Shelter: Book 2, A Long Days Night (14 page)

The President steps up to the podium smiling as he begins to read from his TelePrompTer. “My fellow Americans, it is with a heavy heart that I address you this evening. I know everyone listening to me this evening has to some degree suffered a loss. This worldwide economic crisis started with Greece defaulting on their IMF loans. Greece’s default began a domino effect across Europe and even reached into America when Puerto Rico defaulted. When the financial dominoes fell, the world’s economy slowed. In the following three weeks, a record number of people were thrown out of work. Our economy had been on the edge due to Saudi Arabia cutting the cost of oil to record lows so they could bankrupt our fracking industry. Once most of the fracking companies were bankrupt, OPEC raised the price of oil to $150 a barrel pushing almost the entire world into a recession or depression. The world’s economy couldn’t cope with these various shocks. When the Euro failed, Europe’s economy crashed, the repercussions of the price of oil and the huge losses caused by the defaults in Europe caused our banks to begin to fail because they were so large they were heavily invested in other currencies and in the stock market.”

Fred yelled, “What happened to, ‘too big to fail?’” Most of us laughed and also shook our heads knowing Fred was right. The President had told us that he had to merge the banks so they became too large to fail and now he’s telling us, they’ve failed because they were too large.

  The President continued, “The economic and banking failures ringed the world. While we were dealing with our banking system failures, we received the third punch when the Chinese demanded repayment of our trillions of dollars of debt the US owed them. China then demanded we give them the State of Hawaii as repayment for our debt.  I asked the Chinese Premier for additional time to make payments, they refused my request. They said we could make the payment in gold or simply hand them Hawaii. I refused to hand them Hawaii. America doesn’t hand over territory to foreign nations. I ordered the US Navy to intercept the Chinese fleet that was on their way to claim Hawaii. I ordered the Navy to stop the Chinese fleet. I can report that the largest naval battle since the Second World War is being fought in the Pacific. This war, like most wars, shouldn’t have been fought. The Chinese tricked us and pulled a very sneaky trick on our fine young men and women sailors. We’ve lost thousands, but we also dealt the Chinese a heavy blow.”

Flo yells out, “So who’s winning? Show us the pictures!” We clap in support for Flo.

Ricky says, “There's no need for this war, all of those poor sailors died for a loan. Is any loan worth the lives of thousands of people? Why are we fighting our friends the Chinese?”

John yells, “Ricky do us a favor and shut up.”

The President smiles into the camera, “We all live on the same small blue planet. I call on the Chinese to cease fire and withdraw your ships, go home in peace. I promise you as America’s Commander in Chief that our ships won’t follow you, they will cease firing and allow you to retreat. Soon we will be one people united in peace. I promise the Chinese people, we as adults can sit across from each other and find a peaceful solution to the Chinese grievances. I’m sure we can work out a payment plan that will work for both countries.” 

We don’t understand why he’s telling the Chinese to withdraw without us finishing the war. Reports have come in from embedded reporters that we sank the Chinese carrier while they attacked four of our carriers, we didn’t lose any. The battleship USS Missouri ravaged their fleet by shelling them with experimental sabot shells before they got into range when they started firing 2,700-pound shells at the Chinese. We’re looking at each other shaking our heads wondering what he knows and isn’t telling us. 

“Restoring our economy and way of life is going to take a major sacrifice for all of us. America, the entire world is going to have to change in order to rebuild and return us to the leadership position in the world. Let’s review the current situation, we have a national debt of $22,500,789, 335,114, as of a couple of minutes ago. This is so high mostly due to the incompetence of my predecessor. The compounding interest changes the amount every minute. Some have said there’s not enough money is the world to repay our debt. I say there is. In fact, we’re working on acquired the funds required to pay down our debt. During my first seven years in office, I’ve reduced the debt to income ratio lower than almost every other President. Had the Congress passed my budgets, we wouldn’t be in the situation we are now. We would have been the strongest country in the world, we could have saved the world from the economic meltdown that’s destroyed so many families. The current economic situation is worse than the Great Depression of the 1930s. The current worldwide unemployment rate is standing at 50%. Yes, you heard me correctly, half of the world’s population is unemployed. Three-quarters of the world is starving to death because they can’t afford to feed their families. Half of the other third is comprised of those who are just making it day by day, another third is comprised of people who are working for various governments trying to protect and support you, our citizens. The top one percent have gotten rich off of the backs of the working poor who they’ve held down in a permanent lower class poverty. The rich have been able to buy politicians so they get laws passed that enable them to stay rich while the poor stay poor. I say this has to end if the world is going to change and turn around.”

Ricky pumps his fist in the air, “Yes, finally everyone will pay their fair share, we’ll be able to pay all of the world’s debt off. We’re going to cut back our crazy defense spending. We’re finally really moving forward. He’s going to bring us the hope and change he always promised to bring us.”

Fred yells, “Ricky shut the hell up, we can only listen to one asshole at a time.”

Everyone laughs at Ricky’s expense.

The President continues, “I’ve tried to work with the one percent, I upped their tax rate to 75% so they could help their country in her time of need, most of the one percent repaid America by leaving the country, over 10,000 renounced their citizenship. Is this any way to repay the very people who they got rich from? The rich think they can play a game with taxes, they move their families and their money from country to country. These wealthy Americans move to the country with the lowest tax rate. I ask you, the average American family, you who are having trouble putting food on your table, is this fair? Is it legitimate or reasonable that the very richest in the world should be able to move their money around to avoid paying their fair share? I’ve spent the last 34 days in close communication with the United Nations and the other first and second tier countries. We’ve reached a monumental agreement. An agreement that is going to change the world forever. Starting today, the entire world will be paying taxes to the United Nations. The U.N. will spread the wealth of the world to those countries that most need the resources. I’m very happy to report that under the supervision of the United Nations, every country will be brought up to a common level, soon there won’t be a first, second or third world. We will all be a single world united under the blue and white flag of the United Nations. In order to ensure that countries support the agreement, we’ve agreed to merge the world’s top militaries into a singular world force that no one will be able to successfully confront. The United Nations new worldwide military command is going to ensure the stability of every country while at the same time enabling countries to drastically reduce our military expenses. In order to ensure the new one world order isn’t challenged, the United Nations has agreed to extend the Small Arms Treaty to ban the private ownership of all firearms.”

“My fellow Americans, you heard me correctly, worldwide gun violence is ending. Worldwide race violence will end. Bloody revolutions will end, no longer will a country’s leaders have to worry about some rogue element trying to overthrow them. The money wasted on such wars will now be used to support the world’s people and infrastructure. I am overjoyed to report that The Small Arms Treaty was signed by my administration. I asked the Attorney General to review the treaty’s impact on our existing laws. She has reviewed the treaty to ensure that it can stand up to any legal challenge. She’s reported to me that all international treaties have the force of law behind them. The Small Arms Treaty, therefore, repeals the Second Amendment, we will begin issuing instructions how to turn in your privately owned firearms tomorrow. If you don’t voluntarily turn in your firearms, we will come for them.  The senseless violence so many are experiencing is coming to end. Without guns in people’s hands there won’t be any more mass shootings or violent crimes people commit against their neighbors. The United Nations has pledged to send troops to the countries with the most guns to help remove these deadly and senseless weapons from private ownership. No longer will children be harmed by playing with their parent’s guns. This and the Affordable Care Act are the most important accomplishments I’ve made as President.”

We greet the President’s announcement with shock and screaming, “Go fuck yourself.” Rich stands yelling, “You can have my guns when you pry them from my cold dead fingers.” We cheer Rich, most of us, less one person, share his feelings.

Ricky stands pumping his fist in the air, cheering, “YES, finally the end of senseless gun violence. He is the greatest President in our history.”

People throw anything in front of them at Ricky to get him to shut up.

The President continues, “My administration has been able to pass some of the most important legislation in the country’s short history. Healthcare for everyone, financial control, infrastructure recovery through the many stimulus acts, the First Lady’s school lunch program which brought healthy lunches to all school age children. Of course, there were the reasonable tax bills and finally the best gun control act in our history; total gun control. It’s through total gun control that the violence across the country will end. It’s now illegal to own a firearm, not just in America, but in the entire world. My friends, we’ve finally found a way to end violence not just here, but worldwide.”

People are throwing trash at the TV monitor. I stand yelling, “Hey, there’s no replacement if you break that monitor. If it breaks, we won’t have a screen in the mess hall.”

We’re booing as the President continues, “I’m also bringing home all of our troops who were based around the world. These returning troops will work with the United Nations to put a quick stop to the random violence that has broken out in the heartland. The initial troops are already here, they are providing health care and bringing security so everyone can get a peaceful night’s sleep. The long day’s night is lifting from the country. If you haven’t already seen the troops in your towns, you soon will. Very soon you’ll see military vehicles painted white with blue UN symbols on them, the troops will shortly begin arriving wearing blue helmets with white UN on them. These troops may not be Americans, they may not be familiar with our customs, help them to help you. Make them feel at home, help them bring stability to our country, a peaceful America equals a peaceful world. The IRS will release the new tax rules tomorrow, remember when you read them, you're no longer paying a tax to the United States federal government, you’re paying to support the entire world. A new a united world, a single world united under the United Nations, which today offered me the position of it’s first World Chairman. America, today is indeed a very special day for all of us. May God bless the United Nations.”

We sit in the mess room completely silent, he surprised the shit out of us with his last line. None of us was expecting him to be named world leader. Fred whispers, “The entire world is screwed. We might as well stay underground for a very long time. It’s going to be a lot safer here than anywhere he’s running things.”

Everyone who heard Fred nods in agreement.

I whisper to Lacy, “I can’t believe what he just did. He just announced the new world order, with him as its leader. This is the worst news I could have imagined. We’re going to have to fight to return America to her former greatness and also battle the stupid UN to allow us to be free again.”

“Honey, is this going to slow our return to our home?”

Chapter 8

The US Navy Task Force 77 is running at their maximum speed of 33 knots towards the Chinese fleet. Task Force 77 has a ‘bone in their teeth’, they are firing anti-ship cruise missiles towards the Chinese. Vice Admiral Long is reviewing his depleting armament inventory report. He looks over to his Chief of Staff, “Something is wrong, we’ve fired over 400 missiles, there shouldn’t be anything left of the Chinese fleet, however, their anti-ship missiles that are attacking us says they’ve still viable. We should have sunk them ten times over.”

“Admiral, their missiles are taking a real toll on our ships, they copied the Russian Sunburn anti-ship missile. It flies at wave top height and at Mach 3 which is 3 times faster than our missiles. We’re having a hard time intercepting their missiles. Even Aegis is having problems picking them up and holding lock due to how low they fly. Our anti-missiles are averaging only a 35% intercept rate. The ships without the close in weapons system are taking a pounding. We made a mistake removing the CIWS off of the newest generation of ships. We thought we could intercept a missile with a missile versus having the backup of a gun. Sir, we’re running out of missiles. We need to withdraw and rearm. Our major problem is our ships weren’t designed to be rearmed at sea. We removed the vertical launch cranes in order to add three additional missiles to the ships. Right now, it seems to have been a very bad trade.”

“Isn’t the RAM Block 2 bringing down the incoming missiles?”

“Admiral, the RAM Block 2 is averaging a 40% intercept. The RAM’s fire control radar isn’t picking up the incoming missiles until they’re almost on us. Even the new seeker on the RAM Block 2 is having problems picking out the missiles from the wave clutter.” The two officers are interrupted by a large flash on the horizon, the overhead speaker says, “Admiral that was the Gettysburg. Two Chinese missiles struck her, one hit her forward vertical magazine. Her bow broke off, the second missile struck her in the engine room, shrapnel struck her fuel tanks, she blew up, taking all hands with her.”

Admiral Long responds, “Captain, how many missiles got through in this round?”

“Sir, we’ve accounted for eight missiles that made it through all of our efforts and defenses. Four ships were struck by six missiles, two were suckered by a decoy. Sir, the Chinese aren’t having any problems bringing our Harpoon missiles down. They’re averaging over a 95% kill ratio. We’re firing a lot of missiles, but they’re not reaching their intended targets. Admiral, the only ship in our fleet that can survive a hit by the Chinese missiles is the Missouri. She’s the only ship in the fleet with any armor. We forgot history’s lessons.”

Admiral Long turns to his CoS, “Commander, send in the subs. They should be able to pop up in the middle of the Chinese fleet surprising the hell out of them.”

“Aye, sir. I’ll issue the orders.”

Twenty US nuclear-powered fast attack submarines receive the order to attack the Chinese fleet. They were spread out in a large circle around the Chinese fleet. Captain Johnson, the commanding officer of the USS Virginia, the lead boat of America’s newest class of attack submarines held the print out of his orders. He smiled as he picked up the boat’s IMC, “Virginia, this is the Captain, we’ve received the orders we’ve been waiting for. We’re ordered to attack the Chinese fleet. Men of the Virginia, man battle stations torpedo, this is no drill. Men of the Virginia, our time has come to take vengeance for our lost brothers and sisters.” The general quarters alarm sounds in the Virginia and nineteen other US attack submarines. The Virginia’s XO (Executive Officer) says, “Captain, sonar is holding three targets marked as Sierra 1, 2 and 3. All are Chinese warships making turns for 30 knots, they are 4000 yards ahead of us. They are cruising together, angle of the bow, 25 degrees.”

“Weaps, Captain, assign one mark 48 to each Sierra.”

“Captain, weaps, assign one mark 48 to each Sierra, aye, sir. Captain, run time for the Mark 48s is 3 minutes.”

“Weaps, Captain, set the mark 48s to swim out of the tubes, send them on a zig-zag course so the Chinese won’t be able to follow the path of the fish back to us. When the mark 48s are within 1,000 yards, turn on their sonar and set them to their fast attack speed, when they’ve found their targets, cut the guide wires. Close the outer doors and reload with four additional mark 48s.”

The USS Virginia makes all preparations to launch four torpedoes against the Chinese surface fleet when the boat rocks with an explosion that knocks the entire crew off their feet. The USS Virginia rolls onto her port side. Captain Johnson grabs the edge of one of the workstations, he pulls himself up, he can’t stand on both feet because one of his ankles is broken.  “Damage control, Captain, what the hell happened?”

“Captain, DC, sir, looks like we ran into a mine. We’re taking in water, the pumps are running at 100%, I’m pumping air into the damaged compartments.”

The Virginia hears multiple rumbles in the sea around her, “Sir, I think some of our sisters also ran into mines. I think the Chinese laid mines around their fleet to catch us as we made our approach. They had to have known where we were located and the course we’d use to attack them.”

“What’s the boat’s condition?”

“Sir, pressure hull is cracked, front sonar dome is broken, we’ve lost main sonar and the outer torpedo doors are wrapped and jammed closed. We can’t fire anything at the Chinese, nor can we hear them. We have twisted metal and plastic hanging on the bow, we’re making noise. Suggest we come to a slow stop so we can check every system.”

“Make it so.”

Captain Johnson asks the XO, “How’s the crew?”

“Sir, one dead, thirty wounded, two seriously.”

“Shit. How the hell did they catch us with our pants down? Why didn’t our sensors find the mines?”

“Sir, we believe the mines were coated in an anechoic rubber coating similar to the one that coats our hull. It absorbs sound. We were traveling at 20 knots, it was easy to miss a silent waiting mine. From the damage, it looks like the mine was below us when it blew.”