The State Of the ARTT
Michael Reagan
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Publisher: Apollo Publications
ISBN: 978-1-64084-039-3 ePub
ISBN: 978-1-64084-041-6 Paper Back
ISBN: 978-1-64084-038-6 PDF
ISBN: 978-1-64084-040-9 MOBI
SAN: 990-4514
Library of Congress Control Number 2016909761
Printed In The United States Of America
First Printing 2017
Table of Contents
The State of the ARTT
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AUTHOR
1.
In 1998 a terrorist leader named Hussein is training young boys to become terrorists in Afghanistan. Hussein has the boys ranging from six to nine years old lined up in a hidden training compound.
Hussein says, “You have been chosen to become jihadists. You will endure the hardest training. You will learn to speak like Americans and you will blend in with them. I will protect your minds by keeping you secluded from the world and the lies of the West. You will learn the truth so you can die a perfect death, killing the great Satan, America. Then you will ascend to paradise. Do you understand?”
The boys reply, “Yes Teacher!”
As Hussein teaches the boys fighting skills one boy strikes the wrong way and Hussein hits the boy off the top of his head and says, “Fight like I taught you!” As the boys continue to fight one on one Hussein again notices the same boy with weak fighting skills.
Hussein tells his son, “Come here Jahari.” Jahari runs over to his father. Hussein says, “Jahari you are my son. I vowed never to train a relative to be a jihadist but one must sacrifice what he loves to be faithful. You are the chosen one that will bring great honor to me and God because you are strong. Look at that boy with weak fighting skills. Be a leader and make him strong by telling the other boys to beat him down, now.”
Jahari runs to the other boys and tells each one of them Hussein’s command. The boys beat down the weak boy.
Later that morning Hussein is running the boys through an obstacle course and Hussein’s son, Jahari, falls off one of the obstacles.
Hussein comes to Jahari and says, “You are my son and I will not let you fail.” Hussein then walks to the other boys waiting their turn to do the obstacle and tells them, “Beat Jahari.” The other boys obey Hussein and beat Jahari down.
Later that afternoon Hussein teaches the boys how to shoot an AK-47 automatic machine gun. It is Omir’s turn to shoot from the prone position.
Hussein says, “Shoot.” Omir shoots and misses the black portion of the target. Hussein then hits Omir on the back of the leg with a rod. Omir thrives in pain. Hussein says, “Again, shoot!” Omir aims in with tears in his eyes and hits the target. Hussein gives Omir a mean look and says, “You will fast for two weeks for that miss. Next!” Omir gets up and next boy gets in position to shoot.
Later that evening as Hussein is teaching a class on the great Satan Hussein says, “Americans are the great Satan. The infidels defile their land with their filthy hearts and then send their crusaders to defile our land. They want the rich resources God gave us. We will take from them in America. I have hand-picked you all from a young age to make your training perfect. In time you will honor me and God with a perfect death striking at the great Satan.”
Nineteen years later an open-top red military-style jeep with a firefighter design pulls up to Fire Station 7 in Old Town, New Jersey. A man gets out of the vehicle with a duffel bag. The back of a strong young man, clean cut with a shaved head, is seen walking into the fire department. He walks to the captain’s office and through the door.
Jesse says, “Hi, my name is Jesse Cole. I am your transfer from New York reporting for duty.”
A heavyset man with a receding hairline turns around in a seat at his desk.
Captain says, “Ah, yes, Jesse Cole from NYFD. I’ve heard you’re one hell of a firefighter.” Captain shakes Jesse’s hand.
“I do my best.”
“Have a seat.”
Jesse sits down.
Captain McMenn asks, “So what brought you to Old Town, New Jersey, from New York City?”
Jesse explains, “Just looking for a new scene. Ever since 9/11, I can’t look at the new World Trade Center without thinking about that tragic day.”
“I can understand that. Well, you are replacing another firefighter that we lost just recently. I’ll be blunt. We have lost too many firefighters recently. I don’t know why any firefighter would want to come to Old Town. This city ranks as one of the highest in the United States for fires and death by fires per capita. It’s a city full of old structures with outdated fire codes that catch fire easily. We have lost four experienced firefighters in the last seven months. If I lose any more, it could hurt my chances of promotion, so remember, safety first. Go ahead and have a look around and find Pete Chow. He will issue you your gear and locker. Welcome to Fire Station 7.”
“Okay. Thanks.” Jesse leaves Captain’s office and walks through the fire station. He sees two firefighters washing a fire engine. He nods at them and continues walking and stops to look at pictures on the wall of the fallen firefighters. He hears a voice.
Firefighter Pete Chow says, “They were good firefighters.”
Jesse turns around.
Chow says, “Hi, my name is Pete Chow.” Pete shakes Jesse’s hand. “You must be Jesse.”
“I am.”
“Well, we don’t want you to end up on this wall.” Jesse then smiles. “Let’s get you some gear and a locker.” Chow and Jesse start walking toward the locker room area.
Jesse says, “Chow sounds Japanese.”
“It is.”
“I was stationed in Okinawa, Japan. I loved the culture there.”
“That is good to hear because not everyone appreciates foreign cultures in America, especially the Japanese culture. My ancestry goes back to one of the last samurai tribes.”
Jesse’s looks surprised and says, “Really?”
“To honor my family name, I try to keep up my swordsmanship skills. I created a fitness routine for it. If my father knew about it, he would consider it a mockery of our culture and disown me.”
“Well, your secret is safe with me. Maybe sometime, you could teach me that samurai-fitness routine. It might help swinging an ax.”
“It would be my honor.”
Jesse gets his gear from Chow and is putting his gear in his locker when a thin, beautiful, well-endowed female firefighter approaches him.
Firefighter Maggie Miller says, “Hi, I am Maggie Miller. Welcome to the team.”
/> Jesse shakes Maggie’s hand. Jesse says, “Thank you, nice to meet you. I’m Jesse Cole.”
Maggie Miller smiles and walks away. Firefighter Stewart Graham—a tall, lean African American—approaches Jesse.
Stewart says, “Hi, I’m Stewart Graham.”
Jesse shakes Stewart’s hand. “It is nice to meet you, Stewart.”
“She is pretty but totally undatable, dude. Believe me, I tried. She is lesbian and proud of it. I’m serious. Don’t listen to Chuck doubt her abilities. She is a good firefighter. Chuck is a bit narcissistic. Maggie just wants to be treated the same as the men. I know a thing or two about discrimination and can sympathize. A little piece of advice: if you are taking a shower in the fire station and she happens to be showering in there too, avoid the vertical stare at all costs. She can throw down.”
“I will be careful.” Jesse and Stewart walk out of the locker room.
Jesse says, “Those firefighters washing the fire engine gave me the cold shoulder with their ‘Can I trust you with my life?’ stoic stare. Thanks for breaking the ice, man.”
“No problem. I was new once before too.” Stewart smiles and walks away.
Jesse pulls out a burned locket from his pocket and opens it. He looks at the little girl’s picture in it and has a brief flashback of him reaching for her and her falling to her death in the flames. Jesse closes the locket and moves on exploring Fire Station 7.
He continues to tour the facility and meet the rest of the members of the squad.
2.
Later that day, at the mayor’s office, Mayor Charles Bowls is having a closed-door meeting with a mob boss and crooked businessman.
Mayor lights up a cigar and says, “My city is close to financial ruin. If you can’t stop crime, then use it, I say. I won’t be reelected without a miracle. This deal we make must not be compromised.” Mayor points at Frankie Pipps, a city crime boss. Frankie is a well-dressed, thin, Italian man with a scar on the right side of his face. Frankie has a long line of family in the Italian mob. “I will turn a blind eye to your racketeering and gambling, and in exchange, you and your men will burn down buildings of my choosing. You will make it look like an accident. Nothing can be tied back to me. I will supply you with some accelerants that cannot be detected.” He then turns his chair and looks out the window. “There is a city festival coming up we can use to obstruct and slow down our firemen from getting to the fire.” He turns his chair around and looks Frankie Pipps square in the eye. “This city will never attract good business or sports franchises until we push the uncontrolled crime, drug element, and old infrastructure out. I’m targeting vacant and condemned buildings as well as some prime real estate that is not so vacant. Try to set the fires when no one is there. I know some casualties are unavoidable, but it’s a necessary evil to become a successful city. The only crime I will tolerate is one I can manipulate and profit from. Never forget that.”
Frankie Pipps nods yes.
Mayor Bowls then points at Ralph Rodriguez, a corrupt businessman. Ralph is a casually dressed, short, and heavyset man with a bald head.
The mayor explains, “I will give all the building contracts exclusively to you and your group of investors. In return, I get a cut of the profits and all the support from your unions to back my reelection campaign. Agreed?”
Ralph Rodriguez replies, “Agreed.”
“I grew up in this city. I went to college here. I worked my hard to get where I’m at. I will be damned if I’m going to let the other political party make me a one-term mayor. I fought through their gridlock and brought business here. I brought the casino here. I gave money and deals to the right people and changed the game. Now we got liquor and nightlife on every street corner. Revenue is up. Do my political enemies give me any credit? Hell, no. I am beating them, and I won’t let up. Everyone who was successful in politics was dirty. Every big city had someone like me who did what it took to make it a big city. Okay, make it happen.”
Frankie Pipps and Ralph Rodriguez leave the mayor’s office. The mayor picks up the phone and calls his secretary.
Mayor Bowls says, “Send in Chief Bodett and Captain McMenn.” Fire Chief Bodett and Captain McMenn are told to enter by the mayor’s secretary.
The mayor says, “Have a seat, gentlemen.”
“I have called this meeting because I want to address a problem. This is a fire-prone city. Too many of our firefighters have died because of it. I believe this trend may increase. I am calling for a new policy for my firefighters. I want a more conservative style of firefighting that keeps our men alive. There will be strict adherence to safety rules and procedures. I want a withdraw policy when the fire is in doubt. We can’t save them all. Live to fight fires another day. You will make that call, Captain. When in doubt, make the call sooner rather than later.”
Captain McMenn replies, “Yes, Mayor.”
Mayor Bowls then looks at Fire Chief Bodett. “So what do you think?”
Fire Chief Bodett responds, “I’m old school, sir. I fought fires in a time when you never gave up when you knew people were alive in a burning structure. I will abide by your policy but under protest.”
Mayor Bowls responds, “I understand and can respect that, Chief. Your protest is noted. We are in a losing battle at the moment. I appreciate your cooperation. That will be all.”
Fire Chief Bodett and Captain McMenn leave the mayor’s office.
Fire Chief Bodett says, “Politicians should leave the firefighting to firefighters.”
The next day at Fire Station 7, the entire fire department is gathered in the classroom. Maggie enters the station classroom, and firefighter Chuck Jones, a prototypical-looking fireman, looks her way with a smirk under his mustache.
Chuck, sarcastically grinning, says, “Here comes the Joe Frazier of the shower room.” Chuck feels his jaw and looks at Stewart. “I can still feel her left hook. There is no way she is strong enough to pull a victim’s weight—or her own weight, for that matter—from a burning structure.” Stewart smiles and then looks up seeing Maggie walk over to Chuck.
Maggie says, “That was just my left hook, Chuck. Beware of the right.”
Just then Captain McMenn walks in.
Captain McMenn says, “All right, shut up! I got a new policy to go over with you. Turn off the lights, and watch this video.”
The lights go off, and the DVD starts playing on the fifty-inch TV. The DVD shows many people packed in open windows of the Twin Towers during 9/11. Trapped, they are waving white towels, hoping to escape the smoke and flames. The video shows people escaping the inferno by jumping out the windows of the Twin Towers and falling to their death. The class is silent and glued to the TV monitor, but Jesse is looking down at the floor. Then the video shows many firefighters going up into the Twin Towers stairwells. Finally, the video ends after showing the towers fall.
Captain McMenn says, “Okay, turn it off and the lights on.”
The DVD is stopped by Lieutenant Kendrick, and lights come on.
Captain McMenn explains, “Approximately 343 fire and rescue personnel died in two building collapses. This should have never happened. Those buildings were doomed as soon as that much jet fuel hit them. Too many firefighters in a burning skyscraper with jet fuel is a bad mix. The risk to the firefighters is too high. Some accelerants we can’t fight inside a structure without special equipment. Did you see these people piled up in the World Trade Center windows? They are doomed, and there is nothing that can save them. The roof doors were locked, and there was no plan designed for a helicopter rescue. This is hardest part of firefighting—to see people calling for help that you can’t save. You have to learn to deal with it. That is why we have a department psychologist. Too many of m
y firefighters have died for lack of a proper risk assessment, but no more. The mayor has called for a more conservative firefighting style. When we are in doubt, we withdraw and live to fight another day. I will make the call. Are there any questions?”
Jesse raises his hand, saying, “Yes, I have a question. During 9/11, the NY firefighters thought they could get the hoses up to the fire before the jet fuel compromised the structural integrity of the building. It was a reasonable risk assessment.”
Everyone turns around and looks at Jesse sitting in the back.
Captain McMenn responds, “A reasonable assessment? More like betting with 343 firefighters’ lives to me. There was too much jet fuel and too many firefighters’ lives at risk. I would have sent twenty firefighters up to the impact floor to do what they can and assessed the situation before I committed more firefighters. Traditionally, firefighting is a ground-based operation, using ladders to reach victims. Skyscrapers present multiple problems for firefighters. A department must know their limitations.”
“Maybe some things are worth going all in for.”
Then Captain McMenn smiles. “They did go all in, and they lost big. Look, I’m as tough as anyone in this room. I sure hell didn’t sign up for this job to die. That does not make me less of a firefighter. It makes me a better firefighter. Soldiers become casualties of war. Many times, they are considered accepted losses. We are not soldiers, and this is not New York City, in case you haven’t noticed. Our city doesn’t have the money to account for 343 dead firefighters in two collapsed buildings. As a financially challenged department, we have to pick our battles and know our limitations. The new firefighting policy the mayor is implementing will keep our firefighters alive to fight another day. We will do all we can to save lives, but when the threshold of risk is too great, I will withdraw all of you from the burning structures until the fire is put out with hoses. After a withdraw command, I don’t care who you see at a window ledge, you are not going in that burning structure after that. Adherence to safety procedures will be strictly enforced. Is that clear?”
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