need to inflict them with enough pain that they come to the table.”

“General, we agree on inflicting a high pain level. However, we believe there are other ways to inflict such pain. In accordance with our partnership agreement, we’re asking you to allow us to increase their pain level. We don’t want tens of thousands of computers destroyed. They can’t be quickly replaced when the government is restructured.”

“John, In accordance with our partnership, I’ll agree to cancel the EMP attack if your organization can bring down their networks.”

John smiles an evil grin responding, “General; we can bring down anyone’s network, including yours. Thank you for your understanding, and, by the way, we think your kick-off meeting went very well.”

“I wasn’t aware any of your people attended.”

“We didn’t have to.”

The two men stand and shake hands. General Brownstone thinks to himself he has to get his network checked again. He calls his aide to join him. “Captain, I just added a visitor from Anonymous, they don’t want us to attack DC with EMP weapons. I agreed to their request, with the agreement they will crash and keep down the government’s many networks. By the way, they informed me they listened to our kickoff meeting, how did they do this? I want all of our computers checked. I also want our most secret messages to be hand delivered.”

“Sir, hand delivering messages will add time to our schedule we don’t have.”

“I know, however, losing time is better than opening all of our secrets to our new partner whom I don’t fully trust.”

“Yes, sir. I’ll inform the Admiral the cruise missile attack is off the table.”

“Thank you.”

Chapter 14

The separation widens between those supporting and those against the President. The disagreements are heated quickly turning violent. Fist fights break out in offices and retail stores all over the country. Many employers start separating workers by which side of the discussion they support. Some employers decide to lay off workers who support one side or the other of the national debate. Some national chain stores run commercials inviting both sides to shop in their stores saying they are neutral on the ongoing national debate. This hurts their sales as both sides decide the chains lack the moral fortitude to take a position on the argument. Target is one of the chains to announce they won’t take a side, sixteen of their stores are set on fire, both sides claim responsibility. Macy’s flagship store in New York City is hit by a flash mob of 300 people who loot the store’s high-end pocketbooks, some selling for upwards of $4,000 each. The fine jewelry case is smashed; most of the jewelry is stolen. By the time, the NYC police arrive over two hundred thousand dollars of merchandise has been stolen, and tens of thousands of dollars in damage done. Macys decides to close its flagship store until they can arrange private armed security guards for the store. A major food fight breaks out in a Burger King just outside Madison Alabama; the fire department has to be called to turn fire hoses on to the people inside the restaurant. As the food covered “warriors” leave the restaurant the fighting continues in the parking lot, three people have to be taken to the hospital with broken bones. Shopping malls start closing due to flash mobs. Fighting breaks out among customers and store workers. There was a single event that got the attention of the national broadcast media. The event took place in San Marcos California; a fight broke out between the supporters for and against President Obsma inside a movie theater, and somehow the theater caught fire. The fighting became so engrossing the moviegoers didn’t notice the fire until it was too late, in all 134 people died in the fire. The media reported the fire without mentioning who started it.

@@@@@

Anonymous next targets the national banking ATM machine network. Some people discover much to their joy; their bank accounts have increased, and in some cases the super rich find their accounts are empty. Some in the upper ranks of government find they’re instantly poor. People in certain far left-leaning communities find they're now broke. Many of the elites discover their life savings are gone, the banks say the records show the funds were transferred to other accounts and other banks. All the banks can say is funds were transferred in and out of people’s accounts from a number of different locations. Anonymous transferred small amounts of money from thousands of accounts into others. They issued a message saying, “President Obsma wanted income equality; hence, we decided to assist him. In one evening, we redistributed America’s wealth.”

One particular liberal filmmaker who’s famous for making fictional documentary films learns his fortune that yesterday was over $400 million is now down to $1.76. He starts screaming at the ATM machine in Beverly Hills. He’s very proud of his anti-gun films; he also carries an unregistered 32 caliber snub nose revolver which he uses to shoot the ATM machine. Two of the bullets bounce off of the hardened steel of the ATM hitting a person waiting in line to use the machine. An off-duty LA police officer also in line sees the producer pull out a gun and start firing, he sees the person three ahead of him fall screaming. The officer thinks the producer shot the bystander; he tells the famous producer to drop his weapon. “Do you know who the fuck I am?”

“I don’t care who you are, just drop your weapon and raise your hands.”

“I’ll do nothing of the sort, this machine, this bank just stole hundreds of millions from me.”

The producer doesn’t think about the small handgun in his hand. He turns to face the off-duty officer who’s holding his service pistol, the officer thinks the producer is going to fire at him, the officer fires first hitting the producer in the chest with three jacketed hollow point 9 mm bullets, instantly killing the producer.

When Beverly Hills police cars arrive, the officer explains what happened, the on scene senior officer listens to the eyewitness,' and he determines the officer was on the right to open fire. He tells the officer, “Go to your station, fill out the gun shooting report, you’re on paid suspension, however, I’ll file a report that you acted to save the lives of these people and yourself from the producer who carried an illegal firearm. Such a shame, he made some crappy movies, he’ll be missed by himself.”

Smiling, the off-duty officer says, “Thank you, sir.”

“Officer, you’re a hero, you saved the lives of these people, don’t thank me, I should be thanking you.”

The FDIC decides it has no choice but to tell the banks to close their ATM machines until the accounts can be sorted out. Years ago banks cut back on the number of tellers to reduce costs. They pushed people into using the ATM machines by charging customers to see a live teller. Now that the ATMs are unreliable the banks aren’t staffed to assist the mass of people who jam the banks only to discover it’s not just the ATM network that’s corrupted, it’s the banks records themselves. The FDIC and the Department of the Treasury announce a three-day bank holiday to give them time to sort out the real balances in people’s accounts. One major headache is the people who withdrew the money they didn’t own. People find themselves without any cash. With their accounts liquidated, they can’t use their debit cards, or make payments on their credit cards or mortgages and other bills. The panic deepens across the country. Violence increases when people try to steal food to feed their families and fuel for their cars. The National Master Card and Visa networks decide to suspend all of their cards due to the banking crises. Without cash or credit the panic deepens.

To increase panic among people, Anonymous hacks the Government payment system, issuing benefit deposits in the amount of $1.00 to all welfare benefit holders. Their accounts are marked paid for the month. People are excited when they realize a deposit has been made, only to get angrier when they see the amount of the deposit. Millions take to the streets protesting the government.

@@@@@

That evening, at 7:00 PM EDT, President Obsma takes to the internet to announce, “My fellow American’s the recent events have been very hard on all of us. There’s no reason we fellow Americans are fighting each other; there’s no reason we can’t all just get along with each other. My policies are designed to create a new and safer America for our children. My policies are working; unemployment is down, people are earning more, and almost everyone in the country has health insurance. Education is free for all from preschool to a college degree. How can anyone disagree with these policies? To disagree with them is to be un-American. To disagree is to say you’re not in favor of a better future for our children. Everyone should put politics aside and look at my policies for the good they are doing. I call upon the group that calls itself Anonymous to release its hold on our broadcasting. I call upon the members of Anonymous to allow the people to decide for themselves what is in their best interests. I call upon the members of the disbanded US Marines to stop fighting my policies, to lay down your illegal arms. You’re used to following orders from your commander in chief that is me, as such I’m ordering you to turn yourselves in. You will receive the mental help you need. You will receive education to help you assimilate into a new America.

If you attempt to fight us, you will be hunted down and brought to justice. If we have to hunt you down, justice will be swift and harsh. America is changing, adapt to it, and change with us; I welcome you to be a part of the new America. Everyone, it’s time to come together and make peace with each other. I’ve outlawed the racist Tea Party; Congress is going to restart soon, and I’m already working with the Speaker of the House and the Leader of the Senate who have both sworn to be supportive so we can return some degree of normalcy.

Each of us should go back to work, each of us has to respect each other's opinions, we are Americans we have always changed with the times, change is a natural process of nature. If we don’t change we’d still be using quill pens, there will be no internet, no television, no airplanes. I’m reminded of a saying I learned many years ago, the only constant in life is change. Change is normal; I’m pleading, yes pleading with every American to accept change for the good it’s bringing to our children’s future.  Change is always difficult at first. At one time people thought, people knew the Earth was flat, people believed there wasn’t any human-caused climate change today we all know better; these are examples of change, change that was hard to accept at first and is now the known truth. As a country we’ve overcome many issues, we’ve grown, we’ve matured, we can work together to build a better America for our children.” Before the President can complete his speech, the power in Washington DC is cut. The White House battery powered alarm's sound. Four Secret Service agents push in the Oval Office door; they grab the President dragging him to the elevator to the bunker under the White House. President Obsma yells, “What the hell is going on? What happened? Where are you taking me?”

“Sir, the power in all of Washington DC is out, it was intentionally cut we have to assume this is the start of an assault. We have to get you to safety.”

“How is the elevator going to work without power?”

“The emergency generators are cutting in; we’re having some problems with two of them, seems there’s water in their fuel tanks. We’ll worry about how the water got into the tanks later; our first task is your protection.”

“I didn’t get to complete my speech; the people will worry something horrible has happened to me, I need to assure the people I’m all right. If they think the racists have harmed me, there’s going to be bloodshed. I’m the people’s elected leader to bring America into the future. I must complete my address before it’s too late.”

“Mr. President, once you’re safe in the bunker we’ll see about getting you back on the air…”

Before the lead, Secret Service agent can complete his sentence new alarms sound. One of the agents listens to his ear bud, saying, “incoming planes. Stingers have been deployed to the roof; two Patriot air defense missile batteries are online, they're operating on their backup generators. Looks like a flight of C130s, thinking either gunships or we’re about to have a bunch or visitors drop in on us.”

The senior agent yells, “Bring those planes down before they get close enough to either attack us or drop paratroops. Tell the patriots they are free to fire.”

President Obsma is trying to break free of the agents; he yells, “What’s happening? I’m the President; someone tells me what’s happening!”

While still half dragging and half carrying the President, the lead Secret Service agent responds “Mr. President there are incoming airplanes, these could be gunships that can tear the White House apart or drop paratroops on us.”

“Why would anyone do either?”

“Sir, I’m assuming not everyone agrees with your hope and change.”

Five miles away the Army Patriot Air defense missile has the incoming planes on radar when their radar image flares into thousands of new images.

The senior Secret Service agent hears the alert tone in his ear, his presses the ear bud, “What’s the situation?”

“Sir, we’re being jammed, the Patriot batteries report their radar is filled with thousands of returns.”

One of the agent's replies, “Damn it, the only thing that has enough power to jam a Patriot battery is either an EA 6B or F/A 18G, either way, it means the Navy just declared war against America. Tell the Patriot batteries to focus their radar into narrow beams and scan to the east.”

A minute later, “Sir, the batteries report they can’t hold a lock.”

“Tell them to fire anyway, fire towards the last held position of the C130s, the missiles might persuade the planes to turn around, or we may get lucky and nail a couple.”

The Secret Service agents on the White House roof have started firing Stinger man-portable air defense missiles. These small missiles are not radar guided; they target the hot surfaces of the incoming planes. As soon as the incoming planes see the smoke trail of the Stingers, they drop flares to draw the incoming missiles away from the airplanes.

The senior Secret Service agent hears nothing but static from his ear bud,”Damn it they’ve jammed our signals. Let’s get the President into the bunker ASAP. My gut says we’re going to be hosting a number of visitors.

@@@@@

“General, the power went off in DC on schedule, we caught the President in mid-word.”

“How far away are the planes?”

“Sir, they are only a couple of minutes away from the White House, there are five C130s and two F/A 18Gs providing jamming.”

“Shutdown the entire city, jam all of their radios and communications systems, I don’t want the Secret Service to be able to call for help.”

Chapter 15

Every communication network, every broadcast channel, every cell phone is jammed and unusable. Static is the only sound heard from any device. Telephones don’t have dial tones; computers can’t locate available networks; no one can log onto the internet or their internal networks. Every phone number dialed including 911, returns a fast-busy tone. Every television station is off the air.

Commander Randolph flying one of the F/A 18G electronic warfare fighters asks his electronic warfare officer sitting behind him, “Mongoose, how goes the battle?”

“Red nose, just great, they must be going crazy in DC; nothing is working, between us and flight two, we’ve got the entire metro area shutdown. Because radios are out, the metro buses have stopped running, the trains have stopped in place, hell we’ve even turned all of the traffic lights red. No one is going anywhere, and no one is talking to anyone else. Except for course for us. We’ve left our channel open.”

“Goose what if the Secret Service locates our channel?”

“No joy there red nose, we’ve got the auto sequence engaged, we’re jumping channels every couple of nanoseconds, even if they were able to lock on, before they could blink we’ll be on another frequency.”

“I assume you’ve locked out the Patriot battery’s radar?”

“Goose, the first thing we locked down, we don’t need any rude surprises.”

“Anything we can do about their Stingers?”

“The C 130s have flares; they may or may not work; the new Stingers are very good knowing the difference between a flare and a real airplane.”

“Let’s pray the Secret Service has the old seekers, I don’t want to lose our boys because our own missiles are too good.”

“Roger sir, we can drop some flares, we also have the experimental decoy we can deploy. The decoy flies behind us emitting the same IR as a fighter. The problem is the C130s don’t have the decoys.”

“Good, deploy it, let’s hope the decoys suck up any Stingers.”

On board the C 130s, “Captain March, this is the pilot, we’re one minute out, the Hornets have the RF spectrum covered and shutdown, our only fear is the Stingers the Secret Service has. I’m dropping flares now, tell your people to watch out for them.”

“Roger.”

“Everyone, up, attach, check the person in front of you, get ready, stand in the doorway, I’m going to be the first one out, follow me in one second interval.”

Captain March stands in the open doorway; he turns to the jump master, salutes, and steps off into the darkness over Washington DC, eight others join the Captain before two Stingers strike the C 130 destroying it in mid-air with 40 troops still on board.

Three of the C 130s can drop their troops, one is hit before anyone can jump, the plane turns back with minor damage, and the other plane is destroyed before a single person can jump.

The Secret Service sees the parachutes floating down; they start firing machine guns at the chutes. 25% of the Marines are killed in the process of landing. The Secret Service agents race three blocks from the White House to capture the paratroopers before they can get organized when the agents turn a corner they run into sixteen militia members who open fire on them.

Six agents are standing in the rose garden firing Stingers into the air at the Hornets. The decoys behind the Hornets work as advertised, the Stingers track and try to attack the decoys. “Mongoose, we just lost our decoy. Damn Stinger got it.”

“Better the decoy than us.”

“I’m going to fly higher taking us out of the Stingers range.”

“Roger, I got everything shut down.”

The agents get an unwelcome surprise when two Marine Cobra attack helicopters arrive firing 30mm cannons at the agents. None of the agents survives the attack. Captain March looks up smiling; he turns to his gunny sergeant saying, “Nothing like good old firepower, I’m happy we have our own air arm, so we don’t have to call for help.”

“Yes sir, I’d hate to be a Secret Service agent tonight.”

“I never did like their black suits, reminds me too much of the “Men in Black movies.”

“Sir, we’re all that made it, we have 48 people and two wounded; one caught around in his arm coming down and one broke his ankle when he landed in a tree limb which broke dumping him hard on the ground.”

“Didn’t anyone teach him how to land? Never mind, let’s get to the tunnels. How many of the SEALs made it?”

“Sir, Twelve. We lost the plane with two teams on it.”

“Damn it, do we know where they were?”

“Sir, the last we saw of them is when they landed, they took off, we haven’t seen them again.”

“They know their job, we have ours, how far from the tunnel entrance are we?”

“Sir, two blocks to the southeast.”

“Let’s go.”

@@@@@

The senior Secret Service agent tells President Obsma, “Sir, we’re under attack, we’ve brought down a couple of their planes; however, they have one or more jamming planes over DC; we can’t communicate with anyone. We’re going to leave the White House; you’re most likely their target. We have to get you out of here before the paratroopers get here.”

“Where are we going?”

“We’re going to take you through the tunnels, then out of DC; we have a helicopter waiting in Arlington to take you to Mount Weather. You should be safe there.”

“What about my family?”

“They’ll be safe, whoever is attacking us is after you, not them.”

The Secret Service manages to sneak President Obsma into the tunnels under Washington DC; the Marines enter the tunnel complex three blocks from the President’s location. The seals arrive at the White House three minutes after the President left. The SEALs and Secret Service come face to face. The Secret Service agents drop their weapons and raise their hands, “We surrender.”

“Agent, where is he?”

“He’s not here which is why we surrendered.”

“I don’t suppose you’ll tell us where you took him will you?”

“We both have our orders; we don’t want to fight you. You don’t want to fight us, in normal times we’re both on the same side. Today all we can say is he’s not here. We don’t have specific knowledge where he was taken.”

“Why should we believe you don’t know where he was taken?”

“Because of your jamming we lost communications, the senior agent in charge arranged to move the President, we couldn’t hear a word he said.”

“I’ll buy that if you answer the following question, theoretically speaking if there was ever an attack on the White House and you had time to remove the President where would he be taken? All theoretically speaking.”

“Well, if we’re speaking theoretically, then I’d say he would be transported to Mount Weather.”

“Oh, that’s going to be a good one. That’s where Congress is hiding.” Both sides break out laughing. The Secret Service agent asks the SEAL commander, “While you’re here, would you like a tour so you can be sure he’s not here?”

“Thank you that would be very nice.”

“You two men stay here, four come with me. We’re going to take a tour of the White House with this agent. We’ll make sure he’s not hiding in plain sight.”

“Sir, orders if we find him?”

“Bag and tag him.”

“Sit what about his family?”

“Don’t harm them. Our mission is to retrieve the President, not his family. Don’t touch them, be respectful.”

The men move off into the White House, whose staff looks surprised to see twelve heavily armed seals searching the White House.

President Obsma and his security detail miss running into the Marines under the city by only feet. The President exits across from the Pentagon where he’s driven in an unmarked white delivery van to a waiting black hawk helicopter that takes him to Mount Weather. Arriving at the bunker, the President is surprised to find Congress already embedded in the facility. The Speaker of the House welcomes the President, “Hello Mr. President, welcome to Mount Weather. It’s nice of you to drop in and pay us a visit. Since disbanding Congress, we’ve missed you. You’re right on time to sit in on your impeachment trial.”

@@@@@

The people in Maryland and Virginia have no idea what’s going on. One minute they're watching television or surfing the web and the next all communications are cut. 30 minutes after the networks go off the air, televisions and the internet return, however, they all show the same program. “Looney Tunes” is being broadcast on every channel, across every website. The faces of the main characters have been replaced with those of the administration. This continues for two hours when everything returns to normal.

Chapter 16

President Obsma turns to his Secret Service detail, “Arrest the Speaker; he’s clearly threatening me.”

“Sir, we’re sorry; however, the Speaker has not threatened you with any bodily harm; he merely welcomed you to Mount Weather and informed you the Congress will be bringing to the floor a vote on articles of impeachment. Sir that is totally within the Speakers right to do. I haven’t seen any physical threats against you.”

“Agent Rogers I sent Congress home, as such they shouldn’t even be meeting. When I sent them home, they entered into a state of recess, while, in the recess, they can’t meet or hold any discussions. In such a state, they can’t bring any votes to the floor since they’re not legally in session. The Speaker’s proposed vote will not only harm me; it will do irreparable harm to the country, as such I’m ordering you to arrest the Speaker.”

“Mr. President, I can’t speak to the matter of law. However, the Speaker hasn’t done or said anything to threaten your health or well-being as defined by the scope of our policy.”

“You idiot, if Congress impeaches me, it will have a very large impact on my well-being and health. If the House impeaches me, it will damage the entire country. As such, you are bound to protect me. Protect me from these fools who mean to do me harm.”

“Mr. President, we can’t protect you from an impeachment vote. The Constitution covers such a vote.”

Yelling, President Obsma screams, “How many times do I have to say it? I do not care about the constitution! I’m the only person who can lead the country through the many problems the racists have dragged us into. I’m the one the people of the country trust to bring America into the light. Now stop these fools from putting me, ME on trial. You are bound by your oath to protect me, even if it means giving up your lives that is as it should be. I am your leader; you should swear an oath to me personally.”

The Speaker of the House calls out, “Sergeant of Arms, please escort the President to the main conference room, he will be able to defend his actions personally.”

“Mr. Speaker, I’m not having anything to do with your illegal vote. In fact, I’m going to sign an executive order to put the constitution on hold for the duration of the current national emergency.”

The Speaker looks sadly at President Obsma, “Mr. President, not even you can get away with that one. The constitution is the foundation of America. The people will never sit still for that.”

“Mr. Speaker, you’d be surprised what the people will accept. They elected me twice; they know I have their best interests at heart. I am the voice of the people; I am the heartbeat of the people; you and Congress are held slightly above yesterday’s leftovers. The American people don’t trust or respect Congress. They will follow me, just watch and learn.”

“Mr. President, whether you stay or leave we’re going to bring to the floor for a vote articles of impeachment against you, the Vice President, and your entire cabinet.”

“I refuse to stay here and listen to your banter. You have no authority to impeach me; I’m going to sign an executive order to disband Congress. I’ll have you kicked out of this facility. I am the President; my word is law. My will, will be done.”

“Mr. President, you are the Chief Executive of the country, you are supposed to uphold the laws passed by Congress which are signed into law by the sitting President. Sir, you’re the one who has acted above the law, the law of the land is not going to be ignored any longer.”

“Do whatever you want, I’m going to have the DHS arrest all of you for treason. The DHS will kick all of you out of this and every other federally owned property. The President turns to leave the facility telling his personal security detail, “Take me someplace secure, get the Secretary of DHS to meet me wherever you’re going to take me.”

“Mr. President, there is the bunker under the Greenbrier Hotel, it was closed a few years ago, I think there is still a couple of FEMA staff keeping an eye on the facility, we can have you there within three hours.”

“Let’s go. Once under way, get me the AG on a secure phone.”

The Speaker enters the conference room being used by the House of Representatives, “Ladies and Gentlemen, the President has refused to attend our session and take part in the discussion on the articles of impeachment, in fact, he has given us additional articles to add to the list. He has threatened to sign an executive order disbanding the Congress and putting the constitution on hold for the duration of what he called the current national emergency.”

Congress explodes; screams of “IMPEACH, IMPEACH” echo off the walls of the conference room.

@@@@@

President Puten of the Russian Federation and Premier Xing of the People’s Republic of China both agree to announce they’re dumping their US dollars, China has already sold five trillion dollars worth of dollars. Both agree to announce they are going to accept any currency for payment of their exports. They’ll accept any currency except US dollars. They announce they’ll offer a 12% discount for payment in precious metals. The next morning an hour before the New York Stock Market opens. The two leaders make a joint announcement, within a minute the US dollar starts falling. When the stock market opens, the US dollar has fallen 40%, all trading on the US dollar is suspended by the Chicago board of trade and the New York Stock Exchange. The US Federal Reserve announces at 10:00 AM EST that the Fed will buy dollars in an attempt to prop up the dollar’s value. Within fifteen minutes the Fed has purchased $3 trillion worth of dollars when the Fed Chairwoman ceases all purchases, even the Fed has a credit limit. At 10: 30 AM OPEC announces, they will no longer accept US dollars for the purchase of oil. Within a minute, the value of the US dollar completely collapses. The price of an ounce of gold jumps to $6,000. Entire economies are thrown into turmoil. Within two hours, hundreds of trillions of US dollars are worthless. In America, the banking system is still in chaos when the dollar collapses. Barter becomes a quick method for people to exchange goods and services. Two days after the fall of the dollar over a hundred million people around the world have lost their jobs, the world slides over the edge into a major depression. Surprise catches US companies, they find most of their international orders canceled. Their international dollar bank accounts, trillions of dollar's worth are now worthless. Most suspend business and send their employees home until they can figure out what’s going on.

The Speaker of the House of Representatives calls President Obsma’s cell phone asking him to issue a declaration of economic war with Russia and China. Obsma responds, “Now you want me to be President? Drop your plans for impeaching me, and I’ll issue the document.”

“Mr. President your first duty as President is to defend the country, we are under economic attack. The value of our dollar has collapsed, millions of workers have been laid off, our national economy is nose diving into a depression that is going to make the 1929 crash look like a mild recession.”

“I think this is a good thing. It’ll enable us to rebuild a new green high technology economy. We can use this opportunity to remodel our entire economy. We can break the hold fossil fuel has over us. This is good news; this is what we need to finish our task of transforming America.

“President Obsma, we don’t have the time to remake the economy, tens of thousands of our people are losing their jobs every hour inflation has started to rise faster then we can chart. Sir, if we don’t act very rapidly, we’ll lose 40% of our GNP in the next few weeks, after that there’s no bottom in sight. Sir, Russia and China have declared war on us just as if they had fired nuclear missiles at us.”

“Mr. Speaker, drop your articles of impeachment and we can come to an agreement on what we should do next.”

Chapter 17

Major Richard, the new aide to General Brownstone, reports, “General, the situation is rapidly falling apart. President Obsma arrived at Mount Weather; however, he didn’t stay, he threatened the Speaker with an executive order to disband the constitution and Congress for the duration of the existing national emergency.”

General Brownstone replies, “An emergency he caused, I didn’t think he’d hang around for his own trial, I don’t think the Speaker can hold his caucus together. I’m betting many want to impeach everyone in the current administration and start over. I think we’re going to have to put a little steel in the Speakers back to remind him to keep to the plan. Please alert the rapid reaction force to be ready to leave in 15, we’re going to pay a visit to Mount Weather. A visit Congress will never forget. If the Speaker doesn't bring the vote up, we’ll convince him to act. I want the transfer of power to be done in accordance with the law and the constitution. I don’t want the military accused of an armed takeover. If the military has to act, we will, however, the people won’t ever trust us again.”

“General, you know that’s what the press is going to scream as soon as you show up with the rapid reaction force don’t you?”

“Yes, which is why I’m sending you ahead of us, I want you to leave now. Tell the Speaker to execute the plan, he knows what to do. The country is coming apart; we can’t wait for them to do business as usual. That time is over. By the way, take this card, it has Major Grover’s private number on it. If things start getting out of hand, call him. I’m planning on keeping the reaction force outside of the facility if all goes as planned; there’s going to be one very surprised President. Before you go, please get me Steve Forbas on the line.”

“Steve, I’m not sure if you remember me.”

“General, you’re a hard man to forget, I thought you retired or some nonsense like that.”

“Steve, of course, I’m retired. In my retirement, I thought about running for office.”

“General, that would be a very good thing. The country needs someone who can make a decision and apply a little logic and common sense to the current mess.”

“Steve, I need you to agree to keep the rest of this discussion very confidential.”

“General, or you’ll have me shot? You’re one of the few people who can say that and I’d believe them. Of course, I’ll keep our discussions secret, what can I do for you?”

“Steve, Congress is meeting in Mount Weather, they’ll be holding a vote on the articles of impeachment against President Obsma and his entire administration. The Senate Leader is going to have me confirmed as the Secretary of State, putting me in line to become the next President.”

“I thought something like this was afoot. I knew you were smart enough not to be appointed Secretary of Defense since that would look like the military took over.”

“Steve, the countries in real economic mess, as soon as I’m sworn in I’d like you to become my Secretary of the Treasury.”

“General, or should I call you Mr. President?”

“Not yet.”

“Your first name is Rod isn’t it?”

“Yes, and you can use it.”

“Rod, if something drastic isn’t done very soon there won’t be an America. Russia and China executed a perfect slam dunk against our economy. The dollar is worthless.  It hasn’t fully sunk into to the General population yet when it does you’d better have all of your troops ready to take to the streets to put down the unrest.”

“Steve, what would you do if you were the Secretary of the Treasury?”

“First thing I’d do is freeze the Fed lending to the Federal Reserve. We can print our own money we don’t know where the Fed is loaning our dollars or what deals they’ve made. Next I’d announce we’re going back onto the gold standard, this will provide our dollar with a value. Third I’d announce we’re going to be energy independent in 18 months or less, and we plan to sell petroleum to anyone who wants it under OPECs set price. Any who sign long-term agreements with us now will get VIP treatment and special pricing. I’d suggest we open all federal lands to drilling. I’d also suggest an exchange of new dollars for old. I’d cancel the Full Employment Act; I’d cancel the minimum wage act. I’d propose welfare will only be paid for those who are disabled or can prove, prove mind you, they are looking for a job. There’s enough work to be done, much of it manual labor, if the unemployed don’t like these jobs they can go without a job, but also go without welfare. I’d return Social Security payments from employees and employers to a lock box so people knew their money was going to be there for them. I’d propose a national flat tax, and I’d kill most foreign aid, most of the farm act. I’d suggest to the President he announces a massive new technology program, Kennedy’s goal to reach the moon in ten years pushed the technological envelope across many fields; it launched the computer age which led to portable everything. I’d suggest a program the public can get behind. I’d suggest the President issue new savings bonds and engage Hollywood to sell them. Rod, is that enough for the top of my head?”

“Yes, the job is yours if you want it.”

“I’ll take it, maybe this time we can really make a difference. Who else do you in mind for the administration?”

“Admiral Zander for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs,  Senator John Sessions for Secretary of Defense, a CEO of a Major VC to head Labor, if he’ll take it, the Interior to Sarah, I’ll send you the list, feel free to pencil in or change any of the names on my list.”

“Rod, when do you see this taking place?”

“If it doesn’t happen within the next 72 hours, it’s not going to happen and we can kiss our country goodbye.”

“Rod, one question if I can, how are you going to stop Obsma?”

“Steve, that’s the easiest part. He’s so power hungry; he believes his own bullshit it’s easy to manipulate him. The Speaker is going to agree to work with him to solve the financial crisis, when he shows up at Mount Weather the Sergeant at Arms who is being supported by my people will place the President under arrest, his Secret Service isn’t going to do anything once in Mount Weather he’s under Congress’ roof, he’s not being threatened with harm, just impeachment. Once we have him in custody, the votes will flow, I estimate the first removal of a US President will take place within hours. I’ll be in the facility waiting to be called to the Senate for my confirmation hearing for Secretary of State, once I’m confirmed, and Obsma’s impeached with the rest of his crooks, I’ll be sworn in as the 45th President.”

“Rod, you do realize his base is going to revolt. They’re going to claim with the press’ support this is all a racist plot to overthrow their leader.”

“Steve, that’s why I’m trying to have everything lined up and everyone ready at Mount Weather to form a new government within minutes of my being sworn in. My first official act will be reinstating the Marine Corp, who will assist with keeping the peace.”

“Rod, I’ll make plans to be at Mount Weather in seven hours.”

@@@@@

In order to increase tax revenues, the IRS starts confiscating peoples’ and businesses’ assets if the IRS suspects their assets were gotten illegally. Many small business whose customers pay in cash are targeted. These small business owners usually make multiple trips to the bank every day to deposit their cash. Making sure no single deposit equals or exceeds $10,000 alerting the IRS to potential drug money or money laundering. On a gray Thursday, the IRS seizes the bank accounts of 46,230 small business. Without having any cash, the businesses can’t meet their payrolls on Friday. 187,000 people go without pay. 34,000 of the small business’ close due to the IRS seizes, lacking the resources to fight the IRS and remain in business they give up. The IRS had a court secretly issue warrants for the seizures from the small business owners for potential money laundering. The business owners never had a chance to argue against or defend themselves in court. The press takes the side of the IRS reporting that these businesses most likely were laundering money. After all why else would they be dealing in cash?

@@@@@

While President Obsma and Congress negotiate terms, the country is falling apart. Inflation jumps to 100%, food and fuel prices increase four times a day. Fuel is in short supply, every city experiences rolling brown and blackouts. President Obsma closed all of the coal-fired power plants in order to lower the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, Co2, which as everyone knows is one of the primary causes of man-made global warming. The President issued executive orders stopping fracking, and he brought hundreds of thousands of additional acres under federal control. Single handily he cut America’s energy production by 50% while home produced energy was out, importing oil was encouraged. When the dollar crashed, the price of oil surged to $800 a barrel. A gallon of gasoline reaches $50.00. Even at the increased cost there are spot shortages; most people can’t afford gasoline, those who live far from their jobs stop going, and those who can use mass transit do so, causing crowding that’s never been seen before. Demand for air traffic comes to a halt due to the high cost of fuel. Only the very wealthy can afford to fly. In many small rural towns, horseback riding is returning as an accepted method of transportation. Cities are out of cash to fund first responder fuel causing many fires burn out of control Crime rates double and triple, police can’t respond unless it’s a matter of life and death, even then most of the time the police arrive too late. Simple accidents turn critical when the injured can’t reach medical facilities. Gangs and criminals realize the police have stopped making their normal patrols. Store break-ins increase more than 400%.

@@@@@

President Obsma calls the Speaker, “Mr. Speaker are you ready to see things my way.”

“President Obsma, we have no choice, the country is coming apart. Please return so we, the Congress and you can find a solution to our problems.”

“Mr. Speaker, we have a deal, I’ll arrive at Mount Weather in two hours, and I expect to be formally greeted in the proper manner. We’ll work out a series of bills and executive orders to restore the country. We’ll use these unfortunate events to rebuild and reshape America. I’m going to go down in history as the President that transformed the country. I’m going to oversee the end of capitalism, the rise of a green America.”

“Mr. President, we’ll be waiting for you. Our Sergeant at Arms will greet you at the door, we’ll have the congressional band playing “Hail to the Chief.”

“Excellent, I’m happy we’re going to be able to work together.”

The President releases a large number of press releases before he leaves for the meeting with Congress. He thinks if he releases “good news” press releases he’ll keep the people on his side.

The Speaker readies the Congressional security staff; he’s called the House to order, as has the Senate leader. The articles of impeachment are distributed to all members, discussion has been mostly one sided very few members of Congress want to stand and show public support for the President. Selected members of the press have been invited, they are watching the discussion in a locked conference room that has had all of the phone lines removed. The reporters discover their room has no internet or cellular coverage; they are watching history, but they have no way to report it. Many are watching in horror.

Marine one lands at Mount Weather. The President’s Secret Service detail exits first, they approach the entrance of Mount Weather; they're met by the Speaker and a small reception committee. The Secret Service speaks to the Speaker, the lead agent nods his head in agreement; he returns giving all-clear signal to the President. President Obsma exits the helicopter; he smiles and waves at the press cameras. He extends his right hand to shake the Speakers; his Secret Service detail steps back away from the two men. As the President shakes the Speaker’s hand, the Congressional Sergeant at Arms steps forward, he introduces himself, shakes the President’s hand. He hands the President a subpoena. Four armed security personal advance taking charge of President Obsma, who starts yelling, “Agent, agent, can’t you see they're harming me, stop them, shoot them! I’m your President; I’m giving you a direct order.”

The lead Secret Service agent responds, “Mr. President, no one is harming you, you have been officially served a federal subpoena, you are being brought into the Congressional conference room to face a legal impeachment trial.”

“Mr. Speaker, you can’t do this, we had a deal!”

“The Speaker responds, “Yes, Mr. President we had a deal, just like you had an oath to keep, you didn’t keep your oath, I didn’t keep my end of the deal.”

While the Speaker is escorting the President into the conference room, the House is preparing to vote. The Senate has already impeached President Obsma’s Cabinet and the Vice President. All have been removed from their positions, leaving the country for the first time without an executive branch. The Senate quickly confirms the appointment of US Marine General (retired) Rodney Brownstone as the Secretary of State, placing him into the line of succession.

Chapter 18

The articles of impeachment against the President easily pass in the House, 375 votes pro and 60 nays, the process moves to the Senate where the actual trial takes place. Each of the 100 Senators decides this is his opportunity to get their 15 minutes of fame. In order to limit the debate and hold the vote in a timely manner, the leader of the Senate limits each Senator to ten minutes. Many of the Senators oppose the limit, the debate on the limit takes two hours. Verbal fights break out on the Senate floor. The Sergeant at Arms has to be called in to break up a fist fight between the senior Senator from California and the junior Senator from Alabama. When the Senate finally votes 67 votes yes, 22 vote nay and 11 abstain from voting. General Brownstone is watching the proceedings from a secure room guarded by six of his ex-Marines and four Secret Service agents via live video feed. He’s disgusted over the debate and purely political speeches in the Senate. The Senate leader calls him, “Sir, would you, please join us on the Senate floor?”

“Of course sir, I’ll be right there.”

Wearing a dark blue suit, white shirt with a red tie and a small American flag pin the General could be any successful executive visiting the proceedings. “Senator, I’m here as you requested.”

“Mr. Brownstone we seem to have an issue, the Congress and Senate of these United States have just impeached the sitting President of the United States. For the first time in our history, the Senate has voted to remove the President, the Vice President, and his entire cabinet. This leaves us without a President. Since your confirmation as Secretary of State, you are now the sole member of the senior executive branch. This puts you in the line of succession, as such we have asked one of the Supreme Court Justices to join us, Mr. Rodney Brownstone you’re going to be sworn in as the 45th President of the United States. All of the members of Congress join the Senators for the swearing-in ceremony. When the Supreme Court Justice arrives and administers the oath of office, the new President takes the podium to address the Congress and the people of America.

“My fellow Americans, today isn’t about right or left, it’s not about conservatives or progressives, it’s not about rich vs. poor. Today we are all Americans today we are beginning a start fresh; we should put our petty differences aside and work together to build a strong and free America. Our nation, our very way of life is under attack, we are in an economic world war. Russia and China have attacked us; their weapon of mass destruction has destroyed most of our economy, the Federal Government, and many of the state governments are broke, we owe more money than there is money in the world. Think about that for a second. We as a nation owe more money than all of the available money in the entire world. Not just more than all of the available dollars, all of the money in any currency. We are broke. We as a people have very little to show for it. How many reports on the sex habits of shrimp does the government need? How many reports do we need to figure out eating too many sweets makes our children overweight? We have to change our way of doing things; we have to change the way the country operates. I was just sworn in as the President of the United States, yes UNITED we have to unite to see ourselves through the crisis we’ve all found ourselves in. As such, I would like to place the following names in front of the Senate for speedy approval so that I can have a cabinet. For Secretary of Finance, Mr. Steven Forbas, I’m sure everyone knows Mr. Forbas. He’s a financial wizard and genius. For Secretary of State, I nominate the Senator from Kentucky, Mr. Randy Paul, for Secretary of HHS, Senator Mark Lee. For Secretary of Labor, Mr. Hal Goldstein from Ambrose funds. For the Secretary of Defense Senator John Sessions from the great state of Alabama, for Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I nominate US Navy Admiral Zander I’m asking the Senator from our wayward state of Texas, Mr. Ted Cruise to become my Vice President. For Secretary of the Interior, I’m nominating Sarah Patlin from Alaska. As Secretary of Homeland Security, I’m nominating Mr. Alvin West from the great state of Florida. My first order as President is I hereby sign executive order 1776 to reinstate the US Marines, all previous members of the US Marines may go to either Camp Pendleton, Quantico, Lejeune, Twenty-Nine Palms, Paris Island or Marine Base Hawaii and take the original Marine Corps oath.

All leaves for all military members are canceled. The personal oath to the previous President is hereby overturned. The original oath of service is hereby reinstated. To the members of our armed forces, some of you signed the new oath, some of you refused to sign it. There has been much anger between both sides. I’m ordering all of you as your commander in chief to set aside such issues; we have a greater mission in front of us. The mission to defend the United States of America from all enemies both domestic and foreign. We are in a state of war; the country needs every member of the military to be focused on the real enemy. I’m ordering all units of the US Military, who rebelled and took their equipment with them to return with said equipment, the Navy’s battle groups are ordered to take orders from the chain of command. The US Air Force is ordered to accept orders from the chain of command. I’m hereby granting amnesty to all members of the military and all of the brave first responders who refused to sign the President’s oath. We are one nation, a nation of laws. We are a single combined team with a single mission, to defend the United States of America.

I’m also placing the United States back on the gold standard. I’m reinstating the US Constitution with the original first, second, fourth and fifth amendments. Many of you sold your firearms to the government, I can’t commit to returning the same weapon, all I can do is commit if you sold an AR 15, you will get an AR back, if you sold an AK, you would get an AK back, you will get a similar weapon to that you sold. There’s too much paperwork and cost to ensure you get back the very same weapon you originally sold. If your weapon was destroyed, we will replace it with a similar one. If you have your receipt showing the number of rounds you sold, you will be returned the same number. This will be done without you having to return the funds paid to you. I doubt anyone has those funds available any longer given the massive inflation we’re experiencing.

I’ve been asked if I plan to continue the wage and price controls, my response is executive order 1777 which releases wages and prices to be controlled by the markets. Executive order 1778 overturns the order forbidding fracking, I hereby open all federally owned lands for oil and gas exploration, we will be energy independent within 18 months, we’ll stop sending a trillion dollars a year to countries that hate us. I’m also signing executive order 1779 ending foreign aid payments, our people need the investment here at home, why should we be sending billions of dollars around the world when our own brothers and sisters are in such need, why are we as a nation borrowing money to give away? This makes no sense at all. I’m frankly amazed at the members of this Congress who authorized spending bills that put us in our current position. Executive order 1780 allows private citizens to own precious metals again. In fact, the country will soon be minting coins made of gold and silver, the sizes of these new coins is going to change from what we’re familiar with given the current value of the metals.

Executive order 1781 overturns the censorship of the press. I’m not sure why the press was censored since it appeared to me that the press was the White House press organization; I’m sure they won’t have the same love for me as they did for the previous administration. The country needs a strong and free fourth estate to keep the rest of us honest. When the press took sides and stopped reporting the truth, America suffered. All I ask the press is to open your eyes and try to see the truth. Not the so called truths they wrote, but the real truth. The press is an important factor in a free America; however, the press should report the news and not be the news. I say to the media and to Hollywood, don’t try to play mind games with me, not only won’t it work, but you won’t like the games I play in return. I was trained and spent my entire adult life preparing for war, to defend this great country of ours, I’m not going to allow anyone to destroy it.

I pledge to serve a single term and not to run again for any office. I hereby pledge to appear in front of the American people once a week to take questions and report on our progress. We all have a large task ahead of ourselves. Therefor I ask the Senate quickly to confirm my cabinet and Vice President selections so my new administration can get back to work. I also suggest that the Congress return to Washington DC

I’m inviting President Lawson of the Republic of Texas to allow me to meet with me with the intent of Texas rejoining the United States, we should be united again, President Lawson, you saw your people through some very difficult times. I promise you the American troops on your border will begin to leave within two hours, there will be no invasion of Texas, the declaration of war is declared null and void. I ask the people of the Republic of Texas to think hard on rejoining your brothers and sisters. I promise you the United States is going to be greater than ever before.

My last message, today, is for the President of the Russian Federation and the Premier of the People’s Republic of China, you may think you’ve knocked America down. You may think the two of you can now split up the rest of the world. I’m telling you that may have been true an hour ago. There’s a new sheriff in town today, if you move against our allies, you will find out striking an ally of America is the same as striking America. A friend of America is a true friend an enemy of America is one that will be ultimately destroyed. Just ask Germany and Japan how much they enjoyed fighting us in the Second World War when America saved both of your hides. Don’t deceive yourselves, America is not a paper Eagle, our claws are still sharp and I know how to use them.

My fellow Americans, may God bless our great nation. Thank you and good night.”

Before President Brownstone completes his remarks the country erupts into chaos, the left screams racism is the reason for the impeachment of President Obsma, the President’s base swears to fight the new President, at every step. They beg the press to put pressure on President Brownstone to resign and reinstate President Obsma. The inner cities explode in flames; the sections that were burned and rebuilt are burned again. Anonymous fills the air with the support for the New President; They post millions supportive posts and stories how President Obsma was harming the country. Nothing slows down the violence from Obsma’s supporters. The country is closer to civil war than any other time since 1860. State Governors start talking about seceding from the country. The governor of California openly calls on President Obsma to form a new country. Millions march in support of and against President Obsma. The marches quickly turn very violent.

Impeached President Obsma flies to Chicago to figure out his next steps. He knows he has to act quickly if he wants to avoid being charged by the new Attorney General. He’s soon joined by his close friends, and political allies, Nanny Polsi and Harold Reid, who jointly issue an announcement asking their base to fight the new President. Rather than support President Brownstone for the good of the country, Obsma, and his political allies want to deepen the divide between the sides. They hope to create enough violence in the streets that President Brownstone will have to declare martial law. Obsma can then point to this showing he’s a better President.

Obsma and his allies speak with a handful of governors. The question on everyone’s mind is Obsma going to try to form a new nation. Obsma doesn’t care about holding the nation together; his only concern is his own political power and reforming America into a socialist state that controls every aspect of people’s lives.

The discussion goes back and forth for 14 hours. Some of the governors are worried that President Brownstone will use force to preserve the Union, others argue that the country is already split, and this is a better course of action for everyone. Obsma decides to have a quick poll taken of his strongest supporters. Unsurprisingly the majority of his supporters and those in the Democratic Party leadership vote to form a new country. Obsma smiles realizing he can pull it off and remain in power. This time, he can have a new constitution written, one that does away with those pesky amendments like the first, second, fourth and fifth. He’s not really concerned the new administration will use the military to force the country to stay together. Obsma thinks most people don’t want a second civil war; they’d rather the country split then face the issues a war at home will bring.

Obsma calls his major donors to ensure their money will continue to flow if he breaks away and sets up a new country. He promises his donor's positions of power within the new country. More than 90% agree to continue funding in exchange for favorable laws and positions within his new administration.

Obsma and his key supporters issue a call for a new nation. A nation based on the progressive policies of income equality. Of free national healthcare. Free schooling from preschool through college. A nation build on environmental friendly green policies. A nation without a lower class.

Many of the state governors take the offer seriously, they figure their people won’t accept the right wing administration. Governor Brownie of California is the first to announce his support for Obsma, he pledges that California will leave the union, Governor Cuma announces New York will join California in the formation of a new nation led by Obsma. Within the hour, Maryland announces they are joining the other two states. In four days, Oregon and Illinois announce they are joining the new union. Many citizens in the states announcing they’re leaving the union are angry. Not everyone within the breakaway states shares the views of their governors. Many take to the streets to protest breaking away from the union. Riots break out within the states announcing their intent to break free of America; riots also break out in many of the states who announce their intent to remain in the union. The rioting causes over one hundred billion dollars in damage. Money the government no longer has. Many in the states pledging to stay are upset the government aid programs are going to cease forcing millions to perform real work.  Firestorms are formed. These suck oxygen from the surrounding areas, winds rushing into the firestorm reach speeds of 100 MPH driving the flames to consume everything in their path. Towns are destroyed, burnt to their foundations.

President Brownstone quickly calls his advisors together, “Ladies and Gentlemen President Obsma just hit us with a sucker punch. He’s proposing breaking America up into two countries. He’s preaching the “Balkanization of America.” I have to admit I didn’t see this coming. I need your input and advice. We’re going to have to come out with an official statement as soon as possible. Our response will determine how or even if America survives.”

Ted says, “Mr. President, I agree he caught us completely by surprise, shame on us, we should have seen it coming. We can’t change the past, going forward I think we should let them break off and try to form a new country….”

Ted doesn’t get to complete his thought as the conference room explodes with everyone in it or on the conference call trying to speak at the same time. Everyone is trying to get a word in over everyone else. President Brownstone is trying to get control of the meeting; he tries to calm his staff. No one’s paying him any attention. Out of frustration he leans back asking one of his Secret Service agents for their sidearm. The Secret Service agent looks at the President with fear spreading over his face. “Mr. President, that’s not a good idea.”

“Pull the magazine, just hand me your empty side arm.”

The agent removes the magazine and the round in the chamber handling the Glock to the President, who picks it up; he holds the barrel in his hand banging the table with the Glock’s grip. The banging get’s everyone’s attention; they look at the President. Seeing he’s holding a sidearm, they all quickly quiet down. The President says, “Good, now that I have your attention, let’s discuss this in a civil manner. I want to hear each of your thoughts, but one at a time. Ted, you went first, why do you think we should allow Obsma to form a new country and break up America?”

“Sir, ladies and gentlemen, the country is already “Balkanized.” The country has been split for a long time. The North East and the West Coast are liberal; the central portion and the south are more central in their political views. In 08 when Obsma was elected, he made the split worse. He drove a wedge between the right and left. Rather than bring the country together, he worked hard to divide us. We’ve reached the point where the two sides can’t agree with each other on anything if one side said the sky’s clear the other side will say it’s raining. It’s a lot harder to form a country and run one that talking about it. I say we let them go. Then we sit back and watch them fall apart, when they’ve collapsed, their people will beg to rejoin the rest of the country. It will avoid a bloody civil war that will destroy the country.”

Steve Forbas quickly interjects, “Wait a minute, today the government is broke, and we owe more money than exists in the world. If we let them go, how much tax revenue are we going to lose? What about the benefits we currently pay to the people living in the states that leave? What about the government owned buildings land and assets in the states leaving? We need a lot more information before we can make any intelligent financial estimate.”

Randy quickly jumps in, “What about the border, how will we guard against Obsma’s people deciding six months from now they don’t like his system and swarm back here where we’ll have to support them. We’re broke now, I agree with Steve we need much more information before we make any statement.”

“Sarah what do you think?”

“Mr. President, ladies, and gentlemen, I’m leaning towards agreeing with Ted, to let them go and watch them fail. We’ve supported break away countries all over the world, how can we say we support the people’s efforts in Europe or Africa to form new nations but not here? I don’t think they’ll succeed, I also agree with Steve we need to figure out how much it’ll cost or save us. However, we are going to have to make a statement very quickly or watch the people fight each other over the issue in our streets.”

“Alvin?”

“Sir, Lincoln was faced with a similar question, should he have allowed the South to secede or force them back into the union. Many believe his action of forcing the South back into the Union was the beginning of the Federal Government grabbing power away from the states. Some think that President Lincoln exceeded his authority under the Constitution by going to war to force states that had voluntarily come together to form the United States to stay in the union. While Lincoln saved the union, the real question is, did he make it the situation much worse and did he lay the foundation of where we are today? I’m split; one part of me wants to hold the union together the other part of me says let them go. As Sarah said, they’ll fail and beg to come home. As Steve said, how much will it cost us to let them go and how much will it cost us to force them to stay. We’re in the middle of an economic world war. Russia and China have declared war against us. Can we fight them and still fight Obsma? Given the attack on the dollar by Puten and Xing can Obsma even get his new country off the ground? If we let them go will we be allowing a new Cuba being formed right next door to us? Will we be setting up our children to live in fear of the left-wing breakaway nation? To be completely honest, I don’t know how to answer. I need what we don’t have, time to digest the options and also figure out which states are going to stay and which may leave. I think Steve has a good point we need to model the financial impact. I’d like to propose we break into smaller groups to review the impact quickly in our areas of expertise. I also think we need to poll the governors to see which way their leaning.”

President Brownstone leans his chair back; he stretches, standing up. “Alvin, you’re correct this is the same question President Lincoln faced. The Civil War was the bloodiest in our history. It tore families apart; it tore the country apart. It took many years to fully heal the wounds; some say the country never really healed, I think they’re correct. Can, should we go through this again. I’d like each of you to review the following questions,

1. What’s the impact to your area if we allow them to leave

2. What’s the financial impact of them leaving?

3. What’s the financial impact of forcing them to stay?

4. Which states will stay and which leave?

5. If we allow them to leave can we defend our new borders?

6. If we allow them to leave and later they want to return should we let them?

7. What do we do about all of the government-owned assets in the states that want to leave?

8. What do we do about the infrastructure left behind?

9. What’s the impact to families who find themselves split up?

10. John, one just for you and the military, if we let Obsma take his supporters and go will we look especially weak to Puten and Xing and if so how will they use it against us?

People I think there are many other questions, but these are the ones at the top of my mind, let’s reconvene in four hours. One last thing, no, let me repeat NO hundred-page power points, make your statement as short as possible, time is not something we have a lot of.”

Everyone in the room agrees, those on the conference call agree and hang up so they can start work on the President’s questions. The members of President Brownstone’s new cabinet leave the conference room, Ted stays behind. “Mr. President, do you really think we’re going to end up fighting another civil war?”

“Ted, it’s one of my real fears. I think we’re facing a 75% probability of one. If another civil war breaks out I think, our Friends Puten and Xing will move against us. I expect Puten will take over Europe and then move to grab Alaska. Xing will grab all of Asia and then demand or just grab Hawaii.”

“Rod, could it really get that bad?”

“Yes, I think we may see the day Russian and Chinese troops set foot on American soil in anger. If I were Puten, I’d land Special Forces on our strategic bases saying he was protecting our nuclear stockpile from falling into the wrong hands. If I were him, I’d wait just long enough for our forces to be engaged with Obsma’s across a wide front so we couldn’t respond to his invasion. He knows we’d be faced with either accepting his grab or going nuclear.”

“Oh my God, I didn’t look that far ahead, this could lead into a nuclear world war that can destroy much of the planet.”

“Yes, it can. When President Lincoln faced this question, he didn’t have to also face a potential global war. When the civil war ended, it ended, sure there were a few who fought on, but in very limited numbers. We’ve seen from Iraq when the war ends it doesn’t necessarily end. We could be fighting internal insurgents for years or generations. Ted, I should have foreseen him pulling this stunt. I missed it; he pulled one over on us, and we can’t let him continue to pull surprises on us. The press is still on his side; they’re going to whip this into a firestorm. The press is going to try to turn our people against us. By the way have I told you I’m naming a really out of the box person for our new Press Secretary. He’ll be here tomorrow.”

“Want to share?”

Smiling like the Cheshire cat in Wonderland, President Brownstone says, “Not just yet, I like certain surprises. Ted the secession issue is the most important issue we’re going to face in our lifetimes. Our decision will impact the country and the world forever.”

“Sir, are you leaning in either direction?”

“To be perfectly honest with you, my gut is telling me to decide one way and my heart another, I’d say I’m split 50/50 right now. Unfortunately, time isn’t on our side. If we don’t make a timely decision, the country will make one for us. A decision we might not agree with.”

Four hours later the meeting picks up where it left off; Steve Forbas stands to address the very tired looking group, “Mr. President, I wish I had better news, all we can report is we need more time. Every time we thought we reached a consensus someone brought up something we hadn’t considered. Sir, we’re asking for another four hours.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, I know how difficult this is, your request is approved. I too find myself leaning one way only to pull myself to the other point of view. Try to get a little rest, let’s reconvene in five hours.”

President Brownstone enters an office set aside for the President. He sits in a soft leather chair while trying to clear his head. An aide walks by pausing when she sees the President sitting alone in the dark, “Sir, do you need anything?”

“Oh? Hi, I’m sorry I don’t know your name yet. I’m very new here. Thanks for asking, I’m fine. There're times sitting in the dark enables me to think through a problem.”

“Yes, sir, sorry to have interrupted you, my name is Ellen.”

“Ellen doesn't worry about it, if there’s a do not disturb sign around, please place it on the door.”

“Sir, there’s a sign on the door, that says, knock and enter or do not disturb, I’ll set it for you.”

“Thank you, Ellen.”

Walking down the hall Ellen thinks to herself, he doesn’t act at all like President Obsma, I wonder if he can save the country.

@@@@@

Pitched battles break out across the country. Now that it’s legal to own firearms again, hidden rifles and handguns appear as if by magic. Main Street USA resembles Beirut. Buildings are burning out of control, dead and wounded lay in the streets. Stores are looted; windows broken; thick smoke hangs over the cities. The stench of death is everywhere. While some Governors declare support for Obsma, others declare their support to maintain the union. Areas within states want to break away from their parent states. The country is in a state of turmoil greater than ever seen before.

The Mayor of San Diego announces his city isn’t going to join the rest of California in leaving the union. The Mayor announces San Diego will stay in the union. Western Maryland from Frederick West announces they refuse to join the rest of Maryland, as does the southern half of Illinois. The upper half of New York State refuses to join New York City in leaving the union. One after another state breaks up into regions based on the majority support for either breaking the union or holding the union together.

Congress voted to impeach President Obsma to hold the nation together, yet within 100 hours of the impeachment and swearing in of President Brownstone the most liberal states announce they are going to follow impeached President Obsma in the formation of a new country breaking up America.

President Lawson addresses the Republic stating with a smile; he and President Brownstone held a three-hour call together. He’s happy to announce Texas is going to hold a state referendum to let the people of the Republic vote to stay independent or return to the United States. The vote easily passes to rejoin the union.

Admiral Zander leads most of the US Navy back into port, where they are welcomed by fire ships spraying water into the air saluting the men and women of the Navy. The admiral leaves most of the submarine force at sea. One issue he has to quickly figure out is the strategic submarines are based in Georgia and Washington State. Washington State has announced they plan to join Obsma’s new country meaning the Admiral has to move the base and all of its parts and weapons someplace else and do it quickly. In order to maintain a base on each coast, the Admiral decides to move the base to San Diego, which welcomes the move. The Major sees the relocation as increasing jobs and growing the economy of San Diego.

The US Air Force sends a message to President Brownstone stating they accept him as Commander and Chief; they stand ready to execute his orders. The first order President Brownstone issues to the Air Force is for them to rearm the strategic bomber fleet with strategic weapons. He orders them to keep 20% of the bombers airborne at all times. He also orders AWACS planes and fighters to fly CAP (combat air patrol) missions over the countries major cities. The President increases the number of Zulu fighters. (Armed air defense fighters fully armed fueled kept ready to take off in less than five minutes.) He further orders the Cheyenne Mountain facility to be reopened as NORADs headquarters.

President Brownstone asks the commanding General of the Air Force and Admiral Zander how long it will take to generate plans to attack the Russian forces massing along Europe’s borders.

@@@@@

A Russian freighter reflagged as a Syrian ship in the Mediterranean Sea prepares to fire a medium-range ballistic missile with an EMP warhead. The missile is one of two planned to explode over Poland knocking out all of the electronics in the country. Unknown to the Russian military preparing the missile they are being watched.

Captain Allen commanding the USS Virginia looks through the submarine’s periscope, smiling he says, “XO, there’s a freighter 600 yards off our port bow, she’s raising a missile on her deck. My gut says the Russians are going to launch missiles at Poland or Europe from this freighter. I want you to use the number two scope to tell me if you agree.”

“Captain, I see it, I agree, that’s a missile on the deck.”

“XO, dive to 800 feet, course 110 degrees, set General Quarters torpedo no drill, I intend to sink that ship before it can launch the missile that is sitting on its deck.”

“Aye, sir.”

“This is the captain set depth at 800 feet, down 20 degrees. Set General Quarters torpedo, no drill.”

The XO announces, “This is the XO, set General Quarters torpedo, man your battle stations, man your battle stations, set condition zebra one, close all waterproof doors, load tubes one and two with war shots. When loaded, flood and open the outer doors.”

“XO, do we have a plot?”

“Captain, yes, run time is about two minutes.”

“XO, sink that ship, fire tube one, hold tube two in case one Mark 48 isn’t enough.”

Laughing, the XO responds, “Captain, I think the Mark 48 is going to rip that small freighter apart.”

“We’ll know in two minutes.”

The Mark 48 torpedo’s 600-pound warhead explodes under the freighter’s keel; it lifts the ship into the air breaking the ship in half. Both sides sinking before anyone can get off the ship or send a message, an additional result of the torpedo explosion is the missile’s fuel explodes.

President Puten’s secure phone rings, “Da.”

“Mr. President, we lost one of our ships with the EMP missiles in the Med, it just blew up and sank with all hands.”

“Damn, I worried about using those older missiles, cancel the other missions, we can’t risk it. I’m sure the Army can complete their task without the EMP attacks.”

“Yes, sir. Mr. President, what about the planned biological weapon mission?”

“Put it on hold for Poland, we’ll use them on Germany and France.”

“Yes, sir.”

The Russian army crosses the border into Poland where they’re met by heavy resistance. The Russians send two thousand new T95 main battle tanks supported by tens of thousands of rockets and artillery shells. The Polish army at the border collapses under the Russian barrage. The Russians capture every major Polish airport with Special Forces who’ve crossed the border weeks ago. Holding the airports allows the Russians to land thousands of troops and tons of supplies. Poland falls in nine days. At the same time, the Chinese send three million soldiers into Vietnam and Thailand. The Chinese invasion shocks the Vietnamese and Thai defense forces. Both countries fall within three weeks. Russia installs a puppet government in Poland as it prepares to move into Germany. China next turns their attention to Korea; they enter Korea saying they’re bringing medical and humanitarian support to the war-torn country. Japan looks on afraid of China’s next move. The Japanese Prime Minster flies to Beijing hoping to find a way to work with China.

Chapter 19

After two additional postponements, the new cabinet and advisors meet with the President. Again Steve is given the honor of starting off the briefing. “Mr. President, ladies, and gentlemen, we have agreed on a recommendation and a rather long list of suggestions.”

“Steve, go for it, let’s see if your group came to the same decision I did.”

“Sir, we looked at the issue from as many angles as we could, the top line is we think you should allow President Obsma to take some states and split the Union. Sir, before you respond. We looked at the similarities and differences between now and the Civil War. While there're some similarities, there are also many more differences. Today whatever decision we make will have an impact on the world. 150 years ago the country was split over states rights, today the country is split between the providers and the takers. We’re on the verge of a race and class war that will cut across state lines. Today the internet and instant access provides much quicker communications and the exchange of information. The Civil War tore families apart; our current assessment is we’re split wider apart today than we were in 1860. We believe if we don’t allow Obsma to try to form his new nation we’ll end up fighting a civil war with twenty-first century weapons. A new civil war will draw in Russia and China; the result will be a destroyed America, who may never rise from the ashes. A civil war that includes Russia and or China could lead to a world war using nuclear weapons. The world is a much more dangerous place than it was 150 years ago. If we allow them to leave and they succeed we could become allies if they fail, they had their chance; they’ll return to the union making us stronger.

We propose that we give the states one chance to go or stay; we take everything the Federal Government owns in the states that decide to join Obsma. If Obsma wants the Federal assets, he’ll have to pay for them in precious metals or oil. We agree we shouldn’t accept any of their currency, even if they end up using ours.   We cut off all payments to the states and the people who reside in them. We should try to reach a nonaggression pact with Obsma. We remove all precious metals from any Federal Reserve Bank located in his new country. We have to make sure the military is with us, and they remove every scrap of material from their bases before they move into the USA.

A completely out of the box idea we have is to announce we’re accepting applications from any other nation or state who might be interested in joining the United States.”

“I take it you’re all agreed to allow Obsma to break up the country?”

Alvin stands saying, “Mr. President, I think a better statement is we’ve agreed we’re facing a very unusual situation. If we try to stop them from leaving, it will lead to the bloodshed of our people. If we allow them to leave, it might lead to bloodshed. As such to preserve peace and limit the bloodshed, we think it’s best if we allow him to try to establish a new country. We don’t think he’ll be successful given we control most of the raw materials, the food production, the military, the banking system and the infrastructure they are going to require. We’re sure the next few months are going to test all of us. Sir, what are you going to do?”

“I’m going to address the nation, I think the people deserve to hear our decision at the same time as Obsma does.

At 9:00 PM EST President Brownstone goes on national television to address the American public, “Good evening, my fellow Americans, I stand before you this evening to discuss the current situation and question of the formation of a new nation we’re all trying to come to grips with. First some very good news, a few hours ago I received a call from President Lawson of the Republic of Texas who informed me Texas is requesting permission to rejoin the Union. My fellow Americans we are going to welcome home our brothers and sisters in Texas. I’m asking that no one hold a grudge against those in Texas. On the other hand, ex-President Obsma is pressuring his base to form the Liberal States of America, he and his impeached cabinet are doing everything they can to undermine the union. I’ve decided to allow those states that wish to join this new Liberal States of America to do so. I’ve given this much thought if I follow President Lincoln we’ll have a second civil war. A war I fear that will both claim tens of thousands of lives and also destroy the United States of America. I fear our enemies will use our internal struggles to attack us thus causing more damage to our country and harming many more of us. If we allow President Obsma to take those of you who support him to leave the union we’ll break apart into two nations. Hopefully, our two nations will be friends. While we may believe in different paths, we are all Americans. We share the same dreams for our children; we may differ in how we think we should reach these dreams. However, I’m sure we can work together in peace. If we fight another civil war, I’m sure the Russians and Chinese are going to enter the war, this will cause World War 3 to break out. In the terms of human life, the world can’t afford another world war. The next one may involve the use of nuclear weapons. I can’t agree to hold the nation together is there’s a chance we may end up having nuclear weapons explode in America. We would lose millions of our citizens. As I address you, the Russian military is crossing the border into Poland. China’s military has invaded Vietnam and Thailand. There're rumors that Korea is next in China’s sights. Under President Obsma, we withdrew all of our troops from Korea and only have 3,000 in Europe, which includes the United Kingdom.

The longer the separation process takes, the more painful it’s going to be for all of us as such I encourage those states thinking about joining the LSA to do so as quickly as possible so the rest of us can go about our business of rebuilding the country. I’m offering a period of 30 days for those who want to leave to make a public announcement of their intent and leave within 90 days. I have a simple message for the LSA, effective right now, all federal funds, all federal program are hereby ceased to all citizens living within the territory that has declared itself the LSA. The American military is being withdrawn from all bases within the LSA; they are taking all of their equipment with them. Nothing owned by the Federal Government of these United States is going to be left behind. Land owned by the Federal Government within the property of the so-called the Liberal States of America will be sold to the LSA for its fair market value in precious metals or oil and gas. Until the LSA pays for these lands, the US Military will close these properties from being used in any manner by the LSA.

Let me be very clear, as of right now all federal aid programs will cease to everyone within the LSA. To the cities and areas within the LSA who wish to remain with the USA, we welcome you. Communicate with us, we’ll provide security for you. To the rest of us in America I pledge to you return to the values and programs that made America, the world’s leader. To anyone in the world who thinks this is a good time to create havoc, let me demonstrate why this is a bad idea.” A large screen unfolds from the ceiling behind the President. When the screen is completely unrolled, an image of a missile silo is seen with a countdown clock imposed on the upper right-hand corner. When the countdown reaches zero, the silo covers slides backward on rails, smoke and flames rise from the silo allowing a long slim missile to rise from the silo. Within seconds, it gains momentum, until it quickly disappears from the camera’s view leaving behind a dense gray smoke trail.

“This is a US Minute Man III missile, it’s usually armed with three nuclear warheads, today there are no warheads, this is a demonstration that I have control of America’s strategic forces and aren’t afraid to use them. Two days ago I ordered the US Air Force to begin flying strategic bombers around the clock. We stopped doing this in 1991; we’re taking refueling planes and the B1 bombers out of the “bone yard.” We’re putting these planes back into service. If our enemies thought a bolt out of the blue can knock us out, be aware that we have strategic armed bombers flying around the clock. We’re quickly adding to the numbers flying; we’re also bringing back into our active weapons inventory the advanced cruise missiles. I’ve asked Lockheed Martin to see how long it will take to restart the F 22 production. I’m slowing development and production of the F35. We’re replacing it with double the quantity of F/A 18s and updated new production F 15s. Those units that were recently decommissioned are being returned to service. Not only is this program going to create jobs, but it’s also going to make us much stronger. No matter how confused we might appear, no matter how occupied we may appear, I am in full control of America’s military. Anyone who tries to take advantage of us will quickly learn the military is solidly behind me. We will respond to any and all aggressive actions taken against us. Thank you and God bless the United States.”

Just as the cameras turn off, President Brownstone is informed that the Russians have invaded Poland with two thousand tanks. The Chinese have already conquered Vietnam and Thailand; they are moving towards Korea. The Japanese have opened discussions with China.”

“Damn it, they moved quicker than I expected. Please get the Secretary of Defense on the secure phone.”

@@@@@

“President Puten and Premier Xing are on the secure line.”

“Premier, how are you today?”

“Mr. President, I assume you watched President Brownstone’s speech and little demonstration? We are concerned that he will not look kindly on our current actions.”

“Mr. Premier, if the new American President wanted to stop us, that missile would have been armed and aimed at us. He’s trying to scare us with a childish stunt. He’s occupied with Obsma trying to form a breakaway nation; the American economy is still collapsing. Very soon America will be a third rate country watching us divide the world between us.”

“How far do you think we can push him?”

President Puten responds, “All the way, he can’t afford to deploy his military outside of the country, he has to protect against a real civil war. His people are confused; Obsma’s base is screaming about a white-racist coup. The press is siding with Obsma’s base, they will give President Brownstone a hard time; the American press will tear him apart, and they will turn the average people against the new government. Our agents will ensure the press has everything they need to attack him; we’ll feed their stories, giving the press everything they need to keep the administration on the defensive. The press will attack Brownstone using his own words and actions. Our agents in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco are going to create civil unrest that will tear these three cities apart, we will put the blame on Brownstone. We’ll feed the press stories that Brownstone is a white supremacist. Obsma will use this to stir up even more civil unrest. This will keep President Brownstone occupied keeping his focus off of us. That little missile demonstration was nothing. Don’t worry about the Americans. If they do anything to move against us we’ll offer to help their economy, the new President won’t be able to refuse us, he needs our help to keep America from falling apart. He knows if we attack him now we’ll destroy any hope America has of ever rebuilding.”

“President Puten, are you sure? President Brownstone is a Marine, he isn’t a normal politician, he sees things differently than the previous presidents we’ve dealt with. I think we have to be very careful of President Brownstone; he is used to giving orders and is a man of action, not words. I urge caution. He isn’t another Obsma. He has already pledged not to run for the office again. We’re not going to be able to buy him with money for his next election.”

“Do you really believe that? No politician will willingly give up power; he’ll run for election; he’ll turn into a normal American politician; we’ll offer him the resources he’ll need to win the next election.”

“President Puten, I advise against this course of action. I believe this will work against us. I urge caution and patience.”

“Mr. Premier you are too cautious, we won’t have a better chance to make our move. I urge we speed up our timetable. I can have the Russian military crush Germany within a few weeks.”

“Mr. President, China is going to take a wait and see attitude in regards to this new American President. We have taken Vietnam and Thailand. We have our initial forces in Korea and Japan has asked to find a way to work with us. China will wait and see what President Brownstone does.”

“Mr. Premier, I’m sorry to hear that, the Russian Federation is going to move ahead with the original plan. Our army won’t pause until they’re soaking their feet in the English Channel. We’ll leave the UK alone for now; too many have tried and failed to conquer those cursed islands, I’m not even going to try. They’ll do our bidding to keep us from invading them. We’ll crush the civil unrest we originally started and fed. Many in Europe will see us a restoring peace.”

“Mr. President, China wishes you well, our advice is to go slow and gauge President Brownstone’s reaction. Keep your eyes and ears open, the Americans moved their troops home; they can quickly turn them around. You are smart to leave the British alone, they are very close to the Americans, attacking them is to invite the Americans to respond using all of their available weapons.”

“Mr. Premier, you’ll soon see how a well-organized invasion operates.”

“President Puten, China is eager to learn. Good evening sir.”

The Premier tells his Defense Minister, “I think our friend is going to drive headlong into a deep quicksand bog. He’s going to give the Americans a common enemy; he’s going to force President Brownstone into taking action while uniting his people.”

“Mr. Premier, don’t you think the Americans are completely internally focused right now?”

“Minister, President Puten is going to give them the excuse President Brownstone needs to rally the country together. We are much better off standing by and watching America break apart into two nations. We will be able to play one off the other forever. Order our Army to absorb what we’ve conquered. We’ll then pause in place. If President Brownstone is successful in pulling America together, we can always cut a very favorable trade deal with him. America is our largest trading partner; we don’t want to lose their markets.”

@@@@@

“Brad, what do you think Obsma’s up to?”

“Ron, why isn’t he in jail for treason?”

“Congress impeached him; they removed him from office; however, the new AG will have to file criminal charges against Obsma, try him in a court of law, he’ll have to be found guilty before he’s jailed. I don’t think it’ll ever happen. Most think just removing Obsma from office was enough punishment.”

“Ron, what about the damage he’s done to the country, I think he should be sent to jail, kept in a small cell without windows for the rest of his life.”

“Bet you a case of beer he never sees the inside of a regular courthouse.”

“Not going to take that bet. I think it’s better if he takes the far left states and just goes away leaving the rest of us alone. The country’s split so much left and right I’m not sure it’s possible for people to forgive and forget. I’m not sure we can be a fully “united” states any longer. The left and their best friends the press are screaming the entire impeachment was a racist overthrow of Obsma. His base is swearing they’ll never obey the new President; they swear they’re going to get vengeance for President Brownstone removing their messiah from office. They promise to take up arms and bring pain to those who didn’t support Obsma. If something isn’t done, we’re going to have a race war and class war on our hands.”

“Brad, don’t you think the country is stronger united than it’ll be divided?”

“No, I don’t, Kathy what do you think?”

“I hope he goes and takes his friends with him; he should take them all the way to Hawaii that’s about as far as I think we can send him. A few thousand miles away is a good start.”

Chapter 20

Newly sworn in President Brownstone, and his Vice President Ted Cruise are meeting over lunch in the White House dining room, both are having sandwiches and coffee. Their jackets are off with their shirt sleeves folded back; they’ve been reviewing various issues since 6 AM. Both decided at 1:00 PM it was time to eat something, the President asked the kitchen staff to send up some bread and cold cuts, of course, the White House kitchen laughed, sending up five different types of sandwiches. President Brownstone looks at the platter, laughing saying to Ted, “Sometimes it really is good to be the king. I only meant that as a joke, don’t go off thinking I’m going to follow in Obsma’s footsteps.”

“Mr. President, ..”

“Ted, when it’s just the two of us, please call me Rod or General, I’m not used to being addressed as Mr. President yet.”

“OK, General, I know you wouldn’t or I would have refused your offer to join your administration. Were you serious about not running for office when your term is completed?”

“My God yes, how can you stand to be in this crazy city all the time? I didn’t want this; I don’t want this, I hope you run for the office and are elected, I’ll help you all I can. Another two years and I’m out of here. Remember what General MacArthur said at West Point, "old soldiers never die; they just fade away." That’s my goal; I’ll leave the White House and slip away before anyone notices I’m gone.”

“Mr. Pres.. err I have to get used to this a bit, General, I don’t think anyone is going to just let you fade away. On new issues here is the latest information on President Obsma’s LSA. Sir, it’s turning out to be a very fractured nation, as an example, in California the coastal area from LA to the Oregon border is with him, south of Orange Country and the central valley is with us. The states of Oregon, Washington, Hawaii, and New Jersey have all said they are signing on with the LSA. In Illinois if you draw a line through the middle of the state just above Bloomington, the northern part of the state is siding with Obsma, the southern half sides with us. In New York State, New York City is going to side with Obsma, the rest of the state is going to hold a special election to allow the people to decide, it looks like New York State will remain with us.”

“I would have expected the entire state to side with Obsma.”

“Mr. Pre, I mean General, it seems the people in Central New York have had enough liberal bullshit; a similar situation is happening in Maryland, the western counties are going to split off and join us while the rest of Maryland will join Obsma. Colorado is so mixed up; no one has any idea how it will break apart or if the entire state joins which side. Connecticut, Rhode Island, and Vermont, are going with Obsma, Maine, and New Hampshire are toss-ups.  All of the South from Virginia south are with us as is West Virginia, who, by the way, want you to visit so they can thank you for reopening the coal mines and coal-fired power plants. With Texas rejoining us, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Arizona are with us, Alaska is with us, Michigan is on the fence, Ohio is split, Tennessee is with us as is Kentucky, the Dakotas, Montana and Wyoming are also with us.”

“We might end up with some very strange borders.”

“Sir, just between the two of us, do you really think it was a good idea to allow President Obsma create the LSA?”

“Ted, if we didn’t allow him to try, we’d have an armed uprising on our hands. Most of Obsma’s base thinks I stole this office from him, many in our inner cities think we’re all racists for impeaching him if we didn’t let him try this fool stunt many of the people in the areas he’s taking would try to overthrow us. Over the last twenty years, the country has split into the West Coast and the North East being very liberal. The South and Central being not right wing, but center conservative. I think the split has become so deep that it may not be possible for the country to be a single entity. I think the LSA will further split forming smaller and smaller areas. Some will want to be just left alone others may fall completely apart. I’d guess that, in fifty years, America will come back together or end up broken up into many small nations. It all depends on how Obsma manages the launch of his LSA. I think the LSA will launch with lots of emotions only to shortly fall apart. Without fuel and lack of electrical plants, the LSA is going to behind the eight ball from the start. Obsma never led. He campaigned for six years. His idea of governing was to sign executive orders. He has no idea how to form a real government or manage an area that he thinks is supporting him. I guess it won’t be too long until he starts kicking out unproductive citizens. My real fear is he’ll sell the LSA to Russia or China.”

“Mr. Pres ..er, Rod, I don’t agree with you. I’ve found many of the far left will scream and yell, oh they’ll throw the racist bomb around and call us names but taking up arms? Sir, these are the gun control crowd; they wouldn’t be caught dead holding a firearm.”

“Ted, I hope you’re right, my gut says they’ll find some who will pick up weapons even if they have to convince themselves they’re doing it for the greater good. I think unless we allow them to try to form a new nation and try to govern the way they think is best, which in itself should be much fun watching, they will turn on our people. I decided to let them try in order to protect our people. It was the lesser evil to choose.”

“Do you expect them to succeed?”

“Of course not. The wonderful thing about socialism is, I think Margret Thatcher said, “Sooner or later you run out of other people’s money.” This is what’s going to happen in the LSA very soon. Many of the real workers and earners are going to leave to join us. We’re going to offer them incentives to move. Many companies are going to leave the LSA area because of the cost of doing business there, knowing Obsma as we both do, the first thing he’s going to do is raise the personal and corporate income tax to something like 50%. While we’re lowering it. Why would any company stay in the LSA and pay a high tax plus they are going to have to put up with all of their crazy workplace rules, like restrooms for men, women and transgender? How many companies are going to pay to install a third set of restrooms, Polsi has already said companies can’t convert existing restrooms, there has to be an equal number of them. What about their schools? Anyone can use any restroom or gym when they associate with that gender? That’s going to work out real well. When I was sixteen, I would have “associated” myself with a dog to get into the girl's locker and shower rooms. What’s going to happen when they run out of water? What’s going to happen when the LSA can’t provide enough electricity? How are the LSA farmers going to grow enough food without using fertilizers? Where are their farms going to be located? The bread basket and California’s central valley are with us.”

“General, what’s going to happen when the LSA’s people realize the rest of the country isn’t going to be supporting them any longer?”

“At first they’re yell and scream, call us names, they’ll try to get us to give them loans, buy their worthless bonds when we refuse they’ll attack us. They’ll send tens of thousands of to them useless, unproductive people over our common border.”

“Sir? Are you serious?”

“Ted, of course, I am. When people get desperate enough, they’ll do anything they can to feed their families. They say they hate guns; they do if the guns aren’t in their hands. I expect to see thousands, tens of thousands of people trying to move into our territory.”

“Are you going to allow them to?”

“Only if they have skills we can use. Why recreate the welfare state that got us into the mess we’re in. Speaking of which, where do we stand with changing our money supply?”

“The Secretary of the Treasury will be here at 3:00 to give us a briefing.”

“Come on, don’t pull that stunt with me, I know you know everything that goes on in this town, what does he have to say? How bad is it?”

“I don’t want to steal my friend’s thunder. However, I will say, you’re going to enjoy what he has to say. Many in the drug trade and other illegal business’ are about to get a wake-up call they won’t soon forget.”

“Ted, just remember, kicking them in the balls makes them angry, making them angry makes them do stupid stunts, before we do anything to piss them off, I want enough advance notice to prepare our troops to defend our people. How’s the merge with Texas going?”

“Very well, President, now Governor Lawson is very pleased with your plans. He also said he needs some time to strengthen his southern border when we make the announcement of changing our bills over. Sir, when is the termination date for the EPA and Department of Education?”

“Department of Education notices have already been sent out, most of the states are very happy to run their own schools, the EPA is taking a little longer, the AG can fill you in. Many of the environmental groups have sued the government to stop us from closing the EPA, as such I’ve asked the Speaker to pass a bill that places a single dollar in the EPA’s budget. I’ll follow the court ruling and keep the EPA open. However, I won’t fund it.”

“That’s bound to generate more lawsuits.”

“Yes, however, no court has any say in the budget of a Federal Government department. All budgets and spending bills start in the House. The Federal Government can’t be held liable if the House under the Constitution doesn’t provide enough funds for the department.”

As the two men discuss the issues of saving America, an aide knocks on the door, his face is flushed, his voice cracks when he speaks, “Mr. President, Mr. Vice President; there are massive riots on the border of San Diego and Orange Country California. Sir, the mayor of New City, has called twice demanding you return his call his call today.”

“Ted, it seems like we have some work to do today, how about you take the mayor of New York, and I’ll call the Mayor of San Diego?”

“Sounds like a deal to me.”

@@@@@

The riot along the Orange County and San Diego Country line started with hundreds, which grew to thousands of people marching south on Interstate 5 towards San Diego. They’re protesting San Diego’s decision to exit California to join the right wing racists who forced the impeachment of President Obsma. They blame the Tea Party and the members of the military for pushing Congress into the impeachment. The mob from the north forgot they have to pass right through the US Marine Camp Pendleton facility. Returning Marines swarmed the base as soon as President Brownstone was sworn into office. As the mob from the north moves south, residents of San Diego County gather to move north to block their movement.

Two groups numbering in the tens of thousands is fighting each other with rocks, sticks, baseball bats, and metal pipes. Interstate 5 is blocked with the two groups fighting each other. Even though the second amendment has been reinstated, not many guns have yet been redistributed as such the San Diego group has few rifles, only 5 ARs, and no AKs. They do have cross and hunting bows which they use to attack the Orange Country mob. The battle site is almost medieval with arrows flying over and into the mob. The Orange Country mob is using slingshots and small snob nose pistols which have very little accuracy or range. They have baseball bats and solid metal pipes for close in fighting. Some even have swords. They hit some of their own people because the shooters are shooting on the run while they’re running towards the San Diego mob. People on both sides of the line scream and fall wounded, some dead. Men, women and children are fighting each other to the death.

Thirty minutes into the battle; the US Marines arrive at the battle scene in Light Armored Vehicles (LAVs). The OC mob tries throwing Molotov Cocktails at the armored vehicles which cause little damage, the Marines fire machine guns over the crowd’s heads to break up the mob. The initial firing stops the fighting when the firing ceases; the OC mob rushes the SD mob who tries to hold them off with flights of arrows. The OC mob has been reinforced with thousands of gang members who arrived at the battle site late, they bring their hidden firearms which they use to take the Marines under fire, a mistake most won’t live long enough to think about. The Marines return fire is cutting the OC mob to pieces. 90 minutes after the two sides met the battle is over, Interstate 5 is covered in bodies and blood.

Chapter 21

Steve Forbas sits across from President Brownstone, “Sir; I should have turned you down. The treasury department is a mess. I wonder if anyone in the last five years ever made a decision. It appears everything was forwarded to the Federal Reserve. The Treasury Department simply rubber-stamped what the Fed Chairman said. 60% of the country’s debt is held by the Federal Reserve.”

“Steve, let me see if I understand this, the Federal Reserve holds 60% of the countries $20 trillion debt, what happens if we default on our debt to the Federal Reserve while, at the same time, we phase out the Fed?”

“Sir, that’s a very good question. The Federal Government owns the Fed, all of their profits and losses accrue to the government’s General Fund. Congress enacted the Fed as the country’s central bank. I can’t find any evidence the Fed has ever been audited. I don’t see any reason we can’t default on the debt they hold and not default on our other debt. It would reduce our debt to $8 trillion, an amount more manageable. Even that is still in the twilight zone area. “

“Steve, start he process on defaulting on the part of our debt held by the Fed, also I want to know where the money went, have your staff perform a detailed audit of the Fed.”

“Sir, I’m not sure the Treasury Department has people I’d trust to perform an audit, may I bring in a team of outsiders?”

“Yes, make sure they sign an NDA, plus remind them it may take a while to get paid.”

“Mr. President, ..”

“Not you too, just, sir, Rod or General, please.”

“Yes sir, I’m ready to go over the plan to replace our currency. We’re performing an audit of our gold and silver assets. We discovered a bad surprise. Much of the gold we thought was in our vaults isn’t there.”

“Steve, where is it?”

“Rod, I don’t know. I haven’t been able to find anyone who knows where the gold went.”

“Keep looking for it. Where do we stand on the conversion to the gold standard?”

“I’ve instructed the Mint to start new designs of coins made of silver, gold and platinum. We’ll be ready to present these at the cabinet meeting in three days. We propose to replace all of our existing currency with a new currency. Our paper money will say silver certificate on it; we’re working on the new designs. I’m proposing the $1 bill be changed to a coin, the $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 and $500 bills should all be updated.”

“Our plan is to make a public announcement after the designs are approved, and the first new coins and bill are produced. Once we have an inventory of the new dollars, we’ll call in the old; we’ll place a 60 day period to exchange the old for the new dollars.”

“What happens if existing currency aren’t exchanged within the 60 days?”

“They don’t even make good toilet paper, so I’m not sure what the holders of the old money will do with them. We as a country will no longer accept or support them. There are going to be many on the illegal side of the economy not very happy with this decision. I’d expect some of the drug cartels will violently object to the change.”

“Steve, I’m counting on them objecting, once they threaten me or my staff, I can use the military to take them out.”

“Sir, if they don’t exchange their existing held currency which we think exceeds $1 trillion the value of our currency will go up as there will be less of it in the market.”

“Steve we’ve worked out a plan with John at Defense, we want them to exchange their dollars, we’re going to prepare a little surprise for them when they make the exchange.”

“Sir, if you really want them to exchange their old dollars for new, I’ll make some arrangements.”

“Steve, please do so. Our dollar will be worth one dollar in silver. Any new currency holder will be able to go into a federal bank and exchange new dollars for precious metal, correct?”

“Yes sir, that is our plan. We plan to have the new currency in the banks the day we make the announcement to reduce the panic. Sir, I think when our citizens realize their currency is backed with precious metal which they can convert to at any time; it will bring creditability to our currency.”

“Steve, I want to move very quickly on this, I want to catch Russia and China by surprise.”

“Sir, if I may, how is the press handling the administration changeover?”

“Are you asking about the many political cartoons about me, did you like the one showing me wearing a Nazi uniform?”

“Frankly Sir, that one was over the top. What’s wrong with the press?”

“They aren’t just left leaning; they’re to the left of Obsma. They wanted to see America made into a socialist country. What they refused to realize was once Obsma got his way, they were going to be the first ones to be put against the wall. When I was young, we always said the lawyers were going to be the first ones shot, in reality the first ones are always the free press. I bet you if Obsma can get his LSA off the ground he won’t have a free press. By the way, you’re going to be the first to meet our new Press Secretary.”

As the President finishes his sentence, there’s a knock on the Oval Office door. An aide enters saying, “Mr. President, Mr. Secretary the Press Secretary is here.”

Laughing, President Brownstone says, “Show my newest best friend in.”

The Oval Office door swings open, in walks Rash Linebacker, smiling from ear to ear, Rash says, “Mr. President, Mr. Secretary, you realize the press is going to have a heart attack when you announce my appointment.”

The President laughs responding, “Rash, welcome, I know what a sacrifice you’re making; you walked away from your network and millions for a salary of only $172,000 a year.”

“Mr. President, I’m not earning $172,000; I’m working for $1.00 a year and the fun I’m going to have with the press. If you don’t mind, I’d like my $1.00 in cash, I’ve heard about our little financial crises..”

All three men break out laughing. Ted Cruize the Vice President hears the laughing, he knocks on the Oval Office door, President Brownstone says, “Ted come in, and join us.”

“Steve, it’s good to see you again, Rash, welcome aboard this crazy ship, I have to warn you, our fearless leader here is trying to break the record for overturning what President Obsma did in his six years in office. The press is going crazy, Rash, starting tonight, that’s your problem.”

Laughing, Rash says, “Have I got a surprise for the press, I gave Glen, Mark and Shawn's press passes, I’m having them seated in the front row.”

Everyone breaks out laughing again. Rash continues, “Mr. President, you do realize making me Press Secretary is a huge mistake. I’m going to enjoy it, but the mainstream press and the low information voters are going to go crazy.” Before anyone can respond an aide knocks, “Mr. President I have a report from Admiral Zander, the Mexican army crossed the border in southern California, they are attacking our troops and our people in San Diego.”

All eyes turn to see what the President will say, “Please tell the Admiral his new orders are to push the Mexican’s back across the border.”

The aide says, “Mr. President, the Mexican army commander says they were invited in by President Obsma to protect the people of Los Angeles.

“I don’t care what that idiot said, tell the Admiral, never mind; I’ll call him.”

“Admiral Zander, please hold for the President.”

“Admiral, how are you enjoying your new job?”

“Mr. President, can I ask you the same? I assume you’re calling about the Mexican incursion?”

“Yes, Admiral, I’d like you to push them back across the border.”

“Sir, what level of force can I use?”

“No nukes. You can use anything else. Admiral, I want them off our soil soonest.”

“Yes, sir.”

@@@@@

The Mexican army is having a great time, they're advancing up Highway 8 raping every girl and woman they come across, and they’re looting every ranch and house. They’ve already killed 46 people, and they’re still ten miles south of San Diego. They’ve set fire to every structure in their path. They are driving north enjoying the warm fall morning when two F/A 18s fly over them at just 75 feet while dropping canisters from under their wings. The canisters open, spreading softball sized anti-personal weapons along the line of Mexican troops. The small bombs explode sending shrapnel tearing into the troops. As the Mexicans are pulling themselves together, the F/A 18s make another run, this time they fire their 20mm cannons into the troops. The few surviving troops find their decapitated Colonel lying on the freeway. They decide to turn around and go home.

@@@@@

President Obsma tells his key staff, “I invited the Mexican army to enter California to provide a degree of armed protection for our people. Until we have our Citizen Defense Force rearmed and ready for action, the Mexicans will provide us protection.”

Nanny Polsi responds, “Can we get rid of them when we no longer need them?”

“We don’t have to worry about them, when we’re done using them, we’ll send them into Brownstone’s area, he’ll take care of them for us, and we’ll even be able to recover the money we’re going to pay them.”

“I like it.”

“So far we have the most of the West Coast, Maryland, New York City, Chicago, Connecticut, Rhode Island and New Jersey. I think the rest of New England will soon join us, plus Michigan and Ohio. We’ll be strong enough to keep that damned Brownstone off our backs.”

“Mr. President, when will you make the official announcement of the LSA?”

“As soon as we finish our new constitution, this time there won’t be a first or second amendment while we’re at it, let’s dump the fourth too. There’ll be no free speech if it discredits the government. This time, we’re going to arrange it so I can’t be impeached. We have the advantage of changing the rules so we can stay in office forever. I like the title President for life.”

“Just so long as I run the new Congress.”

“Nanny, who else would I ever want to pass the bills I ask for?”

@@@@@

The national evening news sound bites are:

“President appoints far right wing nut as Press Secretary.”

“President attacks peaceful Mexican tourists. Mexican government files a formal protest.”

“Who is this war monger in the White House?”

“President Obsma forms the ultimate new country. The LSA will be the perfect country. Hundreds of thousands request permission to move into the LSA.”

Chapter 22

The formation of the LSA tears communities apart. The majority of the public classifies themselves as center-right, only 20% associate with the left; yet these 20% are very vocal. The most devout practiced their progressiveness as a religion. They chanted the mantra; they followed the party’s principals as if they were handed down on stone tablets. Many felt they had to convert everyone they knew to the progressive beliefs. They believed that others either converted or should be put to death, most of the time they didn't care which. After all, they alone know what’s best for everyone, if everyone were a progressive there would be no crime, no hungry, no uneducated and no wars. Their answer to every question is based in the emotional heart of the party. Logic never entered their thought processes. In fact, logic was bad, it was to be overcome by smearing their opponents. Progressives functioned via emotions; centralists looked for logical reasons to back their arguments. When emotion enters a discussion logic goes out the window. Centralists relearned an old lesson; it's impossible to debate emotion with logic. Emotional people ignore logic. They always fall back on the simple statements of "we are doing this for the greater good, or we’re doing this to save our children. We need to do this to feed the hungry; we have to raise taxes on the wealthy to spend on the poor to bring about income equality." It never dawned on the left that bringing down the wealthy doesn’t rise the poor. It will increase the size of the middle class; it does so by reducing the wealth of the upper class. Pulling down the upper class never pulls up the lower class. Increased wages and progressive policies lead to increased costs. Progressives believe people aren't educated enough to make their own decisions.

Many in America quickly accept the fact the country is going to split, many on both sides accept it, but they’re not happy about it. The central/right knew they should get their freedoms back, over time costs, and inflation will decrease. They would no longer have to pay taxes to provide a middle-class lifestyle for people whose life goal is to suck off of the government tit. The left liked the idea they weren’t going to spend countless hours debating with the racist right wing. They weren't going to have spend billions on defense. They felt they had a chance to build a perfect society. While the majority of people accepted the split, when it comes to the individual level many are very upset with the spit. People feel the other side was wrong. While many accepted the fact of a breakup, most felt on a core level it was wrong, the other side should give in and accept a comprise to hold the country together.

Communities fought among themselves in coffee shops, barber shops, restaurants, and schools. Even the inside of churches aren’t immune from the arguments. Soon it wasn’t unusual to see people start wearing small pins showing the American flag or the new LSA flag which is the American flag with a circle of 12 multi-colored stars representing the 12 founding multicultural states in place of the 50 white stars on a blue background. Places of business put up small signs displaying either or both symbols. People browsing knew from the symbols on the business’ windows that side they supported. The businesses that tried to straddle the fence by displaying both flags soon learned that neither side trusted them. Those who sought security by sitting on the fence watched their revenues collapse. The message is very simple, pick a side of the debate, no one accepted or trusted those sitting on the fence.

Hundreds of thousands of skirmishes break out between the two sides. Families fight among themselves. Families break with the young usually on one side and their parents on the other. The first month after the impeachment of President Obsma sees the highest number of divorces since records were kept on the subject. Tens of thousands of businesses are burnt because they picked the “wrong” side to support. Brothers and sisters fight, business coworkers fight, some large companies, realize they have to separate workers by the side of the issue they support.

Acts of looting and violence increase hundreds of percent from pre-impeachment times. Flash mobs attack and loot right wing businesses. Many store owners are dragged into the streets and beaten or raped. Over ten thousand small stores and companies close because of the violence. Insurance companies tried to claim losses from flash mobs are classified as acts of war, hence not covered by the store owners insurance policies. Without insurance thousands of companies go bankrupt destroying many families.  Tens of thousands lose their jobs as the small companies and shops close. In Illinois alone the US Army has to be called out four times in six weeks to stop the clashes between the two groups, four small towns are burnt to the ground, entire streets, and subdivisions simply disappear.

The main target of the LSA supporters is the fracking sites. Progressives claimed fracking polluted the drinking water; President Brownstone quickly opened millions of acres for fracking, many LSA supporters saw this as part of the right-wing racist government poisoning the lower income families. Hundreds of sites are attacked by protesters causing hundreds of millions of dollars damage and in four cases large oil spills when the pipes carrying oil are broken by the people trying to save the Earth. In one case, the gas line is broken causing a huge explosion that kills hundreds. The progressives caused the very contamination of the ground water they swore the fracking caused.  The media claimed the fracking caused the contamination, they never mentioned the fact that mobs and rioting broke the oil pipes.

In Parkersburg West Virginia thousands of government, union members are bussed in from New York City and Pittsburg. They attack the area’s largest coal mine. President Brownstone used an executive order to reopen the coal mines President Obsma had closed. Obsma’s supporters KNEW coal mining was bad; coal mining destroyed the land; burning coal polluted the air and water. To them, this was another example of how the radical new President was creating hell on earth. They knew the air and water are going to become so polluted many children will die. Global warming is going to increase rapidly, causing the coastal cities to disappear under the rising oceans. Sea life will die from the water temperature increasing. Unions advertised President Brownstone is destroying the world. Many knew that Brownstone and his policies have to be stopped. Millions of LSA supporters refuse to move to LSA states, they thought that by staying behind in the USA and fighting showed them to be the best of the best, they are saving the world from the evil racists. They are the new progressive insurgents who’ll bring the right to their knees.

@@@@@

“Ron come on it, look at the neat pins Kathy made.” Handing the small flag pins to Ron he looks them over, his eyes light up, Ron breaks out laughing.

“I like these, Kathy can you make a bunch more, wonder why no one thought of this before, if we’re first we can sell them at the farmer's market. We’ll launch a new site on the web tonight. We have to get on the market first. Brad, Ron, let me help you see if we can trademark the design.”

Ron, how can it be trademarked? She took an LSA flag pin and drew a red circle and line through it like the European no entry signs. I like them, do you think we can trademark and sell them?”

“Let me call a lawyer I know, we did some favors for each other when I was a sheriff.”

“Before I forget, congratulations on becoming the town’s new police lieutenant. How’s it feel to be back in uniform again?”

“I like getting a paycheck; I like getting paid in money backed by something real. Since the dollar recall, which I understand caused over fifty battles with drug lords trying to turn in hundreds of millions of shrink-wrapped hundred dollar bills. President Brownstone’s administration had the druggies on their most-wanted list. Every time one showed up to exchange they were arrested or were killed, and the money confiscated. The rumor is these swaps have collected more than $5 billion.”

“I wonder how the other countries are handling it.”

“We hear some countries got an even exchange like the UK, others were forced to take a massive haircut on the exchange. Between the canceling of the debt owed to the Fed and the confiscation from the mob and cartels, I think the President has lowered our debt by trillions. Got to say so far I’m really impressed.”

“Us too, prices jumped four times a day the impeachment vote was announced. Prices have dropped every day since his new economic policies were announced. I really have to hand it to Brownstone; he’s operating the government as if it was the Marines. He gives them the broad plan he wants, the staff either returns with a plan or excuses, and he doesn’t take kindly to excuses. I love it when Rash announces every day the number of Federal Government workers fired for trying to slow down the recovery. With the Full Employment Act overturned, and the welfare state ended those fired are going to have to change their ways, or they're going to be hungry.”

Laughing Kathy says, “They could always pack up and move to the LSA; they will be right at home there.”

Ron laughs saying, “Many on both sides are moving, I think moving companies are booked six months out.”

“I wish they weren’t so overwhelmed, I know a number of people living close to us I’d like to see a move.”

Ron deadpans, “Can’t we all just get along?”

Both Kathy and I throw pins at Ron, who laughing says, “If one of those pins strikes me and draw blood, I’ll arrest you for assaulting a police officer.”

Kathy says, “Go ahead, and just remember who feeds you almost every night. Who let you live rent free until you could find a new place?”

After we stop laughing, I ask Ron, “Is it true Brownstone is compensating people like you whose homes were destroyed by the DHS?”

“It’s true. I couldn’t believe it. I got a call inviting me to a meeting with six others in the area whose homes were destroyed by the DHS. The meeting was led by a member of the new FBI; we were each handed a package which documented the destruction of our homes, the estimated recovery cost and offer for our belongings that were in the house. Let me tell you since the insurance companies refused to cover my loss this was a godsend. The bank forced me to make payments on a home that was a pile of ashes; the insurance company told me they weren’t going to pay on my policy because it was an act of war; we were deemed to be domestic terrorists, we were classified as combatants fighting against America. I was shocked at the openness at the meeting. At first I thought it would be a typical government bullshit. When my name was called I was led into a conference room with an insurance company auditor, an FBI agent and a Representative from the Department of Treasury. They had Google images of my house before and after the drone attack. I have to tell you, I expected them to low ball me; they gave me a list of real estate comps in our area, hell I think one was your home. I agreed to the price; it was more than I expected, they paid me via direct deposit after paying off my old mortgage at a discount they negotiated on my behalf. I understand they did this for everyone who lost their homes to the DHS strikes. I think you and others like you that had their homes ransacked will be getting compensation too. The DHS senior staff were arrested; they are being tried in federal court for treason.”

“How are we paying for this?”

“The President stopped all foreign aid; he stopped many welfare programs, and he even closed some government agencies.”

“Man, I’d heard rumors of arrests of the upper-level DHS staff and even some field agents. The web is alive with chat of the government paying for the damage done. I wonder if I can expense on my taxes the pants I ripped the night we stole back our weapons.”

Laughing, Ron responds, “I can see the IRS laughing over that one. Have you heard the President is going close the IRS and move to a national sales tax?”

“Yes, I also heard the government is also going to run a national lottery, like a super Powerball. The winner gets the money tax-free!”  Glen, this morning, said the government is going to bring in more revenue at a much lower cost this way, no more hundreds of thousand IRS agents, I wonder how he got Congress to approve this since so many industries live off of the complicated tax code?”

“Does it matter? He’s putting more money in our pockets. Prices have stabilized and in some cases started falling. Fuel is still in short supply with high prices that should start coming down since supply won’t be a long-term problem given the new tax incentive to build new refineries and bringing in new petrochemical reserves. Man in another year we’ll be completely energy independent.”

“Brad, it looks like the LSA is our going to be our largest customer. Obsma won’t allow fracking or drilling on his lands, but he’s OK with buying oil and gas from us. I thought it was great when Brownstone told Obsma he won’t accept LSA currency; they have to pay in precious metals.”

@@@@@

“Jefe, we have a major problem. Our dollars are no good.”

“What do you mean our dollars are no good? I have $2 billion stashed in banks and invested in real estate.”

“Jefe, the new Norte American President, he’s changing all of the dollars. He said we had 60 days to swap old for new.”

“Louis, that’s the dumbest thing I’ve ever heard. How can the crazy Americans switch dollars there are quadrillions of dollars out there.”

“Jefe, that’s what they’re hoping, many like us won’t make the swap saving them a fortune.”

“I didn’t work as hard as I did and killed two other Jefe’s to be cheated out of my money. I made the money; it’s mine. I refuse to be cheated out of it.”

“Jefe, in order to swap, we need to contact the Americans. The instructions say we are to give the Americans one week to ensure they have the cash to make the swap. Their website also says the history of the money won’t be questioned.”

“Louis, what does that mean?”

“Jefe, it means they don’t care how we made the money. They’ll turn a blind eye to how we made the money.”

“Louis, do you think we can trust them?”

“Do we have a choice?”

“We can always sell more product to make up whatever shortfall from us not turning in our dollars.”

“Without new dollars how are we going to pay our people? They’ve got us over a barrel; we have to do the swap. Tell the men to collect the cash, we have an appointment with the Americans.”

Four days later, at an abandoned runway, Jefe, Louis and ten armed men guard five ¾ ton trucks loaded with hundreds of millions of dollars, most wrapped in clear plastic on wooden pallets. Jefe stands with his hands at his side, “Hello Mr. Alexander, as we agreed, I’m here with our cash. We have $986 million with us in these trucks, where are my new dollars?”

“Listen, do you hear the trucks coming?”

“Yes”

“Those trucks have your new dollars in them; they will be here within a couple of minutes; they got delayed due to traffic.”

“Very good.”

Four minutes later five LAVs pull onto the old runway, the first LAV stops, the rear doors are opened; Jefe and Louis look inside the LAV seeing pallets holding sealed packages of new dollars. Jefe smiles, he orders his men to unload his trucks. Jefe asks, “Mr. Alexander, can I buy the LAVs from you? I like them.”

“Jefe, since we plan to burn the old dollars right here after we confirm the amount by weighing the piles of your money, I think we can arrange to sell you the vehicles.”

“Do they come with the machine guns?”

‘For a price, however, they are not new, they have been used.”

“May I have a demonstration?”

“Of course, Sergeant Jefe and his men would like a demonstration of the M240s.”

Laughing, the sergeant says, “Sir, it’ll be my pleasure.” The sergeant lowers himself into the LAV; he speaks quickly to the other vehicles on his headset, after a minute he comes back up, he grabs the machine gun, pulling the charging handle he swings the machine gun to the left, He quickly begins firing, the other LAVs join in, they swing the guns across Jefe’s men and trucks, three short bursts are all it takes to kill them all and disable their trucks.

Mr. Alexander says, “Sergeant, nice demonstration, you can dispatch your troops to burn their bodies, trucks, and the old money. We have another appointment in three hours, I hope the next drug lord is as dumb as the last three have been,”

The next drug lord is a little more untrusting; he’s able to shoot one of the American troops making the exchange before the drug lord, and his people are all killed. The Army Ranger Sergeant tells his people, “time to wrap it up and head for the barn, we have two appointments tomorrow. Does anyone realize we’ve burned over $5 billion dollars?”

@@@@@

“Mr. President, we’ve met twenty large and fifteen medium-sized drug lords, all have been taken down along with their lieutenants. The Rangers followed up by attacking the drug lord’s base camps. We’ve killed out eight hundred fifty people, destroyed thirty labs and burned ten thousand acres. We destroyed a street value of over a billion dollars of drugs.”

“Excellent news. I knew the drug lords wouldn’t turn down a chance to convert their money. They thought we wouldn’t lie to them. President Obsma might have honored his word; these people are all criminals, taking them down protects US citizens.”

“Sir, we’ve put a huge dent into the drug trade, I think this is a good time for you to announce your new drug policy.”

“How many drug lords remain?”

“Sir, we think there are three major chiefs left.”

“Do we know where they’re located?”

“Yes, we have a good lock on them.”

“Tell the Admiral to attack them, take all three of them down today.”

The media talking heads announce the President’s new drug program; they’ve just been handed the short overview, reading it, and all are surprised, shocked is a better word to describe their feelings. They break into their normal broadcast programs, “Ladies and gentlemen, today the Brownstone administration has announced a new drug policy. First the Brownstone administration has announced they have captured or killed most of the existing drug lords. The administration has issued a statement saying they classify the war on drugs as unwinnable. Billions of dollars have been spent and wasted in a losing war.  The administration announced a few minutes ago they are legalizing most drugs. These drugs will be sold through pharmacies. Major drug companies are going to take over the production of the drugs to ensure they aren’t cut with any poison. The drugs will be available with a doctor’s prescription; insurance coverage won’t pay for the drugs, and the government is taxing them. Steve Forbas said today he expects the federal Treasury will collect billions in new taxes while also saving billions. Having them sold through pharmacies will ensure they are clean and safe. The administration says they expect street crime will decrease. President Brownstone asks the states to follow the Federal Government and also pass DUI laws that cover driving under the influence of drugs. The President said if liquor can be purchased and taxed, why not drugs? He said no matter what the government does; there will always be a demand for drugs why shouldn’t the country profit from the sale of them while at the same time ensuring the users are protected from mistakenly taking poison. As a side note, the change of the country’s drug laws only applies to those over the age of 21, all drugs are still illegal for those under 21.

The media is shocked at this change; the administration caught the media and the country by surprise.

The “talking heads” don’t know how to respond, most are at a loss of words being asked how to respond. Most try to find something negative to say, however, the positives outweigh the negatives. The networks don’t know what to do, they also don’t know if they should accept advertising for legal drugs. The major networks chair people call each other to discuss the question of accepting advertising; none wants to be the first if the others don’t accept the ads.

Complete surprise takes many in the country on both political sides, most don’t know how to respond, over time both sides agree that the President’s decision is a good one for the country.

@@@@@

In the Presidential conference room President Brownstone, four-star Admiral Zander Chairman of the Joint Staffs, Rash Linebacker, Press Secretary, Randy Paul the Secretary of State and John Sessions the Secretary of Defense discusses options. John is addressing the group, “Russia now has firm control of Poland and is massing on Germany’s border. China has absorbed Vietnam and Thailand. They have moved three million people into Korea providing what they call humanitarian aid. I’d guess by the end of the month they will have total control of both Koreas. Japan and China are in discussions to work together; our best guess is Japan will become a sort of vassal to China.

President Brownstone looks around the table; he’s studying the map, which displays the locations of the American and Russian and Chinese forces. He says, “We’re in a hard spot we have no forces in a good position to slow down their next steps.”

Randy says, “The Premier of Germany is screaming we have to support her.”

The President responds, “Just how are we going to do that without starting a full-scale third world war? A year ago she demanded we remove our troops and now she wants them back? If we do nothing, Russia will end up taking over Europe, in order to remove them we’ll be in a third world war which will cost us trillions of dollars and most likely hundreds of thousands of wounded or killed. We’ve saved Europe twice before. After each world war, we were asked to bring our troops home. I’m not sure we can get there quick enough with enough equipment to make a difference. I refuse to use our people as a speed bump. Comments?”

Chapter 23

The Secretary-General of the United Nations takes the podium to open the new Security Council session, “Ladies and Gentlemen, I hereby call this session of the Security Council meeting to order. We have received a request from a very well know national leader and friend of the world to address the council this morning. Given this person’s background, given how hard he’s worked for world peace his entire life I could not refuse his request. Ladies and Gentlemen, it’s my pleasure to turn the podium over to someone who really doesn’t need any introduction, President Obsma.”

President Obsma is greeted by polite applause; most of the Security Council members sit in stunned silence not believing the impeached US President would be standing in front of the world’s body. Many wanted to leave, on the other hand, all are curious what he has to say.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for allowing me to address you this morning. I’ve come before you to make an important announcement and to request your support. I put in six very stressful years trying to lead the United States to become a true member of a peaceful world community. In my six years as the legally elected United States President, I learned that the United States has outlived the country’s founder’s goals. Today’s world is much different from the future the founders of America envisioned. America grew very rapidity; I can honestly say the United States grew by walking on the backs of the poor workers who were exploited by the racist rich business owners and bankers who held the real reins of power behind the scenes. Before I was elected as the 44th President, the real ruling class in America were the Jewish bankers who almost destroyed the world’s economy in 2007~8. These bankers didn’t just ruin America’s economy; they brought the world to its knees. The upper-class business owners who compose the world’s 1% are also responsible for the pain felt around the world. We have reached the point in the history of the world when a small number of people can and more importantly do control the world’s economy. While this great organization works every day to ensure World Wars are a thing of history, and this body works to improve the lives of each and every one of the six billion people living on the world. No matter what this great council agrees to, if the ruling 1% don’t agree with what this wise body agrees, they’ll ignore the United Nations, in reality the world’s single voice. I stand here today to officially announce the formation of a new nation, a nation that is based on the core principals that founded this great body. In man’s history, many nations have come and gone. Very few of the nations represented here have the same borders as they did when they were founded. Many countries have grown; many realized that groups of their citizens didn’t relate to the views of the other citizens. There comes a time when people of a like mind and heart decide to come together and form a nation. History is full of hundreds of examples where these new nations grow and overtake the economic strength of their original national parents. I worked harder than any previous American President. I launched more progress to reduce income inequality than any other Presiden. I provided every person in America with health care, and improved America’s education system with a common core that ensured every student learned the same regardless of where they lived in America or what their family’s income was. The children of the poorest and the children of the top 1% learned the same lessons at the same time. I made more progress to equalize the way every religion was treated; I made sure all religions were treated the same, all religions had their holidays and customs honored. I alone defended the planet Earth by outlawing fracking that we all know damages the world’s fresh water supply. I alone did more than anyone else did to improve our citizen’s health by outlawing trans-fats, by outlawing the use of salt; my wife improved the school meal program for every school age child in America.

We outlawed fast food and high sugar snacks in our schools. We tirelessly worked to improve peace in the world. I alone cut the world’s largest military by over 50%. I started the total nuclear disarmament of the world’s largest inventory of these horrible weapons. As the only country to have used these horrible weapons, it had to be America to be the first to say NO to these weapons. I was the first American President, who understood how horrible these weapons are. I alone disarmed the American citizens who owned 300 million weapons, 300 million dangerous firearms have been removed from the world. I tore down the fences that blocked the people’s free access across the imaginary lines drawn on a map that determined borders. I always stood for people having the right to decide where they want to live and raise their children. I always stood for making the world a safer place to raise children. The children of today are the teachers and presidents of tomorrow. Today’s children will one day be sitting in our seats within this hallowed halls working to ensure a peaceful world.

I’m here today asking for the United Nations to recognize the new nation of the Liberal States of America. We want to become a full member of the United Nations. We want to take our rightful place on the world’s stage. The people of the LSA deserve to have their voices and desires heard by the other member nations of the world.

Thank you for your time this morning. The people of the LSA are waiting to join you working for world peace.”

President for life Obsma of the LSA receives a standing ovation from the members of the Security Council. He turns and shakes the Secretary General’s hand; they hug on the stage, bringing forth an additional round of applause.

President Brownstone and Rash Linebacker sat in the Oval Office watching the speech live. Rash turns smiling, addressing the President, “Did I really hear him say what he did?”

President Brownstone smiling turns to Rash laughing, “There goes the only man in 2000 years who knows how to walk on water. He steps on the tears and sweat of those lives he’s destroyed. In his mind, he’s the new Messiah.”

President Brownstone laughs before replying, “Rash, I expect the UN to vote for the LSA full member status, I was thinking of using our veto vote to stop them, and decided against using it. I think he should be a member; he should pay his fair share of their dues. He’ll have to because I’m issuing orders that we’re going to reduce the amount we spend at the UN by 90%, let the American hating countries find someone else to line their pockets. We can’t afford it. Where was the UN when the world turned against the US dollar?”

Rash looks thoughtful, he pauses, “General, since we’ve adopted the gold standard, our currency is in demand across the world again, and in fact, the value of the US dollar has risen higher than it was under President Obsma. Frankly I think most of our people would be happy if we withdrew from the UN.”

“Since the UN is located in New York City, which is now a part of the LSA, we’ll sit back and watch how Obsma handles their request for money and special favors. By the way, Rash please issue a press release that any UN diplomat who wishes to leave New York City and visit or travel into USA territory will be required to register with the FBI and purchase a visa. Anyone caught in the USA without a valid visa will be kicked out and barred from entering our country again, that includes the LSA Representatives.”

“Sir, how much will the visas cost?”

“Let Steve figure that out, tell him to use his best judgment.”

Laughing so hard, he’s spilling his coffee, Rash says, “Knowing Steve we’ll pay off our national debt in six months based on the fee structure he’ll put in place.”

“Sounds like a plan to me. By the way, I’m sorry I haven’t had a chance to see the recording of your first press briefing, how did it go?”

Rash breaks out laughing again, trying to speak and belly laugh at the same time. “Sir, you should have seen their faces when I walked to the podium, and then, when Glen, Mike, and Sean took seats in the front row, I thought a few of the White House reporters were going to have a heart attack. One gasped out loud enough that most people in the room turned to look at him. When I gave Shawn the first question, the room erupted. I’ve been nicknamed the ‘minister of propaganda’ I guess I should hold today’s briefing wearing a brown uniform shirt with a cigar in my mouth.”

“Oh, please don’t do that, I’m not sure I could hold back laughing. Is the press giving you a harder time than normal?”

“You forget whom you’re talking to, I gave them back worse than they gave me. I’m not a Press Secretary they can push around. I also told them any bullshit reporting or making up things I said will get them expelled from the White House press pool.”

“I see you’ll be making life long friends with our friends in the media.”

“Sir this is something we need to change, we need to go on the offensive with the press; we need to go directly to the American people. I’m suggesting I hold a nightly news update for the American people, say every evening for 30 minutes that will give us a chance to talk directly to the people.”

“Rash, I like it, go get em!”

@@@@@

President for life of the LSA, Obsma announces that Christmas day 2015 will be the official birth and legal formation of the LSA. The LSA now comprises the area of, California above San Diego and to the west of the Central Valley, all of Oregon and Washington, Minnesota, the northern half of Illinois, Hawaii, Wisconsin, Michigan, New Jersey, New York City, Connecticut, Delaware, Rhode Island, Massachusetts. Many were surprised when Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont voted to remain in the United States. Ohio, Indiana, and Pennsylvania are split; the urban areas voted to join the LSA while the rural areas voted to remain in the United States. These two states will become battle lines in the civil war between those supporting the LSA and those supporting the USA. The ceremony is planned for noon EST on Christmas day where Presidents Obsma and Brownstone will jointly sign the documents of separation formalizing the breakup of the United States of America into two countries. Las Vegas bookies place the odds at 20 to one against the LSA surviving more than five years before it implodes. After the documents are countersigned, the two national flags are flown next to each other to officially recognize the split. President Obsma asks to speak to President Brownstone in private.

When the two men are seated in a secure conference room, President Obsma addresses President Brownstone, “Mr. President, I’d like to thank you for not using the military to block our separation. I think the split is for the best for all of our people. I would like to inquire about the vast amounts of materials your military and construction people took out of the LSA states.”

“President Obsma, the people of the United States, paid for that equipment since the LSA is no longer part of the USA, it makes no sense to leave such expensive equipment behind. That is unless you’d like to purchase some of the equipment.”

“You’d be willing to sell us the equipment?”

“Of course, however, remember all deals are paid in precious metals, no credit, no cash. We accept gold, silver, platinum, and of course diamonds.”

“Surely we can come to some sort of deal, the LSA is a new nation we don’t have those kinds of assets yet.”

“Nor do I ever think you will ever have them.”

“There is the issue of destroying the bridges and your building of walls between our two countries, sir, really; we don’t need walls and fences between us. We’re a common people.”

“Mr. President, we are no longer a common people; you saw to that, you are very proud of your open border policy, I’m very proud of my closed border policy. We blew the bridges because they were ours, not yours. Mr. President may I remind you, you once said, “You didn’t build that.” Well, we as a nation did build those bridges, since the LSA refused to share the financial support of them, there was no reason you should get a free ride on what you did not build.”

“Honestly, this entire visa and permit thing for people to cross the border, isn’t that a bit much?”

“No, I was thinking of a total ban, but that would harm many of the people on both sides of the border who have family members on the other side.”

“I really think you need to rescind your rules, even I as the President for life of the LSA needs to have a visa to cross into the USA.”

“I put the rules in place just for you.”

“Since you’ve taken all of our military assets leaving us without any sort of protection, may we sign a mutual defense agreement?”

“Not very mutual since you don’t have a military. To tell you the truth Mr., President, the United States of America isn’t interested in signing treaties with the LSA. We’re not going to shed a drop of blood for you, we’re not going to spend a penny on you. You wanted to form your perfect nation; you have your chance. I wish you luck and good bye. My Secret Service agent will escort you to your airplane; I’ve tasked the US Air Force to escort you back to Los Angles, which I understand is your new Capital.”

“Mr. President, that’s very nice of you, however, my wife, and I didn’t plan to leave right away, we have plans,,,,”

“I see you don’t yet understand the new reality; the LSA is a separate nation, you are no longer a citizen of the United States of America, you have no visitor visa, and as such you’ve over worn your welcome. I think it’s a good idea if you and your family left Washington right away. The fighter escort will ensure you don’t run into any issues between DC and LAX.”

“But, I promised, ..”

“Agents, please escort Mr. Obsma to his airplane, I want it off the ground twenty minutes after he boards it, if he’s not on the plane and the plane isn’t in the air twenty minutes after he arrives, arrest him for being in the USA without a visa.”

“Mr. President, you may leave at any time, Marine one is out back waiting to take you to Andrews. Please do call and make an appointment with the correctly filled out visa forms the next time you’d like to visit.”

Chapter 24

LSA President for life Obsma boards his plane. It’s a leased Gulfstream; President Brownstone kept both of the Boeing 747s because the LSA couldn’t pay for one of them  As soon as the temporary LSA plane one is airborne three US Air Force F 22s surround the plane as it makes it’s way back to LA. President Obsma is pissed off because he was kicked out of the USA without being able to hold any fundraising meetings. He thought he’d be able to talk some sense into President Brownstone. He didn’t understand why Brownstone disliked him so much. He counted on keeping the military equipment to arm his CDF with; this would have saved the LSA tens of millions of dollars. He has to fall back to his backup plan which is asking Russian President Puten for assistance.

Upon landing at LAX, President Obsma announced he plans to make a series of what he calls earth-shaking announcements on the nationally broadcasted New Years Eve broadcast. He tells everyone to make sure they tune in to watch his live address.

The President arrives at the New Martin Luther King Airport, (ex LaGuardia airport). When the LSA Presidential Air One plane lands, fireworks are fired to celebrate the first arrival in the New York City of the LSA's first President. The happy President exits the plane waving to the thousands of union members bussed in to welcome the President. The crowds wave and cheer the President. Pausing inside the terminal to take friendly questions, the NBX news anchor asks President Obsma, “Sir how about a hint on this earth-shaking announcement you plan on giving this evening?”

“Sorry Sally, it’s going to be such a surprise I’m not telling anyone until the stroke of midnight. I plan to make the announcement at 12: 02 AM. The ball will drop; everyone will welcome 2016, in the joy and happy excitement for the New Year, and the new beginnings I’m going to announce.”

New Years Eve 2015 going into 2016 turns out to be a very unusual New Years Eve celebration. The LSA is officially a week old and already short of cash and marketable resources. Many of those living in the LSA welcome the New Year will hope for a much better future. Many are concerned with the potential loss of their jobs since, in the previous week; 200 small and large companies announced they were pulling up stakes and moving to the USA. In one week, the price of gasoline increased to $14.35 a gallon, the price of food increases 45%. People are concerned but also very excited about the fulfillment of the promises made to them by their new President.

The reality of the unusually cold and wet evening shocks some of the New York City party goers when at the stroke of midnight a blackout hits the city. Tens of thousands of party goers are stranded in the city. Trains have stopped dead on their tracks, restaurants are lit by candles, and hundreds are stuck on elevators. Freshwater stopped flowing; toilets stopped flushing. Without electrical power, the bitter 2 degree outside temperature starts entering inside the apartments and homes. 8.5 million people are now in the dark and cold. President Obsma had just reached for the microphone when the lights went out. The President is stuck standing on the stage confused during tens of thousands panic. Thousands rush the stage, the President’s security detail try to keep the crowds away from the stage and the President; one pulls a small automatic weapon from under his coat. He fires into the air to scare the panicked crowd. The sound of automatic gunfire adds to the panic. The NYPD hearing the shooting thinks a terrorist is attacking the President. Hundreds of heavily armed SWAT tactical officers arrive to take down the would-be assassins. Police snipers see the muzzle flashes; they target the source of the gunfire; they take out the shooter, standing right next to the President without realizing the shooter was one of the President’s bodyguards. President Obsma jumps off the stage out of fear of being shot; he’s carried past the stage by the panicking crowds. The NYPD tries getting into the crowd that is pushing Obsma along Broadway. The mob exceeds ten thousand frightened people. No matter how much pushing the police officers do, they can’t reach the President as he’s swept along Broadway.

Thousands try to leave the city, many make it across the George Washington Bridge; hundreds start walking towards the tunnels when they’re jumped by gangs waiting for them. The gangs heard them coming two blocks away. Without lights, the crowds never saw the gangs waiting for them. Every male is robbed and killed; every woman is gang raped, and most of them are killed when the gangs are finished with them. The gangs barricades the tunnels and bridges forcing everyone to remain in the city. When New York City joined the LSA, 60% of the NYPD officers resigned moving to various cities in the USA.

The labor and birth of the LSA is very painful. As promised President Brownstone cut off all support and government programs on Christmas day, the official LSA Independence Day with the exception for veteran benefits to those living in the new nation. The President issues an offer for citizens, veterans and companies to relocate to the USA. He offers a speedy application process with a response promised within three hours. Any veteran who applies is automatically accepted, all they had to do was raise their hand and say “I want to move," the USA provides assistance to relocate the veterans to a new home and help them get back on their feet.

President Brownstone is worried that the USA is going to be swarmed with mass deportations of undesirables from the LSA. He signs an executive order mandating the issuance of a new national ID card. The President rebuilds the border patrol and INS to patrol the large borders between the two countries. He deploys the military to keep an eye on the southern border. Members of Congress question the President’s plans, they have good reason to be concerned because the people are very upset over being issued national ID cards. They expected Obsma to issue national ID cards, not Brownstone. Congress also worries the people the LSA dump on the USA’s border will be shown on national television making the USA look bad. Congress appoints a special committee to try to work with Obsma’s administration in finding a solution to the problem the USA knows is coming when the LSA runs out of resources.

Life in the USA starts to improve due to the high demand for labor from the many companies moving into the USA. With its currency backed by precious metals and the rollback of most of President Obsma’s crippling mandates the mood in the country quickly improves. Fracking and oil drilling permits are quickly approved; government lands are opened for exploration. Mandates against coal mining are overturned, coal-fired power plants are reopened. Months ago many cities experienced brown and black outs, within ten weeks of President Brownstone being sworn in, electricity is plentiful in the USA

Life in the communities along the border of the two countries is very different; those living in the LSA constantly cross the border looking for low-cost gasoline, food and anything else that is in short supply or banned on their side of the border. Many communities on the USA side set up farm stands, and small tent cities to cater to those crossing the border for banned items or simply products that sell for much less in the USA. The border communities on the USA side learn the items with the highest demand in the LSA are toilet paper and cigarettes. Producing paper products creates a large amount of wastewater, something that is under tight environmental controls in the LSA. Four roll packages of toilet paper that normally sell in the USA for $4.00 command prices of $15 on the border, while if available in the LSA they sell for $40.00. Customs officials on both sides turn a blind eye to the cross-border trade. Both sets of inspectors handed the cross-border shoppers small maps showing the safe and trusted locations to make purchases at. Some of the items in short supply in the LSA in additional to paper products and cigarettes, (which have been banned in the LSA), are over the counter and prescription medicines. Local border drug stores set up a call ahead system; those living in the LSA call the local pharmacy to order their needs, the medicines are packed in white bags with a bright red cross on them, the packages wait at the border. Both sets of customs ' agents agreed to not add their normal personal handling tax to these bright white bags.

The LSA national insurance doesn’t cover payments for these cross-border purchases if the drugs are available in the LSA the prices are doubled or more. Over the counter items and prescriptions can cost three or four times as much. Wal-Mart, Target, and others announce plans to build superstores at the major border crossings. These announcements are protested by those making double or more their normal profits selling to the LSA. The communities on the LSA side set up a series of mailbox and shipping portals. Any products are normally crossing the border are subjected to large import taxes which can double or triple their prices. The border portals collect the requests, send their people across the border paying a small fee to carry the goods across the border where they’re shipped to their customers.

As the wealth of the small border communities, grow they soon attract the wrong attention. Organized crime, street gangs and anyone else with a plan to separate people and their gold grows. Many of the small communities don’t have enough police officers to maintain the peace. Many local shops wake up to discover themselves paying weekly “protection” insurance to one gang or another. Those that refuse to pay on the LSA side of the border usually wake up to find their mail portal shops burned to the ground, those on the USA side respond with community armed watch groups. After a few midnight shootouts, the gangs decides it’s much safer to collect protection fees from those on the LSA side where firearms are still illegal.

Life in the LSA is going differently than many expected, all sources of fuel require importation, generation of electricity has been reduced 70%, every city and community experiences rolling brown and blackouts. In California, San Diego cut off all electrical power transmission north. Interstate routes 5 and 15 are blocked to ensure nothing of value is shipped north without the export duties being paid. Ships that normally docked at Long Beach, or any of the other maritime ports on the West Coast now unload in San Diego. The US Navy quickly converted part of their base into a commercial shipping facility. San Diego quickly built new access roads leading to and from the port. Lines of trucks line up to attach the trailers arriving via ship. Shippers quickly realize without unions in the way their costs are lower going through San Diego, plus security is vastly improved with their facility being patrolled by members of the US Marines. Looting of their trailers ceases. Even fresh water is in short supply in many cities of the LSA because many LSA locations receive their water from rivers and lakes which now are in another country. President Obsma was never good at the details of any plan. He never gave the everyday issues of power; fuel and water much thought He never thought about where these critical items came from. It’s the same with food. Most of the farms are now located in the USA.

@@@@@

Almost everyone in the LSA watched the New Years Eve program eagerly waiting to hear what President Obsma was going to announce. Watching the lights go out, and the President swept off the stage panic spreads through the LSA’s new Presidential Mansion. The one question on everyone’s mind is, where is President Obsma? What happened in New York City? Harold Reid announces to the nation that the United States of America cut off electrical power to New York City, putting millions of innocent people at risk. He reports that the deliberate cutting off power just as President Obsma was going to make a major announcement proves the USA can’t be trusted. Reid warns President Brownstone to be careful in not pushing the LSA too far. Reid demands the restoration of all electrical power to the LSA state of New York City. Reid also calls upon the world’s socialist states to provide humanitarian aid for those wandering the dark in New York City.

Five minutes after Reid completes his announcement, Rash Linebacker takes to the air to say, “The United States of America wishes everyone a happy and healthy New Year. Every New Year is a fresh start; some use the time to make resolutions, some use the holiday to make excuses. I can state with 100% truth the United States of America had nothing to do with the blackout in New York City. I have personally tried to contact the Mayor of the city to offer aid. My calls were not accepted; our messages have not been returned. Hence, I want it known to the world; the USA had nothing to do with the blackout, we stand ready to offer medical and humanitarian aid to all who may require it in the affected area. All we need is for the LSA to say yes we want and accept your aid. Our people, trucks and support planes can start entering New York City within minutes; we have a rapid response team standing ready.”

Reid gets very angry listening to Rash’s remarks. He goes back on the air to announce, “This is Harold Reid, the newly appointed Vice President for the LSA. The simple fact that the USA has a rapid reaction team that can begin moving within minutes should be all the proof anyone in the world needs to prove the USA is responsible for this disaster to millions of people stuck on New Years Ever with limited options to leave the island. We call upon President Brownstone to correct the problem he caused; we call upon the USA to restore power to New York. Our two countries may have their differences of opinion on some issues; however, these differences should have never used as an excuse to put innocents at risk.”

President Brownstone laughed when he and his aides watched the lights go out in Time Square. He addresses the group asking, “Just to be sure; we didn’t do this did we?”

Everyone in the room responds no, many are holding back laughing remembering the look on President Obsma’s face as he was swept off the stage.

“Well, if we didn’t do it who did?”

Rash responds, “Maybe the idiots didn’t pay their electric bill.”

The entire room breaks out laughing.

Chapter 25

President Obsma is swept away in the mass of people thinking the blackout is the start of another terrorist attack against New York City. He’s become separated from his security detail who wade into the crowds trying to secure him. Obsma tries to work his way across the mob to exit Broadway. He sees a small opening he tries to push through, he tries to push people out of his way, no one in the mob pauses long enough to listen to the black man trying to walk upstream against a wave of composed of thousands of people The mob’s panic is so high none recognize the President. He mistakenly strikes a large African American in the face with him arm while trying to get to a cross street. Obsma’s arm is grabbed; he’s dragged by the man he accidently hit to the sidewalk, before President Obsma can thank the man, he hears, “Hey bro’s this dumb shithead done punched me.”

Obsma yells, “No, wait, you don’t understand who I am, don’t you recognize me?”

Before he can finish the sentence, he’s punched in the mouth and stomach by three men. They stomp on him until he’s lying on the street bleeding and unconscious. The three men pound his head against the street curb. The men go through his pockets; they steal his watch, $2,000 in cash and his overcoat, they don’t even look at his ID; his attackers toss his wallet into a dumpster three blocks away. They’re happy with what they taken from him.

Thirty minutes after the black out the mob has spread out, leaving Broadway clear. President Obsma’s security detail is tearing the stores and office buildings around the stage apart looking for him. They didn’t know; Obsma woke, penniless and not able to remember anything. He followed the people in front of him running because he didn’t know what else to do.

@@@@@

With no word on the President’s where about, Vice President Harold Reid makes an announcement to the people of the LSA that he is temporarily taking over the office of President until President Obsma is located. Reid appoints his close friend Nanny Polsi as acting Vice President. After Reid’s announcement he and Nanny look at each other, she smiles saying, “I don’t know how you pulled off a black out and had him swept away. I have to hand it to you; you pulled that rabbit out of your ass.”

“Reid smiles, “I wish I had planned it. I really have no idea what caused the blackout or where he is. I hope they never find him allowing us to rule.”

“Do you think we should offer assistance to the NYPD to help locate him?”

“I’m going to offer assistance to make sure he’s never found again. He was an idiot; he was nothing more than a means to an end. Now that he’s gone, and I hope forever we can mold the LSA into the land we both know it can and will be. I like not having to run for election again. I don’t have to account for the reelection cash.”

“Harold, is the Vice President position for life too?”

“I’m sure we can arrange it to be, how much is it worth to you?”

@@@@@

The country wakes on January 1st, 2016 to a massive winter storm that covers most of both countries, heavy rain falls in the Pacific Northwest causing large mudslides, Interstate 5 is washed out in a number of locations between Portland Oregon and Seattle Washington. Hundreds are stranded on the road. Key bridges have washed away leaving people on their own. Ice covers the roads in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex; the DFW airport is closed because the airport workers can’t get to the airport to move airplanes, or do any of the other hundreds of tasks required, such as loading and unloading luggage, fueling the planes. Snow falls in the mid-Atlantic and New England states; the National Weather Bureau projects 24 inches of snow will fall on Central Park in New York City. The city remains blacked out. The 8.5 million people who live in the city are cold, hungry and confused. Where’s their help? Where’s the government? When will FEMA arrive? Most residents of New York City have only a single day’s food available.

With no information available, people in the city start leaving their apartments looking for food and water. Some collect the snow to drink; tens of thousands break into grocery stores and restaurants looking for food. Fighting breaks out between any who have and those without. Within an hour, fires are burning out of control. In some areas, entire blocks are burning. The fire department can’t get to the fires because the sanitation department who clear the streets went on strike until the electricity gets turned back on. A hundred people start out at Times Square marching to Gracie Mansion. The crowd grows to thousands as others join the protest demanding the mayor get the power turned back on. The streets haven’t been plowed; the snow is still falling. At 3 PM over twenty thousand people reach the Mayor’s home. Gracie Mansion has power supplied from an emergency generator. The protesters become enraged seeing the Mayor has the power while they don’t. The newly elected mayor, an avowed communist, welcomes his people to the “people’s house” Gracie Mansion is sometimes called New York’s white house. The mayor assumes the people are coming as part of the New Year’s celebration. His Happy New Year from “his people” is a brick hitting him in the chest. Hundreds of bricks crash through the mansion’s windows, the mob swarms into the mansion, looting all of the food and liquor. They destroy the mansion and burn the 200-year-old house to the ground. The mayor’s people don’t appreciate “some animals being more equal” than others. The mob chants, “We want power!”

@@@@@

President Brownstone calls a meeting with his key advisors and their staffers, he decides to hold it in the situation room which is larger than the Oval Office or the executive conference room. The situation room walls are covered in high definition monitors. The President opens the meeting saying, “I’m sorry to drag everyone over here on New Years. However, we have a situation brewing that has all the makings of blowing up. President Obsma hasn’t been seen since midnight; New York City is still dark. No one seems to know what caused the blackout. If you’ve not heard, crowds in New York City just attacked their mayor and burned Gracie Mansion to its foundation. There are hundreds of thousands abandoned on various freeways, As the President speaks; the monitors that ring the room display images of Gracie Mansion burning, mobs of people breaking into looting stores, streets of burning buildings.

Vice President Cruize looks around the room, he asks the staff to draw the borders on the maps, he and the others study the images. He turns to the President saying, “Mr. President, I’m sorry, but I fail to see our problem here. If we turn our attention to the maps, almost all of these disasters are in the LSA. The DFW area is covered in ice. However, they’re used to it, they get one- or two ice storms a year. No big thing, they’ll stay home with their families for a couple of days. We might see an uptick in births nine months from now, which is all I think the impact is going to be.”

Steve Forbas looks at the President and Vice President, “While these disasters may be located in the LSA, if they happened anywhere else in the world we would be the first ones on the scene providing support. I suggest we contact Mr. Reid and offer our support. The LSA doesn’t have much of a military; most of them came over to our side, as did many of their first responders, they are going to need help. These people were our neighbors and our citizens a few weeks ago, are we going to let a line on the map stop us?”

Randy Paul, addresses the group, I tend to agree with Steve. However, I do think we should get the LSA’s approval before we cross the border. Otherwise, Reid and Polsi will claim we invaded them.”

The military aide thinks no one can hear him when he whispers, “So what, they couldn’t stop us anyway.”

President Brownstone responds, “Major, I heard you and even if you’re correct, that’s not the way we’re going to act. If they don’t want us to provide help, they’ll tell us. Randy, you know Reid well, why don’t you give him a call. I’m not sure he’d appreciate or accept a call coming from me.”

“Mr. President, I’d be happy to.” Randy Paul, looks up Red’s private cell number on his smartphone, dialling, he says, I’ll put him on, Speaker.

On the fourth ring, Harold Reid answers, “Paul, are you calling to wish me a Happy New Year or to gloat because we can’t locate President Obsma?”

“Harold, neither, I have you on speaker, I’m in the White House situation room with the President. We know the LSA has been hit pretty hard by Mother Nature, is there anything we can do? We can have support people in New York City checking the power plants within thirty minutes; we can have FEMA in the city very quickly with food and water. We can also rescue those stuck on Interstate 5 between Portland and Seattle.”

“Randy, that’s so nice of you. Why if you hadn’t voted against my Global Warming bills we wouldn’t be in the situation we are today. You have to agree that this winter’s strange weather is caused by Global Warming. I’d say yes, please do provide all the help you can, and while you’re at it, the LSA would like President Brownstone to go on national TV and announce he’ll support the Kyoto Protocol. Mr. President, if you really cared about al of the world’s people you’d stop fracking, vs. increasing your fracking, if you really cared about the world’s people, you’d pass laws like I tried to do when I was the Senate leader to reduce the country’s dependence on oil. Randy, you and that phony President don’t care about people. You called and offered us aid as a PR stunt. I’m the acting President of the LSA, and I’m telling you if you cross our borders, you’ll be invading a sovereign nation. I will declare war on the US.”

Ted Cruize can’t control himself, “Mr. Acting President, you and what army is going to declare war on us?”

“Ah, Mr. Cruize I knew you’d be hiding there someplace. I’ll have you know that tomorrow I’m going to announce the LSA has signed mutual defense treaties with Cuba, Mexico, Venezuela, Columbia and Argentina. Invading the LSA is the same as attacking any or all of our new friends.”

President Brownstone stands staring at the monitors, “Mr. Acting President, your people, are suffering, you are going to lose thousands who can be saved, don’t you think we should put their needs first?”

“President Brownstone, cross our border and be attacked by our friends. I should also inform you that Russia has armed Cuba and Venezuela with medium-range ballistic missiles.”

Acting President Reid hangs up the phone.

President of Brownstone looks around the room, “Well that didn’t go very well. Get John over here, I’d like to know why we’re hearing about missiles from Reid and not from our intelligence services.”

@@@@@

Violence grows across both the LSA and the USA; people both pro and con the decision to allow America to split aren’t happy. Many thought additional states should have left to join the LSA; some thought no one should have left because the issue of states leaving was settled in the civil war. Police officers do their best to keep a lid on a boiling pot. Billboards and signs appear across the country demanding the reunification of the country. A few talk show hosts ask what’s going on in New York City. Many ask why the USA isn’t doing more to help their friends and family across the border.

@@@@@

Acting President Reid asks Nanny what she thought of the call. “Harold, we both know the US is going to save our people no matter what. We’ll get the free assistance and also get to blame them for invading. It's win-win for us and a lose-lose for them. They’re such do-gooders they can’t stand to see people suffer. What did cause the blackout?”

“Nanny, I really don’t know. One moment hands of the clock reached midnight, the ball dropped down the pole announcing the new year when in the next moment the lights went out, and all hell broke lose. I can’t get a call through to the Mayor. Governor Cuma has gone missing ever since the mid state voted to stay in the USA. I’ve tried calling everyone I know to find out what happened, I can’t find anyone who has any idea.”

“What are we going to do? We have to restore power before the city explodes. If the city explodes, it’s going to flow into our other states in the area. If we don’t figure out what caused it how will we avoid it happening in LA or anywhere else? Can you image if the lights went out in Chicago and then other cities? We’d be voted out of office.”

Laughing Reid replies, “Nanny, we can’t be voted out of office. We never announced dates or how we’d hold elections. I’m more concerned about the loss of the tax revenue. The expansion of the social programs Obsma announced kicked off on New Years is going to cost us more than we have in the treasury. If many people are injured, our healthcare cost is going to go through the roof.”

“What are you going to do?”

“Why Nanny I thought you’d never ask. I’m sending you to New York City to see if you can find our long lost leader, don’t look too close and get the power turned back on. I’m going to make a national announcement as soon as you’re plane is wheels up.”

“Harold, what do I know about turning the power on? All I know is you flip the switch.”

“Nanny, start there.”

Chapter 26

Even with President Obsma missing, the work of the LSA government continues. On January 4th, the LSA announces a new income tax structure with a top personal rate of 75% on all income over $1 million a year. Acting President Reid announces, “Why does anyone need more than $1 million a year? People have to pay their fair share in order to equalize income. It’s the fair thing to do. The LSA has to start now preparing for our children’s children future.”

People in the LSA are initially overjoyed, the LSA provides free health care, a guaranteed minimum income, free preschool and free upper education. Weekly working hours are capped at 35 hours a week. Any work over 35 hours is classified as overtime, even for those paid salaries. Overtime is paid at two times their base pay. LSA national law mandates every worker is entitled to four weeks of vacation a year so they can “recharge,” returning to their jobs fresh with new vigor.  People are happy to have more time off, and more take-home pay in their pocket. A small issue that most havened seen yet is these policies have caused prices to increase quicker than the new pay scales.

Other rules in the LSA don’t go over as well with most of the population, for example, no oil drilling or fracking is allowed on LSA land. The cost of a gallon is gasoline has increased to $20.00 a gallon. Natural gas prices triple, all of it has to be imported from the USA. The LSA government imposes a 15% fuel usage tax on all new gasoline powered cars. The government takes over run-down real estate that is rebuilt at taxpayer expense and given to the homeless. The best-laid plans always fall apart, the homeless end up destroying the free homes within months. Trash piles up, toilets overflow and broken windows aren’t repaired. Local real estate values jump when the run down locations are rebuilt; they quickly reverse and crash when the homeless destroys the free homes. Neighbors are upset watching their home values crash.

Healthcare, while free is also subpar. Anyone over the age of 55 in the LSA learns the amount and type of care provided is reduced every year. Within 30 says of reaching their 55th birthday every person in the LSA gets a letter explaining the amount and care which will be provided. Each year the amount of covered care is reduced. In order to provide the best coverage for the most-productive people in the LSA, those over 55 aren’t even allowed to pay for increased care, the thought being even if seniors paid for their health care they would take resources away from the young. Doctors in the LSA are paid a yearly salary equal to five times the minimum wage. They have no incentive to build a practice or see additional patients. It typically takes five weeks advance notice to see a doctor, and even then most people only get to see a nurse practitioner, only if the NP thinks a doctor visit is required is an appointment set, which takes another 4~5 weeks. Appointments with specialists require two doctors to approve the visit, plus a six-month waiting period, all done to manage the rising cost of the LSAs health care.

By the time most get to see a specialist their condition has advanced to the point where they are moved into a hospice. Many drugs aren’t covered under the LSA health care program. Many doctors refuse to operate under these conditions; they pack up and leave the LSA. Everything is done so that the political leaders can claim to have provided free healthcare without increasing healthcare costs. The elite in the LSA travel to the USA for critical health care; everyone else is left with the subpar system that’s worse than it was before the LSA split away from the USA.

The LSA is proudest of its education system. Children enter the educational programs at five years old and exit at 22. In between, they spend five days a week, (except for vacations) at one of the government-run schools. Homeschooling, private and charter schools are outlawed because they’re not available to everyone.

Teachers are paid four times the minimum wage with mandatory union membership. The teacher's union is only concerned with class size and dues collection. Union membership is mandatory for anyone working in the LSA. Only 40% of the working-age adults in the LSA actually work, they support the 60% who claim to be artists, authors or other devotees of the arts who are totally supported by the government. The LSA government fosters the arts, which are open to all. Most incentive programs are deemed illegal in the LSA because they discriminate by not being offered to everyone. The Supreme Court of the LSA is reviewing the question of whether overtime pay is legal because not everyone has the ability to earn it.

Acting President Reid announces a new government incentive program that rewards people with small gold coins; neighborhood spying. People are encouraged to call a special 800 number if they suspect or they see a person acting against the greater good. Anyone speaking out against the government, or union should be turned in. Special police units are formed to arrest those who are reported as being anti-government or anti-union. Social media posts, forum posts, emails, and texts, are reviewed by government censors and fact checkers.

The acting President knows the LSA has to keep the pressure on the USA. He recruits volunteers who are sent to Venezuela or Cuba to be trained as terrorists. After training, they are sent to small and large cities in America to wait for the code word which will turn them into deadly weapons in America’s heartland.

@@@@@

Nanny Polsi arrives in New York to find it cold and dark. People are trying to sleep in the airport terminals; no taxis are waiting outside the airport. She is escorted out of the terminal and into an LAV. She looks at the LAV, “What is this? Where is my limo?”

The agent in charge of her security responds, “Madam Acting Vice President, the roads around and in the city are still covered in snow. A normal limo won’t be able to navigate the streets. We received over 24 inches of snow.”

“Why haven’t the streets been cleared?”

“Sanitation department went on strike because the power is off.”

“Get them back on the job, it’s for the greater good of everyone.”

“Madam Acting Vice President, the phones are out, I don’t have the leader of the union’s cell number. We’ll take you to a secure building where we have a generator running.”

“Why can’t I stay at the Palace like I usually do?”

“Mrs. Polsi, there is NO power in the city, the hotel has no running water, no working toilets, no restaurants. Nothing is working right now.”

“I was sent here to get the power back on. How do we do that?”

“If we knew we would have already done it.”

@@@@@

“Mr. President, things are starting to get out of control in the North East. This year’s winter has been started colder than normal. The cost of fuel oil and natural gas has increased five times the cost this time last year. Many in the North East have to decide between heat and food, given the LSAs poor record on providing food, many don’t have to make a decision because food is in such short supply in some areas.”

“What does this have to do with us?”

“Sir, these people used to be American citizens.”

“Mr. Secretary, ‘used to be’ are the keywords aren’t they?

“We’ve already decided we can’t afford to be the world’s policeman; we stopped foreign aid, and we’ve reduced our debt to a figure we’ll have repaid in four years. We’ll be one of the world’s few debt free countries, and now you want me to provide aid to the North East? They made their own decision. Don’t you think it’s breaking my heart watching the news reports?”

“Mr. President, what if the North East States request permission to rejoin the union?”

“I’d have to seriously think about it and ask my advisors for their thought. If we took them back only for them to leave in the spring it would hurt this administration, it would hurt our country. I’m not sure I trust anyone in the LSA.”

“Sir, that’s a very serious statement to make.”

“Yes, I know, which is why I’m only talking to you here in the Oval Office where the only recordings are those I make.”

“Sir, I think we have a moral obligation to help those who used to be part of us.”

“Where does the obligation end? Are we supposed to feed everyone in the LSA? Are we supposed to come to their aid for anything?”

“Mr. President, I don’t honestly have that answer.”

“When you do, come back and talk to me. To be honest with you, I feel their suffering too. I don’t want to be accused by the LSA of invading their area, or breaking one of their crazy new rules.”

“Sir, we should do something for them.”

“What would you like me to do? Want to take the food reserves from our people to feed them? Should we ship them the fuel reserves we’ve spent millions in gold rebuilding and expanding? How many of our people should die so we can feed them?”

“Mr. President, it’s not like that. Sir, it's heart breaking watching those people freeze and starve.”

“Son, I know it is. I’m stuck trying to figure out if we should do something for them or not.”

“Mr. President, what does your heart say to you?”

“It tells me not to listen to it.”

“Sir, how about if we ask the Army and border patrol to leave some food and fuel behind on the border. When do they make their patrols? How about if some food falls out of C130s and C17s that happen to be flying over them?”

“I won’t stop you if those things happen, I also would rather not know about it in case the LSA asks me about it.”

“Sir, I understand deniability.”

@@@@@

My cell rings, “Hello, this is Brad.”

“Brad, Ron, can you talk?”

“Yeah, sure, what’s up?”

“Do you have any plans for tonight?”

“No, just catch up on some programs with Kathy, why?”

“How about joining me for some pancakes?”

“OK.”

At 7: 00 PM, Ron and I pull into the iHOP parking lot. There're five cars in the lot. The “OPEN” sign is turned off.

Joshua welcomes us to the restaurant, “Welcome; you’re just in time for dinner. We’re having true southern fried chicken tonight.”

Smiling, “It sounds better than pancakes for dinner, even if these are the best pancakes I’ve ever had,”

“Aaron, we have a potential problem which is why I’ve you to join us.”

I’m sure you remember everyone?”

Looking at them, I nod and say, “All, good to see you again.”

Joshua says, “Follow me” We go into the kitchen where Joshua opens a locked door, going to the basement where he says, “We can talk here.”

“What’s up, what’s with all of the cloak and dagger bullshit?”

“Brad, Ron, yes, it’s OK to use our real names here, the basement is shielded.”

“Joshua, what’s up, why did you want to see me?”

“We’ve been tipped off that the LSAs going to smuggle terrorists across the border to attack us inside our own borders. They’re also going to use social media to build huge flash mobs to overwhelm our malls and stores.”

“Why call me? Why not the police and the Army?”

“The Army does know; I called you and many like you because we need as many eyes on the situation as possible. We’ve been tipped off to the plan being run by the LSA. They’re sending regular people who were trained in Cuba and Venezuela into our communities who at the appointed time will attack our people in shopping malls and recreation parks. The police are also on the lookout. I know you live across the street from the mall, I want you to keep your eyes open.”

“For Christ’s sake Joshua, there are many different entrances to the mall, I can only see one, what makes you think they’ll enter using the one I can see?”

“Because we learned they were going to enter from the entrance across from Benihana.”

“You got me; that’s the entrance across from my home.”

“I still don’t know why you didn’t contact the police.”

“Hey, dummy, who drove you here?”

“Duh, Ron of course, so why reach out to me?”

“Cause the police force is still very small, we need all the help they can get, if you spot them, which will be easy to do, they’ll be coming in a bus, and you can contact the police minutes before anyone else.”

“And you couldn’t just call me to discuss this?”

“You know I don’t like unsecured phones.”

“Hell, Joshua, your best friend is the President. I thought you were on the list to be an ambassador or something.”

“I was offered any country I wanted. I’m too old and not politically correct enough to be an ambassador.”

“Bullshit, you would make a great ambassador, it’s about time we had someone who speaks the plain truth.”

“You go; I’m happy staying home and driving the President crazy.”

“Look, Brad, this flash mob thing can get out of control. If they hit a number of our malls and stores, they’ll destroy our people’s confidence that will ripple through our entire economy.”

“Joshua, I get it, but you could have called your BFF and had him take care of it, he is commander in chief you know.”

“Brad, ..”

“Joshua, you know I’ll do it. What do you want me to do when I see them?”

“Get word to the police.”

“OK, now where’s my chicken? I’m hungry.”

Laughing, Joshua leads me back to the restaurant.

Three nights later while I’m walking my pooch, I see a unmarked black bus entering the mall, it stops just inside the parking lot. 48 people leave the bus; they stretch their legs, and each pulls on purple a T-shirt. I thought it must be the flash mob. Before I can dial Ron, another bus arrives, it parks next to the first bus, another 48 people exit, and a few large crates are removed from the luggage compartment of the bus. The mob withdraws AK rifles from the cases.

I say out loud, “Crap, this isn’t another flash mob, this one is going to shoot up the mall.”

I dial Ron, “Buddy, they're here; they’re armed, there’s almost 100 of them, each armed with AKs, get here soonest.”

“Brad, help is on the way, get out of there.”

“Listen, buddy, they’re wearing purple T-shirts, I’m wearing a black one, I’m going to go home and get my AR, better hurry.”

“Brad, stay the hell out of the mall, you’ll end up getting caught in the crossfire.”

Running home, I yell to Kathy, “Honey, there’s an armed mob at the mall, I’m going to help stop them. “Grab one of my carbines and my vest loaded with eight 30 round magazines.”

“Brad doesn’t go; you’ll get shot.”

“I promise I won’t.”

When I arrive back at the mall, most of the armed mob has already entered the mall. Parking, I grab my AR. I hear police sirens in the distance, I can hear gunshots from inside of the mall. I see one of them guarding the door, I use my open car’s door for some protection, I hit one guard with my first shot. I get the second before he can respond. Entering the mall, I hear multiple gunshots. I see another purple T-shirt, I engage him from the rear, three down, about 97 to go.

Chapter 27

Nanny calls Acting President Reid, “Harold, no one here knows anything. The streets are waist deep in snow; there’s no food, people are eating the snow for water. I’ve spoken with the NYPD and Obsma’s security chief; none has any idea where he is or what happened to him. I can’t get the power turned on; we need help. We need specialists and air drops of fuel, food and water. By the way do you have any ideas where President for life Obsma is?”

“Nanny, frankly I have no idea, and I don’t care if he never surfaces. I’ll see what we can do to find some people to drop into the City to help out. I’ll check how we can drop some food and fuel in too. Nanny, the city, is now in the fifth day without power, 15% of the city is on fire, and tens of thousands have died. We might lose over a million people if we don’t get the power back on soon. Someone has to know what happened and how to get it turned on. If you can’t do anything there, then come home.”

“Do you think we should contact Brownstone for help?”

“Don’t even think of that. Once he gets his people into the city, he’ll never leave.”

“How’s the plan to keep Brownstone’s forces on alert going?”

“We have fifty flash mobs hitting various malls today. “

“What about the protests in our cities?”

“Trust me, they won’t be a problem for long. Our allies will take care of them for us. We’ll have all the benefits of a large military without the costs associated with having one.”

“I’ve heard rumors that Russia is going to move against Germany, should we be concerned?”

“Why? The Germans deserve whatever they get. They sided with Brownstone, plus they tried to foreclose on their loans to France and Greece. They’re no friends of the common man.”

“Don’t forget women. We have to continue our push that Brownstone discriminates against women. We need to remind our women every day how lucky they are to be living in the LSA.

“Yes, you’re correct. I’m sorry Nanny.”

@@@@@

The initial planes from Cuba and Venezuela land at LAX and SFO at noon. The two airports have been closed for commercial flights to enable the troops to arrive, which they do every fifteen minutes. Large cargo planes disgorge tanks, armored personnel carriers, anti-air vehicles, and thousands of troops. By 8:00 PM PST, there are four thousand foreign troops in California.

Hidden on the roof of the Sheraton Hotel on Century Blvd across from the LX runways, two US Navy SEALs are watching, counting and recording the incoming planes.

“LT looks at the armor their wearing, something new; we haven’t seen this before. The APCs (armored personnel carriers) are also new; they are covered in a new type of armor too. Check out their helmets, they are also new. Even their rifles look different. I’d bet the Russians outfitted these guys with their newest systems.”

“Senior Chief, I see them, I don’t like it at all. Move to the other side of the roof, behind the air con units, send the info to the Captain. This is something he needs to know ASAP.”

“Aye, sir.”

The senior chief crawls to the other side of the hotel’s roof where he opens a small folding antenna dish. The signal locks onto an orbiting MilStat, the chief sends a burst communication with the images of the new equipment, the number of troops and the rate of landings and take-offs of the cargo planes to HQ, in less than a second the message has been sent. He crawls back to his LT. “Anything new?”

“”Yea, look at the people by the United hanger, what do you see?”

Taking the high-powered binoculars the chief looks at the hanger, he adjusts the binoculars a few times, shaking his head, he says, “Sir, they look like Spetsnaz.”

“That’s what I thought too, Reid never said anything about Russians.”

“Looks like they’re inspecting the hanger, since the planes that brought them are taking off as soon as they’re unloaded whey do they need hangers?”

“Chief, lookup, your 2:00, see the contrails? I think they’re Russian fighters. The LSA doesn’t have any fighters if they’re not Russians whose are they?”

“Crap. The Russians most likely bought their way into the LSA. We’re going to have a much tougher fight than we thought. I’d like to know what kind of fighters they are.”

“Me too, however, call this in right now, so our boys in San Diego aren’t surprised.”

“Got it.”

@@@@@

“Admiral, we have a recon report from LAX, there are over two thousand troops in LA and another one thousand at San Francisco. Here are some very interesting images, note the circled equipment, vehicles, armor and helmets we’ve never seen before.”

“It looks like they’re amassing a large enough force to take over the LSA and then move against us.”

“Admiral, a few of our intel pukes think they’re going to come after us first. Our people gamed out a few of their options; the number one answer is the LSA will use their new friends to take over San Diego, giving them all of the equipment and assets there. From there, the gamers say they’ll move to capture our strategic assets.”

“Get me the Mayor of San Diego and General Jackson at Pendleton, I think we’ll plan a little surprise for the LSAs guests.”

“Admiral, why the Mayor?”

“He needs to know what our gamers think; he needs all the time he has to prepare his people.”

“Aye, sir.”

@@@@@

President Obsma can’t remember who he is or what happened to him. He has no memory of anything except for the last couple of days. All he knows is he’s cold and hungry. He joined a group of thirty who live in an abandoned subway tunnel. It’s warmer and dryer in the tunnel. Someone rigged some candles to provide a little light inside the tunnel.

Turning to the woman who helped him Obsma asks, “Where are we?”

“We in an unused subway tunnel, it's warmer here than outside. We have a little food, if you’re hungry follow us.”

“What happened?”

“Don’t know, at midnight the lights went out, there were shots fired, everyone ran. We found you by a dumpster, someone or a gang had beat and left you. Do you remember your name?”

“I don’t remember much of anything. Everything is like a dream, I think I remember, but everything is cloudy, I can’t focus on any memory.”

“Don’t worry about it, you most likely got hit on the head, your memory will most likely return in a couple of days. We’ll be safe here. No one bothers us; no one cares about us. In warmer times, we go out asking for handouts and cash donations.”

“Thank you. Can I stay here for a while?”

“Yea, we take in all sorts of people who need help. We don’t have much, what we do have we share with everyone who’s needy. We all have something to eat every day. We’re warm down here and left alone. None of us steals from each other, anyone who does is kicked out. As long as you’re cool you can stay. I bet your cold without a coat. Come with me, we have some coats that were donated to us, let’s see if one fits you. After you get a coat and something to eat, we’ll find you a place to sleep.”

“What’s your name?”

“Janice, do you remember yours?”

“No.”

“Then I’ll call you Adam, is that OK with you?”

“Adam, I like it, yes, please call me Adam.”

@@@@@

The incoming flights continues landing every fifteen minutes at LAX and SFO, at midnight flights begin arriving at SeaTac airport to the south of Seattle. The landing troops quickly move to secure the giant Boeing facility just a short distance from SeaTac airport.

“Harold, how many troops did our new friends, say they were sending?”

“Nanny, I think they said something around 15,000, they kept saying we needed to have a strong enough force to keep Brownstone uneasy and also provide security for our people.”

“Isn’t 15,000 more than we need?”

“I never served in the military; I have to rely on those who know these things, if they say 15,000 is what we need, then I have to believe them.”

“If you say so. I don’t understand why they had to bring so many of those tanks with them. They’re going to add so much pollution.”

“Nanny, I’ll talk to them to see if they can just park the tanks someplace and leave them.”

“Please tell them to leave the San Francisco area. My people are peaceful; loving people weapons scare my people; I don’t want to scare those who elected me to serve them.”

“I’ll see what I can work out with them. We discussed splitting up their flights so as to spread out their forces. We picked three airports, LAX, SFO and SeaTac. Nanny, you were the one who proposed SFO. Something about bringing much-needed revenue into the area.”

“I did; I thought they would arrive in normal planes and use the shops and restaurants in the airport. With the decline of air flights, the poor working in the airport has seen their incomes drop. I thought using SFO would help the small shops in the airport. I went there and promised them thousands of people would be using the airport. Many shops increased their inventory waiting for the planes to arrive. But they didn’t use the terminal; they landed and directly unloaded their own equipment and trucks. They’re not buying anything in the airport; they’re not eating in the restaurants, and they’re not renting cars. Nothing I promised the people at the airport is happening, they’re going to hold this against me.”

“Nanny, I’ll talk to their commander to see what I can arrange.”

@@@@@

“Mr. President, troops from Cuba and Venezuela, are landing at LAX, SFO, and SeaTac. Here are images sent from LAX. Sir, they have equipment we haven’t seen before. Everything looks brand new.”

“How many have arrived?”

“Sir looks at the image of the people in front of the hanger; those are clearly Russian troops, look at their uniforms. Our best estimate is 5,000 if the flights continue at their current rate they’ll have in excess of 15,000 troops on the West Coast in three days.”

“Too many for the police force. I think the SEAL’s are correct, this the beginning of an invasion force. Call the national security group together, we need to create a clear set of plans when they begin breaking out of the LSA.”

“Sir, our best estimate is their first target is going to be San Diego.”

“I’ll call Admiral Zander.”

“Admiral, this is the President, I assume you’ve seen the images from LAX?”

“Yes sir, I’ve notified the Mayor of San Diego and General Jackson at Pendleton. The Marines are digging in preparing a warm welcome for our guests. The Mayor is preparing the citizens of San Diego; the Navy is flushing as many ships to sea as possible. They’ll be able to provide support, the Marines, and Air Force are prepping to generate as many fighters into the air as possible. We have sent them all of the parts they’ve asked for. Sir, should we start moving people out of the city?”

“Admiral, I think it would be a good idea to move people away from our military bases, I’m sure they’re going to be one of their first targets.”

“Mr. President, I agree, I’ll get on the horn with the Mayor right away.”

“Admiral, you have enough to do, I’ll call him. I want you to stop any attack on Sand Diego and also capture some of their new equipment so we can learn what new capabilities these weapons and armor have. Admiral see if you can get some of the SOF boys to sneak into their camp and grab one of their new rifles and body armor.”

“Yes sir, good idea, I’ll get right on it.”

@@@@@

On the sixth day of the blackout New York City is tearing itself apart, people are hungry, cold and thirsty. Every store that may have had food, water and alcohol have been stripped bare. Gangs and flash mobs numbering in the thousands swarm into homes and apartments looking for food. The remains of NYPD have been hired by the wealthy to keep the gangs out of the Upper East Side. New York City received 27 inches of snow, with the sanitation department on strike, the streets resemble the arctic. People are getting around with cross country skies. A ladder company from New York’s fire department sets out to find out why the power is out, they have to travel nine miles to closest of the electrical plants. The two fire trucks set out from their station in Midtown, with chains on the truck’s tires. People along the truck’s route hearing them think help is coming, they run out of their apartments trying to get the attention of the Fire Trucks. Many run into the street waving their arms to stop the trucks. The Fire Department originally thought the trip would take them no more than two hours, with the trucks being stopped every few yards; they change their ETA from hours to days.

@@@@@

President Obsma has slide into the life of the homeless, he sleeps in the tunnel at night and begs or does odd jobs for food during the day, unwashed and unshaved he no longer resembles the man he once was. He stays warm by wrapping any clothing he can around himself. He and Janice have become friends; they do everything together. People look at him and think they know him from someplace; some think he looks a little like President Obsma. No one puts one and one together to get two. His security detail is still searching the city for him. The lack of electricity and the deep snow slow their search to a crawl. They're looking on the east side of the city while he and Janice are on the west side. Obsma doesn’t know where he is or where he is, but he’s happy in this simple life.

@@@@@

Screams and gunshots echo off of the walls of the mall. I don’t know which direction the gang went. If I guess wrong, I’ll be walking into their line of fire. Laying down, I creep on my stomach to the end of the entrance hallway. I peek around the corner. I don’t see anything to the right, moving to the left. I see the reflection in a store window of muzzle flashes, the AKs sound is echoing to the point I can’t use it to figure how far they may be. If the window is reflecting the flashes, they must be pretty close. I continue to crawl like a snake, hopefully presenting a very small target as I make my way to the left.

Voices, speaking Spanish, laughing followed by a woman screaming, this must be the right direction. I pass four bodies, all with multiple bullet wounds. From the bullet holes in the mall’s walls, it looks like the gang “sprayed and prayed.” They swept the aisle of the mall on full auto. BANG BANG BANGGGGGGG. More shooting, Wait, I see movement, I lay behind a bench, raise my AR, yup I see two of them, try to calm myself, aim and fire two quick shots, one is wounded, and I’m pretty sure the other one is dead. I hit him in his chest.

BANG BANG BANG, they’re returning fire, thank God they haven’t seen me. All of their shots are high and to my right. I think they’re firing in the hope they hit someone. The only benefit their shooting is having for them is I don’t want to move and call attention to myself. I have to wait for them to move on or help to arrive.

Three minutes pass without any more shots being fired, I hear sirens, all of the local police must be arriving. I really hope Ron passed my message about the color of my T-shirt along or the Calvary is going to arrive and shoot me.

Chapter 28

“Sarge, you sure you can trust these kids?”

“Yes, when I was younger I was one of them, I’ll show them my tattoo. If we’re going to sneak into one of the armed camps, we’re going to need help. The local gangs have feet on the street; they know what the layout of our friend’s camp and they’ll know the soldier's schedule. They’ll know their comings and goings. Trust me on this one.”

Three young men approach the Marines who are standing in the dark on the side of an office building; this was the agreed upon meeting location.

“Homeboy don’t you look spiffy being all you can be.”

“Asshole, that’s the Army; I’m one of the “Few and the Proud” I work for a living, I’m a Marine.”

“Whatever, both green to me. What’s you want from us?”

“We need your help.”

“Help, what’s you got to pay for our help?”

“What do you want?”

“Food and a couple of your rifles and the bullets.”

“I think we can work out a deal, we want access to one of the Cuban’s camps.”

“We can do that; a few of our ladies work there. Why you want to get into their camp?”

“We need to borrow something from them.”

“Don’t go ruining it for us. We got us a good thing going with them Cubans. We trade with them.”

“Swear, no harm will come to you.”

“Cool. We’ll go now, about a mile to one of their camps.”

The gang leads the Marine squad through the alleys and shadows of LA; they’re about to round a corner when the gang leader holds his hand up. “Wait here, their camp is around the building to our right. They took over the parking garage.”

“Thanks, we can take it from here.”

“Don’t go ruining my gig now, remember you gave me your word.”

“My word’s good bro, thanks.”

The Marine force recon squad stays in the shadows against the office building wall, they hear footsteps and talking, the sergeant holds his right hand up; the squad stops in mid-step. The voices pass the Marine’s inch forward. A Cuban guard is walking their way, the sergeant decides to change their mission when the Cuban gets close the sergeant knocks him out. The Marines tie and strip him of his uniform, helmet, rifle, everything. They leave him in his underwear arms and legs tied together in zip ties and gagged with gray duct tape wrapped around his head.

The sergeant says, “We got what we came for, let’s slip away and go home.”

@@@@@

“Mr. President, General Jackson and Admiral Zander are on the phone.”

“Gentlemen, what can I do for you?”

The General begins, “Mr. President, one of our recon teams returned a few hours ago with a complete Cuban soldier’s uniform, armor, helmet, hell, sir they got everything except for his shorts.”

“General, that’s good news, I can hear the other shoe ready to drop, so tell me what’s the bad news?”

“Mr. President, the short answer is, their new armor stops our bullets. Even our so called penetrators don’t break their armor. It’s a combination of ceramic, metal and plastic. It’s something new. Lighter than ours, and much stronger. We tested their rifle against our standard body armor; their new rounds will breach our armor.”

“You’re telling me our bullets won’t penetrate their armor, and theirs will penetrate ours?”

“Yes sir, that’s it in a nutshell. Our boys are screwed.”

“General, will their bullets penetrate their new body armor?”

“Mr. President, that’s a very good questions, let us run a quick test, we’ll get back to you in a few minutes.”

“General, also see if multiple hits on their armor make any difference. See if our old M14s and M1s breach their armor.”

“Sir will do.”

Ted Cruize, who was listening, turns to face the President, “Is this as bad as it sounds? And if it is, how did they get so far ahead of us?”

“I’m willing to bet that while we got bogged down in the sandbox, Puten learned lessons from what we were doing. He spent Russia’s oil money on reequipping the Russian army while we played at nation building and bought thousands of MRAPs, most of which got left behind since we didn’t know what to do with them here. Ted, this is very bad, they can kill our boys and our boys will only be able to wound them by shooting them in the legs under their armor or killing them with a face shot. While they’ll be able to kill our boys with ease.”

“What’ll we do?”

If their own rifles defeat their armor, the quickest plan may be to steal their rifles, if they won’t penetrate their armor, then we need to copy their formula real quick and in the mean time we need to steal as many sets of their armor as possible.”

“Neither sound easy.”

“That’s because neither is.”

@@@@@

I don’t want to move for fear of being shot by the good guys coming up behind me. “Don’t move asshole. Don’t even think about it. If you do, you’re dead. Push your weapon away from you and put your hands up, and then turn around and slowly stand up, got it?”

“I got it; I’m not one of the bad guys; I came to help stop them. I’m…”

“If I wanted you to talk, I’d have told you to. Shut up before I shoot you.”

“Two of you search him, cuff him and bring him outside.”

I’m grabbed by two large guys dressed in all black with SWAT printed on their backs. They pull my arms behind my back, zip tying my wrists together. I’m dragged outside; a third officer is carrying my AR.

“We caught one.”

Four men wearing blue jackets with FBI printed on back in large yellow letters grab me saying, “I can’t wait to make you talk.”

“I’d be happy to talk right now. My wallet is in my right-hand rear pocket; I live across the street.”

An FBI agent grabs my wallet, looking at my driver’s license he says, “Why did you join the terrorists? Where were you trained? Who’s your commander? What are your plans?”

“Hey guys, my name is Brad, I’m a good guy, I saw the mob arrive, check my phone, I called one of you, I called in the 911 call. I admit to firing my AR, I killed four of the sons of bitches.”

Then-FBI Special Agent in Charge takes my cell, he reviews the numbers and times I placed calls, he’s right; he called a local police officer, the time stamp on his 911 call matches the first call that came in. He turns to look into my eyes, “Asshole, mind telling me if your middle name is Rambo? Why the fuck did you run into the mall looking for trouble? Why didn’t you do what you were told to? Stay outside and report? You think you’re some kind of hero?”

“Agent, I saw them arrive, I’d been tipped off last night they might come today, I had the means to stop a few of them, and so I did. Is that a crime?”

“It used to be, but no longer. Your story matches, plus I have a report from one of the local police officers describing you to a T, telling us you most likely went into the mall after the terrorists. Brad that was a really brave and a really dumb thing to do. You might have gotten yourself killed in the process.”

“Special agent, I had to do something, the people in the mall were sitting ducks.”

“You’re very lucky you didn’t get yourself killed. Never, I repeat never go into a situation like that again. It’s a miracle my people didn’t shoot you, or you didn’t get shot by the mob.”

“How many innocents got killed?”

“We don’t know yet; our people are still searching the mall, so far we’ve found the four mob members you killed, and 91 we shot. There are bodies’ all over the mall. It appears they split up, some going to each level shooting everyone they encountered. Frankly it’s a mess inside.”

“By the way, would you mind cutting my zip ties off?”

“Cut him loose, just don’t let him get away, someone is on their way here who wants to speak with him.”

@@@@@

Tuesday, January 12, 2016, is a black day for America; twelve shopping malls are attacked by terrorists hired by the LSA, the attacks killed 562 people and wounded 374. Had they attacked on a weekend the death toll would have been much higher. One group got lost; they couldn’t find a shopping mall, so they attacked a high school where they killed 92 teenagers and ten teachers. The LSA wasn’t as interested in the number killed as they were in making sure the public’s perception of their security was nil. Their goal was to harm the economy, which they succeeded in doing. People stop going to enclosed locations where they have no escape. Shopping malls sales drop like a lead balloon. Retail workers are laid off by the thousands. Delivery services are in lower demand, so they lay off drivers and warehouse staff. Restaurants that located themselves close to shopping malls hoping to capture the shoppers going in or out of the mall realize that no shoppers equal a large drop off in hungry people to visit their locations. Thousands of additional people are laid off.

President Brownstone and Steve Forbas meet in the Oval Office to discuss the situation, “Mr. President the LSA succeeded in harming our economy and making our people afraid to go out. Many have stopped taking their children to school; many have stayed home from work and of course tens of thousands have been laid off.”

“Steve, this is an unacceptable situation. Let’s see if Ted can join us.”

The President asks his Vice President if he can join the discussion; shortly Ted joins them in the Oval Office.

“Ted, thanks for joining us, I assume you’re up to date on the situation.”

“Yes, sir.”

“I’d like your thoughts on some ideas I have, I think the best way to protect our kids in school is to hire off-duty police officers, retired police officers and retired military to guard the schools; these people are all trained in the use of weapons, they all have knowledge how to respond. I suggest we hire at least one per school. We’ll hire enough guards to make sure no one can ever break into the school and kill our children again.”

Ted says, “Sir, some parents won’t like the idea of armed guards at their children’s schools.”

“Ted, the only way to stop a bad person with a gun is a good man with a gun. The parents who object are going to have to accept armed security if they want their children secure. I agree this isn’t the optimum solution, it’s the only one I think we can implement quickly and show we’re serious about protecting our children. Shopping malls are more difficult; they are much larger, and they have more doors to guard. It would be very expensive to post guards at every door. I really don’t know what to do.”

Ted looks at the ceiling of the room; he turns to look at the President, “Sir, I do have one outlandish idea, before I say it, realize it is out there.”

Both the President and the Secretary of the Treasury respond, “Well do tell, we’re all ears.”

“Sir, why not simply allow open carry across the country? People who own handguns will carry them if someone tries to attack a mall again they’ll be met with armed citizens.”

Steve looks worried, responding, “Ted, you’re proposing turning the country into the Wild West aren’t you?”

“Steve, did you ever read any science fiction?”

“Of course, why?”

“Ever read any Robert A. Heinlein? He wrote, “an armed society is a polite society." It really is. Those areas where people typically open carry have very low crime rates. I suggest we rescind rules against open carry.”

The President smiles saying, “Ted, I like it, I think this can work. Let’s get Rash in and check his thought on it.”

Rash joins the meeting, after being told the plan he smiles responding, “I can’t wait to announce this, I’m betting we might have a couple of the reporters in the room fall over onto the floor. I better alert the local EMTs.”

Everyone in the room laughs.

Steve says, “I’ll notify the medical staff to be standing by.”

Rash smiles, “You better do that.”

“Rash, this is a very serious situation, please handle it as such.”

“Mr. President don’t worry I will.”

@@@@@

Even though my wrists have been untied, I’m not lonely. An FBI agent has been assigned as my babysitter.  He stands next to me. If I take a step to the left, so does he. Ten minutes later a Sterling police car pulls up, the passenger side door opens, out jogs Ron wearing body armor. “Hey Ron, over here.”

Ron jogs over, he yells back, “asshole, be patient.”

Ron chats with the FBI Special Agent in Charge, before he walks over to me saying, “I don’t know whether to hug you or arrest you.”

“What’d I do?”

“You’re a moron; you could have gotten yourself killed, I told you not to enter the mall.”

“Ron, I had to do something.”

“You did good, the FBI confirms you got four of them, you’ve got to be very careful because a few of the agents are still thinking of arresting you.”

“Arresting me? For what?”

“Murder one.”

“What the fuck? I killed terrorists.”

“And you went home to get your rifle, you planned on killing them, …”

“But I….”

“Don’t say anything, if you do, you might end up arrested.”

“Then why was I released?”

“Who said you were released, I asked them to remove the zip ties, you can’t leave, you have a shadow.”

“Yea, I know the big guy right there.”

“Yup, he’s the one.”

“Do you know what they’re going to do with me?”

“I think I can get you released to me. Brad, you can be a real pain in the ass. You’re causing me to spend hours filling out paperwork, and you know how much I hate paperwork.”

“OK, I owe you one.”

“Old buddy, it’s going to take more than one this time.”

“Hey, do I get my AR back?”

“Yes, but not right now.”

“Hey, that’s my best one.”

“Brad, just shut up, you’ll get it back in about a year.”

“Ron, …”

“Just shut up and I’ll see if I can you released.”

“OK.”

@@@@@

Two days after starting their journey to the power generating plant, the New York Fire Department truck finally pulls up at the front gate of the electrical plant. The crew is shocked to see a party going on; lights are on, people wearing an unusual ID around their necks are coming and going through the gate. An armed guard comes out to meet the fire truck. “ID, please.”

“What do you mean ID?”

“You need a red lined ID to enter, this is a power plant, and it’s dangerous in here.”

“We’re the New York City Fire Department.”

“So what, we don’t have a fire, no one reported a fire here.”

“If you have electricity why doesn’t the rest of the city?”

“You’ll have to talk with the manager.”

“Where is he?”

“Office on top of the plant. I’ll let you in without a pass this one time.”

The first fire truck slowly pulls into the parking lot, the second stays outside the gate. The crew is amazed to see a line of sculptured snow women lining the parking lot. Each is realistic and six feet tall. “What the hell?”

“Someone is a real artist, wonder whom they modeled it on.”

Exiting the truck the five men enter the power plant. They hear the turbines spinning their sergeant asks, “What the hell is going on? The plants running, where’s the power going?”

“Have no idea, this place looks party central. People are walking around here drunk, carrying bottles. Music is so loud I can barely hear myself think.”

“Hey firefighters, over here!”

They look up to see a man in a dark suit leaning over the railing.

The firemen walk upstairs where they meet the manager of the plant.

“Hi, I’m the manager, Mr. Paul Sutton, welcome. Are you here to address my letter?”

“Letter? What letter? We’re here to find out why the city is without power and what we can do to turn it back on.”

“That’s easy, come in, have a seat, would you like something to drink? Coffee, water, beer?”

The leader of the firemen looks around the office, “Mr. Sutton, if you’re generating power why doesn’t the city have any? Thousands are dying without heat or water.”

“Then why hasn’t the mayor responded to our letter?”

“On Christmas when President Obsma announced the formation of the LSA all of the staff at the city’s power plants got together, we formed our own union. We sent a demand letter to the Mayor listing our demands with the comment we would cut off power at 12: 01 AM January 1 if an agreement wasn’t reached. On December 28 we sent a follow-up letter, on New Year’s Eve having not received any response we followed through on our promise, we cut the flow of power. What would you do if the city ignored your union?”

“I wasn’t aware you sent any demands to the Mayor. Did you get any response of any sort?”

“Not a peep.”

“What are you doing with your power now?”

“On January 2nd we signed a contract with the USA to sell them all of the power we generate. We’re getting paid in gold; we’re all rich!”

“Doesn’t the city own Con Edison?”

“Nope, Con Edison is a private company. They moved their HQ to New York State on December 24. Corporate informed us we could sell our electricity to wherever we got the best price; we pay a percent to corporate since we’re located in the city. Since the mayor didn’t answer, we were free to sell to the highest bidder who turned out to be the USA. Did we tell you they pay us in gold?”

“Don’t you feel bad that thousands are dying without electrical power?”

“It must not have been important enough for the mayor who didn’t respond to our requests.”

“We’ll contact him and get back to you really quickly.”

The fire department leaves the plant shaking their heads. “What the fuck? We’re sent here to see if we can get the power turned on only to discover it’s on, but the mayor didn’t contact them? I don’t think this is going to turn out very good for us.”

“Me either, I know the Mayor doesn’t like bad news and he doesn’t treat the bearers of bad news well. I know I should have packed up and left.”

“Why did you stay?”

“Kids, wife wanted to keep the kids in the same school so they could be with their friends.”

“Me too, Maybe I can get the wife to change her mind.”

“I’m going to try to change my wife’s too. This is going to be a mess, what’s the mayor going to do?”

“He might send the NYPD to take control the plants.”

“He’d be confiscating private property.”

“He won’t care; he’s a commie, bet you a case of beer that’s what he does.”

“No bet, if he does I bet Con Ed asks the American government for help, this is going to get sticky.”

@@@@@

“Brad, I got you released to my care, you have to promise me you’ll stay out of trouble for a while.”

“Can you define ‘a while’?”

“Until I say so.”

“Knowing you that can be a very long time.”

“Just do it, there’s some in the FBI, who still want to charge you with murder. Thank God the new Secretary of Homeland Security thinks you’re a hero, he forced the FBI to drop any charges against you.”

“I did kill four terrorists.”

“And almost got yourself killed.”

“What’s next?”

“All kidding aside, you got brass balls, I’m proud of you. Right now I’m taking you home where I’d like you to stay for a couple of days.”

“OK, I guess I don’t have a say or choice do I?”

“Nope. We’re expecting more attacks, do me a favor and stay home with Kathy.”

“Ron, if I didn’t say it before, thanks for saving my ass from the feds.”

“You owe me one.”

@@@@@

Mayor DeFarco replies to the fire department crew, “Let me see if I understand this; the Con Edison manager sold his power to the USA? While he’s in my city? Well, damn him, I’ll get the NYPD to kick his ass out of there and we’ll have power again.”

One fireman leaned over whispering, “told you so, you owe me a case of beer.”

“Mr. Mayor, did you receive their demands?” Asks the Fire Department Chief.

“What difference does it make, I’m the mayor of the LSA’s largest city, I run this city. They will do as I say. Give me all of the information you have, and then I’ll get SWAT to take them out for crimes against humanity.”

The fire chief says, “Mr. Mayor, they’re not committing any crimes, they simply sold their electric power elsewhere.”

“Just follow your orders, or you’ll find yourself without a job. I want you to escort SWAT back to the station, they know you; they’ll let you in; then SWAT will capture them turning power on to the city.”

@@@@@

“Mr. President, you have a call from the Chairman of Con Edison, he’s a major contributor to the party plus he’s saying it’s a matter of national security.”

“Why is he calling me? What’s his name and what line is he on?”

“Frank Clearson, line two.”

“Mr. Clearson what can I do for you?”

“Mr. President, thank you for taking my call, I realize it must be unusual for the chairman of a private company to call the President saying it’s a matter of national security.”

“Mr. Clearson, you’re correct; I’m sorry; my time is very short, could you, please give me the condensed version of the national security issue?”

“Mr. President, the LSA in the person Mayor DeFarco has invaded and taken possession of five of our power plants.”

“How is this a national security issue?”

“Because those plants were generating electrical power for the US.”

“Now I understand, do you have any details?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Mr. Clearson, did you turn off the power in New York City?”

“Mr. President, the answer to your question is yes and no, yes in that our plants that supply electrical power to New York City stopped supplying power because the employees at the plants formed a union, they sent a demand to New York City’s mayor who didn’t respond. When the mayor didn’t respond the employees asked us if we’d meet their demands, we agreed to their requests. They returned management of the plants to us; we sold the power to your grid. Hence, the yes we did stop supplying power and no we didn’t.”

“Sounds to me like there’s no, no there, just a yes.”

I don’t care what the demands were, do you realize you’ve contributed to the deaths of thousands?”

“Mr. President how? We sold our product to a customer who offered to pay a higher price nothing more. In fact, America is getting the benefit of that sale.”

“Mr. Clearson, we can discuss your company’s role in the deaths later, right now I suggest you turn the power on to the city.”

“Mr. President are you as America’s CEO canceling our contract? Are you accepting the cancelation clause?”

“I need to see the contract. Please send it to me, I’ll have the AG review it.”

“Mr. President, what’s your email address?”

After hanging up the phone, Brownstone calls his Secretary of Energy, “John do you know anything about a contract with Con Edison to supply us with electrical power?”

“Yes sir, we were contacted just before New Years by Con Edison’s chairman. He offered to sell us electricity at a very good rate for four years.”

“Was there a cancelation clause?”

“Yes, a rather unusual one, if we canceled for any reason within the first year we had to pay the entire four-year contract off in full within 60 days.”

“Did you happen to check where the plants were located that were generating the energy you purchased?”

“No, is there a problem?”

“Yes, the plants are located in New York City, the blackout is because we purchased New York’s electricity.”

“Oh shit.”

“That’s an understatement, I think you should send me your resignation.”

“Sir?”

“You heard me; you screwed up, and you knew my rules when you signed on.”

@@@@@

Acting President Reid of the LSA calls President Puten, “Mr. President, the LSA thanks you for your support. I’m calling to give you a heads up. We have a spy in Brownstone’s administration who informed us the American’s are planning on attacking the Russian army before you can cross into Germany.”

“Mr. Reid, thank you. I believe the term is, I owe you one.”

Chapter 29

“Harold we’re in for serious trouble.”

“Nanny, what are you talking about? Everything is moving ahead very nicely.”

“Have you seen the budget projections? The accounting group we hired to review our five-year budget has reported we’re in deep trouble. We’re going to be running trillion plus dollar deficits forever.”

“Yes, I read their report. However, I don’t understand how they came to their conclusion. We have no military cost; we have no foreign aid. Frankly I don’t understand how they can think we’re going to run these deficits.”

“They said our health care and welfare costs will skyrocket. Their analysis says because the population is aging quickly our healthcare costs are going to break our projections. In addition, they assume we will be running very high unemployment rate due to us giving people the chance of not working so they can go after their dreams of being an artist while we support them. Their report says as more companies leave the LSA our unemployment expenses will increase due to our increased costs to support the newly created unemployed.”

“I did see their projections, to summarize the problem; we have too many elderly unproductive people and we have too many companies leaving the LSA, correct?”

“That’s correct; we need to pass a law stopping companies from leaving.”

“Nanny that never works, we saw the proof of that from Obsma’s failed executive orders.”

“What do you suggest?”

“I think we have to look into nationalizing our industries.”

“All of them?”

“Yes, all of them, we’re run everything; everyone will work for us; no one can strike without our permission, we’ll own every factory, we’ll be able to control what they make, no more useless products, no more products that damage the environment. I’ve been thinking of issuing both an LSA minimum and also a maximum wage. The maximum will be capped at 20 times the minimum wage. Hence, the lowest paid will earn $25,000, and the highest capped at $500,000. No one needs to earn more than $500,000 a year. No one will need the excuse of needing more to start a new company if we the government own all of the industries. This’ll ensure everyone in the LSA is well off and also lower our costs and enable us to control the economy.”

“What about the elderly and their impact on our healthcare budget?”

“What do you think about offering them incentives to move to the USA, if they won’t move we’ll move them across the border. Let the USA deal with them. As they age the formula within the healthcare law already lowers their care as they age becoming less productive, in time our aged will die before they negatively impact our cost models.”

“I like it; Brownstone will accept them without question. As he takes them off our hands, our expenses will stabilize. When should we start?”

“As soon as a new census is completed.”

@@@@@

The national evening news programs’ sound bites are;

“President Brownstone allows terrorists to kill American citizens.”

“12 shopping malls attacked; hundreds killed. The administration does nothing.”

“FBI arrests local terrorist who attacks shoppers in Sterling, Virgina.”

“New York City enters the tenth day without power, tens of thousands dead, President Brownstone does nothing to help.”

@@@@@

“Mr. President, the Secretary of Homeland Security, is online one.”

“Alvin what’s up?”

“Mr. President, I have some very bad news, two truck bombs exploded on the seven-mile bridge in Florida. Two large sections of the bridge collapsed, twenty are dead, sir, the Florida Keys are now cut off from the rest of the country. Sir, within an hour of the seven-mile bridge bombing three bridges over the Mississippi River, were also blown up by truck bombs.”

“Alvin, who is it?”

“Sir, our best guess and so far it’s only a guess, is the LSAs behind the bombings.”

“Why? We let them go. Why are they attacking us?”

“Mr. President, our best guess is they want to keep us off balance, so their allies build up sufficient forces to attack us. By attacking us across the country, they make us spread our forces thin trying to protect against the next attack.”

“How large is the international socialist force in the LSA?”

“Sir, our best estimates are 15,000. They’re based in LA at the Pomona Fairgrounds, in Seattle at SeaTac and the Boeing facility which was their first target in the North West. They’re also starting to move into the remains of Fort Lewis.

“What are the estimates of their timetable and what are their expected initial targets?”

“Sir, I think you need to have that discussion with John over at defense. Our estimate is driven from them.”

“Alvin, I get it, you don’t want to step on John’s toes that is good, why don’t you pick him up and both stop by for dinner and discussion?”

“Sir, 1900 hours?”

“See you then.”

@@@@@

“Colonel Aguilar you have a call on a secure line.”

“Gracias.”

“Hola, Colonel Aguilar here, authorization code ventana alpha fuego quartro”

“Si Colonel, please hold for one moment, the Presidente wants to speak with you.”

“Colonel, this is President Puten.”

“Yes sir, what can I do for you?”

“Colonel are all of your troops settled and ready for action?”

“Si Mr. Presidente.”

“Good, code word, rojo”

“Si, I repeat, code word rojo.”

Colonel Aguilar hands the phone to the radio supervisor as he turns to leave the radio trailer; he calls over his shoulder, “tell the three captains to meet me in my trailer in ten minutes.”

“Si Coronel.”

Ten minutes later three captains stand at attention in front of the Colonel.

“Our initial mission has been authorized; we are to take over the US base at Maelstrom, this is a strategic weapons base. We are to capture the base and secure all of the special weapons. In your packages is a diagram of the base.”

“Coronel, how do we get access to the silos?”

“Our source in the American military will be providing us the codes.”

@@@@@

“Harold, Mayor DeFarco is on line two.”

“Mr. Mayor have you discovered why your city lost power?”

“Yes Mr. Acting President, Con Edison sold the power at a higher price to the USA.”

“What do you want me to do about it?”

“I want you to nationalize the power plants within my city.”

“I don’t think we can nationalize only a couple of plants if we’re going to do it, we’re going to have to nationalize all of them.”

“I don’t see the problem, what’s keeping you from signing the executive order. There’re millions of people suffering and dying in my city. It’s been ten days without power; I have people eating snow for drinking water. You have to act so I can send the NYPD to switch the power over to the city.”

“You might have something here, by nationalizing the power generating plants we control the power; we can cut it off to those who don’t support us. I’ll see how long it’ll take to create the legal forms to absorb them.”

Four hours later, the LSA announces it’s nationalized all of the countries electrical power generating facilities in order to ensure everyone has access to electrical power. Acting President Reid issues a press release stating he took this action to ensure the poor and cold have power when they most need it. He pointed to the blackout in New York City as an example of corporate greed that has no place in the people’s country of the LSA.

NYPD SWAT units take over the Con Edison plants switching the power from America to New York City. The people in the city are overjoyed when the lights go on. Within an hour the sanitation department starts clearing the streets, they uncover hundreds of dead bodies that froze while looking for shelter. The clearing has to stop each time a body is uncovered until the medical examiner and coroner arrives to take pictures and pick up the bodies.

Mayor Defarco issues orders that in the public interests to clear the streets, there’s an urgent need to accelerate the street clearing by the sanitation department. He orders the sanitation department to push the bodies to the side of the streets and continue with the street cleaning, they’re instructed to call in the location of the bodies so they can be collected by the medical examiner.

With electrical power restored and the street clearing in process the Mayor and his staff start inspecting their damaged city. Tens of thousands of homes are destroyed, over a million are now homeless, and many have broken into office buildings to find temporary shelter. Without electrical power, toilets ceased functioning, piles of human waste line the sidewalks. People have been catching stray pets and large rats which they cook over fires made from furniture dragged out of offices and homes. With the power restored water once again begins flowing, fresh water flows out of millions of feet burst water pipes causing flooding in apartments, office buildings and under the street. The head of the city’s water department tells the Mayor they have to turn off the flow of fresh water in order to protect their supply, most of the water flowing into the city is pouring out of the broken pipes. The Mayor has no choice but to authorize stopping the flow of fresh water into his city.

The temperature on January 11th rises above freezing in the North East; the snow begins to melt, causing additional flooding. Thousands are sick from drinking dirty water further overloading the city’s emergency medical staff and filling the already full hospitals.

Everywhere the Mayor looks he sees the destruction, suffering, and illness. He doesn’t know how to respond, he’s never faced a situation like this; he doesn’t know what to do first, he begins yelling at his staff and firing any who question him. By 7:00 PM, New York City's departments, are being operated by fourth and fifth ranking people, many who’ve never managed a group more than twenty people. The city is imploding, the police can’t stop the crime; they no longer even respond to most calls,

At 9:00 PM, 107 citizens on Park Avenue have had enough, they’ve seen the city can’t provide them with security, or even the necessities like fresh water, they’ve been attacked eight times by different gangs. They’ve had enough; they arm themselves with bats, metal pipes and two small handguns they took off of dead gang members. Fires are lit around their group for light and warmth. Their leader who used to be a banker tells his neighbors, “Enough of this shit, next gang who tries to take what’s ours I’m killing. Who’s with me?” Everyone yells “I am.” The banker tells his neighbors to drag over debris to form a makeshift wall giving them some protection from roving gangs. At midnight, a gang and the citizens fight a pitched battle. The sun rises the next day showing 22 dead bodies on the street. NYPD arrives at the corner at 10: 30 AM, the sergeant, looks at the bodies, the bandaged people huddling around campfires, and he asks, “Who’s in charge of this mess?”

The banker steps forward saying, “I am.”

“I don’t know if I should arrest you or give you a metal, so tell you what, I didn’t see anything, get rid of these bodies before anyone else sees them. I have two cases of bottled water I can give you, sorry I have no food left.”

“Thanks, any idea when things will return to normal around here?”

“I wish I did, I’m not sure this isn’t going to be the new normal.”

“I wish we were armed.”

“I understand, but I can’t arm you, the LSA doesn’t allow armed citizens.”

“Yea, I know, I think it’s time to pack up and move.”

“I might just join you. New York is worse than the cities I saw in the sandbox when I was in the service. There’s dead everywhere; tens of thousands of buildings burned, hell most of the city resembles Beirut.”

@@@@@

Closely following the snow plows and sanitation trucks are the Presidential security teams and the NYPD VIP protection detail, both are searching for President Obsma. On January 22nd they find him living in the tunnel. He doesn’t remember who he is, or what happened. A large area is cleared in front of the tunnel so a helicopter can land, picking up the President, transporting him to the Mount Sinai Medical Center. Three doctors are waiting outside on the heliport for him. They strap Obsma onto a stretcher taking him into the emergency room. The man they examine is fifteen pounds lighter, shaking, doesn’t remember who he is, he’s confused, thirsty and hungry. He asks, “Where’s Janice?”

One of the doctors asks, “Who’s Janice?”

“My friend, where I she?”

The doctor has no idea; he steps outside the room to speak with a police captain, “He’s asking for a Janice, was there a woman with him when he was found?”

“Doc, I don’t know, I’ll find out if there was should be bring her here?”

“Yes, it might make it easier for him to remember.”

“OK.”

The doctors determine the President has suffered a serious concussion and has memory loss. No one knows how long his amnesia will last. They admit him, clearing an entire wing of the hospital for his security.

Acting President Reid is informed President Obsma has been rescued, however, due to his head injuries Reid is going to have to remain in office a little longer.

“Nanny, they found him. However he can’t remember anything, not even who he is.”

“Harold, where is he?”

“Mount Sinai in New York City. I’m going to fly there to see him.”

“We’ll both go.”

“One of us should stay here to run the country, I’ll go, you stay as the acting VP.”

“Harold what happens if he doesn’t recover?”

“Then we can drop the acting from our titles.”

“That would be nice.”

Reid lands at the Martin Luther King Airport, he’s taken by helicopter to Mount Sinai. Meeting with the doctors, he learns no one knows when or even if President Obsma will regain his memory. The man in the bed doesn’t look like Obsma, he’s shaking; he has no idea who he is, and Reid is also told that he has aids.

Reid decides the best place for the President is a special recovery hospital outside of LA. He makes arrangements for the Obsma to be transported to a private hospital. A hospital he controls. Obsma will never be discharged from the hospital. He’ll be kept sedated for the rest of his life or until Reid decides a better use for him.

“Nanny I’m returning. I saw Obsma; the poor man is very ill, I’m having him transferred to that small private health care facility we spoke about. I know he’ll get the best treatment there; they’ll watch over him 24 hours a day. I called them to make sure they can take him under their care. They were full but assured me they’ll make room for him, they’ll put their best staff on his case.”

“Harold, I agree with you. You have such a big heart. When will you be returning?”

“This evening. I’ll see you when I land; I think we should inform the people we found him. I have a video of the poor man we’ll show to the people. I’m going to declare a national day of service in his honor. I’m going to ask everyone to work a day helping others for Obsma. He always was so keen on people volunteering their time.”

“That’s a wonderful idea. When the poor man passes, we’ll declare a national holiday in his honor.”

“Not too fast Nanny, we have to give the poor man time to recover, we’ll see how he’s doing in a couple of months.”

@@@@@

Reid addresses the LSA with the wonderful news their founder and President for life; Obsma has been found! He was located taking shelter in a tunnel. The bad news is he’s suffered a head injury and has lost his memory. Reid tells the nation Obsma has been admitted to a private recovery hospital outside of LA where he’ll get the best care the LSA can provide. In the interim He, Harold Reid is assuming the role of President with the support from Nanny Polsi. Reid promised to provide the nation monthly updates on their founder and loved President for life Obsma.

President Brownstone and Rash Linebacker Watch Reid’s address while he’s explaining the condition of the poor Obsma, Rash loses it, he laughs so hard he coughs up his coffee. The President looks over at Rash; Brownstone is laughing at Rash so hard he starts coughing. The Secret Service hears an uproar in the Oval Office they burst in ready for anything. They pull up in front of the two men who’re laughing and slapping each other on their backs. The senior agent in charge says, “Mr. President is everything OK?”

Still laughing, the President says, “Yes, yes, thank you. Rash, you OK?”

“Yes, I’m laughing, OK.”

“Sir, do you need anything?”

“We’re fine, thanks. Since you’re on duty outside the office, I guess you didn’t hear the latest out of the LSA.”

“No sir, did something happen? Did they find President Obsma?”

“Yes, they found him living in a tunnel in New York City, he’s lost all memory, he has no idea who he is or what happened. Acting President Harold Reid is having President Obsma sent to a private hospital in the hills outside of LA. You may recognize the name, the Silver Institute.”

“Sir, THE Silver Institute? The one, the CIA and FBI, used to stash people they wanted to make disappear?”

“The very same.”

“Now I understand what’s so funny. If you’ll excuse me, sir,” Trying to hold back laughing the senior agent in charge leaves the Oval Office closing the door behind him.

Rash tells the President, “Well I guess that’s the last we’ll see of Obsma. I wonder how long Reid will wait before the poor man passes.”

“Rash, issue a release expressing our hope for a speedy recovery.”

“Yes sir, I can’t wait to see the press’ faces.”

“Rash, let me ask you a question, do you think we should break President Obsma out of the rehab center? Let our doctor’s check him out?”

“Mr. President, if we did that I’m sure Reid will make up a story that we kidnaped Obsma; or we set up an actor to play the role of Obsma for political reasons. Even if President Obsma makes it, will anyone believe us?”

“Good point. I think we’ll let Reid handle Obsma.”

Chapter 30.

Now that Reid’s in total control of the LSA, the time is right for him to begin ‘political cleansing’ of the LSA. He decides to move quickly while he has the public’s full trust. His allies have supplied him with a military taking the pressure off of him worrying about an American invasion. Reid and his allies in the mainstream media begins a program to demonize formal religion. Reid knows that in order to have total control over his population he has to replace formal religion with the State. Reid recruits the media to assist, Hollywood makes movies that are based on the Bible but the stories are changed just enough to cast doubt on the stories. Movies that show God as an angry God. Movies that push the progressive points. Television shows follow the theme continuing to push Reid’s message.  Any group that doesn’t agree with the party line is demonized. Reid doesn’t think there’s going to be any problems taking the LSA to the next step. Reid issues a mandate to outlaw religious books and materials, these include Bibles, prayer books, and any religious materials, these are collected and burned in bonfires. Reid announces a contest for the LSA’s children, the ones who collect the most religious books are given awards. Those who refuse to turn over any of their religious materials are beaten, some are sent to re-education camps. Churches, temples, and Mosques are burned, sometimes with the congregation still inside of them. Schools begin teaching children that religion is the cause of most of the world’s wars; more people die following one God, or another than for any other reason. Schools teach the bible is a work of fiction. Children are taught to rely only on the State. Schools teach that the prayer doesn’t provide any help. They show movies from the Holocaust where millions prayed to no avail. They showed images of the killed and maimed in the name of God. Children who don’t accept the school’s message are brought up to the front of the room; they are asked to pray for help, the teacher then tells the other students to beat the student to show prayer doesn’t provide any help. It’s a message the children remember for a very long time.

The government supported gangs are bused town to town looking for any who don’t agree with the LSA’s progressive mantra. Anyone suspected of not fully supporting the progressive religion is dragged out of their homes, they’re beaten, their homes are ransacked, many are burned to the ground, women and girls are raped. Progressivism replaces religion in the LSA. Many who cling to their religion are sent to work camps where they are put to work on state projects such as manually building roads, cleaning up and rebuilding the burnt out inner cities where they’re attacked by people who think they’re against the LSA or cleaning up toxic waste, most don’t survive four years in the work programs. The children of the religious are taken away from their parents, the very young are given to foster parents while the teenagers are sent to re-education camps or sent to Cuba where they’re forced to join the socialist’s military.

The press fully supports the LSA’s plan; the press has been anti-religion for many years. The press can’t accept the concept of “Thou shall not lie” because the press usually doesn’t tell the truth.

People in the LSA aren’t all eager to give up their religious beliefs. Many grew up with deeply seated beliefs. Many know that morality comes from religion, the very concept of right and wrong comes from God. If God is removed, then there’s no right and wrong. Many families try to decide if this is a quick attack against organized religion or if this is the new national policy. They don’t know if they should try to move to the USA or wait the current situation out. Most have forgotten the Holocaust and the ethnic cleansing in central Europe. Many families assume this is just another headline grab by the current administration trying to distract people from rising food and fuel prices, and shortages that are beginning to show up across the LSA. Those that decide to leave the LSA are shocked to learn they owe and have to pay income tax based on the valuation of all of their possessions before they can move out of the LSA. The purchased value of their furniture, cars, even toys, everything is taxed as ordinary income. None can afford to leave unless they sell their possessions at a fraction of their real value. Even after selling everything most realize they are still short of the taxes due and now they own nothing. This ensures everyone moving into the USA is penniless becoming an instant drain on the government. People are faced with either losing everything they’ve spent their lives earning or staying and hiding their religious practices.

Some churches sponsor protest marches to demonstrate their displeasure with the new rules. One such march in Bloomfield New Jersey gains the support of many different churches and religions. 20,000 people march east on Bloomfield Ave until they reach the Garden State Parkway where they turn south on their way to Newark Airport. The march blocks the parkway forcing tens of thousands of cars to stop blocking the parkway for twenty miles. The march gains support as it passes every exit and entrance along the Parkway, by the time it reaches Newark Airport they are 50,000 strong. Waiting at exit for the airport are ten fire engines and 400 state and local police officers. The police plan to turn the high-pressure fire hoses on the march to break it up before they can reach the airport. The front line of the marchers sees the blockade waiting for them. Their leaders approach the police officers holding up a white T-shirt, “Officers, we are a peaceful group, none of us is armed with anything except for our faith, please allow us to continue to the terminal, once we reach the airport. We have some speakers who’ll address us, and then we promise we’ll peacefully disperse.”

“You’re in violation of many different laws; we’re asking you to disband and leave the parkway, or we’ll have to remove you. You don’t have a permit to march; you don’t have a permit to hold a parade, nor do you have a permit to close the parkway. You’re blocking traffic, your disputing business, and your group is disturbing the peace. We don’t want this to turn violent. Please turn around and tell your followers to disband and return to their homes.”

“We don’t need any permits; God is our permit, God is our light, and we follow only God’s laws. These new laws against religion are laws against God. We can’t accept them; we can’t honor them; we have to state our displeasure and protest of our government going against the will of our Lord.”

“No one is going against the will of the lord, these new rules were passed so that all religions would be treated equall. All may practice whatever they desire to in the privacy of their own homes; however, it’s not fair or equal if some churches are larger than others or have more than others. We are building a society based on all being equal.”

“All are equal in God’s eyes; we don’t require laws to force that which already exists.”

“I’m not going to stand here and debate you, every minute your people block the parkway millions of dollars are being lost, you must disband right now.”

“Officer, we’ll disband when we reach the main terminal at the airport.”

“If that’s your final word on the issue, then what comes next is on your head, you’ve put your people into danger. My hands are clean.”

“Someone else said similar words 2000 years ago. He was remembered for condemning Christ, are you condemning the 50,000 of us?”

“Don’t put words in my mouth, I didn’t say anything about condemning anyone, I told you, what happens next is on your head. Fire hoses ready, on my mark. Open the hoses.”

High-pressure water sprays out of the fire hoses knocking the front lines of people to the ground. Many in the mid pack sit and start chanting the 23rd psalm. People in the rear of the march start to bend around to come up behind the fire trucks and police. They surprise the police from behind; a couple of startled officers draw their sidearms and fire into the crowd. Not knowing who fired first, the other officers also open fire into the crowd in front and behind them. The lead officer shouts, “CEASE FIRING CEASE FIRING!”

When the smoke and water clear, 176 people lay dead on the exit ramp, 56 others are wounded. Sirens can be heard for miles around the exit as ambulances and additional police cars race to the exit.

@@@@@

The national evening news sound bites are;

“Thousands attack police and fire department trying to keep the peace.”

“Where was God today?”

“Today’s violent march shows the need for the governments new-anti religion laws.”

@@@@@

Muslims in Detroit refuse to accept the new rules, they put aside other issues to come together at the Joe Louis Arena, the crowd fills the arena. A radical Imam takes the stage; he tells them “Allah demands you refuse this law. You shall follow only the laws of Allah. Allah’s word is final; none can stand against the word or wishes of Allah.” The crowd chants “Allah Akbar!” After filling the crowd with revolution, the Imam sends the followers of Allah to show the government that Allah rules Detroit. The crowd grows to over one hundred thousand; they use tow trucks to drag disabled cars and trucks blocking the streets leading into Detroit. The announce Detroit is now a holy city and none who don’t follow the word of Allah may enter. They start dragging infidels out of the city taking over their belongings. Women are raped; men beaten as they dragged out of Detroit. The LSA flag is taken down over city hall; the green flag of Allah replaces it.

@@@@@

Reid and Nanny decide to increase the pressure on the USA while also lowering the LSA’s costs, they start sending the elderly and very ill across the border into America to lower the demands on the LSA’s already overextended health care network. Reid further sends teams of specially trained young people into the suburbs of America. These teenagers are “clean cut” they pass for the boy or girl next door except they are trained killers, trained to create terror and destroy the sense of peace most American’s feel in their community. Reid believes if the average American is scared and loses trust in the central government they’ll come running to the LSA with it’s strict anti-gun laws and national police force for protection.

Reid also puts out a call to all of the Obsma DHS agents; he offers all of them jobs and security from the FBI, who’s been tasked with hunting them down and bringing them to justice. Reid plans to form an LSA national police force with the ex-DHS agents at its core.

@@@@@

The wind driven rain strikes the bullet proof windows in the Oval Office, the day’s as dark as the President’s mood. “President Brownstone the situation in the LSA is becoming very serious, the marches in New Jersey was the largest, at last count there’s been over a thousand protest marches, with thousands dead with more than ten thousand wounded. Detroit has announced they’re now an independent country of Allah.”

“Alvin, are you suggesting we do something? The LSA is a separate country if we entered their area without permission, it'd be an invasion. None of their leaders has publically or privately requested our help. I think we have to sit this one out.”

“Sir, these people used to be our citizens.”

“Alvin, the keyword is used, they’re no longer our responsibility. There’s very little we can do.”

“Sir, we can smuggle in weapons.”

“Let me digest that one for a while, if we did they would have to be weapons not made here, not ones we normally use, otherwise we’ll be blamed for killing their people.”

“I’ll see what we have in storage we can send that won’t point back at us. Sir, what do you want to do about the people they're dropping off on our borders?”

“We can’t send them back if we did it would be to certain death. We’ll have to take them in. What’s the current situation with the terrorists the LSA sent to attack us?”

“We’ve either rounded most of them up or killed them; we snuck an informer into one of their groups who was able to hack one of their laptops. We can’t decrypt all of what we found, what we did discover is pretty scary. We learned enough to capture three groups on their way to attacking a college. We also intercepted one group in transit to attack a gun show.”

“That wouldn’t have been too smart. Where was the gun show?”

“Dulles expo center.”

“I know that show, hundreds of booths with thousands of guns. Since the LSA is trying to disrupt the daily lives of our citizens, I think it’s time I contact my friends, Anonymous, I’ll ask them to have some fun with the LSA’s networks.”

“Sir, I don’t pity them. John would like to join us to discuss the LSA’s military.”

“John, come in and join us, what information do you have?”

“Mr. President, Alvin, we’ve intercepted a call to a group in Seattle. Their orders are to attack Maelstrom Air Force base.”

“WHAT? That’s one of our strategic bases. B52s and Minute Man III missiles. When do they plan to attack, John are you ready to stop them?”

“Mr. President, we’ve reinforced the base security with Marines and twenty-four M1 tanks. We’ve mined the approach roads to the base and laid in some special surprises for them.”

“Who’s commanding our defenses?”

“Major Grover.”

“I’m sure he’ll have some very nasty surprises ready for them. I already feel better just knowing he’s in charge of our defenses.”

“How are you going to counter their armor?”

“We’ve done some experiments; 7.62 rounds penetrate their armor. We’ve issued M14s to the Marines and base security. The attacking troops will think we’ll be meeting them with M4s and M16s. It’s sure going to be a surprise for them.”

“Can we stop them before they reach the base?”

“It’s possible; we’re hoping we’ll intercept their travel plans.”

“John, I’ll leave it in your hands. I’ll ask if you can capture as many alive as possible and as much of their equipment as possible.”

“Yes sir, I’ll inform Major Grover.”

“Good, let’s take a five-minute break before we meet with the rest of the cabinet to discuss the conditions both here and in the LSA.”

After the break, President Brownstone, John Sessions, and Alvin West walk to the executive conference room where the rest of the cabinet waits.

Everyone stands when the President enters the conference room, “Be seated, be seated, let’s begin with State.”

“Mr. President, ladies, and gentlemen, the borders between us and the LSA have settled into a cold war, there’s heavy trading being done on the borders. The number of incursions by the LSA has been increasing, the number of elderly and ill dumped on our borders is also increasing. HHS will address that issue.

China has stopped any hostile actions after their conquest and absorption of Vietnam and Thailand. They’re in de facto control of Korea. Our trade with China is slowly increasing. They have stopped dumping dollars, in fact; they have offered to buy our bonds. They like our currency now that it’s backed by precious metals.

Russia is poised along the border with Germany. Their conquest of Poland went off without a hitch even without using the EMP or bioweapons. Sir, we believe the Russians have used a bioagent in Germany. More than 75% of the German military is ill, over 65% of the general population is also ill. This new flu-like illness came from nowhere. On Monday, no one was ill, on Wednesday more than half of the German population is sick.”

“Do we have any proof it was a bioagent?”

“We’ve sent some people to Germany to check blood samples. We should have a report in twelve hours. Sir, if it turns out to be a bioagent how should we respond?”

“Can we respond in kind?”

“Let me check and get back to you.”

“When do you think the Russians will cross the border?”

“Any time now. Most of the German army is sitting on their side of the border even though they're sick. The German armor is outnumbered 5 to 1. Their air force is outnumbered 20 to 1. The Germans aren’t going to last very long.”

“Sir, isn’t there anything we can loan the Germans to help them?”

“We might have a couple of assets that can help them; they have to ask us. That’s the way it works.”

@@@@@

President Puten agrees to the use of bio-weapons in Germany. The FSB sends infected people into Germany to ride trains, attend sports meets anywhere a large number of people gather the FSB tries to ensure they have a couple infected in attendance. The flu-like illness quickly spreads through Germany. People are hit with a high fever, coughing, vomiting, and inability to keep anything in their stomachs, blurred vision and dry mouth. Once infected the symptoms develop within 48 hours. The illness typically lasts five days; it leaves the ill weak for another three days. More than 80% of the German military comes down with as the media starts calling it, the Russian flu. When the majority of the German army is sick Russia crosses the border. They announce they are crossing the border to bring humanitarian aid to the suffering German people. Most don’t believe a word the Russian press release; however the release gives many pause which is all the Russians need.  Thousands of Russian tanks cross the border followed by APCs painted with a large cross on them.

@@@@@

“Honey it’s not that bad, at least you’re not in jail. Ron got you released from custody.”

“He did; I’m upset thinking some of the FBI agents want to arrest me for murder. I tried to save the shoppers; I tried to take down the terrorists, and they want to arrest ME? What happened to the FBI? Political correctness has gone way too far. I think some of the FBI agents should pack up and move to the LSA.”

“I’m sure they’re not that bad or they would have already moved.”

“Want to bet?”

“Same amount as usual?”

“Of course, if I lose I kiss you, if you lose, you kiss me.”

“It’s a bet, how will we determine who won?”

“Ask Ron about the agents.”

“Agreed. Why don’t you try to relax, you have to stay in the house until Ron says you can leave, you might as well chill. At least you don’t have to wear one of those ankle GPS devices. You wouldn’t even be able to walk your son. He’d be really pissed at you.”

“He knows I love him; he’d understand, I hope. Honey, I’m wondering how many other terror teams are out there, are we safe anywhere anymore?”

“Then they’ve won, they want to make us scared and off balance. The LSA wants us to lose trust in our government. That way they look like a good alternative.”

@@@@@

“Sir, I’ve spoken to the French and UK defense ministers; the French want to stay out of another world war; the British have cut their military to such an extent they have nothing to spare.”

“John places us on DEFCON 2; I don’t like what my nose smells the Russians are up to. My gut says they are going to take all Europe.”

“Mr. President, Prime Minister Walder of Germany, is online 1.”

“Madam. Prime Minister I won’t ask how you are. I think I already know. What can I do for you?”

“Mr. President, I won’t ask you to supply us with troops or armor, I know neither can get here quick enough to make a difference.”

“Madam. Prime Minister, you’re correct, it would take us at least three weeks to move an armor battalion to Germany, our estimates are the war will be all but over by that time.”

“Mr. President, there is one asset you have that my military people think can make a difference and one that can have an impact very quickly.”

“Madam. Prime Minister, please don’t ask for any nuclear weapons…..”

“Mr. President, no, never, I couldn’t use them over my own country. I’d like to discuss leasing your SSGN submarines. I understand you have two in the Med or the Atlantic. Each armed with 154 cruise missiles.”

“I personally don’t know their current locations; we can contact them. In order to make their use legal, I have two requirements; one is a signed lease agreement, and the other is at least one German senior officer to be on board to turn one of the launch keys when they launch.”

“Mr. President Germany accepts both of your requirements. We thank you for allowing a German officer to fire the missiles at the Russians.”

“I’ll have John Sessions send you a basic lease agreement, if you can get your officers to Rota Spain we’ll pick them up and take them to the submarines. It would be helpful if at least one of your officers had submarine experience.”

“Mr. President I’ll have our people in Rota in six hours.”

“Excellent, tell them to tell the guard, code diamond.”

“Will do, thank you, Mr. President. By the way, how much is the cost to lease each submarine?”

“Madam Prime Minister, the rate for wartime lease is $1.00 per submarine unless their lost in which case the cost is their replacement cost which is $1.2 billion. So don’t lose them.”

“Mr. President, I don’t know what to say.”

“Good luck, Madam Prime Minster, I suggest you leave Berlin ASAP.”

“I plan to, I’ll call you soon.”

Seven hours later the USS Ohio takes on three German officers who will fire the cruise missiles at the Russian troops invading their country. The USS Ohio reaches her firing location in the Mediterranean Sea. The Ohio’s captain informs the German general; it’s time. The German takes the launch key from the captain; the boat’s XO hands his launch key to the German Naval captain, on the count of three, and the German’s turn the keys setting in motion the launch of 154 cruise missiles. Coming in very low, their missiles slip under the Russian air defense radar looking to the west for German fighters. The cruise missile warheads contain 166 sub-munitions. 100 missiles spread their softball sized bombs across the Russian front lines. 54 missiles attack the Russian rear and supply depots. The attack catches the Russian troops by surprise slowing up their advance, giving the Germans time to begin organizing their armored defense.

After firing all of her cruise missiles, the Ohio turns around to head back to the US to be rearmed. Her sister, the USS Florida, replaces her in the Med. Waiting for orders to fire her 154 cruise missiles.

At dawn, Russian and German armor meet in the world’s largest tank battle. Germany sends 900 tanks against the Russian 4000 tanks. The Germans have the advantage of fighting from fixed heavily defended positions; the Russians will advance right into the German kill box. Armor piercing sabot tank rounds fly between both sides. Tanks fight and destroy each other starting at 2500 meters, within an hour the battle is down to 100 meters, point blank range where each shot is a kill. At 1:00 PM, the Germans, are down to 175 tanks, the Russians bring up their reserve of another 2,000 tanks. At 1:30 PM the battle is over. The Germans have lost all of their armor while taking out 2800 Russian tanks. The Germans have nothing left to slow the Russian advance when the USS Florida’s 154 cruise missiles arrives. The missiles rudely surprise the Russians. Tons of supplies are destroyed, thousands of soldiers are wounded and killed. Thin skinned vehicles are torn apart; eleven tanks have their tracks damaged. The Russian advance is slowed long enough for Prime Minister Walder and her staff to escape to London.

@@@@@

“Mr. President, the Canadian Prime Minister is online one.”

“Ladies and gentlemen, let me take this, take a short break.”

“Hello, Mr. Prime Minster, I’m sorry we haven’t met yet as I’m sure you know we’re a little busy down here trying to turn the country around. Now, what can I do for you?”

“Mr. President, given that Quebec has left the confederation, I have a rather radical proposal to suggest to you.”

“I guess I ought to sit for this one,”

“Mr. President that might be a good idea.”

“I’m sitting, what’s your proposal?”

“Mr. President, you made an announcement that you’re opening the United States up to other territories, is that correct?”

“Yesss, are you going to suggest what I think you are?”

“Our two countries have shared a lot; we’re almost the same. I’ve recently learned that Ontario, Newfoundland, and British Columbia want to join the LSA, Alberta, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Nova Scotia, and the North West Territories would like to join the USA. That is if you’ll have them.”

“Mr. Prime Minister of all of the reasons for your call, this one wasn’t on my list. I’m overjoyed. I suggest we plan to meet as soon as possible.”

“I was hoping you’d say that I can be in Washington tonight.”

“Please stay at the house with us, bring your wife, mine would love to meet yours.”

“We’ll see you at 7.”

“We’ll share a causal dinner together.”

Returning to the conference room the President tells his cabinet to sit, he explains the call from the Canadian Prime Minister.

Ted says, “Are you serious? The provinces that want to join us have as much oil as we do, we’ll be the world’s largest oil producer, not counting the other minerals they have. I for one vote yes.”

“Randy?”

“If the people vote to join with us, then I too vote yes, it has to be their choice. I won’t accept the government telling the people they’re going to give up their culture and history, it has to be the people’s decision.”

“Randy, I don’t know why we can’t forge a combined culture, we can celebrate and teach our combined history, Alvin?”

“I agree with Randy.”

“John?”

“We could use their military and their Arctic rights to help buffer the Russians.”

“Does anyone have any objections?”

As the President looks around the table, only State says, “Mr. President, I suggest you contact the United Kingdom’s Monarch, he has the right to know in advance he’s about to lose a part of his kingdom.”

“Very good point, I haven’t talked with the king yet, it’ll be an interesting first call.”

Everyone the President looks at nods no to having any objection. “Then it’s agreed, Sarah and John would you, please join us for breakfast tomorrow?”

@@@@@

“Harold, I understand we’re about to grow with the addition of some of the Canadian provinces and Puerto Rico.”

“Yes, Nanny, our west, and east coast is going to expand, as is our population, tax base and industry. On the other hand so is the USA. I’m not sure which of us got the best of this deal, they got the oil and minerals, and we got the major population centers and ports.”

“On the surface it looks like we got the best end of the deal, we don’t want our lands strip mined and fracked. We agreed to do everything possible to clean our air and water. Look at the progress we’re making in LA after mandating 40% of the automobiles driving in downtown LA have to be hybrids. Soon the air over LA will be as clean as Portland’s. Harold, are you concerned about the large demonstrations against our religion mandate?”

“Not at all, they’re just temporary, soon people will see we’re right, the only way to fairly deal with the large numbers of religions is to mandate all have to be equal. Some churches are huge while some have only a handful of people; this isn’t fair, by mandating all must cease public expressions all become equal. In this way, we’re respecting all of them, plus teaching the children that religion isn’t the best answer. It will take us two- or three generations to fully reduce the people’s dependence on religion. They need to rely on us, not on a nonexistent God. Who’s heard or seen this God in 2000 years? I believe God was made up, how can all of the different stories all be correct? How can there be one God, and at the same time be so different? It’s all made up, the sooner the people realize this and stop relying on a children’s story and rely on us the stronger our society will be.”

“I fully agree, plus, I’m sick of having to cater to these people, just a week ago I had to do a photo op where I washed some homeless person’s feet. You have no idea how bad that person smelled. I’m telling you we need to set up showers and restrooms for these people, they stink, we can’t have them in our beautiful cities.”

“I’ll look into it.”

“What’s the status of our new military forces?”

“They’re going to be making a raid into America very soon if they’re successful we’ll be a nuclear power.”

“Harold, I thought we announced the LSA was a nuclear-free state?”

“We did, but that doesn’t mean anything, we need them to make sure the Americans leave us alone.”

“Won’t Brownstone know we were behind the attack and reciprocate?”

“How? They're not our troops. We don’t control them; I’m going to leak right after the attack that Puten ordered the attack to strip the USA of their nukes.”

“Do you think Brownstone will fall for it?”

“Yes, we made sure his military intercepted messages from Puten to the troops based in Seattle. While the troops attacks the American base, we’ve made plans for attacks on DC and ten major airports. We’ll confuse the American security forces.

@@@@@

“Crystal Palace, this is AWACS 025 we’re holding track on four C130s flying very low due east from Fort Lewis. Do you want us to send our fighter escort to take a look-see?”

“AWACS 025, Crystal Palace, we’ll try to contact them, hold your escorts for now. We have a good idea where they’re heading. We have a little surprise waiting for them. Update us on any course changes they make. Crystal Palace out.”

@@@@@

The Colonel and his men fly very low thinking this will hide them from the American FAA radar network. Their only risk will be when they have to pop up high enough for him and his men to parachute from the planes onto the base. “Sir, very bumpy ride, we’re so low we could hit telephone lines, I swear we’re flying under them.”

“Si, we’re low to stay below their radar, there’s nothing that can see us this low. We’re safe from all of their air defense missiles. The only thing we have to worry about is a lucky shot from someone taking a potshot at us, which is very unlikely since the planes are wearing USA markings. We even copied the tail numbers from USA C 130s. We should have total surprise on our side.”

“Colonel, pilot here, please come up to the cockpit, we’re being questioned by their FAA.”

“Captain, what’s going on?”

“Listen.”

“US military flight of four heading 090 degrees, flying below Angels 500, this is Spokane office of the FAA, please respond.”

The Colonel picks up the handset, “Spokane FAA, Captain John Rogers, USAF, commanding flight of 4 C130s on a low-level training flight. Over.”

“Captain, we show you flying almost due east at less than Angels 500, we have no flight plan filed for your flight, you are flying very close together and very low, please confirm, MAR.” (Military Assumes Responsibility)

“Spokane, we confirm MAR, we confirm flight of four heading due east, we plan to fly to Maelstrom do a touch and go then return to Fort Lewis.”

“Roger USAF flight of four, be careful out there. Watch your altitude, you don’t want to hit the mountain.”

“Roger Spokane, we’ll be careful, we don’t intend to run into anything.”

“Colonel, I thought you said they couldn’t see us this low.”

“I was told they couldn’t, they must have better radar and sensors than we thought.”

“Colonel, one hour to target.”

“Roger.”

“People, listen up, in one hour we’ll arrive at the base, the planes are going to pop up, we’re going to jump onto the runway, remember the plan. Hit hard and quick. Once we control the base, additional planes can land with support troops.”

55 minutes later the C130s pop up so the troops can jump, as the last man exits the planes; all four planes are hit by surface to air missiles. The Colonel looks up seeing his airplanes blowup, thinking, crap, somehow they knew we were coming, they were waiting for us. 7.62mm rounds start taking out his people floating down to the base below them. LAVs and Bradley fighting vehicles pull onto the runways firing into the sky at the paratroopers floating down to their death.

Major Grover is standing in the middle of the runway holding a fully automatic M14. Grover is smiling; he likes it when a plan comes together. He’s mentally counting 80 sets of body armor and 80 of the new Russian assault rifles not a bad day’s business.

“Major, we’ve accounted for them all, 74 KIA, and six taken prisoner. We’ve collected all of their equipment. We’ve got ourselves a nice surprise, one of them had a list of radio code phrases on him.”

“Captain, excellent work. Burry the dead in a mass grave outside the base. I’ll take control of the prisoners.”

“Yes, sir.”

“Admiral Zander, Major Grover is on the line for you.”

“Major, what’s your report?”

“Sir, we got them all; we have 80 sets of their equipment; we destroyed their planes; I have six prisoners.”

“Excellent, I’ll send a plane to pick you and your team up with the prisoners.”

@@@@@

“President Reid, the attack on the American base must have failed. We lost contact with them just after they jumped from the planes. Neither the pilots nor the troops have reported in since they jumped onto the American base. We have to assume the American’s captured or killed them all.”

“They must have been tipped off; we must have a spy in our midst, find them, do whatever you have to, we can’t afford to have an American spy in our inner circle.”

“Yes sir, we’ll start questioning everyone with a lie detector, someone will know something.”

“Do it quickly, if the Americans know all of our plans, they will attack us. It’ll take time for Puten to send us more equipment since he’s started his plan to conquer Europe. We’re going to have to make do with the support we have.”

@@@@@

Some of the citizens of the LSA aren’t as enthusiastic over the new rules, regulations and taxes being forced on them. Many living along the borders decide they made a mistake joining the LSA, some petition their town councils and mayors to secede from the LSA and join the USA. Fistfights break out in town council meetings; police have to be called to remove the battling parties. Towns that vote to secede are often visited by the LSA national police who convince the citizens the error of their way. The ring leaders are usually arrested and sent to re-education camps; most are never seen again.

@@@@@

Parents are unhappy they’re losing control of how they can raise their children, even the types of toys their children are allowed to play with are mandated by the state. Children and parents in the LSA are upset water guns are outlawed. In Severna Park Maryland, four ten-year boys are arrested for having a running Nerf gun battle through three backyards. Someone called 911 to report kids with guns were running around her house. Within minutes fourteen, heavily armed SWAT officers are dispatched to arrest the gun-toting domestic terrorists. The boys are arrested and sentenced to five years in jail. The children’s parents organize a protest against the arrest of their children who were just being boys. Many in the community join the parent’s protest march, the national police arrive to break up the protest. The boy’s parents are arrested for disorderly conduct; they are found guilty and sentenced to five years in a re-education camp. All press coverage of the boys and their parent’s arrest is censored. In Asbury Park New Jersey twenty, teenagers plan a Friday midnight water gun fight. They figure no one will see them in the middle of the night. Fourteen boys and six girls plan the area for their epic game. They place reflecting tape on the borders of the field they plan to use for their night game. They tape light sticks to their shirts so they can find each other. At midnight the teenagers meet at the park; they carry super soakers filled with water tinted in different colors, so they know who hit whom. They were broken into four teams that fought each other.

At 12:32 AM the kids are soaked, laughing and covered in multicolored water when five police cars surround the park. The police surprise the soaked kids, one lifts his super-soaker spraying one of the police cars in yellow tinted water; the police officers still inside their cars slip out, their side arms are drawn, they yell at the kids to drop their weapons. The kids don’t know what the officers are talking about, they don’t have any weapons; one sixteen-year-old girl laughs spraying an officer with red tinted water; he fires at her thinking she sprayed him with a dangerous chemical. The other officers hear the gunfire; not sure who fired first, they open fire on the teens. Seconds later, fourteen teens are dead, and two wounded. The officers are awarded for stopping a gang of domestic terrorists. The teens’ parents are furious their children were gunned down in cold blood. The press is given pictures of the dead teens with real guns lying next to them. Guns planted by the officers. The officers are given bonuses for taking out a gang of domestic terrorists.

Police overreaction becomes common in the LSA. The best officers moved to the USA. Drivers are stopped on their way to work so the police can search their cars for any contraband. Probable cause is expanded to cover police officers having a suspicion there might be contraband in a car. The LSA courts rule search warrants aren’t required for police to stop and search cars, search private homes, or download information from personal cell phones and computers. Invasion of privacy no longer exists in the LSA. It’s all for the greater good and security of all. The LSA is simply making a better country for the children to grow up in.

Parents of school-age children object to the LSA mandated unisex uniforms for all schoolchildren. School lasts 11 months; half of the school day is taken up by political education. In order to be fair to all, the LSA mandates there are three sexes, male, female and transgender. Every school, public and government building has to provide separate accommodations for all three. While open displays of religion are banned, open sexual displays are legal and encouraged. Sex education is taught through the use of live actors performing in front of the class. The school day lasts from 9:00 AM to 5: 00 PM, enabling all children to be fed three government supplied meals.

Chapter 31

President Brownstone addresses the country saying, “My fellow Americans, I’m happy to announce my administration has decided to expand our production of oil and gas. With the addition of Alberta, we’ll be the world’s largest oil producer within six months. We’re going to stop importing oil within four months. Never again are we going to be sending trillions of dollars to countries that use our funds against us. We’re going to use our resources to create North American jobs and pay off the country’s debt. We’re going to use our resources to improve the lives of each and every one of you. Lower oil costs lead to lower prices in all sectors. Due to our change back to the gold standard our inflation rate has already slowed to a very manageable two percent. I’m also pleased to inform you that we have reached a new trade agreement with China. In exchange for a trade agreement, China has agreed to not seek any additional territory. China has also agreed to accept the US dollar and purchase government bonds if we need to sell them.  Premier Xing and I have agreed to a face to face meeting next month. We’re in the process of expanding our seventh fleet to ensure the Pacific stays peaceful.

I’d like to take a moment and address President Puten. Mr. President, we urge you to cease your invasion of Europe. We urge Russia to return to your borders and leave Europe in peace. America and China are prepared to offer Europe assistance to resist you.

My fellow citizens, our life is improving every day, our real unemployment rate is 8%, this is a total rate that includes those who’ve fallen off the unemployment rolls and have ceased looking for work. Many of these people are re-entering the workforce. Many are getting their first job in years. I’m happy to report America is putting our people back to work. The engine of our economy our small businesses are hiring and expanding at an unprecedented rate. Our low corporate tax rate has helped companies expand their business.

Ladies and Gentlemen, we’re really entering a recovery. This time, it’s real. You can see this yourselves; prices for food and energy are going down, and employment is going up, take home pay is increasing. I’m confident everyone will be sharing in the country’s growth.

To our neighbors in the LSA, I extend our hand in peace and friendship. We wish you well. To Acting President Reid, I say, stop trying to attack our people. Stop trying to create chaos in the USA, if you continue, we will lock down our borders and cut off trade with you. We will cease selling you food and fuel. Stop dumping people you no longer want on our front door. We are no longer going to accept those you find undesirable. You promised your people a worker's paradise, that paradise covers all of your people, not just those you deem worth it. You committed to your people for a free national healthcare system, honor the commitments you’ve made to your citizens.

I promised to not ever take over fifteen minutes as such, good evening. God bless the United States of America.”

President Reid and Vice President Polsi laugh at President Brownstone’s comments. “Harold, we both know he’s not going to turn away our needy. We can send him a message that if he doesn’t continue to accept our people we’ll let them die; their deaths will be blood on his hands. We’ll promise to keep the numbers a secret, so he doesn’t appear weak.”

“You’re correct; he’s not going to stop selling us food or fuel. His people won’t accept ours going hungry. Once their news programs show our hungry children the public outcry will be so loud he’ll have to send us, food and fuel or he’ll be impeached. That would be a fitting end to his administration. Facing the same end, he brought upon President Obsma.”

“Harold, by the way, how is President Obsma doing?”

“Nanny, I’m sorry if I haven’t kept you up to date. I know how much you care about the man’s well-being I’m sorry to say his condition is getting worse.  I’m not sure how much longer he’ll be with us.”

“What are we going to do when he passes?”

“We’re going to declare a national week of mourning and continue on the path we’re on.”

@@@@@

While life is constantly improving in the USA, it’s not going as well in the LSA. High costs and inflation have taken a toll on the average citizen. Many consumer items are hard to find. The hardest are paper products. The LSAs mandated pure water rules have stopped the production of all paper products. Newspapers, advertising materials and books are completely digital. Schools convert to tablet computers. School children are taught how to write on their tablets. All school books are stored on their tablets. Each child is issued a tablet and is expected to use it for at least five years when due to technology advances the tablets are replaced.

Homework and class work is submitted through the web. What most of the school children and their parents don’t realize is the government uses the tablets to spy on everything the tablet can see and hear, every keystroke is recorded. The LSA government can remotely turn on the video camera and microphone to see and hear what is happening inside the children's homes.

Spying is common in the LSA. Almost every street corner has video surveillance cameras mounted on them. In many neighborhoods, streetlights have cameras and sensitive microphones built inside of them. Facial recognition software is constantly kept running in the background. Every person living in the LSA has to carry a national biometric ID card. The card doubles as a new social security card and drivers license. School-age kids use the card for admittance to school buildings. All new cars sold in the LSA are mandated to have a new black box that records where the car has gone, at what speed and even if the driver was wandering on the road. The car’s speed is automatically compared to the posted speed limits, anyone driving more than 5 MPH over the speed limit is electronically sent a ticket. Anyone who receives five tickets in a 12-month period discovers their ID card won’t start their car, their right to drive is turned off for 30 days. Taxes are collected based on every mile driven.

People accept the constant spying on them as a trade-off for security. When their car is involved in an accident, the black box automatically calls for help, when an air bag deploys, the black box calls for help. If the black box senses the driver has had too much to drink the car won’t start. A new generation of ID cards is being developed that will enable the government to track a person just by the card. RFID chips combined with receivers built into the security camera systems will enable no more lost children. No one will have to worry about the elderly of ill wandering off; the ID cards will track those allowing help to arrive quickly. The LSA national press loves the new tracking technology. They run stories on how many lives the technology is going to save. How many needless deaths are going to be avoided because help is going to be automatically dispatched when it’s needed?

@@@@@

Most of the LSAs food comes from the US or from abroad. Every truckload from the US is stopped at the USA/LSA border for inspection. The value of the shipment is taxed which is due and payable at the border crossings. This forces the drivers to carry gold and silver coins to pay the import tax. Knowing this; criminals wait for the trucks just before the border crossing locations to hijack or rob them. The US reorganizes the Border Patrol arming them with automatic rifles, machine guns, and armored vehicles. The Border Patrol and criminals battle each other along a 1,000 miles border on the west coast. The US deploys armed drones to break up criminal groups.

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Many people living in the LSA aren’t happy with the government totalitarianism. It’s illegal for groups of five or more to meet in public. One-time book codes and hand signals are used to communicate since no one trusts emails or phone conversations. All know the national police monitor and record and review all communications. For different reasons many couldn’t move out of the LSA, they decided if they had to stay they were going to risk everything, including their lives to try to force the LSA government to change. Many had been members of militias before the breakup of the country. Weapons were once again legal in the USA, but still illegal in the LSA. Militias in the USA smuggle weapons into the LSA. The West LA Militia plans an attack against the Cuban base at the Ex Naval base located at Point Mugu. Their plan is to attack the base from both land and sea. The militia’s first goal is to recruit some of the women who work at the base. The LSA government hired hundreds of women as “social workers” to provide their guest Cuban military with “female friends.” The women are happy to help the militias attack the LSA for drafting them into prostitution. The militia asks the women to get keys, watch cycles and access codes to the base. Ten nights later the West LA militia using small black inflatable boats slip onto the base from the Pacific Ocean.  One hundred men and women slip into the base from the boats.

They slip in from the rifle range which is unguarded. The militia uses the access codes the women provided to get into the inner base where they kill four security guards. Taking the guard’s uniforms they replace the guards allowing them entry to the next checkpoint where they surprise and overpower the guards manning the main gate of the base. Silently the militia gains access to the base armory where the militia arms themselves with the latest Russian assault rifles the AK97 that fires a 5.45 mm Amax caseless round at 3,800 fps from a 14” barrel. The AK97 uses a round 90 round magazine. The round easily penetrates the US military’s body armor. The Russian round also penetrates the new Russian body armor enabling the militia to give the Cuban’s a nasty surprise. The militia dresses in Cuban uniforms allowing them to walk through the camp unnoticed, they surround and attack the officer’s quarters, capturing the Cuban Colonel and two captains. The balance of the Cuban soldiers surrenders to the militia who transfer them to a US freighter standing just off the base. The Cubans are taken out to sea where a US battle group waits to interrogate the Cubans. Samples of the Cuban armor and rifles are given to the Americans in payment for their support. Once dressed and armed in the Cuban uniforms the militia takes the Cuban vehicles to the next base where they surprise the Cubans. The militia is able to take over the small forward Cuban base. They share armor and weapons with other militia groups in Southern California who plan to attack LSA national police offices. Most of the LSA national police are armed with 12 gauge shotguns and M4s, which won’t penetrate the Russian armor, the police are going to get a nasty surprise, they’ll never forget.

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Evening on the German border doesn’t end the fighting, night vision, and thermal sights allow the two armies to continue fighting all night. Germany is down to 60 tanks and 150 armored personnel carriers. The German Air Force has been decimated by the Russians. Many times a German fighter finds itself being attacked by three or four Russian fighters. Germany has 28 fighters left none without any battle damage. The German Prime Minister places a call to President Brownstone. “Mr. President, we’ve been able to slow the Russian advance, but not stop it. We’ve lost most of our ability to fight the Russians. We’re now defenseless. Is there anything else you can send us?”

“Madam Prime Minister our two other SSGNs are in the Pacific, it will take them five days to get into missile range. The two we leased to you won’t be rearmed and in the range for another seven days. Our long-range bombers are going to have to fight their way through the Russian air defense network to get into range. Neither of us wants to turn to nuclear weapons. The only other weapons we have that can slow the Russians a little are air-launched cruise missiles. We’ve recently changed over their warheads from conventional to nuclear; it’ll take us a couple of days to change them back and test them. Germany is going to have to lease the B52s; we’ll put German national markings on them,”

“Mr. President, we’ll lease a squadron of your B52s, we may need them in order to give our people time to escape from the Russian advance.”

“Madam Prime Minister, same terms as with the submarines.”

“Not a problem, I’ll have a group of our air force officers arrive at your base in the UK today. The Parliament and I are going to leave Germany and set up a government in exile in London.”

“I honestly think that’s your best option. What have you heard from France?”

“Mr. President, they’ve massed their forces along our border. The French Prime Minster informed me that they would only fight if they’re attacked.”

“I understand, I don’t expect them to fight for long. The Russians are going to hit the French with over 4,000 tanks.”

“The British have offered to host us. They too said they need their forces in case the Russians attack them.”

“My advisors think the Russians are going to stop at the channel.”

“That’s logical. My staff shares the same thought.”

“Madam Prime Minster, order your troops to disperse and become insurgents. Attack the Russians rear areas and their supply chain which grows longer every day.”

“Mr. President, I’ll be in touch from London.”

“Goodbye and good luck.”

President Brownstone lifts his eyes to his Vice President, who listened to the call. “Ted, what do you think?”

“She and Europe are paying the price for drawing down their militaries. In the end, they were nothing but a speed bump along Puten’s plan to conquer Europe. Is there really nothing we can do?”

“I think it’s best right now for us to sit this one out. If we attack the Russians, we’ll be giving the LSA an excuse to attack us in our rear areas. Remember they are allied with the Russians. We can’t afford to send any of our forces to Europe where they’ll have to make a hostile landing. We’ll lose too many resources, which we can’t afford to lose. There are going to be many battles in our future. The LSA isn’t going to leave us alone forever; they’re going to want what we have. They’re not satisfied until they control everything and everyone. Puten will continue to grab territory. Sooner or later we’re going to have to fight the Russians. I’m hoping when we do the LSA will join with us to fight for a free world.”

“Sir, I don’t see Reid joining us in anything. I agree with you the LSA, or I should say their leaders won’t rest until they’ve won control over the entire country. Reid wants to run the entire country, not just a few states. I agree with you that they’re going to continue to probe us for weaknesses and try to turn our people against us.”

“Ted, I never thought I’d say this, after two world wars and the thousands of brave Americans who lost their lives to free Europe we’re now forced to surrender Europe to the Russians.”

“Mr. President, I agree with you, I don’t see any reasonable options.”

“What do you think our people are going to say?”

“Nothing, very few are going to care.”

“I think you’re wrong. However, I agree with you that we don’t seem to have any options.”

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“Harold do you think the Americans are going to go to war against Russia? I don’t think they’re going to allow Puten just to grab Europe.”

“Nanny I don’t know what they’re going to do. I hope they enter the war against Russia. It’ll be the perfect time to unload thousands of our undesirables on them. I think this is a good time to take down their grid. Tell our hackers to bring down their systems. If their grid is down, we’ll be in a position of strength. We’ll be able to dictate terms to them. Tell them not to leave any breadcrumbs that can lead back to us.”

“Harold, NO, don’t dare bring down their grid.”

“Huh? Why?”

We get 75% of our electric power from their grid, if we bring their grid down, we will lose ours too. There’s no way to bring their grid down and not also bring ours down. What grid we have is connected to the USAs.”

“Whoops, good catch. I’ll stop the hackers at once.”

The Russians taught the LSA how to operate state supported hackers which steal information and funds from business’ and countries around the world.

Chapter 32

In Moscow, the mood is very light-hearted, “Mr. President, we’ve crushed the Germans. Prime Minister Walder and her staff have taken up residence in London. The country is now ours.”

“General what about France?”

“Mr. President, our troops will be at their jump off point in two days. Once we break through their massed forces along the French and German border, the country will fall to us within days. We expect the rest of Europe to go along with our wishes.”

“Excellent. Don’t bomb Paris, we’ll follow the history and leave Paris an open city. I want our military to move as quickly as possible so the Americans don’t have any time to react. Their damn cruise missiles hurt us; I don’t want them to surprise us again.”

“Mr. President, may we attack their base at Rota?”

“Give them 24 hours notice to leave before we attack the base. We’ll prove to the world’s media we’re not looking to start another world war. We’re entering Europe to bring peace. Make sure the media gets access to our field hospitals where we’re treating the poor, ill European citizens who’ve been taken so ill with this new flu.”

“Yes, sir. We’re ready to hit France and Spain with the flu today.”

“Excellent do it. Send some of the infected to South America, we should be ready to assist our friends who may be overwhelmed when the majority of their population gets sick.”

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President Reid announces the LSA is issuing new currency, unlike the USA’s new currency the LSA’s isn’t backed by anything except for the faith and good will of the LSA government. The new currency carries the pictures of Obsma, Martin Luther King, Reverend Johnson and other civil rights leaders. Due to high inflation, the LSA’s new currency starts with the $10 bill, next is the $20, $50, $100, $500 $1,000 and $5,000 bills.

55% of working age people in the LSA are employed, almost all are employed by the government due to the nationalization of all companies who employ over 50 employees. There are more companies closing than opening in the LSA. In the USA, the ratio is 67% employed and growing as new businesses open.

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“Mr. President, are you sure we should announce a major rearming program?”

“Ted, we have to, Russia is going to control all of Europe, I learned this morning that new cases of the Russian flu have broken out in Argentina. My gut tells me the Russians are going to land in South America shortly. They plan to surround us. We fell a generation of weapons behind when our R&D budgets took a hit due to us spending fifteen years in the sandbox. If we’re going to end up fighting the Russians, we have to use our technological lead to jump ahead of where the Russians are today. We turn our technology loose; this is the twenty-first century, where are the ray guns, lasers, and particle beams I’ve been told are right around the corner for the past twenty years? We are going to need SciFi weapons to take on a Russia that controls a third of the world.”

“I understand, do you think the people will back a rapid expansion of the military?”

“I suggest we get whatever friendly press we can find to assist us to sell the story of how the Russians are taking over the world. Russia is a major investor in the LSA. Hence, they already have their feet in 12 of what used to be our states. We’ll never come back together if the Russians prop up the LSA. We need to have to explain to our people the Russians invented the Russian flu; it’s a bioweapon they’re using to conquer Europe.”

“Mr. President, the Director of Homeland Security, is on line two, he says it’s urgent.”

Putting a call on the speaker so Ted can listen in, “Alvin, what’s urgent?”

“Mr. President, we intercepted a message saying President Obsma has passed away. The LSA is going to announce a national week of mourning and Reid is going to use the death of Obsma to stir up his people against us. He’s going to say we arranged to cut the power off in New York City. Hence, we’re responsible for killing the founder of the LSA. He’s going to say we murdered Obsma.”

End of book 2

Table of Contents

Copyright

Dedication

Thanks

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

Chapter 22

Chapter 23

Chapter 24

Chapter 25

Chapter 26

Chapter 27

Chapter 28

Chapter 29

Chapter 30.

Chapter 31

Chapter 32