The Western Front - Parts 1-3 (Western Front Series)

by Archer Garrett

  “During the final hours of the Revolutionary War, the republic was dangerously close to collapsing just as it was being born. The officers under Washington’s command were furious over the failures of the Continental Congress to honor its promises to them. Some officers had back pay owed to them for nearly six years of service, and none of them had been paid at all in the last several months. The officers had even heard that the government was on the verge of insolvency, and that they might try to dissolve the Continental army to avoid paying the debts at all.

  In March of 1783, a letter was circulated among the officers at Washington's camp at Newburgh. In it the author, identified only as “Brutus”, addressed the complaints and called for a clandestine meeting to be held the next day to discuss their next course of action. Brutus’ arguments in the letter were well-reasoned and concise. Ultimately, he contended, that their only remaining recourse would be at the tip of a bayonet.

  When Washington discovered the plan, he forbid them from holding the assemblage. He scolded their plans of a covert meeting as disorderly and irregular. Instead, he requested they meet a few days later at their regular meeting that he didn’t usually attend. Upon hearing this, some officers began whispering that Washington was sympathetic to their cause and that he would help them lead a coup against the Congress.

  Washington was in a dilemma; was his duty to his army who had unarguably been wronged, or was it to the Congress who held jurisdiction over him? Washington’s allies were wavering. Many of his senior officers sided with Brutus, and the Congress offered no solutions to the growing problem. He ultimately decided that he could not lead the officers’ insurrection. As had often been the case in the long war, Washington was once again alone.

  On the day Washington requested, hundreds of officers gathered to discuss the fate of the republic. General Gates, who would later admit to being Brutus, was in the midst of his opening words when the unexpected happened. Washington emerged from a side door and strode onto the stage beside him. Begrudgingly, Gates yielded to his superior.

  Many of the officers were angry he had shown. Others were excited, hoping he would rally them against those who had wronged them. Still other officers were embarrassed to be seen there by their commander. Regardless of their feelings concerning his presence, an ominous sense of estrangement hung heavy in the room; was he one of them?

  He had written a speech. His aides had prepared his notes in large script so that his aging eyes could read them. His bright blue eyes scanned the officers in front of him. He knew most of these men by name and respected them greatly. They had fought boldly alongside him against insurmountable odds. How could they throw everything away now? He cleared his throat and began.

  His tone was angry and frustrated; he scornfully branded the anonymous dissenter a subversive and a coward. He scolded Brutus for his lack of ‘regard to service’ and ‘love of country’. He admitted that he understood the men’s complaints, but he completely dismissed their resolution. ‘I have never left your side one moment,’ he said. How could they question his loyalty and love for them now?

  He expressed his sympathy to Brutus’ many valid points, but pleaded with the officers’ to consider their families and property if they were to desert the republic or descend into civil war. The British would surely use the chaos to wrest control from them once again. A thousand victories and tens of thousands of American lives would all have been for naught.

  He pleaded with the men, called upon their senses of duty and honor, and begged for more time to correct the failures of the Congress. As he gazed out at the crowd in front of him, he was overcome with a sense of defeat. Brutus’ rhetoric had been far more eloquent than his own. Washington had failed.

  In desperation, he retrieved a letter from his from his coat that was written by Congressman Jones. The letter praised the brave men for their selfless duty and offered his utmost support to their cause. The hastily written script of the letter was tiny and difficult for Washington to see. His eyes failed to focus on the words and they blurred together. He stumbled through the first few sentences of the letter. The murmurs from the crowd were increasing, he had lost them completely.

  Washington stopped, embarrassed and broken, and removed a pair of spectacles from the pocket of his regimentals. As he placed the glasses on his face, he said, ‘Gentlemen, you must pardon me. I have grown gray in your service, and now find myself growing blind.’ Very few of them even knew that he wore glasses. They had always knew the man as the fearless, frontline commander, now they saw him for what he truly was.

  Washington was a man that had given the better part of his life to his country for future generations he would never know. They had seen him exhausted before, but he now displayed the look of being worn and battered from the years of sacrifice. He appeared vulnerable and heartbroken. If he, who had given so much, could still have faith in the fledgling country, then who were they to question?

  His words mattered little from that point on. The emotion that he displayed was what moved the men. Some sat in silent shame for their actions, while others wept openly for the burdens that the man standing in front of them had silently borne for years. As he finished the letter, he quietly left through the side door from which he came. His head hung low in sorrow and defeat.

  Gates never had an opportunity to reclaim the men in the room. The emotion displayed by Washington had moved them greatly. They decided on a new resolution that expressed their ‘unshaken confidence’ in Washington and the Congress.

  Ultimately, Congress failed Washington and the army. The debts were never paid in full. Despite the egregious failure, an important precedence was established. The men, who had sacrificed so much, chose to sacrifice once again. They decided against a second revolution out of love of country. For out of revolution, the prospect of an even greater tyranny is always at hand.

  I’ve heard the murmurs among the crowds I’ve spoken to for another revolution, a bloody revolution against the tyrannies of the day. Friends, let us not rush headlong into this. If we carelessly cast reason aside, we may invite a tyranny even greater than we can imagine. We must stand firmly rooted in our values and principles. I agree it will cost many of us our lives, fortunes and sacred honor – just as it cost the men of the Revolution, countless men who gave all, and died broken and penniless. We still have recourse though; we’ve not exhausted our options. It’ll take great sacrifice to right our course, but it can be done. Let us not give in yet. I will lead you, if you will have me.”

  The crowd’s reaction was mixed; most cheered enthusiastically, but some were disappointed with his words. Despite the misgivings of the few, the circle echoed with the sound of applause and roars of support. Ames continued to enthusiastically walk the monument steps as they applauded, spurring them along and cheering with them as tears began to fill his eyes.

  They never heard the report from the high-powered rifle, but they watched the senator collapse before them. The display seemed almost surreal and in slow motion. He was quickly swarmed by men in suits, their weapons drawn. The head of his security detail reached the body of the senator first. He shouted into the cuff of his jacket in a desperate voice, “Oh God, oh God; he’s gone.”

  Cha pter 30

  Governor Baker

  Austin, Texas

  Governor Baker walked the long hall in solitude. The underground wings of the capitol building were institutional and spartan in appearance and nature. There were no decorations or furnishings other than a few pictures that hung on the wall. Somewhere behind him a rogue fluorescent light flickered occasionally, compounding the bleakness of the place. The gloomy atmosphere magnified his somber mood.

  He had sent everyone home for the next several days – his advisors, their staff, maintenance, everyone except security. He wanted them to have a few nights at home with their families, for there would be scarce time for that when they returned. As he reached the end of the hall, he turned the knob and entered his office.

  H
e sat behind his desk and turned on the small television that hung on the wall. He muted it while the marionettes bantered back and forth in anticipation of the president’s address from the oval office. He closed his eyes and rubbed his temples to try and help relieve some of the tension. He sat in silence for a while as he tried to forget the events of the last few weeks, if only for a moment, but he could not.

  When Baker opened his eyes, the screen had changed to a scene in the oval office. The president was solemnly sitting behind the Resolute Desk. The desk was crafted from salvaged timbers taken from the British ship, the HMS Resolute. It had been a gift from Queen Victoria to President Hayes in 1880.

  The governor had always found the story of the desk fascinating. The Resolute was part of a squadron sent from Britain in 1852 to search for a missing explorer. Sir John Franklin had left Britain in search of a passage through the Canadian Arctic. During the expedition, several of his ships became trapped in ice packs and were left by their captains, who ultimately faced a court-martial for their acts of abandonment. In 1855, an American whaler from Connecticut saw the Resolute adrift off the coast of Cape Walsingham. He divided his crew and sailed her home, arriving on Christmas Eve.

  In the meantime, the relationship between Britain and America was at a breaking point. The two countries were once again at the brink of war. The president had ceased diplomatic relations with Britain and had closed all British embassies. Escalating threats from each side only served to increase the tension between the nations.

  Just as the relationship appeared irreconcilable, and war inevitable, a senator from Virginia proposed that America refurbish the Resolute and sail her back to Britain as a gesture of goodwill. The British were so taken by the gesture, the talks of war ceased. Years later, the Queen would return the favor with the gift of the desk as the ship was being decommissioned. The desk would serve as a reminder of a nation that valued her allies and resolved to war only when necessary.

  Governor Baker unmuted the television as the president began his speech.

  “My fellows Americans, I come to you with a heavy heart. These are trying times that we face. Our nation hasn’t weathered a crisis of this scale since its birth. Yesterday, Senator Jackson Ames was assassinated in Indianapolis by a member of a radical, communist group. I express my deepest condolences to the Ames family. I deeply respected the man and looked forward to facing him in the election. Please take comfort in knowing that we have apprehended the individual responsible for this reprehensible act.

  Senator Ames’ running mate, Governor Hawkins of Florida, released a statement earlier today stating he had no desire to continue the campaign in place of the senator. Until a new candidate can be selected, Congress has passed a resolution to postpone the election until further notice.

  Several weeks ago, we were the victim of what was the largest, coordinated, terror attack in our nation’s history. Numerous buildings, bridges and planes were targeted with horrific precision. A group of right-wing extremists have been identified as the perpetrators of the heinous act that claimed nearly ten thousand lives.

  And finally, earlier this week as you know, Houston was decimated by the most heinous act of all. A nuclear device was detonated in the city’s downtown district. Current estimates put the number dead at over two hundred thousand with just as many wounded. The FBI has determined that radical leftists targeted the city because of the stance the state of Texas has taken on the border.

  My fellow Americans, I will not tolerate extremism from either side of the political spectrum. I will not allow our great nation to be destroyed by the radical elements in the population. We are a nation of moderation, and we shall remain as such.

  Last night a nationwide raid was conducted against the perpetrators of these three acts of terror. Over three hundred domestic terrorists were killed or captured. Those that were captured will face a military tribunal in an undisclosed location to determine their fate. In addition to this, it was discovered that some of the terror groups were funded by powerful corporate interests.

  Among those captured were Gregory Strasser of Spire Dynamics, Eric Schleicher of Global Robotics and Kurt Ernst of The Gladius Group. These men and any others within their corporations that are found to be knowledgeable of the terror funding will be tried for treason. Until further notice, these corporations will be placed under the direct control of the Department of Homeland Security and their counterpart, the Department of Domestic Protections.

  In last night’s pivotal hour of retribution, I was responsible for the fate of the American people, and thereby I became their supreme judge. I gave the order to kill or capture those responsible for these treasonous acts, and I further gave the order to cauterize down to the raw flesh the ulcers of the poisoning of the wells in our domestic life. Let the nation know that its existence—which depends on its internal order and security—cannot be threatened with impunity by anyone. Let it be known for all time to come that if anyone raises his hand to strike the State, then certain death is his lot.

  This morning, Congress passed the Self-Defense of the State Act, which retroactively legalizes the necessary measures that were taken. The Justice Department has also drafted an opinion that outlines the legal precedence of the actions. The Attorney General will be distributing this letter throughout the media for dissemination later this evening.

  Despite the attacks that have been launched against our liberty, please remember this, we have weathered grave difficulties before. I have complete faith that this nation and its people will remain standing and rebuild even stronger. I ask for your faith and support, for though we will persevere against those that strive to dismantle us, the days ahead will be difficult ones. Until we speak again, stay vigilant.”

  The governor, astonished at what he had just heard, said aloud to the empty room, “And so goes the republic. God help us.”

  Epilogue

  i

  Governor Baker straightened the notes in front of him as he waited in the underground media room. His staff was making last minute preparations prior to the broadcast. His pulse was racing and he felt lightheaded. He was living in the defining moments of his life. No matter what he did from this point on, he would always be remembered for this speech.

  The lead broadcast engineer for Radio Lonestar tapped the glass that separated the control room from the media room to signal the governor that his cue was approaching. The governor watched in slow motion as the man’s fingers counted off to the start:

  Three.

  Two.

  One.

  “Greetings Texans, and to everyone else within the sound of my voice. I trust you all are aware of the recent events that have plagued our nation; the terror strikes, the attack on Houston and most recently, the death of Senator Ames. I trust by now you’ve all heard of the president’s actions and his remarks that were made two days ago. Before I go any further, I would first like to address the citizens of Houston.

  My heart breaks for you. We can never replace those that we’ve lost, never. All we can do is honor their memory; I promise I will always strive to honor those we’ve lost. If I fail to do so, it is your duty to hold me accountable.

  I would like to take this opportunity to present the Texas Medal of Honor to a hero and dear friend of mine. Special Agent Reese Byers led the emergency evacuation effort in your city. He successfully located and disarmed one of the nuclear devices, but perished trying to disable the second. He inspired the emergency personnel to risk their lives for people they’d never met, and ultimately gave his own life so that many of you might live. He is survived by his father and mother, Jonah and Rebecca Byers. Special Agent Reese Byers, you are a hero and a true Texan. You will be greatly missed in this hour of need.”

  The governor paused for a moment to regain his composure, before continuing.

  “Citizens of Texas, you have been lied to by your government. They would have you believe that the attack in Houston was committed by SPARC. This is wholly untrue. I
have in front of me, evidence that proves otherwise. SPARC was used by people in positions of great power within our own government to execute a false flag event so that they might consolidate their power, and you were used as a pawn.

  I also have proof that the same people in our government that used a radical organization as cover to detonate a nuclear bomb in an American city, also orchestrated the terror attacks that rocked the nation several weeks prior. So if I have evidence that proves otherwise in regards to Houston and the terror strikes, what should I believe about Senator Ames? What should I believe about the three hundred American citizens that were captured or killed by their own government?

  These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated.

  As of this broadcast, you are no longer citizens of the United States; you are citizens of Texas. If this assaults your sensibilities, you are free to leave. Otherwise, citizens of Texas, the republic is dead; long live the republic.

  Mr. President, you’ve either purposely lied to the American people or you have been lied to by your friends. I invite you to the sovereign Republic of Texas to see the proof for yourself.”

  The man stood up from his chair, walked over to the governor and extended his hand. The governor grasped his hand firmly as he shook it. The technicians in the control room beside them had erupted into cheers and applause.