by Mark Goode
According to my grandfather, there existed a secret place inside the mountains. The AQNS were adept at building tunnels and excavating the earth. Deep within the same mountain that houses the Thomas Alva tunnel the AQNS had constructed a city. Few had ever visited Command Central deep in the earth, protected by layers of security, including armed personnel, sophisticated electronics, and geologic defenses.
A special council meeting had been called, and Jack Jennings, my grandfather, had been summoned to testify.
These meetings had become commonplace over the years. The field commanders would file their reports regarding the situation at the front line of the battle, including casualty statistics, operations, manpower, and finances. Not unlike a meeting in a corporate boardroom; however, the business at hand was a war over water.
The reports showed that the war was a virtual stalemate. There was a one-mile zone between the two factions, designated as the Kill Zone, where no one would venture. This area was a modern-day booby trap outfitted with high-energy lasers that automatically destroyed anything that moved.
The Federalists had successfully closed access into Grand Valley from the south. The northern and western access routes remained open for the AQNS to use. However, the government viewed the western access route as a strategic target; capturing its control could represent a turning point in the conflict.
Major Jack Jennings, testifying at the council meeting, described his conversations with his friend from law school Arnold Bitworth. “I would like to inform the council that I have credible evidence of an impending major government offensive,” he said. He went on to explain the situation and presented the evidence that the government had reached a decision to push the conflict to conclusion. Jack recommended that countermeasures be taken.
“The council would like to recognize the contributions of Major Jennings,” a member of the Steering Committee said. “It has been recommended and unanimously agreed that you be promoted to the rank of colonel,” she said to Jack. “We would thank you for your hard work and dedication to our cause. Should you wish to accept the promotion, it is effective immediately.”
The council moved to convene a top-secret executive session. My grandfather, now a colonel, was invited to stay for the proceedings.
Over the next few hours, Jack learned of a new weapon that the AQNS had under development. The engineers and scientists reported that the system was operational and ready for use. The consensus was that the weapon system would be deployed only as a last resort as a defensive move should the government proceed with a new offensive.
It was confirmed that AQNS operatives and their families had been evacuated from the cities on the Front Range to the mountains. A new Kill Zone was to be established to protect the western front.
The meeting concluded with the report of continued drone activity. Several drones had been taken down by surface-to-air weapons within the last several months. Oddly, analysis suggested most of the flyovers represented aerial spraying operations. This news sent a ripple of concern through the councilors, many of whom were farmers or waterkeepers. Just what was being sprayed on the territory they looked after?
—
Recalled AQNS personnel and sympathizers barely made it to safety in the mountains before the transportation routes from the west and north were closed off. Satellite imagery revealed a massive Federalist troop buildup in those areas.
Over the next several days, government forces entered the Kill Zone, overwhelming the AQNS’s defenses but incurring heavy casualties and an ambush by AQNS forces that emerged from hidden tunnels in the mountains. With the second and third waves of government troops arriving, AQNS forces retreated into the mountain tunnels, with government forces in hot pursuit.
Periodically, a deep rumbling emerged from the ground and low-level seismic disturbances punctuated the area.
On the third day of fighting, in the afternoon, suddenly water came gushing out of the tunnels everywhere. Like a biblical deluge. The government troops were washed out of the valley. Survivors moved to higher ground.
Federalist air support arrived and assaulted the mountains with missiles and bombs. It appeared that AQNS defenses had been penetrated, and government troops swarmed through the underground tunnels, approaching the command center.
The moment of truth was upon the AQNS. As the doors to the command center imploded, authorization was given to activate the secret defensive weapon.
The ground shook violently, and everyone was motionless, trying to keep their footing. People later reported that from the valley outside the AQNS facility, what appeared to be a volcanic eruption blasting from the mountaintop.
Seismometers throughout the region went off the scale. The earth groaned a deep bass note. As the earth shook, a massive earthquake rippled down the Front Range at the speed of a lightning bolt, sweeping from Fort Collins in the north all the way to south of Colorado Springs and eastward onto the plains.
Over the centuries industry had turned the ground under the Front Range into proverbial Swiss cheese with continuous oil and gas exploration and mining. The AQNS’s secret weapon tucked in a large cavity in the center of the mountain was a plasma generator. The million-degree temperatures it generated turned water, rock, and everything in its path instantly into plasma. This column of free electrons and protons, as hot as the core of the sun, although short-lived, spread into the earth to produce a wave “plasma fracking” the length of the mountain range bisecting Colorado. Indeed, a discharge vent at the top of Hallett Peak resembled a volcano, and the shallow water in Sprague Lake boiled. The destruction was hard to comprehend. The lights went out and communications were lost.
The AQNS leadership retreated into emergency quarters.
But there would be no respite because the worst was yet to come.
Chapter 13
Revelation Day
It was two in the morning. Waking out of a dead sleep, General Pinz reached for his communicator. It was screeching and flashing a red alert. He answered, “Pinz here, what’s up?”
“Sir, you better come down to the situation room. We have lost communications with the battlefield.”
Pinz swung his legs out of bed and stood. “I’m on my way.”
As they gathered around the conference table, coffee was served, and the briefing commenced.
“Gentlemen, what do we have here?”
A captain spoke up. “Sir, our intelligence reports that, unlike the events on the Front Range, we had a good day on the battlefield yesterday. We advanced approximately two kilometers during the day and set up Kill Zone protection on the forward front. The troops flanked the target on the northern and southern approaches. We implemented our subsonic disruptor, which caused anyone in its range to lose sphincter control. It’s hard to enter combat with a demoralizing load in your pants.”
Pinz ignored the captain’s weak attempt at humor.
“The troops had finished dinner and were settling in for the evening. We got a report from the field hospital of three incoming wounded from three different command posts at 20:00, 20:20, and 21:00 hours. All three were pronounced dead on arrival of gunshot wounds to the head.”
He wrapped up his report with this simple statement: “At approximately 21:30 hours, we lost communications.”
Pinz leaned forward and rested his elbows on the table. He steepled his fingers and considered the intel.
The captain seemed uncertain whether he should continue but nevertheless filled in more details for his commander. “With no response on secure channels, we implemented surveillance audio protocol, sir. We are hearing continuous small arms and rifle fire. We are also picking up repeated distressed voices repeating phrases of ‘Holy shit,’ ‘oh my god, oh my god, what’s going on.’ Video surveillance appears to show numerous casualties strewn about the battlefield, particularly in the Kill Zone.”
/> The captain concluded, “We have been unable to reach any field commanders except the field hospital, which is inundated with casualties.”
General Pinz ordered a level five alert. “Let’s send in the drones and find out what’s going on here. Get additional troops ready with full armor and biosecurity protection. We will however wait to deploy them until we get a better assessment of what’s going on.”
The rest of the night, the audio continued to transmit continuous popping gunfire, like a popcorn machine in a movie theater. Video surveillance continued to show bodies strewn everywhere and soldiers marching autonomously into the Kill Zone, which was designed to protect the troops with a perimeter of lethal laser protection.
The small-arms fire had subsided into occasional discharges. The aerial drones were on site and the video was horrific.
Chemical analysis of the air failed to reveal any toxins or signs of germ warfare. Command decided to send in additional reinforcements into what appeared to be a massive covert operation by the enemy.
—
Dawn the following day, the first eyewitness reports arrived at field command. There was an estimated 75 percent casualty rate. General Pinz watched video of pockets of survivors, all of whom were shell-shocked, marching and chanting, circling the battlefield, not even stopping for water.
Others were holed up in a makeshift chapel, praying nonstop, reciting the phrase “even though, even though.” Other groups were found singing, and some jogging and doing calisthenics until they collapsed.
Most of the casualties were self-inflicted gunshot wounds. However, some soldiers had committed suicide with knives. But there were also hangings and drownings and jumps from high ledges and mountain cliffs.
The situation was the same on the enemy’s side — few were spared. In fact, one notable group of survivors consisted of a coalition of forces from both sides. They had correctly recognized that they were not one another’s enemies in this fight. They marched around the battlefield looking for other survivors to join their ranks while they sang “We will all rise up together.” Which became the mantra for their survival.
We Will All Rise Up Together
We went to school together we played till sundown.
There were birds and trees and rain.
Our families were friends it was a different time then
we all grew up together
We sat by streams there were reflections Moon beams and rust.
As the world got hotter, we searched in vain for water.
Streams now turned to dust
we all grew up together
Who would have thought, A war would be fought?
Without blinking an eye
Killing machines had made it very clean
All for a drink of water
we all grew up together
Can anyone hear us?
Something went wrong
Not sure we’ll make daylight
There’s an enemy within thoughts coming again and again
Why are we killing ourselves we’re in a new fight?
we must all rise up together
They sang and marched, as the weary sun sank behind the canyon walls.
Chapter 14
Battlefield Interview
Although they claimed transparency, the military generally tried to limit access to the battlefield. The news media was fairly well imbedded within the military infrastructure, however, and there would be no stopping the Planetary News Network (PNN) investigative reporter Maia Jahn.
The drones had thoroughly sampled the water, air, and soil of the battlefield. There was no apparent immediate danger such as toxic gases, radiation, or known biological agents. General Pinz authorized new troops to the battlefield to assess the situation. Maia was no stranger to the military. She had a battlefield clearance and was well known for her courage and resilience. She was aggressive in the pursuit of the facts and equally analytical and unbiased in reporting them to the world.
As the troops approached, Command received intelligence of a large movement of soldiers marching off the battlefield. Satellite surveillance revealed they were marching in formation, four soldiers across, the line extending two or three kilometers into the canyon. The drones recorded the soldiers’ chanting and singing.
About every 100 meters, a “drummer” beat out the tempo on an improvised instrument, such as a pot or pan, garbage can, empty ammo can. Service members on electric bikes rode back and forth, keeping an eye on everyone and keeping the tempo and order of the procession. There appeared to be a commander riding a small ATV shouting into a megaphone; overhead drones broadcast his voice along the column. The march concluded in a large field, the basin of what once was a large reservoir in the mouth of the canyon. In place of what would’ve been a stream was a 10-meter pipeline. Everyone lined up in formation, federal soldiers mixed with resistance soldiers.
They were singing “we will all rise up together.”
The commander on the ATV approached and stopped. He was wearing a resistance uniform and waving a white flag. He shouted out, and his voice was broadcast over the field:
Colonel Jack Jennings reporting on behalf of these men and women. We hereby surrender and declare that this war is over. we are brothers in this fight. there is a greater enemy within, not belonging to either side. we are brothers in this fight and we will all rise up together. hear, hear, we will all rise up together.
Lowering the megaphone, Jack addressed the field commanders circled around him: “These soldiers need immediate rations and medical care. There can be no weapons, and constant surveillance is required. No one is to be left alone, not even in the latrine. Physical activities are helpful, particularly marching and singing. Get a chaplain in here — these soldiers need prayer. This is an enormous psychological emergency.”
Spotting Maia standing to his left, Jack lowered his voice. “I will make myself available for debriefing and interrogation as soon as this field is secure.”
Maia was recording it all and taking notes. She forced her way closer and approached Jack to introduce herself. “Colonel, the whole world needs to know what is happening here.”
The Federalist field commander interrupted. “Jahn! You will get your turn after we have completed our interrogation.” He then ordered his troops to set up a perimeter around the field.
“Bring in the medics. We need to triage everyone for injuries and set up emergency evacuations as needed.” He issued orders in rapid succession. “We will set up an emergency camp. We need food, shelter, and, for god’s sake, where is the chaplain?”
After consulting with General Pinz, the field commander approached and stood squarely in front of Jack. He extended his arm, offering to shake Jack’s hand. “Colonel, we accept your surrender. You have to come with us. We will act to protect the soldiers you have led to safety.”
—
Maia was preparing her report, setting up communications. Jack’s interrogation by the military lasted several hours and wrapped up around midnight. She clamored for her chance to interview Jack and was given permission to do so the following day. The morning could not have come soon enough.
In the canyon, some of the soldiers had been able to make camp and bed down for sleep. They were in the minority. The rest of the soldiers were generally in a state of shock. Although nothing could have prepared them for this, they had been relatively insulated from the realities of war. They were ill-equipped to handle real, live casualties and suffering.
Some of them had continued to march the perimeter throughout the night because it seemed to occupy them and prevent them from sinking deeper into despair. Still others organized into large prayer groups, a spiritual revival of sorts. Fortunately, the pastoral staff was able to keep the worship going continuously, taking shifts ministering to the larges
t congregation they would ever witness in their lifetimes.
Still others sat motionless in a catatonic state, reciting the words “even though,” which the clergy interpreted as an excerpt from the 23rd Psalm.
Medics went from man to man and woman to woman assessing for urgent physical ailments and injuries that would require evacuation.
A handful of soldiers were missing. Command surmised that they had managed to wander off during the night. They were located with the assistance of rescue animals and safely returned to the main group in the canyon. After the surrender, there were only a few new casualties. Breakfast was served to the troops and then they were loaded into buses for transport back to the cities that had been set up as shelter areas.
Maia was given access to and allowed to interview Colonel Jennings. She introduced herself and thanked Jack for the opportunity. “Colonel, can you help us understand what has happened here?” she asked.
At first it seemed Jack’s mind was far off in a distant time. But then, speaking slowly, he responded, “I grew up surrounded by death. I can smell suicide a mile away.” He looked directly in Maia’s eyes, holding her gaze. “I knew there were something wrong yesterday morning when all of our animals were in distress. The K9 patrol dogs were howling and running back and forth, snouts in the air, sniffing, and they were drooling. The pack horses acted as if there was a predator about and were anxiously whinnying. They would not go into their stalls.