A Gathering Storm

Chapter 3

Peace through force

April 4, 2008(Jericho Resistance Radio Broadcast)

Oppressed peoples of the ASA. We are all being lied to, the ASA in Cheyanne has been lieing to us from the get go. We know who did the September Attacks, we know why they did them, we know where they got the bombs. However, the ASA leadership is still claiming that it was outside agitators. They are wrong. Are the reports of Ravenwood war crimes wrong. People of the ASA, people of America. Your country has been taken from you by a man called Thomas Valente and his Puppet President John Tomarchio. If you seek freedom, if you seek justice for all the pain that we have suffered since the September Attacks. Then prepare to fight, stand with the 10th mountain and the Jericho resistance. Remember Johnson Green, Remember Bonnie Richmond, Remember the United States of America.

(Message repeats)

The covered flatbed truck moved along the streets of cheyanne toward the capital building at a normal pace. The driver was in no hurry to get to his destination. As he pulled up to the first checkpoint around the assembly area. He provided his id that listed him as a catering company and the private let him on through. He moved the truck to the left of the croud and proceed to the area where hte other truckes were parked by the podium and turn the engine off. The driver then left the truck and proceeded down the back alley and pulled out satelite phone and dialed a preprogrammed number, on the other end a disguised voice spoke." Speak."The driver turned a corner and answered the man on the phone."Device, in place a ready for activation. Is the device in prime location for maximum effectiveness. Yes, it is sir. Good head to the rendevous, payment will be waiting for you there, good work."The phone clicked off and the driver got into a late model station wagon left at the end of the alley. He heaed along the side street until he was on the outskirts of cheyanne. As he turned off the car and waited for his payment the phone chirped beside him. He picked it up and hit the send button."You have done well today agent and you will be remembered for the deeds you did. It is time for your payment."The driver never felt any pain as the small amount of C-4 detonanted in the phone killed the driver. Later on members of ravenwood arrived on scene and began digging a mass grave. In it the crew who built the bomb and the driver were placed and gasoline was poured over them and set on fire. After the fire had died down, some several hours later the grave was filled and the agents of ravenwood were told they were just burning prisoners from oakridge not the architechs of the second American Civil War.

(April 4, 2008 ASA Capital Complex Cheyanne)

President Tomarchio waited in the main area of the Capital building while the 12 children of the of the Scared Heart Orphanage and the 12 Children of the Hope orphanage waited to be escorted out to the stage where in a few minutes president Tomarchio would speak. As he continued to wait for his que Thomas Valente came up behind him and whispered in his ear."All is ready sir, just remember you speech and everything will be fine." The president nodded and headed for the big doors that still smelled of fresh paint and headed out onto the waiting podium. He proceeded down the steps and walked past the children making sure the rub the head of each boy or girl he walked by. He then shook the hands of the women who ran the orphanages and made his way to the podium. It is here that he began to speak to the croud."Ladies and gentlemen, it is good to see all of the people of the ASA here to commemorate these fine women for the work they do with our future." The croud began to clap but never finished. The truck bomb detonated sending sending the 100 ball bearings added to the bomb flyling like bullets everywhere. What fire, over pressure and pieces of shrapnel didn't kill, was viewing a scene of incredible horror. The children young and vibrant moments ago were gone. Some could bee seen laying on the ground while others, only pieces could be seen. The 4 women from the Orphanages were dead. The women were shredded by the shrapnel from the blast. Knocked some four feet from the podium was Tomarchio, blood oozing from a wound in his leg, unconcious. The ASA Secret Service, picked him up and rushed him inside the capital as the ASA Military locked the area down. On the ground next to a body of a small child was the tattered remain of a Texas flag, and emebedded in the podium was a wallet with the name Jake Green inside.

(April 4, 2008 ASA Radio Broadcast 26 minutes after the blast)

Ladies and gentlemen if you are just joining us, here is a recap. At about 2:00pm,while making a statement to the croud about the future of the ASA, a truck bomb of undetermined strength went off and had killed at least 20 people so far. The condition of the president is unknown at this point, but we have confirmed that he was wounded in the blast and is being looked after at a secure location. Early reports indicate that a ROT flag was found at the scene along with other evidence pointing to what many are calling the Jericho Resistance Movement. If this is true then there is no doubt that the Republic of Texas is aiding this milita movement with plans for agression against the ASA. Acting President and Homeland Security director Thomas Valente has ordered all ASA units on high alert and already there is talk of begining a draft for more people to join the military to stop this aggression. Already a cround of protestors had formed in front of the Republic of Texas embassy and we have unconfirmed reports that Thomas Valente has asked the ROT ambassador, to leave ASA territory within 24 hours or be arrested. We will bring you more news as it becomes avilable.

(50 minutes after the blast)

"What is tomarchio's condition, Doctor Michaels" Said the new acting president Thomas Valente to the doctor over the phone."He has sustained some shock damage from the blast but he will survive that, the wound in his leg is more severe. It has nicked a vital artery, and we need to operate immediately." What are his chances doctor, will he survive? Yes, because of his status he was made a priority but he will be out of action for a few weeks at the least more likely though he wont be going anywhere for at least 2 months. Thank you doctor, is there anything else? Yes, we are getting alot of patients from the blast and the staff is being stretched to the limit, we need some help. I already have military triage units enroute now and the first units should arrive there within 10 minutes that others will be getting there within 30 minutes. Thank you Doctor now i really have to focus on other business now, goodbye."Valente then ended the call and looked up in the new oval office of the ASA. The man to the right of him was the New director of Homeland Security and the second in Charge of Ravenwood, Charles Stevens. He was 45 with a scar on his face that was just under the mouth and wearing the black polo shirt and beige pants of all Ravenwood employees."He survived, Tomarchio is stronger than he looks. Charles then got up from the couch he was sitting on an approached the desk."Maybe we should make sure he doesn't awake from the surgery, he has here of late been growing a concious."No, if he is to die it must be natural, and without our interference. His death would raise to many questions plus we need him to solidify our power base here. After that, he is worm food but not before, is that understood? Yes, sir it is, what do you want to do first handle the Jericho Resistance or the ROT? Right now we dont know what happened in Jericho after the bombs and i want confirmation that Hawkins is dead. He is the only one, who could link the whole back to us. We strike for Jericho first take care of the boil on our back then we hit ROT. Tell the military to prep for conscription, while they are being trained we will take care of the last thread and once that is done we will get back to setting this country right." Charles then left and Thomas Valente reached for the phone and began called the military leaders preping for war.

(April 5 2008 ASA Radio Broadcast)

Hello, Ladies and gentlemen, we bring you a special update. We have just learned that moments ago, air strikes started on the towns of New Bern and Jericho in an effort to force the leaders of the Jericho resistance to surrender and face trials for the murder of the 24 children, and 53 other people in what is now called that Cheyanne Massacre. Early reports, continue to pour in as word of the inital air strikes indicate that onll targets deemed miltary or aiding the resistance movement is being targeted. Casulaties have yet to be determined. We will keep updating as news becomes available. It is now 3:40 am and this is the ASA Radio Network.