Whiteout

PROLOGUE

Wednesday, October 30

Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center

Northern Virginia

Despite the dire circumstances America faced and the unusual conditions under which her government operated, the media from around the world continued to clamor for information. The nuclear detonations had succeeded in collapsing the power grid and associated critical infrastructure across most of America. Nonetheless, information was still being disseminated to her citizens via shortwave radio, satellite television broadcasts, and word of mouth.

President Carter Helton’s psychological condition had deteriorated in the initial period following the attacks. Over several days, with the assistance of the White House physician and his close friend Chief of Staff Harrison Chandler, he’d gradually regained control. For the first time since the nuclear warhead struck Washington, DC, he was going to address the nation and then take questions from the media.

His address was going to be like no other in American history. It would rank alongside George Washington’s Farewell Address in 1796 and Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address of 1863. Its tone and tenor were completely opposite of other national addresses like John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address of 1961 in which he said, “Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” Nor did President Helton call out the enemy like FDR did in his war message to Congress in 1941 following the attack on Pearl Harbor.

No. President Helton focused his efforts on controlling the American people.

In the press room of the Mount Weather Emergency Operations Center in Northern Virginia, the two dozen reporters who’d remained embedded with the Helton administration throughout the entire ordeal shifted uneasily in their seats. They’d been starved for information, receiving only what the president’s chief of staff allowed to be leaked to the press pool. This would be their first opportunity to see the president speak and to ask him questions.

The atmosphere was far different from a normal press briefing, where the television media reporters would be standing with their network cameras focused on their pre-address comments. They would be relaying to the viewing audience what they expected the president to say and what it meant. That was not the case on this occasion. There was only one camera that would be focused on the president. Network feeds were unnecessary, as there were no American news outlets capable of receiving them. The broadcast would be sent out via satellite to foreign news networks, who would then share it as circumstances allowed.

The administration’s staff tried to convey a sense of normalcy despite their harried looks off-camera. The stage for the address had been set. The Blue Goose, the nickname for the large blue podium adorned with the seal of the President of the United States, was an exact replica of the one likely destroyed in the nuclear detonation near the White House. It had remained perched atop a raised stage, awaiting a presidential address, since the moment they’d entered Mount Weather a week ago.

Flanking the podium to the president’s right as he spoke was the United States flag, a symbol of America’s historic journey from rebellion to exceptionalism. On the other side of the Blue Goose was the flag of the president, the presidential coat of arms on a dark blue background.

Suddenly, with little warning, Chandler announced the president would be coming out within sixty seconds. Any reporters milling about scrambled to take a seat. The muffled conversations of the attendees became an eerie hush as if an invisible hand had hit the mute button. At the start, the media was respectful, as most understood the gravity of this address.

A red light was illuminated on the sole, somewhat antiquated camera that sat in the center of the media seating. Its technology was a decade old but sufficient to broadcast to the U.S. military satellites in low-Earth orbit for further transmission around the globe.

If Peter Albright had been present, he would’ve been struck by the entourage who accompanied the president onto the stage. To be sure, the director of the nation’s Department of Homeland Security was to be expected. Most assumed the secretaries of transportation and energy, who oversaw the nation’s critical infrastructure, would be present. Perhaps the secretary of agriculture and her counterpart at the commerce department would be there to address the recovery effort.

But an audible gasp filled the room together with a smattering of whispers when the only people by the president’s side were his attorney general and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the highest-ranking and most senior military officer in the armed forces.

Many in the room speculated internally that the president was going to ask for a war declaration from Congress, hence the presence of the CJCS. But what would be the purpose of the nation’s top legal advisor being present? They would soon find out, as the president had just settled in behind the podium.

“My fellow Americans, these are unprecedented times. Starting with the unprovoked nuclear attack by Iran on Israel, through the use of nuclear weapons by North Korea on its neighbors and then on the United States, the world has been thrust into a global catastrophe like no other.

“By all counts, millions have perished as a result of the nuclear attacks, and now we face a climatic event that threatens the lives of billions more. It’s a catastrophe never faced by modern mankind, and it’s one that doesn’t discriminate between the rich and poor, or by race, gender, or nationality. The citizens of the world face this calamity together.

“However, my job, as commander-in-chief, is the security of the American people. Other nations are suffering, to be sure, and their leaders are dedicating their efforts to saving lives. As a result, as we’ve learned, help is not forthcoming from abroad. We have to move forward on our own.

“Through my conversations with the leaders of China, Russia, and European nations, I am assured there will be no further hostilities. Every nation is standing down militarily. This is important as we try to cope with the devastating aftermath and find a path forward toward recovery.

“The first order of business is to regain control of our country. We are facing threats from within. There are those who would undermine our government by taking advantage of our weakened military and law enforcement. These opportunists range from criminals roaming the streets to well-organized militia who seek to subvert the Constitution and establish their own forms of government.

“Therefore, upon the advice of the attorney general and with the strategic planning of our military leaders, I will be taking steps designed to help our fellow Americans during this inexplicable crisis.

“Americans are concerned about their health and safety. Many are starving and without proper shelter. Some are in need of life-saving medical treatment or even life-sustaining medications. We will be outlining a comprehensive plan for helping those in need. It will be a monumental task, one that not only requires the use of all governmental resources but also cooperation from you, the American people.

“The burden of helping one another is universal. It takes a village to achieve a goal of this magnitude, and we will be announcing the mechanism to enlist everyone’s participation. Tonight, I am signing a series of executive orders designed to create the largest recovery effort in American history. These orders will grant powers to the Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and the Joint Chiefs to take the steps necessary to get America back on her feet.

“Now, make no mistake, it will be difficult times for us all. However, I firmly believe by harnessing the resolve of every American who wants to lend cooperation and assistance to this task, we will be able to make our communities safer, stronger, and better prepared to respond to any threats from within or without that hinder our recovery plans.

“Rather than look at this plan as a potential restriction on your rights, look at it in the same vein that the great John F. Kennedy did. It’s time for you to help your country through mutual sacrifice and sharing. This is a call to action, and I know the American people will unselfishly respond as we expect them to.

“The actions that I have taken are done with an overriding purpose, which is to ensure the stability of our government while protecting those among us who are most vulnerable. Now, I would like to allow the attorney general to read a statement summarizing the most pertinent provisions of my actions. Mr. Attorney General.”

The president stepped back a couple of paces and gestured for the attorney general to approach the podium. The aging lawyer was much shorter than the president but tall in stature when it came to political clout within the administration. Unlike attorneys general of the past, he had the president’s ear and was eager to do President Helton’s bidding.

“Ladies and gentlemen, I’ll get right to it. Following my statement, a copy of the executive order and declaration I am about to read aloud will be distributed to you. It will also be posted by U.S. Marshals inside the glass doors or other conspicuous places at every federal building across the country. It is required by law and the president’s executive order that I must read this declaration in its entirety.”

Over the next ten minutes, the attorney general read aloud the provisions of President Helton’s executive order declaring martial law in America. While trying to contain themselves, the members of the media whispered to one another or unconsciously uttered words of surprise aloud.

During those ten minutes, the declaration gutted the U.S. Constitution. The First Amendment rights of free speech, assembly, and religion were severely restricted under the guise of preventing insurrection and rioting.

The Second Amendment right to bear arms was suspended for the general health, safety and welfare of American citizens. Under martial law, the president declared all privately held weapons, magazines, ammunition, and accessories of any kind to be illegal. Americans were ordered to voluntarily relinquish them to law enforcement or the military. The government would access the database of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives to identify gun owners. For those who failed to comply, they’d risk having them taken by force.

In order to enforce the provisions of the martial law declaration, the president suspended the Fourth, Fifth, Sixth and Seventh Amendments that protected American citizens from unlawful search and seizure as well as a right to due process or a speedy trial in any legal proceedings.

Further, in addition to specific provisions dealing with penalties such as forfeiture, confiscation, and imprisonment for noncompliance, the declaration of martial law suspended the Tenth Amendment. Designed by the Founding Fathers to limit federal powers, the Tenth Amendment reserved to the states any power not specifically granted to the federal government under the Constitution.

In other words, the president was taking over control of every aspect of America’s government at all levels from the state houses to, most importantly, police powers ordinarily falling under the purview of the states.

Even President Helton’s many allies in the media shuddered at the broad-reaching, draconian consequences of his actions.