Read Online The Line of Departure: A Postapocalyptic Novel (The New World Series Book 4) by G. Michael Hopf - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: G. Michael Hopf
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Republic. Other states that were now crossed out or missing from the map of the current United States were parts of North Dakota, South Dakota, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. These states now marked off gave a glimpse of a new, much smaller country if some of the groups wanting to break away succeeded.
Conner’s eyes ran over the map quickly, his heartbeat increasing when his mind started to process what he was seeing.
“If you look at the paper I handed out, you’ll see about five major groups. There are a lot of mobs and gangs, but the groups I’ll cover are organized and could pose a problem. We all remember the MIP, and though they are down, we can’t consider them out. We will need to monitor them. Major Schmidt was smart to keep a small contingency of troops up there to support the governor. In Arizona we’re dealing with a group called the Arizona Republic. They’re attempting to break away legitimately by convincing the governor and state legislature to vote on secession. You won’t believe it, but their leader is former Congressman Faye—”
Conner interrupted her by blurting out, “Faye? He served with me and was a part of my caucus back in the nineties. The son of a bitch term-limited himself out of office, so now he wants his own country?”
“Apparently he has a lot of support in the legislature but not enough for a two-thirds victory. He has a series of militias sworn to him, but so far they’ve kept it civil.”
“Let’s hope it stays that way,” Conner stated.
“Up in the northwest, in Washington and Idaho we have a group called the Cascadian Independence Movement, which is split into two factions. The one in western Washington wants to split and are more militant; however, they don’t seem to have the means to do much. The other faction is located in eastern Washington and Idaho. They want a split too, but they have expressed they’ll settle on a political solution, such as a loose affiliation. The governors from both states said they’re seeing many of these symbols across the state.” Wilbur walked back to the table and showed a picture of the flag that symbolized the Cascadian Movement. It was beautiful, with three horizontal stripes of blue, white, and green. In the middle of the flag was a silhouette of a Douglas fir tree. It was where the flag got its nickname, the Doug flag.
Conner snatched the picture and shook his head in frustration. “Goddamn idiots. Don’t they know we’re doing our best to help them?”
Wilbur ignored the comment and continued. “And just twenty miles away from right where we stand is the western boundary of the Republic of Lakotah. They too have a strong organizing body but haven’t yet garnered widespread support. There have been reports of some of them here in town. Apparently they’re attempting to organize a march here to petition us for a peaceful separation. Their desire is to split off parts of Wyoming, North and South Dakota, and Nebraska.”
“They’re in our backyard and I’m just now hearing about this?” Conner angrily interjected.
“Sir, we’ve had our noses to the grindstone with the PAE,” Baxter said lightly. Conner grimaced.
“Last but not least is a group of states that have come together from a result of our eastern states plan. The states of Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and South Carolina have formed the Dixie Federation. I mention them only because things are happening back east. Our abandonment has left a huge vacuum and they moved in. They don’t pose a problem to us, just thought you should know.”
Conner sat and examined the map closely. He noticed that she hadn’t explained the changes to Oklahoma and Arkansas. “What happened to Oklahoma and Arkansas?”
“Sorry, yes, the southern part of Oklahoma and most of Arkansas is seeking to join the Republic of Texas.”
“You all are looking to me to make a decision, but I need to allow this to marinate before I say we do
Conner’s eyes ran over the map quickly, his heartbeat increasing when his mind started to process what he was seeing.
“If you look at the paper I handed out, you’ll see about five major groups. There are a lot of mobs and gangs, but the groups I’ll cover are organized and could pose a problem. We all remember the MIP, and though they are down, we can’t consider them out. We will need to monitor them. Major Schmidt was smart to keep a small contingency of troops up there to support the governor. In Arizona we’re dealing with a group called the Arizona Republic. They’re attempting to break away legitimately by convincing the governor and state legislature to vote on secession. You won’t believe it, but their leader is former Congressman Faye—”
Conner interrupted her by blurting out, “Faye? He served with me and was a part of my caucus back in the nineties. The son of a bitch term-limited himself out of office, so now he wants his own country?”
“Apparently he has a lot of support in the legislature but not enough for a two-thirds victory. He has a series of militias sworn to him, but so far they’ve kept it civil.”
“Let’s hope it stays that way,” Conner stated.
“Up in the northwest, in Washington and Idaho we have a group called the Cascadian Independence Movement, which is split into two factions. The one in western Washington wants to split and are more militant; however, they don’t seem to have the means to do much. The other faction is located in eastern Washington and Idaho. They want a split too, but they have expressed they’ll settle on a political solution, such as a loose affiliation. The governors from both states said they’re seeing many of these symbols across the state.” Wilbur walked back to the table and showed a picture of the flag that symbolized the Cascadian Movement. It was beautiful, with three horizontal stripes of blue, white, and green. In the middle of the flag was a silhouette of a Douglas fir tree. It was where the flag got its nickname, the Doug flag.
Conner snatched the picture and shook his head in frustration. “Goddamn idiots. Don’t they know we’re doing our best to help them?”
Wilbur ignored the comment and continued. “And just twenty miles away from right where we stand is the western boundary of the Republic of Lakotah. They too have a strong organizing body but haven’t yet garnered widespread support. There have been reports of some of them here in town. Apparently they’re attempting to organize a march here to petition us for a peaceful separation. Their desire is to split off parts of Wyoming, North and South Dakota, and Nebraska.”
“They’re in our backyard and I’m just now hearing about this?” Conner angrily interjected.
“Sir, we’ve had our noses to the grindstone with the PAE,” Baxter said lightly. Conner grimaced.
“Last but not least is a group of states that have come together from a result of our eastern states plan. The states of Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and South Carolina have formed the Dixie Federation. I mention them only because things are happening back east. Our abandonment has left a huge vacuum and they moved in. They don’t pose a problem to us, just thought you should know.”
Conner sat and examined the map closely. He noticed that she hadn’t explained the changes to Oklahoma and Arkansas. “What happened to Oklahoma and Arkansas?”
“Sorry, yes, the southern part of Oklahoma and most of Arkansas is seeking to join the Republic of Texas.”
“You all are looking to me to make a decision, but I need to allow this to marinate before I say we do
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