by Ira Tabankin
“Please don’t make me laugh anymore. Look, I’m deadly serious - either the war ends and ends now, or I will start dropping nukes all over the world. When I’m done the United States will be mostly disarmed so in a way, you’ll get what you want. However, the question is, is this how you want it to end? We have proof the Russian Federation set off the nuke in Minot. The entire situation was a setup. Someone in Reid’s administration gave the PAL codes to the Russians. Hence, the LSA caused the United States billions of dollars in damages. It was strongly suggested to me I attack a city in the LSA to equal the stakes. As you know I didn’t do that, however, all it takes for one or all of your major cities to disappear in a mushroom cloud is me picking up that red phone on my desk and saying one word.”
President Brownie turns very pale, “You would do that? You would kill millions, maybe even billions?”
“If I had to, to save America and the American the way of life, yes I would.”
“You are mentally ill, you know that, right? Nothing is worth the murder of billions.”
“Remember that, because if we’re not able to reach an agreement, your cities will be the first to go. You came to reach an agreement, not be the United Nations’ message boy, so what do you want to end the war, and settle the peace between us?”
“I want to ensure the survival of the LSA and our progressive ideals.”
“We’re making progress.”
@@@@@
At 8:00 AM the door to the apartment on the upper west side is opened, three aides enter expecting to see their manager and employer finishing his second cup of coffee. There was no one in the kitchen. There was no coffee in the pot, and the pot was cold. The aides called out their employer’s name, no answer. They went room to room, when they reached the master bedroom; they saw their charge still in bed. One aide said to the other, “Odd; he’s never slept in before.”
“Maybe he’s not feeling well.”
The first aide placed his hand on the sleeping figure, “Sir, sir it’s time to wake; you have a meeting this morning with a number of the delegates.”
The sleeping figure didn’t move. One of the aides placed his fingers on his neck. There was no pulse, he felt his chest; there was no heartbeat. He jumped back in shock and fear. “Quickly, call 911, we have a problem.”
Within minutes the apartment was filled with New York City police, security staff, and the Medical Examiner’s office. Three press aides arrived to write the story. One turned to the other, “Such a shame; he had the Americans right where he wanted them.”
Thirty minutes later the New York Slimes ran the headline, “Flash, United Nations Secretary Found Dead in his apartment. Foul play isn’t suspected.” This was followed up by the New York City police press release saying, “The United Nations Secretary-General suffered a massive heart attack in his sleep between midnight and 1:00 AM. Foul play is not suspected. There’s no evidence anyone broke into his apartment. The DNA collected at the apartment has all been identified to his staff. The security cameras don’t record anyone entering or leaving the Security General’s apartment.”
Major Grover placed a call to his second in command, “Good job.”
Chapter 32
The media is filled with stories about the Secretary-General’s life. The media made him out to be a holy man who lived his entire life in the pursuit of peace. The temporary United Nations’ headquarters building is covered in a long black drape. Every flag in front of the United Nations’ building was lowered to half-staff
Inside the temporary meetings rooms used by the General Assembly and the Security Council, the discussion is whose going to be the new Secretary-General. Many of the new delegates didn’t return to the United Nations, they are afraid the temporary building will also be attacked. Every country parlayed for position, millions of dollars were exchanged for promises of votes.
@@@@@
“President Brownie, what is it you want to settle our dispute?”
“Mr. President, I want an assurance the USA won't attack the LSA, I want a fifty-year agreement to sell us oil and gas.”
“You don’t want much do you?”
“What does the United States want to ensure we’re friends?”
“I don’t think we’ll ever be friends, neighbors yes, friends no. Friends trust each other. The USA doesn’t, and I hope will never trust the LSA. I’ve learned that progressives don’t know the meaning of trust or honesty. You’ll tell me what you think I want to hear in order to cut the deal you think you’re entitled to. In my opinion, you’re not entitled to anything. As far as a trade deal, that we can arrange. In exchange, the United States wants you to close your territory to foreign armies. I, the United States, can’t accept the LSA being used as a military base for our enemies. If these bases aren’t closed, we’ll close them. If any of your people are injured, you’ve been warned. We will not tolerate your people swarming over our border thinking they can move in and out of the United States to protest anything they want. They can’t come here, do damage, and then run across the border claiming we can’t cross the border. From now on, if any of your mobs cross the border and commit crimes or destroy property in the United States, I’ll order the US Military to cross the border and drag them back to stand trial.”
“You killed hundreds if not thousands of LSA citizens from Baltimore.”
“You know that story is bullshit. I sent you the video of your peaceful march. They were given warnings to leave. They were asked to leave. When they continued to advance on our people, they were fired on, as they were warned would happen. If you’d keep your people on your side of the line, it wouldn’t have happened. To help you keep your people safe, Congress has allocated funds to build an electrified fence along our border.”
“What? You can’t do that.”
“Why can’t we? It’s our land. We can do what we want. If your people had obeyed the law, none of it would have happened. If your people want to cross and visit, or trade or do business, all they need is a visitor, professional or business visa.”
“Can we agree on a trade deal?”
“Yes, prices to be set by the market, for paying in precious metals, we will give you a discount of 10% from the market. We’ll agree to a long-term agreement on the conditions you don’t host foreign troops on LSA soil or within 10 miles of your coast.”
“You’ll sell us as much oil and gas as we want?”
“Yes, we have many areas we haven’t even touched yet. One added condition is the oil and gas are for your internal use only. You can’t sell it. I’m not going to give you a discount and allow you to sell it for the margin. We’re willing to sell you at a discount because it’s less expensive than us having to deploy troops along the border forever. I also want the people you the LSA took as hostages released with a payment made to each of them in the amount of $100,000 new US dollars. I’d like to turn to compensation for damages to the United States,”
“What damages?”
“The damage of putting Mr. Obsma on the Presidential ballot when your party knew he wasn’t qualified. The way I look at it, either you can pay us compensation or we can close you down and squeeze you until you die. We’ll embargo your ports and borders; we’ll starve you. You won’t get a drop of oil. Not a single ship will reach your ports. Not a single train will reach its destination. The United States will close our borders with the LSA. Since there are very few ways you can get from one side of the LSA to the other without going through or over the USA, I’d think about this offer if I was you.”
“How much do you want?”
“Twenty billion dollars.”
“There’s no way; we can’t afford that. You’ll bankrupt us.”
“Ask me if I care?”
“How about five billion dollars?”
“Eighteen”
“Twelve”
“Fifteen”
“Deal”
“You’ll agree to a no first use of nuclear weapons and guarantee our oil and gas su
pply?”
“Yes.”
“Then President Brownstone we have a deal.”
“Shall we jointly announce it?”
“Yes. I suggest we meet with both houses of Congress both here and in the LSA.”
“President Brownie that sounds like an excellent idea. How about we discuss the details over lunch?”
“Thank you, I’d like that.”
The two presidents walk to the executive dining room.
@@@@@
At 3:30AM in Moscow five State Security officers show their ID at President Puten’s Dacha. After checking their IDs and questioning them, the sergeant on security duty says, “I don’t recognize you five.”
“Sergeant we were transferred here yesterday. You know how long security paperwork takes to flow across all of the various departments. Aren’t our orders and IDs in order?”
“They are; it’s usually I’m informed n advance when new officers are assigned to guard the President.”
“What should we do now?”
“I’m going to contact FSB headquarters.”
The five agents wait while the desk sergeant returns, “FSB headquarters confirms they assigned five new guards to the protection detail. Your names match the ones they assigned. I’m sorry. However, one can’t be too safe when dealing with the life of the President.”
“Sergeant you did the right thing.” A small silenced pistol fires from the officer’s hand. The only sound it makes is a soft “phatt."
“Men, get rid of his body, as discussed, one of you take his position. The rest of us are going upstairs.”
The four security officers quietly walk up the marble steps. The encounter a guard at the top of the stairs. “Halt who goes there?”
“Security detail Red two.”
“Yes, we’ve been expecting you. You’re late.”
“Sergeant downstairs wanted to triple check our paperwork.”
“Dah, he can be that way sometimes.”
“Captain third rank Aslov.” Holding out his hand.
The officer on duty reached for his hand, “Captain third rank Barkentov.”
The small snob nosed silenced pistol speaks again, “phatt.”
The security detail catches the body before it hits the floor. They encounter the last guard at the President’s bedroom door. Snapping to attention, “Sir, Captain third rank Aslov reporting for duty.”
“Dah, welcome Captain Aslov, I’ve been expecting you. I guess the dick downstairs held you up, and Captain Barkentov tried to steal your smokes from you.”
“Correct on both. Is there anything I should know?”
“The President is sleeping with his chief administrative assistant, she is very cute, do not stare, the last guard who saw her naked and stared is now counting trees.”
“Yes sir.”
“Phatt”
The Captain is caught before he falls on the floor. They lay him down gently. Unlocking the President’s bedroom door, two men slip into the dark room. They slip on night goggles. The leader points towards the bed holding up two fingers. Two targets, they take their time quietly moving to the side of the bed. The girl rolls over; she was very pretty, “phatt” one down. “President Putin. Please wake.”
President Putin opens his eyes, “Huh, who are you, what’s going on?”
“We have an urgent message for you; President Brownstone says, fuck you” Phatt.
Epilog
The LSA and the USA entered into a treaty that neither believed the other would honor. The LSA moved forward with their progressive agenda. While the USA rapidly grew due to the unraveling of President Obsma’s rules, laws and executive orders. Coal plants reopened; people went to work in new industries as the Federal government got out of the way of business. Union membership continued to fall till it reached a low of 5% of the workers. State after state allowed state workers to decide if they wanted to remain in the union; once it became a choice, 95% decide to leave the union. Teachers leave their unions. Average incomes in the USA rose while they stagnated in the LSA. The Russian Federation elected a moderate to the position of President. The new Russian President met with President Brownstone; the two worked out a long-term treaty. The two agreed that Russia will allow France and Germany a degree of self-rule. President Brownstone knew America was going to have to fight Russia to free Europe for the third, and he hoped last time. The New Secretary-General became the delegate from Sweden. Premier Xing and President Brownstone continued to bring their two countries closer together. True to his word, President Brownstone announced he wasn’t going to run for the 2016 Presidential elections. His Vice President Ted Cruise won the election in a landslide. President Brownstone retired from public life. He refused to give speeches or appear in public.
Major Grover and his team spent 45 days avoiding the FSB, who was hunting them like a hungry dog looking for a lost bone. They made it back home, where the Major was promoted to LT Colonel; he is still used to command special missions. On the plane back to America, his captain asked him if he was going to write a book about his time in the Marines. Major Grover replied, “If I had to edit out the classified missions, it would be a very boring book, I went to boot camp, I retired from service. Nothing in between could be published. And I don’t plan to retire for a very long time. I like my job.”
The Russian Federation had their first honest election in many years. An unknown reformer ran on opening Russia up and making it a real democracy. He won in a landslide.
The United Nations fell apart with both the United States and China and the thirteen other nations refusing to rejoin. They formed a new-international group they called “The Council of the Fourteen.”
The end
There will be a book 4 which takes place twelve years in the future.
I hope you enjoyed the story
Ira J. Tabankin
[email protected]
