2015 Second American Civil War

Book 5

“WAR.”

2nd Edition February, 2015

Copyright 2015 Ira J. Tabankin

Sterling VA 20166

Dedication

This book, as all of mine are, is dedicated to the love of my life, my wife Patricia.

Thanks to everyone who’s provided feedback and support for my writing. A special thanks to Cheri, who again was able to proofread and edit my words into something readable.

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

Prologue

In mid-2014, the Tea Party and Republican Party reached a truce and agreement of mutual support. They expanded their hold of the House by the largest margin in fifty years and also won control of the Senate. Even before the new Congress took office the Tea Party reminded the “Old Guard” of the Republican Party the agreement was based on overturning most of President Obsma’s executive orders and his signature bill, the Affordable Health Care. The biggest hurdle was the demand for the impeachment of the President. At the White House President Obsma didn’t wait for the new Congress to take office, he issued new executive orders one after the other knowing he was going to have a fight on his hands with Congress starting January, 2015. While Congress fought with each other, the President decided to act alone; he disbanded Congress saying he was going to rule via executive order. He used the DHS as a private army. The “Black Shirts” arrested anyone whom they felt was racist. The President mandated the suspension of the second amendment; all firearms were to be turned in within sixty days. To ease the burden on the people, the President said he wasn’t confiscating firearms, he was buying them. The funds paid for the firearms were paid tax-free. With the real unemployment/underemployment so high, many had no choice but to sell their weapons in order to put food on the table.

The country entered into a period of high civil unrest, the President cut the US military by 25% and he disbanded the US Marines whose last Commandant, Four star General Rod Brownstone, became the opposition leader. Radio talk show Glenn Backs sponsored a Hands-Around-DC march where millions of people held hands while standing along I-495 surrounding Washington, D.C. President Obsma forced the unions and members of the military to line the left-hand shoulder as a show of support for the President. The march turned violent when the unions crossed the lines of traffic to attack the peaceful protestors. General Brownstone forced the Congressional leaders to appoint him Secretary of State placing him in line of succession while Congress voted on and impeached the President, Vice President, and his cabinet.

President Obsma didn’t go quietly into the night, he announced the formation of a new nation which he called the Liberal States of America which was going to be based on progressive principles. President Brownstone decided to allow the LSA to split away from the USA in order to avoid a very violent civil war.  During President Obsma’s announcement on New Years Eve in New York City, a blackout struck the city. The crowds, thinking a terrorist struck the city, panicked, a wave of people swept the President away, his head was hit causing him to lose his memory. Senator Harold Reid, who was going to be the LSA's Vice President, stepped in to become the new President. He was removed from office in a scandal that found kiddie porn on his laptop. Michael Bloomberg, the former Mayor of New York City, became the third President in their short history. Bloomberg ruled the LSA like it was his own private domain. He allied with the Russian Federation, Venezuela, Cuba and other socialist states. Bloomberg constructed a massive wall, called the divide, which separated the USA and the LSA. The two countries more or less forgot about the other until twelve years after the split when WOLF News Network in the USA and the CNN based in the LSA, got together to produce a look at life in both countries. Two average families were selected, the Smiths in Oregon and the Jones family in North Carolina. The two families explained their life in either the LSA or USA every evening for two weeks, the television program broke every viewership record. As the tide started to turn against the LSA, President Bloomberg and his DepLIES snuck mild poison into seven schools in the USA.  Hundreds of young children got ill from the poison which was placed in their school lunches. President Rand responded by cancelling the television program and turning his cyber warfare group against the LSA and the Russian Federation, turning off the electrical power selectively in both countries. Hospitals, drug stores and day care centers had electrical power while homes and businesses didn’t. President Bloomberg arranged with Russian Federation President Demetri Grameniko to invade the USA to force President Rand to turn the electrical power back on and to win compensation for the two countries’ losses from the lack of electrical power.

Chapter 1

A massive polar vortex drags frigid cold air south from the Arctic covering the Northern Hemisphere. Temperatures drop 30 degrees below normal across central Europe, Western Russia and the West Coast of the LSA. People in California wake to the shock of fifty-year record low temperatures. People in the Capital of the LSA, Los Angeles, wake to a low of 32 degrees and ice on their lawns and streets. People in Portland and Seattle wake to six inches of snow with an additional half an inch falling every hour. First and second world nations function on electricity. People have forgotten how to live without electrical power. Electrical power is taken for granted, flip a switch lights turn on or off. The loss of it even for an hour is bothersome, losing electricity for weeks can drive people to extremes. The LSA and the Russian Federation have both been cyber-attacked by the USA in retribution for them poisoning children in the USA. Many families in both countries have no idea why they’ve lost power. They’re scared, cold, hungry and wondering how they are going to survive without heat and electrical power. When the electrical power failed, so too did the supply of fresh water. Toilets stopped refilling after flushing, sewers backed up flooding homes, offices and streets with raw sewage, rats and mice living on the raw sewage are spreading diseases faster than the health providers can stop them.

Central Moscow is unusually cold this winter. The brutal Russian winter crushed the invading German and French armies. Brutal Russian winters have stopped many invaders.   Anyone who hasn't personally experienced winter in Moscow, can’t imagine it. The icy wind feels alive searching for any exposed skin to attack. The wind rips old political posters off of the walls from the dark buildings. The ripped posters dance in the wind until they run into people trying to stay warm while they make their way through the city. Moscow looks better in the dark; sunlight shows the city’s dirt and decay. Snow is swept from the sidewalks by old women wrapped in heavy coats using brooms to clear sidewalks and driveways. In Moscow, some tasks are still done the way they’ve always been done. Time hasn’t been kind to Moscow. This winter is worse than any in recent history, the city is dark and without power, its citizens are cold, hungry and confused. People on the streets are wondering what happened, most don’t know why the USA turned off their power and with it their heat. People go from street to street looking for lights or anything that indicates there’s power available. Usually, the only light they see is the flickering of candles in windows. The flickering flames create shadows that trick people’s eyes. The patchwork of electrical power in Moscow and the rest of the Russian Federation surprises and scares most Russians. None have any idea how the USA was able to selectively access the Russian’s power grid to keep power on for hospitals and drug stores, yet homes and stores next door and on the same circuits don’t have power. People take it as a sign from above that houses of worship still have power. Thousands try to jam themselves into every house of worship they can squeeze into in order to charge their portable devices and also to get warm.

Twenty minutes ago battery powered alarms sounded sending the Russian Federation leadership to their bunkers. There are no shelters for most of Moscow’s twelve million people. Some assume the blackout and alarms are the pre-cursors to an all-out war with the west. They know intuitively if they stay in the cities they will most likely die, they feel that the blackout is the start of the Third World War. The Russian city dwellers packed what they could carry and left the cities for safer pastures. When the lights went out millions of Moscow’s citizens panicked, many broke into and ransacked stores. They took whatever they could carry, usually torching the store when its shelves have been stripped bare. Riots break out in most of the Russian cities; old rivalries turn into bloody and deadly block wars. The police, like many others, have left their jobs to spend whatever time they have left with their families. Millions of people are trying to exit the cities any way they can. Within three hours, a quarter of Moscow and most of the other cities across Russia are burning out of control. Firefighters, like the police, think the lack of electrical power and the country wide alarms are the signal a new world war is going to or has already started. Tens of thousands refuse to report for duty. Their only thought is to be with their families. Russian first responders leave the fires burning out of control and chaos in their wake as they too try to escape the cities. They’re carrying what they can hold in overstuffed plastic bags and backpacks, some are pulling carts filled with their personal effects. The roads are jammed with refugees, which block cars and trucks from operating. Most didn’t have any idea where they’re going, they’re driven by their sense of survival, all they know is they have to get away from the cities that are likely targets for the USA’s nuclear weapons. Many of the refugees are pulling wagons filled with their children and what supplies they could quickly grab as they rush to find security. They are being kept warm by their fear on this cold, windy winter night. As the people walk out of the cities they keep looking over their shoulders; they look back at their homes which they don’t expect to see again; they look over their shoulders expecting to see mushroom clouds explode over their homes. Some are afraid to look back, remembering the story of Lot’s wife in the Bible. The flames from the burning cities reflect off of the base of the heavy cloud cover creating an eerie orange flickering glow in the Russian sky. Some pause, they kneel and cross themselves thinking the fires of hell have been released in their cities. No one knows the truth of what’s happening; the government hasn’t made any official announcement, or if they made one, none were able to hear it because of the blackout. Thousands of rumors spread through the lines of refugees ranging from world war to aliens landing to the return of Jesus.

In the center of Moscow, three hundred feet beneath the Kremlin is a bunker designed to protect the Russian Federation’s leaders in case a nuclear war was fought between Russia and the West.  The bunker is connected via an underground rail network to other government leadership bunkers spread under Moscow. Demetri Grameniko, the President of the Russian Federation, slams his fist onto the conference table in front of him. He pounds on the table two additional times to get everyone’s attention in the conference room.

Frustrated, he stands yelling, “Enough of this petty bickering, we don’t have time for you to act like a group of Babushka’s complaining about sweeping the snow off their porches. Shut up. I can’t hear myself think. I want to hear your reports, one at a time. First, Alexi, tell me about our electrical power and defense condition.”

Alexi is a thirty-year veteran of the Soviet and Russian military. He started his career fresh from the Moscow Military Academy as a junior officer commanding a squad of three Russian T64 tanks on the German border. Had war broken out between the Soviet Union and the West, Alexi would have commanded his squad of tanks across the East/West German border. He would have found himself on the front line of the third world war facing American and German tanks. Tonight his words may start a nuclear war. “Mr. President, our electrical grid is down. It’s not an issue of circuit breakers or poor quality fuses or the wiring. There’s nothing wrong with our power generating plants. It’s not like they struck every one of our generating stations. We have been deliberately cyber attacked. This attack is nothing as we’ve ever seen before. Every time we try to reboot our network, it fails. The attack is very unusual because hospitals, senior/rest homes, jails and many schools weren’t taken offline. The most unusual is the houses of worship have power. Millions of our people have jammed the churches. They think it’s a sign from heaven.

“Whoever did this wanted to hurt us, they wanted to hurt our economy while at the same time not taking lives unnecessarily. The degree of the attack is way beyond what we’re capable of. Let me show you images from one of our helicopters. In the southwest sector of Moscow there is a children’s hospital, their power is on, across the street is a pharmacy, its power is on, yet the apartments on top of the pharmacy are blacked out. Everything else around the hospital and pharmacy is dark, all, except for this one location two blocks away.”

“What’s located there?”

“Sir, it’s a medical store that sells oxygen, wheelchairs, artificial limbs, and other medical devices. Look at it, everything else is dark. Someone not only has the technology, they also have the knowledge to know where these locations are. If we look two blocks to the east, you notice lights are on in this building that’s a Russian Orthodox Church. Looking at the target selection, I’m amazed at the selectivity of the cyber-attack. The attackers knew where to keep the lights on and where to turn them off. I’ve never seen anything like this. Sir, you can call this a precision cyber-attack, sir, I wasn’t even aware this level of software existed.”

“Alexi who do you think did this to us?”

“Mr. President, it has to be the Americans. They’re the only country that has the technology to hit us with an attack of such complexity and creativity.”

“Alexi, why do you say it was so creative?”

“Mr. President, look at what they hit and what they didn’t touch. We can bring a grid down; however, we have no idea how to bring the grid down while leaving selected sites that are on the same sub-grid, untouched. Our best people are studying the attack. They know some type of cyber worm was injected into our systems, so far our best minds haven’t been able to locate the worm, or where it entered or even how it operates.”

“Can’t we just shut down the entire system, with all of the associated computers off, pull the power plugs, and then turn it on again? Won’t the systems automatically reboot to their base configurations?”

“Sir, normally, I’d say yes. We’ve already tried this, every time we rebooted we received a message in Russian on every display panel saying, SORRY THAT IS NOT GOING TO WORK, TRY SOMETHING ELSE. There’s only one country that has the technology to do this. It has to be the Americans.”

“Alexi, can we counter attack them for what they’ve done to us?”

“Mr. President, we’ve tried to cyber counter-attack, not only was our attack caught, they sent spikes back to our servers. They shut our servers and generators down. Sir, we tried hitting them from outside of the Russian Federation, they caught our attempt and shut down our generators. No matter how we bounced our attack around the world, they found our source. It’s almost as if our firewalls are transparent to them. Sir, we’re totally stymied. It’s like we’re standing in front of them naked. Our best computer people are stumped; they have no idea how to overcome the worm and turn our electrical power back on. Sir, I ordered a test launch of one of our strategic missiles to see if we could attack if we had to. The electrical power and our communications network with our silos have been cut off. Sir, these are shielded fiber networks buried underground in steel tubes inside reinforced cement. The strategic forces have their own nuclear generating plant to provide our strategic systems with power in case of an attack like this. The nuclear reactors checkout, yet there is no power being supplied to our silos. We can’t launch missiles against anyone.”

“You’re telling me; the Russian Federation is sitting in front of the USA unable to militarily respond? We are naked before them? Isn’t there some way to fire the missiles without outside power? What about our missile submarines?”

“Sir, we can’t communicate with them.”

Grameniko claps his hands together, smiling, he says, “Da! If they follow normal procedures, they will fire their missiles when they can’t communicate with us. The stupid Americans are going to get the reward they deserve for what they’ve done to the motherland.”

Alexi frowns responding, “Mr. President, they are getting a recording saying we are experiencing a statewide power failure, and they are not to fire.”

“Alexi, how is this possible?”

“Sir, we don’t know, it’s even in our strategic code.”

President Demetri Grameniko says, “I want every department head to put their best people on this problem.”

Boris Yelsin, director of the FSB, says, “Mr. President, fellow directors, we have another serious issue to discuss today. Our people are scared and they are fleeing their homes, the roads leading out of our cities are jammed with millions of our people. They think the blackout is the prelude to a nuclear war. No one wants to be in our cities when the missiles and bombers arrive. Many have heard the stories of the Great Patriotic war, how the Nazi’s bombed our cities.”

Serge Gobebachov, director of the Russian Federation Treasury, adds, “Mr. President, directors, we’re looking at the meltdown of our economy within a week.”

Grameniko asks, “How is that possible? How can our economy collapse in a single week?”

Gobebachov responds, “Sir, with no one working, entire industries will close, entire sectors will fail, with no deliveries being made, food won’t be delivered resulting in additional panic. No one will be spending any money, companies will not have any workers, we won’t be collecting any taxes while our payments are on a fixed schedule, if we fail to make our payments we’ll default. We’re falling behind on our oil and gas shipping schedules. If we default on these, we’ll have to pay our customers in Europe their costs of replacing our oil and gas on the spot market. This alone can cost us tens of billions of Rubles.  Sir, we have to stop the panic among our people and get them to return to their homes and jobs.”

Yelsin continues, “If the Americans can selectively black us out, think of what else they can do to us. A couple examples which come to mind, are, consider what would happen if they told every ATM in the country to start pumping out rubles. What’s left of our economy would be trashed in minutes. They could remotely reprogram the robots in all of our factories to destroy every product being built. They could turn on every television in the country and broadcast any message they wanted to. Sir, I’m afraid they might even be able to reprogram our strategic missiles; they might even reprogram our own missiles to strike us.”

Grameniko says, “I understand what you’re telling me; I know I have to find a way to make peace with President Rand in order to save the Motherland.”

All of the ministers and directors sitting around the conference table in the leadership bunker nod their agreement. Grameniko looks at each of his staff nodding in agreement. He dismisses them all expect for Alexi. When the two men are alone, Alexi asks, “Mr. President, what did we do to force the Americans to attack us in this manner? The Motherland’s military hasn’t attacked America. What did we do to them? Who kicked over this hornet’s nest that’s stung all of us?”

“Alexi, we assisted the LSA in a terror attack against the Americans. I didn’t think the Americans would be able to trace it back to us.”

Alexi looks down at the table shaking his head before he replies, “Mr. President, it was us that provided the chemicals that made their children sick? You did this and didn’t expect to get caught? Well, you got caught with your hands in their cookie jar. We harmed their children. Mr. President, when a child in America falls into a well, their entire country comes together to get them out. It’s major news across the USA. How could you think assisting their breakaway states in an attack against them was going to go unnoticed? We should be happy they didn’t nuke us. I’ve seen the images from space, their breakaway states received the same treatment we got. Look at the images, the LSA is dark. There’s also no signals coming out of the LSA. It appears the entire RF spectrum has been slammed shut over the LSA. I expect that we’ll shortly be receiving a request for military support from the Jew, Bloomberg. Or, Mr. President have you already received it?”

Demetri Grameniko stands; he starts walking around the conference table, forcing Alexi to keep twisting his head to follow him, “We’ve already received the request. Per our agreements with the LSA, we’re bound to respond to their request for military support.”

Alexi stands; he pounds his fist on the conference table, “Mr. President, NO, I say again. NO. We can’t supply their breakaway states with military support. Do you have any idea what they would do to us if we invaded the USA?”

“Alexi, what if our troops changed uniforms and became the LSA army? What if we can give the American’s something else to focus on? Maybe the FSB can distract them.”

“Mr. President, if and I do mean IF, the FSB can distract the Americans then we might be able to smuggle enough firepower into the LSA to cause the Americans to think twice. Sir, may I remind you that once we cross the border onto American soil, we’ll be facing their military on their home soil, plus their thousands of militias. Mr. President, don’t forget that there are hundreds of millions of armed civilians in America, which is why the Japanese never attempted an invasion in World War two. They said that behind every blade of grass is a gun. Many of those know how to use their weapons. We’ll be facing an armed population plus their military. Sir, we can land in the LSA, we can show our support and prove we lived up to the treaty. However, I strongly recommend we do NOT cross the border and invade America.”

“Alexi, why do you, of all of my ministers, believe all of the stories the GRU sends you? The Americans aren’t giants. Don’t believe all of their propaganda. I agree with you that the American military is powerful, maybe even the world’s most powerful military, however they don’t train for, nor are they prepared for, an invasion. They are used to being the attackers, not the defenders. If we can land in the LSA silently, if we can hide in plain sight, we’ll surprise them. We both know surprise is a powerful force multiplier. We should be able to catch them with their pants down like little school boys playing with themselves. We don’t have to win, all we have to do is cross the border, plant our boots on their soil. I tell you, all we have to do is take a small amount of their land until they release their hold on our power. I suggest we take their gambling city of Las Vegas. Can you prepare a plan where we capture and hold Las Vegas?”

“Sir, if we can count on surprise we should be able to move sufficient forces across the border and surprise the hell out of Las Vegas. But sir, why Las Vegas?”

“Alexi, The Americans won’t counterattack Las Vegas for fear of damaging the casinos. Hell, we might be able to finance our invasion from the money kept in the casinos. We’ll be able to hold it until the Americans agree to release our power. We can send hackers to break into the casino’s bank accounts; we can finance the Motherland for years.”

“Mr. President, I agree we could, unless the Americans turn the motherland into ash while our army plays poker in Las Vegas.”

“Alexi, I don’t think President Rand will turn his nuclear arsenal loose against us. I think he’ll come to the table and talk. I want more than just our power on. I want them to pay for what they’ve done to us. I want them to fund our rebuilding and share some of their technologies with us. Alexi, I want you to prepare the plans. I’ll place a call to Bloomberg, when he’s done whining, I’ll tell him we’ll support him. I won’t give him any details since we both know the American NSA will be listening to the call.”

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In the posh neighborhood of Beverly Hills there’s one property that’s surrounded by twelve foot high, four foot thick walls topped with razor wire. The driveway is wide enough for a tank to easily drive to the house. There’s a guard station at each end of the curved driveway. In the rear of the house is a three story guest house where the security team rotates a week on, a week off. The main house is painted a medium shade of gray. It’s the official residence of the president of the LSA. The house was purchased by President Reid when the LSA spilt from the USA. He diverted forty million to redo the house and to build a secure bunker under it. The bunker was constructed fifty feet under the Gray House, it's accessed by a special heavily armored elevator and a hidden staircase which exits in the rear of the President’s office. A section of the wooden office paneling opens to reveal the stairs. This afternoon President Bloomberg took the stairs down to the bunker where his executive staff waits to discuss the situation in the LSA after the countrywide blackout. President Bloomberg starts the meeting by saying, “Ladies and gentlemen; it’s very clear the USA decided to attack us by turning off all of our electrical power. We have to…”

The LSA’s first Vice President, Elizabeth Wrannt says, “Sir, I’m sorry to interrupt, but, it’s not all of our power. My staff has completed a list of the areas that still have power, a few of these examples are; hospitals, senior homes, pharmacies, here’s a very strange one, amusement parks until everyone on a ride was able to exit the ride. Elevators that would have been stuck in-between floors. Once every elevator reached the ground floor, they ceased working. Power continued to function until everyone at risk was safe. It’s a very unusual way to attack us. They attacked us by spending a huge amount of effort not to kill or even badly harm anyone. The Gray House has power, yet every house around us, except for one a block away doesn’t have power.”

“That’s a very interesting observation. Does anyone know anything about the home a block away that still has power, maybe they have a generator?”

Elizabeth continues, “Mr. President, that’s another very unusual point, almost every generator has been blocked, they turn on and once connected to an electrical appliance, they are remotely turned off. I think we should send someone to the house that has power to check it out.”

Bloomberg replies, “Excellent idea. Security, send one of your people to that house and bring the owner here so we can question them. We want to know why they have power. While security is going to check out the house, let’s discuss what we’re going to do to get our power back on. Who has an idea?”

The LSA Minister of Truth, Mr. Kory Booker, stands saying, “Mr. President, I suggest we issue a press release denouncing the USA for putting our citizens at risk. We should condemn them in the strongest possible terms. I suggest we sue them at the World Court.”

“Yes, yes, issue all the releases you want. However, does anyone think President Rand cares one whit about a press release? How is that going to get our power turned back on?”

Elizabeth says, “Sir, we have to ask the Russians and our other allies for support. Maybe foreign made generators will work, maybe a foreign made power plant will function. Maybe they can supply us with large solar arrays.”

The Director of the LSA Department of Internal and External Security (DepLIES) says, we have the world’s largest solar arrays; they are generating electrical power, however when connected to the grid, no electricity flows into our grid. Our instruments confirm they are converting sunlight into electrical power; it’s being blocked from reaching our people.”

Bloomberg says, “Then where is it? Where is it going?”

“Sir, we don’t know. We can’t find it. The cells generate power. However, once it hits the grid it just disappears.”

“What do you mean it just disappears? Electrical energy can’t just disappear.”

The Director of the DepLIES says, “Mr. President, I suggest an experiment; we have a solar array on the roof, we can connect measuring probes to the cables and measure if the solar cells are generating electrical power. I think you’re going to see they are generating power, we can trace the power to see where it disappears.”

The group takes the elevator to the roof of the Gray House. They gather around the array of solar cells covering the entire south side of the roof. The Director of the DepLIES clips a monitor to the leads coming from the large array, “Sir, look, they are generating electrical power. We have power in the Gray House; these cells combined with our windmills generate more power than we require. We feed the extra power back into the grid. We can check the connection to the grid on the other side of the roof.” He leads the group to the junction box where the solar array connects to the LSA electrical grid. “Sir, watch this.” The meter spins around and goes to zero.

Bloomberg holds the electrical test meter in his hands, staring at it, he says, “Where is it going? Who’s stealing or blocking it?”

“Sir, only the USA has the technology to do this. I strongly suggest we call on our allies for help. If the USA continues to withhold power our entire economy will collapse. Sir, people have already stopped going to work, they are scared. Some have tried to leave LA and other cities, they fear we’re going to be in a major war with the USA soon. They fear we’re going to be attacked.”

President Bloomberg looks around at his senior staff, he looks around the neighborhood where the Gray House is located, he sees people carrying large plastic bags over their shoulders leaving their homes. He nods to himself thinking, We can’t solve this by ourselves. We need help, Rand has attacked us. We need to evoke our treaty with our partners. We need their help to show the USA they can’t push us around and do anything they want to us. We have to teach them a lesson they won’t soon forget. It’s time for us to give back to Rand.

The group returns to the bunker, President Bloomberg picks up a bright red handset with no dial on it. There’s a small card on the front of the telephone base station which says, “MOSCOW,” the phone is answered on the third ring, “Da? President Grameniko’s office, how may we be of assistance?”

“This is President Bloomberg in the LSA, I’d like to speak with President Grameniko on a very urgent issue.”

“Da, President Bloomberg, President Grameniko is currently in a meeting with his senior advisories, he expected your call. He instructed me to inform you he will call you back at 1600 hours your time. Is that going to meet with your approval?”

“What time is 1600 hours?”

“President Bloomberg, that will be 4:00 PM your time.”

“Please inform President Grameniko that will be fine. We will be waiting for his call.”

President Bloomberg looks around the table saying, “We have two hours to put a list together of what were going to be asking Grameniko for, I’m opening the floor to suggestions, Elizabeth would you please record the list?”

They go around the room creating a list of what they want from Mother Russia, the list includes such items as, use of their military, electrical generating systems, distribution of food and water, some ask for a supply of vodka and even caviar.

Bloomberg says, “Enough, we need to get our power turned back on and teach the USA they can’t treat us this way. I want to teach that son-of-a-bitch in the White House that he can’t get away with treating us like this. I want to hurt him and push his nose in crap until he meets with us as equals.”

Director of DepLIES says, “Sir, they have nuclear weapons; they have…”

“They have weapons which they’ll never use against us. They are soft. They think one day they will find a way to reunite the country and as such, they won’t do anything to create too much damage to us, they won’t harm our people who they still consider to be theirs. We have the advantage of knowing they will hold their punches while we don’t have to hold ours.”

Elizabeth says, “Mr. President, I agree with your thought. However, there is one small issue, one that interferes with your plans.”

“Elizabeth, what is this problem that I can’t solve?”

“Mr. President, we don’t have an army. Our DepLIES can’t stand up to the US Army. Our stun sticks won’t penetrate the US Army’s personal armor. The DepLIES side arms won’t either. There’s no way we can win a stand up battle with them.”

“Elizabeth, I agree with you. We don’t have an army and we need one. There’s no way we can go head to head with the USA. The solution is very easy. Our allies, Russia, Venezuela and Cuba all have well trained armies. I’m going to call on each of them to send us troops. We’re going to use their troops to invade the USA and make them pay. If they think they can harm our economy so we come begging to them for unification, they’re wrong, dead wrong. We’ll show them we can equally hurt them. Director DepLIES, I want you to assume the position of Minister of War in addition to your other duties; I want your entire force mobilized. Your people have permission to put their stun sticks aside and carry firearms. If the US comes across our border, I’m expecting your people to put up a fight. I want you to develop and launch a series of plans to hurt the USA economy, spread fear into them. Make them think their own government is against them. We may not have an army, but we do have the means to attack them in our own way.”

The Director of the DepLIES smiles like a Cheshire cat saying, “Yes sir, we can sow fear into the USA. We can shake them to their roots. We can stir up riots and mass civil disobedience in the USA. We will make them fear their own neighbors and their government. We can give them a lot to think about while our allies assemble to invade the USA. ”

Bloomberg smiles with a gleam in his eyes. “I can’t wait to see what you’re going to do. Don’t tell me. I want to be surprised. If I don’t know in advance, then when Rand calls asking me what we’re doing, I’ll honestly be able to say I don’t know what he’s talking about. Let’s pause until 4:00.”

The Director of DepLIES stays behind when the other department heads and advisors leave, he turns to President Bloomberg, “Sir, I have a couple of questions. One, how far can we go in sowing fear in the USA? And two, have you thought about the USA’s war plan? I’d bet they will strike us at the border of California and Nevada. I think their objective is you. If they can capture you, they most likely figure the war will be over. They’ll make some small concessions to our people in order to get them to vote on rejoining the union which will be the end of our progressive dream.”

“I agree with you.  I think you’re correct, I’m their prime target. I want you to clear everyone out of their homes around the Gray House and increase the security in a circle five miles from the House. If you can pull this off, I don’t think they will be able to grab me. Their weakness is their compassion. They’ll think the homes surrounding the House are occupied when in reality the only people staying in those homes will be your people. They won’t risk bombing the House, they won’t risk harming the neighbors. I believe as long as I don’t leave the House, I’ll be safe. You need to tighten the security as tight as you can make it. No one should be able to enter or exit the city without being checked three to five times. The US Army may crash through the border, but what are they going to do then? The quicker you disrupt their citizen’s lives and their economy, the more distracted they’ll be. Before our allies arrive, I want you to mine the roads on our side of the border. We can make it very painful for them if they cross the border.”

“Mr. President, if they do manage to get their hands on you, how do you think the people will respond? Will they vote to unite with the USA?”

“Some may vote yes, others, and I’m sure a large number, will vote no, especially after watching that television program about the Smith and Jones families. Our people don’t want to live like the Jones family does. They don’t want to give up all of the benefits we provide them. They’re not going to want to live next to neighbors that have guns. They’re not going to want their sons playing USA football and potentially getting hurt. They don’t want to give up the equality we’ve provided them. We’ve made our people equal; the television program proved our people are equal, and theirs are unequal. We’ve created a country where everyone is safe from gun violence, not even our police or your agents openly carry firearms. We’ve saved the environment; we’ve cut greenhouse gasses to almost zero. While others claimed to have made workers’ paradise, we have. I’m not going to jeopardize everything the people in the LSA have sacrificed the previous twelve years because the USA couldn’t take a little jab.”

“To your question of how far can you go? I want you to go as far as it takes to create pain for the average USA citizen. They made our people’s lives painful so we need to turn the table on them. Make them fear their own government, make them fear to leave their homes. Arm their lower class, teach them how to fight. Convince them to rise against the government. Generate a race and class war, both should be easy to accomplish. If President Rand has an internal race war to contend with, he’ll be distracted from invading us.”

“Yes sir, I understand. I’ll take my leave to start the plans.”

Bloomberg remains in the conference room under the Gray House smiling, I should be able to win this round against the idiots in the White House. Our allies might not have the same level of technology as the USA, however, the US military isn’t positioned to repel an invasion. All, we have to do, is take Las Vegas. Once we hold it, I’ll be able to force them to deal with me on my terms. I’m sure we can get our hackers to break into the casino’s bank accounts and siphon their money into our treasury; I’ll be able to pay off the loans we took out. Some of the casinos have multi-million dollar art collections, the USA may think we’re planning an invasion when the reality is we’re going to rob the largest bank there is. Once we invade, we’ll be able to hack into their business’ headquarters. We’ll ransom their own trade secrets and customer lists back to them, all the while creating fear in their citizens causing Rand to focus on holding his country together. The Russians will have to send troops if they plan to honor our treaty. They’ll do it just to spit in Rand’s face and so their troops can steal any secrets they get access to. All I have to do is stay at the House for a while where no one will be able to reach me.

While he’s smiling to himself, there’s a knock on the door, he looks up. “Elizabeth what can I do for you?”

“Mr. President, I’m worried that the USA is going to pull a trick we’re not aware of. We were responsible for poisoning their children. The entire world watched how President Brownstone established a new USA response to terrorism. The last time terrorists attacked them, President Brownstone nuked them. I think the World Court should have arrested him for using weapons of mass destruction. They should have found him guilty and put him in jail for the rest of his life. When we poisoned their kids, they responded by turning off our power. Before we resort to the use of violence, I suggest you meet with President Rand and discuss how to settle the disagreement between us. Our people don’t want war. No one in the world wants another war. I vote against using our allies for a military invasion which will most likely spread into a much larger war. I suggest we arrange a summit. Maybe we can get a couple of neutral countries to sit in on the discussions and assist the process towards peace. Sir, we stand for nonviolence. We can’t say we’re against violence and then send our allies to invade the USA, this would be a major conflict with our ideals. Our people will turn against us. Sir, I’m sorry, but I can’t support us invading the USA. I urge you to contact President Rand and arrange a face to face meeting with him. I’m sure the two of you can work out a peaceful solution without resorting to violence. Our people will riot if we use violence.”

“Elizabeth, thank you for bringing your concerns to me and not bringing it up at the general meeting. I’m sure if we handle this correctly and swiftly we can not only win, but we can reach an agreement that’s very beneficial to us. We can use the conflict to improve our people’s lives. I don’t want a war. I want compensation for the damage they’ve done to us. In fact, I want to crush that SOB in the White House. I made my billions by crushing my competition. I want to crush President Rand. I don’t think we can trust the USA to honor any deal we make with them. “We know they want to bring the country back together. They blacked us out to make our people suffer. If our people suffer enough they will vote to return to the security of the USA. I, we can’t allow that. We’ve worked too hard to create the LSA. We’ve finally created a true society where everyone is equal. I’m sure our people don’t want to return to the dirty capitalist society that’s the USA. I think we should have learned we can’t trust the USA. How can we trust President Rand when he has President Brownstone sitting next to him whispering in his ear? Brownstone should have been classified as a terrorist. Elizabeth, are you willing to sit across the table from a mass murderer?”

“Mr. President, sometimes we all have to do things we don’t like or want to for the benefit of our people.”

“Elizabeth, thank you for your concerns. If you feel you can’t carry on your tasks under these conditions, I’m saddened, but willing to accept your resignation. Of course, you’ll have to transport yourself back home as only senior government leaders will be allowed in the Gray House and its secure bunker. You’ll have to take your chances with everyone else in Boston.”

“Mr. President, I’ll give you my answer before we reconvene at 4:00.”

“Very well, I hope you see that sometimes violence is required. We have to protect the LSA, we have to protect our people. Signing a treaty with the USA isn’t going to preserve the LSA.”

“Mr. President, if we call on the Russian Federation for help, aren’t we going to owe them a payback? Aren’t we going to be indebted to the Russians?”

“Elizabeth, we’ll owe the Russians something, I’m sure we’ll be able to work out a repayment method they’ll be happy with. We might be able to acquire assets in our invasion that will enable us to repay the Russians.”

“Sir, violence isn’t the answer, it never is.”

“Elizabeth, you’re wrong, violence solved the first and second world wars, it saved the Jewish people from all being killed, violence brought forth America and the French Republic as we know it today. Elizabeth, throughout history violence has saved millions of lives and forged many countries. Violence and war are just politics taken to another level.”

“Sir, violence also caused the death of millions of my people.”

“Your people?”

“Yes Mr. President, the native Americans.”

“Elizabeth, drop that bullshit with me, I know there’s not an ounce of Native American blood in you. You’ve used that crap to better yourself for years. Lincoln said, you can fool some of the people some of the time, you can even fool all of the people some of the time, you can’t fool all of the people all of the time. You may have used that bullshit to get a professorship and to get elected but I know the truth, so drop the phony Indian spiel when you talk with me.”

“Mr. President, I have proof of my heritage…”

“Stop it, please decide if you can support my plan or let me know privately if you can’t in which case, I accept your resignation for health reasons. You have until 3:45 to decide.”

@@@@@

Sean’s cell phone rings while he’s cutting into a $50.00 sirloin steak. He’s about the put the steak into his mouth when he looks at the caller ID on his phone. He doesn’t recognize the number. However, he recognizes the area code as the one for Washington DC, “Hello, this is Sean Hannd.”

“Mr. Hannd, please hold for Rash Linebacker.”

“Rash, you SOB, your pants have gotten too big if you’re having an admin place calls for you. This better be good because I’m sitting in Morton’s enjoying a wonderful medium rare steak. Which I might add, has been prepared perfectly.”

“Sean, I’m sorry about that. I told the White House switchboard I could dial you myself. They insisted on placing the call. They do that in case it has to be transferred to another phone or agency.”

Sean’s ears perk up when he hears White House switchboard. He’s thinking, There’s a story here, I don’t know what yet. But Rash wouldn’t be calling if he didn’t want something important. “Are you working for the White House again? I hadn’t heard anything.”

“Sean, you couldn’t have heard anything yet because nothing’s been announced or even rumored. I got a call tonight asking me to stop by the White House, somehow they found out I was having dinner in D.C. I was on my way to see President Brownstone tomorrow when I got a call and shanghaied by the Secret Service. At least they picked up my dinner bill. President Rand wanted to meet with me. We chatted, and I asked him if I could bring you in on the discussion. Hence, the reason for the call.”

“Rash, please don’t tell me your calling because they want me to work in the White House, you know I won’t do that. I’m not like you. I couldn’t take the media’s bullshit without going off on them.”

“Sean, when can you be in D.C.?”

“Rash, I’m not sure, I don’t like what you may be implying.”

Rash laughs, “Sean, I know you’re in Burlington, North Carolina. I’ve already sent a plane to pick you up. You can turn me down, but will you turn down the President? I can connect him in a minute. By the way, you won’t be seeing President Brownstone tomorrow, he’ll be here in the House with President Rand. If you want to keep your appointment with him, you’re going to have to get on the plane I’ve sent and come see me.”

“Rash, can we talk about this later? My steak is getting cold.”

“Sure, once you’re here. Your phone isn’t secure. I promise all I'm asking you to do, is get on a really nice airplane and have breakfast with me and a couple of other people tomorrow.”

“I’ll see if I can find a hotel.”

“Don’t bother, you’re going to spend the night at the House, by the way, I’ll be spending the night at the House too.”

“I smell a crap storm heading in my direction. I agree, not that I have any other choices. I guess that if I turned you down, I’d be arrested when I boarded my flight tomorrow and taken to D.C. no matter what I said. What about my crew?”

“We’ll give them a ride and drop them off at Dulles, or where ever they want to go.”

“OK, I guess I don’t have a choice, I’ll see you soon.”

Sean looks at Joan and Ted, “Folks, we’re getting a VIP trip to D.C. Let’s order another round.”

Joan and Ted look at Sean, Joan says, “Can you tell us what’s going on?”

Ted responds, “I bet it has something to do with the announcement of the black-out in the LSA.”

Sean nods saying, “You’re most likely right, I don’t know what they want with me.”

Joan smiles, holding in a laugh, “Boss, maybe they want you to become the new press secretary. Like Rash was.”

“Joan, not going to happen. I like hosting my radio and television programs. I don’t want to put up with the media’s bullshit and lies. I refuse to stand in front of the room and tell them lies. I’m not as politically correct as Rash is. I couldn’t put up with the media’s dumb questions and attempts to play gotcha. Even twelve years after the split the media still leans to the left. They think they’re playing a game, they don’t understand lives are at risk when they play their games.”

Ted asks, “Sean, what are you going to do?”

Laughing, Sean says, “First of all I’m going to enjoy my steak, then we’re going to get into the black Tahoe’s I know are on the way to bring is to the airport where I’d guess we’re going to find a nice government VIP plane waiting for us.”

“Sean, my car is at the FBO parking lot at Dulles.”

“No worries, Rash said they would drop you two off where ever you want to go.”

Joan laughs, “Bet it beats flying coach.”

“It sure does.”

Chapter 2

A large colonial home sits at the end of a long driveway lined with old oak trees. The house’s property is ringed by a ten foot high electrical fence topped with four strands of barb and razor wire. Lining the driveway and the woods surrounding the house are small sensors that alert the resident of the house to any intruders. The house can’t be seen from the street; unless someone knew the house was there, most would assume the fence line was protecting another forgotten federal piece of land. There are many such forgotten properties in the Washington, D.C., area. The silence of the cool and windy evening in rural Northern Virginia is broken by a telephone on an end table ringing. The ringing echoes in the book-lined study. A small fire is burning in the corner fireplace which provides a glow, warmth and a flickering light to the room. Sitting at the desk in the center of the room is a man in his early 70’s bent over a laptop typing by using two fingers; as he types, he reads and rereads what he just wrote while picking up a large cup of black coffee. Sipping his coffee, former US President Rod Brownstone looks up from his laptop thinking, Who the hell is calling me at this hour? I better answer it; something must be wrong because my home phone almost never rings. No one knows the number, not even I remember it.  All of my friends call my cell, or if a booking agent wants to book me for something my aide handles it. If it’s a security issue, my secret service detail or the Colonel handles it. I better get this over with.

.              “Hello.”

“President Brownstone?”

“Yes, this is he. Who’s calling?”

“This is the White House, please hold for President Rand.”

Rod’s thinking, Something really bad must have happened.

“Rod, are you there?”

“Hello, Mr. President, how are you? How’s things in D.C.?”

“Rod, I assume your phone has a secure mode on it?”

“Of course, it’s an STU-4A, the latest version. The secret service installed it about a month ago.”

“Would you please engage the secure mode?”

Pressing the hold and secure buttons while entering his password, Rod says, “Mr. President, we’re now secure.”

“Thank you. Rod, I need your help.”

“Mr. President…”

“I should be the one calling you Mr. President, how about we both use our given names?”

“Paul, what can I do for you?”

“Rod, I’m sure you’re aware that the LSA attacked us through our children.”

“Yes and I know you responded by bringing their grid down.”

“We also brought the Russian grid down at the same time.”

“Oh shit. How’s President Grameniko reacting? He doesn’t have a sense of humor. I’m sure you know he tried twice to take me out. If it hadn’t been for my security detail, I wouldn’t be here talking with you.”

“That’s part of the reason I’m calling; he and his government have gone totally silent.”

“Guess that means Russia is going to support Bloomberg. They’ll be sending troops to attack us. Grameniko will loan or give Bloomberg anything he wants, maybe even a nuke.”

“Which is the reason I’m bothering you at this ungodly hour. Rod, I need to contact a friend of yours. A certain Colonel Grover. We don’t have a secure number listed for him, and his apartment in DuPont circle looks like it hasn’t been lived in for a long time. Can you get a message you him for me?”

“I assume you’d like to see the good colonel?”

“Yes, would it be possible to tell the colonel I have something to discuss with him?”

“Paul, if you can hold on one minute, I’m sure I can get him on the phone. He’s here; he moved in a while ago and provides me with an additional layer of security.”

“I should have known. Would you mind seeing if your guardian angel would mind picking up the phone?”

A minute later another voice is heard on the line, “Mr. President, President Brownstone said you would like to speak with me.”

“Colonel, I know you consider keeping an eye on President Brownstone as your personal duty. If I can guarantee his safety, would you attend at meeting in the Pentagon’s war room today at 0500?”

“Mr. President, how are you going to protect him? President Grameniko still has a huge price on his head. There are many groups associated with the terror group he nuked who have sworn Jihad on him, and, of course, the left thinks he single handily destroyed the planet.”

“Colonel, you should see my idea of protecting him in about 4 minutes. That’s if the blue force tracker is accurate. In fact, you’ll hear them before you see them.”

Before President Rand can complete his thought, Colonel Grover’s cell buzzes with a text message, “Tanks on trucks 1 mile and closing. Ours.”

“Mr. President, I accept your generous offer. I’ll be at the Pentagon at 0500.”

“Thank you, Colonel, I’ll see you in a few hours.”

Grover hands the handset to Rod saying, “I have to attend to a few items, I think he wants to speak with you again.”

“Paul, is there anything else I can do for you?”

“Yes, would it be possible for you to attend the meeting at the Pentagon? Another old friend of yours is here, I think you planned to meet with him. I’d like you to attend a couple of meetings with me at the House after the one at the Pentagon. Stay for dinner with us.”

“It’ll be my pleasure. Should I guess who else from my old team you grabbed? Is Bryn still the head chef at the House?”

“Yes, this is his last year, or so he said. About the other person, I think you’ll be happy to see him.”

“Don’t let Bryn blow smoke up your ass, he says that to every president. Just tell him I’m coming, and his damn kitchen better pass inspection.”

Laughing, President Rand says, “I’ll do that. He once told me to tell him if you were coming so he could be ready. I assume there’s a story there you have to tell me at dinner.”

“Be happy to. I’ll see you later.”

Hanging up the phone, Rod’s ears perk up, “Abrams?”

Grover nods yes. “It’s his way of protecting you. He sent an armored platoon with additional security troops. There are three HUMVEEs in front of and six behind the Abrams. They’re setting up a defensive position around your house. I don’t think any of your neighbors are going to be happy about the convoy of tractor trailer trucks that just pulled in and the armor they’re unloading.”

Smiling and nodding, President Brownstone replies, “Colonel, I wouldn’t worry about my neighbors. As you know, my closest neighbor is a mile away. I’m sure most living on my street will ignore the noise and use it to try to get me to do favors for them.”

Grover laughs nodding in his agreement with President Brownstone. “I’m going to take six of my people with us. Since we’re both going to the Pentagon in the morning, it’ll make the security much easier. I’ll leave the rest here. I’m going to go outside to meet their commander and compare notes. I’m wondering if they know something we should be aware of because they brought armor. I’m hoping it’s for show and not to fight off a threat they have an indication of. Don’t leave the house and stay away from the windows, yes I know the windows are armored, just do me a favor and stay away from them until I return. Damn I hope this doesn’t mean Grameniko has some Spetsnaz near by. Sir, I told you we should have taken out all of their senior leaders and not just the head. The Russian leadership is like Medusa, a head of snakes.”

“Colonel, go ahead and meet their commanding officer, then let me know what they know. If there are Spetsnaz after me again, we’ll have to discuss another layer of defense, their last attack almost cost me my house. Colonel, one more thing, please tell their commander that if his Abram’s destroys my new driveway, it’s coming out of his pay.” Both men laugh as Grover heads out of the door to speak with the men who recently arrived. They almost bump into each other at the front door. Grover heading out and the Captain about to ring the doorbell. The two men look at each other and lunge into a bear hug. President Brownstone thinks to himself, Obviously they know each other, which is a very good thing.

@@@@@

In Beaverton, Oregon, the Smith family is sitting together in their family room. A fire is burning in the corner fireplace which provides the room with a glow and warmth to fend off the very cold evening. Snow continues to fall adding to the eight inches that has been falling all day. A few days ago the Smith family were media darlings; they were the stars of a television program that highlighted the differences between the LSA and USA. One family from each country was selected out of tens of thousands of applications submitted. The Smith family was selected to represent the LSA. Live broadcasts were recorded from their home every other day. The Smith’s two children became instant stars in their schools and around the world. Scott, who's 14 and his sister Sissy, 7, loved the attention. Sissy even got a new puppy after complaining on international television she wasn’t allowed one. The world thought it was unfair that the LSA government refused to allow everyone who wanted a pet the ability to own one. After a mass uproar, the LSA government rescinded their rules, and a puppy was delivered to Sissy. The puppy quickly became a handful, no one in the Smith family knew how to train a puppy. None had ever owned a dog before. Joan, one of the Wolf News Network’s sound engineers, provided the training necessary for Sharon, Sissy’s mother, to finally agree that Sissy could keep the puppy after the program ended. Scott looked towards his father asking, “Dad, is there going to be a war? If there is, will it come here? Is everything going to change for the worse? Will there be bombs and killing like our history videos show?”

“Scott, I don’t know if there’s going to be a war. No one sane wants a war. Wars are bad; wars destroy property and kill people; they don’t really resolve the problems that caused them. Since they don’t resolve the underlying problems, many times wars ended only to quickly restart again. A war today between the USA and us would be horrible. I can’t think of anything that would be worse. Everyone on both sides will be affected.”

Scott continues, “Dad, when the USA cut off our power, didn’t they declare war on us? I learned that embargos are an act of war. The USA embargoing our electrical power is an act of war so wouldn’t you say we’re technically at war with the USA now?”

“Scott, I think you may be correct while my heart hopes you’re wrong. A war against the USA would be very bad. The last time someone attacked the USA they nuked them! They killed tens, maybe hundreds of thousands to prove a point. The point being, kill one American and lose a city, kill a town, lose your country. If we go to war with the USA, they could use weapons of mass destruction against us. They could destroy the entire LSA in a blink of an eye.”

“Dad, we have to stand up for our rights. We can’t let them push us around. We have the right to live the way we want to. We have the right to do things differently than them, don’t we? Isn’t the USA nothing but the world’s largest bully?”

“Scott, you may be right; the USA may be the world’s largest bully. They’ve changed various countries’ governments; they’ve assassinated world leaders, and they’ve started and ended wars. They’re the only country on the planet to have used nuclear weapons. They preach freedom and also bully everyone else to do things their way or face the consequences. They have the world’s most advanced and powerful military. I’m not sure the world’s combined militaries could stand up to them.”

“Then why would we fight them? If we can’t win and in the end we’ll end up having to submit to their will, why fight? Why would we lose human lives if the end is already known? Isn’t this a senseless battle? Isn’t all war senseless? Is a human life worth an idea? Why can’t they just live and let live? Dad, I’m confused. They claim they stand for freedom and on the other hand, they dictate to the world how everyone has to act. I don’t understand it.”

“Scott, don’t worry about not understanding it. I don’t understand it either. I’m not sure anyone can really say they understand why wars start. If everyone would stay calm and talk out their differences the world would be a much better place, a much safer place. Son, I worry about all of us if we go to war. I also worry about the environment, a war will kick up a lot of debris into the atmosphere; we would be accelerating global warming on a massive scale. Even a short war could have massive implications for your children. Wars aren’t fought with the environment in mind; they’re fought with large ugly machines that pour CO2 into the atmosphere. Think about the damage to the polar ice packs a war will cause. A war could destroy our infrastructure, our factories and our homes. Wars cause homelessness and hunger, wars are the worse things man has ever invented. I’m really hoping that President Bloomberg will find a way to talk to President Rand and find a way both can save face and end this cold war before it turns hot. Speaking of which, I wish someone would find a way to turn on our power and give us a little heat.”

“Dad, how did they turn selectively turn off power? The hospital three blocks away has power as does the assisted living home, yet none of the homes have any. Did they figure out how to create real magic?”

“Scott, someone’s advanced technology looks like magic to those without it. Can you imagine showing a car or airplane to someone in the fifteen hundreds? They would think you’re showing them something magical. Or even a ballpoint pen to those in the 1700s or your tablet to anyone before 2000. I saw reruns of a science fiction show called Star Trek that was on television in the 1960’s they used props as tablets even their props weren’t as powerful as yours and yours is a few years old.”

“Dad I understand. How come the USA is ahead of us in science?”

“Their government spends a lot of money in the development of new technology for their military. Some of it spins off into consumer products.”

“Dad, my econ teacher said everything they have are all made in slave labor factories in Asia. Ms. Benson said that in China the army goes around arresting people to work 18 hours a day, they’re paid like one or two dollars for the entire day to build products for those in the USA. They tear families apart.”

“Scott, she’s correct, they use slave labor while ours are built right here by our own people. We create good jobs and have a strong middle class. In fact, we only have a large middle class. We’ve been able to get rid of the rich who drained the blood from the poor to support their lifestyle. We’ve come a long way in equality from where we were before the split.”

“Dad, then it's true the USA gets rich and powerful off of slave labor, just like they did in the 1800’s?”

“Scott, I would say it’s very similar. The USA destroys the environment, they don’t care about it. As you saw from watching the Jones family, they’re all about themselves. I’m glad we’re different.”

“Dad, if we went to war and lost, would you be OK with rejoining the USA? Would you fight a merger?”

“Scott, fighting never solves anything. Your mom and I would vote to merge versus a war. I don’t want to see you drafted in the army or our homes destroyed. I’d rather we merge and try to work out our differences, we might be able to bring the USA more towards our way of life than see so many of our people die.”

“Dad, when we die what happens?”

“Scott, that’s a big question. Sit, let’s talk about this. Why do you want to know, is something bothering you? Do you need to web chat with a doctor? I can connect the probes to my laptop and see if something is wrong.”

“Dad, I’m feeling fine. It’s all the talk of war that got me thinking about what happens when we die.”

“Scott, do you remember anything from before you were born?”

“Of course not, I wasn’t born yet. There was nothing for me.”

“And that’s what it’ll be when you die, nothing. Hopefully, when your time comes, you’ll go to sleep and just drift off. Then there will be nothing.”

“Dad, will it be painful when I die?”

“Scott, no, if you’re very ill, you’ll be given some drugs which will let you sleep and as you sleep, you’ll slip away, completely painless.”

“Dad, do you and Mom believe in what many in the USA believe? There’s a God and life after death?”

“Scott, what’s bothering you? Why are you asking about God and religion and death?”

“Dad, it’s all the talk about war. We don’t have any power, we’re cold, we’re eating cold cuts or food cooked on our grill. I wonder what happens to those who fight and die. I’m just curious. Really, nothing's wrong with me; just curious.”

Hugging his son with tears in his eyes, Jason whispers to Scott, “Son, it’s going to be OK, we’re not going to have a full war like the history videos. We don’t want to fight and watch people die. Lives aren’t worth dying for an idea or a way of life. Lives are too precious. We only have a short time together, why would anyone risk that time for an idea? Let’s go to the kitchen, I think we still have some fresh fruit we can share together.”

“’K Dad. I hope it’s still fresh. I went to the store with Mom, there’s so little fresh fruit and veggies in the store.”

@@@@@

At the same time in Burlington, North Carolina, the Jones family is watching the Wolf News Network evening news program. Mary Kelly, the show's anchor, is saying, “President Rand tonight met with President Brownstone where they most likely discussed the tensions between the LSA and ourselves. A recent ‘instapoll’ shows 68% of the country favors forcing the LSA to rejoin the country. The majority of citizens feel the ‘grand experiment’, as many call it, was a waste of time and resources. The attack on our children has galvanized people across the USA into demanding action from the White House. Tonight’s internet ‘instapoll’ shows 72% of the voting citizens say cutting the electrical power in the LSA and Russian Federation wasn’t enough for the poisoning of our children. On the other side of the equation, we have a special guest tonight, Wolf Bracken, who’s joining us this evening from Los Angeles. Wolf, thank you for joining us this evening. How are things in LA?”

“Good evening Mary, things in LA are dark and cold. Could you spare a few kilowatts?”

Laughing, Mary responds, “Wolf, maybe your President Bloomberg should have thought about the repercussions before he sent agents across the border with evil intent. He intentionally picked on children, harmless, innocents who he used as pawns. You should know we don’t take such actions lying down. You should be happy that’s all President Rand did. I understand that not all of the LSA is without power. Isn’t it true that your hospitals, senior homes, and pharmacies still have power? As does your Gray House so your government can function. See, we’re not totally heartless. We made your people’s lives a little more difficult; we could have done much worse. In fact tonight’s ‘instapoll’ says 72%, wait, the number is trending upwards, it’s now 76%, think cutting off your power wasn’t enough.”

Wolf responds, “Mary, first of all, speaking for all of the innocent families in the LSA, we’re asking the USA to show the mercy and love you’re known for and turn our power back on.”

“Wolf, if the LSA government hadn’t attacked our children, none of this would have happened. In fact, had your people not attacked us, you might still be hosting the hit television program, ‘The Smiths and Jones’. By the way, I really enjoyed the program. Have you spoken with Sean lately?”

“Mary, thank you for your kind words. Let’s try to stay on the key issue. I’ll give you someone, somewhere made a terrible mistake by using innocent children to make a point. Mind you, none were killed, none were made ill for very long, and while unpleasant, do you think President Rand’s reaction was on par with the mistake that was made by someone in the LSA? As to Sean, I placed a call to him tonight. I’m looking forward to his comments on the situation.”

“Wolf, we both know the only mistake made was thinking you could get away with it. Second the entire idea of extraordinary response is to deter others from thinking about trying the same thing. Other countries and organizations will see what we did and decide not to test us.”

“Mary, how do we solve this? Millions are suffering in the LSA because of your actions.”

“Maybe President Bloomberg should come clean and announce to his people what he did and resign or offer to compensate the families for their pain and suffering. Maybe if he did, President Rand would reconsider and turn your power back on.”

“Mary, why should President Bloomberg resign? He didn’t pour the chemicals into the children’s mouths. He never set foot on USA soil. I fail to see why you single him out for your wrath, and at the same time your country takes out your vengeance against millions of innocents.”

“Wolf, we both know, the world knows, that nothing happens in the LSA without President Bloomberg personally signing off on it.”

“Mary, I assume you have proof of his involvement? If not then, you and every other news reporter in the USA should cease blaming our President. If you don’t have proof, there’s a chance President Bloomberg will file suit against President Rand and the entire USA at the World Court, how would you like that?”

“Wolf, haven’t you tried suing one of our Presidents at the World Court before?”

“Mary, the LSA wasn’t even founded when President Brownstone was sued. Hence, it wasn’t us. I’m here to tell the USA families that their brothers and sisters, the peace-loving families in the LSA, are suffering. Even our production of baby food and diapers has been closed down due to a lack of power. We’re all suffering; the USA’s attack is causing us enormous levels of pain and suffering. Our families are suffering on a physical and mental state. I ask you to think about the Smith family you got to know so well, do you want Sissy and her puppy to go to bed cold and hungry every night? Does the USA want Sissy and Scott to be able to finish school this year? Do you want these and millions of other families to suffer like this? I’m asking you, the loving families in the USA, to call upon your President to stop the blackout before we are forced to respond in a violent manner.”

Mary’s face becomes very serious; even the lighting at the studio dims a little, she asks, “Wolf, did you just threaten the United States of America on international television? I’m sure you know the penalties for threatening us. I pray that the US Strategic Command isn’t warming up a missile with your name on it right now. Wolf, per USA rules, I’m going to have to cut off your microphone. We don’t allow terrorists to use our media to threaten us. Wolf, goodbye and good luck to you, may God have mercy on you. “

“Ladies and gentlemen, you just heard it here on the Wolf News Network. Wolf Bracken, representing the LSA, just threatened the USA. What do you think about that? Log onto our site and vote in our ‘instapoll’ and let us know your thoughts. We’ll publish the ‘instapoll’ results every fifteen minutes.”

At the Jones’ home Leon turns to his father, “Dad, are we going to nuke Mr. Wolf? I liked him. I’ll miss him if he dies.”

“Leon, what he just did was very bad. He knows our laws. He went on national television and made a threat against the country. In doing so, he became a terrorist. You know from school; we don’t allow anyone to use our media, airwaves or the internet to make threats against us. We once did, no more. If he’s the reason LA gets destroyed, their deaths will be on his head. He knew better than to say what he did. I like him too. However, there’s no way we can allow anyone to use our own media to threaten us. I had hope when I heard he was going to be on the tonight’s program that a solution was going to be announced. I had faith they would learn from the blackout that they can’t fight us. All they had to do, was officially apologize and work towards a settlement with the families. Now I’m afraid we’re going to have the civil war President Brownstone tried so hard to avoid. The damn progressives just can’t seem to accept the simple fact of taking responsibility for their actions.”

“Dad, we learned in civics class that part of being a good person is to accept our faults and always accept responsibility for our actions. Whatever we did, we should stand up and accept the responsibility for our words, our actions and our writings. We learned that we have as much freedom as we want until we infringe on someone else’s freedom. Don’t they realize this in the LSA?”

“Leon, I guess they don’t.”

“Dad, how can they fight us? They don’t have an army. What are they going to do, meet our updated Abrams M1A6 tanks that have rail guns, with stun sticks? That’s going to be a hell of a short war. Their stun sticks won’t affect our troops in their new armor. Man, that armor is cool. Two Marine’s came to school to show us their armor and new rifles. I watched them shoot their armor with battle rifles; nothing penetrated the armor. They have a LSA stun stick; one touched the stun stick to the other who was wearing his armor, he never felt a thing. Man, don’t they realize they’re going to get their asses kicked?”

“Leon, they have allies who have armies, Russia’s is the second largest standing army in the world. China’s is the largest.”

“Dad, numbers are good; however, technology can beat numbers.”

“Leon, always remember that quantity has a quality of its own. Technology isn’t always the answer. Numbers have a tendency to overcome technology when a large enough number is applied. I don’t want to see a war. However, if Bloomberg is going to continue to bullshit the world, we should invade at least LA to teach him a lesson.”

“Dad, would the Russians risk total destruction by siding with the LSA? We discussed in school that President Rand selected a low-level response. He was hoping they would accept the fact they were outclassed, he hoped they’d realize they can’t fight us. He was hoping the blackout would force them to apologize, and everything would return to how it was.”

“Leon, don’t BS your old man. I know you’re hoping everything gets settled so the program can continue. You miss your fame from the program. What happened, your FB page start losing followers and friends? Girls stop asking you out?”

“Dad, it’s not that, it’s just…”

Before the two of them can continue their discussion, the television says, “We apologize for interrupting your current program. President Rand will address the nation tomorrow at 9:00AM. All schools and all industries will be delayed for two hours so that everyone can hear what the President has to say. The White House interactive page and ‘instapoll’ will be open and active during the President’s speech.”

Carol says, “I wonder what he’s going to say. It’s very unusual for the federal government to force everyone to delay their opening so they can hear what he is going to say. I wonder if he’s going to make an official declaration of war. I think the last official declaration of war was in World War II.”

Beth asks, “Mommy, if we go to war, are you and daddy going to leave us? My friend’s daddy had to leave her and get ready to fight, he’s in the Marines.”

“Beth, your friend’s father is in the military. He had to go because it’s his job to protect all of us. He risks his life for us. It’s why he gets paid so much.”

Leon responds, “Mom, is that why their house is much bigger than ours, and he drives a sports car?”

Carol responds, “When you put your life on the line for the country shouldn’t you be rewarded for the sacrifice? Shouldn’t you get paid very well? Shouldn’t your family know they can afford the best of everything because their loved one is away and may die? When I was young, we paid our military peanuts. Many needed food stamps to live and feed their families. Presidents Brownstone and Cruise pushed through new laws, ensuring our military not only gets the best of everything, they get paid more than 20 times what they used to get, and their health care is the best we can offer. President Cruise disbanded the VA and set up a new program where our military can go to any doctor, any hospital, and the government picks up the costs. I feel better knowing our military can concentrate on their jobs without having to worry if their families have enough to eat.”

Leon asks, “Mom, won’t a war be good for your company?”

“Yes, but I don’t want to see a war. Wars settle issues; however it’s always harder to manage the peace that follows the war than it is to manage the war.”

Beth says, “Mom, I’m scared. Are we going to die? Is Mr. Wolf going to hurt us?”

“Honey, it’s going to be OK, don’t worry about anything. Everything is going to be fine. Even if there is a war, it’s going to be a very short one. I feel sorry for the Smiths and families like them who did nothing wrong but are now going to be caught up in a war.”

“Mommy, I’m going to take Holly out for a walk.”

“Beth, it’s too late for you to take her by yourself, I’ll go with you.”

“’K, mom, let’s go.”

Chapter 4

While the Russians are bribing the USA border guards, Colonel Grover and his team are flying west on a C18A. The C18A is a top secret airplane that the Russians, as well as most other countries, don’t know exists. The C18A has a range of 6,500 miles, it can be midair refueled and fly for 36 hours. The C18A carries two complete crews with a crew rest cabin where the off duty crew can sleep on long duration flights. Grover’s team is also sleeping trying to get as much rest as possible on the flight. The C18A is as quiet as the DARPA scientists could make it. Its exhaust is channeled through mufflers that quiet it to 70dB which is the same sound level as one would hear standing fifty feet from a freeway. The C18A is silent to those on the ground when it’s flying higher than 5,000 feet. Its engines have water injected into their exhausts to cool them, so it doesn’t leave contrails; the engine exhausts are also shielded from ground or air based IR searches. The body of the C18A is covered in newly developed Radar Absorbent Material (RAM). The shape of the plane and the RAM coverings generate a radar return smaller than a robin. Anyone using a ground, ship or air-based radar won’t recognize there’s a large transport airplane in the sky approaching them. The C18A’s electronics also mask its speed; instead of the receiving radar reading the planes true airspeed of 600 knots, their return displays 8 knots confirming they are a bird. In case an enemy fighter does try to attack the C18A, it carries four radar/IR jamming decoys that are towed behind and below the C18A, these attract incoming air to air missiles. The C18A is the first airplane that carries a rear firing laser designed to blind approaching fighter pilots and missile sensors. The C18A was designed to be the stealthiest and safest military transport/insert airplane in the world to deploy troops and their equipment in hostile territory. Colonel Grover is awakened when his communication watch beeps at him, he responds, “Yes?”

“Colonel, pilot here, we’re 50 miles from your drop zone.”

“Thanks, I’ll get my team ready.”

“Everyone up, we’re 50 miles from our drop, let’s get ready, everyone up, turn around and check the man behind and in front of you. Is everyone ready?”

Every one responds, “Yes sir!”

“Remember, our orders are to stay hidden and not attack any civilians unless we’re attacked. From this moment, we’re peace loving citizens of the LSA. Keep all of your weapons hidden. I’ll jump first.”

“Colonel, won’t our chutes show up on their radar?”

“Our chutes are made of a new stealth material; the LSA doesn’t have military grade radar they shouldn’t even see us coming down. If they do, we’ll look like a flock of birds. That’s IF they found a way to get electrical power running. Our experts feel that they won’t have any radar units working.”

Inside the cabin, the pressure drops to equalize it with the outside, the yellow light over the doorway flashes, Grover yells, “One minute.”

“Let’s go!”

They step out of the C18A into darkness. Looking down, all they see is darkness instead of the usual sea of lights LA is known for; tonight they are jumping into a sea of darkness.

The team floats down under black parachutes. They safely land in an empty field. They quickly unbuckle their parachutes, which they roll together and bury in a quickly dug hole. The team makes sure there’s no one around watching them. Grover whispers, “Without power, almost everyone will most likely be inside. Tonight we’ll cold camp in the woods, tomorrow we need to acquire four cars. We all have LSA IDs and LSA money. Our IDs say we work for either the DepLIES or the DepRevenue. I don’t want to steal the cars. Their cars all have tracking chips in them, even without power, a local DepLIES vehicle could interrogate our car to find out it was stolen. We’re going to buy four used cars in the AM. Let’s set up camp and post guards. Try to stay hidden, don’t attract any attentions from the locals.”

The team sets up camp in the woods; they don’t see anyone moving around outside the rest of the evening. In the morning, the team splits up looking for used car lots or cars for sale. Two teams luck out and find a local used car dealership that is overjoyed to start their day by selling a car. The paperwork cleared instantly. This was their first sale since the power went off. The third team found a car for sale sign on a car parked in a parking lot, they followed the directions to the seller’s home which was a block away, the car’s owner and Grover’s Sergeant walked back to the car. The owner explaining the car’s history, he tells the sergeant the only reason, he's selling it, is he’s been laid off due to the lack of electrical power and his government benefits are stuck due to the lack of power. The banks can’t open without power. The owner says, “Man, the USA really screwed us this time. We’re starving; we’re cold and tired. I wish they would just tell us what they want and turn it back on. The Sergeant replies, “I agree. I need to buy a car because the one I ordered can’t be built with the power off and I need to report to my new job with the state government in Portland.”

“How are you going to pay for it? A check or credit card is useless since the banks are closed.”

“How about cash?”

The seller’s eyes grow huge; he replies, “Cash? You have that much in cash?”

“Yes, I sold off all of my furniture when I got the new job. Since my wife passed away, I planned on renting a small furnished apartment. So I have the cash, and really need a good car to get me to Portland.”

“Mine is only a few months old. Never had any problems, full charge on the battery. How do you plan on getting it charged on your way to Portland?”

“I figure I’ll stop at hospitals that still have power to charge it up.”

“Can you do this? We’ve been told not to recharge at hospitals or we’ll be arrested.”

“I work for the DepLIES.”

Once the Sergeant said where he worked, the seller replies, “I think I can give you a very good price on the car.”

The deal concluded quickly; the owner was overjoyed to have the cash and to be able to provide a good deal to a member of the DepLIES. The team has three cars; they are scouting the local area for the fourth when two hours later the fourth team finds a small lot with four cars for sale. The team quickly purchases the fourth car. The team splits itself into the four cars heading to LA. The streets are empty. Grover thinks to himself, I never thought I’d see the day the LA freeways are empty. The 405 used to be jammed 24 hours a day, today we’ve only seen thirty-six other cars. It’s like being in the twilight zone. Without power everyone is staying inside their home. Most can’t charge their cars; no businesses are open except for some of the government offices and of course medical facilities.

@@@@@

At 6:00 PM President Brownstone’s armored limo pulls up to the front guard house at the west wing of the White House. The Marine guard walks to the driver’s door who already has his window down and his secret service ID out for the guard to check. Looking in the back of the limo, the guard sees President Brownstone, he snaps to attention saying, “Sir!”

President Brownstone replies, “Corporal, here’s my ID card.”

“Sir, yes sir. You’re expected. Please pull up to the door on the west side. You’ll be met by an honor guard. Sir, if I may, it’s good to have you back in the House again.”

“Corporal, you’re too young to have been in the Marines when I was President.”

“Sir, you inspired me to join. Your actions in protecting our people. Sir, the way you handled the terrorists and then the way you refused to run for re-election made me so proud that I wanted to serve and protect the country as a Marine like you did.”

“Corporal, thank you for your service. The people of the country are fortunate to have people like you protecting them.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Clicking his radio, the Corporal says, “He’s at the west wing.”

When President Brownstone’s limo pulls up to the west wing door, a Marine honor guard stands at attention saluting the President as he exits the car. President Brownstone steadies himself with his cane. He stands at attention and returns the salute of the honor guard. A Marine Captain approaches the President saying, “Sir, it’s an honor to have you in the House again. We, the Marine honor guard, would like to present you with a small token of our appreciation.”   The Captain reaches behind his back handing over a walking cane painted in the colors of the US Marines. The wooden cane has “Semper Fi” engraved in it. “Sir, on behalf of the US Marine Corps we would like to present you with this cane. Remember, once a Marine, always a Marine. We are proud to be your brothers.”

President Brownstone holds back a tear; he smiles, exchanging canes with the Captain. “Captain, it’ll be my honor to accept and use this cane. I thank the Marines for their duty.”  He salutes the Marines, who return his salute with smiles on their faces. The Honor guard again snaps to attention. President Brownstone enters the White House where two secret service agents are waiting for him. He looks at one of them and smiles saying, “John, are you still on duty? I’d thought you retired.”

“Sir, this is my last year. I was promoted to head of the Presidential detail four years ago.”

“Well, the president couldn’t be in better hands. How’s Molly and Susan?”

The agent is surprised that the President remembered his wife and daughter’s name. “Sir, both are fine, Susan is getting married early next year. We’d be honored if you attended.”

“John, I wouldn’t want my presence to take away from her special day.”

“Sir, Presidents Cruise, and Rand both have agreed to attend.”

“John, in that case count me in. Please warn Susan it’s going to be a media circus and the security with the three of us there very intense for all of her guests.”

“Sir, she’s going to be overjoyed. She hasn’t seen you since the night you ended up babysitting her.”

“Well, it’s not often a sitting president babysits an agent’s daughter.”

“Sir, it’s never happened before. I thought I was going to get fired for bringing her to the House with me.”

“John, to tell you a secret, I made sure you weren’t. You didn’t plan to bring her if I remember correctly; Molly was in the hospital. Every babysitter you tried was booked, so you had no choice but to bring her. You didn’t know I was going to come downstairs. I saw her playing in your office, so I asked her who she was and what she was doing. When she told me, I told her we had some paper and markers she could play with. She followed me to my study where I spent an hour playing with her. I remember the look on your face when you entered my office looking for her. I thought you were going to faint.”

“Sir, I’ve faced being shot, I’ve faced terrorists, I’ve faced people trying to break into the House, I’ve faced a lot of strange situations, yet when I saw you, the sitting president, sitting at your conference table playing with my daughter, I was speechless. To top it off, when the First Lady brought her cookies and milk I almost did faint. I couldn’t believe the first family was babysitting my daughter. I still have trouble believing it.”

“I remember we had the house photographer take pictures of us together so she would remember it. Does she still have the pictures?”

“Sir, she has them framed in her living room. Everyone who sees them is surprised.”

“I’m glad. When you retire, you and Molly should spend a weekend at my house.”

“Sir, Molly and I would be pleased to. President Rand is waiting for you. Shall we go?”

“Lead on.”

The two men reach the Oval Office, President Rand’s secretary says, “Mr. President, please go in, he’s waiting for you.”

President Brownstone enters the Oval Office where he sees President Rand and Vice President Lee. “Hello, Mr. President and Vice President.”

“Rod, we can do away with titles.” Says a smiling President Rand. “Rod, thank you for coming. Before dinner, we’d like to pick your brain about the situation between us and the LSA. The only thing,we had time to cover this morning, was sending the Colonel out west to decapitate the LSA.”

“Do you mean the civil war I spent my presidency trying to avoid?”

“Yes, that situation.”

“What can I do for you?”

“We know President Grameniko has agreed to support the LSA and is sending troops and equipment. We think our blockade will capture them before they reach our shores.”

Smiling, President Brownstone replies, “No you won’t. I bet the Russians have already landed them in the LSA and may have already crossed into our territory.”

The Oval Office falls silent. Vice President Lee asks, “Sir, how can you say that?”

Rod continues, “Because Grameniko wouldn’t have agreed to send troops unless he had a plan how to get around our blockade. His military wouldn’t have agreed to send troops unless they had a way to get into the LSA and the USA. The last thing Grameniko wants, is to have his people caught by our Navy. If we caught him sending troops, he knows we’d attack Mother Russia. Since we blacked out Russia and the LSA, he had to agree to assist Bloomberg. My guess is somewhere along the border or just across it is a group of Russians waiting for the order to attack.”

The Oval Office is quiet again, President Rand asks, “Where do you think they will attack?”

“If I were Bloomberg and Grameniko I’d pick a city that would cause us the most harm and also give them a boost back home. The target city would be close to the border to minimize their travel time in the USA, giving us less time to see them. As such, my guess is Las Vegas.”

Vice President Lee replies, “Las Vegas? Why in heaven’s name Las Vegas?”

“One, because there is tons of money there, think of it as a giant bank robbery they can solve a number of their financial ills by bringing home a billion or more each. Second, it’s a city they know we won’t bomb because the casino owners are powerful people who would be very upset with us for damaging their assets. Thirdly, there are a lot of their citizens who vacation in Vegas, Bloomberg can claim he’s helping bring them home because we kidnapped them. He’ll hold the city hostage until we turn their power back on. When the power returns and they’re done stealing the money from the city, both will be heroes to their people. Grameniko will want us to share some of our technology with them. If we surrender or give in to them, they win. Attacking Las Vegas becomes a double win for them.”

President Rand and Vice President Lee are quiet for a long time; President Brownstone sips his coffee. After a couple of silent minutes, President Rand says, “What can we do to stop them?”

“First, let’s assume the Russians are already in the LSA. I bet if we review surveillance from the past few days we’re going to find a couple of overloaded ships full of fit soldiers. Second, what military force do we have near Las Vegas? I’ve lost track of what’s going on at Base 51 and the other bases. Does the Air Force still fly Red Flag training outside Vegas? Since Fort Irwin was closed in California and moved to Nevada, is it still active? When I was President, there were two battalions of armor at the national training center. Is the base still open? We used to have Russian military equipment there and if they’re still there we can use it against the Russians. They may be confused by fighting against their own equipment. I think we ought to issue a full alert to Pendleton, I’d get them moving towards Vegas tonight.  What’s at Nellis? The Russians have never seen our new anti-tank rail guns, nor have they fought against our new infantry weapons. I suggest calling in the Joint Chiefs, let’s discuss a battle plan with them.”

Picking up the phone on his desk, President Rand says, “Please ask the Joint Chiefs to join us in the Situation Room, tell them to bring their best strategic planners.”

At the Pentagon, the Chairman of the Joint Staffs tells his aide, “I think we should take two birds to the White House, alert the secret service that we’ll be landing on the south lawn.”

Fifteen minutes later the two helicopters land on the south lawn. The military staff is escorted to the Situation Room where they find Presidents Rand, Brownstone and Vice President Lee, waiting for them. President Brownstone gives the military leaders an overview of his thoughts. The Chairman listens and asks permission to call the surveillance room at the Pentagon. Tapes from the previous three days are uploaded to the White House secure network.  The fourteen people sit around the conference table eating a light dinner watching the recorded tapes. When the videos from Blue flight start, the CNO leans forward saying, “Son of a bitch.”

Everyone looks at him, he continues, “Look at the video, those aren’t normal cruise passengers. Those are soldiers. There're too many men, notice the lack of women. The ship is overloaded, also notice none is in bathing suits. Whoever released the F35 from this flight should be fired.” The CNO picks up the phone to the Pentagon, “I want to know when ship on track LA 112 docked and if we have any images of the people leaving the ship.” He turns his attention back to the videos, “Look at the second cruise ship. Somehow the Russians took the passengers off the cruise ship while loading them with troops.”

President Brownstone says, “Admiral, those ships won’t hold their heavy weapons and vehicles, where are those?”

“Mr. President, my guess would be they’re on an RO/RO ship.”

President Brownstone nods his head in agreement, “I agree; I bet we don’t watch those very closely because they only carry cars and trucks, right? I also bet since the original agreement that we could use the ports of Long Beach and Seattle to ship cars from Asia is still in place so they knew we wouldn’t be paying any attention to the car carrying ships.”

The CNO responds, “Sir, you’re correct. We perform fly byes and do a quick check if nothing looks out of the ordinary and if the ship is carrying cars for us we usually leave it alone.”

“They know that. I bet at least one of those ships is loaded with tanks and APCs. Admiral, when did the cruise ship, arrive at port?”

“Three days ago.”

“Then they could already be at or across the border.”

“Yes sir. Sir, we easily outnumber them. At Pendleton alone we have 42,000 people, including the I Marine Expeditionary Force composed of the 1st Marine Division, 3rd Marine Aircraft Wing, 1st Marine Logistics Group, 11th, 13th and the 15th Marine Expeditionary Units.  There’s also the 1st Air Naval Gunfire Liaison Company and the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade. There are also two armored battalions at the new National Training Center. We have a fighter wing at Topanga and one at Nellis. We should have no problems kicking the Russians off our soil.”

President Rand replies, “Admiral that’s all fine, however, if as President Brownstone said, the Russians are already in position, they could hit us while we’re in transit. Plus they know we’re not going to bomb the city. If they get into the center of the city, we’re going to have a problem digging them out with all of the civilians in the city. I don’t want our or other civilians harmed.”

The Commandant of the US Marine Corps replies, “Sir, I’d like to send a Marine Force Recon team into Vegas to check it out.”

President Rand says, “Approved. I also suggest we fly an Aurora over the city to see if their sensors spot anything out of the ordinary.”

General Wilson, the commanding general of the US Air Force, replies, “Sir, we’ll have an Aurora up and over the city within fifteen minutes. It doesn’t have far to fly from its base, Area 51. It’ll send the video live to us here.”

@@@@@

Russian Commanding General Chekov orders his people to move as quickly as possible to Las Vegas. They bribed their way across the border. Chekov unloads his people in the desert 20 kilometers outside of the city. He plans to capture the city as the sun rises. He knows most of the city will be sleeping and captured unaware of the invasion. He orders a cold camp for the evening. He doesn’t want any American sensor to spot a thermal image from their camp fires. Unknown to the Russian general, a high-flying surveillance airplane, the Aurora, has overflown their position three times. Flying at 100,000 feet and at Mach 5 the spy plane makes five circular passes over Las Vegas. The images are sent live to the Pentagon and the White House. The pilot continues to circle while her images are reviewed in Washington DC.

“Blackbird one, hold for the NCA actual.”

The pilot thought to herself, oh shit, the President himself. I didn’t expect to get orders directly from the White House.

“Major do you copy?”

“Sir, I copy 5 by 5.”

“Major, good job getting up so quickly. Frankly it’s amazing. How did you manage that?”

“Sir, we were prepping the bird for a flight over the Pacific tonight, all I had to do, was change the coordinates of the target.”

“Major, the images you captured are excellent quality. We’d like you to take another pass 12 miles west of the city. Can you manage that?”

“Sir, already handling it, you should have the images within a minute, I just overflew the location.”

“Major, we have them, you can RTB, when you do, refuel and be ready to take her up again if we need more pictures.”

Chekov’s handheld radio pings, “Da?”

“Sir, we’ve been overflown by a high flying aircraft.”

“How high? Commercial?”

“Sir, unless American commercial planes fly at Mach 5, it’s their new blackbird.”

“OK, we have to assume they somehow found us. Sound the alarm, we’ll attack tonight.”

Chekov climbs aboard his T90 main battle tank leading his 288 vehicles towards Las Vegas, which has no idea an invader is twelve miles away and closing every minute.

While the Russian tanks are advancing on Las Vegas, Ron, Bev, Brad and Kathy are enjoying cocktails at a formal dinner in the ballroom of the Wynn hotel. Ron introduced his friends to the Mayor, Chief of Police, and the Wynn’s owner. Brad taps Ron on his shoulder saying, “Hey buddy, it looks like you’ve made some high-brow friends out here. By the way, who is the surprise guest?”

“Are you sure you want to know?”

“Yes.”

“Come with me.”

The two walk towards the left corner of the room, they see a middle-aged man in a black tuxedo with a black shirt and black bow tie. “Brad, I’d like to introduce you to Commander Jack Lewis of the LSA DepLIES. Jack, this is my oldest and best friend, Brad.”

Jack extends his hand, “Hello Brad, any friend of Ron’s is one of mine. Welcome to Las Vegas the only sin city still open.”

Brad’s eyes widen in surprise. Jack laughs saying, “You’re thinking what’s a commander in the DepLIES doing in Las Vegas, aren’t you?”

“Yes I am.”

“We have many of our citizens visit Las Vegas every year. We’ve reached an agreement with your State Department to allow us to have a small group of agents in the city to help resolve any issues that might come up between our citizens.”

Before Ron can say anything else, two very attractive blonds grab Jack’s arms, saying, “You’ve got to try these new drinks the bartender made for us.”

Ron laughs saying, “He’s very popular in some circles. The Casino owners and Chief have an agreement with him to help keep order in the city. He does a lot of favors for the city.”

“I can’t believe there’s a nest of DepLIES snakes right here in the city and you’re friends with them.”

“Brad, things are not always what they appear to be.”

Before Brad can respond, someone yells, “Hey there’s something going on to the west, there're flashes of light.” Before anyone can respond, the shopping mall across the street from the hotel explodes. Ron stares out of the window from the 44th-floor ballroom. He turns to Brad, “Get Kathy and Bev out of here. Take them to the basement. There’s a VIP parking garage under the hotel take them there.”

“Ron?”

“Brad, someone just fired artillery or a rocket at the mall, or a terrorist struck the mall. We could be the next target. I don’t know what’s going on, so take our women to safety until we figure out what’s going on. The forty-four floor isn’t going to be safe. I’ll join you as soon as I can.”

“Bev, Kath, come with me right now! We’ve got to go before everyone panics.”

While most of the other guests are staring out of the window, Bev and Kathy join Brad who starts leading them towards the service elevator; Bev asks, “What’s going on?”

“We have to get out of here as quickly and quietly as we can.”

“Why? They haven’t served dinner yet.”

“The mall across the street just exploded, Ron wants us out of here ASAP.”

Bev responds, “Oh, in that case, what’s taking you so long? Let’s go.”

The three of them ride the elevator down 44 floors, on the ground floor they see hundreds of people staring across the street, thousands more are on the street watching the mall burn. Brad says, “Ron said there’s a garage under the hotel.”

Bev replies while pulling at Kathy’s arm, “This way; there’s a VIP parking elevator around the corner. It’s hidden in a hallway marked no entrance. One needs a passcard to enter.”

Kathy asks, “How are we going to get in?”

Bev reaches into her handbag showing them a small gold colored VIP parking pass card. “Ron helps the casinos, they all give us special perks. This is one of them. We’re parked in the VIP underground garage.”

“Bev, how many entrances and exits are there?”

“Brad, one each at opposite ends of the garage. Did Ron say we should go anywhere?”

“No, he said we should go to the underground garage and wait for him.”

“Our car is on the second level. He’ll most likely expect us to meet him there.”

They take the elevator to the second level of the VIP garage. Bev points out, “The VIP garage is also a shelter. The entrance and exits can be sealed. The hotel is separated from the garage by reinforced barriers. This entire structure is a stand-alone bunker.”  Their car is parked two rows from the elevator door. Bev says, “Brad, there’s some items in our trunk I think we may need.” Opening the trunk she pulls out a 12 gauge pump shotgun and an M4. Bev points to a gym bag with 100 shotgun shells and ten 30 round M4 magazines. There’s also two Glock semi-auto handguns and 20 filled magazines. Bev takes the M4 handing Brad the shotgun saying, “I know you know how to use this.”

“Yea, I do. What else is in here?”

“An armored vest.”

Pulling on the vest over his Tuxedo, Brad notices it’s a plate carrier with front, back, and side armor plates. The front has pockets for six magazines that he fills with shotgun shells. “I guess now we wait.” Before anything else can be said the floor of the garage shakes, there’s a loud BOOM outside. Brad’s thinking, Not good. Sounds like a war out there. All those people standing in the street are going to die if they don’t get under cover. Even in the underground garage/bunker they hear people screaming.

Chapter 5

A stealth drone, which can fly for 24 hours, circling over Las Vegas sends live video feeds of two columns of Russian main battle tank to the White House Situation Room wall monitors. President Rand says, “Shit, it’s started.” Those in the Situation Room are able to watch the muzzle flashes from the tanks firing on the city. “How far away are the Marines?”

The Commandant replies, “Sir, they are least four hours away.”

President Brownstone says, “General, this is going to be over in four hours. Any way you can get some of your people to the city quicker?”

“Mr. President, the quickest my Marines can reach the city will be three hours. The vehicles can only travel as fast as the slowest one in the convoy can move. We can get some Air Police and Air Security staff from Nellis in a few minutes. They have a very limited staff. I think Nellis can also get a couple F35As or F16s over the city in twenty minutes.”

President Rand asks, “Can we hit the Russians with cruise missiles? Air Force, what about a bombing run from Nellis? Marines, get your planes into the air and headed to Vegas right now, Army, get your tanks to Vegas. Damn it, they surprised us. We should have seen this coming. President Brownstone just suggested to us this was going to be their target. How did we miss seeing their plans?”

The four service chiefs pick up phones in front of each of them to talk to their staffs, the head of the Air Force picks his head up saying, “Mr. President, we have a B2 at Topanga that is being armed, it can be over the Russian force in 25 minutes. Sir, we have a prototype B3 there too, we can have it over Vegas in an hour. We have four F15Es that were on a training mission, they are only armed with guns, they will be over the city within a couple of minutes. Nellis is surging F35s and F16s, they can have armed planes over the city within 30 minutes.”

President Rand says, “Permission given to do whatever required. Get everything you can to the city.”

The CNO says, “Mr. President, we have DDG 113, the John Finn, in the Pacific; she can have Tomahawks on target in 60 minutes. Sir, we need to either select a specific target or have a forward observer on site to mark targets for the Tomahawks, we don’t want to strike a hotel filled with people.”

“Commandant, when can you get a forward observation team into the city?”

“Mr. President, we can land a team at the east end of the city in ten minutes, they’ll have to work their way to the west end which can take them an hour.”

“Commandant, get them moving. I don’t want to fire cruise missiles without eyes on the ground. The Admiral is right, firing blind can yield a high collateral damage toll on our people.”

The CNO adds, “Sir, we could target the Russian base camp versus their positions in the city. We can hit their camp with sub-munitions. We can damage their supply dump which should slow their forward progress.”

“Excellent idea. Why didn’t you suggest it up front?”

“Because we didn’t know where their base was until the Aurora and the drone overflew it. It’s safer to strike them in the desert.”

“Admiral, hit them. Hit them hard!”

The Situation Room has been turned into a war room with military staff rushing in and out of the room. Large monitors show the movement of blue forces and the Russian/LSA forces as the red invaders. Large red arrows show advances in the city of Las Vegas. The maps show dotted red arrows of Russian transports flying towards the new country of Quebec.

An aide sticks his head into the Situation Room, “Mr. President, we have a call from the mayor of Las Vegas, line two.”

“Hello, Mr. Mayor, this is President Rand. You are on speaker in the Situation Room with the Vice President, President Brownstone and the Joint Chiefs. Can you give us a first-hand account of what’s going on in your city?”

“Mr. Presidents, Mr. Vice President, Admiral, Generals, a few minutes ago we came under attack from artillery and tank fire. There is a large armed force approaching the city from the West. The outlet and Fashion Center malls have been destroyed, there is also smoke over the airport. I have no idea why the shopping malls were destroyed.  I have received a call from a Russian General Chekov asking me to surrender the city.”

“Mr. Mayor, they struck the shopping malls to get your attention. Do you have casualties?”

“Mr. President, they got our attention alright. Yes, we have casualties. However, I don’t have a number of them yet. There is mass panic in the streets and hotels. How far away is help?”

”Mr. Mayor, the Air Force will begin attacks within 30 minutes.”

“Mr. President, I think this will be over in 30 minutes. They will have entered the city by then. Once they enter the city, hitting the invaders will also hit civilians. It will be hard to separate them from us.”

“Mr. Mayor, please keep us informed of their progress. We have a force of Marines coming from Camp Pendleton, they will arrive in force in about three hours. We have some Air Force fighters which should be over the city very quickly; we’re sending all of the forces to support you we can.”

“Mr. President, there are helicopters over the city, they are broadcasting through loudspeakers to the people to stay indoors. I’m going to look outside to see if I can see them. Please give me a minute to check outside.” Three minutes later, “Mr. President, I’m back, there are five Russian helicopters over the city, and they just shot down two news helicopters. The news helicopters were approaching the Russians when missiles were fired at them. Both exploded in mid-air. They are telling everyone to stay indoors and the airspace over the city is closed, any aircraft that flies will be shot down. They also announced they’ve captured McCarran airport.

“Mr. Mayor, order all of your news helicopters to stay on the ground. Any, who approach the invaders, will most likely be shot down.”

Everyone in the Situation Room hears a series of explosions. “Mr. Mayor, what was that?”

“Mr. President that was part of city hall being blown up. I’ve been handed a report saying Russian planes are landing at McCarran. My aide, who’s at the airport, reported that Russian troops are exiting the planes and they’ve taken control of the airport. They’re not letting anyone enter or exit the terminal.”

President Rand presses the mute button, he turns to the chairman, “Find those damn Russian transports and shoot them down, don’t let them gain local air control. Get your fighters on site NOW.”   Releasing the mute button, he says, “We’re going to try to stop their air bridge. If I have to, I’m prepared to take out your airport.”

“Mr. President, the terminal was full of civilians. There must be ten thousand people at the airport.” Before he can continue the line goes dead. President Rand asks, “What happened?”

President Brownstone responds, “I’d guess his office got hit. I think we lost the mayor.”

An aide rushes into the Situation Room saying, “Mr. President, turn on the TV, any channel, everyone is reporting Las Vegas is under attack. Panic is spreading across both the USA and LSA.”

Turning on the televisions, the group in the Situation Room watches the invasion live. They see the news helicopter shot down, they see the city hall building explode, they see Russian and LSA airlines landing at McCarran airport disgorging hundreds of Russian shock troops who run towards the terminal. While they’re watching, they see four USA gray fighters quickly flying toward the city, three Russian helicopters are shot down in the fighter’s first pass. The fighters turn around and race to the airport where they start shooting at the landed Russian and LSA planes on the tarmac. The fighters only have their internal cannons which run through their ammo in two passes blowing up two of the planes unloading troops. President Rand says, “That’s better.”

The Air Force General says, “Sir, the F15s will land at Nellis where we’ll arm them with bombs, they should be back in the air within forty-five minutes. The B2 and B3 will be over the city any minute.”

The group watches the four gray fighters turn to the north with five smoke trails chasing them. Someone in the room says, “MANPADS!” The fighters release flares, three of the missiles follow the flares, two small missiles pass the flares following and striking one of the F15s. “That was an expensive loss,” says the Vice President. “I thought we had better defenses against MANPADS.”

General of the Air Force says, “Sir, the two F15s were on a training flight we ordered them to fly at their max speed to Vegas, they weren’t carrying our latest weapons or defensive systems. The next wave will do better.”

President Rand says, “Well the entire country now knows we’re under attack. Schedule time for me to address the nation in thirty minutes. Get me Grameniko on the hot line, I think it’s time to have a discussion with him. Chairman, put us on DEFCON 1, all forces.”

“Yes sir, DEFCON 1, all forces.”

“General, set Threatcon Delta at all bases.  Permission is granted to engage all submarines off our coasts. Close the air space over the country, I want every civilian airplane grounded or shot down. I want to teach the Russians and liberals they just made the biggest mistake possible by invading and taking American lives. Strategic Command, get the nuclear forces ready for action. Load the B2s with nukes, permission to arm the few prototype B3s is approved. Inform all strategic commands the strategic target is Russia.”

People start running in and out of the Situation Room, the Secret Service enters saying, “Mr. Presidents, you have to go to the war bunker. It’s not safe here. Under DEFCON 1, you have to be in a secure bunker.”

“We’re going.”

Both Presidents, the Vice President and the Chairman go to the White House War Room bunker buried under the White House. The bunker under the White House has been expanded in the previous ten years. There are also hardened bunkers for the executive branch, the State Department and the Department of Homeland Security, all are connected via an underground mass transport system tunneled under Washington. The underground government bunker system has hidden exits that connect with the Andrews Joint Use Base, one that connects with the underground bunker at the Pentagon and one that connects with the underground bunker at the NSA.

As they’re leaving the Situation Room, the television stations show a series of explosions from precision bombs from the B2 and B3 flying high over the city. A minute later the television shows a wall of fire among a group of the Russian troops as the two US bombers dropped napalm on the Russians followed by four cruise missiles flying over the Russian camp dropping softball sized explosives which destroy most of the camp. Some of the aides cheer the pictures. A general yells, “Stop that, this isn’t a football game, this is war, people are dying out there.”

The CNO calls the captain of the USS John Finn, “Captain can you target the runways at McCarran with Tomahawks?”

“Yes sir, we can have two over the runways within sixty minutes.”

“Captain, you have weapons free, take out the runways and close the airport. Do NOT, repeat do NOT hit the terminal.”

“Yes sir.”

@@@@@

Sean’s cell phone rings, looking at the caller ID he thinks, Why is my producer calling me tonight? I might as well take it and see what he wants. “Hello Phil, what’s up?”

“Sean, haven’t you seen the news?”

“Honestly, no. I just boarded a government flight to D.C.  I was reading and preparing for a breakfast meeting tomorrow with Rash.”

“Sean, I assume the plane has a TV, I think you should turn it on ASAP. I don’t think you’ll be having your breakfast with Rash tomorrow, in fact, they want you back here at the station right now. They want you on the air as soon as possible.”

“Huh, what’s going on?”

“Sean, in a single word, invasion.”

“Who did we invade?”

“NO, we’ve been invaded! We’re at war.”

Before Sean can react, the pilot says, “Sir, I have to ask you to fasten your seatbelt, we’re ready to taxi, we should be in D.C. in ninety minutes.”

Turning on the TV Sean sees the pictures from Las Vegas, he says, “Oh my God. When did this happen?”

“Less than an hour ago, we need you on the air as soon as you arrive.”

“I’m on a plane to D.C., Joan and Ted are with me, we’re taxing from the gate, I’ll land in ninety minutes?”

“Where are you staying in D.C.?”

“At the White House.”

“You better check on that. We’ve booked you a suite at the D.C. Hilton in case the White House is closed tonight. Can you call into to the station from the plane? We need to get you on the air as soon as possible.”

Sean presses the ‘call button’ over his seat, a flight attendant, who's really a sergeant in the US Air Force, responds, “Sir, what do you need?”

“Can I use my phone in the air?”

“Yes sir, we also have a full communications suite on board. Once we’re wheels up, I’ll be happy to show it to you. We have a communications tech on board who can connect you to anyone.”

“Thank you. I’d like to speak with Rash, who is at the White House and then connect to my station.”

“Sir, we can connect you to the White House right now. There’s a phone handset in the seat back in front of you. When the green light on the handset flashes pick it up, you’ll be connected to the White House switchboard.”

“Thank you.”

Two minutes later, the green LED flashes on the handset, Sean picks the handset up, he hears, “White House Switchboard.”

“This is Sean Hannd on a US Air Force plane, can you connect me to Rash Linebacker?”

“Mr. Hannd, yes sir, please hold for Mr. Linebacker.”

“Sean, I assume you’re on the plane.”

“Sure am. What the hell is going on? Who’s attacking us? How bad is it? Have we struck back?”

“I’ll fill you in on everything when you land. I’ll have a car waiting for you at Andrews. I’ll fill you in on everything we know. By the way, don’t be concerned by your escort, you’ll have two armed fighters flying escort for you on your way here.”

“Fighters?”

“Sean, the air space is closed for all commercial flights. We don’t know where they’re going to strike next. The fighters are there for your protection. I’ll send you a briefing paper to the communications center on the plane.”

“Can I use it for broadcast?”

“You’ll see the parts which are clearly marked secret, those cannot be broadcast.”

“I understand.”

“I’ll see you in ninety minutes.”

While Sean and Rash are finishing their chat, Sean feels the plane take off; looking out the window, he sees two F15s slide next to his flight. He waves at the pilot from his window. The F15 wags his wings to show he saw the wave. Sean notices the fighter is armed with live missiles, versus the blue painted training rounds he usually sees the fighters carry. The flight attendant hands Sean an envelope marked SECRET in red.

“Thank you.”

“Sir, the communications console is ready when you are.”

“Thank you, I want to read this first.”

Reading the ten single-spaced typed pages Sean shakes his head. He takes out his pen making notes in the margins of the report. He gets up from his seat, as the plane hits a pocket of rough air. Sean has to hold on to each seat as he makes his way to the rear of the plane where the communications console and technician are waiting for him. Sean says, “Hi, I’m Sean Hannd.”

“Yes sir, I recognize you. How can I be of assistance to you?”

“Can you connect me to my station?”

“Sir, I could connect you to the Kremlin if requested.”

Nodding, Sean replies, “I would like to be connected to my station in D.C., here’s the private number for the control room.”

“Sir, we already have that number.”

Wondering how they have the number Sean nods his head in agreement. A moment later, the tech nods his head handing Sean a handset. “Hello, this is Sean.”

“Sean, Phil here, we’re going to put you on the air in five minutes. Are you up on the situation?”

“Yes, I have been given a briefing by the White House.”

“In which case, you’re on in two minutes, I’ll count down from twenty seconds; twenty, nineteen, eighteen….”

“Ladies and gentlemen, Sean Hannd is on a US Air Force airplane on his way to Washington, D.C., he’s personally been briefed on the current situation by the White House, as such, we’re going to interrupt our normal program and bring Sean into the discussion. Now joining the Bill O’Really show is Sean Hannd on board a US Air Force plane.”

Bill says, “Sean thank you for joining us. You must really rate to be on an Air Force plane. Who’s on it with you?”

“Bill, two of my crew and myself are the only passengers. I was invited to join Rash for breakfast at the White House when the current situation developed. I’ve been given a briefing paper prepared by the White House.”

“Sean, can you share the details with our viewers?”

“Bill, most of it. We’ve been invaded by the LSA and their ally, the Russian Federation. They snuck troops and equipment into California where they staged an attack against Las Vegas, Nevada. We were caught by surprise. The Navy and Air Force have struck their base camp which is about 12 miles to the southwest of the city. The Russians have taken over McCarran airport. The premium outlet and Fashion Center malls were both attacked and are burning out of control. The City Hall building has been destroyed while the Mayor and City Council were inside discussing the situation.”

Bill asks, “Sean, any word on civilian causalities?”

“Not yet. They don’t seem to be going after civilians, they seem to want to hold them hostage in the hotels on the strip.”

“Why would they want to hold the civilians hostage?”

“I’d bet Bloomberg is doing it so he has something to exchange for their power being turned back on.”

“That makes perfect sense. I wonder if President Rand will accept the exchange.”

“I doubt it. I heard from a close friend that President Brownstone is in the White House advising President Rand. Those two are going to look for blood.”

“Sean, I’d hate to have to go against those two. I’m concerned that President Brownstone will use weapons of mass destruction against the LSA and the Russian Federation.”

“Bill, I don’t think they’ll use nukes against the LSA, those were our people, they didn’t have anything to do with the attack on our children. Bloomberg and his henchmen in the DepLIES pulled it off. If I were President Bloomberg, I’d be worried about an assassination team coming after me. There are still plenty of rumors that President Brownstone sent a team to Moscow to kill President Puten. In the twelve years since he died from an accident, no one has broken their silence, nor have the Russians ever released any information on what killed President Puten.”

“Sean, I’m sure you agree, the United States doesn’t employ wet works teams. That’s something from the cold war. The Soviet Union used them to take out their enemies. I could understand the Russians or Cubans, most of the Latin American countries and even some of the Middle Eastern countries, but not us. That’s something we haven’t done since the early 1960’s. There’s no way we killed President Puten. We didn’t do it then, there’s no way we would revert to using a hit team now.”

“Bill, I want to agree with you. It’s just that when President Brownstone and Cruise were in office, a lot of heads of state and terrorists disappeared. Either we had some sort of secret weapon or our hostage rescue team, the Delta Squad, was turned into an assassination squad. If not them, then we had, or maybe still have a secret hit team. I guess they’re used for tasks that require a personal touch and the ability to disappear when they’re finished. If I were Bloomberg, I’d look for a hiding spot where no one could find me.”

“Sean, can you say where you’re headed and why you’re on an Air Force plane?”

“Bill, I’m on an Air Force plane because the air space over the country is closed. I was invited to the White House, the quickest and easiest way to get me from Burlington, North Carolina to Washington, D.C., was via air. I’ll be landing in about an hour.”

“Do you know why you were asked to come to the White House?”

“Bill, I wasn’t told. Rash invited me to join him for breakfast in the White House. He didn’t give me any details.”

“Sean, before we let you go, did you happen to catch your friend Wolf on television earlier?”

“Yes, I thought he knew better than to say the things he did on public television. I feel sorry for him. Either he was following a script given to him by Bloomberg or he’s crazy for shooting his mouth off the way he did. He could have placed himself in serious danger.”

“Have you considered reaching out to him?”

“I was going to until I heard his remarks this evening.”

“Have a safe trip,” Bill says as they both hang up.

When Sean and his staff arrive at Andrews Air Force Base, the driver has a message waiting for him. His producer and the CEO of Wolf Network News asked him to come to the studio before going to the White House. Sean asks the driver of the black Tahoe that’s waiting for him to take him to the D.C. Wolf News studio. The driver replies, “Sir, Rash asked me to hand you this note. He said you may want to be taken to your studio first. He said he’s sorry he couldn’t make it to the airport. He’s tied up in a meeting. He asked me to stay with you and take you to the House after your program this evening. He’ll join you for breakfast.”

“Thank you, please take the three of us to our studio.”

Sean faces Joan and Ted, “Guys, I know I promised to drop you off at Dulles, however, I’ve been asked to go to the studio.  Since the two of you have been with me on the entire program I’d like you to accompany me. I promise to have you dropped off at Dulles after we see what’s going on.”

Joan and Ted nod in their agreement.

Arriving at the studio Sean is met at the curb by his producer, “Sean I hope you’ve brought a tie, because there’s no time for you to change. You’ll get a quick make-up and you’re on the air.”

Sean jogs into the studio holding his tablet full of notes he’s written in the limo. Make-up brushes his face with blush as he clips on his mic. Within four minutes of entering the network offices, he’s on the air. “Good evening America, this is Sean Hannd. Tonight is a special program, ‘America invaded.’ We’re going to look at the images from Las Vegas that are happening live. All we know at this time, is two hours ago a Russian armored battalion opened fire on Las Vegas. At the same time, Russian and LSA commercial airliners landed at McCarran International Airport, on board these planes were Russian shock troops. They captured the control tower and terminal. Additional troops landed every ten minutes before American fighters zoomed in and strafed the troop carrying airliners. The Las Vegas city hall has been destroyed as has the Fashion Center shopping mall and the Las Vegas Premium Outlet Mall. While no official casualty numbers have been released, we know from reviewing the images that hundreds, if not thousands, are dead or injured. Getting real-time images from Las Vegas has been very hard, the Russians shot down three news helicopters. The Rand administration has closed the airspace over the United States. We have rumors from southern Nevada saying five commercial airliners inbound to Las Vegas have been shot down in transit to Las Vegas. We have phone contact with a few local residents, first on the line is Jack.”

“Jack, what can you see or hear?”

“Sean, I live just off the strip, there have been many explosions. The sky is filled with the reflections of fires along the strip. I’ve heard gun shots on the strip. I also heard tanks. Two went past my house about twenty minutes ago. I belong to the North Vegas Militia, when I hang up, my brothers, sisters and I are going to counter-attack the Russians.”

“Jack, is that safe?”

“Someone has to fight them red bastards.”

“Jack have you seen any American forces in the city?”

“I’ve heard fighters over the city. One of my brothers-in-arms told me all of the Russian helicopters were shot down. The Russians have fired a lot of surface-to-air missiles at our fighters. I don’t know if they hit any or not. About ten minutes ago I watched four smoke trails chase one of our fighters to the horizon. I don’t know what happen to the fighter.”

“Has there been any notices or information given to the people of the city from the Russians?”

“They jammed our local television after telling us to stay indoors. They said if we stay inside we won’t be hurt. If we’re found outside, we’ll be killed.”

“Jack, don’t you think it’s a good idea to stay in your home?”

“Sean, you’re a brave and good American, so are we. We’re going to bring hell’s fury to the Russians. Sean, if I don’t make it, these are my last words, hear my voice America. Don’t let the invaders win! There are hundreds of millions of us armed, join us. Join us fighting the red bastards. We haven’t been invaded since 1812. We pushed the British out then, we can push the Russians out now. America, join us. Rise up and help us push the invaders off of our land!”

“Jack, I really don’t think that’s a good idea. I’m sure our military is going to launch a counter attack. If you’re in the middle you’re going to catch fire from both sides.”

“Sean, thank you for your concern. I have to go now. Someone has to fight for our freedoms. Our ground forces haven’t shown up yet, we’re going to soften the invaders up for the Army or Marines. I was a Marine in the second Gulf war; remember my brothers and sisters, Semper Fi!”

Jack hangs up the phone. He grabs his AR15, magazine bag, side arm, and militia hat. Outside his door are thirty-six of his friends. Jack says, “Ready to kick some Russian ass?”

The others nod yes, they start making their way to the front. They are making their way to the sound of the fighting.  They slip onto the strip from Flamingo Road, in front of them they see forty Las Vegas police officers behind a barricade of cars and trucks exchanging fire with a platoon of Russian soldiers. The police see the militia members coming to join them, one says, “Go home. This isn’t a place for you.”

Jack responds, “We’re here to help. We’re Americans. We’re the North Vegas Militia. We’re the reason for the second amendment.” Before Jack can complete his speech, Jack’s brothers and sisters start opening fire at the Russians who are surprised at the additional volume of fire coming their way. The police officer is happy to see the militia are firing with decent accuracy. He says, “OK, stay, but keep your heads down. There’s a platoon of them in front of us. Every once in a while they poke their heads up and try to advance on us. Here they come again.”

This time, the police fire is joined by the militia, the Russians are taken by surprise. All are either killed or wounded in their charge. One of the police officers says, “I’ll never speak ill of you guys again, you most likely saved our lives. What are you planning on doing next?”

Jack responds, “Kill more Russians. We can stay with you as you advance. We’ll provide you with additional firepower. We have plenty of ammo if you guys need some.”

“How much is plenty?”

Jack laughs, “We have over 5,000 rounds with us.”

“That’s good, think we’re going to need it. We’ve been wondering when our troops are going to arrive.”

Jack replies, “I’d guess within a couple of hours. They have to come from San Diego and the National Training Center. I think the Air Force or Navy fighters will be here any minute.” Before he can complete the sentence two dark gray planes fly silently over their heads, they see two cylinders drop from each plane, Jack and the police officer both yell, “GET DOWN! NAPALM!” The cylinders strike the street exploding in a wall of flames. The windows in the hotels along the strip are blown out, everything under the burning gas is burnt to a cinder. The four jets flash out from between the hotels, they bank to make another pass when six missiles chase the planes. All of the missiles fail to strike the planes. Jack dials the Wolf News Network from his cell, “This is Jack, I spoke with Sean about ten minutes ago, I want to send you a short video from my phone of a strike on the Russians.”

“Do you own the video?”

“Yes, I took it.”

“OK, send it, when we review it, one of our people will contact you at this number.”

Jack uploads the video which is on the air within two minutes. He gets a call from Sean’s producer asking him for his bank information. Phil clicks on his laptop depositing $20,000 into his account for the video. Jack says, “I’ll be sending you more soon.”

Sean says, “We have a video from the Las Vegas Strip from Jack, who we recently spoke with.” Showing the video, Sean says, “That looks like a B2 and something I’ve never seen before; they just dropped napalm on a platoon of Russians.” One of the cameramen says loud enough for it to be picked up, “crispy critters.” A line which is repeated all evening.

@@@@@

President Grameniko calls General Chekov, “General, what’s your progress?”

“Mr. President, we’re in the city, the Americans have been able to respond quicker than we projected. However, at this minute my people are rushing inside all of the major hotels. They’ll hold the people as hostages while the specialists rob the casinos. Our hackers will break into their networks. Once in, they’ll follow the plan to hack into their banks and transfer their funds to us. We should see a very pretty profit from this. There’s no way the Americans can dislodge us without massive damage to their casinos, hotels, and people.”

“General, excellent. Keep the Americans focused on your position. I’m going to release phase 2 which should come as a very rude surprise to the Americans. We’ll talk again in an hour.”

“Thank you, Mr. President.”

Grameniko hangs up with Chekov while he presses number four speed dial on his phone, “Admiral, Phase 2 is approved, you may release your boats. Good hunting.”

“Yes Mr. President. I will send the order right now.”

The order is transmitted through the earth via an ultra low-end frequency sonar signal. Due to the very low transmission speed, only two letters can be sent. It takes ten minutes for the four new Yasen class submarines to receive the two letter code. Once decoded the four submarines slowly and very quietly rise off of the ocean floor just outside of the Norfolk Navy Base. These new submarines took over ten years to design and build. They are as quiet as the American Flight II Virginia class submarines. The four boats travel at only 5 knots in order to stay as silent as possible. They quietly enter the harbor mouth of the US Navy’s largest and most important Navy base. Each boat is armed with eight 650mm and two 550mm torpedo tubes. The boats communicate through a short range underwater laser system to coordinate targets. When all of the boats have acquired their targets, they launch all of their ready torpedoes. Forty deadly torpedoes race towards the US Navy’s fleet sitting at their docks. In seconds, the US Navy suffers its worst disaster in history. The US Navy lost most of their battleships in the Pearl Harbor attack that brought America into the Second World War, this attack cost America four of its eleven nuclear-powered carriers. Each carrier is hit by at least five torpedoes. In addition to the aircraft carriers, four cruisers, and ten destroyers, are also struck. The Russian boats reload as they turn around and quietly head into the Atlantic where they hope they’ll be able to disappear.

Hell explodes in Norfolk. Ships are burning, stored munitions in the ships are exploding which expands the destruction to the piers. Burning debris lands on the warehouses which line the piers, setting them on fire, causing the loss of much needed equipment to repair the damaged ships and to resupply them. While alarms sound all over Norfolk, ten Spetsnaz slip into the navy’s weapons storage facility in Yorktown, Virginia. The Russian Special Forces are able to overpower the few Navy shore patrol officers on duty. They break into and plant explosives in the weapons depot bunkers before slipping away in the night. Twenty minutes later the explosives detonate causing the stored weapons in the bunkers to explode. The resulting fires and explosions close Interstate 64, hundreds are killed. Fire and rescue equipment needed at Norfolk is stalled by the massive explosions at Yorktown. The local population feels the explosions through the soles of their feet at the same time they hear about the attack on Norfolk. They see a huge mushroom cloud over Yorktown. Windows ten miles from the depot shatter. Many think they’ve been attacked with nuclear weapons. Tens of thousands leave their homes to escape the area fearing the entire peninsula will come under attack. Thousands of refugees block the roads in the Norfolk, Yorktown, and the Williamsburg areas. Help is stalled getting into the area by the refugees blocking highway 64.

@@@@@

Presidents Rand and Brownstone are reviewing the reports from Las Vegas when the initial reports flood in from Norfolk and Yorktown. President Brownstone says, “Confirm every base is locked down and on THREATCON DELTA, flush every available ship to sea.”

President Rand replies, “I thought that happened normally when we declared DEFCON 1.”

President Brownstone says, “The military knows about the attack in Vegas, they weren’t expecting an attack on the east coast. They got caught with their pants down. I think you should fire the local Admiral, who didn’t flush his fleet and get everything else we have to sea. Find and sink the subs that hit us. I think the time’s come to plan a series of attacks on Russia to pay them back.”

“Rod, are you suggesting we resort to the nuclear option?”

“Not yet, I won’t promise we won’t use them. I suggest we hit some of Grameniko’s targets.”

“I agree. I’ll see what the Air Force can come up with.”

“Paul, make it a series of attacks, make Grameniko pay for what he just did.”

The President’s computer pings with a message, he clicks on it. Both presidents read a message from the air force pilots who attacked the Russians in Las Vegas. “No Russian forces visible.  Have made many passes over the city. SLIF and FLIR show large number of people in casinos and warm equipment in casino-hotel lobbies. Small battles broke out on the Strip. LEOs with local support against invaders, our napalm killed the invaders.”

Rod says, “Shit.”

Paul looks at his friend asking, “What’s wrong?”

“Grameniko’s plan is very clear. He attacked Vegas to take the people who work and stay in the hotels hostage. I bet he’s got a squad of special computer hackers breaking into the casinos bank accounts. Grameniko hopes to steal a couple of billion dollars.”

“NSA for the block?”

“Agree, NSA for the block.”

President Rand calls the Director of the NSA, “Admiral, the Russians are trying to hack the casinos in Las Vegas and steal their assets, can your people cyber-attack and block their efforts?”

“Mr. President, when we saw the attack I figured what they were after, we put our best team on it. I’ve been in touch with those casino owners we were able to reach. We’re working with them to block access. We’ve helped a couple by inserting a worm that generates a new password every couple of nanoseconds until a special line of code is inserted in their systems.”

“Keep up the good work.”

Chapter 6

The USA headlines scream, “WAR.” Red banners flash across almost every website. Social media sites are filled with posts. Some posters say they’ve seen invaders in their home towns, others report they’re ready to defend their homes. Stores experience a run on food, water and OTC medications. Lines form at gun stores which are forced to limit the number of guns and the number of boxes of ammo each customer can purchase. Background checks which used to take minutes stretch into hours, then days. Gun stores tell their customers they’ll be called when they can come pick up their guns after their background check clears. Sales between individuals soar, as prices increase hourly. Companies making survival food see a 500% increase in their orders within an hour of the invasion being reported. Construction companies are booked solid with orders for shelters and bunkers. Within a week, concrete starts to run short. Panic buying is driving prices up hourly. Big box stores sell out of camping equipment within an hour of opening.

@@@@@

Sean looks into the center camera saying, “Tonight we have a special guest, a close friend who invited me to join him for breakfast tomorrow.  I asked him to join us this evening and to be honest with you, I was surprised he agreed. America, please welcome Rash Linebacker to the Sean Hannd show.”

Rash walks onto the set saying, “Good evening Sean, and everyone in America, today is the worst day in our history. We just learned that the Navy base in Norfolk, Virginia, and the Navy’s weapons depot at Yorktown, Virginia, has been attacked. The entire peninsula is in a state of emergency. The explosions caused large mushroom clouds. Tens of thousands are fleeing the area over fears of a nuclear attack, which I can state with 100% certainty are false, no nuclear weapons were used.  First responders from as far away as Georgia are on the way to Norfolk to offer assistance.

“The LSA, with help from Russia, poisoned our children in seven towns. President Rand responded by hacking into and shutting down both countries’ electrical grids. I understand that the President was going to turn the electrical power back on after they had suffered for thirty days. President Bloomberg decided we committed an act of war against the LSA; he asked President Grameniko for assistance per their existing treaty. The two of them decided to invade us. They should have learned that attacking us is not a good way to get us to do what they want us to do. I was the press secretary under President Brownstone when he decided to use small nuclear weapons against the home of the terrorists. I can confirm that President Rand has asked President Brownstone and President Cruise for support. I can confirm that President Brownstone is in the White House, and President Cruise is in transit to Washington, D.C. If I were President Grameniko or Bloomberg, I’d be very concerned to know that the previous two presidents are in the White House advising President Rand. I can only imagine what those three are thinking up. President Brownstone isn’t known as a forgiving man. Remember he isn’t and never was a career politician. He spent most of his adult life in the US Marine Corps.”

“Rash, I really appreciate you joining us this evening. I can imagine how busy you must be. Do you know if there’s any truth to the story that local militias are fighting the Russians in Las Vegas?”

“Sean, I can confirm they are actively fighting alongside the LEOs in Vegas, and I hear, only a rumor, mind you, there are two militias fighting the Russian Special Forces in Virginia. I can confirm there are three militias helping fight the fires and treat the wounded at the Navy bases in Norfolk and Yorktown. I’m NOT suggesting every armed citizen take up arms. We only know of two points of invasion. If every armed American went outside with their weapons looking for Russians, we could end up with American killing American by accident. The Marines are about to enter Las Vegas; the Air Force has total air superiority over both the Virginian Peninsula and Las Vegas. I repeat the only confirmed invasion locations are the Virginian Peninsula and Las Vegas. President Rand is asking everyone to avoid these two areas. Please don’t enter these two areas as you may be mistaken as a terrorist, Russian or LSA.”

“Rash, thank you very much. Where are you heading now?”

“I’ve been asked to meet with the Presidents at the White House.”

“Are you going to assume the position of Press Secretary again? Everyone knows the existing Press Secretary was a temp pending President Rand’s choice being confirmed.”

“Sean, I don’t know what President Rand asked to see me about. He also asked to see you which is why I invited you to breakfast in the White House.”

“I thank you again for the invite. If the previous few hours are any indication of what’s coming, I might still be on the air during breakfast tomorrow. No matter what happens this evening, I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Thank you, Sean.”

@@@@@

The USS John Warner SSN 785, slowly followed two of the Russian submarines into the Atlantic.  She stayed 2,000 yards behind the Russian boats where they’re deaf; this is called staying in their baffles. The following boat had to be very careful because Russian submarine commanders typically spun their boats around in a 360-degree circle to check if anyone was following them. The act of quickly spinning the boat around to check their rear area is called a Crazy Ivan. Captain Richard Bell captain of the USS John Warner had all four of his forward torpedo tubes loaded with mark 48 mod 7 advanced torpedoes. Two were locked onto each of the Russian boats in front of him. He asked sonar, “Sonar, Captain, when was the last time either of our friends ahead of us pulled a Crazy Ivan?”

“Captain, sonar, it’s been 25 minutes.”

“Weapons, Captain, I want to fire on both boats in two minutes, fire two fish at each, reload all four tubes with Mark 48s. Since we’re so close, release the safeties on the fish.”

“Aye sir, in two minute's fire two at each boat.”

“OOD, Captain, when we fire I want to launch a decoy and two noise makers, turn 40 degrees and emergency dive.”

“Aye sir.”

Two minutes later four US heavyweight advanced Mark 48 torpedoes leap out of their tubes, two are targeted against each Russian boat. They only have to cover 2,000 yards; the torpedoes are almost at their targets before the Russian submarines realize they are under attack. The Russian boat to port starts to dive, the one to starboard starts to rise, both react too slowly, all four mark 48s strike their targets. The 650 pound warheads in each mark 48 easily rip through the double hulls. The submarine on the starboard side, which was rising, makes it to the surface before it slides under the waves for good. The incoming water is too heavy for the sub’s limited ballast to overcome. The USS John Warner comes around to see if another attack will be required. “Captain, sonar.”

“Sonar, Captain, go ahead.”

“Both targets destroyed; both have imploded.”

“Excellent, that doesn’t go far enough for revenge but it is a good first step.”

“Radio, Captain, report two down.”

“Yes sir.”

America’s revenge against the Russian attack has just started.

@@@@@

Colonel Grover and his team are driving from their drop zone in North Western LA County to Beverly Hills. Their target is the LSA Gray House. Grover says, “It’s almost spooky how dark it is. It’s been years since I was last in Southern California. However, I never remember it like this. Not even at 0-dark-thirty were the major freeways empty. There're almost no cars on the streets or highways. Without electrical power, they can’t charge their electric cars, which I why I’d never own one.”

His team holds back laughs and nods their heads in agreement of not owning an electric car. One of the men says, “Nothing beats cubic inches, I like the muscle cars from the late 1960s, I own two GTOs, a ’69 and a ’70 Judge.”

The men chant, “Here comes da Judge.”

A sergeant asks, “Colonel, any news from the conditions back home?”

Colonel Grover silently nods, saying, “It’s not good. I got a text that the Russians with the help from the LSA, invaded Las Vegas and Norfolk. At last count, the Navy took a beating; four carriers torpedoed plus a couple of cruisers and destroyers. A Russian spec ops team struck the Navy weapons depot in Yorktown, Virginia. The entire area is a burning mess. I think President Rand is waiting to hear from us before he orders a counterattack.”

“Colonel, do you think he’ll resort to a nuke attack?”

“Could be. I know President Brownstone is in the White House working with President Rand, and President Cruise is on his way to the House.”

One of his team says, “Man, I’d hate to be the one who pissed those three off. Brownstone has no sense of humor. I don’t know about Cruise and Rand, but I have friends who served under Brownstone. They said he’s a tactical genius but also has no sense of humor. Step on his toes, and he’ll swat you.”

Colonel Grover replies, “Actually he has a great sense of humor. It’s his dark side you don’t want to see. At his core, he’s one of us. He’s a Marine inside out. Step on his toes and it’s an accident, say you’re sorry and no harm, no foul. Step on his toes on purpose and he’ll most likely cut yours off all the up to your balls.”

The team smiles and nods in agreement.

“Guys, I’m going to find us a place to park and do a recon a few blocks from the Gray House. I expect the Russians are providing security for the Gray House.” The team slowly enters Beverly Hills when they see police and DepLIES roadblocks ahead of them.

Grover says, “That answers the question how tight the security around the Gray House is. They’re not letting anyone into the area. We’re going to turn around and think about another way to access the Gray House.” The team slowly turns around, two blocks to the west they pull into an empty shopping center’s underground parking lot where they can’t be seen.

@@@@@

Russian Federation President Grameniko calls his commander of Space Technology, “Colonel, I assume you’re ready to carry out your mission?”

“Yes Mr. President. We have calculated the trajectories; we will be deorbiting three old and very heavy satellites targeted at their new NSA facility in Utah. The new building is over 300,000 meters of space. At least one of the satellites should hit and completely destroy the building.”

“Colonel, you may launch your mission, we’ll issue a urgent press release that a couple of our older satellites have struck each other and are going to fall from orbit, since both are powered by small nuclear reactors people shouldn’t approach them if they see one on the ground. These things happen all of the time. The Americans won’t think anything unusual about this.”

“Mr. President, old satellites fall out of orbit all of the time. No one's going to think a thing about them. Sir, we even have a standard form we use for the reporting of the deorbiting satellites.”

“Colonel, excellent, release your standard form. Make sure it reaches the Americans before the birds strike their building. I want to see their new facility completely destroyed within the next couple of hours.”

“Yes sir.”

The world doesn’t think anything of the Russian press release; the world has grown used to such information. Newspapers, electronic and streaming news organizations, don’t even report them any longer. Almost every organization ignores the release that is usually filed in the ‘circular file’ since 70% of the planet is covered in water. Little did they know these old satellites were deorbited on purpose and targeted on a specific building.

@@@@@

An aide rushes into the White House Situation Room, “Mr. Presidents, something very unusual just happened.”

Presidents Brownstone and Rand look up from the conference table where two colonels have laid out a street map of Las Vegas. President Rand looks up asking, “What’s unusual?”

“Sirs, the Russians just issued a press announcement saying some of their Zenit reconnaissance birds are coming down.”

“Why is this unusual?” Asks President Rand.

President Brownstone responds while sitting down in one of the chairs that line the wall of the Situation Room, “Mr. President, satellites don’t usually come down by themselves and not without warning that their orbit is decaying. To have more than one deorbit at the same time smells really fishy. My guess is they are using the satellites as space weapons. We should ask NASA to plot their course. My gut is screaming we’re about to get hit.”

President Rand asks, “Can they guide them like a missile? If they hit something will they do a lot of damage?”

Colonel Brick of the US Air Force responds, “Sir, somewhat, it depends on what they’re aiming at. They should be able to hit a city or some other large facility. Pinpoint accuracy is out of the question.”

Colonel Whitehead says, “Sirs, the Zenit is powered by a small nuclear reactor, if it strikes a city, it’ll be similar to a dirty bomb going off. Its core is plutonium, very deadly stuff.” Before Colonel Whitehead can continue, the alert tone sounds followed by a red banner message rolling across the bottom of the monitor in the Situation Room, “Russian satellites falling towards Utah.”

President Rand says, “Shit, they're after the NSA facility. They plan to take out the new NSA HQ and data center.”

President Brownstone picks up the handset on the conference table telling the operator, “Please connect me with Admiral Benson, NSA. Tell him its condition red one.”

“Mr. President, this is Admiral Benson, sir, it’s been a while, what’s causing a red one?”

“Admiral, you have to shut down your facility, transfer everything you can to the mountain and get your people away from the building as quickly as you can. There’s a couple of Zenit’s falling out of space towards you.”

“Mr. President, we have 1 million square feet here, we have twenty thousand people that work here. How much time do we have?”

“Admiral, time is something you don’t have. Get them out, when you’re in a safe place call us back in the Situation Room. I’d estimate you have less than twenty minutes, please get your people out and move them away from the building. The Zenit’s use a plutonium reactor. If they hit your building, they’ll spread highly radioactive plutonium all over the area.”

“Yes sir.” Admiral Benson hangs up the handset which connects him directly to the President, he picks up a telephone handset, he presses the number one button which connects him to everyone in the main building and those in the bunkers that were built under the building. “RED ALERT, RED ALERT. EVERYONE MUST STOP WHAT THEY’RE DOING AND LEAVE THE BUILDING AT ONCE. MOVE AWAY FROM THE BUILDING AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE WE ARE UNDER ATTACK. THIS IS NOT A DRILL. RED ALERT RED ALERT. PER STANDING ORDERS, TRANSFER ALL FILES TO LOCATION M1.”

@@@@@

In the White House Situation Room, Colonel Whitehead asks, “Sirs, should we make plans to arm ‘Thor’s Hammer?’”

President Rand sits down; he looks around the room slowly nodding his head, “Colonel, I don’t think we have a choice. Issue the arming orders to the mountain. Tell them target ‘Zebra Moscow.’”

President Brownstone asks, “Colonel has ‘Thor’s Hammer’ ever been tested against a real target?”

“Mr. President, no. As you know, there’s not supposed to be any weapons in orbit. We launched the targeting module and hammers as part of a new communications constellation. The birds are all black; they shouldn’t show up on anyone’s radar or IR. The hammers are going to come as a large surprise to President Grameniko.”

President Brownstone replies, “Paul, may I suggest you target their strategic assets versus the command bunkers? If we take out the command bunkers, their silos and missile boats may think we attacked Russia and launch their weapons at us. If we use the ‘Hammers’ to take out their strategic weapons, they’ll have nothing left to strike us back with. If Grameniko isn’t reasonable after being declawed then, you can issue the Zebra order.”

President Rand sits down across the conference room table looking at Rod, “That’s an excellent idea. Colonel, do we have enough Hammers to take out their strategic weapons?”

Colonel Whitehead checks his laptop saying, “Sirs, we have more than enough Hammers available. The only issue will be moving one of the garages to be in the right launch location so all of the Hammers will impact within moments of each other. If some were to impact later, the Russians might have time to launch a couple of missiles at us. We should be able to bring them down with our anti-missile systems, I’m sure everyone would feel better if none were launched in the first place.”

President Rand smiles saying, “Colonel, you have permission to move the garage. When will you be ready to launch the Hammers? ”

“Sir, NORAD is checking the location of all of the targets and the garages, it should take them only a few minutes to complete the calculations.”

“Colonel, please get the Major with the release case, I think it’s time to give the go code.”

President Brownstone nods his head in agreement, before he can say anything an aide knocks on the Situation Room door, “Sirs, President Cruise is here.”

Presidents Rand and Brownstone smile saying at the same time, “Show him in.”

President Cruise enters the Situation Room; the three men hug each other. An aide looks at them thinking; All three previous living Presidents are together on the eve of what could be World War III. This is the first time all three have been here in a crisis. I wonder if the three will be able to decide quicker or if the three will slow down the decision-making process. Either way, history is being made tonight.

President Rand quickly brings Ted up to speed while a fresh pot of coffee is brought into the Situation Room. Ted sits at the table pouring himself a cup of the coffee, he takes a sip; he pauses then says, “I agree with Rod, hitting their strategic assets is a good plan. It takes those weapons off the table. Grameniko won’t be able to use what he no longer has. If he doesn’t call off his invasion after the loss of his missiles, then I agree to the decapitation shot.”

The three Presidents are happy; they're in full agreement. Major Jackson, who came on duty within the previous hour, places the nuclear release case on the Situation Room table. Rod says, “I had hoped I’d never have to see the inside of this case again.”

Ted nods saying, “I never had to open it. I only saw the inside during readiness tests; I never had to use it for real. I see it’s been updated since I last saw it.

Paul answers, “Once the Hammers came online the case was updated.”

Colonel Whitehead breaks into the conversation saying, “Mr. Presidents General Johnson, CICNORAD is on the secure red handset.”

Placing the call on speaker, President Rand says, “General, you’re on speaker; Presidents Brownstone and Cruise are with me.”

“Mr. Presidents, it’s an honor to be speaking with all three of you. NORAD has completed the targeting for the Hammers; the final garage will be in position in twenty minutes. The only tricky targeting will be against some of the Russian SSBNs. We think we have them all located; most are in their port or in the Kara Bastion where they think they’re safe.”

Ted asks, “General, can the Hammers strike a submerged submarine?”

“Mr. President, yes, they are a KEW (kinetic energy weapon) that can easily penetrate hundreds of feet of earth, cement or water. We’ll know from our blue/green laser which can penetrate sea water if we got every boat, if we miss one, we’ll instantly fire again.”

“Thank you General.”

President Rand says, “General, Rod, Ted, I’m ready to enter my Presidential release code, if anyone has any objections now is the time to say them or forever hold your tongues.” President Paul looks around the room. He nods as he enters his ten digit code into the nuclear release code computer, also known as the ‘football.’ He turns to face his two predecessors, “It’s done. I think using the Hammers is better than using hundreds of nuclear weapons. General, make sure all of our defenses are online and ready in case we miss any weapons that they are able to get a couple launched at us.”

“Yes sir. All of our sensors are online. Our ABM system is showing 98% ready for action.”

“General, please keep us informed.”

Ted asks, “Did the two-man rule change since I left office?”

Paul smiles saying, “Ted, the Hammers aren’t nuclear hence the two-man rule doesn’t apply. We use the nuclear release case in case a followup strategic strike is required.”

“Thanks, that makes perfect sense.”

“Mr. President, the Hammers will be released within minutes, you’ll see them on the monitor. They’ll show as red lines falling from the sky. When they strike their targets, they will leave either a red for destroyed or green for missed circle on the map. If the target shows green, we’ll release a followup Hammer. They fall very quickly, anyone on the ground looking at the right spot will think they see a laser firing. It’ll look like a lightning bolt or a streak of fire falling from the sky.”

Rod asks, “What will the Russian military radars see?”

“Mr. President, they’ll see the Hammers entering the atmosphere. By the time they see them, they’ll have only moments to act. We don’t expect they’ll have enough time to launch any of their weapons at us. Gentlemen, here we go.”

An alarm sounds, they men all turn their attention to the large monitor which shows red lines falling from the sky towards Russia.

@@@@@

One of the three Russian satellites falling from orbit strikes the new NSA headquarters and data center in Utah. The force of the strike destroys 85% of the building. The advance notice was enough time to get everyone out of the building. However, it didn’t save everyone’s life. Four hundred, who were the last ones to exit the building, were injured by debris from the explosion of the falling satellite striking the building. Sixty workers were killed when one of the falling satellites struck a field the NSA workers were waiting in. They saw the falling fireball however, most of them were outside of their cars taking pictures of the building. The seconds it took for it to register that the fireball was headed directly at them, delayed them just long enough to be caught in the explosion of the second satellite in the field they were parked in. The third satellite was exploded on its way down by the USA’s ABM system of land-based missiles and space-based lasers.

President Rand is very angry watching the images of the destruction and the loss of the NSA building. The President quickly ordered most of the NSA duties to be moved back to the original facility at Fort Mead, Maryland. President Rand looked at his two partners saying, I consider this a direct attack on America’s citizens. I think that it leaves us no option except to strike back which justifies our actions.”

President’s Cruise and Brownstone both nod in agreement with President Rand.

@@@@@

Russian Federation President Grameniko is interrupted in the middle of a call by alarms sounding in the Russian command bunker. He pauses thinking, What’s this? Are the crazy Americans launching a nuclear attack against us? He looks at the monitor that shows views of the Russian Federation and the Americas. He sees the red lines falling from space. Before he can think what they may be, his alert telephone rings, “Da?”

“Mr. President, we are being attacked by some type of unknown American KEW weapon. They’re targeting all of our strategic weapons.”

“Marshal, they can’t target all of them, surely our submarines in the Kara bastion are safe, prepare to return fire against the Americans.”

“Mr. President, the release computer is being brought to you.”

A Russian captain enters Grameniko’s office; he opens the case and turns it towards the President. “Sir, we are ready to defend the Motherland.”

“Captain, you’re too late; the Motherland is already under attack, look at the monitor. Do you see those red lines? Those are arrows from space that are going to destroy our silos and most of our mobile systems. Which bloody option is the counter value, (targeting cities versus military targets) target America?”

“Mr. President, surely you mean counter target.” (Targeting military targets)

“Idiot, I said counter value.”

“Sir, if you launch our weapons at the American’s counter-value targets, they will respond in kind against ours. Mr. President their ABM system will bring most of our weapons down; theirs will most likely get through our ABM missiles. They have advanced their weapons from intelligent to brilliant. Sir, targeting their cities is the same as committing national suicide.”

“Shut up and give me the release card. We have no choice. The Americans won’t believe we launched at their cities; they’ll pause long enough to allow our weapons to slip past their ABM shield.”

“Sir, if they don’t pause, the Motherland will die.”

“What do you think they’re doing right now? Look at the displays, what the hell are those things falling on us and where are they going?”

“Sir, they must be KEW weapons, they’d be hidden in orbit.”

“They militarized space? They broke every treaty on the peaceful use of space we both signed.”

“Sir, when we attacked them with our satellites we did the same thing. One could say we struck first with the use of space weapons.”

“No, we didn’t, satellites deorbit all of the time, there’s nothing we could do about them. Even the technology crazy Americans have their old satellites fall out of orbit.”

“Sir, both sides are able to track decaying orbits, they know we intentionally used the three birds as KEW weapons. They’re responding in kind.”

“In kind? Look at them! They’ve fired hundreds of those things. They’re targeting all of our strategic systems.”

“Sir, not all, they can’t touch our submarines.”

“Yes, you’re correct. Give me the card to order the missile boats to launch.”

Grameniko enters the code into the computer terminal which sends the message to the country’s missile armed submarines to launch a counter value attack against America.

Once the code is entered, Grameniko turns to watch the falling fireballs strike his missile silos. The fireballs strike the silos, easily penetrating the reinforced cement covers, exploding the missile inside the silos. The nuclear warheads don’t explode because they weren’t yet armed. Much of the warhead’s nuclear material is destroyed in the explosion and fire, some are thrown around the silos making them a nightmare to clean up and extinguish the fires. Local first responders don’t realize they’re standing on radioactive soil while they’re pouring foam on the fires. Silo after silo disappears within seconds of each other as the Hammers strike them. Strategic weapons warehouses and storage locations are wiped off the planet. Submarine bases disappear when the Hammers strike them.

Five Broie class SSBN submarines are drifting in the Kara Sea. They are moving at only 5 knots to remain as silent as possible. Their captains are all called to the radio rooms when the Russian EAM (emergency action message) is received. All five captains read the orders; none believes they’ve received the launch code to attack America. Three request confirmation. Before any message can be sent their sonar officers scream, “Captain, something heavy and moving very fast just landed in the water…..”

Their reports were never completed; the Hammers cut through the water like it wasn’t there. Each of the five submarines cease to exist when they are struck by the ‘Hammers’.

The Presidents in the Situation Room watch the Hammers strike their targets while Colonel Whitehead checks the target list against those struck. He noticed a few of the Hammers either missed or the target somehow survived, in the case of a few mobile launchers, the trucks had moved when their radar gave them warning something was incoming. He types into the computer in front of him instructions for a restrike on the surviving locations. Minutes later the surviving mobile systems are struck and destroyed.

Hundreds of mushroom clouds fill the Russian sky from the destruction of the hundreds of strategic locations. The Russian citizens seeing the mushroom clouds panicked thinking nuclear war had broken out between America and Russia. Those still in cities packed what they could while quickly trying to leave the city. Millions of Russians became refugees streaming out of cities which they expect to be vaporized at any moment. Those in the rural areas banded together to close off their communities from the refugees they expected to swarm into the countryside. Russia relaxed personal weapons laws in 2014 and early 2015, many of the Russian citizens are armed; they swear that no one will take what they have. Some start digging shelters thinking massive amounts of fallout will be coming their way. Children are very worried watching their parents and other adults cry and shake with fear. Minutes after the mushroom clouds appear in the Russian sky, leaflets start to float down from the sky. Unknown to the common Russian citizens five American Aurora intelligence-gathering planes flew over the length of the Russian Federation dropping leaflets explaining that no nuclear weapons were used. The leaflets explain they should stay at least 300 meters away from the destroyed silos. The leaflets explain only Russian strategic weapons were destroyed. No cities, no infrastructure, and power will be turned on as soon as President Grameniko pulls Russian troops out of the USA. Most of the Russian citizens didn’t even know Grameniko launched an invasion against the USA. Many now understand why they have lost power. Most turn their anger on the Russian Federation central government. Many of the citizens who left Moscow pause midstep and turn around to go home where they demand peace. They want their power turned on; they want to live in peace. They’re angry and embarrassed that Mother Russia broke the rules and invaded another super power. Everything became crystal clear. Hundreds of thousands marched toward the Kremlin demanding President Grameniko resign. The Russians marching towards the Kremlin are surprised to hear the sound of jets flying over the city, looking up, they see packages floating on large parachutes. The packages are marked US AID. Inside they find food and water, marked as a gift from the American people to the Russian people. President Rand won the people of Russia to his side of the chess board.

@@@@@

President Grameniko orders troops to leave the bunker to retrieve the leaflets. When Grameniko reads the leaflets, he explodes in anger. “I want to strike America, find me a way!”

Marshal Zarkov whispers to his staff who check their laptops, they pass a handwritten note back to the Marshal who reads it saying, “Mr. President, we have some cruise missile submarines and a few bomber bases left which can strike the Americans. However, I have to ask you not to do so. They easily destroyed our strategic silos, they knew where our mobile missiles were located; they were even able to take out our boats in the Kara Sea Bastion. Sir, if you launch at the Americans they will strike our cities. Their KEW weapons move so quickly; we can’t intercept them. We’ll lose Moscow and millions of people.”

“Marshal, what did they use to hit us with? Where were the missiles launched from?”

“Mr. President, there were reports from the GRU and FSB that the Americans had developed a space weapon they code named ‘Thor’s Hammer.’ It’s a very simple system. On one hand, I’m not sure it should be classified as a weapon since it has no explosives in it. Think of a tank SABOT round, the Hammer is a long rod of depleted uranium. They are launched out of a satellite that sits in high orbit, 25,000 miles up. The Hammer is ejected by compressed gas; the computer aims the Hammer at a spot on Earth. The kinetic energy exceeds that of a nuke; they are perfect for taking out buried bunkers. They can penetrate over 1,000 feet of compacted Earth and fifty feet of steel reinforced cement. They must have some sort of GPS guidance that gives them pinpoint accuracy. Look at the images of the damage. They usually hit dead center of our silos. There’s not a bunker anywhere in the world that can survive a KEW strike. Even their NORAD Mountain could be taken out by a KEW strike.”

“Why don’t we have this system?”

“Mr. President, it’s very expensive, when we presented it to you; you rejected it as something out of a science-fiction story.”

“Was it explained to me that the Americans were building such a system?”

“Sir, we didn’t know for sure they were building it.”

“I think we’re safe to strike back at them; surely they used up all of their space weapons, and we should be able to hit them with our bombers and cruise missiles.”

“Mr. President, please don’t launch another attack. If they have more weapons, we’ll be next on their target list. Even this buried bunker can be taken out by one of their KEW weapons.”

“Bullshit, nothing can touch this bunker. It was designed to survive a direct hit by a 350KT nuclear weapon. We are safe here.”

“Sir, what about the people in Moscow above us? If the KEW weapons strike us, they will kill many of our people.”

“Who cares about them? We’re fighting for much more than a few people. We’re fighting to ensure the Motherland survives and is viable as one of the world leaders.”

“Mr. President, I beg you not to launch an attack against the American cities. They will strike back taking our cities out. President Brownstone set their new policy that any terrorist organization that strikes one of their cities will lose their country.”

“They wouldn’t dare.”

“Sir, yes they would. Please trust me.”

“Marshal, I’ll compromise with you, we’ll hold the cruise missiles while we launch our second front attack on the USA, our army should be in position soon to take Washington, DC. We’ll quickly invade and capture their capital before they can respond. Issue the orders to launch the second front.”

“Yes Mr. President. A wise decision sir.”

Chapter 8

Beverly Hills has been turned into an armed camp. Police, DepLIES agents, and Russian troops have blocked off all access to the streets within ten blocks of the Gray House. Those who live within four blocks of the Gray House, are forced out of their homes, they are told they can’t return until the current hostilities are completed. They’re told this is to protect them in case the USA sends their air force to bomb the Gray House and the bombs miss, they could strike the homes nearby. Surface to air missiles are being towed to the city to protect the LSA government home and offices. The world famous Rodeo Drive has been turned into a mess area for the security troops. The Beverly Hills Hotel and the Hilton Hotel have been taken over as temporary homes for the residents kicked out of their homes. Beverly Hills High School’s gym is turned into a temporary home for many of the hired help in Beverly Hills. The Beverly Hills Hotel and High School are both allowed to use their generators to provide electrical power for those forced from their homes.  Colonel Grover’s team is stopped before they can get within ten blocks. The security forces in Beverly Hills have acquired generators from stores and homes to provide electrical power. These are connected directly to bright highway construction type lights which illuminate a four-block area around the Gray House. The lights overlap, canceling any shadows of anyone attempting to breach the security zone around the Gray House. Colonel Grover whispers, “Damn, look at the security. You’d think there’s a war on or someone is going to try to kill President Bloomberg.”

The DepLIES filed paperwork designating the Rodeo Drive area as a safety and medical zone requiring electrical use. The paperwork was sent to the USA, where a mid-level Department of Justice bureaucrat approved the request thus providing the security teams with additional electrical power to power computers, printers, and more lights.

Grover’s team smirks at the Colonel’s well-known lack of a sense of humor. Captain Black whispers, “Colonel, I suggest we pull back. Maybe see if we can merge with the hired help to get some information about the area. Even if we called for an Aurora over flight, we wouldn't be able to see enough detail to plan an attack on the Gray House.”

“Captain, good idea. Let’s pull back now and return tomorrow before dawn. Let’s see if the help goes to the homes or if they stay in the school gym tomorrow.”

“Yes sir.

Grover reviews all of the surveillance reports, he thinks out loud, Maybe we should call in a precision bombing run. I don’t see how to break through their security without a running firefight that could harm a lot of innocents. We would also have to make sure Bloomberg is home if we called in a bombing mission. The optics would be really bad for us if we bombed the Gray House and he’s not even there. We’ll be giving him a platform to tell his people he survived the worst we could throw at him. We’ll be trying to take him out while making him stronger. If we killed a group of innocents, he'd use the images against us. He’d rally additional international support against us. I’d love to arrange a gas explosion for the entire street, he’ll blame us. A gas explosion will be much harder to prove who caused it. Another dream would be to find a way to set off an earthquake to demolish the Gray House. I have to think about how, or if it’s possible to create an earthquake without it pointing to us. “Guys, let’s leave four on recon duty while the rest of us withdraw to the safe house. We have some planning to do.”

Grover’s team silently slips out of Beverly Hills.

@@@@@

Venezuela agrees to honor their treaty with the LSA, They send their most experienced field commander, General Aguilera, who fought in Africa and in battles across South America, to lead five battalions of troops to America’s southern border. Their plan is to repair the drug cartel’s bridge which they’ll use to cross into Arizona. General Aguilera sends two platoons in advance to check the condition of the bridge. Sargent Jose Herndiez reports to his General, “Jefe, the North Americans are doing us a major favor; they are repairing the bridge. If we delay our advance four or five days, they may finish the repair on the bridge for us. We’ll be able just to crush their feeble attempts to guard it; we’ll be able to enter the weak underbelly of America while their focus is on their sin city.”

“Sargent, a very good idea. Tell the men we will rest here for five days. We’ll let our good neighbors repair the bridge so we can capture it intact.” The Venezuelans make camp; they post guards and string barbed wire around their tents to keep the locals from trying to sneak in and steal their supplies. The problem that concerns General Aguilera the most is the local cartels who have been watching his convoy for the previous two weeks. There’s been one short and fierce battle between the Venezuela’s point group and the Mexican drug cartels. The cartels thought they were tough; they’re used to winning every battle they fought because they’d never fought a real opponent. They laughed at the Venezuelans; they laughed until they started the battle against a real army who crushed the cartel troops.

A small remote controlled model airplane carrying an HD camera flies over the Venezuelans; it’s being controlled by an Arizona militia hidden on the America side of the border. The small UAV was assembled from parts of a remote controlled toy and an RC airplane. The militia commander, Jake Crossing, sat in his tent looking at the images being sent back from the small UAV, he calls out over his shoulder, “Rob, we’ve got a problem here. It looks like we’ve got an entire army sitting on the other side of the border. We better get some help over here right away. There’s too many of them for us to handle on our own.”

“Jake, how much help, do you figure we need?”

“Uh, most of the Army, these guys got tanks, towed artillery, and mortars. There must be 10,000 people, most likely even more. They’re just sitting on their side of the border. I bet they're waiting for the bridge to be repaired. Rob, get on the horn and find us some help. Get the rest of the boys to start digging trenches and preparing firing positions. We’re about to get a load of crap landing on us. Maybe the Air Force can bomb them before they cross the border. If they get across the river, we’ve got nothing to stop their tanks and armored vehicles. Fort Huachuca is the only local Army base, but it’s an intelligence center, maybe they can send us some people, also call Luke Air Force base. They’ve got fighters. Put out the red alert, DEFCON 1 notice for all of the state’s militias. Make it URGENT. Those guys can get here within a couple of days.”

One of the Venezuelan’s soldiers keep hearing a buzzing noise, at first he thought it was some large insect that was buzzing him, he looked up, noticing the sunlight reflect off of something small in the sky. He pointed it out to others; none knew what they were seeing when a captain came by to see what was going on. He looked up where the troops were looking, the captain brought his binoculars to his eyes, he focused on the small UAV, he said, “Shit, it’s a UAV, someone shoot it quickly before it can report on us.” Two men grab their AK74s, firing on auto, it takes four magazines worth of ammo for one of the men to hit the UAV.  The troops cheered bringing it down. On the other side of the river, Jake watches the men trying to shoot his UAV down, Jake yelled, “We are about to lose our eye in the sky, do we have another?” Before any could respond, the bullets rip the UAV apart. Jake said, “Well they know we know they are there. They don’t know who we are. We need to look like a much larger force than we are. Rig some screens to drag behind the trucks, run them around the back side of the camp to generate a lot of dust, from afar they will think we have a lot of people, pull the mufflers off the trucks, they’ll sound like we have more of them than we do. Light up as many camp fires as we can, light up some of the 50 gallon drums, set up as many tents as we have. I want us to look like we’re a 5,000 man camp. We’ve got to hurry, if I were their commander, I’d send people across the border tonight to check us out.”

Everyone in the militia camp runs following Jakes orders. In a few hours, the camp looks like it houses many thousands of troops. Crew served weapons are manned by uniforms stuffed with straw. From a distance, it looks like the border is covered with machine guns and automatic grenade launchers. Trucks drive back and forth behind a small hill sending up large dust clouds, making it look like there are hundreds of vehicles at the camp. As the sun sets Jake has his people wearing all black, their skin is blacked out, twenty-five of them are on the Mexican side of the border armed with silenced ARs and silenced handguns. They’re hoping to capture the recon squad they know has to be coming soon, to take a look at their camp. Jake hopes to overpower and take some members of the recon squad captive to get information from them.

Jake’s radio operator runs into Jake’s tent, “Jake, I’ve got a Colonel Ricks at Luke on the line.”

Jake takes the handset, “Colonel, this is the Jake Crossing from the Southern Arizona Militia. We’re sitting in a camp on the border; we sent a small homemade UAV across the border where we found a large army sitting on the Mexican side. We need some help.”

“Jake, this is Colonel Ricks. We appreciate your people being our trip line. I understand your people discovered something across the border.”

“Colonel Ricks, you might say that. We sent a UAV across the border not expecting to find anything; boy were we surprised. We found an entire army sitting on their asses across the border.”

“Jake, can you send me the images and video your UAV sent you? We’d like to review it.”

“Colonel, we can do that, I need your email or an FTP site to post it too. The video files are large files. We didn’t record sound. The images are not great because we built the bird from a combination of different RC model planes.”

“Jake, don’t worry about the quality. I’ll have my IT people give you a site to post the videos to. I’ll call you back in about twenty minutes after we review your images. For your information, I have already ordered a couple of F16s and F35s to be armed and placed on hot standby. If your images prove out, you’ll have your air support. Do any of your people have experience as forward air controllers or experience calling in artillery?”

“Yes, I have one NCO, who was a forward air controller in the sandbox.”

“Perfect, we’ll want to use him to direct our fighters.”

“No problem, his name is Brian, I’ll have him on the line when you call back.”

Colonel Ricks hangs up calling his staff, “Captain, how’s the arming of the alert birds going?”

“Colonel, almost finished, they could go now if they’re needed right now. What’s the target?”

“Images coming in right now. We have a militia sitting on the border; they sent a small homemade UAV across the border where they found a large force sitting there. I want their images and videos reviewed quickly. I want to know who they are and if they intend to cross the border. If they have armor and the numbers Jake, the militia leaders says he saw, they’ll crush the militia. We can’t let a large armored force free in the southwest. We’ll have to support them until the Army can arrive.”

“Sir, do they have anyone who can assist us?”

“They have an experienced forward air controller who served in the sandbox.”

“Man are they lucky. We’re ready to go anytime. We have four Vipers and four Lightnings on alert five.”

“Have we received the militia’s video yet?”

“Yes, the quality isn’t the best…”

“Captain, they made it themselves, give them a break. We don’t have anything in the air. We have to use what’s available.”

“Sir, we’ve been able to determine the army on the Mexican side of the border is from Venezuela, they have tanks and towed artillery. Strength appears to be 8,000 to 10,000 people.”

“Can you make out any mobile anti-air missile vehicles?”

“No, sir, that surprised us too. We’re looking at all of the pixels of what they sent, so far we haven’t found any missile vehicles, it’s strange. We would assume they have them someplace. We can’t find them which concerns us. I’d like to send up an F16 for a recon flight.”

“I think that an F16 will alert them to us. We’ll lose the element of surprise if they hear the F16. When we send the planes, I want them to surprise the hell out of them. Your request for the recon flight is denied.”

“Thought so, but I had to ask.”

“When will the targeting staff have the information to pass along to the pilots?”

“About five minutes.”

“I’m going to call this in for approval since we have to cross the border. Once we get the OK, let me know when the pilots are taking off so I can give the militia a heads up. I want their forward air observer online and giving us battle damage report in real time. The militia will be moving him to a position where he can see their camp. I don’t understand what the Venezuelans are doing here. It doesn’t matter because we’re going to stop them before they cross the border. I think we’d better alert the brass we’re about to invade Mexico.”

“General Watson, we have an Air Force Colonel Ricks from Luke AFB calling, he’s working with a local militia group who’s discovered a battalion of Venezuelan armor making plans to cross the border.”

“Colonel, this is General Watson, I understand your people stumbled across a Venezuelan army force making plans to cross our southern border?”

“Sir, actually it was a local militia who built a homemade UAV, they flew it over the border. They captured the images before it was shot out of the sky. I’ve sent the images to your ISR group. I’m sure they’ll come to the same conclusions my staff did, which is they are preparing to cross the border and invade Arizona.”

“Colonel, my ISR people just entered my office; they’re showing me the video, for a homemade UAV, these boys did well. I can make out the national patches on their uniforms. I’d say you’re lucky to have a smart group to work with.  I see the armor and artillery, but I don’t see their SAMs, have you found them?”

“Sir, that’s one item that’s confused my staff too. We can’t locate any SAMs. One of my captains thinks they didn’t bring any, or they haven’t caught up with their main body yet. Without their SAMs, sir we’d like to hit them ASAP before their SAMs can make an appearance.”

“I agree. Why don’t you give me five to ten minutes to call the White House? While I don’t foresee any problems, I’d feel better about letting the NCA know we’re about to invade another country.”

“Sir, should I hold on, or will you call me back?”

“Colonel, I’ll call you back within ten, believe me when I say within ten, this President doesn’t fool around with these types of decisions.”

“Yes sir.”

An aide knocks on the door to the Situation Room saying, “President Rand, General Watson is on the line, he says it’s urgent.”

“If he says it’s urgent, don’t even waste time asking, send his call in.”

“General, what’s up?”

“Mr. President, I sent you some files taken by a homemade UAV that a southern Arizona militia flew across the Mexican/USA border checking for any military trying to cross the border.”

“I’m not even going to ask why we have our southern border being guarded by a local militia. President Brownstone and I just put the video up on the large monitor. Is that we think it is? An armored battalion just across our border?”

“Yes Mr. President, that’s a Venezuelan armor battalion getting ready to cross our border into Arizona.”

“I expect you’re calling for permission to cross the border and destroy them before they enter Arizona.”

“Correct sir.”

President Brownstone is nodding yes, he says, “Our only army base in the area is an intelligence base, they won’t be able to stop them, only Luke air force base can. That armor battalion can do real damage to us if they’re able to cross the border.”

President Rand nods in agreement, “General, permission granted. Please keep the militia on our side of the border, I don’t want any of our people taken prisoner in Mexico.”

“Sir, they have a trained forward air controller we’d like to use.”

“General, approved. Call us back with the results of your attack.”

“Yes sir.”

General Watson hangs up the phone while asking his aide to get Colonel Ricks on the line.

“Sir, he’s on line one.”

“Colonel, I told you it wouldn’t take long, according to my watch, it took 4 minutes and 45 seconds. You have permission to execute the attack. The President asks that the militia stay on our side. I explained to him you would like to use their FAC, the President approved him to cross, you can also tell the militia they can send three people to protect the FAC. I look forward to seeing the bomb assessment report.”

“Yes sir, thank you sir.” Hanging up the phone, the Colonel clicks the microphone saying, “Attention, this is Colonel Ricks, the mission is a GO, you may take off when ready.”

As he places the mic on his desk, he hears the first F16 take off followed by seven other fighter’s nose to tail.

Colonel Ricks calls the Militia, “Jake, Colonel Ricks here. You have eight fighters on the way, please have your forward air controller put eyes on the target. The fighters’ call sign is Angel Flight.”

“Nice call sign, we’re ready. It looks like the Venezuelans are taking a siesta, if your guys get here quickly enough you’ll catch them napping.”

“They’ll be there very quickly.”

“Thanks, Colonel, I’ll call you back when we have a damage report.”

“Jake, take care and be safe out there.”

Minutes later, the FAC calls, “Angel flight, this is FAC Brian, I have eyes open, how do you copy?”

“FAC Brian, this is Angel flight lead, I have a flight of four F16s and four F35s, if we’re not enough, there are six more of each prepping for a secondary strike. Do you have an illuminator?”

“Angel lead, no, but I do have precise GPS coordinates.”

“That’ll do; we’ll program our missiles with the coordinates.”

“Sent to you via link 16.”

“Got it, missiles should be away in a minute.” The pilot calls the others saying, “FANGS OUT, weapons green.” Sixteen Paveway GPS-guided bombs are dropped from the fighters; they use small fins to correct their glide angle to impact their targets. The 1,000 pound bombs land in the center of the Venezuelan column shocking the hell out of them. The militia FAC calls, “Angel lead, good shot, say again, good shot. Every bomb struck something, got secondary’s.”

“Roger, we’re coming in hot to drop napalm. Are you at a safe location?”

“Affirmative, fry the fuckers.”

Eight fighters fly 50 feet above the ground; each drops one canister of napalm that spreads over the invaders. The napalm spreads fire and death across the column. The fires set off the Venezuelan ammo adding to the death. Men are screaming from the napalm that is sticky and burning their uniforms and skin. Their hair burns, their eyes melt as their skin burns. The Venezuelans cry in horrible pain.

“Angel lead, good pass, only a couple of vehicles untouched at the rear of the column.”

“Roger, we saw them too, we going to make another pass, this time HE and WP, keep your head down.”

“Roger.”

The fighter’s second pass spreads a mixture of high explosives and white phosphorus which burns through skin and metal, water doesn’t put out the burning. The final vehicles are destroyed either by being blown apart or burning.

“Angel lead, nothing left.”

“We’ll make one pass just to make sure. We’ll drop a few canisters with delayed munitions in case someone takes an interest in our work. Thanks for the assist. Angel lead out.”

The eight fighters make one last pass, dropping canisters that open, releasing softball sized weapons, some explode on impact, many become delayed explosives waiting for someone to try to clear them when they explode. They fly over the militia wagging their wings as they turn and head to their base.

The militia’s FAC returns to the militia base telling Jake, “All gone. Just poof, gone.”

“We should search their site for weapons and supplies.”

“Jake, the zoomies dropped a ton of delayed action bombs, it’s not a safe place to go.”

“OK, let’s see if we can put together another UAV to see if there’s anyone behind this group.”

“Roger.”

The fighters call ahead to inform their colonel of their successful mission which calls the CJCS, who in turn calls the White House with the news that a battalion of Venezuelan armor was destroyed.

Chapter 9

In Burlington, North Carolina, Leon returns home from school, he jogs up the stairs to his room; he slams the door behind him. A minute later he opens the door to place a ‘Do not disturb’ sign on his door knob. His sister Beth knocks on his door, “Leon, is something wrong? What’s going on?”

“Go away. If I wanted to see you I, wouldn’t have put the do not disturb sign on my door, you can read, can’t you?”

“When are you coming out of your room?”

Leon screams at his sister, “GO AWAY, LEAVE ME ALONE.”

Beth goes to her room crying.

An hour later their father, Bob comes home; Bob looks into the family room, no kids, he looks in the back yard, no kids, he listens and doesn’t hear anything. He calls out, “Beth, Leon, are you home?”

Beth opens her bedroom door, still sniffling, she slowly goes downstairs to see her father who says, “Beth what’s wrong?”

“It’s Leon; he came home and slammed his door closed, he yelled at me and told me to go away.”

“OK, why don’t you go to the family room and watch TV, I’ll go see what’s wrong with Leon.” Walking up the stairs, Bob sees the do not disturb sign, “Leon, it's Dad, open up.”

“What do you want?”

“I want to see my son, you.”

“No, can’t everyone leave me alone?”

“Leon, we love you, open the door, let me in.”

“OK.” Opening the door, Bob sees his son has a black eye, “What happened?”

“I got jumped and beat up on the way home. A bunch of guys said I was an LSA lover. It’s because of that stupid television program we were on. They said the invasion is partly my fault because we let Wolf into our home all the time; he was a spy who got information the LSA needed to invade.”

Bob sits on Leon’s bed, “Son, you had nothing to do with it. First let’s get some ice on that shiner. Son, the LSA had all the information they needed to know about Vegas, they could find anything they wanted online. Remember they started this by poisoning some of our children, President Rand cut the LSA and Russian electrical power off. He did the Russians too because the Russians gave the formula to the LSA. You, we, had nothing to do with it. If you know any of the kids, I’ll call their parents.”

“I didn’t have anything to do with it?”

“Nope, not a thing. Plus, I thought you loved the program; didn’t you get something like a million girlfriends on FB from it? They picked on you because they were jealous that they weren’t chosen. Come, let’s go downstairs and put some ice on your face.”

“You’re not mad?”

Hugging his son, Bob says, “Not at all. I love you. Let’s go downstairs, plus, your sister is worried she did something wrong because you yelled at her.”

The two walk downstairs, when Beth sees her brother she runs over to hug him, “Leon, are you OK?”

“I’m fine. I’m sorry I yelled at you.”

The three sit together watching a new reality show about a family training for a year long space mission. That family lives together in a small room only 10’X15’ for a year; everything, they do and say, is broadcast. The program is interrupted with the news of the attempted invasion in southern Arizona. Gun camera video from the fighters is shown on all of the stations. President Rand released it to demoralize the LSA and Russians. The President goes on television saying the invasion was stopped in its tracks by the quick thinking of the militia and the US Air Force. Leon is cheering every strike the planes make. “Hit em again! Burn those mothers!”

“Leon, this isn’t a sporting event, those people are dying out there.”

“Dad, they tried to invade us. They were going to hurt and most likely kill our people, we should stop them before they cross the border. I’m all in favor of hitting them before they hit us.”

“Leon, just understand this isn’t a movie, it’s the real thing. Those people are being blown apart and burned alive. War isn’t fun; it isn’t pretty, it's not a game. These people aren’t playing at war. They are really dying. They’re not dying like grandma did in her sleep, they are dying a very painful death. Many of them are most likely crying and begging for mercy that they won’t get. They’re begging God for mercy and to be released from their pain.”

“Dad, I understand. They teamed with the Russians and the LSA to attack us. I want them all to pay for what they’re trying to do to us. This war is impacting all of us. We practice taking shelter in school. We’re being given gas masks tomorrow. Dad, gas masks? Everyone is scared which is I guess why the guys jumped me. When is this going to end?”

“Son, I don’t know. I think, and it’s only my guess, that President Rand is going to do something that stops the LSA from ever attacking us or causing us any more problems.”

“Dad, why doesn’t he just force them to rejoin us? As one country, they wouldn’t fight us. We’d all be united again. We’d be one people.”

“Leon, I know you studied the Civil War. Many countries have had internal civil wars. You should know that. The LSA rejoining us won’t stop them from fighting us.”

“Dad, from what I saw on the television program, the families in the LSA don’t want to fight us, they just want to live their lives, like we want to live ours. It’s their leaders who’ve screwed up.”

“Out of the mouths of babes.”

“Huh?”

“Leon, don’t worry about it.”

“Dad, what’s going to happen in Las Vegas? We’re not going to bomb our own city and harm our own people. How are we going to get them out of Vegas?”

“Son, I don’t know. There are experts at war who are trying to figure that out.”

“Experts at war? People get degrees in war? What school gives a degree in war?”

“West Point, the Naval Academy to name two. Each service has their own war colleges too.”

“Wow, I didn’t know there were really war colleges.”

“Of course, how do you think the military officers learn how to lead troops in battle? How do you think they learn how to win battles?”

“So I guess our experts are going to figure out a way to kick the Russians out of Las Vegas. Do you think we’ll attack one of their cities as a trade for Las Vegas?”

“I would say that could be an option.”

“Dad, you know, one day maybe I’d like to join the military.”

“Leon, that’s something I think we should discuss when your mother gets home. I’m not saying no. If you really want to protect our country, I’d be very proud of you.”

“Really? You wouldn’t try to talk me out of it?”

“No, I just want you to know everything you’ll be getting into. I’ll be proud to have my son defend our family.” Bob hugs his son.

@@@@@

Meanwhile in Beaverton, Oregon, the Smith family is sitting in their living room listening to a battery-powered radio. Their fireplace is burning to keep them warm. The emphasis of the LSA news program is how the inhuman USA attacked the poor Venezuelans in Mexico. The Venezuelans, who were in transit to offer aid and support to the LSA, were attacked by the warmonger USA. Wolf explains to his audience that the LSA doesn’t want a war, the USA grossly overreacted. Tens of thousands of LSA citizens may be injured or killed if the war doesn’t quickly end. Wolf says the Venezuelans were trying to end the war, not, as the USA says, planning on attacking the USA. The LSA edits the video and story to remove all of the images of the Venezuelan’s military equipment and vehicles. Not a single tank is shown. Images of burnt and dying soldiers are shown while the anchor gets excited about the brutal and illegal tactics the USA is using. The LSA posts their version of the video on the internet while their hackers keep taking down the USA’s version of the video.

Wolf says, “This illegal war has cost us millions of lost hours, hours we’ll never be able to get back. We’ve been forced to ration many resources; schools have had to close. Many government departments have had to reduce their hours and reduce staffing needs putting a strain on the worker’s families. The LSA government workers union is demanding every worker be paid their full wages and receive all of their contracted benefits during the current state of emergency. President Bloomberg hasn’t officially responded to the union’s demand saying he’s tied up fighting a war and can’t be distracted by the union’s subversive activity. President Bloomberg has asked all of us to understand the LSA is under a national state of emergency, one that could cause the destruction of the LSA.

Wolf continues, “It’s very clear from the images that the USA is living up to its habit of being the world’s largest international terrorist organization. The USA illegally crossed the border into sovereign Mexico where they killed, in cold blood, the Venezuelan aid workers who were coming to our assistance. It’s up to every one of us to do everything we can to defeat the USA terrorists. Every LSA citizen should keep a sharp eye out for USA interference with our country. It’s everyone’s job to report anything unusual to your local DepLIES office or agent.”

One of the experts sitting with Wolf picks up the conversation, “Wolf, speaking from the National Academy of Education, we disagree with all hostilities, we stand for arbitration and other peaceful means to settle differences of opinion. Life is too sacred to be thrown away in senseless actions like war.”

Wolf looks at him responding, “Doctor Littlemind, that’s an interesting concept, do you really think nations can sit down and talk out major differences of opinion?”

“Wolf, I do. I don’t know why any two people or nations, which are nothing more than groups of people, can’t sit at the same table and discuss their differences. Life is too sacred to be thrown away and wasted in war. I’d rather see a country surrender than lose the lives of their people.”

“Doctor Littlemind are you suggesting that it’s better for a nation to surrender and give up their roots and culture versus entering in a war to defend their way of life?”

“Wolf, that’s exactly what I’m saying.”

“Doctor, I’m not sure the people of any country would be willing to give up their roots and culture to another country. Those that surrendered, will hold animosity towards the victors; they will view the victors as a conquering nation. The two groups will hate each other. There will always be a divide between the two people.”

“Wolf, human nature can be changed; people can be taught to love and not hate, it’s illogical to hate others because their beliefs are different. This is one of the reasons the LSA has banned all religious demonstrations and the wearing of all religious clothing. The LSA was formed based the belief that people are equal. As equals, none of us are better than another; as equals, we could survive under the rules of the USA if we had to. We have enough people that we’ll be able to elect people who will change the USA making it more like the LSA. If we surrendered today, in time, we’d still win. We have enough numbers that we can make a difference and force change. We’ll end up converting the USA to be very close to our current state. A very small percent of those in the USA vote, while most of our people vote, we’ll vote our people in and theirs out. A merger of the USA and LSA will be similar to what was called a reverse merger, the smaller company absorbed the larger one, in thirty days the smaller company changed the board of directors and usually the name of the company. I strongly suggest we surrender and agree to merge back with the USA. In the end, I’m telling you we’ll win without the loss of life. We’ll be a stronger and happier people without a war.”

“Doctor, that’s a very interesting line of thought. I’m not sure if I agree with your line of reasoning. Let’s open our phones to hear what our viewers say.”

@@@@@

General Leninkov split his forces into six battalions that are taking different routes from Montreal to the border of Washington, D.C., and Maryland. Most of the equipment is being transported on normal heavy-duty trucks and trailers. The USA hunters, who reported seeing a large group of troops and armor traveling south, were able to get enough people in D.C.’s attention so the NSA and CIA look for the approaching army. The CIA spread agents along Interstate 95 and 81 to locate the troops. After two days, they don’t see any evidence of the LSA troops traveling south. The agents report back to Washington, D.C., they haven’t been able to locate the LSA troops, nor have any heavy lift aircraft overflow them. General Leninkov is surprised they’ve made it as far as they have without having been seen and attacked. He knows the USA has agents and collaborators waiting along both major routes south. He reports to President Grameniko that his forces are within 300 miles of Washington and haven’t been seen. The hunters were delayed two days reporting what they’ve seen because they were in the woods without cellular coverage. This delay caused the NSA/CIA agents to be deployed after the Russians had already passed the agent's locations. The CIA re-tasks satellites to get a look at the north east part of the LSA.

Russian Federation President Grameniko says, “General, excellent news. Hopefully, your force will be able to remain hidden until you unmask at the border. Surround Washington, D.C., and then attack across every bridge at the same time, don’t give President Rand and his administration a chance to escape. When you capture them, this war will be able to come to a quick end.”

“Yes sir, I’ll contact you again when we’re in position.”

Grameniko tells his aide to get President Bloomberg on the secure phone. His phone blinks notifying the President that Bloomberg is on the line. “President Bloomberg, how are things going in the LSA? How are your people accepting to the war?”

“I’m very proud of them. They’re accepting the sacrifices in good order. I don’t expect any issues.”

“The FSB showed a recording of one of your famous educators, a certain doctor Littlemind; he was on your nightly news program tonight with Wolf. He said the LSA should surrender versus fighting a war where lives could be lost. Are you aware of his statements?”

“I know of the good doctor, in fact, I arranged to have him appointed to the Academy of Educators. I’ll speak with him.”

“I’m very concerned that his words will sway your people into giving up. If you lose the people’s support, it will make it impossible for the LSA to win the war, your people will abandon you. I’ve seen it many times before. I suggest you crush any opposition before it grows and swells into something unmanageable. I know you like to toss around the word freedom and right to assemble; however, in a war, while operating under a state of emergency, you can’t allow this. Once the people start protesting the war, they won’t stop unless force is used, and once force is used your people will never forgive you. I urge you to arrest the leaders of your antiwar groups now before they grow in numbers. You must stop any protest before it grows in support to take to the streets. Once it takes over your streets, you’ve lost the battle against the protestors.”

“President Grameniko do you really think the protests are going to get that bad?”

“It’s already started. Watch and listen to your late evening new programs, I bet you will see the reporters start talking about what doctor Littlemind said. Reporters as a rule will take the far left side of any argument. They’ll never support a war; they will support people like your Littlemind. Your radio stations are already supporting Littlemind’s position. The only reason why more of your people don't know what he said, is the blackout. This is the first time the blackout helped you. Michael, this is very serious, you can’t play with these people, they will be your downfall if you aren’t strong.”

“Demetri I assure you, I’ll take care of him. He’ll be singing a different tune very soon. I’ll have him back on the air explaining he was misunderstood. I’d estimate less than 5% of our people have any idea what’s going on.”

“Make sure you do, I’ve invested too much to have you lose your people’s support. Remember, once you lose your people’s support, you’ve, we’ve lost the war.”

“Demetri, speaking of the war, how is the war going? I seem to be having issues receiving your updates.”

“Really? I’d better speak with my staff about that. I’ll make sure you get timely updates.”

Hanging up the telephone Grameniko laughs, he thinks to himself, What an idiot, he has no idea everything we're doing is for us, not for him.  I don’t care what he thinks. I’m spending lives and money to pay Rand back for attacking the Rodina. Bloomberg has nothing I need or want. I hope his people have had enough of him and find a way to push him out. With Michael, everything is about him. He knows best on every subject. I can’t stomach him. If his people don’t remove him, I’m sure the USA will, or I’ll send a wet team to take him out. The FSB has agents already in place in LA. All I want out of Las Vegas, is the money that will soon be in our accounts. The attack on Washington is personal.

@@@@@

In Beaverton, Oregon, the Smith family is sitting in the dark worrying about the war, Sissy says, “Mommy, I’m scared. I don’t like it dark all the time; I want to watch my TV programs, I want the lights on, when is the emergency going to be over?”

“Darling, everything is going to be alright. I’m sure the emergency is going to be over very soon. I don’t think we have anything to worry about. How was school today?”

“It’s very hard going to school outside so we can all see our tablets, they set up solar something to charge our tablets. They even made a large tarp to cover the center field in case it rains. It gets cold sitting outside, mommy; I don’t like it. I don’t like using the smelly bathrooms outside. They’re just seats over a bunch of poop. Please tell them to turn everything back on.”

Scott adds, “If you think sitting outside is bad, we don’t even have enough chairs. Many of us have to stand for our classes or sit on the ground. I don’t understand why the USA did this to us. We didn’t do anything to them. Why are they attacking us? Are they going to try to kill us next? I think we ought to find a way to make peace with the USA. We don’t have an army; we can’t possibly win a war against them. My friends and I think something is going on that we aren’t being told about. If the USA is going to invade us, why don’t we surrender? We were taught that a life isn’t worth losing. I think we need to stop the war ASAP and get things back to the way they were. We can’t charge our tablets at home; we can’t go online; we can’t watch TV or even read without lights. Our fridge doesn’t work; I’m tired of eating canned food cooked over our BBQ.”

Jason, Scott’s and Sissy’s father replies, “Kids, I don’t know why the USA attacked us. I don’t think we’re going to get into a full-fledged war with the USA; they would crush us because we don’t have an army to defend ourselves. Kids, cooking canned food on a BBQ used to be a treat. We understand it’s hard without electricity; however, I’m pretty sure everything will be back and working again very soon. For now we have food; the fireplace provides with warmth; we’re doing OK; many are doing with a lot less than we have.”

Carol adds, “I think we should think about amending our laws so we can establish an army to protect us. We need to have more than a police force and DepLIES agents to protect us. I thought that is because we didn’t present a threat to anyone; no one would attack us. The old live and let live. I see now I was wrong.”

Scott says, “Mom, some of my friends say we attacked the USA first. Do you remember during the television program when Wolf and Sean were talking about some kids in the USA being poisoned? A couple of my friends said we did that which is why they attacked us.”

“Scott, I heard that too. I wonder if there’s any truth to the story. Normally I would have said it wasn’t true, but I can’t think of any other reason why the USA would have attacked us. I always thought the USA President was understanding and peace loving, nothing like that asshole Brownstone.”

“Honey, stop that. It’s not respectful to call him that. He was their President. He let us leave without a war. I don’t agree with his views on many issues either, but that’s not a reason to call him a name.”

“Honey, kids, I’m sorry. I was wrong. I shouldn’t have called him a name. I think that either the DepLIES or President Bloomberg may have done something. I really hope they didn’t, but if they did, I think the USA overreacted. The average citizen of the LSA didn’t do anything to the USA so why are they taking out their anger on us?”

Jason replies, “I think we must have done something in order for the USA to have blacked us out. If you look at the places that aren’t blacked out, you see the USA didn’t want to cause loss of life, they wanted to make us uncomfortable enough to apply pressure on Bloomberg to resign or on the Senate to push for new elections. I wish our leaders would be honest with us.”

The Smith family learned from listening to their battery powered AM/FM radio that many workers aren’t reporting for work, putting a drain on the LSA’s economy. The anchor, Wolf Bracken, reports, “President Bloomberg today ordered all LSA government workers to report for work tomorrow. He said the government won’t accept any excuses for workers not reporting to their jobs. President Bloomberg also ordered everyone to honor the curfew and stay indoors after 7PM local time.”

Jason says, “I wonder who the people are who aren’t reporting to work?”

Sharon replies, “There are three who haven’t reported for work in my department alone. I heard in the halls that other departments also report workers who haven’t reported for work. I wonder where they’ve gone. I can understand people not showing up. I think many don’t have a way to charge their cars. If their battery runs down they might not have any way to get to their work.”

Jason replied, “This isn’t good. If too many people don’t report to their jobs, our entire economy could collapse. The country depends on everyone working and the taxes that come from their paychecks, if people aren’t working and since over 40% of our population works for the government, we’re going to face serious problems if people don’t report to work. Maybe the central government should send buses to pick workers up.”

Sharon asks, “Honey, any idea how long we have?”

“Not without knowing how many people aren’t reporting for work, I don’t think that number is ever going to be released. We can’t report to our jobs because we only have a quarter charge left in your car and less than that in mine. We need to conserve the batteries in case we need a car for an emergency.”

Before they can continue, they hear an announcement on the small portable radio that surprises them, “Yoko Ono reported today that she will be leading a peace march down Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills this Saturday. In her words, “My late husband and lover John Lennon and I wrote a song we called, ‘Give Peace a Chance.’ I propose we hold hands on Saturday as we sing ‘Give Peace a Chance.’ I’m hoping to see thousands of you join with me on Saturday on Rodeo Drive. Come one and all to the Peace March. Maybe our government will hear us and ‘Give Peace a Chance.’

Scott asks, “Hey Mom, Dad, can I go?”

Jason responds, “No, you can’t go. LA is over one thousand miles from here. There’s no way you’re going to that march. I’d bet every city will have a similar march this weekend. Let’s see what Portland announces.”

“OK, that sounds good. I’d like to see Yoko Ono, I wonder how old she is now.”

“Scott, I’d guess she is more than 75. I wish we had power back on, I too, miss watching the news.”

@@@@@

President Bloomberg stands in his office in shock; he yells at his chief of staff, “When was anyone going to tell me Yoko Ono was planning a march a few blocks from here? Who approved her damn march? How many people are expected?”

His chief of staff asks, “Sir, I didn’t think it would do any harm to allow her a small march. I thought it would bring attention to our problem; the press will cover her march in detail, and we’ll win their support for our side.”

“You idiot, a mass of people that close to the Gray House will enable USA spies and attackers to get inside our security zone. Currently, no one can approach within ten blocks of the Gray House, this march will put them within two blocks of here. I want you to stop her march right now.”

“Sir, I’m not sure it can be stopped at this late date, Yoko should be giving a press conference right about now. She promised me to say a lot of nice words about you and the LSA.”

“Did you get a copy of her speech?”

“No sir, she said she was just going to speak off the cuff without a prepared statement.”

“And you believed that bullshit?”

“Sir, she must be 75, she won’t remember to say very much.”

“For your sake I hope you’re right. Are there any other surprises you’d like to tell me?”

“Nothing else sir.”

@@@@@

The Secret Service moves the three Presidents to the War Room bunker under the White House. President Rand asks his military aide if they have received any message from Grameniko after the destruction of their strategic assets.”

“No sir, not a word.”

“I’d thought he would have reached out to us by now.”

President Cruise says, “He hasn’t reached out to us because he’s planning something. That call from the hunters concerns me. They saw a heavy armor battalion and yet we can’t find them. I wonder if they were already south of where we sent our agents. Something about troops on the east coast concerns me. I keep thinking there’s only a single target of any value on the east coast they could reach in a reasonable time frame. That high-value target is us.”

President Brownstone looks at his friend. “Damn, Ted I think you’re correct. I suggest we get the Marines positioned and get them some reinforcements.”

President Rand pauses, his head starts to nod in agreement. He calls out to his military aide, “Major, see what forces are available to reinforce the D.C. area.”

“Yes sir.”

“Rod, Ted, is there anything else you think we should be doing?”

Rod replies, “Paul, I’d start evacuating the people who aren’t critical to running the government. Outgoing refugees may slow down a Russian attack; it may also save many of their lives. I’d check with the Navy to see how many ships they have close to us; we may have to place some ships in the Potomac to act as mobile gun platforms.”

Paul responds, “Rod, we lost most of our ships when we lost Norfolk and the weapons depot at Yorktown; it’s a good idea, I’ll see what we have available. Major, call the Mayor, tell him to start evacuating the city. When he asks how he should evacuate the people, tell him any way he can. Just get them moving.”

“Yes sir.”

The Mayor of Washington, D.C., Mayor Gray looks at his chief of staff, “The White House wants us to start evacuating our population. What do they know we don’t?”

“Mr. Mayor, I don’t have any idea. The only city under attack is Las Vegas, I don’t know why they suggest we get our people out of the city. I don’t know how we’re going to move them out. If we tell the people to start walking, they’ll be angry and maybe not vote for us in the next election.”

“See how many buses we can dig up and start with those closest to the bridges leaving the city. They have the shortest distance to go. If there is an issue that requires us to evacuate our people, we’ll at least have moved some of them out of harms way. Try to see what they know about any threats to the city.”

The phone in the Mayor’s office rings, the chief of staff picks it up, “Hello, Mayor Gray’s office.”

“Sir, this is the city crisis center, we have reports that the city may be under threat of attack.”

“What information do you have? Where did you get it?”

“Got a call from the US Marines.”

“Shit, cancel the previous order, get everyone possible out of the city.”

Mayor Gray issues the order to sound the alarms throughout the city that causes panic and chaos. People don’t know what to do or where to go. Some run for the bridges; others take the time to loot and burn stores close to their homes. They started causing more damage to the city than the Russians planned to do. Some sit on the curb waiting for government help to arrive. Some tear into old enemies deciding this is a good time to settle old and new disputes.

.

Chapter 10

Colonel Grover and his team listen to the announcement of Yoko Ono’s peace march on their cars’ radios. Grover smiles, he says, “This is our chance to get inside the barricades and sneak into the Gray House.”

One of the younger sergeants asks, “Colonel who’s this Yoko Ono? Why is she holding a peace march?”

Colonel Grover laughs saying, “Did you ever hear of John Lennon? How about the song ‘Give peace a chance?’”

“No sir, never heard of either of them, was she a singer? Did she write the song?”

Grover laughs and slaps his head. “This proves I’m too old to lead people in the field. I have to find a new career, maybe sitting behind a desk isn’t so bad. I wonder how beer testers get their jobs?”

The sergeant laughs saying, “Colonel, you’ll never get hired as a beer taster, you never met a beer you didn’t like. You’ll drink up all of their product before it’s shipped.”

Everyone in the team laughs at both the Colonel and the Sergeant.

Grover says, “For you young’uns, a long time ago there was a singing group called the Beatles, John Lennon was one of the four members. He married Yoko Ono; they went on to destroy one of the best groups in the world while writing some memorable songs, ‘Give Peace a Chance’ was one of them. She was always a little ‘off’ which explains her living here in LA. We have two days until her march; let’s gather some local color so we can blend in better with the march. Go out in twos, never alone. Remember your cover stories. I don’t want to have to bail any of you out of jail so don’t do anything stupid.”

The men laugh at the Colonel’s joke. They start to slip out of the hotel rooms in twos to gain some local color and information. Looking around, Grover is happy he studied the television program to ensure their clothing was correct so they would fit in. The team mingles with people, listens in on the local rumors, four visit the Beverly Hills High School to chat with those who have been moved there. Some shop, some visit a local Starbucks, a couple try to walk on Rodeo Drive, which remains closed. Colonel Grover is able to slip behind two of the DepLIES barricades enabling him to inspect and locate their weaknesses. He files the information away for use later on. Each team is stopped at least twice for an ID check. Thanks to the NSA and the CIA, each member of the team has a perfect ID which,  when queried by DepLIES, opens to their full profile pages which the NSA created and inserted by hacking into the LSA network. Colonel Grover’s team is able to move around the LSA without fear of being caught or stopped. They sign up for Saturday’s ‘Give Peace a Chance March.’ They receive their parade ID cards; they are told to report back at 0800 Saturday morning. Grover smiles thinking to himself, It’s sure easy to get into the parade and within a couple of blocks of the Gray House. He tells his team to shop and blend with the locals for two days.

@@@@@

LSA President Bloomberg calls his Treasury Secretary, “Chuck, I want you to use your printing presses to start producing USA currency; a lot of US Currency.”

“Mr. President, we have samples of their currency, we should be able to reproduce it, but sir, the issue is their new currency has metal threads woven through it. They also have a 3D hologram embedded in their bills. Given a few weeks we should be able to match their currency. How much do you want us to print?”

“Chuck, I would like you to print one hundred billion dollars of the new United States currency.”

“Michael, we’ve been friends for many years. We’ve worked together since you were the Mayor of New York City, and I was the New York State Senior Senator. Michael, if you’re trying to destroy the USA’s economy by flooding them with counterfeit money, have you considered what will happen to us if they figure this out? I think we’re looking at the end of the LSA if President Rand figures out what we’ve done.”

“Chuck, if you can copy their currency correctly so even their secret service won’t be able to determine which is real and which isn’t, they’ll have no way to determine we had our hands in their cookie jar. We have the two Russian armies, one in Las Vegas, and one getting ready to invade Washington, D.C. They got lucky when their militia found the Venezuelans who were stupid because they didn’t bring any anti-air weapons. What they don’t know yet, is there are two army groups getting ready to leave Cuba. One army group will invade southern Florida, the second army group will sail into the Gulf of Mexico and invade Houston. Both of these will catch the Americans by surprise. While they are facing four armies on their soil, we’ll flood their country with phony currency destroying their economy. Even if they should destroy the invaders, they’ll be left with a destroyed economy. It’ll most likely take them years to sort out the real from the counterfeit currency. They will have to recall, test and replace all of their currency. Can you imagine the chaos flooding the USA with a hundred billion dollars of counterfeit currency will do? Chuck, I was one of a handful of billionaires in the world, I, more than most, understand the disaster and destruction to Rand’s economy we’ll be able to cause. We can win the war by taking down their banking sector. Their currency will no longer be trusted. The mighty US dollar will cease to be the world’s currency of choice. Fourteen years ago Russia and China tried to destroy America’s economy, they dumped billions of dollars on the market. They started to accept trade in other currencies. The only action, which saved America, was President Brownstone bringing in Forbes to tie the US Dollar to precious metals giving it a real value. We now have a chance to destroy any value of their currency.”

“Mr. President, if we get caught, they will destroy us and our dream. There will be nothing left of the LSA. Sir, they will consider this the largest act of terrorism in their history. They used a nuke to destroy a terrorist base and show the world what happens to anyone who attacks the USA. Michael, what you’re proposing is the worst act of terror anyone has ever used against America. I’ll start the process of creating the currency, however, before you give the word to proceed, I’m asking you to review the plan.”

“Chuck, if you do a good enough job of copying their currency, they’ll never catch us. It’s all in your hands. Don’t let us down.”

“Michael, I’ll do my best.”

“I know you will.”

Smiling to himself President Bloomberg thinks to himself, If the Russians and the Cubans can’t bring Rand to the negotiating table, the crash of their economy will. If we time this just right, we, I, will be in complete control of all of North America. Once I pull all of North America together, we’ll move to pull South America into our control. At the end of the day, there will be two world powers, Grameniko, who’ll rule Europe and Russia, and me ruling the Americas. China will tear itself apart. Later Grameniko and I will share whatever’s left of China. Africa will be treated like a zoo continent. Hell, with their petty wars, we’ll let them kill each other off. If their wars don’t kill them, starvation, Ebola or AIDS will clear Africa for us to take all of their minerals. This will ensure we end up ruling the world.

@@@@@

US Generals Watson and Wilson are trying to figure out where the army group the hunters saw moving south, went. General Wilson says, “They can’t have just vanished. They have to be somewhere.”

“General, if you were leading that army group what would be your target? Where would you be heading?”

“General Watson, there’s only one target worth the risk. That’s us and D.C. If I were leading an invading army group on the east coast, I’d try to remain hidden and surprise the capital. If I could conquer the capital and capture the President, it should end the war. The LSA would become the victors. Bloomberg would share our assets with Grameniko.”

“I agree with you. Which means we have to find that army and stop it before they reach D.C. General if you were in command of that army what route would you take to reach D.C. from Montreal?”

“General, I’d split my forces so that I’d surround D.C. I’d time the arrival of my forces so that they all arrive within a couple of hours of each other. When my troops were all in place, I’d take the city by surprise. I’d hold the citizens hostage to get the government to surrender.”

“I agree. You named your own mission. General Wilson, I want you and your Marines to find that army and stop it before they can carry out the plan you just outlined. Any questions?”

“No sir. I’ll get right on it.”

“General, I don’t want to surrender the Pentagon or the White House so find that missing army group and stop or destroy them before they can attack the city.”

“Yes sir.”

“I’m going to contact the President. I think he should leave the White House for a safer location. I’d love him to relocate to the mountain.”

General Wilson salutes the Chairman as he takes his leave of the Pentagon. General Watson picks up the red telephone which connects him to President Rand, who picks up the telephone on the first ring. “General, what’s wrong?”

“Mr. President, we feel there’s a strong possibility of a Russian army group trying to invade D.C. We’d feel much better if you would move to a more secure position.”

“General, where is this army group?”

“Mr. President I’ve sent General Wilson to locate and stop the Russian army group. We believe it’s the same one that the hunters saw in Montreal. We think they split their forces and are planning on surrounding Washington. My best guess is they think if they can capture the city and you, the war will come to end.”

“General, if the people see me leave the city they’ll know something’s very wrong. They’ll be scared. If the Russians do invade the city, it’ll be the first time since 1814 that D.C. was invaded. We’ll lose the morale of our people, and I don’t need to remind you, once we lose the support of the people, we’re done. It’s critical General, that you stop the invasion of this city before it takes place.”

“Mr. President, won’t you consider going to Mount Weather or Cheyenne Mountain?”

“General, my place is here. I’ll lead our nation from the front. All we can do is hope General Wilson finds and is able to stop the Russians. You have my permission to use everything in our arsenal, with the exception of nuclear weapons, to stop the invasion of the capital.”

“Yes sir.”

@@@@@

The Peace March kicks off at 9:00AM Saturday morning. Yoko Ono and twenty Hollywood stars lead the parade. There are marching bands, drummers, and flute players. Someone looking at the parade would think the hippies from the late 1960’s found their way to LA in 2027. Colonel Grover and his team didn’t shave for two days; they mixed in with the parade singing and dancing. Everyone sang, “Give Peace a Chance.”

‘All we are saying is give peace a chance

All we are saying is give peace a chance

Everybody's talkin' 'bout ministers, sinisters

Banisters and canisters, bishops and fishops

Rabbis and pop eyes, bye bye, bye byes

All we are saying, is give peace a chance

All we are saying, is give peace a chance’

(Copyright John Lennon)

The sounds of their singing could be heard for blocks. President Bloomberg threw a legal pad across his office. “Can’t you make them shut up? I need to think. Their damn singing and drumming is driving me crazy. Find a way to stop them before I go nuts.”

“Sir, we can’t. They have a permit for the parade. You gave them permission to hold the parade. We can’t stop them now. The media love them. If you send in the police or DepLIES now, you’ll look bad in the media.”

“Do you think I care what the media thinks? I’m not running in an election. The media can hate me for all I care. I’m President of the LSA for life. I’m telling you, either find a way to stop them or you’re fired.”

“All we are saying, is give peace a chance.”

President Bloomberg looks around the Gray House trying to figure out where he can get away from the noise a few blocks away. He’s getting angrier by the minute when his private phone rings. “Hello?”

“Michael, you have to give me a minute.”

“Demetri what is it? I hope you’re calling with good news.”

“I’m not. We have an agent in the Pentagon. That agent has found out President Rand has sent a wet team after you.”

“What do you mean a wet team?”

“Michael, it’s an old Soviet KGB term meaning an assassination team. The rumor is its the same team that took out President Puten.”

“Wouldn’t that team be too old for field operations by now?”

“These types of people are very well trained. They are the best. If they’re after you, they will get you. They move like ghosts.”

“It doesn’t matter how much security you have. They got into Moscow and into the secret bunker Puten lived in. They took him out and escaped from the Motherland. If they could manage that, you don’t stand a chance in Gray House. Why don’t you come here?”

“Demetri, are you suggesting I move the LSA seat of government to Moscow? Do you think my people will accept me running away while they’re suffering?”

“Michael, your people already know you have electrical power while they don’t. How long do you think they are going to accept that you are not equal with them? You could move your staff here with you; we can set up a studio that looks like your office. No one would be able to tell you’re not there. I suggest you engage a body double to take your place in the Gray House so anyone who happens to pass the House, will think you’re still there. We can forward your calls and IP address so everyone will think you're sitting in the Gray House when you’ll be here with us.”

“Do you really think they can reach me? We’ve closed the area for ten blocks around the Gray House, we’ve even moved the people out of their homes around us. The police and the DepLIES are patrolling the area 24/7. We have overlapping searchlights illumining the entire area around the Gray House; there aren’t any shadows for anyone to use for sneaking in.”

“Michael, I can tell you, if they want you, you’re a dead man. There’s nothing you can do to protect yourself. These people are like mists that appear and disappear. They are the best the Americans have. I would bet they’re already in LA making plans or just waiting for the order to take you out.”

“Demetri, I have a hard time believing that President Rand would sign the order to take my life. I don’t think he has the balls to do it. I think I’m safe here.”

“Michael, don't be naïve; you would sign the order if you thought you could get away with taking out President Rand without getting caught. Believe me, with both Presidents Cruise and Brownstone in the White House, President Rand will sign the order. I strongly suggest you quickly and quietly leave without telling anyone. Bring your senior staff with you. Tell them when the armored limo arrives to take you to LAX.”

“How many people can I bring with me?”

“How many can your airplane carry?”

“One hundred.”

“If you decide not to come, then make arrangements to move your base of government to a more secure location than the Gray House. If the USA hit team can’t access the Gray House they can still send a stealth bomber over your home and bomb it to ashes. If they want you out of the way, and I think they do, you can count your remaining days on one hand.”

“I’ll get back to you. I have a difficult time believing they want to kill me.”

“I’ll leave you with this thought - that’s what Puten said the day before they got to him.”

@@@@@

President Grameniko finishes his call with President Bloomberg. He reviews the reports and images of Russia’s destroyed strategic weapons; he asks the Russian Federation Minister of Defense, “Marshal, do we have anything useful left?”

“Mr. President, we have some of the older missiles in storage, but no silos to place them in, the second we start digging new silos the bastards at the CIA will see us and most likely attack them. If I were them, I’d wait until we lowered the missiles into the new silos, just as we finished installing them, I’d launch a KEW destroying them. We have some of our old Bear bombers left and some short range missiles. The Bears are all over 65 years old; they are propeller driven. The American air force will shoot them down before we get close to America.”

“You’re telling me that we’re out of the nuclear weapons business?”

“Mr. President, unless we can find a way to neutralize their KEW weapons they can easily destroy any weapons we deploy. We have nothing that can intercept their KEW weapons.”

“What about our nuclear-tipped ABM missiles?”

“Mr. President, the KEWs move so quickly our ABMs can’t hit them. By the time a nuclear warhead fuses and explodes, the KEW will have moved past the point of explosion.”

“Will a laser takedown a KEW?”

“Mr. President, the KEW is solid, there’s nothing for the laser to ignite or explode on the incoming KEWs. In an ordinary missile, a laser burns through the skin, burning out the guidance system or releasing the unspent fuel. In a KEW, none of these things can happen. If we had a particle beam or something like that, it might destroy a KEW.”

“Do we have one?”

“No, and most likely not for many years. We understand the theory behind a particle beam, but not how to build one.”

“Then we’re totally screwed.”

“Mr. President, I’d advise making peace with the Americans as quickly as possible. Who knows what other weapons they have up their sleeves? They took down our power grid; they destroyed all of our nuclear weapons. They just proved they are at least two generations ahead of us and the rest of the world.”

“Then there’s nothing we can do?”

“Make peace. Call back General Leninkov before they find him and figure out he’s going to try to invade their capital. I think if one of our troops crosses the line into D.C. they may take out Moscow.”

“They wouldn’t dare!”

“Wouldn’t they?”

“Mr. President wouldn’t you destroy Washington if they invaded Moscow?”

“I would. If we can’t attack them from the outside, it’s time for us to attack them from the inside. We’ll hit them in their soft belly. Marshal, thank you, I don’t think you need to attend my next meeting.”

“Sir, may I remind you, hitting them anywhere will give them another excuse to strike us again.”

“Marshal, then we have to give them more to worry about than us.” Grameniko smiles at the Marshal nodding his head.

The Marshal smiles responding, “I understand. The less I know about the next phase, is better for me.  If you need me; I’ll be at STAVKA.”

“Marshal, keep the military pressure on the USA, I’ll provide additional political pressure on them. Between the two, they will have to come to the table and back off their actions against the Motherland.”

The Marshal nods and leaves the President’s office.

Grameniko tells his aide to have Boris Yelsin, the Director of the FSB, to join him. Fifteen minutes later Boris arrives. The two men move into Grameniko’s small secure conference room behind his office. “Boris, we can’t strike back at President Rand with strategic weapons; they have destroyed most of ours; we need to strike at them from the inside. I’d like to hear your ideas.”

“Mr. President, my staff has drawn up a list of areas where they are vulnerable, a few of these are: we suggest you hold a new conference next to one of the destroyed silos, the topic of the announcement is the damage the USA has done to the environment by striking our nuclear missiles, they have spread nuclear material all over the ground and the air. The material will enter the ground water poisoning millions of Russians. The nuclear material tossed into the air will spread around the world. We suggest you warn the world’s countries that they need to monitor their air supply, if they notice a higher amount of radiation in their air, they should blame the USA. We can help the press by seeding some radioactive material around the world so that other countries put pressure on the USA.”

“I like this one, put it in place, what’s next?”

“In the same thought we should invite all of the world’s environmental groups to the press conference. These groups will put pressure on the USA.”

“Yes, make it so.”

“We can protest the USA placing weapons in space in breach of many treaties. If they used these weapons against us without us using a strategic weapon against them, which country is safe from the out of control Americans?”

“Another good plan, start it moving forward.”

“Sir, we propose starting a race war inside the USA.”

“Oh? This sounds very interesting how do you plan to make this happen?”

“There are black on white and white on black crimes every day in America. All we need is one where a white member of their various police forces shoots a young black. If none happens, we can set it up. We can arrange for a young black to push a white officer until he shoots him. We’ll use that to stir up always simmering race issues. We’ll send some violent protesters into the protests that we’ll arrange; we can arrange for protests in hundreds of cities across their country. We’ll support the protestors until they push the whites enough that they decide to push back. We’ll nudge their press and their race-baiters, who are on our payroll, to stoke the fires of hatred. We should be able to stir up enough hatred by supplying the protesters with weapons and drugs. Once their races explode they will have to focus internally, not externally. We can generate enough unrest that President Rand will have to stop his actions against the LSA and us because his own country is breaking apart. I have 350 specially trained agents who I can send to the USA within a day of you giving your approval.”

“Boris are these agents white?”

“No, they are black, they are agents we used in Africa, in Chechnya and in the USA before.”

“If they get caught there can be no bread crumbs leading back to us. If they find out we’re behind it, they will destroy us.”

Laughing, Boris replies. “Mr. President, I assure you nothing can be traced back to us. Most of my agents have already worked in the USA. Most have experience stirring up trouble in the USA, do you remember their Occupy Wall Street protests?”

“Of course.”

“Many of these agents were there assisting the protests and ensuring their media showed the images and told the story we wanted them to. My people are very good at what they do.”

“Where do you plan to arrange the flare up?”

“In one of their Midwest cities. They consider their Midwest states to be made up of their so called ‘silent majority’ we’ll hurt the silent majority which will speed up the war between their races.”

“I like this plan the best.”

“Sir, I suggest we use all of the plans that will keep the USA having to focus on many different crises at the same time. Their own people want the situation in Las Vegas brought to an end, the attack on Washington, D.C.,will start shortly, as will attacks in Texas and Florida. While they’re defending against our attacks, the world’s environmentalists will pound them, their press will take the side of the environmentalists, the world will pressure them for breaking the treaties covering no weapons in space, people all over the world will be scared of the radiation harming their children and their food supply. At the same time, their races will go to war. The race war will split the USA more than the split between the LSA and USA did.”

“Boris, you have done the Motherland a great service today. Prepare your teams to launch all of your ideas. At the same time, see if you can arrange a couple mutated fetuses we can blame on the radiation caused by the USA destroying our strategic weapons. The world will fear the USA; their allies will stop supporting them. The USA will find themselves alone in the world. After their race war starts, we’ll propose a worldwide protest and ban on all USA goods. We’ll hurt their economy at the same time all of the other issues explode in their face.”

“Yes Mr. President, all of this is possible. I’ll see to it at once.”

Chapter 11

Presidents Brownstone, Cruise, and Rand are reviewing the reports from Las Vegas, the Russian Federation, and the LSA. President Cruise looks at his two friends asking, “Why is Grameniko so quiet? I would have assumed he would be screaming about the loss of his strategic forces. I would have assumed he would have tried to strike back at us. He’s been silent. When he’s silent, it means he’s up to something. Where are we vulnerable? What could he do to create chaos in the USA? How will the Russian Federation and the LSA strike back at us? We need to think as they do and act first, so we take the initiative away from them.”

President Brownstone pauses when sipping a mug of coffee; he holds the mug halfway to his mouth. He thinks about what Ted just said, he responds, “Ted, let’s game this out and see where it takes us. If we were Bloomberg or Grameniko what would we do? I suggest we list all possible actions they may take and see if we have a countermove to whatever they hit us with.”

An aide to the Secretary of State asks, “Sirs, why do you think they will do something? They know whatever they do to us, we’ll stomp them. State thinks they will surrender so that their people can get their electrical power turned back on. The Secretary suggests President Rand invite Presidents Bloomberg and Grameniko to a sitdown; he thinks that the three leaders will be able to work out a compromise that works for all parties.”

Rod laughs saying, “I see State hasn’t changed. Still looking at the world through rose-colored glasses. Has any of State’s projections ever come to pass? I’ll tell you the answer, no. Nothing you guys at State thought would happen ever worked out as you thought they would. Why do you think State is in Foggy Bottom? You guys are always in a fog and at the bottom of a deep trench filled with shit.”

“Sir, if you think that way….”

President Rand interjects, “Both of you please stop it. State, I don’t think that Grameniko is going to roll over and play dead. We just declawed him in a very public and painful manner. He’s going to strike back at us in some manner. You can be sure of it.”

The aide responds, “Mr. President, State doesn’t agree. We believe now that the Russian Federation is declawed, as you put it, they will see they have no option except to sit down and talk. We project they will demand payment for the destruction of their weapons systems. We believe they will make a claim to the world court that we illegally struck them, causing them a severe loss.”

Ted laughs saying, “State is wrong. If I were in Grameniko’s shoes, I wouldn’t sue, I’d find a way to strike back. We all but declared war on the Russian Federation. There’s no way he’s going to sit there and take the slap across the face. I wouldn’t, nor do I think any of us would.”

Rod adds, “Ted, then what will they do?”

Ted replies, “I’m sure we can see Grameniko call a press conference to say we violated the old UN treaties on not militarizing space, we destroyed hundreds of billions of Rubles, he’ll want to be compensated for the loss plus associated cleanup costs.”

Rod smiles saying, “I think you’re on to something there. Yes, I see him making a grand show out of the attack, I think he’ll try to pull in the Green factions around the world saying our attack spread nuclear material into the air and water which is going to poison the world.”

Paul asks, “What happened to the nuclear material used in their weapons?”

Rod replies, “Most of it was destroyed by the fires, some of it was released into the atmosphere. I’m sure it wasn’t enough to harm anyone unless they’re standing in the debris field.”

Paul says, “That’s it. They’re going to invite the world press and the Greens to see the damage. They’re going to claim we spread deadly radioactive material around the world, demanding we pay to clean it up. He’s going to ask the world to support him in pressuring us. They’ll hit us with a cost in the hundreds of billions to bankrupt us. If he can get enough other nations behind him, it could cause us some issues. He might also try to have the world stop trading with us until we pay their cleanup costs. Paul, I’d ask Commence to check every contract to see what the cancelation clauses are. If the other nations cancel contracts with us, we should be able to invoke the cancelation clauses and sue for damages. I don’t know what the damage to our economy would be if all of these contracts were canceled. I’m sure it might have a major impact on our people.”

Ted replies, “We could always turn off the power in any country that supported them.”

Paul shakes his head no replying, “No we can’t. We’d become hated even more than we are. We’d be pushing the other countries into an allegiance with the Russian Federation and the LSA. I’m not sure what we can do if they cancel or refuse to honor contracts. Do either of you have any ideas what Bloomberg will try?”

Rod says, “I think he may try to flood us with those who are unhappy in the LSA, overwhelming our border patrols. “

Paul says, “I’ll appoint a review team from each agency to spend three days reviewing the various options and counter moves.”

Ted laughs saying, “Three days? They won’t even come up with a name for their interagency working group in three days.”

Paul smiles responding, “Yes they will, or they’ll be out of a job.”

“Want to bet?” asks Rod

@@@@@

General Leninkov is reviewing the progress reports of his four spearheads moving south from Quebec towards Washington, D.C.  He doesn’t know his movements have been seen and are being watched. Stealth drones finally found the Russian military moving south.  The drones are keeping track of his movement. General Watson, in the War Room under the Pentagon, is reviewing the images from the drones. He’s looking at the maps trying to find the right location to spring a trap on the soon to be invaders. His staff keeps coming up with the same answer, “Sir, either we have to hit them in the LSA or we’re going to have to wait until they are on the Washington, D.C., line. Their route keeps them inside the LSA the entire time.”

General Watson says, “They are going to have to stop short of the border to regroup and prepare for the invasion. We’re going to have to hit them just before they kick off their invasion. Our timing is going to be very tight. And our options of hiding our attack troops are going to be very limited. If our troops and tanks are out in the open, they’ll be spotted hours before the Russians arrive. Find places for us to trap them before they can enter D.C.”

The staff nods in agreement

@@@@@

Outside of St. Louis, Missouri, five black FSB agents pass around potent drugs to a group of African-American youth hanging around a Burger King store. The group smokes getting higher by the minute. At midnight, the agents suggest someone go into the Burger King to get everyone something to eat. The youths all say they don’t have any money. The FSB agents hand one of them a small handgun, saying, “Take this, just wave it around and threaten them. Make them fill a couple of bags of burgers and fill another bag from their cash registers. We’ll eat and have pocket money for the week.”

The youths smile nodding in agreement. The oldest, Mack, who’s eighteen, asks, “Can I keep the gun?”

“You get me at least two large burgers and some cash. Man I’m starving.”

Mack laughs nodding in agreement. He takes the gun going into the store. Minutes later the group hears screaming, two gun shots and then crying. The FSB agents laugh and disappear in the dark of the night. They tell the youths they are going to take a leak behind the store. They don’t return. Turning two corners they hear police sirens heading in their direction before they enter their car and leave the area.

Mack walks into the Burger King where he waves the gun yelling for everyone to get on the floor. He tells the manager to fill four bags with burgers and one bag with the money from all of the cash registers. The manager says he can’t open the registers unless there’s a sale. Mack is confused. He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed; he yells at the few customers in the store to buy something so he can get into the registers. Of the three people in the store, only two have any cash on them. One orders a burger and a milk shake. The manager says it’ll be about five minutes since he placed all of the precooked burgers in Mack’s bag. The customer says she doesn’t want to wait and leaves. Mack is so high he’s confused by the customer walking out; the other two customers take note of the first customer walking out. They too say they don’t want to wait and leave the store leaving Mack standing in the store with the employees on the floor and the manager saying he can’t open the registers. Mack shoots at one of the registers, he misses, instead hitting the deep fryer which starts pouring hot oil on the floor. The hot oil reaches two of the employees on the floor, they scream and cry from being burned by the hot oil. Mack shakes his head, holding the two bags of burgers he walks out of the store just as the police arrive. The police are standing behind the open car doors holding their guns pointed at Mack, who yells at them to leave him alone. He didn’t do anything. The police sergeant says, “Put the bags and the gun on the ground. Lay down on the ground with your hands behind your head.”

“Man why? I didn’t do anything. I was hungry. I got some burgers for my friends and myself.”

“With a gun?”

“It’s not mine. A friend loaned it to me.”

“Get on the ground.”

Mack figures he can get away if he can make it to the corner of the Burger King. He pretends to get on the ground, rolling to his left he’s momentarily out of sight of the police. He gets back up with the gun in his hand, trying to run around the Burger King.

“STOP, DROP THE GUN.”

Mack doesn’t answer; he starts to raise his arms, including the one with the gun when he’s shot by the police. Mack falls; he gets up and tries to aim the gun at the police when he’s shot again, he gets up and tries to fire at the police when he’s hit three more times. His friends who were smoking with him all run, they manage to disappear in the confusion. The evening news reports the shooting of a black teenager by the police. Nothing is said about Mack having a gun in his hand or his attempted robbery of the Burger King. The African-American community takes to the streets demanding the police who ‘murdered’ Mack be brought to trail and imprisoned for life on the charge of murder.

The City of East St Louis explodes with protests and marches of thousands of people filling the streets chanting “Black lives have meaning.” The protesters, who said they’d had enough after Trevon Martin and Michael Brown, demand the issue of racism be the number one item that has to be resolved in the country. Before the country can digest the shooting in East St Louis, there’s a shooting of an African-American in Austin, Texas. The local police claim the teenager, only sixteen, had used a hammer to beat an elderly women to death, he threw and hit one of the officers with the hammer. The officer’s partner fired two shots that killed the teenager. New protests break out over the two young African-American teenagers shot within two days. Before the country can catch their breath, an eighteen year old African-American girl breaks into a white upper-income home; she’s caught carrying out a bag of diamond jewelry. The homeowner yells at the teen to stop, she turns giving the homeowner the finger, a white private security guard sees the teen make a motion with her hand, thinking she has a weapon he shoots her in the chest killing her with one shot. The last straw that broke the camel's back, is a road rage incident between a white woman who shot an African-American mother with two children in her car for cutting her off on Interstate 80 in Kansas. The FSB agents decide they’ve done enough to kick start a race war which will turn into a class war forcing the USA to take their focus off of the coming conflict with the LSA and Russia. The FSB and LSA DepLIES provides the USA media with stories and images to increase the pressure on President Rand. Mass marches are organized to improve race relations that were much improved from where relations were when the LSA/USA split. Additional protests form saying the blackout of the LSA is racist because it turned off the lights of African-American and other families of color. The poorest and those least prepared, have been harmed by the USA’s blackout.

To further the race war, in Las Vegas Russian General Chekov calls a news conference where he announces he’s releasing all hostages who are African-American and all other minorities. He looks into the cameras saying, “The poor in the USA, the African-Americans, have been taken advantage of for hundreds of years. Through no fault of their own, they have been forced to take the lowest paying jobs waiting on the whites here in Las Vegas. When we arrived at this city of sin, we discovered that the rich whites are being waited on by people of color. Poor women of color have to sell their bodies to feed their children. They can’t find any other jobs. The casino/hotels hire people of color only to clean the rooms of the elite whites or wait on them in restaurants. I was shocked to see elder men of color having to shine the shoes of the elites in order to put some food on their family’s table. The poor people are kept on their knees bent over to serve the elites. We, the Russian Federation and the LSA which was built upon the fact that people are equal, condemn the rich elites who come to Las Vegas to ‘play’ by having people of color wait on them. This is worse than the conditions in the American South in the mid 1800s. We can’t accept these conditions. The conditions we found when we arrived have made me ill. I can’t hold these poor people hostage or cause their families additional pain over and above what the white elites have done to these poor people. As such, I am releasing all people of color with pockets full of the casino’s money so they can rebuild their lives to a level of the people they have been forced to wait on.”

The USA and LSA media interview the “poor” African-Americans who have been locked out of the American dream due to their skin color. The LSA media uses this to expand on the merits of the LSA’s equality programs where everyone is equal, where people of any color skin and background are in reality all treated fairly unlike in the USA where it’s all talk and bullshit. The LSA runs an hour every evening on the progress made in the LSA by African-Americans in the LSA.  The program is picked up and used as a vehicle of protest in the USA by the race baiters who form protests; tens of thousands begin their march to Washington, D.C.

@@@@@

President Bloomberg smiles watching the broadcast when his private line rings. Picking it up, he responds, “Hello?”

“Mr. President, this is John Smithsone, chairman of the Bank of the LSA, we changed our name from Bank of America.”

“I don’t know how you got this number, but what can I do for you? My time is very short so please make your case very quickly.”

“Mr. President, the LSA has a note that’s overdue in the amount of $500 billion. I have been trying to get answers from everyone in your administration; no one will give me a direct answer. Sir, if this note isn’t repaid the bank will go bust destroying tens of thousands of jobs and ruining millions of families as their bank accounts disappear when we go bankrupt. We made the loan to the LSA when the LSA was established. We have rolled the notes over seven times, frankly Mr. President, we need to have it repaid ASAP.”

“Mr. Smithsone, please let me look into this, this is the first I’ve heard of the issue. I’ll have someone get back to you within 48 hours.”

“Thank you, Mr. President.”

Hanging up the phone, President Bloomberg calls his staff together; he opens the meeting with a question, “How much do we owe the banks? Are we past due in making our payments to them? I had a call from the chairman of the Bank of the LSA who says we’re past due on a note in the amount of $500 billion; is this true?”

The Minster of Finance says, “Mr. President, yes it’s true, we took out loans from all of the major banks in the amount of $4 trillion to support the foundation of the LSA and so we could provide the social benefits we do to our people. We had to build a new country from scratch.”

“Are we past due on every note?”

“Yes sir, we are. While our tax collections are running at an all-time high, we have more cash coming into the government than our best estimates; however we’re spending it faster than we’re taking it in.”

“How is that possible, we don’t have a military, we don’t pay foreign aid, how could we always be running out of cash?”

“Sir, you and the people’s congress increased the social programs and supported new industries. In the previous five years, the government has nationalized six hundred twenty-eight companies; each company we've nationalized has required large cash infusions in order to bring them up to our new mandated standards. The funds returned to the government haven’t been the amount of money we’ve expected. Our monthly costs have increased more than 20%. We’re only staying afloat by borrowing from the banks. When we nationalized our people’s pension and IRA accounts three years ago, we nationalized everyone’s savings accounts and we put in limits how much anyone could withdraw a month. Sir, we’re running out of monetary resources to keep our various programs alive.”

“I see. Why don’t we pay down the debt by using the USA currency we’re printing? The banks will give us a discount for using USA gold back currency which is really worthless because we made it.”

“Sir, can we do this?”

“Yes of course. We’ll tell the banks we built up a strategic reserve in case it was ever required. Minister Schumer has been overseeing the perfect printing of the currency. I had planned to flood the USA with the currency, now I think the better idea is to use the currency to pay off our debt.”

Everyone around the table looks surprised. Kory Booker, the Minister of Truth, says, “I like it. I like it a lot. Our banks will increase our credit rating saving us billions on interest while in reality we’re paying them back with toilet paper. When can we get started?”

“Let’s start with the SOB from the Bank of the LSA who called me today. If the currency passes his tests, then we’ll pay every bank back. We’ll hold a press conference to announce the LSA is about to become debt free. We’ll be one of a very few countries without a crushing national debt. Plus we won’t have to cut any of our social programs. This is a win-win for us and our people.”

Kory says, “Sir, it works perfectly as long as we don’t get caught.”

@@@@@

Colonel Grover and three members of his team are sitting in a vacant house across the street from the Gray House using thermal ultra wide band scanners to see the number of bodies inside the executive mansion across the street. Grover whispers, “Too many of them. While I’d like to take out the entire nest at once, we can’t risk it. We don’t have heavy enough weapons to ensure we could take them all down at once.”

Captain Greene whispers back, “Colonel, we could call in a KEW strike against them. One solid hit and phoof nothing but a hole in the ground.”

“Captain, we could, except it would show the world we executed the President of another country in cold blood. We’re supposed to take Bloomberg out without it looking like we did it. It’s supposed to look like an accident, or the Russians did it. Anything except we did it. As we’re the only ones with space-based KEW weapons, we’ll be blamed before the hole even cools.”

“What are you thinking?”

“Captain, the only thing that I can think of, is a natural gas leak.”

“Colonel, I’ll see how we can get our hands on a copy of the blueprint of the local gas lines. They should be in the city hall or the gas company. We’ll stage a break in tonight to look for the maps of the gas lines.”

“Good, let’s withdraw to the safe house.”

@@@@@

The Northern Virginia militia leader, Zack Ryder, sent five scout teams into the LSA in search of the Russian battalions they knew were heading south. The Pentagon requested his help in locating the Russian troops before they struck the capital. While Zack waited for his people to perform their recon mission, thousands of USA troops from the 101st and the 82nd are taking up positions around Washington, D.C.  Combat engineers are digging hiding holes for the defender’s tanks and anti-tank missiles groups. Motorists trying to enter Washington, D.C., are upset because of the construction going on at all of the bridges across the Potomac River. The shoulders of the roads are taken away for the fighting positions, hills are dug up, lanes on Route 66, the major road into the capital, are closed for the construction. The George Washington Parkway, which goes into Georgetown, is closed so it can be taken over by the Army. Cement trucks and flatbed trucks carrying reinforcing steel rods, jam the roads 24 hours a day. There are lines of trucks bringing materials the combat engineers are using to build defensive positions. The major defense contractors provide the Pentagon free program managers and meeting rooms in the offices that are all located either in Arlington or Alexandria. In addition, they offer manpower that is gladly accepted by the Pentagon.

The combat engineers’ second and third priority projects are to build defensive positions around the Pentagon that sits in Arlington, Virginia, and the CIA headquarters which is located in Langley, Virginia. Tens of thousands of people work 24 hours a day to build reinforced concrete walls around both facilities. Defensive positions have to be built as do tunnels and communications to the fighting positions being built. Six concrete plants are working 24 hours a day, seven days a week to produce the high-quality concrete required for the defensive positions. Every day brings additional troops and equipment into the capital area.

Eight days after the militia recon teams left Leesburg, traveling along Route 15 where they crossed into Maryland at the Point of Rocks, two of the squads find what they’re looking for. Hundreds of trucks loaded with tanks and military equipment, thousands of troops are at the Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson, New Jersey. One of the recon LTs, Scott Roger, asks, “Why would they stop here? It's twenty miles off of I-95. It’s between the Turnpike (I-95) and the Garden State Parkway. They’re spread out all over the park.”

His sergeant, Rob Johnson, replies, “They must have thought they could hide among the various rides. Any recon flight or drone may have missed the trucks. Notice all of the trucks have painted tarps over them so that anything flying above them looking down wouldn’t see them. If we hadn’t taken route 195 to meet our team that did the recon of the Jersey Shore, we would have missed them. There’s more of them then we were led to believe. I don’t think it’s safe to use our radio near them. They most likely have RF locating equipment. We have to get to a safe location to call in we found them before they move again. Gather everyone; we’re getting out of here before they see us.”

Scott responds, “Rob, tell everyone to be very careful, they most likely have their own security patrols out. If they catch us, we won’t get the information home which could cost us the war if they’re able to capture President Rand and the Congress. I want to move out in five. We’ll regroup at the rear of the Shell station across from the freeway.”

“Got it, I’ll make sure everyone is quiet. We’ll meet the shore team at the Shell station four blocks to the east.”

The recon squads slowly and quietly move out of the amusement park; they use the shadows and the various rides to hide their movement. It takes the two teams three hours to slip unnoticed out of the park and make it across Route 195 to an abandoned Shell gas station. They meet in the shadows of the rear of the station. When Scott thinks everyone is there, he asks them to count off so he can make sure everyone made it. He’s waiting for number 28, the last team member, to sound off; he waits for two long silent minutes after hearing 27. He whispers, “Who was the last to see or have any contact with 28?”

Rob responds, “Isn’t he the new guy from Ashburn?”

“Yeah, he is, where is he? If the Russians or LSA DepLIES catch him, they’ll grab all of us. We’ll never get back with the information. Who was his partner?”

“I was, number 14.”

“When was the last time you saw him?”

“When we were rounding the big roller coaster. He slipped, he said he was OK, I assumed he was on my six.”

“It doesn’t look like he was. We can’t leave him behind. None of us can be caught. The DepLIES will use drugs and get all of the information out of him, anything he knows, will flow out; he won’t even know what he’s told them.”

Rob asks, “Scott, does this mean we’re going back to look for him?”

“I want three of you to return to find him or if he’s been captured, you know what has to be done.”

Randy raises his hand saying, “I’ll go, who wants to go with me.”

While the militia is meeting at the Shell station, the Russians security patrol finds a dropped 5.56 round lying against the curb around the corner from the roller coaster. “Sergei look at this. It’s a 5.56, means the Americans were here.”

“Slow down Ivan, 5.56 is very common here, maybe it fell from one of the armed citizens, America is filled with weapons.”

“Not here in the LSA, they outlawed all weapons.”

“I didn’t know that. Let me see that round.”

“You’re right it’s a 5.56 which means there was a recon patrol here. One of them must have dropped a magazine, a round popped out of it. Let’s see if we find more rounds or if see if they’re still here. The round looks new.”

The two Russian security patrol members silently search the grounds looking for any other indications that someone has discovered them. Number 28 is scared. He tripped over the curb, falling, he twisted his ankle. He fell back when the balance of his team moved out. He’s currently hiding inside a large trash dumpster hoping no one opens it. It’s smelly inside; he’s as quiet as he can be. He dug himself under the bags of trash. He figured he missed the rendezvous at the Shell station.; the others would assume he got captured and leave ASAP. He decided to stay in the trash bin until the Russians pulled out. He heard voices whispering near the dumpster. The first voices he heard were in Russian; these are in English. He waited until the voices were right next to the dumpster, when he was sure the voices were next to him, he pushed himself to the top of the dumpster, he pushed the cover open scaring the three members of the militia standing shocked next to the dumpster. “Hey guys, looking for me?”

“Where the hell have you been?”

“In the trash bin. I twisted my ankle, I think I broke it, I couldn’t make it to the Shell station. I hid in the dumpster. I figured I’d stay here until the Russians pulled out then I’d make my way out of here and try to get home.”

“Come on, we’ve got to get out of here. We’ll help you walk to our meeting spot; we’ve got to get out of here before they catch us. We have the information, we have to get home.”

“Why don’t we just call?”

“The LSA DepLIES monitors all of the LSA phone lines, we can’t use the phones or our radios.”

“By the way, there were a couple of Russians standing where you are now. When I fell, I dropped my M4, a mag fell out, a round popped out of the mag, I think the Russians found the round. They know someone was here.”

“Shit, we really better get you and us out of here as quickly as we can.”

The two hold up 28 who’s limping in pain. It takes them three hours to make it to the Shell station. When they reach the station, Rob runs to them saying,, “You found him. Was he shot? Is he OK?”

“He’s going to be OK; we’ve got to get out of here ASAP. The Russians know we or someone like us, were here.” Before Rob can finish, they see headlights moving out of the park.

Chapter 12

In Burlington, North Carolina, the Jones family is watching the evening news showing the images of the rioting across the country. The images scare the Jones family; buildings behind the protestors are burning out of control. Cars along the road have been overturned, most have been set on fire. The reporter shows the skyline of twenty cities, all with flames licking the sky, the fires are reflected off of the bottom of the clouds. Protesters push and shove the network camera people; they steal two cameras by running past the network people, pushing them and grabbing the cameras. CNN gleefully reports the rioting as proof the USA is not equal, the USA is based on keeping the lower classes down while the LSA is built on equality. Leon looks over towards his parents, “I’m scared, is this going to spread to us?”

Beth says, “Our teacher told us there are people in the streets as close as Raleigh.”

“Beth, don’t worry, Raleigh is about an hour away from us, I don’t think those people rioting are going to be coming here. We’re too small of a town. We don’t have race problems here. We all get along with each other.”

Leon says, “Dad, why are they burning their own towns down?”

“Leon, I wish I knew why they are rioting. It’s true some African-Americans were shot by police; some were accidents, some might have been mistakes. I think they should have waited until the grand jury reached a decision if they were going to arrest the officers or not before rioting.”

“Dad, I don’t understand why they keep saying black lives matter. Don’t all lives matter?”

“Son, yes they do. Every life matters. They feel that they are being profiled. They think they are unfairly picked on by the police.”

Carol replies, “One of the things I don’t understand about them screaming that ‘Black Lives Matter’ is that the majority of abortions are performed on African-American women. On their left hand, they say they are free to abort their babies while on the other hand they protest when any of them gets shot, even if they got shot while committing a crime. The first one shot had a criminal record; he was armed. He raised his gun towards the police; anyone who points a gun towards the police right after a crime, should know they are going to get shot. The police are worried they’re going to be shot, they have to defend themselves.”

“Mom, they say the kid, Mack, was just trying to surrender, and they shot him.”

“Leon, he should have dropped the gun or laid it on the ground when he was told to, he raised his hand while holding the gun pointed at the police.”

“Mom, if that’s the true story why don’t the protestors believe it?”

“Leon, did they say his system was full of drugs?”

“No, is that true?”

“The police released the lab report saying his system was full of drugs.”

“Then why are they protesting?”

“Because they want to be heard, they want to make a statement.”

“But Mom, they’re burning down where they live, if they don’t like white people why don’t they protest where we live?”

“I think they know our police won’t be as tolerant as they are.” answered Bob.

“Dad what are we going to do if they do come here?”

“We’ll protect ourselves. I’ll do whatever I have to in order to protect our family.”

“Dad, would you really shoot them?”

“If they or anyone tried to hurt our family, yes, I would shoot them to protect us.”

Beth starts crying, “Honey what’s the matter?”

“Daddy I don’t want you to go to jail for killing someone. Please daddy, don’t go away. I’ll miss you too much.”

“Beth, I’m not going to away. Don’t worry.”

“Daddy if you kill someone the police will come and take you away. I see it on TV all the time.”

“Beth, when I said I’ll do anything to protect our family I meant it. I won’t kill anyone unless something very bad happens. Something very bad, so don’t worry. I love you.”

“Daddy, promise me you won’t go away.”

“I promise.”

@@@@@

Two former and one current US President are in the War Room bunker three hundred feet under the White House. President Cruise talks about the issues in Las Vegas. “I’ve been wondering how to dislodge the Russians from Las Vegas, we can’t use a lot of force since they are holding tens of thousands of people hostage. Since there’s not been a declaration of war, if we destroyed the hotel/casinos we could be open to a liability in excess of a billion dollars. We’ve stopped their reinforcements from crossing into Nevada from LA; we’re stuck in how to dislodge them. The only thing I can think of, is to take out the Russian leadership. If we cut off the head of the snake we, might be able to cut a deal with the new leaders to remove their troops.

President Rand thinks about what Ted said, “Ted, while I’d like nothing better than to take our Grameniko, do we want the world to see us as a country that assassinates any world leader we don’t agree with? Would any want to work with us if we did this?”

President Brownstone interjects, “It wouldn’t be the first time we took out another leader. We’ve been behind the forced change of governments for more than fifty years.  Recently, you all know we took out Puten. Of course we never acknowledged we did it, you know I ordered it, in fact, the team I sent to Russia is in LA looking at taking Bloomberg out. How is taking Grameniko out any different from taking Bloomberg out? I know some might say that Bloomberg is a rebel, but he is the head of an independent country. Didn’t we just use the KEW weapons to declaw Russia? If I were Grameniko, I’d be looking for a way to get even with us. He lost his strategic weapons; he has to make us pay in order to keep face, I think we’re looking at them invading us in another location in addition to Vegas, or they’ll strike at one of our close allies.”

President Rand replies thoughtfully, “I think you may have something there. Where do you think they will strike us next?”

“If I were giving the orders, I’d order a decapitation strike. I think the Russian army group, we lost track of and later found, is heading towards us. I wouldn’t be surprised if there isn’t another army group hiding, just waiting for the word to attack us.”

President Rand looks at Ted, “Shit, you just ruined my day. I better check with the CJCS to ensure we have sufficient support to stop an invasion of the city. I think we may have to go ahead and take out Granmeniko’s bunker and start increasing our defenses to protect the capital.”

“Paul, should I call in the military aide with the release case?”

“Ted, I think you should. I hate targeting him directly, but it may be the only way to break the invasion with minimum loss of life.”

Rand says, “I think we’re agreed. I’ll issue the orders to the Air Force.”

@@@@@

Inside the Cheyenne Mountain, the technicians are sending commands to a stealth ‘garage’ that is orbiting over Russia. The garage is covered in RAM and is shielded from thermal sensors. The garage holds the guided re-entry ‘Thor’s Hammer’ rods that are being programmed to take out the underground bunker of the Russian Federation’s leader, Demetri Grameniko.

“General, technician first class Larson, we’ve uploaded the coordinates of the bunker, the system is running quality checks on itself and aligning its guidance systems. We should be ready to launch in ten minutes.”

“Larson, will the hammers penetrate the Russian Federation command bunker? It’s designed to survive a direct strike by a nuclear weapon.”

“Sir, all of the studies say one will penetrate all the way through the earth and the bunker’s roof, collapsing the bunker.  In order to make sure, we’ve revised the plan, from two to three hammers. The first should penetrate the bunker, to make doubly sure, the second and third hammers will follow the first one down. We’ve programmed the second and third hammers to the same GPS spot. They’ll strike within a meter of the first hammer.”

“Larson, can the Russian’s ABM system take out a hammer?”

“Sir, the hammers move much faster than an ICBM warhead, the Russian ABM’s shouldn’t be able to track or hit the hammers. If they do manage to get one, the other two will take out his bunker. There should be nothing left of the bunker and the area around where it used to be. Sir, the hammers don’t carry any warheads, all of their destructive force is kinetic. The hammers impact is 380,000 joules per kilogram, each hammer weights 45.5 kilogram, which will impact 17,290,000 joules of energy when it strikes.”

“Larson, how long until the hammers are released?”

“Sir, nine minutes.”

“Thank you, I’m going to contact President Rand.”

Picking up the red handset, “Mr. President, General Johnson, CICNORAD, the hammers are programmed, we plan to release three of them. All will have the same impact point; they will be released five seconds apart. Our projections are that a single hammer should destroy President Grameniko’s bunker, hammers two and three will ensure there’s nothing left of the bunker or the surrounding area. Sir, I require you to release hammers.”

“General, I’m entering my release codes, your panel should show weapons release in less than a minute.”

In thirty seconds, technical Larson reported, “General, we have weapons release from President Rand. We’re free to fire.”

“Larson, you have weapons free, you are cleared to fire.”

“Yes sir, weapons free, clear to fire, sir, in five, four, three, two and one, hammer one is released and on the way through the atmosphere. Sir, hammer two is released.” Five seconds later, “Sir, hammer three is released. All are on target and dropping in a line. Their tails are going to be visible over Moscow since they’re falling through a clear sky.”

“I’m sure the people of Moscow are going to get a very brief shock, when should the first one land?”

“Sir, twenty seconds. We’ll see the impact from the KH15 birds sitting over Moscow; it should be any moment. We’ll see a flare first from the thermal bloom. The impact will create a mushroom cloud; many will think a nuke hit the city.”

The large monitor shows a bright thermal bloom as the first hammer strikes the ground above the Russian command bunker. The hammer liquefied the earth in front of it; when it struck the reinforced concrete bunker it burrowed through the bunker’s roof destroying the bunker and everyone in it. “Hammer” two and three weren’t needed. Their strike destroyed the area surrounding bunker. The three “Hammers” left a crater hundreds of meters across and hundreds of meters deep. The population of Moscow panicked thinking the city and country were under nuclear attack. Without electrical power, rumors spread like wildfires across the city, followed by the country.

Chapter 13

At the Gray House, President Bloomberg’s aide knocks saying, “Mr. President we have received reports of a major explosion in Moscow. We’ve not been able to contact President Grameniko.”

Bloomberg looks at his aide very concerned, “I wonder if President Rand nuked Moscow. It would be like them to drop a nuke on the Russians. Can we hack into any of the satellites to get a view of the city?”

“Sir, I’ll check. Is there is anything else?”

“No, thank you.”

As the aide leaves President Bloomberg lifts the gold handset which connects him to the Director of DepLIES, “I have a new idea, can you meet me in the bunker?”

“Of course, I’ll be there within twenty minutes.”

After the two men are seated across from each other President Bloomberg sips his coffee saying, “I think we may have lost our ally, Rand may have nuked Moscow. I think we need to have a backup plan in case our ally’s army fails.”

“Sir, what are you thinking?’

“I think we should reach out to a certain group of families who once ran New York City. I think you should go to New York and see how much they want to take out the USA leadership.”

“Sir, you’re suggesting we put out a hit on the USA leadership?”

“That’s correct, which is why I wanted to see you face to face; we can’t ever have anything in writing that mentions this.”

“It can be very expensive, very; they will want payment in gold. They won’t accept our currency.”

“We have a secret supply of gold. If that’s what it takes to take out our enemies, it’s worth it. Gold is only money, money we can earn or steal again. If we don’t take out their leadership, they will beat us. If we take out their leadership, we may have a better chance coming to terms with their replacements. We’ll offer to help the American people overcome their loss; we’ll offer your department to help find who committed the assassination. We’ll show ourselves as good partners with the USA. If the Russian troops heading to Washington, D.C., haven’t entered the city yet, we’ll turn them in showing our good intentions. With Grameniko gone, we won’t lose anything by turning on our one-time allies.”

“Mr. President, won’t turning the Russian army into the Americans cause us problems with their other army in Vegas? Won’t we risk them turning against us? Won’t we risk them attacking us? My staff won’t be able to hold off an armored Russian army group. They’ll crush us.”

“Director, you worry about convincing the five families to take out the USA’s leadership, I’ll worry about handling the Russians. On one hand, if Moscow was taken out, the Russian army may be recalled home, we may be left to fend for ourselves. If the army groups are recalled, we’ll be quickly crushed if we don’t make backup plans. Remember what I always say, ‘have a backup plan to the backup plan.’ You’re going to set up our plan C.”

“Mr. President, if I’m going to set up plan C, what’s plan B?”

“All in good time.”

@@@@@

A red news flash banner rolls across televisions, computers and smartphones in the USA, ‘News Flash! Massive earthquake in Moscow. Unknown numbers dead and injured.’ Leon reads it and stops mid-stride thinking, earthquakes don’t usually happen in Moscow, I bet we bombed them back to the Stone Age for invading us. I better get home as quick as I can; this can’t be good. Leon turns around from going to his friend’s house. He runs home as quickly as he can. Pushing into his front door, Leon calls out. “Is anyone home?”

Beth answers, “I’m home, what’s up?”

“Beth, come help me, we have a lot to do very quickly.”

“Leon, what’s going on, why?”

“Beth, I think we’re going to have a big war with Russia, we have to help Mom and Dad before they get home. Please clean your bathtub and fill it with water, I’ll do the same with mine and Mom’s. We have to hurry.”

“Are you sure we’re not going to get into trouble doing this?”

“Beth, I promise you we won’t get into trouble. If we do, I’ll give you my desserts for two weeks.”

“Even your ice cream?”

“Yes.”

“OK, I’ll go and clean up my tub, do you want me to fill it with hot or cold water?”

“Cold, and fill it all the way to the top.”

Beth runs upstairs to clean and fill her tub as Leon does the same to his. Thirty minutes later brother and sister meet in the kitchen. Beth asks, “Now what? I’m tired.”

“How much money do you have in your room?”

“I’m not telling you, I saved it.”

“I’ll pay you back with interest.”

“What’s interest?”

“It means if you give me one dollar, I’ll give you $1.05.”

“Really?”

“Yes, I promise.”

“I have $12.55.”

“Cool, I have $15.25.”

“What are we going to do?”

“We’re going to the store to buy some more water. The equipment trailer, the TV crew used, is still in the garage, we’ll pull it to the store where we’ll buy large bottles of water, maybe some canned chicken too.”

“Leon, I don’t understand why we’re doing this, why not call Mom or Dad?”

“I will.”

Dialing his cell, Leon calls his father, “Dad, I heard about Moscow, Beth and I cleaned and filled our tubs with water, we’re going to take the TV equipment cart to Giant to get more water.”

“Leon, what’s wrong? I’ve been in a meeting all day without my phone until right now, what’s going on?”

“Dad, reports of a big earthquake in Moscow, I don’t think it was an earthquake, I think it was an attack by us on Russia.”

“Why do you think that?”

“Because we studied earthquakes, there haven’t been any large earthquakes in history in the city of Moscow. Since they attacked us, I guess we attacked them. I’m worried about a new World War breaking out. I want to help us prepare.”

“Son, you’ve done real good. Stay home. I’ll leave the office right now, I’ll call Mom, I’ll be home in ten minutes. Wait in the house for me. Lock the doors and stay inside. If what you think is real, the stores could be a real mess. It might not be safe for you to be out. I’m very proud of you.”

“Hey Scott, I’ve got an emergency at home, I’ve got to run. I’ll finish the report from home. It’ll be in your inbox before you wake in the morning.

“Leon, I’m in the parking lot. I’ll be home very soon.”

Bob pulls out of his office; he hits the main road driving ten MPH over the limit, he passes a supermarket that is jammed with people running in and out of the store. He’s thinking, Looks like Leon may be right, it also looks like a hell of a lot of people had the same idea. I’m happy he called me before he and Beth tried to go shopping. I’ve got to reach Carol. “Honey, I’m on the way home, I think it’s a good idea if you leave early too.”

“Honey, what’s going on?”

“Have you seen the news today?”

“No, I’ve spent the day in the lab, why?”

“Moscow was hit by a massive earthquake. Leon thought it was really us. He started to collect water; he was going to the store with Beth to buy more water. I passed a Giant; it’s a real zoo. I told Leon to stay home. I should be there by the time we finish our call.”

“I’m leaving now too.”

Bob pulls into the driveway; he runs into the hours hugging his children. “Are you two OK?”

Beth answers, “Daddy, Leon told me to clean my tub and fill it with water, am I going to be punished?”

Tears well up in Bob’s eyes, “No honey, the two of you did very good. I’m going to reward both of you for your help.”

The three of them hugged tightly as the front door banged open, Carol rushes in falling to her knees to hug her husband and children. “Are you all OK?”

Leon looks into her mother’s eyes, “Mom, we’re fine. I was just trying to help.”

“Leon, you did a really good job. I’m so proud of both of you.”

Bob says, “Leon and I are going to go to the store; Mom, you and Beth stay home and take inventory of what we have. Call or text me with a list of what you think we need. Remember, we may lose electricity and water. When I get home, I’ll start grilling the food, we can salt the meat to make it last.”

Carol says, “Honey do you think that’s going to be required? We went to Costco last Saturday; we filled the freezer with meat. I don’t want to waste the meat if we don’t have to.”

“Let me go to the store, why don’t you turn on Wolf News and see what the reports say.”

Leon and his father drive to the local Giant supermarket, they are amazed to find a line of cars waiting to enter the parking lot. While waiting for their turn to enter the lot, a local police officer walks by, Bob recognizes him as a neighbor who lives six house away, he waves the officer over, “Hey John, what’s going on?”

“Hi Bob, Leon, how are you two today?”

“We’re OK, what’s going on?”

“People are panicking; the chief assigned a few of us to patrol the supermarkets, Walmart, and Target stores. There have already been a number of people arrested for looting.”

Leon asks, “Why are you walking?”

“I couldn’t get my car close to the store, if I forced my way into the lot; I would be taking a spot away from one of you, so I parked on a side street. I hope everyone is peaceful.”

Before John can say anything else his radio calls him, “Break, break, all officers near Market, looting at the Giant.”

Bob and Leon look at each other realizing the looting is taking place at the store they’re waiting to enter. John frowns saying, “Sorry, got to run, be safe.” John jogs towards the store calling dispatch to inform them he’s on the scene. Bob gets out of his car to see what he can see ahead, he jumps back into the car, locking the doors, he pulls out of line and starts to pull away from the store. Leon asks, “Dad, what’s going on?”

“I saw black smoke from the store and a bunch of people running this way; I don’t think it’s safe to be here, let’s try another store. The two drive by every other supermarket within five miles of their home, all are either closed or have armed security and police standing outside of them, they pass a 7-11 without any cars in parked in front of the store. Bob enters the store, a moment later he sticks his head out of the front door, yelling, “Leon, come on in.”

Entering the store, they see the owner standing behind the cash register holding a shotgun, he says. “I take only cash, prices as marked, try anything and I’ll shoot.”

Bob replies, “Stay cool, we’re going to get some water. I’ll pay cash.”

Leon starts stacking water bottles on the counter, the owner says, “each bottle is $2.00.”

Bob says, “OK.”

“CASH.”

“I told you we’ll pay cash.”

The two carry out fifty bottles of water and all of the canned food in the store. Bob says, “Since I’m now out of cash I think we’ll go home. I’ve tried to call Mom, the cell system is overloaded, I keep getting a fast busy signal.”

“Me too. I tried to call her when you went into the store.”

“Let’s go home and see how Mom and Beth are doing.”

As the two back out of the driveway, the radio announces, “President Rand will make an important announcement at 9PM EST tonight concerning the current situation. His speech will be carried by all of the stations.”

Leon says, “Maybe he’ll tell us what’s really happening.”

“I hope so, based on what we’ve just seen, people are starting to panic.”

“Dad look!” Pointing to the corner, Bob sees two men walking their dogs with AR 15s across their chests. “Dad, they’re walking their dogs armed. What are they thinking?”

“I think they’re concerned with potential rioting.”

The USA media report that African-Americans are being stopped from purchasing supplies by the white majority. The media suggest the country is on the verge of a real race war. Bloomberg laughs when he hears the report about the pending race war. He thinks to himself; Perfect. That ought to tie them up and distract them from being able to defend against my next attacks.

@@@@@

STAVKA, the Russian military high command, meet in their new headquarters located on Moscow’s “ring road”. They were outside of central Moscow when the KEW destroyed the central command bunker. STAVKA’s headquarters was built below the 135 foot underground Frunzenskaya Embankment rail station. General Marshal Avdotya stares at the television monitors shaking with anger. “What the hell was that? The radiation counters show it wasn’t a nuke. There’s a mushroom cloud. However, the blast wasn’t a nuke. What the hell hit us?”

Colonel Akim, the general’s chief of staff replies, “General, could a meteor have hit us? Whatever it was, came from space, it wasn’t a rocket, our sensors didn’t show any air turbulence caused by an engine. We didn’t see any airplanes, we would have seen their stealth bomber when it opened its bomb bay doors, it would reflect radar only for a moment, however, looking at the radar signals, there wasn’t anything in the area. Whatever hit us wasn’t explosive, the sensors in Moscow would have notified us of the chemical signal from any explosive.”

“Colonel, we know what it wasn’t, what was it?”

“General, my best guess and that of our experts is a KEW that was dropped on us from orbit.”

A major in the bunker asks, “Is that really possible?  I thought it was science fiction.”

“Major, it’s more than possible. We’ve proven KEW weapons are possible, we never deployed them due to the cost. The Americans did, they used them to take out our strategic assets.”

“Why didn’t we know they deployed them?”

“They most likely hid them in the existing space junk. If the satellites don’t broadcast anything and are coated in RAM (Radar Absorbent Material) we wouldn’t see them.”

“Colonel, what’s your gut tell you?”

“Sir, my gut says Grameniko did something the American’s didn’t like, so they decapitated us. They most likely felt without a leader the war would end.”

The Marshal says, “Damn them, they’re most likely right. Who’s going to assume the office of President, who’s next on the succession list?”

“Sir, you are. All of the cabinet ministers were taken out with the strike on the command bunker.”

“Get me General Chekov in Las Vegas, I need to understand his progress. After the General, get me General Leninkov, who is heading up the fourth Army group on the LSA’s east coast.”

@@@@@

Colonel Grover and his team slip away from the “Give Peace a Chance” march with another group who decided to leave the march when it started to rain. He suggested they take their march to the Gray House to tell President Bloomberg personally they want peace. The others smile in their agreement to march to the Gray House instead of going directly to their safe house. The DepLIES watches the group of around 25 people walk away from Rodeo Drive; they don’t consider 25 people a threat to anything. Not when there are thousands on Rodeo Drive. The 25 are quiet as they slip away from the main march, so they don’t give the DepLIES any reason to take notice of them. When the group is a block away from the Gray House, Colonel Grover and twelve of his people slip away from the group. He leaves six people with the group to direct them where he wanted them to go, they begin chanting to cover Grover’s group sneaking into the Gray House.

The Colonel and staff have the Gray House in sight; they realize they’re not going to be able to break in due to the ring of DepLIES staff that encircles the Gray House. Grover says, “Shit, way too many people. They’re standing only six feet apart all around the house, plus they have roaming patrols. Signal the others to begin chanting again, let’s see how the guards respond. Maybe the chanting will pull a couple of the guards away from the house.”

“Blue team one to red team, chief says go.”

“Confirmed.”

Moments later the group starts chanting “All we’re saying give peace a chance.” The chanting takes the DepLIES agents by surprise. No one radioed to inform them a group had made their way to the House. The DepLIES agents dash to the block the marchers from reaching the Gray House as Grover and his people sneak towards the Gray House, when they reach the driveway they are intercepted by eight heavily armed DepLIES agents who ask, “Stop. Don’t move, don’t even breath or we’ll shoot.” Grover and his people stop mid-step; he’s thinking, That plan didn’t work. They must have over a hundred guards when the normal number is between eighteen and twenty-four. I expected an increase, just not a hundred. I think we’re going to have to figure out something else. “We’re sorry, we’re leaving.”

“What’s your business here?”

“We just want to give peace a chance.”

“Take your march back to Rodeo Drive per your permit, you're not allowed here.”

Grover says, “Yes sir.”

Grover and his people leave the front of the Gray House knowing they are going to have come up with another plan. Grover turns around to walk back to the group in front of the house, he watches the guards turn around to talk to each other. Grover smiles and uses the guard’s mistake to slip away from the group.

Chapter 14

The USS Texas and New Hampshire are quietly drifting 300 feet under the Caribbean 30 miles from the Island of Cuba. They have been tasked to ensure no ships leave Cuba towards the USA. Sonar on the USS Texas reports, “Captain, sonar, we hold track on 14 surface ships leaving Cuba heading east at nine knots.”

“Sonar, Captain, Jackson, any idea of the type of ships?”

“Captain, sonar, sounds like troop ships and eight freighters.”

“OOD, Captain, do you hold plot on the surface ships?”

“Captain, OOD, yes sir, heading will take them to Daytona, Florida.”

“OOD, Captain, sound general quarters torpedo, make it no drill.”

“Sonar, Captain, can you contact the New Hampshire? Notify them of our intent to attack the surface ships heading to Daytona.”

“Captain, sonar, yes sir.”

The two US submarines quietly maneuver into position to the rear of the Cuban ships.

“Captain, sonar, we hold blade count of 14 ships, sir, we don’t hear any escorts, could they have sent an invasion fleet without any escorts?”

“Sonar, Captain, there has to be a couple of escorts, no one would send troop ships without an escort. Find them. I want to take the escorts out before we attack the troop ships.”

Three minutes pass. “Captain, sonar, sir we found them. There are four frigates that are using a masking signal, so they sound the same as the troop ships.”

“Weaps, target the escorts with a Mark 48. When the mark 48s have locked onto their targets, cut the wires and reload with Mark 48s. We’ll start taking out the troop ships from the rear. We’ll let New Hampshire start with the ships in the front. I want to coordinate our shooting, so we take out their ships at the same time.”

“Yes sir.”

Eight minutes later each submarine fires four Mark 48 advanced capacity torpedoes, the USS Texas targets and sinks the escorts while the New Hampshire targets and sinks the front four troopships. Both submarines break all records reloading their torpedo tubes, target and fire at the Cuban ships. All eight torpedoes strike their targets. The two US submarines sink every ship that left Cuba. For the first time in many years, two US Submarines will return to their base in Connecticut with brooms tied to their conning towers signifying they had a clean sweep in their battle against the Cuban ships.

@@@@@

President Rand reads the dispatch from the two submarines with a surprised look on his face, “Why did the Cubans try to attack us? I thought after President Obsma normalized relations with Cuba, Raul should have been smart enough to sit this one out. I thought Raul was smarter than this. I guess we have no choice, take out all of the Cuban military bases.”

General Wilcox asks, “Sir, with the hammers?”

“No, I want them to see our planes, I want them to see whose attacking them. I want Raul to know he crossed the line from which there’s no return.”

“Yes sir. We have four squadrons of 96 F15Es based at the Seymour Johnson AFB, North Carolina they can be over Cuba in two hours. We can also have six B52s and eight B1s right behind the F15s.”

“Hit them. General, I don’t want a single base on that stinking island left usable,”

Smiling General Wilcox snapped to attention saying, “Yes sir.”

The first US forces over Cuba are five US Navy F/A18G electronic warfare airplanes which jam all of the Cuban military’s radar and surface to air missile signals. The F/A18Gs fire HARM anti-radar missiles taking out the island’s air defense network. The next planes over Cuba are the 96 F15Es from Seymour Johnson AFB. Each F15E is armed with 20,000 pounds of smart bombs. Without their air defense network, Cuban fighter pilots have to try to attack the F15Es without ground radar support. Eight Cuban MiG 29s are destroyed as they take off, by unseen F22s flying combat escort for the F15Es and bombers. The F15Es destroy most of the Cuban military bases; the existing Cuban military are exiting their shelters when the B52s arrive, each carpet bombing their targets. After the B52s turn for home to be rearmed, the Cubans think the attack is finished; they stick their heads out of their remaining shelters as the bombs land, dropped from the low flying B1 bombers. Sixty minutes after the air attack ends, Raul thinks he’s safe as a 2,000 pound ground penetrating bomb dropped from a B2 crashes into his bunker killing him, Fidel, and their staffs. President Rand goes on international television to inform the Cubans that they have a choice; they can overthrow the remains of the communist government or be completely destroyed in the next wave of attacks. The Cuban people have two hours to respond. The leader of the Cuban underground announces their support for free elections and a return to democracy.

President Cruise says, “That’s one way to normalize relations with Cuba.”

@@@@@

General Chekov’s aide informs him that he has a secure, code one call on his portable secure telephone.

“Who is it?”

“Sir, its General Marshal Avdotya calling from army headquarters.”

“Sir, what can I do for you?”

“General, are you aware the Americans have taken out the President’s war bunker with a KEW attack?”

“Marshal, when did this happen? Who’s now in charge of the government?”

“General, for now I am. All of the ministers are gone. None of the civilian government leaders are left, all were in the bunker when it was taken out.”

“Sir, what are your orders?”

“General, are you able to complete your mission in Las Vegas?”

“General Marshal, we have encountered more armed resistance than our plans projected. We lost the use of McCarran airport. We’re being harassed by the American’s damn Air Force. We hold the ten major hotel/casinos. Even after releasing all of the African-American hostages we still hold over 15,000 Americans and others. Our computer techs are working on breaking into their computer networks. I think our invasion of Florida and Houston will pull some of their military off of us. If General Leninkov can launch his attack on the capital, they will be forced to shift their focus away from us.”

“General Chekov, I have the sad duty to inform you the invasions of Florida and Texas aren’t going to happen. The US Navy caught our invasion fleet off the coast of Cuba. Our fleet was attacked and sank by US submarines.”

“What is General Leninkov’s schedule?”

“His troops haven’t been located yet. He plans to launch his attack within 48 hours.”

“Give me a two hours heads-up before he kicks off his invasion, I’ll create a major distraction here to pull some pressure off of him. General Marshal what are your plans for retaliation for our losses? I won’t miss Grameniko; we should thank the Americans for taking him out.”

“General, without our strategic forces there is little we can do to hurt the Americans.”

“I think we should give them additional distractions, can we increase the pressure on their allies in Europe?”

“I’ll look into it. General, push your people, our time may be very limited.”

“I understand.”

@@@@@

President Rand sits around the small conference table in the White House bunker with his friends and former Presidents, Ted Cruise, and Rod Brownstone. “I think it may be time to give Bloomberg some additional pressure.”

Ted asks, “Paul what are you thinking of?”

“I think we should turn the LSA’s power back on, we’ll broadcast we’re turning their power on for 48 hours, either they figure out how to remove Bloomberg from office, or we will. If we have to do it, we’ll cut their power again. I think they may decide they’d rather be warm and have electrical lights than support the President who started a war with us.”

Rod nods in his agreement. “I like it. How soon can you have the broadcast ready?”

“Less than an hour. I’m going to issue the orders, let’s see how their people respond.”

@@@@@

General Leninkov has managed to slip most of his forces into Maryland without being caught. He’s positioning his forces so he can have all of his troops enter Washington, D.C., at the same time. He plans to capture and cross every bridge driving directly to the White House and the Capital building. His orders are to capture as many members of the USA leadership as possible in a single swift attack. The planners in Russia felt if Leninkov can’t grab the leaders of the USA government in his first push, he’ll lose as the US military responds. He has to make the most of the element of surprise. Leninkov sits in his command vehicle very concerned about his orders, he worries that once he crosses into Washington, D.C., the Americans will respond by taking out the rest of Moscow or other cities like his home in Saint Petersburg. He reviews the intelligence reports on the American’s local strength. He knows the US Marines have a base on 8th Avenue; the Army has Fort McNair, and of course the Pentagon is just across the river with their own rapid deployment force. The FBI headquarters has their own armed security force; there is the Navy yard, the Army College, and various police departments.  The D.C., capital, and parks departments have their own armed security forces, as does the State Department, the DHS. In addition, D.C. police can call the local Maryland and Virginia police. He knows he also has to face the aircraft located at Andrews where there are at least two fighter wings; there are additional Marine and Navy air bases located within twenty minutes flight time of D.C. His intelligence recently informed him that there are two US Navy destroyers at the mouth of the Potomac with nine Coast Guard ships in the Potomac. He sits in his vehicle looking at the deployment of his forces and his latest intelligence of the US defensive forces arranged just inside Washington, D.C. He doesn’t know who’s surrounded whom. Nor does he see the two drones flying slow circles over the I-495 beltway watching his forces prepare to attack the capital. The scouts found one of the Russian groups in New Jersey. Drones were sent to keep an eye on the force as they made their way south. The military planners followed the Russians so they could locate the rest of the Army Group, which the planners succeeded in finding by following them on their march south.

The drones send their information to the war room in the basement of the Pentagon and the war room inside Cheyenne Mountain. General Watson reviews the location of the Russian troops, “Damn it if we hit them we’ll end up with a lot of collateral damage. An air strike is out, by the time armor arrives they’ll most likely be among the refugees trying to get out of the city. We’re going to have to do this the old-fashioned way.”

General Leninkov tells his staff, “This is as good a time as any to start operations, there are thousands of people trying to exit the city, let’s round them up and take them to the soccer stadium. We’ll hold them as hostages.”

“General, it’s a baseball park, they don’t play soccer here. Sir, the park is next to their Navy Yard. Won’t their Navy Yard have a large security force?”

Laughing General Leninkov says, “No, they had a shooting there a few years ago, they had to call in the Washington, D.C., police. They only have a few security officers. We’ll start by taking over FedEx Park and their Navy Yard. It’ll make a good base of operations for our phase two. Kick off time will be in 20 minutes, at the top of the hour, have everyone assume their positions. Use our portable anti-air missiles to scan and take down any drones. I’m sure we’re being watched, I want the American’s blinded as soon as we kick off.”

“Yes sir.”

“Close the door, I have one more call to make before we launch the invasion.”

After the door closes General Leninkov selects the speed dial for General Chekov, who answers on the second ring, “Hello Arkady, how’s things in the East Coast?”

“Boris, I’m sitting on a powder keg, my forces are spread around their capital, I’m sure they’ve surrounded me, I’m sure there are drones sitting above me watching every move I make. I’m sure their military is waiting for their order to attack our rear. How goes your action in Vegas?”

“My troops and I are sitting in the world’s largest and most expensive hotels. Our hackers are working on breaking into their systems so we can send home billions of dollars to compensate us for the damage they’ve caused us. Did you hear they took out the central bunker under Moscow?”

“Yes I got a call from General Marshal Avdotya. My old friend, I don’t think either of us is going to see home again.”

“What are you suggesting?”

“I don’t know yet. Can you arrange for a few hundred million of what you’re stealing to disappear and end up in an account we can share on some nice warm island?”

“I’ll think about it and call you back in an hour.”

@@@@@

Secretary of the Treasury, John Randolph, hangs up his phone with the Chairman of the Bank of the LSA. He shakes his head wondering if the story, he just heard, is true. He figures he better contact the President. He tells his aide, “Please get President Rand on the line, tell him I have something important we should discuss.”

“Yes sir.”

A few minutes later the aide knocks on the Secretary’s door, “Sir, the President said you can meet with him in thirty minutes. Since he’s in the bunker, you’re going to have to take the underground government train to his secure bunker.”

“Will do.”

Twenty minutes later Secretary Randolph is escorted into the White House bunker. President Rand looks up from reading secure emails saying, “John, what’s so important?”

“Mr. President, I had a very unusual phone call from a Mr. John Smithsone, Chairman of Bank of the LSA. He informed me that he was due to receive a payment of more than $500 billion in our currency from the LSA to pay off the LSA’s debt to the bank. He wants us to verify the funds.”

“John, where did Bloomberg get his hands on $500 billion?”

“Sir, he told me that Bloomberg told him he were planning on paying off all of the LSA’s loans in brand new USA currency.”

“Our new currency?”

“Yes. Mr. President, that’s the strange part, we know how much currency we’ve printed, we’re not missing any, nor is there over $500 billion unaccountable.”

“John, did he say how much in total Bloomberg was going to pay off?”

“Sir, he estimated the amount is over $3 trillion.”

President Brownstone and Cruise lifted their heads on hearing the number $3 trillion. Cruise says, “No way. I bet it’s counterfeit.”

Ted nods saying, “I agree, but how did Bloomberg pull it off?”

Paul says, “I’m guessing have had the LSA treasury figure out our formula and reproduce it.”

Ted asks, “Could they have done that with the hologram? I thought we went with the hologram because it wasn’t reproducible.”

Paul responds, “It is supposed to be. John is it possible for them to have reproduced our currency?”

“Sir, I’d say that 99.8% of the counterfeiters in the world would be stumped, but the LSA has the resources of their national mint, that mint used to be ours. If anyone could reproduce our new bills, it would have been our own mint.”

President Rand tells John, “Mr. Secretary, I want you to get some samples of the currency the Bank of the LSA claims is coming from Bloomberg. Let’s test it to find out if it’s real or not.”

“Yes sir, I’ll get right on it.”

After the Secretary of the Treasury leaves, Paul addresses Ted and Rod, “I didn’t see that one coming, did either of you?”

Both shake their heads no. Ted asks, “Let’s assume Bloomberg has counterfeited our new currency, how do we respond? I think we’re all agreed they selected Las Vegas as the target to hack into the casino’s accounts and steal their funds that would cause them and a few insurance companies to go bankrupt.”

Rod responds, “I think we should use our own assets to hack Bloomberg’s networks, starting with his personal net worth. He claims everyone in the LSA is equal, let’s make him equal with his people. We’ll strip him of his billions of assets. Let’s see how he likes to be broke and equal with his countrymen.”

Paul and Ted smile nodding their agreement. Paul says, “I like it, can the NSA handle it?”

“After Bloomberg took out their new facility I’m sure they will be overjoyed to have some revenge. I suggest we turn them loose on him. Strip him of all of his assets, smear his already bad name and make him personally pay.”

The three presidents laugh and nod in their agreement. The Director of the NSA smiles after hanging up the phone from hearing his new instructions from the President. He thinks to himself, Let’s see how Mr. high and mighty likes it when his credit card is declined, and every aspect of his life is made public. If we don’t find what we want, it will be easy enough to construct the sordid details that will hurt him.

@@@@@

President Bloomberg relaxes at his favorite steakhouse in Beverly Hills; due to the lack of electrical power the restaurant is lit by candles and the steaks are grilled over an open flame BBQ. President Bloomberg decides he likes his steaks much better this way. He’s thinking of mandating that even after electrical power is restored some special restaurants will have to grill their steaks over an open flame. He sits back enjoying his wine and a cigar when he hears, “Hello Mr. President, I had a feeling I’d find you here.”

Looking up President Bloomberg sees John Smithsone standing over him with an extended right hand. “Hello John, it’s nice to see you, would you like to share some of this very nice wine?”

“Thank you, sir. If your security will permit it, I’d like to.”

“John, what brings you here this fine evening?”

“I knew you would be here; I want to speak with you off of the record.”

“What’s so important as you have to come over here to speak?”

“I called Secretary John Randolph to ask him to verify the currency you’re going to be paying the bank back with.”

“You did what?”

“Michael, I’m sure you would have done the same thing. We’re talking about $500 billion. I can’t afford to take any risks.”

“What did he tell you?”

“He’s asked me for samples of the currency.”

“How much does he want?”

“He asked for fifty million from different serial number batches. He also said to ask for batches from the three different holograms.”

Bloomberg nods saying, “No problem John, I’ll have it for you within 24 hours.”

“Thank you, Mr. President. I’ll see you in 24 hours.”

As John exits the restaurant, Bloomberg uses his secure two-way government radio to call Michael Schulmer, the LSA Minister of the treasury, “Michael we seem to have a little problem. The USA has asked John for a sample of the currency. They want to verify fifty million, and it has to come from samples from the three different holograms. I wasn’t aware there was more than one hologram.”

“To be honest, neither was I. I’ll check and get back to you.”

Schulmer yells down to his chief of staff to find someone to take him to the mint. Driving in an old gasoline powered police car, he’s taken to the LSA mint where he runs into the director’s office that is empty. “Where is everyone?”

The Security guard says, “Mr. Minister, it’s 10:00 PM, with the electrical outage, no one works in the evenings any longer.”

“Where are the USA new currency samples?”

“Sir, I don’t know where they’re kept.”

“Find someone who does.”

Chapter 15

A small family owned Italian restaurant in New York City’s Little Italy district places a closed sign on the front door after the sixth and last person arrives. He hands his coat and hat to the owner who kisses the man on both cheeks. “Don Gardenzo welcome to my humble restaurant.”

“Is the asshole here?”

“Yes sir, he arrived early, everyone else is here too. They are in the private dining room. I’ve prepared your favorite tonight.”

“Excellent my old friend, the wine?”

“Don, now you insult me. Your bottle is waiting for you at the head of the table.”

“Good, good. I’ll go in now, please knock twice before any of your staff enters the dining room.”

“Don, tonight the only staff is my own family. You know every one of them.”

“No one else is here?”

“Don, your people are in the kitchen, my wife is making them dinner. I gave everyone else the night off. I canceled all of the reservations saying we had a broken pipe.”

“Were any deliveries made today?”

“No Don, my wife and I personally shopped for everything. My oldest, your Godson, was here all day to ensure no one entered until we returned to begin preparing the meal. We cook everything over an open fire like in the old country.”

“My old friend, I can always count on you.”

Kissing the Don’s ring, Solly bends at the waist saying, “I owe everything I have to my Don. My life is yours to command.”

The Don pats Solly on the cheeks with appreciation and warm feelings. “Yes my trusted old friend. Coming here is like coming home.”

Don Gardenzo enters the private dining room, the other five Mob bosses jump to their feet in respect for the head of the New York crime families. The Don nods to the other family heads; he looks at the man standing behind the chair at the foot of the table. “You requested this meeting?”

“Thank you, Don, I bring you the best wishes from President Bloomberg.”

“Please don’t ruin my appetite, Solly is making us some very special veal this evening, I want to enjoy it. What is it you want from us?”

“We’d like to discuss engaging you to perform a task for the country.”

“Which country?”

“Why the one you live in, the LSA.”

“Why would we cross the street for you? Your everyone is equal bullshit has hurt our business. You have supported the NYPD in cracking down on our businesses. Why should we listen to anything you have to say?’

“Because in my briefcase is a deposit to cover your expenses for this meeting. I’ve brought one million for each of you.”

Don Franko laughs saying, “One million is nothing. I made more than that this morning. You can’t buy us with peanuts. We’re not circus animals that do tricks for you.”

“If I wanted tricks, I would have hired one of your girls.”

Don Ringo looks at the stranger saying, “If you disrespect us, you’ll never leave here alive, and no one will ever find your remains.”

Don Gardenzo claps his hands together to get everyone’s attention. “Let’s listen to what our guest has to say.”

All nod in their agreement. “What is this task you want us to perform for you?”

“President Bloomberg would like to hire you to do a certain pest removal job.”

“How large a pest?”

“The largest possible.”

The men in the room put their forks down while turning their heads to look at Don Gardenzo, who says, “We were engaged once before to solve a certain large pest problem. It was before you were born. It didn’t work out well for anyone involved. We must respectfully decline your kind offer.”

“Don, are you sure? The President has authorized me to offer up to fifty million each.”

“What good is fifty or one hundred million if none of us are alive to enjoy it? I can think of at least three pests your mentor would like removed, which one is it? The current, the middle or the oldest?”

“He would be most happy with all three.”

“I know one of these pests you want removed. I can tell you he has a very dark side. One not even I want to cross. You would be well advised to drop this plan before it blows up in your faces, and I do mean blows up. None of the New York families can assist you in this.”

“I’m going to have to report to the President you have refused his kind offer.”

“Listen you little shit. I will lose no sleep putting a bounty on his head. I don’t fear him; in fact, there are rumors he has lost his fortune.”

“We all know that’s not possible. He keeps his fortune outside of the country.”

“If I were you, I’d check. I think he may need to sign up for his own welfare soon.”

“If we can’t do any business, then I’ll take my leave and thank you for your time.”

The LSA representative is shown to the door by Solly as the five heads of the New York families enjoy their dinner. When Solly nods to inform Don Gardenzo that the visitor has left, and the door is locked, the Don speaks. “There is no way we want to be involved with their crazy scheme; the LSA can’t win this war. In addition, I don’t want to cross the three men in the White House, pissing on one of them is a problem, pissing on the three of them is a death sentence. In addition, Cruise and Brownstone have done us favors before. We owe them; I always pay my debts. When this war is over there’s a good chance the country will come back together, the equal bullshit will go in the trash can where it belongs. We will make more money working to ensure a smooth transition then we would trying to take out the three of them. Getting to one of them would be hard enough, getting to the three of them is all but impossible. I haven’t lived as long as I have by being a fool.”

Everyone nods in agreement.

Don Slerano asks, “Don, do you think Bloomberg will try to come after us?”

“I’m sure of it. However, his means to do so, is very limited.”

“Don, how do you know Bloomberg is having financial issues?”

“I told you I knew one of their pests; I got a tip off call that this meeting was being planned. It was hinted to me that our friend in LA is about to enter the poor house.”

“It couldn’t happen to a nicer asshole.”

All laugh, “Solly, some more of this excellent wine, please. If your family hasn’t eaten yet, please come and join us.”

Solly replies, “Thank you Don. By the way, we made enough for all of you to take home. With the electrical problems, we thought your wives might appreciate a nice meal.”

Don Gardenzo nods in his agreement, “Thank you my friend. I’m sure we all appreciate your thoughtfulness. Is there anything we can do for you?”

“Don, I don’t want to burden you with my problems.”

“Solly, your problems are mine. Tell us what’s wrong.”

“Don, since the power went out, there are many hungry, we do our best to prepare extra food which we feed the hungry with. We bring food to the church every evening, two nights ago my oldest daughter was attacked on the street; two blacks beat her and took the food we’d prepared for the Father.”

Don Gardenzo looks depressed. “Solly, tomorrow at 7AM two of my people will visit you to learn more about this. Was your daughter badly hurt?”

“Don, she had a black eye and lost some teeth when one of them punched her in the mouth.”

“From tomorrow night on, each of us will ensure your family has protection when you feed the Father and the hungry. You do a good deed for all who live in the neighborhood. I promise you, we will catch these two, when we do, I invite you to witness their punishment.”

“Thank you, Godfather.”

@@@@@

An LSA G5 takes off from New York’s MLK international airport, (renamed from LaGuardia) flying directly to LAX. As soon as the G5 enters USA airspace, the pilot calls the only passenger on board. “Sir, if you look outside, you’ll notice we’ve picked up an escort.”

“An escort?”

“Yes sir, two F16s. Sir, they are armed.”

“How can you tell?”

“The missiles under their wings are gray not blue. I was in the Air Force. Training rounds are always painted blue so they’re never mixed up with live missiles; these bad boys are armed with live missiles.”

“Have they contacted you yet?”

“They asked to speak with you.”

“What? How do they know I’m on board?”

“Sir, do you want me to connect you to the fighters?”

“Yes, please.”

“Hello, US Air Force. We are a VIP LSA airplane following a filed flight plan from MLK to LAX, why are you following us?”

“We don’t want you flying over the USA again. Tell your boss that we know what you were doing, we know what his plan was. It would be a shame if your airplane had a mechanical problem, you know like it ran into a missile up here in the cloudy sky. Don’t come back. By the way, tell your boss the USA is willing to make him a payday loan since he’s broke.”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about; President Bloomberg is one of the richest people in the world.”

“I wouldn’t bet on that.”

Laughing one of the two F16s banks to the left flying around the G5, the F16 rushes by the small private jet shaking it in its wash. “Goodbye asshole.”

@@@@@

President Bloomberg’s secure two-way radio pings, he looks at it wondering why anyone would disturb his after dinner drink. “Hello and this had better be important.”

“Mr. President, this is Matthew Dominick from the first bank of Switzerland. Sir, we seem to have a little problem. Our computer has flagged your personal accounts, I checked them, and the computer is correct.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Mr. President, your accounts have been zeroed out.”

“What do you mean?”

“Mr. President, all of your personal funds are gone.”

“How is that even possible?”

“Mr. President, I don’t know. One minute you had $2.43 billion on deposit and the next you had zero.”

“I want to speak with your head of security. I want to know how this happened. Were anyone’s accounts emptied?”

“No, just yours.”

“Find my money.”

Bloomberg sits at his desk thinking; It has to be that bastard Rand and his NSA. They hacked the bank’s computers and either stole or hid my money. I’ll get even with them if it’s the last thing I do. Before Bloomberg can think of his next steps, his two-way radio beeps again, “Hello?”

“Mr. President, we’ve intercepted a call between General Leninkov and the Marshal in Moscow. Leninkov reported that he believed his forces had been discovered. He believes his forces are surrounded. He has started to move towards the bridges leading into D.C.; he’s asking Moscow if he should continue or pause. He said there is no guarantee of his mission success now that he’s been discovered.”

“Damn it, are all of the military men morons?”

“Sir?”

“No matter, I’m sure the families in New York will be taking the trash out soon enough. Is there any word from our plane?”

“Yes sir, it should land at LAX in two hours.”

“Have we heard anything from them?”

“The pilot called in to say he’s got a US Air Force escort of two F16s.”

“Not good. Something must be wrong. They usually don’t bother our VIP flights.”

@@@@@

Brad, Kathy, and Bev decide they’ve waited long enough for Ron. They can’t stay in the garage forever. Brad is worried an attack on the hotel could close off the exit. Kathy and Bev are concerned about the conditions on the streets of Las Vegas. They find the service staircase which leads them to the street outside of the hotel. It’s a long, nervous, four flight climb which finally brings them to the door on the side of the hotel. Brad cracks the door open a couple of inches to make sure they’re not going to exit into a platoon of Russian soldiers. Brad pokes his head out, he doesn’t see anyone on the street. He pulls his head back into the staircase saying, “It looks clear. In fact, there’s no one on the streets. Can either of you remember the last time the Vegas streets were empty?”

Bev says, “Can I see?”

“Sure, take a peek.”

Bev pushes the door open six inches, she looks through the crack, she shakes her head. “Brad you’re right, there’s no one on the streets.”

Before they can do anything else they hear the roar of military jets, Bev pulls her head back into the staircase. Brad says, “Fighters, at least two, flying very low and fast.”

The staircase vibrates as two American F15 fighters fly in between the hotels looking for Russian troops. Bev, Kathy, and Brad have to cover their ears from the deafening sound as the two fighters zoom past them.

Kathy says, “I’ve never seen them fly so low, were they running from the Russians?”

Brad says, “Kath, we haven’t heard any Russian war planes. If there were some, I’d bet the Air Force cleared the sky of them quickly. I guess they were looking for Russians to attack and doing a recon flight.”

Bev says, “Let’s go. I don’t want to stay in the staircase any longer than we need to.”

The three of them slip out of the staircase door, they walk along the hotel wall. As they turn the corner which brings them to the front of the hotel they, are surprised to see thousands of African-Americans being released by the Russians. They are being kicked out of the hotels into the street. Brad whispers to Kath and Bev, “I don’t like this. The only reason, they would release these people, is if they’re trying to increase race tensions in the country. I bet they contacted the press in advance to cover the story.” Bev taps Brad and Kathy on the arm pointing to the group of people across the street. Brad looks across the street, “The damn press is here in force, they most likely will carry the Russian’s water for them. I hope the Russians aren’t trying to start a race war which is the last thing we need on top of an invasion and the dispute with the LSA.”

Bev says, “Let’s get out of here and find Ron. I’m sure if there’s trouble we’ll find him in the middle of it.”

@@@@@

Unknown to Brad, the Russian FSB was indeed starting a race war; they set up African-Americans to commit crimes and get caught, they set up the press to record the ‘poor’ misunderstood monitories. They set up police to look bad in the media. Their latest ploy will add to the tension in the country; they hired hit men to attack police while they are sitting in their cars. The hit teams sneak up on the police cars usually firing through the car’s windows killing the officers while at the same time the FSB agents arrange and fund demonstrations in support of the cop killers. White Middle America turned against minorities while the minorities thought they were entitled to more than they were already getting. Russian FSB agents led minorities to shut down retail shopping malls, bridges, highways and even hospitals. The protestors laid down saying they were dying in symbolic support of the minorities killed by the police. The cities of Atlanta, Miami, and Dallas are closed for 24 hours. With the access roads closed, people can’t get into or leave the cities. Many are stuck on the highway for more than 24 hours. Four babies are born on I-85 south because they can’t make it to the hospital. The media in both the LSA and USA scream over the injustice of how the USA legal system treats minorities. President Bloomberg holds a press conference saying how well the LSA treats minorities and everyone is equal in the LSA. He urges the USA to change their laws and adopt rules that recognize the struggle of minority people. Bloomberg explains to the world minorities have been held back for hundreds of years due to the white privilege of the ruling class. The press doesn’t question why a multibillionaire white man can speak with any experience about minorities he’s been famous for ignoring and stepping on for years.

The resulting attacks on both the police and minorities is stated as the number one reason there is a 400% increase in CCW licenses in the USA. People go food shopping armed, they visit Starbucks armed. The number of guns in America increases by 30% in thirty days. America is on the verge of a race war. A war where the soldiers will be everyday citizens armed to the teeth. Many don’t know how to use their new weapons. When the time comes to fight, they might shoot their own neighbors versus their supposed enemy. Minorities also try to stock up on weapons and ammo. Many learn that previous police records stop them from legally buying firearms, they turn to the streets where weapons are easier to acquire than drugs. Both sides arm for a civil war, one side arms itself for defense and one to get what they think they are entitled to.

Chapter 16

Commander Jack Lewis, the Las Vegas DepLIES commanding officer and liaison officer to the LVMPD, and Ron, a retired Sterling Police Captian, are leading a ragtag group composed of two local militia members and Las Vegas first responders through a series of tunnels under the city. They are working their way towards the Wynn Hotel, which is the Russian headquarters building for the invasion of Las Vegas. Unbeknownst to them as they sneak through the tunnels, Russian General Chekov is meeting with the Major in charge of the Russian computer hacking department. “Vickor I don’t understand what you’re saying. You studied the plan before we left; you assured everyone your team could break the casino’s firewalls. What is this new problem that’s blocking you?”

“General, the good news is we have broken through their firewalls, the bad news is we can’t go anywhere.”

“Vickor, pretend I have no idea, which I don’t, what you’re trying to tell me. How can you have broken their firewalls and yet not be able to access their bank accounts?”

“General, my people have met the timeline outlined in the operations plan. We broke their access codes, however, when we tried to access their accounts we ran into another firewall, sir, one that wasn’t there before we left. We tested their systems before we left to ensure we could break into their accounts that would have compensated the Motherland for the suffering the Americans have done to us. We’re in and also blocked. This new firewall wasn’t there before we left the Motherland.”

“How is this possible? If your people had total control of the casino’s computers where did this new firewall come from?”

“Sir, we assume the NSA set it up.”

“How the hell did they figure out what we were up to?”

“General, they most likely figured out why we chose Las Vegas.”

“Can you break through this new firewall?”

“General, sir, so far no. The code doesn’t act like anything we’ve seen before; it appears to change and morph as we’re trying to break through it. The firewall is a 2024 bit encrypted code that changes every couple of minutes. This means if we got 2023 bits within the time frame, the next moment all of the bits change, we have to start all over again.”

“Can’t you program a random number generator?”

“Don’t you think that was the first thing we did? The number of combinations exceeds three trillion trillion. We’ll run out of time, not in this operation, but in our lives, to stumble on the access code.”

“You’re telling me you can’t break into their computers, which means the major reason we invaded, has failed? We have the US Marines encircling the city; we’ve lost the use of the airport, we’re under attack by their airplanes without anything we can put into the air. We’ve either used up our MANPADS or they were destroyed when our supply base was destroyed. So far our hostages have been well behaved; I’m not sure how long that will last.”

“Didn’t we release a number of them?”

“Per the operations plan we released the dark-skinned ones, we told them to go since we supported their cause, we supported their claims they were discriminated against for two hundred years. Their own stupid press supported our effort. We got good press coverage when we released them; we even gave each of them $5,000 in casino chips. This was to buy us time so your team could break into the casino’s banks. Your entire mission was to break into their banks and send home billions of their dollars. You have let the Motherland down.”

“General, what happens now?”

“I don’t know.”

@@@@@

Ron and Commander Lewis arrive at the access tunnel buried three floors under the VIP garages to find it secured with heavy new steel chains.

“Jack, I guess they knew about this access door. Is there any way in?”

“Ron, this is the only access way into the Wynn. I suggest we see if we can cut through the chain and open the door.”

“Won’t the noise alert them that we’re here?”

“If we cut it with a torch the noise may be low enough they won’t notice. We need to go back to the storage shed, get the cutting torch and some mattresses to absorb any noise.”

“Jack, is there a tunnel that connects the new Encore with the Wynn?”

“Ron, good question, the Encore is so new my people hadn’t mapped it out yet. Let’s check. If you’re right, we could sneak into the Encore and from there into the Wynn. I’ll send some people for the torch while you, I, and four others find the tunnel to the Encore.”

“How do we get to the Encore? This branch of the tunnel system ends here.”

“We backtrack about three blocks; they were cutting a new tunnel two months ago, let’s check it out.”

Twenty minutes later the six members of the search team locate the new tunnel. It’s not finished; much of it is still composed of rock walls and hanging construction lights strung from the tunnel ceiling. Ron whispers, “Look to the right, there’s a door cut into the side of the tunnel.”

Jack and one of his men push against the door, “Crap it’s locked, let’s see if I can open it.”

Pulling out a locksmith kit, Jack is able to unlock the door, he looks inside, “It’s dark and damp, unfinished, but looks like it does go into the Encore.” The six follow each other into the tunnel, Ron says, “Up ahead there're lights. I bet that’s the subbasement of the Encore.”

The team quietly reaches the light to find a steel door open by an inch. Jack says, “Some poor construction worker is going to lose his job over this breach.”

Ron answers, “Does it matter? We’re in. What do you want to do about the locked door to the Wynn?”

“Let my people try to cut it open, we may need it to escape.”

“Agree. Let’s see if we can find an access tunnel connecting the Encore to the Wynn.”

@@@@@

General Marshal Avdotya ends the radio call with General Chekov, he turns to his chief of staff, “Damn it, our team ran into a new firewall, must be their damnable NSA.”

“Sir, can Chekov’s people break it?”

“He doesn’t think so.”

“What are we going to do?”

“I ordered Chekov to remain in Vegas, to start collecting all of the cash and jewelry in the hotels; I’m sure there must be over a couple of hundred million they can send home. I ordered them to blow up the vaults to gain access to the cash stored there. Once he’s collected all of the assets he can, I ordered him to burn the city. Setting it on fire should cover Chekov’s retreat tracks.”

“Sir, is there any word from Leninkov?”

“Yes, he doesn’t believe he can win either. When we lost the Vegas airport, and their navy intercepted the fleet from Cuba, it crushed our tactical plan. I want our teams to do as much damage and create as much chaos as possible; this will cover their retreat. We’re going to need them to restore order in the Motherland.”

“How do you plan to get them home?”

Laughing General Marshal Avdotya responds, “Why Major, I intend to tell our forces to surrender. The Americans will accept our surrender and send our troops home for us.”

“Are they really that stupid?”

“Yes they are.”

@@@@@

Throughout the USA, cities are shut down with tens of thousands of protesters. Businesses are closed because the workers can’t get to their offices. Billions are lost in revenue; customers can’t reach customer service. Protesters pull down telephone poles disrupting communications and electrical service; hundreds are killed when live electrical wires fall on them. The protesters didn’t realize the telephone poles carried electrical wires. Thousands of protesters block I-35 leading into Austin, Texas. An ambulance carrying a heart attack patient isn’t able to reach the hospital due to the blocked roads. The media blame the patient for having the heart attack during a well-publicized protest.

President Rand announces that the country has a choice. It can either be a modern country in the twenty-first century which follows the rule of law; laws that have been passed by Congress, or, the country can slide into anarchy. He tells the people if the country doesn’t obey the laws, it will collapse into ruin. Rand says, “I was elected to be the President of all of the people of the USA, My first job is to protect the people of America. Blocking roads and bridges, which block people from working, from being able to receive required medical care, will not be accepted. I’ve been patient, I’ve allowed peaceful protests to take place across the country because we are all covered by the Constitution with its first amendment promising freedom of speech. I find that I have no option except to order an end to the blocking of streets, businesses, bridges, tunnels and all modes of transportation. Anyone caught causing damage will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law; they will also be responsible for the cost of all of the repairs and to cover the cost of their damage. I’ll give you an example, say a protest leader blocks the entrance to a company who has to close for the day, costing the company $5,000,000 in profits, the protest leaders will be held responsible for the lost profits. How will they pay? They will lose everything they own, they will not be able to receive any government assistance or program until their debt to society is repaid. This country will not accept the lawlessness to choke the rest of us. I have ordered the National Guard to support the local, county and State police to maintain order. Any violence used against the country’s peacekeepers will be met by violence. If you shoot at the police or Guard, you will be arrested, you will lose your home, your car or truck, everything you own, you will spend the rest of your life working hard labor.”

The country was split over President’s Rand’s remarks. Most of the peaceful citizens welcomed his remarks; the protesters pledged an increase in the number of protests, they promised an increase in the number of dead first responders. The first night after President Rand’s speech is met by hundreds of thousands taking to the streets;  they are holding signs which say, “Black Lives Matter, “ and “Justice for all.” The minorities told most of the whites to stay away from their protest; any who didn’t were attacked by the protesters. Streets are blocked, hospitals are blocked, even entrances to police stations are closed. President Bloomberg sat in the Gray House laughing over the protests in the USA; he spent half of his time laughing and enjoying the problems he caused in the USA and the other half looking for his money. He knew the USA was behind the theft of his money; he didn’t know where they put it. While he and his staff are reviewing the computer records for his money, there’s a huge explosion across the street from the Gray House. The sky is lit up like dawn from the explosion. Debris falls on the Gray House lawn knocking down most of the outside security team. While the security team is confused, Colonel Grover and four of his team use the confusion to slip to the back of the Gray House.

Russian President Grameniko’s words come back to haunt President Bloomberg, “if they want you; there’s nothing you can do to escape them.” Bloomberg looks across the street, he yells, “Get my security group leader! I need to get out of here right now. They're after me.”

Bloomberg’s chief of staff runs into the office, “Sir?”

“Asshole, they're here to kill me, the LSA needs me, get me to a safe location. Get the armored limo’s here.”

Bloomberg’s security team races in; they grab the president while pushing a bulletproof vest over his head. They drag him to the side door where an APC is waiting for him. Just as Bloomberg is locked into the APC, the Gray House explodes in a fireball that can be seen for miles. The blast blows the APC over onto its side, crushing its sides. Bloomberg is lying on his side with blood running out of his ears, nose, and mouth, he has internal bleeding, some of his organs have been crushed from the shock wave, he’s in shock. He looks at his security chief who’s hanging half off his seat with a broken neck. Flames are licking their way towards the APC.

Colonel Grover and his assistants saw the explosion over their left shoulder; Grover smiles thinking, Got you, you sum bitch.

@@@@@

President Rand stands in front of the Presidential podium, “Ladies and Gentlemen of the world. Eight weeks ago our breakaway states, the LSA, with support from the Russian Federation, poisoned children in seven American schools. This was an act of terror, an attack against the purest and innocent of all of us.  Young children were attacked, not soldiers who are trained for war, not adults who could possibly have figured out something was wrong and sought medical help, the LSA, and the Russian Federation attacked our children. Since no child lost their life, I decided not to destroy the LSA and the Russian Federation. I decided to respond in a more humane manner. I ordered selective electrical power outages in both countries. How did the LSA and the Russian Federation respond? They attacked the United States. The Russian Federation threatened us with a strategic attack. Hence, I had no choice but to remove the Russian strategic forces from the table. These weapons can no longer threaten the people of the United States or the world. Russian Federation President Grameniko threatened to increase his invasion of the United States. I responded in a manner to protect the people of these United States. I ordered the strategic forces of the United States Military to respond by destroying President Grameniko’s bunker. We are now at the current situation; there is a Russian army group holding United States’ citizens as hostages in Las Vegas, Nevada. They released African-Americans thinking they could create a race war in America. The Russian’s have no way to go home, we know where their headquarters is, I say this to Russian General Chekov, who is leading this invasion, surrender now before I’m forced to order your destruction. To General Leninkov, I’m also asking you to surrender to save your people. Look at the invasion force you sent from Cuba, not only is it on the bottom of the ocean, there isn’t a single military base or facility left untouched in Cuba. The Venezuelan army that was attempting to invade us from our southern border, was also destroyed. I’m giving both Russian generals twenty-four hours to surrender or face destruction.

“I would like to address the peace loving people in the LSA and the Russian Federation, I’m going to turn your electrical power on within ten minutes of the end of my speech. On the other hand, until you demand a change from your leaders, you shall have no internet. If you think this isn’t possible, may I remind you of what happened back at the end of 2014 when the North Koreans hacked one of our major Hollywood movie companies, we turned their internet off, in fact, I don’t think we’ve turned it back on yet. Peoples of the LSA and Russian Federation think of your lives without the Internet, think about how you will communicate, share experiences and even telework without the internet. If you want your freedoms, you have to take responsibility for the type of government you allow to rule over you. Generals, remember the minutes are ticking down to zero. Those of you in the LSA, you might ask where your President’s wealth went and where is he? I hear there are rumors that the Gray House has exploded. Terrible things those gas leaks, aren’t they?

“The people of the USA don’t hold a grudge, we don’t want to hurt you, however if anyone presents a clear and present danger to the people of the United States, I will have no option but to engage you under my terms. Thank you for your attention.”

Chapter 17

“President Rand, you have a call I suggest you take on the outside line.”

Looking up from the conference table which is covered in notes while Presidents Brownstone and Cruise review electronic maps on the wall mounted large monitors with General Wilcox, President Rand lifts his eyes to the aide saying, “Who might be calling that you recommend I interrupt our meeting for?”

“Sir, he says he’s an old friend of President Brownstone from New York City, something about being his godfather. He said it’s very important.”

Hearing his name mentioned Rod looks over towards the interaction of the aide and President Rand, he listens a moment before saying, “Paul I think you should take the call. I think it’s someone who might have some information we could use.” Smiling Rod nods towards Paul.

President Rand nods saying, “Put the caller on the speaker.” Rod says, “Hello Godfather, it’s been a while. How’s your family?”

“Mr. President, yes it’s been a while since we’ve broken bread together. I’d like to invite you and your successors to dinner.”

“My old friend, you know we can’t come to New York City, Bloomberg will grab us the second we get close to the border.”

Laughing, the Godfather says, “My son, I don’t expect you to visit me, I’m here in D.C. where I’ve taken over the top floor of the Ritz-Carlton. Would it be possible for us to see each other?”

Rod laughs replying, “I’ll have the secret service escort you to the House.”

“Would you like me to meet them in the tunnel under the parking garage?”

“Normally I’d ask how you know about the tunnel, however, in your case I’m not surprised. Did you bring any of your people with you?”

“Of course, I never go anywhere without them, just as you never go anywhere without your shadow, the hit man Grover.”

“Godfather, two secret service agents will meet you at the entrance to the tunnel in one hour, please only have one person with you, and please tell your aide to turn their weapons over to the secret service before they ask for them. It will go a long way to prove creditability. We’ll dine in the House. No one will know you were here.”

“Thank you. I’ll see you shortly.”

Paul asks, “Is that who I think it is?”

“Yes and he’ll be here in a little over an hour. I suggest we tell the chef, tell Paul his favorite wine taster is here for dinner.”

“He’s been here before? In the house?”

Rod says, “Of course. You know the house has seen its share of all types of good and bad guests. I’ve known our dinner guest for many years. As a young officer, I did him a favor without knowing it was his family I was helping. I was in Little Italy one evening before a deployment when I came upon three punks trying to have their way with a pretty young woman. I was young and dumb; I put all three into the hospital, rescued the young woman who turned out to be his daughter. I brought her home to her father. He offered me one million in cash. I laughed thinking he was joking. I turned him down and went on my deployment. I learned a year later whose daughter I’d saved. We’ve been friends since.”

Ted smiles saying, “You have a strange set of friends, national leaders and the head of the five families?”

“Good to keep all of the bases covered.”

Paul asks, “Why do you think he’s here?”

“He almost never leaves the city where he’s protected. It must be something critical for him to cross the border.”

Ted asks, “Speaking of which, isn’t he on the FBI’s most wanted list? How did he cross the border?”

“I think he fell off of the FBI list when he provided some assistance to them in rounding up a terror suspect. If he came to us, he has something very urgent and sensitive to talk with us about. I suggest we listen to him with an open mind.”

Ted and Paul both nod in their agreement when Special Agent Rick Falks walks in, “Sirs, we can’t allow you to meet your guest. I assume you know who he is, don’t you?”

Rod replies, “Of course, we do. I can promise you, we’re safe from any harm.”

“Mr. Presidents, we can’t allow him to be within twenty feet of you.”

Rod says, “Agent, you search him and his aide, you set up metal detectors and anything else you want, I’m having dinner with him either in the House or I’ll meet him at a downtown restaurant. Which do you think is going to be harder for you to secure?”

“Sir, you don’t understand…”

“I do, we all do. You’ve secured all of us in the past, I know you can do it again. Trust me when I say this man means us no harm. If he meant us harm, he wouldn’t be here himself. He’d have sent someone to do it for him.”

“Sir?”

President Rand smiles saying, “Agent, you can have your people in the dining room to ensure our safety.”

“Sir, if that’s your decision, may I remind you, we are still at DEFCON 1 and as such, you’re not supposed to be out of the bunker?”

“Agent, we know, we’ll be fine.”

An hour later two men are escorted into the White House dining room; Rod and his old friend hug, much to the dismay of the secret service agents. The Godfather smiles over his shoulder saying, “I’m perfectly safe. I would never hurt this man. He saved my little girl. I’m forever in his debt.”

Rod shows the guests where to sit, after a glass of wine, he says, “What can we do for you?”

“My friend, it is I who owe you. I have a story to tell you. A couple of days ago a messenger from the West Coast came to visit a few friends of mine with an offer. They offered us a large pile of money in order to remove the three of you from this house.”

The secret service agents all come alive, all grab inside their jackets for their side arms, while they start chatting in urgent tones on their radios, “Condition RED, no drill.”

Ted lifts his right hand saying, “Agents, if this man meant us harm he wouldn’t have warned us first.”

President Rand asks, “I assume this messenger was the real deal?”

“Yes he was vetted, he came with a handwritten note from your friend who lives in, or should I say he used to live in before it had an accidental gas explosion, the Gray House. By the way, it is such a shame that accidents like that happen isn’t it?”

President Rand looks very surprised, “Should I even ask what you’re talking about?’

Smiling their guest says, “Come now Mr. President, we all know that was no accident, if I had to guess. Since I don’t see my son’s sidekick standing behind him, I’d guess your man of action, I think you brought him back as a full Colonel, even if such positions rarely get their own hands dirty, paid a visit to the west coast.”

President Rand says, “None of us can say anything. If an accident happened on the West Coast than I’m sure, it was a horrible accident. I hope no one was injured.”

All at the table laugh.

Rod says, “I assume you turned down the offer that is why you’re here.”

“My son, of course, you’re correct. I have reached the age I never expected to see. In two weeks, I’ll celebrate my 83rd birthday. You saved my little girl more than fifty years ago. This grand experiment, the progressives have forced on some of us, is a disaster. It’s bad for all of our businesses. It’s bad for the entire country. The average person in the LSA is much worse off now than they were before the split. Sure they are all equal, except for the ruling class which is more equal than everyone else. We have equal and more equal. The LSA is out of money; they are running out of options. Their government always spends more than it takes in while at the same time promising to hand out additional benefits; sooner or later you have an empty wallet and no credit left to borrow on. They have borrowed themselves empty; they have even tried to borrow from me. Can you believe the country would try to borrow from a shylock? My interest rates will make your eyes bleed.

“Bloomberg wants to destabilize the USA; he wants to take out the office of the President while causing a race and class war. While the USA is leaderless, while the people are in distress, confused from everything, he will move in to unify the country under his leadership. His plan was to become the first king of North America. You know he has an army outside your fair city, he’s claiming he has the three of you being held hostage. He’s holding Vegas hostage. He destroyed your fleet, he’s using FSB agents to force a race war, and next on his agenda is a class war where he’ll pitch the lower class against the upper. It’s no different from what Obsma tried before he met his end. Bloomberg isn’t dumb like Obsma was. Remember he’s surrounded by all of the progressives who ran the country into the ground. The only real problem he sees, is New York’s Mayor De Blasio planning on taking him out and taking over.”

The three President’s all look at each other. While they had most of what they’d just heard, they didn’t know that the LSA was looking at an internal war within its leadership ranks. Nor did they know Bloomberg had gone so far as trying to have them taken out in a gangland-style hit.

Rod looks into his friend’s eyes saying, “Godfather, this is all very interesting. You are sure about the battle for control of the LSA at the very top?”

“My son of course. When have I ever been wrong when I passed something along to you?”

“You’ve never been wrong.”

“If I were your consigliere I’d advise you to make the gas explosion look like it was arranged by a certain Warren Wilhelm, Jr.”

Ted says, “Who?”

Rod says, “That’s De Blasio’s real name. He changed it when he wanted to run for office.”

Paul and Rod nod at each other, Rod says, “Thank you my friend. Is there anything else you think we should know?”

“My friend, I assume you know that Bloomberg plans to flood your economy with trillions of counterfeit dollars. He has the LSA mint working overtime printing USA currency. He plans to use the phony money to destroy you.”

Rod replies, “We’ve heard. We had an interesting call from one of their bankers asking us to verify the currency.”

Sliding an envelope across the table to Rod, the Godfather says, “Here’s some samples, consider them my gift. I would prefer no one know you got them from me.”

Ted says, “Are you buying the counterfeit money from them to use in your businesses?”

“I was offered it, I decided to bring it to you.”

All three president’s nod their thanks. “Now before it’s too late for my old bones, what’s for dinner?”

Paul replies, “Our chef has made your favorite, veal.”

“Excellent, I can’t wait to try it.”

@@@@@

“Colonel, we have a secure message coming in.”

“What’s it say?”

“Colonel, you’re not going to believe this, but we’re being asked if we’re sure Bloomberg was in the house and if we can leave evidence that De Blasio was behind the attack.”

“Shit. I was afraid they weren’t going to allow us to just slip out of town. Pick three men and let’s return to the scene of the crime like good little criminals always do.”

“How are we going to slip through the security barrier?”

“We’re going to be five DepLIES senior officers from the East Coast.”

“Sounds like a good idea. No one is going to stop us or even question us dressed as DepLIES senior agents.”

“Colonel, why didn’t we dress as DepLIES agents to blow the Gray House?”

“I wanted to use the uniforms only for our escape and if we needed to bluff our way through any roadblocks.”

“Do you think we got Bloomberg?”

“I thought so; we’ll soon know for sure won’t we?”

“The sooner we get this over with, the sooner we can go home.”

“Colonel, have you noticed that the prices seem to be going up on everything every other day?”

“Yes, I’ve been recording the changes; they’re small changes, they rise every other day. Since most in the LSA works for the government, they’re all on a fixed income. Hence the price changes we're seeing are going to be impacting them sooner versus later.” Before the Colonel can finish, they’re shocked to notice their lights turn on. Grover says, “Look, I guess we succeeded because the power has been turned back on. Lights, hot water, maybe even a news broadcast."

“Colonel, I wouldn’t count on the truth.”

“Captain, truth is where you find it. Let’s see what they’re saying.” Turning on the television, Grover and the Captain hear, “Celebration! All of the LSA, tonight we celebrate. The evil USA has agreed to turn on our electricity. Today is a happy day for everyone in the LSA. We have lights, heat, and hot water.  What we don’t have is the internet. President Rand announced today that he turned on our electricity, however, he turned off our internet. We have overcome having our electricity turned off; we can live without the internet.”

“Colonel, why did he turn one service on only to turn the other off?”

“I don’t know. I’m sure we’ll find out soon enough. Let’s make our way to the remains of the Gray House.”

@@@@@

“Commander, we found them!” Major Robert Wiener tells Commander Zack Ryder of the Virginia militia.

“Where is their main body?”

“Inside the underground parking garage that was being repaired at Tysons I.”

“Makes perfect sense, they’re less than a mile to the Beltway and close to 66 which will take them directly into D.C. Call the other platoon leaders while I call the Pentagon.”

“General Wilcox, this is Virginia militia leader Zack Ryder, my people have found the Russian armor getting ready to attack D.C. They are in the underground garage at the Tysons I Galleria. What do you have to send us? We have bodies, but not heavy weapons.”

“I’ll have TOWs and Javelin missiles with some additional bodies at your HQ in less than twenty minutes.”

“Thanks. We’ll attack as soon as your people and equipment arrive.”

“Stay in touch, your reinforcements are almost at your position. Good hunting.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Eighteen minutes later five large transport trucks pull up in front of the Tysons Marriott Hotel. “Commander, help is here.”

Zack leaves his makeshift office on the ground floor to meet Major Ron Griffin, “Major, welcome, I understand you’ve brought us some freebies?”

“Commander, sure have. Truck full of missiles and enough C4 to bring down the entire parking complex. I’ve also brought you some manpower.”

“I like that. No need to risk any of our people’s lives. Can you do it? I mean bring the entire garage down on them? What about the mall above them?”

“That’s going to be a little problematic.”

“I ain’t paying for a new mall. This job doesn’t pay.”

Laughing Major Griffin says, we got it covered. My boss called the Governor who’s called the developer. I don’t think anyone’s happy about what’s going to happen, but if we don’t stop their armor here, a lot of lives are going to be lost. Plus they most likely will bring the bridges into D.C. down.”

“When do you want to leave?”

“ASAP.”

“Let’s go, my people are ready to help provide cover for you.”

Chapter 18

“Halt! Identify yourselves. You are entering a restricted area.”

“Commander Grover and a squad of four from DepLIES Portland. We are crime scene specialists who were quickly assigned to the Gray House investigation. Here is my ID card.”

“Commander, thank you. Sir, I wasn’t aware the Gray House gas explosion was classified as a crime scene. Our CSS (Crime Scene Specialist) told me he thought this was a natural gas explosion. With the power fluctuations, he thought it was something with the gas flow. We’re keeping people way so they don’t rob the place before we can collect all of the classified papers. As you can see, we have hundreds of people picking up papers and debris. We’re assuming all of the papers are classified State Secure.”

“Captain, do you realize that if this was an assassination attempt, your people are walking all over my crime scene? There’s no way we’re going to be able to figure out if the perpetrators left any DNA behind with all that your people are leaving. I’m ordering you to cease all recovery operations and pull your people back 500 meters. I demand you do this NOW, or I’ll arrest you and all of your people. Captain what's your decision?”

“Commander, I’m sorry. I’m very sorry. I didn’t realize it might be classified as a crime scene. No one told me that you were being sent to take over the investigation.”

“Captain, I understand. My team and I are here now. Please withdraw your people at once. I need a clean area to review. I also want a list of everyone who had entry into the Gray House this evening, make it for the previous two weeks. I would also like to know President Bloomberg’s schedule for the previous two weeks and where he is now and will be for the next five days.”

“Commander, I don’t have any of that information. I’m not from the Presidential Protection Detail. I’m from area security. Commander, I swear I didn’t know this might have been an assassination attempt. Sir, please don’t file a report on my team and I.”

“Captain, I’m sure everything is a little confused tonight. I’ll overlook your breach of protocol if you remove yourself and your team within the next three minutes.”

“Yes sir. TEAM, ATTENTION. STOP what you’re doing right now. I want everyone to drop everything you’re holding. I want you to pause, stand up and return to the assembly area. We are turning over the scene to Commander Grover and his Crime Scene Specialist team.”

A voice is heard from the far end of the debris field, “Shit, now they tell us. I bet we’re going to spend two days sitting in the box answering questions, like what did we touch and when did we touch it.”

The Captain yells, “Shut up or the Commander will arrest you. I want everyone moving right now.”

Grover’s team is working hard at not breaking into smiles and laugh at the DepLIES agents falling over themselves trying to back out of the debris field that used to be the Gray House. Grover asks, “Captain, when do I get the information I asked for?”

“Commander, I’ve texted headquarters for it. I should hear back any moment.”

“Captain, tell me where is the President?”

“Commander, he was injured in the blast, I wasn’t informed where he was taken.”

“If you had to guess, where would you guess?”

“Commander, my guess would be the executive wing at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Do you need its location?”

“Captain, even we, in what you call the wilds of the North West, know about CS. Do you take me for a fool?”

“Commander, no, no sir. I didn’t mean to imply anything.”

“When was he taken to CS?”

“Sir, I really don’t know the actual time. I was ordered here about two hours ago.”

Looking around the debris field Grover says, “I see your people are now out of the area, can you confirm this?”

“Yes sir, I confirm my people have left the area inside the debris field.”

“Captain, I hereby take responsibility for the remains of the Gray house do you want me to initial your tablet?”

“Commander, I’m bringing up form 10364RES-Td37-XZ4TP. If you would initial in the box, I and my team will be gone.”

“Capitan, remember to leave everything your men were picking up so we can check it for DNA.” Lowering his voice, Grover whispers, “Captain, if our DNA review should happen to reflect one or more of your men had breached protocol or is using banned substances would it help you if I contacted you before I submitted the final report?”

“You would do that?”

“We field agents have to stick together.”

Whispering, “Thank you Commander, anything you might ever need from Area Control, you tag me, here’s my ID number.”

“Have a good evening Captain.”

Grover’s second in command walks over to him asking, “What was all that about?”

“See all of the black plastic bags with the red stripes on them? They’re full of classified documents. We need to take them to our lab so we can study them, we have to ensure there was no internal plot against the beloved President.”

The captain walking away from Grover hears the exchange and smiles knowing the Commander will get to the bottom of the explosion. He can’t wait to grill his local CSS.

Grover thinks to himself, Damn it, he survived. We might as well collect everything here and then develop a plan to take him out in the hospital. I’ll tell home-base we need certified IDs as doctors or hospital workers with security clearance so we can get close to him.

While Colonel Grover stood lost in his thoughts his captain approached him saying, “Colonel?”

Grover whispers, “Make sure you use my LSA rank here.”

“Yes Commander, we have an intelligence gold mine, we’ve left hundreds of the small yellow and red numbered signs CSS usually leaves behind, we’ve taped the area as a crime scene. No one in the LSA will cross the tape.”

“Good work. We have to get new IDs and find our target at Cedars. First we have to log onto the DepLIES network so we can see what his condition is. This is the first blemish on my record. I’ve never left anyone alive before.”

“Commander, there’s always a first time, even lady luck finds a way to take the target’s side once in a while.”

“Not with my targets. Let’s go. I want to finish this assignment as quickly as possible.”

“Yes sir.”

“Take the collected paperwork to the safe house, scan every document, we’ll send it to headquarters. After you send the files, use a small amount of WP to burn the contents of the bags, leave nothing behind. When you’re finished, take your team and get out of Dodge.”

“Yes sir.”

@@@@@

Jason and Sharon are overjoyed that the electric power has been restored. Scott is watching the evening news program with his parents while Sissy is playing in her room with a friend. Jason whispers, “This is very bad. The Gray House blew up. I bet the USA war mongers attacked our seat of Government.”

Scott looks at his father, “Dad that’s an act of war. Shouldn’t we respond in kind?”

“Son, if we continue to escalate or match each attack with an equal or greater attack, we’ll slide down the slippery slope into a major war that will destroy our country. We’ll lose everything we’ve worked so hard for.”

“But Dad, they tried to kill our President, they turned off our electrical power which most likely caused some deaths, they turned off our internet. They attacked us. Even if what they say about us attacking them first, it wasn’t us the people of the LSA; it must have been a confused government employee, the USA responded way over equal. They tried to hurt us, look at what they’ve just done, they tried to kill our President. I think we need to raise an army and take the war to them. I think we need to bring pain to their people.”

“Son, wars don’t solve issues.”

Sharon nods her head saying, “Honey, they do solve issues. War is just the next step in politics. I know you’re a peacenik, you don’t believe war should ever be used, I don’t agree. I think there are times war is the only choice.”

“Sharon, your line of reasoning would place Scott’s life in jeopardy. If we went to war, the country would have to raise an army, most likely through a draft. Such a draft would scoop up young men and women between 16 and 40, by the time the war is over Scott will be drafted, we could lose our son to a war with the USA. We could lose our home and everything we worked for. Is it all worth going to war?”

“Honey, should we roll over and tell the USA to just do us again?”

“Mom! That’s gross talk.”

“Scott, you know what I mean. Don’t play innocent with me.”

“Mom, do you really think things are going to get worse? Will it change our lives? Will everything I learned be changed if the USA takes over?”

“Scott, no one said anything about the USA taking over. Look at the positive side, they turned our electrical power back on, we have lights and heat, television and our cellular phones work again. Dad and I are working again, our cars are charged, you’ll see soon everything is going to be fine.”

“So when’s the internet going to work?”

“As soon as Presidents Bloomberg and Rand sit down and reach an agreement together.”

“Mom, I’m hoping they do it soon. I can’t wait for everything to get back to normal. I also hope they restart the program. I really enjoyed being on television.”

“Remember what we spoke about.”

“Mom, my friends say if the show comes back both families are going to meet. Do you think that’s true? We’re going to meet our other halves?”

“Scott why are you calling them our other half?”

“Because they are. There are eight of us, we’re four, they’re the other four, see half and half. I want to meet Leon and learn some of the tricks he uses to meet girls.”

Jason says, “Scott, we’ve talked about this. We’ve talked about the failure of fame. We’ve talked about how fame is like a bad drug. It’s something your Mom and I won’t tolerate.”

“Dad I understand. I promise I won’t let fame go to my head.” Scott thinks, Much. I so want to chat with Leon.

@@@@@

General Chekov thinks to himself, They sent me here to take and hold this city so we can hack into the casino accounts. We’d be able to pay the Motherland back for the pain and suffering the Americans did to us. We lost the airport and our air-bridge. Our reinforcements coming from LA were intercepted and destroyed. I’ve lost over a thousand people and more equipment than I can count. For what? Now the Marshal wants me to surrender so the Americans send us home? NO. I came to do a job. I’ve never failed the Motherland. I’m going to hold these casinos until our hackers break through their firewalls. The damn Americans and their God of technology. I hate them. Maybe I should kill all of the hostages; if I do then they will have nothing to stop them from breaking in and killing all of us. I’m going upstairs and kick some ass.

General Chekov yells, “Captain, get your ass in here. I want to pay our computer geniuses a visit. Maybe my right foot inserted into their asses will motivate them. If they don’t have a damn good timeline, I’m going to hand these idiots over to the Americans.” General Chekov gets angrier with each step he takes going up four flights. Everyone who sees him, tries to get out of his way, they either flatten themselves against the stairwell wall or try to go down the steps. Chekov grabs a few asking them what they’re doing in the stairwell and where they’re going. Almost none gives him the answer he wants. Chekov turns to the captain with him, “Collect every one of these assholes, arm them and place them on guard duty outside the casino. I’m sick of them hiding here. We’ve lost over a thousand in the past three days, I’m sick of these white assed cowards. I want to see them outside within ten minutes.”

“Yes sir. My radio doesn’t work in here, I have to step out to call security.”

“I’ll wait.”

While the captain walks towards the exit, the floor shakes, a loud BOOM rings and echoes off of the stairwell walls. The shock and vibration knock everyone off of their feet. They hear glass breaking and thousands of people screaming.

The Captain says, “What the hell was that?”

“Bomb. Someone either hit the building with a bomb or they blew one up under us.”

“Where the hell is our security? Where’s the quick reaction team?”

“Sir, I didn’t hear any airplanes overhead.”

“I didn’t either. Either they used a B2 or other very high flying plane or someone got under us and set off a bomb under the casino.”

Before they can continue, they hear rapid gunfire coming from all directions. “General?”

“Can’t tell where it’s coming from, sound echoes in here. We’ve got to get out of the stairwell before they find us.”

The building shakes and groans in protests to the explosions hurting it and tearing pieces off of the multi-billion dollar building. They can hear the wind howl through holes in the walls. Chekov thinks Damn it, I need information. I need to know what we’re facing. Who or what is attacking us? Are they coming in from under us? If there was a tunnel under the casino, it’s what I’d do. The building shakes and vibrates with another explosion. Chekov starts running up the remaining stairs to reach the casino’s main security office where the computer control room is located. He opens the door from the stairwell to be greeted by dense smoke, the smoke and fire alarms are screaming. Chekov chokes, his eyes tear from the smoke and fumes. “Comrades are you here? Is anyone here?” He looks for the captain that was following him, he can’t see him or any other of his troops. Chekov returns to the stairwell, he sees two bodies of his men. Coughing from the dense smoke, he walks towards the end of the hall by holding his hand on the wall so he knows where he’s going. When he reaches the security room, he trips over the door that’s been blown off its hinges.  Shit, somehow they got in here and killed or captured my people. Damn the Americans, I really hate them.

@@@@@

“Ron, we’ve blown the door at the security center.”

“Commander, great news, did you capture or kill the Russians who were in there?”

“Ron, we got three of them alive, we had to kill the other two. We’re taking the rear stairwell down. Follow us ASAP, we set charges to destroy the computers and all of the security equipment.”

“Commander, did you grab the security tapes? We need those.”

“Relax buddy, your friend Brad made a beeline for them as soon as we got into the room. He took all of the CDs. He also found a book full of CDs. He jammed them all into a backpack, last I saw, he was on his way to the tunnel.”

“Great, meet you there.”

“We’re on our way.”

Before Commander Lewis can say anything, the building shook again. I told these assholes to be careful with how much plastic they used. The fools are going to bring the building down before we get the hostages out. I’ll never get a green card from the USA if they kill the hostages. If the Russians don’t kill them, I will. “Commander, we’ve got to go right now.”

“Brad, I’m at the stairwell, someone is approaching the security room from the north stairwell.”

“Commander, get out of there. It could be the Russians.”

Chapter 19

President Bloomberg lay in the burn ward of Cedars-Sinai hospital. His body is 70% covered in third-degree burns. He’s being kept in a drug-induced coma to allow his body to stabilize. The LSA cabinet gathers in the hospital’s executive conference room to discuss what to do. Michael Schulmer, LSA Minister of the Treasury, opens the meeting to discuss events at the same time thinking, This is my chance to become President for life. All I have to do is gently guide the other cabinet members to select me. Kory Booker stands to interrupt Michael.  “Michael, I’m sorry to interrupt, we don’t have the time for a long drawn out discussion. We’re on the verge of World War 3 Our economy, thanks to you and President Bloomberg, is bankrupt, our people have been traumatized by the loss of our electrical grid, we’ve lost tens of thousands due to death by exposure, various crimes, and even starvation. There’s a major battle going on in Las Vegas and Washington DC, our ally the Russian Federation has been attacked and lost their President. We have to agree to a new President and bring our people together as a solid united country.”

The Director of DepLIES stands saying, “Kory, we agree with you. In fact, I would like to place your name in consideration to become the next President. You would be our first minority President since our founder President Obsma founded the LSA.”

Michael, watching his dream slip away says, “Director, I think we need the most experienced person we have to lead our country.”

The others agree back and forth when there’s a knock on the door and Elizabeth Warren enters the room saying, “I’m the first Vice President, even though our constitution is different, I believe I have the right to become the next President of the LSA.”

Michael asks, “Elizabeth under what right do you have to make your claim? We all know you disagreed with President Bloomberg on our financial plan to bail the LSA out.”

Elizabeth smiles saying, “You mean your little plan to counterfeit billions of USA dollars? What did the two of you think was going to happen when President Rand figured out the money you were flooding the market with was phony? He would have destroyed us! You and Bloomberg were placing the LSA on the edge of national suicide, you would have given the USA cause to crush and destroy us. Our progressive dream and all of the progress we’ve made would have ended with your little stunt. Why did you two even think you could have gotten away with it?”

“It wasn’t my plan. President Bloomberg called me in to explain the plan. He asked me to have the mint print the money so we could pay the banks back with it.”

“Michael did you agree to use our mint to print counterfeit USA currency? Did you supply samples of the currency to the Bank of the LSA? Did you deposit $500 million in the LSA bank accounts to cover welfare payments?”

“Yes I did. I followed President Bloomberg’s suggestion. I agreed with him that we didn’t have any other choices. Our economy is in a technical state of bankruptcy. We need additional sources of income if the LSA is going to live.”

“Mr. Minister, isn’t true you never discussed limiting our spending with President Bloomberg?”

“Ms. First Vice President, what does that have to do with the current discussions?”

“As Minister of the Treasury, it was your job to propose working budgets to the President? Wasn’t it your job to ensure the LSA was fiscally solvent? How can this cabinet vote for you when you failed in your current assignment? How would our minorities feel if we elect another white, middle-aged man? We need to elect a minority or a woman as President of the LSA.”

Heads around the table nod in agreement. Michael, sensing the room and his future is moving against him says, “I have the most experience in government of anyone here. I was the Senior Senator from New York, I was our first Minister of the Treasury, I led the LSA into the world as a member in good standing.”

Kory responds, “You led us to the edge of the abyss. You led us to massive inflation, food prices have risen an average of 4% per month over the previous eighteen months. You and President Bloomberg increased government spending while reducing farm land, you all but outlawed all family farms…”

“We outlawed family farms to protect the families. Do you know that they had children as young as seven doing manual labor on those farms? Children as young as seven! Plus how could we ensure they were following all of the safety precautions for the manufacture of food that we set in place to protect our people. We had to protect our people from the families that took advantage of them. Does anyone know how many people were injured because they purchased food at small farm markets? None of which had any health inspectors stationed at their locations? We simply can’t allow our people to consume food that hasn’t been tested to meet our safety standards.”

John, one of the aides to the Director of the DepLIES mumbles, “Why do these people have to grow food in the dirt when everyone knows you can just go to the local food store and buy what you want to eat. I don’t understand why people would use dirt and also kill animals to eat. Christ how old fashioned are these people? They are sick, they need medical help.” Leaning over to his Director of the DepLIES, he whispers, “Sir, I think we should move against all of these farms. They are selling food to our people that comes from the dirt.”

“Shut up idiot.”

The aide decides he’s going to issue the rules to stop using dirt for food production as soon as he’s back in his office. The cabinet decides it’s time to vote for a new President. Elizabeth says, “Before we vote, who’s going to tell President Bloomberg that he’s out?”

Michael says, “He’s in a coma, no one knows how long he will be in a coma or even if he’ll make it. We’ll cross that bridge once he wakes. Now I suggest we vote.”

The vote breaks eight for Kory and three for Elizabeth. Kory Booker is appointed the next and first full African American President of the LSA. Kory stands to address the cabinet, “First of all I’d appreciate it if everyone stayed in their current position until I get settled in a new Gray House. With the current one destroyed, we have to find a new Gray House. One of my first tasks is to ensure the minorities of the LSA are protected, I want to ensure that everyone in the LSA is equal.”

The group breaks up, Michael stops to chat with Kory. “Mr. President, what are your instructions about the mint program?”

“Michael stop it. If the USA ever figures out we were behind it, they would completely destroy us.”

Michael nods in his understanding, while thinking, I’m not going to stop, if Rand goes after us, it’ll be Kory they blame. I’ll say he told me to continue the printing program. I can hang him out to dry if need be, ensuring I become the next President. After all, I’ll say I was just following orders.

@@@@@

In the Cedars-Sinai Hospital burn ward, President Bloomberg clings to life, his mind drifting from dream to dream. His soul knew he was in trouble. However, he didn’t know what to do. He felt he was floating just under the surface of a warm ocean. He didn’t know how to float up and break the surface of the ocean. Part of his mind wondered how he could breathe under the ocean, part of his soul was worried the other part felt warm and content. He had memories of a fire, pain that blurred his vision. Pain that froze screams in his throat. He felt the pain of the fire inside of his body as if he was burning alive. He remembered breathing flames, he remembered his skin burning and worst of all he remembered smelling his own flesh burn. He can’t place where he is, or why he can’t feel anything. He drifts back into the void of drug-induced sleep as Grover and his team slip into the hospital looking to finish the job they were sent to accomplish.

@@@@@

“Rash, why did you ask to see me?”

“Sean, President Rand wants a change at the Office of Press Secretary, he asked me if you would accept the position.”

“Rash, you’re much better at the political bullshit than I am. I don’t have the patience for the idiots.”

“Sean, you would make a great Press Secretary. I’ve been there and done that. I really don’t want to return to the White House. I’ve finally gotten my show to exceed the ratings where it was when I left to join President Brownstone. President Cruise asked me to stay so I did. I’m out and enjoying being out. President Rand asked me if I would ask you to consider the position.”

“Rash, why didn’t he ask me?”

“He felt you would turn him down out of hand. He knew you would listen to me. I’m supposed to convince you to take the position.”

“What about my show?”

“It’ll still be there when you leave the White House, you’ll be a bigger name when you leave, you’ll be able to charge more for commercials, you’ll make up for the loss of income in a couple of months. Hell you might decide you like politics, you could run for office. “

“Me run for office? Are you crazy? No one would vote for me, I can’t control my mouth or temper as well as you.”

“Sean, just think about all of the fun you can have screwing with the press every day.”

“Rash, you do it, you’re used to the bullshit. You’re the master of playing with the press.”

“Sean, you don’t seem to understand, the decision has already been made. I’m just supposed to warm you up for your meeting with President Rand. President Brownstone and Cruise will be joining us.”

“Oh crap, you guys did stack the deck against me didn’t you?”

“Yup, you might as well enjoy it because you’re not leaving the White House without accepting the position.”

“Do I get to pick my own support team?”

“Sure, anyone you want who’ll pass the secret service security review.”

“Hell, I won’t pass it.”

“Congratulations, you already did.”

“When do I start?”

Laughing and patting Sean on the back, Rash says, “You just did, I’ll escort you to the War Room so you can get up to speed.”

Sean laughs saying, “I’ll prepare a list of people for the secret service to review.”

“Sean, thank you. Come, let’s get your ID card picture taken.”

After having his picture taken, his fingerprints captured, his irises photographed and his voice recorded and programmed for the government’s voice stress analyzer, Sean is led to the War Room where Presidents Rand, Cruise, and Brownstone are waiting for him. They applaud his entry into the inner circle. President Rand says, “Sean, I’ve looked forward to this since the first time I was on your show.”

@@@@@

Bob sits on the edge of his bed talking to Carol, “Honey I’m getting worried about the current situation. If this little situation between us and the LSA grows much larger, we could be facing another World War. I’m worried about the kids. A World War could hurt us here.”

“Honey what are you suggesting? Do you want us to move?”

“There’s really no such thing as a safe place. We have our bug in supplies and our weapons. We can survive here for a year if need be.”

“Bob, if a general war breaks out will they restart the draft? Will they take Leon into the Army? Will they send our little boy to some far away land where he could die without us?”

“Honey, anything is possible. You know he’s thinking of joining the military don’t you?”

“Can you talk him out of it?”

“Carol, no and I don’t want to. I think it’s good that he feels patriotic enough to want to serve.  In his mind, it’s his way to protect us. I think the current tension will ease up now that President Rand turned their power back on. The internet is alive with rumors the LSA is going to make a major announcement tomorrow.”

“Do you think they are going to surrender?”

“I hope so, but I’m not sure. The web is full of rumors that President Bloomberg has been wounded, there are millions of posts and rumors saying they are going to announce a new President.”

“Bob, that’ll be good won’t it? I mean with Bloomberg out of the picture won’t the LSA sue for peace?”

“I guess we’ll find out tomorrow.”

“I’ll pray tonight for peace.”

“Me too.”

@@@@@

Kory Booker, the recently sworn in President of the LSA, stands in the doorway watching President Bloomberg breathe. Kory thinks, I wonder if he feels anything. I wonder if he knows or has any idea what’s going on. He looks horrible. I’ll tell the doctors to increase his dosage of pain meds. I’d sit with him, but I know he doesn’t have any concept of reality. He’s out there someplace I hope I never see. Goodbye Michael, I’m sorry this happened to you. I don’t wish this on anyone. You did OK, not great, but OK. I’ll take over now and turn the LSA into the country it should have always been. I’ll be the saving grace of the lower class and minorities. I’ll lead the African Americas to pull themselves up and become community leaders versus being community underdogs. We’ve said we’re all equals, Michael, I know wherever you are or are going, you’re going to see what I’m about to do. I’m going to rewrite the rules and even thinking about what’s racism. I’m going to change the world’s definition of what racism is. Tomorrow I’m going to announce that African Americans deserve better chances, they deserve a second, a third chance because of how they’ve suffered. The whites around the world have kept the black man down. That all ends tomorrow.

Chapter 20

Colonel Grover, dressed as an ER doctor, along with two of his staff also dressed as doctors, stroll down the hall towards the guarded burn wing where President Bloomberg is being treated. The three USA agents are quietly talking about burn treatment when they reach the two DepLIES agents guarding the door. “Papers.”

“Hello officer, I’m Doctor Alvin Strong, a burn specialist called in from Mount Saini Hospital in New York City, these are my two assistants, Doctors White, and Greeny. We were called in to review and assist on patient number P147.”

“Hello doctors, please let me check the list, I’m sure you’re on it. Do the three of you have your ID cards?”

The three “doctors” hand over the gold and red edged ID cards, the DepLIES agents are surprised to see the very rare VIP gold and red cards. Even in the capital of Los Angeles these cards are rarely seen. “Doctor” Strong smiles saying, “We typically treat the leaders of the country on the East Coast. We specialize in burns and reconstructive surgery.”

The DepLIES agent’s tablet pings with a message and a gold and red banner announcing these three “doctors” are trusted VIPs. The guard stumbles on his words, “Sirs, one moment please, I’ll unlock the ward door for you. If you require anything or to see anyone, please ask for me.”

“Corporal Samson, I’ll do that. Now, if it’s OK with you, our patient waits for us.”

“Yes sir, sorry sir. Sir, I’m sorry I didn’t recognize you when you first arrived. Is there anything else you require?”

“I’m sure we’ll let you know once we check patient number P147.”

The three are led to Bloomberg’s room. Colonel Grover stops in mid-step because he recognizes the man standing in the President’s doorway, “Hello Minister Booker, how are you today?”

“Doctor, do I know you?”

“Minister, I don’t think so. However, everyone knows our esteemed Minister of Truth.”

“Doctor, I assume you’re the specialties who have been flown in from New York City?”

“Minister, yes we are. We got a call yesterday to drop everything and come directly here.”

“Were you told who the patient was?”

“Minister, I was, my assistants weren’t. I needed to know so I could work with his medical records before we arrived so we would be ready to assess the situation as soon as arrived.”

“Very good, have you examined him yet?”

“Minister, we have just now arrived. We were going to start the review when I saw you standing in the patient’s doorway. Is there anything I can do for you? Were you also injured in the gas explosion?”

“Doctor, who told you it was a gas explosion?”

“Minister, it was in the briefing papers prepared for me by the Director of the DepLIES.”

“Oh, I should have assumed that. I wasn’t in the Gray House when the explosion happened. I’m fine. Why don’t you perform your examination and I’ll wait for you in the VIP lounge? Just ask the guards where it’s located.”

“Minister, yes sir. I’ll be along shortly.”

The three ‘doctors’ enter Bloomberg’s room while Kory walks towards the VIP lounge thinking, Not even three experts from NYC will be able to save Bloomberg. Maybe I’ll be able to reach an agreement with the doctor so he’ll put Michael out of his pain. This’ll remove him from ever being able to overrule anything I do. I’ll ask my personal DepLIES agent for the doctor’s file. Everyone has a weakness, everyone has a dark side, something I can use to get him to do what I want, of course, I’ll explain it’s for the betterment of the LSA. “Agent! Bring me the personal file on the specialist from New York City.”

“Yes sir, do you want it transferred to your tablet or printed?”

“On my tablet is fine. Fewer copies the better.”

Colonel Grover lifts the sheet to look at President Bloomberg, “He’s bad, I have no idea how he’s lived this long. I think we should help him into the next plane of existence. That way we can go home and get out of crazy place.”

His captain agrees by nodding his head. “Colonel, won’t we get caught?”

“No, we’ll inject a small air bubble into his IV, the air bubble will stop his heart, everyone else will just assume he had a heart attack.”

“Let’s do it and be gone. What was that with the guy standing in the doorway?”

“That was Kory Booker, he’s their Minister of Truth, worse than propaganda. He twists everything around to suit what Bloomberg wanted. I don’t know if he’s in line to become the next LSA President or not, if he is, maybe we should just kill him now and save us the trouble of returning to do it later.”

The Captain laughs while the third member of their team keeps an eye out for anyone who might enter the room. Grover pulled a very small syringe from his white overcoat and pressed the point against the IV tube entering Bloomberg’s arm. He presses the top, injecting a small air bubble into his vein. A moment later the air bubble enters Bloomberg’s heart where it blocks the blood from flowing. The heart is a pump that both pumps blood and is lubricated by the blood. The air bubble stops the heart. In less than a minute, President Bloomberg slips into the hereafter. He never regained consciousness. Grover slips a small black device onto the back of the heart monitor computer. “This will delay the flat line signal for twenty minutes, no one will take notice that he died when we were here. We’ll have the perfect alibi, we’ll be with the Minister of Truth when the President passes. They’ll broadcast a code blue while they’re together. He’ll never give it another thought.”

Grover and his two assistants proceed to the VIP lounge to keep their meeting with the Minister of Truth. “Colonel, is this wise?”

“Call me Doctor.”

“Doctor, is this wise?”

“If we don’t see him he’ll become suspicious and suspect we may have killed Bloomberg. By going to see him, we remove his doubt. If we were murderers, we would have surely left the hospital as quickly as possible. By meeting with him, we appear to be three specialists who were called in for a consultation from New York City. Just let me do the talking.”

“Yes sir.”

As the three doctors enter into the VIP lounge, Kory stands to welcome his guests. “Doctor Strong, thank you for joining me. How is our beloved President?”

“Minister, I’m afraid our beloved President is not good. The burns have scarred his lungs and damaged his heart. There is too much fluid around his heart and in his lungs. He’s not strong enough for surgery, yet if he doesn’t have surgery very soon he’ll die, if he has the surgery he’ll die. Sir, I’m afraid there’s nothing my team and I can do at this time to save the President.”

“Doctor, how soon?”

“Minister it could be any time. I don’t think he will live more than a few hours, a day at the very most.”

“That is very similar to what the head of the local burn center told me. I guess you flew all the way here for nothing.”

“Sir, it’s our duty to try.”

“Yes, yes of course. I thank you for coming. What do you plan to do now?”

“Most likely return to New York, we have a burn ward full of children from a school fire.”

“Yes, I remember hearing about it. Such a shame. If I remember right, someone tried to light a fire to keep the school warm when the electrical power was turned off. The fire spread out of control capturing both firefighters and children. Both were badly burned.

“The USA, of course, is responsible for the fire and pain and suffering because they turned off our electrical power. If they hadn’t turned it off, there would have been no need for a fire to warm the building. Hence, the USA caused the deaths and burning of our children.”

“Sir, we could have kept the school closed until the power was turned back on, or we could have made sure the fire couldn’t spread. I’m not going to blame anyone.”

“I admire you doctors, always trying to help, never assigning blame.”

“Minister, we live to save lives, not take them.”

“Of course, of course.”

The loudspeakers blare, “CODE BLUE CODE BLUE PATIENT P147, PATIENT P147.”

Kory looks up, “I think our President just passed the baton of office.”

“Sir, I’m very sorry. There wasn’t anything we could do.”

“Doctor, please don’t blame yourself. As you already said, he was going to slip away sooner or later. There was nothing you could do.”

“Minister, I think my team and I should see if we can assist the trauma team.”

“Doctor, let’s call, they’ll tell us the progress, if any.”

Before Kory can pick up the handset two agents from the DepLIES enter the VIP lounge, “Sir, President Bloomberg has passed. There was nothing anyone could do. His heart stopped.”

“Thank you, agent.”

“Sir, a federal judge, has been summoned, he should be here any moment, my orders are to provide you with protection until the Presidential detail arrives.”

“Thank you, agent. If you don’t mind, could you please allow me a moment to finish my discussions with Doctor Strong?”

“Sir, certainly.”

“Doctor, thank you coming all the way from New York. I’d like you to consider moving your practice here to become part of my staff.”

“Minister or Mr. President, I’ll need to think about it for a little time. May I contact you after I return home?”

“Please do, here’s my private number, use it at any time.”

Colonel Grover and his two assistants leave the new LSA President in the company of the DepLIES agents. The three of them make their way to the airport where a plane is waiting to take the three doctors to New York, from there they will slip away from the LSA, arriving at the White House to give their report.

@@@@@

Word spreads through the LSA President Bloomberg is dead, word also spreads that the attacks in Las Vegas and Washington, D.C., are going badly. Many in the LSA are happy the attacks are going badly, they want the war to end so everything can return to the way it was while others want change. They want more say in how their lives are run. Some in the LSA didn’t go so gently into the socialist nirvana as others. Many never gave up their weapons and desire for freedom. Many had no choice about remaining in the LSA when America split. For some it was a job, for others it was a family. For whatever the reason, the LSA wasn’t the pure socialist paradise its leader thought it was. Those unhappy people figured the death of President Bloomberg and the uncertainty that was sure to follow, was the perfect time to come out of hiding and force changes on the administration. Small groups of armed citizens face off against DepLIES agents who are armed with stun sticks. The small number of DepLIES agents are overwhelmed by the armed citizens, most hate the DepLIES and the socialistic LSA government. They want freedom similar to their USA brothers and sisters.  The uprisings shock the local mayors who call upon the state governors’ for help. It’s been twelve years since citizens in most of the LSA were allowed to own weapons. The very sight of an armed citizen scares many. The media are shocked, most say these armed citizens are mentally deranged and need help and love from the people of the LSA.

@@@@@

Major Griffin and Zack Ryder are about to start the attack against the Russians hiding at the Tyson’s Galleria underground parking garage when General Wilcox walks into the command tent, someone yells, “General on deck, Attention.”

Everyone in the tent, military, militia and civilian all jump to their feet. General Wilcox enters saying, “At ease, everyone as you were. I’m here to help, not to take over operations, you people have done a damn fine job of finding and holding the Russians.”

Major Griffin snaps off a salute, saying, “General, thank you sir. Here’s a map of the current emplacement of forces, sir, as you can see, we have them surrounded. There’s no place for them to go to without coming into contact with one of our forces. We’re ready to launch the attack.”

“Major, how do you plan on going forward?”

“Sir, we plan to make an offer to surrender, if they turn it down, we plan to blow the parking garage. We have hundreds of pounds of plastic set to bring down the entire garage on top of them. If we get the explosions timed right we, might be able to trap them in the garage without firing a shot.”

“Good plan. If you don’t mind, I’ll observe.”

“General, fresh coffee?”

“Thank you.”

“Sir, here we go, we just transmitted the request for their surrender, we should hear back from them any moment.”

The response was a line of T90 Russian main battle tanks moving towards the exit of the parking garage while firing their machine guns and main cannon. General Wilcox says, “I guess we got their answer.”

“BLOW IT.” Yells Major Griffin.

The ground rises and falls, the air pauses before expanding from the exploding shock wave. Dust and dirt from the explosions darkens the sky. The dust becomes a cloud of dense smoke and gray debris that moves out from the parking garage structure. The gray debris cloud covers everything it touches. Uniforms, vehicles, and people turn gray. Even the fresh snow turns gray from the cloud. The Russian tanks beginning their exit are crushed by the roof falling in on them. The US defenders rise looking at the garage in shock. Where a few minutes ago there was a seven-story parking garage, there’s now a hole in the ground.

“General, I think we might have used a little too much plastic.”

“Major, ya think?”

Both men laugh.

“Major, overkill is always a much better plan than underkill.”

“Yes sir.”

Chapter 21

The media in the USA covers the protests in the LSA in detail. Live images of the LSA marchers being beaten by the DepLIES agents and police are the lead stories on the USA news programs; live bloody scenes in 3D are broadcast to mobile devices and curved large screen monitors throughout the USA. The average person in the USA considers the LSA as brothers and sisters who drank too much. They’re still loved, and in most cases, missed. The number one topic at coffee shops, bars, and social media is the protests in the LSA. People discuss what they can do to help the protesters in the LSA.

Local militias exchange ideas how they can provide help to their brothers and sisters across the border. Until the wall was built it would have been as easy as driving across the state line to provide help, now the militias are faced with a wall along the border between the LSA and USA. A large group in northern Nevada decides to tunnel under the wall; they contact local construction companies who agree to provide assistance with a tunneling machine used to build tunnels and mines. The tunneling project is excessively slow due to the wall being built on solid bedrock. The militia and construction crew decide to fill the hole under the wall with tunneling explosives. At 2:30AM, the group sets off four hundred pounds of explosives under the wall. The resulting explosion tears the wall apart. Shocked DepLIES agents attempt to slow the flood of armed USA militias swarming across the border. Militias are heading into the LSA, average citizens, and some DepLIES agents are grabbing what they can to flee to the USA where border agents are waiting to process them. As long as none of the LSA’s people are on the USA immigration “detain list” they are allowed free access.

Across the LSA average people, some in groups as small as ten and others in groups of thousands are demanding lower taxes and the lessening of some of the draconian rules of the LSA. Fights break out among the citizens of the LSA, most support the LSA government with the “we’re all equal” programs, while many have started to feel if they work hard they should be able to enjoy the fruit of their efforts. Battles of words and then actions starts between those who want to work and those who want handouts.

In Los Angeles the newly sworn in LSA President, Kory Booker, announces major new LSA plans and rulings. He smiles while standing behind a bulletproof clear wall that separates and protects him from the people in front of the Federal building which has been taken over by the LSA central government building. “Ladies and gentlemen of the LSA, thank you for your support of the LSA. We’ve built our new home from the dust of capitalism. Do you remember capitalism? How it made slaves of the workers. How it kept the working classes poor while the business owners got rich. Do you remember having to take your work home with you in the evenings and weekends? Do you remember fearing your annual performance review, never knowing if you were going to be fired so the company’s bottom line could be improved for the latest quarter, improving the share price so the business owner could show an increase in their net worth, maybe buy another ridiculous unneeded car or toy? How many of you remember having to go home and tell your family you’d lost your job through no fault of your own? How many of you feared being fired for simply being late or not agreeing with your supervisor? I’m sure many of you remember driving through the wealthy areas of town looking for homes that were five or more times the size of yours. Was it fair that so few had so much? Was it fair that only a very small number of people controlled the media, the government, the companies we worked in? They decided what the trends would be, what we should wear, what we should watch and listen to. I’m happy to have joined the LSA where none of these bad dreams exist any longer. We are all equal here, we have done away with the evil owner class, we have provided a system where the more one earns, the more one pays. This balances out and levels the playing field so all can be truly equal. While we’ve made great progress in the previous twelve years, we still have a long way to go in one area.

“We need to improve our ability as a society to be color blind. The color of people’s skins should never matter in any area. People of one color or another should never be profiled, people of one color or another should never be stopped by police or DepLIES agents more than any other color. From today onward, when police or DepLIES agents bring people in for questioning about crimes, they must ensure they bring in an equal number of all types of people. They must bring in an equal number of people of all skin colors. It’s against the creed of the LSA to allow our police to arrest only one skin color for most of our crime; everyone knows crime is blind as should be justice. In reviewing the latest statistics, I’ve found that even our great and equal society has failed our brothers and sisters of color. Many of our family members of color come from broken homes, they don’t see the world the same way as most of the rest of us because they were forced to grow up in homes without all of the love and caring we had. These people were deprived of the love and caring when they needed it the most. This lack of love has had a negative impact on many of our citizens. They are unable to hold onto a full-time job, they are unable to meet the minimum standards in our schools, they are unable to fully merge and be accepted as equal in our society. This isn’t their fault, they were dealt a bad hand by fate. I am, therefore, making the following rules effective today;

“From today on, all African-American citizens of the LSA will be allowed certain exceptions on following laws and rules. In all of the LSA schools, people of color will no longer fail, it is against what’s best for the LSA for us to increase failures on people who already think they have failed, hence no child of color will fail any course in any LSA school. The lowest grade given to any student of color will be an average minus. From today on, the average starting salary for people of color will be 20% above the starting rate paid for white people so that the great and caring people of color can begin to be repaid for the hundreds of years they were slaves to the white people. White people made slaves and servants of people of color; it’s time for society to pay back this injustice. No person of color will be fired from their position. People of color have been traumatized by the genetic memory of being slaves and servants. We as a caring and equal society have to go the extra mile and make an extra effort to help our brothers and sisters of color who have been attacked simply because their skin is a different color.”

“From today onward, people of color will not be randomly arrested by our police and DepLIES agents. In fact, every government agency will have to be representative of the people in their communities. Henceforth, if a local community is made up of 20 percent people of color then the government agencies and support organizations must also be composed of at least 20 percent people of color. Soon we won’t need special laws to equalize our government agencies with our communities, today we do, in a few short years we won’t.”

“I know that some people of white or pale skin may feel this is discrimination against them, I say to these people, this is only a temporary measure to balance the scales of our great and equal government. The only reason why we have to mandate this is we, as a just and equal people, have been unable to do it naturally. Once this comes naturally, the laws will fall aside and everything will be natural as Mother Nature intended it to be. Any people of a pale skin tone who might and I’m sure it’s not going to happen, but any who might lose their existing jobs, have no fear, the central government is going to be here to support you in your efforts. We will be here to provide a backstop to soften any potential loss you may encounter.”

“In addition, from today on, we are outlawing certain words from the LSA vocabulary. These words hurt and harm our population of color. Some say words can’t hurt, these words do cause pain and suffering to our population of color, as such the words ‘nigger, coon, son and blackie’ are outlawed for anyone to use except for people of color. These words cause emotional pain and suffering to our brothers and sisters of color. Our brothers and sisters appreciate the rest of the country respecting their past which was filled with whippings and beatings, their past lives were filled with having to perform backbreaking labor under the worst overlords possible. It’s not just here that people of color were enslaved. The entire world has used my brothers and sisters as slaves and servants for centuries. I’m proud to be the first African-American man with dark skin to assume and be able to serve as the President of the LSA. I’m going to help all of us undo the crimes the world did to our brothers and sisters. I’m sure none of us wants to own slaves or servants, I’m sure none of us would want to be a slave or can even imagine how bad the life of a slave was. Imagine not being able to watch your own children grow up in your home, imagine the landowner being able to take your spouse whenever they wanted to. We, the world, have caused unrepairable harm to the world’s people with colored skin. Today, we in the LSA are going to start to change and undo the injustice served to innocent people because of the color of their skin. I pledge to everyone in the LSA, this injustice ends today.”

African-Americans in the LSA took to the streets singing, “We shall overcome”, they marched in support of Kory, they marched in support of the new rules. While on the other side of the border people in the USA, listened to Kory’s speech in surprise. Tens of thousands of African-Americans took to the streets of the USA demanding the same rules be applied in the USA. They demanded the USA has to go even further than the LSA did because the LSA at least made serious efforts to reverse the wrongs against people of color while no new laws had been passed in the USA. In fact, the USA had allowed states to pass restrictions on government payments if people didn’t submit to drug tests, which most people of color thought was an infringement on their rights. They felt they had a right to their privacy which most of the states in the USA breached by demanding drug tests. They also protested the new rules which limited government assistance programs to three children in an unmarried family. People had to prove they went on interviews and accepted any job offered in order to have the government provide some assistance to the working poor.

The LSA African-Americans saw the USA militias as an invading army of white people, even though more than 60% of the militias were made up nonwhite people. The LSA fought the invaders with the weapons they had. Since firearms were outlawed in the LSA, many fought the invaders with bows and arrows, homemade bombs and rocks thrown by sling shots. Molotov Cocktails are thrown at the invaders who responded with massive gunfire, killing hundreds of the defenders. Battles sprang up where ever the USA was able to breach the LSA’s wall. Kory’s speech stirred up hate language on both sides of the racial divide, on both sides of the LSA/USA wall. Protestors for additional freedoms and protestors for additional minority rights clashed. The marches painted the streets red with the blood from both sides. The violence spread to the USA where the local police allowed peaceful demonstrations; when protestors tried blocking streets or office buildings they were arrested. The national media on both sides of the wall supported the minority protestors, they called the police racist. The Chief of Police in Atlanta said he understood the feelings from both sides of the issue. However, he wouldn’t tolerate violence spreading into his city. That night 300 protestors attacked the CNN local office, they crashed through the front plate glass windows, they stormed the offices and broadcast sets. Worried CNN workers dialed 911 begging for help, the response, they got, was, “Give peace a chance. You supported these people, sit down and discuss their issues with them. We’ll be by when we’re finished helping an eight-year-old get her cat down from a tree.”

Ninety minutes later two Atlanta police cars arrived at a burning out of control CNN building. The senior reporter approached the lead police car, his arm broken, his face bloodied, “Where the hell were you? The mob attacked us, they burned our building, they raped the women, they beat us. Where the hell were you?”

“Sir, I believe just two nights ago you called on us to understand the plight of the protestors. You said we were all bad and the only good officer was a dead officer. In fact, I think that was YOUR comments just last night. Well, we were busy elsewhere. We understand we gave you time to talk reason with the people you wound up. We gave you enough time to settle the issue on your own. After all, you told us you didn’t need police protection, something about us being like the mob when it comes to protection. Why didn’t you and your friends sit around the conference room table singing Kumbaya?”

“That’s not fair, you know that was only a report based on what happened in the LSA, not here.”

“Really? Well, we’re here now, would you like to make a report?”

“Damn it, of course, I want to make a report.”

“Good, we’ll have you taken to the station where you can describe the people who beat you, see if you can identify them from a book of criminals we have.”

“How can I know for sure who they were? They were all black, no, there were also a few Latinos with them. They dragged a few of my women staff off with them. You have to find them.”

“What did they look like?”

“They were big, they were yelling horrible things at us, they were blaming us for their suffering. They said they were going to get payback for what we did to them.”

“Without a description there’s little we can do. Did you happen to see which direction they went?”

“After they set the building on fire, they ran in all directions.”

“So how are we supposed to find them if you can’t identify them, and you can’t tell us where they went?”

“You don’t understand, it was dark, there were hundreds of them. I’m telling you they were like animals after blood, they destroyed our station for no reason at all. You have to protect us.”

“Now you want protection? Didn’t you call for a disbarment of the police two nights ago?”

“That was different.”

“Was it different because your mob attacked you? Well, we hope you’ve learned a valuable lesson here. Once you turn the mob loose, it’s impossible to reign it in and control it.”

“What about our building?”

“I’m sure you have insurance, wait, didn’t you call for a declaration of war between the races? Do you know that insurance doesn’t cover losses incurred in an act of war? Since you called for a race war, we’re going to file the cause of the loss of an act of war. You can discuss it with your insurance company. I’m sure they are going to be very understanding.”

The officers laugh and drive away from the stunned CNN reporters who are standing in the parking lot watching their building burn out of control.

The next morning President Booker announces, “Last night the USA government encouraged a race war, the initial result of the war was an attack on the CNN news building in Atlanta where an unknown number of minorities were attacked causing a fire to break out which engulfed the CNN building. The Atlanta City Fire Department should be investigated for not responding quicker. They weren’t able to save the building. This is an example of the USA playing favorites in a war against monitories and those who don’t openly show full support for the racist government of the USA.”

Booker’s speech sets off additional riots and marches on both sides of the divide.

@@@@@

Kathy and Beverly have worked their way through the tunnels in Las Vegas leading people through the tunnels to safety away from the Russian invaders. The US Marines have established a MASH unit just outside of the city; the women, with support from the Marines, are going hotel to hotel, sometimes door by door, to evacuate everyone they locate. The rescue is much slower than anyone wants due to the huge size of the hotels. The MGM Grand Hotel alone has 6,852 rooms, every one of them has to be checked. Bev and Kathy asked the Marines why they can’t just sound the fire alarm.

Captain Johnson replies, “If we set off the fire alarm, we might cause more injuries from mass panic, plus it would tell the Russians which hotel we’re operating in. The only way to do this is the old fashioned way.”

Kathy looks at the size of the MGM, “Damn, we could be inside it for a week. There are too many places for people to hide. There has to be another way.”

Bev says, “Why can’t we fly a couple of drones or small planes pulling a banner telling people who look at it out their windows, to escape.”

“Bev, we’d have to tell them to move north or south, surely the Russians would set traps for the people.”

Kathy says, “Would they? We haven’t seen their troops in a while. I think they’re occupied inside the hotels trying to steal the casino’s money. I think we should be safe. You guys have brought up enough firepower to stop the Russians from harming the escaping people. Why not put some tanks on I-15, shoot some flares up from the rendezvous location? Captain, if we have to go door to door, we’re going to lose too many people, from panic, from hunger, from fighting with each other. We have to do something out of the box.”

“Give me a minute to speak with the Colonel.”

“Sure, please just do it quickly. We’re burning time we might not have.”

@@@@@

President Rand looks at his friends and former Presidents, “If you’d ask me if I thought there could be a worse President in the LSA than Ried or Bloomberg I would have told you no. I’m surprised by Booker, and very disappointed in him. He’s trying to start a full-fledged race war on both sides of the divide. I can’t believe he’s doing this. I thought he’d know once he goes down this path we’re going to have to stop him.”

President Cruise responds, “Paul, of course, he knows we’re going to have to try to stop him. He wants us to try to stop him. He needs to fully unite his country. He’s facing a crushing debt, unhappy citizens who felt they weren’t protected when we turned their power off. Some realize they made a mistake and want more freedoms, others want the inflation to decrease or their wages to increase. If we’re the bad guy, he can unite the LSA against us. We become the perfect bad guy. He needs to blame someone, he doesn’t want to blame Bloomberg or Reid, which leaves us.”

Rod asks, “Should we send our team back into the LSA?”

Paul pauses thinking about the question hanging in the air, “I would rather not go down that path again. Let’s see if we can find a way to talk some sense into Kory. I don’t remember him being a bad person. When he was mayor, he went out of his way to save people in his town. I think we should send him a message to see if we can open a dialog with him.”

Rod says, “It’s your call. I hope he’s reasonable.”

Ted and Paul both nod their heads in agreement.

@@@@@

The pro and anti marches strike Beaverton, Oregon. Beaverton is a middle-income community which perfectly fits the protest location suggested by the organizers. Sissy watches the protest march on television while her parents, Jason, and Sharon, look at the smoke on the horizon. Sharon asks, “How far away do you think they are?”

“Honey, I’d guess they are at the shopping center which is less than two miles away.”

“Do you think they’ll come this way?”

“I don’t think they’ll come into the side streets, but if they do, they most likely will get lost in the street mazes. They’ll want to remain on the main roads to gain the most visibility and to make it easy for the media to record everything they do.”

“So you think we’re safe here?”

“I do, just to make sure, I’m going to look at how to reinforce our doors and board up our windows.”

“The big problem is the risk of fire. We live in a wood house, if they set it on fire, we could be burned alive inside.”

@@@@@

In Los Angeles, a small militia group assisted by nine members of an underground anti-government group based in Saugus, California built four mortars in the back of a county dump truck. Their plan is to drive the truck downtown Los Angles, where they will do a drive by of the old Federal Building where they will fire their mortars at the building hoping to catch the LSA Congress in session.

Chapter 22

President Booker announces that he’s appointed Wolf Bracken as the LSA national Minister of Media and Truth. Wolf invites eight friends to a congratulations dinner at Morton’s Los Angeles Steak House. While he and his friends enjoy their steaks, Wolf’s cell rings. “Hello?”

“Wolf old boy, congratulations on your appointment. It looks like we’re both in the same position working for different management.”

“Sean, thank you for calling. I really appreciate the call. I was going to call you to congratulate you when I was summoned to a meeting with our new President.”

“So I heard. I see your boss is making enemies in both of our countries.”

“He likes to get a quick start.”

“I see that. Wolf, are you in a position where you can talk?”

“Can you give me a minute to move to a private room?”

“Sure, take all of the time you need. By the way, are the steaks still perfect at Morton’s? They were in North Carolina. I don’t know if they changed the process when we split.”

“Old friend, they’re the same and perfect as ever. I’m sitting in the private meeting room, what can I do for you?”

“Wolf, I’m calling because I’d like to think we were friends. Wolf, I’m calling to give you a heads up.”

“Sean, we are friends. We did good work together on our television show. What’s the heads up you want to give me, is it for me, or for President Booker?”

“Wolf, it’s for your new President. We received a call earlier today from Russian General Marshal Avdotya. He presented an unconditional offer for peace between the Russian Federation and the USA. As part of the treaty, he offered to cut ties with the LSA. His troops in Virginia are all but destroyed, those in Las Vegas are about to be offered a chance of surrendering in exchange for a free ride home or they’ll be killed. Cuba is no more, the cream of the Venezuelan army has been destroyed. If you’re thinking about the Venezuelan navy which was going to try to sneak up the Gulf of Mexico to land troops in New Orleans, you can forget about them. Two US Navy submarines found and destroyed the fleet. The few ships that remain were allowed to limp back to their home. There are no additional troops available to come to your aid or provide you support. We know there are hundreds of protests happening across the LSA. My heads up is a suggestion for you to officially stop your war with us and surrender. Save your people any more pain and suffering. We’re prepared to offer you one chance to surrender.”

“What if we don’t agree to surrender?”

“Wolf, are you sure you even want an answer to that question?”

“Sean, I’m going to be asked. You know that. How can anyone make a decision without understanding the alternatives and ramifications of their decisions?”

“Wolf, I’ve been authorized to tell you if you surrender, nothing else will happen, in fact, your access to the internet will be restored.”

“I have access…”

“Of course, you do, you’re on the VIP list, what about the average LSA citizen? Don’t you want to improve their life?”

“And if we refuse?”

“You can kiss your electrical power goodbye, you can kiss the internet goodbye. Wolf, it won’t just be for the people, the censure will happen to everyone across the LSA.”

“Everyone? You would even knock out power to our government?”

“President Rand was very clear to me on this point. If he turns off the power, this time it will be for everyone and it may be permanent.”

“Can you define permanent?”

“I think the term, you're looking for, is, forever; like you’ll be back to life in the mid 1800s. In addition, the LSA will be bankrupt. No one will loan you a dime, you owe trillions and I can assure you, every one of those loans will be called in.”

“We have resources that will see us through the rebuilding.”

“If you mean the counterfeit dollars you had the mint make, we’re taking care of those. We have samples of your artwork, we have made provisions to ensure none of the currency you made ever sees the light of day.”

“Sean, I have no knowledge that the funds in the mint’s vault aren’t real. President Booker told me we had a few trillion in US reserves. Since your currency is backed by precious metals, President Booker plans on calling in an exchange in gold.”

Sean breaks out laughing. “Wolf, don’t bullshit a bullshitter. I know when you’re lying as you are now. I hear the pitch of your voice change. You did that every time you tried to hide something on the television program. Listen to me; when I tell you we have plans that the cash will never see the light of day, trust me on this. As they say, you can take it to the bank.”

“Sean, how long do we have to respond?”

“Wolf for old times sake, I’ve been authorized to give you 96 hours.”

“I’ll get back to you with 96 hours. Sean?”

“What?”

“Thank you for giving us a chance to respond.”

“Wolf, do the right thing.”

@@@@@

Colonel Grover thinks to himself, we were just about to fly home when the orders came to destroy their mint. If we don’t get out of here soon, they’ll have us running around blowing up post offices. He and four staff finish planting explosives and flammable ignitors inside the LSA mint. “I think we deserve a good dinner, how about a steak?”

The four men nod in agreement. They drive to Morton’s Steak House where they walk in just as Wolf is exiting the private conference room. Grover notices Wolf holding his phone while shaking his head side to side. The Colonel whispers, “That’s Sean’s and Rash’s friend Wolf Bracken, he’s their new Minister of Media and Truth.”

An explosive Specialist says, “You mean they have their own Sean?”

“Yes, let’s see whose he’s having dinner with. Maybe we can have some fun with him before we go home.”

The men nod in agreement while smiling like hungry sharks.

@@@@@

Russian General Leninkov meets US Marine Commandant Wilcox at the entrance of his command post. “Welcome General Wilcox. I’m sorry to be seeing you again under such circumstances.”

“General Leninkov I’m sorry for the loss of your people. I wish things had gone differently.”

“General Wilcox, by differently do you mean, that we would have caught your forces in a trap?”

“No, I meant that you and your forces wouldn’t be here in my country. Now we have to deal with the damage and the dead. We could have remained friends had you stayed home and not been talked into this foolishness.”

Looking down while standing at attention, “General Wilcox, I too wish I had stayed home. Come, I have a list of our survivors for you. I also have a list of the dead or missing.”

“Thank you. I’m ready to sign the surrender document.” General Leninkov unbuckles his side arm handing it to the US Marine General.

Removing the bullets, General Wilcox hands the side arm back to the Russian General. “General, I would no more take your sword than your side arm. Before the military police come to take you and your people to a secure location, why don’t we spend a few minutes together? There're a few issues I’d like to discuss with you.”

“General Wilcox, I’d be honored to spend some time with you.”

“General, there’s an officer’s mess set up around the corner, let’s grab a cup of coffee.”

“Do you serve Vodka at your officer’s mess?”

General Wilcox laughs, “Sorry General, we’re limited in the field to water, soft drinks, coffee, tea and sometimes hot chocolate. On base, we have full bars.”

“Coffee will be fine. I just happen to have this small flask of brandy to help take the nip out of the air.”

Both Generals walk towards a newly built officer’s mess tent; they are surrounded by General Wilcox’s protection detail which consists of six military police and five senior FBI agents. General Leninkov looks at their escort, “You are very important to rate this level of security.”

“General Leninkov, they are here for your protection.”

“For mine?”

“Yes, to keep locals and some of the militias away from you. They fear for your life. Since you surrendered, we won’t let anything to happen to you which may cause us to step back to the brink of war. Your surrender most likely saved the world from a very messy World War 3. I’m sorry you lost most of your battalions.”

“To be honest with you, I never thought you had the balls to drop the garage on us. I thought your people were too soft. I thought you wouldn’t want to cause collateral damage. The loss of your shopping center must be in the hundreds of millions.”

“Our other options were to wait for you to exit the garage, we could have met you with massed missile and tank fire, most likely stopping you. It would also have cost us our lives and might have caused a lot of civilian lives. Of course, we could have come in after you, in which case you would have held the best defensive positions, we would have pounded each other until one side ran out of ammo. Both sides would have lost a lot of people.”

“I thought you would try to drop your penetrator bombs on us. I dispersed my tanks and people so a single bomb would have hurt, but not been fatal to us. I didn’t think you’d try to enter to engage us. We were going to break out at midnight tonight.”

“I thought you would break out tonight which is why we moved against you today. We couldn’t take the chance of you breaking out and making it into the city. Once you got inside of D.C., all of our options were bad.”

“I don’t know if I’d say your options were all bad. If your politicians are anything like ours, we might have done you a favor by hitting them.”

Laughing General Wilcox responds, “I’d be happy to give you some of them to take home with you. Would you like a few souvenirs from our political class to take home with you? We won’t charge you for an export fee.”

Laughing, General Leninkov replies, “General, I was going to offer to send you some of ours.”

“We have enough of our own. How about we both ship the ones we don’t want someplace else. Maybe a nice island. We can arrange for them to meet every other day to discuss how we’re going to end this war before it gets out of control.”

“Da. The politicians make war that we shed blood for, afterward they forget about us, they use us like yesterday’s newspapers. They all have forked tongues, none to my knowledge speaks the truth.”

“We have a few that are good men.”

“I know you do. I studied your President Brownstone. He’s a politician who impresses me. He doesn’t act or speak like a normal politician.”

Laughing General Wilcox replies, “General that’s because he’s not a politician. He was the Commandant of the US Marines. He’s one of us. He’s a warrior, which is why when he tells another nation not to cross him, he means it. He only speaks the truth. He’s never sent a man or woman in uniform on a one-way mission. He’s advising President Rand.”

“That explains why we ran into resistance. Doesn’t it?”

“We were led to believe your President Rand would not counterattack in his own capital. We were told that you would issue threats and bluffs, phony red lines in the sand, none that meant a thing. In the end, you would give us what we wanted and we would go home. Tell me. General Wilcox, what happens to my surviving people now?”

“They will be checked by our medical people and then you and they will be sent home.”

“He told me that. I didn’t believe it, but he was right. You don’t have gulags?”

“We’re not the LSA. We don’t have political prisoners. I think some of what you heard about us isn’t true. By the way, who is he?”

“General Marshal Avdotya. He’s our new acting President. He was in STAVKA’s bunker when your space based weapons took out President Grameniko’s bunker. Your space weapon took out our civilian leadership.”

“Thank you. We knew we struck the location above ground of Grameniko’s bunker, we didn’t know if we’d actually hit it.”

“You got it alright. You destroyed it, I understand there’s nothing left but a hole in the ground.”

“General, what do you think General Chekov is going to do in Las Vegas?”

“The General Marshal told us both to surrender. He told us you’d send us home if we surrendered. He was right. You are sending us home.”

“Can you reach Chekov?”

“I have his radio codes if that’s what you mean.”

“Yes, would you be willing to contact him, ask him to follow your lead and surrender. It would save a lot of lives.”

“I’m willing to contact him.”

Holding a cup of hot coffee in one hand, General Leninkov contacts General Chekov, “General, I want you to know I have surrendered what’s left of my forces to the Americans. They are treating us very well. The Marshal was correct, they are going to send us home, they don’t have political prisons.”

“I might consider surrendering if I wasn’t under attack by unknown forces.”

“I’ll talk with US Marine General Wilcox, we should be able to arrange a cease-fire.”

“Let me know, right now, I’ll a little busy to talk right now, call me back if he can arrange a cease-fire.”

@@@@@

Wolf stands in front of President Booker, “President Booker, Sean told me President Rand is giving us 96 hours to respond to their offer.”

“Wolf, I thought you understood the American politicians better. You reported on them for over twenty years. This is a bluff. Rand had Sean contact you because he knows your friends. You trust him, so naturally you listened to what he had to say. You know damned well Rand isn’t going to do anything that may harm the civilians, he really believes he speaks for them. There’s nothing he can or will do to us. Anyway, don’t worry about them, they are going to have much larger issues to deal with than us.”

“Mr. President, what do you mean?”

“I’m calling on every African-American in the USA to rise up and overthrow the yoke of the government’s oppression. When I make the call, their citizens will rebel; my people will not listen to the local police who everyone knows are racist. My people will destroy the link that holds their communities together. They will attack the police thereby bringing civil disorder to every community. The USA government will have more on their hands to deal with than us. They’ll leave us alone if I promise to call off the riots in their cities. They are going to need all of their forces to contain the violence that my people are going to create, they are going to rip the heart out of their cities.”

“Mr. President, we have a lot of your people here in the LSA, how do we know those in the LSA won’t rise up to overthrow us?”

“Wolf, why would they want to overthrow us? We’re all equal, we provide nice homes, full bellies, and free education for everyone in the LSA. We don’t force people to work, we don’t force drug tests on them before we give them benefits. We don’t cut off their payments if they don’t look for work, or if they have more than two children out of wedlock with different fathers. We’re what my people asked for. We even provided them with a fund to compensate them for the years of slavery.”

“That’s one item in our benefits program I don’t understand. None of the people we make payments to was a slave. None of them were alive when there was slavery. Why are we making payments to people who don’t have a standing to sue for something that happened to some of their maybe ancestors. Almost none could prove their ancestors were really slaves.”

“Wolf, their skin color alone meant they grew up disadvantaged, it’s our progressive duty to help them.”

“Mr. President, I don’t want to shift the conversation, but someone or other has been helping them for sixty years and the number of poor always increases.”

“Wolf, you sound like a Republican. What’s come over you? Did spending time with Sean change you? Should we issue a new rule that none of our people can spend more than a few hours with someone from the USA? Is it like the flu or some illness that goes from person to person? You’re not the same Wolf I thought I knew and not the person I appointed to be the Minister of Truth. Tell me what happened to you?”

“Sir, nothing happened to me. I’m just asking for proof we’re making the lives of those in the inner cities better. I see the improvements in the lives of those in the middle class and suburbs. I see the happy families who no longer worry about being laid off or having their hours reduced. I see the rows of nice homes, I see the new cars in driveways, I see the many happy people. I see the new schools, the factories, the full shopping centers. When I look at the inner cities, I don’t see a lot of change. I see the same people sitting on their stoops, I see the same people walking the streets, the same people waiting for their government check to arrive.”

“Minister, don’t pull this crap on me. I know you and what you stand for. You were a member of the progressive press for many years. You pushed and pulled the people to create a new society. You pushed for the death of capitalism, you did your part to change the country. You were one of the loudest voices for the split. You once went to church…”

“Mr. President, I don’t go to church, I have no visible images of religion…”

“Minister, I didn’t say you did. What I’m trying to say is when I was a young man growing up in New Jersey I listened to the priests say, ‘There will always be the poor.’ I heard them, in fact, I agree with them. It’s human nature. Some people are doers, some are takers.  Many of our people are happy to do nothing. They sit all day in their own little world living on the government’s generosity. In order to get the people’s support for the breakup of the USA, we promised the people a ‘living wage.’ We agreed to increase welfare payments to provide them with essentially what would have been classified as a middle-class income. Every home has a large screen television, broadband communications, free cell phones and even the use of a car. We agreed to provide no restrictions on how they spent their government checks. If the people in the cities really wanted to have the life of the suburbs, they would get up and make it happen. All they have to do is report to an LSA employment office for a job. We have the jobs, but the people don’t want them. They don’t want to work, they’d rather sit on their asses and collect a freebie, they are easy sheep to control this way.”

“Sir, that’s very condescending talk, in the old days, I’d say it’s even racist.”

“Minister, it’s truth. We used the people’s weaknesses to get elected, we use them to stay in office. We used their weaknesses to break away from the USA so we could create a new worker’s paradise for our people. We succeeded in our goals; we have built an almost perfect socialist country. Our people are basically happy. We, through you, are going to convince the USA it’s not in their best interest to attack us again. We want to be their good neighbors. On the other hand if they don’t agree to leave us alone, we’ll sow discontent across the USA, we’ll expand by tearing the USA apart.”

“Don’t you think Rand will be wise to our games and shut us down? If they do, we have no army to fight them with.”

“Wolf, we don’t need a regular army, we’ll use their own minorities which we’ll incite against them. We’ll use their own people to create mass disruptions in their cities, we’ll shut them down without us having to fire a single shot. Minister, you have to remember they look at problems differently than we do. We look at the issue as it relates to how we can stay in and gain power. They don’t look at issues the same way. Some of them really believe they’re serving their people, versus, we know the people serve us.”

Chapter 23

Colonel Grover and his seatmate, a Captain, are riding in the back of a bus. Grover is smiling to himself. There are four empty rows between Grover and the other passengers. His Captain leans over whispering, “Colonel how long do we ride this bus?”

“To the end of the line which is the border. There we’ll use our pass to cross the border. Once we cross, we’ll be flown to the capital.”

“Good, I can’t wait to get out of here and return home. Some of these people act like zombies, they accept anything the government and media tell them. What happened to questioning information? What happened to providing proof?”

“Cap, not here. They are educated to accept, they are bribed to go along and accept what they’re told. Most people in the USA don’t realize how screwed up this place is. Most think it’s like home but a little to the left, sort of like a giant welfare state. They don’t realize it’s much deeper than that. These people have sold their souls for the promise of equality and a hollow promise of security.”

“Colonel, it’s a shame the mint just went boom like it did. These poor people are going to be running short of cash sooner versus later.”

“Captain, most of their transactions are done electronically. We were given the mint as a target because they weren’t printing LSA currency, they were printing our money. We were asked to ensure it never saw the light of day.”

“Guess we did that, the fire should burn for a couple of days. I wonder if they will ever figure out the basement was packed with white phosphorus. It’ll burn right through the walls and beams. Water won’t put the fire out, it’ll only spread the burning. I wonder how long it’ll take them to figure out they’ve been attacked.”

Smiling, Grover says, “I guess their DepLIES will figure it out, but they’ll have no proof who attacked them. They’ll figure it was us, but without proof, there’s nothing they can do about it.”

“Boss, how long until we get home?”

“I figure two days to the border, a day screwing around there and a quick 5-hour flight home. What’s your hurry?”

“Got a hot date with a new lady.”

“Won’t last. None do in our line of work. They always wonder where we are and what we’re doing. They say they accept we can’t tell them what we do, it starts OK, a year or two down the road and they think we’re out fooling around. They tell us, if we love them, we’ll tell them where we are and what we’re doing. Trust me, it never works out for people like us.”

“Boss, I want you to meet her.”

“Trust me, it ain’t going to work out. I’m going to take a nap, you take first watch. Wake me in three hours.”

“Will do.”

@@@@@

Presidents Cruise and Brownstone decide they aren’t needed in the White House, they’re only getting in the way of President Rand doing his job.  At dinner, President Rand looks at his two friends, “OK, which one of you wants to tell me what’s on your minds? It’s obvious you want to tell me something, so which one of you is it going to be?”

Ted smiles saying, “Paul, you have the situation well in hand. We’re getting in the way here. Rod and I are going to leave tomorrow.  The war is almost over. Our friendly Colonel has destroyed their mint, stopping them from using the counterfeit currency. The Russians have surrendered, I think it’s time for us to leave and let you carry on running the country.”

“Do you think it’s safe for you to leave now?”

“Why not?” asks Rod. “I can go home, the troops are still there protecting my home, I’ll be safe there. Ted has many things to do. We’re getting underfoot here. The staff is going crazy trying to cater to the three of us. It’s not fair to them or you.”

“I really appreciate your help, you know, the two of you are always welcome here.”

Ted says, “We’re welcome as long as the Democrats don’t take the presidency again. Then the only place we’ll be welcome will be a federal prison.”

The three of them laugh at Ted’s joke. “I’ll have the secret service take you both home tomorrow.”

Ted says, “Paul, I’m not going home, I’m going to Atlanta.”

“Atlanta? Wait a minute. You know how dangerous Atlanta is now, it’s not safe for you to travel there. The city has been overrun by protesters.”

“I’m not worried about them. They’ve been peaceful. I have a commitment to attend a board meeting in Atlanta.”

“I’ll send a team with you.”

“Paul, chill. I have my four man detail and that’s more than enough. I’m a big boy, I can take care of myself.”

“I’d feel better if there was a quick reaction team standing by.”

“As long as they don’t get in my way at the board meeting.”

“No problem, you’ll never see them unless you need them, which I hope you don’t.”

The three men enjoy what they expect to be their last evening meal together. A knock on the door interrupts their jokes and stories, “Mr. President, Sean is on a secure phone, he’s asking to speak with you.”

Paul replies, “Thank you, gentlemen, mind if I put him on the speaker?”

Both smile while shaking their heads no. The speaker comes alive with Sean saying, “Mr. President, are you there?”

Paul responds, “Sean, we’re all here, how did your call with Wolf go?”

“Sir, not well. I get the feeling the LSA is going to call your bluff. While I think Wolf wants to end the skirmish between us, I don’t think President Booker does.”

Rod replies, “Sean, I was afraid of that. Booker sees himself as the Messiah of the underclass and minorities. I think he will try to cause us problems in our cities, he’ll think we’re distracted and forget about him allowing him to do who knows what.”

Sean asks, “Mr. President what do you recommend?”

@@@@@

President Booker reads an intel report which says the two former Presidents are going to be leaving the White House. President Brownstone is returning to his home. Booker is thinking, We can’t reach him at his house. It’s been tried by many, including four different Russian Spetsnaz teams. He must have a special protection detail that’s the best in the world. Where is President Cruise going?

Reading the report, he takes note that President Cruise is flying to Atlanta to sit on a board meeting. Atlanta might be the perfect place. Booker picks up the red phone on his desk which connects him to the Dianne Feinstein the newly appointed Director of the DepLIES. “President Booker here.”

Dianne answers her private line, “Yes sir, how can we be of assistance?”

“What assets do we have in Atlanta?”

“Mr. President, we have a sleeper cell and six organizers who are working on stirring up trouble with their minorities. I gave them the instructions to start a major riot in five days.”

“Dianne, I understand President Cruise is going to Atlanta, can we get to him?”

“Mr. President, anyone can be reached, it all comes down to if the shooter is willing to risk his life in exchange for his target.”

“Do any of your people in Atlanta have the devotion to the state to carry out instructions of taking out Cruise?”

“Yes, Mr. President they do. Sir, are you sure you want to take out a former US President?”

“Dianne, we need to break up the love fest these three seem to have for each other. One of them is bad enough, three working together, feeding off of their conservative ideas, is bad news for us. I think the only way, to break them up, is to retire the former Presidents.”

“Mr. President, it’s not usually a good idea to take out other country’s Presidents. President Cruise and Brownstone still enjoy wide support from the people. People who might turn against us versus supporting us.”

“Dianne, I appointed you because I knew you could do what’s necessary in order to support the LSA.”

“Yes sir.”

“Dianne, issue the instructions. Break into the USA’s computer network, find out Cruise’s travel plans and figure out how to take him out.”

“Sir, I just want to confirm you are sure you want to do this?”

“Yes I’m sure, we need to strike back against the USA. Taking out their leadership, who, I might add, are fair targets will get Rand’s attention. I want him concerned enough to sit down with us as equals.”

“Mr. President, taking out President Cruise could have very bad ramifications for us.”

“Make sure it looks like he got caught up in the riots you’re planning. It will help promote the race war.”

“Will do. Do you want any pictures?”

“Heaven forbid. Of course, not. I don’t want anything that can tie us to the killing.”

“Mr. President, what about Brownstone?”

“Dianne, he’s unreachable as long as he is in his house.”

“We could see about setting his house on fire.”

“You’ll never get close enough to set it on fire. You won’t be able to move within a mile of his house before the deployed sensors or his protection detail spots you.”

“I’ll have our people check his schedule. I’m sure he goes out to shop or have dinner. I’m sure he files travel plans with the secret service. We have an agent in the secret service who will inform us of his plans.”

“Dianne, when did we get an agent inside the secret service? I thought it was all but impossible to recruit them.”

“Sir, I have friends in high places. When you appointed me to the DepLIES, I reached out to a couple of my friends, I asked them for help. It turned out a couple of agents have soft spots for our progressive plans. A couple of agents think the USA has shifted too far to the right. They think too many of the lower class have been left behind in their march forward.”

“Dianne, you surprise me, I like it. See if your friends will share with you Cruise’s and Brownstone’s travel plans.”

“Yes sir.”

Kory hangs up thinking to himself, She’s built a formidable support structure in her years in the Senate. She’s happy here since we ban all private gun ownership. She’s at times greedy which is fine, since we’re all greedy for either riches or power. She’s power hungry which means I’ll have to keep one eye on her all of the time.

Dianne hangs up the phone smiling, Ted, you asshole, when we were in the Senate together you fought my gun programs every chance you had. You stopped almost every one of my bills, I’m finally going to have my revenge against you. I’m going to put an end to you and your obstruction of the LSA.

@@@@@

Bev, Kathy, and Brad are following Ron as he runs entering the lobby of the Encore. Ron looks around motioning his wife and friends to join him. “We’re close to blowing the Wynn. When we do that’ll be the end of the Russians. Their commander is still inside the Wynn. When we take their commander out, it should hurt their morale. If we hit their other locations at the same time, we may catch them in between commanders. Their troops may not know what to do.”

Brad frowns saying, “Old buddy, you’re going to bring the Wynn down? What about all of the people in it? How many innocents are you going to kill?”

“We’re hoping not many. However we have to get the Russian commander before he issues orders to bring down all of the hotels. Need I remind you, all of them are loaded with innocents? We may kill some, to save tens of thousands. Do we have any other choice?”

“Ron, what’s come over you? I’ve known you for years. You never before would have even thought about taking innocent lives. What’s changed in you?”

“Brad, do you remember when the terrorists attacked the mall? Do you remember taking your rifle to try to shoot them down? How many did you kill? When you shot them, were you sure they were all terrorists? Would you have continued shooting if there’d been an innocent in the way of your shooting?”

“Well, I think so. It would have come down to one innocent versus thousands of innocents. I would have hated myself in the morning, but I would have done what I had to do to save the most lives.”

“Same thing here. Instead of terrorists, we were invaded by Russian troops. In order to bring it to a close, I’ll do what we have to so we can save the tens of thousands of innocents. Are you going to help us or fight us?”

“Ron, you know I’ll help. We have to do anything we can to bring the invasion to an end. Where’s our military?”

“They are surrounding the city. The Marines from Pendleton are in the area. Troops from the National Training Center are moving in from the north. The Air Force has control of the air. We are going to kick them out of Vegas.  We’re going to kick red Russian ass. The question to you is, are you going to help us or not?”

“Of course I’ll help. What do you want me to do?”

“Brad, I trust you like the brother I never had, I want you to take Bev and Kathy to safety.”

“Where’s a safe area?”

“Get them to our troops outside of the city.”

Ron hugs Brad with tears in his eyes. “Thank you, my friend. Take my love to safety, take her to the Marine position to the southwest of the city.”

“Ron, meet us there. We’ll stay there until you come to us.”

The two nod and separate, Brad says, “Bev, Kath please follow me. We’re leaving the city. We’re going to find the US Marines.”

Chapter 24

Former President Ted Cruise lands at the Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta airport in a government T 43A, the military version of Boeing’s 737. First off the plane is a secret service agent, followed by President Cruise. Three additional agents follow the former President, one grabs the President’s overnight bag. Ted stops in the terminal to shake hands and take selfies with passengers waiting for their flights. While President Cruise is shaking hands, sixty African-Americans run into the terminal, overturning and breaking everything in sight. They rob the passengers who are waiting in the TSA security screening line. They rob the stores in the terminal while placing large banners on the walls that say “Black Lives Matter.” People in the terminal scatter, others get knocked over by those who are fleeing. Alarms sound in the terminal, the public announcement loudspeakers come alive asking everyone to quickly and peacefully leave the terminal. President Cruise looks at his security detail, “Are we in danger?”

“Sir, there’s some sort of disturbance in the main terminal. I think we should leave ASAP.”

“I have a board meeting to attend. I never ran from anything in my life. I don’t want to run from a little disturbance. You guys can handle it correct?”

“Sir, there are four of us, while we are armed, the intel says there are fifty to sixty of them. We can’t handle that large of a group.”

“Are they here for me?”

“I don’t think so. I think it’s another demonstration, nothing more. I doubt they even know you’re here. We didn’t announce it in advance.”

“Where do you want me to go?”

“Mr. President, I think we ought to go back to the plane.”

“I’m coming.”

As President Cruise and his protective details start to turn around, the mob breaks through security. They beat and kick the TSA agents into unconsciousness. They see President Cruise in the mid terminal, they yell, “There he is, let’s get him!”

The mob starts running towards the President, one starts firing a MAC 10 in full auto, another a GLOCK 19 and two fire 12 gauge shotguns towards the President whose staff is already returning fire at the mob. The mob increases their yelling as more of them pull guns out and open fire at President Cruise. Local police enter the terminal running towards the sound of gunfire. Passengers are running towards the police begging for protection. President Cruise’s four secret service agents pull out silenced HK MP 5 submachine guns. They begin firing on full auto spraying 9MM rounds towards the advancing mob. Four mob members stop in mid-step, they slide behind chairs in the terminal pulling out AK 47s which they fire back at the secret service on full auto. The large 7.62mm rounds from the AKs easily go right through the chairs and tables in the terminal. Two of the four agents get hit by the AK fire. Five members of the mob toss Molotov Cocktails at the secret service agents. One of the gasoline bombs explodes in a small snack shop where the flames reach the propane tanks. The tanks explode, blowing the wall out of the terminal, every glass window in the terminal shatters. Passengers caught in the terminal are covered in shattered glass and debris from the explosion. The area where the snack shop was is burning out of control, the flames are licking at the outside walls of the terminal moving towards the parked planes and a fuel truck whose driver panicked when the bomb blew out the wall of the terminal. The escaping driver left the fuel truck right under the terminal. The spreading flames found it from a small puddle of oil and fuel that had leaked from the truck. The flames followed the spill like a hungry dog follows food. The flames licked the spill until the flames reached the back of the truck where the fueling connectors were located; the fuel truck exploded with the force that exceeded a 2,000 pound bomb. The explosion rips apart the plane parked next to it which is full of fuel; it explodes destroying the balance of the terminal, killing everyone still in the terminal. Over a thousand people die when the terminal collapses and burns. Among the thousands are four secret service agents and one former US President, President Ted Cruise.

The USA is shocked and filled with grief over the death of one of the most loved former Presidents. President Rand declares a thirty day period of national grieving, he orders flags flown at half-staff for the thirty days. President Rand calls President Brownstone, “Rod, you heard?”

“Yes. I don’t believe he’s gone. I can’t believe they went to such an extreme to take him out. They took out an entire airport terminal to get him. In the process, they killed a thousand innocents and caused millions of dollars in damage. Paul, I’ve had enough of these attacks and the LSA sitting behind the scenes pushing others to do their dirty work.”

“Rod, two of the dead were agents of the LSA DepLIES. This is a declaration of war against us.”

“I agree. How far are you going to escalate the war?”

“I have a couple of ideas which may bring it to a close quickly, or at least scare the shit out of the average LSA citizen. The executives of the LSA wanted a war, now they are going to get a taste of what a real war looks and feels like.”

“Paul, in the end, their people are still our people, we can’t nuke them, we’d be nuking American soil. In the end, we’ll be paying the price of winning.”

“Rod, I fully realize this. Neither our people nor I, can accept the LSA putting a contract on a US President. Who’s next? You, me or my successor? We can’t allow them to get away with the attack.”

“What are you planning?”

“My options are limited, they declared war on us, you of all people know we have to respond and do so in a manner that this doesn’t happen again.”

“Paul, I’d like to come back to the House so we can chat face to face about our options.”

“Agreed, is the Colonel back?”

“Yes, he just returned with his team.”

“Have him bring you in. We all trust him to protect you.”

“I’ll let him get some rest before we make the short trip to the House.”

“Sounds good, let the secret service know when you’re coming in so there’s no problems at the gate.”

“Do you think that they are going to give Grover any problems?”

Laughing, President Rand says, “No, I don’t want to be on the Colonel’s shit list, I don’t know of anyone who’s alive and still on his list.”

Unknown to both Presidents, another front has opened in the North. Quebec honored their treaty with the LSA and personal demand from President Booker to attack the soft Northern area of the USA. An army composed of 50,000 troops invade the USA, their initial target is Toronto. The city isn’t expecting an attack. The 2,800,000 people of Toronto wake to discover armed troops in the downtown area, police stations are quickly captured by the heavily armed invading troops. HAM radio operators are able to send out a warning and request for help. Police on duty have a short fatal shoot-out with the Quebec troops who fought police cars with RPGs, the invaders caught the city unprepared. The first invading wave was able to capture the city with minimal loss of life. Local news helicopters are shot out of the sky by Quebec fighter aircraft. The French Quebecois fly the French Eurofighter, Tranche V advanced fighters with advanced stealth, Active Electronically Scanning Array Radar, and new ASRAAM (Advanced Short Range Air to Air Missile) a missile that can fire off bore sight and even can fire at targets behind the fighter. Within ten minutes of launching the attack, the French have control of the air over the city; every road leading into or out of Toronto is closed and held by the invaders. The 2,800,000 people outnumber the invaders. However most of the people are unarmed since Canada didn’t allow private ownership of weapons. When Canada broke apart, with more than half of it joining the USA, some people purchased firearms, the majority didn’t figuring the powerful US military was now protecting them. Toronto was a city blessed with low crime, its people didn’t worry about home invasions or violent crime. Very few owned a firearm. The invaders used the element of surprise to their best advantage. They parachuted and drove into the city center in the early hours when most of the city was sleeping, before most knew what was happening, they were captured, being quickly overwhelmed by the invaders. The residents are led out of their homes to their local schools where they are held under armed guard. They are told as long as they do what they’re told the invaders won’t split their families up. If, on the other hand, the city people don’t listen, their families will be split and they won’t be told where their families are being taken to. The townspeople hang their heads in shame. They didn’t even put up a fight for their city. The invaders couldn’t believe they’d taken the city so quickly and without a major firefight. They planned to use the city as a new base of operations to launch an attack on Erie, Pennsylvania, and from Erie they planned to attack Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Their third target was Washington, D.C. where they hoped to capture the government leaders forcing the USA to agree to terms with the LSA.

The US Military wasn’t looking to the North when the alarms sounded in the Pentagon. General Watson, the CJCS asked, “Where is the attack? From where did it come from? How many people? Come on people we’re under attack. I want AWACS coverage of the entire country. I want to know options now.”

President Rand asked his military advisor the same questions; as did President Brownstone.

While in Los Angeles, President Booker was laughing to himself thinking the attack surprised the crap out of them. They were looking to their coasts, and their southern border, they left the northern border unguarded and open for our allies to walk in and take over Toronto. They are confused and off balance, now is the time to hit them hard enough to rock them backward. It’s time to turn up the heat in all of their cities.

@@@@@

President Brownstone and Colonel Grover enter the armored car inside the garage so no one potentially watching the house will see which car they entered for the trip to the White House. Colonel Grover’s plan was to send four identical cars on four different routes to the White House. Sitting in a tree on the edge of Brownstone’s property line are three people watching for anyone leaving the house. They radio, “Four cars, all identical. Black Tahoes with black tinted windows. I have no idea who’s in them or where they’re going.”

“Roger, keep watching.”

When the four black Tahoes reach the end of the driveway, two turn to the left and two turn to the right. One of the men in the trees fires an RFG at one of the black Tahoes. The RPG misses the SUV. President Brownstone’s protective detail didn’t miss. They used IR scopes to clearly see the people in the trees. All of the spotters fell dead out of the trees. Grover turns to President Brownstone, “Sir, they had spotters in the trees, we got them all.”

“Did they get a radio call off?”

“Yes, we intercepted it, they reported four black Tahoe’s leaving the grounds.”

“Colonel, they most likely have other spotters on the road.”

“Yes, but we have a surprise arranged for them. We should be safe all the way to the House.”

@@@@@

In the Honeymoon suite of the Beverly Hills Hilton which has been converted to living and command location until a new Gray House can be acquired, Dianne is briefing Kory. “Sir, we got President Cruise, we fired on President Brownstone. I’m not sure if we got him or not. We fired an RPG at his car.”

“Where was he going?”

Dianne sips her coffee saying, “We think back to the White House.”

“We have to stop him before he’s able to hook up with President Rand. If Brownstone gains a degree of authority with the US Military, we are screwed. A pissed off Brownstone is not what we want. He’s much more dangerous to us than Rand or Cruise, he’s more dangerous than both of them combined. We have to stop him before he reaches the White House or the Pentagon.”

“Mr. President, what’s the worst they will do to us?”

“Dianne, they’ve nuked terrorist locations before.”

“Come on Kory, think this through, They still consider us part of them. They’re not going to nuke us. They’ve already tried to sway us by turning off our electrical power, it didn’t break our people. Our people are strong. They aren’t going to give in to any threats they make. As long as our people are working, their welfare checks clear and the food stores have food, they’ll be fine, they’re not going to give in to any threats.”

“I hope you’re right. We missed our primary target. Cruise wouldn’t have hurt us, Brownstone will go after our leadership personally. He’ll send that SOB of an attack dog Grover after us. Once he gets a bone in his teeth, he never lets it go. Face it, we’re all dead if Grover comes after us.”

“Dianne, he wouldn’t send Grover here. He knows your DepLIES is always looking for him.”

“Mr. President, I bet he was behind the gas explosion at the Gray House and the Mint burning down.”

“Dianne, no way, he might have trained someone to blow the Gray house, but he didn’t do the mint. If he were here, your people would have spotted him and taken him down. I think both were accidents.”

“For our sake I hope your right. I don’t believe it, but I pray you are. If you’re wrong, we’ll know soon enough.”

“Dianne, how will we know?”

“We’ll be dead.”

Chapter 25

The White House daily press briefing starts off in pandemonium. The press started yelling questions at Sean before he even reaches the podium.

“What happened in Atlanta?”

“Do we know who killed President Cruise?”

“Is it true the LSA behind the attack on President Cruise?”

“Was President Brownstone also attacked?”

“Have we retaliated yet?”

“How many children were killed?”

“Were the guns used legal?”

The press’ voices and questions yelled out cancel each other out. No one can hear anything but the noise. All of the various voices merged into a brain-numbing noise.  Sean tries to quiet the room, when he can’t their attention he pulls the microphone to his mouth yelling, “Shut up! Right now. I’ve had enough of your disrespect for this office. Either listen to me and ask your questions after my remarks or I’ll have you removed from the White House.”

“Bullshit, you won’t have us removed, you need us to report the news of the day for you.”

“Security, remove the reporter from NBZ.”

The room falls into silence as two secret service agents drag the screaming reporter out of the room. Sean says, “Remove his press pass. His White House credentials are revoked.”

The reporters in the room close their mouths mid-word with the fear they are going to be tossed out and have their credentials removed.

“Now if we can continue the daily briefing in a civilized manner, the administration has some announcements to make. “First, President Rand and the entire country is shocked at the deadly attack on the Atlanta Airport. Seven hundred Forty-eight people lost their lives in the brutal attack, including as you know, President Ted Cruise. Three hundred and four have been injured, they are in hospitals in Atlanta. The country will observe a thirty-day period of mourning for the dead. President Cruise’s funeral will be held in four days, this Friday at noon Central Standard Time. The President was born in Calgary, Canada, his will specified he be buried in Austin, Texas. Both Presidents Rand and Brownstone will attend the service. President Cruise’s body will be carried in a caravan from Atlanta to Austin starting this evening at 4:00 Eastern Standard Time. Any, who wish to pay their respects, may do so from the overpasses of the various freeways between Atlanta and Austin. The caravan will travel at 45 MPH until it reaches the President’s resting place. President Rand will be attending a national service at the Atlanta Airport on Wednesday.  The Vice President will be attending the funerals of as many of the other innocent people who lost their lives in the terrorist attack at the airport as possible. I see the looks on your faces when I used the word terrorist. Yes, President Rand considers the attack on the airport a state-sponsored terrorist attack. His comments are, he reserves the right to respond with every weapon in our arsenal at the time of his choosing.”

A pin falling could be heard by everyone in the press room because everyone is silent hearing Sean’s words. Slowly a single hand rises, “Greta, you have a question?”

Greta says, “Sean, thank you. Yes, I have a question. Is there any proof as to who was behind the attack on the airport that took President Cruise’s life?”

“Greta, two of the bodies in the terminal were positively identified as DepLIES agents. Three other bodies were positively identified as being on the LSA’s payroll. Our answer is yes, we have all the proof we need to be confident the LSA was behind the attack on the terminal and we, the USA hold the LSA and President Booker responsible for the President’s death. President Rand has stated he will respond at the time of his choosing, he considers this a terrorist attack against the people of the United States.”

“Sean, does your last statement mean or imply that President Rand is considering using nuclear weapons against the LSA?”

“Greta, President Rand reserves the right to respond with any and all weapons in our arsenal. He will respond when he decides the time is right. No weapon is off of the table, no action is off the table. The President will respond when he feels the time is right.”

“Sean, may I have a followup question?”

“Yes, what is it?”

“Does the President still hold out any hope that the LSA and the USA can come back together to form a true United States again?”

“Greta, yes he does, which is why he’s taking time to decide the best possible response. He will decide and will act against the LSA and any other country or person who acted with the LSA in the death of President Cruise and the other 747 innocent lives.”

A voice is heard in the back of the room, “Sean, is President Brownstone injured?”

“Ah, Rash, sure you don’t want to come up here and I’ll take your seat?”

The room tries hard to hold back laughing. They all want to know the answer to the question.

“Rash, I can confirm there was an attempt against President Brownstone, he IS OK, he is unharmed and should be here in the House as we’re talking.”

“Sean, a followup?”

“Rash, of course.”

“How was he attacked?”

“We have little information at this time, what we do know is some people hid in the trees on the edge of his property. They waited for his car to pull up to the exit of his driveway when they opened fire on this car.”

“Sean, was it his new car? If it was and anyone damaged it, woe to them, I know he’d be angry.”

“Rash, it was his armored SUV with his protection detail. As I said, he is safe and under the protection of the secret service and a private security company.”

Rash laughs at the comment, “Private Security Company” because he knows that means Colonel Grover and his team, no sane person would want to go up against. They’ve left a trail of bodies around the world of people who threatened their principal.

A reporter from CNN asks, “Sean, were the trees damaged in front of President Brownstone’s home? We all know how old and beautiful the trees there are. Everyone has to do their best to protect Mother Earth.”

Sean looks up at the ceiling, and at Rash who smiles at him, thinking, how the hell am I supposed to be respectful of these nuts?

Sean grabs both sides of the podium, he looks into the eyes of the CNN reporter, “To be honest I have no idea if any leafs on the trees were damaged. Or how the people got into the trees.”

“Well, I and the people of the LSA think it’s important to find out and pass laws forbidding others from damaging the trees.” She stood in front of Sean with her arms crossed over her chest feeling very proud of herself.

Sean paused, looking into her eyes, he lowered his voice, “Criminals don’t follow laws. We in the USA pass laws that will improve and protect the lives of our people. We try not to waste our time passing laws to make us feel like we’re doing something that in reality have zero impact on our lives.”

The CNN reporter stared at Sean saying, “Which is why the USA is a morally bankrupt country with no future.”

“At least we recognize God created only two sexes, frankly we recognize there is a God and his ten commandants, which we try to live by.”

“Mr. Press Secretary, there is no proof of a God, we in the LSA recognize the equality of everyone. We realize some people don’t fit into a box of male or female…”

“When you can prove there are more than two sexes, come back with the proof. Until then, we are moving on with today’s brief. President Rand will address the nation tomorrow evening at 9:00 PM EST.”

While the press conference is going on, LSA President Booker sits in the hotel suite laughing, “Look at the fools, they can’t even figure out how to respond. They look foolish in front of the world. We’re winning the PR battle which is the only battle that matters. Can we still get Brownstone?”

Dianne shakes her head no saying, “Sorry Mr. President, once he reached the White House, he’s out of reach.”

“Why can’t we take out the entire House?”

“How do you suggest we take down the House without getting ourselves destroyed in the process?”

“Dianne, I’m surprised you haven’t already figured it out. Airplanes fall out of the sky all of the time. Why can’t one fall onto the White House?”

@@@@@

In Burlington, North Carolina, along with the rest of the USA, the mood is dark and at the same time very sad. Every flag is flown at half-staff. People go about their business wearing black armbands in mourning for the 48 innocent lives lost at the Atlanta Airport attack. Leon Jones is wearing a black armband on his right arm. He’s walking to school with three of his friends when they are confronted by a group of minorities who demand they remove their black armbands. “Take that damn armband off.”

“Why?”

“You’re white, you shouldn’t be wearing anything black.”

“We’re honoring the dead in Atlanta, including our President.”

“He wasn’t my President, he wasn’t black.”

“He was the President of all of us.”

“You’re a sucker if you believe that.” Ripping the armbands off, the two groups get into a fight. One of the black youths pulls a knife just a police car pulls up. The officer sees the knife, he yells at the youth, “Drop the knife, NOW.”

The knife holder turns to face the officer while holding a knife. The officer sees the blade turn towards him, he sees the youth take a step forward. The officer pulls his sidearm out pointing it at the youth saying, “STOP.”

“Fuck you pig.”

The youth takes another step forward when the officer fires two rounds into the youth’s chest instantly killing him. The other minority youths yell, “Pig killed the nigger for nothing.”

Leon said, “No he didn’t. He told him to drop the knife.”

“Whitey always sticks up for whitey. Man we’re going to get you.”

Additional police cars arrive, each youth is taken by an officer to the station to get their statements. Since Leon didn’t make it to school, the school called his parents asking why he didn’t attend classes. Bob’s cell rings, “Hello?”

“Mr. Robert Jones?”

“Yes, who’s this?”

“This is the attendance officer at Hugh M Cummings High School. Leon wasn’t at his classes today. We’re calling to confirm he was out ill.”

“What? I saw him leave for school this morning. What time did he arrive?’

“Mr. Jones, that’s why we’re calling, he didn’t attend any of his classes today, nor did you or Mrs. Jones call with an excuse for his absence.”

“He wasn’t absent today.”

“Mr. Jones he was, which is why we’re calling.”

“I don’t know what happened. He left for school on time today with his friends, did any other children not make it today?”

“I’m sorry, we’re not permitted to give out that information.”

Bob replies, “Thank you.”

Bob looks at the phone’s memory for the listing of Leon’s friends, he finds five numbers, he dials the first to get a voice mail. The second number is answered by Leon’s friend’s mother. “Hello, I’m Robert Jones, Leon’s father. I’m calling because Leon and your son usually walk to school together, Leon didn’t make it to school today.”

“That’s interesting because I got a call saying Ron didn’t make it to school today either.”

“Do you know if any of Ron’s or Leon’s friends didn’t make it to school either?”

“I’m not sure. I’m worried, think we should call the police?”

“Yes, you do that, I have the numbers of some of Leon’s other friends, I’m going to call them to see if any of their parents knows anything. I’ll call you back in a few minutes.”

“Thank you, by the way, my name is Pam.”

“Thanks, Pam, I’m sure they’re OK, they’re the age when they most likely played hooky.”

“I’ll try to stay calm. I’m going to call the police.”

Bob tries the other numbers in his phone while Pam dials 911. The police operator transfers her to the detective on the case who tells Pam her son is OK and at the station. Pam dials Bob as she’s running out of the door to drive to the police station.

“Bob, my son is at the police station. He’s been there all day. I’m heading there now.”

“Did they say anything about Leon?”

“No, they did say they are holding a couple of boys because of a shooting incident this morning.”

“Shooting?”

“That’s all they told me.”

“I’ll meet you at the station.”

Hanging up, Bob calls his wife, “Honey, I have urgent news.”

Carol senses the worry in her husband’s voice, “What’s wrong?”

“It’s Leon, he didn’t make it to school today. I spoke with one of his friend’s mother, who said her son is at the police station. Something to do with a shooting this morning. I’m going to the police station, meet me there.”

“Oh my God, the police station? I’m leaving work right now.”

Word of the shooting quickly spread and when Pam and Bob arrived at the station they found the police station surrounded by protesters blocking the parking lot and doors. They parked two blocks away, walking to the station. They are accosted by protesters who try to stop them from entering the station. Two men block Bob’s entry, one grabs his arm to pull him away from the door, Bob pulls his concealed handgun saying, “I’m going to the station, if you continue to block me, it’ll be the last thing you do.”

The protester's yell, “Mother’s got a gun.”

An officer sees the gun, he comes out of the station, Bob sees him saying, “Officer I have a CCW, I was being blocked from entering the station, these people are blocking and threatening me. I was pointing the weapon at them.”

“Let me see your permit, I’ll escort you to the station, you’ll have to surrender the gun before entry.”

“No problem.” Bob unloads his pistol, handing it to the officer.

The officer escorts Bob inside while the crowd yells, “How come he can enter and we can’t?”

The officer ignores the protesters while escorting Bob and Pam inside to see their sons. The protesters try to push their way into the station when the officer opens the door for Bob and Pam. Police officers block the door, “Do you have official business with us?”

“We got rights, black lives matter. You shot one of us for no reason except he was black, today. We’ve got a right to justice.”

Carol arrives within minutes confused by the crowd and protest. She makes it to the front door where she’s able to explain she’s there for her son.

The three adults are soon joined by two more parents who all want to see their sons. A sergeant meets the parents in a conference room explaining what happened and why their sons were taken to the station. Within minutes, an officer leads their sons to the conference room, all of the parents jump up with tears in their eyes hugging their children. Leon says, “Mom, Dad, I didn’t mean to skip school. I was here all day. They wouldn’t let me call you or the school. I didn’t do anything wrong.”

Bob asks, “Leon, what happened?”

“We were stopped by a group on the way to school, there was a discussion about our arm bands when one of them pulled a knife, the police arrived, the one with the knife didn’t drop it when he was told to, he turned to the officer who shot him when he kept walking towards the officer. They brought all of us here to give a statement and learn what happened. I didn’t think it would take all day. Can I go home now?”

“We’ll find out from the detective who’s in charge of the case.”

Soon a large African-American detective enters the conference room saying, “Hello, I’m detective first class Arnold Johnson, I’m in charge of this case. I would like to thank all of you or coming to the station and I’d like to thank your sons for their cooperation.”

Pam asks, “Can we take our boys home? Is it safe to leave the station with the protesters outside?”

Detective Johnson smiles saying, “You can take your sons home now, if we need anything else from them, we’ll contact you. I’ll have a couple of officers escort you to your cars.”

As the families are leaving the station, the protesters take their pictures, they post their pictures online with the message, “Murderers!” before they even start their cars. Others check the pictures, they find out who the boys and their parents are, posting their home addresses. Bob, Carol, and Leon arrive home to find the front of their house blocked by protesters holding signs saying, “Murderer” and “Black Lives Matter.”

Leon looking confused says, “We didn’t do anything. They attacked us. They didn’t listen to the police officer who arrived. I swear, we didn’t do anything wrong.”

Carol turns around to look at her son in the back seat, “Leon, we believe you. We’ll pull into the garage. We’ll get my car later. We’ll talk about what happened later. We’re not angry at you. We’ll contact the school to explain what happened.”

@@@@@

In the LSA, Wolf stands behind the Presidential press podium saying, “Ladies and Gentlemen, neuters, threers and others, welcome to today’s press conference. We’ve all seen the cruelty and cold hearted way those charged with protecting the people gun down innocents in the USA. We in the LSA open our hearts to those in the USA who are discriminated against because they have the strength to question and speak their minds. The USA police, who are sworn to protect the people, have struck again. This time they shot and killed a seventeen-year old boy who was on his way to school. The police stopped the young man for no reason, he was obeying the officers, he had nothing but his school books and a small pocket knife every Cub and Boy Scout would carry on him when he was shot in the chest and killed on the street in broad daylight. This is a crime against all humanity we in the LSA call upon the USA to explain to the world why this happened. We as a nation do not think the USA is capable or serious about investigating this or any white on black crime. We officially call on the Group of Fifteen nations to send an investigative team to Burlington, North Carolina, to get to the bottom of this violent, senseless crime. We call on President Rand to support an independent third party investigation of this and other senseless crimes. If the USA refuses this logical request, everyone will know the USA isn’t interested in getting to the truth; they are only interested in keeping the races separated and prolonging the pain and suffering of their people. Thank you. We have nothing more to say.”

A member of Wolf news which is usually allowed entrance to the daily press conferences raises his hand, “May I ask a question?”

“What racist question does our friend at Wolf News Network wish to ask?”

“Did the LSA have anything to do with the attack at the Atlanta Airport and the death of President Cruise or the attempt on President Brownstone?”

Wolf turns around and walks away from the podium while the Wolf reporter asks, “Aren’t you even going to insult me for asking the question or is your leaving the podium an admission of guilt?”

Wolf stops mid-step saying, “I won’t respond to your question because everyone knows you people at Wolf News create what you call news. You should be called the Fictional News Network. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have real work to do, versus dealing with fictional stories. I suggest your copywriters take up publishing e-books since the stories they write have the same relationship to truth as children’s stories have to our real history. Your network is already on probation in the LSA, if you continue this, you’ll find your network banished from our country.”

Walking out of the press room Wolf’s cell rings, he looks at the number and shakes his head internally debating if he should answer it or not. He gives in, “Hello Sean, how are you this evening?”

“Wolf, I just watched your performance and that’s what I’d call it, a performance. You and I both know the LSA had a hand in the attack on the Atlanta Airport and the death of President Cruise. Of course, you know we’re going to respond.”

“That’s going to be hard when you’re fighting an international battle over your race relations.”

“Wolf, I hoped you’d be honest with your people. At one time, you were an honest reporter, now you’re nothing but a hack for whoever is in power in the LSA.  You spin their lies and bullshit too easily. Wolf, we have a message for your President Booker, stop the race baiting in our country.”

“Who us? We haven’t done anything. You have zero proof or you would have already attacked us. You’re going to have to defend yourselves in front of the entire world this time.”

“Wolf, I feel very sorry for you and those in power in the LSA. We will respond very soon and when we do, we won’t go easy on you this time. You assassinated a US President.”

“Sean, old friend, where is your proof?”

Chapter 26

The secret service again drags President Rand to the bunker when the alert sounds about the invasion of Toronto by Quebec. President Rand says, “I’m getting tired of this. I want to stay above ground. I want to sleep in my own bed tonight.”

Senior secret service agent Bret Zackary responds, “Mr. President, I’m sorry, but any threat of attack means we have to make sure you’re in the bunker.”

“Well, how about we stop the invasions?”

“Sir, I suggest you take that up with SecDoD or SecState. Our role is limited to protecting you.”

“Brent, I know. Please ask General Watson to join me. Better yet, how about we go to the Pentagon’s war room?”

“Mr. President, I’m sorry. The General can come here, but right now you can’t go there. Not until we have more information about this latest invasion.”

“Damn it, OK.”

General Watson takes a short four minute flight from the Pentagon to the White House, he and General Wilcox, the Commandant of the US Marines, arrive at the White House War Room. “Mr. President, reporting as ordered.”

“Generals, relax, what the hell is going on? Is every country going to invade us?”

“Sir, Quebec invaded Toronto, there was no warning, no indications of an invasion. Frankly we were taken totally by surprise.”

“Doesn’t say much for our early warning does it?”

“Sir, I’m afraid, I’d have to agree with you.”

“Generals, I want the French out of our territory, I want them out yesterday. You have permission to use any force except for WMD. Am I clear?”

General Watson asks, “Sir anything?”

“Yes, anything. I want them out as soon as possible. I’m tired of being invaded. First Russia and the LSA, the Venezuelans, Cubans and now the damn French? Enough. Teach them a lesson, teach them so the world understands not to try this again.”

“Yes sir.”

The two Generals leave the White House, General Wilcox asks, “General, how do you want us to proceed? There are almost three million people in Toronto.”

“First we need information. I’ve already ordered overflights and I’m sending fighters to take control of the airspace over the city. Once we have the information, we’ll most likely drop a mixed force of your people and the Army into the city. I want some SOF in the city within two hours.”

“Yes sir.”

Major Andrew Fish, call sign, FISH, pilots the Aurora Mach 5 spy plane from Area 51 in Nevada. The flight from Nevada to Toronto, 2,400 miles takes a short 45 minutes, “Fish to home plate in position, cameras rolling and transmitting.”

“Roger, see anything on your displays?”

“Fighter screen over the city, four Eurofighters.”

“Thanks, we’ll relay it to fighter command. We have an AWACS on the way, plus a flight of six Raptors. Raptor flight is due in thirty minutes, call sign Black Arrow.”

“Roger.”

“Black arrow lead this is Fish at 125 angels, circling target. Four Eurofighters over the center of the city, I’ve tagged them to your fire control computers.”

“Roger Fish, thanks for the assist. We’re at supercruise (flying faster than the speed of sound without using the airplanes afterburner, saving fuel). Mach 1.3 armed to the max will launch BVR (Beyond Visual Range).”

“Make sure you call it.”

“Roger, Wilco.”

A few minutes later Fish hears, “Black arrow flight FOX THREE (Indicates launch of an active radar-guided missile, the AIM 120E) times six.” (Six air-to-air missiles fired).

Fish watches on his radar, FLIR and SLIR displays as the six air to air missiles fly at Mach 4 towards the French Eurofighters. It takes two minutes before the Eurofighters realize they are under attack. The American Raptors fire their missiles so the missiles fly low confusing the French fighter’s radar, when the missiles are under the Eurofighters they pop up attacking them from under the fighters. Three of the Eurofighters are blown out of the sky at the same time, the fourth is able to avoid the initial missile only to run into another, destroying it.

The AWACS plane informs the US fighters that the French are sending four more fighters from Montreal. The Raptors acknowledge and move to a position to attack the new fighters. “Black arrow flight be advised friendly flight on the way to Quebec and Montreal airports, I think fighter activity will end shortly. Black arrow flight be advised B2s have launched missiles against airports.

Over the three Quebec and Montreal civil and Air Force bases, cruise missiles fly low to avoid the airport’s approach radar, they line up on the runways, when they are 50 feet above the runways, they start releasing runway cratering munitions which burrow into the cement runway before exploding, destroying the runways and taxiways. Four fighters and a cargo plane lining up on the runways are destroyed before they take off. A second flight of cruise missiles arrives over the airports, these attack the fuel tanks and the repair hangers. All of the windows in the terminals shatter covering many of the passengers with small bits of broken glass. Passengers watch the destruction of the airports with minutes. Not a single USA life is lost in the attack. Passengers panic trying to leave the terminal for the safety of their cars and homes. People inside the terminals feel the heat from the burning fuel tanks. Within minutes of the attack thick, dense smoke covers the airports, from the burning fuel tanks, hangers and planes caught in the open.

The four Eurofighters, which managed to get airborne before the cruise missiles arrived are taken down by AMRAAM missiles fired from the Raptors.  Appearing over Toronto are eight US C17 cargo planes which start discharging paratroopers and their equipment. These are met on the ground by a squad of US Special Forces troops which cleared the paratrooper landing zones. The paratroopers’ job is to capture and hold the Toronto Pearson International Airport. Once the airport is secured, the USA begins flying in heavy equipment and troops to secure the city. While the initial troops are taking the Pearson Airport, a flight of USA B52 bombers is attacking Montreal’s and Quebec’s electrical grid, taking out the electrical power generating stations and clean water plants. Fuel tank farms outside each city are also bombed and destroyed. A USA developed cyber worm is inserted which blocks internet access and shuts down Quebec’s banking system. Without electrical power, people are stuck in elevators and parking garages, fuel, and fresh water stopped flowing, all of the lights in Quebec go out. The new country of Quebec comes to a complete stop. The USA bombs government buildings. Large LNG containers are bombed which explode similarly to small nuclear bombs. Military bases are destroyed by smart and cluster munitions.

@@@@@

Inside the Pentagon’s war room, the CJS are reviewing a war plan against the LSA, General Watson reviews the goals, “My friends, our goal is to make the leaders of the LSA feel the pain, while at the same time, we’re to limit collateral damage to the civilian population. President Rand still hopes to be able to unify the country. It’s going to be very expensive to unite if we destroy the infrastructure, we’re going to have to repair it, your job is to find a way to hurt them without killing them.”

The war planners ask, “General, what weapons restrictions are we under?”

“No use of WMD unless used against us first, other than that, you’re weapons free.”

“Are we to assume the leadership is to be held for trial or just make them disappear?”

“NCA said they can disappear, quicker than a long drawn out public trial.”

Smiling, the staff replies, “Yes sir. We have a couple of scenarios we’d like to show you.”

“Colonel, what’s your estimate of the time line start to victory?”

“Sir, quickest is one week, longest is years depending on the insurgency.”

“Colonel, you think the LSA population could become an insurgency?”

“Sir, not the general population, but we have assigned an 85% probability that some of their DepLIES agents will become an insurgency.”

“Very interesting. I didn’t think they had the balls to fight us without their leadership. I considered them to be not much more than bullies.”

“Sir, we stand behind our assessment. We tried to warn the brass in Gulf War 2 about what we classified as a 95% probability of an insurgency, they decided not to listen to us, history shows we were correct.”

“I won’t make the same mistake this time. If your review shows the DepLIES may become an insurgent force then plan to take them out before they can cause us any harm down the road.”

“Gladly sir.”

@@@@@

Jason and Sharon are enjoying a quiet time after the kids go to bed. Jason sips his beer, he turns on the television in the living room which he hopes will block their discussion from being listened to. He closes the front drapes and blinds so the cameras peering inside their home are blocked.  He says, “Honey, I’m worried. President Reid may have been a pervert, at least he set up the country as an equal socialist country, he got us all working, he brought jobs back to the country. President Bloomberg may have been a pompous ass, but he kept us safe and improved our lives. He finished what Reid started. I couldn’t stand to listen to Bloomberg, but I’ll give him credit for making us a much stronger and better country. President Booker is an asshole. He’s more concerned with trying to make up some imagined disrespect African-Americans suffered. He’s changing our laws, he’s changing the basis for getting a job. He’s changing too many things to provide advantages to one class of people, one race of people. Everything, we fought for and scarified for over the previous thirteen years, is at risk due to him. He’s continuing and expanding the war against the USA.”

Sharon says, “He’s made it much worse. I think he planned the murder of President Cruise. We both know what’s going to happen. President Rand is going to strike back and when he does it’s going to be the end of the LSA. We’ll be lucky if we and the kids live through it. Brownstone, damn his soul, nuked a bunch of terrorists, what’s Rand going to do to us for killing one of their Presidents?”

“Don’t forget they made an attempt against Brownstone too; which really scares me. He’s sitting in their damn White House advising Rand. I know he’s going to respond with force like we’ve never seen before. They can destroy all of us.”

“Jason, honey, should we pack up and leave? If we do, where would we go? We don’t know anyone in the USA any longer.”

“Sharon, yes we do. We could contact Bob and Carol.”

“Oh my God, you mean the Joneses? Do you think they would help us?”

“They seemed like really nice people, we have something in common, plus it might even work to their advantage. We contacting them could be used by Sean in his new position as a major PR win for the administration. I’m sure that if we reached out to Bob and Carol they would contact Sean or at least Wolf News, which would see the merit in helping us escape. It could be a major ratings win for Wolf. They’d use it against CNN and the other LSA broadcasters.”

“Jason, let’s follow your train of thought, if we contacted Bob and Carol, who contacts Wolf News, they might make an announcement which force CNN to contact President Booker for instructions. Booker would do everything possible to block us from leaving so he doesn’t look bad. I’m afraid us contacting Bob and Carol may backfire in our faces.”

“Sharon, what if Scott reaches out to Leon?”

“Honey, I want to think that over, it’s an interesting idea. The two boys being friends online; it happens all the time.”

“Sharon, let’s quietly prepare to leave, don’t say anything to anyone. Let’s figure out how we could leave if we have to. There has to be some kind of Underground Railroad for people to cross the border, there always is.”

“Who do we ask? We can’t search online, it would tip off the DepLIES, we can’t just ask anyone since anyone could be an informer for the DepLIES. How do we figure out who we can trust?”

“Honey, I don’t know. I don’t know who we can trust. I don’t think we can trust anyone. We’re going to have to figure this out by ourselves. I don’t think there’s anyone we can count on. We became too famous from the television program. If we ask people how to leave, it’s sure to be heard by the DepLIES who will stop at nothing to ensure we don’t leave, or arrange a believable accident to take our lives. Maybe a gas explosion at our home or a car accident. Maybe we’ll all get ill and be sent to a state hospital where we’ll disappear. We have to be very careful who we meet with or talk to once we make up our minds.”

“Jason, I’m scared, not for us, but for Scott and Sissy.”

“Which is why we have to be so careful in the next few days.” Turning off the television, the couple goes upstairs to bed. The local office of the DepLIES records the time when Jason and Sharon go to bed, no special notes are included in the files. Jason and Sharon toss and turn all evening worrying about their future.

Chapter 27

Acting President of the Russian Federation, General Marshal Avdotya picks up the red handset which connects him to the White House. The phone is answered on the first ring, “White House.”

“This is Russian General Marshal Aydotya calling for President Rand.”

“Yes sir, please hold one minute while we connect the President.”

President Rand and Brownstone are in the White House War Room under the House when the secure intercom buzzes, “Sir, sorry to interrupt, the Russian Marshal is on the Hot Line.”

“Put him through.”

“Hello, this is President Rand.”

“Hello, Mr. President, I am acting President of the Russian Federation, General Marshal Aydotya. I had hoped to be able to meet under different circumstances; I’m calling to discuss the current conditions between our two countries.”

“President Aydotya, thank you for calling. We too are very concerned about the situation between our two countries. You attacked and invaded us without cause.”

“Mr. President, we were responding to treaty obligations between us and the LSA. If I had a vote in the decision, I would have voted not to invade the USA. I didn’t have a vote or even a say in the invasion. President Grameniko reached an agreement with President Bloomberg. Since both are now gone, and it appears that a certain bunker under Moscow has been destroyed along with our civilian government, I’ve assumed the office of President until new elections are held. While I hold the office, I’d like to open discussions with you to bring the current state of war between us to an end.”

“President Rand we could make a claim for the destruction you did to our strategic systems, and to the real estate market of Moscow, or to the loss of our gross national product when you shut off electrical power and scared the hell out of our citizens. My limited estimate is you have cost the Russian Federation over $5 trillion. Which doesn’t cover the damages caused by our scared people running out of the cities. How do you respond?”

“Mr. President, shall we add up the costs related to your invasion? Or should we both first discuss how to pull back from the brink?”

“President Rand, yes, we want to pull back from the edge of World War 3. We do not desire war with you. I am sorry President Grameniko agreed to President Bloomberg’s demand we honor our treaty to invade your country. We, the Russian Federation military, did not want to invade. We knew the outcome would not be good for either of our countries. President Rand what do you propose?”

“President Avdotya, I suggest you announce you’re ending the treaty with the LSA. Your troops in Virginia have surrendered, we will provide medical treatment for your wounded, and we will provide them transport home. As soon as your troops in Las Vegas officially surrender, we’ll do the same for them. We won’t hold you or them responsible for the damage and loss of life they caused, in return you agree to not hold us responsible for the damage to the Russian Federation…”

“Mr. President, this is your suggestion? You have destroyed trillions of dollars worth of Russian systems and infrastructure, you have destroyed our economy and you offer to fly our troops home?”

“Please hear me out. We will also provide financial assistance to the Russian Federation in the amount of not less than $1trillion with a new treaty of no military action between our two countries. We will help you recover and also agree to extend our technological shield over the Russian Federation.”

“You pledge to defend us?”

“Yes, we’re offering to defend you against any attack you do not start and to retaliate against anyone who attacks the Russian Federation.”

“President Rand, why would you offer such a thing to an enemy?”

“The world is too small for us to be enemies. We have to find a way to live together, hopefully, become trading partners, if not actual friends. We could have destroyed the world if we fought a nuclear war against each other. I’d rather have you for a friend than an enemy. We share more in common than we share against each other. Most of what drove us as enemies was different politics. We can have different politics and different government systems and still be friends. We don’t have to agree with everything in order to work together. We should set an example to other countries that enemies can become friends.”

“You are offering to pay us $1 trillion to help rebuild us?”

“President Avdotya, I’m willing to go to Congress to have them grant you an aid package in the amount of $1 trillion. I’m willing to send specialists to help in the clean up of your strategic systems we destroyed. Some sites may be radioactive from the warheads being split open from our ‘Hammers’.”

“So that is what you call them. They came as a shock to us. We didn’t think you had developed such a system.”

“We have learned how to maintain some secrets.”

“President Rand, I need some time to confer with my staff to gain their support. I propose we hold in a cease-fire and agree to talk again in 24 hours.”

“President Avdotya that is agreeable to us.”

Both Presidents terminate the connection. President Brownstone looks at President Rand saying, “Interesting, do you think his staff will go for it and do you think Congress will support giving them a grant?”

“If we don’t become allies, we are going to spend more than $1 trillion in a new class of weapons to counter whatever they develop. If we don’t find some common ground to become friends, then they will hate us for the damage we’ve done to them and they will find a way to settle the score with us. It may not be for many years, but they won’t ever forget the outcome of the war. The Treaty of Versailles set up World War 2. If we don’t find a way to come to terms with the Russian Federation we’ll be fighting them in World War 3, 4 or whatever number the future war becomes. Rod, we’re screwed by our own success. Our technology allowed us to destroy their strategic weapons systems without loss of American life. If we set terms for Russia like the allies did to Germany at the end of the First World War, we’ll be doomed to fight them again when we might not have the same technological edge.”

“Paul, I agree with you. Life is a circle. Today we are in a position of technical lead over the Russians; in the future, a liberal administration may cut defense and R&D spending allowing them to overtake us. I agree with you, spending $1 trillion now when we can afford it is much better than fighting a major war tomorrow. I’ll do everything I can to help sell it to Congress. I suggest you announce it when we attend Ted’s funeral.”

“That’s a good idea assuming Avdotya can sell it to his staff.”

“If he doesn’t, the entire world will pay the price when the war continues.”

“We’ll know tomorrow what he says.”

@@@@@

“Hello, this is Sean.”

“Sean, it's Wolf. I’m sorry for the late hour.”

“Wolf, I assume you’re calling to discuss the settlement offer.”

“Sean, I’ve spoken with President Booker. He has turned down the offer to end hostilities and work together on a common way forward. He said he can’t cease hostilities until all of his people receive their just compensation from the many years of discrimination and slavery.”

“Wolf, no one living today was a slave. Slavery ended over one hundred years ago. The people making these demands have no standing in any court. It was their ancestor’s own people who captured them for sale into slavery. They believe a falsehood that whites captured them. Not all whites owned slaves, and slavery still exists in many parts of the world; it exists in countries the LSA has treaties of friendship with, why don’t you start by breaking those treaties. Why don’t you teach the actual history to your people versus the bullshit of white privilege?”

“Sean, there are many areas I agree with you. However, I’m the Minister of Truth, not the President. I can’t do anything on my own.”

“Yes you can. You’re the Minister of Truth. Start by telling the truth, start by teaching the world’s real history.”

“Sean you know as well as I do that I can only publish what the President agrees to. My hands are tied.”

“Wolf, I want to make sure I understand the LSA’s rebuttal, you will only agree to a cease fire when people are compensated for treatment none of them suffered?”

“Sean, it’s in their family, it’s in their genes, and they’ve been educated to believe their problems stem from when their ancestors were taken from Africa and made slaves.”

“Wolf, tell you what, the USA will accept their claims by returning them to the home they say they were taken from. We will lease ships and arrange free transport for them to their home in Africa. We won’t charge them a penny for the transport. That should make them happy. If their claims are based on they shouldn’t be here in the first place, then we agree to transport them home.”

“Sean, I don’t think that’s going to work. I will take it to President Booker and get back to you.”

“I’ll be here waiting for your call.”

Wolf knocks on President Booker’s door to inform him of the call with Sean. Part way through the review of the call President Booker explodes. He starts screaming at Wolf, “Who do you work for? Who do you represent? Which country do you live in? Maybe you should move to the USA. I’d say you should take their offer up and move to Africa. However, you’re white. Wolf, my people want, they demand, they deserve to be compensated for their pain and suffering. Generation after generation, they have been abused by the 1%. They have been beaten down to the point that we as a society owe them.”

“Mr. President, I’m not sure those statements are true. There are many African-Americans who overcame their problems to become very successful. Sir, history shows many blacks owned slaves.”

“Wolf, I’m not talking about a handful of basketball players. Get out of my office and convince your friends in the USA the time has come to be fair and to compensate those who they wronged. You’ve read too much false history to be saying blacks owned blacks, that’s a line of bullshit invented by the USA 1% to cover their sins.”

“Yes sir. Sir, what are we going to do if they refuse?”

“We have a plan. You don’t need to worry about it yet. Minister, just do your job.”

“Yes sir.”

@@@@@

The Quebecois air force is destroyed either in the air or on the ground.  The electrical grid is shut down, all cargo going in or out of the country is stopped at the border. President Rand ordered a total embargo on the country. The only people allowed to leave the country are American citizens who have an up to date passport and valid travel documents. Thousands of refugees are stopped at the border and turned around. The few cars and trucks which tried to run the embargo, are attacked, stopping them before they cross into the USA or the LSA. Slowly the American plan, to squeeze the Quebec government into surrendering, is having an impact; food is scarce, and fuel is almost nonexistent. The US Army that parachuted into Toronto has control of the airport and ports. Additional troops and equipment are flown in on the air bridge that sees a new cargo plane land every thirty minutes, refuels and takes off as another plane lands. The Americans start expanding their circle of control from the airport and port. They go street to street freeing the population while they kill or capture every Quebecois troops they encounter.

Quebecois military bases are attacked from the air until they are smoking holes in the ground. On the third day of the counter attack, the Premier sues for peace which is accepted by President Rand. The Premier asks for terms. President Rand replies the only acceptable terms are total and unconditional surrender. The Premier sadly accepts, knowing he has no options left.

When informed that another of the LSA’s allies has fallen, President Booker throws a temper tandem like a spoiled three-year-old. He waves his arm across his desk pushing everything onto the floor. He calls for Wolf to see him.

@@@@@

Leon says, “Mom, Dad can I talk to you a minute?”

“Sure, what’s up? Problems?”

“I got a strange email from Scott Smith.”

“Oh? What does he say?”

“He’s asking if we’re OK and if we’d like to get together on vacation this year.”

Carol replies, “Leon, please print out the email, I’d like to see it.”

“Mom, already did, here it is. It’s a little funny, some of the sentences use numbers and some letters.”

Bob looks at his wife saying, “A code? I wonder what he’s trying to tell us.”

Reading the email, Bob says, “Son, thanks a lot, please email back that we’d love to get together on their vacation.”

“Dad, really? We’re going to get to meet them face to face?”

“I hope so.”

Leon goes to his room to send the email, he’s excited to get to meet his counterpart.

Bob says, “Look at the numbers, if we use the numbers and take the first letter from each of the numbered words, it says, we need to get out, can you help.”

Carol responds, “Oh my God, I worried that the damn slime balls in the LSA would make an example of them. They became too famous, they overshadowed the government.”

“They carried the government’s water. Why would they be made an example of?”

“Under Bloomberg, they were OK, under Booker they are white privilege. I was worried they would get caught up in Booker's policies.”

“How can we help them?”

“I don’t know, however, maybe Sean knows. We have his private cell number. If we reach out to him, maybe he can figure out a way to help them. He works in the White House now, I’m sure he has the clout to pull strings.”

“Won’t he be too busy to talk to us?”

“Only way, to find out, is to call.”

“OK, here goes nothing.”

“Thank you for calling. I’m sorry I’m not able to take your call right now. If you have this number because I gave it to you, please leave me your name and the number written on the back of the card I gave you.  I, or one of my staff will return your call as soon as possible. Best regards, Sean.”

“Sean, this is Robert and Carol Smith, number 177. We think that we and the Jones family need your help. Please call us at 336-555-1234. Thank you.”

Bob says, “I guess now we wait and see. I have no idea how often he listens to his voice mail.”

“It could be days. I bet he’s real busy working in the White House with the war and everything.”

Bob responds, “Honey, we’ve done everything we’ve thought of, I think we have to wait for him to call back.”

They sit in the family room watching the evening news when their phone rings, “Hello,”

“Bob, this is Sean, are you and Carol OK?”

“Sean, thank you so much for calling. We’re OK, we’re worried about Jason and Sharon. Watching how the LSA is responding to everything, we worry that Booker is going to make an example out of them because they were on the show.”

“Do you have any proof of this?”

Bob says, “Sean, Leon got an email from Scott, it was written in letters and numbers. When we used the first letter of every word that matched the numbers, we got a message, they said they need to leave and asked if we could help them.”

“May I have a copy of the email?”

“Of course.”

“I’ll send you an email address to forward it to. Don’t copy and paste it, I need you to forward the email so it comes with the full metadata. Any problem with that?”

“None, we’ll ask Leon to forward it to you since it came to him.”

“Thanks, I’ll have some people review it and get back to you.”

“Thank you very much. We were worried you were too busy to spend any time on this.”

“I gave you my card with a number, I knew you would only use it for an emergency.”

“Didn’t you also give one to Jason and Sharon?”

“Yes, but it makes sense for them not to use it, their DepLIES monitors their phone and email, having Scott reach out to Leon makes perfect sense. Two teenagers chatting. I doubt the DepLIES would even look at it. If they called, they would have been picked up within minutes.”

“Sean, thank you. Congratulations on the new job.”

“Thanks, it’s not something I wanted. I wasn’t given a choice so I bit my lip and accepted. I will get back to you as quickly as possible. I don’t want anything to happen to the Smiths. Plus Joan would kill me if anything happened to Sissy and I didn’t do everything possible to help.”

“Thank you, and goodnight.”

Hanging up, Carol says, “I guess now we wait.”

“Leon, can you please come here, we want you to forward Scott’s email to Sean.”

“Sure Dad.”

“I don’t think it’ll be too long, I imagine Sean carries some weight in the government.”

While the Joneses return to watching the news, Sean looks at Scott’s email. He asks the White House switchboard to connect him with the deputy director of the NSA. “Deputy Director Smithfield speaking.”

“Jack, it's Sean.”

“Hey, guy what’s up?”

“I need a favor, I need you guys to look at an email and tell me where it came from and if there’s a code embedded in it.”

Jack changes his voice becoming very serious, “Sean, please go secure.”

Pressing the secure button on his phone, Sean says, “I’m secure.”

“Where do you think the email came from?”

“The Smith family in the LSA, I think there’s a message embedded in it asking for help.”

“Send it.”

Sean clicked the mouse, “Sent.”

“Got it, give me a couple of minutes.”

“OK.”

Three minutes later Sean’s phone rings, “Sean, Jack, go secure.”

“Done.”

“Your email came from the Smith household, it does have a hidden message which I’ve highlighted and sent back to you.”

“Jack, is there any way you can determine if the email had been intercepted by the DepLIES before it arrived at the Jones’ house?”

“Already checked, nope, it slid through their automated censor system.”

“Thanks, I owe you one.”

“If you’re going to get involved in this, I suggest you chat with Langley.”

“Will do, thanks again.”

Sean reads the highlighted message nodding his head in agreement that the Smiths are asking for help. Sean calls Langley for help.

“Manager, internal affairs.”

“Brian, Sean.”

“Sir, how can we be of assistance?”

“Can you come over to meet with me?”

“Sure, need anyone else to attend?”

“I don’t know. I have a situation in the LSA I need some help with.”

“OK, is it East or West?”

“Northwest.”

I’ll bring our operations guy who manages that area of the LSA.”

Twenty minutes later, two men are escorted to Sean’s office by the secret service, “Sir, you have two visitors from Langley, both have TS SCI clearance.”

“Thank you, please show them in.”

When the two visitors are seated in Sean’s office, he shows them the email. Brian and the operations man read it, they look at each other nodding. Brian asks, “I assume you would like us to arrange the Smith family to disappear from the LSA and appear here?”

“Yes, possible?”

“Yes, usually very easy, except this is much harder. These people are well known in both the LSA and USA. They were stars on your show. We’re sure they’re being watched 24/7. This is going to take a little time to come up with a plan to extract them. How much time do we have?”

“What do you think? You have the email.”

Brian says, “I assume POTUS has approved the extraction? If so, we’ll have a plan within a day.”

Sean says, “I’ll have POTUS issue the approval.”

As the CIA agents leave the White House Sean buzzes the President’s COS, “Hey Sean, what’s up?”

“I need to see POTUS.”

“I can fit you in for ten minutes at 0950.”

“Thanks, I’ll be there.”

@@@@@

The dense smoke in the Wynn makes everyone’s eyes burn and hard to breath. General Chekov shakes his head in disgust about his current situation. He knows he can’t win or even play to a draw. The longer he plays his hand, the more of his people will die. It’s only a matter of time before the smoke disables them, the fire burns them to death or the hotel collapses, crushing them.  He motions his radio man over asking, “Can you contact the Americans on your radio?”

“Yes General.”

“Call them, ask them for a meeting with us and their commander.”

The radio operator coughs, his eyes are tearing, he nods in his understanding, “Sir will they kill us?”

“No. They will send us home, maybe even first class.”

“Yes sir, I’ll contact them.”

The radio operator changes the frequency on his radio pack, he picks up the mic saying, “This is the radio operator for Russian General Chekov, we are asking to speak to the American commander or his chief of staff.”

“How do we know you are who you say you are?”

“What will you accept as proof?”

“What college did General Chekov graduate from?”

General Chekov takes the mic saying, “This is Russian Federation General Chekov, I graduated from the Moscow Military University with a degree in math, I attended your MIT where I graduated with a Masters in Political Science. My hobby is restoring old cars, parts are a bitch to get in Russia. Anything else you want to know?”

“No sir, thank you, General, please hold for Colonel Zell.”

“I’ll hold.”

Less than a minute later another voice comes through the speaker, “General Chekov, I’m US Marine Colonel Zell, how may I be of assistance?”

“Colonel, I’d like to arrange a cease-fire.”

“General, we will require the release of all hostages before we agree to a cease-fire.”

“Agreed. I’ll order their release. You’ll see them flood into the Strip in front of the hotels, will that be acceptable?”

“Yes, after we see the hostages leave the hotels, I’ll call you back.”

Chekov tells his radio operator, “Tell the various commanders to release the hostages. If any of the hostages are too weak or sick to leave on their own, have them tell you how many they have and which hotel they are in so we can tell the Americans, who will collect them.”

“Yes sir.”

Minutes later the Las Vegas Strip is filled with tearful running ex-hostages. Colonel Zell says, “Send teams to collect them, I want each questioned. I want to know how they were treated and if any were killed or mistreated. Do it quickly.”

“Sir, there are thousands of them.”

“Then get started now. Move them out off of the Strip to our aid tents. Call the White House to tell them what’s going on. Get me Chekov.”

“General Chekov here.”

“General, we confirm release of the hostages. How do we know you’re not holding back additional hostages?”

“I gave you my word. I would gain nothing by withholding some, you would easily discover if I had.”

“I’ll accept that. What are you offering us?”

“Immediate cease-fire. My troops and I will enter the Strip in one hour which gives you time to move the hostages off of the streets. We will enter the street unarmed and with our arms held up. We ask to be treated fairly under the Geneva Convention for the treatment of prisoners of war.”

“We accept your offer. My troops will cease-fire within two minutes. I’m sending the stand down message now, I assume you are too.”

“I will when we complete our call. I don’t have the luxury of a computer network like you do.”

“Agreed.”

“Colonel, I’ll be exiting from the Wynn.”

“I’ll be there to meet you.”

Chekov tells his radio man, “Send the stand down and cease-fire code.”

“Yes sir. I’m happy we’re going to get out of this alive.”

“Sergeant, me too.”

@@@@@

Sean knocks on the Oval Office door, “Come in Sean.”

“Mr. President, I have a favor to ask.”

“Should I assume it’s about the Smith family?”

“Guess there really aren’t any secrets in the House.”

“None.”

“I’ve already signed an approval for the agency to extract the family, is there anything else you wanted to ask?”

“No sir. I’d ask how you knew, but I know I won’t get an answer.”

Laughing, President Rand replies, “No you won’t. I will give you credit for two things, one, you arranged everything very well before bringing me into the discussion, and two, I think you’re the first person to not use all of their time with me.”

Laughing, Sean replies, “Thank you Mr. President. I’ll leave you so I make sure I hold on to being the only person not to use all of their time so the next time I need more, I’ll have a credit in my pocket.”

Both men smile and nod in agreement, Sean returns to his office where he calls the agency. “Sean, we have our approval, we’re working on it.”

Chapter 28

The sun breaks through the smoke pouring out of the Wynn Hotel and Casino, debris from the hotel is being sucked out through the holes in the building. The street in front of the hotel is littered with parts of the building, broken glass and furniture from the Wynn. There’s also a crashed Ferrari someone tried to steal from the Ferrari dealership in the hotel. Colonel Zell and General Chekov meet in front of the Wynn Hotel and Casino. Colonel Zell salutes General Chekov, who stands at perfect attention, returning the salute with the perfect precision of a parade ground ceremony. “Sir, I thank you for reaching out to discuss terms.”

“Colonel, we have done our duty to the Motherland, there is no reason for additional loss of life. My troops and I surrender without conditions or terms. I present to you my side arm.”

“Sir, will you give me your word as an officer and a gentleman not to use the sidearm against any American?”

“Yes Colonel, although not many who know me, will ever say I’m a gentleman.”

Smiling, “General, that goes for both of us. How many of your troops need medical attention? We have a mobile MASH unit set up three blocks from here. I have ambulances standing by to take any of your people who can’t walk.”

“Colonel, I thank you. I have a small medical unit located in the Mirage Hotel. Could you send your ambulances there?”

“Sir, yes. Captain, you heard the General, get our medical staff to the Mirage.”

“Yes sir.”

“General, could you provide me with an accounting of your staff?”

“Colonel, I have a tablet with the list of my people, their ID numbers and where they are currently located. If you agree, I will have them exit their positions and stand at attention in the street.”

“General, parade rest will be fine.”

General Chekov gives the order to his radio man, within five seconds, rows of Russian troops start exiting hotels along the Strip. All exit without weapons, they snap to attention, salute their General before assuming the position of parade rest. They stare straight ahead. Some exit surprising the American troops who didn’t know there were Russian troops in some buildings right behind the American troops.

“General, thank you. I have buses arriving very soon, we’ll take your people to a holding area, hot food and water will be provided. I’m sorry, however, my request to offer your troops some vodka has been declined. On the other hand, we have liberated some from a few of the hotels, enough for each of your people to have a glass with lunch.”

General Chekov smiles saying, “Colonel, thank you. I hope you don’t get into trouble with your superiors.”

“I’ll be OK, please ask your officers to join mine at the officer’s mess.”

“Thank you. We’d be happy to.”

The General and Colonel walk around the debris, Colonel Zell looks at the crashed Ferrari, “I may be angry at you for destroying the Ferrari more than anything else.” General Chekov smiles saying, “I understand, I was trying to figure out how to take one of them home with me.” The two men smile walking through the mess the Las Vegas Strip towards the officer’s mess, followed by both groups of officers, a Russian Captain second class turns to his counterpart saying, “Major, I think you cheated, your airpower turned the tide.”

“Please don’t say that to anyone in the Air Force we’ll never hear the end of it.”

Both men laugh.

“General, do you need body bags for any of your people?”

“Colonel, thank you. Most of my dead were taken to the parking garages. Here is a list of them.”

“Thank you. My orders are to send a list of the living and deceased to Moscow, do you have any objections?”

“None, thank you for asking.”

Lunch turned out to be enjoyed by both armies, the once enemies are becoming friends over plates of roast beef and mashed potatoes. General Chekov asks, “Colonel, what happens to me and my troops now?”

“General, you’re going home. Once we have the number of your troops, and we’ve checked each of you, we’ll arrange transportation for you and the ones you lost home.”

“Colonel, I thank you for your professional treatment of my people.”

Walking towards the Officer’s mess are a small group of very dirty people, the Colonel looks up as five MPs jog in the newcomers direction. The newcomers stop mid-step when they see the troops coming in their direction. They hold up their hands while holding picture IDs.

The lead MP officer asks, “Who are you people?”

Ron smiles saying, “We’re your guardian angels, we’re the ones who brought the tunnel down and smoked out the General.”

“Who are you?”

“I’m a security consultant for five of the casinos, my friend to my right is LSA DepLIES Commander Jack Lewis.”

The MP Captain pulled his sidearm pointing it at the Commander’s head, “Don’t move, don’t breathe.”

Ron says, “Captain if it weren't for the efforts of the Commander, you’d still be fighting.”

Jack says, “Captain, I’m requesting political asylum, given what I’ve done here, I can’t go home again.”

“Who are these other people?”

Ron answers, “My wife, best friend, his wife, and coming up behind us around twenty people from the local militia who survived the attack on the Wynn.”

The Captain pulls his mic to his mouth repeating what Ron told him. He listens and smiles, “You’ve been invited to lunch with General Chekov and Colonel Zell. If you would hand your weapons to my people, you can follow me to the mess area.”

Ron smiles, “Thank you. Captain, lead on.”

General Chekov looks up, he pauses before saying, “I guess these are the moles who got into the tunnel between hotels to bring my invasion to an end.”

Ron holds out his hand saying, “General, you’re correct. I’m sorry if we killed any of your people, our intent was to block your exit and fill the hotel with smoke causing you to seek a way out of the situation neither side really wanted.”

Shaking Ron’s hand, he says. Sit, break bread with us.”

Kathy and Bev excuse themselves to find a working bathroom to clean up. The three groups exchange stories of the invasion and battles. Over coffee, the discussion turns to their families. Pictures of wives and children are exchanged.

@@@@@

Jason and Sharon saved up their ration points for a quiet dinner out. They sat in a small local Italian restaurant enjoying their alone time when Sharon notices a black DepLIES van pull up to the front of the restaurant. “Honey, do you see what I see?”

“Yea, I wonder what they want here.”

“Maybe they like to eat here too.”

“Not likely, but I’ll go along with it. What’s really funny is it doesn’t look like they’re leaving their van. I wonder what they’re doing.”

“Something doesn’t smell right. If they’re after someone they usually just grab them and go, if they’re on a sting, they don’t usually show up and sit around.”

“I’m not going to worry about it.”

“Me either, if it were us they wanted, we’d already be in the van. Let’s order dessert.”

“You are feeling hungry tonight aren’t you?”

“Wait till we get home.”

Jason and Sharon smile at each other nodding in their love.

After paying for dinner, they exit the restaurant, a tall agent dressed in black is waiting for them. “Jason and Sharon Smith?”

Bob says, “That’s us. Is there a problem agent?”

Sharon says, “Is it our children?”

The agent looks at both of them saying, “IDs.”

Both hand the agent their ID cards. Others on the street pretend not to see the DepLIES action so they aren’t stopped. The agent says, “Please come with me. I’m sorry, but there is a situation at your home we need to review together.”

Sharon says, “Our HOME? Are our children OK?”

“Mrs. Smith, your children are fine. Please enter the van so we can quickly go to your home.”

Jason asks, “What about our car?”

“I promise you, we’ll take care of it.”

Sharon and Jason know they have no choice, the agent opens the van’s side door. They see it’s not a normal DepLIES prisoner van, this one has three rows of captain seats. The agent says, “Please click your seatbelts, we’ll be at your house in a few minutes.”

When the van door closes and locks Jason and Sharon look at each other trying to figure out what’s going on. The agent sits in the driver’s seat, he turns on a small box mounted on the dash, “OK, now we can freely speak. I understand you would like help leaving the LSA.”

Jason says, “I’m sorry, but you must have us confused with someone else. We’re very happy here.”

“I know about the email and coded message. I’m not a DepLIES agent, I work for the USA CIA, here’s my ID. I’m here to escort you and your children across the border. Who’s going to stop a DepLIES van?”

Jason looks at the CIA ID card, he hands it to Sharon asking, “How do we know this is real, we’ve never seen one before.”

“Leon took Scott’s email to his parents who contacted Sean, who contacted us. Shall I repeat the email back to you? Shall I tell you about when Sissy wanted a puppy and Joan helped train the puppy, I think the puppy’s name is Rebel. Her training the dog was never shown on television, she did it in the kitchen where the street cameras didn’t see her.”

Jason exhales, he relaxes, “How are you going to do this?”

“We’re going to your house, you’re going to get Scott and Sissy to pack an overnight bag, you’re going to get them to quickly get into the third row in the van. We’re then going to spend the night at a safe house before we leave for the USA tomorrow.”

“You’re going to just drive us across the border?”

“Yup. No one will stop us, we’re broadcasting the right code to the DepLIES receivers, this is a real DepLIES van. There’s paperwork buried in their computer system with an order to pick the four of you up, which once we have Scott ad Sissy, a message will be sent saying the four of you are collected and heading to secret site X4.”

“X4? Never heard of it.”

Laughing, “That’s because it’s a secret location reserved for high-profile political prisoners. It’s actually close to the border in the desert.”

Jason thinks about it for a minute saying, “This could really work.”

“I hope so. We’ve done it before. One nice thing about government bureaucracies is as long as all of the expected forms are on file no one thinks anything is wrong. No one will think anything is out of the ordinary because all of the forms have been properly filed.”

Sharon nervously laughs saying, “You’re using their own bureaucracy against them.”

“Right. Do you think you’ll have any problems with Scott and Sissy? I can come in if you think it will help.”

Bob says, “Seeing you might panic them, when we get home, give us a couple of minutes to talk to them.”

“Will do.”

When they pull up in front of the Smith’s home, the agent says, “I’ve deactivated all of the cameras around your home for fifteen minutes that’s how long you have.”

Sharon says, “We’ll be back within fifteen minutes.”

“You have to be, we can’t keep the cameras off for any longer than fifteen minutes.”

Jason and Sharon exit the van, jogging into their home. Scott says, “Is something wrong? That’s a DepLIES van.”

“Remember the email I asked you to send?”

Scott nods.

This is all part of it, please run and quickly pack a small overnight bag. Time is very short.”

“Should I bring my school tablet?”

“No, it can be tracked. Hurry Scott.”

Sharon enters Sissy’s room where she’s fast asleep. Sharon packs a small backpack, she wakes Sissy telling her to get dressed for a special treat.  In thirteen minutes, the four of them are in the van just as another DepLIES truck turns down their street. Jason says, “Crap, is this trouble.”

The agent says, “We’ll see. Don’t say anything. If I speak, follow my lead.”

The other DepLIES van pulls up behind the agent’s van. A DepLIES officer comes to the driver’s side window saying, “Need any help?”

“Nope, everything is smooth. TS case.”

“OK, call out if you need assistance.”

“We’re good. We’re taking them to see the VIP.” Winking at the other agent who whispers, “I’ll have to remember that one. Have a good night.”

Both vans drive off in different directions. After driving two hours, the Smith’s pull into the garage of a small house at the end of a dark street. The Smith’s go into the house to find it stocked with food. Sissy finds her assigned bedroom she quickly falls asleep. Scott looks around questioning their location. Bob says “Scott go upstairs and get some rest. Tomorrow is going to be a very long and tense day.”

“OK Dad.”

Jason and Sharon look at the agent, Jason asks, “Are we OK?”

“Fine, everything is on schedule. I suggest you two get some rest too. Tomorrow is going to be a long day. By the way. I’ll be joined by another agent tonight. It’s usual in these cases that the DepLIES uses two officers to escort people. If I was alone, it might raise questions.”

At 5:00 AM the agents knock on Jason and Sharon’s bedroom door, “Wake up, we leave in one hour. Breakfast in thirty.”

The six climb into the van for the eight-hour drive to the border. Sharon asks, “How are we going to cross the border in a DepLIES van?”

“We have a tunnel under the wall. We spent two years building it. The DepLIES hasn’t found it yet. The tunnel is in an underground office building garage. We bought the building through a shell company.  We’re going to drive right under the wall. When we cross the border, still in the tunnel, we’ll change into an official US government car for the ride to the airport. From there you’re going to fly to Washington D.C.”

The trip goes uneventful, they enter the USA through the hidden tunnel where they switch cars, they are handed new ID cards. They enter the twilight zone, free in the USA. Sissy asks, “What about my friends and all of my stuff?”

Sharon says, “Honey, you’ll make new friends, we’ll get you new toys to play with. Everything is going to be good, you’ll see.  In fact, do you remember Beth?”

“Beth from the TV program?”

“Yes, we’re going to see her soon.”

“Really Mom? Really? What about Rebel? She’s going to be all alone.”

The second agent says, “Sissy, do you mean the puppy in the cage in the back?”

“Rebel! When did you get her?”

“When your parents were packing I gave Rebel an injection to make her sleep. I didn’t want her barking. She’ll wake very soon.”

Sissy hugs Rebel and the agent with tears of joy in her eyes.

Chapter 29

Race riots continue to rumble across America’s cities. As soon as one is put down, another starts up. President Rand knows the LSA is behind the riots, he doesn’t have one hundred percent proof yet, but he knows from how the riots break out that they are being funded and instigated by race baiters supported from the LSA. President Rand consults with his advisors, he’s faced with a hard decision. The people of the USA want the riots stopped, they want to feel secure. The President meets with Sean, “Sean, I don’t think I have a choice. We have to put a stop to the riots. We have to bring stability and safety to all of our people. Everyone deserves to be safe and secure in their town, cities, and homes. I know the LSA is behind the riots, but we can’t prove it yet. I think my only option is to send the National Guard into the cities to ensure peace and the safety of our people.”

“Mr. President, I don’t like the idea of having American troops patrol our cities.  I know you said they would be the National Guard, to most people they are the same thing. When people see military uniforms, they’ll only think you sent the US Army into their towns. Our people, the people of the world, will see the US Army patrolling the streets of our largest cities. It will be used against us around the world. Many will compare us to a third world dictatorship that sends the army to control their people. We will have lost the PR war. The LSA will look the most peaceful to the people in the world, we’ll look like war mongers.”

“Sean, how do we ensure the security of our cities? Right now, we have cities burning out of control. We’re losing thousands every week. The police aren’t able to control the cities.”

“Sir, I think we need to prove the LSA is behind the riots, once we prove they are behind the uprising, we can shut it down at its source.”

“Sean, I agree with you, what are you thinking?”

“Sir, I agree we need to support the police, I agree with using the National Guard but have them dress as first responders instead of in their regular uniforms. From the media’s point of view, they won’t know the increased police are really guard units. We can start with the Guard MP units which are already trained for these issues. We can send the other guard units to MP school so they can respond like police units. Acquire regular police cars versus armored vehicles for them. Do everything possible to hide the fact the new people are Guard units. Tell the people you’re sending volunteers from other police departments to the cities to provide additional assistance. Send them with peace offerings to show our people and the world we’re not resorting to violence against our own people.”

“Won’t the media figure out we are using the guard when guard units disappear from their normal jobs?”

“Mr. President, I suggest you also announce you’re assigning some guard units to reinforce our borders and to provide aid to the areas that suffered invasions. I would send regular guard units to Las Vegas and Tysons, Arlington, and the southern border. This will cover the missing troops while most of them are really in the cities.”

“I like it, write up the press release and a draft of my speech. I’ll go on the air this evening to announce it.”

At 8:00 PM, EST, President Rand addresses the nation and the world saying; “My fellow Americans. It’s with a heavy heart I come before you this evening. First the good news. We’ve reached a cease-fire with the invading Russian forces in and around Las Vegas, Nevada, and Washington, D.C. Soon we’ll be sending the invaders home. We don’t hold them responsible, we hold the LSA responsible because the LSA forced Russia and their other allies to honor a treaty most never thought would be required. We know some of you have lost family members and property, we know many have lost loved ones and treasured belongings that are priceless. The government will be working with each family that lost members of their family or their belongings in the battles. We hope we can find a way to compensate for your loss. While we can’t bring your loved ones back, we can help you make a new start.

“Now for the bad news. We’re still fighting riots and race battles in our cities. I’ve asked for volunteers from Police and Sheriff Departments across the country to help their brothers and sisters in the rioting cities. These volunteers will be spread out into each major city. They will be reinforcements to the existing overtaxed first responders. If you open fire against a first responder, if you set traps for them, if you attack them, I have authorized our first responders to use deadly force. I have instructed the first responders to restore order. One of the tasks I’ve asked the first responders to perform is to help the hungry and ill in our cities who haven’t been able to leave their homes to get medical aid and food.

“I have a message to President Booker; I know you are financing the unrest in our cities. I know you are stirring up the unrest between races so that you can gain an advantage over us. Let me tell you that we consider your actions an act of war. As such, there is now a technical state of war between our two countries. You have supported the invasion of the USA, you have tried to turn brother and sister against each other. You have tried to destroy the USA. We accept that you think the only way you can win this battle, is for you to fight us in a covert manner or through your allies. Let me tell you the Russian Federation and the USA have signed a cease-fire and a friendship treaty, they are no longer your allies. We have defeated your ally in Quebec. We have defeated your allies in Cuba and Venezuela. President Booker, you are now alone, you no longer have any allies. You have no internet access. Your people are suffering, we can increase the pressure on you if that is what you desire. You have backed and funded attacks on our people and you struck and killed President Cruise. You attacked and missed harming President Brownstone. If you want all out war with the USA, I’m here tonight to tell you, you can have it. I can release nuclear weapons against your cities turning the LSA into a radioactive wasteland for centuries. I can call down our KEW weapons and destroy every government building in the LSA. I can destroy your farms and food distribution centers. I can starve you into surrender. These are all the weapons I have at my disposal. I’m asking Congress to issue a formal declaration of war between the LSA and the USA. Once the declaration is passed, there will be no restrictions on our movements or weapons used. You can surrender now and save the LSA or you can ignore this chance to save your country and people from total destruction.  I promise you, this time there will be no half measures. There won’t be any ‘games’. You have attacked the USA, you will surrender or suffer the consequences of our wrath. President Booker, we, the people of the USA, are tired of playing with you. We, the people of the USA, are tired of trying to make you feel good. You crossed the line when you authorized an invasion of us. This time, when the dust settles there, won’t be an LSA.”

“To the people of the LSA I say to you, you have one week to tell your government to surrender, one week to overthrow your government or to say you want to rejoin your brothers and sisters in the USA, we will take you back with open arms and total forgiveness. Both of us can learn from each other to form a more perfect union. We can set aside petty politics and create the most powerful country the world has ever seen. A country that can lead the world into a new age of plenty for all. If we merge the best of the both of us, there will be no limits to what we can accomplish. However, if you decide not to join us, then you will suffer our wrath for supporting the invasion. The United States of America was born 251 years ago. When we broke away from England some of them wanted to remain loyal to the Crown, some wanted to form a new country. When the LSA split from the USA, some wanted to stay and some wanted to form a new country; a country founded on progressive programs. President Brownstone allowed you to try to form your worker's paradise. How did you repay him? You tried to kill him.

“Your country is trillions of dollars in debt, while we have paid down more than 90% of our debt, your children’s futures have been mortgaged to allow you all to be semi equal. I say semi equal because you’re not equal. The LSA has a political class and the rest of you. Your own government spies on you 24/7. You have no secrets from your government. You have no privacy, you only think you have freedom. Most of you claim you live in the LSA because you have total freedom. Most people want to be free, what they really want is the freedom to feel secure. Total freedom, which is anarchy, isn’t freedom, its chaos. You aren’t free when you’re being watched and listened by your own government.

“I’m giving you one week to decide. I suggest President Booker hold a national vote to allow his people decide their own fate. To the people in the USA, let us hope and pray our brothers and sisters decide to come home. I can promise you if President Booker doesn’t allow the election, we will wage a very short and violent war against the LSA crushing it for their attacks against us. Thank you and may God bless the United States of America. Good night.”

The reaction to President Rand’s speech was immediate on both sides of the divide. The LSA government announced that they would hold a press conference in one hour. In the USA, people were hopeful another war could be avoided. Many were upset President Rand offered the LSA an unconditional offer to rejoin the broken union. News programs are split over the offer, some felt the LSA should pay some of the costs they caused the USA to absorb when they broke away, others felt President Rand made a brilliant offer to the LSA, the USA could afford to absorb the costs and would be a much stronger country once its wayward states rejoined. Some in Congress weren’t so happy about potentially losing their positions of power. By the end of the first hour, most in the USA liked President Rand’s offer, they looked forward to an end of the divide and the end of the war.

One hour after President’s Rand’s speech, President Booker walked to the podium, “My fellow citizens of the Liberal States of America, need I remind you why we split from the USA? Need I remind you what the USA stands for since we left? Many of you watched the television program that compared our two nations, do you want your children to grow up where they play contact sports in schools, where almost everyone owns a firearm, where there are only two recognized sexes? Do you want your children to grow up equal or where you need to work harder than your neighbor to get ahead? Do you remember always wanting the newest style, the newest car, the largest TV, the latest electronic toy? Was it worth it? Was working extra hours and losing precious time with your families worth the bling? I can say we have built a much better country in the LSA than the USA could ever be, a few examples of our improvement are, there are almost no obese people in the LSA, we are all more healthy than those who live in the USA, we have free choice, just a little less of it than the USA has. Do you really miss 500 channels, which you never watched anyway? Do you really care that your government keeps an eye on your for your safety and security? Be honest, don’t you like knowing your packages, your mail, your utilities are provided by the government? I have to ask our minority citizens if they want to return to the way it was when the color of their skin of the location of their birth mattered in their job or school selection. Since becoming President, I’ve spoken out and signed into law many new rules to help our minority brothers and sisters who been held down and held back for hundreds of years. Is this really what you want to return to?”

“I know many of you are afraid of going to war against the USA, the all powerful USA, the single most technological advanced country in the world. Think about one point for a minute, everyone heard President Rand ask us to vote to rejoin the USA. They want us back, they’re not going to destroy the LSA because, in President Rand’s eyes, we’re still his brothers and sisters. He wouldn’t harm his family and that’s what you are to him, part of his family. We have nothing to fear from the USA. Of course, they might turn off our electrical power again, we’ve lived through that once, we can live through it again. What else can they do to us? We’re equal, if we remain strong, there’s nothing they can do to us. We can easily survive anything they do while we grow stronger in the eyes of the world by standing up to the world’s largest bully. I say we tell President Rand where to stick his offer. We’re telling the USA we don’t need them. We tell the USA we’re better off than they are. I want to hear your voices in support of our cause. Thank you and may all of our children grow up healthy and equal.”

The reaction to President Booker’s remarks is mixed on both sides of the divide, many wonder how he could tell his people to ignore a declaration of war with the planet’s only superpower. Many didn’t understand how the LSA could survive when the country was in debt more than $5 trillion, with the amount increasing every day.  The Chairmen of the Bank of the LSA and the Bank of Equals both issue press announcements stating they strongly advise the people of the LSA to rejoin the USA because the government of the LSA is broke. The bankers say they are not only not going to loan the LSA government any additional funds, they want the current loans repaid. They have decided to demand interest payments be made within thirty days. Payments they know the LSA can’t make.

While both Presidents spoke, a small US government plane carried the Smith family from the LSA to Washington D.C. From potential discrimination or worse to freedom. They are on the way to visit a family of friends they’ve only met online and on a television program. Scott and Sissy are sad over the loss of their friends and happy to be able to try new things and meet their counterparts who live across the country in North Carolina.

Sissy asks, “Mom is flying safe? I’ve never been on an airplane before, have you or daddy?”

Sharon strokes Sissy’s hair saying, “Honey flying is very safe, don’t worry. It’s like taking the train only we’re in the air. It’s also much faster than the train or a car. I think we’re going 500 mph.”

Scott looks out the window asking, “If we’re going 500 mph, why doesn’t everything flash by, why doesn’t it feel like we’re moving at 500 mph? I feel it when we drive fast in the car or the train goes around a curve quickly, here I don’t feel it.”

“It’s because we’re so high up. In the car and train you feel the friction with the ground or tracks, here the wings hold us up.”

Both Sissy and Scott lean over to look at the wings, Sissy says, “Do you mean if the wings fell off we’ll crash?”

“Well to be honest, yes we would. But don’t worry the wings aren’t going to come off. Airplanes fly around the world.”

Scott asks, “Why haven’t we flown someplace before?”

Jason smiles saying, “Because we didn’t have someplace to go that was far away. Plus airplane flight is very expensive.”

“Scott looks worried, “How are we going to pay for this? Both of you left your jobs back home, I didn’t bring my money, how do we pay?”

Sissy smiles saying, “I have $6.50 maybe that will be enough.”

Both of their parents laugh from pride and love of their children, tears form in their eyes, Jason says, “Kids, don’t worry about the cost. The USA government is paying for our flight. They are giving us a special award by flying us to the Capital of the USA.”

“Really?” asks Scott.

“Really, we don’t have to pay for it. Just relax and enjoy the flight. It’s going to take us 5 and half hours to fly to Washington.”

Scott says, “Wow we’re going to cross the entire country in half a day that is fast. It took us that long to drive to Vancouver.”

“We left in the evening east coast time, so we’re going to arrive there very late. We’ll be going to a hotel tonight. Why don’t the two of you look out of the window or watch a movie on the nice tablets they gave us when we boarded.”

Scott says, “Mom, do we get to keep these tablets?”

“I think so, if you turn them over, they have your names on them. They are loaded with movies, history books and news stories from the USA.”

While the kids look out the window, Jason and Sharon read the speeches given by each President on their tablets. Jason whispers, “I’m glad we left when we did. Things aren’t looking good back home.”

“Honey, do you think Booker will allow a vote?”

“I’m not sure. If he does and he wins, he’ll have the largest vote of confidence anyone’s had since the LSA was founded. On the other hand, if he allows the vote and it goes against him, he’ll be shattered. The LSA will fold. He’ll be the first African-American and also the last President of the LSA. Many people will blame him for the collapse.”

“If he doesn’t allow the vote it means war. A war that the LSA can’t win.”

“Sharon, honey, my gut says he won’t allow the vote, in which case he’s going to have a war he can’t win which will yield the destruction of the LSA. I worry about the hundreds of thousands or even millions who may die in a war. If the USA uses nuclear weapons, entire cities will disappear.”

“You’re right, I’m glad we got out when we did.”

Chapter 30

President Brownstone arrives at the Pentagon asking to see General Watson. The guards at the entrance to the Pentagon snap to attention. “Sir, is… is… he expecting you, you’re not on his visitor list.”

“I think he’ll agree to see me.”

“Yes sir.”

“General, sir, this is Corporal Troy Backfin at the main gate. Sir, President Brownstone is at the entrance asking to see you.”

“Corporal, did you say the President is at the main entrance and you’re holding him up? Escort him to my office right away, I’ll get the VIP escorts to meet you in the E ring.”

“Yes sir.”

Looking at President Brownstone, the guard says, “Sir if you would please follow me.”

“Corporal, I still have my ID card if that helps going through security.”

“Sir, yes sir. When we reach the security desk, please slide your card through the slot at the gate.”

“I still remember how to do it. Corporal Backfin, please slow down, I’m an old man with a cane.”

The President’s secret service detail watches the facial expressions on everyone who sees the President with amusement, one turns to the other saying, “I think he just woke up everyone in the puzzle palace.”

“That’s a fact, I bet the General and the SecDoD are trying to figure out what they did to cause the Prez to show up unannounced. I love it when he does things like this, sure makes for an interesting day.”

“By the way, how did he know the CJCS would be here?”

“He asked me to check.” Laughing the lead agent says, “I seemed to have forgotten to call ahead.”

“I hope the CJCS or SecDoD don’t figure that out. If they do, your next assignment may be in Greenland.”

President Brownstone stands in the security line to enter the Pentagon with the other visitors who turn around recognizing him, most try to stand aside, the President tells them he’ll wait in line. When he clears security the VIP escort slides to a stop on the tile floor of the Pentagon lobby. “Sir, welcome to the Pentagon, had you called ahead we would have been ready for you.”

“Major, there’s no need for pomp, I used to work here. I know my way around.”

“Sir, it would be our honor to escort you to the General’s office.”

“I have two agents with me, they can escort me, why don’t you do some real work. I don’t need any buttering up. I’m a retired Marine.”

The Major replies, “Sir, you were the Commandant of the US Marines and the President. It’s our honor to walk with you.”

People walking down the E ring going about their business are shocked to see the President walking down the hall. Many stop trying to figure out if they can or should say anything to him. The ice is broken by a young Marine First Lieutenant, who walks up to the President asking, “Sir, would you take a picture with me?”

“LT, it would be my pleasure.”

The simple picture broke the ice as others ran over to have their pictures taken with President Brownstone, soon the official Pentagon photographer showed up to record his visit and take everyone’s picture with him. President Brownstone looked around, not seeing anyone else he said, “I think we’ve kept the good General waiting long enough.”

The escorts snapped to attention, “Sir, just four more offices on the right.”

Arriving at General Watson’s office, the President finds the SecDoD waiting for him with the General.”

The Secretary of Defense says, “Sir, this is a very unexpected pleasure, how may we help you?”

“Mr. Secretary, I would like to spend a few minutes with the General, I have no objection if you’d like to join us. General, I’m sorry I didn’t call ahead. I hope I’m not interfering with anything important. If I am, I can wait or come back.”

Knowing no one in the Pentagon is going to refuse him, he smiles at the General who responds, “Mr. President, welcome to the Pentagon, please come in and make yourself comfortable, I have some of your special coffee coming from the mess.”

“They still stock my coffee?”

“Sir, General Wilcox said it’s the official blend for the US Marines.”

“Good. General, I’d like to have a secure discussion concerning some ideas I have for our next move with respect to the LSA.”

“Sir, then I’d like to suggest we move this to the secure conference room. If it’s OK with you, I’d like to invite the other chiefs to join us.”

“Good idea.”

The three men and their staffs and the two secret service agents move to the Joint Chiefs secure conference room. Within minutes, the conference room door opens, the service chiefs enter with their strategic planning staffs. SecDoD opens the meeting saying, “I’m sorry for the no notice meeting, President Brownstone simply showed at our main entrance asking for a meeting, who was I to refuse him?”

Everyone in the room smiled, knowing no one in the building would refuse the President anything he asked for. “Mr. President, what do have in mind?”

“Mr. Secretary, Generals, staff, thank you for agreeing to see me without an appointment. I would like to discuss some ideas with respect to the LSA. My gut tells me President Booker isn’t going to allow a national vote which he might lose. In which case, in a week we’re going to be in a declared state of war. The one thing, we don't want to do, is harm the LSA citizens who were our brothers and sisters, they may be again. I think we should plan an attack to take out the leadership of the LSA, once we do, we can offer their people a chance to vote.”

General Watson smiles replying, “Sir, we agree with you. In fact, we’re working on a plan to do just as you’ve suggested. One of our problems is after the accidental gas explosion took out the Gray House we don’t have a detailed list where all of their leadership meets.”

“The old Federal Building in downtown LA.”

“Sir? All of them?”

“Yes, I have a private guardian angel who just happens to have recently been in LA, he brought back an interesting observation that the old federal building was now being used by the LSA congress or parliament and their executive branch. This information was confirmed by a DepLIES Commander, who played a large role in the action in Las Vegas.”

General Watson says, “Would that be Commander Jack Lewis?”

“The very same.”

“That makes it much easier to deal with. All we need is to know their meeting schedule.”

“I’m sure that between the NSA and your own cyber department, you ought to be able to find out their schedule. I want to discuss what to do if we miss getting everyone at one time.”

General Johnson, the CICNORAD replies, “Mr. President, that depends on if we want to take them alive or not. If not, a ‘Hammer’ solves the problem pretty quickly.”

“General, using a ‘Hammer’ would mean any visitors to the building would be killed with the LSA leadership.”

“Sir, sometimes it can’t be helped.”

“General, I agree, have you considered sending a couple of Seal or Delta teams?”

“Sir, we have, however we still think we’re going to have collateral damage. It’s going to be hard to move a SpecOps team into the LSA and get them all into the building. Sir, the building, is 17 stories tall that’s a lot of offices to clear in a short time before hundreds of their DepLIES agents arrive, agents who are now carrying firearms.”

“Mail bombs?”

“Sir, no assurance the right people open the packages, we could be taking out innocent office workers.”

“How about package bombs sent via parcel package delivery service that have to be personally signed for?”

“Most in the government aren’t going to sign for anything. They’ll have their staff sign and open the packages.”

“At their homes?”

“Hundreds of locations.”

“General, I’m back to hit teams.”

One of the staff says, “We could call in a bomb scare, bring in some buses to transport the LSA leaders to another location, our teams will be on the buses. We take them to the desert.”

Another staffer says, “What about the DepLIES, won’t they know we’re not real agents?”

“We can and have reproduced their ID cards, we now have one of their Commanders to help us with their lingo.”

President Brownstone says, “I like it.”

SecDoD replies, “Sir, give us a day to put the pieces together.”

President Brownstone nods his agreement. “General, SecDoD, why don’t we meet tomorrow and then brief the President.”

@@@@@

The USA Vice President watches from a secure location as the National Guard enters the first city, Atlanta, Georgia with food in their arms in place of weapons or mace. They set bags of rice, flour and cans of food in a pile surrounded by cases of bottled water. They placed signs around the food saying, “More is available when the rioting and arson stop.” People poked their heads out of their doors to see what’s going on, they see the food and water, they see signs pointing to medical and dental help areas. When they realize these new police weren’t going to arrest or shoot anyone, people came out of their homes to take the food and water, some followed the signs for medical help. The next day the process is repeated, on the third day, community leaders were waiting for these new first responders. They agreed to sit around a makeshift table and talk about their issues. The Guard asked for the leaders of the local gangs to join the discussion. The community leaders looked surprised by the request. The Guard officer said, “In order to have peace for all, we need all of the community leaders to join us.”

A leader said, “They are afraid you’ll arrest them.”

“I promise no arrests, just plain talk, and hot food.”

The promise of hot food sent everyone at the table to talking at the same time. A break was taken so the gang leaders could be contacted. Two hours later the group sat down around the table, this time four new men joined the others. The new attendees looked nervous, they didn’t trust these new officers. After promising no arrests, the officer reminded everyone to be civil with no name calling. The officer called the mess unit to bring in a portable kitchen, they cooked for the entire neighborhood. Everyone came out of their homes and hiding positions to join the community picnic; everyone was enjoying themselves. The discussions lasted well into the night. At 11:00 PM, the officer called a halt for the evening, he promised to return in the morning with a hot breakfast. At breakfast, the Guard returned to find the community had cleaned up the area they met in and hundreds of people are there waiting for them to arrive. Six hours later a community agreement is worked out. Everyone feels good when the officer said he had a surprise for them, he said the code word, “code blue” on his radio, fifteen minutes later the US Vice President drives into the city accompanied by a Regional Vice Presidents from Walmart and Target. The community leaders and others are surprised to see the Vice President standing in the middle of their community. The two corporate Vice Presidents announced a new local program. They both promised to build new stores and hire the local people to work in the stores, under the condition the community ensure the workers and shoppers are safe, not only in the stores, but going and coming to the stores. The corporate officers explained they were willing to invest in the cities if the community also invested. They offered free schooling and healthcare to those hired. The local gangs agreed to a truce; they agreed to share the policing of the new stores in exchange for a chance of a real job and a cessation to the police round up arrests.  Handshakes and smiles by everyone end the meeting. The Guard officer and the corporate Vice Presidents walk through the burnt shells of the inner city shaking their heads. Two of the community leaders watched the three men wondering what they’re discussing. Mistrust runs high in the community. When they return, the Vice Presidents offer, “If the community provides some of the manpower, my people will provide the instruction and most of the materials to rebuild your buildings and help you rebuild your homes. We will make sure every home is up to standard, BUT, you are going to have to do most of the work yourselves. We’ll teach you, we’ll provide the materials through corporate donations of wood, sheetrock, plumbing and electric supplies. We are not going to do it for you.”

The community leaders quickly agree to the offer. The next morning tractor trailers and flatbed trucks arrive with equipment, as does National Guards people in uniform, instead of weapons, they have tool belts around their waists. The officer raises a bullhorn saying, “Good morning, it’s time to begin rebuilding your homes.” People smiled at the chance to repair and rebuild their homes. Hundreds of people swarmed outside to start the rebuilding process.

The USA Vice President smiled thinking the plan was starting to work, he sat in his armored limo drafting his report to President Rand when his limo is struck by two RPGs killing everyone inside the car. The shooters are able to fade away into the maze of streets. In a period of two weeks, the USA lost it's Vice President and former President Cruise. The community leaders rush to the side of the Guard Officer saying, “We had nothing to do with the attack, it wasn’t one of us. Please, it wasn’t us. You have to believe us.”

The officer nods his head with tears in his eyes. He picks up his secure portable phone to call the White House. He informs the President’s CoS of the attack and the loss of the Vice President. When he’s completed his report, he turns to face the community and gang leaders, “You are going to have to work twice as hard to prove none of you were behind the attack. I believe you, many others won’t. I suggest I leave some of my people here for your protection.”

One of the gang leaders says, “We can protect our own turf.”

“Son, it’s better if you let us handle the security on this one. You want the world to see you supporting the rebuilding and peace.”

The gangs nod in their understanding.

@@@@@

President Rand meets Rod when he reenters the White House, “Rod, the Vice President was just killed.”

“What?”

“RPG attack. His limo got hit by two missiles.”

“Do we know who did it?”

“Someone had to give the attackers his schedule. Someone had to have access to the Vice President’s schedule, plus someone had to smuggle the missiles into the city. He was starting to implement the new plan which was beginning to show promise when his car was struck.”

“Damn it, we must have a spy in the secret service, they were the only ones to know his schedule. I suggest we tell the FBI and NSA to run an internal security check on every secret service agent and everyone who worked on the Vice President’s staff. Sir, what can I do to help out?”

“I’m happy to hear you ask that. Rod, I’d like you to accept the position.”

“Huh?”

“I want you to be my Vice President for the next 3 years, hopefully for 7 years.”

“Paul, do you remember my age? How will the country respond to a former President being your Vice President? There were 13 Vice Presidents who went on to become President, but no President, who later became a Vice President.”

“Who cares? You know where all the bodies are, the public and the military loves you.”

“Does it mean I have to move into Number One Observatory Circle?”

“Not if you don’t want to. Hell you spend most of your time here anyway.”

“Paul, I accept, I’ll have to cancel some speeches and television appearances since it would be a conflict of interest.”

“Is the Smith and Jones program going to continue?”

“Paul, I don’t know how since the Smith family is here. Speaking of them, I’d like to meet them, where are they hiding?”

Laughing Paul says, “Upstairs.”

“You mean they’re here in the House?”

“Yup for a night or two, every damn hotel room is booked, even our safe houses are in use. I guess we can move to Number One Observatory Circle after the staff cleans it. We’re planning on having them visit the Jones family in two days.”

Rod smiles, asking, “When do you want to make the announcement?”

“Right now, why don’t we interrupt the evening’s news programs and make a live announcement.”

“I’m good with it, may I just clean up first?”

“Make up will take care of you. By the way, your guardian angel doesn’t like this idea at all. He heard the rumor, he walked into the Oval Office unannounced to discuss it with me. How did he get past the Secret Service?”

Rod smiles asking, “Where is the good Colonel?”

“In the executive briefing room waiting for both of us.”

Walking into the briefing room Colonel Grover snaps to attention. “Sirs.”

Rod says, “Colonel welcome home. I understand you have objections to President Rand’s proposal I serve as his Vice President?”

“Sir, the FSB still has a price on your head. Someone tried to take you out just a week ago. Someone took out the Vice President this afternoon. Do you like walking around with a target on you?”

“Colonel, I’m not afraid to die. When Sally passed, the good Lord took from me everything good. He can take me anytime he wants. You know that after Sally had passed, I was depressed. I locked myself in my house. I didn’t want to see anyone. I had nothing left to live for. In the past year, I decided I’d mourned long enough which is why I agreed to consult on the television show, I have a lot left to give. If President Rand thinks I can help his administration than I have a job to do.”

“Sir, are you going to move into Number One Observatory Circle?”

“No, I’ll live in my own home.”

“At least that makes things a little easier. Since your mind is made up, I’ll get with the secret service to work out an additional layer of security.”

“Colonel, tell them I’d like to keep my existing team. You trained them and I trust them.”

“Will do sir.”

President Rand calls Sean to help with the announcement. Sean opens the live broadcast by telling the world that President Rand has an important announcement he wants to make. Both men stand in front of the press and the television cameras when President Rand announces his new Vice President. In the LSA, President Booker isn’t pleased with the new VP, he turns to Dianne, “This is bad news.”

“Why? He enabled us to break away and form the LSA. I thought you’d be happy with him as VP.”

The announcement is met with happiness in the USA, President Brownstone is fondly remembered for protecting the nation and leading the country through some of its darkest hours.

Chapter 31

At 8:30PM PST President Booker sits behind the multi-colored desk representing all of the people of the LSA. “Good evening equal citizens of the LSA and welcome to those in the USA and around the small blue planet we all share, which we also share the responsibility to protect and save. I’d like to address you this evening on the ultimatum President Rand illegally and immorally gave to the people of the LSA. We are an independent country, the only country in the world where everyone is equal. The LSA government protects everyone’s rights. We have no poor, we have no mega rich, we have no one getting rich from the labors and sweat of their workers. Here in the LSA we offer free education from pre-school to post graduate school. We provide everything our people as humans in the twenty-first century require to be productive, happy people. We know that productive, happy people don’t make war; such people don’t kill other innocents. We are the most peaceful country on the small blue planet we all call Earth. We’re the only country without a military. We have no Army, no Navy, and no Air Force. Our people have the right to live the way they want to. Yet the USA has decided somehow our people have upset the balance. President Rand has given us, an independent country, an ultimatum, he has told us we can either hold an election to rejoin the United States or he will declare unlimited war against us, the peaceful and peace loving people of the LSA. We propose that if one nation can demand through force that another nation hold an election to determine if a nation should cease to exist, then we have the right to petition the Council of Fifteen Nations to supervise an election in the USA asking their citizens to join us the LSA. We think it is the USA that should dissolve, not the LSA.

“The USA has been a war monger for far too long, they have forced their will on the entire world for too long. It isn’t good for the peace-loving peoples of the world to live under the dark shadow of a single superpower who has broken almost every treaty they’ve signed. The USA has shown the world they will abide by only those treaties they want to. They have militarized space in violation of more than ten treaties. They used these new space-based weapons which there is no defense against to destroy parts of the Russian Federation and the LSA. The USA used these illegal weapons to kill a national leader when they struck and killed Russian Federation President Grameniko. Is anyone safe from the USA? If you’re a national leader or union leader or anyone who disagrees with the USA, you may one day wake to find a space-based KEW weapon falling from the sky onto your head ruining your entire day. KEWs falling from the sky are much worse than Dorothy’s house falling from the sky in the Wizard of Oz which is a fictional story, the USA KEW weapons are real and in violation of every peaceful use of space the members of the UN all agreed to. Why should we, the peace loving people in the LSA be forced to hold an election to dissolve our country? What about the millions of unhappy, overworked, underfed people in the USA, shouldn’t they too, have a choice? If one country should be threatened by force, what stops the USA from threatening every country with an election to dissolve? Today it’s the LSA with the USA’s target on our heads, tomorrow it might be France or Germany. No one if free if we’re not all equal and free.”

“I ask all to stand with the LSA against the USA in their immoral demand on the LSA. Remember, it could be your country that’s next on the USA’s menu after they finish destroying us. Thank you and may the planet bless us all.”

President Rand and Vice President Brownstone watch President Booker’s address with anger. Rod says, “How like him to ignore the truth about the LSA and their allies attacking us and causing the deaths of thousands of our people. Every country has the right to defend themselves. The LSA and their allies invaded us, they caused us billions in damage and Booker ignores it. He started the war when he attacked our children. His people aren’t free, they’re slaves to the state. The people of the LSA are controlled and owned by the state.”

Paul replies, “They may well be, however the SOB just pulled the PR rug out from under us. He’s trying to turn the world against us.”

Rod responds with anger in his voice, “Maybe it’s time for Booker to take a vacation, a long vacation.”

“My friend, this isn’t the time to make him disappear. If he got a cold we, would be blamed for committing biological warfare against the LSA.”

“What do you suggest, you can’t be thinking of holding an election in the USA to see if they want to join the LSA can you?”

“Rod, that’s exactly what I’m thinking of doing. If we flood the media and Internet with the truth about the LSA, the changes in people’s lifestyle, their real cost to be ‘equal’, do you think our people will vote to join the LSA?”

“Paul, I think some might. The lure of not having to work, not worrying about where your next meal is coming from, is very powerful.”

“Logical people will see through their bullshit. No country can afford to support their citizens forever. The LSA is already $5 trillion in debt, it’s not as bad as the USA was in early 2015, however, on a per capita basis the LSA is in a much worse position than we were ever in. There’s no way the LSA can survive as they are. The banks aren’t going to extend credit to their government. Their tax rate is already over 50% for everyone. Since 75% of their people work for the government, they have no choice but to accept what the government tells them to do. I think our best approach is to agree to hold an election when the LSA does while we flood the airwaves and the internet with the real facts of the LSA. I’m sure WOLF News will be happy to give us hours of video they filmed in the LSA: the food lines, the empty grocery stores, the spying, the cameras looking into people’s homes, the fear their people have of their DepLIES agency. I think we can pull the covers back and expose the LSA for what it really is.”

“Paul, what if after doing this our people vote to switch?”

“Then they deserve to get what they asked for. The USA will be smaller, but stronger. You and I know the South isn’t going to switch, nor is most of the Midwest. I’m also going to announce that the Council of Fifteen Nations should monitor the election and voting on both sides of the divide. I don’t trust Booker and his people to count their fingers and get ten, they'd announce they won even if they lost in a landslide.”

“Paul, I agree, let’s get Sean back in here to discuss the strategy with him and let him roll it out.  In fact, I think we should invite all of the talk radio hosts to a meeting.”

Laughing, Paul replies, “I don’t know if there’s a room in the White House large enough to hold all of their egos, but I agree with your idea.”

Sean enters the Oval Office unprepared for the discussion he’s about to have. “Vice President Brownstone, may I offer you my congratulations.”

“Sean, I’m not sure congratulations or condolences are in order. Either way, thank you. We assume you heard Booker’s little rant today?”

“Yes. I have to hand it to him, he is going to get a number of people on his side.”

“We agree. We want you to prepare a full-blown attack on the LSA, call your ex-boss at WOLF, we’d like to use some of the outtakes you didn’t use from the filming in the LSA.”

“I know what you want, food lines, empty store shelves, fixed prices, people’s fears.”

“Yes, that’s what we need.”

Paul sits on the couch across from Sean, “We’re going to agree to hold an election, so long as the LSA does too. Running up to the election, we want to flood the airwaves, networks and the internet with the truth about the LSA. Let’s show our people, their people and the world, just who the LSA’s leaders are and how people really live on the other side of the divide. Any country that needs to build walls to keep their people in, isn’t a free country.”

“Sirs, I can do that. I suggest we reach out to every media ally we have for support.”

“We agree, create an action plan and bring it back to us.”

“Will do. When do you think the election will be held?”

“That depends on how much time you think you’re going to need to show the truth and convince people where they are better off.”

“Sirs, what happens if a large number of our people want to move to the LSA and the people within the LSA want to keep their current system?”

“Then our unhappy people can go, but under the condition we won’t accept their return, they’re going to have to be told that if they go, we are done with them. They will have a one-way ticket, exit only, no reentry permitted.”

“Sir, you’re serious about the no return aren’t you?”

“Dead serious. We’re not going to stop anyone from leaving, however, nothing says we have to keep the door open. We thought those who wanted to live in a progressive state would have left when Rod allowed the LSA to break away. This election is going to be the last one on the subject. Win or lose, America will survive and grow stronger. When the LSA grows weaker and collapses, those who voted with their feet, will have to live with the repercussions of their decision. Everyone voting will be over the age of eighteen, an adult. They owe it to themselves and their families to be educated on the largest decision they’re ever going to make.”

“Yes sir.”

@@@@@

60% of the Russian troops ask for permission to stay behind and live in the USA rather than return to the Russian Federation. President Rand agrees to their request, as long as the Russian military members wanting to stay agree to serve a minimum tour of duty of twenty-four months in one of the USA military services. They will be paid at the same rate as American troops which is hundreds of times more than they earned in the Russian military; they are also to take exams to see what rank they will be when they enter the USA military. Some end up entering at a lower rank, a few are surprised to learn they are going to enter the USA military with a higher rank than they held in Russia. Those that agree to join the USA military also agree to learn English and American history. General Chekov is the highest ranking Russian officer to announce he’s decided to join the USA military versus returning home. He’s invited to visit the Pentagon where he’s offered a position as a special advisor to the CJCS, he’s given the rank of Major General, a house and car. At the end of his first day in processing at the Pentagon, General Watson takes him to dinner to see how he’s adjusting.

“General, I have to say I’m shocked. Had I known the benefits provided by America to her troops, I would have resigned and enlisted years ago.”

“General Chekov, we weren’t always so respected or provided with the high degree of benefits we have today. When General Brownstone became our Commander in Chief he changed our compensation and benefits. He told the nation that we put our lives on the line for the country yet many of our troops had to apply for food stamps and welfare in order to feed their families. He explained that we go where sent, do what we’re ordered to without question, yet an untrained teenager flipping burgers makes more per hour than we did. We’re on call 24/7, we can’t call in sick and have to leave our families for long periods of time, many times with very little or no notice. He told the country we’re the reason they are free. Congress voted to increase our total compensation packages and to disband the VA, which had killed many of us. President Brownstone led the creation of a new medical plan to all of the US military. We went from having low morale to having the highest morale since 9/11.”

“I’d heard that President Brownstone was respected by the military.”

“Respected is an understatement. Most of us would walk through hell with him. We know if he ordered us to take hell, he’d be in front of the first platoon leading us.”

“Is he still active in the government?”

“I guess you didn’t get much access to the news while you were in Vegas, he was just appointed our new Vice President.”

“Doesn’t that mean that he is next in line to be President, can he do that? I mean he’s already been President.”

“Our constitution forbids three consecutive terms, nothing forbids him from being President for one term, leaving office and returning at a later date.”

“So you’d like to see him as CIC again?”

“I would yes.”

Switching the subject, Major General Chekov says, “Tell me what I am supposed consult on.”

“You come from a different training routine, you see things differently than we do, I want you to listen to our discussions and speak out if you think our assumptions are wrong or if there is a different way to do something. We all respond based on our experiences and training, yours are different than ours.”

“You’re not asking me to tell you any state secrets?”

“No, we wouldn’t put you in such a position, the agency might, but I won’t. I respect the oath you took.”

“What do you mean the agency?”

“You’ll meet them tomorrow, the CIA.”

“Oh, them. We have the FSB and the GRU. I guess all countries have their own secret service.”

“You’ll quickly see the differences between our agency and yours.”

“OK, I’ll wait. What do you recommend for dinner?”

“Everything here is good, so enjoy whatever you want. There is one thing I should warn you about. There’s no smoking allowed in our restaurants. Don’t even try to sneak a quick one, we’ll both be thrown out.”

“I hear you. I notice people nod at you, do you know all of these people?”

“No, they nod in respect to my uniform.”

“As it should be. It was once this way in the Motherland. It has not been this way for many years. It is good to see it so here. One day I would like to meet your Vice President Brownstone.”

@@@@@

The doorbell rings at the Smith’s home, Leon says, “I’ll get it.”

Opening the door, Leon is surprised and speechless, he’s able to get his voice back, “Mom, please come to the front door! HURRY.”

Carol comes running from the kitchen, still wearing her cooking apron, she sees who’s at their front door, she has tears in her eyes, “Leon, don’t be rude. Invite them in, they must be tired from their long journey.”

Opening the door, she welcomes her counterpart, Sharon, and the rest of the Smith family into her home. She and Sharon hug in the foyer. Leon and Scott shake hands while they eye each other. Carol says, “Come in, come in. Bob’s not home yet. Beth is upstairs. Let me call her. Would you like something to drink?”

Jason, Sharon, Scott, and Sissy slowly enter the Jones’ home, Sissy says, “It looks just like it did on television.”

Leon replies, “Did you think they made it up? We live here, we didn’t film our episodes in a studio.  Beth come down stairs, we have visitors.”

Beth comes down the stairs, she pauses at the third from the bottom step looking into the living room, “Oh my God, they’re here! Sissy, you’re here!”

Sissy and Beth hug. Beth says, “Come see my room, let’s play together.”

The two girls dash upstairs, as Scott and Leon go into the family room. Before everyone gets settled, the secret service agent who brought them says, “I guess you all know each other. I’ll return in a few hours to take them to their hotel.” Smiling, he says, “I hope you have a good visit.”

Bob arrives carrying two bags from the supermarket. He enters the house from the garage, opening the door, he hears voices that sound familiar, yet he can’t place the voices. Putting the bags down, he walks into the living room and gets the surprise of his life.

@@@@@

Sean lays out the media action plan for the President and Vice President, both are impressed by the detail and completeness of the plan. Paul asks, “Sean, when are you ready to launch this?”

“As soon as you give me the OK.”

Rod says, “I like the beginning where you get others to make the suggestion for us of a dual election. Once the media grabs and runs with the idea, we’ll step forward and accept their idea. The idea will be theirs. They’ll push us to implement it, they’ll help us sell the story to both sides of the divide. If Booker doesn’t call for elections on his side, the media will shame him into it; after all it was his idea.”

All three laugh at the media carrying a conservative’s message to the people on both sides of the divide. Paul notes, “We have to shut down the RF jamming and open their internet backup when the media makes their call for the election. We wouldn’t want our brothers and sisters living in the LSA not to hear the call for the election.”

Chapter 32

President Booker announces a series of new programs to improve the life of minorities in the LSA, “My fellow citizens of the LSA, while we’re all equal, some of us don’t feel equal. Too many of our people don’t feel equal due to their racial heritage. It’s our duty to help our minorities feel equal to the rest of the citizens in the LSA. Henceforth, we’re going to help our minorities adjust. I grew up in a broken home, I understand the problems our minorities feel. As such, starting today, we are going to stop using the word minority. If we’re all equal there can’t be a minority or majority, there is only us. To help those who feel like they’re never getting ahead and are always behind the rest of us, I’m lowering the national tax rate for all people of color to 5% while increasing the rate for everyone else by the amount the country will lose by us all helping the people of color feel better about themselves. We all have to do more to help people of color forget their racial history. We have to work together to help people clear the memory of slavery. We, as a loving and progressive people, can do this. It’s our duty to help our brothers and sisters. If we’re going to build a strong, vibrant, progressive nation based on equality, we have to share our neighbor’s pain and suffering. We have to understand their plight so we can improve their lives.”

“I’m also happy to announce we’re going to accept the USA’s challenge for a national vote to decide who wants to live under which system, either progressivism or capitalism. We don’t think a week is realistic, just preparing the logistics are going to be impossible to complete in a week. We propose the vote be held in ninety days. Before you vote remember all the good we’ve accomplished in our progressive country. We’re the only country where everyone is equal. Remember all the good we’ve accomplished in the twelve years we’ve been an independent country. When you vote, remember, the core of capitalism is the business owner gets rich while the workers are treated like slaves. In the USA, the rich get richer and the poor stay poor. The poor have no way to move up the ladder to improve their quality of life. Do you want to be a slave to some faceless business owner? Do you want to live in a country that allows gun ownership? Do you want to live in a country that allows rough sports where your children might be hurt playing these ‘games’? Do you want to live in a country where you have to decide who to use for various purchases, where there’s more than one choice for almost everything. We know most of the USA agrees with us, we’ll welcome our new brothers and sisters with open arms and love.”

“If you vote to join the USA and live in the polluted, angry, capitalist country the USA is, either you will be moved to the USA, at the USA’s cost or if enough of you vote, your entire town, city or even state will transfer to the USA. I know in my heart very few of you are going to vote to transfer to the USA. You wouldn’t be progressives if you wanted to live there. If you aren’t a progressive, you wouldn’t be here. The LSA is moving forward every day. Every day we accomplish more than any progressive in history ever thought possible.”

“You’re going to be hearing a lot of propaganda from the USA shortly; you’re going to hear a lot of lies and deceptions to create doubt in you. The USA is going to try to make you question your original decision. They are going to try to make you question everything about your life and the future of your children. Don’t fall for the lies, the deception and the false stories you are going to hear. Remember the truth; remember you’re living in a paradise that’s never existed before. We’re going to be running special programs on the LSA network about life in America. We’re going to remind you of the truth they’re not going to show or tell you.”

“I plan to visit with you every other evening to discuss various issues, and remind you of the important progress we as a country have made together.”

“People of the LSA, rest easy tonight and every night, knowing your government is watching out for your safety, you are going to hear that you’ve lost most of your freedoms, I will close tonight by asking you, what good are freedoms if you’re not secure?”

Most people in the LSA ignored President Booker’s speech because it was just another two-hour rant. What they did hear was their tax burden was going to increase to provide additional financial support and free things to those who don’t work, nor want to work. Many in the LSA are already disgusted that they pay over 50% of their income so others can sit home all day. Many are disgusted by the fact that many of the minorities have children by different men so their monthly income is increased by the number of children they have. If the children’s father lived at home with their mother, their LSA government welfare would be lower. The LSA government was succeeding in destroying the typical family, replacing it with the state. The LSA’s goal was to have everyone work for the government. Everyone would be tied to the government.

Along the border and in some of the more rural areas of the LSA, people aren’t so enamored with the new social order. Some own weapons which have been smuggled across the border. New Militias have sprouted up as the tax burden has increased on working families. The militias heard President Booker’s speech and became more disgusted with his announcement of another tax increase while the minorities’ tax burden decreases. People are disgusted they're supporting a country that is expanding a new class of people completely dependent on the government, whose goal is everyone should be on the government’s welfare rolls. Centrists and those who realize they made a mistake moving to the LSA, look forward to the election, they also know the count will favor the LSA no matter how people vote. Some people in the LSA have woken up to realize the country is going collapse under its debt and massive spending. Funds that come into the right pocket quickly exit as a larger number from the left pocket. Very few people in the LSA trust the central government to hold an honest election. A petition is circulated to ask the Council of the Fifteen to supervise the voting and the counting of the ballots. President Booker sends a note to the Chairman of the Council of the Fifteen telling him, his people are not welcome in the LSA. Booker informs the Chairman that he is sending the DepLIES to every voting booth to ensure an honest vote and count.

@@@@@

The USA starts running educational programs on every station and website explaining the differences between the LSA and the USA. Parts of the Smith and Jones program are edited and shown. The most surprising and shocking bits are repeated, the explanation of singular restrooms and multi-sexual gym are discussed in detail. The outlawing of all religions is replayed; the amount of government spying, even into people’s homes, is repeated. Interviews with LSA families who crossed the border looking for a better life are broadcast. WOLF News rebroadcasts Glenn’s program comparing the cost of everyday goods between the USA and LSA. Sean narrates a program on freedom. He reviews the meaning of freedom of the press, freedom of religion, freedom to educate your own children, freedom to bear arms. The Office of Budget Management releases a report, detailing in simple language, that the LSA is going bankrupt and will be out of cash, unless they increase tax revenues while drastically cutting expenses. They release reports from the Bank of the LSA saying the LSA’s credit line is cut off. The report shows examples of the typical tax increases families in the LSA are going to have to pay and the projected welfare and assistance program cuts coming over the next twenty-four months.  The report explains the average government monthly aid payment is going to be cut 45% over the next two years, or the LSA is going to go bankrupt and default on their debt. Many people have no idea what a country default means, to most it’s the same as missing a monthly payment which is no big deal. In the LSA, credit reporting agencies have to ignore three missed payments every year. Therefore many ignore the warnings, they figure if they can miss three payments a year, so can their government. President Rand reviews the daily polling numbers on the upcoming election, he looks over at Sean saying,

“This isn’t looking good. Are these people so dumb as to be ignorant of the repercussions of their actions?”

Sean says, “Mr. President, those in the LSA live a very sheltered life, they don’t believe most of what we tell them. They have been insulated from the real news for the last twelve years. They don’t understand simple repercussions since they haven’t been held to account for their actions in twelve years. The LSA central government has been there as their backstop and safety net. They’ve been protected from the things most people worry about in their day to day lives. No one in the LSA can be turned down for a mortgage because the central government is the loan insurer, no one can be denied a job if they want one. Education is free, the government supplies their utilities which can’t be turned off even if the bills aren’t paid. The LSA central government is both their parent and babysitter. Crime is seen as a repercussion of people’s upbringing, hence 15% of their population is on probation. We wouldn’t classify their education as education, they accept a child’s sex as whatever the child associates themselves with. Hence, they have done away with separate bathrooms and locker rooms. Sex education is taught in elementary school, religion is outlawed, sex is encouraged as is mild drug use. Most of the people in the LSA no longer take any responsibility for their actions. Of course, the government spies on them 24/7. These people either don’t understand or have lost all concept of what freedom means. We’re trying to get to them by telling them what they’ve lost. Sir, they don’t care. They freely traded their freedom for what they consider security. They either have jobs or government assistance that provides them with a middle-class income. We’re never going to reach them the way we’re going.”

“What do you suggest?”

Sean continues, “The program that explored families from both sides of the divide had the highest ratings for a television program, since both families are together in North Carolina, I suggest we put on a special program using the two families to discuss what the Smith family learned when they left the LSA. We have the perfect source of information to reach those in the LSA, a typical LSA family that recently asked us to help them escape from the LSA, they want to live in the USA.”

“Sean, that’s an interesting idea, do you really think it will work?”

“It’ll work better than what we’re doing now.”

“OK, you have my agreement to talk to the two families and put them on the air, do you think WOLF and the CNN will go along with it?”

“I’m sure WOLF will and if WOLF plans to run with it, and if CNN turns it down, given the previous ratings, I’m sure another station will be eager to pick it up.”

@@@@@

The front door bell rings at the Jones home, Leon says, “I’ll get it.”

His mother says, “I gave Jason and Sharon a key, why are they ringing the bell?”

Leon opens the door and is shocked seeing the people standing at the front door, “Mom, I think you’d better come here again.”

“Why? Who is it?”

“Please come.”

Carol says, “OK.”

Carol walks to the front door while taking off her apron, “Leon, what’s so important as to take me away from making the pies for dinner?”

Carol pauses at the door, “Oh my! Sean, Joan, oh my God, please come in. Leon, why didn’t you invite them in?”

Sean says, “Because I asked him to call you.”

Sitting in the living room, Sean says, “I assume you and the Smiths are getting along well.”

“Sean, did you have something to do with helping them leave?”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I thought they just decided to come and visit you.”

“I get it. I understand, I shouldn’t ask you any questions, and you won’t tell me any lies.”

“Good, by the way, are Jason and Sharon coming over this evening?”

“Very good,” A smiling Sean says.

Carol says, “I assume if you wanted to see them, you could just as easily knock on their front door.”

“I have a favor to ask both of you.”

Leon says, “You’re going to put us on television again aren’t you? Mom, say yes, please say yes.”

“Leon, let’s wait and see what Sean wants to say.”

“Leon is correct; I’m here to chat with you and the Smiths about going back on the air. I’d like to discuss a change in the program, and if you and Bob, and Jason and Sharon agree, we can have you back on the air in three nights.”

“Mom, please say yes, when are Joneses coming for dinner?”

“Sean, Leon has an idea, why don’t you and Joan stay for dinner. I’m sure the Joneses would love to see you, plus you’ll only have to say your pitch once. Joan, I know Sissy is going to be overjoyed to see you.”

“Mrs. Smith, was she able to bring Rebel with her?”

“Yes, that little rascal has stolen all of our hearts.”

Sean asks, “What time are they due?”

“I thought you were them. They are due any minute. Something tells me, you already knew that too. I don’t think I want to know how much you know. I guess working in the White House gives you access to certain information. Sean, promise me one thing, please promise you’re not here to turn us into some corny commercial for the election, some 60 second sound bite.”

“I can promise you, it won’t be a 60 second commercial. It will be used for the election. However, all I want, is for both families to speak the truth. We’re not going to put any words in your mouth, no script.”

Before Carol can answer the front door opens, Sharon enters first saying, “Carol, there’s another car in the driveway, I hope we’re not interfering in something.”

“Come on in, we have surprise additional guests for dinner.”

The Joneses enter, they are happy to see Sean and Joan, Sissy runs over to Joan hugging her, Rebel follows barking and wagging her tail.

Jason says, “Sean, Joan, what a great surprise. If we’d known you were going to be here, we’d have brought you a gift.”

“No gift is necessary. I came to make sure you’re settling into your new lives and to ask a favor.”

Sharon replies, “Sean, anything we can do for you, we’ll be happy to do, you got us here.”

“Sharon, wait until you hear what I’m asking for; I want you to join the Smiths and go back on television to help the USA win the upcoming election.”

Jason nods his agreement, Sharon nods saying, “We’d be happy to help. What do you want us to say?”

“We’re not going to put words in your mouths, we want your answers to be your own and spontaneous. I’ve already reached out to Wolf to make the program one hundred percent fair and as you’d say, equal.”

Jason smiles saying, “There’s a word we’d hoped never to have to hear again.”

“I’m sure Wolf and President Booker are going to have some reservations, however, since I made it clear we’re going to broadcast the show no matter what they decide, I’m sure Wolf is on his way here. We think the only way to open the eyes of the people in the LSA, is for the two of you to talk about the differences now that you have experienced them.”

Carol replies, “Wolf, you don’t need us to make that point, you only need Jason and Sharon.”

Leon’s smile quickly changes to a frown, he says, “There goes my second chance at fame.”

Sean smiles saying, “No Leon, you’re still on. We want both families. We think it won’t look like a forced program or staged propaganda if both families are on the air and discuss the same issues. The difference between the last program and this one is both families will be together on the same stage.”

Leon says, “You’re not going to film it here?”

“No, we need more room than what’s available in your living room. Plus, we’re afraid filming the show here might give some an excuse to try to come after both families since they know your address. We think it’ll be safer for all, plus more comfortable, in a regular television studio.”

Both families nod in their agreement. Jason asks, “Sean when do we start?”

“In three days, with, or without Wolf.”

Sean’s cell rings, “Excuse me a minute.”

All nod yes.

“Hello Wolf, how are you?”

“Sean, you’re a dirty rotten son-of-a-bitch.”

“Why Wolf, thank you very much. I guess you got my message and you spoke with President Booker.”

“Yes and yes. I’ll be there early in the morning. I have to fly a damn red-eye. You know I hate red-eyes.”

“Don’t worry, we don’t plan to air the program for three days. You’ll have plenty of time to get your beauty rest.”

“Will I have total access to the Smith family?”

“Wolf, President Rand agreed you can have access to them, however, not alone. They will be protected by secret service agents, you won’t be permitted to bring any DepLIES agents with you. We will guarantee your safety.”

“Sean that doesn’t sound very fair to me. Do I have a choice?”

“Yes, you can decide not to be part of the program, either way, it goes on the air in three days.”

“Are we using the Jones’ home?”

“No, it’s too small. We need a studio. Since I know you would have objections to using the WOLF studios, and we would have objections to using the CNN studios we’re proposing to use The Blaze Studios in Dallas.”

“I think we can accept them as long as our security people can check them out before we begin.”

“Accepted. Change your flight plan and fly to Dallas. I’m going to fly both families there tomorrow morning.”

“OK, let’s plan to meet at the studio, say at 1PM?”

“Agreed.”

Scott says, “We’re going to Dallas? Where JR lived? Can we see Southfork?”

“Scott, do you know there is a Southfork Ranch? However, it was only used for the outside views, the inside shots were all done on sound stages. The ranch is really very small.”

“Really? Can we still see it?”

Leon jumps in saying, “We need to visit Six Flags too.”

Everyone laughs. Sean asks, “Bob, Carol, I hope you don’t mind, but President Rand is reaching out to both of your employers asking them to release you to me for two weeks.”

Carol says, “President Rand called my manager?”

“No, he called the company’s owner.”

“Oh my God, he must be walking on the air to get a call from the White House.”

“Actually he thought it was a joke. When he accepted it really was the White House calling, he quickly agreed to President Rand’s request. He asked if the show would stop by and do a shot from the company.”

“It was agreed that we would use a shot from both of your employers to use on the program. Scott and Sissy, I know you were going to be enrolled in school Monday, that’s going to have to wait a little. Leon and Beth, I’m sorry to tell you, you’re going to have a short break in your schooling, but don’t worry, we’ve hired tutors for you while you’re in Dallas.”

Leon and Sissy both shook their heads, “It’s not fair, Scott and Sissy get off and we get tutors.”

“Tell you what, we’ll have the tutors teach Scott and Sissy too.”

Scott looks at Leon saying, “Thanks pal, you now owe me a big one. I was off until we went back, now you got us going back to school with you.”

“If I have to suffer, you should too.”

Chapter 33

Ron, Bev, Kathy and I stand in our suite on the 42nd floor of the Caesar’s hotel and casino. We had to move from the Wynn due to the damage incurred in the fighting. Ron says, “Look at it, parts of the Strip look normal while other sections look like they filmed ‘Saving Private Ryan’ here. It’s like a movie set. Smoke is still rising from many of the hotels.”

I put my arm around Kathy pulling her close to me, “Old buddy, at our age, I never thought we’d be in a battle or we would become insurgents. How do you think this is all going to end?”

“Brad, I wish I knew. President Rand is either going to destroy the LSA or he’s going hit them with something that’s going to make the biblical flood look like a broken water pipe.”

Kathy softly says, “What about all of the innocent families who had nothing to do with the attacks? Should we harm them just because of where they live?”

Ron replies, “They had a choice which side of the divide to live on, they supported Presidents Reid, Bloomberg, and Booker. Are they innocent? Did they have protests? Did they express their displeasure with their leaders? Did they protest the war against us? Where were their marches and protests? Where were their reporters’ protests against the war? They were quick to protest everything we did. They were quick to protest every time we took revenge against terrorists, yet they remained silent when their government attacked us.”

Bev, looking thoughtful replies, “Could they protest, could they march? If they’re watched 24 hours a day, maybe they couldn’t protest or make their voices heard. I bet their DepLIES crushed anyone who even thought about protesting or speaking out. I don’t think we should judge their people not speaking out against the war as a sign they supported it. They were most likely censored. I bet if we could look into their jails, there would be a number of political prisoners being held because they tried to speak out against their government and the war.”

Ron replies, “Honey, you might be right. I’d like to know what we’re going to do.”

Bev says, “Maybe we won’t do anything. After all, President Bloomberg died from injuries he received from the gas explosion at the Gray House. Booker is very new on the job, maybe President Rand will just let it go.”

I shake my head no saying, “He’ll respond. He won’t want the world to think we’re weak. Even if some of President Rand’s advisors suggest he hold back, our new VP will be for a massive strike to ensure no one tries hitting us again.”

Bev shakes saying, “I hope he doesn’t nuke those poor people. They used to be Americans. I pray he doesn’t destroy LA with all of its rich history. We’d lose so much culture if he hits LA. Think of the millions who would die a horrible death. How could anyone living in the LSA ever forgive us for using a nuke against people who used to be our neighbors.”

Kathy says, “Who’s going to pay for the rebuilding? The insurance companies are going to say they’re not responsible because its act of war which isn’t covered in their insurance policies. Just looking at the smoke rising over the Strip it looks like there're over a billion dollars of damage in Vegas alone. We haven’t heard about the damage in the D.C. area or along the southern border. I agree that he’s going to make the LSA pay. I’m curious how he’s going to make them pay without injuring the innocent families since the LSA is broke.”

I nod my head in agreement saying, “I’m sure he has something up his sleeve, I guess we’ll hear about it soon enough. I expect he’s not going to wait too long before he strikes back.”

Ron says, “I hope it crushes the bastards. The LSA needs to be taught a lesson.”

Kathy asks, “Ron, what’s going to happen to your friend, that nice Commander something or other from the LSA?”

“Jack Lewis. He’s being given political asylum. I’m sure we’ll see him again.”

“That’s good, I didn’t want him sent home to a sure death.”

Ron pauses before saying, “When are you guys going to go home?”

“The airport is going to take months to repair. I heard the airlines are busing people the eight miles to Nellis Air Force Base until the airport is repaired. The airline said they would contact us when our number is drawn. They’re handling all of the passengers as a lottery. We have no idea how long it will be before our number is drawn and we get a reservation. The base is very busy trying to handle civilian and military flights.”

“Why don’t you move in with Bev and I? We have a guest room, you can’t stay in the hotel for long, sooner or later they are going to start charging again.”

“Ron, thanks! That’s great. We accept.”

“It’s the least I can do, since I lived in your house for almost a year.”

Both couples hug when they hear a loud rumble outside, flying low over Las Vegas are four F22 Raptor fighters. Their exhaust shakes the floor to ceiling window they’re standing in front of. Ron says, “Guess the Air Force is reminding the Russians they lost.”

@@@@@

Sean meets Wolf at the Raleigh-Durham International Airport. He and his staff were the only passengers on the LSA Airlines plane which flew direct from LAX. “Wolf old man, it’s good to see you again.”

“Don’t give me that ‘old man’ crap. Did you arrange the kidnaping of the Smith family?”

“Why would you accuse me of kidnaping?”

“How do you explain the Smith family disappearing in Oregon and appearing in North Carolina?”

“Magic?”

“Sean, don’t give me that bullshit. President Booker and I know you were behind them leaving the LSA. What did you promise them?”

“Wolf, I don’t care if you believe it or not, but I didn’t kidnap them. If they wanted to stay in the LSA they would still be there. They left of their own free will.”

“Sean, how did they leave? I checked, no one in the DepLIES issued them an expat permit, everything, they own, is still in their house. There’s no record of them buying a ticket on any air or rail line. So how is it one day they’re home and that night they were gone?”

“No idea. I also suggest you treat them as VIPs as they are visiting here as a guest of President Rand, who’s a big fan of their show. Did I tell you they spent two nights as his guest in the White House.”

“So if I ask them how they got here I’ll be insulting your President?”

Should I assume there are DepLIES agents planning on meeting you here? If there are, they and you won’t be returning home.”

“Are you threatening a member of the LSA government?”

“No, it’s not a threat, it’s a promise. While we record and broadcast the program, secret service agents will be protecting both families and me.”

“Do you mind if I meet with the Smiths before we begin?”

“Not at all, they’re at the Carolina Inn at Chapel Hill. I’d be happy to arrange transportation for you.”

“I can’t rent a car and drive myself?”

“Wolf, given the recent hostilities between our countries, no one from the LSA can travel by themselves in the USA, we’re on edge due to potential terrorists.”

“You don’t trust me?”

“Nope. Not as far as I can throw you. You’ll be escorted and driven everywhere you want to go. There’s a black Suburban outside with your name on a card on the passenger window. That’s your car and driver.”

“I assume my driver is a member of the CIA?”

“No, you’re not important enough, nor do we think you know enough to rate a CIA agent as a driver. Your driver is from the Diplomatic Security Service (DSS), your escort will be either a secret service agent or an agent from the DSS.”

“Will they accompany me everywhere?”

“Yes, one of them will sit in every meeting you have.”

“Sean, I’m a reporter, that’s not fair.”

“You’re no longer a reporter, you’re the Minster of Truth, whatever that means, for the hostile government of the LSA. You are a member of President Booker’s inner circle. You are classified as an agent of an enemy government. The only reason, you were allowed into the USA, is because I asked President Rand to personally allow your entrance. If you’d read your entrance permit, you’d have seen the conditions clearly spelled out on your visitors pass. Wolf times have changed in the past few weeks. The LSA and your allies invaded us.”

“Sean no LSA soldiers invaded the USA.”

“Yes I know, you don’t have an Army. We did capture a large number of the invaders, some were clearly identified as your DepLIES. These agents have provided the CIA with enough information so that President Rand has determined the LSA launched an invasion of the USA.”

“If that’s what’s what you believe why haven’t you responded yet?”

“President Rand and Vice President Brownstone will when they are ready.”

“I read the murderer Brownstone is back in the government. I also understand the World Court is still holding an international warrant for his arrest.”

“I’d like to see them try to serve it. Wolf, I’m going to tell you this once, don’t try to ditch your agents. Don’t try to pull a disappearing act, you will be found and arrested as a spy. I can assure you, you don’t want that to happen. You might end up getting a free trip to Cuba and an orange jumpsuit.”

“The USA wouldn’t dare arrest me, I’m a member of the executive branch in the LSA. I have diplomatic immunity.”

“Diplomatic immunity is no longer recognized for members of the LSA government which has been classified as terrorists.”

“Damn it, I’m not a terrorist. You’ve known me for many years. We’ve worked together on a couple of different programs.”

“Wolf tell me you understand the instructions I’ve given you.”

“I understand and will comply with them.”

“Good, go to the hotel, see the Smith family, we start production tomorrow morning.”

“So soon? What about notes like we did on the last program?”

“Time isn’t our friend this time. We start tomorrow. Here’s a copy of the Press Release.”

Wolf reads;

“WOLF News Network and CNN (in the process of being renamed the LSA News Network) are pleased announce the three night special of the Smiths and the Joneses discussing the topic of the upcoming election. Both networks will broadcast the special live, we’ll be taking your calls, Tweets and emails live during our three hour a night broadcast. Sean and Wolf are returning to host the program. One significant change is the two families will be on stage together for the program. Tune in tomorrow at 8:00 PM EST. to take part in the historic program, The Smith’s and Joneses talk about the election. Two families, two countries, one result. Email your questions and comments to smiths-jones@wolf.cnn.com, or call the show at 866.333.5555.”

“When was this released?”

“About the time you were landing.”

“I wasn’t consulted on it.”

“You no longer work for CNN. They agreed to bring you back because President Rand released me for two weeks from being Press Secretary to host the program. We’re the hired help on loan from our respective governments.”

“I’d better get caught up with the Smiths. I’ll see you tomorrow, coffee at 6?”

“Agreed.”

@@@@@

The only thing people talk about is the upcoming election. Many in the LSA are happy their internet service has been restored, they are also worried the USA will attack them in another unconventional manner they hadn’t considered possible. Thousands of people take to the streets in Oakland and San Francisco to protest the election. They hold signs saying, “We already voted with our feet.” Five people hold hands while jumping off of the Golden State Bridge in protest to the upcoming election. The LSA news broadcasters discuss the suicide pact, they pledge their support for the brave five who jumped in protest. Multi-colored flags are flown at half-staff in support of the ‘Brave Five’ as the jumpers become known. Support marches breakout in Portland, Seattle, and New York City. While in Boston, supporters of the election march shouting, “Freedom!” A few of the Boston marchers are dressed as the revolutionary Minutemen surprising many in the LSA who never expected Boston to hold a rally for the election.

While the LSA is showing confusion over the upcoming election, the USA shows strong support for the election. People in central Illinois travel to Chicago where they cross the border on tourist visas, they wait for a planned march down the ‘Miracle Mile’ where they take to the streets showing support for a United States and the end of the failed progressive experiment. Displays of patriotism break out across the USA, American flags with fifty stars become one of the hottest selling products. The flags start to line interstate freeways, buildings, and in front of homes. One home in a neighborhood places a flag in front of their house, within days there’s flags flying on the front of every house on their street. The media talking heads are taken by surprise by the outpouring display of patriotism. Some fight it, many others figure out which way the wind is blowing, they change their attitude within 48 hours of the flags appearing; they turn 180 degrees, from supporting the expansion of the LSA to the reunification of the USA.

Rash and Glenn announce a joint radio program where they announce, “We are all Americans, allowing the country to split was a mistake. Our government at the time took the path they thought would save lives and stop the outbreak of mass violence. What’s been the result of the experiment of the previous twelve years?”

Glenn responds, “Twelve years ago the USA broke up into two countries, while we in the USA have had a very good life, we’ve paid our debt down, we have a real unemployment rate of 4.5%, we’ve cut government expenses. We’ve reduced the number of illegals living in the USA to less than one million. We’ve increased our average life span, in 2010 the average life span was 67.2, in 2020 we’ve reached an average life span of 70.1 due to the recent advances of 3D printing of human organs, a new generation of anti-cancer drugs and a focus on diet. The new class of drugs, which blocks the body from absorbing certain fats, has enabled us to drop an average of 10 pounds of body weight. We’ve made enormous progress since we cut away the massive welfare system. So why are we saying the nation should come back together? If we don’t absorb the LSA back into the USA, their debt, which is currently 145% of their GNP and continues to grow, will crush the LSA. There is no way they can maintain their current system while also expanding their central government spending. Other countries have been successful in paying down their massive debt; they did it by cutting benefits and expanding the private sector. President Booker has announced this week that his goal for the next five years is to have all of their citizens working for the state. Think about this for a moment. The LSA doesn’t want to have a private sector. They will expand government debt, they will increase inflation. The net result of the LSA’s actions is they will default on their debt. When the times comes that the LSA can’t maintain it’s current level of spending, the government will have no choice but to cut spending.  With everyone working or the government, there will be no place to absorb the unemployed. The LSA will collapse in on itself. Let me repeat that, the LSA WILL COLLAPSE IN ON ITSELF.  They are running out of access to funds while at the same time they are expanding their spending. This is the same as your family having your take home pay reduced, what do you do? Do you go buy a new luxury car, a new house with a much larger monthly payment and since your existing credit cards are all maxed out, you get new ones that you use to borrow against to pay the minimum charges on your existing credit cards while you increase your spending. What’s going to happen when all of your bills come due? What happens when you can’t borrow any more money? You go bankrupt. This is what’s going to happen to the LSA. I can assure you, the LSA is running out of money, they have very few resources left to borrow additional funds from. Their time is running out. Before the split, the USA was in a similar spot, we got out of it, it was painful, we had to change. Can the LSA change as we did? Can or will the LSA change their policies as we did? I don’t think so. President Booker stated that the only change he's going to do, is to accelerate the end of the private sector thus increasing the government’s expenses. If in the upcoming election both countries don’t agree to merge, the LSA will go bankrupt, their economy will fail, and their money will be worthless. The unemployment rate in the LSA will exceed 40% since everyone will be working for the government. When they run out of money, they will have no choice but to cut overhead. In the LSA, the government supplies everything from housing, banking, postage, utilities, schools; they own the factories, they own everything. When their currency becomes worthless, the LSA will implode into anarchy. Their anarchy will spread with their hungry, unhappy, angry people into the USA. If we merge after their collapse, our costs will be multiplied a thousand fold. When the LSA government goes bankrupt the people will panic, they will rush across the border demanding we take care of them. We will be overwhelmed by millions of hungry, angry people who are used to be cared for from cradle to grave. We will end up fighting people who used to be our citizens, for resources. We will face a swarm of people rushing across the divide, people we aren’t in a position to provide for. “The only way to avoid this is for an orderly merger and change. We should vote for the merger so we have the time to integrate the LSA’s people back into the USA. Look at it this way, we’re going to have to pay for the LSA’s mistakes one way or the other. It’s going to be much less expensive and painful to handle the merger on our timeline than after the LSA implodes. We’re faced with a choice between paying less now or paying much more later, either way we’re going to have to pay for the choices the progressive government of the LSA made.”

Chapter 34

The marches on both sides of the divide increase and some turn violent. President Booker instructs Dianne to ensure the vote expands the LSA. She’s ordered to do whatever is required to make sure the number of votes shows an overwhelming support for him and the LSA.

“Sir, now that you’ve changed your mind to allow the election to be overseen by the Council of the Fifteen, they are sending security and military people to every voting location. You agreed to allow them to be the official vote counters, we’ll never touch the ballots. Hence, we can’t adjust the vote.”

“Did I have a choice?”

“Not really. I warned you to read the treaty before you signed it. Your answer was you would read it after it was signed into law so we had time to review the law.”

“Dianne, the draft of the law was over 2,200 pages long, it was to be voted on and signed the day after being presented to me. How could I read and digest 2,200 pages in one day while having to do my other tasks?”

“Sir, we followed your lead, none of us read the bill until you signed it. We discovered the Council of Fifteen Nations will manage the election on both sides of the divide. Neither country is allowed to touch the ballots.”

“This is crazy, why would we agree to this? What else was in the bill?’

“I tried to warn you to read the bill before signing it.”

“You of all people are saying that to me? You were one of the progressive Senators in Congress, you passed the 2,000 page Affordable Care Act, did you read it first? Or what about the 1,800 page budget? Or the 2,500 page spending bill? Did you read any of the monster bills you voted for?”

“That was different, those bills supported our progressive agenda. This one took away our rights. We have to follow what you signed.”

“I signed away my own rights to fix the election? What else was in the bill?”

“We’re still reading it, however one very worrying section is we, the leaders of the LSA, can be held personality responsible for crimes against humanity, we can also be held responsible for national waste.”

“What the hell does national waste mean?”

“I guess it means whatever the winning side of the election wants it to mean.”

“Shit, we’re screwed. Why did you allow me to sign it into law without a review?”

“Mr. President, we can’t change the law or move the election. We have less than 60 days until the vote.”

“Start offering the people bonuses for voting to maintain the LSA. Offer them each an additional month’s salary to vote yes.”

“Sir, we don’t have the funds to pay everyone an extra month salary, our cash reserves are very low.”

“Dianne, do you think we’re going to win or lose the election?”

“Right now, I think it’s 50/50.”

“Let’s plan for the worst case, you and I should convert our assets into gold, move the gold offshore, if it looks like we’re going to lose, we’ll skip out the night of election. We’ll go someplace where we’ll be safe and very rich.”

“How many people should we take with us?”

“I’m going to take a staff of ten, I suggest you do the same.”

“I’ll draw up a list and discuss it with you at our security meeting tomorrow.”

@@@@@

The Smith family sits in the large airy restaurant of the Carolina Hotel waiting for their breakfast order to be delivered when Wolf walks in. He looks around, seeing the Smiths he smiles, waves and makes his way to their table.

Jason leans over to Sharon whispering, “This can’t be good. I’m sure he was sent to try to get us back or change our story. Be very careful what you say.”

Scott and Sissy wave to Wolf, Sissy says, “Mom, look who’s here. Mr. Wolf is here to be part of the program again. I wonder if he brought us a surprise from home.”

Sharon leans over to Sissy saying, “Honey, we talked about this before, this is our home now. We’re not going back to Beaverton. You’re going to be going to the same school as Beth. We’re going to move into a nice house a couple of streets from Beth and Leon’s home.”

“Mom, I miss my old friends. I miss my room and my stuff.”

“I promise you, we’ll get you new stuff just as soon as Daddy and I get settled in our new jobs. I don’t want you to say anything to Mr. Wolf about how or when we got here. Don’t say anything to him about our trip. It’s our family secret. OK?”

“Mom, I remember. Don’t worry.”

Scott overhears saying, “Mom, I remember, don’t worry about me.”

Jason stands to welcome Wolf, “Hello Wolf, it’s nice to see you again.”

“Jason, Sharon, Leon and of course Sissy, I can’t tell you how good it is to see you safe and sound. When you disappeared we were all worried something bad happened to you. Did you have a safe trip to visit the Jones’?”

Sharon replies, “Wolf, we’re not visiting; we’re staying here. We’ve put a deposit on a new home, Jason and I have new jobs.”

“How did you put a deposit on a new home when all of your bank accounts are still in the Bank of the LSA, and by the way frozen by the DepLIES who are very interested in where you are. Even President Booker is very concerned with what happened to you. I can’t wait to tell him you’re safe and sound.”

“Wolf, the how, isn’t important. That we’re here, is all that matters.”

“Scott, are you sure you want to give up all of your friends and school to move across the continent? Do you think you’re going to be happy here? If you want, President Booker has agreed to absorb all the costs to return you to your home which hasn’t been touched since you left. The DepLIES has agents guarding your home for you. Your old jobs are still open, in fact, I understand both of you were going to be promoted to supervisor class 1 with a large raise and two new electric cars. One of your old ones was going to be transferred to Scott, who is approved to get his driver’s license. He’ll be able to drive himself to his friends and to school. He’s been classified as stable enough to be granted a license and the ability to drive to school versus having to ride the bus. As you may remember, only 3% of students are allowed to drive their own cars to school. Scott, think about it, you’ll be one of the exclusive at school. Every girl will want to be your friend to get a ride to school. You’ll instantly become one of the class leaders, doesn’t that sound like fun? If you move here, you’ll be starting all over again. Do you want to be a teenager who doesn’t know anyone in your school? You’ll never fit into a USA school. You’re going to learn you’re going to have to relearn almost everything you’ve already learned, you’re going to have to work four times harder than anyone else. You’re not going to have any time for social functions. You can forget about dating. Oh and, by the way, the USA doesn’t allow boys and girls to share gyms or bathrooms. You’re going to have to learn all of their social media sites. You’ll end up alone in your new school without friends.”

“Mr. Wolf, I know Leon, he’s offered to introduce me to all of his friends and to get me tryouts on the school’s sports teams.”

“Sports? Scott, here they play to win, they play tackle football, not soccer, you could get hurt, you could injure someone else. Is this what you want?”

“Mr. Wolf, yes it’s what I want. I want to win, I want to be the best, not one of the same.”

“Sissy, what about you?”

Sharon says, “Leave Sissy out of this discussion. She’s too young, we’ve discussed this before. You aren’t to try to place ideas in our children’s heads or sway our children. You’ve tried to get to us through our children. We’ve seen many of the differences between the LSA and the USA in the week we’ve been here. Frankly we like what we see. Sure, many of the details are different. We’re going to have to learn how to act and speak, we’re going to have to start all over again. We’re OK with that, we’re free of having you watch us 24 hours a day.”

“Sharon, what if something happened to one of you? Who’s going to come to your aid? What about all of the choices you’re going to have to make now?”

“We’ll take our chances, by the way, we like the way the USA tells us all sides of an issue and lets us decide for ourselves.”

Jason says, “I really like not having to worry about a ration card when we go to a restaurant. Do you know that you can order anything on the menu? Hell, if I wanted to, I could order everything on it. No one would say no to me. I’ve eaten things I only remember from when I was a kid. I like that we can paint our house almost any color we want. I also have to tell you I really like their cars.”

Scott adds, “I got a ride in a new Mustang yesterday, WOW, it has 500 HP and almost zero emissions. We went zero to sixty in less than 4 seconds. I loved it. I also saw an auto race on TV, it was amazing.”

“What about the environment? By the way, those cars aren’t safe.”

“Yes they are. It has like fifteen airbags and a computer which applies the brakes automatically if it sees we’re getting too close to another car, it communicates with other cars so we don’t hit each other, it even reads my emails to me and most of it operates from my voice. When we enter the car, the driver places his hands on the steering wheel, it tests his body and determines if he’d consumed drugs or anything else which might impair his driving.”

“Scott, isn’t that like our safety program?”

“No, it’s our choice here if we want to drink or consume liquor, if we do, we shouldn’t drive because we might harm others. This technology keeps the insurance cost lower than ours. They have some safety laws here like ours, they also allow a lot more freedom to make choices. Most of their safety rules are to protect the innocent without placing too many restrictions on the rest of us. I want to stay here. I like it here.”

“What happens if you make the wrong decision?”

“They call that learning. We’re supposed to learn from our mistakes.”

“Scott, don’t you see how much time that wastes?”

Sharon jumps into the conversation, “Wolf, enough. What are you doing here and what do you want from us?”

Their breakfast orders are delivered; the waitress asks Wolf if he wants anything, “I’ll have coffee, orange juice and a bowl of raisin bran with skim milk.”

Jason says, “You should really try the French toast it’s wonderful.”

Sissy says, “I like the chocolate chip pancakes, it’s like eating a large warm cookie for breakfast.”

Wolf shakes his head, “You’re eating too many calories for breakfast, too much sugar, don’t you remember your health classes?”

“We’re enjoying ourselves on a real vacation,” replies Sharon. “I’m the family’s mother, I told them they can order whatever they want. We’re in the process of changing our lives. Wolf, why are you here?”

“I was invited here by the USA to be a host with Sean for the special program. President Booker asked me to accept the offer so I can help you better position the LSA in a good light and offer you a trip home with no repercussions.”

Jason frowns as he chews his breakfast, he sips his coffee saying, “Wolf, we’re going to tell the truth. I can promise you we’re not going to lie. Is that good enough?”

“Jason, whose truth? Truth is different depending on which side of the question you’re looking at.”

“Wolf, truth is truth. All I can promise you is we are going to speak the truth.”

“Jason, if you’re asked how you left the LSA how are you going to respond?”

“We’re not going to respond. We can’t. We signed an NDA. I won’t break my word or a contract I signed.”

“Really? Didn’t you agree when you were selected to represent the LSA on television to speak the virtues of the LSA? Aren’t you now planning on breaking your word?”

“No, I’m not. We’re going to speak the truth. We’re not going to lie, not for you, not for President Booker, who is twisting the LSA’s rules and laws. I’m not sure he didn’t arrange the gas explosion which took President Bloomberg’s life. How can we support a President who arranged the death of his predecessor? Here, that’s called murder. Wolf, the contract we signed was for the original show, there wasn’t a word in it about any followup program. We had a USA lawyer review it.”

“What do you call what President, now VP Brownstone, did? Didn’t he murder tens of thousands to retaliate against terrorists? Aren’t you currently following a murderer?”

Jason’s face turns red, “Wolf, get out and leave us alone. Why don’t you go home?”

“I’ll see you later, I can’t go home, because I’m one of the hosts for the program.”

Sissy says, “Mommy, why did Daddy yell at Mr. Wolf?”

“Honey, he didn’t yell at him, he just told Mr. Wolf that we want to enjoy our breakfast before we go to the studio.”

@@@@@

Vice President Brownstone is leading a group of business advisors, “Ladies and gentlemen, the election is in 59 days, do you have any questions or suggestions of things we can or should be doing?”

The Chairman of the Boeing Company, which moved its headquarters from Washington State to South Carolina, says, “Mr. Vice President, my suggestion is to produce additional videos about the damage unions have done to the workforce in the previous twenty years.”

The President of Ford Motor Company replies, “Jack, I’ll admit they did a good job one hundred years ago, they set in place the protections our workers needed at that time. I agree with you, the last twenty to thirty years they have done more damage than good. They pushed the cost of labor so high we weren’t able to compete in the world markets. We weren’t allowed to shift people from one job to another.”

“I think you should focus on the ramifications of the LSA defaulting. By saying they’re going bankrupt, doesn’t strike a chord with people. Many people have gone bankrupt, they’ve come out of the bankruptcy with a higher credit score and with credit they didn’t have access to when they entered bankruptcy. When these people hear you use the term bankruptcy, they think everything’s going to be much better when the LSA exits from their bankruptcy. Most people have no idea what defaulting on the government’s loans means to them. Your advertising has convinced many people the LSA is going to default, but, when you ask follow up questions, almost none have any idea what it means to them.”

“Mr. Vice President, as the President of Johnson and Johnson, we had to spend millions relocating from New Jersey to Atlanta, if the two countries reunite are we going to face trials from our old workers who are going to go to court to force us to move back and give them their old jobs back? Sir, we can’t afford to move our headquarters again, we’re not prepared to promise everyone who used to work for us, their old or even a different job. We have moved on. I’d feel a lot better if the Federal Government issues a statement that companies are not going to be held responsible to re-hire previous workers.”

“I see your issue, I promise I’ll speak with the President about this issue, are there similar issues you’re concerned about if we reunite?”

“Mr. Vice President, I’m the VP and General Manager at General Motors, Chevrolet Division, along the same lines as Doug’s, is the Federal Government going to force us to reopen factories and offices we closed when the country split?”

“Don’t you want to expand your dealer network?”

“Dealer network, yes, reopen offices and factories, most likely no. As Doug stated, we moved on. We know how the progressives operate, they’ll agree to anything in order to make a deal, once the deal is made, they forget what they said, while on the other hand they want us to honor current and twelve-year-old contracts which in our minds were voided when the LSA broke away from us. I, for one, don’t want my old workers back. We’ve advanced our processes, our new factories are very automated. We’re all afraid the unions will play nice upfront. When the dust settles, they’ll take all of us to court, they’ll want to represent our new factories without a vote, they’ll want to take up the contracts where they were the day they left with most of the rest of the progressives. If your intention is to sell the rejoining by promising them their high paying jobs back, please don’t do it. If it’s something that you’re planning on, then tell us so we can discuss it.”

“I hear you. It’s something that President Rand hasn’t promised the LSA, I don’t think he will. I’ll respond to you within the week.”

“Mr. Vice President, we don’t want the health care program turned around to the way it was twelve years ago. We’ve proven we can reduce costs and increase coverage by just letting insurance companies sell insurance across state lines, people are now able to get up to twenty quotes to choose from. We’re seeing more people getting coverage with lower costs,” Said the President of the United Health Care Company.

“That’s one I can promise you we’re not going to return to.”

The President of Ford asks, “Are we going to have to build a certain percent of electric cars?”

“No, the market will determine what you build.”

“Thanks, that’s very good to hear since our product line for the next three years is already in our pipeline.”

“In fact, our goal is to allow the market to determine what consumers buy, we don’t want a central clearing house, we’ve found a system that works, we have the lowest unemployment in more than sixty years, our GNP has been growing every year, we’ve paid off more than 90% of our debt, we have built a strong free country.”

“Mr. Vice President, then why are you working so hard to reunite the country?”

“Doug, the LSA is going to go bankrupt, when they do, we’re going to be flooded with refugees, we’re looking at a mess. President Rand and I think the better approach is a phase out of the LSA and a reunification of the United States. We think we can manage the costs, we’ll end up with everyone being free, everyone’s lives will be better off. If they crash and we get flooded, it’s going to upset the apple cart.”

“Mr. Vice President, why not just let them fail? They made their bed, let them live in the mess they made.”

“Doug, there are times I’d like to. However, we’re talking about millions of families. Remember the long cold winter when they ran out of heating oil for the North East, they kept saying Global Warming was going to negate the need for a lot of home heating oil, they blew that, if we hadn’t stepped in thousands would have died.”

“Sir, that’s why they can play around, they know we’ll step in to save them.”

“Doug, remember we haven’t responded to their invasion yet. We haven’t ruled out responding at a time of our choosing, I promise you, if we think President Booker is playing games with the election we will respond with a vengeance.”

Chapter 35

President Booker issues a formal protest against using The Blaze Studios in Dallas saying they are owned by Glenn Back and hence they support the USA. President Booker is worried The Blaze staff may have left things behind which would have an impact on the program. President Rand agrees to move the studio location. Wolf and Sean review the list of potential studios, they realize there’s really only one studio large enough and not already booked they can use, the WOLF station in Raleigh, North Carolina. They approach the station’s General Manager, who quickly agrees. Sean calls an Air Force plane to fly everyone back to North Carolina.

The staff at WRAZ, the Raleigh-Durham WOLF News Network, is rushing to prepare their studio for the upcoming program with the Smith and Jones families when Sean arrives at the station. The General Manager quickly jogs to the front to personally greet the President’s Press Secretary. “Mr. Bradley, thank you very much for allowing us to use your studio.”

“Sean, thank you for asking, it’s our pleasure. Let me show you our preparations to see if you want any changes.”

“I’m sure everything will be fine.”

The two walk into the station's studio, Sean looks around smiling, “Mr. Bradley, this is perfect. Thank you so much for building the set so quickly. I hope we didn’t alter your plans too much. I know the President thanks you for going out of your way to build the studio and providing the camera crews for the show.”

“Sean, it’s our pleasure. Thank you for selecting our little studio. It’s going to give us a lot of publicity. Our news crew is overjoyed you selected us. They ran a special showing the rebuilding of the studio in a day.”

“Make sure you give me the invoice for the changes before I leave. I’ll make sure you get paid very quickly.”

“Sean, I trust you to get us paid. How do you like being Press Secretary?”

“I liked having my own show more than I enjoy dealing with the regular media. By the way, the families should arrive in about an hour. Is your make up staff ready?”

“We’re ready, many are excited to meet the families. Did Sissy bring Rebel?”

“I asked her not to bring her to the station. I didn’t think you needed a dog running around. I also brought two staff who were instrumental with the first program, Joan was my sound engineer and Ted was one of the video directors, do you mind if I have them sit in the control booth with your people?”

“Not at all, it’ll be my pleasure to have two very experienced people in the booth with me. Is there anything special we need for the children?”

“Did you get the list I sent?”

“Yes, everything on your list is in stock and ready for them.”

“Great, that should be sufficient.”

As the two walk through the station an intern hands Mr. Bradley a note, he pauses reading it, he turns to Sean. “The Smiths are here as is Wolf who is browbeating the staff. He wants changes made to the studio.”

“Send him to me, don’t change the studio, I’ll handle Wolf.”

The two hear a familiar loud and angry voice yelling at people, trying to order changes in the studio. Sean shakes his head, “Wolf, we’re over here, join us.”

Wolf storms to the corner where the General Manager and Sean are standing. Wolf says, “Sean, have you seen the studio? It has to be changed before both families arrive. I told the workers about changes I want, they ignored me, tell them to make the changes I want.”

“Wolf, it’s not your studio, we’re borrowing Mr. Bradley’s studio. He’s made many changes per MY request. There’s no time to make any additional changes. The Smiths are already here. They’re in the ‘Green Room’ relaxing, their next stop will be make up. Why don’t you head to make up? I’ll meet you there.”

“What about the changes I want?”

“Wolf, do you want us to be building the studio while we’re taping the show? We’re out of time.”

“Why wasn’t I consulted about the design of the sound stage?”

“There wasn’t time. Calm down and go get ready.”

Sean enters the ‘Green Room’, he finds both families are there relaxing, enjoying some snacks and generally in a happy mood. “Hi everyone. Are you all ready to do this again?”

Jason says, “We’re ready, Wolf just wandered through mumbling about the studio is wrong, we looked at it, why is he so upset?”

“Jason, didn’t you notice something was missing in the background?”

“No, what did I miss?”

“The LSA symbol isn’t on the background, neither is the USA symbol, both flags are there, the LSA’s behind your family and the USA flag behind Bob and Carol. The center background is just images of life in both countries. Wolf doesn’t like it.”

“We think it looks nice.”

“You’ll be going to make up in about ten minutes, then you’ll join Wolf and I on the sound set. We’ll do some sound and video checks before we begin.”

Carol asks, “Sean, we didn’t find an outline of the questions, did we miss it?”

Laughing, Sean replies, “Carol, remember this is unscripted, Wolf and I will start with some questions while the audience sends in questions.”

“Oh boy, they can ask us anything?”

“Don’t worry, we’ll censor out any very personal questions.”

“Thanks.”

“Relax, I’ll see you in the studio in about thirty minutes.”

@@@@@

Wolf’s phone rings, “Hello, this is Wolf.”

“Wolf, this is President Booker.”

“Yes sir, what can I do for you?”

“You better make sure the Smith family agrees to return and support us on air, if they stab us in the back your career is finished. Have you found out how they escaped our agents?”

“No, they refuse to say how they made it across the border.”

“Work on the little girl, she likes you, she’ll be easy to break.”

“We have to know how they escaped so we can make sure others don’t use the same method. We can’t have our people slipping away in the middle of the night. I have Dianne ready to respond when you get us the information.”

“Mr. President, I’ll try.”

“Don’t try, just do. Wolf, don’t fail me, failing me is to fail the entire country. If we lose this election, there won’t be an LSA. In addition, Rand will most likely arrest Dianne and me,”

“Mr. President, I’m doing the best I can. My, our, leverage over what the Smith’s say has been drastically reduced.”

“Wolf, find something to hold over their heads, there has to be something you can find to use against them, there has to be some secret they want to remain hidden, if you can’t find one, make one up. Threaten to spread a story about one of their kids that should get them on board.”

“I’ll work on it.”

“Don’t let us down.”

@@@@@

Both families take their chairs, each family is seated on one arm of a large ‘V’ with Wolf and Sean sitting in the middle of the ‘V’. A makeup artist runs to each family member dabbing their foreheads with powder so none shine in the bright lights of the TV cameras. Sean asks, “Is everyone ready?”

Everyone nods yes, Sean smiles saying, “In five, four, three, two, one, Hello everyone in the USA and the LSA, we welcome you back to a new episode of the Smiths and Jones. Tonight we’re not broadcasting from either of our families’ homes, we’re in a studio in Raleigh, North Carolina. We’d like to thank our hosts, WRAZ the local WOLF News Network station which allowed Wolf and I to take over their studio for a few of days. I’m sure the other change, everyone has noticed, is we have both of our families together with us in the same studio. This is sure to add some fireworks as this is the first time both families have shared a common stage together. Our biggest change and most exciting to all of our viewers and listeners is most of our program is going to be based on your live questions. That’s right, you can call, email, post questions on our Facebook page or Tweet them, we have staff standing by to add your questions to the queue. We’d like to thank both President Rand and Booker for allowing us back on the air. Our goal is to allow you to ask anything you’d like to know about life in the LSA and USA ahead of the upcoming election which will decide the fate of both countries. We’ve all suffered through a very stressful few weeks, we hope this opportunity will allow you to get close and personal with real families that lived on each side of the divide. We hope this program will help you decide what’s right for you.

“Before we begin, we’d like to thank both families for taking the time to open their lives to everyone, once again. Both families have endured a lot in the past few months; every aspect of their lives has been recorded and made public. I know I speak for all of us when I say, thank you to both families. It seems like both families have become part of all of our families. Our first question tonight comes from Robert in Seattle, Robert would like to know if each family has a general comment they would like to make about the election.

“I’ll ask the Jones family to go first since we’re in their back yard.”

Bob smiles, he waves to the camera, “Hello everyone, as the father of the Jones family we welcome to you the continuation of our program. People in both the USA and LSA we want to thank you for making our program number one. We’re very excited about the upcoming election, as a Southern family with roots that go back at least two hundred years in history, we’re happy and excited about the election. Honestly, we’re hoping the result of the election will be the reunification of the United States. I understand why President Brownstone allowed the split. He was trying to save all of us from a civil war. He felt, and at the time I agreed with him, that we’d grown too polarized, we were either right or left, neither side spoke to each other, we went out of way to fight with each other. Congress couldn’t get anything done; it was all about scoring points for their side. Our representatives in Congress forgot they worked for us. They made side deals and behind our back deals versus what we the people, who sent them to Washington, wanted them to do.”

“The progressives wanted bigger government, a government that wasn’t a government as much as it was a parent to everyone. If you were naughty, you’d get punished by a visit from the IRS, if you were nice, you get a special tax break. They wanted to provide everyone with everything they thought the people wanted, free healthcare, free college, free phones, free broadband, free food, they forgot it wasn’t their money, it was ours. At the time of the split, we had 50% of the population taking from 50% who worked. Our national debt broke 20 trillion dollars. We didn’t think there was enough money in all the world to pay the debt back. The left and right both started to get violent, the civil war we wanted to avoid turned out to be around the corner. President Brownstone had two choices, to let the country split or fight. He allowed it to split to save tens of thousands, if not millions of lives.”

“The left built the great divide where they set up the progressive state of the LSA. We in the USA got back to our roots, we embraced capitalism, we embraced technology. We tied our currency to precious metals, we reduced our real unemployment to almost nothing, we paid down most of our national debts, we changed Obsamcare to something workable, we allowed insurance companies to sell across state lines, we put caps on malpractice suits, we encouraged midwives and nurse practitioners. Start up companies built ‘Docs on wheels’, mobile doctors offices they drove into the inner cities and very rural areas bringing medical care to many who didn’t usually have it. They were paid by the insurance companies, health care improved, our people’s lives improved, our life spans increased. Our economy grew by leaps and bounds. Tax cuts put money in our pockets, money we spent which created jobs, tax breaks were given to companies that opened offices in the inner cities, slowly but surely we rebuilt our cities. Are we perfect? Far from it, but most of us are happy, healthy and doing a lot better than we were before the split.”

Wolf asks, “Bob, then why do you want to unify the country?”

“Because the LSA is hurting. I didn’t know it until the program was on the air and we learned from the Smiths how life in the LSA really was. We learned the LSA gave up faith and belief in God. I’m not saying that belief in God is mandatory. I learned as a young child that morality comes from the bible. Without morality what are we? Without knowing right from wrong how do we pass and obey laws? We’ve become too politically correct, when everything insults someone, how do people communicate? How can people express themselves if everything is banned because it might insult someone in some manner?”

Wolf continues, “Bob, why do you say the LSA is hurting? We’re doing great, just ask anyone in the LSA.”

“Wolf, why don’t we ask Jason and Sharon, they’re sitting across from us. They have recent first-hand experience.”

Wolf, realizing he got caught in his own words, worries what the Smiths are going to say.

Jason and Sharon smile at each other and into the camera, Sharon begins, “Hello again everyone, it’s our pleasure to be with you again. Wolf and Bob just asked us what we think about what he said; frankly six months ago I would have said we were happy, we were living in the right country. Our government loved and looked after us, they cared about us. After arriving here to visit the Jones family, we’ve learned we didn’t know what we didn’t know. We’ve been here for three weeks. In those three weeks, I think I can speak for my entire family when I say, people of the LSA, government isn’t supposed to be our parent or babysitter, it’s supposed to protect our country and guide trade. We made the central government of the LSA into an all-powerful parent. We stepped back realizing we didn’t like being spied on 24 hours a day, we didn’t like the idea the government looked over our shoulder at every website we visited. They knew everything we ordered online, monitored and even blocked many websites from us. We realized we’d become slaves of the government. When the population works for the government, when the government supplies our utilities, when the government supplies our phone and broadband, our entertainment, we are their property. There're no checks and balances in the LSA.”

“When we left on our vacation the LSA government was deep in debt, they are going to run out of money in a few weeks. The last time I checked our accounts I learned that the government took 15% of everyone’s savings as a ‘shared responsibility tax’. Who asked us? Who gave them permission to reach into our pockets and take our money, our children’s savings? They took 15% of every account. We didn’t get so much as a thank you note, we got a receipt for taxes paid. This was done without even telling us it was going to happen. In fact, if in the five days before the government took our money there was a balance 10% higher, we had to pay the difference in what the government took and what they thought they were going to get! America was formed over taxation without representation, isn’t that what’s going on today in the LSA?”

Wolf jumps up trying to stop Sharon, “Sharon, I’m sure you get many services for your tax dollars, remember when we filmed at your home how happy you were to have the DepLIES keep their eyes on your family, how happy you were new schools were being built, that you had a good job, that you had enough to eat and fresh water to drink. You were happy you were doing your part to save the planet? Look at the USA, they refused to sign or honor any of the Global Warming treaties, we have to work three times as hard to save the planet because of them. Please let me touch on Bob’s point about faith and God. What’s right and wrong is easy to answer, it’s what’s correct under the law and what isn’t. Should one religion be above another? Should a religion force its beliefs on another? This is what happens when religions are allowed to flourish and grow. The various religions fight each other. We worked very hard for many years to pull our people’s hands off the various religious symbols and false faith. You spoke of right and wrong, everyone knows what’s right and what’s wrong; you don’t need a Church, Temple or a Mosque to know right from wrong.”

Jason adds, “One thing I can add we’ve learned, since we've arrived in the USA, is respect. Yes, respect. Families here don’t fear their government or police forces, they respect each other. We walked the streets, we went shopping, we saw police, we assumed there had to be something like our DepLIES watching everyone, we soon learned we were wrong. I can say it feels nice not to have to always be watched and listened to. We like being able to walk around outside and not worry someone is the neighborhood spy. We like being able to use the internet without censorship.”

Wolf jumps in, “Jason, what about if Scott or Sissy visited one of the USA plentiful porn sites?”

“I don’t worry about it, after all, back home they share gyms, locker rooms and restrooms with each other. It’s not like they haven’t seen the other sex naked. Sharon and I talked about it, we think the less of an issue we make it, the less they’ll go to those sites. We have spoken to them about it, they understand those sites aren’t real life.”

Scott says, “I got to go to the range with Leon, he and his dad taught me how to shoot a rifle, it was a lot of fun. I can’t wait till we go again, and I got a ride in a car with 500 horsepower. It was the most fun afternoon I’ve ever had.”

Wolf is so shocked, he almost screams, “Scott, you held a gun? A real firearm? You fired it? I hope when you return home you’ll be reporting to one of the doctors who will check you out, both mentally and physically to make sure you weren’t harmed, we’d hate to find out you were mentally affected by this violent incident.”

“Wolf, it was fun, you should try it sometime. I got a couple of bull’s-eyes.”

“Scott, please don’t talk about using weapons for the rest of the program, we don’t want to scare your friends back home. We wouldn’t want them to think you’re mentally unstable and not hang out with you.”

“Mr. Wolf, it’s not like that, everyone here goes shooting, Leon even invited me to go hunting with him.”

“Scott, I have to ask you to stop speaking about this subject, I’m afraid you’re causing some mental anguish to the peace loving people back home.”

“Mr. Wolf, I don’t think we’re going home. We all like it here. It’s like a breath of fresh and new air.”

Sean says, ‘I think it’s time to take another question, this one is from Eileen in Oakland, California, Eileen asks if the Smith’s feel any discrimination in the USA.”

Jason replies, “Eileen, we worried about the same thing, we can honestly tell you, NO, we’ve been welcomed with open arms everywhere we go.”

Sean continues, “We have a question from Joe in New York City, “How are African-Americans treated? Are they discriminated against? Are they treated as second-class citizens?”

Sharon says, “Joe, not that we’ve seen. We got a tour of a couple large cities, many central cities have been rebuilt and there are many companies that have offices in the cities. We didn’t notice discrimination, then again, we’re not African-American, you might see something we didn’t. You might feel or sense things due to your upbringing we couldn’t see. We did notice some areas still have scars from the riots. Some are burnt. We didn’t feel any discrimination because we’re from the LSA. We were welcomed everywhere we went.”

Wolf says, “There’s the LSA education and equality speaking.”

Sharon continues, “Joe, I can tell you on the Jones’ street are four African-American families, we had a street BBQ with everyone, no one treated these families any different from anyone else.”

Wolf says, “They may have been coached.”

Sharon asks, “By whom? They don’t have a DepLIES.”

“I’m sure they have something similar, maybe you just haven’t seen it yet.”

The show went on for three hours with more than seventy questions answered on the air and over one thousand responded to online. At the end of the three hours, both families are exhausted and tired. Wolf looks over to the Smiths saying, “I wish you would have been more supportive of our cause.”

Jason says, “Wolf, we were the biggest supporters of the LSA. The original show started to open our eyes to the reality. The straw that broke our back, and I think many others, was your new ‘Shared Responsibility Tax.’ Why do we have to share the responsibility of bad government decisions when we had no say in how you spent our tax money? Where do you get the authority to steal our hard earned money? Where do you come off stealing, which is what it is, stealing our children’s savings accounts? How can we teach fiscal responsibility when you show them it’s OK to steal when you need something? President Booker threw morality out of the window. We’re not going back. Tomorrow night I’m going to do everything I can to convince people to vote for unification.”

“Jason, you’ll be dooming the LSA.”

“I’ll be saving the people from the evil of President Booker! Between him saying minorities are held to a lower standard and the stealing of our assets, my family has had enough of your phony equality. We’re not equal. There are three classes in the LSA, the political class which are on the top of the pyramid, the middle section is the various minorities and the illegals who get better benefits than we, the tax paying families of your progressive paradise. We’re the bottom rung. We pay for the two-thirds who take, while we work our asses off to give. We’ve seen here that the harder you work, the further you can go. I’ve talked with Bob about an idea I have; he’s talked to Carol, who’s going to introduce me to the CEO/Entrepreneur of the company she works for. She thinks he may help fund my idea. In the LSA, this couldn’t happen. I couldn’t pass the government technology panel because my skin is white; you give extra points for those you claim have been held back. That isn’t fair or equal treatment.”

“You know you’re going to lose everything that was in your home, plus all of your savings. If the sale of your assets and your savings don’t cover the income tax you, would owe for the next five years, you will be billed for the difference.”

“Good luck trying to collect it. I’ll use this tomorrow on air, I’m sure a lot of people will find it interesting that we have to pay to leave the LSA.”

“Now wait a minute, maybe I can do something to help you, let me ask the Department of Revenue to run an analysis. Then we can talk again.”

“You ask anyone you want. It doesn’t mean anything to me. We knew we might not ever see anything in our house again. It’s OK with us. We’ve been given a small grant to help us restart our lives. Sharon has been invited to interview for a position at a major healthcare insurance company for a position that would pay her much more than we both earned in the LSA. We’re going to be OK restarting over again. Our kids are happy and learning the differences, they are happy here.”

“Jason, I take it, you’ve made up your mind not to return. Is there anything we can do to get you back?”

“No, and I really mean it. We’re not going back unless that part of the LSA unites with the USA. Then, and only then, we might go home again if our home and belongings are still there. I think you’ve already stripped our home.”

“I have no information that anyone has been in your home. I’m glad to hear you admit you left without an exit permit. The DepRev and the DepLIES will be in touch with you.”

“Bullshit.”

Chapter 36

President Booker tells Dianne, “We have to do something about the Smiths, they are killing our favorable ratings. Since they were our family on the original program, when they turned against us people are listening to them. In one three-hour broadcast, they’ve really hurt us. The polling before tonight’s program showed we were winning, the polling right after the program shows we are losing. Public support for our country is dropping like a lead balloon. If the current curve continues unabated, we’re going to lose the election.”

“Mr. President, we could make them disappear.”

“Dianne, it would have to be done today. If they make the broadcast tonight they may seal our doom. How are you going to accomplish this in a few hours and 3000 miles away?”

“We have agents all over the USA, we have a couple in North Carolina; we placed them there in case we needed to deal with the Jones family in the first show.”

President Booker pauses, he gets up and paces his office, “Dianne, this can never be traced back to us. If the dots were connected and they led to us, we would not only lose the election, we would be arrested for murder. Tell me your plan.”

“Sir, I’m not sure you want to know all of the details. It’s safer for you if you don’t know the how and when. When the reporters ask you about what happened, you’ll look and actually be surprised, the press will see your surprise and be assured you didn’t have anything to do with it.”

“I know you’re right, it’s just I hate not knowing, but go ahead Dianne, make sure it looks like an accident.”

“Trust me.”

“Do I have a choice?”

Dianne leaves President Booker’s office while he thinks if she succeeds I can hang her out to dry. After all, I don’t have any details. There’s nothing in writing, no phone or recording device is allowed in my office, except for my recording devices. If she succeeds, it will go to her head. I’ll hold a press conference where I’ll inform the press my own investigation discovered she was behind the murder of the Smiths, such a shame, I’ll have her executed to prove the LSA didn’t have anything to do with the attack. Who am I going to replace her with?

Dianne entered her office thinking to herself, I don’t trust the SOB, as soon as the deed is done and the press starts asking what happened, he’s going to toss me under the bus. It’s a good thing I have a micro recording device in my pen. I’ll have my tech staff edit the conversation so it sounds like it was all his idea. When he throws me under the bus, I’ll play the recording, I’ll end up as President.

@@@@@

In North Carolina, Jason is worried, he whispers to his wife, “Why don’t you take a little walk with me outside.”

“OK, is something wrong?”

“I want to talk to you, but not in the hotel room, I’m not sure there aren’t recording devices in the room and I don’t want the kids to hear us.”

“Let me get my coat.”

Jason knocks on the door to Scott’s room, “Scott, mom and I are going to take a little walk, do us a favor and keep an ear open for Sissy.”

“Sure dad.”

Jason and Carol walk out of the hotel, they walk on the path around to the back of the hotel where the pool is located. “Honey, what’s bothering you?”

“I’m worried Booker is going to try to shut us up.”

“Do you think he can reach us here?”

“The DepLIES can reach anyone anywhere. It won't surprise me if they have agents staying in the hotel keeping an eye on us.”

“What about the kids?”

“I expect the DepLIES will take them out with us, he won’t let them live to talk.”

“He would hurt our children?”

“He doesn’t have a heart, he will hurt anyone who gets in his way. We’re currently in his way. Wolf tipped his hand at the studio tonight. He almost begged us to lay off the LSA a little, he begged us to go along just to be safe. Did you notice he wouldn’t look us in the eyes when we wrapped the show? He looked sad; he turned his head away from us when we were leaving the soundstage. I think he knows Booker is going to create an accident for us.”

“What can we do? Should we call Bob and Carol?”

“I was thinking about that, I’m afraid they may think we’re making it up, they don’t have experience living in fear of the DepLIES like we do. They don’t understand the DepLIES can reach anyone anywhere.  I don’t want them or Sean to think we’re making up an excuse to try to enhance our message.”

“What should we do? We can’t lock ourselves in our rooms. Is there someone we can call or trust to help us?”

“I really don’t know. What do you think about talking to Bob and Carol?”

“If you really believe we and the kids are in danger, do we have a choice?”

“Not any I can think of.”

“When should we call?”

“I thought I’d use the cell they gave us, the hotel may be bugging our phone.”

“Honey, we’re in the USA now, they don’t bug every phone call.”

“Sharon, do you remember the NSA? Don’t you remember back in 2014 when it came out that the NSA was listening to everyone’s discussions?”

“I heard that Brownstone issued an executive order forcing them to stop it right after the split.”

“I still don’t trust them. I’m going to call Bob and ask him if we can meet them face to face. Maybe it’s nothing, but I’m used to worrying we’re always being listened to.”

Nodding in her agreement, Sharon agrees with Jason, who dials the Jones’ home.

“Hello, this is Leon.”

“Hi Leon, this is Jason, is you mom or dad there?”

“Sure, hold on while I get them for you.”

Leon hands the phone to his father, “Hi Jason, what’s up? Need to chat about the show tonight?”

“No, something else, I know it’s late and everyone is tired from the program, can I ask a really big favor? Would it be possible for us to meet?”

“Sure, do you want to come here? Or us there?”

“I think us coming to you might be better, we can be there in thirty minutes.”

“Come on down.”

“Thanks, we really appreciate it.”

Hanging up Carol asks, “Honey what’s wrong? You have a strange look on your face.”

“That was Jason, something is bothering him, they want to come over to see us.”

“Oh? I hope they’re OK, what did you tell them?”

“I said they could come over.”

“Should we call Sean?”

“Let’s wait to see what they have to say. I hope they aren’t going to back out of the program. I wonder if the LSA is threatening them. Maybe I ought to contact Sean, he may have some ideas.”

“I agree.”

Sean grabs his cell wondering who’s calling him at this hour, “Hello.”

“Sean, this is Bob, we have a situation.”

Coming to full attention, Sean asks, “What’s going on?”

“Jason called, he sounded very worried, they’re coming over. We don’t know why or what they want, we’re concerned enough to call you for your advice.”

“I’ll be right there. If they arrive before me, please try to stall them.”

Sean knocks on the door of his secret service agent, “We’re going to Bob and Carol’s house, something is up, Jason and Sharon are worried about something, they’re going to the Jones’ home.”

“I’m ready, I’ll get the car, I’m going to call for backup.”

“Do you think that’s required?”

“I’d rather be safe than sorry. I’ll see you at the car in a minute.”

Sean grabs his briefcase, by the time he reaches the front of the hotel, his Suburban is waiting for him. “Sean, I called the RTP office, four agents are in transit, ETA fifteen minutes.”

Sean and the Smiths arrive at the same time, they walk into the Jones home at the same time, two minutes later the secret service agents arrive, agents take up positions at the front and rear doors while the other two enter the house. Jason smiles saying, “We’re going to be a little crowded, sorry about that.”

Jason explains the situation and his gut feeling they are in danger. Bob starts to say something when the lead secret service agent cuts him off. “Jason, you did the right thing calling, you should have called us or Sean directly, we could have gotten to you quicker. I’ll assign an agent to each of you, I have two agents on the way to the hotel to keep an eye on Scott and Sissy. They should be there in less than five minutes.”

“Thank you. I didn’t call you or Sean because I didn’t want to be thought of as a ‘Chicken Little.’”

“Don’t worry about that. I’d rather you call than something happens to you. I have some calls to make. Why don’t you leave your rental car here and return to the hotel with three of the agents?”

“Thank you.”

Carol and Sharon hug each other sharing an unspoken concern for each other’s family. The lead agent whispers to Sean, “Sir, I’m having four agents cover the Jones too. If the DepLIES can’t reach the Smiths they, may decide to hit Bob and Carol to scare the Smiths.”

“Good idea. I’m going to call D.C. I want to use the secure phone in the truck.”

Ten minutes later Sean returns smiling, “I should have known.”

“Sir?”

“Vice President Brownstone expected Booker to try something, he has a special team following a DepLIES hit team.”

“So there is a hit team watching the Smiths?”

“Yes, there are two teams here, they are being watched by what the VP called one of his special teams.”

“I wonder why they didn’t inform me. If something happened, it would be on my head. I have to issue a red alert to all of my teams.”

“Maybe because the Smiths aren’t a government family. Have you ever met the VP’s special team?”

“No, I’ve heard rumors he has a special friend who leads a wet team, is that really true?”

“I can’t say what he does, I’ve met the Colonel and can tell you, no one wants to be on his wrong side.”

“Sean, granted. However, the Director assigned the Smiths as a VIP family to be watched and protected during the program, I was told they were deemed important to the security of the USA.”

“I’m sorry, they didn’t tell me either. Do you have enough people to watch both families?”

“Yes, I’m also getting ten additional agents from South Carolina. They’re in transit as we talk.”

@@@@@

“Colonel the first team is starting to move, the second team left their hotel a few minutes ago.”

Colonel Grover shakes his head, “I didn’t think the SOB would really do it, but he is. Tell team alpha to take their target down. Tell team beta to wait until their target has left the hotel, let them get to one of the preselected locations away from any bystanders then take them down. Send two men to the Smith’s hotel to make sure the bastards don’t have a couple of agents hanging around the hotel.”

“Yes sir. Sir, we have reports of the secret service moving to protect them.”

“Let the secret service know we’re here, we’ll be hung for a blue on blue hit.”

“Yes sir.”

Colonel Grover calls the VP to inform him the LSA has made their move. “Sir, the LSA hit teams have left their hotel, they must have been given the ‘GO’ code. If I were Dianne, I’d want to take them out in the middle of the night, maybe take out the entire hotel in a gas explosion or a car accident. Anything to keep them off the air tomorrow.”

“Colonel, do whatever you need to, I want the Smiths on television tomorrow.”

“Yes sir, they will be there.”

“Colonel, I know they will be. Keep me informed.”

Colonel Grover smiles thinking, I should have been allowed to take all of the snakes down. Maybe when this is over and the election is completed, I may take a little vacation time. I’d like to visit a few people who’ve sucked the blood out of their people. I don’t think the VP will mind.

The two LSA hit teams have orders to take out the Smith family, their orders are to set up an auto accident as the first choice, the second option was to rig a gas explosion at the hotel, taking out the entire hotel. The hit teams didn’t know they were being watched by Grover’s team. Grover had remarked to his team leaders that the LSA hit teams were easy to locate and track, they stood out like someone wearing a three piece suit at Woodstock. Not many of his staff knew what the Colonel meant, they just assumed it was a funny joke.

The LSA hit teams crossed a deserted intersection about five miles from the Carolina House Hotel when their Tahoe was pulled over by a police car. The LSA driver said, “Be cool, don’t pull your weapons, we must have broken one of their silly traffic laws, keep your mouths shut.”

The two police officers walked to Tahoe, “License and registration, please.”

“Sir, is there a problem?”

“You were speeding. I’ll be right back, please stay in your car.”

The police officer turns to return to his car, the LSA agents don’t see him pulling a silenced automatic pistol from inside his shirt, he spins firing into the car, he’s joined by his partner who fires into the passenger side. A minute later, the four agents in the Tahoe are dead.                        “Call it in, have them send the flatbed truck to pick this mess up and dispose of it.”

“Captain, already done, they want us to wait here until the truck arrives in case someone gets nosy.”

“WILCO, easy mission.”

“Wish they were all so easy.”

The second team follows their target who is driving slowly in a black Suburban towards the Carolina House Hotel, “I tell you, we made a wrong turn, we should have been there already.”

“I’m going the same way we went yesterday, wish the damn street lights worked, can’t read the street signs. I wish they let us use the Nav system.”

“If we did it could be traced the police would see every place we’ve been. It would help them trace it back to us.”

Look, there’s a guy walking his dog, let’s ask him. Pulling over to the man and dog, the passenger rolls his window down, “Hello, can you help us?”

“Sure, what do you need?”

“Directions to the Carolina House Hotel.”

The man leans toward the car, he silently draws a silenced UZI pistol from a pocket on his backpack, he fires into the car on full auto. He sprays 32 9MM bullets into the Suburban killing everyone in it. He picks up his cell saying, “Task complete. Need clean up.”

He’s ordered to wait until the Suburban is taken away. He leans over to pat the dog on her head giving her a dog treat. “Good girl, you’re a good girl.”

“Colonel, both teams have reported in, mission accomplished. Clean up should be completed within fifteen minutes.”

“Excellent. Tell everyone good job. I have a call to make. Dialing Sean, Grover says, “Sean, this is the leader of the Vice President’s protection detail. I’d like to inform you that my people discovered and took down two LSA DepLIES hit teams who were on the way to the Carolina house. My people will continue to keep an eye on the Smiths.”

“Thank you, I suggest you contact the secret service special agent in charge, he’s a little upset he didn’t know you were working his case.”

“Thanks, I’ll reach out to him. We work for different departments.”

Dialing the secret service, “Please listen closely, I’m Colonel Grover, I lead Vice President Brownstone’s protection detail. My team was dispatched here to protect the Smith family from a possible LSA wet team. We located the two wet teams, we followed them and took both teams down a few minutes ago.”

“Why wasn’t I informed you were here?”

“Above my pay grade. I’m calling to give you a heads up.”

“Colonel, thank you for the information. I’ve doubled my agents watching both families.”

“We’re watching both of them also, let’s try not to kill each other.”

“How will I know you?”

“We’ll know you, I know where most of your people are. I’ll stay away from them.”

“I guess I have to trust you. You don’t leave me any choice.”

“Agent, thank you. I’ll be in touch.”

Chapter 37

Dianne reviews the reports from North Carolina, she reads that her two assassination teams have left to take out the Smith family, however, two hours later she hasn’t received an update. She takes a secure phone from her desk, she texts a “?” to the only number in speed dial which is the team leader in  North Carolina, she gets back a message, “You tried to kill innocent families, we’re coming for you next.”

She drops the phone in shock. She knows her teams are gone and if the message is to be believed she’s next on their list. She believes the message, somehow her two teams had been intercepted, somehow someone got to the gas lines in the Gray House. She once thought the explosion was an accident, her crime scene teams informed her the Gray House gas line had been altered, the explosion wasn’t an accident. President Bloomberg was murdered. She didn’t know if it was Booker or the USA. Dianne thought she ought to figure out where she could hide from the USA hit teams that she knew would be coming for her. She also worried that Booker would try to get rid of her.

Her phone rings, “Hello.”

“Dianne, this is President Booker, do you have something to tell me?”

“Sir?”

“Should I prepare a tear-filled speech about the loss of the Smith family or you?”

“Sir, I don’t have any information yet.”

“Please keep me informed.”

“Yes sir.”

Thinking, I’m going to walk out of my office as I normally do and disappear. If I show up tomorrow, either the USA or Booker are going to kill me. I’ll tell my security team I have a private meeting in the morning. I should be able to slip out using the escape tunnel, get into the plain gray car and disappear.

After arriving home she notices everything’s in place, nothing looks different. She changes into casual clothing, sneakers, and a ski jacket, she takes the hidden staircase in her bedroom to the tunnel which was built into the Director of the DepLIES’ home to allow a quick and hidden escape. Not even most of her security detail know about it. It’s been kept secret in case of an attempted coup. She slips into the tunnel, she doesn’t hear or see anyone as she starts to make her way to the parked car hidden two miles away. She sighs when she reaches the car without running into anyone, she sits in the car for a moment to catch her breath and lower her racing pulse. She smiles as she touches the button marked START. As she does the car explodes. A USA agent watching 100 yards away says into his phone, “Stuffed bird.”

“Colonel, we have confirmation Dianne’s gone, she made it to the car which somehow must have had a wiring problem with its battery. The car exploded, nothing is left of it.”

“Thank you, Captain.”

Grover smiles saying, “One to go.”

@@@@@

Vice President Brownstone smiles when he ends the call with Colonel Grover, his last instruction to the Colonel was to hang around the television program to make sure nothing happened to either family or host. Rod thought to himself, Well Dianne you wanted to be a player, that’s what happens when you pick the wrong side and when you try to kill an innocent family. Shame on you. I almost hoped the Colonel would have given you a more painful ending. I would have liked to see the look on your face the millisecond you had left when you realized your hidden car was blowing up. You thought we didn’t know about the tunnel, the NSA hacked all of your systems, we know every secret you thought was hidden away. Your progressive paradise is nothing more than a slave country. You enslave your people so you and the other elites do anything you want. You won’t be lonely in Hell, we sent Bloomberg ahead of you, Booker will follow shortly.

President Rand knocks on Rod’s office door “Rod, you still here?”

“Yes sir, come on in.”

“Why are you sitting in the dark?”

“I hadn’t realized I was, I was lost in thought.”

“Are you OK?”

“Yes, very much so. What can I do for you?”

“I thought we might discuss our next steps over a late dinner.”

“Excellent idea, I think I forgot to have dinner.”

“I know, the staff told me. Why don’t you spend the night here instead of going home? Kelly was saying just yesterday that she hasn’t seen you in a while.”

“You talked me into it.”

As the two men are walking down the hall towards the stairs to the residence, a Marine aide snaps to attention, he salutes the two men, handing the VP a sealed envelope. The VP and President return his salute. Rod opens the envelope, reading the message inside, smiling he hands it to the President who nods smiling. Rod says to the aide, “Please tell the general, thank you.”

“Yes sir.”

“Rod so it appears the Director of the LSA DepLIES had a fatal accident. Such a shame, sometimes those large battery packs overheat.”

“Yes, accidents happen.”

The President doesn’t ask the question on his mind deciding he doesn’t want to know the answer. “Rod, who do you think Booker will tap to lead the DepLIES next?”

“No idea, whoever it is will most likely be worse than Dianne. Booker will do anything he can to sway the upcoming election.”

The two men, trying not to look as tired as they felt, walk into the residence dining room, Rod says, “I’m not sure if I want dinner or breakfast.”

“I know, let’s ask the kitchen to cook us up some steak and eggs, that way we’ll have both at the same time.”

Laughing, Rod nods his agreement.

@@@@@

The second program kicks off with a very nervous Wolf trying to convince viewers everyone is better off with a separate progressive state. He goes on to say, “Without the LSA we progressives would be trying to convince the rest of the USA we were right and you were wrong. Many remember the way it used to be, government got nothing done due to all of the internal fighting. We’re all much better off with two countries.”

A caller to the program says they have a question for Wolf, “I want to make sure I understand you correctly. You said if the people on both sides of the divide vote to come together, you think we’re making a mistake because you progressives are going to act like spoiled two-year-olds and cause problems for the country because you didn’t get your way? What happened to do the best for all of the county’s people?”

“I didn’t catch your name, never mind, you have to understand, we progressives know we have the answer. We are planning the perfect society.”

“Your perfect society, the LSA seems to resemble George Orwell’s 1984 more than it does a paradise.”

Jason laughs saying, “Speaking as a family who lived in the progressive paradise, it’s nice to be here in the USA. We’re learning this is closer to paradise than the LSA, which tries to control everything including our very thoughts. Right and wrong is what the government says it is, it could all change tomorrow, the people are supposed to just accept the daily changes. We’re not supposed to think for ourselves, we’re supposed to be good little robots, yes sir, no sir, we’ll do our job to build a progressive paradise. We’ll happily pay high taxes so sixty-fiverpercent of the country can stay home and do nothing while the thirty-five percent of us can support them. Those of us who are lucky to have a job work for the government which owns everything, every company, every utility. The unions, which are supposed to protect us from the bad management practices, are also managed by the government. The LSA was founded on a belief everyone was equal, everyone was entitled to certain rights, these rights came not from the creator or God, but from the government who also could just as easily take them away from us. Hate speech is anything that the government says it is. No one can speak out against the government. Anyone who speaks out against President Booker is racist. Anyone who doesn’t accept everything President Booker says is a racist. Racism has been turned into the most used abused adjective. Anyone who protests at their job is a racist. Anyone who doesn’t like the new ‘Shared Responsibility Tax’ is a racist. I could continue, but I’m sure you get the idea.”

Wolf says, “Jason, it’s not that bad.”

“Isn’t it? Please provide one example where a news reporting organization reported anything negative, please, why don’t you explain to everyone watching how many people are kept in the re-education camps in the far North West Terrortiy above the Artic Circle. Why don’t you tell the viewers the number of families that disappear in the middle of the night?  Why don’t you tell the viewers about the new LSA laws which force the local police into a quota system of arrests, the number of people arrested in a thirty day period has to equal the percentage the types of people living in the community. This means that if a community has thirty percent African-Americans living in; no more than thirty percent can be arrested that month. It has no relationship the amount of crime or who committed the crimes. Certain minorities track crime stats, when the quota is reached for them that month, they have no fear of being arrested. Is this the equality you preached in the founding of the LSA? In the LSA, we are all treated as racists-in-waiting, we are all just one step away from being a criminal. We left because we did the unthinkable, we committed the most serious crime that can be committed in the LSA, we began to think for ourselves and to question the decisions our caring and loving government were making.”

Sharon picks up the conversation, “We lived our entire lives either as progressives in the USA state of Oregon or in the progressive country of the LSA, we discovered things were improving only in the government’s and the media’s eyes. In reality, things weren’t improving at all. People disappeared for disagreeing with those in power, our children were taught to spy on us. They were taught a completely different world history than what’s true. The government worked daily to remove all vestiges of religion. We were supposed to accept that everything we had, came from the government. There was no creator or God, there was no Messiah. We would be saved only by our President and by following the orders of the DepLIES. We’d like to address everyone living in the LSA.” Sharon leans forward staring into the camera; “You are people, each of you is unique. We have rights which have been given to us by God, or the creator whichever you want to call him. Our President is a man, he can be and usually is wrong. We have free choice, we have the right to decide for ourselves. We shouldn’t go to bed at night worried if the government is going to kick in outdoor at 3AM and take us away. Do you want to be free? Do you want your children to grow up to a better life than you have? Do you want to live your life without being spied on? Do you want to be able to disagree with your managers? Do you want the right to do with your earnings what you want? If you answer yes to any of these questions, then you have to vote to join the USA. Do your family a favor, do your future generations a favor and vote to join the USA. Staying separate means disaster. Your children will grow up in a country that resembles a prison camp more than a country. The government will control what they think, where they work, where they go to school, what they eat and even how long they sleep. Anything the government decides in their wisdom, will be banned. Soon we’ll all be living on bread and water because everything else will be banned.”

“There are so many departments and layers in the government, those who make the laws are too far removed from us who have to follow their rules. They don’t understand us because they live in another world. They don’t worry about the cost of food or where the money is coming from to pay the electric bill or put food on the table. The more people the government hires, the further it pushes them away from us. Unless the LSA government cuts hundreds of layers between us and those who make our laws, we’re lost. We might as well be on another planet.”

“Since we’ve been in the USA we’ve learned that capitalism is really the best economic system, it rewards the winners and punishes the losers, capitalism improves the lives of people, it supplies new products and services quicker than any other system. It reduces prices quicker. Look at the personal computer, look at the 4D DVD players, I remember buying our first DVD player when they were $500, now you can purchase a 4D DVD player for $30, and that includes 3 years of movie downloads. Workers are rewarded for their effort, more people have been able to work their way from being poor to the middle class and even become rich through capitalism. Socialism holds people back, it ensures people stay in the class they were born in or it forces them into a lower class through high taxes.”

“Progressivism, Socialism, whatever you want to call it encourages and forces an entitlement mentality. People learn to rely on the government, they learn they don’t have to work, they don’t have to do anything. Look at the LSA, more than half of their population does nothing. When people do nothing society stagnates or erodes.”

“Trust us, think about what we’re saying. Think about what you’ve heard, think about what’s happened in the past twelve years. Think about your children and their children.”

The show ends with a display of all of the items the LSA has outlawed or banned.  The list runs for five long minutes.

Sean says, “I want to thank both of you for taking on these long and stressful days. No matter what happens in the election, the country thanks you.”

Both families nod their heads. Leon says, “Scott, let’s check out our new FB page, yesterday we got over 50,000 likes and friend requests.”

“Yeah, many of them are really cute. I can’t wait to see who posts tonight.”

Carol and Sharon shake their heads. Carol says, “Sharon, I’m sorry Leon has rubbed off on Scott.”

“It’s OK, they’re teenagers, at least he has a chance now to be a normal teenager.”

Jason says, “The election is in a week, how do you think it’s going to go?”

Wolf says, “You tried hard to change history, but you’re going to see the inner strength of the LSA, people know we have the answers, we are the path forward not the slavers in the USA.”

Bob says, “Wolf, I don’t own a single slave, none of my ancestors owned a slave, what’s with all of the slavery bullshit?”

“Capitalism is slavery.”

Jason laughs saying, “Wolf I think your mind is decaying, you’re not making any sense. You know damn well capitalism isn’t slavery.”

“Yes it is, you make your workers into slaves.”

Sharon laughs saying, “Wolf, isn’t it time for you to go home? By the way, what are you going to do if you lose the election?”

“What do you mean?”

“Where are you going to go? You won’t be able to stay here, no one believes you anymore.”

Laughing Wolf says, “You don’t understand the power of the press, we form your opinions, we form your thoughts, we tell you what to believe. If the vote goes against the LSA, I’ll just work my way back into favor with the new media. We always win. You never spend the time to investigate what we’re saying. You take what we say as the gospel. In the end, we always win.” Laughing Wolf shakes his head as he packs his briefcase.

Chapter 38

President Booker sits in his new office reviewing the ‘instapolls’; he’s depressed by the numbers in the report he’s reading. The recent television program with the Smith and Jones families is destroying his hope the people of the LSA will vote to maintain their independence from the USA. He calls his recently appointed Director of the DepLIES, Leh Johson.  Booker convinced Leh to come out of retirement to take over the DepLIES after Dianne died in a tragic battery explosion, supposedly a rare occurance but it happens a dozen times a month which they’ve covered up for years. “Leh, what are we going to do about the election?”

“With the Council of Fifteen watching every voting location, my people aren’t allowed within 1 mile of any voting location, I don’t know what to do. We can’t send illegals to vote because the security force is checking everyone’s embedded ID chip, we had to give them a list of our citizens, they’re matching them against those who vote, we won’t be able to have people vote two or three times. We can’t bus people from one voting site to another. I think we’re going to have to let the people vote.”

“Leh, you know as well as I do, people don’t understand the issues, they vote for jobs or food or when we pay them.”

“We could pay them, promise to pay everyone a bonus for voting for us.”

“We can’t, the security group told me this morning they are spot checking people’s bank accounts to ensure we didn’t pay them.”

“We could pay them later after the security groups leave.”

“I tested that message. Most people questioned, laughed. They don’t trust me! I don’t believe they don’t trust me. I’m insulted by the implication I’m not trustworthy.”

“How about creating a charity to pay the funds from.”

“That’s an interesting idea. Why don’t you check out how to pull it together, we’re almost out of time. The election is in two days.”

“I’ll get right on it.”

As Leh leaves President Booker’s office, his admin tells him the commanding General of the security force is waiting to see him. “Damn, I guess I have to see him.”

The General is shown into Booker’s office, “Mr. President, I have a formal complaint to file with you today.”

“General Smyth, how many of these protests do you plan to bring me?”

“As many as needed, one for every major breach of the protocols governing the election. We have interviewed people who are asking us when they can expect payment for their vote. Sir, we have informed you that we will discard the ballots of everyone who’s been paid or informs us that they’ve been paid to vote a certain way. As of today, 40% of the early ballots have been discarded.”

“40%? You can’t be serious. That’s crazy. You’re disenfranchising our people.”

“Mr. President, I’m not disenfranchising them, you and your government are. Here’s the official protest form.”

President Booker waits until the General leaves his office before he balls up the protest form and throws it away thinking, We’re screwed. There’s no way we’re going to win this election. The damn Smith’s sealed our fate when they snuck out and took their bullshit case on television. I hate them. I swear if they cost me my position of president for life I will get them, I’ll kill all four of them.

@@@@@

President Rand looks over to Vice President Brownstone, “It looks like we’re going to win.”

“That’s when the real work begins. We’re going to have to undo all of the damage the damn LSA did in the previous twelve years. I’ve been thinking that maybe we should set up an area for the hardcore progressives to live. Someplace they can live among like-minded people, where hopefully they won’t screw with others. We can even give them some independent self-government.”

“Sort of mini LSA inside the USA?”

“That’s exactly what I’m thinking. We offer them a sort of self-governing, something similar to what the American Indians have. A progressive reservation.”

“Rod, that’s a very interesting idea, I’m going to check with the AG to see if he thinks we can get away with it.”

“We’ll know tomorrow, the voting booths open at 7AM EST. The Council of Fifteen are in place at every voting location in both countries.”

“I didn’t like another military, security force in our country, I know we had to accept it if we demanded the LSA accept the security forces.”

“At least across in the USA, they are staying inside the voting locations. In the LSA, they are checking the area in a one-mile circle around the booths. By the way, did you get a chance to see the report that the New Russian Federation wants to join the Council of the Fifteen, making it the Council of the Sixteen?”

“I saw that, I’m impressed. I think it’s a good idea to sponsor their membership. Maybe the Marshal is serious about better relations with the world.”

“After our strike, they can’t cause too much trouble. We declawed them.”

“Yes, and we’re paying them for the damage.”

“Less expensive than rebuilding after a nuke war.”

“Paul, what’s the latest estimate of the cost to reunite the country?”

“Counting paying the LSA’s debt?”

“Of course.”

“I guess it’s going to come our around $6.6 trillion.”

“Holy Christ, how much money did they spend? What did they spend it on?”

“Rod, they paid off everyone, they paid seventy-five percent of their country to sit home, they financed all of those factories they built. They borrowed a little over $5trillion. It’s going to take us ten years to pay off the debt and put our country back together.”

Rod nods saying, “Reminds me of what the West Germans must have felt on the eve of their unification with the East. $6.6 trillion, I really hope they’re worth it. I’ll see you in the morning. I’m calling it a night.”

“Me too.”

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Election Day dawned across both countries. Security was in place ensuring people didn’t vote twice, they also ensured there was no pressure or threats against anyone voting. The early returns reflect the election is going to set a record for high voter turn out. Lines of people wait up to three hours to vote. Security had to break up a few incidents in the LSA. Commercials run every ten minutes reminding people to vote, in the LSA they try to sway people’s vote to encourage keeping the LSA. While in the USA a reporter for the WOLF News Network breaks the story that the USA is considering creating a progressive area within the USA with their own self-government, something similar to Indian Reservations. Greta and Bob Beckle debate the issue back and forth, Bob says it’s insulting to the people in the LSA, Greta says she thinks it’s an interesting idea that should be further investigated as it might offer a way for both sides to live together.

Voting booths stay open until 9PM local time. The results would be broadcast Wednesday at noon EST. No news organization was supposed to break the results until the Chairman of the Council of the Fifteen, this year the Prime Minister of the UK, took to the air to make the announcement. Vegas gave odds that the country would reunite at 2 to 1. President Booker gave interviews saying he knew in his bones the election would show the LSA is alive and well.

Wednesday at noon, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom took the podium in London; he looked into the hundreds of cameras, he smiled saying, “Good afternoon, we have counted the ballots from all of the voting locations in both the USA and LSA. We can now say with 99% certainty that the votes break down as follows, those for an independent LSA were 66 million, those for a unified USA were 126 million. The Council of the Fifteen, which is expanding with the inclusion of the Russian Federation to Sixteen countries, is happy to certify and announce the people of North America have voted to unite under the flag of the United States of America. Per the accord that was agreed to before the election, the USA will hold national elections for all members of the House, Senate and the office of President this November. We will be issuing a detailed list of the vote county by county after my brief remarks. Thank you.”

The Prime Minister left the stage to a round of applause from those in the audience.

President Booker is throwing items around his office. “That’s it, we’re done. I can’t believe these stupid sheep voted to reunite. They’re all assholes. I hate them. He picks up his phone, “Leh, before we’re out of office I want you to arrange for the Smiths to disappear. They destroyed our dream of a progressive nation.”

“Mr. President, I don’t think that’s a good idea. They’re being protected by the secret service. If we get caught going after them, we won’t live long enough to enjoy retirement.”

“Leh, I don’t want to retire, I want to run the country.”

“You can always run for President, remember part of the agreement is if we reunited, the USA would hold elections in November for every office. Every Senator, House member and the President, and Vice President will be elected. You have enough money hidden away, make a run for office.”

“Even if I won, they have rules of how far I can rule or what I can do. It’s not like here where we didn’t have checks and balances. I guess we ought to pack and disappear before their damn FBI arrives to arrest us.”

“Good idea.”

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President Rand and Vice President Brownstone invite President Booker to attend a single press conference where the reunification will be discussed. President Booker replies with his approval. He says he’ll fly to Washington, D.C. President Rand turns to his VP and friend, ”Rod, he’s up to something. He’s being much too agreeable. Do you have any idea what his agenda is?”

“If I had to guess, I’d say he’ll want to explore the separate progressive area where he’ll want to be governor. Have you thought about where you will be the progressive state?”

“I was thinking of the West Coast, most of them will be able to stay where they are, we’re going to have to assist those who want to move. We’re also going to have to deal with New York City. Boston will come around, I don’t think anything will alter those in New York City.”

“Rod, I plan to run for office in the new elections, I’d be honored to have you on the ticket.”

“Paul, are you sure I’m the best choice?”

“Yes.”

“In that case, I accept.”

Chapter 39

Both countries shared a sense of excitement, the “Great Experiment” of 2015 was coming to an end after twelve years. The list of unknowns was longer than anyone had thought about. The known constants were, the common currency was going to be the USA dollar, the LSA dollar will be exchanged for US dollars at a rate of one for one, giving the LSA population a bonus. Companies that moved or started in the LSA will be allowed to join the USA stock exchange once they submitted the required forms to the SEC. One of the biggest changes is in the schools. USA schools will begin teaching the creation of the LSA and the foundation of the progressive party. In the LSA, students are going to be taught history per the USA agenda, common core is to be phased out within one year, which was going to cause issues with how math is taught in the LSA areas. Students in the LSA were going to be confused for the first couple of years after the unification. Consumers in the LSA were able to purchase the appliances and cars/trucks that are sold in the USA, global warming rules are completely overturned. The DepLIES was phased out; after passing a series of tests some of the agents are placed in local police departments. Some of the agents, who couldn't pass the tests, are placed in mental health care hospitals to see if they can be turned around, making them into constructive citizens. The cameras and microphones that spied on all of the LSA citizens are to be dismantled. The LSA utilities are merged with existing private companies. The LSA owned delivery services are merged with the USPS and UPS/FedEx depending on how the service operated in the LSA. The LSA social websites are sold to international websites like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. LSA Political prisoners are released. A few areas that are going to take the average LSA family time to adjust to are the freedom of food choices and the canceling of their ration ID system. The first few USA style supermarkets that opened in the LSA surprised the LSA families with the many choices and huge selection. Most had forgotten how it used to be. When some families entered the new Giant, the first supermarket to open in LA, they bought everything in sight fearing it was a trick and the food would disappear in a day. Household paper products like tissues and toilet paper flew off the shelves as quickly as they could be restocked, people waited in line while the stock boys and girls restocked the shelves, many times customers grabbed the packages before they were even placed on the shelves. People didn’t believe the signs that there was no shortage. They laughed knowing they’d been tricked with similar signs before.

A week after the election, the LA Convention Center hosted the first international auto show in twelve years,  people waited in lines for hours to get into the convention center. Three weeks later, the Consumer Electronics Show decided to open two days for the general public, people waited in lines for an average of four hours to get into the show. The largest surprise was when the SHOT show decided to hold a guns and shooting show in LA, New York City, and Chicago, all three shows had to close a day early due to the complete sell out of their vendor’s inventory. No one expected the tables and shelves to be cleared off in less than 36 hours. People waiting in line that were turned away were upset until they were offered a free pass and a discount coupon for a follow-up show planned to open in three weeks.

The LSA typical family had forgotten about the choices taken for granted in the USA. A side effect of these choices was a jump in the number of cases of depression. Mental health offices are swamped with people needing help. It was too much for many to accept in such a short time. The third most difficult issue for the people in the LSA to accept was the change at their workplace. They learned being a member of the union was optional, (union membership dropped from 100% to 22% in the first 30 days, the unions filed suit to block the change.) Some companies were sold or merged into others. Some people lost their job; however, there was an agreement that any who lost their jobs on either side of the divide, were assured a new job would be offered to them for a period of at least four years.

Students in colleges are shocked to learn the pass/no grade (no one failed in LSA schools) grading system was overturned and replaced with letter grades of A, B, C, D and F or fail. Students protested they had to complete class assignments on time and they had to be written in proper English. Grade school and high school students quickly learned that separate restrooms replace the coed ones. They also learned, like their older brother and sisters that not everyone passed or was promoted. Nor were awards given for trying. Sports teams played to win, not to a draw.

An hour before the results of the election were announced, sixteen US military C17 cargo airplanes flew over the LSA political prison camps. Trained Delta teams and US Navy Seals parachuted into the camps to free the prisoners. Battalions of US Marines, who landed hours earlier, attack the guard towers; the Marines killed the DepLIES guards and blew the gate while the Delta and Seals freed the prisoners. Military trauma doctors who were with the Marines tend to the prisoners. The strongest ones were flown to San Diego, the weaker ones were treated on site. When they recovered enough, they were flown to San Diego. It took four weeks to empty the four camps. The Delta teams found the mass graves of thousands, many were women and children. President Rand issued orders to arrest President Booker for crimes against humanity. He sent Colonel Grover and his team to make the arrest. Upon landing at LAX, Colonel Grover sent his teams to check every known location President Booker used. All of the reports are negative. President Booker isn’t at any of the known locations. Grover thinks to himself, where would I go to disappear if time was short and I lived in LA? Mexico, my gold would buy my entry and from Mexico, I could disappear into a country that didn’t have any treaties with the USA.

Small groups on both sides of what used to be the LSA/USA are very unhappy with the changes. Those in the LSA don’t like the idea many of them are going to have to work, even those on welfare learn they have to work. In the USA, they don’t like the costs of uniting with the LSA, or having to absorb the LSA’s debt, or having who they consider lazy and unwilling to work, back on welfare. The unhappy in the LSA learn they can easily purchase weapons, which they do, they form small armed groups which attack USA and State buildings protesting the changes. They demand the status quo be kept. A handful of militias in the USA aren’t happy the progressives are back, some fought the Russians who invaded the USA on behalf of the LSA, the USA Militias attacked LSA offices and tried to assassinate LSA high office holders. In a few cases, the two armed groups fought each other.

The general mood of North America is one of hopefulness; people generally are happy and thinking their lives and the lives of their children are going to improve.

@@@@@

Unification of the LSA and USA is more painful than the separation. Like trying to put a baby back after it’s been born. There were millions of details that were very time-consuming and caused hundreds of hours of debate. Small things like should airports be renamed to what they were before the split, to what to do with the property that the LSA took from political prisoners while giving it to other people. Both families thought they owned the property. What happens to the companies and their assets nationalized by the LSA? President Rand appointed Vice President Brownstone to lead a panel of members comprised of people from both the LSA and the USA, corporate leaders, religious leaders and average citizens to help solve these issues. The first decision made by the panel is to allow religious symbols to be worn and shown in all areas of the USA. The next decision made was to merge LSA banks with USA banks. Easy decisions were the conversion rates for LSA to USA currency. Easy decisions were to convert LSA hospitals with USA healthcare providers. LSA medical insurance was merged with USA providers, providing better care for low cost. Food and energy prices in the LSA dropped to those in the USA. A major problem the panel was faced with was what to do with the hundreds of thousands of government workers who were no longer needed, people whose jobs were phased out with the LSA government. Some would be hired by the private companies that provided the services the LSA used to provide, some would be hired by new companies that opened in the LSA. The biggest problems were the mass of bureaucrats who weren’t suited for private enterprise and weren’t needed in the small state and Federal Governments. Some of these people would be hired when Congress allowed the west coast to set themselves up as a liberal subset of the USA. This still left hundreds of thousands unemployed.

Vice President Brownstone suggested sending many to colleges to learn new skills, others could be hired in construction or trained for service industries. The problem was in the twelve years since the separation, industry in the USA became more automated while the LSA was still very people intensive. Millions of people didn’t have a place to fit without the bureaucracy. The USA was faced with having to restart welfare in order to stop millions from starving to death. Upon hearing the news, President Rand’s face turned beet red. He couldn’t believe how much the unification was going to cost.

Over a late-night dinner, President Rand asks his friend, “Rod, the costs of the unification are doubling our worse case estimate, what the hell happened? Where’s the money going?”

“Paul, we have millions of people who only know how to move one document from one desk to another. They don’t have any marketable skills that will enable them to get a meaningful job. We can’t allow them to starve and if we don’t support them in the change, they could be a bigger problem for us down the road.”

“Rod, I know it, it’s just we were almost out of debt, now we’re facing a trillion dollars in additional cost. Are you sure there’s no way else we can handle these people?”

“We’re helping them get into trade schools to learn new trades, we’re helping companies set up more quickly in the LSA so some of these people can be hired. We’re slowing down how quickly we shut down Departments in the LSA government so some of the people still have jobs.”

“Please tell me you didn’t leave any of the DepLIES agents working. We agreed we would take the DepLIES down on day one. I can’t allow their national police, security or their stupid Department of Truth. These were to be ceased on day one.”

“Paul, we did close them down, we have thousands of FBI and NSA agents cleaning up their mess. Most of their thugs have been arrested or are being chased to ground. It’s the poor working class families that we’re having problems with.”

“Rod, what do you need?”

“Paul, I’m still working on what I need. Every day the panel runs into new problems. I’ll give you an example, none of their school teachers meet our standards, most of their police officers need to be retrained. Hell, even their construction methods are different from ours. Not all bad, some of their building standards are being looked at by the panel to be used across the country.”

“Are you surprised by anything in the LSA yet?”

“Yes, the first churches to open in the LSA were attacked by a mob who threatened to burn them down. I got a call from the Pope asking us to help him reopen Catholic churches. He’s thinking about sending missionaries to the LSA area.”

“Rod, we can’t be seen as helping one religion over any other.”

“Paul, don’t worry about it. I told him the same thing. He informed me that he’s planning a trip to New York City, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago and Boston.”

“Oh shit, that’s going to be a problem.”

“Paul, you don’t know the worst of it. I also got a call from an Imam and three Rabbis who also want help setting up missionary trips to the LSA territory.”

“What are they asking us for?”

“If we can provide them with security.”

“What did you tell them?”

“I gave them the contact information of a couple private security companies. I told them we couldn’t support them with security. My days are taken up with hundreds of calls and thousands of emails from people who want help getting into the LSA.”

“We should have seen this coming. How did we miss it?”

“We were trying to win a war, and an election to save our country. We let the small crap fall through the cracks. Now that small crap is biting us in the ass.”

“What are your thoughts after the first month?”

“We’ve got to slow some aspects of the unification down and speed others up. Our time line, like any battle plan, went out the window when the enemy was met on the field of battle.”

“What’s next?”

“Our best way to save our people is to get companies opened in the LSA and get people hired. Working people are happy people. I have meetings with the chairmen of Chrysler, GM, Ford, Johnson & Johnson, Kraft, HP and Intel this week to see how quickly we can get them to purchase existing factories in the LSA. Since the LSA owned all of the factories, managing the transfer is much easier than coordinating the purchase of a commercial company by another.”

“I haven’t seen your guardian angel around, what did you do with him?”

“I sent him to retrieve President Booker.”

“Do I want to know the details?”

“No, I suggest you know nothing. He’ll let us know when he’s completed his mission.”

“Rod, what are you going to do with him when he’s finished with his mission? He doesn’t make a good indoor pet. I understand he considers protecting you his private mission, however, you are now and will be for the rest of your life under secret service protection.”

“Paul, I have figured it out yet. I thought I’d take it up with Admiral Zander. I plan to visit with him, he might have some ideas what to do with the Colonel. There’s no way I want him hurt.”

“I was thinking of promoting him to General.”

Rod laughs, spitting up his coffee, “I can see it now, the world’s first wet works general, I’d hate to be the private who doesn’t salute him properly.”

Paul smiles saying, “Chat with the Admiral and let me know. We need to find a special reward for him.”

“Will do.”

@@@@@

Ron, Bev, Brad and Kathy are enjoying breakfast together in Ron’s dining room when Ron’s phone rings, “Hello, this is Ron.”

Brad, Bev, and Kathy only hear one-half of the conversation, “Yes, I agree.” Long pause while Ron listens to the caller. “I think he’ll agree to that, I’ll find out and call you back, yes I think we can resolve it within 24 hours.” Ron listens while nodding his head in agreement. He ends the call, he places it his pocket. The other three look at him with a common question all are waiting to ask. Ron looks around the table, he knows everyone is waiting for him to speak. He sips his coffee. Finally Bev breaks the silence, “OK, you’re smiling like a cat that grabbed a canary, want to share?”

Ron smiles while looking into Brad’s eyes, “That was a call from my major backer and the Chairman of the Board. It appears that the group of casino owners is very impressed with our performance during the little incident as they called it. They would like Brad to join us full time.”

Kathy smiles saying, “Ron, that’s wonderful, but we have a house in Virginia, we’d have to sell it, figure out where I could get a job. It could take us months to sell it and move. As much as I’d love to move here, I don’t think it’s possible.”

Ron smiles saying, “If you’d like to hear the proposal, the company will buy your home from you, relieving you from having to sell it, and they’ll give you fair market price for it. Brad’s starting salary will be hundred and half, plus expenses, and a moving allowance of one hundred K.”

Kathy asks, “Is it a dangerous job?”

“Not really, he’s going to consult. The Chairman is offering Brad a five-year contract, with an auto renewal clause. He’d like your decision within 24 hours. The company is willing to advance you the funds so you can purchase a house here and get started now.”

Kathy looks shocked, “What about our stuff?”

“We’ll have it packed and shipped with all of your furniture to your new home.”

“That is excellent news” says Kathy as she gets up to get coffee.

Brad says, “Ron, I think Kathy and I need a few minutes to discuss this. We’ve just been through a crazy few days.”

“Take the day. Brad, this is the best deal you’ll ever see.”

“Old buddy, I know that. I’m really excited, I just want to make sure Kath is onboard. This is a big change for us.”

Hugging each other, Ron says, “I know, it’ll be great to have the two of you here.”

While they’re  talking Kathy comes out of Ron’s home holding a cup of coffee, “Ron, I’ve made up my mind, if Brad is in, I’m in, let’s go look for a new home.”

Brad smiles saying, “Well Ron, looks like the band is getting back together again.”

Ron smiles saying, “By the way, you’ll be working with an ex-commander, you know him. Jack Lewis. He joined up yesterday.”

The two couples hug each other.

@@@@@

“Sharon, honey? Are you here?”

“What’s wrong?”

Jason enters the hotel room holding a bottle of French champagne. Sharon looks at the bottle, “I guess someone had a good meeting today?”

“Honey, it’s done! Mr. Walker, Carol’s CEO liked my idea enough that he’s signed a contract to fund the company. He’s going to put up $4 million to launch the company.”

Sharon screams with joy, she runs into Jason’s arms. “Honey, your dreams are going to come true.”

“Shar, there is one little issue with his investment we need to discuss.”

Sharon looks concerned, “What is it?”

“Why don’t we sit and chat.”

“God, this must be a huge snag, why not just say it and get it over with.”

“Honey, he wants the company to be launched back home in Oregon. He thinks the LSA market is going to be an easier market to launch in. He wants us to move home.”

“How the hell do we do that?”

“Wolf said our home was still there, maybe Sean can help us.”

“Honey, Sean works for the President, we can’t call him with every little problem we have.  What if we abuse his time?”

“I know, I just don’t know who else to contact to check our house.”

“Let’s think about it.”

Bob and Carol knock on their door, “Hi guys, you look excited, what’s up? How did your meeting with Mr. Walker go?”

“He wants to fund the company, but he wants us to launch it in Oregon.”

“Oh my God. We’re so happy for you.”

Sharon asks, “Aren’t you going to miss us like we’re going to miss you?”

Carol smiles, “Honey, the country is becoming united again, it’ll be easy for us to see each other all of the time. Plus with you getting the funding from Mr. Walker we’ll be seeing you a lot. It would surprise me if he didn’t use your office as a branch office for us.”

Bob says, “Let’s go celebrate, Leon and Scott can watch Sissy and Beth.”

@@@@@

Sean’s phone rings, “Hello, this is Sean.”

“Sean, this is Wolf.”

“Wolf, how nice to hear from you. I assume you’re calling to inquire about a job?”

“Sean, you’re correct. With the election going as it did, we are phasing out positions as quickly as we can. Booker told his staff he wants us to do everything possible to ensure a smooth transition. Hence, if there’s anything I can do for you or you staff, let me know.”

“Wolf, I will, I have a couple of people on a plane to LA right now. Please see they get as much cooperation as possible. Wolf, what can I do for you?”

“Sean, would you put in a good word for me at your networks?”

“Tell you what I can do, you list me as a reference, if anyone contacts me, I’ll be happy to provide a good reference for you.”

“Sean, thank you very much.”

@@@@@

Driving south on Interstate 5, President Booker thinks he’s made his escape; he’s only two miles from the Mexican border, he hopes to cross into Mexico, where he’ll board a plane to his final destination in Argentina. Booker knows he has enough money and gold set aside to last him his lifetime and the lifetimes of the children he doesn’t have yet. He’s thinking, Just a couple of miles and I’ll be free. The USA won’t ever find me once I cross the border. They’re going to have their hands tied up in the unification process. Some of the stupid sheep are happy for the unification, I knew they would go with whoever gave them the most toys for free. Looking up, he sees the border, he smiles, Worst case I’ll buy my way into Mexico. I bet a small bar of gold will let me cross without any record of me ever being here.

“Halt. You are approaching the country of Mexico. Papers, please.”

Booker hands the border guards his passport with a small two ounce gold bar in the middle of the small gray book. Booker doesn’t look up to notice the guard in front of him has white skin and is smiling from ear to ear. The guard takes the passport saying, “Presidente Booker, how good to see you, I thought I might have to chase you around for a while, you came right to me.”

“Huh? Who are you?”

“You can call me Colonel Grover.”

Laughing, “Well Colonel, I know about you, however I stepped over the border, there’s nothing you can do to me. I’m standing in Mexico.”

Colonel Grover smiles saying, “President Booker, the border is about 500 yards ahead of us, we thought you might try this old trick.” Lifting a silenced handgun, Grover looks into Booker’s eyes, “I’ve been waiting to meet you for a while. I thought I was going to have to visit you, isn’t it funny that you’ve decided to visit me.”

“Wait a minute, I can pay, I have gold, a lot of gold!”

“I know you had a lot of gold, most of it has been found and taken to help pay for the unification costs.”

“You’re lying, you don’t have it, you couldn’t have found it.”

“You’re right, I couldn’t, but the NSA could and did.”

“President Booker, you have been found guilty of crimes against humanity, I have been ordered to carry out your sentence.”

“Huh? What are you talking about? What sentence? I haven’t been charged with any crimes, I haven’t been tried, I’m entitled to a lawyer and my private meeting with the judge.”

Grover points his side arm at Booker’s head, “You were tried, found guilty and sentenced to death. Do you have any last words?”

“I want my lawyer.”

“Yup, I thought those would be your last words. I bet the Vice President, I just won $5. I thank you.” PHUFF-PHUFF, two bullets strike Booker in the forehead, he’s dead before his body hits the dirt. Grover lifts his cell saying, “Mission accomplished. No problems.”

“RTB, action heating up with some unhappy groups.”

“Roger, RTB for new orders.”

Grover whistles to himself as he rolls Booker’s body into a body bag. He removes the Mexican border patrol uniform, putting his regular uniform on. He knows another team will come by and dispose of the body. He walks over a small hill where his Jeep is waiting for him, he drives to the San Diego Airport to fly home.

END

Afterword

The LSA and USA reunited in 2027, President Rand asked Congress and the states to pass the 28th amendment to the Constitution. The amendment which passed in 2029 set up a liberal section of the United States, the states of Washington, Oregon, and California were allowed to be semi-independent. They were allowed to have their own Supreme Governor and self-rule as long as their rules didn’t breach the US Constitution. Citizens in the three states still had to pay income taxes to the USA, a percent of the taxes paid were refunded to the Supreme Governor to use as the citizens wanted in the three liberal states.

The media united while maintaining their liberal basis. The media blamed President Brownstone, Cruise and Rand for the failure of the LSA. The media did everything they could to discredit the conservative party, their reward for trying to blame the conservatives was watching their ratings decrease every rating period until they became totally irrelevant. The majority of the USA population got their news and entertainment over the internet.

With the LSA and USA merged, people slowly forgot the mistakes of the second half of the twenty-first century. Slowly Congress started to shift again to the left, slowly old ideas were repeated and the old failed progressive programs started to return, the words income equality started to be repeated in the press again. The majority of what used to be called the ‘silent majority’ watched Washington once again become a swamp where less and less progress is made. The one action that woke up the country was when Congress in 2030 tried to overturn the term limit law. Average citizens woke up and voted out 85% of all the members of Congress swearing they’d never again allow a political class to get a foothold in America.

If only we would wake up and learn, the lessons history wants to teach us.

Other books by the author available on Amazon-Kindle

37 Miles

37 Miles, Book 2, Patty’s Journey

My Story

A History Lesson (a short story)

2015 Second American Civil War, Book 1

2015 Second American Civil War, Book 2

2015 Second American Civil War, Book 3

2015 Second American Civil War, Book 4

2015 Second American Civil War, Book 5

By the Light of the Moon, Book 1

By the Light of the Moon, Book 2

By the Light of the Moon, Book 3 (Coming Spring 2015)

Christmas Eve

Shelter (Coming Spring 2015)

Feel free to contact me at itabankin@aol.com

Table of Contents

Prologue

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

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

Chapter 33

Chapter 34

Chapter 35

Chapter 36

Chapter 37

Chapter 38

Chapter 39

Afterword