-The protest group outside of Washington D.C.-
After losing her twin daughters 10 years prior, Karen has worked hard to start an anti-government anti-war campaign to raise awareness. With the rally soon starting she stands in a large conference hall filled with around 800 or so parents who had also lost their children and around 4,000 other concerned citizens. Most families have given up hope of ever finding their children again with how much time has past, but not Karen Volden. She still has dreams about that old woman's smile as her children were taken from her and the trap door the men used. The police had found the hidden floor of the building that the government had used to take her children, so at least the world didn't think she was crazy. It has been hard, especially since 3 years after the children disappeared and the search parties told her to give up, she and her husband parted ways. Karen would never accept the loss of her children and would never stop looking for them, he on the other hand was ready to move on.
Two years after she worked hard to form this group online to find people who had the same thing happen to them. Originally it was a search for any information on where her children might be, or what may have happened to them. However, in the past 3 years tensions between countries has continued to grow giving her group the resources to mobilize to a degree she couldn't imagine. Some joined because of the fear of losing their own children, some for the thrill of being an activist, most though joined because they fear the coming war. With the world at defcon 4, tensions in the world governments and all their people are at an all time high.
In the past few months her group managed to get an inside source, someone deep within the secretive side of the government who seems willing to talk about what they are not telling the news reporters. With that knowledge, Karen quickly through together this meeting to finally act and stop this government from sending anyone to war. She wrote her speech late last night pacing thinking about the consequences of what she was asking the group to do. But they had to do something, from what she learned many of the stolen children were being turned into soldiers who would fight on the front lines. She couldn't imagine her children that she never got to see grow up dying for a government who had no right to take them.
She takes in a deep breath walking up to the podium just as she always does before she makes an address, "Hello and welcome everyone. Today we are going to go over new information about the coming war that one of our spies got from a government official. I know that the loss of our children is the original reason we were brought together, but the truth is we as a group can do so much more. Our current theory is that our children were taken to become the soldiers of this new war. A war where bioengineering, chemical warfare, and technology combine. Some say this war will be the end of mankind. I agree, if we can't stop this war no one's children will be safe. We have already seen escalating trouble in europe between France and England. The Chinese have already begun their war with the neighboring countries, and from what we've found out Russia is amassing an army on their eastern and southern borders", she takes a drink of water remembering reading the intel for the first time. She look out at the group assembled, almost all of them have the same look she did . . . Fear.
She looks at her notes finding her place and starts again. "We the people who have given everything to our government, deserve better than this. We have also got wind that our country will once again use the draft to build up our nation's troops. I believe our group though we are small now will grow exponentially when the draft is officially announced. To prepare for this eventuality I ask that all members of the party begin recruiting and gathering weapons". One of the men in the crowd speak up interrupting her speech.
"Our own weapons? Karen what are you proposing we do?". She looks at the man he's older probably early 50's, "we need to overthrow the government before we end up part of this world war. That is the only way we can get our children back". Many in the crowd gasp at the idea some look at each other confused, a choice few look at Karen as if she was Jesus come again. Maybe this was a bad idea, she senses her usual stern face turning to a confused. She looks out into the crowd and sets her speech aside, "All of you have lost for this country. I lost my twin daughters not long after they were born. This government took them and is now using them for God knows what without my consent. This country is no longer a democracy or a place of freedom anyone of us can see that. So tell me do we truly not have the rights to overthrow such a tyrannical government?".
Many who started against the idea seem to really think about it. The older man who spoke up glances down at his feet. Karen tries to remember him, he was at the group talks about 5 years ago . . . I think his wife committed suicide after their son was taken, or was he the one who lost the 3 boys? "Now that you all seem to understand, we plan to continue with our picketing the white house tomorrow morning. I would also like to employ someone who is good with advertising and media. We need to get the word out and stop this", suddenly the ground shakes violently a loud boom is heard in the distance.
Bomb sirens go off everywhere telling everyone to get underground to safety. Karen and many others run outside seeing the fires and Russian bombers flying overhead.
"My God. . . . . . they bombed DC," Karen stands dumbfounded. Were all her efforts to keep the peace really that pointless.
This was the day that would become known as E Day, and the start of world war 3. The group scatters in all directions eager to get home or to get somewhere Karen didn't know or care. She needed to get to safety and sadly the safest place was near a military base. As she runs down the main street cars crash eager to escape the now war zone that is Washington D.C.. By the time she makes it down to the corner of the street US fighter pilots fly overhead if effort to shoot down the Russian bombers who were now looping around for another bombing run. Explosions, gunfire, and death followed behind her as she made her way down into the subway station. Underground she would be safe enough to follow the green line tracks out of the city to Andrews air base where she hoped she would be safe. Running through the kaos all she could think about were her two daughters that would be 10 by now. She shakes the thought out of her head and looks in her purse for her phone. The signal is still good, when she stops she suddenly realizes people had followed her into the subway hoping she knew a safe way out. She turns to talk to them since they were semi safe under here.
"Um . . Hi I am Karen Volden. I know your all hoping to make it to safety and hope we do too but there are a few things I want you all to know if you plan to follow me. The light in these tunnels will more than likely go out so if you have a flashlight or phone pull it out and be ready. The walk till we come back up is around 3 miles then an additional 2 miles above ground till we reach Anderson air base. Are their any questions or concerns?" She says trying to act unafraid.
"We trust ya Karen, we had the same idea but weren't sure what track to follow out," a surly man about 6'8" says holding what Karen believes is his young daughter. Karen looks to the 20 or so others none who wish to say anything and are all pulling out their flashlights or cell phones, at least she wouldn't be walking in the dark alone.
"Alright then lets get moving before the tunnel collapses," she says leading the way down the green line tunnel. While they walk the people talk to each other in hushed voices. Karen never understood why walking through a dim tunnel made people feel like they had to whisper, maybe they were listening to the surface. As they walked the sounds of explosions above got quieter and quieter. About halfway to the tunnel opening the lights went out and a few people fell over the tracks and got hurt. Luckily they all had lights of some kind and no one was left behind. The dim light her cell phone gave off to guide her they finally reached the end of the tunnel. Instinct told her to keep going, don't look back at the city. However curiosity forced her to turn.
She stopped in her tracks shocked from the devastation that was Washington D.C. planes still flew in and out of the city from the tracks they could see planes taking off from the base they were headed too along with military vehicles headed into the city. Had the Russians landed troops here? No no way would they do something that stupid right?
"Miss Volden? Can we keep moving," a mother holding a small child of two and holding the hand of a 10 year old said nervously glancing back at the devastation of the city.
"Yes uh sorry, this way," Karen says turning away to lead. The Russians started the war? But why, surely they knew that the US, England, and the Allies wouldn't stand for it. Hopefully we will learn more at the base she says while they make their way following the tracks. After 2 hours of walking they finally reach the base which has hundreds of people who made it out of the city looking for loved ones. Karen sighs, her loved ones aren't here but maybe she could learn something. She walks up to what seems to be the officer in charge of the civilians.
"Um Sir, are you in charge? Do you know what's going on?" She looks at the markings on his uniform, what did those mean again? He was clearly air force but she could never remember how to tell what level officer they were.
"Yes I am in charge of Civilians," he says turning to face the whole group who followed Karen, "I am First Lieutenant Toben. Our country is under attack by a Russian invasion. Our current plan is to get you civilians out and to a refugee camp being set up in Kansas. Food, shelter, and necessities will be provided please make your way this way and check in. We need you to show us some form of identification," he says showing his ID. They think there are spies within the city, Karen thinks looking around. What a crazy world this is an hour or two into war and already we suspect everyone.
The group follow First Lieutenant Toben to the registration line. Most people get through without any issues a few get pulled aside. Once everyone in her group is through getting patted down they all meet up again in the temporary camp.
"Miss Volden," the surly man from before walks up, "what do you think is actually going to happen to us." He looks at the group nervously, "I read your book about the government stealing your children and I have to admit at first I thought you were just another crazy person looking for money. However now after meeting you and following you to safety, it's clear I was dead wrong. Your more level headed than me, oh I Michael Wenton by the way." The big man says offering up his free hand for her to shake. Karen takes it willingly and gives him a firm shake.
"Nice to meet you Michael, I appreciate your believing me. I have no idea what's really going on here, but I am sure that those were Russian planes that bombed the city. My only conclusion is that the war has started here as well. Right now they are going to ship us off to refugee camps inland and hopefully we won't have to be moved, but supplies are going to be an issue. No way is the Kansas air base ready for this many refugees." She looks over the large group of people here waiting for civilian transport planes to land.
"What do you suggest we do than?" He nervously looks at her. Apparently this man saw her as his guiding light. She was always irritated how people could believe the strangest things without any proof and they would all give her a look like Michael was giving her; the look of complete trust.
She sighs, "What can we do we are already registered besides it's always better to leave a war zone if you can and shortages will be a thing but not for a long time." She gives him her most reassuring smile and he calms down and looks at the people with her. Finally some time to think things through for herself, the day had been insane. She should keep a journal of all this for her kids when she saw them again. What a delusional thought she rolled her eyes at herself as she took a seat on the transport plane. She would never get more information about her kids with a war going on; hell for all she knows they are already fighting in one of the fighter jets that flew over Washington. Maybe they were dead, but she couldn't believe that, she had to see it first.