American Meltdown: Book Two of The Economic Collapse Chronicles

by Goodwin, Mark

  The reporter replied, “And you’re patrolling the site? We don’t want you to get in trouble for calling. Are you sure your phone is safe?”

  “I just finished my patrol,” the caller said. “I had permission to leave the base after my patrol finished prior to this evening. I stopped and bought a burner phone just to call in. I’m ditching it as soon as we hang up. Then, I’m headed to Texas. I suggest your listeners, not already in Coalition states, get to one as soon as possible. Yesterday, I didn’t even agree with the Coalition, but what I saw today woke me up.”

  “Thanks for your call. Be safe.” The reporter disconnected from the call.

  Matt looked up from the computer. “Are they killing everyone that took the offer to opt out?”

  Adam said, “I don’t know what’s going on. It doesn’t sound good.”

  Wesley added, “Howe may just be getting rid of the high-risk individuals, like anyone who has been in any type of special forces training. Then again, he may not have the food to feed the prisoners and he may be gassing them all. He is probably using gas chambers disguised as showers or waiting rooms. He doesn’t strike me as a very original thinker.”

  Matt was disturbed. “I wish there was something we could do.”

  “We’re pretty much powerless on this one,” Adam said. “We have to take this information and recognize who we are dealing with. Howe is ruthless. But mark my words, this is going to back fire on him.”

  The men continued to look for any information they could find on the processing centers.

  CHAPTER 27

  “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”

  -Proverbs 16:18

  Secretary of Defense Scott Hale and President Howe were meeting with the Joint Chiefs Saturday morning to finalize the plans for the action being taken against Pastor John Robinson’s compound on the following morning.

  One of Scott Hale’s staff members burst through the door. “Mr. Secretary, I’m sorry to interrupt, but the soldiers being held in detention at the camp outside of Biloxi are taking over the camp as we speak.”

  Scott Hale looked at President Howe without speaking.

  President Howe said, “Scramble jets out of Kessler and light the camp up. Make a surgical strike and eliminate all life forms within a half mile of the camp. This is war, Scott. Don’t look at me to do your job. If you can’t make these decisions on your own, you need to step down. There are plenty of men in this room that can do your job if you can’t.”

  “Yes, Mr. President,” Hale said. He had just been embarrassed in front of all the Joint Chiefs. This President was a tyrant. Maybe the Coalition was right, but Scott Hale was not the type of person to rock the boat, particularly when he was in it.

  “You heard the President, scramble the jets,” Hale said to his staff member who was still standing there.

  The men reconvened their meeting.

  “Gentlemen,” President Howe began. “I think we need to eliminate this threat. All of the soldiers presently being held around the country are deserters and guilty of treason against the United States. I feel I have been too soft on these traitors. The punishment for treason is death. I have a soft heart for these men and women because of their prior service to our country, but the reality is that we do not have the resources to dedicate to guarding them and caring for their nutritional and medical needs. I feel the humane thing is to put them down.”

  Howe paused. There was a look of shock among the Joint Chiefs at his recommendation to exterminate the prisoners. After Scott Hale’s reprimand for not being more proactive in his brutality, they didn’t question him.

  Howe raised his voice, “Anyone who is not on board with the Federal States is free to hand in their resignation and leave!”

  It was obvious to the Joint Chiefs what that meant. If they resigned now, they would likely not make it out of the room alive.

  They all muttered somewhat in unison, “No, Mr. President, we are with you, Mr. President.”

  “Very well,” Howe said. “Since we are all in agreement, you gentlemen come up with a plan to carry out this mission. I think we should postpone the attack on Pastor John Robinson’s compound until after we have put our own house in order. One week should be plenty of time for that to be handled. Scott, you should coordinate with Jared Campbell to make sure this gets to the media in the right light. Don’t make us look like monsters.”

  Howe walked out of the room.

  Scott Hale took the reins and started off with his suggestions. “What type of chemicals can we use in the food supply or water supply to get rid of the prisoners?”

  The Vice Chairman spoke up. “If we use a weaponized virus, we could eliminate them all through the food supply. The downside is that all of the guards will be eradicated along with the prisoners. The upside is that we could say the food supply came from the Coalition.”

  The Chief of The National Guard Bureau spoke next. “That could work to our advantage. The casualties among the guards would be proof that we did not initiate the biological attack. We could simply say it was fate that caused us to distribute the food among the prison camps first. We will claim the reaction time was such that we were able to destroy the contaminated food supplies prior to it being fed to our troops.”

  “I like it,” Scott Hale said. “Feel around and see what the rumor mill is spitting out about other bases that may be considering siding with the Coalition. We could send them contaminated supplies as well. That would make the story more credible and eliminate potential future threats. The proverbial two birds with one stone.”

  Hale and the other finalized their plans to infect the prison camps.

  CHAPTER 28

  “We are persuaded that good Christians will always be good citizens, and that where righteousness prevails among individuals the Nation will be great and happy. Thus while just government protects all in their religious rights, true religion affords to government its surest support.”

  -George Washington

  Matt said to Adam, “Venison steaks and baked potatoes, what a feast.” The potatoes were the last ones remaining from the previous fall. There would be no more until this spring’s crop came in.

  A couple of the men from the militia, Eddie Cooper and Franklin Johnson, attended the same church as the Bairs. They came over to Adam’s for lunch Sunday afternoon.

  Matt’s phone rang. He got better reception at Adam’s than on his own farm. He wasn’t sure where the cell tower was, but it must have been closer. It was his friend Frank in Saint Augustine.

  “Hey, Frank. Still no word from my buddy, Jack?” Matt inquired.

  “They just got here a couple of hours ago,” Frank answered. “They don’t look good man.”

  “Wow,” Matt said. “Two weeks to go 300 miles?”

  “Jack said they got robbed at a road block in West Palm Beach,” Frank explained. “The bandits took everything they had, then beat the heck out of them. He says they just beat them for the fun it. They are both very dehydrated and malnourished. They wouldn’t have made it much further. Jack has a really bad infection on his arm from the attack. The girl isn’t talking. She looks catatonic.”

  Matt shook his head. “That’s rough. I guess they’re blessed to be alive. Did they get any of their clothes or anything?”

  “Nothing,” Frank said. “The only things they arrived with were the clothes on their backs and the things they scavenged on the way here. They had a shopping cart he picked up in Vero Beach. It was full of every kind of thing you could imagine. They had cardboard they used for making a bed, trash bags tied together to make a shelter, plastic bottles to get drinking water from creeks and streams. I don’t think they were purifying the water. We’ve got them eating some soup and drinking hot tea. It’s in the 60’s here, but they’re cold because they didn’t have the right clothing.

  “We’re going to try to get them to clean up after they eat. I can’t tell you how bad they smell. Angie is taking a collection from the
rest of the group for clothes and personal items. When they get back to normal, I’ll dig up that little cache we buried last fall when you came through here.”

  “Oh man, I forgot all about that. You still have those buried?” Matt asked.

  When Matt and Karen had left South Florida to head to Kentucky last fall, Matt was robbed at a rest station while filling up the gas tank with gas cans from his trailer. As soon as his assailants showed their weapons, Matt drew his Glock and shot them. In his panic, he picked up the bandits guns and threw them in the trailer. He then went to Frank’s to lay low for a while. Frank buried the guns in case anyone came around to ask questions. Matt killed the two men in self-defense, but the stuff had just hit the fan and he had no intention of getting caught up in an investigation.

  “I’ll give that Berretta to Jack,” Frank said. “It only has one magazine, but it beats the heck out of the broken broom handle he’s been carrying for a weapon. We have plenty of 9mm ammo for him. If the girl comes around… what’s her name again?”

  “Tina,” Matt said.

  “Tina,” Frank said. “If Tina comes around, I’ll give her the .357. No one has ammo for it, but it still has the six rounds it had when you brought it here. After what they’ve been through, the guns will make them feel safer.”

  “I don’t know how to thank you Frank,” Matt said. “You came through for me again.”

  Frank said, “Everything I have belongs to the Lord. If He sends someone in need by me, I have to do what I can to help out. Besides, you supplied the guns.”

  “Yeah, don’t remind me.” Matt didn’t like to remember the event.

  “Brother, you did what you had to do. It was them or you,” Frank reassured him.

  “I still feel bad about it.” Matt fought with what he had done.

  “You wouldn’t be human if you didn’t,” Frank said. “I’ll give you a call in a couple of days and let you know how they’re doing.”

  Matt came back into the room and gave Karen an abbreviated version of what had happened.

  She didn’t say anything. A single tear fell from her eye. She had not been very close with Tina, but they had been neighbors for several years.

  Wesley and Shelly listened in as Matt told the tale of Jack and Tina’s ordeal. It was shocking how far downhill things had slid.

  Everyone except the kids crammed into Adam’s study to listen to Paul Randall’s internet address. They brought a few extra chairs and a couple of people sat on cushions on the floor.

  Franklin Johnson had a notepad to take notes. As Commander of the Eastern Kentucky Liberty Militia, he was using ham radio to coordinate with militia and military units in other Coalition states. This internet address was his only method to get direct communication from the Commander in Chief himself.

  Paul Randall began his address.

  “America, we have just received intelligence reports that a severe outbreak of a deadly disease has swept through the prison camps in the Federal States. President Howe had granted amnesty to any US troops who wished to leave bases located in Federal States. Those who took him up on that offer were detained in prison camps, and we now believe that they are being executed with a biological weapon.

  “We think it may be a weaponized version of Ebola. Intercepted radio communications indicated severe flu like symptoms running rampant in the camps. The typical incubation period for Ebola could be up to two weeks, but we believe these prisoners were infected in the last twenty-four hours. This would indicate a genetically modified strain of the virus. It leads us to believe the soldiers were infected on purpose. There have already been several deaths reported. The Federal States have quarantined the infected camps allowing no one in or out.

  “It is obvious that Howe has ratcheted up his savagery. We must be ready. No atrocity is below him if he is willing to do this to his own soldiers.”

  Adam got up and left the room. Janice followed him.

  Matt looked at Wesley. “Is he OK?”

  “He had a couple buddies that were supposed to leave Quantico during the amnesty period,” Wesley said somberly.

  Everyone else remained in the office and turned their attention back to Paul Randall’s address as he continued.

  “While we are deeply hurt over the loss of the lives of these brave men and women, we will not be drawn into an offensive position. With that said, we will defend the Coalition States to the last gun, the last bullet and the last man. We have drawn our line in the sand and we will surrender no further liberties. All those in the Federal States who wish to keep their liberties are free to join us here in the Coalition States.

  “On a more upbeat topic, all federal agencies have been evicted from the Coalition States. Likewise, the employees of those agencies that did not see fit to resign from those agencies but decided to remain loyal to this criminal regime occupying Washington D.C. were also thrown out of the Coalition States.

  “As of today, any federal employee or agent attempting to enforce any taxing authority or federal law within the Coalition will be shot on site; the same as any other traitor. Therefore, it goes without saying, there will be no banned firearm collection at any federal agency or anywhere else in a Coalition state.

  “This is my last plea for liberty-loving patriots outside the wire to join us here. Your future is certain bondage and unimaginable tyranny if you stay where you are. I know many of you hope to fight and win freedom for your states as well, but without state-level leadership and military support in your state, your struggle will be very difficult. I realize it’s hard to walk away from your homes and all you have worked for, but it may be stripped from your hands by Anthony Howe anyway.

  “I ask for your prayers patriots. Know that I will be praying for all of you in return. God bless and God speed!”

  Wesley was the first to comment on the speech. “Yahoo! No more IRS!”

  Eddie Cooper was right there with Wes for a high five.

  Shelly asked, “Won’t the Coalition start their own IRS?”

  Matt said, “They’ll have taxes, but I don’t expect it to be anything that resembles the IRS. Paul Randall was running on dismantling the IRS slowly over time. I suppose the present situation just sort of fast-tracked that objective for the Coalition.”

  The conversation quickly turned to what the government would look like in the Coalition. Matt loved the subject, but he excused himself to go check on Adam.

  He found Adam and Janice sitting quietly on the front porch swing. The sun was just setting and the air was turning cold.

  “You gonna be Okay, big guy?” Matt asked.

  Adam had a solemn expression on his face. “I’m just thinking about all those American heroes that survived countless firefights and attacks overseas only to be murdered by their own president.”

  Matt said, “Especially your buddies at Quantico?”

  “Especially them,” Adam said. “Their death will not be in vain. It will strengthen the resolve of this Marine to fight like I have never fought before. I don’t mean to brag, but I arranged many meetings between Allah and his jihadists when I was in the sandbox. I’m good at what I do, Matt.”

  Even during militia training, Matt had never really seen the killer inside Adam before. When he looked into Adam’s eyes as he made his vow, Matt saw it and it spooked him just a bit.

  CHAPTER 29

  “If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must be known, that we are at all times ready for War.”

  -George Washington

  Pastor John Robinson had just walked to the pulpit Sunday morning when Albert Rust ran to the stage. The Security protocols had been put in place weeks ago, so there was no need to get permission from Pastor John before Albert began his announcement.

  “Folks,” Rust began, “I want everyone to take a deep breath and remain calm, but we have to dismiss church right now. Our observation post on State Road 55 has
reported several armored personnel carriers headed this way. We think an attack on Young Field is imminent. Militia, you know your positions for an attack from the south. Everyone who is assigned to the north, east and west borders, hold your positions unless we call you to the southern border. We don’t know if we’re going to get hit from multiple directions. Ladies, you know where you are supposed to be hunkered down, let’s get there right away. The ladies who are responsible for the medical aid tent, let’s get everything set up just as if you have injured already coming in. If it turns out to be nothing, it will be a good drill. If the worst happens, you’ll be ready to start saving lives.”

  Pastor John stopped everyone. “Before everyone runs out, I want to say a quick prayer. I know we have to hurry, but I feel the Holy Spirit asking us to give God one minute even though it goes against everything in our being.”

  The congregation fought the urge to run out anyway. They all stayed for Pastor John’s quick prayer.

  Pastor John quickly bowed his head and began praying from the third Psalm. “But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill, I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side. Arise, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people. Amen.

  “Now go fight for your families, fight for your liberty and fight for your freedom to worship your God.”

  The congregation’s fear melted away with those few short words inspired by God’s Holy Book. They were supernaturally charged with courage and faith as they took their battle stations.

  Albert Rust and several of his men were the first to arrive on the southern side of Young Field. They saw hundreds of federal troops rolling out of their personnel carriers quickly and orderly. The Federal troops formed up into squads and began to take defensive battle positions.