Chapter 2

Today I had our communications people reach out to all remaining military commands. I informed them that, I General Maxwell Leland, would be assuming command as military commander in chief. The immediate goal was to locate any remaining civilian federal government officials if they still existed.

Surprisingly we have been able to resume communications with parts of California. Amazingly, San Diego was untouched by the brief exchange of weapons. Admiral Charles Leighton, commander of the Pacific fleet had been in contact with myself. I ordered him to recall all remaining Pacific fleet forces to San Diego on ths west coast, and any remaining Atlantic forces to penobscot Bay in Maine.

We also learned from various broadcasts today that England has been hit hard by the Syrian missles. We also learned that china and Russia had both also received hits, as of yet we don't know how bad yet.

Today we also sent out our fleet of Blackhawk helicopters to nearby military installations. I'm hoping to bring in spare troops, and materials to bolster our forces here. We need to spread out and begin reestablishing order. Parts of the country had already began to fall into disorder and chaos. We also drew a lucky break today. We learned that the entire state of Texas had been spared. I immediately sent a team to contact the Texas government. The governor was eager to help reestablish order and made Texas's oil and refineries available to us for refueling and civilian use.

Several weeks later:

I stood on the tarmac of the airfield that our engineers had built in my not so peaceful valley. Across the runway sat several F-22 raptor airforce fighter aircraft that I had found at a small base in Wyoming. This brought our airforce strength to 22 fighter/attack aircraft, several dozen electronic warfare craft, and 6 bombers. I sighed and turned from the busy flight line. My mind was busy. Tonight I was to meet with the surviving governor's of the states west of the Mississippi that remained. Communications with the eastern seaboard was spotty at best, and reports had been bad. Ranging from petty warlords building empires in states with broken down civil order, to local low level military members using their own forces to enforce the rules. As mentioned before Texas had survived the attack, other states had not fared so well. St. Louis was gone, and so was Bismark, North Dakota, Chicago, Omaha, and Lincoln, Nebraska. Topeka, Kansas was also gone as were many more cities. With so many capital cities gone, many states had lost their entire leadership chains. In Kansas the governor and most of his staff had been incinerated in St. Louis. But the Lt. Governor had managed to survive at the opposite end of the state while campaigning for his boss.

I walked along the valley among the tents and buildings belonging ro my forces. I was attempting to Marshal a force to quell rebellion and restore civil order throughout the country. The task seemed daunting, but had to be done. I had sworn an oath to uphold and protect the constitution and the country, I could not fail.

We had lucked out with Texas, and we knew it. Not only did we now have a safe supply of oil and fuel, but we also has fort bliss. It was the largest military installation in the continental United States, home to the 1st armored division and several units of artillery and anti air troops.

Later that day we received yet another boon. The governor of Colorado had been found. When Denver had been vaporized he had been up in the mountains at the small tourist town of Silverton for a historical anniversary celebration. A small army patrol in Humvees had been waved down by the governor's party there. They had escorted the governor's party to our headquarters here in the valley. After some discussion between him and I and the few remaining governor's I could contact we found a judge and he was sworn in as the president of the United States. He then appointed his lt governor as governor of Colorado pending Democratic elections in the future.

Not long after this we learned that several low ranking politicians in the governor's cabinet had survived and set up a provisional government in Colorado Springs.

Within a few days of this news our patrols began receiving reports that this new government in Colorado springs had begun to execute civilians who didn't give an oath of loyalty.

I spoke with the new president, President Harry Jackson,( yes he was directly related to Andrew Jackson.) and he ordered me to restore federal control of Colorado and to install the new legal Governor. I saluted the president, glad to have some semblance of order again. I then ordered 2 of my existing armored units, and 2 infantry divisions to mount up for an extended road trip to Colorado springs. I also had several semi trucks of emergency supplies accompany us to help any civilians or communities along the way.

Within several hours our convoy was on the move and stretched for miles along Colorado's twisting mountain roads. That evening the head of our column reached the outskirts of Colorado springs. I ordered us to halt as my scouts ranging out in front of the column reported a roadblock on the highway at the edge od town. The lieutenant commanding the scout unit reported the men wearing the roadblock wore Colorado State trooper uniforms.

I was in my fill field uniform, the 4 stars of rank on my collars. I was hoping my rank alone would end any resistance to restoring order. I picked up the radio microphone in my Humvee and ordered everyone who had an American flag on the convoy to put it on their radio aerial's and hoods for the ride into the city. Once I received confirmation this was done I ordered armored units of abrams tanks and Bradley fighting vehicles to spearhead. They would be accompanied by the 2nd marine division that I had ordered brought from San Diego.

I knew the troopers at the roadblock would hear the tanks before seeing them, so as soon as the tanks crested a rise right before the roadblock they saw them. Many of the troopers eyes went wide in shock, and fear. Some saw the flags flying and openly cheered or wept in happiness. I ordered the 2 lead tanks to stop abreast 20 feet from the roadblock. Then I motioned for my driver to speed ahead around the two stopped monsters. The faces of the troopers as they saw me exit the Humvee with my m-4 slung over my shoulder covered a wide range of emotions. " Who's in charge here? I asked the men.

"Who's asking?" came the response from the mass of men behind the roadblock. " My name is General Clark. You can also call me General Maxwell. Clark is the first name, Maxwell the middle. Just don't call me dirty names." I said with a smile. This received several laughs and chuckles from behind the barrier. " My title is CENTCOMM, or central command, in charge of the mid United States." I said and continued." I am now commander in chief of all remaining US forces. The president of the United States directly ordered me here to restore order. This order was also passed through the governor's office od thw state of Colorado." I ended, waiting for a response.

After listening to me the men behind the barrier formed a small group, whispering among one another. Fastly growing impatient I spoke again. " Gentleman, I am sure you are just following the orders given to you. However my orders come directly from the president of the United States. I have been ordered into Colorado springs, and forward I will go. Preferably with your cooperation, but either way you men move this roadblock.....or we will." I ended. I then raised an arm in thw air and made a small circular motion. Behind be the tank engines roared into life, followed by the rest of the convoy.

The men behind the barrier grew nervous at this and began shifting their feet around, mumbling among themselves and glancing over my shoulder. "Yes gentlemen," I said to them. ", What you see here with me today is but a small showing of the power the federal government still holds. I have 50,000 troops with me today. Men, women, all took an oath to protect this country. The same oath I took in fact. You 50 men are in my way and preventing us from fulfilling that oath. Now I ask you. Will you step aside and submit to the will of the reconstituted federal government? Or should I consider this an act of sedition and treason and react appropriately?" I asked the troopers, raising one of my eyebrows inquisitively.

At this a man stepped forward from the group. He wore captains bars on his uniform. " Sir. My name is Captain Jim Kellogg. I'm the day shift duty supervisor for the Colorado State trooper post in Colorado Springs. " He said, then came to attention and saluted. " I am also Colonel and commanding officer of the national guard unit here, the 455th combat engineer brigade." He added.

I nodded, came to attention and saluted him back. " Well then Colonel. With the power invested in me by the president of the United States I hereby activate, and federalize your unit. Begin assembling your men immediately please. Have your staff contact my staff for your assignment sir." I told him.

This broke the tension in the air and the troopers began whooping and yelling with excitement. A few men fired rounds in the air, causing some very nervous tank crewmen to lower their main guns at the barricaded before I waved them down. These men were clearly happy to once again be part of the United States of America.

After the excitement has ended it took only 20 minutes for the troopers to clear the road block. I then have the radio order to slowly advance into the city. As we entered the suburbs we could tell that news of our arrival had shot ahead of us like lightening. From many homes and businesses American flags were hanging. Out od their homes many families had come out to see the troops go by, the looks on their faces clearly grateful. The cheering and shouting showed clearly that the people were glad to see that the government was still there and operating.

As our troops edges deeper into the city we began to encounter roving patrols of state troopers. They stood and stared in awe at the massive main battle tanks followed by Bradley fighting vehicles. These were accompanied by US army and marine platoons escorting them.

As we reached the city center we could see the city hall building. In front of the building was a group of men surrounded by armed troopers. My lead tanks rolled up into an arc formation facing the building and armed men as I drove up in my Humvee. I could see the looks on the faces from these men and could tell I wasn't going to enjoy this encounter. As I stepped out of my Humvee 2 squads of Marines joined me. I can assume they looked very impressive and dangerous to the lightly armed troopers guarding these men and the court house. I took a few steps up the court house stairs and stopped, addressing a man in my way wearing Colonel insignia. " Sir. I respectfully request you and your men step aside! " I said loudly to him and his men.