The Shelter, Book 4: The New World

by Ira Tabankin

  “The army gave us a couple of M240 machine guns. We also have a few RPGs. I’d give anything for a few mortars and 40mm grenade launchers.”

  “I might be able to help you with your wishes. I have some extra equipment. We can discuss it after the tour.”

  “For heavy weapons, I’ll give you the five-dollar tour.”

  Jay leads General Arthur and his aides on a two-hour tour of the shelter. They end up in the cafeteria drinking cups of coffee.

  “Jay, I have to hand it to you, this place is amazing. When your camo is installed, I can see why’s it’s hard to see the shelter. I’d bet over ninety percent of people have no idea it’s even here. Can it absorb a lot of damage?”

  “Three blast doors; the walls are reinforced concrete; the ceiling is another matter. It’s a honeycomb of steel, concrete and compressed soil. It will laugh at five hundred pound bombs.”

  “Very impressive. I told you I’m going to make my headquarters across the street, I’d like to borrow your designer to build me a shelter and connect mine to yours.”

  “The Army would like the same thing. I’m concerned about connecting my shelter to the Army’s if civil war comes.”

  “I agree with you. I’m going to pay a visit to the Captain to discuss the situation with him. We worked well together in Memphis. I hope things don’t turn sour and we have to fight each other.”

  Jay, the General, and his aides exit the shelter where they’re met by a smiling Captain Black.

  @@@@@

  The governors of West Virginia, South, and North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Texas, Oklahoma, and the newest addition Louisiana meet in Dallas, Texas. Their major concern is the governor of Virginia who turned down the invitation and informed the President about the meeting. He didn’t know the location where the meeting was going to be held, only the week and it would be someplace in the south.

  The President orders the FBI and CIA to find the location of the meeting and he signs an Executive Order, which finds the governors guilty of treason and sedition. He orders the FBI to arrest everyone in the meeting. The President thanks the Virginian Governor; he promises him an Ambassadorship for his assistance.

  The Governor of Tennessee leaks to the Southern media that the Virginia Governor is a traitor. The people of Virginia begin gathering signatures for a recall election hoping to remove their Governor. Rumors spread like wildfire about what’s going on at the Governors meeting.

  The FBI lands a C17 cargo plane at DFW International Airport with one hundred-twenty heavily armed agents on it. Two additional C17s land carrying the agent’s LAVs and supplies. They’re met on the tarmac by three hundred Texas Rangers who ask the FBI agents to turn around and return to where they came from. The lead FBI agent tells the Texas Ranger;

  “Please step aside. We’re on orders from the US President. There’s a meeting taking place here. Those in attendance are wanted for Treason against the United States of America. We have warrants signed by a federal judge to arrest these treasonists. Now step aside or you will be arrested for interfering with a federal investigation.”

  “Agent, I’m sorry. The meeting is classified; it is being held by a number of Governors. I have no knowledge of what they’re discussing. However, my mission is to protect them. We are going to follow our orders.”

  “Commander, we’re going to carry out our orders, will you stand aside?”

  “I’m sorry, I can’t do that. Please board your plane and return to where you came from. If you don’t, I’ll be forced to arrest you for trespassing.”

  “What the fuck are you talking about. I’m an FBI senior agent in charge, I can go anywhere and do anything I want. There’s nothing you can do to stop my strike team and me.”

  The Texas Ranger lifts his right hand; he makes a motion to wave someone or something to their area. The quiet between the FBI and Texas Rangers is broken by the sound of large diesel engines. The FBI agent looks to the hangers along the tarmac which are opening to show twenty M2 Bradley fight vehicles moving towards the Texas Ranger, who waves them to him. Each M2 has their Advanced TOW antitank missiles in the raised firing position. Their 30mm chain guns are locked on the FBI’s C17s.

  “Still think you have the upper hand?”

  The FBI agent holds a loud speaker in front of his mouth.

  “This is FBI Senior Agent in Charge. Stand down and safe your weapons. Point your 30 mm cannon to the sky and lower your missiles.”

  The tracked armored vehicles stand still with their weapons aimed at the FBI agents.

  “You wouldn’t dare open fire on FBI agents. You’ll have the entire force of the Federal Government crush you like you’re an ant. Your entire family will die with you. This isn’t a threat; this is a promise. All I have to do is press a speed number dial and DFW will be leveled by F16s.”

  The Commander of the Texas Rangers points up to the sky, he points at six dark shapes circling the airport.

  “Your airplanes will have to fight their way through those F15s and F16s guarding the airport. Are you prepared to kill thousands of civilians to make your point?”

  “The people mean nothing to me. They are all traitors. I’ll bring the fires of hell down upon you if you don’t stand aside.”

  “Senior Agent in Charge, you have five minutes to return to your plane and leave. If you do not go, we’ll assume your illegal immigrants planning on harming innocent Texan’s lives. We’ll kill all of you.”

  “Stand aside or you’re the one who will be pushing up grass. I’ll give you two minutes to clear the tarmac.”

  The Texas Ranger laughs, he picks up his phone, he presses the number one, when it connects he says, “Day word is Alamo, authorization is Houston.”

  “Roger, day word Alamo, authorization is Houston. Sir, I suggest you remove yourself from the area surrounding the three targets.”

  “Roger, leaving now, your weapons are green, repeat, weapons green.”

  “Roger, weapons green.”

  “Special Agent in Charge, I’ll see you in Hell.”

  The Bradley fighting vehicles open fire at the three C17s, each Bradley fires five incendiary 30mm rounds, followed by five high explosive rounds. Anyone trying to escape is cut down by the Bradley’s 7.62 machine guns.

  Chapter 31

  General Arthur pats Jay on the back,

  “Jay, as I said, I’m very impressed with your shelter. I have an out of the box idea, so out of the box, there isn’t even a box around it. Are you open to listening to a new idea?”

  “General, why don’t you join me in my office?”

  “I’d love to; would you happen to have a cup of coffee?”

  “We’ll stop in the kitchen and grab a fresh pot on the way to my office.”

  Sipping their fresh coffee, the two men sit across from each other in Jay’s office.

  “General, what’s this out of the box idea you want to bounce off me?”

  General Arthur swallows a mouthful of coffee.

  “That’s damn good coffee. Thank you for it. The idea I want to discuss with you is very simple. Would you consider renting out your shelter?”

  “Do you mean to you? We can build you one pretty quickly. We learned a lot since we built ours. I think if we combined our resources we can build you one in two months.”

  “Jay, I’m not sure that will be quick enough. Have you heard the rumor of another Confederacy?”

  “Who hasn’t? I’ve heard hundreds of rumors. You saw our radio room, we listen and record radio communications from all over the world. Of course, I’ve heard the rumors. Are they real? Is the South really thinking of breaking away from the union again? Didn’t we learn anything in the hundred fifty years since the war of northern aggression?”

  “I see you’ve studied history. Jay, what I’m going to tell you is highly classified. The only reason I’m telling you is because of where you’re located and your shelter. Let’s play a little game
of what if.”

  “I like what if games. I play them almost every day. I always have a plan A, a backup plan B and a backup to the backup, a plan C.”

  “Good, we’re on the same page. As I sit here, fourteen governors are meeting to finalize their secession. The capital, this time, can’t be Richmond, Virginia. The Governor of Virginia is a progressive in the President’s hip pocket. He can’t be trusted. There’s a good chance the new capital will be in Central Tennessee. The new government is going to need a very safe location to meet. One that the Feds won’t easily find or be easy for them to attack. I think your shelter fits that bill.”

  “General, you’re blowing smoke up my ass. What do you really want to see me about?”

  “Jay, I promise you, no smoke. I want the new government to rent your shelter to use as its headquarters until we can build them a new shelter. They can’t afford to wait sixty days.”

  “I never expected this. I need a couple of days to think about it and discuss it with my extended family and friends.”

  “Jay, time isn’t a resource we have a lot of. Once the announcement is made, the President will most likely do everything in his power to arrest the governors and crush the stillborn rebellion before it can gain traction with the people.”

  “General, Holy shit!”

  “That about sums it up. I can give you one day.”

  “Let’s meet here in twenty-four hours.”

  “Agreed.”

  “General, one question,”

  “I assume you’re thinking of Captain Black?”

  “That’s correct. I really don’t want him killed. I believe he can be brought to see the big picture.”

  “I hope you’re correct, because otherwise, my order is to take over his camp in twenty-four hours.”

  “Oh shit, I’m going to be sitting in the middle of another civil war.”

  “Jay, you could run for office and be a very important figure in the new government.”

  “I’m not a politician, I’m too old and have the wrong temperament to kiss babies all day. In fact, to be one hundred percent honest with you, I don’t like babies much.”

  “I can see that. Neither am I. I’ll see you in twenty-four.”

  “Thank you.”

  General Arthur left Jay sitting alone in his office. He didn’t notice Lacy standing in the open doorway.

  “Seems like a nice general, as far as generals go. What did he want to meet privately with you about?”

  “Hon, you better sit down for this one.”

  @@@@@

  Sunday morning is the one day a week Jay and Lacy like to sleep in, they usually get up and have breakfast at 8 versus their normal 5:00. This Sunday Jay and Lacy are woken at 5:45 by the piecing warbling alarm that cuts through everyone who hears it. People stop whatever they’re doing, they drop anything in their hands. The quick reaction force jumps into the fighting trench, they pull the charging handle back to chamber a round in their M4s. Everyone else on the farm run to where their weapons, ammo and body armor is stored in the fields. They quickly change from farmer to soldier. Todd is joined by John, who’s only wearing a pair of sweatpants, he didn’t stop to put a shirt or shoes on. The phone in the security room rings, John looks at it,

  “Jay.”

  “John here.”

  “What’s going on, give me a quick SITREP.”

  “Radio chatter, huge attack on Churches across four states, two as close as twenty miles from here. The MOs are all the same, masked men and women kick open church doors, they spray automatic weapons, toss grenades and Molotov Cocktails. They are in and out within two minutes. Initial reports say thousands are dead. It looks like a coordinated attack.”

  “Damn it, I was hoping to sleep in this Sunday morning. Whenever I plan to get some rest asshole terrorists decide to screw me up. You did the right thing putting us on alert.”

  “Jay, can I put you on hold a minute, I’m getting a call from Captain Black and General Arthur’s people, both must have heard our alarm.”

  “The devil could hear our alarm. I’ll talk to them; I suggest you call Tony to make sure he’s up and moving.”

  “Will do.”

  John conferences both military organizations together so he doesn’t have to repeat himself. He fills them both in on what’s happening in the local churches. Captain Black’s S2 thanks him saying they’ll also go on Alert and send patrols to check on the local Churches. General Arthur’s aide reports the General has already left the base with a patrol to check the local churches. Both ask John if the shelter’s cameras have seen anyone moving in their direction.

  “Sirs, no, I’ve quickly rewound and reviewed the video, I set the computer to show me any movement, the only things moving this morning are a family of deer and the Militia leaving their base. If we pick up anything unusual I’ll alert you. I’ll sound a horn three times.”

  Both thank John and sign off. Todd taps John on the shoulder,

  “Jay and Tony are on their way. I couldn’t talk them out of coming.”

  “Thanks for the heads up. I’m thinking we should look into putting an entrance to the shelter at the rear of Jay’s castle and Tony’s house. It will make it easier for them to get here.”

  “I’m not so sure, right now they ride ATVs if we build a portal near their homes they will have to jog through the tunnel to get here.”

  “Do them both some good. Running will help get them both back in shape. Sitting around eating grilled steaks and in meetings all day is making both of them soft.”

  Jay stands panting in the security room’s doorway.

  “I heard that. Anytime you want to race me, let me know. I’ll even give you a head start before I run you over in my ATV.”

  “Good morning Jay. If it's all the same to you, let’s forget that last bit, okay?”

  Jay smiles and pats John on the back.

  “When will Tony arrive?”

  “I’m here, I’m here. What the hell is going on? Nancy was making me a special western omelet and someone sounded the general alarm. You most likely waited till I sat down to eat before you hit the button thinking, we’ve got the SOB now.”

  Todd explains why he hit the alarm. Jay says,

  “Let’s continue this in the cafeteria, we’ll all be able to sit. John, can you received updates if we move there?”

  “Yes, everything will go to my tablet now. I even have split screen video. We’ve been able to perform a complete system upgrade.”

  “Great.”

  @@@@@

  The President is interrupted in the White House dining room; he listens to the reports of the mass attacks. He looks over to his Chief of Staff.

  “This is the last time; these mass shootings have gotten completely out of control. Between these attacks and the rumors the South is thinking of reforming the Confederacy, I think we have to take action today. I want an Executive Order drafted for the buy back all of weapons and ammo in private hands. This insane crime spree caused by too many guns in the public's hands has to stop and it will stop today. I want to start picking up the people’s guns. I want them collected, crushed and completely destroyed. If there are no guns in private hands, the South can’t very well secede. People won’t be able to do mass shootings. I’ll announce my common sense plan tonight.”

  “Sir, millions of people are going to be very upset. You’ll be hurting the party in the next election which is only a few months away. Why not wait until after the election and sign the order as a lame duck?”

  “Asshole! I’ll never be a lame duck. I hate that term. I’ll rule through my successor, she will listen to me and finish my transformational work.”

  “Sir, there are reports the some of the shooters yelled Allah Akbar when they shot up the churches.”

  “Somehow the churches must have upset the poor Muslims. When I was a boy in Indonesia with my father, the Christians always made fun of the Muslims. The poor Muslims must have broken under the stress. We have to remember all th
e bad things Christians did to Muslims over the years. Issue a press release condemning the shooting and reminding people not to judge all Muslims by the actions of a very small number of them. Also, remind the people of the atrocities Christians committed, like the Crusades. There is no ISIS activity here. My policies have contained ISIS; they are within a small, well-defined area of Syria. I don’t know why the right wing media has to drag out the monster under their children’s beds and call it ISIS every chance they get. I really want the FCC to find a way to cancel Fox’s license, while they’re at it, I want every right wing talk radio and so-called news program off the air too. They are upsetting people. We need to remove them for the common well-being of the people.”