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I have "contracted" a friend of mine to create a logo for the blog. I am trying to create a brand for this whole ordeal. I just want it to feel like a real thing to me. What do you think?

Story Change #2

I feel that I begun the story out with too much optimism about the number of countries that would've joined the secession movement from the start. 17 states seems to me a bit to large to start with. So I'm going to be dropping the number of secession states.

California will now only be joined at first by their close neighbors. Nevada, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Arizona will form the original secessionists. This will give a greater sense of a big bully beating up on the little man. Future states may or may not join California. The war will take it's course and determine if that happens.

Chapter 17: The President Awaits Your Arrival

Chapter 17

The President Awaits Your Arrival

            The jets quickly closed the gap and were right on the former president’s tail in no time. Adams was really beginning to worry. He was starting to feel like this was the end of the line. Thinking to himself during those seconds was not a shining moment in his life. He thought to himself, “Why did I decide to do this? Was being a dead man really better than being a lackey in the American regime? Was his dignity worth his life?”

            The US fighter jets now cruised to a position next to the plane; one on each side. Suddenly a voice came onto over the radio. “We know that this aircraft is carrying Vice President Adams.  We have orders from the President of the United States of American to detain and bring the VP back to Washington. Land the plane now. If you refuse to follow these orders, we have orders from the Secretary of Defense to bring this plane down one way or another.”

            The plane pilots looked back to the VP. “What should we do sir?” Adams thought for a moment. It was at that instant that he realized that he was being a coward just a few seconds ago. His dignity was worth this trouble. Anything was better than being a dancing chimp for Richard Smith. The reason he decided to do this was because he wanted revenge. Revenge against Smith administration. Revenge against the politicians that turned their backs on him. Adams realized that he couldn’t see his dream of revenge come true if he was dead, but he also couldn’t do so locked up in the dark prisons set up by the Party for the Perpetual Peace during the early days of the federal takeover. “Sir! We need orders.” The pilot said again.

            “Keep this plane on its initial course.”

            “Yes Sir.” The pilot said with deep fear in his voice. But he continued to fly the course. Checking again where they were, the pilot did notice that they were now almost on top of Nevada air space.

            The voice over the radio came back. “If you do not wish to land the plane on your own terms, then will have no other choice but to revert to the backup orders from the Secretary Strong.” After the voice left the radio, the US jets left their formation on the side of the plane. They dropped back into an attack formation at the rear of the plane. At the same time that the US jets had dropped back, the VP’s pilot noticed four new blips on the radar. These blips were coming from in front of the plane. Had the US expected this reaction and set up an aerial ambush in anticipation? Was this much firepower necessary to take down an unarmed aircraft?

            The blips continued their course. But they were moving fast; faster than the US jets had appeared on the radar when they came in. Adams looked out the window and saw two plumes of smoke moving towards his plane. Adams feared the worse. But he continued to stare straight on at the plumes. Adams was amazed to see the plumes fly by the Learjet. A brilliant ball of fire could be seen behind the plane. One of the US jets had been hit by the smoke plume. Adams was not being fired upon, rather they were being saved. Two of the blips from the front of the plane had now pass Adams’ plane in the form of two F-22s. The US jet broke his flying pattern and started a dodging pattern. Quickly the outnumbered US fighter was also reduced to the same fire ball that consumed his flight partner.

            No sooner had the fire balls disappeared from the sky, had the four blips manifested themselves into four F-22 fighter jets. They took up defensive positions, two on each side, alongside Adams’ plane. Adams was able to look out the window and get a very good view of the fighters that had just spared his life. He could very clearly make out, on the tail of the jets, the seal of the Nevada Air Guard right alongside the Flag of the Republic of California.

            A brand new voice came over the radio in the cockpit. “Mr. Vice President, this is Colonel Pat Green of the Nevada Air Guard of the ROC Air Force. First off, welcome to Nevada. Second, we have orders to escort you to Carson City. From there we can transfer you to a secure ROC Air Force transport and get you on your way to Sacramento. I have it on very good authority that the President awaits your arrival.”

New Post on the Political Parties

So I was doing a little more thinking. I know. Bad, right? Why am I thinking so much? Why am I writing about thinking? Why do i just keep going?

Well I have decided to do yet another change in the political parties. I am ditching the Federalist/Whigs idea. I am instead going forth with brand new political parties which there are no historical connections to. Here is a brief introduction to the new parties.

The Republicans have now become the Party for Perpetual Peace (PPP is the proper abbreviation to be used in the story). They are colloquially called the Trips, in reference to the triple P abbreviation. The party was formed right of center political entities which includes the former Republican Party, but also includes right wing politicians from the Democratic Party and politicians who just wanted to be in the majority and not be left behind.

The Democrats have now become the Union for Constitutional Restoration (Abbreviated as UCR). They are colloquially known as the Union. This is a reference and attempt to link the party with the working class labor unions that form a large base of the party. The party was formed in reaction to the creation of the PPP and the Trip takeover of the executive branch of the Federal government which they view as unconstitutional. The Union was formed by mostly left of center political entities, including the former Democratic Party. The Union also includes those who were greatly upset over the Trip government takeover, left wing Republicans, and the rest of those who became disillusioned by the ruling government.

I hope that these changes are the ones that stick. I feel that this is a good direction to move towards and also let's my story stand on its own.

Want to Become More Involved?

Have you been keeping up with the blog? Do you wish to be more involved? Are you another aspiring writer and/or can work on dialog?

I am looking for someone who is interested in writing character dialog and/or touching up the current dialog. I feel that I have the descriptive aspect and plot development down. But I don't feel as confident in my dialog writing. So I am wondering if there is anyone who would like to become a party of this project and help me out.

If interested you can either write a comment under this post with contact info or you can email me at cmike89@gmail.com

Anyone else who is not a writer can also help out the project by leaving your thoughts and comments under the comment box underneath each blog post. Doing this help me see it, others see it, and also allow it be kept for record to be referred back to at a later time. As said in my previous post, anyone who helps out will get acknowledgment and credit if  anything ever comes from this endeavor.

Thank you for your continued interest.
-Cody Mike

Story Change #1

I have been doing some thinking since my first posting of this blog. I have decided to make my first small plot change. I will be getting rid of using Republicans and Democrats as the political parties. I am going to do this because I feel that using the modern day political parties may be polarizing and I do not wish to automatically alienate people from reading this just based on their party preferences. I want to make the story accessible to as many people as possible. I know that you cannot please everyone, but i feel that this will, in my opinion, make at least a couple more people able to read it and identify with the story.

So I have been thinking of a couple ideas for political parties in this world. The one I am most prone to using would be Federalist and Whigs. Federalist would replace the Republicans of the story. This would be because the Republicans are using the Federal government to their advantage in the story. The Democrats would become the Whigs. The Whig party was a former American political party that favored state issues and focused more on local government and the legislature than Executive offices. This compromise would help out by getting rid of the Republican/Democrat polarization, while also using real former political parties of the United States.

I would also like to take the time to also say that the story is still set in the real life United States, but in the "not too distant future." It is not an "alternate" universe, but a future of this universe in which we live. The Federalists and Whigs are not continuations of their past selves and neither are true continuations of the Republican and Democratic parties of today. These new parties are going to be parties with their own new set of political ideologies. But while their ideologies have evolved, the former Republican party is the new Federalist party. Formed by former leaders of the Republican party and Democrat defectors. The former Democratic party is the new Whig party, formed by leaders of the Democratic party and Republican defectors. Minor political parties may play a role in the future of the story, but I haven't thought that far ahead.

If anyone has any other ideas of comments please leave a comment below. I would like it people posted their comments here. That way I can see them, but also everyone else who reads this will also be able to see them. It will lead to the discussion of the story and help it to evolve like I hoped it would from my primary post in this blog. I would like to end this post by noting that I will be giving credit to anyone who helps me out in this process and contributes to the end game of this endeavor. If this ever goes anywhere, then you will get the credit you deserve.

Thank you and continue to enjoy the experience
-Cody Mike

Chapter 16: The Nevada Border

Chapter 16

The Nevada Border

            Richard Smith could not believe the words that the Secretary of Defense had just spoken. He didn’t have any words to respond to the comment. “Well…just do whatever you can to settle the situation and make sure that Canada does not enter the war. If they enter, then there is nothing stopping others from entering on either side. We cannot let this escalade into another world war.”

            “You do understand that in order for me to complete the job you have set forth for me, I must be given more power than I currently hold?”

            “Fine, I give you whatever power necessary to complete the job and make sure that our neighbors to the North do not enter this war.”

            “Thank you Mr. President.”

Richard hung up the phone again. Just like the last time he started to walk away and the phone rang, but this time the president continued to walk away. “Screw it. Strong can handle it.”

Skies over Utah. Matt Adams was sitting in his plane oblivious to the fact that two F-15 fighter jets were on his tail to bring his airplane down. Matt was fiddling around with his fingers. He was a nervous wreck. If the new Californian government didn’t welcome him, then what? There is nowhere to go.

“Mr. Adams. We have contacted the Californians and they have agreed to meet with you.”

“Thank you Jeff.” Mr. Adams thanked his assistant, whom he brought along with him because he trusted him more than anyone else. Matt then heard a rather loud beeping coming from the cockpit of the jet. He could see the pilots fumbling around with the controls, trying to figure out what the problem was. The second pilot found where the beeping was coming from. He turned his head toward the first pilot and pointed at where the beeping had occurred. They both stared at each other in disbelief and then they simultaneously turned their heads towards Matt and worriedly look at him.

“What? What is it? What’s wrong?”

The first pilot opened his mouth to say, “Sir, we have picked up two fighter jets on our radar.”

“Where are we currently?”

“We are now over the skies of Utah. We are almost to the Nevada border.”

Chapter 15: Canada

Chapter 15

Canada

            Once Matt had left the white house, he immediately went to his house and started packing. He grabbed as much stuff as he could. Once he felt that he was ready, he drove to the airport and climbed aboard a private jet. This jet was headed straight for the city of Reno, Nevada, California.

            Back at the White House. “Matthew Adams is a traitor to this country, and treason is a felony.” Richard Smith was sitting in his office, still irate from the resignation of his former Vice President. “No one can make a fool out of Richard Smith, President of the United States of America, and get away with it.”

            The president picked up his phone and called in the F.B.I. “I want Matt Adams arrested for treason, and I want him in custody within the next hour.” The law enforcement of Washington, D.C. acted a lot quicker than the president had hoped for, because within just ten minutes they had arrived at the doorsteps of Mr. Adams downtown house. The men at the scene busted down Adams’ door and stormed in as if it were an S.W.A.T operation. Once they got inside they found no one. They radioed back to headquarters and put the investigators on the case.

            The president was upset that Adams had not arrived at his house yet, but much to his delight the F.B.I gave him a call informing him of information about the whereabouts of the former VP. Greg Kasey, Head of the F.B.I., came on the phone, “Sir, we have gotten word that the president has boarded a private jet headed for Reno, Nevada.”

            “Reno? What? That’s in secession territory.”

            “Yes, we know. What do you want us to do?”

            “I want that plane brought down. Send fighters out and bring that plane down, but I want Adams alive. Got it?”

            “Yes I got.”

            “Good.” Smith hung up the phone and walked away from his desk for the night. But as soon as he turned his back on it, the phone rang yet again. “Who is it now?”

            “Richard it’s me, Ken.”

            “Oh, Ken why are you calling so late?”

            “Sorry for that, but I have urgent news that you need to hear right now.”

            “Ok what is it?”

            “The Californians…they have an ally.”

            “Who would dare help the rebels and defy the super power of the United States?”

            “Well…Canada.”

Chapter 14: A Good Idea

Chapter 14

A Good Idea

            “What the hell was that?” President Smith was furious. The only time he had been more furious was on the day that California seceded, but this by far reaches the same plateau that that day achieved. “He can’t go about talking about the American Revolution like that. He said it himself; they are a new county, their own ‘country’ now. So now that they don’t identify themselves as Americans any longer, they can’t say that their fore fathers fought for freedom. We cannot let this act of defiance go on any longer.”

            “Calm down Mr. President. Please just calm down.”

            “Calm down? Calm down? Don’t you ever tell me to calm down again,” The president slammed his fist down on his desk and shattered a nearby glass. “You are the Vice President and I am the real President. Got it? You don’t have any real power anyway.”

            Vice President Adams was taken by total shock when he heard the words that came from Richard’s mouth, but the feeling that was overpowering the shock was the disgust he was feeling for the president. “Is that how you really feel Rich?”

            “Yes it is. All you do is sit around and get all this nonsense praise about being the second in command.”

            “I AM the second in command.”

            “Oh give me and the rest of the country a break. Ken Strong has more power than you do. I give Ken more responsibility than you. I trust him more than you.” The presidents words and been breaking away at the wall that Matt Adams had built around his heart, but those final words that Richard said put the final crack in that wall. That wall around Matt’s heart and soul tumbled down like the Berlin Wall had 30 years earlier.

            “I worked around the clock to help you deal with this California conflict. I was the one that pushed Issue #5572 through both houses of Congress, but that doesn’t matter I guess. Well I guess this conversation is over. You can consider this my official resignation as your damn Vice President. You can find some other chump to be your chimp. Hey Ken is the perfect person to be your new monkey boy. Goodbye Richard.” The former Vice President turned away from the President of the United States and started to make his way for the door.

            “Fine leave then. I bet a real chimp could make a better Vice President than you. This country will be way better off without you as it’s VP. Why don’t you just go to California?” This time the president’s words did not touch Matt at all, but the comment about California did seem like a good idea.

Chapter 13: The Bear Attacks The Eagle

Chapter 13

The Bear Attacks The Eagle

            “There is no avoiding this war now. The Americans have made the first strike. George Washington and the rest of the founding fathers of the original United States knew that there was only one way that the British would listen to them and that was man-to-man conflict, war. California is now in the same situation. The oppressive dictatorship known as the United States, has gone against everything that their founding fathers had fought so hard for. They say they follow the Constitution, but they don’t even know what the first amendment says let alone know what the rest of it is. We won’t be fighting to defend the paper that the Constitution is written on, we will be fighting for ideals that those brave revolutionist fought and gave their lives to protect. We, as Californians, cannot let the men who died during the American Revolution, and neither can we let the brave men and women who died during the Battle of Sacramento, the first battle of this current war, die in vain. If they want to test the power of California let them go ahead. 1776 ushered in a war that pitted the strongest military in the world against a militia army made of farmers and merchants. If my memory serves me correct then I seem to think that the farmers and merchants won that war. The Californian Army may not be made up of a bunch of farmers, but it is still the army of a new country, a new country full of brave citizens willing to protect the ideals that they believe in. If the Americans want to start a war with us, then obviously they didn’t pay attention in history class. They will not learn from the mistakes of the British, thus they are doomed to witness history repeat itself at the expense of the American people. California will stand strong against any enemy that it encounters. So if it is war that the Americans want it is war that they will get. Thank You”

            President Stanton stepped down from his podium, after delivering his speech directed at American President Smith. Newspapers across the California were calling it “The Bear Attacks the Eagle Speech.”

Chapter 12: Hear His Own Words

Chapter 12

Hear His Own Words

            President Stanton and his staff, right after the bombing of Sacramento, started working diligently to get the situation with the United States under as mush control as California could provide to their citizens.

            “If what they want is war, then a war is what they will get.” President Stanton told his newly formed military council made up of his top military officers and himself. “General Hister, what do you believe is the best way to defend this new country?”

            General George Hister was a Colonel of the Californian National Guard before the secession, and like many National Guard troops he said loyal to his state. After the secession, and the establishment of the Californian Army, Colonel Hister was promoted to the rank of General and General of the entire Californian Army. “Mr. President, since the seceding states are so spread out, the most important thing is to protect our borders. We must start by taking out any American bases still left in our country; we must push out any military personnel still left, and then mobilize along the borders. Once we have our borders secured, we can push an offensive campaign if you wish to. There are some border states that would be easy for our troops to take and force a quicker surrender from the Americans.”

            “So what you’re telling me General is that you want us to wage an offensive civil war?”

            “Yes. We must learn from the mistakes the Confederates made in the first civil war. The Confederacy's biggest mistake was believing that all they had to do was fight a defensive war. They were cut off from their supplies by the offensive union, and they lose more and more territory, which weakened their defense. Had they mustered an offense, they could have taken Washington, D.C. and ended the war right then and there. So we must not fight like the Confederates of the civil war, but fight like the Patriots of the Revolutionary War. We must fight with an offense if we want to survive.”

            “I see. I understand everything Generals. Now if you don’t mind I must prepare for a speech I am giving to the country later tonight.”

            “Yes. Thank you for your time Mr. President.” After dismissing his military council, President Stanton sat down to think to himself. He had a very important speech to give to his country tonight. This would be the first speech he was going to give since the air battle of Sacramento.

            Michael Stanton looked down at his speech that had been prepared for him earlier. He took it in his hands and ripped to shreds. He ripped it to pieces so small that a paper shredder could not do as good of a job. “This just won’t do. I can’t give a speech to the people of California that I didn’t write myself. I must let them hear my own words.” So the president sat down to write a new speech. The new speech would let the people of California actually hear his own words.

Chapter 11: Californian Army

Chapter 11

Californian Army

            What Victor Romos saw was the undetected fighter bombers of the United States Air Force. They had begun an attack on the Californian capital. The attack started with the downtown area of the city. Before the bombers began their decent on the capitol building, everyone inside began running for the bomb shelter.

The Republic of California had been saved when the governor ordered a counter-strike by the National Guard of California. The newly installed government officers of the state were all saved from the bombing. The Californian Air National Guard fought valiantly to fend off the invading air force. Many brave Californians lost their lives in the first battle of the second civil war.

The next morning the President set forth a document which enabled the deployment for the Californian Air Force to protect the skies of the cities of California. The entire day was spent with every citizen going about their daily lives with fighter pilots looming over head. Fearing the possibility of another air strike. Fearing when the air strikes will become strikes by land and sea.

President Stanton, having been in the American Army during his younger years, knew that protection of the air was not the only thing that must be done. This being said, Michael Stanton included in the military document the deployment of the Californian Navy and Coast Guards to defend the coastal boarder of California. He also called for the deployment of Californian Army, which was the combination of the former National Guards of the secession states and American military personnel that stayed loyal to their state and ideals, to protect the borders of the Californian land. To better protect the American-Californian borders, the Border Patrols of the states were also incorporated into the new army. The new Californian Army.

Chapter 10: The Most Horrible of Sights

Chapter 10

The Most Horrible of Sights

            Upon reading the first card on the first gift basket, President Stanton broke into tears. He started crying for the thanks and appreciation that the people of the new country of California were giving to him. In his head he started to think about the fact that he didn’t really deserve all these fine gifts and ovations. He didn’t deserve them, the people did.

            “Victor, as my vice president I would like to inform you that I wish to speak to the people of California in a press conference tonight.”

            “But Mike, I don’t think we can get a conference set up that quickly.”

            “Get it done. I must speak to the people tonight. Do everything in your power to see that it happens.”

            “If I may ask, why do you need to hold this conference tonight?”

            President Stanton looked around his office and looked at all the gift baskets and the cards that read the same message. Vice President Romos looked as well. “You see what I see right, Victor? You see these flowers? You see these cards? You see all of these messages that read the exact same words? These are the voices of the people. These are their words of gratitude. I must let the people know, that I am not the one that needs to be thanked. They are the only ones who deserve any kind of gratitude. What good is calling ourselves a true democratic country if we don’t give the people their thanks?”

            Victor Romos wiped a tear from his eye after hearing what the President said. “Sir, I will do whatever needs to be done to see to it that you speak to the people of California tonight. Nothing will get in my way.” After saying this Mr. Romos left the presidential office on his way to conference hall. He picked up the phone to start making the necessary calls to get the presidential news conference going. As soon as Victor picked up the phone, he heard a loud boom coming from outside. He looked out the window, only to see the most horrible of sights.

Chapter 9: The Glowing Light of Democracy

Chapter 9

The Glowing Light of Democracy

            “Congratulations, Mr. PRESDIENT.” Victor Romos said happily to the new president of their secession government.

            “Victor, I don’t deserve any congratulations. The people who deserve the congratulations are the people of these states. These people now have the opportunity to create a pure country. Free of the tyrannical control of the Republican Party.”

            “Yes the people sir. But while we’re on the subject of the people, do you plan on making a plea to the United Nations for support? Maybe a plea to some other “democratic” countries that could give us aid in the possibility of a civil war?”

            “You know it’s funny that you should mention that. I have thought about doing that very thing. I think that I should go and give the speech, but I have already laid out plans for New York Governor, Henry Killings, to become the ambassador to the UN, if they are to recognize us as a sovereign nation.” The former lieutenant governor looked very pleased to hear these words come out the new president’s mouth.

            “He is the perfect choice for the position of ambassador. He has the experience, since he was the US ambassador to the UN for 3 years before becoming governor of New York. He would fill that position with the kind of experience, and expertise that no other person, we could hire, could bring for our country.”

            “Of course he’s the perfect candidate. I wouldn’t have selected him if he wasn’t.” The two men walked down the hallways of the capitol building. They were headed for the governor’s, now presidential, office. They continued walking the halls until finally there it was. The new office of the President of California.

            The room was decorated like never before. Banners were hung from the ceilings exclaiming the name of the new president and his new country. Flower baskets had been sent from congressmen, governors, even the ordinary citizens. All of the baskets had the same message, “Thank You for leading us out of the strangle hold of the tyrannical Republican government, and leading us into the glowing light of democracy.”

Chapter 8: Big Smile On His Face

Chapter 8

Big Smile On His Face

            “Why can’t we just copy the original Constitution?” yelled Montana Governor Gregory Hamlin.

            “We can’t copy that constitution because, it is that oppressive piece of paper that we are trying to be rid of,” replied Victor Ramos. The entire Californian Hall of Congress was filled with an uproar of voices coming from everywhere; even the janitors were joining in on the commotion.

            “Everybody please be quiet,” Governor Stanton shouted at the hall, but nobody was listening to him. “Everybody just the hell shut up.” At that instant the entire hall came to a silence so deafening that even the crickets were afraid to make a sound. “I don’t think we can run a successful country, if we can’t respect each other’s opinion on this constitution. Now first things first, we need to elect a presiding officer, and thus a president, to oversee the entire convention”

            “I nominate Governor Stanton for the office of president of our new country,” said Governor Joseph King of Arizona very enthusiastically.

            “Me? Why me?” asked the governor.

            “Who better? You were the one who took the first stand in Congress when the Republicans made President Smith, president for life. Then you were the first governor to make his state secede from the union after the republicans tried to take over your countries. And then you rallied the rest of us to do the same, to protect us from the same fate that could have befallen upon you.”

            “Yeah. You’re right he was the one to do all of those things. He would make the perfect president of the convention, but I think he would make an even better president of this new country,” said Washington governor Robert Nathaniel. This statement caused the entire convention to go into an uproar of applause.

            “I say we take it to a vote. All those in favor of Michael Stanton for President of this new country, please raise your right hand.” At the sound of Governor Ramos voice ending every hand in the hall went up into the air at the same time, and once again the janitors tried to get in on the action by raising their hands too. “Congratulations Michael, you are now the new president of this new country.” All that the new president could do now was keep the big smile on his face.

Chapter 7: A New Constitution

Chapter 7

A New Constitution

            Lieutenant Taylor and his convoy escorted the Utah Guardsmen out of the city and sent them on their way back to Utah. Once the Utes were out of sight, Carson started his second priority orders, to make a secure, defensive surrounding of the city. Twenty minutes after Carson’s convoy arrived on the campus, the Utah Guardsmen were out of the city, their supplies looted by the Guardsmen of Nevada, and the city of Reno, Nevada had been secured against an enemy attack.

            Carson City, Nevada. “Mike, I think this just might work out.” Nevada Governor Victor Romos was talking on the phone with Governor Stanton about the Nevada raid on the Utah encampment.

            “Are any other states on board with us?” Mike asked.

            “Yes, there are. I have talked to the governors of Washington, Hawaii, Alaska, Arizona, Oregon and New Mexico. They are all preparing to try to send a secession bill through each of their own senates. Once the bill is passed, they will join us and our cause.

            “Great. I’ll see you in Sacramento then.”

            “All right.” Victor hung the phone back onto its hook. He was sitting in his office just like he had been doing for the last couple of days, thinking about the Californian secession. It didn’t take long, or much convincing, for Governor Romos to try to pass a secession bill through the Nevada State Senate. Apparently the Senate didn’t need much convincing either, as it was a unanimous vote of the Senate to secede from the United States and join the Californian cause.

            On July 7^th, starting at 12:00 pm with the meeting of the Nevada State Senate, there began a series of hearings in numerous session bill passed through several state legislatures, many of whom Governors Romos or Stanton didn’t even knew supported their cause. Secession bills were being passed left and right; with unanimous votes in Arizona, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii, Alaska, New Mexico, and Montana; and very close 2/3 votes in New York, New Jersey, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut, Massachusetts and North Dakota. By 2:23 pm that day, 16 states had followed in California’s footsteps by seceding from the union of the United States of America.

            Sacramento, California, July 8^th. Every member of the state senates of the 17 secession states, the 17 state governors, and the 34 members of the federal senate were on hand to meet at the California State Capitol Building. That building had never been so crowded, but it was worth it in the minds of everyone there, as they prepared to do something that the state legislatures hadn’t had to do in over two hundred years, write a new constitution.

Chapter 6: Carson Taylor

Chapter 6

Carson Taylor

            “What? They can’t do this. There has to be some kind of law against this. They can’t do this, can they?” President Smith was irate at this act of defiance at the hand of California. His face was redder than it had ever been in his life. He was made even madder at the fact that Vice President Adams was standing there without the same shade of red on his face. The president of the United States turned to the vice president and asked. “Well? Answer my question, can they do this?”

            “Well. Kinda. Yes, they can.”

            “What? They can? I thought this was all taken care of after the civil war.”

            “Well, after the civil war brought the north and south together again, nobody ever thought that this would happen again. So no amendment was made, which makes secession perfectly legit.” Matt Adams’s words only made the president madder. “Mr. President, what about the national guard?”

            “Halt all orders for now. Put all units on standby.”

            July 6^th, 2013. A convoy of Nevada National Guardsmen rolled along the streets of Reno, Nevada towards the University of Nevada-Reno, headquarters for the Utah National Guardsmen deployed because of Issue #5572. Leading the convoy was Lieutenant Carson Taylor. Carson had grown up in Los Angeles, CA, moved to Reno to go to college and stayed in the city after his graduation. Today he wouldn’t be travel to the college to go to class, but instead with much different purpose. One that involves the AK-47 that was situated on his lap with the safety on.

            Carson could see the campus coming into focus. The campus looked a lot different since the last time he was there 5 years ago at his graduation. Now it was littered with armored vehicles, tents, and weaponries. His convoy of armored vehicles with the Nevada State Seal on the sides rolled up to office of administrations, a.k.a. the main military office. He stepped out of his vehicle and on the top of it. He grabbed a bullhorn from the inside and made the announcement he was waiting to make. “On the orders of Governors Michael Stanton of California and Victor Romos of the Great State of Nevada, we demand you leave the premises immediately.”

            A man walked out of the office along with every personnel within range of the bullhorn. People walked out of the tents to see what was going on at 3:00 in the morning. “What are you going to do you if we won’t leave?” At this question, literally hundreds of Nevada Guardsmen jumped out of the armored vehicles, armed with AK-47s and surrounded the Lieutenant that came out of the Office building and the personnel that came out of the tents. “What the hell is going on?” said the Lieutenant from Utah.

            “We are confiscating all your weapons and demanding you leave the country.”

            “You are asking us to leave the United States?”

            “No. Just California.” Said Carson Taylor.

Chapter 5: The Republic of California

Chapter 5

The Republic of California

            “What do you mean closed?” One of the guardsmen asked.

            “No one in and no one out. You know CLOSED.” The loudspeaker said.

            “We are on a direct order to enter the state of California. This order has come straight from President Richard Smith, himself.”

            “The governor makes the decisions here, not the president.” As the patrolman was speaking, another patrolman was on the phone with the governor and telling him everything that was happening.

            After another five minutes of this bickering between the Border Patrol and the National Guard, the Guardsmen convoy finally left and headed back to their headquarters in Reno, Nevada.

            Back in Sacramento, “Sir, are you sure about this?” asked Lieutenant Governor Samuel McGregor.

            Governor Stanton sat there, tapping his pen on his desk. “Do we have the support of the state senate?”

            “A unanimous vote, sir.”

            “Then I am completely sure.”

            “All right then. What do you want me to do?”

            “Set up a news conference for tomorrow.”

            The buzz all over the state that night was, what was the governor’s conference about? It had to be about the National Guard deployment into the state, right?

            July 4^th. Governor Stanton was pacing around his office. This was the first time he had walked around his office in days.

            “Governor, it’s time for the press conference.” Mr. McGregor said while sticking his head into the governor’s office. Mike Stanton acknowledged the Lieutenant Governor and followed him out of the office, down the hall, and into the press room.

            Samuel walked into the room ahead of the governor and walked up to the microphone. “Ladies and Gentlemen, may I have your attention.” The entire buzz of the press room immediately died. “I introduce to you the governor of the great state of California, Michael Stanton.”

            Mr. Stanton walked up to the podium with the seal of California on the front. “Please sit. There will be no questions at this time and will be none later. I have called this national news conference to address a very serious and pressing issue. Issue #5572 to be exact. Yesterday at 5:00pm, a deployment of National Guard troops approached the California-Nevada border only to be turned away. They were originally supposed to only enter the state on order of controlling gang violence. But a convoy was sent just outside of Reno, Nevada, which was an unauthorized troop deployment which the senate did not vote on. This was a very blatant military action on behalf of the Republican Federal Government against our Democratic State Government. Therefore, I have been given no other option, but this. With the approval of the California State Senate, the state of California is formally seceding from the union of the United States of America. We will now be our own country. A completely sovereign nation, by the name of The Republic of California.”

Chapter 4: Border Control

Chapter 4

Border Control

            July 3^rd,. Secretary of Defense, Kenneth Strong, gave the official command for the deployment of Nevada, Arizona, Utah, and Oregon National Guard, from the safety of his nice high-tech office in Washington, D.C.

            Back in Sacramento, Governor Stanton was running to find his office in the intricacy of the Capitol Building. Mike Stanton finally found his office and walked in trying to catch his breath. He sat at his desk, panting, and called up the California Border Control.

            “California Border Patrol, whom may I say is speaking?” A female voice said over the phone line.

            “This is Governor Stanton. Can you please connect me to Lieutenant Garcia?”

            “Right away sir.” Before the governor could even take a breath, a male voice came onto the line.

            “Lieutenant Gabriel Garcia here. Is this Governor Stanton?” The head of the California Border Patrol asked.

            “Yes it is.”

            “What can I do for you, sir?”

            “I want you to close down every inch of the California border now. No one in or out of the state.”

            “But sir, I don’t understand.” Lieutenant Garcia sounded very confused about this order. He had never heard of such a request.

            “Lieutenant, I don’t need you to understand. I only need you to follow your orders. Now is that statement clear enough for you?”

            “Yes sir. Absolutely no one in or out of the state.” Garcia was still confused but he knew that the only person higher than him was the governor. Both men hung up the phone at exactly the same time, but Lieutenant Garcia immediately picked his back up again. He started to call every one of his subordinate officers set up all along the border and gave them the same order that that the governor gave to him.

In the span of ten minutes, the entire Californian border had been closed down, including the water borders. What the federal government didn’t know was that California had built a retractable wall five years ago when the Republican Party had taken over the federal government. The wall was built, along the border, in case of a Republican coup.

No more and no less than five minutes after the wall had been secured, the first wave of National Guard troops had arrived on the California-Nevada border. The men and women in the convoy were very surprised by the sight of this massive wall that wasn’t there yesterday.

A border patrolman came onto a loudspeaker and made an announcement to the National Guard convoy, “Halt. On the order of Governor Michael Stanton of the Great State of California, this border is now officially closed by the California Border Patrol.”

Chapter 3: Democrats

Chapter 3

Democrats

            After the Congressional meeting let out, it took Senator Scott Kenning a mere three hours, in his leisure jet, to return to Sacramento, California. The moment they let down in the Sacramento Airport, he jumped right into a white limousine. He sat down and got comfortable to start his five minute drive to the Capitol Building where he would meet the Governor of California, Michael Stanton.

            “Driver, take me to the Capitol building please.” Mr. Kenning said to his chauffeur. The limo started its luxurious journey towards the Capitol Square, and sure enough within five minutes Senator Kenning had arrived at his desired destination. Scott stepped out of the car, and began to run toward the capitol building. This was probably the fastest that Scott had ever run in his life. Once at the building, he pushed open the doors and ran, without stopping for anything, straight towards the governor’s office. He shoved open the governor’s doors and there still sitting at his desk was Mr. Michael Stanton, Governor of California. “Mike. Mike, they passed it. Oh my god they passed it. They’re actually going to send in the National Guard.”

            The governor turned around to face the senator. It didn’t take long for the senator to notice that his face was as red as a Washington Apple. “You can’t be serious. They can’t do that. The problem is in MY state. MY STATE. My state equals MY problems. The federal government has no right to step in where they are not wanted.”

            “Well… Apparently they believe that they have the authority to….”

            “NO. National Guard deployment in my state falls under my jurisdiction. You hear me? MY JURISDICTION.”

            “I hear you, but THEY don’t. Sir, Senator Fisher and I believe that there may be an alternative motive to this, ‘deployment’.”   

            Michael thought about this. He never even considered this particular fact. “What do you mean, Scott?”

            “Mike, don’t you realize that we are one of the last states to still be run by the Democratic Party?”

            “No. I never considered this.” A light bulb turned on over Mr. Stanton’s head as he finally figured out what Senator Kenning was hinting at. “You don’t mean that they might try to ‘attack’ us, do you?”

            “That is exactly what I mean.” Senator Kenning was very relieved that Governor Stanton finally made the same connection that he and Senator Fisher had made when they first heard about Issue #5572.

            “Mr. Kenning, I will not allow this to happen. And you know who else will not allow this to happen? The Democrats.”

Chapter 2: Republicans

Chapter 2

Republicans

            Vice President Adams’ limo caravan arrived back at the White House less than ten minutes after the fiasco with the Senate ended. He walked, surrounded by secret service agents, up the steps of the front lawn wearing a very wide and pleased smirk on his face. Once inside he immediately set out for the president. He asked everyone in the building, if they knew where the president was, but no one knew. Finally, he busted through the doors to the oval office, and there sitting in the red chair behind the presidential desk was Richard Smith, president of the United States of America.

            “I hear you have good news for me, Matt,” President Smith said.

            “Yes. I have very good news. The Senate has finally approved the dispatching of the National Guard into California. Everything is going as planned.”

            The president, very carefully, got up out his seat and walked towards the doors. Slowly and silently, he shut them. “How many times have I told you not to talk about ‘The Plan’ when there is a possibility of someone over hearing?” he said. Smirking he remarked, “We are sending ‘troops’ into one of the last democratic strong hold in the U.S. I would hope that EVERYTHING is going to plan.”

            “Exactly. That is exactly right, Mr. President. The generals have their orders. All of them know what to do once across the borders. They are to infiltrate the cities of Los Angeles, San Diego, and Sacramento.”

            “Very nice. Very nice indeed.” Richard took a second to think and then suddenly, “Wait a minute. California doesn’t suspect anything do they?”

            Matt replied very quickly to this statement, “No sir. They don’t expect a thing. The recent surge in gang violence is looking to be the perfect cover up for our operation.”

            “Good. Good. Very good.” Rick look very relieved to hear this out loud, but he still had a bad feeling about this whole thing. “Matt, go and give the order to send the guards in tomorrow!”

            “As you wish.” And with that the vice president swiftly left the office.

            With Matthew Adams gone, Richard Smith had time to think to himself. After sitting alone in the quietness of his empty office for about two minutes, he said out loud, “This time next week, California will be controlled by the Republicans.”

Chapter 1: Issue #5572

Chapter 1

Issue #5572

           

July 2^nd. “Mr. Adams, you can’t possibly be serious. This proposal is completely unnecessary. This is just out right plain unethical. You cannot do this to an official state of union of the United States of America,” yelled Californian Democratic Senator Scott Kenning across the Hall of Congress. “California does not need this right now, especially in its current state of affairs,” the senator screamed as he slammed his fist on the top of his desk.

            “I’m sorry Senator, but it is because of California’s current state that this issue has been requested by President Smith himself,” replied Matthew Adams, the vice president of the United States.

            “I don’t care if the request came from God all mighty himself. This is worst possible solution to the problem.”

            “Mr. Vice President, may I take the floor?”

            “Yes you may Senator.”

            “Senator Kenning, you are being totally unreasonable. You need to stop, take a breath, and think this all the way through. Now, due to recent outbreaks in the gang violence and the ignorance of the Californian government to do anything about it, the only possible solution to this problem is to send in the National Guard,” said Virginian Republican Senator Keith Standing.

            “No. This is not the ONLY solution to the problem,” replied Senator Kenning. The entire congress hall erupted into one hundred different voices arguing only two, but very different points.

            “Quiet. Please. Would everyone please be quiet,” yelled Mr. Adams. He slammed down a gavel and slowly all of those hundred voices quieted down to a quiet so dead that everyone was scared to break it. “This proposal has already been approved by the House of Representatives. Now it is time for the United States Senate to vote on Issue #5572, the deployment of the National Guard into the state of California, on the grounds of controlling gang violence. Now, all in favor of passing the issue please raise your hand. Senator Kenning looked around the room and saw that nearly half of all the hands in the room were up. After all the votes had been counted Mr. Adams spoke again, “Now all those opposed to passing the issue, please raise your hand.” Senator Kenning raised his hand and once again looked around the room. He took notice of the fact that nearly half of the hands were up. This vote was too close to call.

            “All votes have been counted the issue has passed 53-47. The National Guard will be deployed throughout California in the course of two days.”

            “I now officially call this Congressional meeting of July 2nd adjourned,” said Vice President Adams.

“You are all making a huge mistake,” Senator Kenning yelled as he stomped out of the Congress Hall. “You will be sorry for ever passing Issue #5572.”

Start of Something New

I have had this idea for a novel in my head for a long time. I began writing it back in 2005 when I was a Sophomore in high school. I have written chapters off and on since then. I currently have 16 chapters written (but the chapter's are only 1 typed-page long by design). I have others written, but they are currently stuck on my former computer which is currently not working.

The title of the novel is A Country Called California. It is set in America. In the not too distant future. It is a time of great political strife. Politics has become strictly party lines with little to no compromising across the aisle. The republican controlled federal legislature has passed a resolution which the State of California disagrees strongly with. It sets of a Constitutional crisis, eventually leading the secession of California from the United States.

If that sounds at all interesting to you (and even if it doesn't) please give it a read. I would greatly appreciate any comments on the work. If you see anything that might be wrong with the plot, grammar or anything else then just let me know. This is a constantly changing piece of work.

 I started the blog just because I wanted an outlet to let these ideas out of my head. I will be posting the 16 chapters that I currently have. I will post any new chapters that come along. I will also be posting some other ideas/plot points that I want to get out of my head and onto virtual paper. So please help me along and become part of the creative process. The blog may "spoil" some plot points every now and then, but I hope that you will enjoy them anyways.