Prologue

We are not alone. Other cension beings tried to communicate with us for thousands of millenium. The communications were mistaken and entire religions created, altars built and the communicants burnt as heretics, signs mistaken. So the Enlightened Ones, pure energy and thought, wait for the One to interpret and bring the message to this world. Time is meaningless. This Messenger not so different from the kid from Nazareth, it just that she is female and also has an Afro.

Chapter 1 Nerds In Paradise

He pauses as he does several times a day at the glassed in enclosure of the connector bridge

as the waterfall cascading down to Rocky face of the Mountain. 

The motion activated doors of Hackers Grotto open admitting Dahl carrying the 2 cups of instant noodles. He turns his head slightly to the right pausing to smile at the scene of the fraternal twins a boy, NIGEL and a girl, RIVER, both age 6 rollerblading playing hockey in the side playroom. Their births also a miracle, fibroids and polycystic ovarian disease and Feliclity’s advanced age at the time, 39. They required expensive in vitro treatments before the 3rd cycle bore these too advanced children. 

He continues into the open space, resembling the old Mission Control in Houston,  

his wife of 25 years, Felicity, sitting at a bank of silver custom curved Apple computer monitors typing rapidly and frowning. There is a cat Ruby curled up on her perch next to Dahl’s  workstation 

with a 3 dogs, representing a variety of breeds chasing the rowdy children back and forth careful not to get too close to get crushed or rolled on by one of the children.  

Thank Heavens for soundproofing!

The workspace is a combination of living quarters and amazing bathrooms. Deeper into the mountain are the air quantum servers. he super computer servers to process all of the data coming from their personal optic-radio-frequency telescope. 

Because of the depth in the mountain the computational units stayed a cool 59° perfect for optimal server operation and to keep their 2000 bottles wine.

The Batman style technological “Hackers Grotto” and no longer formally attached to the community college, with AfroDruids finally financially solvent, they were free to explore the world from their super gaming chairs by tapping into the satellite and cameras as worldwide government spied on their citizens. They also begin to do further research and create calculators basic how to tune out the universal noise of space. Cleaning up images and other readings from stellar bodies.

But their work did not escape the notice of anyone wanting to infringe on the technology explaining their copyright infringement litigation with Tesla and Microsoft as well as spying by the Chinese and Russian governments. Both were very interested in using the enhanced version of the technology to spy on its citizens and the rest of the world but they never could quite get the technology and they would attempt to steal it over and over again. Included in the technology created by the Lundgrens’  were several Trojan and self-destruct phages that were incorporated into the programs.  The perfect technology built by the ultimate hackers. One of the programs sends out a tracker device so not only did they shut down the system when you attempted to break the encryption, it sent out a beacon to the authorities to let them know exactly who had stole their technology. It was rumored that it was such a device or program that had crippled the Iranian government for several weeks and released by one such attempt by hi Tech.4 which is the spy program that they installed within their software was unleashed.

It takes so much power to service all of this computational and observational power. The roof of the Kit House, the enclosed bridge and all the outbuildings all equipped with efficient solar cells with the hydropower from the underground tributaries they were completely off the TN Power Grid. There is also a waste water reclamation would put any so called modern sewage management system to shame with natural filtration and distillation cleaning the water of a large portion of the the Little River. The compound was self contained, self sufficient, and fully renewable.

Chapter 2

All in a days work

Dahl approaches his wife, Felicity, squinting at the display and setting down the Cup-O-Noodles.  

 She distractedly picks up and taps the screen and takes a large bite and slurps up the soup swallowing and saying, “The Chinese are at it again. “
The wall monitors lights up vertigo inducing swoop into the cameras and what appears to be some governmental office with Asian technicians all running around frantically and monitors all with snow,  there’s no audio to go with the frantic scene on monitors. Felicity then makes a shooting sign with her fingers then blowing the pretend smoke away. Then another vomit inducing swoop as CNN and MSNCB all report on the Nikkei, Nasdaq, and the London Stock market fall 2000 points before the tracking trade is halted with all the boards going dark then a clear shimmering coiffed skeleton laughing the classic Vincent Price Skeleton voice with Don Lemmon from CNN,”Does that skeleton have an Afro?” Felicity yelling at and simultaneously giving the middle finger to the screen,”Yes bitch she does!”

The western world has attempted to divert attention from their own theft, industrial espionage, and subterfuge. Blaming the Russians and Chinese for all the same shenanigans and shady tactics started by the imperial colonizer Brits and the Uber-colonist Americans. Competition in the US financial markets and global business markets is so fierce that major players especially in the States had no moral restraint or false compunction to do whatever necessary to win to make profit at the largest margin. The competition just kept going lower and lower. Trying to win employing  dirtier and dirtier tactics. And these Western business bitches are some sociopathic kleptomaniac hoes.

Felicity yells, “Thievin’ pieces of shit. That’s what they get.” Followed by a gutter harumph and a string of Klingon curses and high fives with her husband. Felicity was the hot-head of the nerdy dynamic duo but both could calm and encourage the other in a way no one could. The mutual understanding and their connection was years in the making. 

Dahl takes his seat and scratches Ruby’s belly, the cat purring with contentment. He then notices other work on Felicity’s split screen. He then clones her screen reproducing the numeric strings and HTML coding language. 

They had been analyzing large amounts of information from their optic-radio telescope which the computer translated into repeating patterns on several bands. Dahl slurps some of his noodles saying to Felicity between chews, “ Did you notice this?” 

Felicity looks and calls up the data on her screen, “ Yeah when I analyzed the data, this is what the computer created . Now, when I add that recursive algorithm I get this.” She clicks a few buttons replacing the images talking heads from the news channels with a ghostly outline of an image. 

Dahl sets down his cup and says, “Shit what am I looking at ? What’s the source?” 

Felicity says, “Given the degradation of the signal the source is  calculated some 40,000 light years from here maybe even from the Aquarius cluster somewhere from the Trappist System. Remember Kepler the telescope we created the image sharpening software for the processor?”

Dahl nods between slurping. 

Felicity continues, “And there is more. We can isolate the specific wavelengths and add the additional algorithms running on a loop processor. The computer reads these waveforms kind of like syntax. Yeah, it’s like a small video clip of the Third Kind. And we can project the image …” She boots up the ceiling projectors that cast the image to the area in front of wall of monitors. A 21st century holographic image.

Dahl sputters, “Wait what the fuck? This is an holographic image from outer space. Some first class First Contact , Encounters of the Third kind shit !!! Wait, we’re not the only ones listening. Does anyone else know?”

Felicity says,” I don’t think so but we can’t tell anyone yet . Let’s work on this a little more. “

And work they did. The data analyzed revealed consistent blocks of information in both audio and video using contracted bands on specific wavelengths. Once they were able to create a specific program for their quantum computer the system could look for specific data in specific forms and create  streams of information which the computer began to interpret as syntax and computer instructions. Because what is the point of ET contacting you if you can’t answer?

Next Chapter…Houston We have Contact

This is a continuation of the Fictional podcast and electronic Sci-Fi Story of interstellar travel, communication, The Listeners on the Premium Content Blog Posts.

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Chapter 3

Houston We Have Contact

There are Borg like conduits connecting galactic Black Holes which they harness the energy to travel light years in short periods of time. 

We are introduced to the Enlightened Ones, pure energy and thought, who wait for the One to interpret and bring the message to this world. Time is meaningless. This Messenger not so different from the kid from Nazareth, it just that she is female and also has an Afro.

In this read, we learn more about the beings who inhabit the fourth planet from the Star of Aquarius 40, 000 light years away.

The One. Each galaxy including the Milky Way have supermassive black holes. All untapped sources of energy. They have harnessed the ability to convert mass to energy to mass, directing these massive energy sources in infinite directions using precise calculations, polarizing the direction of these conduits attracting the end position like interstellar magnets.

Tehran Conduit. Recursive algorithms. Travel using Sperix, spherical ships created using pure energy of the Black holes with their apparent garments shielding and internal atmosphere are created by the micro-replicator capability of the garments their energy mass also an interface with the system. Each conduit managed by specific beings within the One, maintaining the connection, sharing the data.

How are these space entities that exist in pure energy One with their universe, pure energy, and pure thought. When you have all basic needs met, you don’t conquer you don’t wage war. You focus on procreation, bettering your world gaining and sharing knowledge. Envy from less evolved beings create competition for technology they can exploit. Existence outside of time can allow you to wait, giving packets of existence to those ready to accept it. 

What other beings called haunts or ghosts were probably these beings in pure energy form only representing a mirror version of the last thought of whomever they were mimicking.

On procreation, when you exist as pure energy and you recycle on an intergalactic scale, you also do not decimate your environment, byproducts are reused. There is balance, even the potentially destructive nature of volcanoes and the core, is converted to energy creating more beings. Each source of energy has its specific presence inhabited by like beings but sharing the consciousness of the One. Scanning for life signs would reveal pockets of existence in the billions with no impact on the environment. Impurities removed and converted. Other empaths or telapaths detect a presence with nuisances but a singular consciousness massive as the Black Holes they inhabit.

Earth-like, M-class planet, 1 central sun. 

Supports humanoid and a variety of other lifeforms. A planet no different from the One own  planet. Interesting in that they are held back because of their individuality. Their Milky Way is full of wonders adding to the knowledge of the One Conscious. They admire the large watching and listening devices they have employed noticing the humans inhabiting Empress Katarina and in the war state of Former Persia,(They refer to time periods they actually admire) use only specific data for more nefarious means.
The Tehran Conduit Guardians noticed concentration and redirecting signals in a meaningful way coming from North America in the ancient mountain chain in Appalachia. The signal clear and meaningful. Equating to, “We hear you, can we talk?”

Chapter 4

The Covid reset

Then COVID Hit. Then came a silence before the intergalactic wailing. It appeared that this virus was created as a weapon, the perfect biological agent, but then it was so good it killed the inventors and was unleashed on an unsuspecting world. 

A scientist who forgot to double glove would rip his glove that was contaminated with the virus infected solution. Without a second thought, he would get up to wash his hands and re-gloving, but the virus particles had already made its way into his blood stream. He would become symptomatic in 72 hours but would go on to infect his wife , 2 sons and their grandparents, his mother and father living in the multi-generational home in Wuhan. 

He would recover somewhat but his family would become sicker. He wanted to surprise his wife with a traditional hairy Crab feeling bad that she  had been so ill. The fish market in Wuhan had the pricey crabs, at 400 USD per crab selling out within hours. Even though he felt ill and was coughing, 1 sneeze he would infect the patron behind him who giving him an ancient curse in Mandarin but she would become infected with her husband and only son all dying drowning in their own secretions. Then the fishmonger who would be infected from the viral loaded sputum,  who would then infect every other patron and his entire family, survival rate would be zero.

The scientist would proudly bring the crabs  home for his mother to prepare. But the crabs would sit in the cooler spoiling his mother by that time would be rushed to the local hospital unable to breathe followed by her husband of 40 years, each dying within hours of each other alone. Then, as he cradled his son as he breathed his last breathe as the baby boy burned with fever, grasping for air, his father knowing he was the assassin, pulling the microbial bullet. He would collect samples surreptitious from his sons bodies, because the twin boys both expired, then from his now comatose wife, returning to his lab submitted the samples to mRNA rapid sequencing. With the exception of a few base pair changes, he identified the culprit present in several million parts, startlingly identical to the weaponized specimen he had just worked with only weeks before. Forever the diligent scientist, he prepared a statement explaining his findings to his superiors, and submitting his resignation with copies going to a classmate who was an ophthalmologist and another media mogul. He would return home, finding the cold corpse of his wife blue from oxygen deprivation. He leaves a very short note in Mandarin

对不起，这是我的错-Duìbùqǐ, zhè shì wǒ de cuò

It’s my fault, I’m Sorry.

He then pulls his wife’s body into the bathroom, opens the arteries of his wrists his life force leaving him. The authorities would find his and wife’s corpses with the rotting of the hairy crab as the hygiene squads were making their morbid sweeps collecting such bodies. 

The information was buried for fear of discovery of sanctions for development of bioweapons, but precious time to discover an antidote or vaccine or reliable treatment as the information was leaked with no plan for containment. 

   The Huns, Tibetan Buddhist Monks all seem spared the indignity of death given their seclusion in the mountains, inaccessible by a government literally dying in the streets. 

    As the virus would rage in the Middle East the hijab shrouded women would be spared given their isolation and religious facial coverings. Also the last of the desert nomads due to their isolation and facial shrouding from windstorms. 

    In the West, the world became more xenophobic bereft of lack of understanding. The risk of financial backlash instead of annihilation which was unavoidable, first denial then ineffective containment. COVID ripped the bandaid off  the governmental sycophants and yes men and women who were ill-equipped to respond and control the outbreak. 

     The response and control being dealt with drastically differently based on time zone and latitude. The world would never know the millions of lives lost behind the former iron curtain and Great Wall before sequencing of the rogue microbial assassin and adequate treatment and a safe vaccine would be found. All the information dying with the deaths of the lab technicians. Stupidly erased from scientific databases but for a small group of savvy lab students downloading the data on several jump drives before escaping into the mountains. 

     The near destruction of Western Civilization would be swift and dramatic with many former British Commonwealth countries becoming virtual graveyards within weeks of exposure to the novel contagion. The only survivors were the ultra-religious Christian sects, survivalist groups, with many and scientists with means to go off grid with sanitizer, Hepa- Filters, Lysol, and masks. This was a few days before Thanksgiving in the US in 2019 and AFroDruids had already sent the first message to Kirsten at SETI. 

     Ya’ll all late, first thoughts from the Lundgrens and the rest of the science community. The science nerds were acutely aware of what was to come. The chatter on the black web was only partially correct of a bioweapon being unleashed intentionally, far from the truth. But the coverup and the spin in the West would keep the containment from being a reality and the subsequent upheaval was completely avoidable. 

   The rapidity of the devolvement into chaos was shocking. By the time that lawyer fell ill in NYC the financial markets and banking institutions would fall like Dominoes. Trade on Wall Street Ground to a halt followed by every financial institution globally, save for cryptocurrency. Doomsayers called for an apocalypse and recognizing  as first the National Guard and then the military and every agent called into service to qual the rioting in every major city in the US. The casualties from the riots further straining the at capacity hospital systems unable to keep up with he onslaught of death. The cities emptied with fleeing citizens and share numbers from death.  Those with means returning to their country homes taking their contagion with them some dying in their posh prisons, killing servants. Then adult children returning to families unsuspecting of the death sentence but susceptible families. Reports of roving bands of militia and others incapable of leaving because they had no place to go meeting out retribution on perceived weakened others. 

     In the dead of winter with many deaths of workers and no concerted effort on a national scheme the State of TN shut down the state literally, declared a state wide emergency all Interstates and state roads, closed to non-essential travel, dispensed or expelled both Senate and House statewide, everyone place on quarantine. TVA, Nuclear Power, And the Hydro Authority had been upgrading their systems for years so when the Eastern Grid started collapsing effects not felt in the state.

     Other states did not fare as well. There was a marked failure to recognize the seriousness of what was to come. Simple delay in quarantine efforts would result in state governments collapsing, no one available to carry on municipal services care for the sick and dying. The Western Power Grid would grind to a halt, salvaged by quick thinking of the Democratic Governor of CA , Oregon and Washington. Compelling as it was to resist and go at it alone, when both Dakotas and Wyoming became graveyards except for the small Native tribes restricted to their reservations would be tasked with cleanup but the only survivors with an intact government. 

 Then with the reported deaths of several high ranking government officials in FL, GA, MS, AL,  AR, and TX in unusual moves all the governors who hadn’t already died were removed and replaced with several mayors and other civilian candidates. This would work well in TN, TX, GA, and then SC. But in places with armed quasi-cult religious leaders would be a menace in the upcoming months. 

     AfroDruids, Hackers Limited, Science Nerds, BioDome, AppHarvest, Virgin, JPL, TESLA were all off line forewarned and well aware of the chaos. There was no stockpiles of protective equipment, ventilator, lab processing solutions, the individual state government, except in TN,  the US states were run by incompetent career politicians. But let’s not forget the former Republican governor of TN had just resigned with his cabinet and most of the State Senate embroiled in a highly publicized financial scandal. This made it very easy to make decisions and shut the state down with minimal resistance with all the obstructionists already out of office. 

     The initial denial of the severity of the illness would result in a super-spreader events for weeks first decimating the Presidential Cabinet, and then both Senate and House of Representatives, and both last appointed justices, and many supportive staff members. The macabre scenes with the refrigerated  morgue semis taking over stadiums and stadium parking lots. When the assistant Director of FBI, Asst Attorney General, Asst Joint Chief of Staff attempted to brief the President of the dire state of his Cabinet and Congress because they were now on 2nd and 3rd in line due to deaths from illness and with the death of Vice President just an hour before. He was reported to have said,” Stop Stop enough of the bad news. No bad news here. It’s all a hoax.” Ending in a wet sounding cough. The career Army 3-star general could take it anymore. He would stand up, remove the a piece of paper and start reading, “Due to your ineptitude and complicity to effectively perform your duties as President…”

Yelling The soon to be ex-president yells,”Take off that mask, I can’t hear you.” When he reaches to attempt to grab the General’s mask, the General also a Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do, easy blocks and grabs the obese fops hand bending it easy behind his back before face planting him on the Presidential desk. His head jerks up, before shaking his head calling off the guards. And simultaneously signaling him to restrain the Presidents children and spouses. Who are handcuffed and removed from the room. He then completes the statement, “You sir, are incapable to perform your duties any capacity. The remnants of your Cabinet invoke the 25th Amendment. You are hereby removed.”

Obese former President yells between choking coughs,”You can’t do this. I am the President. Call the Supreme Court, Call Senate Majority Leader…”

The General,” I would if they weren’t all dead. Now that you are no longer President, if you live because it is obvious you are also infected…” He pauses and another agent in bio gear comes forward spraying him from head to toe with disinfectant. Other officers in full Hazmat gear would enter, obese boy  would be cuffed and placed under arrest. The Assistant Attorney General steps forward reading the charges, “War Crimes for mass murder for negligence and failure to act. Sedition, wanton negligence. And my own personal charge, General and Overt Dumb-assery. You are now remanded to Federal Leavenworth to await trial.” As they lead him away, he is defiant but reduced to a blubbering mass of flab as as they load him and his children on the armored Prison bus. Across the aisles was the blubbering senator from South Carolina and a former Congressman whose name was synonymous with Communist fears and Black balling during the 50s and 60s. The Speaker of the House would contract COVID but would almost be failed by a massive stroke leaving her aphasic unable to communicate. The Senate Majority leader and then President Pro-temp of the Senate  because their deaths preceded the then Vice President and House Speakers stroke,  they the the Great Obstructionists would have been installed as President, but COVID had the last say. 

     Unbeknownst to the world the beginning of 2020 until well into the summer, there was no organized US government. The confusing and useless news briefings just stopped to the relief of the general public.  With the states enacting national emergencies and on locked down, the apparent lack of a government went by for months   unnoticed. 

     When as it seemed the news reports became more bizarre with the lack of any updates from the White House and no reports of sighting of anyone from the current administration. Far from declaration of a military coup, governors not failed by illness, politicians of both parties not failed by illness, and a few mayors would all be called and placed in isolation in DC.

Martial Law was declared. Because prior to the declaration, each governor with the exception of Gretchen Witmer of Michigan and Gov Gavin Newsome of CA was placed under arrest and detained and the former President was cuffed and taken and detained in Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary for the duration. And every leader of the respective political party was arrested and detained at other CIA Black Facilities. The US would go on a prolonged lock down unlike anything ever experienced in the history of the country with a new governing body being comprised of the 2 Democratic Governors, The Atlanta Mayor and former candidate for Governor of GA and the former surviving Presidents of the US.   

   An unease would settle over the country, movement severely restricted. Only goods moving was to food kitchens and grocery stores.  But an outbreak would leave many workers incapable of working. Entire herds of cattle, chicken, and pork ceased to exist dying from disease, bodies destroyed in a contaminated BBQ. 

     Grocery stores rapidly emptied because of no deliveries and then many following food riots.  Food scarcity extending even into the overpriced food stores. The civil minded authorities would enact WW2 level rationing system. With cooperation with Banks citizens with valid accounts would be extended digital currency that served the purpose of tracking cost and allowing assess to food, medicine, coffee. A spirit of encouraging Victory Gardens and composting was key. But there always would be a nefarious subset of people trying to scam the system. Also, locals with knowledge of land ownership would take any opportunity to steal what they could not scam from the system. 

    Prior to the local declaration of Marshall law and economic collapse, AfroDruids property incursions were not very frequent with unsuspecting hikers given cool water and sometimes a meal before being sent on their way. But what led to the armoring and arming of the high tech drones was when 2 legged intruders became more aggressive and the robberies more frequent. In the last such was a group of armed militia looking men with a nighttime raid, the result being 2 of the men injured and carried back to the road to several flatbeds waiting. It was an inside job of sorts, because the gates surround the property were electrified, but the raiders would set up false circuits making the fencing appear to be intact, but allowing it to be cut easily leading the cow through, to be loaded on the waiting flatbed for transport. As if they were anticipating success, but not prepared to be shot at. 

The cameras were still functioning alerting Felicity who was working on telescopes making observations with Kirsten to the intrusion, both deploying the newly armed drones and successfully repelling the intruders. 

    The last being so well planned and the level of violence,  the Lundgrens would request and granted a remote inquiry. The inquiry board made up local deputies council members, former energy executives, former megachurch pastor, and concerned citizens.  Local active and former officers that had survived were conscripted into the new militarized zone, tasked with keeping order. But as in everything, humans are weak. Some of these officers had sketchy backgrounds fired for excessive force and other violations. Some of the councilman were no better; removed from office for financial malfeasance. The pastor losing his church when rumors of an affair with an underage teen who would eventually become his wife and a disgraced energy executive removed for embezzlement serving out his 10 year probation after his house arrest was abated because of COVID.

Felicity remarks to Dahl,” This Zoom call is a who’s who of criminals. It’s like a line up. How did these shady fools get on this council?”

Granny Jo, Felicity’s grandmother remarks,”Just too mean to die.”

Devan remarks,”This is nothing but a kangaroo court. Don’t be too shocked if they try to flip this and order confiscation.” The mood in the Grotto became real somber.

Kirsten manning the monitors along the gate looks up and tells the room, “Jackson hasn’t been back since that last intrusion.”

Dahl, “We don’t expect him to return. Is connection to Nashville open. “

Markesha Bradley the appointed Governor of the State speaks up,”Yes, me and the state police Chief and Guard Commander are standing by.”

Colonel Bill Blake, National Guard. “All commanders are reporting in. The building is secure.”

The cameras cut to the a lower chamber with zip-tied officers. With Black clad-face masked national Guardsmen in place guarding. And the Guardsmen on the stairs leading to the council chambers. 

Gov. Markesha asks,”So, should I ask how you how you were able to access the state capitol cameras undetected and secured access to Public access for this announcement?”

Felicity, “ You can ask, but we won’t answer.”

Gov. Bradley,”Fair enough. You know you haven’t changed since Ms. Vitz’s 4th grade Math class.” Felicity smiles her usual half smile. Devan comes over peeping and shrieks, “Oh snap Marky-Mark!!” Felicity shushes her,” I didn’t think you remembered. They are starting.” All three women had attended 3 and 4th grade together, with Markesha living just 2 doors from them in the Chattanooga projects until she went to live with her father’s parents when her own mother went to jail. She would graduate with honors from Middle Tennessee State with double major in social work and political science while raising her son as a single mother and domestic violence survivor. She would run as a long shot candidate for 1 of the 2 senate seats. But when the Governor was removed and most of the State House and senators were jailed in a federal fraud sweep and both US Senators would succumb to COVID, she and a few quick thinking mayors would return to Nashville taking power and consolidating. Within 40 days it became obvious that local governments had been overrun and chaos would ensue with municipal enforcement council popping up. So when Devan submitted the inquiry detailing the incident and pictures to the State’s Attorney office ahead of the inquiry. There is an announcement of the proceedings on line and the broadcasting was transmitted on public access on on the Web. 

     Before the inquiry could start each officer would log on and their picture displayed both Felicity and Kirsten would have sharp intake of air recognizing 4 of 6 on the committee members as a driver of the vehicles, and the other in a sling being one of the injured raiders. The former sheriff calls the meeting to order detailing purpose of the meeting. The Sheriff, a caricature of the racist enforcer of the 1960 deep South variety known for brutality and leading lynchings, clears his throat and drawls, “Mr and Mrs Long Green…”

Dahl corrects,”That’s Lundgren, it’s Dutch.”

Sheriff,”Ahh, so ya’ll ain’t from here?”

Dahl,”If you mean are we Americans. Well ,yes we are.  I am a naturalized citizen but originally from South Africa and my wife born and raised in Chattanooga.” 

Sheriff,”So how did you end up with the old Jones farm. I fished  on the Crick growing up and taught my boys to fish.”nodding in the direction of the sling wearing Deputy. 

Dahl,” Is that right? We bought the land and outbuildings from Old Jones son Phillip over 18 years ago when we first began working at the community college.”

Sheriff,”Teachers at the Community college. For the life of me, I can’t understand how you all got that big fancy house and a dang telescope on that played out mines. And pastures and greenhouses. We thought tobacco was dead in these parts.” He takes out a massive Bowie knife and starts to clean his nails. 

Dahl says,”Being smart pays.”

The wounded Deputy,” And being a smart aleck kills.”

Sheriff,”Now hush son. My son has no patience. “

Former Energy Executive,”Gabe just get on with it.”

Slowly closing the knife as the reflection flashes on the screen,”Well, reports are we have no way to restock any of the stores, gas, except for local manufacturers and farms. The government wants to re-enact rationing. But why, we have the means to feed ourselves with proper local supervision.”

Felicity,”But what does that have to do with the raiders trying to steal our cattle.”

Sheriff,” Who the hell are you.”

Felicity,”I am Felicity Lundgren, Dr. Lundgren to you.”

Sheriff,”Well, how do. Now hush and let the men conduct business.”

Felicity snaps,” Is this red-neck fool for real?”

Gunshot Deputy,”You Black bitch, not only are we taking your animals and every other local animal, we taking all the produce and you will continue to produce because we tell you so. We are the only law. So who you going to tell?”

Felicity,”Hmm, well actually you are doing a really good job telling the world and the Governor and New inspector general…”

Governor Bradley then unhides her screen joining the meeting,

”Absolute power…”shaking her head. Then the Guardsmen standing at the ready rush in crashing into the chamber arresting the council members who don’t go easily.

The camera focuses on the Governor,”Citizens of Tennessee here me. My name is Markesha Bradley, I was most recently defeated in my run for Senate. And then a virus would come like a thief in the night killing everyone I would hold dear, including my beloved only child. Born premature spending the first 5 months of his life I the NICU hooked up to machines, surving a stroke, issues with his gut, a blood infections only to die on the floor of the same hospital because there was no room or a bed for him. I would bury almost every member of my family except 2 little nieces, daughters of my brother. But I am not the only one experienced and surving the loses. All unexpected but we will endure, we will rebuild. But only can we do this together. We must make sure we take care of all citizens have their basic needs met. We cannot devolve into lawlessness, greed. Paramilitary and quasi-legal tribunals that we just saw will not be tolerated. We are under Marshall law for the purpose to maintain law and order, uniform distribution of good, water, shelter and medical care. Because guess what, there is enough of everything to go around. 

     Air travel is restricted only for troop and state police movement. All travel by ground is restricted unless for transport of goods, industrial, food, medical, and essential supplies. 

    All large meat processor and food producers are off line. But there are over 700 small farms registered through out the state who through a central barter and exchange will be called upon to provide fresh food and meat to central grocers, with each citizen with an account will receive digital currency for such goods.

   We have the capability to provide ground and air coverage through advanced drone technology. Lawless attempts to interrupt this new supply chain will not be tolerated and harsh repercussions will be meted out. 

   These restrictions are meant to be temporary but only prolonged if you don’t comply. Each of these local tribunals are nearby disbanded and replaced by statewide representatives.

    We will get through this but only in cooperation with the greater good. We will be giving twice daily updates on this same channel. Until further notice all news channels will be directed through the state, and as soon as communications with Washington DC and surrounding states can be reestablished, we will include those communications. 

   I promise we will get through this, but only together. Thank you and God Bless us all. “

   It seemed that every racist and Confederate ghost and staunch individualist lost their mind with rioting and just extreme Anger that this short round  brown woman with a AFro would dare restore order and establish a non-white government. The many attempts at storming the capitol were met with the militarized drones and the riots quickly albeit brutally rapidly. 

   The kangaroo tribunals were in fact disbanded replaced with state representative and lead citizen groups setting up triage areas, central bodies with direct reporting to Governors and state’s attorney offices. The small town racists Sheriffs and other lawbreakers more difficult to root out because they hid moving deeper into the virgin forests. The lawbreakers who could be found were tried and jailed. The first wave to be prosecuted in Knox county the racist Boss Hog-Like Sheriff and the corrupt deputies including his Shyster son. Neither Boss-Hog like Sheriff or his son would survive the first prison riot lead by other put upon White Supremacists. 

    An Uneasy peace would be restored, and an altered new reality would prevail.

Chapter 5

America, The Final Chapter?

The United States was in free fall. Survivors of a former system that was broken were recalled to repair it. TN was spared the totality of the collapse due to a self-sufficiency of sorts. Its quasi independence from the energy grid was part shady but kind of brilliant. They would use subsidies to upgrade and convert to hydrotherapy. The usage of the Army Corp of Engineers and Federal Government grants to create a system that could be managed even without human contact based on advance AI technology. The same with the communications with all the towers with major telecommunications being housed here with the system architects also residing here. 

     Because TN kept the power on, the connection the Observatories and NASA systems also remained on line. The systems would go green 1 at a time first in GA, AL, LA, FL, TX and CA. Power and communications being re-routed through the South with Middle American being largely cut off. The Eastern power grid collapses with no plans or way to be recovered plunging the Eastern seaboard into a deep freeze. Down toward DC.

     The Capitol with  CDC/NIH being evacuated to TN to continue.research on virus eradication and vaccine development. The survivors of the Pentagon and remnant of Supreme Court and Congress being moved to the Bunker under Greenbriar in WVa under full military escort. The former occupant of the White House reduced to complete babbling idiocy, not much different when he was President, with his children, would be detained in the maximum Federal Prison at Riverbend outside of Nashville. More to keep an eye of them not stir of diversions and splinter groups for the time.  The surviving Presidents would join the remnant government in WVa with the exception of President Carter to frail to make the journey, but also of the old guard and too moral to make some of the hard decisions necessary to rebuild the nation. Less than 60 members of Congress would survive and be healthy enough to be evacuated to the W. Va bunker with the remainder including the House Speaker would convalesce in a makeshift place in Richmond. 

     The military would establish presence I the major cities, assisting evacuations South with most open spaces becoming large RV Park Cities with empty campers and trailers becoming temporary homes. They would be given great latitude to maintain peace and order with weekly sessions of updates to the Presidential Council. 

    Movement was restricted to essential personnel with the military and law enforcement only, sanitation, and the grim morgue squads tasked with massive corpse retrieval and cremation. 

     Not only was movement on the interstate restricted the information highway too became restricted, social media taken off line with new agencies, streaming service, and nonessential entrainment being removed. The remnants of a finance sector being decimated. With Ways and Means being redirected to services, redirected the electrical grid, clean water, waste disposal. The rationing system became a nessicity while the government reasserted itself. 

     After the local mock-tribunal was disbanded and the participants arrested, the incursions onto the Lundgren’s property became less frequent but noticeable more violent as people became tempted to defy the new austere system out of anger  and then of desperation trying to live within the Federal rationing system without any variety in supplies. The previously known agrarian knowledge lost as the country modernized if ever known. The former Monsanto scientists, in cooperation with heirloom Seedsavers with the assistance from an unlikely source, the medicinal marijuana growers began to become the countries main producers of fresh fruit and vegetables. They would be allowed space to start teaching new techniques and basic gardening to the masses on the community web networks. The industrial arts would take on new meaning with the realization that many of the talented few had succumbed to the talent.

     With trepidation, the Universities private and public would come back on line with primary and secondary education coming back to life. They were able to slowly convince the elected officials of the need to get them back on line with the pursuit of other scientific endeavors were just as important as the basic need to combat COVID-19. The fear of the vulnerability of the country to attack was true. But the other powers did not fair any better with populations, armies being decimated. Each government, each culture just trying to survive, stealing from and conquering a vulnerable United States was far from important, at least for now. 

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