The War Journals: Resistance

by Cory Mccoy

One morning in late august, as we shared our morning coffee, a frantic knock came at the door. It was Lt. Col. Sombers, the man in charge of both the Force Recon and the Deep Recon teams stationed here. Whatever he had came for seemed to be of the utmost importance, I couldn't recall him ever looking nervous.

  “Is everything alright?” I asked as I opened the door to invite him inside.

  “Yes, Ma'am,” He replied “There is no immediate danger, but I need you and the Dr to come with me right away.”

  “What's going on?” I asked worried, even though he had said we weren't in danger.

  “I'm not at liberty to discuss that right now.” He replied sternly, “Please grab your coats and come with me, I’ll explain once we are back at command.”

  “I've found in cases like this, that it's best not to even bother asking,” Johann said as he took my arm, following the Lt. Col out the door.

  “Well then, I guess I’ll see you for lunch.” Jeanine said looking confounded. “Will you be joining us Mitchell?”

  “If I am able to, ma'am.” Sombers replied with a smile.

  As we approached the bed and breakfast/command post we noticed extra military personnel hovering in the area.

  “Darling, do you see that man to our right?” Johann asked.

  “Yes, the one in the suit, looks like secret service.” I said “That can't be right, we already have two recon teams why would they send us more people?”

  “Well either something very bad is going to happen soon or we are about to meet someone very important.” He replied casually, seeming certain of the latter.

  We went inside and were stopped at the entrance by two more men in suits, who insisted upon searching us.

  “Gentleman, I don't think that's necessary.” Sombers told them.

  “With all due respect sir, it isn't your decision.” One replied, “Everyone is searched, trust is not a luxury we can afford.”

  “Very well,” He said “Let's not keep them waiting any longer than is necessary.”

  “Of course,” The agent replied and then to his ear piece. “Delta One, the package has been cleared for Whisper.”

  A moment later he led us upstairs to the room furthest back, which had an additional two guards in front of it armed with assault rifles. Our escort opened the door and led us inside, taking up near just inside the door like a statue.

  “Dr Brier, Ms. Johnson please have a seat.” A short, but intimidating woman told us as we entered.

  “A pleasure to meet you Madam Secretary.” Johann said as we took a seat, I had not recognized her. She was the Secretary of Defense, Susan Thompson. “I apologize, but I don't believe I know who this gentleman is.”

  “Commandant Rigalio, of the Marine Corps.” He responded, shaking first Johann's, then my hand. “You probably haven't heard, but Mrs. Thompson is our President now.”

  “I don't understand.” I said, I had remembered she was acting President, but why was she here?

  “Well, when Washington was attacked we lost most of our elected officials.” He replied.

  “No, no I’m sorry. I understand that, I just don't understand why you needed to see us.” I explained.

  “We've come to discuss Mr. Jeffries.” She said, her voice even and firm. “You see, your partner has had an impact on this conflict in a way no one could have envisioned.”

  “I've heard a little from the medics and recon teams.” I said, “Mostly hearsay that they encountered before coming here.”

  “The impact on our private citizens has become unquantifiable.” She told me handing me a dossier. “I want you to have this, it's confirmed reports of activity within The Resistance.”

  “What do you mean?” I asked “The resistance doesn’t exist, it's just something Connor said to inspire people.”

  “And inspire them, he did.” the Commandant interjected. “Our best estimate puts this movement at well over fifteen million active citizens so far.”

  “What? How is that even possible?” I said, in shock.

  “The Chinese and it's allies were only able to cripple internet access for a matter of days, only hours in some areas.” Johnson told me, “By the time access had been restored, your friend Raul had leaked his conversation to the associated press and over thirty other independent news outlets. The tape became known as “The Rallying Call”, by most and then it went viral. Hackers and technicians started interspersing parts of the audio over radio shows and on the news. Your program will cut out for a moment to a black screen with only a segment of the tape playing.”

  “Simply amazing.” Johann said

  “I'm not sure how you missed it to be honest,” Rigalio said laughing, “We know there are satellites that provide access to the internet in this town.”

  “To be honest, I was preoccupied.” I said, it came out sounding rude which I had not intended.

  “It's alright Elizabeth.” The President said.

  “You can call me Liz,” I said “I haven't been called by my full name since I was in preschool.”

  “I lost my partner at the beginning of this whole thing.” She continued. “He was getting ready to board a plane at Dulles when the airport was attacked. Not many people can understand that kind of loss, it is a unique kind of pain to have someone violently taken from you.”

  “I'm sorry to hear that.” I said, knowing that I was one of the few people who did fully understand her pain. “but with all due respect, you still haven't told us why you have come here.”

  “You're very direct, I admire that.” She said with a smile, “We came to consult Johann and felt that you should be here since any decisions are yours to make.”

  “What kind of decisions?”

  “As you know, this place is easily defendable,” Rigalio said “but it is not ideal for such high value targets as yourself. The question is not if the PLA will strike, but when.”

  “So you want to move us?” I said, “We can't just go. I won't leave Connor.”

  “There comes a time when you have to accept your loss and think of the safety of the people around you.” Thompson said calmly.

  “I am not comfortable with the thought of moving him.” Johann said.

  “Dr. Brier, the field surgery team we sent you was comprised of some of the best doctors in the Navy.”

  Rigalio said, “When we debriefed them, they spoke of you with the utmost confidence. We respect your opinion immensely, but it is not a matter that we can leave without discussion.”

  “I understand, what would you have me do?” he asked.

  “At this point we must weigh the options and find the one that will benefit our cause more.” Thompson said, “Liz please believe me when I tell you, we do not take this lightly.”

  “One option is full disclosure and a public memorial.” Rigalio said.

  “Excuse me?” Johann said in disbelief.

  “Our analysts believe his death could have as big of an impact as any prolonged effort of leadership.”

  “Are you asking me to take him off of life support?” Johann said, the blood rushing to his face.

  “Our surgeons said there is little chance of long term survival and virtually no plausibility of recovery, doctor.” Thompson said.

  “Madam, I don't think you fully understand this situation. He is not brain dead, his body has simply shut down as a coping mechanism. The trauma he endured was massive and the blood loss triggered a stroke, but he is certainly not unresponsive.”

  “Are you telling me that he's regained mobility?” She asked, leaning forward in her chair.

  “No ma'am, I am not. What I am telling you, is that his CT's show a very high level of brain function. His mind is active and he very well may be trapped inside himself fighting to get out. Under no circumstances will I allow you to take him off of support as long as this is the case.”

  “How can you be sure of this?” Rigalio asked. “Our medics haven't r
eported anything similar.”

  “Sir, I have been a trauma surgeon for longer than those two wonderful young medics have been alive.” He replied, seemingly more collected now. “I doubt they have any expertise in how the brain reacts to trauma of this scale or even how to read those tests.”

  “Understand, that we want you to have the best team available,” The president said, “We can have better trained attendees out here by tonight.”

  “That won't be necessary,” He said “Those two have done splendidly and I do not wish to have them carted off at this point.”

  “Our second option,” Rigalio said after a short pause. “would be moving him to a secure base. We have set up a joint base near the great lakes with our Canadian allies. It is one of the most secure in the world.”

  “I'm so god damn tired of hiding,” I said, exasperated, “I'm here with a seventeen year old boy who has no family left in the world. Trying my hardest not to let him turn himself into another martyr. I don't want him around any conflict if it can be helped. The kid doesn't need another rifle, he needs a therapist.”

  “The entirety of our great marine corps is at your disposal, ma'am.” Rigalio said “All you need to do is let us know what you need and it will be taken care with the efficiency that only jar heads can muster.”

  “That reminds me,” Thompson said, “Lt. Col. Sombers has a secure phone for you, the line will connect you directly to either Jerry or myself at any time.”

  “Why are we so important to you still, even with Connor incapacitated?”

  “Liz, the resistance has become the largest militia force in the world, in just a matter of months.” Thompson explained, “It has completely dwarfed our actual military.”

  “My marines number less than half a million.” Rigalio said, “The entire military boasts about a quarter of the number under Connor's command. They recognize no authority, but his. You are priority one.”

  “What if I say no?” I asked

  “No to what?” Johann asked puzzled.

  “No to both options, that we are staying here for as long as it takes.” I said “What if I told you that somehow, deep down inside that I know Connor will push through? That he will keep on fighting even if his body is dead? Connor never gives up, he's too damn stubborn and I know that eventually he'll win this fight too.”

  “I want nothing more in the world than for you to be right Ms. Johnson.” the President said, looking as if she too would be overcome with emotion. “Dr. Brier what is your opinion?”

  “My medical opinion is that anything is possible.” Johann said, “This is a man who was already dead when he was brought to me. He has lost an incredible amount of blood, suffered at least seven gun shots, shrapnel and blunt trauma. Yet, somehow, we brought him back. Against all odds his mighty heart started beating again. Do I think that he can beat the odds? Absolutely, but I can not offer you a time frame.”

  “Unfortunately, I must offer you one doctor.” Rigalio said. “There is a building PLA force outside of Portland, they have not attacked a single target. Our Intel shows them sending tracking teams all through the various national parks looking for something. We've also learned that a certain task force lost contact sometime around the incident that brought the General here.”

  “Jerry, I have to say I never thought I would have heard you call him that.” Thompson said, slightly amused.

  “Ma'am, with respect” he said looking at me, “this young man has earned that title with his own blood.”

  “Agreed,” She said. “As Jerry was saying, there is a force massing in central Oregon and our Intel points toward an assault to drive out the general. Winter will be upon us soon and with the advances Jerry's Marines have made in south Asia, they will probably wait until there is a clear path through the mountains.”

  “We can always hope that they didn't learn from the history of nations who invaded Russia.” Johann said.

  “If only,” Jerry responded, they were referring to history's numerous failed campaigns to take Russia in winter, only to lose the bulk of their forces to the elements. “Unfortunately, the Chinese are not the same podunk, overpopulated guys we dealt with for so long. As we sold our country away to them during the recessions, they used their new found capital to grow themselves at an exponential rate.”

  “Our ignorance and greed during those years allowed them incredible leverage, both politically and technologically.” The president continued for him. “During the last ten years their collective knowledge grew in leaps and bounds and they invested all of the money we repaid back into their military. This plan has been in action for more than a decade, we allowed them the opportunity to become too powerful.”

  “The intelligence sharing agreements the last administration made...” I started

  “Yes, Liz. We allowed them to pull the wool over our eyes. We had no choice because we were so indebted that we were far beyond the point that we could control negotiations.” She explained. “As they grew their tourism industry, the massive ship yards and new airlines were, in reality, clandestine military operations. They were assembling their armada with the information we had sold them to settle more debts.”

  “So really, no one saw this coming?” Johann asked.

  “Our greatest folly was turning our heads when we knew they could have been planning something against other countries,” Rigalio said. “But we never expected them to attack us, we'd become arrogant even after losing our clout.”

  “So how much time do we have?” I asked

  “I can give you six months, maybe seven.” She said “The first of march is the absolute latest.”

  “Well then, let us pray for a miracle.” Johann said.

  “No, let's just have faith that Connor can push through one last time.” I said solemnly.

  Chapter 20