Death of the Republic

by Ken Ward

  “That's right. I was flown in here on a private charter by the UN this morning,” Costello said. “My job was to co-ordinate outbreak response here and try to mitigate any further spread of this disease. We'd received the same news report as everybody else. 130 dead. Bermuda being the source. Our communications on the island went down shortly after I arrived. I can confirm to you, there are no bodies here.”

  “So, they were moved for some reason?” Callie asked.

  “No, you're not getting it. I'm telling you there never were any bodies.”

  “I'm confused.”

  “That was me too, a few hours ago.”

  “But what about the virus.”

  “That's just it, Ms. Romero,” Costello said, “there is no virus.”

  “I don't understand.”

  “There is no IGNA-3. It doesn't exist. The news releases were faked. They were pieced together from other news releases we'd put out regarding other outbreaks in years past. There's nothing happening here in Bermuda. The IGNA-3 carrier they say is on that plane to Britain probably just has the flu.”

  Callie was in shock as she listened to the man on the other end. She looked down at the display on her phone to ensure she had the right number. “This doesn't seem real,” Callie said.

  “It's real,” Costello said. “This is a major fuck-up, pardon my French.”

  “So, what about this man on the flight to Miami.”

  “I don't know about that one,” Costello said. “Has someone said he also has this made up virus?”

  “Yes, I was in the room with someone from your organization here in New York when he'd received word.”

  “And who told him?” Costello asked.

  Something hit Callie's brain like a lightning strike. She held out her cell phone in front of her and looked at the icon on the screen for the Clackzi app.

  “Hello?” Costello said, “Ms. Romero, you still there.”

  “Sorry,” she said, “yes, still here. He, uh, he received the news about the guy on Flight 381 from the app on his phone.”

  “I don't follow.”

  “The Clackzi app. You don't have it?”

  “I have no idea what you're talking about. I'm not usually up on all the latest tech stuff. Anyway, I would suggest you get the word out to all your friends in the media. I can only imagine the panic this whole thing has caused around the world.”

  “So, just to confirm, you're saying IGNA-3 does not exist, and that no one has died in Bermuda? There's no one sick there?”

  “That's right.”

  “Is there any way I can corroborate this. It's not that I don't believe you. Trust me, I want to believe what you're saying is true, it's just that – well, there's no precedent for this. I'd need to speak with someone else there who can confirm what you're saying. I'd need to confirm your credentials as well.”

  “I understand,” Costello said. “Give me your email address. I can send you my bonafides that way. In the meantime, I can put you on with the other doctors we have here. We're all just sitting here, twiddling our thumbs. One of my colleagues is on the line with the WHO office in New York as we speak. I don't imagine that conversation is going well.”

  Callie gave Dr. Costello her email address. He told her he'd email her his credentials right away. The doctor then put Dr. Nina Guarez on the line. “Hello? This is Dr. Guarez. What was your name again. Dr. Costello told me, but he said it too quickly.”

  “My name's Callie Romero. I'm a reporter with the New York Times.”

  “Wow, did you luck out calling us when you did, hey?”

  “It definitely sounds that way. So, Dr. Guarez, can you confirm everything that Dr. Costello told me.”

  “I can,” Dr. Guarez said. “Put it this way. An error being made of this magnitude. You're on your way to getting the scoop of your life.”

  CHAPTER 23

  The man from Arkansas, it turns out his name was Howard, returned from the cabin above and made good on his suggestion about restraining my hands in front of me instead of behind. I'd entertained the thought, when he approached me with scissors to cut the zip ties that he'd allow me to have my hands free altogether, but no he then reapplied new zip ties once I had my hands in front. It wasn't so bad, at least I had the ability to use my phone.

  “Feel better?” Howard asked.

  “As good as I can feel, yes.”

  “Good.”

  “So, where's your cell phone?”

  He tapped his pocket. “It's here, but I don't use it much.”

  “Even on boring flights?”

  “I think you'd agree, this flight has been anything but boring.”

  He had a good point. “So, you don't go on the internet much?”

  “Not really. I know, that's probably blasphemy to someone your age.”

  I chuckled at the comment and that's when a loud thud sounded directly above us. Not just the kind of thud you hear when your upstairs neighbors are being too loud, this was loud enough that we both looked at each other alarmed. “What the hell was that?” I said.

  “I don't know.”

  A few seconds later a flight attendant appeared in the brightly lit doorway, her face in a panicked expression. She looked at Howard. “We could use your help.”

  “What's happening?”

  “There's a guy. We've got him restrained now. He's threatened to jump out of the plane.”

  “What?” I said.

  “People are losing their minds over this thing,” Howard said.

  “We don't know what happened. He seemed fine and then he just started freaking out. Someone mentioned he'd been looking at his phone so, I don't know...” As the attendant was speaking her phone sounded an alarm. She stopped talking and pulled out her phone and stared at the screen in horror. Saying nothing she immediately retreated back to the upper level of the plane.

  “Hey!” Howard called to her. “Someone's gotta watch him if I leave.”

  “I'm fine,” I said.

  I could tell Howard felt conflicted and he hesitated for a moment before getting up. He stood and glanced at me.

  “Honestly,” I said, “I'm not going anywhere. It's quieter down here.”

  He must've believed me because he darted away to deal with whatever was happening above, leaving me alone in the belly of the plane.

  That's when my phone beeped loudly. I looked at the bright red screen and the Clackzi app icon glowing green in the corner. The words “URGENT WARNING” appeared in bold black. Turns out the words formed a clickable link. I touched the link and a longer message opened underneath a blue 'PLAY' button. I couldn't believe my eyes. The message started with “President gives orders to shoot down Flight 381”. I hit the 'PLAY' button and it was a recording that sounded like the kind you'd hear if someone was recording people without their knowledge. The kind of thing you'd expect from a journalist's expose or an espionage movie. On the recording you could clearly hear President Howell speaking with his staff as they discussed options for dealing with the IGNA-3 threat. Then you can hear the President give the order to one of his staffers to shoot down our plane. I was chilled to the bone. The banging and commotion from above only got louder. Clearly, everyone on board who'd installed Clackzi on their devices (which was probably almost everyone) had just received the same message. The app had also obviously been downloaded by White House staffers who didn't realize the app would've recorded them through their devices and then shared it with the public. My mind was racing. Shot down? I couldn't believe it. The lady on the recording said it would twelve minutes. How many minutes had passed between the time the order was given and the time we were finding out about it?

  CNN BROADCAST – LIVE

  BREAKING NEWS – IGNA-3 IN THE U.S., CARRIER ABOARD FLIGHT TO MIAMI, PRESIDENT ORDERS PLANE DOWN

  Host: Welcome back to CNN's live coverage of the IGNA-3 outbreak, I'm Tani Dotson and I'm here with our panel: Richard Hogue, former chair of the CIA subcommittee on biological warfare; Dr. Avna Ghulli of t
he National Healthcare Institute, and formerly of the Centers for Disease Control; Nicholle Quantrell, spokesperson for the Advocate Society Alliance; and Brent Holberg, who's been covering the United Nations and the World Health Organization for publications including the New York Citizen Tribune, the Manhattan Gazette and the Washington Courier. Once again Brent joins us from New York. In case you've just joined us, we've all received word, likely at the same moment that the President has given the order to have the flight that is carrying Matthew Gravenhurst, that originated in Boston and was destined for Miami, to be shot down. This news has come to us, and likely to you at home via the Clackzi app. Richard, I think it's apparent the White House didn't want the news to come out this way, where it sounds as though we've been given a recording taken from inside the Situation Room. Would you agree?

  Richard: Yes, I would Tani, and this is a stunning breach. I don't know if anyone realized this app would have this kind of power. I can only imagine what the folks are going through aboard that flight.

  Tani: Do you agree with the President's decision?

  Richard: I think it's harsh. Frankly, I'm still stunned. We'd only just received word of this a couple of minutes ago. My heart goes out to the family members of everyone aboard that plane. This is just...I'm in shock.

  Tani: Nicholle, what about you? How do you feel about this development?

  Nicholle: I just want to echo what Richard has said. My heart goes out to all of the friends and family members of everyone on Flight 381. It's upsetting.

  Tani: Would you have held off then on giving an order such as this?

  Nicholle: It's difficult. I understand the government's position. And while I don't really agree with President Howell on much, I recognize there is a larger picture to think about.

  Tani: Doctor?

  Dr. Ghulli: Devastating news, truly. I feel for the families and for the poor souls aboard that flight.

  Tani: Do you feel this response from the White House is warranted?

  Dr. Ghulli: I don't know. I'm not comfortable with saying I would sign off on taking the lives of more than 300 American citizens whatever the reason. The whole thing, it's just tragic.

  Tani: Brent, how about you? What's your feeling on this?

  Brent: Tani, it's horrifying news. I understand the White House is in a difficult position. They have to stop the spread of the virus, and thus far it's been said that any and all quarantine efforts have been for naught. So, I understand why the President has made this decision. That said, it doesn't make this any easier to deal with.

  Tani: Richard, we'd heard on the recording it'll take twelve minutes for this to occur. According to our producer, this recording is from four minutes ago. So, we're looking at the flight being shot down by one of our fighter jets in another seven or eight minutes. Could this have been dealt with another way?

  Richard: I think it's too soon to try and game this out and to second guess. I believe the President along with the rest of the Joint Chiefs and Secretary Redmond are doing what they feel is best for the protection of the American people and for the rest of the world for that matter.

  Tani: Thank you, panel. We'll be right back.

  @tuvalokigh300: about time this president did sumthing right, i don want that disease

  @redcharlottewheels5: i cant beliv their gonna shoot it down awfull

  @larrynarciousse1974: this is crazy, we're watching our fellow citizens being killed by our government in real time

  @djjax0001137223333: any1 got video from on the plane? wanna cee when that missile hitz. Gona be sick!

  You: i know you're upset with me

  Kathy: hey

  You: hey

  Kathy: im sorry this is happening

  You: im really scared

  Kathy: i cant believe it

  You: i know

  You: i dont know what to do with myself

  You: literally just waiting here to die

  Kathy: omg

  Kathy: its 2 much

  You: i love you...you should know that...ok

  Kathy: i love you too

  CHAPTER 24

  CNN BROADCAST – LIVE

  BREAKING NEWS – IGNA-3 IN THE U.S., CARRIER ABOARD FLIGHT TO MIAMI, PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS NATION

  Host: You're watching CNN's live coverage of the IGNA-3 outbreak, I'm Tani Dotson, and we've just received word that the President has moved to the Press Briefing Room at the White House where he will be answering questions following a brief address. Let's take you there now.

  President Howell: Good afternoon. Thank you for being here. To the American people tuning in from wherever you are, thank you. I wanted to speak with you all briefly about a decision that I've made along with my hard-working staff here. I also want to reassure all of you that we are handling this IGNA-3 virus threat and we are treating it very seriously. Just minutes ago I gave the order to bring down a passenger jet. It is a domestic flight. Flight 381, Republic Air that took off from Boston earlier, and it was scheduled to land in Miami, Florida. This plane is carrying a passenger, and now probably several passengers who we believe has the IGNA-3 disease. What we know about this disease is it cannot be contained and there is no cure. I have had to make this difficult decision to bring down this plane in order that we stop the spread of this disease, that we stop those infected from reaching the flight's destination in Miami where untold millions of people would then come into contact with the illness and from there, the disease would have the potential to become a worldwide pandemic, the likes of which we have never seen. It pains me to make this decision. This has been very painful. I will be speaking with the families of those on that flight later in the day. We will bring all of them to Washington for a memorial service. We are doing that because it's the right thing to do. Minutes from now the poor souls aboard that flight will be gone. I wish there were another way, but after speaking with so many experts, it appears this was our only option. My heart goes out to those on Flight 381 and to their families. Now, I can take your questions.

  ***a commotion at the side of the stage***

  ***President Howell is being suddenly whisked from the Press Briefing Room***

  Tani Dotson: There appears to be a lot of confusion at the moment in the White House Press Briefing Room. You've just heard the President addressing the media there and as soon as he'd opened the floor for questioning his staff interrupted him and swiftly moved him out of the room. We're not sure what has just happened, or whether there is some threat that's been made that's caused this move. We will work to get to the bottom of this. Please stay with CNN's continuing coverage of the IGNA-3 outbreak. We'll be back after this.

  WHITE HOUSE – SITUATION ROOM

  Chief of Staff, Rick Saunders moved in behind President Howell as Secret Service led the way into the Situation Room. “What in the hell was that?” Howell sneered. “What are you doing?”

  “I'm sorry, Mr. President,” Rick said, “that was my call, we'd just received new information.”

  “That couldn't wait until after the briefing?”

  “No, sir.”

  “This had better be good.”

  Howell entered the room and once again his staff was assembled around the large table. They all stood up and Howell immediately motioned for them to sit. “What the hell is going on?” He said. “I want answers and I want them now. I just got embarrassed in front of the entire world.”

  “Sir, we just received word through one of our back channels,” General Slocumb said, “someone with the New York Times.”

  “A reporter?” Howell said. “This is what you literally dragged me in here for?”

  “Yes, Mr. President,” Slocumb said. “Normally our people at the Pentagon don't pay much mind to the near constant messaging we receive from the media, but this one is different. An email came in, marked urgent, from a reporter named Callie Romero.”

  “Don't know her,” Howell said. “What's so urgent it couldn't wait until after the briefing?”

  “Sir,�
�� Secretary Redmond said, “she has information from Bermuda.”

  “And?”

  “Mr. President,” Juanita Jiminez interjected, “the virus. It isn't real.”

  “Come again?”

  “IGNA-3,” Juanita said, looking uncomfortably down at her hands folded on the table. “It doesn't exist.”

  “What the hell are you talking about?”

  “It's true, Mr. President,” Secretary Marks said. “I know how difficult this is to hear. I didn't believe it either at first.”

  “Sir, we have a Dr. Costello on video conferencing,” Rick said, “he's on the ground in Bermuda as we speak. He's with the World Health Organization. Go ahead and speak, he can hear you.”

  Dr. Costello's face popped up on a large monitor at the side of the room. “Dr. Costello,” Howell said. “This is the President.”

  “Yes, sir, good to speak with you.”

  “My staff are telling me there is no IGNA-3 virus. Care to explain how they're not all crazy?”

  “There's been a grievous error, Mr. President,” Costello said. “It appears a popular smart phone app has taken the appearance of flu symptoms in app users and cobbled together old WHO press material on previous disease outbreaks and constructed a false narrative of a virus that doesn't exist.”

  “My god,” Rick said. “He's talking about the Clackzi app.”

  “That's probably also how our previous conversation in this room leaked,” Secretary Marks said.

  “Could be.”

  “Unbelievable,” Howell said. “Dr. Costello, you mean to tell me you have no victims where you are? I thought your organization said there are 130 dead where you are. All killed by this disease. Now it's supposedly not true?”

  “It wasn't our organization, sir. That's just it, we ran with what we thought other officials within our outfit were saying when in fact, they weren't saying it. There's just been a lot of confusion. It didn't help matters we lost all communications on the island for a few hours here in the middle of the day. We're still looking into how that happened, but we had no means of letting the outside world know the truth until very recently.”

  Howell slumped back in his chair, stunned. He looked at the head of the Air Force, General Norris. “What's the status of those fighters?”