The Shelter: WAR

by Ira Tabankin

  “Do you have problems with bandits?”

  Jay laughs, shaking his head, he answers, “Bandits, bikers, the Cartel, ISIS and people who have no hope. We’ve been attacked a number of times. Which is why the approaches to the farm are all mined.”

  “Is that legal?”

  “Legal? Your last country sheriff was a thief, we haven’t seen a State Police patrol in over six months, when we did see one, they wanted our crops, same with the National Guard. Legal? We’re trying to protect what’s ours. The only way we can protect what’s ours is with guns and numbers. Without the mines, we’d all be dead. You want to discuss legal, I’d like to discuss what you’ve been doing to protect the people of the state and what have you done to feed the hungry whose numbers seem to grow every day?”

  “Jay, all nice excuses, but there’s still the question of it being legal for citizens to own explosive devices.”

  “We’re not civilians, we’re part of the TFM, we’re all members of the Militia which you’ve recognized and authorized to act within the State of Tennessee. We’re protecting the lives of citizens of the state and we’re feeding citizens, something you’re not doing very well.”

  “Okay, you’ve got me. I’ll overlook your mines; is there anything else I should overlook?”

  “If there is, you’ll have to find it yourself. I’m not going to self-incriminate myself. Let me show you the area we’ve been able to irrigate.” They drive to large circles with crops waving in the wind. The Governor opens the door to look at the fields.

  “How many such areas do you have?”

  “There are twelve large circles and the land around the lake. Would you like to see it?”

  “Yes, please.”

  They drive to the lake, the Governor exits the SUV looking at the young crops and irrigation pipe.

  “Why are the crops here so much smaller than the other areas?”

  “Animals ate the first crops we planted, they trampled our irrigation pipes. We had to turn what was left back into the soil and start over. Notice the fence running around the planted land? That's to keep the animals out. We have just under seven hundred acres planted and growing. We lost the rest due to a lack of rain.”

  “I assume you have stored grain and crops to tide you over times like this?”

  “No comment. What’s ours is ours, I don’t share information on our strategic reserves, just as I’m sure you don’t share information on the State’s reserves.”

  “I’m not asking to take what’s yours, I’m just asking.”

  “Governor, let’s get a couple of issues cleared up before we end up destroying a budding relationship before one develops. I don’t trust politicians. I don’t know where you’ve been since the economic meltdown, I don’t know what you’ve done to help your people or why you’re here. I was asked by General Arthur to give you a tour which is what I’m doing. I’ve had a stomach full of politicians making bullshit promises and reaching their hands in our pockets.”

  “Why don’t we go someplace secure to talk?”

  “That sounds good to me. I have a secure conference room in my home.”

  “The castle?”

  “The same. Shall we?”

  The SUVs turn around and head towards Jay’s castle, they pass Ricky working his small plot of land. The Governor looks out of his window,

  “Who’s that all the way out here?”

  “No one you should be concerned about.”

  “All of my citizens are my concern. Please stop, I’d like to talk with the young man. I didn’t know you had tenant farmers. Why didn’t you tell me that you also have slaves?”

  “He’s not a tenant farmer, nor is he a slave. He’s a criminal. He’s been banished here to keep him away from the rest of our community.”

  “What crime did he commit?”

  “He tried to kill me. Before you ask, we have medical proof.”

  “He was convicted in a trial and banished? I wasn’t aware banishment was a punishment on the State’s books.”

  “There aren’t any police, no judges, we held our own trial, he was found guilty and banished.”

  “I’d like to review the case file. I’m interested in how local communities have handled criminal issues.”

  “I’ll have the file copied and given to you when we reach the conference room.”

  “Jay, I’d still like to speak with him.”

  “If you really want to, I can’t stop you. Be careful, he’s a silver tongue devil. He tells people what they want to hear. He’s been known to twist the truth to satisfy his own wishes. I’ll come with you.”

  “If you don’t mind, I’d like to speak with him alone.”

  “I’ll wait here while you speak to him. Please don’t be long.”

  The Governor opens the door to greet Ricky.

  Chapter 5

  Admiral Jefferson stares into the corner of his cabin. He pauses in his thoughts listening to the sounds of the ship. He hears the general announcement to all hands saying they have passed through the Panama Canal and are in the Gulf of Mexico. His standing orders are for the Missouri to wait until the entire Task Force has cleared the Canal before moving North East. He’s still undecided what to do. He re-reads and stares at his orders.

  To Commander Task Force 66

  From CIC, White House

  RE: Orders

  Once all ships of TF 66 have cleared the Panama Canal, you are to proceed North East setting a course towards the ports that line the Coast of the Gulf of Mexico. You are ordered to intercept and stop all commercial shipping entering or leaving the ports along the Gulf. Repeating, no ships are to enter or leave the ports of the Gulf of Mexico. Use of force is authorized as may be required to accomplish your orders. You are to report names and types of ships stopped every four (4) hours to the White House. You shall ignore all other orders you may receive from the CNO or any other officer of the United States Military.

  Signed

  President of the United States of America.

  CIC US Military.

  He holds up the orders wondering why the President would order all of the ports along the Gulf Coast closed. He leans back in his chair. He’s ordering me to break the weak economy and declare war on my fellow citizens. As the CIC, he is the most senior officer in my chain of command. He’s also ordering me to break my oath by declaring war on American citizens and companies. The South hasn’t seceded yet. I have no idea if they will or if they can reach a compromise with the White House. I don’t want to see us have another Civil War, the Chinese among others, will surely take advantage of our weakness. On the other hand, I can’t follow orders to attack citizens. My officers are waiting for my orders. If I don’t follow the CIC’s orders, I’ll be fired, God knows who he’ll appoint to replace me. Damn it, I don’t know what to do.

  His thoughts are interrupted by a knock on his cabin’s door.

  “Come.”

  The Captain of the Missouri enters, closing the door behind him.

  “Sir, do you have a minute?”

  “Of course, please have a seat. What’s on your mind?”

  He snaps to attention,

  “Sir, I’ve spoken to the other Captains. We are of a similar mind. Sir, may I speak off the record?”

  “Of course, would you like some coffee?”

  “Thank you.”

  Admiral Jefferson rings for a fresh pot of coffee and two mugs. It’s quickly delivered to his cabin. After pouring two cups of rich, thick, black Navy coffee, the Admiral looks at the Captain, now that we’re off the record, when is the mutiny beginning? Are you here to arrest me?”

  “Sir, no mutiny. The men worship you. You’ve fought the Task Force very well. They believe you would have stopped the Chinese if the CIC would have let you. The Task Force will follow you into hell if you so ordered it.”

  “What’s the scuttlebutt?”

  “The crew doesn’t want to set up a blockade, they don’t want to fight their brothers and sisters.
Most of the crew are from the southern or central states. They don’t like what the CIC is doing. There hasn’t been a secession yet. No shots have been fired. No war declared. Many are very upset with the blockading of the Gulf. Many also think it’s illegal.”

  “Is that how the other captains feel too?”

  “Sir, yes, sir.”

  “Good, because it’s also the way I feel. I’m going to order the TF to steam in a large circle. The only boats we’ll stop are drug runners.”

  “Aye, aye, sir. Thank you sir.”

  Smiling, the captain leaves the Admiral’s cabin to issue the orders, buying time, he hopes for cooler heads to prevail. The warships of Task Force 66 spread out into the Gulf, they contact the US Coast Guard base in Tampa explaining they are in the Gulf and will assist the USCG, who quickly accepts their offer of assistance. The Coast Guard Admiral, Rear Admiral, upper half, Wayne Foster, in charge of the Southern Region proposed a face to face meeting with Admiral Jefferson who quickly agrees. Three hours later the two Admirals meet face to face on the stern of the Missouri. Admiral Foster salutes the American flag.

  “Sir, permission to come aboard?”

  “Permission granted. Admiral Foster, welcome aboard.”

  “Admiral, damn, this is a big ship. I’d forgotten how large these old battleships are.”

  “Admiral, don’t let her hear you call her old. Like most women, she doesn’t like to be reminded of her age.”

  Admiral Foster laughs, “Missouri, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean anything negative by it. I didn’t mean to insult you.” The ship responds by blowing her whistle. Admiral Jefferson smiles, “She forgives you.”

  “She only takes her anger out on enemies of freedom.”

  “I heard she’s a racist since she’s only fired on Japanese and Chinese.”

  “She’s not a racist, she hates any enemy of freedom equally. You don’t want to be on the receiving end of her 16-inch cannons, or her missiles.”

  “You’re right, I don’t. Will she fire on her fellow citizens?”

  “Admiral, why don’t we continue this in my cabin?”

  “Lead the way.”

  The two admirals walk through the mighty battleship. Admiral Foster’s head keeps moving, looking at every detail of the Missouri. “I’m amazed she’s in such good shape. I have Cutters a third of her age that aren’t in such good condition.”

  “Everyone serving on the girl is a volunteer, we love her, we work on her even in our off time. Every aspect of her is kept painted and polished. Every gear is greased and in perfect working order. There’s not a spot of rust on her. We don’t order people to wash they deck, they do it out of respect for the Missouri. History was made on her decks.”

  “I wish my people treated my ships the same way.”

  Opening the door to the Admiral Jefferson’s larger ‘day cabin’ he asks,

  “Coffee?”

  “Please.”

  The two Admirals sit across from each other sipping their hot, black coffee, Admiral Jefferson looks at the USCG Admiral sitting across from him,

  “So Admiral, what do you really want to tell me?”

  “Sir, as you know, the CG is part of the DHS, not the Pentagon.”

  “Except in times of war.”

  “We’re not at war right now, I report to the Commandant of the CG, who reports to the Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security. He’s asked me to check if you intend to follow your orders from the CIC. If you are, I’m to offer whatever assistance the CG can, if you’re not, I’ve been ordered to remove you from command and replace you as the Admiral in charge of Task Force 66.”

  Admiral Jefferson’s face turns beet red. He stares at his visitor without saying a word. He lifts his coffee cup to his mouth, he holds the mug under his nose a second to inhale the strong, rich aroma. He sips his coffee while staring into Admiral Fosters eyes. He reaches over to his phone where he presses the nine button. He continues drinking his coffee. A moment later his cabin door is opened by two armed Marines.

  “Admiral, you pressed the duress button?”

  “Yes, Captain I did. Would you please escort Admiral Foster to the Brig?”

  “Sir?”

  “He’s here to take over the Task Force under orders of the Secretary of the DHS.”

  Marine Captain Lee smiled,

  “Sir, be happy to. Admiral Foster, if you would please stand and follow us.”

  “Captain, if I don’t, what are you going to do? You wouldn’t dare arrest a USCG Admiral. Nor would you harm me. I’d order the Cutters under my command to arrest your Admiral.”

  Captain Lee laughs.

  “Admiral, your cutters couldn’t scratch the paint on this girl. Our 16-inches can reach out and sink your pretty white toys before they can get close enough to fire your pop gun. We’re surrounded by an armor belt of 16 inches. Your largest gun, a 6 inch will bounce off of us. We’re surrounded by fourteen destroyers and cruisers. There are also four nuclear-powered attack submarines under us. They could sink you before you knew they were there. We don’t play games. We’re designed to go in harm’s way and fight to win. I suggest you accompany us. If your cutters want to come out and play, you’ll be doubly sorry.”

  “Under what charges are you holding me?”

  “I’ll let the Admiral figure that out. My orders are to take you into custody.”

  “Captain, just following orders was never a good defense.”

  “We’ll see, either you stand up and follow us, or we’re prepared to remove you from the Admirals quarters by force.”

  “I’ll go. You haven’t heard the end of this.”

  “I’m sure. Come along.”

  Admiral Jefferson looks up as Admiral Foster is standing up.

  “Admiral, I’m sorry you decided to threaten me.”

  The Marines lead Admiral Foster away. Admiral Jefferson lifts the phone; he presses the number one button which connects him to the bridge.

  “Bridge, Admiral Jefferson. Set general quarters. No drill.”

  “Yes, sir. Set general quarters, no drill.”

  The general quarters gong sounds through the Task Force. Sailors run to man their battle stations. Canon barrel covers are removed; safety pins are removed from missile boosters. Watertight doors are closed and sealed. Every weapon is checked and reported as ready.

  “Admiral, the Task Force is at general quarters, every ship reports ready for action.”

  @@@@@

  Ricky watches the door of the SUV open, he sees the man exit the vehicle with his hand extended.

  “Hello, I’m Governor Abrams. Who do I have the pleasure of meeting?”

  “Sir, my name is Ricky. I’m Jay’s son-in-law.”

  “What are you doing all the way out here?”

  “That’s a long story. I’m sorry, I’m not at liberty to discuss it right now.”

  “I’d like to learn about the farm and its people, can you spare five minutes to give me your view of the situation?”

  Ricky smiles,

  “Mr. Governor, it would be my pleasure. Would you like to come into my little home and get out of the blazing sun?”

  Jay watches the two enter Ricky’s home thinking, never trust a politician. They all think they’re running for reelection; they never pass a baby they don’t kiss or a horse’s ass they want to talk up. I don’t trust Ricky not to fill his head with bullshit.

  @@@@@

  Franco, his sons, and other workers are tunneling under the fields to build a new shelter. Franco drives the tunneling machine General Arthur loaned them. The workers load the tunneled soil into trucks, taking it out to the fields where it’s piled to build defensive berms. After the soil is removed, pre-made forms are pushed into place, these are covered in reinforced quick setting cement. The process is repeated as the tunnel is extended to where Franco and Jay agreed the new shelter should be built. Franco reviews the day’s progress. Shaking his head, he calls Fred telling him,

  “Fred, I�
��m going to need every spare body we have. The ground under the fields Jay picked for the new shelter is very rocky. It’s taking us much longer to dig the tunnel than I thought. We’re three days behind the worst case production schedule.”

  “Jay’s not going to be happy to hear this. I’ll see what we can scrape up for you. Are there any other production options?”

  “Not without a steam shovel. Which is something we don’t have, and Jay said he doesn’t want us to dig a hole and build the shelter in it like we did the current one.”