A Credible Threat

“Mr. Secretary,” the voices behind the bright lights shouted, “Mr. Secretary.” Secretary Dollum scanned his audience slowly, trying to find a few faces in the crowd. His gaze met with that of an attractive reporter from the New York Post with whom he’d chatted, off-the-record, at a small bistro in Georgetown. He nodded his head in acknowledgement then moved on through the rest of the heads bobbing in the darkness before him.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” he said as he reached out to adjust the microphone with his right hand, “ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being here on such short notice.” His voice was firm, matter of fact, and the audience quieted quickly. “I’m going to make a brief statement, then I’ll take a few questions.”

In the darkness he could see the occasional shadow of a tape recorder being held aloft, pointing in his direction. He could hear the scratching of pencil on notepad, an occasional cough, and the breathing of ninety-seven reporters intent on capturing everything in the context of the hot, stuffy pressroom on a sweltering August afternoon.

“The reason you have been asked here is,” he paused; this would shake up the world,” the threat of a terrorist attack on our nation has been moved up to red, effective immediately.” Behind him, the four-tiered vertical light bar, which had been lighted a dim orange, stepped up one level. The light flickered for a moment, then illuminated the room with a steady red glow.

The reaction in the room was immediate. Ninety-seven voices calling out., ninety-seven hands waiving in the air, all hoping to catch his attention. “Mr. Secretary, Mr. Secretary…”

“Miss Kalteste from the Post…” he said, pointing in her general direction.

“Thank you Secretary Dollum,” she replied, her tone professional but excited, “this is the first time since 9-11 that the threat has been this high…”

He cut her off. “Yes, Miss Kalteste, that’s true.” He turned slightly at the podium to face her directly, then continued. “We have obtained evidence of a credible threat- this time a domestic threat- that terrorists are planning…”-

And from every point in the room there was a gasp. The air seemed to be sucked out of the room. “Domestic?!… who in America?… Tim McVeigh?… neonazis…?” were the whispers and murmurs that swept through the crowd like thick smoke.

“…that domestic terrorists are planning an assault on our infrastructure in the near future.”

“Where exactly…?”

“We don’t know exactly…” the reply.

“When…?”

“We expect it between today and late spring…No, I can’t be more specific…Yes, this is a very credible threat… I can’t be more specific…” - and on it went for another 20 minutes.


Fox News 10:19PM - Special Report

It was more important than the upcoming presidential primary season. It was incredible. Kalteste, Handide, Visick, and Heiland all sat around the same large semi-circular table. The red light on top of camera 1 lit and Handide turned instinctively toward it, without missing a word.

“Ann,” Handide said, looking over quickly at the Post reporter primping her long blond hair, sitting opposite him at the table, “he did say domestic, didn’t he?”

“Yes, Shane,” she replied solemnly, placing her hands on the table and nodding her head in agreement, “That’s what he said-‘ domestic’.”

“Well Brian,” he continued, looking at Brian Heiland seated on his left, “remember back in ’05 when they found that woman, that liberal attorney, the one who helped the blind cleric,” he paused, collecting his thoughts, trying to remember names and dates, ‘guilty of…”

Heiland smiled broadly. “I know where you’re going with that Shane. She was Raman’s- the blind cleric who tried to blow up the towers in ‘93- right! She was his attorney and was found guilty of helping the Islamic terrorists…” He stopped mid-sentence and looked at Visick, rhetorically asking, “They never did find out if she was part of 9-11, did they.?”

“Well obviously, she was well connected to Bin Laden- I think we can all agree on that,” Visick added. They all nodded their heads in agreement. No question. It was a fact.

“But she had to have help,” Shane Handide said, breaking the momentary silence, “I mean, she was a lawyer- a LAWYER for God’s sake.”

“Well she sure showed her left wing liberal credentials then, didn’t she,” Ann Kalteste said, looking directly into the camera, her lips pursed in a scowl. “I wonder what other liberals were part of her plot then- and I think it’s safe to say, Shane,” her voice became shrill, “that those are probably the same left wing activists plotting this domestic terrorist attack- even as we speak!”

“And we’ll be right back with our special report on the domestic terrorist threat announced today by President Dumus’s Homeland Security Secretary at a press conference this afternoon,” Brian Heiland said as the producer held up his hand. Time to sell some stuff, Brian thought to himself.


Catching the Bad Guy

The day after the Iowa Caucuses, the FBI detained a 34-year old computer technician in Palo Alto, CA and began questioning him concerning his participation in the conspiracy to commit acts of domestic terrorism. In his apartment were several library books with pages book-marked for sections on information systems technology, machine language programming, and computer security systems. These were confiscated, along with both of his laptops, his modem, and his library card.


Fox News: Handide and DuCauff

“You know, Albert,” Shawn Handide declared, glaring at his partner, Albert DuCauff, “they caught the guy they think is one of the masterminds of this domestic terrorist plot to destroy America- you know that, don’t you?”

“Shawn,” DuCauff replied, looking bored and exasperated, “they took a guy into custody in Palo Alto- they think he might have some connection…”

“… and I heard, Albert, that the software company he worked for- and Albert, they gave a ton of money to the Boxer campaign in ’04- had done some work for…” he paused, waiting for DuCauff to look him in the eyes, “… for Withey, Duncan, Yorik, and Perstrins.”

Albert looked lost. “So?”

“Well,” Handide continued, “their main offices are in New York City…” his voice trailed off.

“So? Most big firms have offices in New York City.”

“Well that’s where the blind cleric’s attorney was found guilty of treason in '05 or maybe it was late '04.”

“Yes, I remember. What are you saying, Shane?”

“C’mon Albert, don’t be so dense! Just connect the dots!”

“What dots, Shane?! A guy gets detained in California and somehow it has something to do with terrorism because his company did some work for a law firm in New York?”

“You said it Albert, not me- you said it.” Handide looked into the camera and smiled. “This is Shane Handide on the right-“

“And Albert DuCauff on the left…”

“Saying good night- and I hope they put this liberal radical terrorist in prison for the rest of his life!”

The New York Post reported the next day that, as reported on Fox News the night before, a terrorist connected to an extremist left wing organization with cells throughout the United States had been captured and interrogated in Palo Alto. His attorney had no comments on the allegations when contacted by The Post, the story added, and he quickly dismissed the idea that his client would spend the rest of his life in a Federal prison if he were to be convicted of treason. “These charges are not true, and the case will, I’m sure, be dismissed shortly,” the article quoted him as saying.


Life Goes on: Washington

Mid May. The primary season was winding down. The Democratic Party, united as never before, was aggressively pursuing an end to the War in Iran, especially after the controlling Iraqi National Islamic Party had demanded that all foreign military powers remove their armies from Iraq by year’s end. President Dumus had Secretary of State Connie Arozza make a special effort to negotiate a continued military presence in the country that had only recently defeated the last of the insurgents with the capture of Abu Al Zarqaui in Lebanon by Israeli agents. She had failed.

The Party had managed to stop the Social Security Privatization Plan as well as the president’s initiative to make his tax cuts permanent. While he had been able to make Clement Thamos Chief Justice, only one of his three additional nominations had been passed by a Senate that was evenly split between Republicans and Democrats after the ’06 elections. The Democrats made no secret of their desire to impeach Dumus for the wars, but the House was still controlled by the Republicans.

Late in the evening of Friday, May 16th, a full division of State Defense Force troops in Utah, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, and Virginia rolled into the parking lots of nuclear power plants in each of those states. Although each wore an NRA armband, their uniforms were not standard issue, but instead were an array of camouflage and Levis, old army jackets and threadbare tee shirts. They quickly emerged from national guard trucks, humvees, and armored personnel carriers, then rapidly set up a perimeter around the buildings. The commanding officer from each division quickly assumed control of each station.

At 9:00 AM on Saturday, the President came on national television.

“At ten o’clock last night,” he began as the cameras focused in on his somber face, “I nationalized the State Defense Forces of Utah, Texas, Florida, Georgia, Arkansas, and Virginia. These forces have been activated in lieu of Reserve and National Guard units currently on posts in other combat zones.”

The President’s desk and the American flag slowly edged into view as the live camera slowly panned back. “Extremists from a left wing terrorist organization have tried to gain control of nuclear power plants in each of these states.” He paused momentarily to move one piece of paper under another. “Their goal was to take control of these facilities through software developed by some of their most skilled programmers, many of whom are now living in the Bay area of San Francisco. By controlling the facilities, they could cause the reactors to melt down, releasing deadly clouds of radiation over hundreds of square miles.”

Once again the camera tightened its focus on his head. He looked into the camera as if he were looking into the minds of everyone watching. A wave of wrinkles formed on his brow.

“We have narrowly averted a catastrophe of even greater horror than that of September 11th, when the towers fell in New York at the hands of Islamic terrorists. But these acts today, my fellow Americans, were perpetrated not by jihadists from Osama bin Laden.” His voice grew cold, brittle. “These men and women who would terrorize America on this day were Americans- born here, raised here, taught in American public schools. They are part of an extreme left wing group with cells throughout the United States, whose sole goal is to destroy the freedom and liberty guaranteed in our Constitution. Their goal was to create a government, a new government, one that would take away all of these freedoms and liberties.”

“On my orders, I am invoking the powers of the executive branch in accordance with Executive Order 11921, which was placed into effect by president Gerald Ford on June 11, 1976. I am hereby authorizing the Federal Emergency Management Agency to assume its legal controls, as mandated in this executive order. Furthermore, I am invoking nation wide Marshall Law in accordance with this executive order and in compliance with appropriate articles of the Constitution.”

He set the sheaf of papers down on his desk. “My fellow Americans, rest assured that those among us- with their radical and irresponsible Marxist and left wing plots- those responsible for this threat against our nation, will be found and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. In six months, when the powers of this order expire, we will resume our lives as Americans, and our society will once again become one that is free and open, with liberty and justice. Perhaps, then, we will be able to continue the election process that will, by enactment of this decree, be necessarily delayed.”

The camera pans back once again to capture the entire backdrop of the Oval Office. The president smiles broadly. “God bless America,” he says as the camera fades to black.

© 2005 by M. Pierson


Thank you, Pie, for all your help- now it's time to run...

Winston, great job ! (And you are far too generous to give me any editing credit for a moving a few commas )

I'd love to see Dylan or one of our other creative members perform this as a play/skit-
it is a "credible threat" and people should be aware of it......... and hope we never see such a scenario play out.

Now let's see what some of the more perceptive members think......... wonder if they can pick
up on the nuances and some of your literary "tricks."

Wow, it is very good. I enjoied reading it. It kind of reminds me of Michael Crichton and Dan Brown, Winston I didn't realize that there was a State Defense Force Improvement Act of 2003 or SGAUS. The combination of fiction and actual existing organizations and laws permitting the Chimp to do what you wrote really got me. It is really good, I would recommend anybody to read it.

Thanks, XicanopPwr- tell your friends.

And remember- it's just a story...

By the way, were you able to find the avatar site? Get any good downloads?

OH Yes, I see you got 'The Matrix'! Cool!

WinstonSmith, your fiction story of "A Credible Threat" is a creative work of genius! I will also be doing more research from the imbeded links about H.S. One I found interesting was on the homepage of one:

http://www.freedomfoundation.us/home

I am going to read more about State Defense Force Improvement Act of 2003, HR 2797.

You have given me much to think about and scared "the daylights" out of me!

(Thanks to Pie for her editing and support on this.)

KT
****************************************************************************

December 7, 2004
NEWS RELEASE

U.S. Freedom Foundation Recognizes National Homeland Security Leadership with Homeland Defender Awards  
 
(Washington, DC) - U.S. Freedom Foundation, a non-profit nonpartisan Washington advocacy group for middle-class interests on homeland security, health care, and education today announced recipients of the organization's first Homeland Defender Awards for national leaders who have exhibited outstanding support for increased local efforts to improve homeland defense capabilities within strict constitutional guidelines.
 
The Foundation also presented its highest homeland security honor, the Champion of U.S. Homeland Security Award, to freshman Congressman Joe Wilson (R-SC) for his leadership in introducing the State Defense Force Improvement Act of 2003, HR 2797.
 
U.S. Freedom Foundation Senior Homeland Security Fellow Colonel John R. Brinkerhoff, USA (RET) says,  ''these awards recognize the pioneering work done by these leaders to re-introduce Americans to the concept of taking responsibility for homeland security at the local level.  Our nation was founded on the principle of individual Americans joining to defend themselves under the old state militia system, the precursor of today's National Guard and State Defense Forces.  9-11 showed that this time-proven homeland security concept is still relevant today, and the recipients of these awards deserve the thanks of the nation for their willingness to step forward and lead on this issue."  
 
This year's U.S. Freedom Foundation Homeland Defender Award recipients, in alphabetical order, are:
 
* U.S. Army War College National Guard Advisor LTC Brent Bankus (USA)
* U.S. Rep Roscoe Bartlett (R-MD)
* U.S. Rep. Henry Brown (R-SC)
* U.S. Rep. Max Burns (R-GA)
* U.S. Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN)
* U.S. Rep. Dennis Cardoza (D-CA)
* U.S. Rep. Mac Collins (R-GA)
* U.S. Rep. Lincoln Davis (D-TN)
* U.S. Rep. John Duncan (R-TN) 
* U.S. Rep. Vernon Ehlers (R-MI)
* U.S. Rep Paul Gillmor (R-OH)
* U.S. Rep. Virgil Goode (R-VA)
* U.S. Rep. Bob Goodlatte (R-VA)
* U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon (D-TN)
* U.S. Rep Amo Houghton (R-NY)
* U.S. Rep. Johnny Isakson (R-GA)
* U.S. Rep. William Jenkins (R-TN)
* U.S. Rep. Sam Johnson (R-TX)
* U.S. Rep Carolyn McCarthy (D-NY)
* U.S. Rep. Thaddeus McCotter (R-MI)
* U.S. Rep. Sue Myrick, Sue (R-NC)
* U.S. Rep. Charlie Norwood (R-GA)
* U.S. Rep. George Radanovich (R-CA)
* U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY)
* State Guard Association of the United States President Brigadier General (GA) Joel Seymour
* U.S. Rep. Edward Schrock (R-VA)
* U.S. Rep David Scott (D-GA)
* South Carolina Adjutant General Major General Stanhope Spears (USA)
* U.S. Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI)
* Department of Defense Reserve Forces Policy Board Chairman Major General (VA) Al Zapanta

The camera pans back once again to capture the entire backdrop of the Oval Office. The president smiles broadly. “God bless America,” he says as the night sky lights up into a brilliant flash...

In a dimmly lit cave deep in the mountains of Afganistan,
Osama bin Laden looks at his band of followers and as a smile forms on his face he whispers... "checkmate".

:o

Here's another game of chess to chew on!

http://www.cshs-us.org/CSHS/cshs.nsf/Main/...rityLegislation

CSHS
Center for State Homeland Security

Legislation
* signed into law
* still pending

You'd better ALL check this out!

KT

KT, so far I've got a ton of people saying I should expand the story- so I'm going to. I'll be looking at all those links and come up w/ a few more of my own... unless the Thought Police get to me first.

Uh oh, room 101, here I come...

Agreed,
This is a very good beginning... If I understand the story as written... very much like the TV show "24" but much more “real” political in the background and story development... using existing real security abuse, EO, FEMA, and homeland security as reasons for the takeover of our country... Interesting twists in the story could be the Al-Qaeda story line paralleling the process, North Korea and China playing a stealth part of the story and Saudi Arabia playing a part in the story as our allies - NOT. Could become very convoluted and deceptive in leading the reader into false assumptions of story progression mis-leading and double crosses. The NeoCon fascists thinking they are controlling the progress of there objectives but are actually pawns in an international chess game of capitalist elitist, communist dictators, and religious zealots both Christian and Muslim. - could be the start of a James A. Michener novel... yeeee - haaaaa

Thanks for your opinion- and you are right, this could prove to be convolutions within convolutions. In fact, with this administration, you don't have to go too far or deep to get all of the convolutions you'll ever need...

Make it into a video game with multiple endings... You could make a fortune on this... I am not kidding.

OK, Winston ! You are just too clever for me Here you give me credit for editing and you have made so many changes since you sent me the "final" draft, that I am caught up in trying to find all your little double-speaks. Shoot, I did not even know about the links (blue type) until I read the other posts ! Duh !

Time to fess up: I got the real meaning of the president's name "Dumus."
But you have me stumped on some of the others !

"Dollum" - is this from http://members.aol.com/goodwilltownline/ ? If so, you are too clever.

BTW- glad to hear you will be adding some more to this saga

Interesting start to a fiction novel. Maybe the Tom Clancy of domestic affairs and patriotism.

Liberals and Conservatives are like both halves of the brain. You can't kill one without killing the other.

Here's how I feel about conspiracy. If there is a conspiracy, we are all in on it.

Reality is stranger than fiction. It's not a question of who is in control. It's a question of what is in control. It's also a question of what it's in control of.

One can't control the past. But one can stain the windows into the past.
One can't control the present, but one can redefine the ruler that we measure the present with.
One can't control the future, unless all in the future become one.

Kalteste- play on the word "Coulter"= "colder"="the coldest" auf Deutsch: Kalteste
Handide- diddles himself with his hands. Play on the name Hannity.
Visick- Novick= know=vision=vis[root], then play on 'sick'= a sick vision
Hume- play on the word 'home'; Heil+Land= homeland of "Heil Bush." Bit of a stretch on that one, but that's the etymology.
Arozza- Rice in Spanish
I wish I could say I found Dollum at your link, but it was a mix of the word 'dull' and Gollum, the horribly pathetic skitzoid beast from The Ring trilogy

And I thought the links to some of my source material would add a sense of reality to an obviously fictional story.

This is so much fun!

Now don't forget about us when you go on tour. :D

Hey, I'll sign your copy if you buy the book!

Wickedly clever ! As my pie avatar is aimed at Coulter, I especially love that one ! But you had me stumped on them- not a nice thing to do to your "editor" and clearly shows that my contribution was next to nil.

I am still waiting for someone to take the bait on the "Dumus" meaning.

WinstonSmith Pie gave me this link:

http://www.algonet.se/~thyhe/chr/068ARNAN.HTM

You said that Kalteste was Coulter which means colder.

On the above link kaltese is a group of magicians and its spells are "force bolt and wind blades".
******************************************************************************
I'm concerned about using Fox News instead of another name. How about Vulpes, which is the genus for fox. In my American College Dictionary, "to fox" means to deceive or trick. If you become famous for your story they might sue you for using their name. IDK...just one teacher to another here thinking of being on the safe side.

http://www.discoverlife.org/nh/tx/Vertebra.../Vulpes/vulpes/

The RED foxes are masters at eluding human and animal enemies.
Geographic distribution-from Alaska to Central California, Central Texas, Alabama, Western Florida. lol! I like "Vulpes News"!!!!!!!!

KT

I can't wait until you write the next chapter!

WinstonSmith, I love the name Dollum! Here we find a creature named Dollum, the village idiot:


"... Backspang hired the village idiot to be Project Manager. This Gubernatrix was a creature with wild orange fur named Dollum.  Dollum was a Snollygoster whos only credential was Girouettism."
" Dollum ( being the village idiot ) hired one Politicaster after another and the village was soon in a state of Kakistocracy. To save face Dollum decided that if the villagers turned on each other attention would be drawn away from her incompetent medling. Enlisting the help of a deaf, dumb, blind and lame villager Dollum set forth with her evil plan to couse havoc in the village of Cryptarchy."
"This plot would also justify the need for Dollum ( the village idiot ) to remain in power. Meanwhile Dollum sent a labrynth of Memos to Zeigarnick efectivly placing him in a vulnerable position for Backspang to strike at a "target of opportunity" . "
*******************************************************************

http://members.aol.com/goodwilltownline/

*******************************************************************

Requiem for a Dodder

Ironic Truth 411 - Inside Scoop

 Once upon a time in a kingdom named Paedocracy there was  a Ruler named Backspang. In his kingdom was a village named Cryptarchy. Backspang promised riches to the villagers if they worked hard. The villagers worked hard and began to prosper. But, Backspang had presure from the King of the land to make the village as great as a village 3,000 miles away in a land far larger. So Backspang hired the village idiot to be Project Manager. This Gubernatrix was a creature with wild orange fur named Dollum.  Dollum was a Snollygoster whos only credential was Girouettism. The village leader was a handsome tall blond haired, god-of-a-man named Zeigarnik. Zeigarnick however was missing his right hand. Dollum ( being the village idiot ) hired one Politicaster after another and the village was soon in a state of Kakistocracy. To save face Dollum decided that if the villagers turned on each other attention would be drawn away from her incompetent medling. Enlisting the help of a deaf, dumb, blind and lame villager Dollum set forth with her evil plan to couse havoc in the village of Cryptarchy. The village prospered under the leadership of Zeigarnick and grew twice in size. This worried the Ruler Backspang as his King asked him why his other villages had not grown. Zeigarnick was growing rich from the rewards Backspang was obliged to pay for such success in the village. Backspang grew envious and plotted to kill Zeigarnick and keep Zeigarnicks reward of 3,000 Rupies to himself. This plot would also justify the need for Dollum ( the village idiot ) to remain in power. Meanwhile Dollum sent a labrynth of Memos to Zeigarnick efectivly placing him in a vulnerable position for Backspang to strike at a "target of opportunity" .

****************************************************************************
I think you have a novel in the making!

KT

No question about it, Winston, (if that is your real name), you are toast. Three hots and a cot at Gitmo...and that's more than you deserve, you unamerican swine. They'll slap you around the head with a big rubber tennis shoe until you snitch and tell them who let the Big Cat out of the bag. And then, just when you think you're in the clear, they'll drop the hammer on you.

Very spooky, totally believable stuff. Terribly twisted. Good job Winston & Pie.

A fine start on a short vid script. I know some guys....well, actually, a very progressive, very female film maker on the Jersey Shore. She might like this a bunch. Could be a lot of fun.

Keep Fox's name in it. Lawsuits are good for publicity and, besides, Fox hasn't won in court in a long time. Get Green Day to let you close it down with "American Idiot". These things can be done. Maybe a grant from Move On. These days, anything can happen.

Keep this thread going. When you're ready, let's shoot the script around some.

Shoot for the stars. If you don't have dreams, all you have left is nightmares.

"Business as usual", huh Winston.....

Keep those Stinkin' Chickens coming! Very very good job.

Dylan, thanks for the thanks but I had very little to do with this wonderful piece that Winston has written. (Wish I could claim some fame here- but no can do)

Dylan Garcia, Faux can and might sue. Notice how Pie is saying that she had very little to do with this? lol! That's okay girlfriend, I'll come visit you in the Federal Pen! hahahahahaha!
I vote for Vulpes News! They are RED!

KT, I think I like Linnaeus better- maybe for the name of the billionaire owner media mogul who owns the network. Name could be Croatian or something- Volpe Lineus. That also plays with the letter US=USA=Us. The network could be the Lineus News Network, with a by-line of "Our line is always the Truth!"

Nice touch! Thanks- definately will use that!

Oh no, Pie, you're part of the conspiracy now! If I end up at Gitmo, you're goin' down with me!

Oh, do I have to go ?

Hey girl, you'll be amongst all of your friends!!! On a beautiful Carribean island!!

OK, now I've gone and done it!

I set up a blog for this story at A Credible Threat so that if anyone wants to add to the story, they can. I'm especially interested in finding websites that seem a little black-ops type- KT, you've found a few.

And would someone tell me how to post links using HTML? There isn't a little icon like there is here...

So glad that you are going to use the Lineus News Network Winston Smith. There is a fine line between hobby and mental illness remember! hahahahahaha! So this is what writers and teachers do for a hobby?




What do you mean by "black-ops type"? I'm not sure which ones you are referring to here. lol

I would like to see other members pick this one up and work on the story. Where is GrammyDidi, Mommadona, Semper with his "hogwash" retorts (lol) and the rest of you fine minds?

KT

Lady, it's not that fine, and I crossed it long ago...

KT, guess you're not much of a Clancy fan. Black-ops are military operations done on the sly- under deep layers of secrecy and they are usually not legal; Mission: Impossible type stuff.

And yeah, where are all these guys? Hell KT, they're your friends- give'm a call and tell 'em to put their 2 cents in!

Let's all thank Brendan for posting it on DailyKOS!

THANK YOU BRENDAN!

Military operation done on the sly under deep layers of secrecy? If they are military operations then they are legal! I never heard them called black-ops, nor did I hear the term "spook" until someone used it to refer to photo recon.

Okay friends, put your two cents worth in now!

(You can call me teacher winston, lady sounds a little sexist.)

HEY! I'm teacher winston- you're kindergarten teacher!

LMFAO at Dylan Garcia!


:D

Here's the KOS link:

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/2/14/165137/101


Remember, folks, you read it here at CGCS first !

I'm not sure this is what you're looking for, but...
-------------

In case no one showed you yet, here's a snippet of html for posting links:

<a href="http://www.something.com">NameOfSomething</a>

Example:

<a href="http://www.commongroundcommonsense.org/forums">CGCS</a>

Just cut and paste.

Nice story, BTW... But how does it end

Thanks for the help-

And, as far as the story goes, it's a work in progress... I still have a protagonist to fill in, and the end is still not concrete. Writing a short story and writing a novel are really two different skills. In a novel, as your characters develop, there are things they can and can't do, and what they can and can't do affects the end of the story. So, to be honest, I don't know how the story will end... right now, I'm toying with having the Jesusland cartoon map become the reality- that CA, WA, and OR break off and become either a nation, or provinces of Canada- along w/ the eastern seaboard. I still have to transition from the exercise of the EO into a gestapo-like place where the State Defense Forces round up gays and, well, I don't want to give it away. But, like the president said, doing a story like that "is hard work, really hard work!"

Kalteste- play on the word "Coulter"= "colder"="the coldest" auf Deutsch: Kalteste

(grin) You're missing an umlaut there Winston: it's Kälteste.


Heil+Land= homeland of "Heil Bush."

A bit of very obscure, little known etymological trivia for your toolbox: the German verb "heilen," which means to "heal" in the sense of "become whole" (heil machen), also has an obscure second meaning heilen = to castrate (I kid you not) "dem männlichen Tier durch Wegschneiden der Hoden die Wildheit nehmen" (Kluge Etymologisches Wörterbuch, S. 301).

(translation: "to take the savagery out of the male animal by cutting off its balls")

Somehow, whenever I think of Bush, Hitler, the battle of the Bulge and Heil, that's what comes to mind!

L. (aka the Umlaut lady)

btw, Winston, I was doing some translation research on the net the other day and a blog entry of yours came up, but I wasn't able to get to it. Had to grin nevertheless.

am kälsteten, if I remember my high school German III from 40 years ago Since English doesn't have the umlaut, I guess I'll have to write without it

I guess ignorance is bliss- and castration seems appropriate for the likes of Hume- ah, er, Heiland

OK, this goes in somewhere...

I guess ignorance is bliss- and castration seems appropriate for the likes of Hume- ah, er, Heiland

OK, this goes in somewhere...

[/quote]
it's already there: just that there are very few who'll be able to spot it! heck, you didn't even know it was there. Aint that the beauty of writing

(oh, and the umlaut thing....I was just trying to remind you that I'd sent you the umlauts...) <_<

[quote=tombstoned,Feb 15 2005, 09:44 PM]
I guess ignorance is bliss- and castration seems appropriate for the likes of Hume- ah, er, Heiland

OK, this goes in somewhere...

[/quote]
it's already there: just that there are very few who'll be able to spot it! heck, you didn't even know it was there. Aint that the beauty of writing

(oh, and the umlaut thing....I was just trying to remind you that I'd sent you the umlauts...) <_<

[/quote]
And you'll notice that I used them, second time around

[quote=winston smith,Feb 16 2005, 01:00 AM]
it's already there: just that there are very few who'll be able to spot it! heck, you didn't even know it was there. Aint that the beauty of writing

(oh, and the umlaut thing....I was just trying to remind you that I'd sent you the umlauts...) <_<

[/quote]
And you'll notice that I used them, second time around

[/quote]

Oh yeah, you did. Shame on me. <_<
My eyes are always fresher in the morning.

[quote=tombstoned,Feb 16 2005, 06:42 AM]
And you'll notice that I used them, second time around

[/quote]

Oh yeah, you did. Shame on me. <_<
My eyes are always fresher in the morning.

[/quote]

For those interested, here are some new parts to the emerging novel.
The original material is in the quotation

A Credible Threat

Chapter 1. No one is supposed to know there' a conspiracy

I didn’t think much of it at the time. My older brother asked me if he could use my laptop while I was out running.

“No problem, Mort,” I replied as I zipped up my windbreaker against the crisp wind blowing in from the ocean. It looked like rain, I thought to myself as the clouds drifted in to partially block out the setting sun. It would be dark before I got back.

I first heard the sirens as I was jogging around the lake and getting ready to head back. I knew it was the firetrucks starting out from the Nohl Ranch Road station because I could hear the deep rumble of their diesel engines even from this distance. It was followed a few minutes later by other sirens, lots of them. I started back down the hill past the golf course and nature center.

On the hill above the fire station the police and fire truck lights pulsed red, blue on all of the walls around the small cul de sac just off of Stagecoach. I lived in the house above the fire station. They were pretty close to my house. Really close. I picked up my pace; it was an adrenaline rush.

I know you’ve heard stories about people who just got a feeling about something not being right. Some say it’s like a little voice in your head, others say it’s like a chill that makes the hairs on your arm stand up. For me, it was the incredible need to take a piss. Oh, the yellow tape strung up around my house, the police cars, the fire trucks and ambulances, that told me something had gone drastically wrong. But it was more than just that. The chill running through my bones told me be careful- very, very careful.

“I’m sorry sir,” the officer said to me as she pushed me away from the yellow tape cordon laced between her black and white patrol car and the lamppost next to the driveway.

“I- look- my brother…” I stammered, that cold feeling still wrenching my bladder.

“Are you a relative?” she asked, lowering her arm somewhat, but still staying ready in case I should try to push my way past.

“Yes,” I replied. I really was beginning to panic. What the hell had happened to have so many disaster vehicles surrounding my house. “What the hell happened,” I shouted, “why are all these people here.” It wasn’t really a question.

“Detective,” the officer said to one of the three plain-clothed men standing near the garage door, “this man claims to be a relative.”

I don’t know to this day why I said it, but I did. “I’m Mort Everman.” The need to urinate went away. Don’t ask me why, it just did.

“Well, Mr. Everman,” he replied. His eyes and voice gave away the deep sorrow I was about to confront. He told me there were three dead people- an apparent murder/suicide, and could I identify the victims.

It was my wife, Mort, and his wife. He was sitting up on the couch as if he was watching the news. There was a gun in his hand, a dark black hole in his temple, and brains mixed with blood splattered all over the wall. Hell, it was more than just the wall. It seemed like it was all over the whole damned room.

“That’s Forrest,” I sobbed, my voice beginning to quiver with genuine grief as I saw the sickening horror of the crime scene. He took me upstairs. The other two bodies were in the guest room, one beat up pretty bad around the face, the other bound with tape at the wrists. They were both on the bed with a bullet hole at the base of their skull, the pillows and sheets blackened with their blood.

But what didn’t make sense until much later was the series of thumbnails on the computer screen. When I went back downstairs, one of the detectives was looking at it, taking notes, while a photographer from the crime lab took pictures. 5 rows, with 6 pictures in a row, some with Mort lewdly screwing his wife, others of him with young boys or girls- and I mean young. Like junior high young. But it was my laptop. That’s when I really needed to take a piss.



Catching the Bad Guy

The sun was suspended in the steel gray overcast like a dull peach hanging above the hills surrounding San Mateo. Bill Gates was sitting on his patio smoking a joint, speculating on nothing at all. Except his name. Why did he have to have a name like that? Why couldn’t he just have the money and not the name. From the den he could hear CNN prattling on about the results of the Iowa Caucuses. He was taking another toke, sucking the harsh hot smoke deep into his lungs, when his front door pretty much exploded out of its frame.

“FBI” a voice screamed into the open hole in the wall, “everyone get down we have a search warrant get down get down do it now”

Bill got down. A man came up behind him, a big guy dressed in a flack jacket wearing a dark plastic shield over his face, and cuffed his hands behind his back.

“Do you have anything in your pockets that I should know about?” he asked while patting down the young man, still prone on the patio deck. “Needles, guns, knives…”

“No, dude, just the keys to my car, and some Zig Zags” he replied, his voice shaking as violently as his knees. “What the hell is this all about…”

“… I’ll do the asking,” the man behind the dark mask replied, “you’ll do the answering.”

The quaking fear he felt initially began to melt away. He had been higher than a kite, but this sobered him up real quick and now he was just flat out pissed. “No, "expletive deleted",” Bill hissed back, “I want to see your damned warrant, you…,” he was cut off by a boot placed firmly on the back of his neck that pushed his face into the wooden decking. “I want a lawyer,” he managed to spit out from the side of his mouth, “I want a fu…” As the boot pressed down a little harder; Bill decided to shut up. What a bummer, he thought to himself.

“We’re secure,” came a voice from the bathroom.

Three other men and a woman who looked to be about 40, each wearing a blue jacket with the gold ‘FBI ‘ emblem on the chest and FBI in large gold letters on the back, came in. “Check out the toilet for additional drugs,” she said softly, but her voice left no doubt that she was in charge. “Help Mr. Gates up,” she commanded the agent, his boot still on the back of Bill’s neck.

“He lawyered up, ma’am,” the agent said as he gruffly jerked Bill up to his knees. Bill cried out at the quick pain, thinking the "expletive deleted" had probably dislocated his left shoulder. The agent pushed him down onto the couch.

The woman stood over him, looking him straight in the eyes; it was a little disconcerting. He blinked. “Mr. Gates,” she said softly, almost in a whisper but still commandingly firm, “my name is Special Agent Stackhouse and I’m with the FBI.” She didn’t crack a smile. “You, sir, are in a great deal of trouble.”

One of the three men emerged from the den with a stack of library books. “We found these, ma’am…” he said, setting the stack of three books down on the coffee table in front of her. She picked each one up, inspecting the post-it notes that marked dozens of pages in each, then setting it back down.

“… and this.” It was about half a baggie of weed.

“Mr. Gates,” she said, returning her gaze toward him,”you are under arrest for possession and distribution of illegal substances, and conspiracy to commit acts of violence against the United States…” As Bill was escorted through the empty door frame and down the stairs to one of the cars waiting at the curb, he realized that he had yet to see the warrant.

“That’s Forrest,” I sobbed,..."

And he tells the police he is Mort?

Then there are "naughty pictures" found of Mort?

winston, this is getting weirder and weirder!

KT

KT, you just made my day! I thought for sure that those clues would give most of the plot away- seems obvious to me, but if you can't see it, then I'm on the right track. And yeah, it's twisted

I'm sure I'm not the only one waiting with bated breath for the next installment. LOL

This is excellent, Winston - riveting. And I'm not usually much for "cloak and dagger" stories.