by Ison, S. A.
EMP Desolation
S.A. ISON
EMP Desolation
Copyright © 2019 by S.A. Ison All rights reserved.
Book Design by Elizabeth Mackey
Book Edited by Ronald Ison Esq. Editing Services
All rights Reserved. Except as under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a data base or retrieval system, without prior written permission of S.A. Ison
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the production of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously, and any resemblance to locales, events, business establishments, or actual persons – living or dead- is entirely coincidental.
OTHER BOOKS BY S.A. ISON
BLACK SOUL RISING From the Taldano Files
INOCULATION ZERO Welcome to the Stone Age Book 1
INOCULATION ZERO Welcome to the Age of War
Book 2
EMP ANTEDILUVIAN PURGE
Book 1
EMP ANTEDILUVIAN FEAR
Book 2
EMP ANTEDILUVIAN COURAGE Book 3
POSEIDON RUSSIAN DOOMSDAY
Book 1
POSEIDON RUBBLE AND ASH
Book 2
EMP PRIMEVAL
PUSHED BACK A TIME TRAVELER’S JOURNAL
Book 1
THE RECALCITRANT ASSASSIN
BREAKING NEWS
THE LONG WALK HOME
FUTURE RELEASES
SMOKEHOUSE SMILES From the Taldano Files
PUSHED BACK THE TIME TRAVELER’S DAUGHTERS Book 2
A BONE TO PICK
OUT OF THE FRYING PAN
THE HIVE
SHATTERED MIND
Other books by S.A. Ison under the name: Stefany White
Dragon’s Fortune
Alaskan Heat
The Seeding
Future Releases
The Butler Did It
Little White Lies
PROLOGUE
There are two North Korean satellites that orbit over the earth, more specifically, over the United States. They are the Kwangmyongsong-3 (KMS-3) and the Kwangmyongsong-4 (KMS-4) satellites. This is a fact that many Americans are unaware of. Both of the satellites possibly carry a lethal payload, though relatively small in weight, warheads less than ninety kilograms. What is so special about these small weapons? Once launched and detonated into the upper atmosphere, they are designed to unleash a powerful Electromagnetic Pulse, or EMP.
To all the naysayers, one can only hope that they’re prepared. If not, hopefully they have a shovel on hand to dig their own graves. It has been estimated that a 90% death toll will ensue for the United States citizens. Who knows about all of this? Why, our Congress does, and have they been warned about it? Why, yes, they have. Could Congress help our failing electrical infrastructures? Yes, but they won’t, at least they’ve not done it yet. That would cost money. Should those weapons detonate in the upper atmosphere, no amount of money will fix that problem.
ONE
One could argue the merits of preparations. For one’s future, one’s family, one’s economic security. FCI Ashland Federal Correctional Institution was keen on preparations. The minimum-security facility, located in Ashland Kentucky, housed a little over a thousand inmates, most of which were incarcerated there for white collar crimes. The facility has a residential reentry center, where inmates lived and may begin to transition from their years of imprisonment, to their return into society. This program was developed to helped those inmates to go back and not sin again. It was a good program as far as Tomi Bryant could tell. He was, however, a little dubious about some of the inmates who’d been released in the past. Some did manage to find their way back.
Tomi was due to be discharged from prison day after tomorrow and he was glad. He’d spent several years in Ashland Federal Corrections for a crime he’d not committed, though for one he’d pled guilty to. All the inmates and corrections officers knew he was innocent and all treated him accordingly. Some indifferent to his plight, but on the whole, left the man to himself. Tomi had several friends at AFC and they watched his back.
Eight years ago, Tomi’s younger sister, Airi, had been arrested for identity theft. She’d blamed her older brother, who’d just been discharged out of the Air Force. He’d been home only three months, when his sister had been arrested. She’d begged him to take the rap, she was pregnant and didn’t want her baby taken away. Tomi had been torn by his sister’s tears and pleading and so had pleaded guilty and gone to prison. Then he’d learned the bitter truth, his sister hadn’t been pregnant. She’d set him up, via her boyfriend, Carl Biltmore. A year and a half later, Airi’s boyfriend, Carl, had killed her and then himself.
Tomi had been heartbroken and trapped in federal prison for seven years. It had been all over the news and yet the judge had refused to reverse his verdict. And so, Tomi had remained in Ashland. The only thing that made the time bearable was that his Uncle Keeler had invited him to live in the woods with him. This gave him a light at the end of a very long and dark tunnel. It gave him hope. His uncle was a survivalist and both men had corresponded over the long seven years. Keeler was all the family Tomi had left. Keeler also sent care packages that helped break up the monotony of counting time.
Tomi’s mother had died when he had been eleven and his sister two. His father had done the best he could and Tomi had left home to enlist in the Air Force, when he’d been twenty-two. His sister had been twelve and wild. Their father had died in a car accident twelve years before and so his sister had become even wilder. She’d not had the calming hand of their mother to guide her and Tomi had always felt guilty for leaving his father and sister. But Kentucky had held no future for him, that he could see at the time and he’d wanted to travel the world. That guilt had been the biggest reason that he’d taken the blame for his sister. It had come to naught. His sister, now long dead.
Tomi sighed. His mother, who’d been Japanese, had been a calming influence in all their lives. His mother had told Tomi, that he was an old soul. When she’d died, their small family seemed to fracture. Johnathan Bryant had taken to drinking. Keeler had tried to help, but could not. Tomi had followed in his father’s footsteps and had joined the Air Force, wishing to get away from the drama of home.
Tomi looked up as Liev Rappa stuck his lion’s mane head in the door and grinned. His wild blond hair hung to his shoulders. His cerulean blue eyes held a glint of mischief.
“You got mail, brother.” Liev grinned, holding up a letter.
Tomi reached to snatch the letter and Liev pulled it away, laughing. Tomi sat back in his chair, looking up at the big man. He reminded Tomi of a Viking. Big with wild dark blond hair and sharp intelligent blue eyes. The man was six foot four and well over two hundred fifty pounds. Though the man was big, he was surprisingly agile. Liev had been sent to AFC for robbing a bank. Ten years prior, Liev had been blind drunk and walked into a bank. His grandmother’s home was in foreclosure and the twenty-seven-year-old had been pissed. He’d been standing in line, or rather swaying in line. Once he got to the teller, he’d reached a long arm over the counter, grabbing a handful of money, screaming, uncomprehendingly, that the bank could damn well pay for his granny’s home, instead of kicking her to the curb.
The big man had been tased before he made it three steps, he never made it to the bank’s door. He’d gone down like a massive tree in the woods. His body jerking like a landed trout. He woke up in jail, unclear as to why he was there. That didn’t stop the justice system sentencing him to ten years for bank robbery. Liev hadn’t touched a drop of liquor since. For a hefty price, you could acquire some spirits at AFC. He
was a good natured, good-old-boy and flirted with the women correction’s officers. Officer Dawn Stoneham in particular.
“Is it from my uncle?” Tomi asked, looking for his cigarettes.
“Who else you got writing you? And yeah, sure is. And what in the hell are you going to do, up in those woods?”
“Live a quiet life.” Tomi laughed, his dark eyes crinkling at the corners with good humor.
“How in the hell are you gonna work?”
“You’ve heard of internet, right? My uncle’s cabin gets internet.”
“I thought you said he lives off grid. You know, one of those survivalists.”
“You know, for a smart guy, sometimes you’re a dumbass.” Tomi laughed, lighting his cigarette. He drew in deeply; he’d have to quit the things. They’d had their purpose in prison, but now that he was getting out, he didn’t want the nasty habit, nor the expense. The price of cigarettes had sky rocketed over the past eight years. He was on his last pack and didn’t plan to buy more.
“What? I thought if you lived off grid, you shunned that kind of shit.”
“Look, he has power, solar and wind. He’s just not hooked up to the town’s power grid. He’s way the hell out in the boonies. You know, where they can’t get power without tons of money. Anyway, I’ll be working online. I’ve already got the job and I’ve been working with the company for over a month. They’re happy with me and know my situation. So, it’s all good.” Tomi grinned, waggling his dark brows.
“Still don’t get why in the holy hot hell, you want to hold up in the woods. Man, I can’t wait to get free. Three weeks and I’ll be out and g… o… n… e. I’ll also be working construction. I got on with the Colman group. They’re supposed to be a good bunch of people.” Liev grinned, his eyes crinkling.
Tomi laughed and snatched the letter from the big man’s hand. They’d just gotten back from a work detail, out in town. The inmates were working at a mini-mall, cleaning and repairing the grounds. Tomi had been working indoors with various vendors, with their security systems and internet problems. They’d be heading out there again tomorrow. It would be his last full day working for the prison. He didn’t mind. He’d enjoyed getting out and seeing the real world. It had changed a lot in seven years, or maybe he had changed. He was eight years older now, nearing forty quickly. His beard now sported gray, and his hair line receded just a bit.
Liev and four other inmates would be going back in the morning as well. Liev was the boss of that small group, they were doing the outdoor repairs. His background in construction helped. The other inmates were sadly ill prepared for outdoor work. It was Ashland Correction’s contribution to their host town. Free inmate labor. The inmates didn’t seem to mind, as they got out of the prison. Minimum security was still incarceration. Most of the prisoners at Ashland were business men who’d gotten caught with their hand in the till. There were a few druggies incarcerated at AFC, but they’d been rehabbed. Ashland was small enough to effect real change.
“What’s your uncle say?”
“He’s excited that I’m coming. He said I should bring you too, keep you out of trouble. Says my room is ready and internet is up and running five by five.” Tomi smiled, his dark eyes crinkling. Tomi was a curious mix of Japanese and African American. At thirty-nine, his hair and beard were going gray. He didn’t feel old, but his face was now beginning to show it. He figured it was the stress of the last seven years and grief. Liev had helped him there, they’d gotten along instantly and had been close friends since.
They were referred to as salt-n-pepper. Liev was a year younger, though he didn’t show it. His long aristocratic nose was sharp, he used it to look down on those who angered him. There were very few that wanted to go up against Liev. As easy going as the man was, he did have a temper. There were very few that wanted to see that temper. Both men turned when Officer Dawn Stoneham walked by.
“Hey Officer Dawn, when do we go back tomorrow?” Liev asked, grinning charmingly at her. She rolled her green eyes.
“Rappa, why do you ask questions you already know the answers to?”
He sniggered and waggled his brows and his broad shoulders shook. Tomi grinned. The two played this little flirting game. He knew the both liked one another, but Liev was a convict and Dawn was an officer of the courts. It was a very big no no. But Tomi had seen each looking at the other with longing, though each had tried to hide it.
“Cause he’s a philandering dumbass.” Tomi laughed, crushing out his cigarette and leaned back in his chair.
Officer Perrin Ellison sauntered up behind. He was a neat black man of unknown age. Tomi couldn’t figure out the age of the man, but he’d been in the Army years before. Ellison always called Tomi an Air Force puke. It was the age-old military good-natured rivalry. Sometimes, he and Ellison talked military tactics and policies. Both kept up with the changes that effected their chosen services. Both agreed that the military services were going into the toilet.
“You know Liev, when you get out in a few weeks, that’ll be considered sexual harassment.” Officer Ellison grinned.
“I didn’t say nothin sexual.” Liev grumbled, his eyes narrowing and his shoulders hunching up to his ears.
“Ready for the real world?” Ellison asked, turning toward Tomi.
“As ready as I’ll ever be. At least I got on with a good company and they’re letting me work from home. I only have to fly to their headquarters twice a month.”
“About that, before you go, I need to bring my laptop by tomorrow. After you guys finish up at the mall. It’s acting hinky and I’d like you to check it out, if you don’t mind?” Officer Ellison asked.
“Sure. Just bring it by and I can look at it.”
“I should have gotten into computer security.” Bemoaned Liev, he was pulling his long wild hair back into a ponytail.
Everyone rolled their eyes and Stoneham and Ellison walked away.
“What?” Liev asked, laughing.
“Stick to construction work. You’re less dangerous that way.” Tomi laughed.
“Whatever dude. I think Dawn really likes me.”
“I think you’re a delusional man. You know, you’re more than welcome to come visit me down south. Maybe in the fall, hunting season. My uncle can also teach you a little survival skills.”
“Why on earth would I need that?”
“We may have been locked up for years, but the world is still going on without us and it sounds like its swirling around the toilet. I’ve been reading about a lot of grumblings, online, about North Korea.” Tomi said, placing his uncle’s letter in his desk drawer.
Liev blew a raspberry, and wiped his mouth grimacing.
“Brother, the world has been swirling that throne for years. Ain’t nobody flushed it yet.” He laughed.
“You need a haircut.” Was Tomi’s usual reply.
“You need a life.” Liev shot back, laughing.
Liev walked away, his laughter echoing down the hall. Tomi grinned and shook his head. He was excited, he’d not seen his uncle in seven years. His uncle was a little squirrelly and hadn’t come to visit him, but had instead written a letter weekly. Keeler lived on two hundred acres of prime forested land, on the Cranes Nest River. It was near the small town of Tandy, just past Elkhorn City, Kentucky. Tomi would be flying out of Elkhorn when he had to meet with the parent company in Lexington.
Tomi didn’t have much to pack, he’d accumulated books, but those he’d donate to Ashland’s library for the other inmates. He supposed it could have been worse here. He’d been able to further his education. The corrections officers had been nice to him, as had many of the inmates. Being a minimum-security facility, there weren’t many hardened criminals. Those were weeded out and sent elsewhere. Many of the inmates sent here rarely re-offended. He looked at the clock. It would be lights out soon and the sooner he got to sleep, the sooner tomorrow would come.
=
Liev, Norman Appleton and Jack Brown were outside with Officer Per
rin Ellison. Inmate Howell Grant was back at the prison, he’d come down with a bad case of the shits. Tomi was inside with Officer Stoneham. They were in the office of the Big Gap Hunting, Sports and Supplies. It was a sport and camping supply store. The store’s manager, Linda Fidgwit was hovering behind Tomi.
“I just don’t understand this stuff, Tomi. Honestly, it just gets more complicated by the day.” She fretted, her hands clasping and unclasping.
“Yes mam, it sure is, but don’t worry. We’ll get it figured out.” Tomi assured her, looking over at Dawn, who grinned and shrugged. This had been the third time that Tomi had been to Big Gap Hunting and Supplies. It would seem that Mrs. Fidgwit indeed didn’t understand the new operating system. She’d gone in and inadvertently deleted all the stock files. They’d not been totally erased and Tomi was able to retrieve them, much to the older woman’s relief.
“Can you give me a sheet of paper? I’m going to write down step by step, what you need to do Mrs. Fidgwit. This way, you’ll not have to worry about doing something wrong.” He smiled kindly up at her.
The older woman placed her hands on his shoulders and squeezed.
“Oh, that would be so nice, Tomi. Thank you, son, thank you. I can’t tell you how much that means to me. I mean that.” She said and ran out of the office.
“That poor woman has no clue, does she?” Dawn laughed, shaking her head.
“No, and it isn’t unusual. They keep changing the software and making it more complicated, though they say it’s to make things easier. It doesn’t and I think it’s just so the software industry can make money. Too bad.”