PROJECT BlueBolt - AMERICAN GULAGS: BOOK I - AMERICAN GULAGS

by Marshall Huffman

  “We feel the jury did a fair and equitable job in assessing the facts and were not swayed by Anthony Judd being a US Senator. They did their job bravely and we are grateful for their ability to stand up to the pressure placed on them by the press.”

  ****

  “That is two down and I think it went very well. Now we need to go after a few more,” the President said.

  “Not in the same way I hope.”

  “Not exactly. We are going to use a variety of methods. I was pleased to see that the majority of the press was either neutral or behind the trial of the Senator. Only one was totally out of step and of course that was the same one it always is. I’m afraid FAL – TV just doesn’t get it. Jack, it is going to be up to you to show them the error of their ways. Obviously Inman didn’t get it. Don’t beat around the bush. Tell him point blank to get with the program or we will yank his license and shut them down.”

  “But he didn’t change when we threatened him last time. Why would he change his views now?” Jack asked.

  “Show him the set of photos and the envelope addressed to his wife and to the Board of directors for the station. If that doesn’t get the desired results, we will seize the station and shut it down. Tony, you need to get with Joint Chief of Combined Military Operations and have people ready to take over the stations and shut them down immediately.”

  “What is that? The Combined Military Operations?” Secretary of State Far asked.

  “I have decided to do away with the Secretary of Navy, Joint Chief of Staff and other redundant positions. The Chief of Combined Military Operations will now be in charge of all branches of the military and have subordinates that work with the different services. This change alone saved 450 million dollars a year.”

  “Who is this person?” Tony asked.

  “He will be here shortly. His name is Chester Douglas. Some of you already know him. He was the assistant to the Secretary of Defense. It seems that former Secretary Thompson didn’t care for the idea very much so I had to replace him.”

  Everyone in the room was uneasy. They all realized that they could be replaced at any moment. Either they did the job to her satisfaction or she would just find a way of eliminating them or the position.

  “So, I am to strong arm Inman and if that doesn’t work we will shut them down. Do I tell him that?”

  “Goodness no. I don’t want him to know a thing about that. We will just waltz in and close them down. The last thing I want is for them to know what we are preparing to do.”

  “And if he agrees. They stay on the air but we monitor their programs?”

  “No. We give them the scripts they are to follow without fail.”

  “Alright. I should go see him immediately.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  “Mr. Inman, I have been sent by the President to convey her concern that you simply do not understand the situation,” Ekman said.

  “Oh I understand it. You want to control the 1st Amendment. You want us to only say what you want to hear. Does that about sum it up?”

  “Again, you are missing the point. That is not necessary, but to be so critical is not doing anything to help the American people pull this country together. You create unnecessary dissention. Instead of looking at all the good the President has done, such as cutting close to five trillion off the national debt you choose to focus on every little negative detail. That isn’t doing anyone any good.”

  “So it is your way or no way?”

  “What good are you doing by being so negative about the government’s policies? Do you simply dislike the President because she is a woman? Is that the problem?”

  “That doesn’t have squat to do with it. I don’t trust her, I don’t like her and I think she is up to no good. I intend to keep pushing until we find out exactly what it is she is up to.”

  Jack laid the envelope on Inman’s desk.

  “Now the blackmail.”

  “I have seven envelopes here. Five to the board of directors, one to your wife and of course one for your viewing pleasure. Oh, be careful with the DVD’s.”

  “You bastards. I suppose this was the President’s idea.”

  “Heavens no. This was supplied to me by ISS and I decided you should at least know. You have some hard decisions to make. You have exactly one hour to let me know and then it is out of my hands.”

  “I’ll have you arrested for blackmail,” Inman shouted.

  “I sincerely doubt it. All I have done is provide you with a means of preserving your life. What you do with it is totally up to you.”

  “You won’t get away with this,” he shouted at the retreating Czar of Media.

  ****

  “Now what are we going to do?” Senator Sharon Petty asked the others.

  “You know darn well Anthony did not murder Senator Crain. He was set up,” Volter said.

  “Yes, of course, but that isn’t the point right this moment. What are we going to do? If they can do this to Anthony, they can do it to any one of us,” Sharon insisted.

  “We have to remain calm. If we panic it will only make things worse. We all know Anthony is innocent but right now we need to focus on getting the impeachment proceedings put into motion by the House of Representatives. They have to bring the charges. We need to go to work on the representatives. We need a two-thirds majority to get the motion moved on to the Judiciary Committee. Then it comes to the Senate for trial. We know we can get it done in the Senate, it is the House that we have to worry about,” Senator Zeek said.

  “We think we can get it done in the Senate. Impeachment is a strange thing. Senators will say they are on board but behind the door deals are made and who knows what will really happen. I’ve seen it before. It was so clear cut you wondered how it could not pass but in the end, one vote saved the day for the President even though everyone knew he was lying to the American public,” Bailer told them.

  “Still. If we can’t get the 287 votes of the 435 voting representatives, nothing will happen. That has to be our first step. What we need to do is look at each representative carefully and approach those most likely to understand what is happening and that would have the nerve or commitment to vote to impeach,” Volter said.

  “Yes, but they have to stand on the floor and state their position. That takes a lot of nerve. You know as soon as they speak out against the President the ISS will step in and start looking at those people very carefully. I’m sure they are not above manufacturing dirty laundry,” Senator Decker replied.

  “So we either go forward or just sit on our hands,” Sharon said.

  “She is right. If we don’t take the chance, nothing will change and in the end America will cease to exist as we know it. We are on the road to a dictatorship and it is up to us to change that,” Decker replied.

  “Yes, but the President’s popularity has never been higher. We are going to be the target of a lot of discontent,” Senator Zeek said.

  “Look people, you do what you feel is best but I am going to start feeling out representatives. I believe this has to be done. If I suffer for it, so be it. I’m a big girl. I can take care of myself,” Sharon Petty told them.

  “I agree,” Bailer added.

  “I’m in,” Decker said.

  “What the hell. In for a penny, in for a pound,” Volter replied.

  ****

  “Thank you for seeing me Madam President,” the nervous Representative said.

  “You’re David Bing from Illinois I believe,” Clemons said.

  Of course she knew. She had everything about him investigated the minute he asked to speak to the President in private about a grave matter of concern to her. She knew what schools he had attended, his grades, affiliations, and a thousand other details before she granted him the time.

  “I appreciate this very much. I know how busy you are,” David said.

  “Never too busy for a representative of the people of America,” she said with her patented, plastered on smile.

  “I
came because something disturbing is happening in the House of Representatives. I guess I should tell you that I believe in the sound policies you have enacted since you took over the Presidency. No disrespect to President Amber.”

  “I appreciate hearing that. Now, what has you so worried?” she asked.

  “Several of my colleagues have been approached about the possibility of starting a motion to impeach.”

  “My, that is interesting. And they approached you?”

  “No. They seem to be picking and choosing certain ones and I have been a strong supporter of what you have accomplished so they have stayed clear of me. They seem to be going after the ones who have questioned your policy changes without Congressional approval. They aren’t looking at the financial picture and are focusing on the ‘what if’s’,” he told her.

  “And they are trying to get an impeachment motion to the floor for a vote?”

  “That is what I see happening. I know they feel they are getting close because they are becoming more bold with it. It started out as just rumors and whispers but lately several have said some things out loud.”

  “Well that certainly is a development. Do you know who started all of this?”

  “Not really. Like I said, it was just a rumor at first, then whispers, and now actual talk.”

  “Do you think they will really go through with it? Talk is one thing but will they actually act upon it?” the President asked.

  “Honestly? Yes I think they feel they are close enough to actually bring charges and start debating on the floor. As you know, after that they vote and if it carries by a two-thirds majority, it goes to the Judiciary Committee. If they agree, it is on to the Senate and you know they are not exactly singing your praises,” he said then blushed.

  “No, it’s alright. It is fair to say the Senate and I don’t exactly see eye to eye on many things,” she said sitting back in her seat.

  “I hate to bring this news to you but I thought someone should tell you what was going on.”

  “You have no idea how much of a service you have been to this office. David, it took a lot of fortitude to bring this to my attention. I know it feels a little intimidating to suddenly be one on one with the President. I have the highest regard for what you have done and I can assure you it will not go unrewarded. This Administration always needs people with vision and the dedication to follow it through. You have certainly demonstrated that here today,” she said as she came around from behind the desk and offered her hand.

  She could feel the slight tremble in his hand as he shook it.

  “I would appreciate any additional news you come across. I would especially like to know who is stirring all this up. It is so destructive. This country has so much to do without something like this going on,” she said.

  “I totally agree. All legislation has to stop during an impeachment proceeding so the country comes to a standstill, and for what?” he said.

  “Exactly,” President Clemons replied.

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  “Close them down,” the President told Rheem.

  “You’re sure you want to do it this way?”

  “Tony. I said shut them down and that is what I mean. Now get it done,” she said raising her voice.

  She slammed down the phone and looked over at Chester Douglas. His face was unreadable.

  “Your people are ready?” the President asked.

  “In place and ready to go.”

  “Then proceed.”

  He took out his cell phone and said one word, “Go,” and hung up.

  The President sighed.

  “I don’t think Tony is the right person for this job. He just isn’t visionary enough. As much as I hate it, I think I am going to have to make a change.”

  “I understand. He is too weak to do what is necessary,” Chester replied.

  “Taylor Spears.”

  “Oh I don’t know. He was pretty upset when ISS absorbed Homeland.”

  “Nothing like being back on top to make a person hungry. If he gets the job you can bet he will be a hellcat. When you get knocked down being offered a chance at redemption is a hell of a motivator.”

  “You really think he is the best person?”

  “Without a doubt.”

  “Alright. I’ll call and have him come to the White House. I sure hope you are right. Tony knows too much about BlueBolt to just turn lose so that should be his first assignment,” Chester replied.

  “I guess we will know immediately if he is the right person,” she agreed.

  ****

  Small explosions took place outside of radio towers, men with guns rushed into stations and immediately took the stations off line. One by one, all across the nation, FAL – TV broadcasts went black.

  A few people were seriously hurt by overzealous troops along with a few who stood up against the takeover. Three people were actually killed when one man pulled a revolver from his desk and the ISS opened fire. He was hit as were two co-workers. From start to finish it took less than an hour to bring the entire FAL operations to a halt.

  Inman was arrested for subversive activities and the board of directors were rounded up and placed in confinement pending charges.

  ****

  CVTV – BREAKING NEWS

  Station FALTV has suspended operations due to gross violations of Federal Communications Laws now in effect for all television and radio stations operating in the United States. Media Czar Jack Ekman said that he had carried out extensive communications with Mr. Inman, the CEO of FALTV but received no assurances that they would correct the violations.

  Mr. Ekman said, “We have been especially lenient with FALTV and have spent a great deal of time and effort to bring them up to current Federal guidelines but they simply refused to cooperate. We have been watching Mr. Inman for some time and during the course of our investigation uncovered some shocking information. The material being passed out is but a small sample of what we discovered. Some of the photographs were actually taken in one of the stations. This is simply unacceptable. The American public demands better. We have decided to suspend FALTV until a thorough investigation can be made. We will then decide if other charges against Mr. Inman and the Board of Directors will be filed. For now the station will remain off the air.”

  Asked about the death of the three station workers in Madison, Wisconsin, he told the news that a man had pulled a gun and had shot the two workers before he was subdued by the ISS men.

  ****

  “Have a seat Tony. You know Mr. Spears I believe?”

  “Certainly. Former head of Homeland Security.”

  Spears nodded at him.

  “I invited Mr. Spears here to discuss certain changes I am considering,” the President told him.

  “Changes?”

  “Yes. Specifically to ISS.”

  “What kind of changes?” Tony asked skeptically.

  “ISS has a huge responsibility. When you stop and think about it, they are basically the second most powerful force in America, right behind the Military.”

  “I am aware of that,” Tony said.

  “The thing is Tony, you have not lived up to expectations in many areas. You seem hesitant to carry out your assignments and far too many things slip through the cracks. I afraid I’m going to have to fire you.”

  “Fire me? That’s crazy. I have done everything you have asked.”

  “To some extent that is true but you hesitate when I need action. You are not through when I need no slipups. You are not progressive in your approach to the job. I need someone who knows how to use the power I have bestowed upon them,” she said.

  “Look, I can do the job. Really. I just need time to work into the position. It is a big responsibility and it takes a little time. I can do this,” he said.

  “I’m sorry Tony. My mind is made up. As of now, Mr. Spears is heading up ISS.”

  “What about BlueBolt?”

  “What about it?”

  “I’m part of it. I
understand the full implications of the project.”

  “Yes, but it no longer concerns you.”

  “Just like that?”

  “I’m afraid so,” she replied.

  He looked at Spears and back at the President. He stood there with his head bowed for several moments.

  “I have a lot of knowledge up here,” he said and tapped his temple with his forefinger.

  “Mr. Spears?”

  Without even blinking, Spears raised a .22 cal. Walther P22 with a suppressor and shot Tony in the chest. He crumbled to his knees and Spears stood, shoved him over on his back and shot him through the heart. Since the ammunition was subsonic it made no more noise than an electric stapler. The blood loss was negligible.

  “Why are people always so stupid? Why didn’t he just ask for money and a plane ticket to someplace else? I would have considered that, but no, he had to threaten me with BlueBolt. Stupid.”

  “I still wouldn’t have trusted him.”

  “Oh me either. I would still have had you get rid of him, but just not in my office. Now you’ll have to get someone to clean this mess up.”

  “Not a problem,” Spears said taking out his cell phone.

  ****

  CVTV NEWS –

  ISS Director, Tony Rheem died of an apparent heart attack last night. He was discovered by one of the agents assigned to pick him up and deliver him to the White House for a high level conference meeting with President Clemons.

  “We are all in shock,” the President said speaking from the White House. “Mr. Reehms was such a vigorous man and always willing to go the extra mile to make sure any task was done above expectations. His service and friendship will be greatly missed by me personally,” President Clemons said.

  Speculation as to who will replace the former ISS Director has already begun. Most people are in agreement that the former Homeland Security Director, Taylor Spears, would be taking the reins of the Internal Special Services Department. No confirmation from the White House on this matter has been forthcoming.