The Western Front: Parts 1-3 Part 19

He had never been in a room so dark and quiet. The vacuous cell seemed as if it was beyond s.p.a.ce and time. William tried to count off the seconds as they pa.s.sed, but before he could even reach thirty he felt as if he was going mad. He resigned to lying motionless on the floor.

He did not know if he had been in the cell for hours or days when the light finally came on. The illumination from the fluorescent tubes was unnatural and uncomfortable. The light was too bright for his eyes, so he squinted until they could adjust, but they never did. Immediately after the lights a.s.saulted his eyes, a low hum to a.s.sail his ears.

He heard the revolting sound of steel sc.r.a.ping against steel as a narrow plate at the floor level of the cell's door slid open. A long, thin knife clattered loudly on the concrete as it was tossed through the opening. William recoiled as he heard the same deep voice as before.

"Do me a favor, hummingbird; off yourself so I don't have to."

In a moment of boldness that surprised even William, he stood up defiantly and shouted, "If I'm to be killed, let him who wants me dead do it himself!"

"It's not a man who wants you dead, babe; it's a woman."

His heart sunk and his stomach turned again. The woman's voice was all too familiar. He cried out as he pounded on the door, but they were already gone.

Chapter 29.

Senator Ames Indianapolis, Indiana Indianapolis was as close as the senator had been to Washington in months. He did not want to admit it, but to be honest, he was afraid of the east coast. In fact, he had every right to be; the urban areas throughout New England had become something out of a nightmare.

Murder rates in the cities had skyrocketed, riots and looting were rampant, people were starving and no one was safe. What made it even more dangerous for Ames was that people like him were being demonized for everything. The same experts who had borrowed and regulated the world into crisis were now blaming the peoples' woes on a lack of regulation and a fundamental ignorance of the way markets really worked. It was treasonous in his eyes. They had polarized the people. Those who held contrarian beliefs were not considered political opponents, they were now public enemies. The senator knew that one beat their opponents, but eliminated their enemies.

Ever since St. Ansgar, he had a new resolve; there would be an election, and they would win, or they would die trying. It did not matter if a man was rich or poor, black or white, from San Francisco or San Antonio, the truth was the truth. If a moral man was given the truth and was taught how to reason, he would choose correctly. He had to choose correctly. The senator's ideals were founded on that principle. Eventually, the people and they would realize their mistakes and correct them. He would take his message all the way to Washington. But if he did not make it there, then that was all part of a much greater plan and he could accept that.

Let's see if we're bulletproof.

The site he had selected was a security nightmare; a shooter would have 360o of office towers and skysc.r.a.pers to choose from. The senator's back was all that would be protected at any given time. Nonetheless, he had given his security detail nearly two weeks to prepare for the event. If they were not ready now, they would never be.

Ames wandered the halls of the museum that was beneath the Soldiers' and Sailor's Monument in the center of Indianapolis. His Secret Service security detail shadowed him from across the empty room. The halls were lined with the exposed b.u.t.tresses that supported the towering monument above. He was lost in his thoughts and not admiring anything in particular as he meandered here and there.

"Senator, I've just received word that they're ready for you up top. Are you sure you don't want to wear a vest?"

"I'm sure."

"Right this way then." The stoic agent turned and spoke into the microphone attached to the cuff of his jacket, "Negative, he's still refusing the vest."

"This is Katie O'Rourke with WIBC news radio Indianapolis, the independent voice. I'm standing outside of our downtown studio where Jackson Ames, the Republican Senator from Ohio, is about to speak to a sprawling crowd in Monument Circle. The crowd can hardly contain themselves. This'll be the first time in seven months the senator has spoken in Indiana."

"Thanks Katie, from what I understand this is the largest venue he has spoken at in months, and the farthest east he has been since very early in his campaign. How is security there? I'm sure he is a little nervous with the riots just over a mile away in Fletcher Square. Today is the first day that police have regained the upper hand since they erupted nearly two weeks ago."

"Security is extremely tight and highly visible here, Scott. The entire downtown district has been closed off; every floor of every building in the vicinity has been searched and everyone in attendance was required to pa.s.s through metal detectors and body scanners. The city has taken every possible precaution to ensure the safety of the senator. They lobbied very hard for this event and they don't want any incidents."

"Speaking of incidents, I've heard there was a bit of a shakeup in the senator's team, is that correct?"

"That's correct Scott; this is exclusive to WIBC. We're getting reports from an anonymous source within the Ames' camp that earlier this week the senator's senior advisor and long-time friend, Wade Anderson, resigned from his campaign. Mr. Anderson resigned after the senator refused to wear body armor for today's speech. We're still not sure how this will affect the senator's campaign. Mr. Anderson was known to be very influential with the senator and was a political force in his own right."

"That sounds like a very reckless move by Senator Ames, especially considering how dangerous the city has become."

"It does appear that way, Scott. We're not sure what political calculations were weighed by the senator to come to this decision, but we hope today will be a safe and uneventful affair. Back to you, Scott."

"Thank you, the always wonderful, Katie O'Rourke."

The senator walked onstage to the roar of the crowd. They cheered and waved as he walked a lap around the monument's platform, greeting all. Ames waited for the wave of applause to subside before beginning his speech.

"Indianapolis, it's truly a pleasure."

He proceeded to circle the platform as they cheered once again.

"I'm sure you are tired of the same old speeches you've been hearing from me on the radio."

A resounding, "No!" came from the crowd.

"Oh, really? Well, in that case, I hope you'll oblige me this opportunity to deliver a slightly different speech. I'm afraid of the speed and direction in which we as a nation are moving, and I'd like to address this here with you today."

The crowd offered a more subdued applause as he continued to pace the stage. He wanted to address as many people as possible on a personal level with eye contact. He had a very important point to make. As the applause subsided once again, he began his address.

"During the final hours of the Revolutionary War, the republic was dangerously close to collapsing just as it was being born. The officers under Washington's command were furious over the failures of the Continental Congress to honor its promises to them. Some officers had back pay owed to them for nearly six years of service, and none of them had been paid at all in the last several months. The officers had even heard that the government was on the verge of insolvency, and that they might try to dissolve the Continental army to avoid paying the debts at all.

In March of 1783, a letter was circulated among the officers at Washington's camp at Newburgh. In it the author, identified only as "Brutus", addressed the complaints and called for a clandestine meeting to be held the next day to discuss their next course of action. Brutus' arguments in the letter were well-reasoned and concise. Ultimately, he contended, that their only remaining recourse would be at the tip of a bayonet.

When Washington discovered the plan, he forbid them from holding the a.s.semblage. He scolded their plans of a covert meeting as disorderly and irregular. Instead, he requested they meet a few days later at their regular meeting that he didn't usually attend. Upon hearing this, some officers began whispering that Washington was sympathetic to their cause and that he would help them lead a coup against the Congress.

Washington was in a dilemma; was his duty to his army who had unarguably been wronged, or was it to the Congress who held jurisdiction over him? Washington's allies were wavering. Many of his senior officers sided with Brutus, and the Congress offered no solutions to the growing problem. He ultimately decided that he could not lead the officers' insurrection. As had often been the case in the long war, Washington was once again alone.

On the day Washington requested, hundreds of officers gathered to discuss the fate of the republic. General Gates, who would later admit to being Brutus, was in the midst of his opening words when the unexpected happened. Washington emerged from a side door and strode onto the stage beside him. Begrudgingly, Gates yielded to his superior.

Many of the officers were angry he had shown. Others were excited, hoping he would rally them against those who had wronged them. Still other officers were embarra.s.sed to be seen there by their commander. Regardless of their feelings concerning his presence, an ominous sense of estrangement hung heavy in the room; was he one of them?

He had written a speech. His aides had prepared his notes in large script so that his aging eyes could read them. His bright blue eyes scanned the officers in front of him. He knew most of these men by name and respected them greatly. They had fought boldly alongside him against insurmountable odds. How could they throw everything away now? He cleared his throat and began.

His tone was angry and frustrated; he scornfully branded the anonymous dissenter a subversive and a coward. He scolded Brutus for his lack of 'regard to service' and 'love of country'. He admitted that he understood the men's complaints, but he completely dismissed their resolution. 'I have never left your side one moment,' he said. How could they question his loyalty and love for them now?

He expressed his sympathy to Brutus' many valid points, but pleaded with the officers' to consider their families and property if they were to desert the republic or descend into civil war. The British would surely use the chaos to wrest control from them once again. A thousand victories and tens of thousands of American lives would all have been for naught.

He pleaded with the men, called upon their senses of duty and honor, and begged for more time to correct the failures of the Congress. As he gazed out at the crowd in front of him, he was overcome with a sense of defeat. Brutus' rhetoric had been far more eloquent than his own. Washington had failed.

In desperation, he retrieved a letter from his from his coat that was written by Congressman Jones. The letter praised the brave men for their selfless duty and offered his utmost support to their cause. The hastily written script of the letter was tiny and difficult for Washington to see. His eyes failed to focus on the words and they blurred together. He stumbled through the first few sentences of the letter. The murmurs from the crowd were increasing, he had lost them completely.

Washington stopped, embarra.s.sed and broken, and removed a pair of spectacles from the pocket of his regimentals. As he placed the gla.s.ses on his face, he said, 'Gentlemen, you must pardon me. I have grown gray in your service, and now find myself growing blind.' Very few of them even knew that he wore gla.s.ses. They had always knew the man as the fearless, frontline commander, now they saw him for what he truly was.

Washington was a man that had given the better part of his life to his country for future generations he would never know. They had seen him exhausted before, but he now displayed the look of being worn and battered from the years of sacrifice. He appeared vulnerable and heartbroken. If he, who had given so much, could still have faith in the fledgling country, then who were they to question?

His words mattered little from that point on. The emotion that he displayed was what moved the men. Some sat in silent shame for their actions, while others wept openly for the burdens that the man standing in front of them had silently borne for years. As he finished the letter, he quietly left through the side door from which he came. His head hung low in sorrow and defeat.

Gates never had an opportunity to reclaim the men in the room. The emotion displayed by Washington had moved them greatly. They decided on a new resolution that expressed their 'unshaken confidence' in Washington and the Congress.

Ultimately, Congress failed Washington and the army. The debts were never paid in full. Despite the egregious failure, an important precedence was established. The men, who had sacrificed so much, chose to sacrifice once again. They decided against a second revolution out of love of country. For out of revolution, the prospect of an even greater tyranny is always at hand.

I've heard the murmurs among the crowds I've spoken to for another revolution, a b.l.o.o.d.y revolution against the tyrannies of the day. Friends, let us not rush headlong into this. If we carelessly cast reason aside, we may invite a tyranny even greater than we can imagine. We must stand firmly rooted in our values and principles. I agree it will cost many of us our lives, fortunes and sacred honor just as it cost the men of the Revolution, countless men who gave all, and died broken and penniless. We still have recourse though; we've not exhausted our options. It'll take great sacrifice to right our course, but it can be done. Let us not give in yet. I will lead you, if you will have me."

The crowd's reaction was mixed; most cheered enthusiastically, but some were disappointed with his words. Despite the misgivings of the few, the circle echoed with the sound of applause and roars of support. Ames continued to enthusiastically walk the monument steps as they applauded, spurring them along and cheering with them as tears began to fill his eyes.

They never heard the report from the high-powered rifle, but they watched the senator collapse before them. The display seemed almost surreal and in slow motion. He was quickly swarmed by men in suits, their weapons drawn. The head of his security detail reached the body of the senator first. He shouted into the cuff of his jacket in a desperate voice, "Oh G.o.d, oh G.o.d; he's gone."

Chapter 30.

Governor Baker Austin, Texas Governor Baker walked the long hall in solitude. The underground wings of the capitol building were inst.i.tutional and spartan in appearance and nature. There were no decorations or furnishings other than a few pictures that hung on the wall. Somewhere behind him a rogue fluorescent light flickered occasionally, compounding the bleakness of the place. The gloomy atmosphere magnified his somber mood.

He had sent everyone home for the next several days his advisors, their staff, maintenance, everyone except security. He wanted them to have a few nights at home with their families, for there would be scarce time for that when they returned. As he reached the end of the hall, he turned the k.n.o.b and entered his office.

He sat behind his desk and turned on the small television that hung on the wall. He muted it while the marionettes bantered back and forth in antic.i.p.ation of the president's address from the oval office. He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples to try and help relieve some of the tension. He sat in silence for a while as he tried to forget the events of the last few weeks, if only for a moment, but he could not.

When Baker opened his eyes, the screen had changed to a scene in the oval office. The president was solemnly sitting behind the Resolute Desk. The desk was crafted from salvaged timbers taken from the British ship, the HMS Resolute. It had been a gift from Queen Victoria to President Hayes in 1880.

The governor had always found the story of the desk fascinating. The Resolute was part of a squadron sent from Britain in 1852 to search for a missing explorer. Sir John Franklin had left Britain in search of a pa.s.sage through the Canadian Arctic. During the expedition, several of his ships became trapped in ice packs and were left by their captains, who ultimately faced a court-martial for their acts of abandonment. In 1855, an American whaler from Connecticut saw the Resolute adrift off the coast of Cape Walsingham. He divided his crew and sailed her home, arriving on Christmas Eve.

In the meantime, the relationship between Britain and America was at a breaking point. The two countries were once again at the brink of war. The president had ceased diplomatic relations with Britain and had closed all British emba.s.sies. Escalating threats from each side only served to increase the tension between the nations.

Just as the relationship appeared irreconcilable, and war inevitable, a senator from Virginia proposed that America refurbish the Resolute and sail her back to Britain as a gesture of goodwill. The British were so taken by the gesture, the talks of war ceased. Years later, the Queen would return the favor with the gift of the desk as the ship was being decommissioned. The desk would serve as a reminder of a nation that valued her allies and resolved to war only when necessary.

Governor Baker unmuted the television as the president began his speech.

"My fellows Americans, I come to you with a heavy heart. These are trying times that we face. Our nation hasn't weathered a crisis of this scale since its birth. Yesterday, Senator Jackson Ames was a.s.sa.s.sinated in Indianapolis by a member of a radical, communist group. I express my deepest condolences to the Ames family. I deeply respected the man and looked forward to facing him in the election. Please take comfort in knowing that we have apprehended the individual responsible for this reprehensible act.

Senator Ames' running mate, Governor Hawkins of Florida, released a statement earlier today stating he had no desire to continue the campaign in place of the senator. Until a new candidate can be selected, Congress has pa.s.sed a resolution to postpone the election until further notice.

Several weeks ago, we were the victim of what was the largest, coordinated, terror attack in our nation's history. Numerous buildings, bridges and planes were targeted with horrific precision. A group of right-wing extremists have been identified as the perpetrators of the heinous act that claimed nearly ten thousand lives.

And finally, earlier this week as you know, Houston was decimated by the most heinous act of all. A nuclear device was detonated in the city's downtown district. Current estimates put the number dead at over two hundred thousand with just as many wounded. The FBI has determined that radical leftists targeted the city because of the stance the state of Texas has taken on the border.

My fellow Americans, I will not tolerate extremism from either side of the political spectrum. I will not allow our great nation to be destroyed by the radical elements in the population. We are a nation of moderation, and we shall remain as such.

Last night a nationwide raid was conducted against the perpetrators of these three acts of terror. Over three hundred domestic terrorists were killed or captured. Those that were captured will face a military tribunal in an undisclosed location to determine their fate. In addition to this, it was discovered that some of the terror groups were funded by powerful corporate interests.

Among those captured were Gregory Stra.s.ser of Spire Dynamics, Eric Schleicher of Global Robotics and Kurt Ernst of The Gladius Group. These men and any others within their corporations that are found to be knowledgeable of the terror funding will be tried for treason. Until further notice, these corporations will be placed under the direct control of the Department of Homeland Security and their counterpart, the Department of Domestic Protections.

In last night's pivotal hour of retribution, I was responsible for the fate of the American people, and thereby I became their supreme judge. I gave the order to kill or capture those responsible for these treasonous acts, and I further gave the order to cauterize down to the raw flesh the ulcers of the poisoning of the wells in our domestic life. Let the nation know that its existence-which depends on its internal order and security-cannot be threatened with impunity by anyone. Let it be known for all time to come that if anyone raises his hand to strike the State, then certain death is his lot.

This morning, Congress pa.s.sed the Self-Defense of the State Act, which retroactively legalizes the necessary measures that were taken. The Justice Department has also drafted an opinion that outlines the legal precedence of the actions. The Attorney General will be distributing this letter throughout the media for dissemination later this evening.

Despite the attacks that have been launched against our liberty, please remember this, we have weathered grave difficulties before. I have complete faith that this nation and its people will remain standing and rebuild even stronger. I ask for your faith and support, for though we will persevere against those that strive to dismantle us, the days ahead will be difficult ones. Until we speak again, stay vigilant."

The governor, astonished at what he had just heard, said aloud to the empty room, "And so goes the republic. G.o.d help us."

Epilogue.

i Governor Baker straightened the notes in front of him as he waited in the underground media room. His staff was making last minute preparations prior to the broadcast. His pulse was racing and he felt lightheaded. He was living in the defining moments of his life. No matter what he did from this point on, he would always be remembered for this speech.

The lead broadcast engineer for Radio Lonestar tapped the gla.s.s that separated the control room from the media room to signal the governor that his cue was approaching. The governor watched in slow motion as the man's fingers counted off to the start: Three.

Two.

One.

"Greetings Texans, and to everyone else within the sound of my voice. I trust you all are aware of the recent events that have plagued our nation; the terror strikes, the attack on Houston and most recently, the death of Senator Ames. I trust by now you've all heard of the president's actions and his remarks that were made two days ago. Before I go any further, I would first like to address the citizens of Houston.

My heart breaks for you. We can never replace those that we've lost, never. All we can do is honor their memory; I promise I will always strive to honor those we've lost. If I fail to do so, it is your duty to hold me accountable.

I would like to take this opportunity to present the Texas Medal of Honor to a hero and dear friend of mine. Special Agent Reese Byers led the emergency evacuation effort in your city. He successfully located and disarmed one of the nuclear devices, but perished trying to disable the second. He inspired the emergency personnel to risk their lives for people they'd never met, and ultimately gave his own life so that many of you might live. He is survived by his father and mother, Jonah and Rebecca Byers. Special Agent Reese Byers, you are a hero and a true Texan. You will be greatly missed in this hour of need."

The governor paused for a moment to regain his composure, before continuing.

"Citizens of Texas, you have been lied to by your government. They would have you believe that the attack in Houston was committed by SPARC. This is wholly untrue. I have in front of me, evidence that proves otherwise. SPARC was used by people in positions of great power within our own government to execute a false flag event so that they might consolidate their power, and you were used as a p.a.w.n.

I also have proof that the same people in our government that used a radical organization as cover to detonate a nuclear bomb in an American city, also orchestrated the terror attacks that rocked the nation several weeks prior. So if I have evidence that proves otherwise in regards to Houston and the terror strikes, what should I believe about Senator Ames? What should I believe about the three hundred American citizens that were captured or killed by their own government?

These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like h.e.l.l, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated.

As of this broadcast, you are no longer citizens of the United States; you are citizens of Texas. If this a.s.saults your sensibilities, you are free to leave. Otherwise, citizens of Texas, the republic is dead; long live the republic.

Mr. President, you've either purposely lied to the American people or you have been lied to by your friends. I invite you to the sovereign Republic of Texas to see the proof for yourself."

The man stood up from his chair, walked over to the governor and extended his hand. The governor grasped his hand firmly as he shook it. The technicians in the control room beside them had erupted into cheers and applause.

"I'm proud of you; you were perfect."

"Thanks. I can barely breathe."

"It'll pa.s.s."