The Mechanics: A Post-Apocalyptic Fiction Series

by Bobby Akart

  “It was a maneuver that bought the colonists time,” added Sarge.

  “Indeed, and we will employ a similar tactic. While the Chinese are not exactly our allies, they are pragmatists. Our government owes them trillions of dollars. They want their money back, but more importantly, they need us as a trading partner. Without U.S. dollars purchasing Chinese goods, their nation collapses.”

  Morgan stopped them as they reached the opening of the path onto Prescott Shutesbury Road. He leaned on his cane with both hands and looked at Sarge.

  “We’ll play on their greed to get them to do our bidding. The Beijing government requires a stable America. Without our dollars, they are unable to sustain themselves financially. If their government becomes unstable, they’ll lose control of their population.”

  “And a revolution will result,” interjected Sarge. “They already know this. We just need to remind them.”

  “Absolutely.”

  Chapter 20

  Saturday, October 15, 2016

  3:00 p.m.

  1 PP

  Quabbin Reservoir, Massachusetts

  “The President cannot learn of my poor health. He must see me as an equal. We started this endeavor on an equal footing, and if he gains the upper hand, it will have a devastating impact on our nation.”

  Following that fateful evening when Sarge and Morgan argued about the initiation of the cyber attack, Sarge contemplated Morgan’s intentions. He came to the same conclusion—the country was in need of a reset. How far was too far? Is there a limit to how far one may go to achieve their goals?

  “Sir, I’ve come to understand your reasoning behind the cyber attack. It’s not necessary for us to continue our conversation from two weeks ago.”

  “Every decision I make on behalf of the Boston Brahmin is designed to be for the long-term good of the country and for us financially. The world is ruled by power, but power is obtained by money. The two are interconnected.”

  “How do we benefit from the collapse of the American economy?” asked Sarge.

  “Young man, catastrophes create many opportunities for profit,” started Morgan as they approached the rocks where the conversations began. Morgan quickly took a seat and continued. “Our country was on a path to becoming the next Greece. Like so many before them, the Greek government thought it could print money to solve its social and economic problems.”

  “I presume you had a limited time to act,” said Sarge.

  “Just prior to the event, I made major adjustments in our holdings,” said Morgan. “I made substantial investments in precious metals. I moved out of all stocks except those companies owned by our associates.”

  “What if the dollar collapses and is replaced by another currency?” asked Sarge.

  “That’s not likely. The world markets are already in turmoil, but abandoning the dollar would turn everyone against us. We must bolster the world’s confidence in our currency once again.”

  “Are you suggesting we return to the gold standard?”

  “Yes. Our financial problems can be traced back to Nixon’s abandonment of the gold standard in the early seventies. Before the collapse, it would have been very difficult to transition back. Gold, like any commodity, is assigned a value and subject to inflation and deflation. It cannot, however, be printed out of thin air like our currency. Because our country had insufficient gold reserves to back up the amount of currency in circulation, the dollar would experience a precipitous loss in value.”

  Sarge nodded his head in agreement. Limiting the amount of money the government could print when the economy experienced a downturn resulted in higher unemployment. With the entire nation out of work due to the collapse, the timing might be right.

  “If we transition to a gold standard now, our government could reestablish the dollar as the world’s currency and set itself on a course of financial discipline, which would include balancing its budget.”

  Morgan nodded and smiled. “You see, Henry, pre-collapse, the American people were not ready for such reforms. Half the nation was on the government dole. Politicians, pressured by voters to give them more, didn’t have the intestinal fortitude to make the tough decisions to save our country from economic collapse.”

  Sarge studied Morgan briefly and then Sarge got it. The major stumbling block to economic and monetary reform was ideological. If this obstacle could be overcome, a return to the gold standard could become a realistic possibility.

  “For this to happen, we would have to reintroduce gold and silver as the currency of choice,” said Sarge.

  “Julia has shed some light on this subject,” said Morgan. “She is receiving reports from around the country that marketplaces are being established in small communities. In addition to barter, the preferred method of payment is gold and silver. As world markets settle or bottom out, the dollar value can be established in a gold equivalent. The best time to institute a gold-money ratio is when the market value of the dollar is at its lowest.”

  Morgan paused to regain his strength and then continued. “If we could achieve that, it would spark the acquisition of gold at an unprecedented rate. There would be a tremendous increase in gold mining, processing and other ancillary industries related to the production, sales, and storage of gold.”

  “Makes sense. This is why you acquired so much gold and filled the vaults below 1PP.”

  “There’s more, Henry,” started Morgan. “The Boston Brahmin acquired two companies just before the collapse—Newmont Mining and Barrick Gold. We now control seven of the ten largest gold mines in the world, which generate seventy percent of the world’s production.”

  “Wow.”

  “Yes, Henry, wow.” Morgan laughed. “In addition, we’ve acquired depositories worldwide. As this transition is made, we have the ability to manipulate gold prices in the same manner OPEC has manipulated oil prices for decades. Once the gold standard is firmly ensconced into the U.S. monetary system, we can use our expanded wealth to control geopolitical events.”

  “I must say, this was very risky,” said Sarge. “What if the President doesn’t agree to place the nation on a gold standard? It is clearly contradictory to his political beliefs. No administration has printed more currency than his.”

  Morgan paused and turned to Sarge. “JFK once said there are risks and costs to taking action, but they are far less than the long-range risks of comfortable inaction. For too long, freedom-loving Americans sat idly by while an ever-expanding government inserted itself into our lives. You know this. This economy was collapsing before our eyes. It needed a drastic jolt.”

  “I’ve come to agree with you, sir. I see the plan as a very big calculated risk. But the goals we hope to achieve may be impossible to reach.”

  “I disagree, Henry,” said Morgan. “Impossible is just an excuse. Anyone who tells you that something is impossible to achieve has probably failed in their own attempts. Our Founding Fathers undertook the impossible. Not only did they defeat what was arguably the greatest military power of their time, but they forged a new nation built on the greatest founding document in history—the Constitution.”

  “What if the President stands in your way?”

  “Then he has to go,” Morgan said as he stood and began walking toward 1PP. He was visibly tired.

  “Well, elections are in three weeks and he’ll be gone after the inauguration,” said Sarge, who caught up with Morgan.

  “No, he won’t. The President will act to suspend elections under the authority of his martial law declaration.”

  Sarge stopped in his tracks. “We have to stop him. He can’t do that.”

  Morgan also stopped and planted his cane firmly on the ground. “We can’t stop him, nor should we.”

  “Why not?” asked Sarge.

  “Revolutions cannot succeed unless you have the will of the people on your side. This can take time, or it can come in a hurry. There were several events that led up to the Battles of Lexington and Concord in 1775. Their names ar
e well known—the Boston Massacre and the Boston Tea Party. But these trigger events occurred in 1770 and 1773 respectively. The seeds of liberty were sown many years before that.” Morgan continued his walk and motioned for Sarge to follow him.

  “To effectuate change in a hurry, there must be a catalyst,” said Morgan.

  “Like the cyber attack?” asked Sarge.

  “In part. But the President will naturally enjoy a period where the people rally behind him based upon promises of disaster relief and protection. When the American people begin to see that he can’t deliver, they will turn on him.”

  “It’s happening already,” interjected Sarge. “The government doesn’t have the resources to deal with an event of this magnitude. The people are losing confidence in his promises, and they’re becoming angry.”

  “How do you think they’ll feel when he usurps his constitutional authority and suspends elections for the purposes of remaining in office?” asked Morgan.

  “They’ll be angry.”

  “Yes, they will. We have to accomplish two things very quickly, Henry. First, we have to introduce you as the leader of a movement. A movement intent on helping your fellow Americans while reestablishing our nation’s greatness in the vision of the Founding Fathers.”

  “Okay, what’s the second thing?”

  “Every movement, every revolution, has an event to rally around. There was the Boston Tea Party. The attack on Pearl Harbor rallied the nation into accepting World War II. The attacks of 9/11 allowed us to take the fight to terrorists abroad.”

  “We have to wait for a seminal moment,” added Sarge.

  “We do, and we’ll know when it happens. Be ready, young man.”

  Chapter 21

  Wednesday, October 19, 2016

  10:00 a.m.

  Home of Governor Charlie Baker

  Swampscott, Massachusetts

  There were many perks that awaited Governor Charlie Baker following his successful gubernatorial campaign and subsequent inauguration delivered to a joint session of the legislature in January 2015. But unlike most chief executives of other states, he did not receive a fancy governor’s mansion. Despite efforts to establish one in the past, Massachusetts did not have an official governor’s residence.

  The Shirley-Eustis House in Roxbury, a Georgian mansion built by the former British royal colonial governor William Shirley, had been one option, but it was rejected in the 1950s because of its ties to the former British governor. The Endicott Estate, offered up by the family of the infamous member of the Boston Brahmin, Henry Endicott, was rejected by Sarge’s grandfather as being too costly to be renovated. As a result, the tradition of the Massachusetts governor residing in their own homes continued.

  Since he had no official residence, the expression corner office was typically used by the media when referring to the governor’s mansion. Today, Baker conducted a very important meeting in the corner office with members of his administration.

  “Gentlemen, and lady.” Baker chuckled, nodding as he addressed his lieutenant governor, Karyn Polito. “I am pleased that all of you have received my letters and found your way here today. Arguably, this get-together is in violation of the President’s executive orders. To protect ourselves, my wife has provided finger foods and refreshments. That officially makes this a gathering of old friends.” The room laughed as they toasted coffee cups.

  “Governor, I think I speak on behalf of everyone in this room in saying we are pleased that you reached out to all of us,” said his longtime friend Daniel Bennett, the Secretary of Public Safety and Security. “Communications are not as swift as we’re accustomed to, but the letters did the job.”

  “Thank you, Dan,” said Baker. Baker was dressed in jeans and a long-sleeve blue shirt. True to his casual nature, he propped his feet up on a leather ottoman as he sat. Despite the weighty issue to be covered, Governor Baker wanted his cabinet to feel at ease. He was going to ask them to commit the functional equivalent of treason—not an ordinary topic of conversation.

  “Our state is in shambles. News and information are scarce, but the reports I hear, especially out of Boston, is that we are on the verge of anarchy. Dan, would you like to bring the group up to speed.”

  For the next few minutes, Bennett, a former prosecutor, provided the group a summary of events from around the state, including the raids on the Massachusetts Guard Armories. His presentation culminated with the activities of Citizen Corps Governor O’Brien and the UN forces.

  “Is this happening all over the country, or are we just blessed to have a misfit like O’Brien in charge of our fair state?” asked Polito. Baker held his hands out to allow Bennett to answer the question.

  “I’ve been in contact with law enforcement from nearly all of the jurisdictions in our Region I and most in the northeastern states,” replied Bennett. “Most cities with populations over fifty thousand have descended into chaos. Residents have abandoned their homes and sought refuge in rural areas but are being shunned by the locals. Small communities are circling the wagons, protecting their own and their resources.”

  Baker spoke up. “In our state, like most others, there is no semblance of order. These Citizen Corps appointees don’t have the means or the desire, apparently, to assist the citizenry. Their primary goal has been to help themselves to abandoned valuables and to loot those properties that were secured under lock and key.”

  “In addition,” interrupted Bennett, “they are using known criminal elements to do their bidding. Any goodwill developed following the President’s address was short-lived. It’s every man for himself out there.”

  “I think it’s time for the people’s duly elected government to come to their aid,” said Baker, taking another sip of coffee before leaning on the edge of his favorite leather chair.

  “What do you have in mind, sir?” one of the group asked.

  “We should do what we were elected to do—govern,” replied Baker. “I want to reconvene the General Court of Massachusetts.” The term General Court was the formal name for the Massachusetts legislature, used since the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1628.

  Every member of the group began speaking, some to each other and others began to pepper Baker with questions.

  “At the State House?”

  “Do we still have the legal authority?”

  “Is it in contravention of the President’s declaration?”

  “Is it safe?”

  “Okay, okay, everyone,” shouted Baker, attempting to regain control of the meeting. “I know you all have questions and opinions. I’ve thought this through for weeks. Recent events convinced me to act. I hope you will agree.”

  Baker stood up and approached the credenza where his wife had set up a tray of snacks and coffee. He poured himself another cup. The cabinet had dutifully calmed down, and Baker continued.

  “The first order of business is to contact the state adjutant general. We need to determine if he has viable law enforcement capability. He can use members of the Massachusetts State Defense Force to augment the National Guard. I’ll ask him to set up quarters at the State House. Safety is a concern, and a show of force should deter any reprobates who attempt to disrupt our session. On the other hand, I don’t want to have so many security personnel in place that the people are afraid to attend the session.

  “Next, there is the matter of notification to the legislators. It’ll take some time to reach two hundred senators and representatives, and their trip to Boston will be perilous. But I’m confident that the State Defense Force will assist us.”

  Polito raised her hand and quickly asked a question. “Charlie, do you intend to propose and pass legislation? We have procedures to follow and also would need a quorum.”

  “Karyn, I’m not sure what we will accomplish from a legal perspective. I’m still unsure of what my powers are vis-à-vis the President’s Declaration of Martial Law. I do know that the people are looking for real leadership, and right now the Citizen Corps
is not providing it. When I took the oath of office less than three years ago, I made a promise to the citizens of Massachusetts when I said we won’t let you down. Well, I meant it.”

  Baker sat in silence, allowing the words to soak in. His proposal was bold. In his heart, he thought this would provide his constituents a boost, a glimmer of hope that their elected representatives cared about them. He wanted to do the right thing.

  Chapter 22

  Friday, October 21, 2016

  11:00 a.m.

  Prescott Peninsula

  Quabbin Reservoir, Massachusetts

  “Mom!” exclaimed Penny. “This is the best twelfth birthday party ever!” She and Becca jumped to reach the giant soap bubble created by Donald from his perch atop a picnic table. The Quinns didn’t prepare for a birthday party and gifts when they put together the preparedness plan for Prescott Peninsula. So they improvised.

  Donald had created a variety of bubble wands using something as simple as a couple of twigs and a shoelace for small bubbles, to a whale-size bubble-making device that resembled a hangman’s noose for a giant.

  He found two long branches and cut them to equal lengths. He then took apart a worn-out mop head and used the yarn to create a top string tied between the two ends. Finally, tied to each end of the branches was a stretch of yarn roughly twice the size of the top string, weighted down by multiple layers of duct tape at the bottom. This created a large loop.

  Susan concocted a bubble mix recipe. She called it her world-class stir-and-go bubble mix. She mixed a bucket of hot water with a cup of Dawn dish soap. She then added half a cup of cornstarch and baking powder. She mixed it all together, and the concoction was complete.

  “This is incredible,” said Julia. “They’re having a blast!”