Chapter 237
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On Saturday morning the guards woke Eve up early. She was suppossed to have the day off, but unexpected shifts weren't uncommon. She was brought to colonel Sadler's office. He knew she understood Morse code, asked Eve to translate a message. This code seemed similar to the version Eve learned with the collective army, but also unfamiliar. Either Eve didn't rememer enough, or this was a different version entirely. For all Eve knew this version was from a state or group allied with the collective. Many groups created their own codes without coordinating with Los Angelas. The point seemed to be to prevent people from doing exactly what Sadler was asking Eve to do. But being disorganized, having so many different codes, that could prove problematic.
Eve tried to sleep Sunday morning until her shift. It wasn't easy, so many people were talking about something. When Eve finally got up, her cellmates knew what had happened. The rumor was that orth Korea had launched nuclear weapons against America. These warheads had been stopped, but in retaliation president Maso had launched a nuclear warhead agaist their capitol of Pyongyang. That had been successful, more than two million were dead. Eve wasn't sure what to think. North Korea had launched first strike, according to George Mason, threatening both the United States and the Collective States. But should Eve really trust the word of George Mason? Or had he murdered two million innocent people for nothing? Either way, the people in the camp needed to eat. So Eve went with the others to breakfast.
It had been barely a year since Samuel's followers detonated a suitcase nuke in Illinois. Since then there had been three more successful nuclear attacks. Allah alone knew how many unsuccessful ones. It was April 1st, 476 days until impact. As Eve ate her breakfast colonel Sadler played Mason's address over the PA system.
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Mason: My fellow Americans. Four hours ago North Korea launched three nuclear weapons against the United States of America. We believe that their targets were Washington D.C., New York, and Los Angelas. President Kim's plan seemed to have been to annihilate our cities and shelters. Evidently not distinguishing between areas in rebellion, and those loyal to America. Although we were able to stop these warheads, it became neccessary to retaliate. I ordered the launching of a nuclear missle, against the capitol of Pyongyang. I have since been informed that they have suffered almost two million casualties. This was regretable, but neccessary. Amongst those killed, were president Kim, and most of his top military and government leaders. Whatever government might emerge in North Korea in the next few weeks, O offer them a truce. The United States will not interfere with your efforts of rebuilding your country, or your efforts at building Arks, as long as you do not interfere in our affairs, take sides in our internal conflicts, or threaten further action against my country. There has been much killing, on all sides. I see little reason to continue fighting unneccessarily. You have a choice, abandon the conflict, or suffer the consequences.