The Shelter: WAR

by Ira Tabankin

  “I can use this against him. Combined with his family I own the SOB.”

  “Sir, I think you overestimate the leverage you have on him, he’s brought the entire country to their knees before you even returned.”

  “The unions won’t keep their strikes up for long, if they do, I’ll order the National Guard to break the strikes.”

  “Sir, if you do that, the party will forever lose the support of the unions.”

  “No, we won’t, money has a way to make people forget. Just get me the union presidents on the phone so I can talk directly to them.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  Chapter 32

  Every major city in the country is shut down by the union strikes. Union presidents tell the President they know their rights and they won’t return to work unless their employers make major concessions on wages, health care, and compensation.

  “You have to order your members back to work. You’re going to destroy the country if you don’t.”

  The President of the Auto Workers Union smiles on the conference call, “Mr. President all you have to do is agree to turn 51% of the auto companies over to union ownership and we’ll return to work.”

  “You know I can’t agree to that.”

  “Yes, you can. You gave us a percentage of Chrysler and General Motors. We want control of them and we want ownership of Ford. Plus there’s the important companies what have factories in the country.”

  “I can’t do that and you know it.”

  “Then we’ll stay off of the job. When the auto factories are shut down, steel mills will close, there are hundreds of companies that supply the auto industry will close. Dry cleaners, local stores, and restaurants will close due to the shutdown, factories will also be forced to close due to a lack of business. You’ll see a spike of unemployment into the twenty percentile range, maybe higher. How will your party ever get elected again if twenty percent or more of the country are unemployed?”

  “You wouldn’t do that to us! We’ve been your best supporters for generations. You owe us.”

  “You owe us more, we got you elected twice, our members supported your programs. Look what’s happening! Many of our members are patriotic, they don’t like the idea of the country splitting up.”

  “Believe me, I control the leader of the Confederacy, I’m going to ship him all of the gun loving assholes. We’ll have all of the Bible and gun loving people in one place. We’ll be able to deal with them at our leisure. I promise you when this secession is finished we’re all going to be much better off.”

  “We’re sorry, we don’t believe you. Each of our unions wants assurances now or we’ll stay off the job until we get them. When the cities are full of smelly trash and there’s no one to clean their hotel rooms, no one to cook their fancy meals, they’ll agree to our terms.”

  @@@@@

  Jay frowns asking Franco, “How long until you finish the new shelter? I worry we’re going to need it quicker than I thought.”

  “This one is going to take a lot longer than the current one. We’re tunneling underground, removing the dirt, adding supports, building the forms, mixing the cement…”

  “I know the process, I know this one is going to take a lot longer, a couple of weeks ago you asked for more people which I gave you. You asked for more concrete culverts and forms, Tony found them, you asked for PVC pipes, we got them for you. What else is standing in your way?”

  “Let me show you the pictures I took today; it’ll show you our progress. Do you want to come by and see it yourself? The people would like it if you stopped by.”

  “You know I can’t. I’m tracked wherever I go. If I visit the new shelter, everyone will know about it.”

  “I’m doing the best I can. I think if our luck holds, we can finish it in four months.”

  “FOUR MONTHS?!”

  “Franco, we don’t have four months. We might not have two. What do you need to finish it sooner?”

  “More people and more concrete.”

  “See Fred, he’ll arrange whatever you need. My friend, we can’t wait four months, we really can’t.”

  “Jay, I’m confused, since Governor Abrams is gone, what are your worried about? Why the rush for the new shelter?”

  “I’m worried because so many people know about the current shelter, the Feds may know where it is and try to take it out, like in, bomb it.”

  “The ceiling will laugh off most bombs, it’s built in layers with soil as a buffer in between them.”

  “They could use a ground penetrator which will breach the ceiling. Our lives may depend on the new shelter. It’s deeper, the ceiling is better armored, overall, it’s going to be much harder to break into.”

  “I’ll do my best.”

  “Thank you.”

  Jay sits in the dark thinking, the asshole has my family, we’ve shut down many of his cities, we’ve got to find a way to turn up the heat so he knows not to screw with us.

  Tony clears his throat, “A gold bar for your thoughts.”

  “In that case, pull up a seat and put the bar on my desk.”

  “Since you moved up the food chain you don’t trust me? Shame on you, my feelings are hurt.”

  “You don’t have any feelings. I trust you. I’m thinking about how we can squeeze the asshole in the White House to release my family.”

  “I told you we should have left their grid down, sending our people to repair it showed him we’re weak, we caved in when we had him by his balls.”

  “That’s where you’re mistaken, he doesn’t have any balls.”

  “Got me there. What are you thinking?”

  “That’s just it, I can’t think of anything else to do. You’ve got the unions screwing with him.”

  “It’s only a matter of time before they apply enough pressure on the economy that he caves.”

  “It’s how long it takes and what he may do to Sammi and Linda during that time that concerns me. Any word from your agent?”

  “Not yet. I know he’s near the facility, but nothing new.”

  “Please keep me advised. I don’t care what time it is.”

  “My friend, I know, don’t worry, we’ll find a way to get them back safe and sound. I give you my word, we’ll get them out from under his control.”

  Jay hugs his friend, “I know. I should have expected him to try something against my family.”

  “Do you want us to look into grabbing his kids?”

  “NO! I don’t believe families are fair play. He thinks he’s got leverage on me, we need to turn the tables on him. I’m frankly out of ideas.”

  “What have you decided to do about the offer from China?”

  Jay smiles an evil grin, “Their ambassador will be here in two days. I’ve decided to sign the treaty.”

  “Good, they can provide us with a lot of street cred.”

  “It should drive the asshole nuts; it should also worry him since I’m going to grant the Chinese basing rights in the Confederacy.”

  “Aren’t you pushing things a bit too quickly?”

  “It may be the only thing that blocks him from attacking us.”

  “Man, I hope you’re right.”

  @@@@@

  Admiral Jefferson reviews the long message he’s received from Jay. He shows it to his staff.

  “He’s giving us a heads up he plans to sign the treaty with China, he says he’s going to arrange a meeting with the Chinese Admiral in charge of the People’s Army/Navy in four days. He’s asking what we’d like from him.”

  “We’re going to get to ask the Chinese for help?”

  “Yes, if they’re going to open their armory, I’d love some of their Mach 3 anti-ship missiles, can you imagine mounting some of those suckers on the Missouri? I’d rather be firing a Mach 3 missile than a subsonic one. What do they want from us?”

  “They want basing rights in the Gulf and in Norfolk.”

  “Do we even have Norfolk?”

  “I heard that Virginia is g
oing to hold a vote to determine if they’re going to join the Confederacy or remain in the North. I think the people in the middle and southern areas of the state will vote to join us. I also heard an exciting rumor that there are a few states in the Midwest that are thinking about joining us.” Said a smiling Admiral Jefferson.

  His staff sits up in their chairs smiling. One commanding officer looks at the Admiral,

  “Sir, I have some people who don’t want to join the Confederacy, they want to go home.”

  Other commanding officers nod, “Sir, we all have some crew who are protesting the change of our flag.”

  The room is silent as Admiral Jefferson considers what his commanders have said.

  “How many crews don’t agree? How many want to return to their homes?”

  The ship’s commanding officers look at each other, the Captain of the Missouri stands,

  “Admiral, we’ve polled our crews, we’re currently at eighteen percent who want to leave. We think we may be able to persuade a few to stay. The others are beginning to get very vocal.”

  The only sound in the room is that of the waves striking the mighty warship. All eyes are on the Admiral sitting at the head of the table.

  “I understand the problem; I believe the crew who wants to go home should have the right to do so. We made our decision, we didn’t decide for everyone. Please pass the word that anyone wanting to leave will be given the opportunity to do so. I want each of you to inform your crews that anyone who desires to leave should prepare to do so at 0600 tomorrow. The Wasp has more than enough room for everyone. Spread the Marines embarked on the Wasp to your ships until she returns. Captain Franklin, I’d like you to let those who want to go home to do so.”

  “Admiral, which port should we drop them off?”

  “Since Norfolk’s status is still up in the air, I suggest the port of Newark. I’ll contact the Pentagon to inform them of our plan. Captain Franklin, when you reach Northern waters, fly a white flag so the ships of the North don’t take any hostile action against you.”

  “Sir, what happens if there are sailors or other military people who would like to come back with us?”

  Every eye turns to look at the Admiral.

  “Bring them home to us.”

  The other commanding officers smile and nod.

  “I think you may be approached by other ships who want to join us. If you’re asked about conditions here, be honest and truthful. Only bring back people who want to be with us, anyone on the fence shouldn’t be brought home. Only those who are one hundred percent committed.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  @@@@@

  Samantha sits in their room watching Linda watch TV. I know my father; he’s not going to leave us here for long. I hope he agrees to bring Ricky home with us. I think the President is going to be very sorry he took us. She’s interrupted by a knock on the door.

  “Yes?”

  “Sammi, it’s me, Ricky, can I come in?”

  “Of course, it’s open.”

  The two rush into each other’s arms. Ricky hugs his daughter. Ricky joins them watching television,

  “I never thought when I spoke to those people this would happen.”

  “Huh? What are you talking about?”

  “A few days ago I called Governor Abrams to ask for his help, he wasn’t available, I was told he would call me back. Then I got a call from someone who said he was on Governor Abram’s staff. He helped me get out of my tracking bracelet. He helped me escape. He told me to meet the people at the corner.”

  “Ricky, oh shit. You were most likely speaking to the DHS! My dad is going to be really pissed. He may not let you back on his farm.”

  “I don’t care, we’re better off here than we were on his stupid farm.”

  “Ricky, do you have any idea what you’ve done?”

  “I’ve saved us.”

  “No, you may have killed us.”

  Chapter 33

  Fred pants, yelling, running towards Jay’s office, “Jay, Jay, I need to see you right away!”

  Jay ignores him as he does the flashing lights on his phone and his pinging cell phone. He looks at Tony, who’s sitting across from him.

  “When do you expect to hear from Frank? I want my family back. I want them back safe and sound. I don’t care what it costs.”

  “I expect to hear from him today.”

  “Please tell him to do everything possible to retrieve my family.”

  Tony smiles, “Even Ricky?”

  “Let’s not push things.”

  Fred reaches Jay’s office door bending over at his waist panting, “You’re not in your official office, you’re not answering your phone, texts or emails. I need to speak with you on urgent state business.” Pant, pant, coughing.

  Tony smiles, “I think you better talk to Fred before he collapses. We can continue this later after I speak to our friend.”

  “Okay, Fred, what’s so important?”

  “You have a request for a conference call from the CEOs of ten Fortune 100 companies. They want to discuss the Confederacy’s tax and business programs. Their assistant has been calling every fifteen minutes. Why haven’t you responded to my calls?”

  “Aren’t you supposed to handle the day to day bullshit. I’ve got important things to handle.”

  “You’ve got to handle this one yourself.”

  Tony shakes his head smiling at their frustrated friend, “Take care of the State’s business, we’ll meet this evening. I’m sure I’ll have news by then.”

  “Fred, what do they want to know?”

  “They’re concerned about their investments in the South and some have expressed interest in expanding their factories and a couple have expressed a desire to move their headquarters here.”

  “Set the call for 10.”

  “Thank you, I also need you to sign these papers.”

  “Which are?”

  “The first is the plan for the general election.”

  “I want to study this one. I can’t wait for the election so I can turn this office over to someone better suited to it.” Quickly studying the plan, Jay looks up at Fred. “Three months until the election? Can’t we have it earlier?”

  “We need to give the people enough time for party’s to form, decide which offices people will be elected to, the parties have to nominate people. Give the people time to run their campaign. Should I continue?”

  “No, it’s alright. Remember, no outside money, no personal money. The Confederacy will give each candidate the same amount of money. Each position will be limited to two terms. We’re not going to make the same mistakes we made before.”

  “Are you going to limit the number of political parties?”

  “Nope, there can be as many as the people want to form. Before you say it, I know this can lead to chaos. Over time, the people will sort it out themselves. We shouldn’t get in their way. I will enforce no outright lies in the campaigns. Anyone caught saying or printing outright lies will be fined, the second time they base their pitch on an outright lie, they’re out. Anyone convicted of a felony is out too.”

  “How the hell are we going to enforce this? We don’t have the staff to monitor everything everyone says. We’ll never get anything else done.”

  “I don’t intend for us to monitor the candidates, let the internet fight it out, when the complaints reach a certain number, pick one that’s reasonable, then we’ll look into it.”

  “Jay, it’s not going to work, truth is different to different people…”

  “No, it’s not. There can only be one truth, there can be different understandings and perceptions, but there is either truth or a non-truth which, when I was young, was called a lie. I won’t accept people getting elected to office by lying. I’m hoping people run clean campaigns, positive campaigns, I want them to tell the voters what they’re going to do for the people, not base their campaigns on attacking their opponents.”

  “That’s going to be really hard to po
lice.”

  “I’m hoping we won’t have to. I’m hoping the people themselves police the candidates.”

  “That’s a big wish. Do you still believe in Santa Claus?”

  “No, but I do believe in the Easter Bunny, he left me some great candy this year.”