That’s laying it on pretty thick, thought Tucker.
Tucker’s wife Joanne squeezed his hand. He turned to look at her and she gave him a wry smile filled with cheer and humor. He was struck by how beautiful she was, but it was becoming harder and harder for either of them to hide the fading wrinkles and hair that was no longer graying, improvements from the Eden Plague. Soon, they wouldn’t have to hide. Joanne squeezed his hand again before letting go.
Thank God for her, he thought. I couldn’t do this alone.
Elmore continued. “Now we are gathered here at the will of the citizens of Texas. They have chosen to execute their liberties and rights as a free people. They have decided that the state of Texas should sever its ties to the United States and become its own nation again.”
Tucker had to clench his hands together in front of him to keep them from shaking.
“We do not know what the days before us hold,” Elmore intoned in his commanding voice, “but only that we must trust in our Lord and each other.” He paused and looked at Tucker. “I have known this man for many years. There is no one I trust more in this time of trial and crisis. I am confident with the help of God he will see us through the storm ahead and into a safe harbor.”
Very poetic, Tucker thought. I wish I shared your optimism, old friend.
Elmore extended the thick Bible to Tucker like a waiter holding a tray, before raising his right hand.
Tucker laid his left hand on top of the Bible. The old leather felt surprisingly soft and warm, as if it had been set out in the sun. He raised his own right hand, straightening himself inwardly and outwardly.
“Please repeat after me,” Elmore said solemnly. “I, state your full name, do hereby swear...”
“I, Bret Samuel Tucker, do hereby swear...”
“...to faithfully uphold the duties of the President of the Republic of Texas...”
Tucker took a deep breath, “...to faithfully uphold the duties of President...”
“...and to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the Republic of Texas.”
As soon as we get around to writing a constitution, thought Tucker. Another thing on our to-do list. Assuming we survive long enough.
He repeated the words.
“So help me God,” intoned Elmore.
“So help me God.”
“Congratulations.” Elmore dropped his right hand to grasp Tucker’s and shake it enthusiastically. Others in the room began to applaud more tentatively. “Now the fun part begins,” he said softly in Tucker’s hear.
“I don’t think any of this is going to be fun,” Tucker answered and then turned to the people in the room and waited for the applause to die down. “I’ll make formal remarks later that will be broadcast tonight. For now let me simply say thank you to everyone here. I didn’t ask for this job, but I promise to do the best I can.”
Tucker hadn’t planned the words, but he winced inwardly. The best I can. Do my best. His father had taught him those were often the first excuses of failures. No one cared about your best. They only cared about what you managed to accomplish. “Now, everyone get to work,” he said with his winning smile. “This promises to be a very busy day.”
Those in the room laughed nervously and began to disperse. Elmore, the deputy governor, and his chief of staff followed Tucker into the governor’s office.
Joanne slipped in behind them and shut the door, drawing some surprised looks.
“Ma’am –”
“Don’t you ‘ma’am’ me, Elmore,” Joanne replied. “I’m not sitting on the sidelines for this one.”
“You’re not an official of the government, elected or appointed,” he replied patiently.
“After what you just done, neither are you, technically,” she snapped. “The cart’s already in front of the horse on this one, you old coot. If you want to stand on legality, then you can go back to private practice until my husband gets around to appointing you to whatever position he sees fit.”
Elmore opened and closed his mouth like a fish, and then smoothed his face into a smile. “Point taken, Joanne. We’re all operating without a net here. How do you see your role?”
“I serve at the pleasure of the president.” Joanne smiled at her husband before turning back to Elmore. “I’m sure he’ll let you know tomorrow. Today, I’ll just sit in.”
Tucker sat heavily behind his desk and offered the others seats with a wave of his hand, chuckling. He opened the folder on his desk, full of orders for signature. “Any surprises in here, Tim?”
“No. It’s all as we talked about. The first document orders all federal employees, including military and law enforcement personnel, who will not swear allegiance to Texas, to leave the state within three days or face arrest and deportation.”
“You sure that’s a good idea?” asked Conner. “The media is going to play that up for all it’s worth. Make us look like the unreasonable, arbitrary ones.”
“I know, but things are going to get bad before they get better. We can’t have people working against us from within.” Tucker signed the document and handed it to his chief of staff before picking up the next memo. It was similar to the first. This executive order stated that all federal property, including all military bases and equipment, now belonged to Texas under eminent domain, pending arbitration of payment of its value to the United States.
“What about the U.S. military folks?” asked Conner. “What if they refuse to come to our side? What if they button up and defend the bases until help arrives? I’m not sure threatening force will be to our benefit. The last thing we need is a pitched battle inside the state – excuse me, inside the Republic of Texas – before we really get started.”
Branch replied, “We’ve already run some statistics. Many of the active duty military stationed in Texas were actually born in Texas. They’ll probably support our independence. We’ve also observed a huge number of military folks take time off to return to Texas for the voting. Seeing how the results went, many may never leave.”
Conner shook his head. “That’s a lot of assumptions. Things could get real bloody in a hurry if they’re handled wrong. Do we even have anyone to take over the military side of things? That could be critical.”
“I have a few ideas,” said Tucker. “I’d like to talk to the candidates first, but rest assured I’ll get us the best man I can.”
“Or woman,” Joanne said.
“Of course, dear.”
“At some point you’ll need to run that nomination through the Texas congress,” said Elmore. “You’re talking about the equivalent of a Secretary of Defense. Same for all the other cabinet members you may be thinking of. That’s the kind of thing that needs confirmation.”
“We may not have time for that. I’ll put whoever it is into the position and call it an interim appointment.”
“That might get challenged in court.”
Branch frowned. “You know, Lincoln once said something to the effect that letting the Republic fall apart over one point of law was throwing the baby out with the bathwater.”
“I doubt he used that particular metaphor, and you’re quoting the leader of the War of Northern Aggression to me, you young pup?” said Elmore.
“He won, didn’t he?”
Tucker raised his voice and his hands. “Gentlemen, if I let you two lawyers argue, we’ll be here until doomsday.”
Branch sniffed, and then lifted the next piece of paper. “This order authorizes all reserve and National Guard forces be brought under the control of the Texas President for the duration of the crisis. It also directs all law enforcement and military retirees under the age of sixty, or who are otherwise fit, back on active duty.”
“Seems like we’d be taking in some old codgers,” said Conner. “What are we trying to do here?”
Tucker sighed. “We have to use Edens who volunteer. We can’t just cut them out.”
“Edens?” asked Conner. “Sir, I know your feelings about
those people, but not everyone trusts them. I’m not saying lock them up like the Unionists are doing, but should we really let them serve in the military and in public positions?”
“Why?” asked Tucker. “Aren’t they Texans too? Don’t they have the right to serve their country and defend their homes?”
“With this Free Communities thing that Markis has declared, there’s already talk that Edens will have more loyalty to them than to the country. Our country now.”
Conner tried to speak but Tucker cut his vice president off, his face growing red. “That’s Unionist propaganda, designed to make people fear Edens. We’re not going to inflame or justify those fears by treating Edens differently. That is the end of that discussion.”
“Moving along,” said Branch giving Conner a pointed look, “this document declares a state of emergency for the next ninety days. It gives the Texas Rangers and other law enforcement more authority and power during that time.”
Elmore grunted. “You think the period of crisis will only last ninety days?”
“No,” answered Branch, “but it will give us time to get on our feet. If we announced a state of emergency and martial law for an indefinite time, people would balk.”
“What about our overtures?” Tucker asked. “Any responses?”
“Overtures?” asked Conner.
Branch shook his head. “To other political entities. Not much. I got a message from the European Union earlier. Unofficially they’re supportive; officially they must condemn us in order not to incite the ire of the United States, Russia, or China. They also technically have to support a fellow NATO member in crisis.”
“Because of the Edens,” said Conner. “You know this would all be a lot easier if we could get some distance from those people. Convince everyone it’s not about that at all. Make it about state’s rights instead.”
“Where have we heard that before?” Elmore muttered.
Tucker raised his voice. “But this time around, it’s reversed. The proud South, represented by the Republic of Texas, is standing for freedom, not slavery. The Unionists are the ones oppressing people just because they’re different. Therefore, it is about the Eden problem. We’re only in this corner because of the Edens and what the U.S. government is doing to them. Look at what happened in Arkansas with their Free State rebellion. There’s a whole portion of Texas that’s a giant refugee camp for Edens from Arkansas. They’ve formed up the remnants of their military into an Arkansas Free Brigade and vowed to fight on.” Tucker shook his head at Conner. “There is no going back. We’re committed to the Edens and we won’t throw them to the wolves. Besides, these are mostly Texans we’re talking about, the same people who elected us to represent them. I won’t turn my back on them to make things easier.”
“Speaking of Edens,” said Branch, “Daniel Markis did reach out to us.”
“Oh hell, that’s all we need. The glorified terrorist who started all this crap,” said Conner.
Elmore leaned forward. “I don’t agree with Kurt’s sentiments regarding the Edens, but are you sure it’s a good idea to ally ourselves with Daniel Markis? He has a lot of enemies, Bret.”
“When we refused to detain our Edens, we took sides. Might as well team up with our natural allies, what few of them there are.”
“Markis has shown himself to be more capable than expected,” said Branch. “Consider what he did in Ethiopia.”
Conner frowned. “Saving a few thousand refugees from a corrupt third world government is one thing. We’re talking about defending Texas from the whole United States.”
“Agreed,” answered Tucker, leaning forward on his desk toward Conner, “but he has resources, and he’s collecting more all the time. Besides, we must take our friends where we can get them. Damn few of them that there are.”
“What more do you expect to get?” asked Elmore.
“Alaska is also voting today on whether to secede,” replied Branch. “I have it on good authority that if they vote yes, they’ll join with us. And the polls are running in our favor.”
Conner sat back in disgust. “A small-time ally that will likely hurt us more than they help, three thousand miles away. We need something a lot closer and stronger.”
Tucker said, “Markis is in Colombia, and it looks like he’s picking up support in the South American countries. In fact, the whole southern hemisphere.”
“Also not close enough to us,” replied Conner.
“Whom does that leave?” Elmore asked, evidently with no expectation of a real answer.
“What about Mexico?” Tucker inquired of Branch.
His chief of staff looked pained. “The U.S. has already gotten to them. I think they really want to help us, and may even still be supportive behind the scenes, but they got the carrot-and-stick treatment to keep them in line.”
“Threat of invasion?” asked Elmore.
“That was the stick,” answered Branch. “The carrot was agreeing to pay off all of Mexico’s national debt as a ‘show of friendship.’ In stages, of course, to keep them panting for more.”
“A bribe, you mean. I can see how that would be hard for them to pass up,” said Elmore. “Not the sort of offer we could match.”
Branch made a face. “Even so, it isn’t terribly popular on either side of the border. The new academic elite in Mexico is tired of Yankee domination, and they’re talking about taking a stand. They also have a growing population of Edens and don’t appreciate their northern neighbors trying to dictate how to treat their own citizens. And in the U.S., the deficit hawks are up in arms at the cost, added to all the other money being spent on the internal security situation, the military, and dealing with the nuked areas.”
“So Mexico might help us after all?” asked Elmore.
“Maybe,” answered Branch. “If we can ease them out from under the U.S.’s grip and don’t ask too much of them too early.”
Tucker’s secretary opened the door with a knock. “Sorry to disturb you, but the final results are coming in on the networks. You might want to come see the reactions up north. What they’re doing. The things they’re saying about us,” Her face was stretched thin and tight.
Tucker stood. “I take it that it’s not good.”
She shook her head and burst into tears.
Chapter 3
As she did most mornings, Cassandra Johnstone consciously cleared her head of concerns as she walked down the gravel path through the half-tamed Colombian jungle. The brutal rays of the equatorial sun were offset by the high elevation and trees that provided blessed shade. Brightly colored tropical birds flitted through the canopy above her, calling to each other in languages Cassandra wished she understood.
She’d decided to follow the lead of the Free Communities inner circle several months before and move her family into one of the newly built apartments on the more secure Free Communities’ headquarters campus. Assassination attempts from the drug cartels had ceased, but too many intelligence reports crossed her desk to think she and her family were safe.
Many groups around the world hated Edens. Governments often saw them as undesirables and oppressed them, sending them fleeing for other nations, causing a vicious cycle of refugee problems. The wealthy feared financial ruin as their portfolios of medical and pharmaceutical industry stocks plummeted in value. Drug cartels faced declining sales as in many areas the Eden Plague eliminated all but the most stubborn addictions.
And the Big Three – the U.S., Russia and China – viewed them as political disruptions, spawning deep divisions, even separatist movements, within each country.
All of these entities would like to see the Free Communities movement eliminated, and many were happy to use violence to do so. Cassandra hadn’t found evidence of plans for any large-scale assault on their Columbian sanctuary, but with her help, Spooky Nguyen had already captured several special-ops teams trying to infiltrate the area. With the help of the Colombian police, her people had also caught dozens of spies.
&nbs
p; Besides, her kids loved the school that Elise Markis had helped put together.
Cassandra emerged from the high jungle trail that connected the housing area and the Free Communities headquarters itself. As usual, she paused and took a moment to appreciate what they had done.
Not too long ago, this area had been nothing more than a patch of ground given to them by the Colombian government. Then, after the initial clearing and leveling, stacks of temporary prefab conexes and shipping containers had been brought in for makeshift offices. A fence had been thrown up, and trailers had been towed in for housing.
Now, after less than a year of rapid work, it had begun to look like the capital of the global Free Communities movement.
Several impressive stone buildings rose in front of her around a large open quadrangle of tended lawns, sculptured hedges, and mighty trees carefully left standing. Two parallel barriers running through cleared ground fifty meters deep, all the way around, formed a continuous perimeter for the three-hundred-acre complex. High-tech security cameras monitored every inch of the fence line and Spooky’s security personnel guarded the two entrances to the complex.
Spooky, she thought, and sighed. Cassie, you’ll ruin your morning calm. You haven’t even had coffee yet.
Cassandra said hello to other Edens – no uninfected person was allowed in the compound – as she made her way across the quad to the largest of the buildings. She opened the door and felt cool air wash over her. The virus that had changed the world made it easier for them to withstand heat, cold and hardship, but it could do nothing about ingrained habits and desires for comfort.
Cassandra took a guarded elevator to the fifth floor, where the intelligence directorate of the Free Communities was located. When the doors opened, she walked into a large open room filled with an impressive formation of brightly lit cubicles arrayed around several open meeting areas. Few were in this early, but those who were present made a point of greeting their boss.
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