Kevin and Randy used the ham to keep in touch with their parents and their other brother in Texas. It was still puzzling that they had electricity, but as time went on things were made clearer as to why that was. They kept busy playing video games, chopping wood and getting more familiar with the toys Roger had around. They were also learning new tactics just in case they were needed.
Blake and Kayla always joined Kevin and Randy to keep their skills updated and fresh. Surprisingly, they were still maintaining nothing but a friendship, which was fine with Roger. He wasn’t ready for any crib lizards to be crawling around. This was quite a mix of people here, but they all worked together rather well too.
Roger had called Rob to see how everything was going. He asked them about the prisoners and what had happened with the trials. Rob started with the sheriff who was the militia commander. He was still in fairly bad shape and they put him under house arrest. When they went to check on him the next day, they found him hanging from a rope inside his garage with a note that just said, ‘I’m sorry.’ He would have been hung anyway.
Chuck had taken over as the chief law enforcement official for the area. He had made sure each and every one of the prisoners was tried. Most were assigned to hard labor on chain gangs performing burials, clearing the roads of cars, chopping wood, and anything they needed done. If they didn’t work one day, they didn’t eat. The children and a few of the wives were released.
Some were allowed to leave the area. Presumably they met with the ones who were waiting for their husbands who had launched the last attack on the south end of the airport. Five people were hung for their involvement with the militia, the torture of the police chief and the other prisoners. It was later found out that several citizens were summarily executed for almost no reason by the militia men.
Brad and a few of the veterans in the area were put in charge of forming a regional defense coalition group. Haliday made it clear to them to avoid using the term militia at all costs. They had quite a complement of equipment with what they had seized, and had already. As word spread they were able to bolster their ranks. Haliday and Mark would be helping them with training.
Rob asked Haliday how they had been so fortunate as to take out the militia like they did. Haliday told him it was one thing to put on a uniform and call yourself something and it was another thing to gather the people, to educate them, to train them, to keep up their skill sets and that this was proof of that explanation. “Rob,” he said, “you can want in one hand and crap in the other and I can tell you which one will fill up first. You have to not only want it, but do what it takes to make it happen as well.”
Rob was heading up the interim governing body and he would see to it that some proper elections were held and people put in place to help transition the area into the new rule. Rob would end up doing a great job getting that in place and getting the area to work together through the crisis. He was their best bet.
A couple of weeks later Haliday was at the ham again. He had made quite a few contacts across the entire U.S. The urban areas were in full crisis now. Just about everyone was beyond hungry. They were now starving. People were pulling out all the stops and doing what they needed to survive. Looting became scavenging, self-defense bordered murdered. It was utter chaos.
He took notes on all of it. His map was just unbelievable to look at. Alaska and Hawaii were fully untouched. Most of California was operational along the coast, as was Oregon and Washington State. The southern border, like he discovered earlier, was intact. The lower third of Florida was intermittent with functionality. It was almost as if those areas had been untouched in order to preserve the border control of the country.
A lot of Canada was fine with the exception of the southern parts of the country bordering the U.S. The U.S. east coast was devastated though as well. It was a weird puzzle to try and figure out. He had heard most of the navy had been fully recalled and had taken station off the coasts. Most of the military overseas remained there however. The U.S. was the only country really hit and nobody could explain it. No country or terror group claimed responsibility.
Still, there was no major military movement from the bases, and no federal mobilization of FEMA, DHS or any other agency. There was actually very little from the government in the form of communications. Haliday went over his notes again. He made some radio calls across the U.S. and got some more answers. He heard information from some other countries as well. He started piecing more together.
It all made more sense now. He had heard bits and pieces, but it was clearer now. He never thought this would have happened. He called the group together for a meeting. This is what he said. “We all know the SHTF. I think I know who took the dump and I think I know who turned the fan on high. There’s a lot of manure being spread around. I don’t think spring is going to be bright and cheerful.
“It seems we have a civil war here in the U.S. Not north versus south, but large groups comprised of the military, the government and some other group calling themselves the Constitution Restoration Army. Right now with all of the propaganda, we don’t know who is with whom, or who is good or bad. Not sure which of them popped the nukes or EMP’s over our own country to cripple us, but we’ll find out eventually. We have a lot of work to do people. I have a feeling we aren’t out of the woods yet.”
Afterword:
Although this is a work of fiction, it is meant to demonstrate how easily the world we live in can be impacted by those events which we can not control. This is not to show you what will happen, but instead it is meant to show you what can happen. The trigger event depicted here has become far too real of a threat in today’s technological age. There also exists, however, far too many events that could occur with the same basic ending result.
The actions of the characters in this story may seem far reaching to most. What we need to ask ourselves before judging these actions is a simple question. What will you do to ensure the safety, security and survival of you and your family? When mass disasters occur it is true that the best in people will shine through. It is unfortunate, however that others will use the opportunity to show their worst.
Religious faiths around the globe teach preparedness to one extent or another. From a few simple days to a year or more. The government suggests food, water, shelter and first aid supplies for a minimum of three days for each person in a household; pets included. Disasters of all magnitudes can happen within seconds. Are you ready?
About the author:
Matthew D. Mark was born and raised in Michigan, is a U.S. Army veteran, former police officer and has worked in private security. He has instructed in self defense, chemical deterrent and force continuum. He enjoys his family, outdoor activities and firearms as his main hobbies.
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, businesses, organizations and events contained in this work are all a product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
Dark Days Rough Roads
Copyright © 2013 by Matthew D. Mark
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All rights reserved.
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ISBN Info:
Hard Cover: 978-0-9890045-2-7