monotone voice. “A lot on my mind. So much to ponder.”
“Me too. And I’m worried about Perry and Caroline.” Rebecca shivered as the brisk wind knifed through the yard. “It’s cold out here. I’m going inside.”
“I’ll be in shortly.” Nearly an hour later he made his way into the house and turned on the television. “Let’s see if this works. I’m almost afraid to watch if it does.”
Joshua cocked an eyebrow when the TV flared to life. The news anchor rehashed the prior day’s events. In addition, car bombs exploded in crowded areas in Detroit and Austin and a small fishing boat loaded with explosives damaged a docked U.S. Navy vessel in Norfolk. There are reports of looting and violence in some areas. Many federal government services have ceased operations due to the loss of personnel and infrastructure, and the same is likely to happen in states like North Carolina where the state capital was hit yesterday.
British intelligence sources are privately telling us that they are still picking up a high volume of terrorist chatter and that they believe AIS is planning more attacks on U.S. soil. Analysts are warning citizens to be on the alert for potential copycat terrorists. Additionally, we are receiving reports that cargo ships, many of them transporting food and other essential items, are refusing to dock at American ports due to heightened security concerns.
Meanwhile, President Armando has reassigned officers with the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Protective Service, commonly referred to as FPS or ‘Homeland Security Police’, to help maintain order in areas victimized by looting and violence in the wake of this week’s attacks. Sources close to his administration tell us that he may enlist the military to assist as well. These Homeland Security officers were stationed throughout the country prior to this week’s attacks. President Armando has declared martial law in many areas. This move has several governors and local officials crying foul, with some voicing concerns that the federal government should assist local governments, not take the lead. One local official even went so far as to say that he worried federal police and the military would not leave once they are entrenched. The Armando administration rejected these concerns as ‘irrational fringe conspiracy theories driven by fear-mongering political extremists with selfish agendas’.
The anchor paused for a moment, turned and looked to the side as if communicating with someone off-screen, then continued. We have breaking news that a bomb has damaged a major commercial rail line used to transport food and other critical items up and down the east coast. There are reports of accidents, traffic jams and multiple instances of road rage on major highways, especially near cities. Communication lines are down in many areas, but the nation’s wireless infrastructure seems to be holding its own. Authorities are encouraging people to stay in their homes unless travel is absolutely necessary.
Joshua shook his head as he muted the television. “This is getting worse and worse. It’s a good thing we’re leaving tomorrow, but we’ve got a lot to do today. We need to pack everything we want to take with us so that we can do it all in one trip. I’ll work on big items from the barn, and you start packing the things we need from the house.”
He walked toward the door. “A few more things… can you try to call Perry and Caroline and see if you can get up with them? And keep the tabs on the news? And check on Drew?”
“Will do,” she answered. “Were you expecting anyone this morning?”
“Not until this afternoon.”
Rebecca pointed out the window. “Well, we’ve got company. It’s only 8:00.”
Joshua looked out and saw a dark green GMC Yukon pulling a small, enclosed utility trailer making its way down the driveway.
“I’m not sure who that is.” Joshua tucked his 9mm into his back pocket before stepping
“Me too. And I’m worried about Perry and Caroline.” Rebecca shivered as the brisk wind knifed through the yard. “It’s cold out here. I’m going inside.”
“I’ll be in shortly.” Nearly an hour later he made his way into the house and turned on the television. “Let’s see if this works. I’m almost afraid to watch if it does.”
Joshua cocked an eyebrow when the TV flared to life. The news anchor rehashed the prior day’s events. In addition, car bombs exploded in crowded areas in Detroit and Austin and a small fishing boat loaded with explosives damaged a docked U.S. Navy vessel in Norfolk. There are reports of looting and violence in some areas. Many federal government services have ceased operations due to the loss of personnel and infrastructure, and the same is likely to happen in states like North Carolina where the state capital was hit yesterday.
British intelligence sources are privately telling us that they are still picking up a high volume of terrorist chatter and that they believe AIS is planning more attacks on U.S. soil. Analysts are warning citizens to be on the alert for potential copycat terrorists. Additionally, we are receiving reports that cargo ships, many of them transporting food and other essential items, are refusing to dock at American ports due to heightened security concerns.
Meanwhile, President Armando has reassigned officers with the Department of Homeland Security’s Federal Protective Service, commonly referred to as FPS or ‘Homeland Security Police’, to help maintain order in areas victimized by looting and violence in the wake of this week’s attacks. Sources close to his administration tell us that he may enlist the military to assist as well. These Homeland Security officers were stationed throughout the country prior to this week’s attacks. President Armando has declared martial law in many areas. This move has several governors and local officials crying foul, with some voicing concerns that the federal government should assist local governments, not take the lead. One local official even went so far as to say that he worried federal police and the military would not leave once they are entrenched. The Armando administration rejected these concerns as ‘irrational fringe conspiracy theories driven by fear-mongering political extremists with selfish agendas’.
The anchor paused for a moment, turned and looked to the side as if communicating with someone off-screen, then continued. We have breaking news that a bomb has damaged a major commercial rail line used to transport food and other critical items up and down the east coast. There are reports of accidents, traffic jams and multiple instances of road rage on major highways, especially near cities. Communication lines are down in many areas, but the nation’s wireless infrastructure seems to be holding its own. Authorities are encouraging people to stay in their homes unless travel is absolutely necessary.
Joshua shook his head as he muted the television. “This is getting worse and worse. It’s a good thing we’re leaving tomorrow, but we’ve got a lot to do today. We need to pack everything we want to take with us so that we can do it all in one trip. I’ll work on big items from the barn, and you start packing the things we need from the house.”
He walked toward the door. “A few more things… can you try to call Perry and Caroline and see if you can get up with them? And keep the tabs on the news? And check on Drew?”
“Will do,” she answered. “Were you expecting anyone this morning?”
“Not until this afternoon.”
Rebecca pointed out the window. “Well, we’ve got company. It’s only 8:00.”
Joshua looked out and saw a dark green GMC Yukon pulling a small, enclosed utility trailer making its way down the driveway.
“I’m not sure who that is.” Joshua tucked his 9mm into his back pocket before stepping
Similar Books
