The World Cowers Read online

  The World Cowers

  The World Burns Book 7

  Boyd Boyd Craven III

  Contents

  Copyright

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  About the Author

  Copyright © 2015 Boyd Craven III

  The World Cowers, The World Burns Book 7

  By Boyd Craven

  Many thanks to friends and family for keeping me writing!

  All rights reserved.

  1

  “Who is this guy?” The President asked, reading a memo.

  “A handyman and blogger. No military experience. It’s his wife who’s interesting,” his aide slid a packet across the desk to the most powerful man in the world.

  Months in the bunker had done little for their humor and color, yet the President seemed paler and grayer than he had just the past summer.

  “Oh, wow. I didn’t know we had female operatives of her caliber,” he mused, closing the file after reading through the basics.

  “Yes Sir, apparently the CIA has some as well, but she’s bounced around between jobs. I think we’re looking at the perfect storm here, boss. Right person, right time and bad luck. Sir, if the second hand rumors of your friend John Dav—“

  “I thought we’d discussed that already, Patrick. John Davis and I went to school together a long time ago. He followed me to Chicago when I ran for the senate. Nobody shells a government official and gets away from it. According to him, he lost somewhere north of 75 to 80 men from engagements with this Homestead and the defections are much worse. No, we need to send a message and a strong response,” the former Chicago senator said.

  “Sir, if you’d at least consult with the joint chiefs on this, I think they’d—“

  “Patrick, what is it you want me to do? You’re going to argue against this no matter what, aren’t you?”

  “Sir, have you listened to the broadcasts? What if we let John Davis save face, and use this to our advantage? Play both sides of the fence and come out smelling like roses.”

  “What do you have in mind?” The President asked, leaning over the table.

  “We make a point of stamping out this dissent so we don’t have repeats, but we do it in such a way that we’re doing it fairly. Right now, the way FEMA in the south and our own government and state officials have acted in certain situations has only made matters worse. We’re at the brink of civil war. You take out a public figure like the Jacksons, it’s going to cause a lot of grief for us. If we can figure something out—“

  “Patrick, write it up. I’ve got a headache and I’ve got a conference call with Davis. We’re moving air assets to Kentucky to help him. You have two hours before I’m letting those Apaches fly.”

  “Sir, that’s going to be a mistake.”

  “Noted. Again, you cannot shell a government official or murder his people who were acting under orders.”

  “Sir,” Patrick said, sliding another folder, a much slimmer one than the Jackson’s files to him, “This is what I’m talking about. I would use extreme caution if you move against the Homestead. It could have serious repercussions.”

  “Noted; I’ll read this shortly. I’ve got a call to make. If that’s all…” The President said, pushing his chair back and standing, offering his hand.

  “No, it isn’t, but it’s imperative you read this before sending the Apaches to Kentucky,” Patrick took the President’s hand and then tapped the file folder the President was holding.

  “I will. I’ve also got to talk with Justice Roberts, and he’s in the Kentucky facility. He’s a part of the panel there and he’s insistent, so if you don’t mind…”

  “No, no. Thank you Sir,” Patrick said, leaving.

  If the former Supreme Court justice was involved, he felt there was a glimmer of hope. Maybe he could talk the President into looking into the allegations against his classmate, John Davis, aka Boss Hogg.

  2

  “Blake, you have to hear this,” David said, startling the man who’d been half dozing.

  Blake had been on a week’s worth of night watches, and was having a hard time staying up during the day time. Now that he was mostly healed, he didn’t want everyone to think he wasn’t pulling his fair share. There had been rumblings that the President was going to make the first announcement since the event happened. They’d been able to bring in a modest harvest, and it would take a lot of edge off the growing community and there was plenty to share with the survivors.

  They had all speculated on who the President would be. It sounded like pretty common knowledge that the President and most of the House and Senate had fallen for one reason or another.

  “Ladies and Gentlemen,” the voice said and everyone sat up straight as the 44th President of the United States, the one believed to be dead spoke, “I come here tonight, as your President and as a fellow human being, to talk to the citizens of our great nation.

  I’d like, first and foremost,” he paused for a moment, “to talk about the attack. There have been several points of misinformation that have been circulating. We were not attacked by Iran, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, Afghanistan or Syria despite what others have reported. They do not have the information that I do. It is true the nuclear talks were going badly, but it wasn’t a single country that did this to us.

  Elements of ISIS and North Korea detonated a nuclear weapon over the United States of America in the guise of a satellite launch using a mobile sea platform. The resulting EMP has destroyed key critical infrastructure throughout most of the Continental United States, sparing some regions in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Our Canadian friends have suffered as well, in regions of Ontario and Quebec.

  The regions of Mexico that have been touched by the EMP have already been experiencing destabilization from cartel violence, but they have not had the losses that we Americans have experienced. It’s brutal, it’s horrible and the reason you are not seeing the United States Military take more action within the country is because we are now fighting a war on two fronts.

  First, the war against North Korea has begun once again, as the Korean Armistice Agreement has been nullified. They’ve launched attacks against Washington DC, Maryland, and other parts of the Eastern seaboard. Even now, their subs try to sneak through our defensive networks. As we recall our military from around to globe to help in the naval battles, our country is being attacked from within.

  There were elements in several cities, Dearborn and Ann Arbor Michigan for example, where there were radical religious factions that acted with the knowledge of the coming attack and destabilized the region. Those citizens and immigrants are being dealt with by a large force that has come down from Camp Grayling and from all over the Midwest. Acts of violence, terrorism and hate crimes are running rampant throughout the country. The racial violence in the States is staggering and, if there was ever a time for America to pull together, now is that time. Remember, neither race nor religion is a good enough reason to take up arms against your fellow humans.

  There are, of course, more militant factions within the country; those who are born with radical conservative views who have openly refused orders and even attacked government agents and their leadership.” Everyone stopped what they were doing, and Blake looked around the room, his eyes going wide.

  “They can’t be—“ Sandra said, and she was shushed by Blake.

  “These factions will be stamped out and their leadership brought to justice. We will not tolerate former members of our armed services openly mocking and attacking the government in their own homes and cities,” he paused for a moment be
fore continuing.

  “As some of you may have already realized or heard, each Governor of the State has had the National Guard activated. All current and former service members between the ages of 18 and 65 are required to report for duty or evaluation, at the nearest National Guard outpost. I have heard reports of units going rogue and how things were settled, as the intelligence comes in to me slowly… but it will not be tolerated. Military members will report for duty or be prosecuted per executive order. Those men and women who betrayed their oaths… You will be dealt with as well.

  Law Enforcement – I know many of you, like so many of the National Guard Units, have had to go home now to protect your families. It was your duty as a husband, wife, parent or guardian. Now it is time to guard our country, our cities, and our way of life. You are to report back to your stations and precincts where you will be resupplied by the FEMA emergency managers, who report to the Governors and myself. Martial Law is in effect until lifted by Executive Order, and all elections have been suspended.

  “I…” the President paused again, “I really hope to suspend Martial Law as quickly as I can, because my advisors now tell me that over 80% of the country has died off in four separate waves. Those very sick or on life support, the ones taking life-saving medications, further more from disease and starvation and lastly from human predation. I am asking everyone to assist with the rebuilding efforts, and for your cooperation with the Governors of the State.

  For those of you still in FEMA camps, I urge you to stay and continue the work. Some have told me that it’s been called the equivalent of labor camps, or even concentration camps. I do not agree with that assessment. The horrors of a few isolated instances does not paint the picture of the entire effort of FEMA and NATO to help our nation getting kick started again. Without the labor to build critical components, we cannot pull ourselves out of the ashes. Instead of going to work, we’re asking the people we’re taking care of in the camps to do their part in contributing to rebuild our country.

  Again, attacks against those camps will not be tolerated, and those who instigate or support them will be brought to justice.” The words chilled everyone in the room. “I want to stress to you, those in the camps are not prisoners, they are there to help with rebuilding key infrastructure, designed to help the population out.”

  “…That is why with great regret, I have one last sad bit of news. The South West of the country is being invaded, for lack of a better term, by a private army whose members are from all over the world, seemingly financed by agents of ISIS and North Korea, being guided into the country by the Cartels. Texas, New Mexico, Arizona and parts of California are now open battlefields. There is very little information to go on now, and even if I had it I could not share it openly before verifying its sources. We believe to be the start…” The President made another long pause, “We believe it’s the start of a land campaign that Americans haven’t seen in many lifetimes. As soon as our Navy and Airforce bring personal and equipment back, they will be pressed into service defending our borders and key infrastructure.

  My fellow Americans, it is now time to take back our country and pull ourselves out of the ashes of a charred existence. I will be in touch. God Bless.”

  They all sat there in stunned silence for several heartbeats until Sandra’s handset squawked. It had been set on the Rebel Radio Frequency, since everyone was monitoring the President’s announcement. She fumbled to pick it up and keyed the mic.

  “Sandra here, over?”

  All eyes in the room turned to her.

  “Sandra, this is John Davis here, the Governor you referred to as Boss Hogg. Do you copy me five by five?”

  “Oh shit,” Bobby whispered.

  “Shut up,” Duncan said, putting one beefy arm around Lisa, drawing her close.

  “I read you, Governor,” she said, her voice quaking.

  “You have twenty minutes to turn yourself in with your husband or we’ll wipe the Homestead off the map. I have three Apache Gunships en route now, as well as a Huey for your transport. You both will be arrested for treason, murder and war crimes. You will be tried by a combination of military and civilian personnel. If found guilty, you will be executed. If you doubt my word, you should only have to look up. In a few moments.”

  Faintly from outside, people were letting out surprised yells. Everyone looked up as the sound of the choppers made it hard to hear.

  “Furthermore, military units stationed at the Homestead, you have one week to pack and bring yourselves and your equipment to Greenville. Further acts of aggression will not be tolerated. If the orders are met, any past discretions will be forgiven and your lives will continue. If you do not follow these orders, it’s unlikely that your lives will continue.”

  “That’s putting us between a rock and a hard place,” Sgt. Smith said angrily from the doorway.

  “Shhhh,” everyone chorused.

  “Is that all?” Sandra asked.

  “Publically. Now go to scramble,” he said.

  Sandra switched to the secure channel she said, “Continue.”

  “Now, I’d like you to know that your actions against me and my men have been noted by those above me. If you two weren’t such public personas, I’d have used the gunships to scour your farms. I really hope you resist, because personally, I want to watch you both hang whether you’re found guilty or not,” Davis spat, his words full of venom.

  “We have to give ourselves up,” Blake said, pulling his wife close and wrapping his arms around her.

  “No,” Lisa shouted, tears running down her eyes.

  “Wait, if I don’t tell the men and squad to stand down…” Sgt. Smith said, pulling the door open.

  “Nobody fires on the choppers,” Duncan shouted as Smith ran out the door.

  “Chris?” Sandra called, and the little boy came running, almost leaping into his adopted mother’s arms.

  “Mommy, don’t go,” he said softly, the open door allowing the rotor wash to blow dusty wind into the house.

  “I think I have to. Don’t worry honey, I’ll be home soon, besides, you’re going to be helping out grandma,” Sandra said, kissing him on the head and then putting him down.

  “Daddy?” Chris asked.

  “I have to go too. Don’t you worry, I’ll be back soon too. I think they’re going to give me a ticket,” Blake said, dropping a wink, “when I get back, we can play battleship some more.”

  He hoped it looked genuine, because he could now hear what everyone else outside had seen before they heard it. Chopper blades.

  “He wasn’t lying,” Duncan yelled from the doorway.

  Sandra keyed up her hand held on the tactical net, “Me and Blake are coming out unarmed. Nobody shoot, our end or your end Davis.”

  “Wise decision. Davis out.”

  Patty sobbed, then turned to the group, “I can’t let you go! First it was Neal and then your son,” she said to Lisa, “and now they’re taking you away for a kangaroo court trial! You can’t!”

  Patty launched herself towards the couple and almost bowled them over in a hug, her tears falling freely. They both hugged her back, hard.

  “We have to, we can’t do anything against three Apaches,” Sandra told her, giving her the hand set.

  They stripped themselves of their side arms and knives and walked towards the open door. The rotor wash from the helicopters was pushing the tall grass down in the field south of the house. A Huey like the one that had come a week earlier for Sandra was flaring for a landing.

  “I love you,” Sandra called over her shoulder, taking Blake’s hand in his.

  Blake turned, words escaping him. He knew this day may come, but the double or triple shock of the message took the words right out of his mouth. They knew their actions would have repercussions if the government ever re-organized but they had felt they had acted just. Now they were sending three Apache’s as a show of force? Blake felt like it was threatening an anthill with a bazooka. There was no way the Homes
tead could easily defeat three flying war machines.

  “There they are,” Sandra said, pointing with her free hand.

  The choppers were at three points of the compass, their armaments all pointing towards the heart of the Homestead. Thankfully, there weren’t very many people outside. Blake figured they would have all hidden in the barracks; but that could turn into their grave if the Apache’s opened up, dropping the barn on top of them.

  “I see them,” He said, his voice coming out dry, his voice cracking.

  “Are you scared?” She asked him.

  “Terrified. You?”

  “Nope,” She pulled him close and kissed him on the cheek.

  “Liar,” Blake teased as four armed men dropped out of the helicopter, their guns raised.

  Blake and Sandra kneeled, with their hands over their head and were quickly frisked, then cuffed. After all they had done, they were surprised at how they were handled. It wasn’t the rough and painful treatment Blake had been expecting, but it seemed like more of a formality than an arrest by the way the soldiers acted.

  From around the Homestead, people watched, many of them with guns at the ready, even if it would be suicidal to open or return fire.

  * * *

  “It’s my fault,” Duncan said, grabbing the handset from Patty.

  “Silverman, this is Duncan, over?” Duncan said into the radio on the frequency they’d set aside for both units to talk with.

  “Silverman, this is Duncan, are you there? Over?”

  Again, silence.

  “The militia…?” Lisa asked.

  “I hope to hell… Ouch,” Duncan said, grabbing his arm after Lisa delivered a healthy pinch, “I hope to heck that Davis hasn’t moved against them.” Duncan said.

  “What if they just turned themselves in, you know, once they heard the President?” David asked, trying to comfort a still crying Patty.