The Shelter: Book 1, The Beginning (30 page)

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President Obama calls his Secretary of Defense, “Ashton, I don’t care that you don’t like my orders, all I require of you is to obey. We need to find at least two trillion dollars and one of the easiest places to find such savings is the departments with the largest budgets. Defense has the largest share of the pie so you’re going to cut your share of the budget so we can get out of the jam we’re currently in. I want you to cut 50% of the military. Start with those expensive and useless nuclear weapons. Then consider cutting the Marines. We don’t plan on invading anyone so why do we need a separate 180,000 person military that copies the Army, Navy, and Air Force. If the Marines go away, the Navy can cut the number of ships they use to transport and protect the Marines. It’s really very easy. If you cut the Marines, who are too right wing anyway, you’ll have an easy time finding the balance of cuts I need.”

“Mr. President, what about the people we’ll be booting out of the military and the projects we’ll be cutting? Over four hundred thousand people will lose their jobs.”

“Since most of them are right wing nuts when they lose their jobs, their only available support will come from the government. They’ll learn the error of their ways and vote for us to increase taxes on the rich so their benefits can be increased. Yes, I like it. Close down the Marines, cut 50 ships from the Navy and all of the Air Force’s missiles and nuclear bombers.”

“Mr. President, you’re going to leave us open to attack without any way to protect ourselves.”

“Ashton, I know you were recently appointed, however, you’ve just outlived your usefulness. I expect your resignation on my desk tonight.”

“Mr. President, you’ll have it. I disagree with what you’re doing.”

“Do you think I care? I don’t have any other choice.”

“Yes, you do. Just tell the yellow bastards to go screw themselves. They’re not going to use force. They know we’ll turn them into the world’s largest glass slab. They know we’d nuke China back to the Stone Age.”

“Ashton, I don’t want to hear this type of talk. I told you, I’ll never use nuclear weapons. History isn’t going to report that I, the first African American President used nuclear weapons or started a war with China. A black man isn’t going to nuke Asians. We need to pay them or they are going to take Hawaii.”

“Mr. President, let them try, the Navy can stop any Chinese fleet before it comes into range of Hawaii.”

“I already told you I’m not going to start another war. We’re going to pay them.”

“Mr. President the stress this is causing our people is too great, something is going to break. I’m pleading with you to reconsider your decision to pay them. Let us strike them, we’ll put the fear of Buddha in them.”

“Aston, I expect to see your orders reducing the military along with your resignation on my desk by 10:00 PM.”

“Mr. President, I won’t go down in history as the Secretary of Defense that left us defenseless.”

“Ashton, I appointed you because you said you’d follow my plans and take instructions, you’re not doing either. I’m very disappointed in you. You’re fired. You can leave right now.”

President Obama tells Denis McDonough, his chief of staff, “I just fired Ashton, I want you to take over Defense. Close down the US Marines, I want Defense’s budget cut 50%.”

US Marines Commandant General Joseph F. Dunford, Jr. receives a call from Ashton informing him of the upcoming orders. General Dunford is shocked at the news. He sends an urgent message to the senior Marine commanders to conference with him at 2400 hours.

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Sean Hannity reports a flash news item on his show at 10:45 PM. Sean stands in front of the cameras shaking with hate. Sean announces the hot rumor the President is firing the US Marines and cutting the US Defense budget by 50%. Sean says, “My fellow Americans, this is pure treason. This is high crimes. I’d like one congressperson or Senator to come on the air and tell me why President Obama shouldn’t be impeached.  Fox News interrupts Sean’s show with the confirmation that President Obama has ordered the Department of Defense budget cut by 50%. He also ordered the mothballing of all of America’s nuclear weapons.

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“Tony, are you sitting down? I’d like to talk about the meeting here at my place.”

“Shit, Jay, wait one minute so I can go to my office.” Tony enters his office, closing the door behind him. Tony sits down getting ready for bad news. He pulls a notepad out of his upper desk drawer to start making alternative plans.

“Tony, are you there?”

“Jay, before you begin, I want you and Lacy to know this won’t interfere with our relationship. I’m ready, go ahead, tell me.”

“Tony, I’m happy to say everyone has accepted and welcomes you, Nancy and your family with open arms.”

Letting his breath out, Tony smiled, replying, “Jay, you owe me, you almost had me.”

Laughing, “I just had to, sorry about that. Everyone would like to know when you can have the construction people on site.”

“I’ll be there today around 4:00 PM, I’ll bring my construction foreman with me. Does that work with you?”

“Perfect, by the way, the kids want to know if you can bring some more of those cookies with you and Lacy wants to know if you and Nancy can stay for dinner.”

“We’d be happy to. Even my restaurant is having problems getting supplies of fresh food and I’m paying through the nose for anything we can get. I think I’m going to have to close the place within a week or two. Eight of the restaurants on my street closed last night. Another four put up signs saying they’re going to close tonight.”

“Are you still packed?”

“I am, but the others aren’t. The people who come to dine at my place can usually afford to spend whatever the meals cost. I’ve seen a large increase in the number of homeless in the city over the previous three days.”

“Looking forward to seeing you at 4.”

Lacy, who was listening to half of the conversation, asks, “Honey, you didn’t thank him for the crate.”

“Never on a phone. Never know who's listening. I bet a number of agencies have his phone tapped.”

“You’re right, I forgot about that little issue.” Before we finish our home phone rings, Lacy looks at me asking, “Did you say something about phone taps?”

“Couldn’t be.”

Picking up the handset, “Hello, this is Jay.”

“Mr. Tolson?”

“Yes, this is Jay Tolson.”

“Mr. Tolson, I’m Steven Brown from Bank of America’s security department. We have completed our review of the cyber attack on your accounts. Our analysis confirms someone outside of the bank and not from your location found a hole in our firewall. This party was able to hack into the bank. We found you were not alone in the attack, this party was able to empty 205 different accounts. Of course, I can’t mention who the other account holders are but I can tell you the only thing all of the accounts had in common is all are in the high net worth department.”

“So whoever hit us, also stole from 204 others?”

“That’s correct, they made off with over $300 million. We’ve spoken with the FDIC and the bank’s CEO. We’d like you and Mrs. Tolson to visit one of your local branches. If you can tell me which branch you’ll visit, I’ll arrange a meeting with the branch manager who will be waiting for you. Once in the branch, arrangements will be explained to you how Bank of America is going to support you.”

“Mr. Brown, we can be at your branch in Nashville, the one on Main in two hours.”

“Excellent, we’ll speak again when you and Mrs. Tolson are with the bank manager.”

“Honey, we have to go to Nashville, want to see if any of the kids want to go with us?”

“How much time do I have before we leave?”

“Ten-fifteen minutes.”

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The senior commanders of the US Marines agree to resign in mass before they can be fired. General Dunford knows once he and his staff leave there will be chaos in the ranks. He expects the mid-tier officers to quickly follow with their resignations as the snowball gains speed rolling downhill. President Obama wanted the military budget cut in half, General Dunford agrees to help him. He issues verbal orders that every Marine leaving should take their personal weapons with them. The General orders the armories opened to provide the leaving Marines with “sufficient ammo and weapons as may be required for self-protection.” General Dunford’s staff laughs at the thought of 185,000 Marines walking off their bases with their personal weapons and ammo. General Dunford says, “Think of the President’s reaction when he learns everyone left with an M16 or M4, five thousand rounds, six grenades and in some cases, rockets. Many are going to be leaving in some sort of vehicle. They’ll even take the tanks. He’ll shit a brick.”

Major General Smith, the head of logistics asks, “General, I don’t want to broach the subject, but I feel I have to. Sir, have you considered removing the CIC from office?”

The room and conference call falls silent. General Smith breached the one subject that was on everyone’s mind, yet no-one wanted to mention. General Dunford replies, “General, I know this question is on everyone’s mind. I’ve fought with myself on the issue. We’ve all been in countries where the military took over the government, we’ve seen what happens, we’ve all seen the damage left behind when the elected governments have been overthrown. I don’t think the American people will stand for a military coup. I think the economy is on the edge of a large cliff. The economy can’t be saved, it's going to tip over very soon when it does we’ll be needed to help our people put the country back together. I’ve spoken to the other Joint Chiefs, all are going to tender their resignation tomorrow. We’ve ordered a complete withdrawal of all of our combined people from every international OA. The recall orders will be issued in 55 minutes. We’re bringing everyone home. We’re going to release any who want to go with their personal weapons. A very well-armed militia is being formed whether the President likes it or not.”

General Black asks, “General, we’re just going to leave?”

“Yes, the President wants the budget cut, he’ll get what he wants and the repercussions will be on his head. I suggest we plan to connect every Friday at 0900 which should allow those on the west coast enough time to get up and have their first cup of joe.”

All agree and the recall orders are issued to America’s troops around the world. Most are confused but obey. The world wakes to video of American troops leaving their international bases. The news is being watched in Moscow where the senior staff is horrified to see thousands walking off of military bases carrying their weapons and driving armored vehicles home. They know these armed soldiers and Marines are going to be a major problem when the time comes for the Russians to land on American soil.

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Tony and Nancy arrive at our house at 3:30, “Tony, you’re early.”

“No one’s on the road, the price of gas has stopped almost everyone from driving. I saw stations posting new prices on the way over, three stations posted a price of $30.00 a gallon, and signs saying, cash only, no credit. With the dollar crisis we can’t import oil, we’re not drilling a lot here at home due to the President’s executive orders. We’re running out of oil which is driving the price per gallon up. Station owners are raising the price and will continue to do so as long as they have gas and people will pay them for it.”

“That’ll be another nail in the economy’s coffin.”

“You’re right, let me see the shelter.”

We walk to the back of our homes where the large hole in the ground is open, Tony looks down saying, “The foundation looks good. It looks like it’s cured, can I go down and see it?”

“Sure, when is your construction manager arriving?”

“Should be here any minute.”

“Should we wait for him?”