“Well, that’s problematic,” Franks said.
“Do we know how big they are? How fast they can fly? What do we know?” Buchanan asked.
“At this point, sir, we don’t know anything. I can start asking questions, but that would just arouse suspicion.”
The radio started to come alive with communications on a coordinated attack on a National Guard armory in Marion, Illinois. From what they could hear, there were several National Guardsmen that had taken up a resistance movement against the United Nations and were not cooperating with relocation protocols. They were heavily armed, and the local UN units were requesting assistance from any other available UN troops in the area.
“Mount up,” Buchanan yelled. “We’re heading to Gorham to pick up some friends. They have vehicles, weapons, and training.”
“Sir, shall I contact Reynolds?” Franks requested.
“Absolutely, tell him we found some of his Army brothers and we’re going to collect. Tell him to bring all his Rangers, locked and loaded.”
Buchanan kept a squad of Marines back with Specialist Matt Leboe, and the rest of them loaded their equipment and weapons to head for Gorham one last time. From there, it would be onward to Marion.
Gorham, Illinois
When Denny had made an end to his mourning over the grave of his sister, he left the bluff and rejoined his friends. He was met by Nathan, who had recently arrived and was talking to Jess.
Nathan left Jess’s side and walked up to Denny. They embraced each other firmly, as brothers would do, and wept silently on each other’s shoulders. Their bond now made stronger through death, they understood each other’s loss and found comfort in that, if nothing else.
The rest of the day was spent thinking about their future trip to Chicago and making the preparations that came with a fight against an enemy of unknown size and strength. That meant taking everything that could shoot bullets.
Denny seemed distant, but understandably so. He had just lost his sister and the impact of it had not yet worn off before he was prepping for a battle.
They all longed for the conflict with the FEMA camp. The idea of liberating thousands of Americans was a very gratifying thought.
“Do you really think we can pull it off?” Jess asked Nathan.
“Sure. Why not?”
“Well, we don’t even know how big the place is or how well fortified it is.”
Denny jumped in the conversation unexpectedly. “If he says we can do it, then we can do it. Nathan hasn’t led us to our deaths yet.”
It was the “yet” that caught Jess’s ears.
“Look, I haven’t been trained for war like you guys.”
“You’ll do fine. You’ve had more training than most Americans. You understand cover and concealment. You know how to aim sight alignment and sight picture. That’s better than most,” Nathan reassured her.
Denny’s comment wasn’t about reassuring Jess. It was about Nathan’s record as a leader and decision maker. Denny felt that his reassurance days were over. He promised his sister that he would never let anything happen to her. In fact, he had left her side to make sure nothing would happen to her. Unfortunately, that decision cost her life and may have cost his, had he stayed. Denny was not the same man. He felt stronger and freer, as if there were no more ties to a home.
“Yeah, I guess you’re right,” Jess answered Nathan.
“Besides, we’ve got a Weapons Company of Marines on our side,” Nathan said.
“SHHHH, do you hear that?” Denny said.
The soft sound of engine roars was coming from the north.
“That must be them. Take up a defensive position,” Nathan yelled.
Everybody ran to grab a hiding spot. It was purely a defensive and precautionary move. They were expecting Buchanan, but being lackadaisical after all they’d been through would be stupid.
As soon as the convoy of Weapons Company Marines were visible, Nathan gave the all clear.
Everybody stood up. There were only a handful of people from the original Posse. Nathan, Jess, Denny, Ash, Morgan, Jack, Adam, Andy, and Blake were present. Pastor Rory Price was there and making himself available at every possible chance. His wife and children were present. He often showed them affection, but the priorities were clearly in favor of liberty. Only death would come between him and the liberty he desired for his family.
“I’m going with you,” Pastor Price said to Nathan as the HMMWVs came rolling in.
“But you have a wife and two daughters to look after,” Nathan said to him.
“I’ve already talked it over with them. They understand that they won’t have a life without the freedom that comes with it. They won’t be taken prisoner and made to die in some wretched prison camp.”
Nathan could see the resolve in his eyes. Rory had made eye contact with Nathan and he wasn’t letting go.
“Alrighty then. Give them a kiss good-bye. We’re not sure when we’ll be back.”
Rory turned and kneeled down next to his kids.
The HMMWVs were now parked next to them and waiting for everybody to load up.
Rory looked into his little daughters’ eyes. Each of them was crying, but the memory of their talk was still fresh in their minds. The wind was blowing their blonde hair into their faces. The fine strands were sticking to their cheeks because of their tears. Rory kept wiping them away, but they kept pouring from their eyes. He kissed each of them on the forehead and wiped their tears one last time.
Rory stood up and kissed his wife and hugged her passionately before he opened the door and stepped into the convoy. As they drove away, Rory looked at his family, and they never took their eyes off of him until he disappeared out of their sight.
Along the way, the convoy pulled over for a man standing on the side of the road next to a broken-down white Chevy Impala.
“Are you a veteran, son?” Buchanan yelled to the man.
“Yes, sir, I am. I fought against the hajis in the jihadist wars,” the stranger answered.
“Hop in. We could use your experience,” Buchanan said.
The stranger opened the door and entered the backseat, sitting next to Nathan. He extended his hand and said, “Thanks for the ride! My name’s Cade.”
EPILOGUE
By the end of October 2032, the former United States had suffered through several executive orders. Through these orders, there was a breakdown of the country that the forefathers had built through the establishment of the Constitution. Bypassing the Constitution through executive action gave the president power to assume the powers of the other two branches (Legislative and Judicial). This allowed dictator-style rule through circumvention.
Ambitious presidents preceding Adalyn Baker had signed executive actions that could be taken by any president at any time under the guise of “emergency.”
Adalyn Baker invoked the following Executive Orders to accomplish her goal:
EO 10997
Electric power, petroleum and gas, solid fuels, and minerals
Signed February 16, 1962, John F. Kennedy
EO 10998
Food resources, farms, fertilizer, and facilities
Signed February 16, 1962, John F. Kennedy
EO 10995
Telecommunications management
Signed February 16, 1962, John F. Kennedy
EO 10999
Transportation, the production and distribution of all materials
Signed February 16, 1962, John F. Kennedy
EO 11000
Manpower management
Signed February 16, 1962, John F. Kennedy
EO 11003
Air travel, airports, operating facilities
Signed February 16, 1962, John F. Kennedy
EO 11004
Housing and community facilities
Signed February 16, 1962, John F. Kennedy
EO 11490
Federal departments and agencies control all US citizens, church, and businesses
Signe
d October 28, 1969, Richard Nixon
EO 13010
FEMA takes control of all government agencies
Signed July 15, 1996, William J. Clinton
EO 13603
Executive can seize all water, all human and animal food, all transportation, all energy, all construction materials, all health resources, all farm equipment, all fertilizers, all fuels, etc.
Signed March 16, 2012, Barrack H. Obama
Every year preceding the Flip, tens of thousands of Americans swore an oath to uphold the Constitution and to defend it against all enemies, both foreign and domestic. Yet America lost her light and fell into darkness.
America did not fall by the might of an invading army. It was not outsmarted by a technologically superior nation. It fell because it degenerated from the inside out; beginning with an unfaithful pledge and ending with unconstitutional executive orders.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
PHOTO BY
DEVON WOOD PHOTOGRAPHY
L. Douglas Hogan is a USMC veteran with over twenty years in public service. Among these are three years as a USMC antitank infantryman, one year as a Marine Corps Marksmanship instructor, eight years as a part-time police officer, and sixteen years working in state government doing security work and supervision. He has been married over twenty years, has two children, and is faithful to his church, where he resides in southern Illinois.
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