The Krakow Klub

by Philip C. Elrod

  The next scene was Carla Montrose being sworn as the president of the United States. That produced a loud reaction as well, and it was mostly negative.

  The next several scenes showed the various attacks reported around the country.

  The last scene was Carla Montrose ordering the relocation of Congress and many others to the Greenbrier.

  John spoke in an authoritative tone, “The scenes that you’ve just witnessed should be of no surprise to you. But, you have been duped. Those scenes and many others were all well planned and orchestrated to hide the truth from you.”

  John continued, “My next video will present you with the situation here at the Greenbrier. I will make no comment at the moment, as none will be needed.”

  The video that followed brought the members to a complete hush. They were stunned. Then they were alarmed. Finally, they were angry.

  The next scenes, chronologically presented, showed Erik Stoellar instructing President Wilkinson to appoint Carla Montrose as vice president regardless of any and all opposition.

  Next, there was a meeting between Montrose and Stoellar in which both were drinking champagne and toasting each other over the successful assassination of President Wilkinson.

  In conclusion, there were scenes of the driver of the white van practicing his attack somewhere out in a vast desert in the Middle East. Then, Stoellar’s agent presenting the jihadist’s proud family with a briefcase filled with unmarked bills in payment for their son’s martyrdom. The family was shown getting into their ancient car and rattling off down the dusty street. Within a block, it exploded in a ball of flames that destroyed several small nearby businesses.

  The screen dimmed and then, to everyone’s shock, a new video was displayed showing the Scorpion Battalion placing explosives at strategic locations around the West Virginia Wing where they were all staying. The hall was now so silent that John could hear his own breathing.

  The final scene showed an unidentified man delivering an unusual container to another unidentified individual. That container, transported on a heavy duty dolly, to everyone’s utter shock was emblazoned with the international danger symbol for radiation.

  As the final scene faded, John calmly added, “That last frightening scene was of a man named Alexei Pawlak delivering a small tactical nuclear weapon to this hotel. It is the intention of the Krakow Klub, the organization behind our national crisis, to detonate that device very soon.”

  There was not a single calm face in the crowd. The entire group was in a state of shock and absolute horror. A few murmured prayers could be heard winding their way heavenward.

  John continued, “Members of Congress, you and the entire nation have been misled. I’ve already mentioned that the acts of terror have been attributed to a group of radical jihadists. Nothing could be further from the truth, although a couple of their groups did claim responsibility for the acts. It was probably just wishful thinking on their part.

  “This plot was hatched by a secret organization known as the Krakow Klub. It’s a group of individuals, twelve of them, who are intent on overthrowing the government of the United States. These people are extremely wealthy, powerful, and ruthless. Their ultimate goal is to control the world. I regret to inform you that several members are American citizens.

  “Over the years, they’ve infiltrated many groups and organizations, most importantly, the military and the houses of government. I can assure you, as I look out on this audience, that there are several of you right here who are on their payroll.”

  In the audience, members of Congress began looking at each other with suspicion. One member stood as if to leave the hall, but he then thought better of it and slowly sat back down.

  “As you saw in the video, explosives have been carefully planted around this wing of the hotel. If those explosives were detonated, the entire facility, and us along with it, would be destroyed in a matter of seconds. With the entire governing body dead, they would be free to do as they wish. Just think about it.

  “We have no time to lose. With your agreement and support, I can prevent the Krakow Klub from detonating the explosives, and next, I can prevent them from their final takeover.

  “The only thing that we have to agree on is my compensation for performing these services. You won’t like it because it is not money. I have more money than I could ever spend already. What I require from you are authority and power. I assure you that both will be used wisely to the benefit of the entire country.

  “I can assure you that I will stop the Krakow Klub in its tracks and all that I ask in return is twenty-five years to oversee the transition of our government back to its constitutional roots.

  “We will work together to achieve that goal. Most of you are hard-working and dedicated people. The few who are not will soon be exposed and eliminated—gone from our midst.

  During the twenty-five years that I act as advisor, the government will continue to function normally. However, when necessary, I will veto or suspend any law that is not in compliance with the Constitution as it was originally written. You must agree to grant me this power. My price is not negotiable.”

  There was an immediate outburst of comments from all over the hall. John simply stood back while they came to terms with what they had just seen and experienced.

  He then indicated to the Speaker that he should get the meeting under control again.

  “Please listen very carefully to what I am about to say because if your reaction is negative, I am going to walk out of this room and leave you to your fate.”

  John knew that he was deliberately misleading them, but time was of the essence. If they knew that the explosive devices had already been disarmed, they would never agree to his terms, even after an agonizing lengthy debate.

  The room became very quiet. John stood waiting for the last murmurs to die away.

  He continued to speak calmly and deliberately. “I will eventually get what I ask for whether you are still alive or not. After you have all been vaporized, I don’t think that there will be anyone who would be unwise enough to refuse my offer.

  “I’ll just sit back and let the Krakow Klub complete their coup. Then, the world will be ready to accept me with open arms. My price will be insignificant when compared to the consequences of refusing me.

  “I am no dictator and have no desire to be one. In fact, I’ve spent a great deal of my life studying the various forms of government around the world, and I am still firmly convinced that our nation still has great strength and a promising future. But, in recent years, we have drifted ever closer to socialism, and that can only lead to our ultimate downfall.

  “I have the tools and resources to bring this country to unprecedented prosperity, but there will be a cost. We must look backward before we can move forward. Our forefathers established a government that would be the most admired and respected in the entire world. Unfortunately, we’ve strayed, and much of that respect has already been lost. We have the opportunity to correct our mistakes, but first, I require your approval of my request. I swear, before you all, that I will not use my power to the detriment of any loyal American. As you can probably guess, and rightfully so, there is no time for debate. You must act now before the Krakow Klub kills all of you.”

  John stepped back and motioned to the Speaker that the podium was his.

  The Speaker spoke into the microphone, but looked directly at John. “Mr. Scott, even if this Congress should vote in favor of your proposal, it would not be legal without the signature of the president. Based on what we have just seen, you know that is not going to happen.”

  John stepped back to the microphone and replied, “If you vote for my proposal, I promise you the president of the United States will approve your decision. In fact, it will be done immediately, right here in front of this assemblage.”

  The Speaker was stunned. He turned towards the audience and said, “You have heard what Mr. Scott said. As much as it grieves me, I must call for a vote. All in favor of
granting Mr. John Scott a twenty-five-year oversight term of power as payment for his services in defeating the Krakow Klub, please say ‘aye,’”

  There was a brief period of silence followed by a few soft “ayes”. As the seconds ticked by, more and more members of Congress joined the vote. At last, there was a vast majority in favor of John’s offer. There were probably some dissenters present, but none dared speak aloud.

  Somewhat amazed at what had just happened, the Speaker pounded his gavel and said, “The motion has passed.”

  John immediately stepped back to the podium and announced, “Ladies and gentlemen, please rise and welcome the president of the United States of America.”

  Expecting to see Carla Montrose, almost all remained seated as the impressive audio system immediately began playing the presidential anthem as recorded by the United States Marine Corps Band.

  Suddenly, the door opened, and President Henry Wilkinson entered with an aura of confidence not seen in many years.

  First, there were shouts of disbelief and then prayers of thanksgiving. Then the hall erupted in pandemonium.

  The moment was so impressive that John could see tears forming in the eyes of several Congressmen who were sitting in the front few rows of the hall.

  Wilkinson walked directly to the podium and raised his hands for silence, but the audience was still in a state of near ecstasy and made no effort towards calming down.

  He spread his arms outward in an embracing gesture towards the members of Congress. “Ladies and gentlemen, the rumors of my death have been greatly exaggerated!”

  Wilkinson was in his element, a true political animal. The audience was ready to eat out of his hand.

  He motioned for silence again, “My friends and colleagues, time is of the essence. I’ll give you a full briefing as soon as it’s possible, but now we must act decisively. Mr. Scott has outlined the events that have brought us to this incredible crisis. He has already saved my life, both physically and spiritually. Even more importantly, he has the power to destroy the Krakow Klub. I fear that he is our only hope of stopping their complete takeover.

  “You are all aware of the spacecraft that visited our solar system recently. Mr. Scott arranged for that visit. As you might guess, he is quite a unique individual, and I am honored to count him as a friend.

  “That encounter was with the planet Mylea. Mr. Scott is half Mylean and has complete access to their advanced technical knowledge. During his twenty-five years as an advisor, he will share much of that knowledge, and it will enable us to achieve goals that are beyond our wildest dreams. Just consider the world without cancer, the world with clean water, the world without starvation. It can all be within our grasp.

  “No, we won’t be perfect. For every problem that is solved, another will probably rear its ugly head, but we will push on. We will meet every challenge and adversity.

  “You saw that fiery crash. His technology is what saved me. Just think of what we could accomplish in the years ahead. We have an amazing opportunity, but we must dedicate ourselves to the good of all people. As I said, we have a tremendous opportunity, but we also have a tremendous responsibility.

  “First, we must defeat the Krakow Klub. I can promise you, without reservation, that John Scott can accomplish that.

  “We, as servants of the people, should have accomplished those items on his agenda ourselves, but we lacked the courage to stand up for what is right for the nation. We have spent our lives being lulled into the belief that what’s good for us must be good for the nation. Wrong! We have often forgotten and abandoned those who put us into office. I will never let myself fall into such a disgraceful position again. I, for one, am fully confident that John Scott will serve the government faithfully and to the best of his ability.”

  John stepped forward and said, “Thank you, Mr. President, for your faith and confidence. I swear to each of you that you will not regret your decision to make me your advisor. You have taken me on trust, but soon, you will know me well. Now, we have urgent business. We will defeat the Krakow Klub and consign them to a very small footnote in history!

  “I do not require any written documentation of our agreement. Our word is our bond.

  “The president, Dr. Slater, and I have much work to do, so we must take our leave. You may go back to your rooms and relax. You are safe. The explosives will not detonate. The nuclear device will not detonate. You have my word on it.

  “Carla Montrose has severely censored your newscasts since you’ve been here. You’ve only been allowed to see and hear what she decided for you. Well, that’s over. I have already had modifications made to the communications systems here, and you now have complete access to the media. The news that you see will be just as it is broadcast. However, I must make one very important request of you. For my plan to succeed, you will not be allowed to make any outside contact. Your computers and cell phones will not be returned to you until you return to Washington, DC, and, at that time, you will be free to do as you wish. Until then, utmost secrecy is required.

  “Tomorrow, if all goes well, you will be on your way back to Washington. The United States of America, as of this moment, is under my protection, and the world is about to witness the power of my Mylean legacy.”

  Chapter 11: Preparing for Battle

  “Appear at points which the enemy must hasten to defend; march swiftly to places where you are not expected.”

  - Sun Tzu, The Art of War

  Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.”

  - Sun Tzu, The Art of War

  As the shuttle craft took off, John spoke to Jim and the president, saying, “I’ve been thinking about the timing of our arrival in Washington. It’s crucial that we take the White House without a big military confrontation, and Maxxine has advised me that early morning would be the best time for that.

  “Once we’re inside the White House, we can quickly arrange for President Wilkinson to address the nation. During that telecast, he’ll order the military to stand down and return to their bases. With surprise on our side, I think that we can prevent any major military confrontations. All those military commanders that are under the sway of the Krakow Klub will be hesitant to act in defiance of the president. I am banking on the secrecy of the organization. I believe that most of the military personnel under their control does not know who else is a part of it all and will be hesitant to act on their own.

  “If I am right, and we act quickly and decisively, we can stop the military involvement in its tracks.”

  He nodded toward Wilkinson, “After that, you’re on your own, with my assistance, of course.”

  John smiled in anticipation, “With that in mind, I see no reason we can’t put all this aside for a few hours and spend a relaxing evening together on my island. We need to be completely refreshed and ready for tomorrow. I can’t think of a better place to calm my nerves and prepare myself for the day ahead than my little island paradise.

  Jim Slater nodded in agreement and then asked a question that had been bothering him, “Just how did you arrange that meeting? Everyone had their cell phones and computers confiscated before they left the city, and there was no way to contact anyone through the hotel.”

  “It was quite easy. I contacted someone that I trusted in the military. That person then volunteered to accompany Congress to West Virginia. As the first group boarded the train, he slipped a cell phone into the Speaker’s coat pocket along with a note from me. The note explained that I needed to speak to him urgently, that the phone could only be used for incoming calls, and that those incoming calls would only be from me.”

  The remainder of the short trip back to Scott Key was uneventful, and John used the time to communicate with Maxxine and give her several new orders regarding their entrance into the White House.

  John continued to have grave concerns about their mission. The Krakow Klub had insidiously infiltrated the government and probably the Secret Servi
ce. By now, Carla Montrose would have surrounded herself with staff selected for their loyalty to Stoellar’s organization.

  He decided that it would be prudent to assign additional remote craft with the task of protecting them at all costs as Wilkinson and Slater were both crucial to his success. He knew that he couldn’t afford to lose either one of them to some trigger happy Stoellar agent. Montrose wouldn’t be a problem when they arrived at the White House since he had already decided on a plan of action for her.

  Maxxine would take all members of the Krakow Klub into custody, along with Montrose, and transport them to specially prepared cells on the space station. With all of them safely in custody, the rank and file of the organization would be temporarily leaderless. Hopefully, they would be unable to mount an immediate attack. Cutting off the head of a snake may not kill it instantly, but it sure leaves it in a state of confusion for a time. That brief period might be enough for the president to regain control of the military.

  The plan was for Maxxine to act shortly before returning Wilkinson to the White House. John ordered her to start the process at about 6:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time. That would be only a couple of hours before he planned to arrive at the White House.

  John silently prayed, “With a little luck I will have Henry Wilkinson back in the Oval Office before even the Secret Service knows Carla Montrose is gone.”

  ****

  The shuttle craft soon landed on Scott Key and the hatch slid open. The three men stepped out into the warm, humid air. It was late, a few minutes past ten, but John was hungry, so he asked General T to serve them all a snack in the dining area.

  Other than John, the group paid little attention to the food. They were deep in conversation about details of the operation. The first step in the road to victory had gone without a hitch. Now, they faced an unknown future filled with danger. A misstep on anyone’s part could have far-reaching consequences and could cause the loss of many lives.