by G. R. Carter
“And our men?” Walsh asked.
“Over two hundred dead or missing and presumed dead, Sir.”
Walsh knew the number would be bad; still, the facts hit him like a sledgehammer.
Over half my irreplaceable vehicles, and almost half the Task Force’s men I’ve spent so much time training. I can’t get too afraid of losing them or we’ll miss the chance to reunify what’s left of this country. But that’s twice now I’ve blundered without the right information.
“Centurion Baker, you and your men fought bravely. You could not have known you would face combined armor and air when the attack was launched,” Walsh assured the young man. “Each of your men will receive a Distinguished Service Ribbon, and each Legion engaged will receive a Silver Eagle for their unit emblem. Your nation is grateful for your service and sacrifice. We shall hold a ceremony in Memorial Stadium to announce the honor.” Walsh watched as the young man straightened a bit, the approval of his commander giving him renewed strength.
Walsh continued: “Tell me everything about the tanks and the aircraft you witnessed. Leave no detail out, please. It’s important.”
Chapter Twelve – Shield of the Okaw
Headquarters – Okaw Valley Self Defense Cooperative
Two Days after the Battle of Old Main
Alex took a deep breath and looked down at the table. He stood where his father and Sheriff Olsen spent countless hours planning and making decisions that impacted the people they were responsible for. The Founder’s Chair; he repeated in his head several times. From the time Alex had been a teenager, his dad and Olsen were thrust into leadership. That same Olsen now sat just to the right of Alex, patiently looking at the young man he helped guide and raise.
Alex raised his eyes, first looking at his younger brother Samuel then his friend Eric Olsen, the sheriff's oldest son. The two young men stood resolute at the back of the long conference room that once held zoning meetings and heated discussion over municipal dog leash laws. The irony and absurdity struck Alex. Most of what he personally remembered of the Old World revolved around school and sports. Now this former county courthouse would be the capital of a new country, home to heated discussions about form of government and battle plans. Instead of arguing about who would make a better quarterback for the high school football team, decisions here would cause the life or death of entire communities.
Feeling lonely in the room full of people, eye contact with Samuel gave him the resolve he needed. They weren’t particularly close before the Reset killed off their old way of life. The two held different interests and goals. Growing into manhood, though, they discovered a bond only brothers possess. Seeing combat together added steel to that connection. Their father’s death left them relying on each other; none would ever question their loyalty to one another again. Their mother, Anna, declined attending this meeting. She and the two Hamilton daughters hid their grief, busying themselves with the details of the Founder’s upcoming formal funeral.
Julia Ruff sat next to Sheriff Olsen. Okaw Valley and Old Main College already had an agreement; in fact more of a merger of equals than what Alex intended to propose to the other communities today. That merger was further solidified by the stunning young woman sitting next to President Ruff, her daughter Rebekah. Since a brief introduction, Alex and Rebekah took every available opportunity to see one another. Weekly mail service between the two communities filled in the times when no official business excuse for meeting could be found. The courtship had been brief, but already Alex had proposed, and she had gladly said yes. The ramifications of the eldest children of two allies getting married escaped them, but not their parents.
Alex worked his way around the room, briefly making eye contact with each man and woman seated at the oak table. The leaders here represented a cross section of the independent societies that sprouted up after the Reset. There were hundreds within a few days’ drive of here, but not many made up of more than a small collection of easily defended buildings. Among these groups, Ditchmen were still a daily threat. Smaller communities without some form of standing defense force were lambs waiting for the slaughter. Even with the plan Alex had in mind to propose here today, he couldn’t promise anyone they’d soon be free of those threats.
The only face that was missing from the room was Tony Diamante, leader of the ARK, a society that arose from the ruins of St Louis. They became allies of Alex’s father, though they were not a free society in the way the SDC would prefer. ARK was a feudal system, established by what was considered an organized crime syndicate in the old world. Their methods were not exactly what Phil or Julia hoped, but they were fair trading partners and showed signs of changing in a positive way over time.
Anyway, I’m sure not everyone here thinks the SDC’s exactly perfect, either, Alex thought quietly.
ARK was still represented by subordinates today; everyone knew that Alex had something big in mind. ARK might be an ally, but they would never give up a single ounce of sovereignty to any other group. They and the Founder had already signed an agreement to cooperate on eliminating the New American outpost at the Springfield National Guard base, some day. After that, they’d try to reestablish the rail connection as far north towards the Okaw as possible. Alex understood it was best for ARK leaders to just pay respects and head on back with a promise to stay in as close communication as the Solar Storms would allow.
“Allies,” Alex finally began. He and Olsen had discussed for thirty minutes how Alex would address this group, and they had finally settled on this word.
“Allies and friends, I’m honored you gave me this time. I wish the circumstances were different, and the reason more joyous for our gathering. But we use the opportunities the Creator gives us for fellowship, never knowing when we may see each other again.
“I know many of you have traveled a great distance for these meetings. And that you have stayed at your own expense to pay respects to the man I simply knew as Dad,” Alex paused, keeping the emotion deep inside him. Crying would have been understood, but these were hardened people who had seen more death and destruction than any American witnessed in 200 years. Even those living through the wreckage of the southern states in the last civil war almost two hundred years ago didn’t face the same dangers. Alex needed to show resolve; there were no more hug-it-out sessions with New World men.
“While my family and I shared his blood,” Alex continued even stronger now, “you shared his vision in your souls. A vision for an island of sanity in a sea of chaos. Originally, that led to the creation of a Fortress Farm envisioned by my mother, Anna. The plans were improved and perfected by hundreds of Land Lords wherever the idea took root. Then, the concept of Fortress Farm spread to communities outside of our Self Defense Cooperative until whole areas became safe for good folk to go about their daily tasks without the constant fear of Ditchmen and Rateater demons who would take both their goods and their lives. We have been protected by a group of men and women who used whatever Old World tools they could modify to fit the circumstances. Armored trucks, armored tractors, weapons recreated from the Archives…all of you have helped develop and perfect the creations of our Wizards.
“Our focus has always been to defend our people, not to conquer others nor put others to the sword to take what was rightfully theirs. We strive to live peacefully, not just because we believe the Creator will hold us accountable for our actions, but because we are a good and decent people just wishing to be left to enjoy our families and the fruits of our labor.
“But my friends, we have learned the hard way that some choose to use Old World customs to attempt to force us to comply with their vision of what tomorrow might be. They believe we common folk exist for their use. Not to worship the Creator as we see fit, or to create our own farms and trade as our heart leads us. No, to them we exist to be used and then discarded if no longer useful.
“So we retain the mission of you and my father: to remain a fortress, standing strong against the daily storms of life,
whether caused by man or by nature. A true shield against evil.”
Here goes the crazy part. Clark, Sam, even his mother all agreed this was the next logical step to secure their future. But suddenly Alex felt mentally tired at the thought of the ramifications that would follow this proposal. How could someone like me pull this off without Dad? Even all the great people he was surrounded by now would have trouble doing this, why did he think he could do it? I’ll try, Dad. I’ll try till my last breath.
“Allies and friends, I propose that we face these storms together. Not just as good people facing a common problem, but as brothers and sisters in a common future. That we become as one people, much like the ideals of the empire that once stood on this soil not so very long ago.”
That had been a controversial idea for Alex to include. Sam endorsed the reference, but Olsen and Anna still found the memory of the old America too raw to mention. Plus, the reference to the country as an empire touched a nerve, that’s not how they chose to remember the structure of their country. Originally he promised to leave it out, which explained the glare that he felt from Olsen once he uttered the words. Oh well, won’t be the last time I make my advisors cringe.
“Today I propose that we formalize our relationship. A marriage of neighbors, each represented by a seat at the decision table. An alliance in its truest form. One that respects the different paths that we take to the Creator, and yet one that includes a few core principles that free people can agree on. So that our relationship is bound not by our current affections for one another, but by a solemn oath. An oath that transcends friendships and is forged in steel and stone and land and water. Strengthened by generations to follow. So that only in reference to the past do we consider each other as different.
“This alliance will exist with one mission at its very root: that free people shall choose their own destiny, and use those choices to prosper with pride, each according to their own willingness or skill. To rely on the Creator Himself to decide if we as a society prosper because of each individual’s success…not because overseers wring the last ounce of will out of the soul of their citizens. Will you join me?”
He paused briefly for effect. “This will be a hard road. We will disagree with one another. At times we will wonder if we made the right decision to bind together. Seldom in human history have men worked together for the good of others. Instead, they struggle for influence and power all for the sake of pride.
“Brothers and sisters, I honestly tell you I have no pride today. The man who was my father, my Founder, my mentor and the Lord of my Land now sits with the Creator. And for the first time in my life, he left no To–Do list when I woke up this morning!”
Chuckles and outright belly laughs broke out among the crowd. Anyone who once worked with the Founder knew the infamous To–Do lists he and Anna both assigned.
“But I know in my heart what the Founder would have me do as a Tenant of his land,” Alex continued, bringing the focus back to the task, “and I know that many of you have lost loved ones since darkness came against us. In fact, many more than just my father lost their lives in the recent battles against New America. Those people were just as critical to their families, to their towns and farms, as my father was to mine.
Alex began to crescendo: “If I may be so bold, I claim that your lost loved ones would say the same thing as my father. Do not cower as sheep surrounded by wolves. Become the predator that stalks the evil ones. Be as the Red Hawk and strike the serpent. The serpent that sneaks around to attack the unsuspecting and the weak. Strike that serpent before it can reach your nests, even though you risk being bitten in the task.”
Now for the part that he had not discussed with Olsen or his mother. Only Rebekah, Eric, Samuel and Martin Fredericks knew what he intended to say next. The crucial part that he thought would be most critical to forge this new alliance in iron. To make the bonds inseparable.
Dad said give people something to fight outside the walls and you keep everyone inside from fighting each other. New America fits that task just fine. Deep breath.
“But what of the next generations? When we meet the Creator, will our argument be ‘we survived’ when called to account? Or will it be that we tried to help even those yet unborn? To use the talents given by Him through the sweat and toil of our Founders, to be a rock that tyrants break themselves against? To use our resources to go forth and root out evil where it exists? To brave the serpent’s nest and fight there, instead of waiting for the day when he will strike our own soil again? To take up the sword and the Greenfield Shield, to boldly show the evil of this world that free people will not allow them to prey on the weak and the peaceful? To use the sharp edge and hardened armor we have gained through our struggles against cowards who attack those less able to fight?”
Jaws dropped as people slowly began to comprehend what Alex was proposing. Everyone knew there would be big ideas today, and most assumed it would be an alliance or even a republic of some kind. But no one expected anything close to this. Alex was suggesting an invasion – to go on the offensive and strike at the heart of New America. Several were smiling and nodding their heads, others looked somewhere between shocked and outraged, even scared. But no one stopped him as he concluded, confirming his plan to anyone still wondering what he meant.
“I propose we become a storm of our own. So that when our clouds gather, the enemy fears what will strike them. And strike we shall, giving hope to those now burdened under oppression’s yoke. We shall give those under the boots of tyrants the chance to breathe free air. And then they will join us on our mission, knowing that we represent their children’s last, best hope at a better life.”
“Good people of the Creator, I propose today that we form an eternal republic. One that exists not only as a fortress against evil, but that exists as a storm that will sweep evil from this earth altogether. A republic that gives honor to all those who perished to keep us free. A republic using our given gifts to do the best we can for all. A republic forged in the fires of Crusade!”
*****
Following Alex’s speech, ten minutes of handshakes and back slaps gave way to an empty conference room. From the movies Alex remembered as a kid, everyone would have cheered, jumped up, hoisted Alex on their shoulders and marched off to victory. But being real life, and real people not being movie characters…
“Have you lost your testosterone-addled, block-headed mind? Do you get what kind of a fire you just lit? Some of these people have spies for the Grays operating in their communities! Those crazy snakes you just poked already know about your plans, and are making plans to come after you first!” Sheriff Clark Olsen demanded.
“That’s exactly what they’re going to do. At least, that’s what I hoped would happen,” Alex replied with preternatural calm.
Olsen’s face twisted like a fist about to pop someone. “Let me get this straight…you hope that New America is going to attack your people? Burn their stuff to the ground, kill their families? This is your grand plan? Did I somehow misjudge your character, young man?”
“Clark, I respect you like you were my father, and there’s no one whose approval I cherish more. But you know as well as I do that the Grays are coming after us no matter what I said in this room. The alliance is a common defense pact and it would have helped. But where would we have put our troops? We don’t have that big of a full-time fighting force. Where would we have put the men we have? Which community? Would Shelby County really see the big picture of placing all of our SDC troops sixty miles away to defend another town?” Alex asked rhetorically.
He continued with confidence: “No? Spread how then? In this world, the attacker has the initiative. There are just too many square miles to cover with too few people!”
Alex lowered his voice, not wanting to argue with the man he so admired. “We can put Raptors in the air to patrol, but for how long? Each hour they’re up in the air causes extra hours of maintenance the Wizards have to perform. Right now, we have the i
nitiative because we have the only functioning air power, and the only organized armored attack force. If we wait, the Grays will have that, too. Where they found that tank that killed Dad…they’ll find more eventually. This is all they focus on. They are a warrior society and we’re farmers. But we have a chance to rally this alliance to go on the offensive. Commander Fredericks is putting together a rapid reaction force that looks like an invasion force. It’s really not; it’s there to circle around the back of the Grays when they come at us again.
“As soon as they try to attack our partner communities, the others will rally and help stiffen the defense. Our forces will already be on the road, cutting their lines of communication and then head straight for their capital. The Grays in our territory will have to disengage and try to catch us before we get to the heart of New America. We’ll grind them under the Raptors and the Mark 3s,” Alex growled.
AJ…no it’s Alexander now…he’s getting that look of his father’s – but somehow, he’s different, Olsen thought. The younger man gave him a look that bored into his mentor’s soul. Who is he? Olsen wondered. Fredericks told us about this generation. Not the same kids they were before. Sudden tragedy set something off in their teenage brains.
Alex commanded the room; Samuel and Eric behind him in their camouflage dusters displaying the same resolve. “The Americans are going to overplay their hand, Sheriff Olsen. I know they are. Don’t ask me how, but I just know.”
The story continues with Red Hawk Rising
Join the cooperative at www.RedHawkRepublic.com
Red Hawk Rising
Fortress Farm
Book Three
G.R. Carter
Red Hawk Rising
