“Heavens no. Please be patient. All of your questions will be answered. Well, maybe not all of them,” he said and chuckled to himself.
Fritz led him into the dining room. Two men were seated. Both were attired in suit and tie, had short hair and were clean shaven.
“Do you have any electronic devices with you Mr. Walker?” the man closest to him asked.
“I do. Cell phone, recorder, and iPad.”
“Please give them to Mr. Fritz for the time being,” he said.
“Fine, but would someone tell me what is going on here?”
“I am retired General Waggoner and this is retired General Billings. When I say retired, I mean we gave up our commissions rather than go along with what we know is happening in this country.”
“And what is happening?”
“The General and I both resigned when we received notification that we had to swear a personal oath to the President. Do you know who did that last? Don’t rack your brain. It was Adolph Hitler. We, along with approximately ninety others resigned our commissions rather than do that. That move was from a playbook called Operation BlueBolt. BlueBolt is a means by which America becomes a Police State and personal freedoms are suspended. It starts by disbanding the standard police agencies, CIA, Homeland, FBI, ATF, and placing them under the control of one person. They have already done that by selling the public on the concept of financial savings. Yes it does save money but at a very different cost. Personal freedoms have gone out the window. Within a few months, the President will stage another terrorist attack. This attack will give her the leverage she needs to tighten controls even further. Mr. Fritz gave you the file. Four of these so called Battalions will soon be activated. A fifth group called the FS will be placed into service as well.”
“FS? That is what?”
“Final Solution. Basically they are a death squad. They have the power to terminate anyone they feel is a threat to the administration or government in general.”
“Oh give me a break. That’s what Hitler called his plan to get rid of the Jews in Germany,” Walker said.
“The difference being your religion doesn’t matter this time. It could be anyone. That includes you Mr. Walker.”
“You’re just trying to scare me. I don’t buy any of this for one minute.”
“You can test this easily enough. Try to find out what happened to Inman from FAL-TV. Just start asking around and see what happens.”
“Do you honestly expect me to believe that they would come and threaten me.”
“Or worse.”
Walker looked at them trying to decide if they were just crazy or actually believed what they were telling him. It did seem strange that Inman’s name had never been mentioned again. And why was FAL not back on the air?
“You still haven’t explained exactly how you know all of this,” he said at last.
“Because Adam and I helped draft the original version of BlueBolt. Its original intent has been changed since we first worked on it. BlueBolt was meant to protect Americans in the event of military action that might take place within our boarders. Specifically, it was written to stop China if they ever decided to try to take over the US. So much of our technology was given away to them that we finally woke up and asked how we could stop them from taking us over now that we have given them enough of our secret information. Operation BlueBolt came out of that. Of course the Police Battalions were not intended to be used as they are now. Originally they were to be first responders for looting control, civil disobedience control, and such,” Waggoner told him.
Walker sat back and looked at the two men. Could any of this be true, or am I being suckered in?” he wondered.
“And you’re saying the President has changed the original intent?”
“Absolutely. Soon people who disagree with the government will simply disappear. They will be sent to internment camps. When we left, there were fifteen such camps scheduled to be activated on just a few hours’ notice,” Adam Billings told him.
“Where are these camps?”
“Mostly in the southwest but at least four or five are located in Alaska as well. All are in remote areas that make escape impossible,” Billings said.
“Why doesn’t anyone else know about them? Obviously someone built them so why haven’t we heard about them from one of those people. Someone would have talked.”
“Here,” Billings said, passing a picture to Walker, “That is the one on Jones Island, Alaska. It is pretty clear what it is. You can see the airstrip in the background. That’s how they get them into Alaska. They are then driven to the facility.”
“If I go to the internet and look this up, I’ll find this place?” Walker asked.
“Oh heavens no. The only way you will find it is if you use Google Earth and look for it on Jones Island. It will be unmarked and putting in the name will result in nothing.”
Walker played with the photograph for a few seconds before speaking.
“How do I check this out? I mean the whole story?”
“I don’t know. You are the investigative reporter. Do what it is you do. I would just caution you to be very, very careful.”
“Man, you guys are freaking me out a little.”
“That’s good. I would say you need to be a little freaked out. Enough to make sure you cover your tracks. Once you start delving into this you could find your life in danger.”
He was torn. No story was worth dying for but still he was intrigued. Could our own government actually carry out such a diabolical plan?
“Alright. I’ll do some checking around. Someone knows about the internment camps. I’ll see what I can find out. If I can find out who built them, I may be able to get someone to talk about it. I’ll also try to find out what I can about Inman. I do think it is rather funny that he has just fallen off the face of the earth. You would expect that his wife would ask questions and make a fuss about his disappearance,” Walker told them.
“Be very careful when you talk to Mrs. Inman. They could well have their house bugged and under surveillance.”
His mouth fell open. He hadn’t even thought of that.
“They have no doubt threatened her as well. The have three children so you need to assume that she will do whatever is necessary to protect them.”
“This is crazy. This is something a third world country would do.”
“Not so. North Korea, China, and at one time Russia all had prison camps like this. Korea still has Gulags or whatever they call them. You know very well that China does.”
“But this is America,” Walker stated.
“Was America. It will soon be a police state unless this is exposed. Right now they control the military, media, and police. Soon they will suspend the 4th amendment, followed by the 1st amendment.”
“But that’s what the 2nd amendment is there to deter.”
“That has been under attack for a long time. You in the media have been helping that cause for years. Once they are successful at that, the Constitution will become a moot point,” Waggoner replied.
“Jesus.”
“Jesus indeed. We need His help” Billings said.
CHAPTER TWENTY
Most of the White House staff had been sent home. Only the people required to keep the place running were still around. President Clemons was being briefed about the latest developments.
“Jack, I would like for you to start.”
“Yes Madam President. First, we have accomplished our goal of having new evening anchors placed on each of the networks. CNN and ABC were the most vocal but it didn’t take long for them to see the light. As you probably suspect, I explained it was our way or they would have their license revoked. A new host for the three major morning shows will also be forthcoming in the next week. I personally selected all of the anchors.”
“Excellent. Outstanding work Jack. So at this point we basically own the media.”
“There are a few newspapers we will have to monitor but it is nothin
g we can’t handle. We have already taken care of one of them.”
“Oh, which one?”
“The Philadelphia Inquirer. It seems the owner was not willing to take a more directed approach. Fortunately it didn’t matter. The paper suffered a serious fire. The building was burned to the ground. Poor Mr. Simm was in the building at the time of the fire and evidently didn’t make it out.”
“Oh, that is unfortunate,” she replied.
“Indeed.”
“Taylor?”
“We have confiscated over 1500 fully automatic weapons. Obviously others are out there. Some legally and others that have been modified from semi-autos. We have placed 989 of the owners in our secure facilities,” he told her.
“The Supermax facilities I take it?”
“Correct.”
“As for the internment camps, right now we are holding 1120 people in two of the Alaska facilities. The ones in Arizona and New Mexico will be ready by the end of the month. Nevada will follow a few weeks later.”
“Well, we seem to be moving right along. What about the police divisions?”
“We are ready to activate them as soon as you give the word. I have already chosen the various division heads. They have the necessary manpower in place. It’s just a matter of turning them loose.”
“My only worry at this point is the military. I have the oaths but we need to know they are really on board.”
“Well if you authorize the implementation of the police battalions we could find out for you.”
“Son, we have the military under control,” Chester Douglas, Chief of Combined Military Operations interjected.
“No disrespect intended but how do you know?”
“Because that is my job to know, just like yours is to know what your people are up to.”
“Gentlemen. Enough. We are all on the same page here. Chester says he has it under control and that is good enough for me,” the President said.
“Besides we don’t want to activate the Police Battalions just yet anyway,” Chief of Staff Perry Mills said.
“You’re right. The terrorist activity needs to take place first. That is our segue for placing them into service.”
“When does the terrorist attack take place?”
“Next Monday. They will destroy the Jefferson Memorial. We were originally going to use the Lincoln Memorial but felt that might cause too much outrage and backlash.”
“No one cares about Jefferson anyway,” President Clemons said. No one else said a thing. “Anyway, we wait until after the attack. Taylor, your people will start tracking them down and as soon as they are all disposed of, I will announce a new division to handle such things.”
“My assistant who will overlook the Police Battalions will be announced at that time.”
“Have you selected the person yet?” she asked.
“I have narrowed it down to three. I will have a decision by the end of the week.”
“You have files on the three?”
“Of course. I have copies for you to look at.”
“Ah, very good. Then I would say we are pretty much on target for declaring martial law. I would like to work toward the first of November as a target date. It’s not set in stone but it will give us a time frame to shoot for,” she told them.
They continued to go over details for the next four hours before she was finally satisfied that everything was going the way she had envisioned it.
****
Mark Walker had been a reporter for twelve years and was very good at walking the thin line between conservatives and liberals. He made sure he never wore the label of either group. He was considered a solid reporter by a majority of his peers. Where he excelled was in ferreting out details during his investigations.
Right now he was having breakfast as his favorite café reliving the conversation from the previous evening. The men he had talked to didn’t seem like crazies or your typical conspiracy nutcases. It was just so difficult to imagine such a thing happening in America. We have all kinds of checks and balances in place to keep such a thing from happening don’t we? It simply didn’t seem possible to have a totalitarian government in this country.
He decided he would give it a look but he wasn’t going to spend too much time or effort on it, that was for sure. He had a few contacts he could talk to but that was as far as he was willing to go.
He took out his cell phone and dialed Lee Stillwater, Republican Representative from Georgia. He had almost finished his breakfast before Stillwater came on the line.
“Representative Stillwater. This is Mark Walker from the Washington Post. I was wondering if you had a little time to chat for a few minutes,”
“I’m afraid I’m just too busy at the moment. Maybe next month sometime?”
“Next month? Is the house doing something that isn’t common knowledge?”
“Heavens no. I just have a lot on my plate at the moment. I’m afraid it will have to wait until a later time.”
“Is the House starting impeachment proceedings against the President?”
It was silent for a second then Stillwater said, “I’m sorry. I really do need to go. Thank you for calling.”
The line went dead. Walker looked at the receiver for moment. Talk about strange. Did that mean it was supposed to be a secret or his line was tapped? Maybe he was the one being paranoid now. Whatever it was, he decided he needed to look into it a little further. Something was going on.
He called Representative John Baker, Democrat from Virginia.
“This is Mark Walker from the Washington Post. I’m returning Representative Baker’s call,” he lied.
“Just one moment and I’ll transfer you.”
“Representative Baker. Is this the reporter from the Washington Post?”
“Sir, I was calling about what is going on in the House of Representatives.”
“You listen to me. I did not call you. I have never called you and I would appreciate it if you did not lie to my secretary,” he said and slammed down the phone.
Okay. That was another strange call. He had talked to Baker at least a dozen times in the past few months and he was always open to having a conversation. Now suddenly he acted like he didn’t even know him. What was that all about?
One thing he knew for sure, the men he talked to last night were on to something. It may have been blown out of proportion but with the way the two Representatives just acted, something wasn’t right. It was time for him to really start digging but he would have to be careful if what they said was true.
If it was the White House involved, he could find himself in the kind of trouble that talking might not get him out of. This was going to require him going behind the normal channels and talking to people who really knew what was going on. Usually aids and secretaries were the real knowledgeable ones. He would just have to tread carefully.
CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
Walker took a cab back to the Washington Post and went to find the Political Correspondent Janie Wilkerson. Partly because of her looks, she was able to wiggle information out of a good many members of the House Representatives and Senators alike. She had the ability to flirt without overstepping the line and her charisma was a considerable asset.
“Hey Janie, do you have a minute?”
“For you Mark, always. What can I do for you?”
“Listen, I’m kind of on a story. Well, that may be stretching it a bit. I’ve heard a few things and I am checking it out to see if it really is worth investigating.”
“And it concerns Capitol Hill or you wouldn’t be here.”
“Perceptive as usual.”
“I’ll help if I can but I have to tell you right up front I don’t know what all the secretive stuff going on with the House is all about.”
“Interesting. So something is definitely going on. I called Stillwater and Baker and they about bit my head off.”
“Was it something you said?” Janie asked.
“I doubt ‘hello’ is eno
ugh to invoke that kind of reaction.”
“Well I do have a theory but it is just that. I have no substantiated proof.”
“Hey, share what you have and I’ll tell you what I heard from a different source,” Mark offered.
“Fine but remember, this is just a theory.”
“I understand.”
“Impeachment proceedings.”
“I see,” Mark replied.
“You don’t seem very surprised.”
“It fits with the information I received. I had a meeting with two gentlemen who basically told me that the current administration is doing everything it can to circumvent the Constitution and the ultimate goal is to make this a Police State.”
“What? You can’t do that in a country the size of America,” she replied.
“Really? Russia and China were both bigger than the US and they certainly managed to do it.”
“Yes but we have a Constitution to prevent that,” she argued.
“The Constitution is just a piece of paper that we have all agreed to live by. If someone as powerful as Clemons decides that it is no longer needed, who is going to stop her?”
“Our military,” Janie insisted.
“She is the Commander-in-Chief of the military. She controls the armed forces,” Mark replied.
“What about the American Citizens? They can rise up and fight.”
“Can they? Look how long groups have been trying to take away the 2nd Amendment? We, the press, have actually helped and now it could be our own demise. Think about it. What protects the entire Constitution? Without the 2nd Amendment all the others just disappear. That is what dictators have done since the beginning of modern warfare. If it happens, we have to shoulder part of the blame,” he told her.
“Look, all I know is that in today’s world, nothing like that can actually take place,” she insisted.
“So the creation of the ISS doesn’t bother you? I see it as a precursor to having control over every citizen in America,” Mark said.
“Boy, are you full of doom and gloom,” Janie replied.
“Hopefully hot air as well. I sincerely hope I am wrong about all of this.”
PROJECT BlueBolt - AMERICAN GULAGS: BOOK I - AMERICAN GULAGS Page 10
