“Are you going to stay in control?”
“No. I will only for the time being until we can get stabilized and then I would like to hold free elections. I do not want to be a Czar or anything else. We will have a military but nothing like in the past. I hope to never go to war again,” Nitikin answered.
Zorn looked at him for a few moments, “You would just step aside?”
“Absolutely.”
“I am much the same. I am not the person to run the country on a day-by-day basis. I too would like to turn the country over to someone with the vision to keep peace with the rest of the world and give our people a voice in the future.”
“Then I would say we are much alike. I can tell you that Randy Boling is the exact same way. The only way we can rebuild all our nations is by cooperation.”
* * * *
They spent the next three days talking and discussing how to rebuild their respective nations. Measurements, the Earth’s rotation and what it meant, communications and a meeting of Financial Ministers were all discussed. Zorn was open to all suggestions and never stopped asking questions.
“Yegor, I would like to travel to your country at some point. Now it is simply prohibitive, but maybe one day you can come to Beijing and I can visit Moscow,” Zorn said.
“I would enjoy that very much. I hope you get a chance to meet Randy as well. I think you will find him a very intelligent and straight forward person. Like I said, I certainly think a great deal of him and I am typically skeptical of everyone,” he said and laughed.
“I am much the same but he sounds interesting and considering your impressions, I am sure we will get along just fine.”
“We will try to stay in touch as much as we can and keep you apprised of our progress when I get back to Moscow,” Nitikin said.
“I will do likewise. We do not have your communications capabilities but we are making improvements.”
“If we can offer assistance in any way, just let us know.”
“Thank you. I’m sure we will. Good luck Yegor Nitikin and safe travel.”
“Same to you Keung Zorn. I look forward to our next talk. Have a safe trip back to Beijing.”
The two men shook hands and started their respective long trips home.
CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO
- COLORADO SPRINGS, CO –
Randy, Captain Sims, and Captain Rosen watched as the first C-130 landed at the airport. Major Miller was one of the first to disembark. He looked around, saw Randy and the others and gave a big thumbs up.
“Welcome back warrior,” Randy said shaking his hand.
“I hope that was the last time this warrior has to go into battle. We lost three good men.”
“Major, it was a miracle that no more were lost than that. It was a magnificent job. I have talked to Yegor Nitikin and he sang your praises. He thinks you are a magnificent military man,” Randy said.
“I am quite fond of General Nitikin as well. He is one amazing tactician. His plans are what kept the KIA as low as it was. He is nothing short of brilliant.”
“Not to mention a pretty good guy,” Randy said chuckling.
“I certainly can second that. It was nice of you guys to meet me but not necessary really. I’m sure you have more to do that stand around at the airport,” Miller said.
“Well, actually we...”
“Hold off Captain Sims. We have nothing pressing at the moment,” Randy cautioned, “Let the Major get his feet on the ground and take some much deserved time off.”
“Why? What’s going on?”
“Nothing major. Really. We just want your input at some point on a couple of matters, but nothing that can’t wait a few days. Right now I want you to take some well-deserved time off and rejuvenate.”
“Look, I’m fine. I had nothing to do all the way back. I’m rested now.”
“No. I insist you take some time off. I mean it, nothing important is brewing. Everything is going just fine. In fact I think you will be surprised at some of the progress we have made in the last month,” Randy said.
“Look Randy, I’ve known you long enough to know something is going on. I honestly don’t want you to beat around the bush. I would appreciate it if you would just tell me so I will know why Captain Sims and Rosen look like they just ate a canary,” Major Miller said, stopping and looking directly at Randy.
“Fine, I’ll lay it all out and see where we go from there.
* * * *
Randy spent the next ten minutes bringing Miller up to speed on the Utah Freemen and the options being considered. Miller listened intently but asked no questions. Finally when Randy had finished he paused for a few seconds.
“Well, I don’t know who thought up the trap but that is a disaster waiting to happen. I mean, that kind of crap gets a lot of good people killed. If you’re going to take them on then just do it. We have overwhelmingly superior fire power so do it right or don’t do it at all,” he said at last.
“And negotiating with them?”
“About as bad. You don’t negotiate with a bunch of thugs. The only thing they will understand is that we will kick their butts from one end of the US to the other if they don’t disband.”
“So what do we do with them if they do give up?”
“Not sure yet. I’ll need to think on that for a while before I can give you a valid answer,” Miller said.
“That’s fair enough. Why don’t we talk in a couple of days?”
“Sure, it will give me some time to think of a strategic plan in the meantime.”
“All right and by the way, welcome back. It’s good to have your level of experience back again. We missed you.”
“Thanks, it’s always nice to hear.”
* * * *
“We need to resolve the money issue. Russia, Spain, and Italy have all asked about our plans. We need to give them an answer,” Randy said.
“Well hell, we don’t really have the foggiest idea what we are going to do,” Dan replied.
“I realize that but we can’t just do nothing. We told them we would print the money for everyone that wanted to use dollars. Now we need to honor that commitment.”
“So what are you thinking?”
“No, that’s what I am asking all of you. What do we want to do?” Randy replied.
“Well, we know Denver has a US currency printing press. Maybe we can alter the plates somehow so that each country’s mark identified them,” Margaret suggested.
“You mean actually mark the plates somehow?” Kevin asked.
“I don’t know. I’m just suggesting we add something to the existing plates to help identify what country the money is for.”
“Does it really matter?” Angie asked.
“I think so. I mean we are still using the same plates so they have United States of America on them. Somehow I don’t think that is what they had in mind. We need to alter that area.”
“That’s not going to be simple,” Langford said.
“We need to get a printer in here to tell us our best options,” Margaret replied.
“She’s right. That is exactly what we need. Someone that can tell us what can and can’t be done,” Randy said, “Who are the printers again?”
“We have ten that say they can figure out the operating system. Mr. Thompson worked at the Federal Reserve for a few years and seems the most qualified,” Dan told them.
“Why don’t we have Thompson get with the others and have them come up with suggestions,” Randy offered.
“That sounds like a good idea,” Dan agreed.
“One other small thing,” Angie said and they all turned to look at her, “What about ‘In God We Trust’?”
“What about it?” Miller asked.
“Do we keep that? I mean not everyone feels the same way,” she said.
No one spoke for several seconds.
Finally Major Miller said, “I for one feel that America was founded on that very premise. I don’t see that anything has changed.”
“I think you are dead wrong. God hasn’t changed. He is still here all around us. Taking God out of the equation would leave us no better than the Freemen in Utah that some of you seem to want to eliminate. God is what separates the good from the bad. I have just come back from risking my life and the lives of my men and women for God and country.”
“You mean the fear of God? Those afraid that they will go to hell if they don’t believe in Him? What if there is no hell? No heaven? You just die and that’s the end?”
“Angie, I’m not a theologian but I do know what I believe. I believe God created us and is still watching over us. It is an important element of who we are as a nation, no matter what you want to call it. I think it needs to be the basis of what we stand for,” Miller said.
“He must have been looking the other way when The Event came along,” she said softly.
Miller didn’t reply.
It was quiet in the room for several seconds before Randy finally spoke up, “Is this something we should vote on?”
“Only if you are willing to take this issue up with the entire colony. We don’t have the ability to choose the beliefs of an entire nation based on the nine of us,” Angie said.
“We do with other things,” Miller pointed out.
“Not this. This is much bigger than the nine of us,” she shot back.
“Okay. Why don’t we do just that? I’ll have it put in the town square and then talk about it on radio. I’m supposed to give a sort of state of the colony update tomorrow night anyway. That would be a good time to talk about it.”
“I can tell you one thing. Some people will be opposed to it and they will probably be the most vocal,” Angie told him.
“That may be, but the majority will rule plain and simple. I refuse to get into that special interest crap again,” he said forcefully.
“Just mentioning it.”
“Noted. I do know that the chances of the other countries wanting that on their money are slim to none.”
“That’s kind of what I am saying. If we leave it off theirs and everyone is using the same money essentially why not just leave it off all currency? I thought the idea was a universal currency. One that we could trade across boundaries. Having a special currency for America sort of defeats that doesn’t it?” Angie said.
Once again it was quiet. Even Miller who was the most outspoken could see some validity to what she was saying.
“Isn’t anything ever simple?” Dan finally said.
“Apparently not. Sure makes you appreciate our forefathers. They didn’t even have houses or electricity. Man, this is really hard,” Margaret added.
“Let’s wait until the printers have had a chance to talk about this. Maybe they can come up with a solution,” Kevin offered.
“Good plan. Let’s dump it on them,” Dan said and they all laughed breaking up some of the tension.
“Speaking of dumping. Dan you know the printers better than the rest of us. Why don’t you take charge of that area?”
“Oh hell, I wanted to be a dumpor not the dumpee,” he said and brought another chuckle around the room.
“Next item. The Freemen,” Randy said.
Suddenly it got very quiet again.
“Major Miller?”
“I’ll just lay it out on the table. First of all going to war is never easy. People die and there is nothing glorious about dying in combat. It’s ugly. Far from what you think, most military people hate the thought of going to war. People that send us are usually safe at home living in comfort while we are out there putting our lives on the line every second. I for one do not want to pursue the Freemen. Let them go. Eventually they will disband at some point. We are over eighty-five thousand strong and they are still around eighteen-thousand. They will not come after us or even attempt it. They are in an area of relatively slow growth. They will start to drift off in different segments. They are simply not a threat to us and I think we should just leave them alone.”
“But what about the people they come across? Doesn’t someone need to protect them? They stand no chance against those thugs.”
“You’re right of course but I’m not willing to risk my men or my life for things I can’t control. They have reached a point where there isn’t much more for them to capture. They will soon start to self-destruct without us having to risk our people,” Miller replied.
“I think it’s wrong to turn our backs like that. You didn’t mind going after the Germans. How is this any different?” Angie said.
“We were showing the world that no one nation could dominate another. Germany invaded Austria and held the people captive. If we had just turned our backs they would have continued to gobble up other nations and that simply can’t be allowed. The Freemen are not going to take over this country. They don’t have the numbers or tactical knowledge. It’s not the same thing.”
“Seems like splitting hairs to me,” Angie said.
“Look, I’ve told you what my plans are. You want to mount an operation and have Randy’s blessing, by all means, go ahead. But until you are willing to go out there and die for someone you have no right to think others should give up their lives. It’s always easy to send troops but damned hard to wear their shoes and actually be in battle.”
“So were going to have an army of wusses?” she said.
“Whoa. That won’t do Angie. Major Miller had to tell those left here that their loved ones had died in Germany. Two men lost their legs and one woman lost her right arm. That was uncalled for,” Randy said.
“Sorry. I didn’t mean it like it sounded.”
“Yes you did,” Miller said and got up and left the room.
Randy didn’t try to stop him. He had every right to be upset.
“I can tell you one thing. We will not be going after the Freemen. That discussion is now closed for good. I think we should break and get some fresh air. We’ll hit it again tomorrow after we all have had a chance to regroup,” Randy said and stood up.
He left the room without waiting to talk to anyone else.
* * * *
“Are you okay?” Randy asked Miller after he caught up with him.
“Oh sure, why not? I’m the leader of a bunch of wusses,” he said sarcastically.
“Come on. You know better than that. She’s young, opinionated and...”
“Stupid?”
“Well, I was going to say idealistic, but okay, that will work too.”
Miller smiled for the first time.
“Man she is something else.”
“I know. She offered to quit once before but I told her we needed her to stay because she had such a different view on things. You have to admit, none of us thought about money in terms of international acceptance.”
“Yeah. That was a good point. I don’t like it but she has a point.”
“But not about the Army. You are a magnificent leader and no one else could have put a group together that fast and gone to kick the German's asses out of Austria like your people did.”
“General Nitikin was the real brains behind the victory. That man is exceptional. I learned a lot from just watching him.”
“Nothing wrong with that. Listen, I told everyone that the Freemen were a dead issue. No more discussion about it.”
“Good. I’m one hundred percent sure I’m right. That kind can’t stay as a unit very long. Groups will break off and then they will start fighting among themselves. No use getting our people killed.”
“I agree. You going to be okay?”
“Sure, I’m a big boy. It takes more than a twit like that to get me down,” Miller said.
“Good. We still have lots of work to do and I need you,” Randy replied.
“I’ll be ready.”
“I know.”
CHAPTER THIRTY-THREE
- THE WORLD –
A certain amount of normalcy was starting to occur in most
of the surviving nations. The printers had solved the issue of printing currency acceptable to all the other countries.
Even France finally agreed. The denominations were settled on and a notation of the issuing country would be placed immediately after the serial number. RUS would be used for Russia, FR for France, IT for Italy and so on. America would use NUS to indicate the New United States.
The bills were totally re-designed eliminating portraits of people and replacing them with a design approved by each country. The size was also changed so that each denomination was slightly different in size to make recognition easier.
Weights and measurements were standardized and the US converted to metric. While still hard to accept by some, it nevertheless became the standard used.
Year connotation and dates were changed as well. The twelve month system was kept in place but now January, March, May, July, September and December had thirty days. The other’s had twenty-nine to allow for the faster spinning of the earth. Years were noted by AE, standing for After the Event, with the first year being 0001AE. A great deal of discussion was given to this entire area and it took quite some time for everyone to get on board. It took a Herculean effort from Randy Boling and Yegor Nitikin to finally get the others to agree.
Perhaps the biggest change for Russia was the allowing of truly free elections. Yegor Nitikin refused to run for office even though Matryona urged him too. Nitikin’s refusal to run left somewhat of a void.
Sergei Matskevich was elected as Commissioner of Russia and immediately appointed a cabinet made up of nine ministers. While somewhat predicated on what Colorado Springs had in place, it left him with the ability to overrule decisions that he felt were not in the best interest of Russia.
Nitikin was asked to be in the cabinet as a representative for the military but again he refused the offer and instead suggested Lieutenant Colonel Eugeny Sidorvo. Matskevich agreed to accept him in the position. Matskevich was no fool, he constantly asked the advice of Nitikin on how to structure the make-up of the cabinet and Yegor was more than willing to help.
THE REVELATION - Book 3 (THE EVENT) Page 18