Chapter 1 – Barbarians at the Gate
November 11, 2011
12:23 pm Pacific Standard Time
3:23 pm Eastern Standard Time
The streets of Las Vegas are crowded with people. It is cooler now and a lot of people choose to walk outside. Among the crowd is a guy in formal business attire carrying a shopping bag. He walks casually, joining the large crowds in the street and then casually drops a bag into a garbage can.
In Houston, Texas, cheers and blaring music create a festive atmosphere for a big concert. A young man manning a food stall has gone through security checks and each of his items have been scrutinized and cleared during the night. But that doesn’t stop one of the clean up crew, who is working late into the wee hours of the morning. He pays a visit to the shack. He removes one of the walls and leaves a package inside before carefully nailing back the plywood wall in place. But the vendor doesn’t notice anything amiss when he arrives to set up shop in the morning. The crowds who have walked a distance to get near the stage are already starving and keeping him very busy. And the concert has just started.
Tourists pour in to the Capitol Building in Washington, DC, all with advance tickets, some acquired by contacting their representative. An old lady is one of those who was given a ticket by her representative. But prior to getting here, she helped a distraught woman. The old lady was moving out of the visitor centre to the advance ticket zone, when a lady walking in front of her looked distressed and asked her for help. The old woman asked the woman why she was upset, and the woman points to her son who is walking ahead almost out of sight. She said he left his medication and diabetes test kit and he is heading to meet congressman Gordon. The old lady exclaimed. “I am heading there too, was he also invited by the congressman?” The lady replied “yes.” The old lady then smiled and said, “Oh our congressman is such a fine gentleman.” She then reached out her hand to take the medical kit,which looked like a big first aid kit, from the lady. “Here. I'll take it and give it to him when I get there.” “Oh thank you so much.” “Not a problem dear. You have a good day now.” The old woman then put the kit inside the shopping bag along with the souvenir she bought. At this point she sees Congressman Gordon who immediately recognizes her and approaches to shake her hand. She is then escorted in by the Congressman as they walk toward the Capitol Building. The Congressman's aide takes a picture of him walking with the old lady. The aide thinks this will be a good picture on the website or a campaign poster for next election.
A large crowd of tourist and local visitors flock to the theme parks in Orlando Florida. Among the crowd is a guy walking nervously and sweating. He knows about the need to sacrifice yourself for your religion, but the thought of what he has in his hand makes him nervous. Ten more minutes and he can go home. How much of his body would be affected only time can tell.
Meanwhile in New York City, the subway is packed with people, including those who have left work early to start their weekend early. As the door is about to close, a guy hurriedly rushes out, leaving his carry-on baggage. A passenger, realizing the man left his bag, tries to catch him, but the door has already closed. He decides to just take it to the booth at his stop and report the item at lost and found. But before he reaches his destination, the train comes to a screeching halt as the driver breaks to avoid hitting an object blocking the track. The train manages to stop in time, but the power then goes out, trapping the passengers inside the train. The guy with the lost baggage continues to walk through Grand Central station with his hand outstretched carrying another bag. He casually puts it down and sandwiches it between a garbage can and a wall. He then walks briskly out of the station.
Approximately ten minutes later
Six bags are now in position at various major cities of the U.S., all of them containing a digital clock that is counting down with 5 seconds left. Each clock is set to trigger an unusual payload. As the time runs out, loud explosions detonate simultaneously in Las Vegas, Houston, the Capitol Building, Orlando, and two areas of New York. Mayhem ensues as people run for cover. Those at the immediate vicinity of the explosion are less lucky as their body parts scatter around. Rivers of blood start flowing throughout the streets.
Emergency crews arrive and start treating the patients. Unknown to the first responders, there is an invisible malady among the debris. They continued treating the wounded. Soon, the emergency command centre is set up and men are sent to check the bomb sites. One of the men has a radiation detector that starts to go off. The emergency personnel immediately ask everyone to leave the area. People in Hazmat arrive shortly and survey the area. A 500 meter exclusion zone is established. The wind is calm and the computer model does not show much dispersal. This scene is repeated across the different attack sites. Except for Las Vegas.
There is a strong wind in Las Vegas blowing the debris all over the place. Inputting the wind direction and the debris type into their system, analysts are able to quickly assess how the contamination spread and how far. People are asked to stay out of the plume direction. A 5 km exclusion zone is established and people are asked to stay indoors.
Word spreads that radiation has been used for the attack and people start panicking.
Press Briefing Room
The press have gathered and are waiting anxiously. Within minutes several people the press have never seen before come out and take up seats on the rectangular table setup in the White House press briefing room. The president soon appears.
“My fellow Americans, it is with great sadness that I inform you of an attack that has occurred in 5 cities across America. Early indications suggest a radiological dispersal device (RDD) was used. These are also known as dirty bombs. Emergency response units have been activated. On the recommendation of the experts, a 550 yards exclusion zone has been established at the various sites of explosion except for Las Vegas where a 3 miles exclusion zone have been established as a precaution. This is to minimize people from getting contaminated. Triage units are being setup near sites of the blasts.”
“I would like to ask people not to panic. I know the presence of radiation, of which we don't fully understand, is a bit scary. But it is important that at this time of crisis, we stay calm and united and show the terrorists that we will not be cowed.”
President Dean Davis then turns over the press briefings to the expert panels seated at the table and left the room to join those in the newly setup emergency command centre.
One media person shouts out a question. “Any idea how far the radiation will spread?” One of the expert responds, “Based on our assessment, considering the weather, materials used in the explosion and levels of radiation, we don't expect the contamination to spread too far. The main concerns are the shrapnel or debris from the initial explosion. In Las Vegas, local authorities have asked residents within a 3 miles zone to close their windows and stay indoors. USB-key size radiation detectors with display and store button are distributed. These device provides several levels of readings and comes with brochure about what to do for each level. People are encouraged to record where the contamination was found in their body and record the stored reading number displayed in the key.”
Another member of the press asked. “What should people who have been in the area do?” One of the doctors in the panel responds. “We have set up detectors portals and triage in the area. One of the doctor in the panel responds, “I would encourage these people to visit the triage if they could. If they are not close to one of the triage units, then make sure to take a shower and get rid of any debris right away. Then try to report to one of the triage or medical centres. It is possible that the hospitals could be overwhelmed. In that case use the key-chain device to check yourself and follow the instruction based on what levels is displayed on the device. And stay indoors unless instructed to evacuate. Just as a precaution, if you are outdoors, cover your mouth and nose with a handkerchief or clean clothes to avoid inhaling any debris. Also cover any wound that you might have.”<
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He thinks but does not say out loud, “There will be less casualties than September 11, but the debris will be a pain to cleanup. Thankfully the levels used were not that high.”
He thinks of the need to reassure the people. So he says. “The effect from these attacks, though frightening, are expected to be more psychological than physical, except for those that were in the immediate vicinity of the attack. It is important that we don't panic. If they want mass casualties, they could have done far more damage with stronger conventional weapons. But they chose this weapon because they know it would create widespread fear. So let us not let them get what they want.”
Unfortunately, those assurances do not calm the people. Some start rioting and breaking into stores to stock up on food. There are also reports of people waving sticks to chase away people that have blood and debris on them. Some people are fighting them off as if they are zombies about to infect them. Some people wanted to help but are concerned about their own well-being and so they too start to run away.
False reports of radiation contamination and explosions start spreading across the country. Panic and rioting spreads.
A video of an automated voice and animated face of hooded man starts circulating on the internet. The hooded animated man is sitting in front of a rotating globe with a red background. The video has an inscription that says “Ordo Tribus XI”, the order of the three eleven. The robotic sounding voice proclaims that “We are responsible for the surprise package today. This is just the beginning. We will continue until the rightful ruler of this world assume its throne. Submit to our authority and be spared from the coming retribution. Resist and suffer the consequences. Sieg Heil!”
Houston, Texas
The president decides to visit Houston near the site of the explosion on the suggestion of the Vice President Jacob James, to calm the people. He initially resists thinking his presence would be a distraction to emergency staff. But the vice president was persistent. The president then agrees to go there quickly and let the TV camera show that everything is OK. He shakes the hand of some of the people there who have been cleared as unaffected. He tries to comfort them.
He is surrounded by the Presidential Security Force inside a tent. President Dean Davis just received an update while resting inside the tent. He is informed that there are only a few fatalities. There were several injuries but most were minor and had a somatic effect only, which means there is no expected genetic effects to the injured. The president asks his secretary to note this information for his next press briefing. Both the interior and exterior part of the tent is well secured. Which might be why Peter, a long time staff of the Presidential Security Force, lets his guard down. As he turns his back on Drew, another long time member of the force, he does not see the gun quickly drawn out and pointed at the president. Within seconds shots are fired, 5 of them consecutively at point blank toward the president's head. Peter turns around instantly and shoots at Drew, but Drew already had fired the third shot. The president died instantly at the scene. Peter wants to fire more shots at Drew but controls himself. They need to know who Drew is working for?
As he tries to subdue the injured assailant, Drew starts to shake. Peter realized too late that Drew has a poison pill in his mouth. He has bitten on a potassium cyanide pill, letting it break and soak in his mouth, and then breathing in to allow it to quickly go to his brain. The mitochondria, the energy source of the body, is deprived of the necessary oxygen, thereby killing the cells. The effect is immediate. With his brain shutting down, his body immediately goes into comma. Death soon follows.
The White House
No time is wasted as the vice president is immediately sworn in as president, as they make their way back to the White House aboard the Air Force One. Upon reaching the White House, he immediately calls the TV cameras in and holds a nationally televised announcement.
“My fellow Americans. I regret to inform you that our president has been assassinated while comforting the victims of an earlier attack at Houston, Texas. As set out in our constitution, I have been sworn in as the president of our great nation. We are facing a great threat from an unknown enemy. We have seen that they will stop at nothing to attack us. Let me make one thing clear: We will win this war.”
He pauses for a moment, and then goes on. “This extraordinary threat deserves an extraordinary response. On our way back aboard the Air Force One, I, along with our cabinet, have drafted a bill that will choke off any finances to this group. We are introducing a Motherland Defence Initiative. Effective immediately, all communications online deemed as a threat by law enforcement agents shall be monitored. All users’ data should also be retained indefinitely by the service provider to help us with our investigation. Any person suspected of involvement with this so called order shall be confined indefinitely until the law enforcement officials deem that the threat no longer exists. This extended power will ensure that our officers can carry out their urgent task without delay. We are also adding a provision to allow shutdown of the internet should it be deemed necessary to avoid any disturbance and further attack. Anyone who in anyway supports the attackers or enables them to weaken our defence shall also be confined and investigated.”
He flips his page and reads on. “To cut off any possible source of funding for this group, we shall immediately take steps to implement ID'd trading currency and phase out old paper cash. This will also serve as your national ID. This is needed to fight against money laundering used to fund this attack. The end goal will be that no person can trade without this new currency. And any illicit activity can easily be traced and stopped. I am asking our congress to pass this bill immediately. We will also be asking our allies to quickly adopt similar measures. We are facing a determined and powerful enemy. We will spare no effort in keeping our nation secure. We will hit back hard and mercilessly at these perpetrators. This is a moment of real test between who our allies are. Together, we shall win this war.”
Henry, a cabinet minister who was at the plane when the vice president was sworn in, remembered the VP frantically listing the provisions for the proposed bill. He was surprised at the speed at which Jacob James was able to come up with all these measures. Henry frowns a bit when the new president mentioned in his speech that the cabinet members and him drafted the bill. It was more like the president presented the bill and said this had to pass quickly. But it is just a small technicality. He is after all the President now. This is no time to be questioning the commander in chief.
The Awakening - Ordo Tribus XI by Ethan Santiago Page 2
