Cyber Attack (32 page)

Now, decades of preparation were coming to fruition. With every shock to the system, governments were weakened and the wealthy oligarchs of the world became more powerful. As nation-states collapsed, the void was filled by the surviving power brokers. This nation had survived catastrophic economic collapses in its past. America, with his guidance, would emerge stronger, wealthier and more powerful—without the baggage that was dragging her down.

“Sir,” said Lowe, bursting into the room without knocking.

“What is it, Malcolm?”

“I’ve received a text message from your daughter’s chief of staff.”

Morgan looked at his watch—9:10 p.m. “What does it say?”

“The campaign delayed her return in order to make an impromptu campaign stop.”

“What? Where?”

“Tallahassee, Florida, sir.”

Chapter 54

September 3, 2016

Triple Q Ranch, Prescott Peninsula

Quabbin Reservoir, Massachusetts

“The girls were exhausted,” said Susan as she joined Donald, J.J. and Sabs on the front porch of the main building of the Prescott Peninsula complex—1PP. “All of that time swimming wore out our water babies, Daddy.”

Donald took a sip of his Samuel Adams lager. The sound of a loon wailed across the Quabbin Reservoir as it tried to regain contact with its mate. This prompted a responsive night chorus of loon tremolos—a back and forth sound that sounded like a violinist playing the same note repeatedly.

“This is so serene, peaceful,” said Donald. “If we didn’t have to sleep on bunk beds, I could stay here forever. Tell me again why we live in the city?”

“It’s not that bad at Brae Burn,” replied Susan. “I think we would go stir-crazy with no activities for us or the children.”

Donald stretched out in the chair in order to work out the stiffness setting in from today’s
activities
. “I suppose. Besides, we can come out here whenever we want. We have security personnel rotating in and out per Brad’s orders. The pantry is always stocked, needless to say. The Triple Q Ranch can become our home away from home any time.”

“You two have performed a miracle here,” said J.J. “I was amazed at 100 Beacon when you first took me on a tour. Sarge sits on top of a prepper fortress, and 1PP is equally outfitted, but can accommodate hundreds of people.”

“And they did it in ninety days,” added Sabs. J.J. reached out to rub her shoulder. Donald was happy for his friend and enjoyed watching their relationship grow. They were now inseparable and both of them contributed greatly to the development of the Triple Q Ranch. “What’s the next step?”

“Nothing, really,” replied Donald. “Any preparedness plan, regardless of the magnitude, is always evolving based upon everything from increased mouths to feed to the nature of the threats we face. Susan and I conducted extensive research considering our anticipated occupancy levels and the amount of time the Triple Q Ranch would be occupied during a collapse event.”

Donald stood up to stretch his legs and continued. “The motto on the preparedness website I prefer most—FreedomPreppers.com—is very straightforward.
Because you never know when the day before is the day before. Prepare for tomorrow.
”

“There are certain threats we face—collapse events—that can occur without warning,” added Susan. “Examples are an EMP attack, bioterror attacks, and certain natural disasters. Others, like solar flares, pandemic, near-earth objects, and economic collapse provide at least a modicum of warning.”

“What is your biggest concern, Donald?” asked Sabs.

Donald thought for a moment, as there were so many reasons to prepare. He sat back down and looked into the dark woods as the loons continued to entertain each other with their crazy laugh. “Darkness. My biggest concern is any grid-down scenario, whether it was caused by a massive solar flare, a nuclear-delivered EMP, or due to a cyber attack. If all or part of the power grid goes down, we will quickly descend into economic and societal collapse.”

Susan held his hand. They’d had this conversation many times before. “Our plan for the Triple Q Ranch assumed a long-term grid-down scenario,” said Susan. “We consider it the worst-case scenario. Any collapse event which is less than the collapse of the power grid could then be dealt with unless…”

“Unless what?” asked J.J.

“Unless one or more of our enemies used our nation’s bad fortune to their advantage and piled on with an attack of their own. A fighter can take a punch and get off the mat. Several punches can result in a knockout.”

Donald continued to stare out into the darkness. J.J. broke him out of the trance.

“Hey, buddy, how but another cold beer?” J.J. helped Sabs out of her Adirondack chair. “You stay put while we grab the burgers and potatoes for the grill.” It was a new moon.
It was dark.

“Deal. I could use another cold one.”

Chapter 55

September 3, 2016

100 Beacon

Boston, Massachusetts

Sarge and Julia sat down at the dining table on the rooftop terrace at 100 Beacon. It was a cool evening indicating the end of summer and fall’s arrival. Julia handed Sarge the corkscrew and watched as he expertly popped open a German Spätlese from the Mosel region of Germany near the Czech border. This was a very sweet wine, perfect for dessert and one of Julia’s favorites. They were quiet for a moment as they both looked out across the Charles River and the Esplanade on Storrow Drive.

There was supposed to be a Boston Pops concert together with a fireworks show afterwards, but it was cancelled because Boston PD had insufficient manpower to provide security. Over the last several days, riots and unrest—typically confined to the South End—were now prevalent in all parts of the city. Boston was coming unraveled. Sarge saw evidence this was the beginning of the end.

Julia broke the silence. “I think the Quinns took their girls to Prescott Peninsula for the weekend. Susan said Donald wanted to admire his handiwork.”

Sarge laughed. “As well he should. They worked miracles to bring that project together in a hundred days. Mr. Morgan was very pleased when I spoke with him the other day.” Sarge poured them both a glass of wine and they toasted.

“Cheers.”

“I think J.J. and Sabs went too,” she said. “I guess they are officially
an item
.”

“Donald told me J.J. was very happy and he referred to Sabs as being
good therapy
.” Sarge laughed. “I wonder what he means by that.”

“Oh, I know,” replied Julia. “We had a girl talk the other day. Sabs is very much a soldier, but she is trying to retain her identity as a woman. They are getting serious and I’m very happy for them.”

“Yeah, me too.” Sarge slid a couple of chairs in front of them so they could prop up their feet. Julia kicked off her sandals and settled in. “Speaking of getting serious, my brother has gone through some changes this summer.”

“I noticed that too. I never get an opportunity to talk to Katie much since she is in Washington. But I noticed Steven spends a lot of time with her.”

Sarge took a sip of wine and paused as two police cars roared down Commonwealth—sirens blazing.

“Something happened to Steven when he was on assignment in Germany last May. Just a week before, he was his usual testosterone-driven whore dog. A week or so after he returned, he began to call Katie every night and visited her most weekends. He doesn’t even talk about his usual man-child stuff.”

“What happened to him? Is he okay?”

“Yeah, it’s nothing like that. He is just serious now. He pays attention to the news. He stays with Katie every chance he gets. I don’t know. Maybe he’s growing up.”

“No way.”

“Way.” That earned him a slug to the shoulder.

“Good for them. When I see Katie, I’ll ask her how he’s doin’. Girls know things.”

“You do.”

“Yep.”

Sarge contemplated this for a moment. “I spoke to Brad. He allowed a substantial amount of the base to go on leave to visit their families. He has a trusted group that he keeps on base at all times—hard-core military and the nucleus of the Mechanics.”

“How many does he have?”

“He told me last week he has around eighty to a hundred at Devens, but thousands more nationwide under the command of friends.”

“Wow, that’s a great start.”

“I thought so. These guys rotate in and out of the Triple Q Ranch, acting as maintenance and security. He and Donald have it very well organized.” He refilled their glasses and they clinked them before taking another sip.

“Where is Abbie this weekend?”

“I thought she was supposed to be home, according to what her dad said the other day, but I caught a glimpse of her at a campaign stop in Tallahassee near Florida State University. They have her flying all over the country, putting out fires.”

“Is Florida in play?”

“Must be. The ticket is slipping in the polls. Unless something changes, they will lose.”

“After the conversation with Robby Mook, have they left you alone?”

“Yes. I brought it up to Mr. Morgan soon afterwards, and I’m sure he put the kibosh on it.”

They remained quiet for a moment, enjoying their wine and the Boston skyline. There was very little traffic on the street. The downtown nightlife died over the summer as it became unsafe to be on the dark city streets. Following Sarge’s encounter on Boston Common, people stopped visiting the park as often. The tension in the city had a chilling effect on all aspects of their lives.

“Is Steven’s friend Drew still part of Abbie’s security detail?”

“As far as I know.”

“I’ve seen them interact together during raw news feeds. They seem to get along really well.”

“I’m sure he is very professional.” Julia’s feet were starting to twitch.
She’s on a mission
.

“Well, maybe they’ll get together. She needs someone in her life.”

Yeah, not me
. “I agree.”

“Do you think the Quinns will be the only set of friends with children?”
Twitch
.

“Oh, probably not. I mean, we’re all still young, right?”
Julia’s prying into my brain
. Her feet were twitching like an annoyed cat’s tail. “What do you think?”

“Do you wanna have kids someday?”
Blindside
! Sarge finished off the rest of his glass of wine—which was nearly half full.

This was a long overdue conversation.

Chapter 56

September 3, 2016

9:11 p.m.

Undisclosed Location

Boston, Massachusetts

Lau sat in the dark staring at the computer terminal. The monitor was lifeless except for the faint glow illuminating his face like an X-ray. Its pulsating cursor, ever-patient, awaited an answer. His middle finger caressed the mouse. If his frayed nerves caused his index finger to twitch—an accidental press of the enter key—the decision would be made for him.

Am I going too far? There will be consequences
.

Refusal was not an option—if he hoped to live.

I could try to run. I have money. I could easily disappear in Korea, China or Thailand. Live like a king
.

Except these people would find me
. You could not hide from these kinds of people.

He glanced over the top of the monitor to once again look in the eyes of his young graduate students, each in the prime of their lives, held at gunpoint.

Sweating profusely, Lau groaned aloud to the empty room. He made a decision.

The saga will continue in MARTIAL LAW…

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History of the Original Loyal Nine

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it
.

~ George Santayana, philosopher and novelist

America has a penchant for rebellion. While the dates associated with the War for Independence are well known, the battle for freedom began many years before with the early colonists and continued into the nineteenth century.

Author Bobby Akart explores the trials and tribulations of a fledgling nation with a particular examination of the attitudes of the early colonists and their taste for freedom as they built America.

Seeds of Liberty
takes the reader on a historical journey beginning with the settlement of Roanoke Island in 1585 through the British attempts to clamp down on the colonists via the Stamp Act in 1764 — the impetus for the creation of
The Loyal Nine
.

For a period of ten years following the formation of the Loyal Nine, tensions between the British government and the colonists grew. As pressures built in America, chapters of the Sons of Liberty were formed all over the Thirteen Colonies, especially throughout New England, Virginia, and the Carolinas.

As the Sons of Liberty grew, so did their desire to adopt their own heraldry. Heraldry was used throughout history as a means to express a group’s pride and loyalty. In 1767, the Sons of Liberty adopted a five red and four white vertical-striped flag as the group’s formal standard. It became known as the Rebellious Flag and the nine stripes paid tribute to the Loyal Nine.

The leaders of the revolt, the Sons of Liberty, were faced with a chance to fundamentally change the course of America. They faced a choice—continue to live under tyranny or choose freedom. They chose freedom. By 1775, their opportunity became reality and the war for independence began. But the seeds of freedom were planted by nine brave Bostonians who had a vision and the courage to stand by their convictions—
the Loyal Nine.