Burning Nation

by Trent Reedy

  “My message to the people of Montana is simple. We are unshackled, free from constant federal interference and control in our lives. Free from being spied on by a paranoid security agency determined to trample our rights. Free from massive federal debt. Free to chart our own peaceful and prosperous future here in our great land. Many of you are afraid, but you need not be. You will be protected. A plan is in place to assure our future peace, productivity, and wealth.

  “My message to President Griffith and the United States is also simple. We have no quarrel with you, unless you wish to fight us. If we are attacked, we will have no mercy, and we will fight to the last man. Montana has signed a mutual defense pact with the Republic of Idaho and the nation of Wyoming, which declared its own independence moments ago. We will fight to free our sister nations from your tyranny. Leave our countries in peace, and we will leave you in peace.

  “At this time I join with President Michael Major of Wyoming in issuing this solemn promise to President Griffith and people around the world. We have no desire to use or possess the nuclear weapons that the government of the United States has deployed in our countries. We will grant permission for unarmed United States aircraft to enter our airspace for the purposes of securing nuclear missile silos. The United States is allowed one platoon-sized element to occupy each of those facilities. Upon application for permission, the United States will be allowed flights to rotate and resupply those soldiers. However, any redeployment of those soldiers to other locations within our sovereign countries will be considered an act of war.

  “I ask the United States to allow Montana to peacefully leave the union, but no one should mistake our desire for peace as a lack of resolve to fight if necessary. Thank you. God bless Montana, a new nation! •—

  —• This is live footage! My producers — geez, that was a big explosion — my producers are telling me to get out of the area, but as you can see, the US military line north of White Bird in Idaho is taking massive fire, even as they are unleashing an equally powerful barrage on Idaho forces dug into the mountains. Full air-to-air combat. This is total war, ladies and gentlemen. I’m going to continue bringing you the footage as long as I can. •—

  —• Again, we cannot confirm this information at this time, but we believe that at least part of Fort Hood, Texas, an enormous military installation about halfway between Austin and Waco, is under insurgent control. There were five explosions on the base earlier, and now we’re hearing massive gunfire from all around the area. We do not know if these insurgents are Texas National Guard, armed civilians, or a combination of both. We cannot stress enough that viewers should stay indoors and well away from the Fort Hood area. •—

  —• Attention Idaho rebels occupying the city of Lewiston. I am Commander Mitchell Jenson, commanding officer of the USS Freedom and the fleet of four Littoral Combat Ships in your port. Each of these state-of-the-art ships is armed with extraordinary firepower. Several United States Army artillery units are standing by with heavy cannons across the Snake River in Clarkston, Washington. United States Army armor and infantry units completely surround all land approaches to the city. You are hopelessly outmanned and outgunned. My voice is being relayed to you to deliver the following message: Surrender. Surrender immediately and you will be treated humanely. You have forty-five minutes to disarm yourselves and report to the Marine officers standing by on your docks. If I do not see a sufficient number of rebel insurgents surrendering by that time, I will order my gun batteries to open fire and completely destroy the city of Lewiston. There will be no further warnings. •—

  —• of the several large fires burning in Cheyenne, Wyoming. The fierce fighting that was taking place there moments ago is now over, as Wyoming National Guard and armed civilian forces are fleeing the city. The US military seems to be completely in control of the capital, which is now almost certainly under martial law. •—

  —• Forces out of Oklahoma City have apparently seized most of Fort Sill. It is not safe for our reporters to get too close to that military base, but casualties are expected to be high. Oklahoma residents are advised to take shelter. This is a sad day in Oklahoma. •—

  My whole war so far had been about running away. The Fed had hunted me, tortured me, and messed with my dreams, probably since the FBI had chased us from the school last fall. Now, with the local Fed headquarters in ruins, I felt recharged. We were on offense now. I had the ball and wanted to run with it.

  “Texas has declared independence too!” Sergeant Kemp called out as he listened to what was coming across his radio. “Crocker’s working overtime putting out the news.” He listened again. “Six Stryker fighting vehicles moving north on Highway 41. Everybody check your weapons. Get your ammo squared away. Anybody need any? I got six mags of five-five-six up here.”

  “Hey, partner, you got … a voice call from T … J. He’s marked it emergency,” Digi-Hank said.

  That couldn’t be good. “Put it on speaker, Hank.”

  “You got it, buddy.”

  “What do you got, TJ?”

  “Danny, you gotta help us. We’re in deep shit here!” TJ screamed in pure panic. I could hardly hear him over the sound of gunfire. “We’re outside the high school. We tried to kick the Fed out, but we got pinned down in the parking lot. Then two Strykers and a gun Hummer pulled up out in the street. We’re using cars for cover, but we’re low on ammo and —”

  “TJ, who you got there with you?” I yelled.

  “Chase Draper and his older brother, Dylan Burns, Brad Robinson and his dad, Randy Huff, plus two of his cousins —”

  “Shit, they got half the football team,” said Cal.

  “You gotta help us or we’ll be dead in minutes. Mr. Morgan is already hurt pretty bad.”

  “Principal Morgan?” Becca said.

  “TJ, we’re on the way,” I said. “Hold on. Just fire in quick bursts to save ammo.”

  “Wright, we’re supposed to go help Crow,” Kemp said.

  “This is my town, Sergeant,” I said. “These are our people.”

  “Even Mr. Morgan?” Cal asked.

  “Yeah, some of them are jackwads, but they’re still our people. Get us to the school, Cal.”

  “But we can’t take out two Strykers,” said Kemp.

  “Hank, give me an emergency voice call to President Montaine,” I said.

  “You got … it pal. Whoops … The system … delays due to … high volume.”

  “Kemp, give me the radio!” When Kemp offered me the handset, I keyed up and shouted, “Alpha base, this is flashpoint. Crocker, answer right now. Over.”

  “Flashpoint, alpha base. Go. Over.”

  “Base, you get me through to Montaine. Tell whoever answers that if I don’t get the president right now, everybody in Freedom Lake is dead. Do it now!”

  Crocker didn’t answer. Please, God, let him get through. We were four blocks from the school and closing fast.

  After what felt like hours Crocker finally radioed back. “Flashpoint, alpha. I have the president. What message? Over.”

  “I need an air strike on two Strykers at the high school five minutes ago!”

  “Roger. Wait one.”

  “I can’t wait one, alpha!”

  But Crocker only made us wait for like one city block. “Flashpoint, be advised, F-35 is already in the area and inbound your location. ETA imminent.”

  “Roger that. Out.”

  When we were a block away from the school, we could see the firefight and hear the thunder of the bullets, with the Feds firing from all directions at a circle of cars in the lot. The roar of an incoming jet built up in the distance.

  “Hank, emergency voice call TJ on speakers,” I said.

  “Danny?” said TJ.

  “TJ, get everybody over by that green pickup and get down right now!”

  Two blasts zapped out of the sky. One second the Strykers threatened our friends. The next, the two enemy fighting vehicles were fireballs.

  “Sparro
w, get the turret on the Hummer. Cal, get us in there.”

  “Cal, what are you doing!?” Kemp shouted.

  Cal floored the Humvee right between the two burning Strykers. Sparrow kept shooting. Our Humvee charged out into the open field between the school and the parking lot. Fed soldiers tried to get out of the way, but Cal cranked the wheel and ran them down. Sparrow sprayed the Fed gunners on the school roof with .50-cal rounds. Most of the soldiers had already been shot before Cal made his second pass.

  When Cal finally stopped in the middle of the parking lot, the remaining Fed soldiers were coming out of the school with their hands in the air.

  “They giving up?” Cal said. “Must be scared now that we got air support.”

  I leaned forward and hit Kemp’s arm. “Well, Sergeant. I think you’re the ranking soldier here.”

  Kemp nodded nervously, grabbed his M4, and exited the vehicle. I followed right behind him with my rifle. TJ and the others were approaching. “TJ, all you guys set up a security perimeter. Make sure no Feds can surprise us.”

  TJ nodded and the ragtag group that had tried to take back our school circled up.

  “You want me to help with security?” Cal asked, holding up his M240.

  “No, buddy,” I said. “Come with us. We’re going to enjoy this.”

  Sergeant Kemp kept his rifle at the ready, silently looking over the surrendered soldiers. “Who is your ranking officer?” he asked.

  A second lieutenant stepped forward from the formation. He turned to his men and locked up. “Group. Atten-tion.” The Feds all stood up straight. The lieutenant did an about-face and looked at Sergeant Kemp. He saluted. Kemp returned it.

  “I’m Sergeant Kemp, Republic of Idaho Army. Do you have any more soldiers inside, Lieutenant?”

  “No, Sergeant. We had more soldiers, but many have been reassigned to the mountain base. We’re on a skeleton crew here.”

  The whole screwed-up world had just flipped upside down again. An officer never saluted an enlisted first, never sucked up like this.

  Kemp nodded. “Lieutenant, you and your men will be searched for weapons. Your hands will be zip-tied behind your backs. You will be secured in …” He hesitated.

  “The boys’ locker room?” Mr. Morgan limped up, holding a bloody bandage to his thigh.

  I shrugged. “Can you lock those doors?” I asked him.

  The principal pulled his keys from his pocket and smiled as he jingled them.

  “And all entrances to the locker room will be under armed guard at all times,” said Kemp. “You and your men and women will be treated as proper prisoners of war, except that I cannot afford to separate you by gender right now. If any of you attempt to flee or resist, you will be killed. Do you understand these instructions?”

  “Yes, Sergeant,” said the lieutenant.

  “Issue the proper orders to your soldiers,” Kemp said.

  The lieutenant saluted again. Kemp returned the salute. Then we set about zip-tying the Feds before TJ and his crew locked them up.

  Mr. Morgan limped over to me as we were getting back into our Humvee. “Daniel, thank you for your help. We were in trouble there.” I nodded. What do you say when the principal you’ve always knocked heads with was suddenly being nice to you? After he’d been wounded in war with you? “The Army left food, bottled water, and limited medical supplies here. We have plenty of room in the gym and in the classrooms. We’ll secure the school. Send the wounded here. This can be Freedom Lake’s hospital for now.”

  I nodded. “You got it, Mr. Morgan.”

  TJ slapped my arm. “I’ll stay here and help.”

  Cal had moved to the driver’s seat, so I hurried to the back.

  “Right, let’s go,” said Sergeant Kemp. “We gotta get up the mountain to help Crow.”

  —• This is a CBS News Special Report. From the CBS newsroom, here’s Simon Pentler.”

  “You’ll have to excuse me, ladies and gentlemen, but if ever there were a time for tears, that time has come. And when you hear the news that is coming in from around the country, you might be inclined to tears as well.

  “At this hour, it has to be said: The United States of America has begun its second civil war. Moments after forces in Idaho and some other parts of the country broadcast a live video featuring controversial Idaho soldier Daniel Wright, the states of Montana, Wyoming, and Texas joined Idaho in seceding from the union. Fighting has erupted all over Texas as rebels in that state attempt to seize control of Army and Air Force bases near San Antonio, Waco, and El Paso. Highways and freeways are completely jammed with vehicles full of people fleeing the fighting and with military convoys rushing from other parts of the country to fortify those bases. This aerial footage from our affiliate KWTX in Waco shows that many civilians have abandoned the roads altogether, so that even the medians and shoulders are full of cars.

  “We have confirmation that Oklahoma governor Martha Fergus has moved to a secret secure location and that Oklahoma National Guard and armed civilian forces have seized at least large portions of Fort Sill. Rumors run rampant about that situation, and right now the only thing that is known about Oklahoma is that a tremendous amount of fighting is going on across the state.

  “The self-proclaimed presidents of both Wyoming and Montana have made assurances that they have no intentions of using the considerable nuclear missile arsenals that are deployed in their states, but despite these claims, thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of people are fleeing major cities all across America. In the New York area, Interstate 95, the New Jersey Turnpike, and most other major roadways leading out of the city are at a complete standstill, with many abandoned vehicles only compounding the problem. Police trying to maintain order are completely overwhelmed. More and more reports of riots and looting are coming in faster than we can possibly relay them to you. Um … the president, that is, the real president, President Laura Griffith, has just ordered all commercial flights grounded. If you are receiving this broadcast, please try to remain calm. Take shelter and remain indoors. Do not attempt to •—

  —• Idaho, Idaho

  Land where freedom lovers go … •—

  —• Because we are closer to the critical information that our viewers need, we here at KREM 2 News in Spokane and eastern Washington are going to hold off on switching to the CBS national newsroom. We have reports of fierce and deadly fighting, not only just across the border in Idaho but all across Spokane and at Fairchild Air Force Base as well. We have unconfirmed reports that some members of Spokane law enforcement may be working with the insurgents.

  “If you’re just joining us, we cannot stress this enough: Remain indoors. Do not even attempt to go out to secure food or supplies. Our reporters tell us that most grocery stores have been overrun and their shelves are bare, while dozens of people have been shot attempting to secure supplies. Every hospital in the area has asked us to inform you that they are completely full and only accepting patients with immediately life-threatening wounds or injuries. All others will be turned away. So it’s important … We’re now getting a report of a fire that has broken out at Deaconess Hospital. Most streets downtown are at a complete standstill. State and local police have tried to close I-90 to all but military, law enforcement, and emergency response traffic, but their blockades at the on-ramps have failed at several locations, and traffic on the interstate is complete lawless chaos.

  “Oh my word! What is … Is everyone okay? Ladies and gentlemen, that shaking of the image you just witnessed was the result of an enormous explosion. It sounded very close. What? And now I’m getting the order from our producer to evacuate. Is there a fire? Steve? Is the building burning? No. I’m staying. You guys going to … Ladies and gentlemen, we’re going to stay on the air here as long as we can, to get you the latest information. •—

  —• CNN has just learned that the Department of Defense has confirmed rumors that President Laura Griffith’s son, Second Lieutenant Douglas Griffith, is missing and presumed
dead after his F-22 fighter jet was shot down in a firefight in the skies above Idaho. He was twenty-three years old and recently commissioned from the Air Force Academy. Unfortunately one loss among many, but certainly this is deeply painful for the president. •—

  —• From fertile plains to mountains tall

  Brothers, sisters one and all … •—

  —• This is Commander Jenson, USS Freedom. All stations, all stations. Fire code delta, uniform, bravo, one, seven, alpha foxtrot. Commence firing sequences at will. Fire, fire, fire! •—

  —• CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES, PLEASE STAND BY FOR A TOTAL BROADCAST FROM THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, LAURA GRIFFITH.”

  “Good morning. In order to ensure that the functions of our government continue without interruption, my staff and I are conducting necessary business from our offices on Air Force One. Our Air Force pilots assure me that most parts of America today would have enjoyed clear skies. However, as March 21 dawned, sunny skies were soon replaced by ominous clouds of thick black smoke rising from the fires in Texas and Oklahoma, Montana, Wyoming, and Idaho.

  “The material losses for both sides in terms of military assets, damaged infrastructure, or destroyed civilian property are estimated to be in the hundreds of millions, while the human cost of even the first hours of this war is beyond measure. Thousands of our fellow Americans have already been killed. The victims of this war are soldiers, sailors, Marines, and airmen. The victims are also civilians: doctors, teachers, tradespeople, secretaries, businessmen and women, beloved family, friends and neighbors, daughters and … sons.