The Dying City of Morris

As the sun rose the next day, it rose to find General Daniel, General Roger Allen, the Ghost of Ottawa, and the newly named Fahrenheit Company of the 451st Division of the Ottawan Army, on the interstate. They were one of four teams dispatched to check on the status of nearby towns.

In the early hours of dawn, the Key Council passed Resolution 1830-5, otherwise called The Ottawan Expansion Project. The goal was to pull the surrounding towns and cities into the one massive Ottawa. While the Ghost and the O.S.F were aiding the Confederation of the Texan Republic, the Council had met to discuss issues ahead of the impending winter. While they had plenty of unclaimed spaces within town, the issue of food sustainability was ever growing. While Archie and the Busch Hunter had been leading the Agricultural and Hunting groups, it was becoming clear they needed more land to farm and hunt. While there were several reclamation projects already underway, the Council knew Midwestern winters would bankrupt their current food store, barely getting them into spring. With that, they had dispatched the Ghost and three other teams to investigate other locations nearby. 

As the O-61's rolled into Morris, Illinois, it had become clear the Midwest had been suffering with the rise of the New World Order. Of the Morrisians, many were living day to day expecting death to come with each passing hour. Once the tanks came to a halt, the Ghost, wearing Madie's latest armor, the O.P-D.S.A or Ottawan Powered-Defensive Survival Armor, dismounted the tank. The armor was bulky in its design as it was made to not only provide superior defense for its user, but also those around them. It had bulletproof joint covers, a thicker, titanium skin, steel reinforced frame and powerful hydraulic joint actuators that were for removing large, heavy debris or, holding back heavily armored vehicles such as tanks in an attack.

As the Ottawans looked onwards, the citizens of Morris, who had the strength to stand, made their way over to him. As they did, questions began circling. 

Questions of, "Are you with the Army?" and "Why didn't the Government come sooner?", swirled around him. 

"What are our orders sir?"

"Weapons loaded and ready, but remain peaceful. I will talk to them."

The Ghost stepped away from the tanks and towards the crowd. "Citizens of Morris, I can understand your pain, your questions and your cries for help. To answer them quickly, no, I am not with the US Army, nor the US Government. I am the Ghost of Ottawa, local hero of Ottawa, Illinois. Many of you are sick or in need of medical attention, so please, make your way to the transport trucks. Those of you who can still fight, report to the soldier in the neon yellow vest! He is going to get you outfitted to aid us."

As the citizens of Morris began to move, a group of men approached the Ghost. 

"Can I help all of you?"

"Yea.. You said you're from Ottawa..... right?" said one of the men. His voice quivered a bit as he looked at the Ghost. From what the Ghost could tell, the man couldn't have been older than thirty, and his blonde hair was covered by a dirty, Cubs baseball cap. 

"That's right. Why?"

"What's it like there? Are things..... better?"

The Ghost sighed and looked at the man. "We managed to get the Midwest to unite under the Ottawan Flag. There were too many fires to put out all at once to risk venturing out in our local area, but we're here now."

The group of men nodded and patted the shoulder of the man who had spoken for them. "I'm Keegan by the way. We're glad you're here now. These men and I have been defending these people since everything happened."

"Well Keegan, I am truly thankful you and your men cared for these people as best you could. Tell me, can you all still fight?"

"We can, we're a bit tired, but tell us where you need us." Said Keegan as his men nodded in agreement."

"Well, let's get you outfitted with some new gear and ammo. We've got a few energy drinks to spare should you or your men want any."

With a nod, Keegan's men head over to the supplies truck and grab gear, ammo, and an energy drink each. While they prepped themselves, the Ghost and Keegan talked as they walked over to the transport trucks. 

"So, these tanks... Where'd you get em?"

"We made them. Thanks to the vast numbers of veterans in Ottawa, we had a decent start."

"I see." Started Keegan, "If you don't mind me asking, what are your plans for us? The Citizens of Morris I mean."

The Ghost smiled a bit. "We're gonna put you all to work. Not servants or slaves, but as workers who earn wages, contributing to the rebuilding of the Midwest. Ottawa and Morris haven't always gotten along, but it's our turn to lend all of you a helping hand. Winter is coming, and possible threats are on the rise. It's time to put aside our differences and show each other that good old, midwestern hospitality."

Keegan smiled, "Well, if what you say is true, I look forward to working with you." Before he continued on with the Ghost, he addressed the Citizens of Morris. "Listen up! This here is the Ghost of Ottawa. He's stated that Ottawa is in need of workers as they have jobs to fill. Once you have been seen by doctors, and/or had a shower, you will report to..." Keegan looked at the Ghost, hoping he'd chime in.

"You'll report to the Reddick Library. There, you'll be divided based on the skills you have. Ottawa has a massive need for those in the trades, so if you work or have worked in the trades, you will be given a job right away. Everyone else will fill out what the Ottawan Key Council has called, "The New Citizen's Skilled Job Identification Document" or N.C.S.J.ID. Everyone will find work, either assigned or picked out, but you will work. There is no time or room for non-workers. Everyone contributes somehow, regardless of age, gender, disability, and anything along those lines. We all have to eat, sleep, shit, work and do it all over again. I promise, life for all of you is about to get better, much better. That is a promise."

Keegan nodded, and turned back to the citizens. "You heard the Ghost. Once you're in town, you'll report to the library for work assignments! I will see you all as soon as I get there! I promise."

As the trucks departed for either the Ottawa Hospital or directly for Ottawa, the Ghost and Fahrenheit Company made a few calls on their radios. The first was to the Key Council to inform them of the arriving people from Morris. The next call was to the second part of their detachment. Of the many jobs within Ottawa, being an Ottawan Scrapalvager or Scrap Salvager, was the most needed. CIMCO not only produced metals for the other two plants, but also was responsible for breaking down and stripping broken appliances, vehicles beyond repair, electronics, and more for their usable parts, wires or metals. They'd been doing this long before the New World Order's reign, but now it was even more critical that the Ottawan's make or salvage as many parts as they could. 

As the Scrapalvagers made their way into Morris, the Ghost's third call was to Keegan and his team's radios for a channel check. 

"Copy that, radio check completed." Said the Ghost. 

"So where is the next stop, boss?" Asked Keegan, he and his men climbed into a transport truck. 

"Now, we find out what the hell happened to Seneca." Said the Ghost as he motioned for his tank to head out. 

As the tanks rolled onto the Route 6 road, the Ghost and Fahrenheit Company knew all of this would help them in the long run... help rebuild their region and nation into something better than before.