Killswitch Chronicles- The Complete Anthology

by G. R. Carter

  They’d been here for two precious days already. Most of what he’d heard, he already knew. It was becoming clearer that the Okaw and Old Main were much further ahead in their development. Their network was spreading further and further out.

  In addition to the threat of the Grays to the east, word was filtering in about a strong force arising in the former city of Chicago. Almost twenty million people once lived there when the Reboot established the Windy City as Regional Capital of the Upper Midwest. Resources and people for hundreds of miles around poured into the city, sucking the life out of the smaller cities and towns nearby. After Grapevine plunged the world into darkness, the implosion of metro areas like Chicago was indescribable. Mobs that managed to escape the inferno overwhelmed densely-populated refugee camps in the surrounding area. Those who survived the initial hell moved out into the countryside like locusts, consuming everything in their path.

  Even with the total collapse of the city, humans were resilient like rats. The thought of just 5% of the populace surviving the carnage then heading towards the Okaw Valley gave Phil and Olsen nightmares. The size of the horde and what the survivors must be like were unthinkable.

  Outside of those new nations, the only other organized group they made contact with was the Great Lakes Republic. The GLR consisted of small communities stretching from the Dakotas all the way through Minnesota and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Instead of a proper state, they were really just a common defense and trade group. Unfortunately, they were involved in a brutal war of extermination with the Muslim communities of the old Minneapolis and Detroit areas. The Muslims considered the collapse of civilization to harken the coming of the 12th Imam, and embarked on a jihad to establish a North American Caliphate. Most in those communities were first or second generation immigrants to the old America. Originating from parts of the world lacking modern conveniences, having no electricity and little communication wasn’t a big adjustment for them. With a high birth rate and strong societal discipline, they eventually overwhelmed any pockets of resistance. Farmers, woodsmen and hunters could kill the jihadi three or four to one, but the GLR was simply running out of men.

  GLR’s only real potential allies lay to their western borders. A family named Rawles led a group of survivors in the old Idaho and Montana territories. Word was the group didn’t have a lot of population, but were well armed and well fed. Rawles trained his people well and together they formed a government structure based on the old American Constitution. The GLR people that Alex spoke with didn’t know if Rawles would affiliate with New America, though from the sound of it Idaho territory didn’t have much in common with the Grays beside the flag they both claimed.

  None of those major groups were represented here at Old Main’s summit. Mostly just a couple dozen communities eager for some help.

  “Here is what we propose,” the President of the Wabash Alliance shouted above the crowd. “Please refer to the pamphlet being distributed now. I think you can see that it is an ambitious but fair agreement that brings us all into line with one another.”

  Phil looked over at Julia Ruff and smirked. The man speaking made it clear at dinner the night before that having the leader of the Okaw Valley SDC or Old Main head up the new alliance would look bad. Because the two were the largest powers in the proposed group, someone from a smaller place, like Carlisle, would be a better choice. The Indianan “reluctantly” offered himself for the task. He wasn’t a completely bad guy, just your typical holdover politician from the old world. One who spoke of a life of public service and sacrifice while making a very nice living. He’s doing good…in fact, he’s doing very well indeed, was the old joke. Mr. Mayor of Carlisle was just the kind of parasite that weakened the old America.

  Phil looked over the paper pamphlet. Clean white paper had become a luxury to the survivors of the Reset. Carlisle government offices must have held this back for a special occasion like the Alliance Summit.

  Let’s see. Number one is “providing for a common defense.” Okay, I suppose that means my Raptors and Turtles on call all the time. Phil made a check mark next to the line.

  Number two, “freedom of speech.” No problems there, as long as it’s all speech and not ‘to be determined’ later by a group of offended politicians. Another check.

  Number three…huh, that’s surprising. I thought we’d have to do some convincing to get them to accept Quarter-Bushels.

  The Okaw Valley SDC’s farmstead system had unintentionally created its own currency. In this case, a quarter bushel of soybeans had become the unit of measure for trade in the county’s area of influence. Since soybeans were used in fuel production as well as for food, the hardy plant was the staple of life in the Okaw Valley. The ability to replant directly from the prior year’s harvest meant that no one controlled the seed needed to grow a crop. And there was never enough of it to satisfy all needs.

  Because the only banker Phil knew had gone AWOL right after the Reset, he implemented a system providing a more reliable tender. United States currency became worthless after the Reset and gold and silver held little value to most hungry survivors. So, the Okaw started using the United States quarter coin to represent one quarter of a bushel of soybeans. Hundreds of thousands of quarters sat useless and coins would last much longer than paper in their harsh world.

  Coins were distributed to exchange for soybeans brought in by farmers. Within just a year, people who used to speak in terms of dollars now spoke of quarters. Instead of a paper currency worth nothing more than the fibers it was printed on, the hard metal in each coin represented an actual commodity that could be exchanged.

  Even though the people of the Okaw Valley SDC identified themselves less as Americans every day, they retained the old ingenuity that made the former country great. Enterprising groups of privateers began searching the dead cities on their own, looking in abandoned banks for old quarter coins. While useless to the skeletal survivors in the ruins, Quarters became a sought-after item to independent salvagers. Men and women who didn’t want to live the farm life and didn’t want to become a tradesman in the towns could join a private salvage crew organized by those who chose to live a more adventurous life outside the school shelters or Fortress Farms.

  The Founder’s advisors objected at first to scrappers profiting from missions that should have benefited all the Okaw people. But Hamilton and Olsen both recognized the benefits free enterprise, something that might have saved the old country. Besides, these privateer crews didn’t pass up anything the SDC had on their pick lists. Phil agreed to pay the entrepreneurs for bringing in needed items at no risk to his own crews.

  The Quarter-Bushel currency system was now being exported to some of the surrounding communities that Okaw Valley encountered. Old Main College was considering using quarters, and the implementation of a common currency was high on the agenda for their summit meeting.

  Number four – official declaration that our alliance represents the real America, and a return to flying the American flag and the use of all symbols associated with the United States of America. No way was that going to fly. The younger members of the Okaw Valley SDC despised the American flag now. That would be major confusion – New America used all the old country’s symbols – and besides, I kind of like our new flag. The Greenfield Shield currently hung over every farm and building associated with the Okaw Valley SDC.

  Number 5 – “freedom from religion”… I wonder what in the world that means. I get freedom of religion, but freedom from religion is going to need some explaining. The Okaw’s Unified Church was gaining momentum in the towns and on the farms. Phil was very protective of Father Steve and Pastor Hart’s efforts. His kids, particularly Sam, had become particularly devout. No way he’d let anything interfere with that.

  Number 6 – all disputes among alliance members to be heard by an impartial tribunal of unaffected members. All decisions to be final. Phil cringed. That sounded a little bit like three little towns could pull Okaw Valley into a
Kangaroo Court for whatever they wanted.

  “We’re getting into what the alliance does for you, and away from the original idea of just working together peacefully,” Phil said, only slightly whispering to Julia.

  “Wait until you read the next one,” she added.

  “Executive Council to be elected amongst alliance members. Council to determine balance of trade disputes and be responsible for distribution of aid to all alliance members in need.”

  A lightning-quick grab of Phil’s arm was all that stopped him from jumping up right there. Julia’s mom reflexes had not subsided over the years.

  “Just wait, now’s not the time. Let’s get this guy to let us know exactly what he’s after first. Maybe he’s a little craftier than we gave him credit for.

  “Since we agreed that each community gets a vote in these issues, I get the distinct impression each vote will be about 20–2,” she whispered.

  “Why do these people keep proving my son correct?” Phil said, shaking his head.

  “Pardon? What’s that mean?”

  “I’ll give you the details later. The point is that ghosts of old Federal DC haunts even these halls. Give someone the chance to buy votes with other people’s work, and they’ll go for it. Just like the bad old days,” Phil replied.

  “Funny, that’s what Rebekah keeps saying, too,” Julia agreed with a sigh. Her internal conflicts about the right way to run a government caused a tornado of emotions. She was worn down from the daily struggles they faced and the arguments on how to handle even the smallest details. “Phil, I’m afraid Okaw Valley and Old Main will have to hammer out our own deal. Then if the smaller communities want to join, they can. But it will be on our terms, and they will be joining, not hanging on. Full integration.”

  “Do you think your faculty will go for that? They’ve got some really specific ideas on us…like specifically they don’t like us at all. I think the term ‘farmland fascists’ got thrown at us by that Maxwell character you let hang around!” Phil said. He spoke a little louder now, not caring if the speaker knew he wasn’t paying attention. Subconsciously, he had already given up on this meeting’s purpose.

  “Yeah, some think you’ve gone totally militaristic. Maybe they’re just jealous that you can feed and protect yourselves at the same time. That doesn’t fit the worldview they came of age with. But the core of our population loves you guys. They would fold up the college and community right into the SDC and not think twice,” Julia replied.

  She continued: “These younger folks really changed after the Reset. Danger isn’t just a hypothetical theory to them…they can sense how unstable this world is. Just because we’ve steadied a little bit now doesn’t mean the whole thing couldn’t still come apart. Part of it is probably being a full forty miles closer to the Grays than Okaw Valley is, too. We go to bed every night wondering if they’ll show up to attack us the next morning.”

  “Not if we can help it!” Phil said emphatically.

  “See what I mean? The students and townspeople both know that. So does the faculty who worked with you guys on the Mark 2s and the biofuel. We know each other. We trust you.”

  “I appreciate that trust. I really do. But I’m just one guy. If you all join up with us, what happens if the next leader loses their way? Undoing something like is really hard, and usually very painful,” Phil countered.

  “I’m not advocating we give up our dreams of a republic. I was one of the last holdouts for real liberty in DC, remember? I’m just saying that right now, with the specter of all these threats hanging over our head, we might need to grow into it slowly,” Julia replied.

  “I just get the feeling that we’re going to regret this someday. But people I trust are all saying the same thing,” Phil sighed. “Well, should we leave this dog and pony show now? Or wait it out?”

  Julia stood and interrupted the peacock leading the proceedings: “Mr. Speaker, I’m afraid that the good people of Old Main College will not be able to abide by the terms you have laid out here. We respectively resign our position, relinquish our spot on the speakers list and wish you all the best.”

  Looks of shock and horror faced Ruff as she gathered her papers and walked towards the door.

  “Wait, Madame President! Wait! Let us negotiate! These are just ideas to be discussed!”

  Phil wasn’t sure who was actually yelling, he was already just a few steps behind his ally and friend as she disappeared around the corner.

  Julia pushed the outer doors open, taking in the sunshine that greeted them.

  Phil caught up and walked alongside her. “They say I’m the one who isn’t politically correct! I think you definitely got their attention.”

  “You’ve said it a thousand times, Phil. And I believe you now. We don’t have a day…or even a minute to waste in this new world.” She stopped and looked around at the campus where they stood. Knots of young people hurried from place to place, all with assigned tasks. No one lounged around – there was a clear purpose to each person’s actions this morning.

  She continued: “I’m so proud of the way Old Main reacted to this whole nightmare. From the reports you showed me, your Raptor teams have found mostly death and destruction everywhere. I mean, it seems like we’re the last outpost of civilization here. Like some kind of twilight zone. We woke up one morning and we’re the only ones left on Earth.”

  “I know, I understand,” Phil replied. “Clark and I talk about it all the time.”

  “Talk about what?” Olsen asked as he walked up behind the two.

  “How this all happened so quick, the power going out I mean, that we didn’t stop to think about the human toll. We were just trying to survive…but we had been just scraping by for so long even before the Reset that it just didn’t seem that different. But with the Raptor teams out exploring, we can get a grasp of just how terrible and empty everything really is,” Phil sighed.

  “Clark, I told Phil that Old Main College will accept a complete merger with the SDC, if you’ll have us,” Julia said, looking up at the big man. “The time for playing little Greek city-states is over, we need to unify against all the bad things out there. Including our version of the Persians up north. We can’t do it on our own anymore, and I believe we would be a good asset to you all.”

  Olsen arched an eyebrow at Julia, a trick he picked up from his wife years ago. Then he looked over at Phil with a slight look of accusation.

  “Don’t blame me, partner. This was not my idea. She just sprung it on me, and then marched out of the meeting we were in. This time it’s her that’s in trouble…I really was trying to play nice,” Phil laughed.

  “Listen, Julia. I know that you’ve made Old Main into a great place. And I believe you really will be a great ally to us. But if we bring you and two dozen other communities into the SDC, we’ll cease being what we were created to be. Phil and I are arguing…err, discussing right now what the best form of government is. Some kind of democracy of survivors is going to stretch us to the breaking point. We’ve learned the hard way, we can’t be everywhere at once,” Clark pleaded.

  “I understand that. And like I told Phil, I’m not suggesting we put all this up to vote. That’s why we just left that farce of a meeting in there. The old saw about democracy equaling two wolves and one sheep voting on what’s for dinner…” she paused again, once more glancing around her campus. There seemed to be some strength she gathered from the sight of standing buildings and living residents. She had gotten them this far…

  Julia continued: “No votes on this one. We strike the terms of the merger between us. If anyone wants to join, they abide by the rules of the SDC. The Greenfield Shield flies over the farms and towns that join. People serve in the SDC militia, they adhere to the Quarter-Bushel system, and if they want SDC protection, they petition to move somewhere closer. Lord knows we’ve got plenty of untilled land just within sight of us here. “

  The Founder and the sheriff exchanged glances. Olsen spoke first: “You know ho
w I feel, Phil. And you’ve heard how Commander Fredericks sees things. People really want this. I know you’re scared to death of being called a dictator. This would increase four or five times the number of people looking to you for answers. That’s going to have to be your burden. Unfortunately for you, you’re the only one who can pull this off right now.”

  The tipping point finally arrived for Phil. In his heart, he knew it was wrong…he knew that some form of benevolent dictatorship, whatever pretty name they put on it, always ended badly. All of these years he preached a small government republic, and now he finally had the chance to put his ideas into practice. Yet at the crucial moment, he was about to give in to what his friends and family said they wanted. He was going to allow his people to revert to the easy path and cede authority to someone not afraid to make the hard decisions. Maybe once we get through this rough time I can set things right, he tried to convince himself.

  “All right, here’s the deal,” Phil began. “I want you two to hammer out a one-page agreement. No more than one page. Bring one or two other people in on the discussion, maybe Steinbrink and Kuhn. But keep the group small, no committees! Create a Republic Senate or a House of Neighbors for the entire territory. And make sure there is some mechanism for my removal, short of a bullet in the courtyard, alright?”

  The two snickered, nodding their heads.

  Phil continued: “Now that’s your punishment for insubordination. You tend to the details while I go out and enjoy the afternoon with our troops in the field. I had Alex drive my old Turtle over from home just in case my plan of skipping some meetings worked out. Julia, thank you for making sure I had the chance.

  “Cancel the extra festivities around the dinner tonight. We’ll still do the meal, but instead of the dance afterward, I’ll speak to what we’re doing. Invite everyone to it. Julia, you’ll be introducing me and explaining what the Old Main position is. If you could show some kind of signed document from the Faculty Senate supporting this, that would be powerful stuff for the doubters. Everyone knows they’re not exactly my fan club.” More smiles and nods at the truth of the statement.